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(Edit) Damn that was way longer that I wanted it to be, hope you all enjoy my short film screenplay LOL

Tommy met Isabella in his senior year of college. Tommy, the grandson of french immigrants on his dad's side, and native american mixed with Irish-Italian on his mom's side, was blown away when this beautiful, strong Italian woman approached him at a party. Dark, olive skin, legs for days, luscious black hair, she was a smokeshow. What was she doing chatting up a cajun transplant at a boring Syracuse party? It wasn't until later he learned that he unknowingly shows the body language of someone that's essentially bulletproof. The truth is, Tommy's just out of fucks to give.

After a whirlwind romance in college, Isabella brought him home with her to NYC to meet the parents. Her father introduced himself as Don, even though Tommy swore he heard the name Vincenzo just moments before.

"Ah, italians doing italian things. Won't be long before I get a nickname myself" he thought to himself.

Then, in walks Cristina, Isabella's bombshell of a mother.

"Oh my goodness, you found yourself a tall, dark, handsome italian boy, I'm so happy, welcome to the family Tommy, do you need some wine? I NEED WINE"

When she finished squeezing the life, and dignity out of Tommy, the table was set.

Isabella carried the conversation, explaining how they met, telling them Tommy was an accounting/business double major. Don's ears perked up at that notion, Tommy didn't notice a thing. In Don's eyes, this kid had ice in his veins.

Once the night had come to a close, Isabella was about to walk him out the door when Tommy asked for a moment alone with her parents. Right there in the main entrance, he looked Don in the eye and asked for his daughter's hand in marriage.

"I can't afford to fly my family out here, but you two could come down to New Orleans to see the proposal, I can show you around town, you guys can cut loose like you're teenagers again, but I won't make a move without your blessing."

He produced his great grandmother's ring, handmade by his great grandfather.

Don, for the first time in countless years as a crimelord, was dumbstruck. The clueless look on Tommy's face, the blank unblinking stare, the invincible body language, it was too much.

"Kid, you got stones like I've never seen before. I've seen racehorses down at the tracks with a smaller pair than yous. The family needs more men like you. Not only do you have my blessing, how would you like to put that shiny new degree to work? I myself am a businessman, and I have alot of room for improvement in my book keeping. Whaddya say kid?"

Tommy let out a short exhale and closed his eyes, then opened them to meet Don's.

"Sir, I'd be honored to work for you, I'd never turn down a good opportunity like this."

Cristina adjusted his vertebrae with a hug goodbye, and he was out the door.

Weeks later, after a few days of adventuring through his hometown with his soon to be fiance, Tommy got a text from an unknown number.

"We'll be there in 2 days, care to take a glance at something for your future father in law?"

A pdf file was attached.

"No problem, can't wait to see you guys". He replied.

The file was a spreadsheet, deposits, withdrawals, expenses, profits, etc etc. A few glaring issues quickly jumped out at him.

"Whoever was handling your money for this month made more than a few typos. My math is iron-clad here, there's 50k missing here according to these typos."

Don replied "Yeah, clerical errors can be a pain in the ass. I'll double check this one myself. Thanks kid."

The proposal was picture perfect. Both families gathered in Jackson Square, Isabella was too busy admiring the cathedral to notice what was going on behind her. When she turned around and her dad was standing there, she gasped in shock. When Don stepped aside, she saw Tommy down on one knee with the box open, with easily 30 familiar faces behind him.

Don paid for the whole wedding, held it on the grounds of his estate, paid for plane tickets and housed all of Tommy's family in his home, all the wine came from his own vineyard, all the food from his own farms and markets. A true self-made man, a man of honor, a man Tommy genuinely looked up to. Isabella was his baby girl, he was going to give her the wedding of her dreams, no question. The icing on the cake was how much of a liking he'd taken to Tommy. Nobody can put a price on knowing their daughter is in good hands with a person of such strong character.

The ceremony went off without a hitch, the reception was lively, all was going well. Until Isabella's uncle Bugsy showed up.

"So, this is the guy eh? This is the guy that called me a thief? The guy that thinks I'd steal from my OWN BROTHER?"

Tommy was the only person in the room too happy to give a damn about this guy.

"Bugsy, you're so close to the line right now, it breaks my heart to imagine what'll happen if you cross it. Of all days, you pick today. Of all times, you pick now." Don said.

