The Writing Marathon - new prompt every 2 days (deadline 30th April)

[Azazeal849]

Welcome one and all to one of RPA’s time-honoured traditions: the writing marathon! This event is designed to spark your creativity and test your endurance. Every 48 hours, a new prompt will be made available, for which you must create a short story. See below for the rules!

Rules:

1. Your story must be new text (i.e. not copied and pasted from an existing RP), based around the theme of the relevant prompt. New prompts will be revealed every 48 hours.

2. Stories must be between 100 and 1000 words.

3. If the story is M or R rated, please label it as such. Obviously, all the standard RPA rules also apply.

4. You may submit a single story per prompt.

5. Please post your stories below in [hide] tags, with the prompt title clearly shown in the spoiler text (to do this, use the code [hide=Prompt title text here]).

6. Deadline for submission for all prompts will be midnight EST on the 30th of April. This is to be fair to members who might not be able to log on every day - we’d rather test your creativity than your writing speed!

7. Badges will be awarded to all players who rise to the challenge! Completing 6 prompts within the month will earn you a bronze medal. Completing 10 will earn you a silver. Completing all 14 will earn you a gold!

Spoiler: Prompts (be sure to check back regularly!) 

Day	Prompt
1st April	Tulip
3rd April	Walk
5th April	Power
7th April	Apology
9th April	Oak
11th April	Lonely
13th April	Luck
15th April	Light
17th April	Choice
19th April	Risk
21st April	Belief
23rd April	Without
25th April	Climb
27th April	Ending

Spoiler: Competitors and Scoreboard 

Competitor	Completed Prompts
Vaidia	1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Kiki	1,2,3,4,5,6
Hannelorian	2
Dakkagor	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14
Novidome	13
Member 6	-
Member 7	-
Member 8	-
Member 9	-
Member 10	-

[Vaidia]

Spoiler: Prompt #1: Tulip 

"Isn't it too early to be planting Tulips?"

You recognize the voice, and have to fight to keep your expression neutral. You know if you show too much emotion, one way or another, there will be remarks on it later.

"I didn't plant them," you finally answer, but you continue to tend to the plant. Checking the soil around it with a gentle brush of your fingers. The flower drooped slightly. Your unwanted guest wasn't wrong in it being early, but you will tend to them all the same. You always do.

There is a noise of discontent from the other. "Well, then they are growing too early. The cold will just kill them off. They are going to die."

"Tell that to the Tulips," you reply in a mutter. You always liked the flowers. Heralds of spring, even in times like these.

There is a shuffling of steps as the other walks up behind you, then leans down. "Hey! Tulip! You are going to die!" The voice is harsh and almost makes you wince.

But you won't give that satisfaction. "Feel better?" You ask dryly.

"No." There was an impetuous sniff. "Why do you take of the flowers if they are just going to die?"

"Why indeed?" You stand up from the Tulip, and the other quickly scampers away from you. You still had a reputation, after all. "They don't need me. They will grow without me. They will always come back. I just like to help them along while I can."

As you back away from the flower, it seems to stand firmer, but then its roots did always go down deep.

"Why?" your guest asks again.

You indulge yourself in a sigh (even though you will probably hear about it later) and walk away from the flowers. "Someone needs to remember them. Might as well be me."

You leave, and the flowers bloom all the same.

[Azazeal849]

And we’re off!

[Azazeal849]

Prompt #2 is up!

[Kiki]

Spoiler: Prompt #1: Tulip 

Ah, April.

As I rounded the corner of my morning walk, I spied them. Sudden, pungent, pink. Harking to all other blossoms and blooms: it’s time.

The tulip magnolias are like butterflies. Their time is so short. Like a sharp cry of exultation, they are no more - just as quickly. Their petals, thick and brimming with early season pollen, drop within a day or two of full bloom, mimicking their namesakes of tulips in the same fashionable way.

Even on the first day of April, some petals have already dropped to the grass below. Nature has such precision in all of its variety – the petals are browning, edges curling after a few hours of sun.

[Kiki]

Spoiler: Prompt #2: Walk 

Is there such a thing as a long distance walker? If so, I want to be one.

