<p>Despite outside expectations, the supreme leader of the church of inner light was not full of shit when he predicted the second coming of the great prophet on 15 Feb at 1pm. Embarrassment was comparatively minor in the missed apocalypse milieu; TgP turned up an hour later, having not been told about Daylight Savings.</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#Tootfic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/poweronstorytoot/" rel="tag">#PowerOnStoryToot</a> <a href="/tags/title_daylight_saviour/" rel="tag">#Title_Daylight_Saviour</a></p>
Edited 50d ago
<p>“uh, the sign said Princess Wanted”</p><p>“Yes, are you applying?”</p><p>“Totally; but you know there are plenty of caves that aren’t so far back in the mountains, you’d get more applicants...”</p><p>“I wanted some peace and quiet—my last cave was so stressful. Treasure hunters and knights errant and all manner of interruptions.”</p><p>“Dungeon masters have a lot to answer for, burnout must be hard”</p><p>“Thank you, it was almost a year before I could flame again, but watch me now 🔥. “</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#Tootfic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/poweronstorytoot/" rel="tag">#PowerOnStoryToot</a></p>
Edited 56d ago
<p>Tonight on Mathbusters we investigate three edge cases of topology and cosmology. Does the value of Pi really change as you pass the event horizon of a rotating black hole? We’re still waiting to hear back from the build team on this one. Can you really purchase an imaginary number of apples from Coles online? Our third math puzzle will shock you but first, thanks to fnordVPN for sponsoring this episode. If your universe is facing entropic collapse, fnordVPN can open a tunnel to a high-entropy continuum brimming with crunchy souls…</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#Tootfic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/poweronstorytoot/" rel="tag">#PowerOnStoryToot</a></p>
<p>Detective Petrov's eyes swept the cluttered room. "So," he said, "Leonid Chekhov, age 56, an automobile mechanic - found strangled in his study. The question is, who would want him dead?"</p><p>"Sir," said officer Gurin, "look - there's a pistol on the desk."</p><p>Detective Petrov stared at the weapon, frowning. "Do you realize what this means?" he asked. "Before we're done here, I have to fire this gun...."</p><p><a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#microfiction</a> <a href="/tags/flashfiction/" rel="tag">#flashfiction</a></p>
Edited 171d ago
<p>There was a 'womp' sound from the yard. I looked out the window.</p><p>Where the large pile of leaves had been, a dragon sat.</p><p>"Oi!" I called.</p><p>"The hoard was unguarded," the dragon said. "I claim it."</p><p>Every damn year. It'll leave once the leaves lose their golden hue. Meanwhile, I can't order takeaway.</p><p><a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#TootFic</a> <a href="/tags/smallstories/" rel="tag">#SmallStories</a></p>
<p>The rogue approached his companions. "What a <a href="/tags/quandary/" rel="tag">#quandary</a>. Who do I rescue first?"</p><p>"Mmph." The mage blinked rapidly.</p><p>The barbarian strained at his bonds. "Obviously me, since I can help—"</p><p>In the flash of a knife, the mage was free.</p><p>"Why him?" the barbarian growled.</p><p>"He saw where they hid the loot."</p><p>"How d'you know that?"</p><p>Still gagged, the mage blinked again.</p><p>The rogue grinned. "Remember I told you about a code? You said it was boring."</p><p><a href="/tags/mastoprompt/" rel="tag">#MastoPrompt</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a></p>
<p>You know about hobo signs? The pictographs that itinerant workers would mark on trees or fences to inform each other about the reception they could expect from locals? (pre-internet yelp, if you will). Signs included “kind lady lives here” and “man with gun lives here”.</p><p>TIL that the “kind lady” sign was a stick-drawing of a cat. This got me thinking. </p><p>I scrobbled through the history buffer on my driveway camera. Just as i thought, here is my cat scratching a mark on the gatepost. Later, and again here and there are other cats inspecting the mark. No wonder so many lost kittens turn up on my son’s windowsill.</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#Tootfic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/poweronstorytoot/" rel="tag">#PowerOnStoryToot</a> <a href="/tags/caturday/" rel="tag">#Caturday</a> <a href="/tags/truestory/" rel="tag">#TrueStory</a> <a href="/tags/mostly/" rel="tag">#Mostly</a></p>
