Steve aka mdlbear21h ago
Micro SF/F by O. Westin

"Help me," the duke said. "My physicians can't say what ails me, but I've lost all pleasure in what I used to enjoy."

The witch examined him, and paused over his hand.

"Nice ring. It is new?"

"A recent gift from the king. Why? Is it cursed?"

It was made to dampen cruelty.

"No," said the witch.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

Mar 27 at 10:58amWeb
Show threadHistoires Mythiques1d ago
@MicroSFF Excellent one
Show threadLizzie1d ago
@MicroSFF Somehow I've seen so many house md memes recently that my brain assumed that's where it was going after he said his physicians can't figure it out
Show threadMicro SF/F by O. Westin1d ago
@AngelicAura You think it might be lupus?
Show threadSkjeggtroll1d ago

@MicroSFF @AngelicAura

"Occasionally it is lupus," the werewolf said.

Show threadLizzie1d ago
@MicroSFF
"Our patient claims a decrease in desire to do cruelty and a loss of enjoyment from thereof. Differential, my serfs."
"Could be curse from God Almighty."
"Or demonic possession."
"Okay, curse, posession... what else, come on?"
"Imbalanced humours?"
"The village apothecary has administered leeches with no positive effect"
"Could've done it wrong, uneducated oaf might have mistaken earthworms for leeches for all we know"
"Good point. Redo leech treatment. Docteur Foreman, head to the patient's estate. I want to know of any ill-wishing family members. Check basements and cellars for signs of demonic summoning."
"This is a duke we're talking about, his estate is huge!"
"Then you better get started posthaste!
Sir Chase, go to the cathedral and ask the bishop about the patient. We need to know if he deserved a heavenly curse. Remember, omnes mentiuntur. You have to ask the bishop, the vicar, the beggars in front of the catherdal and the convent next to the craftsman's district, and look at what they don't tell you.
"If the leech treatment won't work the patient might well be taken by angels before we find out the case."
"Which we should rejoice at. But he has been a donor to the royal treasury and Queen Cuddy has ordered us to keep the duke alive. That's why medica Cameron will administer concetrated sage elixirs and broad-spectrum prayers to keep him alive. Godspeed, people!"
Show threadZeborah20h ago
@AngelicAura Bravissima!
@MicroSFF
Show threadEleder1d ago
@MicroSFF I don't get it, sorry!!! Anyone could explain to a non English native? 🙂
Show threadVinnie (any)1d ago
@eleder @MicroSFF the ring makes it so the duke doesn't enjoy cruelty. So it's a good thing, according to the witch, not a cursed object.
Show threadEleder1d ago
@greenWhale @MicroSFF Aaahhh, ok, thank you very much!!!
Show threadVinnie (any)1d ago
@eleder you're whalecome. 🐳 @MicroSFF
Show threadSci-Fi Girl1d ago

@eleder @MicroSFF

The ring reduces his cruelty. Thats why he doesnt "enjoy" things anymore, and why the witch allows him to keep the ring (and doesn't tell him why).

Short version: the thing he used to enjoy was cruelty.

Show threadNini1d ago
@5ciFiGirl @eleder @MicroSFF The OT could do with switching the last two line's positions, it does read odd otherwise.
Show threadBradley Schaefer1d ago
@nini @5ciFiGirl @eleder @MicroSFF nah, I like the ordering. It makes it seem like the witch’s thoughts before she says the next line, as though she considers saying it but then chooses to simply say “no”
Show threadSci-Fi Girl16h ago

@soulcutter @nini @eleder @MicroSFF

yeah, I like the dramatic effect the way it is. 😎

Show threadEleder1d ago
@5ciFiGirl @MicroSFF I didn't get "dampen", now it's clear, thank you!!!
Show threadFilene Taylor17h ago

@5ciFiGirl @eleder @MicroSFF Wow, I thought that the king was cruel and gave the ring to the duke to permit him more cruelty upon the duke and people. [The king was evil].

The writing helps end in a tone that makes you ask, is the curse upon the ring, or the one chosen to wear it? Hm

Show threadSci-Fi Girl16h ago

@Filene @eleder @MicroSFF

And this I why I love things that leave something open for interpretation by the reader.

Everyone comes up with a slightly different (or very different) meaning!

And they are all interesting! And meaningful! 😎

Show threadLoïc Denuzière1d ago
@eleder @MicroSFF The duke is a cruel man, so the cruelty-dampening ring is in fact the reason why he doesn't enjoy things anymore. And the witch lies to him because otherwise he would remove it and become cruel again.
Show threadEleder1d ago
@tarmil @MicroSFF Thank you!!!
Show threadjay1d ago
@tarmil @eleder @MicroSFF I wonder why the king gifted it.
Show threadPensionDan1d ago
@tarmil @eleder @MicroSFF
Show threadMarion 🦋☀️1d ago
@MicroSFF
Can we have more of these rings, please?
Show threadArdentArchivist1d ago

@MicroSFF

Could the witch send a few of those rings our way, d’ye think?!

Show threadOuti 🦊🌱🌍🌈1d ago
@MicroSFF Ooooh, nice twist ✨
Show threadSteve Hersey1d ago

@MicroSFF
"It's a commemorative to celebrate the king's reign," said the duke. "The king gave them out to all his noblemen and insisted we all wear them. They look rather cool, don't you think?"

"Yes, very cool. The king is wise and thoughtful."

Show threadPurecore Deluxe 🏳️‍🌈23h ago
@MicroSFF good king!?