The 2-entry Teaser Game!

Writers' Corner
141

Predictably, the first word out of her mother’s mouth was, “Why?”
“It’s not clear,” [name_f]Saylor[/name_f] admitted. “I’ve saved his life a lot. Maybe that’s it.”
Her mother grunted, unimpressed. “You save everyone’s lives a lot. It’s what they pay you for.”

Glitter gritted her teeth, trying desperately not to let her flaring temper show. “It’s clear that you have no interest in running this kingdom,” she almost snapped. “The only reason you want the throne is because you don’t want me to have it.”
Blindingwhite’s eye twitched–the tic she made when she was annoyed. Finally. “You’re insane,” Blindingwhite said bluntly. “We both know it. We will collapse under the leadership of another narcissist queen.”
Glitter’s lip curled before she could stop it. She was nothing like Snowcloud.

Next word: throne

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142

From The [name_f]Princess[/name_f] And Her Servant

“You shouldn’t even be here, in this dungeon, talking to me. [name_f]Remember[/name_f] when I said that if I was the one in danger instead of you, the smarter move for you would be to leave me behind? It’s the same now.”
“No, it isn’t! Now I—”
“If something happens to you, your father will give the throne to your fiance. Look at it this way, [name_f]Princess[/name_f]. You can try to save me, one person of millions, who can easily be replaced. [name_m]Or[/name_m] you could keep yourself safe and save millions of people by being a good queen. And you should choose to save millions over one any day.”
“But you are one in a million!”
“Exactly.”
“No! You’re special! You’re… you’re—”
“I know what you meant.”

From A Tale Of Sorrow And Woe

“The enemy grows stronger. The [name_m]King[/name_m] grows sicker. I have to make a decision. If nothing is done before it is time for [name_m]Crown[/name_m] [name_m]Prince[/name_m] [name_m]Marcel[/name_m] to take the throne, chaos will break loose across Tiles. And no one will be spared. [name_m]Just[/name_m] like in the Tale of Athelney.”
On a desk nearby, a slip of paper sat. Scrawled on it were the words “Hendrix [name_m]Rhett[/name_m], the Great [name_m]Wizard[/name_m] of Corriston. Knows every spell there is.”
The mysterious person picked it up and said “Mother always did warn me against trusting others with magical powers. But, I have no choice. This guy must know a spell I can use.”

[name_m]New[/name_m] Word: Dog

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143

“I don’t like dogs,” [name_m]Basil[/name_m] muttered. “My grandmother had this ancient Dachshund and it hated me. I think it thought I was stealing my grandmother from it, so I tried to explain that I didn’t have a choice and I hated her about as much as it hated me, but it bit me instead, and that was the last time I tried to communicate with anything that wasn’t human.”
[name_f]Viola[/name_f] shrugged, noting, “You don’t tend to communicate with things that are human, either. Anyway, that was a Dachshund. This is a Goldendoodle. [name_f]Bella[/name_f] likes you, trust me.”

[name_m]Valentin[/name_m] yelped, scrambling backwards. “What is that thing?”
“It’s a dog,” said [name_f]Sanya[/name_f]. Obviously.
[name_f]Inessa[/name_f] rolled her eyes. “That’s not a dog, it’s a wolf. Wolves are bad. You know this.”
[name_f]Sanya[/name_f] rolled his own eyes right back at her, exaggeratedly. “I know wolves are bad. That’s why this is a dog.”
[name_m]Valentin[/name_m] sighed from his position in the corner, as far away from the animal as he could get. “Sanya, just because you say something is true doesn’t mean it is.”
[name_f]Sanya[/name_f] huffed out a defensive breath. “Well, I’ve adopted her and she’s my friend now and I named her [name_f]Katerina[/name_f]. So there.”

Next word: communicate

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144

Wish Maker

“They can’t talk. To anyone but me. I think it’s got something to do with what happened last week.”

I nod as carefully as a person can nod, and it still doesn’t help. Apparently I can’t communicate at all under this one.

