Barbara Carlson

Apart from the fact that Katie was in it, this was the only way the real world beat the world of the game.

An almost endless book shop that seemed to stretch on and twist and turn forever, but not the slightest sense of the #vellichor scent he loved.

To dip a nose into a book and breathe.

#vss365

In the village of Everthorpe
Since 1069,
a #selcouth language known as Canterburish
has been spoken by the locals.
Outsiders shake their heads and tut-tut-tut
Why do they cut themselves off from the world?
And the Everthorpians smile blithely back
Because yes, that is the entire point.
#vss365

The musty, old ruin held nothing but paper, that Dylan could see. No technology of any kind, only a #vellichor smell and a desire to fire up Magpie’s computer and read something real.

Yet the scans indicated something. Something with a lot of power and probably worth salvaging. Somewhere.

#vss365

a girl sitting on a couch reading a book ALT: a girl sitting on a couch reading a book

She gave a lasting impression after every tense situation. She faced it all head on with a #secouth a monk would envy. None knew where it came from, but none could outmaneuver her patience. No harsh words, only undeniable logic left her lips.
#vss365 #amwriting

a stuffed fox wearing glasses is reading a book titled " moliere " ALT: a stuffed fox wearing glasses is reading a book titled " moliere "

Every morning the bookseller came downstairs to find a fox sprawled in the middle of a pile of opened books. The vixen never fled, instead she finished before rising with a stretch, only then she left. The seller found a daily quiet companion with same #vellichor.
#vss365 #amwriting

Anyone else remember that shadowy used mystery-book store tucked into a cozy corner on Newbury Street? I picked up my first Spenser For Hire paperback among those storied shelves and quickly fell in love. The store is sadly long gone but my #vellichor lives on in all five of my senses. Sigh.
#vss365

a person is holding a kitten wearing a witch hat and scarf with the words little luna witch below it ALT: a person is holding a kitten wearing a witch hat and scarf with the words little luna witch below it

E-Hex established itself as the most trustworthy #brand when it came to sourcing magic. Not only do they have a tried and tested pool of spell casters, but any mistakes are dealt with through the 3X Curseback policy. Failure only happened once, resulting in a company mascot.
#vss365 #amwriting

a robot is standing in the dirt and saying `` i would make a suggestion but you wouldn 't listen . '' ALT: a robot is standing in the dirt and saying `` i would make a suggestion but you wouldn 't listen . ''

"Thank you for calling World Support. Due to the contract breach your warranty has been voided. We're sorry, we can't offer an #additional Earth as only one was ever created by special order. We recommend a thorough clean-up--like a decade ago. Have a nice future! Buh-bye!"
#vss365 #amwriting

a man is laying on a couch with his mouth open and making a funny face . ALT: a man is laying on a couch with his mouth open and making a funny face .

The doctors called the new treatment #nirvana. At first only the desperate turned to it. But slowly it pervaded every corner of society. It was far too late once the side effects reared their ugly heads and left a path of blank staring humans in the wake. Nirvana never was.
#vss365 #amwriting

At Neurosafe, you can upload your consciousness to the company’s servers and achieve virtual immortality. Of course, there’s an #additional charge for anything more than essential storage. The basic plan is a featureless gray cube and is not recommended for extended stays.

#vss365 #amwriting

Thank you, all!

I finally figured out the space-time continuum. In retirement, time has slowed enough for me to observe that 3-dimensional space depends on the clock and where I am, relative to the space…the couch. Achieving #conversion to a cleared space in the garage is going to take time.
#vss365

a picture of a fairy with the words " dark side of the moon " on it ALT: a picture of a fairy with the words " dark side of the moon " on it

There is a secret that the Unseelie court keeps well. After all, what parent would exchange their offspring for a mundane human baby? It seems odd, until you see the power of #conversion as the changlings rise up into positions of power. Magic is returning.
#vss365 #amwriting

I am the windmill
Stagnation does not fuel me
Bring on the cyclone
🌪️

#dailyhaikuprompt (windmill)
#haiku #poetry #poem
#writersofbluesky
✍️

When I got married, I #converted to the worship of Cthulhu. Religion is important to my wife, and we decided to raise our children by the laws of the great old one. I’m still not a believer, but I enjoy the community, and it’s hard to beat the Church's beachfront property.

