Shortie Thread, Cameos and unconnected brief tales Options

[Adella]

Hello everyone

This thread is for short pieces or tales which are not necessarily part of anything larger, but standalone as is. I invite any participation and comment upon content is welcome. I would make a plea for sincere works please and not jokey one liners hmmm.

Please also just include ‘End’ at the…end of the piece. So that others may know it is safe to start adding comments without unintentionally interrupting your creative flow.

Adella



Let me include an example of the kind of intended content. I wrote this following a battle in Falskaar. There is no more, no lead in, no continuation. You enjoy what it is (or not) as it stands.

“Hmmm, I just had a thrilling fight. I had returned to a camp where some bandits had respawned. The fights were so so with largely straight kills.

Most were already dispatched when this enraged regular Thug caught up with me in the courtyard. We engaged with the usual swipes, power attacks and blocks suddenly he made an over arm power attack which I dodged by moving left, and before he could complete his swing, I brought my sword across in a waist high flat arc from right to left
My razor sharp Dragonbone blade slashed a line right across his bare gut. The rent flesh opened like a vomiting mouth, spilling his intestine at his feet.

The vile pile of green and red bile sat there steaming in the chill crisp morning air.
His trembling fingers released his redundant sword and his confused questioning eyes locked with mine for a second before he dropped to his knees.

In slow motion it seemed, he looked down at the mess of guts and in his delirium he vainly tried to scoop them back into his gaping belly. I twisted my boot into his oozing entrails ending the fruitless attempt. He looked up at me with water filled eyes, the anger replaced with a deep sadness. Perhaps he was thinking of some loved one he knew he would never see again, I can’t know. He seemed to be trying to say something, but the shock reduced it to a stammering “I..I..I� and he began to wobble.

I took a brief pity upon him. “Shsh baby� I cooed to him, bending down and smoothing his greasy hair back from his dirt and blood smeared face. In a moment we both reached an unspoken understanding. A courtesy between combatants.
“Th..th..thank y..you� he managed with a grunted whisper.
I stood. My sword sank into his pain and it was over.

It was one of those special moments we occasionally face in the heat of battle. A few seconds which extend out of time and remain with us always.��
END

This post has been edited by Adella: Jul 2 2021, 06:56 PM

[Adella]

I mused this cameo piece whilst watching rain in a sombre mood…kinda reflective and cosey.

Anyhow…So, here I am in this little city night club at the end of the evening….


Closing time at the Aprés Noir

The booth was warm and comforting like a mother’s arms, low lighting made it hard to focus or was it one glass too many at end of the long evening? I didn’t care and the timeless moment could have drifted forever.

A deep voice rumbled at my ear in a gentle tone “ Club’s ‘bout t’close miss�. The huge bouncer moved on, fading into the gloom and I attempted to climb a rung of consciousness, opening a heavy eye. A no name performer shuffled at the mic, his rendition of ‘Still Crazy’ slow, garbled and messy fitted the mood perfectly.

My clutch clung to the far edge of the table like a desperate man about to jump. A crowd of empty cocktail glasses, sad and pointless filled the space between, while rafts of soggy umbrellas and small sticks floated in the spillage. I reached through the forest and rescued the clutch, within lie salvation, the number of a cab company I could never recall.

The after work drinks crowd had abandoned me at some point to continue their boozed up club crawl, but I like it here just fine. This old haunt is a familiar friend with forgotten memories of worse times past laid to rest for the cost of a bottle of sin. At least I felt safe here, and protected from the unscrupulous who prowl the neon streets and shadow filled alleys.

This city has a habit of swallowing up those who spend the night staggering from one cheap joint to the next. The morning paper tells of the stragglers who tried to catch up with party friends and took a wrong turn of instant regret.

Here’s my cab...time to go home!�
END

This post has been edited by Adella: Jul 4 2021, 12:45 AM