Maybe it’s time to wish upon a star of my own, then… although finding one might be difficult while my wishmaking is in jeopardy. I don’t have a choice, though. If my own wishmaking can be twisted so badly, I can only trust a real star to do it correctly, not just a star-blessed person like me.

The Halfling Series

[name_m]Alec[/name_m] flings himself down onto his bed in a very uncharacteristically dramatic manner, staring up at the ceiling like it has the answers to his burning questions.

“You’ve been stalking me for a while, haven’t you?” he asks, and before I can say no he groans. “Do you think [name_f]Riley[/name_f] and [name_m]Tim[/name_m] would learn to communicate in Morse code so that I couldn’t understand what they were saying?”

“I… what?”

“I don’t think they realise I know Morse code. They think I’m crazy.”

I almost agree with them.

Next: choice

145

Mr. T stood menacingly afront Kaminari from a good distance away, gripping a pistol in both his hands as he held them in their corresponding directions. His left hand aimed the first barrel towards the forehead of a fully bound, bloodied MJ, the cloth gag wrapped around her mouth silencing what otherwise would’ve been a terrified scream as her teeth struggled in vain to bite down, survival instincts dictating her every slight movement now.

His right hand aimed the second barrel towards the temple of an equally restrained and gagged man that Kaminari instantly recognized as her father, a notable gash in his forehead oozing deep red blood, the sickening fluid slowly dripping downwards into his eyes and onto his cloth-filled mouth. The look in his eye was ablaze with a completely unfamiliar emotion: raw, primal fear.

Mr. T’s focus remained undisturbed as his hot crimson eyes borrowed into Kaminari’s petrified gaze, deriving such pleasure from seeing her in such a state that it permeated into a wide, arrogant grin, his wicked pearly whites on full display. “So, 'Nari,” he began, “It’s been a while, huh? Ya claimed ya’d move on just fine wit’out me, yetcha din’t have the presence of mind to lock your doors before leavin’ your house. Fer shame… I thought I taughtcha better, din’t I? Ya never, ever, leave ya doors and windows unlocked, as ya never know just who will come stompin’ by at just the wrong moment, seein’ an opportunity…” he trailed off, savoring the effect his thinly veiled mockery was having on his victim.

“But enough monologuin’ about yer unendin’ idiocy, there’s more important things to tend to at the moment…” he finally acknowledged the presence of his suffering hostages, casting a brief glance at both of them, taking in their individual fear and shaking, before confidently returning his gaze to Kaminari.

“Yer at a standstill, Kaminari…” he said, an undercurrent of venom in his tone as he surreptitiously placed an index finger on both triggers.
“Only one of these lil’ dumpster divers are gonna walk outta here wit’out their brains splattered all over the place, and I ain’t 'boutta be the one responsible fer that decision,” He cocked both guns lightly for emphasis. “Now ya’ve gotta choice to make, Angioletta: love, or family?”

Next word: ultimatum.

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146

Sorry I don’t have ultimatum anywhere… I’ll use choice from the one above to keep this going.

“I don’t love him!” she screeched hysterically, clinging to his shirt to stop him from leaving. “Please, don’t do this! Dad! Stop!”
Mr [name_m]Monty[/name_m] didn’t so much as spare his daughter a glance as he spoke, his back to her. “Marianne, the choice has been made. I’m afraid there will be no further discussion on this matter.” His words were curt and to the point, and before Marianne’s next sob could escape her lips he was gone.

Next: point

147

First:

“Are you always this mistrusting?”

“You did just threaten to break my wrist.”

“Fair point.” He shrugged. “Seriously, though. Why do you need the map?”

“Why do you need it?” She countered.

He gave her a resigned look. “Really? We’re doing this?”

“I don’t have all night.”

Second:

“Are you too injured to insult me?” he asked. “That’s not a good sign.”
“Idiot,” she muttered, to prove a point.

Next: insult

148

[name_m]Pax[/name_m] pulled on his other glove nonchalantly. “I’ll just pretend that wasn’t an insult. Otherwise. . . it doesn’t end well for you.”
“How do you know that?” Theldram snapped. “How do you know I wouldn’t pound you into dust where you stood?”
The young man shrugged. “I don’t, actually. I’ll just have to assume you’re smarter than you look.”

