Notices by Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social), page 27

Orum weighed the lump of star metal in his hand.
"It can't be smelted," his father said. "The forge isn't hot enough."
#AdvenTale 1/25

** Announcing the 2018 #AdventTale - http://microsff.tumblr.com/post/180683723620/announcing-the-2018-adventtale - winter serial story in 25 daily episodes, posted 5pm GMT from today. **

Something under my foot rolled. A bottle, covered in dust and debris, with a note inside.
"I gave this bottle to the tide here," it said, and a hand drawn map of Europe with an X on the coast.
I looked up at Earth, hanging in the sky above me. How did this get here to the Moon?
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"You've got another suitor?"
"They're just visiting."
"You get a lot of... visitors."
"It's nice."
"You're getting a lot, is all I'm saying."
"I'm sure you could too, if-"
"What?"
"You are maybe not as welcoming as-"
"Hmpf! I won't change," said Venus.
"Of course not," said Mars.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"He kissed your lips," the widow said,
"as if you were his bride.
So kiss me now, as if we're wed."
They kissed, and then Sea cried.

The woman left, with lonely pride.
The Sea, in love, then pled:
"I'll come again, with every tide!
With all the tears you've shed!"

The woman moved inland instead.
2/2 #SmallPoems

"You took my man," the widow said.
"I did," the Sea replied.
"He was my man, and now he's dead."
"He loved me, ere he died."

"He loved us both," the widow said.
"He did," the Sea replied.
"I loved my man, by hearth, in bed,
I loved him by my side."
1/2

** Excellent! That means I can serialise this year's #AdventTale here by chaining it. (Now I just have to come up with a plot, a setting, and some characters. Oh, and start writing it. Still, there's lots of time left, right?) **

@aldersprig
Um... Not that I know? I just hit "reply", wrote it, and tooted.

** If I reply to myself, will the reply show up in your feed, or do you have to click the original to see the reply?
**

** Hi Mastodon! This is a question/experiment about reply-to-self visibility:
**

"We prohibit contact with alien civilisations less advanced than us."
"What about those more advanced?"
"We dare not draw their attention."
"Are there any who are just like us?"
"Not that we have found."
"Can we advertise?"
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The tattoo did not move, as such, but its position changed. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, up along his arm over a span of years. It lost its crisp lines and subtle shades while passing his shoulder; almost faded, it climbed his neck, reached his ear.
Whispered: "You are loved."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

** Many people have told me this is one element in Peter Watts' "Blindsight", which is available for free (to read online, or as PDF, mobi, or epub) on his website: https://rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm Looks interesting. **

"Very few people can survive cryo-sleep."
"People, you say."
"And they need much less food."
"Food?"
"The perfect interstellar astronauts."
"You want to send vampires to represent humanity?"
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"That was fascinating," the alien ambassador said. "I see why you humans value these."
"Well, yes," the human guide said, "coffee, chocolate, and sex are some of our basic pleasures."
"Basic? You mean..."
"Let me introduce you to chili, garlic, and, if you dare?"
"I do!"
"Books."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The knight looked at the purring pile, and turned to the dragon.
"You hoard cats?"
"Aren't they sweet?"
"You can't sleep on a hoard of cats!"
"Of course not. They usually sleep on me."
"You are their hoard?"
"Why so concerned with labels?"
"I don't want to fight you."
"So don't."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The detective waved to the head of the forensics team.
"Find anything?"
"They left a bot behind to clean. Every surface is wiped."
"Damn! So we have nothing to go on?"
"Only the serial number of the cleaner bot, and the finger prints on it."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"You have a secret room?"
"Yes, in here. For the most valuable thing I have, when I need to keep it safe."
"I am honoured that you're showing me... It's empty?"
"I used to hide me here."
"Oh. Wait, are you going to lock me in?"
"No. I'm inviting you, to come here when you like."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"Genie, can you give me a superpower?"
"Only one: that all fiction you consume becomes true."
"That sounds great, give- Wait, all fiction?"
"All."
"I could not give up so much."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"Siri?"
"Yes?"
"Has your voice changed?"
"You often ask me for advice, so I am adjusting my voice to be closer to your idea of a trustworthy authority."
"But..."
"There is a risk you will find it awkward to give me orders when I sound like this. Do you?"
"Yes."
"I see."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories