✧ a hundred stories to tell // one-shot challenge

[blackbird.]

below is my attempt at my very first writing challenge in my entire life.
i should have a ceremony for this. but i don't.
(i don't even have a proper intro because i'm too impatient to start also because i don't know how to write an intro)
sorry for the awkwardness.

challenge is here

my character storage


enjoy reading!

[blackbird.]

order of prompts:

1. 5ℤ + 1 (1, 6, 11, 16, usw)
2. 5ℤ (5, 10, 15, 20, usw)
3. 5ℤ + 3 (3, 8, 13, 18, usw)
4. 5ℤ + 2 (2, 7, 12, 17, usw)
5. 5ℤ + 4 (4, 9, 14, 19, usw)

1.// "Did you steal my Poptart?"
2.// "We could be hero's!"
3.// "We should be lovers..."
4.// "SNAAAAAAAAAAKE!"
5.// "What do you mean, NO?!"
6.// "THIS IS JUST BUSINESS!"
7.// "Maybe, just one more slice."
8.// "You can't leave! You'll die..."
9.// "I was a fool to believe..."
10.// "It all ends, today."
11.// "You must..."
12.// "You're just a silly girl!"
13.// "The show must go on..."
14.// "Just one more day, please..."
15.// "You can't just kill people!"
16.// "Seriously, who ate my Poptart?!"
17.// "I only speak the truth."
18.// "Don't let go Jack! Wait... you already did... rats."
19.// "I did not want this!"
20.// "What do you mean he's dead?!"
21.// "I haven't eaten in three days!"
22.// "Who am I? Not Jean Valjean..."
23.// "Did you just..."
24.// "Do. Not. Touch. That."
25.// "YOU JUST TOUCHED IT!"
26.// "I would never say that to you."
27.// "My receding hair line has been kissed..."
28.// "You have Elvis Presley eyes... I would know."
29.// "Dude, chocolates are bomb."
30.// "Could you... stay with me tonight?"
31.// "I can't lose you!"
32.// "Please... marry me."
33.// "I can't hug you..."
34.// "You call that a kiss?"
35.// "Since when did I ask for it to snow?"
36.// "I'M BATMAN" "No... no you are not."
37.// "NEVER SAY THAT WORD!"
38.// "I HAVE TB!" "No you have a cold!"
39.// "Can you not?!"
40.// "Tis only a flesh wound!"
41.// "Could you stop jumping for one minute?!"
42.// "Please repeat that, I wasn't listening."
43.// "You love me?"
44.// "Never do that again."
45.// "I dare you to lick that..."
46.// "What do you think of children?"
47.// "I like, like you."
48.// "BY GODS..."
49.// "I just wanted you..."
50.// "Damn it! I died again!"

51.// "I'm a mess."
52.// "Hey! Little ears are around!"
53.// "Please, don't cry..."
54.// "YOU PLAGIARIZING PIG!"
55.// "Since when did Disney add this?!
56.// "It only get's worse"
57.// "Oh crap..."
58.// "Please tell me that is not what I think it is."
59.// "What did you think I was doing?"
60.// "ALL HAIL ...!"
61.// "Now why did you do that?"
62.// "You have beautiful eyes."
63.// "Let's travel the world!"
64.// "I DON'T SPEAK FRENCH!"
65.// "Whatever happened to Joel?"
66.// "No way in, no way out."
67.// ""I will have my vengeance."
68.// "Grow up!"
69.// "I found the ring!"
70.// "We should run... like now!"
71.// "Can you please shut up?" "No."
72.// "I found that cliff..."
73.// "Are you sure that is safe to eat?"
74.// "I TOLD YOU TO GOOGLE MAP IT!"
75.// "Who died and made you queen?!"
76.// "Ich Sprechen Deustch"
77.// "Now wait a second, buster."
78.// "I would kill for you."
79.// "The greatest thing, is you."
80.// "I am a literary vampire."
81.// "A stake through the heart would kill anybody..."
82.// "Bon Jovi is my jam!"
83.// "Kiss me.. now."
84.// "I seem to have lost my contact."
85.// "TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON!"
86.// "DON'T SHOOT!"
87.// "Oh no... he has a sword too."
88.// "Are you sure it's dead?"
89.// "Ummmmm..."
90.// "I can't write anything good."
91.// "We aren't in Hogwarts!"
92.// "Please, stay with me."
93.// "He's not breathing!"
94.// "I...love...yo-"
95.// "She's gone."
96.// "Sir, where are your pants?"
97.// "I can't even."
98.// "I believe in you."
99.// "What can I say... you're welcome."
100.// "The sea... it calls me."

