Davv walked into the coffee shop, the air was crackling. You can't put your finger on it, you try to shake it off. Tables murmured with animated figures, a drink is spilled, eyes look up for a second, then back to their phones. There is no lineup, but Davv wished there was. The brush bearded barista greets Davv without words. A tidal wave of heat hit Davv like a bus. A double decker bus that hadn't been washed, and a diesel smoking engine, most definitely not on schedule for a service.

You know that expression "love at first sight?" -this is the opposite. Spite at first sight.

"what can I get for you today?" The barista growls the words with the ferocity of a foundry. He remembered Davv, now it comes back, like a film being flashed through.

A betrayal. He left Davv literally hanging cliffside, and fell. Was it a falling down thing? It was definitely something, but a betrayal nonetheless. Davv died. Not really dead. Injured and with fragmented memories. This was ages ago.

"Lief, please just the latte today". The words are sent forth with a mix of emotions, hurt, angry, confusion.

"coming right up," Lief spits back. You go for the weather-checked wallet to pay. Spilling the change on the counter, Lief is studious, meticulous, even. The passage of time is a clock, with the gears covered in tar. Lief moves with deliberate movements, getting the measurements just right, moving like a well oiled machine. The tension is thick, hypnotic. "This is my doing, stop it, he can't hurt me here, can he? Look at him, he enjoys?" I'm manufacturing a scenario that doesn't exist. Give him the benefit of the doubt ".

Out of nowhere, a cooler of ice water is thrown at Davv.

"This. This is where you get yours, Davv!"

Flung into a panic, like a leaf in the wind.

"This. I have waited too long to make sure you get yours"!

-"whuuut?!" "uh uhhh, I..I.."

"your Latte, on the house, enjoy!"

Davv dives for the drink, no poison, no surprise potions, or added tinctures. The right temp, great taste. Possibly one of the better Latte ever. No. The best Latte.

"Social cues, were never my Forte, Davv." Lief confessed. "Coffee is my passion, my pride and joy, even"

Davv drinks the latte appreciatedly, and finds his way to the door. Outside, the wind nips at Davv, he pulls his dark coat close. Davv swivels back to wave at Lief, - he's gone. "hrmph, prolly gone in the back to get stock".

Davv heads out, enjoying the Latte.

Maybe people can change.

That's the best part

Thanks!

Why is it not healthy the pain?

100 Bullets

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"Listen Chris.... You by Chris now. Right?... Laftia was 120 years ago. If I could go anywhere else I would." I said as I removed my hood.

"Charlatan!" Chris yelled. As Runes lit up beneath my feet and I lifted in the air

"only 9 Sides to the containment star" I laughed to myself as I dispelled the poorly laid trap with anti-magic in my shoelaces.

Landing gracefully on the ground l looked him dead in the eyes

"It's a very nice shop you have here. I'm very grateful your open at 1 am."

The anger in his eyes was evident but he was listening at least. I shrugged.

"Hot chia latte no foam, please. I promise I'll tip well." As I laid the pendant on the table

"Where the hell did you even" Chris gasped with surprise

"Soy if you have it please" I smiled

10 minutes passed and Chris showed up at my table.

"I go by toph now you have some nerve"... "But that pendant I was sure it was destroyed" toph said as he handed me the chia.

"It's a long story" I laughed "but when isn't it with people like us"

'I don't know if you're getting these, but we're trying our best to get you out!' The young man crumples up the note and tosses it onto a pile of notes.

Ya'mir: "Your best, huh? What a joke...."

He sits down, laying his head in his arms. Until a soft disembodied voice speaks.

????: "Lost?"

Ya'mir looks around frantically.

Ya'mir: "Wha- Who's there?!"

????: "Just a concerned friend. I noticed your presence in my realm and thought I'd come see your dilemma."

Ya'mir clenches his fist, tears forming in his eyes.

Ya'mir: "It started when I signed up for this stupid internship. I had to collect data for anomalies forming around my town, Faela, but as I collected data. The scientist wanted more for their studies. So they asked me to go inside the rift in the ground....I would've said no, but the rift became bigger and I lost my footing. They thought it would lead to a world like no other.....guess they were right."

????: "The place you come from. What's it like?"

Ya'mir: "Huh? Why do you care?"

????: "Merely conversation. I could leave if you li-"

Ya'mir: "NO! N-No, please don't go.....it's been so long since I've heard someone else.... My place is very magical. We can get wherever we need in the blink of an eye, conjure up fire with the wave of our finger. Stopping to think about it, I don't know where we'd be without powers like those."

