Time, Space, and Fantasy

MicroFiction Roundup #3

FlickerFics

Checklist for the Perfect Self-Care Day

Cabin in the middle of nowhere. ✔️

Bath bomb. ✔️

Cucumber face mask. ✔️

Relaxing playlist. ✔️

Fluffy robe. ✔️

Friends barging in on you because one of them nearly lost a finger and you forgot to turn off your location-tracking app. ✔️

When you’re the group’s healer, your work is never done.

Snakefolk

Don’t let the naga’s lack of legs fool you. Their ability to take up arms gives them an edge over other serpent races. Their strong physiques, polished scales, and hypnotic rattles make them infinitely more charming than humans. Yet another example of the sum being greater than its parts.

A Very Specific Clairvoyant

“Who’s ready to watch The Mingler?” Jen asked, holding a bottle.

“Wine? You angel,” Terry said.

Jen stopped moving, eyes glazing over. “You have a leak in the kitchen. I’ll get my tools.”

Terry sighed. Last time Jen’s plumb-senses kicked in, she installed two new toilets and a “mega-bidet.”

Lightning 100

Library of Chronos

Dray sorted the mail and found an envelope from the still under construction library. He opened it and drew out a library card.

He looked to his husband. “Did you sign me up for this?”

Beck set aside his crossword. “No? But it’s a time traveler’s library. Maybe future Dray did?”

“Huh?”

Poof! A book appeared in Dray’s hand.

“Nice! Future Dray checked something out!”

Poof! It vanished. Beck frowned. “Guess it was due back.”

“I had it for five seconds!”

Poof! A sheet of paper floated into Dray’s hand. “A fine?!”

“Guess you’re going to forget to return something.”

“Yeah, you can check any of these out last month.” (Photo by Henry Be on Unsplash)

Oops, Wrong Dimension

Mary was on foot when she heard a car speeding toward her. Brakes squealed, and burned rubber filled the air. The vehicle stopped inches away. The window rolled down.

She gasped.

The driver looked exactly like her brother, only he bore the same red hair she did. “Mary Duran? The multiverse needs you.”

Oh god. This was her calling! She raced into the passenger seat.

“The name’s Barry and—Oh. No gray streak in your hair. You’re not Mary Prime. Exit the vehicle.”

“What? No, let me help! I’ll dye my hair!”

Barry sighed, reaching for the ejection seat button.

“It breaks my heart to do this to a lady version of me.” - Barry, probably (Photo by Jack Gardner on Unsplash)