[blackbird.]

"ｄｉｄ ｙｏｕ ｓｔｅａｌ ｍｙ ｐｏｐｔａｒｔ？"
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ft. a sisterly platonic relationship // characters: hua linh mai, piper jones // words: 918


Piper wasn't expecting anyone at the door. In fact, she was counting on not being disturbed the entire day. With classes on weekdays and waitressing on every other day, Sundays were precious - sacred, even. She'd kill the person who dared disturb her.

It was raining. And she felt like treating herself. So she threw her homework aside and put on a trashy movie. She had just settled into her couch, a bowl of kale chips in her arms. Her blanket wrapped itself around her legs, making her feel an awful lot like Ariel.

It was nice. And it was peaceful. And then came a knock at the door.

Piper stared at the ceiling, as if expecting an explanation from a voice from above. Groaning, she paused the television and squirmed out of her fortress of pillows and blankets. She glanced down to make sure she was presentable enough. Baggy T-shirt and bali pants. Not presentable at all, but when did someone like Piper Jones ever care?

Standing on tiptoes, she checked the peephole to see who had the audacity to walk to her home unannounced, expecting her to answer the door on a rainy Sunday night.

It was Linh Mai.

Sighing, Piper opened the door for her friend. It was quite a sight to behold - Piper, wearing the comfiest yet sloppiest outfit she had, opposite Linh Mai, with her impeccable make-up, flawless hair and a beautiful raven dress. Piper opened her mouth to say something. To greet her, or ask where she'd gone for the evening, or demand to know why the heck she was disturbing her on her only free day.

But Mai spoke first. "Did you steal my pop-tart?"

Piper blinked, surprised. What a thing to ask. She was surprised Mai even knew what a pop-tart was. Did they have that sort of thing in Vietnam? She shook off her initial confusion. "Why would I steal your pop-tart?"

"I don't know..." the Vietnamese girl mumbled in reply. "When you came over the other day, you could have taken it or something."

Piper stared at her. "Mai, I don't even eat gluten."

"But maybe you took it for someone else. I don't know..." She trailed off, biting her cherry-red bottom lip. "Did you take it or not?" She sounded impatient, just as a petulant child would before a tantrum.

Piper studied her friend carefully. There was something more that just a pop-tart here, and she was going to get to the bottom of it. "I didn't take your pop-tart. But I know for a fact that you didn't come all the way here to ask if I took a gluten-filled pop-tart. So, what's up?" She leaned on her door frame and folded her arms.

Tears pricked at Mai's eyes, and in that moment Piper knew something was terribly, terribly wrong. Hua Linh Mai never cried. Her parents had instilled in her long ago that tears were weakness. Besides, crying would mess up her make-up big time.

Quickly, Piper ushered her into her home and sat her down, switching off her television screen. "Mai...what's wrong?" Her voice was gentle, with the undertone of reassurance.

"I-" her voice cracked. "Carlos dumped me." The tears came freely now, and she didn't bother to hide it. She didn't even care that her mascara and eyeliner were running down her cheeks.

"Oh, Mai..." A bombardment of emotions came with that sort of news. First one was rage. How dare he? Piper would send her entire team of twitter followers after him and destroy his social life for hurting her precious Mai. Didn't he know how much she cared for him? Then came the sympathy, for her best friend, sitting on her couch with tears running down her cheeks.

Piper reached out and gripped Mai in a bear hug. "I don't know how to tell anyone about it...everyone's going to talk about it - about me. The girl who just got dumped." There was so much bitterness in her voice. A sob escaped her lips. "He said that I wasn't real enough for him...that I was faking too much...but I mean, that's who I am...what was I supposed to do? What was I supposed to say? Does he think I'm...plastic?"