#vss365 #amwriting

Wow! I think we see this locally way too often. Good one.

It took me 60 years to finally pair up with the right one. Joy.

a man with dreadlocks is talking on a phone ALT: a man with dreadlocks is talking on a phone

He started a phone #conversation
on the bus
Why did he give such a #free boring gift
So early on Monday morning?
I remembered I had headphones
Using the mobile to listen to music
Diffusing his noise
The other passengers copied me
And that’s how we did not kill a stranger
#vss365

The Jewish custom to dissuade someone from #conversion three times comes from Ruth, a non-Jew who vows after her husband's death to stay with her Jewish mother-in-law. Three times Naomi begs her to turn back: return to your mother's house; why go with me; go your way. But Ruth persists.
#vss365

My maker sends a monthly #newsletter to all his spawn. It’s a pretty entertaining read. My favorite sections are “Bite of My Life” and "Still Sucks", wherein he talks about his favorite and most despised progeny. I'm happy to report that I've made BML two months running.

#vss365 #amwriting

a red background with the words breaking news written on it ALT: a red background with the words breaking news written on it

The ultimate, unbreakable code emerged in the Tower of Babel #newsletter. Regretfully, not a soul could read the damn thing because every single print came out in a different language. By the time it came out not even the editor remembered what it was supposed to say.
#vss365 #amwriting

Walking down the street on their daily stroll, her son read aloud his first found-in-public word: #free! Of course, this is a joyous occasion for a parent. The reward: The puppy’s name is Tiger. #vss365

a poster that says " uhh true gonna go with true " on it ALT: a poster that says " uhh true gonna go with true " on it

Everyone knows the best way to attract business is the offer of something for #free. Of course, EverLife took it to an extreme with the portral trip. The only way back to the Land of the Living was the ticket that cost an arm and a leg.
#vss365 #amwriting

Nothing in life is #free. That goes double for UNLIFE. Nobody lives beyond the grave except by the will of another. Vampires have makers, zombies got necromancers, and mummies are beholden to a bunch of shitty gods. Death don’t remove your creditors; it makes ‘em stronger.

#vss365 #amwriting

As a child, I could #return to my favorite dreams at will, floating pleasantly along. As an adult, too many old dreams turn into nightmares, so I avoid memories and do puzzles till I pass out. TV boredom works better, but doesn’t eliminate nightmares. New strategy: May I have the next dance? #vss365

So funny!

Image of a man painting on canvas. He is painting colorful birds on a branch, each holding half of a green heart from a string in their beaks. This painting, called “Return to Innocence”, is by NZ artist Dave Sotogi. I thought it paired well with the prompt of "return."

Souls exist in pairs. In some lives, we find our other half because they're in our path. In others, we circle each other, never quite connecting. Some lonely lives are spent knowing, deep inside, that our other stayed behind. But after all our lives, we #return and become whole once again. #vss365

a video game scene of a burning village with trees in the foreground ALT: a video game scene of a burning village with trees in the foreground

The village had been a means to an end. Once every ounce of profit had been rung from the very stones, the people they called lords vanished. The plan all along had been to #return to their country of origin rich enough to buy it as kings.
#vss365 #amwriting

Tried to #return my soul. It won’t hold love or hope or ambition. It’s clearly defective. The manufacturer told me I could swap it for a used soul—tattered, frayed things as useless as mine. I demanded a new one. He refused. This is why God has a one-star average on Yelp.

#vss365 #amwriting

‘Tis!