I glance at her anxiously and wipe my mouth with my sleeve. “It doesn’t bother me.” I am trying to remain vague.
“I have nothing against women. In fact I hold all women in extremely high regard. I’d be an asshole if I didn’t.” She takes up her mug and downs it in one gulp. “But I like to run a tight ship and remain professional. Try as hard as I might I always end up pudding when there is an attractive lady around.”
I gulp down the massive lump forming in m...
2019-04-09 21:01:00 +0000 UTC
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I live in a small village that has become known as something as a safe haven for mercenaries and assassins. Back in the day it used to be called Greenshade but as of recently it has become known as Slystall. It’s off the path from the kingdom of Veleryn, far enough away we aren’t bothered by the traffic there and hidden in the woods just enough that we became what we are today.
A lot of people have moved away, thinking it is...
2019-04-09 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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“What’s this strange thing?” Himank asks. I’ve been given a room in the palace and Himank comes by everyday to have breakfast with me. He’s seen my cell phone sitting on the table and he’s looking it over.
“Careful with that!” I snatch it back and hold is preciously in my hands. It doesn’t work anymore, the battery died a few days ago. But I still cling to it like some sort of lifeline to my old world.
“I guess it doesn’t matter anymore,” I murmur as I look...
2019-04-08 21:01:00 +0000 UTC
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I’m still waiting on stamps but I’ll be getting all mailouts ready tonight to ship!
2019-04-08 18:46:47 +0000 UTC
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Sanguis and I have made our way into Bastat, all the while he’s kept the once peaceful oasis in a state of chaos. His lightning and blood burn down the village as we make our way to the house.
“Is this the one?” I ask him.
Sanguis takes in a deep breath and lowers his arm. “Yes,” he whispers. “I can smell it.” A wicked smile then blossoms on his face. “There’s some...
2019-04-08 18:00:02 +0000 UTC
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“I can’t fix this one.” I point to the monitor which I think is starting to smoke. “But I can help fix you.”
I pat his back, unsure why. “They aren’t hard to learn. Most are intuitive these days. And you don’t have to have a public wifi. Require only people with library cards to be able to access it or only make it available in the computer hall.”
Stoilk is silent and his expression is stony and distant.
He glares at me.
“Bad joke,” I grumble. “...
2019-04-05 21:00:59 +0000 UTC
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I had said something off the cuff, not expecting any sort of response from it than a roll of the eyes or a laugh. I hadn’t expected Yaruth to take my joke of an offer seriously. Yet he did. He seemed proud of it as well, a big smile on his face and everything.
“I accept your proposal,” he repeats. He taps my cheek. “Hello? Are you still there?”
I blink and my senses seem to come...
2019-04-05 19:01:00 +0000 UTC
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“How do you feel when you think about him?” Himank snaps at me. “Tell me truthfully. What happens when you picture him in your mind? Does your heart race? Do you smile? You feel empty when you’re away from him?” He narrows his eyes on me. “Think about Nicolai today. At the lake with his shirt off, his power on display. Think about afterwards and how he made sure you got warm. How do you feel?”
“I uh-you don’t! I’m not-Himank that’s not-you...” I cup my hand aroun...
2019-04-04 21:01:00 +0000 UTC
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The village I live in is pretty tight-knit and close. It’s a very nice place, but it can get on your nerves as well. No one has any secrets and if you do they will find a way to pull them out. There’s little to no privacy sometimes and it can get to feel suffocating. A lot of the younger people in the village often move away, so the town has become quite small and even more intimate.
I have considered leaving to find a fresh...
2019-04-04 19:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Grief doesn’t even begin to describe the suffering going on in the Rakshasa Kingdom at this moment. The village of Bastat is gone and with it a legacy and heritage of an entire people. The heartbreak and burden is far too much to bear. In all my years as king, I never had to deal with something so hopeless like this. I grieve for my son, the king, as I mourn the loss of my brothers and sisters in Bastat.
I have joined the sear...
2019-04-03 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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“Do you need to stop?” Itiazi repeats again.
I flinch and look down, afraid to answer at this point.
Itiazi pulls the wagon up to the pond and stops it. He gets out and walks over to the edge of the pond. I watch him for a moment before slipping out of the wagon as well. I take care of business behind some trees and go over to the pond to wash up a bit.