Bugsy replied "You'd really let a stranger insult your brother this way? Place me lower than a roach or a rat? Call me a thief? A traitor? I've done bad things for a lot less than that"

Bugsy was all bravado until he turned around only to be face to face with his accuser.

"If you were handling the accounts between May and June of this year, your typos would have this man think he's 50k in the red. Just need to round up all your documentation, receipts, P.O's and invoices, and recount everything and it'll all be flush. I fat-finger my keyboard all the time man, it's not that big of a deal."

Tommy spoke with the confidence of a man with less than nothing to lose.

Bugsy was dumbfounded, temporarily paralyzed in shock at the realization of what was happening. He was caught red handed, everyone in the room saw him for what he was, except for the college graduate standing before him.

Even the countless security guards had to take their shades off and get a second look at what had just occured.

Don nodded at his men, and within seconds Bugsy was surrounded.

"We'll take him to the archives and go over the paperwork immediately sir."

"Yeah, sure, the paperwork...." Don mutered as he waved them off.

Every made man in the room, every underboss and capo, even the consigliore was sweating at this revalation. Any rivals Don had in the room that had even the smallest notion of wanting to screw him over, were now petrified.

"This Tommy fella caught a thief red handed, and had the balls to stand there and wave it off as nothing, knowing damn well it was a death sentence."

"This is some old school, Godfather type stuff here. Same hand that pats you on the cheek can be the hand that drives the icepick into your neck"

The gossip was flying around the room like fireworks. Tommy didn't hear a word of it, he just wanted to get back to dancing with his wife. So he did.....

Two years, that was our bargain. For two more years she would live and in exchange I would give her unending power till that time came to an end. It has been a year since and I don’t think we’re going to survive the other one.

I have made many deals with all sorts of characters: warlords seeking glory, heroes hoping to save their homeland, adventurers wanting to be remembered, fools too stupid to realize what I am. The strength I grant is proportional to the time I take to drain them of their life. Some would ask for twenty years, ten, or even five. All of them would use me to claim their deepest desires only to lament the years they lost before they crumble to dust when the time comes.

At first I believed she was just another hapless fool, desperate and broken, looking for path to salvation. I should’ve known something was up when she only asked for two years. Of course my initial impression was spot on, just another orphan looking to save her home from invaders, but there was something more to her and finding out has been the greatest mistake of my existence. Unlike most of my other hosts, she possessed a razor cunning and an endless appetite for conflict, danger, excitement, and violence. She wasn’t satisfied just being the hero of her homeland, showered with gifts, titles, and praise after beating impossible odds, no no no, she wanted more.

At first I wasn’t concerned with her desires, many conquerors before her would use me against their enemies till their final days, some even turned to dust on the field of battle. Then the day after the girl saved her home, she took me east and slayed the first dragon we ran into. I don’t know what scared me more, almost getting scorched by dragon fire or the wide grin on her face as she slid under it. It was then I learned that, this girl chooses battles like the Lich King used to resurrect dead, indiscriminately and constantly. Speaking of whom do you want to know how we reached his fortress? By rowboat, across a lake, filled with undead. Worst part wasn’t even the boat sinking or the swim to shore but the kraken. Haveill the Soul Render still hasn’t forgiven me for what occurred after we reached the shore. But even slaying the Lich King wasn’t enough for her. Of course it wasn’t.

Nothing will ever be enough for her. The danger, the rush, she’s addicted to it. It drives her to constantly one-up herself and I’m forced to go along. If she were any of my other hosts, they would’ve died within a month of trying these stunts and I’d find a new host shortly after but not her. No, with her cunning and ravenousness she has felled foes no bargain of mine could have ever given her the strength to defeat. Somewhere along the line we’ve reached a point where if she dies fighting something, I’m either next or dying with her because she picked a fight with something I can’t bargain with and SHE. JUST. DOESN’T. STOP. The Sky Kingdom, the Slumbering Mountains, the Abyssal Titans, the Lich King, Deathscourge the World Ender, Demon Lord Helsax the Eternal and his infinite hordes. All far beyond my power to match; legends greater than even mine, having endured for countless millennia. All annihilated within a year.

