19 Results in the "short stories" category
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Chapter
the Taos hum
prompt: the Taos hum (a low humming noise, like a distant bell, or low rumbling thunder in the far distance) Post-canon MDZS; implied past xiyao. Xichen’s not doing too well in this. 3-sentence warm-up for @ficwip’s retreat weekend! Can be read as a prequel to an afternoon together in the rain. – There it is again—the rumbling, a hum deep in the ground that makes his hair stand on edge, the sound Wangji claims he cannot hear, but it keeps Xichen awake until dawn fishing apologies from the… -
Chapter
in another life
prompt: in another life MDZS modern AU, xiyao. References a canonical death. – The sword plunges through his chest and he wakes gasping. “What’s wrong?” Xichen mumbles from the adjacent pillow. Although Xichen’s skin is hot where he touches it, Meng Yao shivers. “Nightmare.” “No more horror before bed.” Xichen’s arms engulf him. Against Meng Yao’s ear, his heart beats. Beats. “I asked you to die with me,” he whispers. “It’s only a dream,… -
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Chapter
Trees
They emerged together in a new life as twin saplings in the damp, black mulch. Their seeds had spun down the previous autumn and lodged in the soil. They hadn’t blown away like the others. She was alone with her consciousness, an innate sense of being; she had been once, twice, a hundred times before; so had he; and they had been—together. Without eyes or mouths, they could no longer see or speak to each other and they were too far apart to touch, but beneath the soil, their roots spread and twined…-
1.3 K • Oneshot
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- Story
The Demon Tree
A month in, Rose gave the tour to a new sales hire who took the desk two spots to her left. That was also the day the dreams started. -
Chapter
The Demon Tree
Rose’s seat was the third from the end on a continuous desk that could seat seven, but she was one of only two that morning over her first cup of coffee. The desk faced the back of someone’s monitor; to her right was the senior writer, Ania, who had given her a tour yesterday in a banana-yellow sweater. Today, they wore gray and black leggings and had not looked up when Rose said good morning. Most of the paper’s staff worked remotely. That meant an empty office but no one pressed up on…-
4.4 K • Oneshot
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Chapter
The Edge of Light
The ghost was throwing leaves again. Every morning around ten o’clock, it grabbed handfuls of them off of the shrub that grew alongside the parking lot. The ghost had no strength (new ones never did), and so the leaves did little more than scatter across the gravel drive. On a windy day, they might blow into the street as she walked by. Noa didn’t know the woman. She passed by the restaurant at the same time each morning, in pencil skirts or trousers, a leather handbag thrown over one shoulder.…-
6.1 K • Ongoing
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- Story
Seaview
These take place in the same universe, set in a fictional coastal town, so I’ve grouped them together. The Edge of Light The ghost was throwing leaves again. This story began life as a red leaf I picked up on my walk to work at a time of year when all of the other leaves were green. Every morning, more leaves would be scattered… - Story
TNI & In Flight
A pair of stories set fifteen years apart about a man dealing with different kinds of heartache. -
prompt: sick of being safe harbor, I want to be the storm original, no warnings Look over your shoulder, look this way. A little farther. I’m the one behind her. But you know I’m here. That’s the worst part. You’ll find me later to talk about it, how she wouldn’t meet your eyes again, you’re not sure what you did wrong this time. With your head in my lap, you’ll gaze up and say I’m so glad I have you, no one gets me like you do! Maybe I won’t smile this time. I could…
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