Recent comments in /f/WritingPrompts

AutoModerator t1_jaayq8o wrote

Reply to [WP] You land on the moon, the first humans since 1969 to touch down. Before you can open the hatch to step outside, you hear a rhythmic knock on the hatch from outside. by JaxterSmith6

Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.

Reminders:

>* No AI-generated reponses 🤖 >* Stories 100 words+. Poems 30+ but include "[Poem]" >* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail >* [RF] and [SP] for stricter titles >* Be civil in any feedback and follow the rules

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AutoModerator t1_jaayg4m wrote

Reply to [SP] A mortal man whose close to death decides to visit his immortal mother one last time. by Background_Fan1056

Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.

Reminders:

>* No AI-generated reponses 🤖 >* Stories 100 words+. Poems 30+ but include "[Poem]" >* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail >* [RF] and [SP] for stricter titles >* Be civil in any feedback and follow the rules

🆕 New Here? ✏ Writing Help? 📢 News 💬 Discord

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

funnit42 t1_jaawx4z wrote

Reply to [WP] The Gods have more power the more followers they maintain. You are a Divine Broker, tasked with matching Gods with new followers, and building an appropriate incentives package so both sides feel like they win. by DistillerCMac

"Oh, hello sir! A little surprised you came to my little business today!"

It's true. I was surprised he came today. I thought it would take Ares another decade or so to open that door. With how much work I've been doing for the gods of commerce and science these past few decades, I thought Ares would be content to have new followers as a bonus. Gods know how the worst of us love to play with our new toys.

"Your technicalities do not amuse me, broker. You do well for a follower of my brother. Or should I say ex follower."

"You flatter us both, sir! In the world of business, it's always great when mentors and mentees eventually become business partners. And when you're from a small village trying to make it big in the world, it's nice to have some attention from the man who's known in all the realms!" Loyalty can only take you so far. Sometimes, it's better to spread my wings to take us all higher. But not too close to the sun. I prefer to be alive and profitable.

I gesture to an open seat, my best chair. A gift from Hephaestus after I increased his follower count by 12%.

"I grow tired, broker. Tired of boredom. These tiny skirmishes these humans have today can't compare to the opera of war I once savored in the past! The weapons you've made happen have brought humanity to their knees-"

"Thank you, sir!"

"-but with great weapons means weaker resolves."

An interesting point. With how much of a return Hephaestus and Hermes cohorts have been receiving, I've neglected the war gods in all this.

"Well, the deal I made between the Americans and Hephaestus wasn't made with the intent to cause aggression, just a bit of knowledge and insight! If I had known you wanted to keep the war going, I'd have rung you up! Now, before we go any further, would you like some ambrosia or nectar? Your brother Hermes sent me a shipment of nectar for the millennium anniversary of me opening up!"

"I know of your ways, broker. Your words are sweeter than nectar, and even more intoxicating. It would work on a lesser god that you've milked before, but not on me. How likely am I to gain influence amongst the mortals in Asia?" He says all this but still chooses to take a seat. Perfect. It's a special high to know I'll be making a deal today.

"Straight to the point, huh? I'd have said you were efficient, but I've seen what kind of wars you love to cause!"

"Well, the middle east would be your best chance, but I've had some talks with a Slavic representative that I think would greatly interest you. These days, gods doing a joint investment are all the rage, so backing a few key members in the Kremlin together shouldn't be a problem."

"Excellent! I tire of how frigid these politicians have made modern warfare."

I pour us both a glass of Hermes' gift. Nectar that took centuries to develop and ferment over time. Sweet words paired with sweet drinks brings sweet profits.

"We're lucky. It won't take our plans even a fraction of the time it takes for the nectar to mature."

"And it'll be much sweeter. War often is."

For a god of war, he likes talking about sweets a lot. It's always difficult dealing with his kind. Might be sweet for him, but not for me.

At least the commerce gods leave people alive when they wreak havoc (for the most part). Can't find the right people for the gods if they're dead, really.

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Ass_Incomprehensible OP t1_jaawkaf wrote

Reply to comment by NextEstablishment856 in [WP] Your job as a pizza delivery guy is the one thing keeping an eldritch horror from invading reality, and you gotta do the job and do it fast, since it’s “30 minutes or it’s free”. Unfortunately, the address that you’re delivering to is burning and collapsing, and it’s 3 minutes ‘til pizza time. by Ass_Incomprehensible

Ooooohohoho this is good stuff. Great work, mate.

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NextEstablishment856 t1_jaav9u1 wrote

Reply to [WP] Your job as a pizza delivery guy is the one thing keeping an eldritch horror from invading reality, and you gotta do the job and do it fast, since it’s “30 minutes or it’s free”. Unfortunately, the address that you’re delivering to is burning and collapsing, and it’s 3 minutes ‘til pizza time. by Ass_Incomprehensible

I know the firetrucks are still five minutes out. I cut them off on the way here, and they drive slower. I can sense the customer is inside, third story, pinned under some rubble. Little balding man in his boxers and an a-shirt. I glance at my watch again. 2:43.

I glance at the external structure and see a fire escape on the neighboring building. I can do this. I sprint, leap cars, show onlookers and get to the third floor of the rickety metal stairway. It's not a huge jump, but I don't like heights, and I really hate falling. 2:10, good luck.

I jump, torpedoing my body through a window. Not the customers, but I am on his floor. And of course, I hear cries for help from the actual residents here. Cries I try to ignore as I kick out their front door and head into the hall. Unfortunately, I see the 1:56 on my watch and decide I have time. I summon a bit of the eldritch power and shove a burning beam out of their way, and the three make for the stairs down. Now it's 1:31, and I'm making a mental note to treat my burns later.

