🍀 Novels Event 🍀 A Lucky Encounter (Chance to win 30,000 Ink!)

Entry chapter: https://tapas.io/episode/2094580

Creator page: https://tapas.io/risingshards

This was a lot of fun to work on!

Here's my profile page:

Here's my story, (SWEAR WARNING)
Title: A Meeting With Lady Luck

.......Leon stood on the street corner, whistling to himself as he waited for the light. He stopped whistling when he heard the clip-clop of heels coming up behind him. The heels parked themselves next to him and he looked up to see a very tall woman in a green dress. He waved politely, and she waved back, less politely.
.......Despite trying to keep his eyes on the traffic lights, Leon found himself very distracted by the woman to his left. Her hair was the color of grass and flowed over her left eye. Her eye shadow, lipstick and even her blush were also in various shades of green, and sparkling.
........She’s probably a performer he thought and turned back to the light, hoping she hadn’t caught him staring. It was Las Vegas, that kind of thing wasn’t weird enough to warrant prolonged (and likely unwanted) attention on the street. The light changed and Leon stepped off the curb.
........“Stop.” The woman commanded. Startled, Leon froze in his tracks, and just as he did a large red car sped through the spot where he would have been had he taken another step. He felt the wind rush by his face and the sound echo in his ears. Leon stumbled back onto the curb and pressed a hand to his chest, trying to steady his now pounding heart.
........“That…” He huffed, trying to speak, “That almost hit me!” He looked up at the woman. “If you hadn’t…” He struggled, “If you hadn’t stopped me I’d be…” He looked up at the woman square in her only visible eye, “Thank you.”
........“It was nothing.” She shrugged. “Just catch you breath, you’ll need it for the day we’re going to have.”
........“W-what do you mean?” He asked, standing up, “Who are you?”
........“I’m Lady Luck.” She stated, “You can call me L.”
........“Lady Luck?” He asked, “Is that, like, a stage name or something?”
........“No.” She said, sounding a little annoyed, “I am literally the physical embodiment of good luck. And it’s your lucky day.” She explained as if she were discussing the weather. Leon stared at her incredulously.
........“What?” He finally managed. She let out a long sigh.
........“Look kid, everyday is someone’s lucky day. That means that they get twelve hours to do whatever they want, and I make them have perfect luck for that whole day. Today is your lucky day, understand?” She sounded as if she had given that spiel many times before.
........“Um… I think I can wrap my head around that.” He said slowly. “But I’m not a kid, I’m twenty seven.”
........“That’s cool. I’m over two hundred thousand.” She snarked, and Leon took a gulp at the implications.
........“It’s Ten AM. You got until Ten PM to do whatever you want with perfect luck. If you have work today, take the day off.” She looked down at him expectantly.
........“Uh-u-um… o-okay.” He sputtered and took out his phone. “Wait, no it’s Saturday, I don’t have work.” He said and put the phone back away. “Sorry, I’m just really- my mind is spinning.”
........“Yeah that’s great. So what do you wanna do? Slots? Cards? What are we doing here?” She asked briskly.
........“The comic raffle!” Leon said excitedly. “Tha-that’s where I was going! I was going to the raffle at the comic shop!” Now it was L’s turn to look incredulous.
........“You live… In Las-fucking-Vegas… and you want to use infallable luck… in a comic book raffle?”
........“Well, yeah, I mean, I’ve been going to that shop’s raffles for years now and I’ve never won. It would be really cool to actually win.” He explained somewhat bashfully.
........“Alright, you're the boss.” L shrugged. The two continued on Leon’s original path. On the way Leon found a twenty on the ground, was given a free ice cream sample, and when a car ran through a puddle it managed to splash everywhere around him, while he stayed perfectly dry.
........“You really weren’t kidding about perfect luck, huh?” Leon asked.
........“No.” L said flatly. Leon was almost bouncing by the time they got to the comic store. He dove in with L following close behind. The shop’s walls were lined floor to ceiling in all manner of nerdy paraphernalia. Enough boxes of comics to build a tower to the moon filled every available space. What little room there was to walk around was taken up by a cluster of twenty or so people ranging widely in age.
........A young woman sat behind the register with her combat boot-clad feet up on the counter. She was reading (what else) a comic book, but looked up from it when Leon stepped in.
........“Hey Leon. I was wondering when you’d show up.” She said nonchalantly.
........“Hi Martha!” Leon greeted, “S-sorry I’m late I kind of almost got hit by a car? I missed my light- is what I’m trying to say.” L rolled her eyes and muttered sarcastically at his awkwardness. Leon suddenly seemed to remember she was there.
........“Oh, sorry, this is-”
........“She can’t see me dummy.” L cut him off. He shut up immediately.
........“This is what?” Martha asked as she stepped out from the counter.
........“This is… the day I win.” Leon stumbled, “I can feel it!” He smiled tightly. Martha shrugged.
........“I’m rooting for ya.” She said and held out her hand. He gave her the dollar for admission and she gave him a ticket with a number on it.
........“Alright people. Let’s do this.” Martha called out. She was small in stature but commanded the room with a powerful presence and strong voice. “Everybody got their numbers?” She checked and then plunged her hand into a promotional lunch box and drew out a small folded paper.
........“Number 14 you are our winner!” She announced. Leon looked in disbelief at his card which did indeed read 14. “That’s me!” He said excitedly.
........“Well I’ll be damned, he finally won!” Martha said with a grin. The crowd dispersed, some leaving a few tooling around the shop.
........“Well Leon, you know the prize, ten free comics. Go make your selections.” Martha winked. Leon nodded and raced to the back of the shop giddily. After he had been combing through comics for fifteen minutes without choosing anything, L finally spoke up.
........“I wouldn’t waste time if I were you. Your luck clock is ticking.”
........“S-sorry I just…”
........“Just what?”
........“I’m all caught up in everything I follow… I want to try something new but I just don’t know what to choose.” He explained. L responded by pulling her hair away from her left eye, which was revealed to have green sclera and a white pupil. The eye began to glow brilliantly. She pointed behind the awestruck Leon. He turned around to see that ten comic books were also glowing. Nine of them were together in a cluster, and one was on a different shelf entirely.
........“What did you do?” He asked, amazed.
........“I gave you the luck of a perfect decision.” L explained. Leon picked up and leafed through the nine comics that were together, which were revealed to be the first nine in a new series.
........“This looks good!” He said.
........“They should. They’re literally the perfect choice for you.” L said and handed him the last comic, the one that was apart from the others. Leon’s eyes went wide as he took it from her.
........“Oh my god! I’ve been looking for this forever!” he exclaimed.
........“What is it?” L asked, sounding genuinely interested.
........“It’s the second issue of Artemis and Sunsetter!” He said with glee.
........“You don’t have that one?” L asked.
........“I did, but…” Leon blushed a little, “I kinda spilled coffee on it.” He looked up at her with joy again, “It’s the only one I’m missing!” His grin threatened to encroach on his ears’ territory.
........“Can I see?” L asked, sounding almost surprised at herself. He handed her the comic and she glanced through.
........“Geez, this is violent.” She mused, “Didn’t take you for the type.” She handed it back to him.
........“Well… don’t judge a comic book by it’s cover.” He said and took the stack to the counter.
........“Jeez, I thought you’d be back there for at least an hour.” Martha grinned as she rang him up. She paused for a moment. “You know, you’ve entered that raffle enough times to pay for these several times over.”
........“It’s the spirit of the thing Martha!” Leon convicted. Martha chuckled, then suddenly stopped when her eyes wandered out the large window.
........“Uh-oh. Dean O’clock.” She said, “Hit the deck if you don’t want to be seen.” Leon dropped down onto the floor and waited with his hands over his neck like there was going to be an earthquake. L watched in confusion as a person in a tie-dye shirt walked casually past the storefront.
........“Are they gone?” Leon whispered.
........“They’re gone.” Martha chuckled and handed him his comics as he got up. He thanked her and walked out with L.
........“What the hell was that?” She asked.
........“Oh, that was Dean.” Leon said, scratching the back of his neck.
........“Yeah, I got that, but why’d you duck and cover?”
........“I um… I sort of have this thing for them I guess. I get really nervous around them.” Leon sounded really embarrassed.
........“Damn man, that’s pathe- that sucks.” L surprised herself again by catching herself about to be mean to him, "I have to tell you that you could use me to have a conversation with them, and it'll go perfectly." She said.
........"That sounds kind of manipulative." Leon responded.
........"It is, isn't it?" L said, sounding an odd mix of proud and regretful.
........“Yeah…” Leon said uncomfortably. There was an awkward silence. L mercifully broke it.
........“What do you want to do now?” She asked. Leon thought for a moment. Then his face lit up.
........“So you can help me make the perfect decision on anything?” He asked.
........“Yup.” She responded. He made an excited noise and started running down the sidewalk.
........“God dammit Leon! Tell me before you just start bolting down the road!” L shouted and chased after him in her heels. She caught up with him when she was stopped outside a dog shelter.
........“Oh, so this is the big decision, eh?” She asked.
........“Yeah, see I’ve wanted to get a dog for months but I always get overwhelmed and then I can’t make a decision, and…”
........“You have a real problem with decisions.” L commented, then remembered the situation with Dean, “Or rather, just doing anything you mind do wrong, am I correct.”
........“Uh…” Leon looked up at her like a deer in headlights.
........“Let’s just go pick out a dog.” They walked in, greeted by a man who seemed equally used to Leon as Martha had been, but significantly less patient.
........“You know where they are, Leon.” He groaned, “Though I don’t know why you keep bothering.” Leon went to the room filled with dogs in their cages. He looked around a bit before turning to L.
........“Well, which one?” He asked. She once again pulled up her hair and set her eye a-glow. In the corner a small, scared looking spaniel shivered as it began to glow green. Leon peered into it’s sad little eyes and his lip quivered.
........“Yeah,” He said, his voice breaking a little, “She’s the one.” They headed back to the front room and up to the counter.
........*“Let me guess,” the man behind it said, “You couldn’t pick one.”
........“A-actually I did. The spaniel in the corner. Please.” Leon said sheepishly. The man behind the counter looked aghast.
........“Well blow me down.” He whispered. “You actually picked one.” The man handed Leon some paperwork and told him to come back the next week. Leon was positively twirling when he and L walked out. He looked her in the eye.
........“Well, that’s everything I want to do.” He proclaimed.
........“That’s it? That’s all?” L said, bewildered, “That can’t be all. You have ten more hours left!” She grew exasperated, “Decade upon decades have gone bye without anyone telling me they were done after two measly things!”
........“That’s all I wanted.” He shrugged, then thought for a moment. “What do you want to do?” he asked. She looked stunned.
........“No, no, no. That’s not how this works. It doesn’t matter what I want. It’s your lucky day, you're supposed to do everything you want to do.”
........“Well, I already did that. So what do you want to do?” He repeated. She wracked her brain. She thought through the zillions of other people she had worked for and all the near infinite things they had wanted. What did she want? Her face grew contemplative, then sad.
........“Can I tell you something Leon?” She asked quietly.
........“Sure.” He replied.
........“I’ve done this for a lot of people. More than you could ever imagine. Not all those people have been… good.” She winced. “I have to help them do.. Whatever they want, no matter what that is.” She looked almost ready to cry. Leon put a hand on her shoulder.
........“I’ve helped murderers, drug lords, war criminals, abusers,you name the atrocity, I’ve seen it, I’ve helped it happen.” She began to hyperventilate, then breathed long and deep, “I want to do some good in the world, you know?” She asked. Leon’s gaze grew sympathetic. His heart heavied at her pain.
........“I don’t want pity, I want action.” She said, “If you want to, that is. You're still the one with free will, after all.”
........“Yeah, let’s do it.” Leon nodded, “What did you have in mind?” Now it was L’s turn to let him chase her to a new location. This time as she ran she felt free, she enjoyed the wind against her face. She could do something, she was real, No matter that no one but Leon could see her, no matter that she didn’t eat or sleep or go to the bathroom, she was real now, and maybe ever.
........Meanwhile, Leon thrilled at this, at doing something good and at that he had decided to do so without question. He was doing something real, and he wouldn’t let himself be his own obstacle. He would do this, for her, for the world, for himself, for everything.
........They stopped in front of a casino, the biggest flashiest one around. L looked up at it in disgust, and Leon in confusion.
........“What are we gonna do here?” Leon asked.
........“See him?” L said, pointing to a gilded statue of a smug looking man, “I helped him once. He’s a real bastard. He makes his money taking advantage of addictive personalities with rigged machines.” She turned sharply to Leon, “Plan is for you to go in there, win as many jackpots as you can before ten, and then after I’m gone you donate it to all the charities you can. You in?” She asked. Leon paused, then resolved to abandon any indecision.
........“I’m in.” He said strongly, “But won’t I get kicked out if I keep winning?”
........“Perfect luck, remember?” L grinned.
........“But what about after you're gone, I can still get caught.” He asked, trying not to sound too unsure.
........“Nah, anything you do today is free.” She said. Then scowled up at the statue, “For better or for worse.”
........Several hours of very successful gambling later, the two once again stood in front, now with more money than Leon had ever fathomed, and more than L had seen in a while. He was shaking from exhilaration, and she was grinning emerald earring to emerald earring.
........“I can’t believe I just did that!” Leon gasp-giggled, “I can’t believe I fucking did that!”
........“You did good. Or you will, once that’s all in good hands.” L said serenely.
........“I have five minutes left,” Leon said, checking his phone, “You got anything else to tell me about?”
........“Uh… let me see.” L looked to the sky in thought, “Book a dentist appointment soonish. Uh, don’t go to work on April third, just trust me on that one. And… your doggy is gonna like the food with the shooting star on the package.” As she finished a glittering green door appeared behind her. She opened it and was about to step through, but paused.
........“Thank you,” She said, “For today, it was fun, more fun than I’ve had in a while.”
........“Same here.” Was all Leon could manage.
........“Do good things with that money,” She said, “But keep some for yourself. Spend it on that doggy. And talk to Dean for God's sake!” She winked and then she was gone.