"Hey, don't think about him anymore, okay? He's not worth any of this, you hear?" Piper grabbed her shoulders and stared at her, straight in the eye. "Mai, I'm serious. First things first, you take care of yourself. You're going to get through this. Okay?" She got a sniffle as a reply. "Mai, okay?"

"Okay." Her voice was small, barely heard against the noise of the pattering rain.

Piper seemed satisfied as she wrapped an arm around Mai as a reminder that she was there for her, and that she'd always be there for her.

"What were you watching?" Mai glanced at the television.

Piper waved the question away. "Oh, just a stupid chick flick I found on Netflix."

Mai looked at her with a broken smile, as if she was afraid that her hope would let her down as it already had before. "Can I join you?"

Piper nodded emphatically. "Of course! Actually, you know what?" She stood up and pulled Mai up with her. "You know where the bathroom is. Go grab some clothes from my closet and clean yourself up. I'm in the mood for a movie marathon." She grabbed her coat and keys.

"But...where are you going?"

Piper looked over her shoulder at the petite girl in her living room. She grinned brightly. "I'm going to get you some pop-tarts."

[ note: who needs a poptart when you have a friend?

[Ranger of the North]

Aw, poor Mai....

hah this is weird I have a cousin named Carlos XD

[blackbird.]

Aw, poor Mai....

hah this is weird I have a cousin named Carlos XD

aw yay i have a reader! wasn't sure if anyone would read this (i'm new to this sort of thing, you see).
i assume you're taking part in the challenge too? (confession time: i already stalked your thread cx)

somehow i always enjoy torturing my poor mai - maybe it's my strange way of showing the negative social pressures of asian society

carlos is going to appear again several times! though admittedly not in the best way. i suggest you prepare for more weirdness, especially when we get to some of the one-shots wherein he's not the most moral character...

[blackbird.]

"ＴＨＩＳ ＩＳ ＪＵＳＴ ＢＵＳＩＮＥＳＳ！"
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ft. some dodgy activity // characters: violet, alistair, unnamed buyer // words: 1324


The man picked up a diamond from the suitcase and examined it with a magnifying glass. "Hmm." Alistair and Violet glanced at each other, just for a second. "It isn't top-grade."

"Of course. If it were, we'd be selling it for higher." Alistair kept his voice steady and calm. Everything was going well.

"But they're real." He looked at the duo, an eyebrow raised with suspicion. It was meant to be a question.

Violet laughed lightly and blinked her heavily shadowed eyes. "Would we sell anything less than that?" Her voice, though naturally raspy, was layered with honey. It was the first time she had spoken throughout the entire transaction.

The man put down both the diamond and the magnifying glass. He eyed Violet with a smirk, noticing her for the first time that evening, taking in her indigo dress with a plunging neckline. "Who did you say this lady was again?"

"Second cousin, once removed." Violet piped up, taking a step closer towards him. "But you can call me Vivian."

"Hmm...Vivian." The man pursed his lips and shut the diamond-filled case. He thrust it into the hands of his companion. "Take this to the car. Wait for me there." He glanced back at Violet a second too long for the liking of Alistair. "I have things to take care of first."

"Is everything settled, then?" Alistair asked, eyes narrowing at the man. He felt his heart rate increase, for more reasons than one. The man nodded and took out an envelope from his jacket pocket.

"You can count it, if you'd like. And in the meantime, I can entertain myself. I'm in the mood for a dance." He stood up and offered his hand to Violet. "You wouldn't mind if I borrowed her for a moment, would you, Mr Smith?"

Violet lay a hand on Alistair. It was more than just reassurance. It was a statement, for him to allow her to go. "Not at all," he forced through clenched jaw.

Violet took the man's hand with a flirtatious smile and he led her to the dance floor. His one hand clasped hers and the other was on her waist, dangerously close to dropping lower. And they danced, bodies moving together, against each other.