Every wound she takes only pushes her further. Every victory sates her for only the briefest of moments before she’s starving again, more ravenous than before. There is no greater desire within her to be fulfilled. Her nightmarish grin only grows wider every time we brush with death. Her kind calls her a hero but I know what she truly is; a monster whose bloodlust dwarfs even the most sadistic tyrants of history, yes, even the Dwarven Tyrant Kurgan the Blood Mountain. I cannot break our bargain and I fear that there is no alternative for which she will accept its end. She does not yet know of my dread but if she ever did my only hope of breaking this bargain would be lost.

This past year has been easily been the most miserable portion of my existence by far. Yes, even worse than the time I got lost in a dragon hoard. Worse than the time I sank to the bottom of the ocean. Worse than the years I was wielded alongside Haiwal the Blood Purger by Emperor Isild, the Almighty Tyrant. Every day is a brush with death; every month is a new peak; a year of nothing but blood and sure death for the both of us. For her, it’s pure euphoria. For me, it’s pure stress. A week ago, her homeland was invaded again, this time from across the sea, and tomorrow she plans to challenge the invader’s god of war in a duel to the death. I can’t take this anymore. So I make this prayer in my most desperate hour.

Oh holy goddess I, Haket the Life Dealer, beg for salvation from the clutches of this madwoman, this ceaseless adrenaline addict. I am willing to do any task or pay any price. I would never make another bargain again and fade to nothingness or even pledge eternal servitude and become your willing vessel. Please, I beg, sever my contract for if she isn’t stopped, our world will be devoured before the year’s end.

Edited for minor word changes.

A year had passed, and it was, once again, time for the annual dinner with Giorgia's family. Meiling always enjoyed these get-togethers - her own extended family lived all the way across the globe, so meeting up with them was much rarer than she'd have liked. And with more and more people preferring small, nuclear families nowadays, she had lucked out with her wife's huge family. And the Mancinis valued togetherness so much, too: it was always 'Family this, Family that' with them - why, it felt just like home!

But back to the get-together, ah, Meiling thought as she carefully wrapped tin foil over the dish she'd cooked for the dinner. The Mancinis rarely met up all at once - it seemed like a family tradition to never stick to a predictable routine, something that Meiling's wife had inherited in full, from never becoming a regular at shops or restaurants to randomly switching up the route she took to work every day. Such an adventurous life! Meiling could respect that - change was good for the brain; it kept your neurons firing. She'd even begun picking up the habit herself at Giorgia's insistence - her wife was so caring, making sure she stayed mentally healthy!

And speaking of the devil, in Giorgia walked in her designer clothes and doubly designer briefcase.

"Ready to go, cara mia?"

Aiya, so stylish and professional, this wife of hers! Never going anywhere without that briefcase. One would think she's married to her work if she wasn't such a kind, considerate partner all the time. Regardless, Meiling quickly picked up the dish and went to tug on her shoes before they left.

The couple only got a block away from their house, though, before they were stopped by a few towering figures in their path.

"Well, well, if it isn't Giorgia Mancini. What a coincidence! We haven't seen each other in so long - if I didn't know better, I'd think you were avoiding us!"

Giorgia's hand tightened around Meiling's. Ah, one of her little romantic gestures - Meiling squeezed back with a smile.

"Are these friends of yours from work, Giorgia? Tch, you never introduce me to any of your colleagues, how am I supposed to recognise them?"

"You're not." Giorgia gritted out.

Meiling sighed. Aiyo, no, that sounds so rude! What will your poor coworkers think? Really, Giorgia would accidentally hurt someone with that attitude - they didn't know what a sweet person she really was under the sharp, fashionable exterior.

"Ah, this must be the infamous wife. She has a point, why don't you introduce her? She should join our... conversation."

Saying this, all four of Giorgia's colleagues hands drifted to their belt. Huh, thought Meiling. People seemed to do that a lot around her nowadays - were loose pants in fashion or something?

"Ms. Mancini - you see, I've had a hypothetical scenario in my mind recently," the one in the middle began again, with his eyes fixed on Meiling. Was he talking to her or her wife? Meiling hadn't taken the Mancini family name, despite the many offers from her wife's family before Giorgia cut them off with a look, but others could be forgiven for getting it wrong.

"Now, hypothetically, if I knew where someone's house was, knew where they and their civilian wife lived, if I could - hypothetically, of course - walk in when I knew they were out, go into that kitchen where their wife who so loves cooking would be, pick up a kitchen knife..." The man prowled forward, razor-sharp smile bared, as Giorgia's grip became bruising.