“If you need something, say so,” Itiazi growls at me. “Don’t be so timid.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I squ...
2019-04-03 09:01:00 +0000 UTC
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“That sounds like a young man’s problem.” I stretch my legs out again, slightly hoping he seeks out heat again.
Yaruth shrugs and sighs. “I have simply reached my sexual maturity. I am two hundred after all.”
“Two hundred?” I blurt.
Yaruth sits up. “How old did you think I was?” He inches closer to me. “My kind tends to live a very long time.”
“Oh wow,” I lean back again.
Yaruth lays his head on my thigh and places his arm around m...
2019-04-02 21:01:00 +0000 UTC
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“Maeve! Maeve!” I rush over to her, but already the bed is soaked with blood. I don’t know what to do. I turn, looking up at Sanguis as he clutches his hand which is now missing a finger. He glares at me and I can feel his piercing stare deep into my soul.
“If it isn’t the great and all mighty King of unity,” he snarls. He stands erect, keeping a firm hold on baby Amon. “How does it feel to see what will become of ...
2019-04-02 19:00:03 +0000 UTC
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The massive naga was curled up in the sunshine of my little mossy nook. His long black tail was coiled around himself but his thick, muscular arm hung out over the side with his head tucked underneath it.
I scoff and roll my eyes. “Excuse me.”
The naga doesn’t move.
“Hey!” I reach out and push him. “Wake up. This spot is reserved.”
The naga groans and his coil tightens then relaxes. “Shut the fuck up and move along.” His voice has a heavy accent...
2019-04-01 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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My son Amon was born on a day where the winds were harsh and sand storms were beating down on the tents. It was also the day Demir and his wife Dali had come into Bastat. The once proud and noble leader of the Unified Nations was now a prisoner awaiting his trial. He had come to Bastat on request, trusting his dearest friend, and my mother in law, Chiyo to guard over him.
It was a somber yet celebrated day. Demir came in to see ...
2019-04-01 19:00:05 +0000 UTC
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I’m not too fond of going into Gravelmeuse first. After all, Aisling is my cousin. We haven’t seen each other in ages but it is not a reunion that will be met with open arms. In fact, I’m sure Aisling hates me and if she bends her knee to Sanguis she will hate me now more than ever.
Once we arrive in Gravelmeuse Sanguis sends baby Amon with the nanny who is also keeping his daughter Therea. We then immediately head to the palace where we kill all the guards, replacing them with Sa...
2019-03-29 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Grief doesn’t even begin to describe the suffering going on in the Rakshasa Kingdom at this moment. The village of Bastat is gone and with it a legacy and heritage of an entire people. The heartbreak and burden is far too much to bear. In all my years as king, I never had to deal with something so hopeless like this. I grieve for my son, the king, as I mourn the loss of my brothers and sisters in Bastat.
I have joined the search party, combing through the ruins of Bastat to search for...
2019-03-29 20:00:02 +0000 UTC
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You recently started a new job that you had been excited for. Well, you were excited for the pay and the insurance that came with it. You’d never had a job where you had things like insurance and 401K and adult sounding things like that. The most incentive you ever got from a job was free french fries or a fifteen-minute break. This was your first big break job, a job where you actually use all those wasted years of college tuition on.
&n...
2019-03-29 19:00:03 +0000 UTC
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In the morning, Arjun arrives with the supplies he has donated as well as Imani’s men. Imani’s men start cleaning up and clearing out the ruins of Bastat and have even started building temporary shelters. Aksha, Imani’s heir, has come along as well. She is tiny and frail but she has the same ferocious spirit that her mother possesses.
“Uncle,” she beckons to me. “How is Dhaval?” She asks, taking hold of my hands. “I know how gentle his heart is, he must be bearing ...
2019-03-28 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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A few years ago I was working back to back jobs and trying to play gigs between them. I was a fry cook, a waitress, a tutor, a housekeeper, all at different times all while I knew I was a musician. I played little cafes and coffee houses, dark seedy clubs, open mic nights, and anywhere they would take me and have me.
I played my soul out each time too. I never half-assed a performance ever and I would dare someone to say I...