Thanks for this opportunity!

I'm Idris

Luck Be a Lady

Asha DeMornay met her soulmate on a street corner. Well, that's what she tells her friends, but in truth she met her soulmate on a crosswalk, in the hair's breadth between the sidewalk and the truck that very nearly ran her down.

The day had been typical. City-hot, muggy and smelling of car exhaust. She loved her big city, thrived on its sights and sounds, and even its awful smells. She had on her face mask, rendering the smoggy reek almost tolerable to her sensitive sinuses. She planned to see her sinusologist the minute his office started taking appointments again. It had been the better part of a year since she'd seen any kind of doctor at all.

She pushed past a throng of day traders outside the New York Stock Exchange to get to the traffic light. She pressed Walk and waited with all the other sharp-dressed professionals sweating in their N95 face masks between errands. She had a lunch date with her best friend. Tapas and margaritas to tide her over during her upcoming nerve-wracking acquisitions meetings. She had good books to buy, if only she could get the Powers That Be to loosen the purse strings.

Her mobile phone trilled in her handbag and she scrambled around in the clutch for the blinking mobile. She was putting out fires all day today. Authors tweeting madly, agents behaving badly. She was just an editor who wanted to buy and sell good books, make some readers happy as these books made her. Come on, guys, make this easy on me.

An email marked URGENT caught her eye and she groaned. It was from a reporter at Vox. Forget the margaritas. This calls for wine.

Just as Asha as debating the merits of deleting the email unread a sports-jacket clad venture capitalist bumped her from behind on his last-second dash across traffic. She swore and tipped off the curb, pointed heels first.

In that instant, the crosswalk signal switched from WALK to WAIT.

Asha flailed, dropping her face with a crash. She was rapidly losing her battle with gravity.

The traffic light turned green.

Oh shi-

A delivery truck roared toward her, the driver gazing down at his lap, preoccupied by a text.

Asha closed her eyes, thinking Definitely not gonna make that meeting and began to fall...

A pair of strong arms grabbed her around the waist and lugged her bodily out of the path of the racing diesel vehicle.

She landed on her feet. She felt her body. All the pieces were there. I'm alive? I'm alive!

She spun around. There was a surprisingly petite woman dressed from head to toe in athletic wear. Sports bra, running shorts, and expensive sneakers. She had arms like tree branches, legs like tree trunks, and the most gorgeous smile Asha had ever seen.

"You okay," she asked Asha.

"I guess so. Thanks for the rescue."

"No problem." The buff woman offered her hand. "Hey, I'm Lucky. Well, Lucretia, but everyone calls me Lucky."

"Asha," she replied. "And now that I've met you, I guess I'm pretty lucky, too."

Asha met her soulmate on the crosswalk where she nearly died, but she got to know her on the street corner. She'd never live down that pick-up line.

Here's my Entry.

"Destined Encounter"
My eyes are heavy, I want to sleep but I'm afraid that those scenes might visit my dream again.
How many times has this happened to me?

How many years have I been doing this?

Will I still be able to face it all?
Even after years enduring this every night and every time i feel like my own consciousness were being sucked into nowhere, i began to fall...one by one.

I closed my eyes without realizing it. But I also immediately opened my eyes as I was having difficulty breathing and my brain seemed to be sucked into the depths of darkness in the corner of my dream.
My heart beat was loud enough to make me deaf and my visions are blurry. I held my chess tight and take a deep breath. I was like being imprisoned and tortured...
My hot tears shed to my cheeks, a silent sob that i keep holding back to make a sound made me almost dying from pain that i was carrying for a long-long time.
My hand trembled as I opened my Drawer. I stared for a long time at the paper I had most carefully guarded in my entire life.
I gently stroked it and took it out of the drawer.

I opened my drawing book and the first thing i saw was a drawing of an an old imperial clothes. In the following pages of the drawing book, different era of clothing were worn by a one man, who i draw. Every decade ... every century ...every different era...

I have already draw.

But until now ...

"Why?" I bitterly asked myself.

I caressed carefully the very last thing I have drew.