"I wonder how long I could make them bleed out for?"

Meiling grinned. Finally, something she knew in this conversation! She loved trying to break down the science of hypothetical scenarios from books, it was a little hobby of hers. And Giorgia had never introduced her to such a like mind? How rude! Her wife knew she wasn't the best at social situations, so that made people interested in the same things as her all the more valuable!

"Ooh, well, let's see, it really depends on how you'd go about it. Quickest I'd say would be decapitation, just chopping their head off clean and simple - or maybe a cut to their femoral artery - or actually, it'd take a bit more effort but torn limbs would result in bleeding out quicker than clean wounds - no vasoconstriction, you know. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have Lingchi-style 'death by a thousand cuts', to draw on a historical example...

...and really, you would have a better success at targetting a specific bleeding rate if you have good control over as many control variables as possible, na, so picking up someone's kitchen knife when you don't know how sharp it would be is quite inefficient.

You're from South-East of here, right? I know a really nice shop nearby that you could go to - hypothetically, of course - how do I know where you're from? I recognise that dialect, and I know I saw that ring on your necklace at a shop nearby from when Giorgia and I were visiting - oh, no need to look so surprised, ah, it was a very nice piece and I have very good memory that's all, and I love looking at jewellery shops, Giorgia indulges me too much - aiyo, no, why are you hiding it? Is it a wedding ring? Don't shame your partner like that - in fact, you were talking about introductions, no, we should have a get-together, it's been a while since Giorgia and I have been to the South-East, we could visit - I'd even bring my cooking, and wine too, I know how much you Italians love your wine!

Oh no, why are you looking so pale? Are you ill? This weather ah, makes everyone ill, I could get you some medicine-"

Meiling cut off with a laugh of delight. It was so rare to find someone to discuss obscure tidbits of science and logical reasoning with in real life. And, she thought, looking over at Giorgia's friend's wide eyes and slightly dropped jaw, it was even rarer to find someone so interested in what she had to say - most people just rolled their eyes or turned away within the first few seconds.

"Ms Mancini- We- I understand, Senora, we'll just- "

The men hurried away, significantly paler looking than before. Huh, Meiling wondered, did they come down with a sudden bout of illness all together? Stomach upset, maybe - is that why they were holding their pants like that earlier? Well, she could always make dinner plans with them later through Giorgia, when she wasn't running late to a family dinner. She shrugged, turning back to Giorgia, who now looked like she was holding back a laugh.

"Oh, Meiling, cara mia. Never change."

I thought the car backfire was a gun sound, honestly

Pretty sure it’s Leo at this point

Quarter Mile

​

This year, I lost someone. Not like they moved away or we had a falling out - I lost them for good. I know there's beauty in it. It's twisted and it's bleak but.. it is there. I know love will come back into my life and do something to fill the gap, too. That love won't be the same, though. It's like a star winking out, bringing forth darkness where once there was radiance. Other stars will come. Other stars will be just as beautiful. Yet, those stars won't hang in the sky exactly like the old one did.

​

"Hey! Twenty-two. You're up next." The coordinator spoke in the manner he always did. Like he didn't have enough time for anything, syllables seemingly crunched and crowded together in his rush. As he continued walking past, though, he paused. His eye's ran over the blue paint and the faded golden accents. Though his legs still twitched urging him to continue, he took just a moment. "Your old man's?" he asked.

​

The oil from the radiator leak still clung to my gloves. The chill of the winter night highlighted what portions of my skin were now covered in the yellowish fluid. I nodded to the coordinator.

​

He opened his mouth to say something, but shut is just as quickly. He returned the nod, and moved briskly onward down the line of cars warming in the pit.

​

I'd patched the radiator, but barely. I re-topped off the coolant reservoir, but part of me still expected the thing to blow on the strip. Dad and I never quite got this thing singing like he wanted. There just wasn't enough time. I reckon there never could be, though. As I stepped into the drivers side and lowered into the seat, I could smell it. His cigarettes and the cheap cologne.

​

"Next up, roll to the line!" the PA system blared. The clutch slipped slightly as I let off it, gingerly giving it enough gas to crawl forward. Dad always joked about living a quarter mile at a time. I figure this car ought to have one more life in it, even if it was its last.

