I certainly don't want to put any pressure on you! I work in a school (supervising 60+ students' work done at home, similar to homeschooling, but with support from teachers, curriculum assistance, etc.) and I know how hard it is on parents these days, especially if remote schooling is involved, but really, just about anywhere this year!

 

But I've had personal history that also leads me to question "disappearances" and follow up to be sure things are OK! (Pro-tip: If you're an administrator, and putting someone on administrative leave, letting their colleagues know is a really good idea. You know...before they call the police to do a well-person check to be sure they didn't have a car accident on the way to work or something. True story with a former boss, about something that amounted to nothing, but had to be investigated. It really was a fumble on the part of upper admin to not think to let us know that the boss would be out, and not making a presentation that was planned for that afternoon, etc. We were wrecks!)

 

I'm very glad to hear that all is well! Best wishes on living a busy life amidst the pandemic!

Happy Friday everyone......time for a new prompt!

 

Week of October 16, 2020:

 

Consent: One little word covering things from the mundane to the sublime through tragic. We give it without thinking for phone apps and data collection and health care. Ofttimes it is assumed; you have to opt out rather than in. When has your character given their consent? For what? What happened after? Endless spam, an interpersonal experience they’d rather not talk about, or the best time they’d ever had?

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

Great Expectations: In the Dickensian sense, "great expectations" is almost a variant of ambition, and your character might not be the only one who dreams of great things for themselves. A family, a teacher, society itself might all have Great Expectations for your character: that they should do Great Things, meaningful things that change the world. Or perhaps maintain the status quo, as is right and proper. What is Expected of your character? Do they live up to it? Willingly? Cast it aside for their own dreams? Do they walk the fine line between doing what is Expected but in their own way? Have their dreams seen an adjustment (up or down) from what is Expected to what is Likely?

 

Traditions: Everyone has traditions. Family, cultural, or personal. Some we keep out of habit or societal pressure, others because they hold special meaning. What about your characters? What traditions do they follow? Why? Something as complicated as an elaborate religious festival, or as simple as shredding every completed contract? Maybe your character specifically avoids certain traditions they grew up with. Or adopted new ones from an alien culture. Whatever the case, there's a story in it

A day late and a dollar short but here's this week's prompt!! Happy writing everyone!

 

Week of October 23, 2020:

 

Just a Flesh Wound: In the

(cw: blood, gore, comedy dismemberment) the Black Knight somehow keeps fighting despite losing all his limbs, insisting he’s not hurt. When has your character downplayed the severity of their injuries and why? Was it necessary to complete their mission or useless bravado? What were the repercussions? In a broader sense, have they ever insisted on an argument, opinion, or course of action when it’s obvious to everyone else that they haven’t a (rhetorical) leg to stand on?

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

Bushido - The seven classic Western virtues are very individual-oriented. By contrast, the Bushido code stresses community and interaction: Rectitude (gi, righteousness or justice), Courage (yuu), Benevolence (jin), Respect (rei), Honesty (makoto), Honor (meiyo), and Loyalty (chuugi). Write about the presence or absence of bushido virtues in your characters' lives. Thank you, @brightephemera, for this prompt idea.

 

Ship of Fools: The colloquial meaning is that of one wise person surrounded by idiots, but in the original allegory everyone on the ship is unable to navigate it, all the while vying for the chance or to influence the one currently botching the job. Regardless, the ship goes nowhere, often with recriminations all around. When has your character sailed on a ship of fools? Were they the wise one dealing with incompetence? Or just as clueless but putting up a better front than the rest?

And now for the current prompt......happy writing!

 

Week of October 9, 2020:

 

“Cuffing Season”: Supposedly, in the early fall (Octoberish to February, or March to August, depending on your Earthly location), people begin pairing off for the winter months. Sometimes the relationships last, but mostly they break up with the ice in spring, past the cold weather and gatherings where companions might be expected. Is there a similar time in your character’s world? Do they want a cuddle buddy for the winter-slash-social gathering-season? Do they happen to find a relationship at that time, regardless of whether they were looking? Maybe they’re out of sync with everyone else and break up instead. Are they then desperate enough to lower their standards? A lot? Maybe they’re not at all interested and watch the spectacle with amusement.

 

 

 

Cuffing Season

 

Looking at what was left of his starship, imperial agent Kaygeebee acknowledged there was nothing left to salvage. Food rations and the water dispenser were moved to the shelter. The emergency power unit was working in the shelter, and would last the winter. The antennae, the reason for the mission, was perched on a nearby hill. It would be able to intercept transmissions from pirate and republic ships or bases on the planet, or even in orbit. He looked upon an intact bridge, and a totally wrecked body of the ship. Among the wreckage were the crewmates in the main part of the ship. He turned and went to the shelter.

 

It was cold on Canath, even for him. He experienced living in frigid places for so many years. He was a Chiss with blue skin, dark hair, and red eyes. Living in the cold was norm for him much of his life. The location of the crash happened to be on the part of the planet where winter will soon begin, and it will be getting colder for the next four months. This was supposed to be a routine mission of planting a listening device. When coming out of hyperspace, there was not supposed to be an asteroid belt surrounding the planet. The inevitable crash into one of the asteroids sent the starship hurling into the atmosphere. He did the best he could landing the damaged ship into the ice and snow of the planet. The bridge remained intact, but the body of the ship was thoroughly damaged and its occupants killed.

 

The Rattataki anarchist, thoroughly enjoying death and destruction, never thought about it happening to her. The diplomat, who joined with a Killik nest so he could try to be better at negotiating with them, now lay in the wreckage with his body smashed and black ooze coming out where there should have been blood. The scientist, perhaps more appropriately the mad scientist, who experimented on himself with the dangerous Rakghoul plague, lay with his body slashed from a piece of the ship’s hull, in a form that seemed a mix between the rakghoul form and human form. Lastly, the sentient droid. The droid that thought it was better than all others in the galaxy, superior to all droids and all lifeforms. It said there was absolutely no danger coming out of hyperspace near the planet. It now laid on the floor of the ship with a metal beam from the ship’s hull impaled in its head, crushing the central processing unit in the process.

 

Making it to the entrance of the shelter, he looked to make sure the front looked secure. Parts of the hull were welded together, covering the front of the shelter thereby giving extra protection from the elements. It also gave a little extra time in case they were the recipients of blaster fire. He went through the opening in the hull pieces, then took a welder he had near the front of the shelter and went to work welding together the pieces in front of the door. When finished, he put the welder down and entered the shelter.