A strong man was wearing an expensive dress and from his posture I can tell it that it has an overwhelming authority.
I smiled in pain and sorrow.
I have already collected all of my memories of you...But why?
"Why i cannot see your face after all of these years of pain i have endured?"
A silently cried in agony as i hugged tightly the book.
"Where are you?" I whispered crying.
I WOKE UP with a head ache. And careful knock caught my attention.
"Come in."
The door opened a little and there peeked out a small child.
"A-aunty ..." I listened to her worried voice.
I smiled. "Morning." I greeted.
"Good morning!"
She ran up to me and jumped on the bed. I patted her head and smiled.
"Where's your papa?" I mentioned my Older brother.
"Papa's out Aunty,"
I nodded and stood up, starting to clean up my room.
"Then what do you want to do while i'm here? We can play again whole day if you want."
"What? Really? A-am i really allowed to play?" Her puppy eyes melted my weak heart for cute kids.
I chuckled and pitched her chubby cheeks. "Of course you are!"
Her eyes widened in excitement. "Then-then can we go out and play on the park?" She asked me hoping i'll let her go.
"Sure! But first we need to take a bath and eat okay?"
She repeatedly nodded her head " YES! YEHEY! We're going to the park! we're going to the park!" She run out of the room singing and calling her nanny telling the good news.
I shook my head and continued what i was doing. I stopped for a moment when i saw the book that i was holding last night until i feel asleep.
I picked it up and stared it for a minute.
I smiled and stroked it softly. "Morning,"
"Last night i saw you smiling in front of me, holding a flower that you just picked and called my name..."
If ever someone saw me talking to a drawing, i'm sure they'll think of me that i have finally lost my mind. I laugh and shrugged my shoulders.
My smile became a bitter smile. "But today isn't today as well hm?"
I slept and dreamed of you, remember the every piece of that dream until it ends and woke up like nothing happened. But every dream i have since i was a kid, your face is still a mystery to me.
"When will i able to finish you?" I asked the drawing in front of me, hoping it'll answer back.
I Laugh and sigh. I'm crazy...yes...I already have lost it.
**
"Aunty! Aunty!" Abygail happily jumped while looking up to the sky and running chasing the butterfly she saw.
"Don't go too far Aby,"
"Okay!"
I sat on the grass under the tree and placed the picnic basket on the other side and took out the drawing book and pencil and began to draw.
Time passes quickly and i didn't even felt it. Aby's playing with the other kids not too far from me. I went back to drawing when there's something caught my vision and made my heart beat so fast. I immediately put down my drawing book and when I saw that person clearly and looked in my direction, thousands of images flashed in my head as if water had dripped from a glass.
My heart throbbed so loud, it pierced my heart and the chills down to my spane. My Eyes widened and hot tears falls to my cheeks.
Our eyes met and his smiles vanished looking at me straight. My body freeze and different emotions hit my heart.
ha...
How come..."You still look the same..." I whispered as every memories with his face intact flows to my head.
How come i'll see you here...Smiling under the sun. Community Verified icon
For so many years i have already regained our memories. And the last piece of that memories break my heart to dust.
I see...
Now i know why i still keep remembering you every lives i had. Now i know why my heart keeps aching like it was ripping apart. A scenes of you dying in my embrace telling me that you still love me at find me even the afterlife. A memories that even in my last breath my heart still beating for you. And a promise i had made in my previous life...
I saw him half running towards me, chasing the basketball that slipped in his had. I followed his moves, remembering every corner of his face so next time i couldn't forget him. When he got the ball back he look at me. I cannot waste this opportunity that heavens gave me.
He walked slowly and carefully towards me. Our eyes level was different. I was looking up to him like he's too far too reach.
"Uhm..are you okay?"
His voice made me unconsciously tear up again. I thought this opportunity would never come. I thought I would never hear your voice again.
I smiled while trying to wipe my tears. "Yes..." I said. "Yes, i'm really okay....happy..to see..you..again.." Every words came out of my mouth was in whispers a words that i want to tell him out loud and hug him so tight.
But I couldn't.
"Here," He handed out his handkerchief to me.
"I cannot stand to see a lady crying...it's...also breaks my heart," A warm yet pain in his eyes was visible to his face.
I know...I know that very well.
I accepted his handkerchief and wipe out my tears.
"Here, please also accept this flower," stopped and stared at the flower he was holding. This is the same flower he gave me in my memory of last night's dream.
"Where...did you get that?"
"Where did you get that?"
A same scene from my dream flashed to my mind.
"I just picked it up,"
"I just picked it up,"
Same answer and same smile flashed to my head. It's just the same like in the past...
I smiled and reached it.
"Thanks..."
This is the same flower that made me feel pathetic yet happy.
I stood up and faced him. I stared and memorized his face. I saw his lips moved.
I know what is next after this. I know...because every encounter we had in our past life he's always asking the same questions.
But this time, he wont be the one asking.
"Wha---"
"What's your name?" I cut him off and asked him for his name.
I noticed him freeze when i asked his name.
Right...
If i cannot forget him. I will cherish him forever.
Later on he smiled and offer his hand. Looking straight in my eyes, waiting for my reply.
"I'm Scott, Scott Vouge,"
"Your name suites you well," I reached out his hand.
The familiar electricity that flowed from there reminded me of the promise I had made before i died.
"I'm...Nayeli,"
Your new name will never be forgotten even the end of this world shall remain. Because this name will be the last you'll tell me.
"Auntyyy! Papa's here!" A shout from Abygail remind me that whatever i was holding back, whoever i'm facing right now.
I should let it go his hand.
I turned to aby's direction and smiled. I let go of his hand, and the warm i felt when holding him vanished and cold covered my whole body.
I turned back to him and picked up the basket lying down on the lawn.
"I should be going now..." I said and look at him for the one last time.
My heart began to ache again. My hands are shaking. I look at him carefully, because there's no next time again.
"Thank you..."He's staring at me and I couldn’t read his expression.
I'm thankful for loving me repeatedly even afterlife's we had before. Thank you for dying for me from the start til the end. I missed you so much...i've long for you...I'm sorry and I love you.
"Thank you for everything," Tears from my left eyes run down to my cheeks.
I'm lucky that he cannot remember me. I can cry without him knowing why.
I turned around and started walking away from him.
I will do what i promised before.
A promise that will never met him again, so that his end won't be the same again.
"I will come find you...love you and die again for you."
My heart shank and stopped, my feet freeze and my ears went deaf. A bunch of tears flows from my eyes, widened in shock and filled in different kind of emotions. My whole body feels weak. My throats hurts.
"I will be the same...even if you choose a different path,"
I slowly turned around and my heart broke by seeing his warm yet sad smile. I dropped the basket and covered my face.
" I'm sorry...i came so late, I will reclaim your heart no matter what."

