#small fiction

[aesethewitch]

When I was a kid, we moved into a house that had a huge lilac tree out front. It was mostly rotten, and it needed to be taken down before it fell. It took a while, but eventually, it was gone.

Mostly. A couple years later, little lilac babies popped out of the ground in its place. My mom was determined to get rid of them, because she'd planted a beautiful flower garden there, and the lilac trees would overshadow and kill the whole garden. I insisted on saving at least a few saplings. She said fine, but I had to dig them out and put them in pots myself.

So, I did. I spent days digging little lilac bushes out of the ground and putting them into pots. Some couldn't be saved, but some could. When all was said and done, I had five brand-new lilac saplings. Seven or eight years old, and it was my absolute pride and joy.

Three died due to sun scorching, severe drought that no amount of watering could save, and perhaps just being moved from their place in the ground. But two survived, and I was awfully proud of them! I'd go out and talk to them every single day. I watered them by hand and made sure they were fertilized properly. I learned all about their favored environments, and I was determined to make sure they lived.

One of my mom's friends saw what I was doing with the lilacs. She asked if she could have one to put in her backyard, and I agreed on the condition that she take very, very good care of it.

It's now fucking enormous. I'm talking ten feet tall and bursting with beautiful purple flowers every spring. My mom still gets updates each year as they start to bloom, which she forwards to me. And all I can think is, "That's my friend! Thriving some twenty years on, there it is."

The other tree nearly died, too. It lived in a pot for far, far too long. I wanted to plant it somewhere in my parents' yard, but my mom was reluctant. Eventually, we agreed to put it in the far back garden. It grew okay for many years, despite the shade, but in all these years, it's never bloomed.

Last year, the massive tree casting massive shadows over the lilac and the garden cracked in half and fell. It tumbled into the garden, crushing part of the nearby shed and destroying a few plants beneath it.

It missed my lilac by inches.

The clean-up is long done. The rest of the tree has been cut down, and my lilac has full sunlight for the first time in fifteen years. It won't bloom this year, I know. But it's got new shoots up. It's taller than ever. I spent half an hour a few weeks ago praising it for surviving all this time, dreaming about its future and telling it how I believe it'll become the tall beauty it's always been meant to be.

I think next year, I'll see flowers.

[adelaidesopossumnest]

Perhaps you've heard of the local legend: a small rural town where death always comes so gently to the residents, to folk and beasts alike. That when the time came, they simply closed their eyes and drifted away.

Maybe you've heard the tale of a rusty, faded green truck idling on the side of the road in the dead of night, as the broken husk of an unfortunate critter drags itself by broken limbs and hanging guts into the bed. Dark letters on the driver's door, impossible to make out in the dark.

'There's not much roadkill 'round these here parts' the locals say, though the rusty stains on the bare asphalt say otherwise. 

Perhaps you've heard of this quiet little county, out in the sticks, where a local vet can work miracles, saving animals from wounds that should have been fatal. And the local taxidermist produces the most spectacular work. Poses so lifelike it seems the animal might bound off at any moment, where you could swear the eyes watch you as you pass.

Maybe you've heard the stories from shaken would-be hunters, roaming the woods without the required tags. Told over a room temperature ounce of whiskey clutched in shaking, hastily bandaged, hand. They might tell you how a deer, rose up headless, after they'd taken their trophy. They'd tell you how it felt like it was staring right at them. How the headless body charged them, dripping gore. Gone in a flash. How the mountain lion's skull bared what was left of it's fangs, and took its due.

Locals might tell you that, sometimes, particularly beloved pets or farm animals always came back for one last goodbye, in the small hours of the morning, before darting away into the dark. And that those who raised an unnecessary hand against their animals never seemed to linger long in town.

It could be that you've heard of this towns most well known local figure. A rail thin woman with sun brown skin, whose body, demeanour, and face were hard as saddle leather. With perpetually dirty tank top and denim jeans, and a faded green truckers cap on her short shorn scalp. Her rusting green truck parked out front. In the daylight it's easier to read the lettering on the side, in patchwork, flaking red letters. "Clem's Veterinary and Taxidermy". It's a very small town, after all.) 

The locals might say "that there Clem, well, she's always where she needs to be." Chewing gum or smoking. Waiting with gruff patience. Her condolences are short and curt, in a thick, slow southern drawl. They're always what you need to hear. 

Maybe if you've heard all these figments and stories, local legends, tales and rumors. You just might have heard of... the rednecromancer.

Thanks for reading! Please reblog this if you enjoyed it!

I also take wiring commissions starting at $15usd/1000 words and I'll write on most topics. Either short story or smut or whatever. Open to all sexualities and almost all kinks so long as they're legal and consentual! You can DM me if you want to find out more.

[dusfive]

[antisolanum]

My name is Gerald Williams.

I was literally born yesterday.

I am told I'm Gerald Williams #13714.

The Monica at the induction center called me "fourteen" with a smile.

My retinal readout told me that 71 percent of Gerald Williamses identify as homosexual.

As I was on the long tram ride along the spinal array, with the canopy of stars above us, I sat across from a Michael Thompson, number 12977.

We talked for the whole trip, and I referred to him as "seventy-seven" and he told me "you can just call me sevens" and it made me feel really nice.

I wonder who the original Gerald Williams was. I have his brain-pattern. I'm flash-cloned from his DNA imprint. I have many of his memories, but they're old, and faded, like a movie you saw once and weren't paying attention to.

I looked up Michael Thompsons. 93 percent of them are heterosexual. I also was shown that 41% of them that interact with Gerald Williamses form "fraternal bonds" that increase work efficiency.

