Extra Special Bitterregarding masks
the ones he wears
are invisible
irregardless of correct grammar
Wandering Shop StoriesThe Wandering Shop Stories #prompt for today, Fri-2-Jan, is #regard. Feel like writing something short and sweet that has the word "regard" in it? Check out the definitions of the word at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regard Join in and tag it with #wss366! #writing #WritingLife #microfiction h/t @extraspecialbitter
G Allen#wss366 (5/5)
"I had to pay for this all the way up to Queensborough, even though we're only going 70 some miles." She pointed to him the bottle of Champagne on ice, and said, "You might as well drink it, we can't take it off the train."
Gungan shook his head, "I don't drink." She stared at him, "And please don't make me again."
Minervie gave a deep sigh, "That was medicine. And YOU were a bartender."
Gungan nodded, "Exactly."
#wss366 (4/5)
Gungan wasn't sure what was being said, but they were definitely heated. He tried to make himself smaller, as they were both gesturing towards his person.
Soon enough Minervie yelled over to Gungan, "Come along," and started walking toward the back of the train. She got on the third to last car, and then into a private cabin.
#wss366 (3/5)
Gungan knew she was right, but he wasn't happy about it. He sighed, "I'm sorry. I am not accusing you, but my life, it turns upside-down in one day."
Minervie stood, "Looks like the train is coming." Then she walked near the train to try to get a conductor's attention before it was fully stopped. She started following the car the conductor was on, and as it slowed, she jumped onto the foothold.
#wss366 (2/5)
Minervie said, "I am not going to force you to come with me, or get on this train we're waiting for. I also didn't volunteer to give up your heritage, you forced me to. That said, I do feel that I can give you a place to heal. I just can't do it here, I have kin to get back to. If you feel you have no choice, it is not me who is forcing you to use my option, I'm the one offering an option."
#wss366 #newyear #champagne (1/5)
Gungan was still not talking clearly, but he didn't have to avoid using his lips now, "I passed their English dictation test. They won't let us be a citizen, they won't let us vote, but by passing their White Australian test, my mother and then I were allowed to stay in the city where I was born. Now, even that is being stolen from me."
NaraMoore ⛩️👻八尺様👻⛩️ at Fedi#WritersCoffeeClub 1 Jan 2026: What's the greatest benefit you've taken from the writing community online?
A social support of similarly obsessed individuals. (YMMV).
of special note:
@gahlearner
@art_of_goulwenr
@QuasiTemporal
All the #Wss366 gang.
A few people who took the time to talk with me when my dogs died.
All the prompt producers that give the mill grist to grind on.
If I miss your name, blame it on my faulty memory, not a lack of gratitude.
New! Improved! Sophia Route
Sophia’s Route: Part III
#FanFiction #MyNextLifeAsAVillainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (#Bakarina #Hamafura)
#Wss366 #MastoPrompt
[Continued from Sophia’s Route: Part II]
“You look hot,” Sophie said after Gerald disappeared. “Let’s get something to drink.”
“And food. I haven’t eaten anything. Kevin will be so proud of me.” Katarina eyed the mountains of meat. With Sophia there, Kevin couldn’t say she had disobeyed him.
“Refreshments first,” Sophia replied, knowing exactly what Katarina was thinking and what Kevin was worried about. “I don’t want you to collapse from the heat. While we refresh ourselves, I can tell you about what I have been reading. It’s such a romantic bad-boy book.”
As they walked toward the punch bowl, Sophia began. “There’s a scene in it that is just like this moment. The hero, Prince Alexandros, leads his love interest, the #virtuous Katherine, to a bowl of punch, just like this one, complete with an ice swan. Isn’t it lovely?”
Katarina admired the sculpture. “Then what happens?”
“He gets them both a drink in #Champagne flutes just like these. They intertwine their arms and sip from each other’s glasses. Want me to show you how? It’s a divine scene.”
Katarina nodded and took the glass that Sophia offered her.
“Cross your arms like this. Good. Now sip. Kampai!”
The position was embarrassing, but the drink was sublime. Its gentle sweetness embraced her mouth, and the bubbles tickled her nose. Looking over the flute's edge she noticed it had lovely multi-colored sugar rimming it, and Sophia’s face, which had turned a cute shade of pink. She made a silent toast: “I’m glad I have friends like this. Sophia’s the best.”
“You liked that,” Katarina said.
“Yeah,” Sophia replied, turning even redder.
“It was so nice, and I love the bubbles.”
“I could tell. You drank that fast,” Sophia said. “Let me get you another.”
The second glass followed the first while Sophia sipped slowly on hers.
“It’s so good!” Katarina said getting a third.
“You should sip that,” Sophia warned, but it was too late; that glass disappeared too.
“Sophia, the room’s dancing.” Katarina spun spilling some of the #Champagne cocktail.
That’s what happened in the book, too. The girl wasn’t used to alcohol and started acting silly. The bad-boy prince swept her off her feet and whisked her out of the ball to unknown places. She left her selfish fiancé fuming and her frantic friends behind.
“That’s so… romantic.”
“Shall we?” Sophia asked. “I could be a bad-girl. I’ve read lots of books with bad-boys and know what to do.”
“Let’s,” Katarina said as Sophia led her away.