We sat across from each other in the living room, the awkward tension thick in the air. I was sat with my girlfriend, Caitlin, on the sofa her hand in mine. My grandmother was sat in her usual seat near to the fire, glaring daggers directly at me and muttering darkly under her breath in Gàidhlig. My mother was fussing, trying to calm her down and my father had resolutely decided that discretion was the better part of valour and fled to the kitchen to 'make tea'. He'd been gone for fifteen minutes, and I was starting to suspect that the kettle wasn't going to finish boiling any time soon.

The word that my grandmother had uttered upon laying eyes on Caitlin still echoed under it all, and I squirmed in my seat nervously. Caitlin squeezed my hand and I glanced to her, taking some small comfort in her sympathetic smile. Unfortunately, that smallest of movements seemed enough to undo whatever truce my mother had managed to scramble together and my grandmother pushed her away, "See now girl, I'm not senile yet!" She snapped, her accent thicker with her upset its flavour of the northern shores of Scotland barely penetrable, "Nor am I blind. I know what I see, and I see what I know. Now I want answers out of my grandson and I'll have them now!"

She turned on me, then, and my mother wrung her hands helplessly, giving me a worried, apologetic look. I quailed inside at the ferocity of my grandmother's glare, "It's not what you-" I attempted.

"Don't you start!" She cut me off, hand chopping down in a vicious silencing motion, "The truth out of you, boy, or I'll have you over my knee see that I won't!" She jabbed a finger towards Caitlin, "Well? What have you done with this poor girl then? Out with it!"

I froze, eyes widening, the protestations on my lips dying instantly. It was like my mind had stuttered like one of those old vinyl record players juddering over a damaged groove. "I uh.. w-what? Wait, no that's not-" I started, but the words failed, my mouth went dry, and a sick feeling coiled in my stomach as I realised just what my grandmother thought!

"It's not what?" My grandmother growled, "That you think you can get this past me? I thought we raised you better than this. I know what she is, written plain as day. She's a Maighdeann-mhara. A Selkie, if I've not missed my guess, and I know full-well how a land-born man gets himself a selkie lover. Out with it, then, boy. Where's her seal-coat, eh? Where've you hidden it? Give it up and give the thing back to her or I'll get myself a switch and make her a fresh one out of your hide instead!"

I paled, and that sick feeling in my stomach only got worse. My mother put her head in her hands, and looked like she'd rather be anywhere else. Caitlin's eyes widened as she realised at last just what my grandmother was so angry about. It wasn't her, not really. It was the old stories, and the implication! I flushed hot, something in me angry that my own grandmother would think I could ever, ever do something so awful but more than that I was angry that this sort of thing must have happened often enough that the stories still persisted even after all this time.

Before I could try to stammer out a weak response, that surely my grandmother would have dismissed out of hand - she was always so difficult when she got like this, and stubborn in her anger too - Caitlin got to her feet and went over to my grandmother and knelt down by the side of the chair and grasped her hand, "It's not what you think, ma'am," she said, shaking her head, "Please believe me. I chose this willingly. Your grandson and I have been friends for a long time, and I chose to do this. To give up my seal-coat and leave the sea. I know that it'll be difficult. That I'll always pine for the sea in my heart; but I couldn't stay there, and pine for him instead. He didn't take my seal-coat, I gave it to him. It's folded up in a box at the bottom of our wardrobe back home. When you come visit, I can show it to you. I'm here by choice, not by force."

My grandmother frowned, stared down at her, eyes searching, suspicious, but the sincerity shining in Caitlin's eyes seemed to convince her and she relented, "Hmf... I'll want to see it," she grumbled at last, "But... I believe you girl." she looked at me, shaking her head, "I'm sorry for doubting you. When I saw her... well, it's no excuse. I should have known better that you wouldn't force yourself on a girl."

I shook my head, "no it's.. it's okay. I'm glad that... that you were looking out for her. It's good to do that if you... if you have reason to ever think something like that. I'm grateful grandmother, really." I smiled weakly at her, my stomach slowly settling. I was still flushing hot and cold. Where was dad with that tea? I really needed one now to calm down.

The awkwardness descended again, of a different timbre this time, but luckily my father managed to make his belated re-entry with a tray with full mugs of tea and a plate of biscuits. Conversation was stilted, at first, but Caitlin seemed to decide that ignoring the whole ordeal was probably best and soon enough her warm and enthusiastic responses had my mother laughing and my father smiling and the atmosphere lightened. Later, as we were leaving my mother took Caitlin aside to thank her for "humouring" her mother, and apologised for her behaviour. she was getting on, and she'd always believed in the old stories, and it seemed that her advancing age was finally catching up to her. Caitlin, of course brushed it off and reassured my mother she wasn't offended.