 

The shelter was around ten meters by five meters, with walls that were pliable to conform to the walls of the shallow cave. The power unit was on, being able to give power continuously for one year. Food rations and the water dispenser were on the side.

 

Looking to the back of the shelter, he saw his lieutenant with the intelligence service. A human with brunette hair, brown eyes, light complexion, she had the body of one trained for endurance sports. She had proven for the past several months a highly proficient intelligence operative. She had been out of the academy around a year ago, yet has recently been helpful many times. It seemed easier as time went on to work with her.

 

When he left the shelter the last time, she noted she was tired from the long day they had, crashing on the planet and setting up the shelter to survive. Now she was laying in the only shelter bed available, a bag with cushioning underneath, meant for two to keep each other warm during frigid weather conditions. To the side of the bed were her outer garments. She still had on a thermal body suit to keep warm.

 

If the Sith Empire went forth with its plans when this mission started, military ships will come to the system in four months to destroy any resistance and set up a base at Canath. The transmissions gathered from the antennae for the next four months will help decide what type and how many ships will be sent in four months. Until then, the Empire will not send anything, regardless of the situation.

 

“Commander, standard protocol stipulates survivors need to facilitate keeping each other warm during inhospitable cold conditions.”

 

“Who am I to dispute protocol Lieutenant?” He walked towards the shelter bag, undressing his outer clothes when he stood by it. With only his thermal body suit on, he quickly joined her in the bag.

 

They will be “forced” to spend the next four months together in the shelter together. As each looked into the other’s eyes, it was an assignment they were enthusiastic to be “forced” into. The things Intelligence would do for the glory of the Empire.

Edited October 25, 2020 by Jimcorpus

Happy Friday everyone......time for a new prompt!

 

Week of October 16, 2020:

 

Consent: One little word covering things from the mundane to the sublime through tragic. We give it without thinking for phone apps and data collection and health care. Ofttimes it is assumed; you have to opt out rather than in. When has your character given their consent? For what? What happened after? Endless spam, an interpersonal experience they’d rather not talk about, or the best time they’d ever had?

 

 

Consent

The major sat at the holoprojector, looking around at the strangers on his ship, wondering when they would leave. He thought the return to Coruscant would be uneventful. He was to go to headquarters and report on the recent mission his squad completed successfully. Afterwards, he would be briefed on the new mission his special forces unit would be assigned to do.

 

When he was asked by the senate liason to the Republic Army for consent to allow his starship to be checked for compromises to its fighting ability, he had no idea it was a way for Republic Intelligence to inspect his ship. He also didn’t expect that he and his squad would have to endure endless irritating questions from interrogators from Intelligence.

 

The databanks of the ship were copied and thoroughly searched. Each squad member was asked the same questions, but in separate rooms from different interrogators to try to get them to contradict each other. How can a squad so small be so successful, when they are able to complete missions that a company of Republic troops failed? How was a medic that came from Sith space able to get into special forces? How was she able to find a successful vaccine for a plague outbreak on Alderaan when other medical specialists failed? Of course, Intelligence didn’t want to mention much of those other medical specialists on Alderaan had a problem using narcs. How was she married to the commander of the unit? They seemed not to like the idea there was no regulation against that.

 

How can someone that was demoted get so many rewards for heroism? How was he able to get rank back up so quickly when he was earlier demoted? Republic intelligence certainly seemed to have a grudge against him, perhaps because the Cathar exposed an unethical operation Intelligence did with a few Republic soldiers.

 

Then they questioned extensively about the former Weequay weapons expert that was previously part of the squad. How was he able to be part of the squad? The interrogator became irritated when told the Weequay was assigned. How was he able to do illegal arms sales when he was part of the squad? The interrogator didn’t like when he was reminded those actions were before he joined the squad. How can the commanding officer of the squad did not do a thing to prevent the death of the weapons expert? The soldier was reassigned from the squad and was on leave. He died in a firefight during an illegal arms sale set up by a corrupt senator from Ord Mantell that also died in the firefight. Intelligence did not like that reminder since this particular senator was a strong advocate in the Galactic Senate for the Republic Intelligence. The last question was so ridiculous for intelligence to ask. Why would the commander of a special forces squad marry his medic? “We love each other!” The interrogator was obviously single and not involved in a relationship, seeming flustered at the answer.

 

Then they had to question his scout, the Gand that had become a great friend to all of the squad. The interrogator for him understood the language of the Gand, but was oblivious to the culture. The scout later told the major about the interrogator rolling his eyes when answers were given, explaining to the interrogator about events happening in harmony with the galaxy.

 

Finally, the interrogation of the assault droid. His memory was copied to a portable storage device. The droid’s interrogator was intending for succinct answers, however 4X gave long, expanding, exhaustive explanations intertwined with the glory of the Republic and what a better political system it is.

 

Parts of the walls were taken off, looking for unauthorized devices. The engines were inspected to see if any illegal modifications were made. The hull was thoroughly looked at to see if there were some unexplained blaster marks. Finally, Republic Intelligence was done with their actions they were given “consent” for. Thank you Major. You may depart for space now.”

 

“Not your authority to give that consent” came the reply from the major. The lead of the interrogation could not hide his frown from that statement, then led his group off the squad’s starship.

 

The major took off his chest armor, took a small device off the inside of his armor, then plugged into the holoprojector. Within a few seconds a holovid image emerged, showing the location of the listening device Republic Intelligence placed onto the starship.

 

“4X?” The major looked at the assault droid.

 

“Yes Major.” The droid quickly responded enthusiastically.

 

“Do you still have the audio when we did the humanitarian mission on Tatooine?”

 

“Major, the one in which we aided the Jawas with the gastrointestinal difficulties?”

 

“That’s the one. Play that for the listening device for two hours, then destroy the device.”

 

“Yes Major.”

Sorry, it's been a busy week but at least I remembered the prompt only a day late! Happy writing......and Happy Halloween!!!

 

Week of October 30, 2020:

 

Haunted: Has your character ever encountered something otherworldly? Something they know they saw but can’t explain in a logical way? Or maybe they can--but the explanation rings hollow? What did they experience and what was it like? Does anyone believe them? Do they believe it? In our world things such as ghosts or hauntings are generally dismissed, but for your character, they might be accepted as valid explanations even if not technically “real.” Or they might be frighteningly, terrifyingly real.