I will consistently be that one friend who will suggest walking to a place. Oh, it’s 20 miles away? Let’s still do it. Vacationing in Europe? I’ll walk everywhere. Disney? Of course I’m logging 30k steps.

I think a lot of people know the concept of a walk being good for them (i.e. the “take a walk” when you’re pissed or sad), but that bilaterial stimulation of the brain is so good. I honestly think about a lot on my urban safari, exploring, noting all the new buds and leaves, the flowers and smells, the friendly dogs and people that pass by, giving a nod or a shake. I think. I walk.

I think. I walk. I feel better.

[Vaidia]

Spoiler: Prompt #2: Walk 

The field was empty.

Dust eddied and flowed as a halfhearted breeze brushed along the scarred surface of the earth, the only sign time still moved upon the barren wasteland. But it was the price that needed to be paid. Peace and desolation were wrapped within the same blanket of lies. If there was nothing left, than there was nothing to cause harm.

At the far end of the field was a small fortification. The walls were blackened with fire, and even the dust seemed to not dare trespass too close. A figure emerged from within the fortress, walking along the wall, before stopping to look out on the field.

Once, long ago, the view opened up to an expanse of grass and farmland, but that had changed when the Dread Walkers emerged. They came from nowhere, skin rotted and many more bone than anything flesh. Anything living that crossed their path was either consumed or made to walk the same path as the other Dread Walkers. The court magicians of the Fortress had tried all that they could to ward them away, but in the end there only seemed to be one thing that worked.

Fire.

There was no way to know what the Dread Walkers wanted. They burned all the same no matter what their desires were.

And now, the field was empty.

Peace at last.

[Hannelorian]

Spoiler: Prompt #2: Walk 

To walk is to feel the extension of one's legs beneath them. Long or short strides against the dirt or the pavement. Or perhaps the feeling of bare feet mingling with the grass still wet with the morning dew. To walk is to contemplate the nature of your surroundings or half heartedly block them all out. Moving silently through a world of your own making. Refusing to live in the reality that others call their own. Perhaps to walk is a small act of defiance or the assertion of free will, independence. To walk is to power oneself to a destination of one's choosing. Feel the earth move beneath you. Walk until your legs can carry you no more. Walk until the earth holds no more surprises and every sight has been seen. Walk until the desire abandons you all together and then go further. Further into the depths of your own soul, pushing your body to your limits. Or perhaps stop. Stop for just a moment to smell the proverbial flowers. Rejoice in the serenity that comes with the halt of motion. Breathe in the morning air and perhaps smile. Walk until you find coffee.

[Azazeal849]

Good work everyone, prompt 3 is up!

[Vaidia]

Spoiler: Prompt #3: Power 

My fingers ache as I pry the cover off the power cell, before pulling the faintly glowing cylindrical tube from its casing. Like all of the others I had checked before this, it too seemed to be operating just fine. I almost don't need to look at them-- in fact it is recommended to not stare directly at the cells, not without protective eye wear that conveniently was cut from the budget 3 cycles ago. Something about the low level radiation eventually rotting away your corneas, or something equally unpleasant.

Point it, I can tell how well the power cell is operating from the sound alone. They give off a faint hum, and I can tell from thee pitch of them how well they are operating. When they are good, they have a pleasing ring to them. When they are running out of juice, they have a lower sound that almost makes the teeth ache. When they are malfunctioning and about to overload, it is a much higher pitched sound. It is a song I have grown used to. Maybe even one I love.

I have been on the station for almost 10 cycles, so I suppose I may have learned a thing or two. Mainly how to be too good at my job, and get stuck checking the power cells when an error is reported. And that is the only information we get. An error. Which means a full inspection of the cells, and some very sore hands for me, as of course the tool specifically designed to remove the covers of the cells was deemed an obsolete model 5 cycles back, so manufacturing stopped and we can no longer afford the mark up on the parts in the second hand markets. I do my best to care for the place, even when corporate forgets.

I move on to the next cell, shaking my hands. Almost before pulling the cell out, I can tell this is the one causing the problem. I can feel it in my teeth, and can guess what I am about to see is a very dead looking cell. I massage my hands.

I was supposed to be off this station last cycle. Supposed to go planet side for a nice retirement.

It seems like the station has other plans for me.

I pull the cell from its casing, and I knew then and there I would be on this station until I died.