*********END*********
I dunno why... but i'm broken with his lines Q.Q
The "Destined Encounter" is not just a Lucky encounter to them. It was already planed by the destiny for their story. To remember that "Love" cannot forgotten even thousand of years had already passed. Too be happy, to be hurt and feel the pain. And to satisfy the Author's Imagination, I Thank you!

Hi, here is my piece of lucky encounter!

Lucky Encounter (maybe M content)

“I suggest today to climb to the waterfalls,” said Alon.
“Are here helicopters?” Antey got inspired.
Alon shook his head.
“Only drugs,” Ad giggled. “Eat and ride like a horse.”
“According to a legend, the one who has bathed in seven waterfalls will live seven centuries more,” smiled the beast.
“Has anyone been bathing already?” Antey looked at the couple.
“Everyone,” Ad and Alon looked at each other.
“No, someone who's seven hundred years old?”
“If you were seven hundred years, I think you would not yak that no one goes to you to see,” chuckled Ad.
“Come on,” persuaded Alon. “Rahma lives there; he has amazing cheese and milk.”

“Rahma,” breathed out a hysterical giggle Antey, easily climbing down the path. “How far you have to go for the cheese.”
“He has the most delicious one,” Alon carried over the shoulder a bag with the things for Rahma.
“Not important, for the most delicious cheese. Why settle so far away?”
“To the curious don’t hear the screams of the tormented boys,” Ad put it in instructively.
“But if everyone knows...” Antey threw up his hands.
Alon shrugged his shoulder. Soon the stone house of the hermit appeared. No screams from the house came. Antey sharply looked at Ad.
“He doesn’t torment them all the time, now he has a break,” Ad explained.
The hermit left the house, wiping his hands with a towel, and there were scarlet spots on his hands. Ad nodded to Antey, Antey hysterically waved off.
The comings said hello, Alon presented Antey and Rahma to each other. The men stared at each other with cougar eyes. Alon thought that these two knew what to do with their desire; he threw off the bag.
“It’s for you,” handed Alon the bag to Rahma.
Rahma reluctantly released the sleek hand of Rassen, reluctantly tore his eyes off him, took the bag, nodded to everyone, inviting in the house. Antey walked in, looked around, brushed with eyes at the bed in the corner. The hermit invited the guests to the table; there was a bowl with fresh strawberries on the table. Antey looked at Ad; the handsome waved off.
Rahma set the table, then handed a filled bag to Alon, the beast habitually gratefully nodded.
“I'll go get the wine,” smiled Rahma, brushing with the keen eye the lips of Antey and went to the basement.
“And in the basement, he's got a bleeding boy,” Ad hissed to Antey.
Alon smiled, he had been in the basement of the hermit, no trace of bloody victims was there, there were no chains, no hooks, nor any other fixtures of a meatman, an ordinary cellar. If there was a place where Rahma's victims bled out, it was on his bed.
“Yes, and he gradually sucks their blood for two weeks,” continued Ad.
Antey boldly put a slap to Ad.
“If Rahma had sucked the blood and tortured the boys, he would have cut off your tongue first. And I don't believe he could pass you by.”
Ad breathed indignantly, about to protest.
“And I remember, as you mentioned, that Paris, helping the surfers’ school for poor children, ate these children,” pointed out Antey on the boy.
“Paris well could,” Ad muttered.
Alon pulled and kissed the head of the little snake; the boy clung to the beloved.
Rahma returned with a clay jug. Filled the mugs with fragrant white wine. There were no glasses, of course. Antey sipped wine, sighed admiringly, moved his head. Raised the cup, welcoming the attendees. Finished his drink. Rahma poured him another, insinuatingly smiled.
“Be careful. It's treacherous.”
The sparking Rench waved his hand.
“I grew up on the home wine. Our neighbours were winemakers. I was friends with their son.”
The native, easily smiling, was watching the glorious Rench, cougar tracking his movements.
After dinner, the company was going to continue.
“Will you show us the waterfalls?” Alon asked.
“Certainly,” nodded Rahma eagerly, looking at Antey. The hermit threw over his shoulder bag, with the necessary things on the road.
Alon didn’t take the bag of groceries and decided to pick it up on the way back.
They passed quite a bit, on the way Rahma was telling legends of the local places.
“From the very first she jumped,” nodded Rahma, ending the legend.
They heard a roar of the water and their eyes were opened to a majestic view. The waterfalls seemed to follow one after another, protruding of the cliff. The friends were standing on a rock in front of the gentle, but high descent. Antey walked to the edge; it seemed that the gods were somewhere near, watching from a mountain to somewhere. The man spread out his arms and shouted. The scream flew into space without deafening the surrounding people. They were not in the mountains, so it wasn’t dangerous to shout. Alon, delightedly smiling, looked at Antey. No one can lock the free Rench in a cage; he wouldn't, he couldn't live in captivity. Shining Antey turned to his friends and ran down to the waterfalls. Rahma ran after him rapaciously. Alon and Ad slowly walked behind them.
“I wonder if they fuck right there?” asked Ad.
Alon smiled.
When the couple came down, Antey and Rahma were sticking out of the lake, under the waterfall. But individually, there's no indication of passion between them. Ad giggled and poked his forehead in the chest of Alon, seeing the hungry carnivore sight of Rahma. The native, like looking for and watching the victim, insinuatingly sailed around the Rench. Antey swam rapaciously, animally, he quickly dived, swam to the shore and surfaced in front of Alon, smiling and smoothing his wet hair. The man gave him a hand, Antey took it and disappeared under the water, choking. Rahma was nowhere, the hunter was under the water, holding the leg of Rassen. Antey skillfully copes with the panic, he opened his eyes under water, kicked the Rahma aiming to the solar plexus. The hand holding the leg came loose, the hunter slid along the body of Antey, floating around. Rassen took a deep breath snorting from the water. Antey brushed with the eyes at Rahma and went ashore, in front of Alon.
The Rench was naked; the shorts were lying right there on the coast. The beast looked over at Antey's beautiful body. Antey shook with their feet, shaking off the water, picked up his clothes, and headed to the next waterfall.
“On top, they seem so close,” he shook his head stopping.
“Maybe, you need seven hundred years in the form of candy?” acutely inserted Ad.
“It would be nice,” agreed Antey. “What a beauty around…”
Rahma went ashore silently and lightly; he was also naked, the native picked up his shirt and wiped his face. Alon for the first time saw the hermit naked; the clothes frankly were ruining him. The flexible animal body seemed to belong to some unknown dangerous predator, lovingly fashioned by nature and presented to the worthiest one, this way probably looked gods descended to earth.
“Aren't you going to dive?” asked Antey.
Alon shook his head, dropping off the obsession, turned to Ad, which was untying the clothes. The boy came to the water, touched it with his foot and jumped into the azure lake. The beast threw off his clothes, ran and dived after him, dragging Ad into far and deep. The handsome screamed, gurgling. Antey smiled as if this he created this lake, this waterfall, and Alon and Ad themselves.
They came back to Rahma in the evening. Antey fell in a chair, tired and pleasant smiled.
“Don't walk in the mountains at night. You can easily break the legs,” said Rahma. “Stay. Will leave in the morning.”
Alon looked at Rahma, who was staring at Antey, nodded.
“So well,” said the hermit as if he’d seen, turning to Alon.