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

NO PANTS! Relaxing at home. Nothing planned, nothing going on, nothing pending, no crises. No pants. What's that mean for your character? Is there any place or time when they can truly relax? Do they fantasize about relaxation while dashing between disasters? Are they stuck in the doldrums, praying for something--anything--to happen? Or do they take "no pants" more literally?

 

And Now, the Bad News: Something happened, and your character's not pleased about it. Did they lose a promotion or sale to a rival? Is a local landmark shutting or being torn down? Is a plant or animal they're particularly fond of in decline? Does an event confirm their pessimistic outlook, or crush their optimism? How did they find out? Are they shocked or resigned? No good news to soften the blow this time. Write about your character dealing with bad news.

That was a fun little story. Note to my troopers: get rid of anything that would be kept of Tanno Vik's records. Dirty linen my trooper never asked for or wanted. (She wants her own younger brother, tyvm!)

 

You did a nice job with all the crewmembers - 4X was perfect.

 

Oh, and . . .

I LOVED your ending! Ha!

Edited November 7, 2020 by Lady_Thorne

Sorry, it's been a busy week but at least I remembered the prompt only a day late! Happy writing......and Happy Halloween!!!

 

Week of October 30, 2020:

 

Haunted: Has your character ever encountered something otherworldly? Something they know they saw but can’t explain in a logical way? Or maybe they can--but the explanation rings hollow? What did they experience and what was it like? Does anyone believe them? Do they believe it? In our world things such as ghosts or hauntings are generally dismissed, but for your character, they might be accepted as valid explanations even if not technically “real.” Or they might be frighteningly, terrifyingly real.

 

 

The Trick and Treat

 

 

The Sith Lord walked calmly and confidence through the front door into the main entry way. Attired in her scanty slave outfit that glittered, mocking the Sith society by showing that a slave can rise to become a Darth, the Iridonian observed her surroundings. Lights on the walls that were a thousand years old fading with only a dim light, organic strings intertwined to each other on the walls that captured a few little creatures, the creaking of the covering for a window as it moved back and forth above her.

 

Finding information etched on a stone monument earlier in the day of a treasure of sparkly objects and information, the Sith came to the large manor with her slave Dashade. She preferred to call him her pet instead of slave, which infuriated him even more. Knowing full well the treasure was the bait for a trap, she hoped to spring this trap since there may very well be a different type of treasure on the other side of the trap. The Dashade was ordered to stay outside the door, which he was happy to do. He was not afraid of going in, but hoping his master would come to an unexpected early demise inside this ancient residence.

 

She went to the left of a main stairway that was in the middle of the entry way. The large sitting area that came to her view had elaborate and colorful furniture covered with a light layer of dust. A doorway was on the other side, but she preferred to see what was on the other side of the stairway. She traversed to the other side to see a dining area. No eating ware was on the large table. Eight seats surrounded the table that again had a light layer of dust.

 

The Sith saw a door on the far side of the table. She went around the table and chairs to the door, and had to manually open it since it did not have the power to move on its own. She walked into what appeared a food preparation room. There were ancient wooden cupboards on either side and a door at the far end. On a table on the other side of the room was a bowl filled with sparkly objects. Sugar cubes. Sugar cubes of different colors. She took a couple steps into the room then stopped, using the force to apply pressure to the floor in front of her. An intense beam of light came out of the ceiling into the floor, with heat she could easily feel in the air, knowing that would have burned through her body if she stepped on the floor in front of her.

 

Suddenly coming out of the door was a withered form of a human, holding onto a lighted red lightsaber, coming at the Sith while two Kowakian monkey lizards came out of the cupboards to the sides. With ease she brought up her lightsaber, activating the crimson blade to easily deflect the blade of the dried up entity coming at her, then quickly grabbing the necks of the lizards. The withered form was hoping to kill her, causing fear so she would be standing there in shock to be slain. How wrong he was.

 

She smiled at him, then the last thing that he saw was her eyes turning bright purple, and bolts upon bolts of purple lighting streaking across the room all the while he and the Kowakian lizards screamed in agony. After numerous seconds she stopped, the withered man and lizards now burned crisps on the floor. She looked beside the table and saw some bodies on the floor, some dead for a brief time and others for a long time. Numerous pieces were missing from each of the bodies. “Seems the host like to have his guests as a cuisine” she surmised to herself. She saw beside the bowl on the table a datapad.

 

Flipping through the different information, she noticed numerous recipes for cooking different sentient life forms. “Boring” she said out loud as she eventually came to the end of those recipes and now viewed numerous recipes for non-meat dinners. Finally she came to the good stuff. Desserts! She smiled as her eyes briefly viewed a good amount of ways to cook tasty sweets.

 

The Darth grabbed the datapad and bowl, then proceeded back the way she came into the manor. She eventually came outside and walked leisurely to her Dashade pet. “Treasure was a bunch of recipes.”

 

“How stupid” the Dashade stated to the Darth. “I should devour you now for wasting so my time.”

 

She continued to leisurely walk by the Dashade, holding onto the bowl and datapad as she used the force to raise one sugar cube into the air. “Quiet. I do not have the time to spank you for your insolence.” She then with the tiniest of focus sent the sugar cube charging into the open mouth of the Dashade. The creature had a surprised look on his face as he tasted and ate the dessert.

 

She looked at some recipes on the datapad as they walked back to the village where her starship was waiting at the docking bay. “I could roast some Gand for you.”

 

“Too much of a dirt taste” the Dashade replied, remembering when he ate a Gand before.

 

“Here we go” the Darth replied as she kept one recipe on the datapad to observe. “This is definitely the dinner for you that must be tried. Baked Magic Fungus Dinner Bread.”

Sorry everyone, I completely forgot to put up the new prompt Friday.......so here it is, still good just a little late.

 

Week of November 6, 2020:

 

Halfway There: There’s the beginning and the end, and somewhere in between is half. Halfway through their journey, halfway through their education, their training, their date, their game, or their patience. Or even halfway through their story. The newness wore off but the end isn’t quite in view. The middle doesn't have to be boring. Something has to connect the ends. Write a story where your character is halfway there.

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

Ordinary Heroes: Your character might be a hero in their own right, and they probably had many others to look up to. So who in their lives was a hero to them by being nothing other than themselves? Who did they admire as a person? Whose example did they hope to follow? Was it a relative who always accepted them, no questions asked? A shopkeeper who always had a kind word for everyone they met? A teacher who expected the best and wouldn’t take less--and who also helped students discover what their best looked like? Write a story involving an influence on your character’s character.