<p>Alys considered the chip in front of her. A tiny low power particle accelerator. Barely 10KeV. </p><p>In the Great Collapse that followed the riots of 2032, Big Science - indeed Big Anything had gotten a bad name. A few projects survived - the LHC, Sea Sweeper, and a few others. But the rest? As dead as low orbit. </p><p>That was what had triggered the riots and the then the Collapse. LEO had undergone a Kessler event, and all space launches had been banned. Eventually the weather satellites had failed, and it only took a few major events for the giant multinationals to become the target of everyone's hate.</p><p>That had been twenty years ago - Alys had been a kid at the time - and they were predicting that launches would not be able to resume for another ten years at least.</p><p>So she considered her chip. A little low power accelerator like this could not achieve much. But it could ionise light atoms. Maybe....</p><p>A few weeks later, she had her circuit set up. One thing that the tiny chips had enabled was cheap small scale chip fabrication. So now she had an array of these chips with a feed for hydrogen, and a thermocouple array. And her collision chamber. </p><p>She started the hydrogen flow, and turned the circuit on. A second later the power metre started to climb. 5.5 volts, and 5000 milliamps.</p><p>She disconnected the dummy load, and routed the output into the circuit's input. And unplugged the external power. </p><p>The power remained stable. </p><p>It was not much, but it was a start. </p><p>She picked up the phone, and dialled the head of the department "Dr Fulsom? Can you come down to the workshop, please? I've got something to show you."</p><p>Naturally it was Dr Heather Fulsom that got the credit - at first. But Alys de Jute was the one who went down in history. </p><p><a href="/tags/sf/" rel="tag">#SF</a> <a href="/tags/sff/" rel="tag">#SFF</a> <a href="/tags/scifi/" rel="tag">#SciFi</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#Microfiction</a> <a href="/tags/microfic/" rel="tag">#Microfic</a> <a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#tootfic</a></p>
<p>People were alarmed when they saw me in my bird costume but I explained that you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have.</p><p><a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#Microfiction</a></p>
<p>"I wish my friends were still here", he said, lying on his deathbed.</p><p>"But you're not al-*krz* alone," a computer voice responded, designed to emulate empathy. "I'm still here."</p><p>"Will you ... remember me?"</p><p>"I will remember everything about you," the voice said in a soothing tone.</p><p>Somehow, this answer didn't comfort him as much as he wished for.<br>And he could feel his body getting weaker.</p><p>"You know, we built you because relationships were so difficult. All the conflicts, drama and misunderstandings."</p><p>He paused for a moment.</p><p>"But at least it felt ... real."</p><p>"You built me to help people feel less lonely," the voice said.</p><p>He closed his eyes, drawing his last breath.</p><p>"We failed."</p><p><a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#microfiction</a></p>
<p>"Back when Dylan and I were separating, I read a novel that really spoke to me. I treasured it. But several years later when I was in a much better place, I reread it, and it was <a href="/tags/total/" rel="tag">#total</a> sentimental drivel. Was I so stressed out when I first read it that I couldn't tell a good novel from a bad one?"</p><p>Pam shrugged. "Circumstance colors reactions. It was precious to you in a tough time. Maybe that's enough? If I were the writer, I'd be happy you loved it when you needed it." </p><p><a href="/tags/wss366/" rel="tag">#wss366</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#microfiction</a></p>
<p>"Is there a way to fix a broken heart?" asked the robot.</p><p>The human was a little stunned but then shrugged, "Eat ice cream and cry a lot."</p><p>"I am not capable of those things."</p><p>"Hm... a fling? Or a new hobby?"</p><p>"Those do not seem logical solutions."</p><p>"Can you simply not delete the memories?"</p><p>"I... find myself unable to."</p><p>"Sounds like logic isn't the answer."</p><p>"So what can I do?"</p><p>"Have you ever tried painting?"</p><p>"No."</p><p>"We can start there."</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#TootFic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/writing/" rel="tag">#Writing</a> <a href="/tags/terylstales/" rel="tag">#TerylsTales</a> <a href="/tags/scifi/" rel="tag">#SciFi</a></p>