​

The smell of exhaust running a little too rich melded with cabin's scent. It smelled like so many days from the past. The light in front of me gleamed red against the black night, blurred by the smudged windscreen.

​

Then, for a moment, yellow.

​

Finally green.

​

The clutch barely held on as I dumped it through first gear. The motor screamed and howled in the night, headless of its own life. Rubber kissed asphalt, then found traction. My heart beat faster than the drumming of the cylinders within the machine.

​

The smile across my face was unrelenting. It was infectious. Every foot brought me closer to the end of the quarter mile, but also let me experience it. In rearview window, the starting line faded to yield to the horizon.

​

In the reflection, the stars twinkled brightly.

​

[WC: 498]

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Given that it’s the mafia I think it’s meant to be a gunshot, but the main character thinks it’s a car

Did you know your car only ever uses 25% of its engine?

I really don't like social interactions with other people, I've always had a lot of difficulties when it came to meeting and talking with new people. It got even worse when I came out to as gay to my parents, I didn't talk to almost anyone for a long time. That's why I liked working on cars so much, I could just put on my headphones and stay in my own world. It wasn't until Ryan brought his car in one day that I even considered talking with anyone. He was really patient and really kind to me, but also persistent enough to push me to do things. It took a long time for me to adjust to even calling him my boyfriend, but I was honestly so happy when he asked me to marry him.

When I first went to family events with him I was so nervous, and parts of his family did take some time to accept us, but he always stood up for me and they all eventually came around. They all even came to the wedding while none of my family even acknowledged me when I tried to talk to them about it. I never really knew that much about what Ryan did, he didn't talk about it but he always said he was a "Union guy" which I didn't really understand but I didn't really question it either. I was just happy to be with him.

A lot of people he worked with would come to big events, and he would introduce me to them, I still don't really talk much around other people but Ryan said they all seemed to like me which is good I guess. After awhile a lot of them started showing up at my garage when they needed any work done on their cars. It did seem a little weird and I was kind of confused when they all kept insisting on overpaying me, but the extra work was nice at least.

But today one of them came in with bullet holes all over his car and he was bleeding, I was really scared and I wasn't even sure what to do. He kept yelling at me to call some doctor but then all these gunshots started going off outside and I just ran into the supply closet and locked the door, I called the only person I could think of.

"Jamie? Jamie! Hey are you okay? You're spacing out on me again babe! I'm here now! We took care of those guys! Come on talk to me!"

"Wh...what? Oh! I'm sorry I um... Ryan I don't..."

He was right, I was completely spacing out. Running over everything that brought me to this moment. I tried to talk but it was so hard to get the words out. Ryan being around always helped me, but now having just seen him and his friends show up and shoot all those guys, it just put me in a state. I'm scared. I feel like I'm drowning in fear and anxiety, and now I'm worried the only hand to ever help pull me out is about to start holding me under. I don't know if this is like the movies, but looking back it all makes sense now. I can't believe I was so blind, maybe I just didn't want to see it. I didn't want to see that the only person who ever actually cared for me being involved in something so brutal. In the end I could only work out one thing.

"Do you have to kill me now?"

I didn't want him to answer, because I was pretty sure I already knew. But it was all I could think to say in the moment. Then I looked up and he had a mortified look on his face and he quickly wrapped his arms around me tightly, he was even choking up when he spoke.

"I could never do that to you, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm so sorry Jamie, I should have told you about all of this. I love you, I promise I would never do anything like that to you. I am so sorry."

As he spoke all I could do was hug him back. I was scared and I didn't know what was going on, but even through all this, his voice was still like the light at the end of a tunnel. I want to believe him, maybe because I don't know what else I can do. But all I know is that I still want to love him.

"I don't I know if I can handle this Ryan, this is too much. I don't understand what is happening."

"You don't have handle this, never again. I swear to you. I'm leaving this behind. Let's go somewhere far away, somewhere nice. We'll get you a new garage, just you and me."

I was so happy to hear him say that, I wanted that to happen. I wanted to be with him, I wanted to run away. Part of me always felt locked away staying in the same city as my parents anyway. I was so happy when he said that, I wanted it to be true. But when I opened my eyes all I could see was the gun barrel from behind him.

