"What are you doing in here?" the night security guy asked.
Fianna spun round & braced herself against the desk.
"Me? Ah--" Her mouth felt like #flannel & her heart was hammering. One hand brushed the leaf of an African violet with a ribbon round its pot. "I was leaving a plant for the boss," she improvised. "A present."
The security guy looked over her shoulder & saw the violet. "Good idea! He loves those." He waved her--and the thumb drive in her pocket--on out.
Flannel フランネル
#Wss366 Flannel
Adachi looked at the package I’d given her, eyes darting. Was she really that surprised by a gift? I thought back and couldn’t remember giving her many presents. There was the boomerang, which was just embarrassing; some chocolates for Valentine’s Day, for which she always had to prod me in advance; and... and...
Maybe it wasn’t weird that she’d been thrown off.
Knowing her, she wanted to know why but was too tongue-tied to ask, so I explained. “Since it’s a new year, I decided to try to be a better girlfriend.”
She turned red. “You’re—you’re the best girlfriend.”
No, I wasn’t. Even I knew that. Girlfriends were gushy and gooey. They fawned over each other. I didn’t do any of that. Adachi at least tried, but she got wrapped up in herself and froze, just like she was now.
“You can open it,” I said. I figured she needed a little push.
“Okay,” she said, and carefully began peeling off the tape I’d used.
“Just tear it off and don’t save the paper.” I imagined her carefully folding it up and putting it in a binder. I didn’t want that.
In response, she carefully tore the paper, trying to do as little damage as possible.
I gave up.
When she was done, she held up the present, her eyes wide. “A onesie?” she asked.
“Yashiro’s #flannels are so soft, I thought you would like one.”
“Do you like sharks?” she asked, looking at it.
“Not especially; OKEA didn’t have rabbits, so I asked Nagafuji if I should buy this one.”
I was an idiot! She was the one who suggested the boomerang. But of course, it had been easier to take her advice than to think about what Adachi would like. See what I mean about not being a good girlfriend? A good girlfriend wouldn’t need to ask.
“Should I wear it?” she asked, still sounding befuddled.
“Of course. That is, if you like it. Do you like it?”
There was only one answer she would give, so no surprise she said yes.
“Then let’s have a sleepover so I can see you in it.” Nagafuji had suggested that, too. Sometimes even idiots can have good ideas.
Adachi melted down on the spot, saying, “Sleepover, Shimamura,” over and over.
I took that as a yes.
Fucking Brilliant Notebook #56
Sad millionaire sues wealthy apologetic media. © 2025 Mike Purfield #punk #sixwordstory #microfiction
https://mepurfielddotcom.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/fucking-brilliant-notebook-56/
#wss366 - flannel
Sho licked a finger and pressed it by the table collecting the tiny breadcrumbs.
"Did you like it?" Rin asked.
"You have balls ma'am. To buy me lunch. I look like a hobo."
Rin smiled. "I thought you were one" she said looking at the worn flannel shirt he was wearing, the plaid patterns almost gone.
"Touché." Now he was looking at her. She was young and beautiful. He wondered what sins she was trying to wash out with this little act.
"Nice French. How did you end up on the streets?"
His stare became empty for a moment. "I don't remember. The usual suspects I believe..." He stood up. "Listen... I have to go. Lots of things to do. Thanks for the lunch."
Before she could say anything, he was already outside pushing a cart on the cold winter morning. Rin waved her father good bye. He was still wearing the shirt she had gifted him ages ago.
She wiped a tear and left a twenty before leaving an empty table, no breadcrumbs on it.
"Incandescent Friend" by Georgina Elizabeth Prineppi (art by Alankrita Amaya): https://thestoryshack.com/flash-fiction/drama/georgina-prineppi-incandescent-friend #flashfiction #microfiction
The #MastoPrompt for Sunday 25 January 2026 is:
The poem or story can include the prompt word or be about the prompt word.
@ me, if you like, or just include the #MastoPrompt tag (to allow people to follow or filter their feeds), or keep your work to yourself - all the options are good as long as you're writing.
If you're including an image please do include alt-text if you’re able to.