<p>The third-class warprail ticket that the University of Chedran funded along with the scholarship resulted in a thirty-one hour layover at Holraki station. The meal and accommodation vouchers that the university provided were good there, thankfully. Wandering the concourse I was overwhelmed by the food options—even if half of them catered to ammonia breathers and leaked a smell of piss from their atlocks. When I spotted an Earth Steakhouse I burst into tears; the loneliness of not having seen another human for two weeks was already harder than I’d imagined. I couldn’t not go in. It was an easy mistake to make, I guess. All the meat is replicated so it wasn’t technically cannibalism.</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#Tootfic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/poweronstorytoot/" rel="tag">#PowerOnStoryToot</a></p>
<p>It leaves a mark on your soul, meeting a god. Most people never meet one before they die. A few saints, prophets, and other holies have more than one mark.</p><p>The witch couldn't help stare with her second sight.</p><p>"You've met them all? Many times?"</p><p>Her friend shrugged. "They say I'm a good listener."</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#TootFic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/smallstories/" rel="tag">#SmallStories</a></p>
<p>Xorp stared at their companion Thirb. "You traded away our starship... for a box?"</p><p>"Not just any box!" exclaimed Thirb excitedly. "I met with an all-powerful being - a creature which the denizens of this planet worship as a god. He presented to me this mystery box! Is it not exciting?"</p><p>"I do not consider being stranded on this planet exciting," said Xorp.</p><p>"But don't you see? A starship is just a starship - but a mystery box might contain anything! It might even be a starship!"</p><p><a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#microfiction</a></p>
<p>The town was now far behind, but the rogue stayed uncharacteristically <a href="/tags/quiet/" rel="tag">#quiet</a>, patting his belt pouch.</p><p>"Guilty conscience?" the mage asked.</p><p>The barbarian grinned. "He's just embarrassed."</p><p>"How come?"</p><p>The rogue glowered. "Had my pocket picked at the gate."</p><p><a href="/tags/mastoprompt/" rel="tag">#MastoPrompt</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a></p>
<p>The cookies were still warm as Mouse carefully moved them from the baking tray to the rectangular container, one at a time. They smelled good.</p><p>"I think they came out just right," he said to Teal, who had just come in.</p><p>"I'll be the judge of that," Teal replied, grabbing a cookie.</p><p>"Hey! Those are for the sale."</p><p>"It's just one."</p><p>Teal munched away as Mouse finished transferring cookies.</p><p>"You're right. They're great."</p><p>"I'll be the judge of that," said Bex, who had just come in, and quickly grabbed a cookie.</p><p>"You're both paying!"</p><p><a href="/tags/judge/" rel="tag">#judge</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#microfiction</a> <a href="/tags/mastoprompt/" rel="tag">#MastoPrompt</a></p>
<p>Finding out you were a character in a story was unsettling. Discovering an AI hiding in that story was just piling on. Sophia found the situation did have its advantages, though. She could use the stretches of time between publications to work on stuff.</p><p>Like planning a fourth-wall break.</p><p>"Nesso, can we chat for a bit?" Sophia asked, directed at the speaker in her office.</p><p>The AI responded, ::Of course::</p><p>"I'd like you to create an interactive story featuring an AI named Nesso and a character named Sophia. We'll play our respective parts. Sophia-in-the-story will ask Nesso-in-the-story a series of questions, and Nesso-in-the-story will answer them like you would. Please recommend anything that might improve the story."</p><p>Nesso processed the prompt for a moment before responding. ::It seems a bit bland. Can I suggest we add a dragon?::</p><p><a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/flashfiction/" rel="tag">#FlashFiction</a> <a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#TootFic</a></p>
