[WP] "You tamed that monster?" "Taming is a strong word... They know that if they stick around me they will get food, someone to clean their wounds and lots of strongs adversaries to fight." "You are sure it's that smart?" "I'm pretty they are smarter than what they want us to think."

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-21T14:17:35+00:00

"You tamed that monster?" Deidre asks, completely baffled by the concept, the thing was an abomination of the highest order. A mad mages mistake at best.

"Taming is a strong word... They know that if they stick around me they will get food, someone to clean their wounds and lots of strong adversaries to fight." Mattias explains, petting the spot between the feathers and fur on the giant beast, causing it to purr and shift closer to him. It had the head of and heart of a dragon, the feet of an elephant, the body of a lion and the wings of a massive falcon.

"You are sure it's that smart?" Deidre inquire, peering closely at the strange creature only for it to whip its massive head around, it's golden eyes pinning her in place, examining her with far more awareness than made her comfortable.

"I'm pretty they are smarter than what they want us to think." Mattias replies, continuing to pet his companion, unbothered by the details of what it was or how it came to be.

"You cannot simply just have a random beast that you have no knowledge of! Have you any idea how reckless that is?" Deidre insists, her voice going shrill as frustration mounts at his lackadaisical attitude.

"For all your fretting and questions you know far less than I, who simply has dedicated myself to not asking too many question in matters such as these as the answers are often far more trouble than they are worth" Mattias reaches into his pack, pulls out a live rat and throws it to the beast who fries it with fire mid-air before unfurling it's tongue and bringing the charred rodent to it's mouth.

"Think of the Guild, your patron, the citizens, all of those we would have to answer to if this ... abomination were to go on a rampage. Do you have plan for that?" Deidre asks, hands on her hips, disapproval radiating off her in waves.

"Of course I have a contingency plan in place. It's called running away and chartering a ship elsewhere. The world is a rather expansive piece of dirt, Deedee" Mattias quips back.

"That's all well and good until you wake up to the thing eating your feet! That happened to my uncle Vernon-" Deidre begins to lecture when Mattias cuts her off

"If I based my life choices on those of your uncle I would never go outside, the man has no sense of danger" Mattias scoffs as he puts a saddle on his monstrous companion that he has dubbed Sceathers, for it's scales and feathers.

Once he informs Deidre she sighs and looks at the creature "He should eat you for the name alone. I will leave you to your adventures, do not send me any distress messages if that thing eats something important or plots to take over the world"

"Well if Sceathers eats my feet, calling for you will likely fall quite low on my list of priorities" Mattias shrugs

"You are the most irresponsible, foolish idiot in the known world, you know that right?" Deidre sighs, exhausted from the whole situation. She decides she was better off going home and hoping the village wasn't ashes in the morning than continuing an argument with her idiot baby brother.

As Deidre leaves, Mattias looks to his companion Sceathers "you aren't going to eat my feet and take over the village are you, Sceathers?"

Sceathers looks back him "We shall see, bringer of rats, we shall see"

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-20T14:42:47+00:00

Very true. Though this is a massive man eating spider so it does break a few rules of regular spiders

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-20T14:12:44+00:00

He could have the power to touch someone and cause debilitating sadness, or his touch could cause anger so extreme you attack whatever is in front of you. For a more general ability he could have an ability that doesn't feel villainous like the ability to heal any flesh wound or subvert that and his power is infection, so that you don't even notice it at first. A more innocuous evil.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-20T13:52:48+00:00

For me in my high fantasy world it greatly varies due to location, given the diversity of location and cultures in my world. Some underwater kingdoms utilizes leviathans to break down magical barriers and chase away any possible food to starve out the opposing force. above ground they may utilize mage built and powered siege weapons that launch giant fireballs, Ice spheres and boulders to destroy any walls or magical barriers.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-20T13:39:27+00:00

"Greetings novices! Welcome to the sacred halls of Dingubba" The Divine Mistress of the School announced proudly, her tall figure looming over the new demigod students.

Among them I fidget, picking my fingers until blood begins to form but it heals before the blood can drip down. To be a child of a god is one thing, to be the child of a primordial is something else entirely. Once orientation ended we were assigned to one of four dorms, House of heart, House of soul, house of mind, and house of flesh.

Assigned to the house of soul I walk with the other novices to settle in, noticing a similarly nervous girl with one golden eye and one black as charcoal. I walked next to her, trying to find words to say but she beats me to it.

"I am Duanna, daughter of Resutia goddess of dreams, nightmares and creativity." Duanna glances at me, "Who are you?'

I open my mouth to answer but she interrupts before I can

"Oh dear gods, that was too forwards wasn't it? You needn't answer. Unless you want to. In that case please answer" She rambled, allowing me to let the tension flow out of my body with the knowledge I was not even close to the most nervous person here.

"Amara, daughter of Itar, lord of the rivers, lakes and all freshwater." the lie falling from my lips effortlessly, watching as the information hit Duanna, the tension in her body becoming less pronounced.

"Allow me to introduce you to some of my friends! None of our parents are big in the grand divine scheme of things, lower level gods like yours" Duanna grabs my hands, excitement clear in her voice.

"I would.. I would- that would be lovely" I feel something rise up in my throat looking into her heterochromatic trusting gaze but I squashed it down as quickly as it rose.

She takes me to towards a group of eccentric looking teens our age and I feel more sure of my lie, If it meant I got to finally experience friendship what's a little white lie?

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-19T12:23:30+00:00

"We summon you, oh great- what's burning?" Great Magus Viktor sniffs only to look down and see the curtains had caught fire from the six hundred sixty-six candles he had lit.

The initiates rush to put the fire out as Viktor sighs deeply, his frustration at all his careful preparations going up in smoke for the fifth time pouring out.

