shadowleafy

[shadowleafy]

doing this for a friend, also the answer is absolutely yes

[shadowleafy]

@olis-inkwell-symposium

The Clockwork Apothecary

A hidden shop sells remedies crafted from time itself, but the price of each potion is a moment from the buyer’s own life.

Shopkeeper: “A minute for a cure, an hour for a miracle. How much are you willing to give?”

Customer: (hesitating, hand resting on the counter) “How much for a second chance?"

[shadowleafy]

ahhhh I didn't expect anyone to actually see this lmao im super bad at writing so apologies in advance but I'll give it a shot

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They were told it was a bad idea. Even their travel guide had only agreed to lead them to the next city over before leaving them to make the final mile trek on their own, by foot. They had been warned that this journey could be their last, and the wave goodbye seemed uncharacteristically somber.

Gripping and activating the strange "trap detection device" given to them for the journey, they determinedly marched up the hill to the shopkeeper who was rumored to be able to fix everything - to change what had happened. But the same rumors also spoke of something darker - it had been said that the price for her miracle work was a portion of your life. But whilst they shuddered to imagine the visceral magical processes and intricacies that would take place to take part of their life, they knew that this mission needed to happen. So, summoning the last of their courage, they knocked on the door.

No response.

Confused, they knocked again.

No response.

Now beginning to grow quite weary, they knocked for a third time.

The door creaked open slowly, blasting them with blindingly bright blue light, turning them away. "W- What the hell-?"

"Welcome to The Clockwork Apothecary..." a voice from inside said, "...though really, I just call it the Time Trade. A minute for a cure, an hour for a miracle! What do you seek, dear traveler?"

Nervously, they turned back to the shopkeeper and asked, "Do you sell... second chances?"

Frowning, the shopkeeper motioned for them to follow them inside. "Well, I'm sure you didn't just find this shop, so you must know that I cannot reverse time nor travel through it... except in the normal way, of course."

"The- normal way?"

"Oh, just a joke, just a joke! I only mean that we all go through time at the same pace!"

"Oh, of course..."

"Anyways, like I said, I can't reverse time or -- oh yes please do take a seat -- or change things in the past, sorry. Is there anything else you would want to buy?"

"Can you... revive the dead?"

"I can't do that either, I'm afraid. Think genie rules."

"Fine," they replied, clearly frustrated, "Then I seek revenge. Destroy those who have taken everything from me."

"Whom?"

"The one who lives on the fourteenth green house along the northernmost road of the southwest province. I've got their name here, on paper. Destroy them, and destroy their entire family."

Shocked, the shopkeeper drew back. "You know, that family has over one hundred alive members to date? One of them is the great Bard-"

"I don't care who they are. Kill them all."

"I can't kill them myself. I could provide you a poison and method of spreading it, but-"

"That's fine. Just leave me enough time to spread it."

"Alright... but I hope you know that will cost you your whole life afterwards. Follow me."

They followed the shopkeeper past doors labeled with various colors, various substance names, some of which unknown to them, until they reached a door labeled "Finality - Pu". Inside, was a nondescript sphere and above it was suspended a slightly larger dome. The shopkeeper looked at them sadly and said, "This is your last chance, are you sure you want to do this?"

But, even though their trap alarm was going of rapidly, blinded by hate, they asserted, "Make it happen."

And so the shopkeeper left the room.

Slowly, the dome lowered. And when it hit the ground, there was a flash of blue light.

It would be another nine days before they died, but everything was already over.

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i think this accidentally became partially a message about nuclear war-

in case anyone was curious the way that the protagonist dies here is not made up its a real thing that happened to someone:

but anyways I hope you enjoyed

thanks for reading!

The Clockwork Apothecary

A hidden shop sells remedies crafted from time itself, but the price of each potion is a moment from the buyer’s own life.

Shopkeeper: “A minute for a cure, an hour for a miracle. How much are you willing to give?”

Customer: (hesitating, hand resting on the counter) “How much for a second chance?"

[shadowleafy]

reblog if you’ve read fanfictions that are more professional, better written than some actual novels. I’m trying to see something

[shadowleafy]

im so sorry I understand this is supposed to be magic but I just read something about radiation and now all I can picture is the shopkeeper dangling the customer's head over like a strong source of gamma rays or something until the appropriate amount of statistical time is shaved off their life

The Clockwork Apothecary

A hidden shop sells remedies crafted from time itself, but the price of each potion is a moment from the buyer’s own life.

Shopkeeper: “A minute for a cure, an hour for a miracle. How much are you willing to give?”

Customer: (hesitating, hand resting on the counter) “How much for a second chance?"

[shadowleafy]

[shadowleafy]

[shadowleafy]

a shooting star turns out to have a slightly different trajectory than predicted (and also a slightly larger mass)

Scenario Prompt #12

Something that should be a sign of good luck turns out to be a terrible omen.

[shadowleafy]

[shadowleafy]

[shadowleafy]

There are people who actually believe that "government controls everything" is tyranny but "corporations control everything including the government" is freedom.

[shadowleafy]

If capitalism were really about "voluntary exchange of labor for money", this would be encouraged.

[shadowleafy]

[shadowleafy]

is it bad that i do that too

Etho: Sometimes I play rhythm games on mute while listening to a completely different song.

Gem: I'd tell you to see a doctor, but I don't think they have a doctor for whatever's wrong with you

[shadowleafy]

"First of all, you're not running against Joe Biden, you're running against me."

[shadowleafy]

[shadowleafy]

shit someone saw me

DID YOU SEE SHADOW

me when the groundhog comes out from its burrow on February 2