“Stupid freaking firebear!” [name_m]Basil[/name_m] yelled
“Oh, come on,” said [name_m]Arnold[/name_m]. “I’m sure you can think of a better insult than that. Why don’t you go sit down on that bench and occupy yourself with the question instead of standing here preventing me from calling 911?”
[name_m]Basil[/name_m] grudgingly went and sat on the bench, but he called back, “I’m stopping you from doing something stupid! Sure, the hospital would fix me up. They’d also call my parents and cause a literal rift in the space-time continuum. As much as I’d like to see my parents, the fabric of reality is more important.” After a moment, he added, “Once you figure out how we’re getting out of this, it would be nice to head somewhere slightly out of our way before we go.” He sighed. “I know I can’t let her see me, but I want to see Junie’s face one more time.”

Next word: rift

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149

Reviving all of these! They’re super fun and I miss them.

[name_m]Loren[/name_m] frowned and shook the device.
“Don’t do that!” [name_m]Dev[/name_m] shouted. “You might open a rift in spacetime!”

“This is horrible!” [name_m]Basil[/name_m] yelled. “Do you have any idea how horrible this is?”
[name_m]Arnold[/name_m] shook his head helplessly. “No, but I do know how horrible a time rift would be. I’m really sorry.”

Next word: sorry

150

1
“I am sorry you were taken from your home. But I am not sorry for you.” He told her. “You have grown and adapted. You are no longer an innocent child in a foreign place. You’ve lived here longer than you ever lived there, and you’ve gotten quite the reputation for yourself, [name_f]Emalyn[/name_f]. So no, I don’t pity you. It would be a waste.”

2
“You there, street girl. Come here.”

“I’m sorry sir,” [name_m]Warren[/name_m] called back before she could react. “But we’re not on break quite yet, and the streets won’t clean themselves.”

“I asked the girl, boy. Now come.”

“She’s a bit slow in the head, you see,” [name_m]Warren[/name_m] said, and [name_f]Emalyn[/name_f] wanted to kick him. “It’s really best that she focuses on her task right now. Otherwise she’ll get confused and become a blubbering mess, and I’ll have to calm her down, and I really just don’t have the time. It’s nearly lunch, you see, and my mother had a loaf of cinnamon bread in the oven that I want to get back too–”

Next: innocent

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151

“She would never do that,” [name_m]Quince[/name_m] said firmly, shaking her head. “You must have the wrong person. Liliani is innocent.”
[name_m]Basil[/name_m] slammed a fist down on the table. “I know what I saw,” he hissed. “Unless you want to claim I’m lying?”

“Innocent?” The General’s laugh was harsh and cold. “Not according to the law, you aren’t.”
Loren’s hands were shaking. This couldn’t be happening. “You bound me illegally! I had no choice!”
“It’s your word against mine, prince.” The way he said the word made it sound like an insult. Maybe it was.

Next word: shaking

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152

The Devil Speaks [name_m]True[/name_m]

“I didn’t think you’d know,” I say without thinking, rummaging through my bag as if I have no control over my body. It’s a tiny admission, one that [name_m]Soren[/name_m] and his non-witch mother don’t quite seem to understand.

And then the pencil case is on the couch and all three look almost horrified at the state of it. It is, admittedly, falling apart. [name_f]My[/name_f] own insulin pen is almost entirely grey rather than the red of Soren’s, but there’s enough of the red left that anyone can tell they were both the same colour once upon a time. Finding an unused needle among the many used ones is a challenge in itself, and when I try putting a strip into the meter with shaking hands (why are my hands shaking?) it turns out to be dead.

[name_m]Ever[/name_m] Brighter (working title)

“Eden…?” [name_f]My[/name_f] hands are shaking. When he turns to face me, his eyes are blindingly white, and there’s patches of skin doing almost the same thing. All I can think about is more eyes forcing their way out of his body, all the same blank white colour… and it’s enough to make me want to throw up. “Right. Not [name_f]Eden[/name_f], then. Got it.”