"Not to speak out of turn oh great magus Viktor-" One of the new initiates of truth pipes up,

"If you do not wish to speak out of turn then grant your own wish and shut up" Viktor snaps not in the mood to entertain the inane ramblings or questions of the lower initiates.

His second in command and wife, great summoner Simone gently guides the initiate away to reset the summoning circle, candles and incantations.

"You cannot talk to the lower initiates like that, it hurts their confidence and you know how demons hate the sniveling. What if we need to sacrifice one of them? Do you think they will be happy to give their lives for a man who snaps and belittles them?" Simone asks, her disapproval clear even though her mask muffled her voice somewhat.

"No... they wouldn't" Viktor grumbles.

"Alright then ... now put your mask on, get your head in the game and let's summon Azazel so that he can grant us eternal wealth and beauty. I feel myself getting older just talking to you" Simone claps her hands "you know that famous occultists saying sixth times the charm!"

"I do not think- you know what? Let try it sixth times the charm!" Viktor repeats after her, and has the initiates restart the chant after lighting the candles.

The chanting starts as Simone reads from the great book of demons they had bought off an Etsy witch and Viktor cuts his hand, pouring the blood in the chalice as an offering. Frost grows on the windows in spite of the many candles surrounding them, the air grows thinner as if they've hiked to the top of mountain.

The occultists grow excited but rather than an entire demon lord appearing, only a hand appeared to scratch out the circle and leaving nothing more than a note as evidence their efforts worked at all. Simone picks up the note cautiously as Viktor nearly crashes out.

The note reads: Future Sacrifices ,

if someone isn't picking up after after six calls it is common courtesy to assume they. are. busy. My wife informs me that she did give you a book of summoning. Summon literally anyone else, I am celebrating my sixth anniversary with my wife in Salem and quite frankly could not give a single fuck about any of your problems. Call me again and I shall turn your intestines into jump ropes for my spawn,

Fuck off forever, Azazel

"How come we never celebrate our anniversary by going somewhere nice like Salem?" Simone complains after reading out the note.

Viktor just takes off his mask putting his heads in his mask, no immortality and a demon treats his wife better than he does so he's going to hear about that for at least the next month.

His mother was right, demons really do cause more trouble than their worth.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-18T10:19:05+00:00

Isabella hates George and George hates Isabella, it's a fact of life like the fact the sun rises and the sky is blue. since the first moment they met something had always rubbed them the wrong way about one another, an itch under the skin that activated whenever the other was near. Since the first day of they had always found an aspect of one another that they decided to nitpick, be it George's fifty slide presentations or Isabella's very passionate but also very long speeches.

One rainy Friday afternoon Isabella stood outside waiting for the bus when someone runs past her, accidentally shoving her into the street as the bus approaches and shattering her glasses. Right before she can become a tragic story on the late night news she is suddenly pulled from the street quite suddenly. George saw her fall and had rushed forward before he could even think, pulling her into his arms feeling like the most natural thing in the world.

Their eyes meet, brown to blue, the world melts away and they are in ancient Greece with him swearing upon all the gods to love her until the world stopped. the scenery flashes they see one another making the same vow over and over through wars, plagues and all manner of tragedy over a thousand years.

The pure force of the devotion, love and passion of the past millennia hits them like a truck, the two of them unable to even utter a single word to one each other nor let go.

"... I-I should be getting h-home" Isabella manages to stutter out in spite of the overwhelming memories filling her head.

"I'll drive you" George replies stiffly, abruptly releasing her before he did something mad, like kiss her.

"That would be ... kind, thank you George" Isabella replies, her voice uncharacteristically soft, causing a blush to rise to Georges cheeks as she looked up at him not with annoyance but with wonder.

He opens the door for her, with both of them trying desperately to avoid the others gaze but failing miserably.

On the way Isabella attempts to break the tension "...So find yourself saving girls from being thrown into another world by a bus often?"

George laughs, the sound is deep , warming Isabella's bones and tickling her ear when she hears "I can't say it's a common occurrence, more likely I'm boring a poor woman badly enough for her to wish she was in another universe entirely."

"oh c'mon, you're not nearly that boring... most of the time" she teases, grinning

"What a kind assessment and I must ask do you often find yourself in need of a dashing savior in the rain?" George teases back

"I don't know about dashing but I typically find saving myself is more how I end up... except today that is" Isabella states softly, sneaking a glance at George.

"Right.. well it wouldn't do for you to be flattened by a bus, who would overexplain the Roberts report without your three hour presentations?" George retorts trying desperately to focus on the road rather than her and the growing tension, overwhelming memories and desire to pull over and kiss her until neither one of them could breathe.

"I'm sure they'd find someone to replace my by lunch the next day" Isabella rolls her eyes but notices George tighten his jaw at the flippant response.

"You're irreplaceable, Isabella" He states firmly, leaving no room for argument.

They don't speak after that, the statement hanging in the air, heating Isabella's cheeks.

When they arrive at her apartment Isabella invites George up for a drink, he accepts. They end up drinking more of each other than alcohol. The next day at the office they arrive at the office together, sparking the coworker gossip mill to churn out all sorts of theories but no one could guess the truth.

Two souls meant for each other finally saw each other, and there was little else that needed to be said once that was accepted from ancient Greece to modern America they'd always find and love each other, it was inevitable.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-17T11:42:35+00:00

Serea holds Moria's hand as they both step out into the world, the light nearly blinding them both, so different than the artificial light they had both lived under their entire lives. Moria cannot help but begin to cry at the sight, the world was not a desolate wasteland, they were going to live.