2019-03-28 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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“Oh my god-” the voice behind me I know all to well. I turn, seeing my father and several others standing over Demir’s body. My father throws his head back, roaring with all his might as his back bends. He mourns his friend the only way he knows how.
“Penu!” Chiyo screams, throwing herself down on the ground beside his body.
My mother rushes in, tending to Maeve before giving me a glance. “Dhaval are you ok?” She asks me.
“I will live,” I wheeze. “But aft...
2019-03-27 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Arlo and I were sweethearts back in school, before that we were next door neighbors and best friends. His family was better off than mine and I was always curious about his life. I adored his family and always felt lucky to have Arlo in my life. After high school we had the usual parting of the ways, and like most young fools in love we had tried long distance. Unfortunately, young love doesn’t always triumph like it does in the movies. Arlo and I remained close frie...
2019-03-27 19:01:01 +0000 UTC
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I stand up and tell the children to stay put. I stand beside Mila and stare out, seeing a lone rider on the high dunes. His scales are blood red and he’s staring down into Bastat. Two more riders come up from behind and stand beside him. One is a young Gnoll and the other I recognize very well.
“Heinrik,” I whisper.
Mila turns and looks at me. “I take it they aren’t friends of yours,” she whispers.
“Far from, I’m afraid.” I turn back and look at the childre...
2019-03-26 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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The Mud Puddle is a nightclub I’ve been working at for a long time. I started working here not long after I got out of high school, close to fifteen years ago now, perhaps even longer. I started out as a waiter, and while I still may be a waitress, I help keep the place running. I’m in charge of the wait staff as well as hiring and firing people when the boss isn’t around.
The place is owned by two guys who used to be in a...
2019-03-26 19:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Mr. Vladik’s home is in one of the nicer parts of town and is the penthouse on the top floor of an extremely fancy apartment building. You were awed by his view more than anything. You could see the entire city as well as a stunning view of the part below. You wondered how the view compared at night.
“I’ve ordered food,” Mr. Vladik starts. “I’m going to get into the shower, so answer the door and tip the deliverer.” He hands you a wad of money. “After that I should be ha...
2019-03-25 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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The school I work at has been struggling with funds long before I arrived. The previous band teacher had quit over such frustrations. I was left with barely any instruments in the classroom, and I knew most of my students wouldn’t be able to afford to get one of their own. So I had started the Give a Note fundraiser.
The fundraiser didn’t quite take off, so I started using my own funds to order to afford new equipment ...
2019-03-25 19:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Peri and I both consider each other asexual. Not to say we haven’t done anything together sexually, it just takes us a lot to get to that point. We’re still romantic and a couple in every sense of the word. We just get a kick out of the horrible sexual tension between Penny and Arlo. The two are obviously in love, have been forever, and they keep ignoring and tip-toeing around it like idiots. Even Penny’s daughter Bibi knows better than they do.
I sigh. “Also, if they two of the...
2019-03-22 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Music has always been the thing that brought me the greatest comfort in the world. Even when I was a baby I would only quiet down when my dad put on his old, beat up vinyl records. I would fall asleep to the likes of Queen, Led Zeppelin, and the like easier than I would any nursery rhyme of music box. It drove my mom crazy.
As I grew older I started to discover my own music and what I enjoyed. I fell in love with quite a number ...
2019-03-22 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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It still left its mark on Arlo though. He had always struggled with his self esteem but this was almost too hard a hit for him. He thought his singing wasn’t good enough, his looks weren’t good enough, and so he let the spotlight fade away from him. Even as the band started to fight and the first fissures of the break up happened, he stood back.
That evening when I get home I go to Arlo’s house first. Inside I can hear the TV on and I find Bibi and Arlo passed out on the sof...
2019-03-21 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Nyx had shown up at my door last night, ranting and raving and looking a little crazy in the eye. Now, I have known Nyx for an extremely long time and have seen him pitch many a fit, so I’ve pretty much gotten it down how to handle him.
Once he was inside I sat him down, and he continued his ravings while I fetched him a drink and something to eat. He’s usually so careful about what he eats so he keeps up his infamous ...
2019-03-21 19:01:00 +0000 UTC
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