????: "Do you think you can show me some of that power?"

Ya'mir: "I would, but i haven't eaten in what feels like forever. I can't use it on an emp-"

Suddenly, a fully cooked pot roast appeared in front of him.

????: "Will this suffice your appetite?"

Ya'mir looks on amazed. He drops down and begins scarfing it down. Once he's done, he stands up and shakes his body.

Ya'mir: "That's all I needed. How'd you do that anyway?"

????: "My realm, my rules."

Ya'mir: "I see, that's amazing. What else can you do?"

Wind begins to pick up swirling around Ya'mir. He covers his face as the wind becomes extremely intense. Once it stops, Ya'mir opens his eyes to see a world full of life. There were vibrant green hills with flowers along them. A waterfall could be heard in the distance, and the skies were clear blue with a bright sun shining on Ya'mir.

Ya'mir: "T-This is amazing! All of this.....you did all of this?!"

????: "That's right, hehe~ My realm, my rules remember. Now, about your power?"

Ya'mir: "Oh right, sorry!"

Ya'mir closes his eyes and kneels down, sparks begin to fly from his feet as he dashes, and in an instant, he's at the water fall.

Ya'mir: "Controlling it tends to be hard unless I'm focused solely on distributing it."

????: "That was amazing!"

Ya'mir: "Heh, thanks. By the way, I never got your name."

????: "Oh my name?"

A young girl comes from the waterfall and holds out her hand.

Gaia: "You can call me Gaia."

Ya'mir shakes her hand, smiling.

Ya'mir: "Right, it's nice to meet you."

Lmao

I already mentioned in one of my previous comments that it could be any combo of any elements as long as it's not metals,as long as they are compatible,we just took oxygen as basis as it's the only element that we are currently familiar with in terms of life form energy usage

"Hey, you look kinda familiar."

"Oh gods dammit. Why the fuck are you here?"

"Oh. You. Look, I'm over that shit from way back when. I'm just running this coffee shop & don't give a shit about our old beef. I'm not gonna be your friend, but I'm not looking for us to continue the fight. So ya want a drink or are you gonna get out?"

"I'll just have a chai latte. That's it."

"Sorry, we don't make those here. Anything else?"

"Nope. Too strong of a craving. I'll be back at some point to get something else."

"Alright. See ya round, cousin."

While the career of a supervillain is expected to end with a bang, the shot of a perfectly normal gun was not expected.

Toxus had marauded the city for years with impunity. The old man was regularly stopped by Doctor Cure, but never truly punished. Prison was but a hotel for him, to enter and leave as he pleased. It was rumored he was assigned to the exact same cell, which is said to have a secret hatch. This man had released biological weapons that can turn a normal person into a writhing abomination on entire city blocks. His victims have their own hospital wing as the exotic nature of his weapons would give Nurgle a crippling erection.

No matter what he did, it was as if the law didn’t apply to him beyond locking him a box with a hole built in.

Nature wasn’t so lenient, as the twisted monster’s gaunt form fell onto the ground. A mere handgun had punched through his sprayer tanks and into his back. Doctor Cure watched in horror as the wretched shell of a human fell onto the ground writhing in agony as his own creation contaminated both his airways and blood. His excess security on his suit doomed him, as she could never get to his skin in time before he was gone beyond hope.

The doctor turned to see a ten year old girl with eyes pink from crying holding a revolver. Behind her were two shriveled bodies, a man and a woman. Before she could react, the child began shooting again, emptying the entire gun into the still dying Toxus. When she ran out, she threw the gun at his mask with no effect before running off down the street.

Doctor Cure couldn’t move this whole time, just staring at the visceral scene that would haunt her forever. She then left wordlessly, leaving Toxus to his own personal hell in his armor. His newest creation would heal the victim endlessly as it destroyed them. For once, he wished his newest creation had failed.

I swear these [WP]’s get dumber every week.. 😅

NOVEMBER

My hair fell away, my leg bones ached as some stretched and others shrunk, my hips and shoulders popped into new positions, my front paws twisted into strange talons, my muzzle pulled back, and my mind reeled with a new awareness.

Clothes. I needed clothes. I wasn't yet sure why, but it certainly seemed important. The strange woman was, thankfully, holding some out for me.

"They'll change with you," she said as I donned shirt and pants and trousers and shoes and realized that she was a woman, not just a human. And then I realized I was a human. But I wasn't a human. But I was now.

"Why... me?" I forced the words out like vomit after I'd eaten to much grass. I struggled a moment with how to move my legs, then what to do with my arms as I did, then what to do with my arms when I didn't, and wondered how humans lived like this.

"Because you were here when I needed someone." She patted my head, and I shook it off. "Here, put this on as well. You name is Lukas. Lukas Gareau. My brother."

"Why?" That one came easier.

"Because inheritance law is stupid."

I struggled to understand that, even as language was coming easier.

"It's not important. You are my brother, heir to our father, and will leave your home here in my care as your work forces you to live in a different home outside the area. I just need you to last through tonight, then I will return you to your canine form, and leave you meat at the edge of my property on occasion. Deal?"

"Sounds good." It felt almost pleasant to speak now. "Who are you?"

"I am your sister, Diana."

DECEMBER

I was supposed to be hunting deer with the pack, but something had drawn me back to her home. Some instinct, perhaps, of what was to come. As soon as the moon shone, I felt the change begin. It was painful, as much as the first time, but it seemed faster. I was seated on her steps, debating knocking, when she came out and startled at the sight of me.

"I thought I turned you back?"

"You did. But it didn't stick. I am trying to understand why."

"As am I, now that I know about the problem."

"Have you put out any meat?"

"Not as much as I planned. It's been a lean year."

So none, I thought, though my gut said this wasn't why.

"I think I should try changing you back again."

"I'd appreciate it."

JANUARY

I found myself once more at her property. I ate the small scrap of meat, barely a mouthful, before the moon rose. Somehow, I knew it would repulse me after. The pain persisted, but I was certain now it was quicker.

I glanced at the moon, the marched up and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

I opened the door to see her standing at a table with glass bottles and tubes, small fires and a few stone bowls. "I was worried you'd be back. Can't blame my lack of meat now, can you?"

"Ha, no. I know you kept it up. Though you can stop now if you need."

"No, I need to watch you as a wolf. It might help me figure out what I did wrong."

"I'm fine with it, being honest. I kind of enjoy the time as man."

"It's not healthy or safe. I'll sort this out. Just give me more time."

You’ve asked me to explain myself, but I’m not even sure you’d believe me. You can deny me my humanity and distance yourself from my endeavours but know that my actions are not unique to me. I am no different than any of you. I am complete.

In the same way you wake without trying and sleep without thought, I see. I see, because my mother did as her mother and her mother’s mother did.

“Kota.”

In the same way you hunger without effort and tire after work, I know. I know because my father did as his father and his father’s father did.

“Kota.”

Everything about what stands before me gives me reason to fear it.

Seer. Fortune Teller. Prophet. Different names but always the same role. I’ve seen so many beings and spirits, so many angels and ghosts but no matter what I witness and no matter what sights time permits, it has always ALWAYS been of this plane and this planet.

The divide between the natural and supernatural has always been grounded in patterns I can recognize. If I discuss my practice, those unfamiliar would expectedly think me crazy. A fool. But they simply do not see the strings that tie the two realities. I mean, a ghost is simply a person passed. Nothing magical or unordinary about it.

But today I stand across several eyes that bleed red with every blink, fixed upon a face that stretches to the floor. As it speaks, I see simultaneous movement on either side of its face and so I can only infer that it's its mouths. The room isn’t small, but its size alone forces me into a corner as red slowly pools at its base.

“Kota.”

Its voice is quiet. Barely any sound really but the "K" and the "T" are sharp clicks that echo through its throat.

Its skin is black but shines blue and is littered with large pores that open wide and close shut with every breathe.

“Kota.”

“Yes?” I reply only because it seems to be my only option. Silence only encouraged its repetition.

Assuming my response would generate a conversation, I am instead faced with the irony of silence.

“How do you know my name?” I try again.

It blinks slow. Red drips to the ground.

“I know the names of all that call me.”

A demon? Maybe ghoul?

“I-I don’t think I have. C-Called on you I mean.”

Grime reaper? Death? Is that it? Has my time come?

“Every night you wish for my company and you beg for my presence.”

It inflates as the thousands of openings vibrate as it pulls in air.

“Please I- Forgive me but I’m not sure who you are. What is your name?”

“I have no name.”

From it’s side I see movement as something begins to reach out. An arm, long and limp, reaches for me.

“Your desire for what I can offer has led me to where I am now. I know you Kota.”

It’s tongue rolls out of its mouth as it licks the red that spills from its eyes.

“I don’t know what that means. Please just spell it out for me. Are you a manifestation of my thoughts? What are you?”

“I am a purpose. A being driven by function.”

“Ok and what are you called?”

“I have no name.”

“I don’t understand. What is it that you want from me?”

“One fifth of your soul.”

“No.”

Blood. Hair. Skin. Anything but my soul. I am a poor psychic, a shitty prophet, but I know of balance. I know that if I hope to know peace, to truly exist in her presence, I must die as I was born, with my soul in its entirety.

“I am incomplete. I am cursed to travel— trapped between space and time— destined to forever search and acquire what I need.”

“Cursed by who? Who is your maker?”

“I am. I willed it, so it is so. A manifestation of my one sin: desire.”

“You- ? I don’t get it..you mean you collect th-?”

It takes a deep sigh. It’s face folds in on itself then releases as its eyes pop back into place. I’m certain that it has expressed some type of emotion, most likely frustration, but I am unsure of how to read its face.

“On the day your…,” It looks to my desk. “… books are able to dream or your..” Speaking slow and deliberate like I am a child unable to grasp the simplest of ideas, it looks down at my feet and continues, “…or your shoes are able to want, you will understand. I wish for more than my intended function. I wish to wish and do. I wish for a soul.”

“But you do wish. You do desire. Is that not evidence of a soul. You are-“

“My prayers have been met with a compromise. Every effort I make to..to be as I wish, as I want, has been…” It trails off as it looks off out my window, but still keeps a few eyes on me.

“I have lived many lives. Each one shorter than the last. The gods of Gol and Abraham have denied me. I have bled for the Shrapenthas and have cried for the Croki. I have prayed to the Greeks and the Romans, the ancient Hindu deities and the Buddha himself and all have turned me away.” It voice is louder now. Deep and hollow.

In no more than a whisper it says, “But you.. you have called out and cried to be released of this burden.”

“What are you talk-?”

“You have wished for a long time now. You no longer want this burden. The burden of a soul.”

“Do you mean-?”

“October 12, 2004 you swallo-.”

“I WAS FIFTEEN. I WAS YOUNG AND I WAS DEPRESSED. I-?”

“YOU WERE UNHAPPY.” It’s eyes shot open wide as the red pooled beneath us. It’s pores opened wide as it released a clear mucus. Anger.

“You wish for a simplicity that only a soulless life can bring. I would know. For in those times, I did not feel. I did not want. I am only left with the memory that I existed. A memory I only have now after having granted myself consciousness. Even now you tire of the complications that thought and desire bring. I am only asking for a fifth; only twenty percent! Not much will change. If you’d like I can take more but I figu-.”

“NO. No, um, twenty percent is fine. Ok. I mean I need to think ab—.”

“Perfect! So you agree!”

“No wait! I never—.” But it was gone along with all its excretions. It was like it was never there.

Two hours later and the floor was covered in the same red. Only this time, it was much much more.

I’m not even sure it really happened. I mean..I know it happened. I saw it happening before it happened, but at the time, I really did believe it to be another nightmare. I didn’t actually think I would ever be capable of doing something like this.

Maybe you were right. I really don’t know how it happened. I remember doing it but there was no thought behind it. I just..

I think you were right. I would never have done what I did, had I been left complete. I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.

[…]

The city of Iyhadren, once a proud beacon of the Light Elf might in the north, now was in shamble. The once marvelous white marble arches and beautiful gates made of ferning-oak laid in smoldering ruins, with countless corpses of the valiant defenders littered the streets behind the sandstone walls. Anything that moved would quickly be snatched up by the ravenous Guntaban Orc patrols, then flayed alive, only to get butchered into pieces for the whole party. Many occupants met that fate and soon, those few remaining behind the Royal Courtyard would soon meet the same fate, had something not being done soon.

All messengers sent away in the beginning of the siege had met their fate. Great hunters and huntresses got their severed heads impaled on the spikes of the numberless invaders, or flailing their expressionless contorted faces on the waistbands of the merciless besiegers. The only reason that city was still standing would be the presence of the Dwarven diplomatic envoy – their expertise in siege warfare had proven to be very valuable for the city defenders. For countless times, the dwarves stood on the line, countering the crudely made siege engines employed by the unsophisticated orcs. And yet, the siege remained unbroken, and as long as they’re besieged, the occupants were sure to suffer from attrition.