 

Friends to Lovers: This one is almost a given in many stories. Many people enjoy reading (or writing) a story where the characters find their friendship growing into something more intimate. Whether it's a coffee shop romance a super-slow-burn fic, write characters going from friends to lovers this week.

Sorry for being a day late again but at least it's still the weekend...... Happy writing!!

 

Week of November 13, 2020:

 

Leave No One Behind: It’s a classic trope: one character is injured and tells the rest of the group to go on without them, but they refuse. Who’s injured--is it your character or a companion? Do they insist on being left, not taking no for an answer? Are they overridden by the group or the leader--or your character? Is the sacrifice really necessary or is it for dramatic effect? If it is necessary and the group refuses, how does that cause complications later? And how does the “saved” character deal with believing they’re the cause of the hardship, especially when they tried to prevent it?

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

Hurts so Good: Pain is supposed to be the body's signal to stop. Humans (and fictional species) often ignore it or even seek it out. Sure, sure, BSDM; look beyond the obvious. Think of hot foods--temperature hot or spicy hot, where the heat is a critical part of the enjoyment. An exercise program, where short-term muscle pain (not next day soreness) means you're doing it right. A good roller coaster, haunted house, or horror movie is supposed to cause anxiety or fear and all their attendant sensations, things we usually find unpleasant or painful. Write about your character seeking, enjoying, observing, declining, or railing against such an activity.

 

You're Invited - Last week we talked about the companions who don't make much sense on our crew. This week let's look at other characters. We meet many NPCs during the class stories, and only some of them get to join our crews. Who would you have brought if the game let you recruit anybody? What NPCs did your character connect with but had to leave behind? Did you headcanon them as companions anyway? These need not be from the class story. Pick anyone and write about why they’re on your personal version of your character’s crew.

Sorry for being a day late again but at least it's still the weekend...... Happy writing!!

 

Week of November 13, 2020:

 

Nothing to apologize for. You are the one doing this. Thank you very much!

@Jimcorpus: Thanks . I just always feel bad when I get behind.

 

YAY, I'm actually on time this week!!! Happy Friday everyone!! Now for the prompt......happy writing!

 

Week of November 20, 2020:

 

Giving Up: No way! Your character would never give up! That’s what makes their struggle, their story, so good, right? But they do have to give up some things, don't they? If nothing else, a life that might not make a very interesting story, but a good life nonetheless. Maybe the essence of their story is giving up. Maybe they give up toxic beliefs and become a better person. Maybe they realize that the course they set out on isn’t going to work out the way they thought. Maybe they see that the person they’ve been pursuing romantically is never going to love them back. Write about a time when your character gave up--and it was good for both them and your story that they did.

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

Write a Theme: Star Wars is unusual in its almost universal appeal, and much of its success has been attributed to Lucas's incorporation of universal mythological themes in the story. Good stories (and modern myths) often have these kinds of themes tying the narrative together. The fall from grace, the epic journey, love conquers all, finding hidden treasures, discovering inner strength. What recurring themes weave through your character's stories? Sometimes these ideas aren’t obvious at the outset, but become so as you write or review previous stories. This week’s challenge: pick one specific to your character and write a story featuring it.

 

Laughing Fit- Humor is universal and yet also individual. What leaves one person in stitches falls flat for another for reasons of cultural or personal experience. Everyone’s funny bone is a little different. What about your characters? What makes them laugh? Do they have favorite comedians? Favorite parodies? Farce? There’s plenty of humor in everyday things as well. Maybe an amusing juxtaposition of events sets them off, a misspelled or misread sign, or a companion taking a pratfall. Write about a time when your character couldn’t stop laughing.

(You're Invited)

First attempt here, so be patient!.

(Liberties with my actual storyline: my Alderaan Stronghold is actually owned by my imperial agent for the server this character is on- I've taken a few liberties with the time-line, as the Alderaan stronghold appeared much later than I had done the planet storyline). The tale is told from her standpoint (she is a Dark Sider).

 

 

From the Diaries of a Sith Lord ..Nimrossa.

Sergeant Virne

 

I remember the first time we met. I was on Alderaan with Quinn at the behest of my then Master, Darth Baras.

I had been tasked to help the Thuls in combatting the Killik plague, when I encountered a pair of troopers, one a captain who seemed to be in a state of shell shock, and the other, one only ranked a Sergeant, but a Zabrak. A beautiful red Zabrak, like myself. He seemed the rather level-headed one of the pair. I was always on the lookout for personnel who were not only loyal but level-headed enough to protect my family estate. My father had been a Sith Pureblood, but my mother had been taken from the Idorian Jedi captured by the Sith. So in looks I was red like my father - but otherwise had totally Zabrak features, while the force was strong on both sides of my family.

 

When I reached the outpost to tell the Thul I had succeeded in my task, and killing many Killiks along the way, I pulled him aside. With the full authority of my position as the apprentice of Baras, I said... "I am requisitioning to my service the sergeant who was stationed by the Killik hives. I believe his name is Virne " The Thul seemed taken aback...

 

"The Zabrak? Why would you want one of those.. creatures?" I was wearing a mask which completely hid my features, as well as gloves, boots which had hidden the telltale signs of my species. I pulled it off, The Thul seemed to go pale, and even paler as I began force choking him. "Ahh.... forgive me, my lady..."

 

I pressed slightly harder, giving the Thul something to remember me by. He will remember me as long as my fist imprint remains on his throat. No Kolto tank will remove the mark, although it can relieve the injury, the scar remains.

I said... with particular emphasis... "Do Not Question your BETTERS again".

 

 

I told 2V-R8, who I had stationed at the door during my time off-ship, and HK-51 explicit orders to allow the Sergeant entrance the next day at my estate. "I tremble at your approach, mistress" said 2V-R8.

 

He showed up early for the appointment. Always a good sign. He bowed deeply. "How may I serve you, my Lord?" (Sith may be called Lady or Lord, I did not have a preferance in that regard, although at the time, I had not yet been made an official "lord", the non-Sith tended to address any Sith with the title).

I answered... "For now, I need you to keep guard on my estate. You may notice a resemblance to the Thul Castle. Unfortunately, they still have more military assets than I do. It will be your job to procure more staff, more ammunition, and more resources, and to train these troopers.".. I pointed to the Imperial troopers standing at the front entrance.