It wasn't until we were alone in the car on the drive back to our house, that she looked at me with a sly smile, "that went pretty well. so, when are you going to tell them that you've got a boyfriend of the daoine sìth too?"

I choked at that and blushed hot, "At this point I think they might take the news I've got both a boyfriend and a girlfriend worse than that they're both mythological beings. Bisexuality? They came around on. you being a selkie? Well only my grandmother actually believes that. Polyamory, though, might be a step too far."

She laughed about that the entire way home.

I'm gonna wish for the best lawyer in the universe who can also speak my language and won't charge me money and also is very motivated to help me get whatever i want a 100%, then make said lawyer make up 2 perfect wishes for me and make the genie sign them.

(yeah i'm stealing the idea from Timmy Turner but it's still the best idea for dealing with a malicious genie)

This is wonderful! I’m waiting for the next page with bated breath!

Obviously, at least in my headcanon. Also he has Bud Spencers voice.

The prop room of the studio was cluttered, dusty, and dimly lit; not the expected place for anything magical to happen. Several of the lights in the back corner were out, making it hard to see finer details like the labels on the props. The film studio’s new assistant prop handler, a man in his late twenties, was in the back of the prop room trying to dust off the label on an Aladdin-style lamp. His job title made him sound more important than he really was. If anything, he was more of a glorified PA. The higher-ups would give him a list of prop and costume ID numbers, and he’d gather them up and bring them to the set as quickly as he could. Passing the PAs in the halls, he couldn’t help but think: if he were carrying cups of coffee rather than a trolley of props, his title and payroll would be the same as theirs. It’s not like he could really complain; he was getting paid more for a task of equal labor after all! It just wasn’t what he had hoped for when he moved to Hollywood to join the film industry.

As the man brushed his sleeve against the golden lamp, he suddenly felt a tingle like static electricity along his skin. The broken lights in the corner of the room flicked on.

“Huh,” the man said, glancing up. He looked back at the lamp, hoping to be able to read the string of numbers now, but instead his gaze rested on a small orb of light on top of the lamp. The light was shaped like a small person, no more than a couple inches tall. It sat atop the lamp, swinging its feet and looking around the storeroom curiously.

“It’s gotten awfully dusty in here since the last time someone let me out,” the light remarked.

“What are you?” the man asked, realizing too late that his question sounded rather impolite.

“I’m a genie,” the light replied. “I thought that was kind of obvious, given the whole rubbing-a-lamp-and-me- showing-up thing.”

“I didn’t mean to summon you,” the man said.

“Even if you didn’t, you still get three wishes,” the genie said, hopping onto a stack of dictionaries. “So hit me! What’ll it be, boss?”

The man cleared off a spot on a ratty sofa and sat down. There were plenty of things he could wish for. His career journey- and his move to Hollywood- left much to be desired. On an even larger scale, he could ask for perfect health for his family, a billion dollars, or even world peace!

He put his head in his hands, feeling overwhelmed by the possibilities. After a few moments, he looked up and addressed the genie.

“You’ve been around a long time, right?” he asked. “What do you recommend?”

Even without distinct facial features, he could tell the genie was surprised. “What do I recommend you wish for?”

“Yeah,” the man said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I bet you’ve seen it all. The selfish wishes, the stupid wishes, the wishes that were more of a monkey’s paw… If anyone would have good advice about this, it would be you.”

The genie shook his head and hopped onto a shelf next to his stack of books. “Look kid, as depressing as this might sound, I don’t believe in wishes.” He slid down the bar of the shelving unit like a fireman pole and landed gracefully on the linoleum tiles. “I’ve granted many, many wishes and I have yet to see someone make one they didn’t regret.” He picked up a golf pencil that had rolled into a corner and pointed the tip at the man sitting on the couch. “Wishes ruin people. What’s that one quote? ‘When the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers?’”

The man nodded. “Oscar Wilde.”

“See, you get it!” The genie said, jabbing the pencil in his direction. He tossed it over his shoulder before continuing. “I know the contract here is that you kind of have to make 3 wishes, but you asked for my opinion and my opinion is to find a way out of this mess.”

The man thought for a minute while he watched the genie examine random items he found under the furniture. The genie was halfway under a loveseat, reaching for god knows what, when the man spoke again.

“How long have you been alive? Like how long have you been stuck in the cycle of waiting for someone to summon you and then getting trapped in the lamp?” The genie pulled his head out from under the loveseat. “A long time.”

“Don’t you ever wish you could do something else?” The genie laughed shortly. “Interesting choice of words. And even if I could make my own wishes, I’d probably just become as greedy and selfish as you humans. No offense.”

The man thought back to the PAs he’d seen getting ordered around every day. They could use a few wishes. And his dad, who had been battling cancer on and off for years now. Hell, even the homeless man he’d seen outside on his way to work needed these wishes. None of them had rubbed a dusty old lamp in the props room, but that didn’t mean they deserved this opportunity any less.

“Would you be interested in a bit of a career change?” he asked the genie cautiously.

The genie looked up from the penny he’d been inspecting, intrigued.

“I was thinking I could use one of my wishes to free you, and your new job would be traveling around and granting the wishes of strangers. Like little acts of kindness.”

“Ah, and since they wouldn’t start out with the knowledge they have a wish, the greed wouldn’t get to them!” The genie added. “I like the way you think.”

“I only need the one wish, since you’d be free immediately after and you won’t be obligated to fill the other two anymore.”

“Right,” the genie said.

The man sat up straight and squeezed his eyes shut. “In that case, I wish you were free from the lamp and could grant the wishes of strangers you see who might need them.”

He opened his eyes, but the genie was gone. The lights overhead winked out. Everything looked exactly the same as when he had walked in, but he knew that the world had just changed.

Argh, I need more! Looking forward to Pt.3

"Three wishes." Said the genie. Or being. Or thing. I'm not sure what it actually is. It looks vaguely humanoid, but then again not really. I can't tell at all, it is like looking at mist and trying to make a shape out of it.

"Are you a genie?" I could feel my voice crack trying to speak out the words.

"I have been called that, and many more. Relax, state your wishes and we can move on." Replied the being.

I took a small amount of time and calm myself down. I took pride in it what I managed. I doubt many could stay calm being in such an extraordinary situation.

"You don't look like what was told in the stories." I tried to find some information, anything, as I'm not sure to flee, or or fleeing is even possible, or perhaps there are really wishes? I find it impossible to believe.

"The form you see is merely a fragment of myself. Humans see what they believe. You are someone who does not believe in genies in the stories, so my form does not appear to be anything."

"If that is so, what are you exactly? Why am I getting wishes for nothing, or perhaps there's something in exchange?"

"A curious and cautious one are you not little one? But I see fear in your eyes. If you are afraid, why are you not running away?"

"I'm not sure, but I don't think I can escape if you wanted me not to." I could almost see the misty thing grin as those words left my mouth. Maybe I talked too much, I've had people warned me because of that. Yet, well what is said is said.

"To ease you, I will let you know that I will not be stopping you if you leave. And to answer your question, it will be impossible for you to understand. Your mind simply is unable grasp what I truly am, and why it is so."

I wasn't sure what it really meant, but I wanted to get at least some answers. I fell in silence for a moment, and tried another question "You said you'll grand me three wishes. But what is the catch? I don't think wishes come freely."

"It is free for you. The reason, as I have told, your is mind simply unable to understand it."

Now I'm stuck, it seems that I could leave, but it is giving me wishes. I'm very confused yet I could not find answers. And I do understand that I will need to be careful of what I wish for.

"So, if I wish for something it will be granted? Will it not be twisted into something else? I've heard a lot stories... " My voice trail off as I realized I might offended whatever this thing is.

"You little ones have come far, but I do not twist your wishes. I only give what you wanted, but you expected too much, and understand too little."

"Can you explain that please?"

"Some people love power, they wish for power beyond what they are capable of, to control the wind, to call upon lightning and such. But little ones, you can only do what your existence allows."

"Then what happens to those who wishes for such powers?"

"They tried and succeed, and disintegrated into part of the universe."

"You mean they die doing it?"

"Yes and no. When you little ones die, it is because of your shell ended. And you return back into the universe, when they use powers that isn't part of their nature, they disintegrated and return to the universe."

"That sounds the same."

"Because you are unable to understand it with your mind."

"If I wish to understand it, I will too disintegrated?"

"Correct."

"Then... What do you suggest that I wish for?"

"Something that you will not mind not being in control of."

"What do you mean?"

"Some wished for wealth, but their children turns against them for the wealth. Some wish for health but they live pass all their loved ones. I am not in control of what happens after the wish, what happens is just because."

"That seems impossible."

The being did not reply. And what it said makes sense. So I asked again " What will happen to you if I make no wishes or just one wish?"

"I will leave, return to part of myself."

After some thought I said "I wish to leave this place, and forget everything that had happened in here."

" Granted. "

I really enjoyed this- it was very well written and I loved the ending :)

I will definitely remember this suggestion

[removed]

So very funny!

Oooh! Nice!