#Writing #SmallPoems #Poetry #Fiction #MicroFiction #SmallStories
The Wandering Shop Stories #prompt for today, Sun-25-Jan, is #flannel. Feel like writing something short and sweet that has the word "flannel" in it? Check out the definitions of the word at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flannel Join in and tag it with #wss366! #writing #WritingLife #microfiction h/t @tobadzistsini
142. #MicroRezi zur #Phantastik #Microfiction #Anthologie von @VolkerDornemann
#Naniten3
Wildlife
von #volkerdornemann
In nicht allzu ferner Zukunft wird es nur noch wenige wild lebende Tiere geben, da wir Menschen ihnen die Lebensräume streitig gemacht oder sie vernichtet haben. Noch dazu kommt der irrationale Glaube, das Töten von Tieren wäre ein Sport oder diverse Körperbestandteile dieser Geschöpfe würden [...]
https://noosphaere.de/volker-dornemann-naniten-3-teil-8/#wildlife
[AI image]
![[Image source: genAI, Flux.2; Volker Dornemann (Book cover)]
Hintergrund:
Flux.2 Prompt
On a small clearing surrounded by acacia trees in an African savanna, a herd of artificial but very realistic-looking mechanical rhinoceroses is grazing, their metal plates, gears and hydraulic joints glinting in the warm late-afternoon sun and the artificial parts are lifelike and resemble the real skin of the animals, subtle dust in the air, cinematic realism. Point of view from behind a big-game hunter who is hiding behind a bush, only his back visible: worn safari jacket, broad-brimmed hat, rifle held ready in his hands, tense posture as he watches the herd. The mechanical rhinos look massive and imposing, with glowing sensors instead of eyes and faint steam or exhaust coming from vents in their bodies. Golden hour lighting, rich contrast, realistic textures on skin, fabric and metal, detailed savanna grass and foliage in the foreground, shallow depth of field, high resolution, 16:9.
Linke untere Ecke:
Cover des Buchs "Naniten 3" von Volker Dornemann
Text:
Volker Dornemann: Wildlife
Naniten 3](https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/954/977/266/889/323/original/d1ee864fa57e23f2.png)
A travelling zoo and circus has arrived in town, and Charlie and I are having a look around.
Entry into the whole thing was pretty reasonable, but you can see where they really make their money - the snack vendors, the side show games, the usual carnival stuff. The zoo side of things is covered by the entry, as is the big top.
We are wandering around the zoo exhibits, when Charlie stops and frowns. Then she drags me back to the start "Toby," she hisses "take a closer look."
So we start over looking at the animals. It does not take me long to spot what is wrong. And the exhibits have noticed that we're noticed. This could get awkward.
One of the security guards comes over to us "Is there a problem?" she asks. Charlie looks her up and down, and whispers "We understand."
This does not reassure the guard, who reaches for Charlie, and then flinches, shaking her hand. My love has ways of making sure no-one ever touches her without permission. The guard, "Sal" according to her badge, looks at her hand, and then back at Charlie. "Shit. Ok, I gotta take you to the Boss."
Charlie smiles like there is nothing better she'd like to do (which is probably true) and we go to one of the smallest caravans in the convoy. Sal knocks, and says "Boss? I've got a couple of special visitors you need to see."
I can't hear the reply, but the door opens and Sal ushers us in. Inside is a very mundane office. A couple of laptops with extra screens, laser printer, and two people working at desks. One of them, a man in his fifties maybe, points to the chairs opposite him.
He barks out "OK, you've scared Sal. Who are ya? What ya want?"
Charlie takes the lead. "Nothing, I just noticed that all the enclosure locks are on the inside. I'm guessing those people get a cut of the entry ticket?"
"Ya know about them folk. Ya gunna cause trouble?"
I speak up "Nah, I work with a dryad, and we have a werewolf over for games every Thursday."
The boss looks at me "A dryad. That's a myth. They don't exist."
"This one does. Her mum made her."
His eyes widen, then narrow "Ya reckon she'd like ta travel?"
"No, sorry, you might say that she'd put down roots."
"Bugga. Well, had ta ask." He looks at Charlie "You a witch?" Charlie nods. "Right then," and he rummages in a draw pulling out a couple of wrist bands, "put these on."
"And what are they?" Charlie's voice is velvet over ice.
"Nothin like that. All area passes. Ya can even go backstage if ya like. Gotta stay friendly with the local authorities."
Charlie takes the bands, inspects them, and then hands one to me.
Her tone softens "Thank-you. We will return them when we leave."
"Hang onto 'em, we'll be back in a cupla years."
And with that we're shown out. Now we get to have the fun of a chat with the performers in the cages after closing. I guess it is a way of making money out of your talents. I wonder which one is Sal's partner.
