Least Kan Lakan be Forgotten: Father’s Day Edition (2 of 2)

#FanFic #TheApothecaryDiaries
#Wss366 Father #FathersDay #MastoPrompt #Rocky

[Continued from previous post]

Mao’s eyes narrowed when her former bodyguard Steele met her, En’en, and Yao at the medical room’s door.

The mercenary addressing Mao said, “I have orders to guard you.”

Mao assessed her: “Brigandine, recently cleaned; no bow, but she still carries a short, curved scimitar; and new boots. She’s doing well for herself.

The skirmisher still had the tan and tousled look of someone more accustomed to riding a horse than being a bodyguard, though.

Mao grimaced; "healthy too." She would have loved to dose the woman, but there wasn’t the slightest sign of ill-health.

“This way, Lady Maomao. Dr. Liu’s orders are that you are not to bother him.” The gleam in Steele’s eye did nothing to diminish Mao’s resentment toward her.

“These are for you,” her guard said, handing Mao a bundle of sky-blue clothes. At least she attempted to hand them to her.

“Are these from ‘him?’” Mao asked, refusing them.

“They are from Lord Kan.”

“Then you may have them. Sell them if you can’t wear them.”

“And if they say I stole them?” the mercenary said.

“Then burn them! I don’t care.”

“Very well. I'll tell them to talk to you if there are any concerns.”

Mao's brows puckered with annoyance, but she said nothing, while the other two women watched with both sympathy and amusement.

[Continued on #AprilFools]

#MicroFiction #TootFic #ApothecaryDiaries #NMFic #SliceOfLife

Least Kan Lakan be Forgotten: Father’s Day Edition (1 of 2)

#FanFic #TheApothecaryDiaries
#Wss366 Father #FathersDay #MastoPrompt #Rocky

It had been a while since Maomao had worked with Yao and En’en, but an overnight fire in a barracks meant that every available hand was needed. Dr. Liu has set Maomao to making salve while the other two women rolled bandages. Chaos reigned around their busy island of work. Doctors and other staff flowed in and out of the medical room, constantly demanding more salve, bandages, and other supplies. Screams of soldiers lying on the ground outside rent the air.

This was the scene that greeted Dr. Liu when he entered the room. He cast his eyes around and lit on Mao, fixing her with a #rocky stare usually reserved for Tianyu. She wanted to cover her head in case he tried thumping her head or boxing her ears.

“Here,” he said, thrusting a paper at her. “And take those two,” he said, gesturing toward Yao and En’en. “You’re to be attended like a proper lady!” He nearly spat the last words. Then, without explanation, he turned and left the room.

Maomao clicked her tongue. Having Dr. Liu upset with her would be nothing but a pain. Then there was the paper. She looked at it. On the outside was Onsou’s chop. That meant it was a directive from her unspeakable progenitor. No wonder Liu had taken it seriously, and so he should have. Thwarting Lakan was signing your own death warrant.

She opened and read it. Her tongue clicked again, and her face grew grim: a day with her unspeakable—his birthday.

“It’s an invitation to Verdigris House for this evening,” Mao told the two women who were looking at her curiously. “Due to my ‘status’ and recent events, I am to bring two attendants.” The tone of her voice made her displeasure apparent.

En’en interrupted, “It is not fitting that Lady Yao should act as your attendant!” Daggers couldn’t have been sharper than her words.

For the third time, Mao clicked her tongue. “Tell that to Dr. Liu.”

“It’s okay,” Yao said. “I'm sure it’s the Moon Prince showing his favor for her.”

En’en didn’t look convinced, but there was no disobeying the doctor’s instructions.

I could use less favor,” Mao thought.

“It’s not from the prince, it’s from that offal that calls himself my #father,” she explained.

"Come," Mao said, grabbing En'en's arm. "Let's tell Dr. Liu we're needed here."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #ApothecaryDiaries #NMFic #SliceOfLife

beachcombing
my brother's
rocky marriage

#MastoPrompt

the path ahead
spreading compost
on rocky soil

#MastoPrompt

love in rocky times
hold on to what supports you
support in return

#Haiku #Poetry #Writing #WritingCommunity #PoetryCommunity
#MastoPrompt
#Rocky
@stevencudahy

The #MastoPrompt for Thursday 19 March 2026 is:

#rocky

The poem or story can include the prompt word or be about the prompt word.

@ me, if you like, or just include the #MastoPrompt tag (to allow people to follow or filter their feeds), or keep your work to yourself - all the options are good as long as you're writing.

If you're including an image please do include alt-text if you’re able to.

#Writing #SmallPoems #Poetry #Fiction #MicroFiction #SmallStories

Equisetum species
are very adaptive plants
living fossil herbs

#dailyhaikuprompt
#HorseTail
#Mastoprompt
#protean

#haiku
#senryu
#poetry
#SmallPoems
#writing
#photography

@dailyhaikuprompt
@stevencudahy

Great Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia) - Aobram

surrounded by books
an eclectic taste
in literature

#MastoPrompt