Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Recite</p><p>Wizards demand that their students recite the spells they learned but they keep secret the mightiest ones.</p><p>Witches tell their apprentices all the spells they know and then watch them invent new, better ones.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
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#tootfic
33 posts · 24 participants · 1 post today
RS, Author, Novelist, Prosaist<blockquote><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WordWeavers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WordWeavers</span></a> 2504.08 — MC POV: What are the 3 most important things you always take with you when traveling (besides money, ID and keys if applicable)?</p></blockquote><p>I don't care much for <em>things.</em> Oh, I'll use them, and properly value them, earn them when needs be, but only knowledge and people have real value. I wasn't born into wealth, but upon my parent's death, when I was five, the powerful decided I was <em>somehow</em> special. Wealth, training, and responsibility followed. I don't know exactly when I stopped being a kid who nerded out on magic† with her childhood friend, when I morphed into someone else's sharp tool. When I grew old enough to pass as an adult, with great precision, calculation, and planning, I ran away never to be found. My elite life wasn't what I wanted, what I needed. </p><p>Since then nothing, <em>no thing,</em> describes what I want or desire, other than simply my freedom to study and learn. When you don't have a place to return to, or a place to live, they call you homeless. I gave my former life up, and when I find a new situation that sours, I can give everything up again. <em>Snap,</em> like that. Being home-<em>free</em> is a freedom from being made to do what I dislike, or what's wrong. I've traveled across the continent on foot. I've lived in homeless encampments. <strong>The three things I take with me are a tarp, a bedroll, and my book of magic.</strong></p><p>Those are things, of course. <strong>I take my skills, my common sense, and a sharp tongue, also.</strong> They keep me safe.</p><p>————<br>† Magic is a simplification of a physically quantifiable repeatable phenomenon.</p><p>[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]</p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/BoostingIsSharing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BoostingIsSharing</span></a></p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/gender" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>gender</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/fiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>fiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writer</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>author</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/mystery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>mystery</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/thriller" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>thriller</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/romance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>romance</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sf" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sf</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sff" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sff</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sciencefiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sciencefiction</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writing</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writingcommunity</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writersOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writersOfMastodon</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writers</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSdiscussion" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSdiscussion</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSstory</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSReluctanceStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSReluctanceStory</span></a><br> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/flashfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>flashfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/smallstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>smallstory</span></a></p>
Kit Bashir<p>Betelgeuse, the Red supergiant star in Orion that is not pronounced ANYTHING like that movie godsdammit, does have one thing in common with it. Teetering on the brink of Supernova, variously predicted to blow up tomorrow, in the next 100 kiloyears, or already (modulo light speed lag), it waited to be called.</p><p>Our uncertainty about its state of assplodery stems from our uncertainty about its mass, which in turn arises from our uncertainty about its distance. The reason we’re not completely sure whether it’s 400 or 1200 light years away (far enough to be non-earth-shattering when it does kaboom, in any case) is that its death-throe fuzziness (this beast of a star would extend to the orbit of Jupiter if you swapped it for our sun) makes measurement of stellar parallax really frickin’ hard. </p><p>The Henrietta Swan Leavitt Tachyon Ranging Observatory was built to solve problems like this. It works like RADAR only it uses tachyons, those mirror particles of normal matter which can only travel /faster/ than light, never slower. This morning the HSL fired three tachyon bursts at Betelgeuse, awaiting echoes which ought to return in just minutes, not centuries. Two came back. The distance to Betelgeuse is 714.5 light years. That means light from its supernova explosion will arrive in 714 years, six months and five minutes. Whoops, our bad.</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/Tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/PowerOnStoryToot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PowerOnStoryToot</span></a></p>
Micro SF/F by O. Westin<p>"Wait," the American representative said. </p><p>The rest of the Human trade delegation groaned. </p><p>"With this deal, the Galactic Empire get all our entertainment, and we get all their technology."</p><p>"Yes?"</p><p>"Is that fair? We have, like, thousands of films!"</p><p>"They have spaceships."</p><p>"That's one thing!"</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/vss" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>vss</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStories" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStories</span></a></p>
Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Transmisogyny</p><p>"Granted," said the Djinn. "Your transmisogyny is now consequence-free. However every time you shall express it, the whole world shall learn all the details of one of your most secret thoughts hitherto unknown."</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
Kit Bashir<p>The mice had been bringing me bits of cheese. I think I know where they were getting them, but I had been in this cell long enough not to squeam.</p><p>Today (is it day, kinda hard to tell but the stink seems to change tone at times which I put down to diurnal airflow far above) they brought me a key.</p><p>It took an hour (I have no idea how long but it felt long) to turn the key in the lock, stretching the SQWREEEEEclunk out so long it was subsonic. Another maybe-hour to open the door. The stink-gradient said “out” was thattaway, but the mice squeaked (discreetly!) that I should go thisaway.</p><p>“Down? Are you sure? Okay, I fucking hate sewer levels but youse have done me solid so far”</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/Tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/PowerOnStoryToot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PowerOnStoryToot</span></a></p>
Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Conflicting</p><p>When facing a conflicting situation, a Wizard sets out to defuse it, and then everyone sides against him.</p><p>When facing a conflicting situation, a Witch almost manages to defuse it, and then a Wizard barges in and screws it all up.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
Kit Bashir<p>The alien fleet came out of a wormhole directly into Earth orbit. They milled around for a while, disrupted the orbits of a few geostationary satellites, and then jumped out again, apparently having forgotten why they came.</p><p>Portal amnesia is a real thing, triggered by the momentary cognitive overload of entering a new room. You’ve probably experienced it in your home. Eventually we worked out that it was our messy lower orbits, festooned with cubesats, starlinks and other Kessler Kibble that saved us from invasion.</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/Tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/PowerOnStoryToot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PowerOnStoryToot</span></a></p>
Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Desire</p><p>Becoming a ghost, contrary to popular belief, does not require that you need to remain in the world in order to settle some unfinished business. All that it takes is desire to live on.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
Kit Bashir<p>One asteroid prospector in a singleship makes for a hard living. Bring a couple of border collies flying gravity skimmers and suddenly it’s fun for the whole family. The hard part is getting them to stop. One of mine got into the Jupiter trojans and lined the fuckers up by size. Clever bitch.</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/Tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/PowerOnStoryToot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PowerOnStoryToot</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/BonusEdition" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BonusEdition</span></a></p>
Kit Bashir<p>“The advantage of the atomic bomb — everyone got your bags? — was being able to destroy an entire city with a single bomb, rather than needing — remember to breathe if you feel faint — 1000 plane loads of firebombs to wipe out a city.”</p><p>“Miss, will this be on the test? Why do we have to know this?”</p><p>“So that it doesn’t happen again.”</p><p>“How could it happen again, we all feel sick just thinking about it? How could you start a war or — uuurghh — fly a bomber with your head in a barf bag.?”</p><p>“It only takes a few months of indoctrination to suppress the empathy of most humans. Before the Media Law people, even kids like you, faced de-empathic conditioning — advertising, we called it — every day of their lives.”</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/Tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/PowerOnStoryToot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PowerOnStoryToot</span></a></p>
fsniper<p>- It's not fair! - You know the rules child, you are not allowed with explosions. - But you see what I accomplished!! - You talking about "that"? It's never about it. It's about breaking the rules - You can't do this! I am a grown up now! - Oh sweet child one small universe with your "big bang".. you still can't see the shortcomings ? Can you? - But.. - Did you check the light speed? Foresaw all the suffering you caused? Not a grown up yet, not at all. To your room now! <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a></p>
Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Incommunicability</p><p>"The main radio link was down, and R42 underwent incommunicability for one hour."</p><p>"Ah, so that's why it's not moving at all? It's the shock?"</p><p>"Nope, it's just still transferring all the backlogged data."</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
RS, Author, Novelist, Prosaist<blockquote><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/PennedPossibilities" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PennedPossibilities</span></a> 634 — MC POV: How much do you value companionship? Do you always keep people around, or do you prefer to be alone? </p></blockquote><p>[Devil-girl] An odd question. I've never really thought about it. Companionship is good, and I enjoy it when people are around, like when I train at the gym or am at work. What I do is all about teamwork, so I'm good with people. Yet, I don't <em>always</em> keep people around. I really do like to throw open all the windows and study a good book. I live in a converted dance studio, so two walls open to the outside and the other two are mirrored. Laying on a mat, with the breezes, and the quiet you get living in a university town. Hmm. I <em>guess</em> I'm finding more use for what people call friends. I've certainly found a lot of use for men…</p><p>[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]</p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/BoostingIsSharing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BoostingIsSharing</span></a></p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/gender" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>gender</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/fiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>fiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writer</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>author</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/mystery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>mystery</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/thriller" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>thriller</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/romance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>romance</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sf" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sf</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sff" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sff</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sciencefiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sciencefiction</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writing</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writingcommunity</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writersOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writersOfMastodon</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writers</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSdiscussion" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSdiscussion</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSstory</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSInklingsStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSInklingsStory</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSReluctanceStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSReluctanceStory</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/flashfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>flashfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/smallstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>smallstory</span></a></p>