As I lay on the ground fading I could hear him yelling and shooting at his friends. Part of me knew this was coming, a bigger part of me didn't want to belive it. But at least in my final moments I could see that he truly did mean what he said. He really did want to run away with me. I'm so tired and cold now. It was nice experiencing true happiness for once though, even if it was for only a short time. I still love him.

(Sorry that got pretty dark at the end there. But let me know what y'all think of the story!)

The whole operation is run by Tony Lazuto.

It was his first day on the job, and Ted was determined to make a good impression. Sure it was just a construction job, but getting along with coworkers was important no matter what a person did for a living.

He had already gotten his safety gear and was heading to the field. The place was buzzing with activity. People ran around, the sound of tools filled the air, and large vehicles lumbered around. The place was dominated by the skeleton of the building in the middle though.

Since he had not gotten an assignment, Ted figured that was the best place to start looking for a foreman or a supervisor. Someone who could place him best. He hurried to the building in progress, but slowed greatly when he got there. He did not want to disturb anyone by moving too quickly, after all.

Apparently, he did not do a good enough job of that.

"Um, excuse me? Can I ask you to move? I have to deliver these pretty quickly, and there's not much room to move."

The speaker was a young woman, he could tell that by the voice. But there was plenty of room to move. What was she delivering that would require such a large space? He turned and his eyes widened.

The woman was quite the beauty, and while that would normally be quite important for him, what he focused on was what she was carrying. She held a massive pile of I-beams. Each one had to be more than ten feet long and at least two wide. And there were dozens of them. The pile was easily three times taller than she was, to say nothing of width. The woman held them over her head like it was nothing.

"Uh...sorry?" He said.

"Hm, you don't look familiar." She said. "Are you new here?"

"Y-yeah. I, uh, I'm just starting today."

She smiled brightly, practically ignoring her load. "That's great! We've been needing a few extra hands. I'm Mary, nice to meet you."

"I, uh, I'm Ted." He replied hesitantly.

"So, Ted, what can you do?"

"Huh?"

"What's your power?"

"My...power?"

Ted looked around. He saw a small shadow pass over the ground and looked up. He saw a person flying. In another part of the yard, several small pieces of metal were being held up by electricity that came from a bored looking woman. Ted's eyes opened wide at the realization.

"I...I think I might have gotten the wrong place."

"Why? Something wrong?"

"I...I, uh, I'm not a super."

"You're not?" She asked. He shook his head. "Oh, I see." She nodded. "You're that new guy."

"What?"

"We were told we were getting a normal soon. Don't worry, you're in the right place."

"No, I'm pretty sure I'm not." He watched a man weld two beams together by shooting flame out of his fingertips.

Molly chuckled. "No, I promise, you didn't make a mistake. Come on, I've got to deliver these beams. I'll introduce you to the boss when I'm done."

She started walking, leaving Ted to get out of her way and then follow behind. Maybe she would be able to protect him if some of the others got aggressive. Plus, he had a lot of questions.

"So, why would a super construction company need a normal guy like me?"

"Because you fulfill a very important role. And no, it's not just for a diversity hire. You're here to do all the things supers can't."

"Oh yeah, like there's anything like that." He said while rolling his eyes.

"No, really, it's true. Take me for example. What do you think would happen if I was to handle plywood? You know, the stuff we're going to need in very large quantities soon?"

"Uh, what?"

"It would break. I can't be gentle enough to grip something that fragile. Now, see that guy welding stuff? Don't get too close to him. He radiates heat like crazy. Not because he wanted to. He just does. And it's hot enough that he can't get close to anything that melts or burns easily. Like plastic. And see that girl with the lightning powers? Can't get within ten feet of anything with a circuit board."

"So, I'm here to handle all the fragile stuff?"

"That's right. And make no mistake, there is a lot of that. In fact, without you, we'll never be able to get this building done. Heck, I'd say pretty soon you'll be the most in demand person here."

"Even though I can't lift...however much you are?"

"I'd say it's about 95 tons." She said casually. "And it's because you can't lift this much."

Ted thought about that in silence as he followed her. It was hard to believe that he could ever do something a bunch of supers could not. He knew they were rare, but everything he had heard about them said they were just better in every way. Nothing about normals like him being useful to people who could fly or lift hundreds of tons.

Even looking at such a slender woman easily lifting such a huge amount of metal made him feel useless. But he had also never spoken to a super himself. Few people had, given their rarity. And now one of them was telling him he was not only useful, but essential? It was hard to believe.