This is so well written! Excited for the rest

Lund had already told the whole village of his fateful encounter with the beast. How it knocked him off his horse, Frey, and carried the poor thing away, her blood dripping from its fangs. How he surely only survived for the hiding spot he quickly found. How the truce between dragon and man has surely been called off by this attack. And now, a depressed Lund simply wanted to grieve his beloved horse with a generous amount of mead. But apparently the gods ruled he could not have even that, as a rumbling greater than any earthquake he had ever experienced shook the tavern, mugs and people alike falling to the ground from the force. Without even a look at one another, each patron brave enough to carry a sword drew theirs, including Lund, and all ran out the door to see what fate had befallen their home. Although only one earthly creature had the ability to make such an entrance, not one of the men had expected to actually see a dragon sat in the middle of their village. Women ran, children cried, and every warrior stood at the ready, although strangely there seemed to be no blood.

Almost all the men were prepared to not let such a stroke of luck go to waste, but Lund could only stare as the one responsible for dear Frey's death stared back. "I HAVE COME FOR YOU, HUMAN." With that declaration of war, the men charged, aiming their swords for the creature's heart as the old legends instructed, but not one even managed to get close as the dragon simply opened its wings and blew every man away. "I APOLOGIZE," the dragon roared, "I MUST... WORK... ON MY MANNERS." And in what must have been a sign of peace, the dragon lowered its head, resting it on the cobblestone, right in front of Lund. Able to now speak softer, the dragon continued. "I am... ashamed of my actions, human. I have offended you and also my people. For that I am sorry. My punishment has already been decided by my fellow dragons. I am... to... become... your new steed. Do you... accept."

The whole village stood silent, stunned. Even the children could feel the weight of the dragon's words in their parents. Every head, once locked onto the dragon, all slowly turned to Lund, for his answer. But what answer could one possibly give to such a question? But after a while, Lund finally stammered the only answer he could muster, "uhm... I- I guess?"

Also, if it's possible, make sure teleportation is a painless power.

Very good!

Ack! You stopped! Nooooooo! More, please!

Sometimes it’s just best to start small, and create a series of events until the rest of the story unfolds. Once you get it all put out there you can start revising until you get a finished story.

I'm so caught up! Looking forward to the rest!

[removed]

"It will be alright. I have met a few mothers before, dear."

Damn, my fiddler looked good. A natty suit and new white shirt had turned a ruggedly handsome hipster boy into a sharply angled man before my eyes in a wonderful whirlwind of dress up in my small flat. If we wouldn't have been late... but Wilma Eklund-Sanford didn't believe in tardiness.

I worried because of how easily my mother read me, and knew that I had a new man. Not much slipped by Wilma, a skill that paid off in her role as a contract lawyer. The house we stood in front of after a short walk from the El was beautiful, and paid for by the patronage of dozens of major clients who saw me grow up in a little office in Oldtown.

She had caught me humming while rolling Drömmar for Christmas dinner. A few pointed questions, a peck on the cheek, and five minutes later I was out the door and the invitation that wasn't negotiable had been set.

"I know, but this is my first time." I felt ready to run then, right until Anders grasped my freezing hands in his even colder ones.

"Do not worry. I will be gentle."

The words were warm honey, sweetening my path up the steps to the big wood and wrought iron door of the house. I opened the door and let Anders slink by me into the foyer, never touching the frame.

I had been that girl and asked him to bring her with him. Even then, we had been almost a throuple, me and my man and his fiddle. I loved listening to him play, even when he humored me by practicing on Sunday mornings. He didn't need to practice; Anders may have had some strange habits, but with his fiddle he was meticulous, never missing a note on even the hardest songs he played. Those fingers, long and thin and delicate, would press and pluck and draw on her, and he would get lost in his practice in a way he never was on the street.

The songs he played the were art, beauty in a way that was almost indescribable. Dirgelike sadness effortlessly blending to pastoral softness, then into driving thunder to patter out into smooth sensual peaks and valleys. I would find myself humming and dancing in my flat, and see that slow knowing smile and finally make him quit practicing... ahh, there is something to dating a musician.

We were met by the sounds of chatting in the living room, the voices of my aunts and grandmother. The men had been sent off, which was not a good sign. I felt like a doe that had been led into a trap, though my buck just smiled and slipped off his shoes at the door, taking off his jacket and hanging it on a peg then setting her down and stretching a bit.

"It will be a long night, but we will have fun, yes?" He squeezed my hand, and I knew everything was going to be alright. He handed me a small flask kept in his hip pocket and I took a shot of whiskey, the burn helping me to settle my nerves and brace myself for the coming night.

"Alright. I think I'm ready."

Its a masterpiece bro😭 This is so helpful too. Thanks for this. Its actually all i needed, comments really helped me.

Oh man. I need to know what happens next. This is so good

genie: don't wish for momentary things

tim: immediately wishes for something momentary

I Think they are saying our eyes are foreign object.