“What do you want?” The voice isn’t his, but it is, and yet it absolutely is not. It’s a jumble of voices, one his and the rest of strangers. I’m not sure any of them belong to the one thing in complete control.

[name_f]My[/name_f] head is going to explode. I’ve never faced an angel before.

Next: force

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153

Same story, but different sets of morally ambiguous gays lol

“It’s not like I lied to you,” said [name_m]Milo[/name_m] as his bird wings forced their way out out his skin. “You’re the one who chose to trust a spy.”
Hot tears ran down Jem’s face even as he tried to arrange it into a scowl. [name_m]Milo[/name_m] was right. He didn’t deserve to feel betrayed.

“Mel. . .” said [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] carefully. “Are you sure that this is a good idea?”
[name_f]Melantha[/name_f] sighed. “Would I ask you to do it if I wasn’t?” She paused. “I’m not going to force you, [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]. If you don’t think you should do it, I respect that. But I really think it will work.”
“Okay,” [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] agreed after a few seconds. “I trust you.”

Next word: trust

154

Wanderlust
She breathed in slowly, regaining her usual calm. “Look. I think we can all see that this isn’t going to work. Ever since we lost Daisy,” she said, voice cracking slightly, “nothing… nothing has been the same. The trust we once had for each other is gone. And I wasn’t too close to her, I know most of you knew her better, but… I think we all miss her, regardless. I think we would be insane not to. And that is why…” Her gaze was fixed defiantly on the floor, as though she could fight the river flooding in her eyes and the trembling of her lower lip with sheer willpower.

The others would hate her.

But it had to be done.

“That is why I’ve decided to leave.”

The Jungle Tamers
I spun to face the others. Phoenix stared at me intently, eyes sparkling with something I couldn’t place. Was it curiosity? Contempt? I didn’t know, but I was sure that she didn’t trust me. Not one bit.

Next word: others

155

Eyes flashed in the dark, and a strangled gasp escaped from Jem’s throat. Where were the others? Where was he?
“Shh,” whispered an urgent voice close to Jem’s ear. He flinched away and nearly fell.
“Who- who’s there?” he asked cautiously.
“My name is [name_m]Milo[/name_m], I’m invisible, and that’s a shadow beast.” The air flickered and the shape of a tall boy appeared for a moment. As he disappeared, he added, “You’re safe–from me, at least.”

“You knew we’d be separated from the others,” [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] reminded him. “Don’t blame me for this.”
“I wasn’t going to,” [name_m]Basil[/name_m] managed. “It’s my own fault.”
[name_m]Arnold[/name_m] looked surprised.

Next word: safe

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156

Aaaah I’m sorry! I’m just getting a physical itchy uncomfortable feeling from not being able to do this game and I’m going to alleviate it at the cost of other people’s potential annoyance, there I go being selfish again

“Well, that doesn’t seem safe,” [name_m]Cassander[/name_m] remarked, staring down at the hole.
[name_m]Emrys[/name_m] smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s not.”

Pax’s heart was beating out of control as the red gleam of his aura deepened. [name_m]Taz[/name_m] could feel it through their grip on his wrist.
“It’s fine,” [name_m]Taz[/name_m] muttered. “You’re safe. Mir will save you.”
[name_m]Pax[/name_m] opened his mouth as if to talk, but he couldn’t get the words out. His eyes were wild, and [name_m]Taz[/name_m] realized that they had never seen him look scared before. They didn’t like it much.

Next word: scared

157

[name_m]Elder[/name_m] Blood

I crouch next to the shivering [name_f]Quinn[/name_f], now rocking back and forth and mumbling something under their breath. Touching them is a risk I don’t plan to take.

“Quinn, it’s alright,” I whisper instead. “Deep breaths. You’re okay. You’re okay.”

But I don’t think I can really fight the exact same thing that was happening to [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] before he accidentally — or intentionally — forced it onto them. Because I already know being scared is completely alien to them.

So now that they’ve been made to feel terrified, it’s just causing a domino effect in their mind.