 

"I also need to keep the grounds free of killiks, except for their designated mounds. This is Vector, my cousin's husband... he will be visiting on occasion to keep the Killiks out of the main grounds. He is a joiner, so for any communications you need to have with them, consult with him. For me, I want them kept out of my sight at all times. "

 

"2V-R8 will be in charge of preparing meals, he will be under your command as well, so I want to make sure my troopers have nutritious meals... but I do NOT want them to get fat, lazy .. or.. overfed like my Master."

"Needless to say, If you repeat that last sentence... to anyone... you will be executed.".

He said. "Of course, my lord." Without missing a beat.

I said .."If you serve me well, I will see to it you are promoted, and there may be... other rewards as well." I winked at him, and slightly pulled at my robes. He blushed (yes, Zabraks can blush, although only other Zabraks can really tell).

As time went on, he Did get promoted, he did get "other rewards" (soon after Quinn betrayed me), and I gave him liberty to use the line about Darth Baras after I had executed that B*****d. And, although I never did have him serve aboard my ship, he serviced me well. Even better than Pierce. Zabrak really are the best lovers.

Apologies for forgetting the prompt last week.....but you can have it now! I'll post this week's new prompt in a new post after this one. Have a wonderful weekend and happy writing!!

 

Week of November 27, 2020:

 

Now We Feast: While many celebrations involve food, there are some for which food is the center. The feast. The meal is the reason for the celebration and anything that comes with it--dancing, singing, telling stories--are just extra. When has your character attended a feast? What was it for? What foods were there? Which ones were special for the occasion and which were ordinary? Were they a guest, an attendant, one of the people preparing it, or the host? Maybe a combination? A feast doesn’t have to happen only on holidays. What is a barbecue or a lūʻau or a banquet if not primarily a feast?

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

Recurring Events: The rakghoul event is in full swing again. What other kinds of things happen to your character on a regular basis? Hyperdrive not working? Lightsaber lost? Ship stolen? Escape in the nick of time? Maybe something more prosaic, like problems with laundry. Give us a peek into one of those ongoing things your character deals with.

 

Exactly as Planned: Were there any quests--class or otherwise--that fit your character’s story perfectly? Maybe something happened during combat or while exploring. Flashpoints? Even a bug, glitch, or mistake can become part of your character’s story. How did that go down? Write a story about a canon event that really is part of your character’s personal canon.

And now for the current prompt!

 

Week of December 4, 2020:

 

I HATE This Song: We've had several prompts regarding music, most of them positive. How about that one song or genre your character can't stand? An ex's favorite song? The song that reminds them of a bad time in their life? The song that played over and over and over and over until they couldn't stand it? A song they mistake for one they enjoy and it disappoints them every time? A song that grated on them from the beginning and their opinion went downhill from there? Write a story about your character and the one (or perhaps several) pieces of music they absolutely hate.

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

So What Happens Now?: The day is saved, the villain defeated, great deeds done and everyone lived happily ever after. Write an episode of "after." It can be immediately following the action and dealing with the aftermath, or years later and long term consequences.

 

Tests and Examinations - Tests are almost as pervasive as credits: Jedi or Sith trials, ship or vehicle operator’s license, weapons certifications exams, advanced intelligence analysis, basic maths. What kind of tests has your character taken? Did she prepare well or wing it? Pass or fail? What about retakes? Write about your character getting through some of the various testing and certifications he’s encountered.

Exactly as Planned : References: (BURIED POWER: Side-quest on Dromund Kaas, also brief reference to Sith and also to the Choice prior to the Jedi under Siege)

 

Yo'el seemed to stir for a moment, but Lana knew he was still deeply in the meditative trance. He had been like that for a few hours, after she had put the question to him: shall the alliance favor the Republic or the Empire? She was not sure which way he would decide, and now they had gone to an out of the way spot on Odessan for him to spend the time in meditation.

 

He blinked a few times.... and then briefly whispered the words... "Kaleth Ur...."

She had heard him tell the story. She knew that many times, the decisions he had made while she had known him had seemed more light-sided than the Sith she had been trained by. Seemed more Jedi-like. So she had asked him, one day, of what had prompted his use of the light side rather than the dark?

He explained...

 

"When I had gone to Dromund Kaas under my first master, Lord (and later Darth) Zash, she had sent me to the Dark Temple . While still on the outskirts, I encountered a Sith who sent me to recover a metal torch in order to seal tombs to keep some of the dead ... napping.. While there, I encountered one, who had made a holographic recording by the name of Kaleth Ur. He had been killed by our former Emperor 963 years before. He revealed to me that our whole society has been misled.:"

"The Way of the Sith lays in channelling powerful emotions. Fear is the chief of these. The Sith feed on palpable dread. It's a lie!. Fear is a lie. Passion, a lie. Fear gives temporary power, and passion is easily manipulated."

 

"I have felt this myself. When I had fear, when I was a slave in bondage, I was in constant fear. Of the whip, of death. Only by overcoming those fears, by mastering them - not embracing them, was I able to overcome the fear that shackled me. To deal with the various spirits I encountered, and released.."

 

He went on. "Real strength in the force comes when one is no longer afraid. One can purge fear when one stops grasping. After power, after things, after life itself. And allows the force to guide him. There is only the force. Everything there is. Life and death alike is wrapped up in the force. Fear is not the only path. "

The Sith need to know this. And, while I was on the Dark Council, I had attempted to teach exactly that. Not to make Sith into Jedi. But a different path, carved out by the Sith themselves."

"Sith must be free to maike this choice though," he went on. The Jedi are too influenced by politicians from the Republic, We saw that even with Revan, when his HK-47 droid revealed a genocidal policy against those with Sith genetics. We saw that again with their... leadership. The twillik... (he rarely mentioned her name)

And although passion can be manipulated. But emoition itself is not wrong. The love I had for Ashara was not wrong, and it has not led me to the dark side. The Jedi teach detachment from emotion. No.... our answer is not to run into the arms of the Jedi and the Republic. We must be free to carve our own path. We follow the Light side.... yet we remain Sith....

Lana knew he had made his decision. It was the Empire to which the Alliance would ally. And that Yo'el would resume his attempt to change the empire from the inside. And just possibly, eventually make peace with the Republic, but from a position of strength. Not as a traitor, but as an ally of the Empire.