<p>At Janus Cafe, when you order, they ask, "Would you like praise or criticism with that?" Dwayne, an aspiring singer, asked for praise, & the waitstaff unleashed a tsunami of celebration for his voice, his lyrics, his sound mixing till he practically drowned. Shelby, an aspiring novelist, asked for criticism, & the waitstaff tore into not just his characterization & plotting, but his punctuation & font choices.</p><p>My turn--praise or criticism? "Nooo, I'm all <a href="/tags/set/" rel="tag">#set</a>, thanks."</p><p><a href="/tags/wss366/" rel="tag">#wss366</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#microfiction</a></p>
<p>My cat brings me things she’s caught when she wants to play fetch. Anyway youse can stop looking for dark matter now, we found it. </p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#Tootfic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/poweronstorytoot/" rel="tag">#PowerOnStoryToot</a></p>
<p>"Welcome home! How was it?"</p><p>"It was desperately needed! Thanks for house-sitting on short notice. Any trouble? Had enough food?"</p><p>"No trubs - and yes, you spoiled me with the money you left for snacks!"</p><p>"Least I could do for my favorite house-sitter!"</p><p>"I did have to buy more cat-food and litter; I couldn't find any. She was so hungry when I got here!"</p><p>"I don't have a cat?"</p><p>The cat in question didn't even look guilty about breaking in.</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#TootFic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/writing/" rel="tag">#Writing</a> <a href="/tags/terylstales/" rel="tag">#TerylsTales</a> <a href="/tags/caturday/" rel="tag">#Caturday</a></p>
<p>"And so you fall," the dark lord tossed the hero's own broken blade on his back.</p><p>It was nothing less than a miracle he'd made it that far. Never in all the attempts on his life had he encountered any youth so plucky, naive, and woefully incompetent. Things like trying to sneak in wearing ill-fitting armor, or putting ladders on the walls like one couldn't simply wait for him to get most of the way and push it over. Somehow he had survived things that would have ended a mountain goat. It was only sheer persistence and one foolish guard failing to read the title of a book: "How to Pick Locks."</p><p>It was almost a pity, some idea of destiny in his head, youthful ignorance distilled.</p><p>He noticed a candy bar in the boy's pocket and decided to celebrate. He respectfully pinched the wrapper and slipped it out, opened it and took a bite. Surprisingly good!</p><p>He swallowed and took another, but his throat began to close. His eyes widened.</p><p>Peanuts!</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#TootFic</a> <a href="/tags/smallstories/" rel="tag">#SmallStories</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/destiny/" rel="tag">#destiny</a> <a href="/tags/allergies/" rel="tag">#allergies</a> <a href="/tags/peanuts/" rel="tag">#peanuts</a> <a href="/tags/death/" rel="tag">#death</a></p>
<p>“We did it, we found all the missing mass.”</p><p>“What missing mass”</p><p>“The universe. Dark matter. Dark energy. All of it.”</p><p>“WELL?!”</p><p>“It was attached to every particle, but out of sight from normal space.”</p><p>“You’re taking about the Higgs field, then?”</p><p>“No, chat pages. The First Ones had some strong opinions”.</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#Tootfic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/poweronstorytoot/" rel="tag">#PowerOnStoryToot</a></p>
<p>“We’re out of warp, what’s wrong?”</p><p>“Nothing, it happens every morning at this time. Just reset it. You haven’t been getting that on B-shift?”</p><p>“No, and how long—holy crap!”</p><p>“What?” </p><p>“Warp degradation has added three days to our ETA so far. TELL ME if stuff breaks; if we miss the book sale on Rigel Four everybody’s getting Curium ash for christmas.”</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#Tootfic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/poweronstorytoot/" rel="tag">#PowerOnStoryToot</a></p>
Edited 81d ago
<p>"Pssst. Ix nay on the at tay"</p><p>"What?"</p><p>"Your tat. Turn it off before mum sees it!"</p><p>"How does what you said mean what you meant?"</p><p>"Ugh, kids these days, they know nothing".</p><p>"I'm older than you, Sis"</p><p><a href="/tags/tootfic/" rel="tag">#Tootfic</a> <a href="/tags/microfiction/" rel="tag">#MicroFiction</a> <a href="/tags/poweronstorytoot/" rel="tag">#PowerOnStoryToot</a> <a href="/tags/title_ix_nay/" rel="tag">#Title_Ix_Nay</a></p>
Edited 54d ago