The [name_f]Eternal[/name_f] City (working title)

“Stress?” [name_f]Iris[/name_f] offers, twisting flowers into Avery’s hair. “I mean… let’s say you had a nightmare. You’d have been scared, so you shrank, and then something spooked you while you were already small so you shrank a bit more and you couldn’t grow again until you’d convinced yourself you were safe. Which took a while.”

“I think I saw the murder.”

Next: fight

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158

(whoa those are good)

I. . . would like to break the rules. . . . Here’s just one really long clip with the word in it twice. . . because I love these silly people. . . feel free to get mad at me if you feel like it

One of Saylor’s sharp teeth was poking out over her bottom lip the way it always did when she smiled. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” she said. She was making fun of him, definitely.
“No, I think it is,” [name_m]Ash[/name_m] argued with the straightest face he could manage. “We’re in a fight now. Caffeine is terrifying.”
“Two words. Matcha latte.” She shrugged, sure she’d already won.
She was right. “Those are good words,” [name_m]Ash[/name_m] conceded. “We should go out for coffee sometime.”
“Is that a date?” she asked. When [name_m]Ash[/name_m] didn’t respond, she arched a pale eyebrow. “No, that’s a serious question. Are you asking me on a date, [name_m]Wood[/name_m]? Is your wall of denial finally cracking under the strain?”
[name_m]Ash[/name_m] shrugged. “I. . . not on purpose? But yes? I mean, if you want to? I mean. . . I don’t know! I plead the Fifth!”
[name_f]Saylor[/name_f] could barely breathe, she was laughing so hard. “The what? You can’t plead the–oh my god. [name_m]Just[/name_m] ask! I’ll fight you!” She held up her martial arts fists and punched him gently in the arm. “That’s what you get for waiting this long!”
Ash’s mouth was suddenly drier than the [name_f]Sahara[/name_f] Desert. “Saylor. . . do you want to. . . go on a date with me? To a coffee shop? And have that competition for the weirdest combination of flavor syrups?”
“Of course, [name_m]Wood[/name_m]! I might even let you win.”

Next word: coffee

Sorry sorry sorry! I can change it if y’all want!

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159

The Apartment Pact

[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] startled at the sight of her, recognition hitting her like a train. It was the barista from the coffee shop where she’d found the flier. The one who had sold her the bagel.

The girl —Sadie’s— face split into a smile, familiarity filling her eyes. “Ohmigosh! You’re plain bagel girl!”

“That’s me,” [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] said sheepishly.

“Why don’t you like spreads?” [name_f]Sadie[/name_f] asked inquisitively, throwing herself in the arm chair. “Jam? Butter? Cream cheese? None of them do it for you?”

“I like them fine,” [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] said.

“Then why order it plain?”

“Oh, well, umm…”

“Do you have allergies?”

“If she has food allergies, she’s out,” came yet another new voice.

[name_m]True[/name_m] Colors

[name_f]Street[/name_f] lamps lit the streets, casting light on tired children snuggled into their parents’ arms. Teenagers laughed with friends as they strolled past vendors, stopping to buy cups of hot chocolate or coffee.

There was a square not far behind them, a fiddler moving his bowstring furiously over his instrument as people danced nearby.

Where people in the Market were grim expressions, pale skin, and hard angles, the people of [name_f]Gemini[/name_f] wore smiles freely, their skin darker from being out in the sun and their edges softer from going to bed with full bellies.

“Wow,” [name_f]Emalyn[/name_f] breathed, the scent of cinnamon tickling her nose. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the smell of spun sugar and warm spices.

It was like a breath of fresh air.

Next: Laughed

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160

Basil’s laugh was like broken glass as he lit a fire in the palm of his hand. [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] barely recognized him.
“Do you come to parties with every kid whose sister you murdered?” he asked. “Or did you forget I even existed?”

[name_f]Melantha[/name_f] laughed, genuinely. There was no ulterior motive, no sick delight. [name_m]Just[/name_m] flowers from her girlfriend. [name_m]Milo[/name_m] hadn’t even known it was possible.

(Yep, here’s a hero laughing like a villain and a villain laughing like a hero.)

Next word: glass

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