#SF #SFF #UrbanFantasy #CharlieAndToby #microfiction #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting
Genna the charm maker was intrigued. A little boy held out a letter and an open hand. The name Solifan was written on the envelope. A name she had heard before, in hero's tales and horror stories, depending on who told them.
"Said you'd gimme a silver!" he grinned.
She dug in her purse and flipped a copper towards the boy, who snapped it up with surprising dexterity.
"Nice try." she took the letter and ruffled his hair, which led to a quick escape with laughter and light cursing.
The neat writing, inviting her to enchant a necklace, ended suddenly in blotches of ink with what looked like a cat's paw and continued afterward with pleas for expedience.
A few hours later, Genna stood before an unassuming door with scratches all along the bottom. She knocked, and chaos ensued on the other side. After the thumps, meows, and curses had subsided, the door opened a tiny bit.
"Quick! Close it!" a voice pleaded.
She squeezed through the door and closed it. The room behind was dusty and untidy. A tall man with long, grey hair wearing a white robe stood in the middle holding a small, wriggling cat, which seemed utterly unamused. As soon as the door had closed, he set her down gently, earning a hiss and scratch in return.
"Solifan the wizard, fighting a cat." she said, grinning. "Not what I expected from the day."
#writever Conjurer
"Honnêtement, je préfère les mortels qui s'efforcent de conjurer le Mal", dit le Diable, "à ceux qui se mêlent de l'invoquer. Je dois sans arrêt repousser des hommes qui me proposent des pactes tous plus répugnants les uns que les autres."
#writever Stave off
'Honestly, I prefer these mortals who try to chase evil away,' said the Devil, 'to those who endeavor to invoke it. I must ceaselessly stave off men who offer me pacts, each more disgusting than the other."
Police have called for sale of matter displacement diodes to be regulated after the viral “sink hole” craze again caused traffic chaos yesterday. Diodes as powerful as 50kg/hr can be purchased from foreign gadget sites with no import permit, and if misused can result in the formation of large voids in public infrastructure. The federal minister for overtechnology has
Vera had heard that even in extremis people #marshal their inner resources--she'd heard that imprisoned poets inscribe poems on their cell walls and that artists, lacking paints, will paint with coffee #grounds.
She was not in extremis, and as for resources, she knew she had many: It was winter. All around her lay a broad canvas of snow, plus rainbow-casting icicles. And she was not averse to collaboration. She placed the icicles just so. The sun contributed the rest.
"Here, have some snackage," my roommate dumped a handful of nuts on my desk.
I rubbed my eyes as they rolled all over and tried not to ask him if his hands were clean. Then I decided I didn't care. I needed energy to keep going on this. I put my palm under the edge of the desk and swiped the nuts into it, then threw them in my mouth and chewed. They were bitter, but not in any dirty way. I swallowed and felt an immediate surge as my brain came back.
"Why do I feel smarter?" I asked. "Also why do I suddenly feel like a twat?"
"Uh..." my roommate checked the container.
I swiped it from him. "Academia Nuts."
#TootFic #SmallStories #MicroFiction #academia #college #nuts #puns
Three Kings and a Princess
Marshal: Mao’s Epiolog
#Wss366 marshal
Mao marshaled her choicest medicine. After the incident with “someone” stealing the Gān she wanted to see if it was all there. Then she smiled remembering the steam buns the thief had bought as compensation for her troubles.
Her hand paused when she reached the frankincense and myrrh. Had there been this much before? She shuddered despite herself, remembering the “dream” she’d had. It was especially troubling to have pictured Tianya as a king.
Then she clicked her tongue and shrugged. She knew what to expect from wind-head mushrooms now.
[Finis]
Last day to submit to the current Writing Challenge!
creativeramblings.co...
#poetry #writing #writingprompt #micropoetry #microfiction
The Writing Challenge Series (...
Last day to submit to the current Writing Challenge!
https://creativeramblings.com/writing-prompts/writing-challenge-26/
Last day to submit to the current Writing Challenge!
https://creativeramblings.com/writing-prompts/writing-challenge-26/
"When the ground shakes," said Freya the Wise to Chief Sigrid, "we know that it is because of Loki writhing violently as he is punished in the underworld. When storms surge, we know it is Thor driving his chariot across the sky, or if a sea storm, it is Njord."
She stared into the sky, where neon green clouds shaped like circus animals danced a rhumba, and rainbow-hue'd chihuahuas rained down.
"Forgive me, my chief," she said. "This one's got me stumped..."