You can read more here: https://tapas.io/series/For-a-Slave

Hi there! Here is a chapter of my novel that I recently posted that suits this prompt! Thank you! 🖤

https://m.tapas.io/episode/2087417

A lucky encounter

The butterfly bracelet

You might call this fate or whatnot, but I guess he might be the one.

One day, there I was along with my girlfriend at the mall, as we entered a jewelry shop I saw you. You were wearing a red shirt with a yellow jacket on top and skinny jeans a bit weird I may say but that doesn't matter because I really didn't notice you back then, but how can I remember all of this when I didn't notice you, funny, I guess maybe I had my eyes on you since then. You had soft curly hair and were looking at a butterfly bracelet that had red strings and a gold design on them. My girlfriend wanted that, but, that was the only piece left, you looked at my girlfriend and smiled while giving it to her, you looked like you were about to cry but yous still gave it to her. We broke up, my girlfriend, and a few weeks after buying her that bracelet, she was now gone from my life. But, I saw you on another day wearing a white sweatshirt and I might say that fate brought us together, you also wear a butterfly bracelet now, but much prettier than the one before. The bracelet was our chance encounter and fate may have brought us together

I was so inspired with this prompt event. I hope you like the story I've started writing.

Here is my profile https://tapas.io/MillyLowelle

Here is the chapter/episode of my story that I'm entering for the "A lucky Encounter" event. It's a mature chapter with the correct setting so read the trigger warning first. https://tapas.io/episode/2095520

With love,
Millie Lowelle

Tie-in to Little Distractions on my profile page https://tapas.io/KGBrightwell

I get why people shipped us. I do. And we probably would have made a great couple, Only I really don’t go for the whole bad-boy thing. Either the bad, or the boy. But I get why people went there: because I defended him whenever he went off half-cocked, and he was a bit overprotective where I was concerned. It’s always been the case, ever since we first met in Biology class freshman year.

This was classic Richard.

I should have known better. I can’t stand the sight of blood. But I thought I’d be fine so long as I didn’t look at the screen.

Honestly, the teacher said we could leave if we wanted to—that it wouldn’t harm our grade in any way. I couldn’t tell if she was talking to me in specific or the class in general because I already had my eyes shut. I remember shaking my head in case she was looking in my direction. I was fine. I wasn’t really fine. I was just a tad on the stubborn side.

The kid in the desk behind me—of course it was Richard—muttered something I couldn’t quite hear because at about the same time he started speaking, the circular saw started cutting through the breastbone of the patient. And I fell out of my desk.

When I opened my eyes, our teacher was on her way over— but the video of open heart surgery was still running. I thought I might throw up.

Richard had left his seat and was hovering over me. He asked me if I was okay and then yelled at the teacher to turn the damn video off.

Yeah, you all laugh now. But the teacher didn’t find it quite so funny at the time.

I tried to get up, claiming to be fine, but Richard glared at me and told me to stay put. Which was probably a good thing. I was pretty woozy. At least the video wasn’t playing anymore.

Poor Ms. Morgan. She was a new teacher. I felt bad for passing out during her class. I'm sure there was paperwork involved.

Then get this: Richard bent down and actually picked me up off the ground. I tried to object, but you can imagine how that went. He just looked at me with his fierce brown eyes and I shut my mouth.

He all but carried me to the nurse’s office. And then demanded that some poor kid who showed up looking for a bandaid run to get me some orange juice from the cafeteria. And to cap it all off? He got in school suspension for refusing to go back to class. Or swearing at the teacher. I can't quite recall.

The whole thing would have been a lovely meet cute for a straight couple. Instead he got in school suspension for refusing to leave the nurse’s office and swearing at one of the teachers. And then I broke his heart a few years later when he thought he was in love with me. But it all worked out.

And I couldn’t be more pleased to be here today as his best woman. Congratulations to Richard and Jesse.

“And then I said, look—if you’re going to expect me to keep these working hours in the middle of the hottest season of the year, I’m going to need some compensation for it. That’s not unreasonable, is it?”

“Not at all.” Marlin leaned back, stretching his legs. “Say, would you mind—”

“Oh sure, sure.” Drakos splayed the fine webbing between his fingers, wiggling them to help Marlin nestle into the hammock they created. It tickled when Marlin’s boots nudged the edge of a scale in his palm. Drakos giggled, mirth escaping in a cloud of steam.

Marlin shifted again, settling his boots at the joint between two of Drakos’ fingers, head coming to rest against the base of a wicked, curved claw. He was such a tiny thing, so fleshy and adorably human, and Drakos counted himself lucky one of their kind had chosen him, out of all his brethren, to be a Companion.