You're Invited - Last week we talked about the companions who don't make much sense on our crew. This week let's look at other characters. We meet many NPCs during the class stories, and only some of them get to join our crews. Who would you have brought if the game let you recruit anybody? What NPCs did your character connect with but had to leave behind? Did you headcanon them as companions anyway? These need not be from the class story. Pick anyone and write about why they’re on your personal version of your character’s crew.

 

The captain entered the cave entrance with his trusted translator droid, who happened to be carrying a Disruptor-X sniper rifle. The captain needed to make a gesture to the Voss, showing that he is their ally so that he can persuade them to help to get an advantage over the Sith fleet in the sector.

 

The Voss and the Gormak, the two sentient beings that were known on the planet Voss. Either they were isolating from each other or fighting each other. Why couldn’t they be more cordial with each other and help him, so he could get back to running tax-free trade routes?

 

Walking lower down into the cave, the air became cooler however his long coat kept him warm. The light of the day ended, but there was sufficient lighting in the large cave from the numerous overhead bulbs and the surprising number of instruments.

 

“Setting on kill, Master?” The droid queried.

 

“Naw H. Stun. Don’t want to rile them up when don’t need to. They may be beneficial.”

 

“Very well Master. I am disappointed I am unable to use my algorithms for the different one shot to terminate this species. The Voss diplomat stated plainly we will not be able to negotiate with the Gormak. However, you are the Master and have the much larger credit account.”

 

“Did you really follow the opinion of a diplomat? They’re bigger crooks than I am” retorted the captain of the smuggling fleet.”

 

“Sadly, yes Master. However, you will be appreciative that while I listened to the Voss diplomat’s wearisome explanation of the situation, I was able to scan his body for the numerous places one shot of a sniper rifle could end the Voss existence and his irritative soundwaves. Motion of three ahead Master.”

 

The captain dove to the ground behind what appeared a working bench. Looking over the top he saw three Gormak, green of skin with frills on their heads looking with their orange eyes. The translator droid deftly moved to a crouch position by the wall. The Gormak fired at the captain, having the aim equivalent of Sith soldiers and totally missed, hitting the wall a few meters away. H put out two shots from its sniper rifle while the captain brought out two blasters and with ease shot at the third Gormak. All three fell to the ground stunned and unconscious.

 

The captain got up, looking at the bench. With the parts on it, the captain ascertained the bench was used to make starship parts. He walked to his devoted droid, and both proceeded deeper in the cave.

 

Coming upon a place where the cave split in two, the privateer heard blaster fire in one direction, then started walking that way crouched with his droid immediately behind him. Four soldiers from the Voss military were behind crates, pinned down from the barrage of plasma fire given by a group of Gormak.

 

“Want to try all six H?”

 

“Oh thank you Master.” The droid made sure he wasn’t noticed by the Gormak, then quickly came upon them, firing six stun rounds from the sniper rifle, dropping all the Gormak before they had a chance to respond from the attack of the droid.

 

“Thank you outsider” stated one of the four Voss getting up, showing on his chest the insignia of a lieutenant. “We now have a chance to eliminate their leader.”

 

“Hey, I’m a great help to you all” responded the captain in a confident way.

 

The group walked deeper in the cave, scanning for potential threats. They were about to round a corner when they heard a voice.

 

The sound of the Gormak language was heard.

 

“You cannot sneak up on me. I was able to foretell your coming” spoke the droid, translating for the captain.

 

“Silence your droid!” Exclaimed the lieutenant. “We can translate the Gormak if you don’t understand.”

 

“Quiet. H has more entertaining interpretations” replied the captain.

 

The group walked into the large area that was the end of the cave. The captain walked closer with his droid while the four Voss soldiers stayed back. “Let’s discuss this. We can come to a mutual arrangement.”

 

“We will not come to an arrangement with the Gormak. They are an infection on Voss” stated the lieutenant. “He said he foretell. Only a Mystic can foretell the future.”

 

The Gormak standing in the middle of his group spoke again. H dutifully translated. “I have walked the Shadowlands. I see that which will come. You are going to die in a minute from part of the roof collapsing.”

 

The four Voss looked up quickly, not seeing anything wrong with the roof of the cave before they looked back at their Gormak adversaries. “You are sacrilege Gormak. The roof is stable. You dare say you are a Mystic. Only the Mystic can-“.

 

Suddenly a large chunk of the roof came crashing down on all four Voss soldiers, crushing them to death as they screamed their last sounds.

 

The captain raised his eyebrows at the scene. “You should take up Pazaak.”

 

The Gormak spoke again as the captain turned around to look at him. “Why are you hear outsider, aiding the weakling invader Voss?” H translated as he observed the different targets in the room he would happily kill if given the order.

 

“The cannon you are building. It will destroy the Voss city, killing many innocents. There are actually innocents up there, although hard to believe.” The captain was hoping to stop the Gormak attacks to win the support of the Voss. Maybe he can get the support of the Gormak if he played his cards right.

 

“Voss are an infection. They try stop Gormak from building our ship to the stars. Gormak have right to go up to the stars. We will soon complete our ship and make our voyage.” H continued his translation of the Gormak leader.

 

“I’m Captain. What’s your name?”

 

“I am Jokull, the leader and dreamwalker of the Gormak.” H stated after Jokull talked, going over the different places to shoot at a Gormak body and also wondering if he could kill two Gormak with one shot.

 

“Well Jokull, I saw your ship out there. I know something about ships. That one is not going to work.”

 

All the Gormak in the room looked surprised, looking at each other.

 

“Your hatches aren’t secure enough so they probably would break off either ascending or while in space, your hull design makes it more damage will occur if it hits a meteoroid, and you have this little problem that you never put in a hyperdrive. You’re stuck in this system.”

 

Anger and disappoint was on the face of Jokull. He seemed to be thinking to himself for several seconds, then had a dejected look. “You do not lie Captain. You speak the truth. Gormak plans are a loss.”

 

“Hey, it’s not a loss. You can make that ship into a hotel. Great for tourists. Explore the wilds of Voss can be advertised. Bring in some entertainers for a nightlife. I get a five percent cut. You can come with me. You’d be great! You would make a fantastic navigator on my ship.”

 

H was analyzing the conversation. He so enjoyed watching his captain recruit to build up his underground empire.

 

“I go among the stars?” Even in the Gormak language the captain could tell he perked up the enthusiasm of the Gormak leader. H did a wonderful job conveying that enthusiasm.