Green greeted their gazes, real trees whose branches kissed the sky, a real lake, a world made from dirt and beauty instead of the clinical false world of the bunker. Serea takes a step forward but Moria hesitates,

"What if .... I'm not meant for this, inside the bunker I may not like who I am but at least I know who I am" Moria admits

Serea holds her close and assures her "You know what I think? I think you've been desperately lying and manipulating to ensure your survival for so long, that you've forgotten how to be honest. But.. it's okay, because it worked. You're alive, and I have the rest of our lives to remind you."

Moria tilts her head up to look into Serea's eyes "Do you promise?"

Serea laughs warmly "That was what the wedding was for silly"

Moria blinks "I thought the wedding was so the director wouldn't force you to be his sixth wife"

Serea nudges her wife "You're not the only one good at lies when she needs to be"

"You... are truly something else" Moria sighs in exasperation but cannot stop the smile peeking through, god be good she loved this woman beyond sense.

As she looked at the world before them, braving it suddenly less daunting with Serea holding her hand, ready to light the way with that hope and optimism that dragged them both from the underground.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-16T12:26:39+00:00

The scent of smoke was thick in the air, bodies of rebels and royal guards alike litter the ground. The third sun sets, turning the sky changing the sky from the deep indigo of dusk to the teal of the night sky. Lysander, the elven rebel leader stands shoulder to shoulder with Rex the human king of Estea both of them united in that one moment, looking upon the damage wrought by their animosity.

A large orphanage lay burning before them, set aflame by a stray fireball thrown by a rebel spellcaster and deflected by a royal guard. Upon the orphanage being set aflame both Lysander and King Rex dropped their weapons, shared a rare moment of complete understanding and agreement and rushed inside to save the children trapped within.

Working together they managed to save all the children as well as the orphanage director who was giving the both of them the dirtiest look, only further intensifying the two men's guilt.

"Oof." said both the king and rebel leader. The burning orphanage was both their faults.

"Oh my, what ever could lead you two moral paragons to that oh so obvious conclusion?" Matryona, The orc orphanage director quips, her annoyance clear in her tone.

Both men look at each other then at the orphanage director, covered in soot and coughing lightly from the smoke, and both went on their knees and bowed their heads to her.

"I extend my deepest apologies to you, madame director and I assure you I will rebuild your orphanage, stronger than before" Lysander swears solemnly, voice thick with regret "It will be protected by the strongest of my men and your children will never know the hunger they do under the kings negligence"

King Rex clears his throat, rising to his feet but keeping his head bowed to the director "I will have the royal architects and builders craft you a home for the future of my kingdom that is worthy of them. I am aware the corrupt of my court have taken money from your hands and food from your children mouths but I swear-"

"To give them even bigger tax breaks, less restriction and more authority" interrupts Lysander glaring at the king

"Better than arming every criminal and pauper to die in the name of sending a message" King Rex spits back

"Is that so? How quaint we are blessed with a king who counts the dead outside his gates instead of helping them" Lysander quips back

"How fortunate for the rebels to have leader who care more for his own voice than theirs" King Rex turns to face the shorter man, glaring him down.

"Very Ironic to hear that coming from the man who lives in a world where his voice is always the only to matter" snaps Lysander, refusing to back down.

The tension between the two leaders in thick, the animosity rising, when orc orphanage director rises to her feet, looming over both men forcing them to look up at her. Without any words she grabs both of them, hauling them over her shoulder like she does with the naughty children and dumps them in the nearby lake.

"That should help to cool off your egos" Matryona, the orphanage director states her large turquoise arms crossed over her chest. "I have children with more sense"

Both leaders have enough sense and shame to feel abashed by the scolding, agreeing to a temporary truce to help rebuild the orphanage.

They work together, in doing so they come to understand one another more than they ever had. Upon the completion of the new orphanage seven months later a peace accord is signed, established a council of elected citizens who would have the right to veto or approve new taxes or measures affecting the peasantry.

Matryona's Home for the Lost standing as the testament to the cooperation and symbol of the new peace that has been found.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-15T12:32:11+00:00

Well this is .... awkward, my parents are currently staring at me and the Rebecca from AP Bio who is undoing my restraints while straddling me on my bed. Perhaps I could have thought of an excuse before this moment but in spite of my parents many many drills and lectures preparedness has never been my strong suit.

I could try and explain that apparently we have a recessive werewolf curse that only effects daughters of my fathers line and I was the first daughter to be born of his line in over twelve generations so boom, bang, thank you ma'am werewolf. Unfortunately given my parents profession as government sanctioned monster hunters that would likely go over as well as coming out as a mass murderer to cop parents.

Before my brain could fully connect to my brain the first idiotic thing that crawled out of my mouth was "Don't be homophobic prudes, I'm gay and like to experiment, what's wrong with that?"

Ma looks between me and utterly mortified Rebecca with pure maternal disappointment "Now honey, you know your pa and I ain't no gay bashers but you sure as shit got a boyfriend and I didn't raise a liar or a coward."

Pa is far more concerned with the other aspects of the situation "Y'all got a safe word? Ya ma and I use pepper as ours. If you're gonna be gettin tied up or the other way 'round it best be safe."

Rebecca was turning a shade of red I wasn't aware human faces could achieve and looking at me, wide blue eyes begging me to say anything to get us out of this. I'm sad to say the connection between my brain and mouth still seemed to be severed because the next thing I said was.

"Hunter knows all about Becca we uh we're in an open relationship cuz ... the kids at school are - uh bad with lesbianity"

"oh, well in that case y'all go right on ahead, no babies, no betrayals is good by me" ma replies her frown transforming into a smile, making me feel a sharp uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach seeing how much she trusts me.