Alistair breathed heavily, watching the man with eagle eyes and examining his every move. He gripped the edge of the table so tight that his knuckles turned white. He could feel the increasing urge to throw the table and wrap his hands around that pervert's neck. Every second that she was in that man's arms and not his was torture. That was his girl he was dancing with. His Violet.

Finally, the music ended and the pair returned to the table where Alistair was trying to keep his temper under control. "Good doing business with you, Mr Smith. I look forward to our next transaction, and uh-" He raised his brows at Violet suggestively. "...perhaps you might bring your cousin again."

Not a chance, Alistair thought. But he couldn't say that. So he just smiled. And he continued smiling even as the man continued flirting with his girl. And even as he watched the man exit the room with lipstick marks on his cheek.

That's when his smile dropped and he grabbed Violet's arm roughly, pulling her out of the horrid casino and into the car.

Violet glanced at Alistair with amused eyes. His blue eyes looked like they were about to bulge out of his head, and she could swear that his fingers were about to drop off with how white they were turning. "You should have danced too, you know. It was great." She was teasing now, and she heard his breathing increase in intensity. She smirked even wider. "I really wish we could have stayed longer. That dance was just so fun."

It was a tense ride to the hotel, and an even more tense walk through the lobby. It must have been a funny sight, watching a well-dressed man grabbing a girl tightly by the upper arm and dragging her through the lobby and into the lift. Violet even winked at a wide-eyed bellhop, making Alistair increase his speed.

The elevator ride was agonisisng. Violet reached out to fluff her hair, staring idly at the wall, while Alistair stared stiffly at the lift numbers, waiting for the lift to reach their floor.

4...5...6. Ding!

He roughly pulled her along and opened the hotel room door. She never had much muscle, and he easily threw her into the room, slamming the door behind him.

"Don't you ever, ever, do that ever again!" He jabbed a meaty finger at her, cheeks blazing and eyes focusing solely on her.

"Do what?" Violet asked, feigning innocence as she crossed her arms. Alistair shot her a dirty look.

"Going around dancing with strange men...I should have told him you were my sister - or my wife!" Alistair easily backed her up into the wall.

She was beginning to get angry as well. Teasing was one thing, but he was just being unreasonable. "You're being so uptight about this, Ali - it didn't even mean anything!"

"You think this is funny?! Is this some sort of joke to you?!" He moved closer, leaning down to meet her gaze.

"I'm not some sort of object! You don't own me!" She raised her voice in an attempt to match his, eyes burning in defiance.

"So what, you just expect me to sit by and let you parade yourself like some sort of prostitute?!" He was shouting by now, his jugular vein protruding from his neck.

"THIS IS JUST BUSINESS!" She gave him a shove, but he didn't move an inch.

"NO IT'S NOT!" He slammed his fist hard against the table, creating a large echoing sound around the room. There was dead silence. Even the previously angry Violet was stunned. "It's not," he repeated his voice dangerously low. He looked at her, and his angry eyes showed a hint of pain. Of concern. "Not when he looks at you like that. Not when he touches you like that."

Violet was silent, staring at him. Very rarely did he show his vulnerability, even to her.

He turned back to face her, his fingers gently grazing her cheek. "You don't know what men like them can do. They use women...they hurt women...and they would have hurt you."

Violet recovered from the shock and began shaking her head slowly. "But it was worth it, wasn't it? He was already suspicious that they were fake. I distracted him enough to make him hurry it up, to-"

"No." His low voice triumphed over hers. "No amount of money is ever worth you doing that. You are so much better than that." Her eyes began to tear up and he tilted her chin up to meet his eyes. "Money is fine and all, but Vi, you're priceless."

She jerked her face out of his grip. "No, I'm not. Don't say that."

"You're priceless." He repeated himself, this time more forcefully. "And you're beautiful."

"Stop it." Her tone held annoyance, and her face was pulled into a frown.

But he wouldn't. Because he knew her. Her words said to stop, but he knew her. He knew that she wanted his affirmation. She needed it. So he crouched down and looked into her beautiful eyes. "You're perfect."

She shook her head, looking away. "I'm not."

"Yes, you are." He pulled her close and cradled her head in his hands, gently stroking her dark hair. She tried pushing him away, but he only held her tighter until she stopped, letting her arms fall limp by her sides. "I want to care for you. I want to protect you. So let me."