 

“With us you will see a bunch of stars. Like the offer?” replied the captain.

 

“I will have my brother lead the Gormak while I am gone, and I will bring back to the Gormak the knowledge of the stars.” H translated once Jokull was done speaking.

 

“Great. We got a room for you on my ship. Bring your essentials and we will be able to head off in a couple days. Just one thing. No eating eggs.”

 

Jokull raised his frills in surprise.

 

The captain conveyed before he started to leave with his droid. “The galaxy is pretty sensitive to that right now.”

Giving Up: No way! Your character would never give up! That’s what makes their struggle, their story, so good, right? But they do have to give up some things, don't they? If nothing else, a life that might not make a very interesting story, but a good life nonetheless. Maybe the essence of their story is giving up. Maybe they give up toxic beliefs and become a better person. Maybe they realize that the course they set out on isn’t going to work out the way they thought. Maybe they see that the person they’ve been pursuing romantically is never going to love them back. Write about a time when your character gave up--and it was good for both them and your story that they did.

 

 

Sitting at the outdoor café by the park on Corellia, the man looked at the crimson shaded twi’lek, a bit of a dejected look on his face. “You don’t want to stay here. Come with me” he stated, almost pleading to her. She looked at him with her purple eyes, her face showing no enjoyment but instead determination. The long purple dress matched the color of her eyes. Each lekku hanged behind her back with no tattoos, for she wanted it that way. He scanned the familiar face, hoping he would see the facial expression of changing her mind.

 

Looking at the man that was once her boyfriend, the twi’lek scanned his face. His dark hair moving so little in the light breeze. His beard and moustache with the same shade as his hair, appearing to give him a rogue look. His dark trousers matched the color of his light jacket, that covered the cream colored shirt. She saw his light blue eyes moving a bit, looking around her face. “I’ve told you. I don’t want to smuggle. I could care less about the credits. I want the nice home with neighbors. Children to raise and help them with school. A nice, quiet life.”

 

“Come on, that’s not for you. Think of the excitement. The freedom.”

 

“The wonder about when someone will take a blaster to my head. No, that’s not for me” she replied back.

 

“We have such fun together. Think of the credits.” He kept on trying to get her to see his line of thinking.

 

“Credits? I now have a great job at a bank. I help people set up savings accounts. I get people loans so they can have their own home. A home. You can stay here. You can work at the shipyards. You’re good with ships. We can have are nice abode for the two of us, then have a family.

 

“You’d get bored. No exciting nights. Talking to others about sniffling noses and how good a teacher is.”

“Better than wondering if carrying a cargo of some spice that gets some teacher whacked out. Or how to get a hanger at a new planet. Law enforcement ready to obliterate a ship in space. I don’t care if I’m bored. Rather be bored than dead.”

As she spoke , he noticed past her a family. A man and woman with three kids, making sure each of the three had jackets on. A girl pulled a boy’s hair, he hit her arm, both adults yelling at the children then trying to console them from the crying that now ensued. “No way” he thought to himself. The twi’lek was someone he had a lot of fun with, but no way was the home in the neighborhood the life for him. He tried, but couldn’t get her to see his vision of the exciting and lucrative life of unsanctioned commerce. He gave up.

 

“Can’t force you.” He sighed, waved his hand to the droid that now floated to him. He brought out a card and paid the droid. “Good luck with the bank.” He got up from the table and walked away, not looking back.

 

A bit of a long walk to the shipyard, but a good walk to allow him to clear his head. He went to a side area of the shipyard, where there weren’t many people.

 

“Welcome” said a Rattataki man, similar height to the captain. “Your credits came in. The ship is ready to fly. With your authorization here on the pad, our work is complete.”

 

The man touched an area of the pad to show his identification.

 

“Splendid. It’s all yours. A brand new XS freighter. Fun travels, Captain.”

Sorry for getting behind again, work and the holidays have made my schedule a little crazy!

 

Week of December 11, 2020:

 

Earworm: Ever get a song stuck in your head? What about your character? Is there one song you can count on to do it or any random one? Do they hum holiday jingles until the next holiday rolls around? Are they annoyed or delighted by their own personal soundtrack? Typically people find earworms unpleasant and want to get rid of them, so how does your character go about it? Try to find a new one? Give it to someone else? Grumble until it finally goes away?

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

Out of Time: Often, there seems not enough time in a day to get done what we need or want to do. Time management gurus to the contrary, sometimes there’s just too much going on. What about your characters? Everyone has to prioritize and has different reasons for setting priorities as they do. In fiction you can avoid all schedule conflicts, but where’s the fun in that? Write about a time your character had to make a choice about what gets done and what gets left for later, or not done at all.

 

Friends to Enemies: Hate is always easier to evoke than love or friendship, so easy prompt this week. Or is it? Imagine one of your character's friends becoming an enemy. Why do they diverge when they obviously got along well? A slow drift or one inciting event? Losing a good friend hurts, and making one an enemy means the wound never really heals. How does your character live with it?

Week of December 18, 2020:

 

Far from Home: Our characters travel, relocate, deploy, or for any number of reasons end up very far from where they started. How do they deal with that fact, especially when an important event comes along? How do they feel celebrating an important cultural holiday when no one else around them does? What about a personal event like a marriage or a birth? Traditions that no one shares? Are they happier away from the people they grew up with? Do these milestones bring a bittersweet nostalgia? Maybe they’re thrilled they never have to celebrate that stupid holiday again. Do they still receive “care packages” from people they haven’t seen in ages? How do they feel about it and what do they do with them?

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

How Hard Can It Be? Words usually uttered before discovering exactly how hard it can be. When has your character underestimated a situation? What thing looked easy then turned out to be less so? How did your character handle it? Did they rise to the occasion? Realize their error? Back out and try again? Fail completely? All of the above? Be as humorous or serious as you like, but this week have your character discover that the easy thing is, in fact, rather more difficult than they expected.

 

Achilles' Heel - Our characters are powerful combatants, talented tacticians, clever diplomats and all-around legendary figures. However, everybody has that one "thing" that gets to them, that hurts them, or that proves their vulnerability in some way. A fear of heights... a particularly sensitive spot or old injury... an intolerance for bright sunlight... an irrationally severe dislike of womp-rats... what's the one thing that gets to your character, even on a good day?

And now for our current prompt.....Happy Holidays everyone and happy writing!