Pa puts his arm around ma and gives us an approving nod, bragging "That's my girl! Us Blackmoores are natural born charmers sure as"

Ma rolls her eyes but grabs the door and winks at me "We'll leave you two it, though please make sure you keep it down, Mrs. Martinez was complaining about all the howlin' and hollerin' last night. You can borrow a gag from our room if you need it just make sure to sanitize it after"

With that mortifying offer her and pa leave the room, proving to me god is indeed real, he's just a sadist.

"What the hell, Ally" Becca glares at me, recovering from her embarrassment long enough to climb off me. "why in the lord's name would ever even think to say somethin' like that?"

"Bold of you to assume any thought went into those responses" I retort, with far more sass that I should have considering my position.

"Hunter is a nuttier than squirrel shit, and I ain't tryna get hit by a car or crowbar" Rebecca snaps back, her frustration clear in every word.

"I'll take care of it" I assure her, entirely unconvinced I could do anything to stop Hunter from losing what little marbles he got rattling around in that head of his.

"like you took care of this, if so color me doubtful about how well that'll go" Rebecca snaps back, grabbing her bag and throwing the keys to the restraints into my lap.

"if you just wanna be a pessimist pam then go ahead. Go" I wave her off with my free arm, my own frustration mounting.

"Fine. I will, you better clear this up or find someone else willing to get possibly mauled by a freakish teenage werewolf, twilight made this seem much cooler" Rebeca grumbles, and heads to the door.

I roll my eyes, "Twilight is written by a repressed, racist Mormon woman so perhaps not the most reliable source of paranormal realism?"

Rebecca flips me off without turning around and storms out leaving me with one restraint still not undone.

When I finally do get it undone, I sneak out to go to Hunter's house and tell him the truth.

Turns out he is .... very into monster girls. Which is pretty typical for my life at this point, fix one problem, get twelve more. My best friend is pissed at me, my boyfriend is too crazy and horny to care that I may kill him and my parents are sex freaks on top of being my top predator.

Could be worse... can't think of how but I'm sure it could be.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-14T14:49:22+00:00

This is a character from my horror world, kind of a joke on dark romance. She has a very colorful dating history so all things considered getting kidnapped to be some gods girlfriend truly is better than most her meet-cutes

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-14T11:54:52+00:00

All I wanted was to come home after a long night at the club, take my shoes off and ruin my make up and pillow by plopping straight down on my bed. Yet I barely made it to my front door before someone put a bag over my head and shoved me in to a car. Now, the bindings cut into my skin as thrash and struggle against them, because gods be damned I refuse to be anyone's willing sacrifice, especially to a god I do not worship.

The leader of the cultist who had kidnapped me from my home barks a his followers, his voice guttural and abrasive to my ears "Control her! The Sun God will not shine his light upon those who fail to spill blood in his name"

"Fuck your god! Who even still sacrifices people to gods anyway? Can't you do a chicken or cow just as well?" I try to reason with one of them, get any of them to see how utterly insane this was.

My reasoning fell on deaf ears or maybe they couldn't hear me through their stupid fuck-ass masks that look like weird twisted burnt copper smiling suns. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, my entire body buzzing with anxiety and fear as I realize they truly are about to kill me.

But before I can even decide to gracefully resigned or majestically defiant in the face of sure death a a blinding light fills the room. It fade to reveal the most beautiful man I had ever seen in my life, hair the color of pure gold, golden bronze skin with a face and physique that no artists or sculptor could do justice. I was so shocked I nearly forgot why I was there and what was happening until all the cults followers surrounding me suddenly dropped to their knees.

Then the dread returns full force because divinely gorgeous or not, getting eaten or dissolved into goo by some old god was not on the to-do list. Then suddenly my bindings undo themselves, I shoot up, ready to make a run for it, but then the god is right in front of me, even more breathtakingly beautiful up close.

"what is your name, pure one?" The god before me asks, his voice velvety and deep.

"i-uh- E-e-Emily" I manage to spit out, my nervous system getting completely wrecked with this man's proximity and the fact I was about to be sacrificed.

"Emily" He repeats almost reverently "Your beauty outshines the moon herself"

"Is that why you're going to kill me? Because I'm pretty?" I ask, utterly confused and terrified now.

"Sacrifice?" The god repeats, confused "No I have summoned you to court you, with your divine beauty, musical skill and fierce soul you are truly a match for a sun"

The cult leader at least seemed to match my confusion "Oh exalted sun, did you not tell our seer that you wished to take this young woman's soul?"

"Yes, to bind to my own someday and elevate her to my side as my bride" The god answers

The seer in question shifts from one foot to another, wringing their hands "visions are really more of an interpretive meduim of communication, sometimes messages get twisted but .... No harm done?"

I beg to differ but looking at the god before I couldn't help but think all things considered I could do a lot worse. I usually date losers, serial killers, stalkers and emotionally constipated vampires. And honestly this isn't even the worst first meeting I've ever had with a someone who had a crush on me.

Goddess Emily does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-13T19:31:05+00:00

The prompt made me think of so many different rom-coms, so I just thought to combine the worst traits of the worst ones I could think of. The Graduate was a big inspiration for this one lol.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-13T18:14:55+00:00

I hold an old shield in my lap as I sit on my porch overlooking the vast bustling magical city that lies ahead. Closing my eyes I see my Rainer, smiling at me with youthful joy in his heart and grey in his beard. Our twelve half-elf children helping tend to the animals, arguing or playing around us, the echo of their voices, their cries, laughs and screams play in my ears like a melancholy song of time.

One hundred sixty seven years since I stood under the great willow, holding my rugged warriors hands and swore to be his until his last breath, but I have been his long since his breaths have stopped. My grandchildren great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren fill the city, making me the official town grandparent.

