"As a knight," the king said, "it is your duty to kill dragons."
"Very well, my liege," the knight said. "Um. May I ask why?"
"Because they hoard wealth without sharing, and people live in fear of their capricious moods."
"Very well, my liege," the knight said and drew his sword.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories
Notices tagged with smallstories
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Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 16-Aug-2023 15:53:58 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 22-Nov-2022 11:45:34 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "Please," said the man, "can you do magic to make me be kind?"
"No," said the witch. "Magic cannot change anyone's nature."
"So there is no hope for me?"
"You ask the wrong question. Kind is not something you are. It is what you do."
"Is it that simple?"
"It is that hard."
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 18-Nov-2022 18:11:28 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin The last few days before the asteroid crashed into Earth were filled with resignation, reminiscence, and confessions. All over social media:
"I have a crush on you."
"I actually like banana on pizza."
"I didn't lose the ring, I sold it."
"I faked the asteroid."
"I kiss... What?"
#MicriFiction #TootFic #SmallStories -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Thursday, 17-Nov-2022 16:52:56 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin I stare at the genie.
"What?" I say.
"I will grant you two wishes. Riches, health, fame, wisdom, knowledge, power, contentment, beauty, whatever you want."
It's too... I can't- How could I... I'll get it wrong!
"I wish I will never regret my wishes."
"Granted. And your second?"
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 16-Nov-2022 18:37:22 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "Humans can not be sat on," the princess read from the tablet.
She gave the dragon a look, returned the tablet to the hoard, and picked up another.
"Being old doesn't equal being wise," she read. "What are these?"
"Lessons I've learned."
"It's a large hoard."
"I'm proud of it."
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 15-Nov-2022 16:03:52 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin A spaceship landed, and an alien emerged.
"We come in peace," they said, "Take us to your librarian."
"Er... Don't you mean our leader?"
"Why? We already have leaders."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 14-Nov-2022 17:52:41 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "But why do I need to be locked up in a tower?" the princess demanded.
"Tradition," the queen said.
By the third day, she had found the hidden sword and fencing instructions. After a month, the lock picks, which after a while led to clothes and money.
And her life's first choice.
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 11-Nov-2022 12:37:48 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "Look," said the android. "I can do this."
They showed a 'Prove you are not a bot' web page and selected all images with traffic lights.
"Okay," said the librarian.
The android switched to a different tab.
"But not this."
"It looks very similar."
"It says 'Prove you are human'."
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Thursday, 10-Nov-2022 15:52:57 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin When Anne Shakespeare arrived home with the groceries, a strangely attired person left the house.
"Will? Who was that?"
"Oh, another visitor from the future, asking if I wrote my plays."
"Another? You should write a play about them."
"And give them credence? I think not."
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 09-Nov-2022 15:16:59 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "One of the things I love about science fiction is how it inspires real inventions."
"Like what?"
"Star Trek Communicators inspired early mobile phones. The stasis pods we use for long-distance travel is another example."
"They had those in Star Trek?"
"No, in Pokémon."
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 08-Nov-2022 17:20:55 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "There are three types of people-"
"Don't you mean two?"
"No, then it just becomes a matter of 'us' and 'them'."
"Isn't that the joke?"
"That's always the joke. In reality, there's us, and them, and the people we are similar to in some ways, but not all."
"Oh. Them."
"No!"
#TypoCorrection #MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Tuesday, 08-Nov-2022 17:07:10 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "There are three types of people-"
"Don't you mean two?"
"No, then it just becomes a matter of 'us' and 'them'."
"Isn't that the joke?"
"That's always the joke. In reality, there's us, and them, and the people we similar to in some ways, but not all."
"Oh. Them."
"No!"
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 06-Nov-2022 04:02:54 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin After First Contact, humanity was disappointed to learn that while the galaxy was full of space-faring species, there was no interstellar trade.
"No goods are worth the cost," the aliens said.
They returned the next week.
"Those 'books' you gave us, do they have sequels?"
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Saturday, 05-Nov-2022 11:29:02 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin @willknott @Repealist_ Might be worth checking out the #tootfic and #SmallStories hashtags as well.
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Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 04-Nov-2022 16:56:32 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "Refill?" my new friend asked.
I waved at our empty cups. With a slight smile, my friend copied my gesture, and the cups filled up again.
"So you are saying," I said, "that you, you, gods and devils, are the same?"
"Almost. Except we don't believe in ourselves."
"We?"
"We gods."
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #tootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Friday, 04-Nov-2022 09:51:16 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin He moved to a new town, and began introducing himself as "Tam, son of Jamer".
It was a new name, but it was his own.
The name wasn't the important part, though. Neither was his father's, nobody here knew that name.
People nodded, said "Nice to meet you", and accepted him as him.
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Thursday, 03-Nov-2022 16:04:06 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "I have come to say goodbye," the princess said.
"Oh?" said her friend, a dragon.
"An old covenant. Every hundred years, a noble virgin shall be given in tribute to the demon Azcrafn."
"Hm. No other restrictions? No rules of the tribute's conduct?"
"No, why?"
"I also qualify."
#microfiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 02-Nov-2022 23:36:27 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "Okay," I said, still blushing, "my turn. Truth or dare?"
"After your bravery? I must say truth as well."
"Are you a god?"
My date froze. "I... Yes."
"Of what?"
"No, my turn. Truth or dare?"
I hesitated. "T... dare."
"Pretend I'm not?"
It wasn't a command, so I nodded.
"Thanks."
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Monday, 31-Oct-2022 17:32:14 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin The sign over the door said "Refuge For The Broken". Warm light spilled out of the windows; there was a smell of a hearty stew in the chill autumn air.
He sighed and turned away.
A witch opened the door.
"You one of them who can't say they're broken?"
"Um..."
"You're welcome."
#MicroFiction #SmallStories #TootFic -
Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 30-Oct-2022 16:40:08 UTC Micro SF/F stories by O Westin "The commonly told legend," the writer said, "is that King Arthur will return when he is needed the most."
"Indeed," said the reporter, "so-"
"Of course, that is nonsense. But his ideals of justice and equality? Maybe those can."
"So what motivated you to write your retelling?"
#MicroFiction #tootfic #SmallStories