Well. The choosing was mutual, really, and if one got technical, there were far more humans than there were Dragonkind. But riders with skill and wit like Marlin were a rare breed, and Drakos had been the envy of his pack when they’d made their match in a lucky encounter at midsummer a year past.

Marlin gave his scales a friendly pat. “Look, the Dragonmistress knows the solstice is right around the corner, and I can’t imagine she’s forgotten about your Week of Holy Fire. She’s piqued lately, what with the wyvern invasion on the southern border, but I’m sure you’ll get your time off.”

Drakos heaved a sigh. Smoke curled from his nostrils, hot enough to bead sweat on Marlins forehead. “Ah, sorry. I forget about that—”

“No worries, mate.” Marlin wafted a hand between them, clearing the smoke. “You’re new to the whole ‘Human Companion’ thing, I get it. Anyway, if you ask me, I think it’ll all sort itself out. In the mean time, why don’t we blow off some steam, so to speak? What say you?”

With a groan at the pun, Drakos shifted, setting Marlin onto his shoulder. He lost sight of him soon thereafter, but tracked his progress by the tip-tap of booted feet along his spine to where the wyrmsilk saddle wrapped from back to belly. The saddle wiggled beneath Marlin’s weight and then his boots connected, warded spurs locking into the chinks in Drakos’ plating to link them. He could feel it, the burn that he and Marlin shared, the need to go up, up, up that was so rare to find in a Human Companion.

Drakos spread his wings and launched for the sky, baring his teeth at Marlin’s delighted whoop.

How’s the new saddle?

His thoughts shimmied over the bumps in his spine and bled into the metal of Marlin’s spurs.

Amazing. An experimental shift in the wyrmsilk gave away Marlin’s intentions, and Drakos banked right even before the request came through the spurs. Lords, did you hear that already? This is great!

Another shift. Wind traced over his scales, cooling his body in delightful ripples. Drakos hung for a low pass around the belfry, grinning at the crowd of little waving humans who greeted them as they passed.

You really do like us, huh? Something warm passed through the wyrmsilk, warmer again through the spurs. It’s mutual, friend.

Now let’s fly.

Here is my entry!
This episode doesn't contain any spoilers, It's a side story.

"Not only the main character need luck"

https://tapas.io/episode/2096227

And a link to my profile!

I love how this prompt is basically my chapter 3

Here's the link to the chapter: https://tapas.io/episode/1931378

And here's the link to my Tapas profile https://tapas.io/MimiSS

I just started a new series and this prompt is perfect! I do hope you all enjoy it. Good Luck to everyone!

Story: https://tapas.io/episode/2098018

My Profile: https://tapas.io/Gumdrop91

Bernard is a child that fond of the cosmos, at night he would always gaze at the sky to see the stars, his dream is to explore the galaxy but he feels quite sad because the current human technology doesn't allow him to explore the galaxy however he wanted, so even if he became an astronaut it would be pointless, so he studies engineering because he saw Elon Musk is able to create this highly advanced rocket then maybe he could too.

After studying engineering he finally understands that creating a rocket is not simple as it seems there are just too many factors to consider not to mention the cost of building a rocket which could cost billions.

But he has an idea if he cannot build his own rocket then he would join Elon Musk's company so he could build a rocket together with the legend himself which he is confident that he can build a rocket that will be able to freely explore the galaxy.

After a few years of studying aerospace engineering he still doesn't catch Elon Musk's eyes it seems he isn't talented enough for Elon Musk, he even tries submitting a job submission but rejected by the SpaceX company.

He was depressed since he was a child he always dream to explore the galaxy he was confident that he could build a spaceship that was able to explore the galaxy but his footstep didn't even move from it's the original place, he is still on earth, chained by the gravity of earth.

So to relieve the stress he decided to explore the earth instead, he ventures to all kinds of places on earth he even found, an ancient city, an ancient cave which hasn't been found yet, he reports every one of his finding to the local government and his name widespread to the internet which makes him famous, but Bernard doesn't want to be famous instead he wants to explore the galaxy so being famous didn't make him happy.

Bernard like usual ventures the earth to replace the urge to explore the galaxy, and just like usual found an ancient cave. Bernard explores the cave with his trustworthy flashlight that he never changes its battery for years and it's still working fine.

Bernard was used to finding an ancient building like this, man-made cave, buried city, buried castle and he would always get some treasure out of it but he didn't fond of those things so he gave them away to the local museum which makes him known as the "Messiah Of Ancient Heritage" He was so famous that historian worship and pray to him before they also make their own adventure around the earth hoping to find an ancient relic just like Bernard.

Bernard on the other doesn't know any of this. he is currently in a cave with a flashlight, he continues to explore inside the cave without fear, well why would he feel fear he didn't even consider fear when he thought of exploring the universe if he feels fear just by exploring caves then he should just kill himself for considering to explore the galaxy.

Bernard wore the same poker face as he looks around the cave, he glances at the walls with unreadable writings, he casually touches a couple of spots on the wall, and with a "clack" sound on the wall that he touches open up with a hidden mechanism. Bernard still with his poker face goes inside the wall, this kind of occurrence was ordinary to him after hundreds of times experiencing this kind of thing, now it's like eating and drinking for him.

But his poker face immediately changes into that of a shock because what he found inside isn't an ancient relic but a baby inside a futuristic looking, transparent pod the baby is hovering inside the pot, this is a scene where you normaly see in science fiction web novel but this isn't a web novel, this is real life that's why Bernard was flabbergasted.

"Hahaha! finally, I am able to explore the galaxy, I have read every book about science fiction and there is one novel just like this where the main lead found a lucky encounter and he will able to fulfill his dream, and it seems like I'm the main lead of this world muahahaha!" Bernard was like a different person, contrary to his poker face earlier he was filled with vigor "Now if I release this little baby inside the pod, he will help me to explore the galaxy! Muhahaha, thank you, god, of the universe, I'm sorry for saying that you are not All-good because you make all kinds of natural disasters, diseases, black energy that will separate us from other universes which will make us isolated from the other universe and unable to explore them. But now I changed my mind you really are the All-good and all-powerful, ohh!! my mighty god" Bernard proceeds to kneel in front of the pod and pray which he had never done since he studies astrophysics.