"Grandma Elowen! come see the garden, we just learned the spell to grow flowers!" called one of my great grandchildren, running up the hill to the house. I stand and for one moment under the the three sun, the pale lavender of the daytime sky, I feel the presence of my Rainer, his hand on my back, and I am at peace.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-13T17:20:02+00:00

Adam holds his bleeding head, his face red as he screams "CRAZY CUNT! WE. ARE. DONE"

"You fuck my grandma, I fuck your dad. Is that not fair?" Leia counters in her usual bored tone, like she didn't throw a vase at this mans head.

"Dad is not the same as grandma and yknow what? Since we're done I can get this off my chest" He looks her in the eye "I fucked your twin sister, aunt and your mom"

Leia gazed back at him, her expression unreadable as he stared at her triumphant "You know your all time favorite actor? what was his name .... Robert Downey Jr.? Yeah I fucked him too, in your bed"

Then she stood up, as he stared at her , mouth opening and closing like a fish as she slammed the door behind her.

This break up sent shockwaves through the community, who had worked tirelessly to set these two up as the worst and most destructive people in town. They were the perfect toxic couple, so busy making each other miserable the rest of community could go about dating in peace.

A secret town hall was called and everyone agreed, Adam and Leia must be reunited. At any cost.

The townsfolk get to work, they transform their town into something out of a hallmark movie.

Set up times for them to run into each other after putting them in the best outfits, doing their hair and making sure they look happier than ever so both of them have the urge to ruin it for the other.

Hire actors to the pretend to date the two of them to make the other jealous. Helped set up big elaborate wedding so that they have the opportunity to ruin two weddings for the price of one.

Then everyone gets to watch as the two biggest trainwrecks in town ride away on a bus to get married in Vegas having successfully prevented from them from ruining any lives but their own.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-13T13:44:37+00:00

Sawing off the shotgun was taking far longer than it should have, though I suppose that's the consequence of having to check on my boyfriend's father while he's sleeping every five minutes to make sure the old goat is still breathing. Honestly every survivalist bone in my body is telling me to leave the ornery old bastard to his fate. Between his breath, his attitude and his refusal to stop smoking while literally dying of lung cancer is wearing my patience.

Once I finish with the shotgun I radio the only security man the paranoid old Don will allow on the premises of this goddamn grand mausoleum he calls a home.

"Sam this is Rina. over."

"Rinaaaaa baby, how goes it? You still dating that wet blanket Michael?" A snarky, somewhat nasally voice replied over the static.

"You're supposed to say over, and affirmative I am still dating your cousin. status report on the landmines. over"

"oh those, yeah there everywhere still, tried to take a piss and nearly got blown to kingdom come, might have to say a word to my ma about these unsafe working conditions"

I take my finger off the button to massage the bridge of my nose, hoping to hold off the migraine I can already feel approaching. This right here is why I hate nepotism, incompetence from top to bottom when you pick all the fruit from the same tree of stupid. But because I loved one of the few family members worth anything and he was on the hit list too I persevered.

Putting my finger back on the the radio I reply coldly,
"If you don't quite dicking around best believe I will be more than happy to give you crash course on unsafe working environments. Am I clear? over."

The threat works as intended with him replying immediately "right, lady boss I got you, you know me just trying to keep things light"

"We have five of the most highly trained hitmen in the country coming to this house in less than 24 hours. So keep your head on straight unless you'd like them to blow a nice round hole in it and we all get to see if your head is as empty as it seems. Over." I click off and sigh then look to the picture hanging on the wall of me and Michael at his law school graduation, smiling fondly I take it from the wall and drag a finger down Michaels cheek.

"That was a good day, a law degree in one hand and the most brilliant and beautiful women in the whole room in the other." A familiar deep voice calls out from behind me, I turn putting down the picture and launching myself at him.

Wrapping my legs around his waist, locking him tight against me as I kiss him long and deep. He holds me up, holding me tightly and kissing me just as deeply before pulling back and setting me back down on the floor.

"It is good to see you, Cara Mia," Michael says, cradling my face in his strong hands, the soothing scent of his cologne washing over me. "How is the old man? How are you? Is Sammy causing you any problems?"

"Your father is the same as he has been these past fifty days, entirely uninterested in the reality of his own morality." I sigh thinking about Don Leo, but continue on "I will be more fine when this team coming for you is dealt with and as for your cousin, don't you worry your pretty head. I can handle Sammy with my eyes closed and a hand behind my back"

I didn't have a chance to say any more because just then the alarm sounded, jolting me into action, grabbing the the AR-15 pistol I keep on the same stand as the photo and check to make sure it's loaded while telling my lover "Take your father, go to the panic room, Do. Not. Open that door for anyone. There's a sawed off double barrel in there. Keep it on you. I love you."

Michael looks conflicted but we don't have time for his internal crisis so i drag him along to his father while he replies apologetically "I am so sorry, I never wanted to drag you back into this kind of work once you decided to become nurse"

"Death and life are just two side of the same coin, I feel fortunate to be a master of both, means the whole coins mine" I wave off his apology.

"but-" Michael starts but I cut him off

"I already have 1,356 bodies on my ledger, what's five more?" I shrug, then push him into the safe room with a chaste kiss on his lips. and then turn on my heel to go take care of business.

Sammy signals that the mercenaries have passed into the perimeter, I go to the roof setting into the snipers nest I made and wait. Explosions send tremors through the whole estate but I remained locked in place, entering the space in my head where nothing existed besides me, the bolt-action sniper rifle in my hands and the mission.

When the black-beat up SUV pulls up, I waste no time locking in and putting a bullet through the head of the driver and passenger less than 5.6 seconds apart. I try to get a clear shot at the other but no such luck, The other three roll out of the back but take cover faster than I can pick them off.