I know Central Command and Control reads all of these journal entries. They're kind of like prayers, I guess. If you like imagining a big computer to be your god.

I guess in that light, I would just want to say, I hope I see Sevens again.

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

50 Character Personality Traits + Meanings (For writers, worldbuilders, and artists) Part 1

Adventurous - Enjoys trying new experiences and exploring the unknown.

Ambitious - Driven to succeed and achieve their goals.

Analytical - Tends to think critically and examine things in-depth.

Artistic - Highly creative and expresses themselves through artistic mediums.

Assertive - Confident in expressing their thoughts and feelings.

Caring - Shows compassion and concern for the well-being of others.

Charismatic - Has a natural charm and appeal that draws people in.

Clever - Able to come up with creative solutions and make astute observations.

Compassionate - Displays empathy and a desire to help those in need.

Confident - Believes in their own abilities and is self-assured.

Conscientious - Reliable, responsible, and attentive to detail.

Curious - Eager to learn new things and explore the world around them.

Cynical - Tends to be skeptical and distrustful of others' motives.

Dependable - Can be counted on to follow through on their commitments.

Determined - Persistent in pursuing their goals and overcoming challenges.

Diplomatic - Skilled at navigating social situations and resolving conflicts.

Eccentric - Displays unconventional or unusual behaviors and interests.

Empathetic - Able to understand and share the feelings of others.

Ethical - Guided by a strong moral compass and a sense of right and wrong.

Extraverted - Enjoys being around people and draws energy from social interactions.

Flexible - Adaptable to changes and open to trying new approaches.

Forgiving - Willing to let go of past hurts and give people second chances.

Friendly - Approachable and enjoys building positive relationships with others.

Grounded - Practical, down-to-earth, and focused on the present.

Hardworking - Diligent and dedicated in their efforts to achieve their goals.

Honest - Values truthfulness and integrity in their words and actions.

Idealistic - Driven by a vision of how the world should be and a desire to make a difference.

Imaginative - Possesses a rich inner world and creative problem-solving abilities.

Independent - Prefers to think and act for themselves without relying on others.

Indecisive - Struggles with making decisions and often second-guesses themselves.

Introverted - Finds energy and fulfillment in solitary activities and introspection.

Jealous - Experiences feelings of resentment or insecurity towards others.

Kind - Gentle, considerate, and thoughtful in their treatment of others.

Leaders - Able to inspire and guide others towards a common goal.

Logical - Approaches problems and decisions through a rational, analytical lens.

Materialistic - Highly values the acquisition of possessions and wealth.

Organized - Maintains order and efficiency in their personal and professional life.

Perfectionistic - Strives for flawlessness and can be overly critical of themselves and others.

Pessimistic - Tends to focus on the negative aspects of situations and expect the worst.

Resilient - Able to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to changes.

Risk-taker - Willing to take chances and step outside of their comfort zone.

Sarcastic - Uses irony and witty remarks to convey their thoughts and feelings.

Sensitive - Deeply affected by the emotions and experiences of themselves and others.

Stubborn - Unwilling to change their mind or compromise on their beliefs and opinions.

Suspicious - Inclined to doubt the motives and intentions of others.

Thoughtful - Considerate of the impact their words and actions have on others.

Timid - Shy, reserved, and hesitant to take risks or assert themselves.

Trustworthy - Reliable, honest, and worthy of confidence.

Unpredictable - Displays an element of surprise and spontaneity in their behavior.

Witty - Possesses a quick, clever, and humorous way of expressing themselves.

Hey fellow writers! I'm super excited to share that I've just launched a Tumblr community. I'm inviting all of you to join my community. All you have to do is fill out this Google form, and I'll personally send you an invitation to join the Write Right Society on Tumblr! Can't wait to see your posts!

[rizzager]

Warden species

[telogreika]

Miku of the remnants of the Slovak branch of the Communist Revolutionary Army, her battle is destined to fail but she is trying

[screwpinecaprice]

Just a silly guy, with silly silly thoughts.

@glowweek Day 2

Casual | Surprise

A casual surprise?😬😬😬

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

Hot take: the authors purposefully kept the Animorphs from ever properly taking advantage of a raccoon morph (until Book 52, maybe) because racoon morphs are too OP. Change my mind, tumblr.

I guess I'm not of the mindset that there are animals more OP or UP than others. It feels antithetical to the whole philosophy of Animorphs, which is all about all animals having unexpected advantages and there being no such thing as a "best" animal.

That said. What advantages does raccoon have? Genuine question — all I know about them is a) rabies and b) trash theft.

[umblrspectrum]

go read Memento Nori and Like the Stars and What Friends Are For and just generally all of Ad Astra Per Aspera by LadyDaybreaker on ao3

[battydeville]

Theres never a boring day at the Cannibal Tiki Bar 🍹🌴

IG: BattyDeville

[variksel]

RIP riz gukgak you wouldve loved being a tumbleypoo sherlock fan in 2014

fabian and riz .... favourite duo like ever atm .... also a list of my riz hcs is under the cut!

[dusfive]

[total-convergence]

Xa ontogeny

The Xa and how they grow. The brown-feathered kiddos past age of 1,5 are already able to fly somewhat. Xa don't show any sexual dimorphism, so there's only one Xa image for each life stage. Here's more about this sophont: https://www.tumblr.com/total-convergence/726112557515128832/tcxa

[hildegardladyofbones]

One of the best things about Disco Elysium by far is that it does not fear ugly women. The world is full of ugly men, but ugly women are so hard to come by.

[rizzager]

Some facts about the warden