 

Week of December 25, 2020:

 

Home for the Holidays: Holidays often mean reuniting with family your character may only see on those special occasions. Do they make it this time? Why or why not? Do they want to go or do they dread the visit? Do they go alone, bring companions (or moral support), or journey to a partner’s home instead? Are they back in their hometown, the place they grew up, or has the bulk of the family relocated too? What is home, for your character, where these celebrations are concerned? Maybe their home is where they are right now, their family the people they’re with, and they’d take that over a long journey and near-strangers any day. Especially this one.

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

Why Are You Still Here? - Companions are bound to you in game but your head canon may be very different. Did a companion reach the breaking point with one of your characters? Did any of them leave or even subsequently rejoin your crew? Is there a particular reason an unlikely partnership is working, or a reason that a great-on-paper partnership gets badly strained?

 

Background Music and Leitmotif: Imagine Darth Vader’s entrance without the Imperial March. It’s hard. His music is as much a part of his character as his black cloak and mask. Many writers have playlists for their stories, or at least particular songs that apply to certain characters or situations, or that help evoke a character or a sense of place as they write. This week’s challenge: Write a story and link the background music that goes with it, or a story centered on your character and link their leitmotif. Prompt courtesy of @clevermird.

Many, many, many apologies for getting behind again! Work got really crazy after the holidays and I haven't had a whole lot of free time since my weekends are occupied with my family. Now that I'm getting settled into yet another new routine, I'm hoping to stay caught up but I can't make any promises...... Anyway, here's me trying to catch up once again!

 

Week of January 1, 2021:

 

You Made It: What situation did your character face and make it out alive? A battle, a terrifying mission, a trip back home to visit family? They faced the situation and came out the other side. Not necessarily unscathed--perhaps they have new scars or trauma or lost a companion--but your character made it. What happened, where are they now, and what happens next? Do they get a breather between situations or are they heading right back out into the fray? Or is this it, the end of their adventure, time for a well-deserved rest?

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

Day of the Dead- celebrated in Mexico on the first and second of November, the modern Day of the Dead celebration has its roots in ancient Mesoamerican traditions. Returning spirits of the dead are welcomed and honored with food and stories. It is a happy festival, all about retaining and celebrating connections with family who have passed on and less about mourning them. So who would your character remember and why? If, years after their death, your character’s spirit returned to their relatives for just one night, what would they find? There are story possibilities on either side of death’s gateway, find one this week.

 

A Favor: Your character needs help, and someone owes them a favor. Perhaps your character is the one who owes a favor. These are social obligations with no clear monetary value, yet we seem to know instinctively when a request is reasonable. Even when it’s not, we may find ourselves honoring it. In some circles, a favor may be more codified and ritualized. Yet while money may be involved, it's never the real debt. Do your character a favor and write about them cashing in or fulfilling a social debt this week.

Week of January 8, 2021:

 

Hold My Hand: A gentle show of affection, a comfort, a demonstration of guidance and support, a request for reassurance. Holding hands is a simple gesture that can mean any of things and more. When has your character held another’s hand, literally or figuratively? In certain times and places they might not be allowed to. The simple act of holding hands becomes an act of rebellion; the prohibition of such a basic comfort is its own kind of pain. Write about your character holding the hand of a child, a lover, a student, or a relative. Alternately, your character being unable or prohibited from doing so.

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

Dance: We’ve had music prompts before, but what about dance? Whether formal or informal, group, alone, or in pairs, most cultures accompany music with dance. How does your character relate? Do they sit on the sidelines watching others or do they command the attention of all on the floor? Write a story about your character and how they dance, even if it’s with two left feet.

 

The Mundane - Never mind flitting about the galaxy and fighting (or furthering) evil. How does your character handle buying supplies? Doing laundry? Repairing or replacing their gear? Homework? Housework? Reports? Letters? There's an awful lot of routine things in a hero's life that rarely make the big story. This week, pick one that should.

Week of January 15, 2021:

 

%#*?$?: Every language, every culture, has those special words reserved for special occasions. Like, say, hammering a finger. Those words that aren’t allowed in polite company, but everyone knows them anyhow. You know. Swear words. Profanity. Some characters sprinkle profanity like expensive spices, others pour out those words like water. Some stick to common ones. Others create their own, expressly suited for the occasion. The words your character’s culture reserves for swears tell the reader about their larger world. This week, let your character drop an f-bomb--or not, because they would never use such foul language.

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

But I won't do that-is there a line your character won't cross ever? Some act they would never do under any circumstances? Has it been tested? Have they been dragged to and over each line step by step? Or did they hold firm? Even the bad guys have standards. What are your character’s?

 

Dear Diary: A diary, a journal, a personal log. Whether it's a way of summarizing the day, a method for working through problems, or an aid to memory, people and characters find writing in a diary to be a helpful tool. What about your character? Do they keep a diary? What do they write about? Perhaps they find one belonging to a relative, a lover, a mentor, or even a stranger. Do they read it or return it?

Week of January 22, 2021:

 

Hospitality: Guests arrive, unexpected or otherwise. How does your character treat them? If your character is the guest, how are they received? What's expected in their culture and do they conform to those expectations? Are the guests using those norms against your character to get in, get close, get something they might not otherwise? Are they just being annoying? How long do they stay, and how does that change the expectations of both your character and their guest? What does your character think about their obligations as a host? As a guest? Do their actions reflect their beliefs?

 

*Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt. A masterpiece missed the deadline? Don’t let it gather electronic dust, share it anyway!

 

*This week’s prompt not for you? Look for something more to your taste in the Prompt Archive. Consider all the prompts active and waiting to inspire you.

 

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

 

...and counting- We’ve had prompts for math, but how about plain old counting and numbers? Does your character worry about how many ration bars they have? How many days (or weeks...or months!) since their last contract? Whether they have more artifacts than their nearest rival? Does your character have a lucky number? How do they show it? Maybe they just count their credits--but not before they’re in hand.

 

What is your Quest: A staple of video games and stories alike. In the most epic versions your character must retrieve/destroy an incredible artefact, thus demonstrating their worth and saving the world. A more mundane quest might be to get herbs from the neighbor's garden...who happens to be a witch. Perhaps enough pig livers to make a pie...strangely, not every pig has a liver. This week, send your character on a quest. What are they doing and how will they get there? A quest can be an entire book or only one small part. Likewise, your story could detail the full quest, beginning to end, or one small but significant event during it.