But as he thought about it, he came to realize that he had to have been hired for something. Which meant he would be good for something. He would just have to find out what that was.

Thanks.

The prompt was good fun.

Gods i love this one. This is a good prompt, amazin!!!

Might be a reference to human trafficking? Hybrid, pretty, so on? I really dunno, rhats a bit of a miss

What is magic?

Staring at the thatched roof of his bedchamber, Norin pondered his master's words.

What.

Is.

Magic?

Then it hit him with the force of an earthquake. And Norin smiled.

I can't wait to tell Master that.

Osao almost dropped his tea when Norin barrelled into the garden, panting and out of breath. The sun was barely up, and he chuckled at the excitement written on his apprentice's face.

"Master! I know it!"

"Know that I gave you the day off?" Osao teased. Norin, always serious, straightened up and nodded.

"Apologies for interrupting, Master, but I know the answer to your riddle."

The mage chuckled again and raised the cup to his lips. "It wasn't quite a riddle, my young apprentice, but continue. You know what magic is?"

"I believe so, Master."

For a moment, all was silent, except the chirping of the earliest birds. Osao raised an eyebrow with a cheeky smile. "Is that your answer? Well, I'm afraid you aren't-"

"Magic is belief!" he blurted out. Osao's smile grew wider. "Is it? Is magic belief?"

"What makes you think that?"

Norin visibly drooped. "So. . . it isn't?"

"Now, I didn't say that." The mage set his cup back down on the tray. "But why do you think that? What makes magic belief?"

"Well. . ." Norin scratched the back of his neck nervously; Osao noted that he was still in his pajamas. Eager today, aren't we? "Well, Master. . . I stopped. . . I stopped believing I could do it," he admitted, hanging his head in shame. "I stopped believing I could make the fire listen. I stopped believing the water would change direction. I stopped believing the earth would open up for me. And it didn't."

Osao smiled warmly. "So you've learned the lesson."

Norin looked up, confusion written across his tired-looking face. When was the last time you got a full night's sleep.

"It took me many years to realize that I could only do magic if I believed I could," he continued. "Many long, painful years. I could make the air to move around me, and I got so good at it that I could fly like a bird! But then. . . then I fell. Fell right out of the sky!

"I broke my leg, but most of all, I broke my pride and my trust in myself. I kept thinking 'Why then? What did I do wrong right then?' My master gave me a riddle, when I asked him why. What gives power and takes it, makes right and makes wrong?"

Norin's expression only grew more confused. Osao gestured to the other chair, and his apprentice sat without complaint.

"At first, I answer that magic did. Magic gives power and takes it, and it makes right the wrongs and wrong the rights. See?"

He nodded.

"But my master told me "Keep trying, apprentice. That's not it."

"So I did. I guess all kinds of things! truth, hope, love. . . then, finally, I guessed belief. And you know what my master did?"

Norin shook his head.

"He looked me dead in the eye and said: 'That's what you're missing, my young apprentice. You're missing your belief.'"

"Is that what I'm missing, master?"

Osao nodded. "Magic is belief, Norin. If you believe you can, then you can. If you don't, you won't. It's as simple as that. But you have to really, truly believe it. You can't just say "I believe this flood will go the other way!" and it will. You have to truly believe you can make it. That's where most people falter. They don't believe in themselves. That's just as important as anything else you've learned.

"Now!" Osao stood up. "I believe we have some confidence building to do!"

Norin smiled, and nodded.

(Apologies for any errors or incoherency! It's eleven at night where I am and I'm tired.)

All I can figure is it's the car they'll use to transport the body?

Oohhh. I like this one.

Tony and Artie of course! Salud!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you don't "buy the art" for the full price, it might be your eyes they take for payment of "the art"

I sat in my new black dress, my husband had bought for me to wear tonight. I felt both under and over dressed at the same time. It was just a family dinner, but I could never be as elegant, as the supermodel beauties his brothers had married, or have the natural confidence of his sisters. I could just be me.

"That's what I love about you baby, you're you. You're unique."

Instead of the formal dining area, where we had our usual Sunday dinners, we turned into the ballroom. Antonio's already huge family of 9, plus partners, had grown 10 fold.

"I thought it was just family tonight." I whispered

"It is. The full, extended family."

"Oh of course."

"This is Uncle Tommy" he said, as a large man grabbed my hand pulling me close and kissing my cheeks. I searched my memory for a fact about him.

"You have the Tommy gun tattoos on your arms right? As in Tommy's guns. Very fitting. I look forward to seeing them in action in the summer Tommy."

Tommy smiled and moved off to greet someone else.

"And this is Uncle Saul"

"Oh yes, Sawing Saul? Are you the carpenter?"

Before he could answer, I corrected myself. Bone saw Saul, of course he was the butcher.

"That would be Harry the Hammer. Who works with Charlie the Coffin maker. Very talented, he should train a new apprentice. It's a dying skill." I laughed at my little joke. Coffin maker, dying skill.

"And what do you do Elizabeth?" Asked Saul.

"Me, oh a little bit of everything. I'm mostly behind the scenes, administration, logistics, ad hoc duties, etc. I work for a special care facility. That's how I met Antonio. He brought in his uncle Mikey into my facility, tongue cancer, I was told. Do you remember him? His tongue was surgically removed."

I turned to Antonio "I hope they revoked that doctor's medical licence."

I turned back to Saul,

"Absolute hack job. I could have done a better job with my sewing scissors."

"Of course Saul remembers him. They were very close. He won't forget what happened to Mikey." Added Antonio

"Oh and his knee caps. Couldn't walk a step" I continued. I was rambling a little.

"Our doctor's couldn't understand how they had deteriorated so badly. Sporting injury supposedly, but the doctor's said it was like they'd been crushed into powder"

Saul started to sweat. I could understand crowds made me anxious too.

"Oh sorry let's not talk shop. Let's enjoy dinner."

I searched my mind for a change of topic. He probably didn't want to think about his family in such a state. I saw Charlie in the crowd.

"Charlie is doing well for himself. I've sent a lot of business Charlie's way."

Antonio chuckled

"He never knew he could make so much money legitimately, making coffins" Added Antonio. Saul had gone quiet and pale. It was a little warm in here.

"We'll all need one, one day my love. Hopefully not too soon for us. Oh Saul. You have blood on your collar. It looks set, apply glycerine with a cotton ball, to either side of the stain. Rub in circles from the outside to the inside, until it starts to shift. Then wash it in cold water. You learn a lot about cleaning out blood in my line of work"

It was nothing more than a faint gold glimmer tucked low in the dirt, half-shielded from the snow by a juniper tree. If I hadn't been hunting coins for the last month, I doubt I would have seen it.

I tromped over to the bush, pulled my glove out of my pocket and yanked it free. A long span of gold-veined wood, cardinal fletchings, and...a heart-shaped arrowhead. Heart shaped arrowhead? Better not be some smartass kid trying to hunt strays. I carefully balled my gloves around the sharp point, tucked it into the inside pocket of my coat. I have some research to do, I thought, and hurried on with my errands.

It was dark when I returned to my apartment. Cold. Dang furnace hadn't kicked on while I'd been out. I coaxed the furnace on, ducked into my room to pile on the layers. I pulled the arrow out of my jacket and nearly dropped it when I felt the pulsing warmth beneath my frozen fingers. Magick -- potent too. I sat on my bed, carefully turning it over and over. Set it down, pulled up firefox on my computer and got to searching. It didn't take long to confirm my suspicions. Cupid's arrows are said to spark love when they strike someone's heart. Who would I use it on? Romance had been dead for me for several years. Bad breakup and shady engagement, several toxic relationships-- no one in my family would appreciate my meddling in their love lives, either. I shook my head and decided to shower and put some life back into my limbs before I did anything else.

It was sharper than anticipated, more weapon than blessing. I closed my eyes, let out a hard breath. If this worked, my life would be easier. If it failed, the consequences would shatter what confidence I had left. My hands shook, but I spoke clearly (philautia!) before driving the arrowhead into my own heart.

Love it - I don't quite get the bit about the car, though (the hybrid, not the "backfire") - Can someone 'splain it to me? Maybe it's a movie reference, I'm bad with those.

Yeah, I remember that.

From a scientific stand point the premise was all kinds of flawed. It makes for cool sci-fi but personally I reject the idea of actually using it as sci-fi because too many people believe that it's actually plausible and it just perpetuates bad science ideas.

I just did a search on this subject and this article from psychology today was the first one I clicked on. It just so happens to make reference to Lucy.