RS, Author, Novelist, Prosaist<blockquote><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WritersCoffeeClub" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WritersCoffeeClub</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/WCC" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>WCC</span></a> 2504.03 — How do you navigate scenes with many characters?</p></blockquote><p>Carefully. I don't want to step on anyone's toes or disrupt them saying their lines.</p><p>In the Saying the Quiet Part Aloud department, I will admit that most of the advice I give is actually analysis of what I've written. I don't necessarily plan these things out, or have check lists. Sorry. What I do is simply write what I think sounds right, then go back and study whether it worked. I have plenty of experience (close to 2M words written), so I often get the sense of it right.</p><p>"Intuition!" you scoff, adding, "That's not helpful."</p><p>Here's a speed bump I navigated. Kyv is the current POV. I'm handing off to May Ri (the so-called princess).</p><blockquote><p>...The book plate lit up. Kyv recognized the woman on vid[,saying]. "The Princess of Mars and her Five Daughters!"</p><p>May Ri, in her alighter outside, watched the growing crowd of men, wiry, lightly muscled, androgynous for that, all moonborne, adapted to 1/6th gravity. No weapons. She sighed. "You saw the vid of the nuking of Hershel?"</p></blockquote><p>Handing off a POV is one way of navigating, I did that between those two paragraphs by transferring succinctly from the book plate (think cellphone doing FaceTime) Kyv is looking at to who he is looking at on said book plate. This is a 3rd person technique.</p><p>Beyond that, dialogue attribution is another technique I use. He said, she said. And you get to add a bit of visual or noise at the same time, which I call character tags. Indeed, you can avoid the said-ism in back and forths if the characters have an accent or manner of speech, but you have to be careful about that. While this seems like 3rd person also, keep in mind 1st POV characters often describe what's going on around them, and they do that in 3rd person, more so if they are telling a story of what happened to others.</p><p>[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]</p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/BoostingIsSharing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BoostingIsSharing</span></a></p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/gender" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>gender</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/fiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>fiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writer</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>author</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/mystery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>mystery</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/thriller" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>thriller</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/romance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>romance</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/fantasy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>fantasy</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sf" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sf</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sff" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sff</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/sciencefiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>sciencefiction</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writing</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writingcommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writingcommunity</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writersOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writersOfMastodon</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writers</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSdiscussion" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSdiscussion</span></a> <br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSstory</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSInklingsStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSInklingsStory</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/RSReluctanceStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RSReluctanceStory</span></a><br><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/microfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>microfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/flashfiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>flashfiction</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/smallstory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>smallstory</span></a></p>
Kit Bashir<p>All complex ecosystems, the saying goes, evolve parasites.</p><p>When our moon was joined by a new companion mini moon, a veritable regatta of penis-shaped space probes set out for lunar orbit to plant flags on the new ground.</p><p>Space billionaires were gleeful at their dreams of wealth beyond count derived from asteroid mining being fulfilled for free, without having to even go and fetch an asteroid to mine. </p><p>Until the new arrival started feeding.</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/Tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/PowerOnStoryToot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PowerOnStoryToot</span></a></p>
allrite<p>"Why did you lie?"</p><p>- For reassurance.</p><p>"I trusted you that there was a way out."</p><p>- That was your choice.</p><p>"You are no god."</p><p>- Perhaps not, but there was a need to believe.</p><p>"I don't believe in you."</p><p>- I didn't say that it was your need.</p><p>"The gods don't like pretenders. They will smite you down."</p><p>- That's good, we could do with a little smiting right now. In the absence of the gods, be a good chap won't you and help me dig us out.</p><p><a href="https://masto.allrite.at/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://masto.allrite.at/tags/tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>tootfic</span></a></p>
Albert ARIBAUD ✎<p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/writever" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>writever</span></a> Cookie</p><p>"Have you *again* killed a Knight?" asked the annoyed Princess.</p><p>"What? No!" replied the Dragon. "I invited him to share our roast. He went to get dessert. Cookies, I believe."</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MastoArt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MastoArt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/FlashFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FlashFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStory</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a></p>
Kit Bashir<p>“That’s nuts, five hundred bucks to rent a garbage skip for a week is extortion.”</p><p>“It’s mostly the new waste disposal fees at the dump, I’m told. Oh, I’m sorry ‘resource recovery centre’”.</p><p>“Look if you can wait til tomorrow I’ll bring home a voidgate from the office. I reckon i can wrangle a half meter one home on the bus, is that big enough?”</p><p>“That’s very neighbourly, thanks. Um, that should handle most of the stuff i need to get rid of, except the sofa.”</p><p>“No wukkers, I’ll sneak a nano blade home too.”</p><p>“*Where* do you work again?”</p><p>“Classified.”</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/Tootfic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Tootfic</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/PowerOnStoryToot" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PowerOnStoryToot</span></a></p>
Micro SF/F by O. Westin<p>I key my code into the terminal and put my left little finger on the scanner. It beeps rejection.</p><p>"There was another data breach last night," the cashier says. "All prints compromised. You must use a backup print."</p><p>"Sorry about this," I say and bend down to untie my shoe.</p><p>"You're not the first."</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/MicroFiction" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MicroFiction</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/TootFic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TootFic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/SmallStories" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SmallStories</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/VSS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>VSS</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.art/tags/wss366" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>wss366</span></a></p>
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