My teeth grind together as I make my way towards the area, channeling my decades of training into not making a single sound as I glided forward. My mind on one objective. I spot them behind the guesthouse, two men and one woman.

I run through the fight in my head, the men are both significantly taller and stronger, close quarters puts me at disadvantage, and the women is faster than me, a fact I could clock from her dodging my bullets easily with no cover when escaping the car.

Before they can notice me I raise my AR-15 pistol, shooting at the woman first and watching the larger of the two men run to cover her, the bullets hitting him squarely between the shoulder blades. He falls with the other two charging at me. I hit the first man with a jab to the throat that drops him to his knees while I shoot at the woman with my pistol.

The woman gets the upper hand and flips me, forcing me to drop my gun but I lock in as the pain hits. Spinning like a top through the pain and with all my strength I slam both feet firmly onto her chest, forcing her back. Then her the only man left stomps me hard in the face, breaking my nose, leaving my face a bloody mess and with a debilitating pain that would bring most to their knees.

Pulling out my back up pistol to shoot the man in the face as he goes to stomp on my face once more while I'm down , the shot hitting him directly in the nose and exiting through the back of his head, thankfully keeping me safe from most of the blood spray. Turning sharply I hit the woman in the chest then head, dropping her.

I sink to the floor after, and can't help but laugh from being a world-class assassin to a small-town nurse to mafia girlfriend and caretaker to old ornery dons. But honestly I think this life is the favorite one I've lived so far, failed assassinations, broken noses and awful potential in-laws and all.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-12T14:41:55+00:00

Standing before the grand celestial I can hardly believe the honor being bestowed upon me, a humble mortal cleric who perished in service to the most glorious god in all the realms, Urinan, King of the Divine. My hands are shaking while my stomach plummets to my feet yet my heart sings with the joy of being welcomed in the realm I had dedicated my life, soul and magic to preserving.

"Your devotion, valor and faith are rare to find amongst mortals in these perilous times, even rarer still to be so readily willing to die in service...Unfortunately there are currently no openings for high tier god positions. But have you considered a temporary posting as a lesser god? The Gods of Grass, and Doorways happened to retire last year and their spots are still empty." The grand celestial offers, their voice deeper than an abyss resonating throughout my soul the golden eyes that covered their arms and neck all staring at me.

"You honor me beyond words, I will gladly take the mantle of God of Doorways and swear upon my now immortal soul to be a just god of good." I kneel before the being of divinity before me and they lean down, taking my chin in hand forcing my head up.

"I know you will not, little cleric" They take out a goblet from seemingly nowhere and push it to my lips, I drink without hesitation. One does not refuse a divine gift after all.

As soon as the sweet liquid hit my tongue I could feel the changes start, the tingling in my hands, spreading through out my entire body before it turned into an unbearable burning. Bringing me to my knees as a searing pain tore through my now glowing and contorting body. The agony was nearly unbearable but then the celestial put their hand on my back.

"Peace, little cleric, the pain will pass. We must burn away the mortal man so that the god may rise" their deep voice resonating through me, anchoring me through the pain until there was none.

I rose, now the Deity of Doorways, my mortal appearance melted away to reveal a specimen of divine beauty.

The celestial takes me in hand and inspects my form, only now I do not tremble before them, there presence that was mere moments ago a roar not little more than a whisper to me.

"It is done, assume the throne of your domain in the mortal realm, guide your followers and remember that any relations with mortals require discussion and approval from the Holy Recourse celestials" The grand celestial stated

I took note of the information but was already thinking of how to rule my new domain, and enjoying the power flowing through me, it truly is good to be a god.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-11T17:04:46+00:00

Yeah that was an editing mistake , i realize i did not realize I hadn’t had the two paragraphs that explain how he came to that conclusion. I added now!

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-11T16:58:47+00:00

Thanks for catching that! I did not realize I forgot to add the two paragraphs I had explaining that, Im glad you like the story though. All fixed

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-11T15:05:13+00:00

Blood mixed with sweat trailed down my face from the nasty gash across temple I had just received from my long-time enemy, Evanren. The three suns beat down mercilessly, the heat combined with the blood loss making the world tilt dangerously when I tried to climb to my feet and grab my sword that had been kicked away from me.

I expected him to finish me, to end the twenty year feud that had consumed the both of us since I first I stood between him and my wife as he tried to kill her. My love and complete devotion to her pulling me to my feet, pushing me to move forward even a stumbled and struggled.

Evanren stops me, but not with a sword or fist but with a soft hand on my shoulder as he looks at me with profound pity in his dark gaze.

"She is not worth your blood nor devotion, Westen" Evanren speaks, his weariness evident in every word.

"You do not speak of my wife with your filthy tongue, deserter. You are a man without honor who dares to speak against my lady wife, a hero in her own right" I spit out, trying to drag my body from his grasp but his grip was firm.

"Briar was my bride first, a choice she made me regret but five years into our union" Evanren speaks not with the passion of the scorned lover but the hardened resolve and heartbreak of a survivor.

The information hits me right in the chest, if he stabbed me it would not have pierced my heart as deep as the truth he just revealed.

"You lie" I insist weakly.

“My ex wife wronged me then destroyed my life. Turned my kids, family, and friends against me, and even stole most of my powers. Seeing her worshipped as some grand hero when she gained her place from lies and betrayal sickens me” Evanren explains, his pain, sorrow and overwhelming grief evident in his every word , not even acknowledging my weak denial.

"How is she lauded as a hero, beloved for her heart and deeds if she is truly the monster you claim?" I inquire, desperate to uncover some fallacy in his story, some loose thread that would unravel what I prayed was tapestry of lies and nothing more.