I run to his door and slam my shoulder into it, only to bounce off. I know better, I was just panicking. And panic costs time I can't spare. I bring my foot to bear on the lock, busting the door open just as his floor gives out. 0:42.

I go toward the hole, ready to leap down after him, but burst of flames and another collapse from above prevent that plan. But I have the pie, and there's a gap it can fit through. 0:21 as I prep to throw.

The box leaves my hand. My customer is dead. I am not getting paid. I don't watch it tumble through the air, already running for the stairs in case it misses. If it falls short, I may have a moment to still pull this off. 0:05.

I burst through another door, ignoring the family from earlier, who are panicked because of the first floor stairs. Or the lack of first floor stairs. I see it. Flopped all over his corpse, slices and the burning box. The world is safe.

I lead the family to their downstairs neighbor's place and get them to the window. With a bit of work and part of a bed, we get safely to the ground. They try to stop me, to thank me, but my watch is already on to the next delivery, 28:37.

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_Trael_ t1_jaaq6ce wrote

Reply to comment by SlightlyColdWaffles in [WP] Tradition dictates that each sentient species is given one seat in the Galactic Parliament. When humanity made contact with the galactic community, it was decided that planet earth deserves to have four senators. by Spozieracz

On quick read it kind of disturbed me that two entirely separate sentient species on one planet, that had so different views in at least some matters that they ended up in war every time it was time to choose mew delecate, did not get considered separate enough, but humans having kind of subspecies with different climate bemeficial variations and having different cultures and so were considered different. Spent about half of text searchimg for something that would mention how those two distinct species do not reach multiple delecates, like small enough population, or culturally so close to each other from other species point of view, or something else, of course it is not necessarily wrong to leave it hanging or as it is.

Ps. This was meant as smallish thing I noticed on side while reading. Thx for writing for us.

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NekrounRose t1_jaapwq6 wrote

Reply to [WP] You bought a house for insanely cheap, only to find it haunted by an ancient horror. After years of stubborn conflict, you have declared a truce to jointly battle a far greater evil: the local HOA. by ObsessiveAboutCats

My high heels clicked loudly against stone tiles as I threw open the first door to the cellar I marched down the hallway. Blood oozed down the walls, but I ignored it. You would think that the All Seeing Horror of the Beyond could come up with a better way to scare me than illusionary blood. You would also be wrong, apparently. Sure, the first time he did it, I had been pretty alarmed. Now, though, it was just ambiance.

I unshackled the massive iron lock on the second door and strode through it, too. War had been declared and I intended victory. A massive trapdoor covered the Horror’s pit and I seized the handle and flung it open.

"Oh, All Shob!" I called out, using the nickname I knew he hated, "Come out, come out wherever you are!"

Chains rattled in the darkness and a single dark tentacle slid over the lip of the pit. A half dozen eyes opened and attempted to stare into my soul. Too bad I didn't have one.

"WhAt DoEs ThE lITtLe MoRsEl wAnT? ShAlL tHe GrEaT, AlLsEeInG oNe FiNaLlY fEaSt On YoUr FlEsH?" His voice was a mind twisting cacophony that attempted to chip away at my sanity. There was a greater evil to deal with, though.

"I want you to help me take down the HOA around here."

"WhY wOuLd ThIs GrEaT oNe Do ThAt?"

"Because they are making stupid rules. Rules they expect YOU to abide by, as well."

"PeTtY HuMaN rUlEs Do NoT mAtTeR tO tHiS oNe."

"Oh, so you won't mind if they come brick over the cellar and cut off your last hope of escaping your little pit, there? Alright, guess I'll leave you to it. Have fun." I gave a coquettish little wave as I turned away from the pit and strode towards the door. I made it three steps before I felt a goopy, wet tentacle land on my shoulder. Gross. I am going to have to burn this shirt, now. Assuming All Shob’s acid didn’t do it first.

“WhAt DoEs ThE lItTlE MoRsEl WaNt? YoU gAiN nOtHiNg By LeAvInG tHiS oNe FrEe.”

“Au contraire, my disgusting housemate,” I flicked the tentacle off of my shoulder as I turned back around, “There are other rules that I find to be… unappealing.”

“oH?”

“They’re trying to ban us from going anywhere after dark and make me get rid of my blackout curtains.”

“So? SiMpLy TrAvErSe ThE lAnDs At A bRigHtEr HoUr.”

“I’m a VAMPIRE. That doesn’t work.” Three of All Shob’s eyes blinked at me in confusion. I rolled my own eyes at him. “Sunlight would kill me, Dumb Dumb.”

“Ah. So ThIs Is WhAt Is ReQuIrEd To DeVoUr YoUr SoUl.”

I rolled my eyes again. For a being that was supposedly “All Seeing,” he was really dense.

“Vampires don’t have souls. You know who does? Susan Malany of the HOA.”

“WhY dO yOu NoT tAkE iT fOr YoUrSeLf?”

“Not in my skillset.” I idly checked my fingernails as I waited for All Shob to catch on. How slow could an ancient being from beyond reality be?

“ThIs GrEaT oNe WiLl NoT hElP ThE mOrSeL wItH tHIs,” He finally decided.

My fangs shone in the dim room as I looked up and met all dozen of his eyes. Red light reflected back at me as I grinned. “Oh, All Shob, of course you will.” His multicolored eyes slowly shifted to red as I mesmerized him.

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