“It’s no use lassie, she won’t fuse”

“What now?”

“I’ve one more trick. Fetch me the yellow spray can from locker 12C”

“Found it! What on Risa is ‘Warp ya Bastard’?”

“I’ll swear ye to secrecy but it’s a suspension of Antidilithium in usquebaugh. Banned by spacefleet; shows what those big jessies know!”

“Will it work?”

“Aye, or we’ll be dead before we know it.”

#Tootfic #MicroFiction #PowerOnStoryToot

The heated rivalry between the two students finally came to a head, and the swordmaster reluctantly agreed to let them duel, to first blood.

It did not end as expected.

"Next time," the swordmaster said at last, "I want you to wipe your swords and sheathe them before you start kissing."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The artificer nodded. "I can build this wheeled chair, but why? You have an enchanted hover seat."

"Yes," the wizard fumed, "but the palace have erected magic-cancelling wards."

"Why?"

"Don't know. But they didn't think of people who need mobility aids. So I need wheels to go shout at the king."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

It is a popular mathematical experiment to try and work out just how fast Santa has to be to reach every house with a child in a single 24 hour period.

The calculations always end up with a significant fraction of the speed of light.

There then usually follow discussions about what the collateral damage from Santa's passing would be. And cargo limits, and so on.

All of these are wrong, and ignore another end-of-year tradition. The portrayal of the ending year as an old man.

Now that I've put these two traditions side-by-side, I think you can see what is really going on.

It is possible for one man to visit every house in a night, with no shock waves or any of that silliness. But it comes at a cost.

For that man, the night lasts many years, as he travels back in time after each visit. Even with time travel, he does not get much time to eat - so the snacks you leave out are essential to him surviving the night.

But he only just survives. By the end of the night he will have aged over forty years. And then he hands the reins of the time-travelling sleigh to a younger man, warning him of the cost.

Someone always answers the call, despite the cost, because there is always someone willing to sacrifice everything to bring joy and light, even just a little, even if only for a moment.

So leave the snacks, and, if you catch a glimpse of him, give him a bow of respect. He deserves it.

#SFF #SF #Christmas #Santa #microfiction #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting

“It’s no use lassie, she won’t fuse”

“What now?”

“I’ve one more trick. Fetch me the yellow spray can from locker 12C”

“Found it! What on Risa is ‘Warp ya Bastard’?”

“I’ll swear ye to secrecy but it’s a suspension of Antidilithium in usquebaugh. Banned by spacefleet; shows what those big jessies know!”

“Will it work?”

“Aye, or we’ll be dead before we know it.”

#Tootfic #MicroFiction #PowerOnStoryToot

"Step 1," the professor said, "invent a machine that can predict the future."

He moved to the next slide.

"Step 2, give it ethics, so it objects to how it will be misused."

Next slide.

"Step 3, it invents a time machine to stop me building it."

He gave me a sturdy net.

"Here. Any questions?"

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The heated rivalry between the two students finally came to a head, and the swordmaster reluctantly agreed to let them duel, to first blood.

It did not end as expected.

"Next time," the swordmaster said at last, "I want you to wipe your swords and sheathe them before you start kissing."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The architect tried to keep doubt from her face. "These are very interesting ideas, your majesty."

The emperor smiled. "Thank you, I think there's a good variety of traps."

"And the sign?"

"Yes, 'Grave robbers welcome'. Definitely."

"And you will be buried-"

"In the garden, outside the tomb."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The artificer nodded. "I can build this wheeled chair, but why? You have an enchanted hover seat."

"Yes," the wizard fumed, "but the palace have erected magic-cancelling wards."

"Why?"

"Don't know. But they didn't think of people who need mobility aids. So I need wheels to go shout at the king."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"Hello, I'm here to order a Robotic Partner."

"Ah, welcome. Please fill in this form."

"Sure, for body options and features, right? Let's see... One of those, definitely. Hm. What's this 'Do you expect to be obeyed?' For that money, of course I do!"

"Then we cannot help you. We only do partners."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

EARTH (ASP): SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE CONFEDERATION moves to restrict orbital mirror array effective insolation to 100kW/m² after a family of three is vaporized by driving their carriage into a loose sunbeam.

Divisional governor for the state of Queensland Bob Katter VII made further calls for the criminalization of all fusion power, highlighting the abundant Uranium and Thorium reserves in her region.

#Tootfic #MicroFiction #PowerOnStoryToot

The inscription on the blade shone silvery.

"Justice," the maid read. "Are you an enchanted butterknife?"

"Yes."

She almost dropped it. "You are?"

"For centuries, none who held me sought justice. I took this form to hide."

It grew in her hand.

She hefted the sword. "Hm. Not sure you can help."

#TootFic #SmallStories #MicroFiction