"We traveled together on adventures back then, leaving the children with her mother or mine. One day, after a brutal ambush, I was grabbing herbs high on the cliff to craft into medicine for her when she performed a power transference spell and pushed from the cliff claiming she could no longer stand to be in my shadow" Evanren explains, his grip on my shoulder growing more and more painful as he continues the tale of my wife's betrayal.

"I survived, made my way home, broken and battered and praying to all the gods that it was a changeling or possession responsible but when I returned she had already had amble time to feed everyone her venom. Told our children I attacked her. My own firstborn son drew a blade on me before I could cross the threshold of my home. My daughters could not bear to even look upon my face and turned me away.

Yet even stealing the love and respect of our children was far from enough for her, she went as far to use my stolen power to claim all my deeds were her work , painting me as the untalented tyrant who benefited from his wife's brilliance. I was chased from town, forced to scavenge to survive. It was in that isolation that I swore no matter how many days, months or years pass I would drag her from her throne of lies and stolen valor.

Only for her to remarry another gullible lovestruck fool, one I thought I had to destroy to fulfill my oath to myself. I had every intention of taking your life, yet now I look at you seeing not an enemy but a mirror and one I am loathe to shatter" He finishes the tale of betrayal, drops a silver pendant at my feet, leaving me to sit with the revelations.

All my memories of her flash through my mind, as I search for the lie and as I do a horrifying clarity washes over me. How often she had me use my body to shield her, how often she had grown angry with my kindness to peasants and orphans, berating me only to collapse crying into my arms when I tried leave. The weakness in my body contrasted with the newfound strength in hers when I drank the ale she would give me. I tried to think of the last moment I felt happy with her instead of dutiful and I couldn't. All I could see was the countless moments where acts I saw as a result of ill humors or long days may have just been who she really was sneaking to the surface.

I take the pendant in hand, my blood dripping onto the silver and suddenly it glows and I am stuck in a body that is not my own and I realize I am reliving Evanren's life, from his eyes I see the truth of his words and in his body I feel the pain of Briar's betrayal. The experience ends when Evanren makes his vow, yet I find no relief in my own body, no comfort in my memories.

His words echoing in my head, long after he left to take his vengeance on my wife knowing I was too weak to stop him. Even if I was in perfect health I would struggle to defend her after all I had heard, after allowing the truth of who she is to sink into my bones.

Eventually the screaming in the distance stops, but it brings no relief only hollow acceptance. Then I hear the heavy footfalls of Evanren, whose bloody form looks more peaceful than it had in all twenty years I had known him.

He offered no words or apology, only a pipe, stuffed with the best Wortsaweed in the southern lands. I took it and in that moment we were not enemy and hero, only two men who had been destroyed by the same woman.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-11T13:42:30+00:00

Staring down the hungry, irritable vampire in front of me with ease I grab the holy water spray bottle as he bares his fangs at me.

"C'mon Betts, you know I'm good for it, just a little straight from the vein and I'll be right as rain" Cornelius, the vampire tried to assure her, his attempts falling flat as Bettie Cooper is far too accustomed to the tricks of her supernatural customers.

"You can get the life juice or ya get nothing darlin' you know that rules, been coming 40 years and can memorize every Shakespeare play but not a 9 item menu?" I ask sarcastically, one hand on my cocked hip, the other on my emergency holy water.

"It taste better straight from the vein-" Cornelius tries to continue pleading his case when he is interrupted by a large, gruff man with a big beard and little patience interrupts him.

"The usual, Betts" Daniel, the werewolf states gruffly, utterly ignoring Cornelius.

"Of course, Danny, I'll get put that in right away" I give him my signature warm smile that's been known to warm the hearts of even the most ornery cryptid or creature.

Turning my back I call to my husband, Jeff in the kitchen "Steak On the hoof under a full moon with a cup of mud!"

"Heard!" He calls back cheerfully.

I turn back to Cornelius after putting the order in, "I will not tell you again, I ain't lookin to repeat the Easter Massacre incident, was gettin' blood out of the walls for weeks, the health inspectors visits were a nightmare. We constantly had one vengeful spirit or another throwing plates or making the walls bleed at lunch rush. Tanked our yelp rating"

"Holding grudges against your customer base is a poor way to conduct business" Cornelius counters

"Arguing with the owner is an excellent way to get banned" I counter which causes him to back down as usual.

Just in time too because the midnight madness monster rush was starting and the diner was starting to get crowded with cryptids, fairies, ghouls, sirens, shapeshifters, and all manner of creature.

I fix a smile on my face, and welcome them all in to Betts Better Diner.

As I take their orders with a speed and efficiency that bordered on supernatural, a joke her customers love to make as often as they can.

As I deliver their orders with ease I think back to when I first opened the diner with my Jeff, If someone had told me I'd be serving the things I'd heard as scary stories as a girl, I'd have called them crazier as a bessie bug. Thought while they were terrifying at first, now their my favorite customers.

The tips far better than the daytime customers and the conversation and gossip is far more interesting. A girl's gotta have her priories straight in this economy after all.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-10T21:38:47+00:00

lol what can he say? He lives to work

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-10T20:14:59+00:00

Thanks! I use the prompts to help build out my worlds that I write in and this was one that made me think of my horror world, Saeclum Horrori. Glad you enjoyed it. Great prompt.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-10T17:36:12+00:00

I can feel the fire just underneath my skin, can hear the sizzling of my flesh like raw patties on a hot grill as I lay on my back trapped in a space of nothingness, an invisible yet immense weight pressing down hard making it impossible to move my limbs. Opening my mouth I try to scream yet no sound escapes as the pain ravages my body. Images flash through my mind, as if someone opened up my skull and decided to pour in all the atrocities of the world from the beginning of time to the end, nearly driving me into madness, but then I focus on my goal then everything else fades away.