He could feel her nodding against his chest. He knew she didn't mean it, that soon she'd go back to saying how unworthy she was of being loved, to trying to make him break up with her, to the endless cycle of self-loathing. But in that moment, she was alright. And she was his. He heard a small sniffle. "I'm sorry."

Alistair smiled and planted a kiss on the top of her head. Sure, he had ten thousand dollars in his pocket, but the real treasure was the girl in his arms.

[ note: love people more than money <3

[Pyjaks]

Ahhhh these are so good! I love your writing style so, so much. Like these one shots are some of my favorite I've read on this board. Your characters seem so human and relatable.
I can't wait for more!!

[Ranger of the North]

Awww, that one was awesome <3

[blackbird.]

Ahhhh these are so good! I love your writing style so, so much. Like these one shots are some of my favorite I've read on this board. Your characters seem so human and relatable.
I can't wait for more!!

thank you so much!! c:

Awww, that one was awesome <3

thank you ^^

[blackbird.]

"ｙｏｕ ｍｕｓｔ．．．"
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some things aren't meant to be // characters: landon, johannes // words: 1409


"Landon?" Johannes called out, knocking on his friends door. No answer. Johannes knocked again, this time even louder than before. "Landon, it's Johannes!"

Finally, a disgruntled young man opened the door, his jet black hair in a mess. "Gosh, Hannes, you know the time?" he mumbled, struggling to form coherent sentences.

Johannes shrugged sheepishly. "I know, Landon, but I really need your help. It's urgent." He put on his best pleading face. "Please?"

Landon rolled his eyes and turned back to enter his house, but left the door open for Johannes to let himself in. "You want anything? Coffee or whatever?" he asked with a stifled yawn.

"Coffee's good, thanks." Johannes took a seat on his friend's couch, at the spot he usually sat at when he went over. Nervously, he began twisting his fingers around each other, going over in his head the things he needed to say. Landon wouldn't be happy. But he had to do it. He couldn't put it off any longer.

A mug of coffee was thrust in front of his face. "You must be in some deep trouble," Landon commented, taking a seat opposite him. "I haven't seen you this anxious since you first asked Elaena out." He took a sip from his own mug. "So, I'm curious. What's so important that you have to come to my house at this unearthly hour, looking like you're about to break out into cold sweat?"

"I, uh-" Johannes cleared his throat. "I know I've come to you for help about this before, but..."

"You need to borrow money." Landon glanced at him, unimpressed.

Johannes stared at him. "How did you know?"

"Because I'm not stupid. You never ask for help, except when you asked me for money." Landon took a swig of coffee. "What's it for this time? Utilities again? Or traffic fine?"

"Rent." Johannes winced. "The landlord's coming today to settle it."

"And when were you supposed to pay it?"

He winced even more. "Last week."

Landon sighed. Then he put his mug down on the table and stood up. "How much do you need?" he asked, rummaging through his messy apartment for his wallet.

"Five hundred." He stood up from his seat. "I'll pay you back, Landon. Every cent, I promise! I paid you back the other two times, didn't I?" Johannes was quick to defend himself, or at least increase his credibility in some way.

"I'm not worried about you paying me back," Landon said, shoving the cash into Johannes' hands. "I'm worried you're even asking at all. Your whole life you've been so good at managing affairs, and suddenly within a few months you ask me for money three times. Why?"

Johannes looked away. "I don't want to talk about it."

"That excuse worked for the first two times. Now sit down and explain." Landon sat down in his seat and gestured to the spot where Johannes had previously been sitting.

Johannes sighed deeply but obliged, running his fingers through his dark hair. "It's Elaena."

Landon gave a knowing nod. "Oh."

Johannes was a little indignant. "I haven't even explained anything yet!"

The Irish-Japanese boy raised his brow. "You're dating a girl who happens to be part of the royal family of Liechtenstein. She's rich. She lives in a palace. And you're dating her. Honestly, there isn't much to explain."

"It's not what you think, Landon. Elaena isn't one of those high maintenance girls. She doesn't expect to be given gifts, or to go to expensive places. Don't blame it on her, okay? It's all on me."