After a while, Bernard stands up to walk to the pod and touch a few buttons on the side of the pod, even though he doesn't know what those buttons do but since he already believe that God is on his side he thought that anything will work out, and so with confidence and hope for the future Bernard take a step back to see the pod actually open which confirm his thought that God has chosen him. "I really am chosen by gods to lead humanity to explore the universe" Tear of happiness trickle down from his eyes, after years and years of dreaming he finally succeed he thought.

when the pod finally fully opens the baby open its eyes and stares at Bernard which makes him shocked. "Hello, little baby! ready for an adventure?!" Bernard replaces his shocked face with a smile and opens his hands majestically. 'since he was the main lead then he could act a little dramatic' he thought.

"Foolish Homo Sapiens!" Bernard was shocked because the one who said those lines are not him but the baby and not only that the baby is still floating inside the pod while staring at him.

Bernard takes 2 steps back and asks "Yo...You can talk?" The baby rolls his eyes and clicks his tongue "Foolish Homo Sapiens! You better stop asking questions and help me return to my planet, after transforming your DNA's race your kind must be advanced enough to create a shuttle to travel to my planet!"

"Where is your planet?!" Bernard had so many questions in his head but since the baby seems irritated he didn't dare to ask his personal question and instantly get right down to business!"

"My planet is Kepler-452b, tell your kind to prepare a spaceship for my return back home now!" The baby was irritated it seems like he doesn't want to speak with Bernard anymore.

Hearing this Bernard was flabbergasted and hurriedly said "But that's impossible Kepler-452 is 1,402 light-years away from earth and that planet was found by humans with a telescope called Kepler Space Telescope!" The baby landed on the ground with a bang and a shockwave surge into Bernard which make him take a few steps back. "What? You said your kind found the planet?! I was the one who tells them about it a long time ago about the planet, I change your kind's DNA so your kind can get more intelligence which in turn your kind promise me to take me home when they are able to, how dare someone take credit of the finding! Hmph! no matter as long as you Homo Sapiens take me home I'll let you do everything you want!"

"Bu...But we can't take you there because it's too far away our technology isn't enough to do that currently! Here this is called a phone in here you can search any information about the current human society!" Bernard decides to give the baby his phone so he doesn't have to explain it by himself.

The baby had a smirk on his face "Ohh so you already make a Centralised Information Bank! Well if you can't even do that then I would have wasted my DNA Improvement Agent!" The baby snatches the phone and uses it like he manufactures the phone itself.

The baby had a smile when he took the phone but his face turns uglier and uglier the longer he searches on the phone. "Ho...How can humans be so fucking dumb?! War with each other?! Using war to win politics?! And your dumb race focuses more on Weapon development rather than space exploration and bio-engineering?! Crap didn't you know that your stupid earth will eventually vaporize as the sun get hotter and hotter and natural disaster will keep on hitting your race which slows down your development and not only you focus on creating weapons you even make weapons to destroy the earth itself!!! How foolish, I know I shouldn't give the agents to you monkeys!"

Hearing this bernard was flabbergasted and he didn't know what to do because this is the first time he sees a baby that able to use a smartphone while talking about how foolish a human is as a whole. "Forget it, I'll return to my Time-Space Pod, you on the other hand will get an Advanced DNA Optimiser which will improve your DNA by 2%. After that, you better make sure to prevent humans from destroying itself before you can make a spaceship to get me home!!" The baby throws a test tube that has a blue liquid in it and immediately gets inside the pod before closing his eyes.

Bernard was taken aback but luckily he caught the test tube if it falls and breaks that would be a waste because it's an Agent that can improve your DNA by 2%. 2 motherfucking percent you know what that means? the smartest monkey are able to understand sign language if you train them, they have the same intelligence as a toddler and the difference in DNA between monkeys and humans is 2%! yet with 2%, we have all these things that monkeys are impossible to understand. We have poetry, music, physics, science, art, video games, web novel. the monkey probably thinks that we are a god because we are so complicated that they are unable to understand us.

So if bernard is able to improve his DNA by 2% then the current human civilization would be a monkey group to him which makes him very happy and even though he doesn't get to explore space immediately he got something better. "Hahaha with this I can make my own spaceship, warp gate, create planets, understand dark energy, dark matter, and of course I can finally explore the galaxy or even the UNIVERSE!!!"

By Harlyboy59

I Have a lot of fun writting this, English is not my native languge so if you do see mistakes tell me about and please don't bully me LOL

Omg this is so much fun! I've pasted an excerpt from my current novel The Burdens We Hide because it's a lucky meeting for both characters (though they don't know it yet ) Link to the story and profile below!

The trip down memory lane cost him. Lost in his thoughts, Chushi met slight resistance back in the physical world, and stumbled. Before he could fall completely, an icy hand grabbed his wrist, saving him from the ground but sparing none of his mortification. Embarrassment welled up inside his stomach as he dusted his jeans off. “Sorry.”

There was no one else out here this early in the morning, so he knew who stood before him. They had never been this close before, and Chushi knew that meeting Aoto’s eyes would reduce him to a stuttering mess. He took a step to move past him, but that cold hand gripped him tighter. “What was that?”

“I-I said s-sorry.” Chūshi was by no means small or weak, but something about Aoto’s grip weakened him. He cleared his throat, still boring holes into Aoto’s black tennis shoes with his gaze. “Won’t happen again. So, uh, l-let me go?”

The air, already still, froze. Almost as if Aoto’s black hole rippled and expanded until only the two of them remained. “How can I let you go when you sound unsure of it yourself?”

How can you sound so lifeless and yet so…

Chūshi didn’t know what to do. He was being laughed at, even though he knew if he looked at Aoto’s face, it’d be as flat as his tone. One thing Chūshi couldn’t stand: being laughed at. Remembering his pride, strength returned to him and he jerked his arm away, finally looking up.

Bottomless pools tempted him behind square glasses, looming larger due to the slight magnification. Chūshi felt his resolve shake, but somehow could tell that his stunned reaction was a cause for Aoto to laugh harder. His expression remained the same though as he waited for Chūshi to respond.

Link to profile: https://tapas.io/rizamasuyama