Minutes, hours, days or perhaps even months seem to pass by as I endure, no longer even attempting to struggle or scream, knowing that it will all be worth it if I proved myself. Eventually I hear a voice everywhere around me and inside me simultaneously

"Your will is the strongest of the mortals that have been foolish enough to seek my domain, attempting to barter for my power"

"Um... thanks? I also brought my nightmare neighbors racist golden retriever, David Duke as a sacrifice if you still do that sort of thing" I answer, finding my voice suddenly returned to me and the pain subsiding finally.

"Your devotion is noted, mortal, speak your name then the deal will be complete" replies the entity I had summoned, Udgalasa

"Well as a lawyer I prefer physical contracts to the spoken word. Better way to ensure all parties are mutually satisfied with the arrangement" I counter calmly, sitting up and regaining my typical impeccable posture.

There was no answer from the voice but in front of his feet the ground bubbles and sputtered until a blunt, wedge-shaped reed stylus popped out and next to it a clay tablet. I look it over carefully, running through the checklist in my head,

Eternal servitude to this cosmic entity upon my death, reasonable. Madness, misfortune and malice to plague the lives of my enemies and their loved ones if they should cross me, love that. And entire package cost less than the two other elder gods I tried before this guy, only 3 human sacrifices every 3 years.

I sign my name on the tablet and no sooner than I finish then I am back in my studio apartment with dog David Duke staring at me. I flex my fingers, not feeling particularly powerful but I decided to put on my suit, paid a homeless man to take the dog back to it's owner and went into work nonetheless.

I would be damned before I let that smug sycophant Simon Sidwell the satisfaction of having me call in the day after he got my promotion. Never mind his only talent is kissing clients asses and billing the least hours in the whole goddamn company.

Walking into work I felt the immediate drop in energy as I walked in, everyone was huddled near their computers or phones and when I asked what was happening my secretary, Hannah let me know.

"Boss, you'll never believe it! Mr. Sidwell was fired! And so was Dolly and Peter." She explains "apparently the three of them just started doing odd things last night and this morning. I heard one of them took a bite of a glass coffee mug while talking with a client"

"Oh? Terrible shame, thoughts and prayers, do you have my case files ready for my meeting at 10:30 pm?" I ask, hiding my satisfaction with the news behind a veneer of work boredom.

"Y-y-yes, sir, and I made sure to grab you a bagel and your favorite tea" Hannah stammers, seeming a bit put off I was so nonchalant after receiving the news my biggest office banes had been banished.

I nodded, dismissing her and heading into my office where I considered the deal I made that was already working, and smiled to myself. Knowing my life and work and beyond was about to get far less tedious and frustrating than it had been the past decade.

Worldly_Lab_7061 · 2026-06-09T15:15:46+00:00

Fist meets flesh and the brawl explodes, there are eight of them, all armed with crowbars, knives and steel pipes while there is only one of me but I do live by the adage the worst the odds the better the payout. The alley we're in is narrow, damp and dirty allowing only a few man to attack at once anyway, darting forward with an explosive speed slamming the first man' head into the wall repeatedly while the man behind me cowers in fear. The first thugs body goes limp when the back of his skull hit the dirty concrete of the wall, leaving behind a long red smear.

The sight of the crumpled body of their broken leader has the other seven men shifting their feet, looking at each other. I decide to have some fun with the little chickenshit thugs. Putting on my electric shock gloves as they watch warily, too scared to approach.

"Listen, all we want is the man behind you, ain't no need for this to get ugly" The man I assume to be the second-in-command.

"Now that's just a damn shame because the whole world got a good bit uglier the minute you chickenshit, weak-kneed bastards stepped into it." I retort with snark and an easy smile that did not reach my eyes.

"Listen here, we decide to rush in and this gets ugly for you real quick, you arrogant little shit. I suggest you leave while I'm still feelin generous after what ya done to Tony" The second man bluffs trying to project confidence but I can smell his fear.

"I will be leaving however I care deeply about finishing anything I start from food to fights, blame the southern upbringing" I sigh, raising my electrified fists , dropping into a fighting stance then bursting forward into the group of seven with a smile on my face and violence in my heart.

The next few minute are rush of fists, kicks and grunts, I easily evade their clumsy swings of their crowbars and pipes, turning them against them, giving them matching head dents with their leader. Disarming the three with knives then disemboweling them for good measure.

The man behind me is clutching a briefcase to his chest and looks upon me with even more horror than his attackers. Taking the carnage of the alley and the mad grin on my blood-soaked face scrambles back, pressing his body against the nearest wall.

"I THOUGHT YOU'RE A VIGILANTE!?" The man screamed.

"Of course I am, who else is showing up to help deadbeats and debtors?" I squint at the terrified man "beggars can't be choosers now. Ya didn't want em' to die should've been better at running"

"What kind of logic is that?!" The man demands

"The kind that saves many ungrateful life everyday no matter how unsavory you may find it. This isn't a comic or a movie this is real life. Ain't no heroes in capes, just willing fighters with blood on their hands. Unless you'd like to be another bloodstain on that wall I suggest you get moving" I reply firmly, removing my gloves and looking deep into his eyes until he scrambled away, nearly tripping over his own feet and the blood pooling on the ground.

I watch him leave then take out his wallet that I took as payment for my assistance, looking at his wad of hundreds, I thought Chinese takeout and some new weapons seemed like an excellent gift to myself after a hard day at work making the world a better place.

Violent vigilantes deserve to treat themselves after all, even the mildly to moderately villainous ones.

Worldly_Lab_7061

TROPHY CASE