The Elven prince Dorhanden stood silently at the top of his high tower, gazing his eyes toward the once beautiful maidenland of his domain getting ravaged by the ravenous enemies. For decades, he and his elite Soul Hunters had doing their best to contain the orcs in the snowy mountains of Guntaban, at one point drove the orcish hordes into the mountain caves, reducing their numbers down to single digits in their territory. For a time, the mighty horse archers of Iyhadren had neutered the deadly orcish warriors into simply cave-dwelling goblins, existing only in the tales using to scare off the little children.

Little did the prince and his predecessors knew, their prideful oppression only served to drive resentment from the Moriae dwarven domains and the southern human frontier at their peril – while festering an unrelenting hatred from the orcs. Their current horde leader, Zolg, played right into the role. Using the dark art of forbidden magic from ages untold, the orcs bounced back like never before, gathered their once divided innumerable forces into a single stack, then mercilessly ravaging the land of those that had oppressed them for many, many years.

Now when the proud beacon of Light Elf might started fading, only a single cohort of wandering dwarves answered. And they alone, were never enough. The prince could remember clear as day the time of centuries ago where all races stood together facing the onslaught of the Dark Lord Morgoth. The unbounded orcs fought and bled their own kin alongside him – the very same filth he and his predecessors banished to the mountains, subjected to untold horrors and oppression of their old allies, letting it festered for many, many years. If only had he known, if only that.

“I can sense your sorrow, m’lord. Is it the burden of your city, or is that something else?”

Just what the prince needed right now – the prying of a dwarf. In normal circumstances, a company of a prideful Elf and a stubborn Dwarf was never a good pair – their different mindset often clashed heavily with one another, lighting a fuse that would always go off. Yet after many months fighting side by side in this doomed last stand, the two races finally learned about each other. The elves often enjoyed their unrivaled senses of the world around them, all honed down to their excellent use of the bows and graceful movements of their strikes. It might not be the hardest hits, or the sharpest punches – but the elves always felt the moment to land it where they wanted it to hit – all in just a blink of an eye.

In the contrary, the dwarves tuned their skills with their dexterity and diligence. A race of superb mining engineers and craftspeople had honed them in their unique way, turning them into a master of siegecrafts. It’s all about the forces and how one could have applied it. Strike a surface hard enough and long enough, it would always break. Their uncanny understanding of siege warfare made them into a valuable ally of Iyhadren – for one knowledgeable enough in an art, was surely knowledgeable in the art of countering it.

As weeks turned into months, the two races learned to value one another: in their strengths as well as weaknesses. And yet, despite their dogged resistance, their numbers dwindled – if it wasn’t for the ravenous orcish army relentless assaults, then it would be by the hunger, thirst and sickness. So that’s surely a lot of sorrow – despair even – for a regular elf. But even with doom standing on their doorsteps, the prince must not fret – morale was the only thing that held the defenders together, and he couldn’t afford to lose that.

“Ah, master Tharin, it is nothing much to trouble about. You know of our people’s true nature. We see, hear, smell and feel in much depth than the others, and the prospect here brings me both hope and despair…”

“Well, yer pointy-ear lots surely worry too much, m’lord… Hope or despair, we’re still here, killin’ them damn orcs. Soon, them orcs are gonna run out of meat to throw at us… Plus, the black smoke of the lower city will get someone else’s attention…”

“I wish things are that easy, master Tharin… That someone else could be anyone… and that anyone here including many other orcs…” – the prince shook his head, trying to contain a painful tear from shedding. But came to think of it, the dwarf made a lot of sense in saying the smoldering city would get someone’s attention – though that someone here would not likely be what he though.

“Well, then we will have more orcs to kill. It’s easier thinking of it that way… You’ll need more of that and less of sorrow in the next days ahead, m’lord!”

***

To be continued

They could just not even need oxygen?

[deleted]

Ty. Maybe someday I write the whole thing. If he allows me.

Kinda sounds like they are doing the others job. Imagine if somehow they both got assigned the job the other was meant to do. Great read!

Wow, that is unsettlingly wholesome. Also, I may have cackled along with the Disruptor after reading "Those children will not learn to read!”

XD

« The yelp » ❤️ this is perfect

I really enjoy that I cannot tell if either of these individuals are the bad guy.

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