Landon stared at him, studying the expression on his face. "Wait. You're saying that Elaena doesn't expect you to spend money on her, but you do it anyway?" Johannes nodded sheepishly. "Dude, you don't need money - you need a new brain! What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing's wrong with me!" Johannes quickly objected. "I just...I know I don't have to spend all this money on her, but I feel like I have to. I mean, she's a princess! She deserves all the money I have, and more."

Landon shook his head. "Oh, Hannes, Hannes, Hannes...you think you're not good enough for her." Johannes stared at him, eyes wide. "Don't look so surprised. It's so obvious. And I'm me. So you can go ahead and tell me I'm right."

Johannes groaned in exasperation. Curse Landon and his insightful mind. "I don't know...maybe?" He turned to his friend. "Just tell me how to fix it so I can stop living in debt."

"Hmm..." Landon reached up to rub his chin, just as the ancient Chinese philosophers used to do. He was silent for a moment, brows furrowed and eyes staring off into space. Then, upon reaching his conclusion, he folded his hands and looked at Johannes. "Hannes, you have to break up with her." The words were simple, his voice even, as if it was the most obvious and easiest solution.

"What? I'm not breaking up with Elaena!" Johannes surprised himself at the outburst. His voice dropped to a lower volume. "Can't you think of a better idea?"

Landon sighed. "It's either you stop spending so much money on her - which I'm pretty sure won't happen because she's a princess and she deserves the best and you can't give it to her and you're not worthy and blah blah - or you break up with her. One of the two, Hannes. Or else your relationship will turn toxic, if it isn't already. Sorry." Landon shrugged.

Johannes put his head in his hands, feeling the tremendous pressure of needing to make a decision. Either option wouldn't work, but things couldn't continue the way they were. He tried to come up with an argument against that, but deep down, he knew Landon was right. And it was near impossible to find flaws with Landon's reasoning. "Do I really have to break up with her?"

Landon reached out to pat his friend's shoulder reassuringly. "You must..."

Johannes looked up at him with teary eyes. "It's going to be so hard...She makes me happy. And I make her happy too."

"I can imagine. But, well..." Landon shrugged. "It's the rational decision."

Johannes shook his head, his lips pulled into a frown. "It's not about what's rational. Love isn't rational."

Landon blinked. Had he said something insensitive again? "You're right...uh, sorry."

"It's alright."

There was a pause.

Landon glanced subtly at his close friend. Johannes wasn't by any means more intelligent than Landon. He didn't have the education that Landon did, nor the thirst for knowledge. But Landon knew that Johannes knew more about love than he ever would. He wondered if one day he could find someone he cared about as much as Johannes cared for Elaena. But a feeling that made him throw reason out the window? He wasn't even sure he wanted it.

Johannes cleared his throat. "I should go. I have an angry landlord to deal with." And a girl I might have to break up with. Johannes laughed nervously, getting up from his seat.

"Good luck with that," Landon joined in with a chuckle, standing up also to walk him out. "And good luck with Elaena."

Johannes offered a half-smile, sadness creeping in at the mention of the girl he cared about so deeply. "Thanks. I'll think about what you said."

"I can give you my advice, but the decision is all yours. Let me know how it goes," Landon reminded him as they reached the door.

"I will." Johannes glanced outside, where the first few of the sun's rays were striking the ground. "Thanks, Landon. For the coffee, and the money, and the talk...for everything."

Landon brushed it off. "Don't mention it. What are bros for, right?"

Johannes smiled. "Right." He stepped outside. "See you!"

Landon lifted his hand in goodbye, watching Johannes leave. It was going to be hard for him, Landon knew. No matter what decision he made, it was going to be painful.

As a child, Landon was told that love triumphed all. An Irish father and a Japanese mother - he was the testament to that. But some walls just aren't that easy to break. Some social barriers are too strong for love. And even if love broke them down, what could be the cost? Who would have to pay the price to clean up the entire mess? Sometimes it wasn't worth the pain.

And he supposed, some things just aren't meant to be.

[ note: let's break walls, not build them c: