Challenge 13: Picture Challenge

[IsabellaRose]

I couldn't come up with an idea. A guy I play TTRPGs with on Roll20 suggested I give him a prompt and he'd feed it into an ai art program, so I did. After a few I ended up with "anime scene lovers" and got this quadruple image.

The Challenge

Write a short story (max 2,000 words) about the characters in one of the four pictures above. 

Post your story as a reply in this thread. Please limit this thread to entries for this challenge. If you have questions or comments, please post them in the Discussion thread.

I'll post a poll to vote for winners after the deadline. 

Deadline

Midnight (EST) Saturday, 11 Feb, 2023

Limits

1 entry per person

2,000 words max per entry

Prizes

1st Place: 2,000 EcchiCredits

2nd Place: 1,000 EcchiCredits

3rd Place: 500 EcchiCredits

[Elena Ichinomiya]

Continue?

When it come to couple, like, real lovey dovey couple, it should be something that sweet and would burn into memory, through thick and thin. Though I would say its subjective. Some form of love can be sickening to the point its scary. But my love story with him? Oh god why. No he’s not abusive, if anything he care far too much for his own good. I even wonder why no one bat an eye on him. He might be aloof but deep down he is caring. He just don’t flaunt it. I mean there’s a time where he feel bad for messing up our first date, he decide its best to arrive early. Oh and no, its not one hour early or something. He’s been there for almost two hour early. What is he thinking? Turn out he don’t want to be distracted because its pretty easy for him.

Now that he done it, I have to pay him back, right? So I decide, why don’t we have a date on a familiar place like, you know, my room? Now it might be bold move but thing is, he’s been visiting my room plenty of times, but only when there’s occasion.

Well guess what? He prefer his room instead. I don’t mind that, I visit his room a lot too. But just like him, I only visit when I have good reason to.

We spent a lot of time talking about whatever but then we realize…we didn’t do a thing what lover do. No flirt, no hug, not even kiss…or sex? Okay, the latter might be too forward, but we clearly not even thinking to do that. I mean I would do that but I don’t find a chance to make the move. It would turn the conversation awkward. So our date end in pretty much of a flatline. He is nice enough to escort me back to a bus stop. But in that very spot…he finally cracking down.

---

Our date was…bust. I know, I’m a guy, I’m leading the charge, but I’m no pushover. Sure we’re dating, heck, I’m the one who ask her out. But I just can’t bring myself to be so forward…I just can’t. She need to know something first before I go about it. So at the bus stop, I told her. Finally.

I told her I like her. That doesn’t change. But the thing is, what start as attraction, is now become a poison. I see her differently, every time. Her smile, her body language. I just can’t stop the thought. Sorry to say, its not as sweet as you think. I dream…no, imagine sometimes…

She lie down as I’m on top of her. Sharing kiss. Touching each other.

And hear her beg…

So much that I don’t care if we’re still in high school. If you know what I mean. Now you know why I can’t bring myself to love her. Out of fear of myself. And yet she stays with me regardless. She might not Ms. Popular but if she tries, she could get the better option than a man who jerk off to her inside my mind. She deserves love that suit her. I don’t have such thing to offer…

---

So turn out, he hid the monster inside him and it result him being so cautious. The only time he let himself go is when he confesses to me. And that’s it, he shrink back to his safe bubble because he think it was the best for us. Well, to him at least.

I response with chuckle and sit down while told him to go along. I told him to sit while facing away so our back is touching each other. He then asks me what am I trying to do. I told him if he really love me, then he should spill what’s on his mind about me. Obviously, he hesitate.

---

Is she crazy? Does she even get it what I’m trying to convey here? But…she stays so there’s that. She told me to spill everything. Thing is, we’re at public place...oh screw this, who care, its just us at the moment. I told her everything what I felt about her, it sounds sickening and even though it’s the truth coming out of my mouth, it disgust me. I can’t believe I told her this. I’m pretty sure that’s it, our relationship screwed. But…

---

I never expect him to be that blunt but oh well, I better say something before he thinks I’m humiliating him. I ask him what he felt about what he just said. And also, why he felt like against it. And finally, how does he feel after letting it all out.

---

I told her it’s sickening. I wish I’m not become that man. I would swear on my grave I wouldn’t become such man. Then she ask me how I felt now after all this antic…I feel relieved for some reason. Like, nothing hold me back when it come to her…was this is the reason she do this to me?

---

Of course, it is. He holding himself back way too often. On our first date, he tries to hold my hand. On the next one, he want to do me but got a cold feet. And I can tell the way he invites me to hang out at his place, he seems adamant to put our relationship as real deal. But again, he got cold feet. He doesn’t want to get carried away. But he can’t convince himself he won’t. So I simply told him.

“If you know I would hate it, I bet you won’t do it in the first place”

That was bold, but perhaps that’s how love going to affect you. He proceed to turn around and as result, I turn around and face him to ask what’s up. Well, he just plant a kiss on my lips all of sudden. There goes my first kiss. I don’t mind that of course. He seems to gain his confidence but what he said next is a head scratcher. He told me if I’m ready to put our relationship to next level, just say the words.

My words, he is so hopeless. Oh well, since he give me the rein…I told him we could. But in my place this time.

---

“What if I become the man that you don’t want me to be after this?”

“Then we should try again and see what's work”

“If it fail?”

“We’ll try again of course~”

[Lookin4fun]

(Hello! This is my first time participating in this and I'm really excited as I have wanted to ever since I found out about it. I hope you like my story and I wish everyone luck! -L4f)

************************************************

 

Morning broke over the spiked horizon of Neo Yokosato. The towering buildings pierced the bright orange glow from the rising sun. In a small apartment at the south end of the city, the two magisynth androids flashed to life. Sitting up from their charging beds, the two sheepishly glanced towards each other, with scarcely a smile glimmering across their lips.

It had been ages since Aster and Cassandra had engaged in a friendly or deep conversation. Hence, the sullen lovers got about their daily routine, starting with their hygiene. Around the bathroom they danced, like chess pieces on a dangerous board. Each square in the other’s path a death trap to steer clear, much like the unspoken conflict that they were both avoiding.

With their hygiene complete, they mutely invaded the kitchen and sat down for breakfast. They ate in hushed silence, making eye contact only once, and for barely a second. Secretly, they both felt the incredible tension and yet longed for the former connection they once held dear.

“H-have… a good day…” Aster muttered to Cassandra, not knowing what else to say.

Cassandra’s eyes were distant, yet not without love. Cold, like something inside of her had been irrevocably shattered. Aster leaned in for a kiss, but Cassandra swiftly turned her head to the side. “Go,” she replied, interjecting Aster’s futile attempt.

They both knew he had no choice. No magisynth had choices anymore. Ever since the crystal orbs had been discovered, humanity had begun to flourish like never before. The orbs had power, like magic, yet they blended seamlessly technology. It wasn’t long before the crude robots that man had made were lifted into conscious, feeling, autonomous creatures. And all it took was a magic orb for each one.

As the magic and technology progressed together, each robot was upgraded and upgraded until they became a magisynth. Gradually through this, the robots had surreptitiously gained the self-governance not unlike that of humans. But it came too late for them, as the cruel nature of humanity had slated the robots into the unwanted vocations.

Soldiers, slaves, prostitutes, laborers, the average magisynth would have held a variety of jobs and Aster was no exception. Hence, the cause of the current tension between him and Cassandra.

Despite their current situation, the duo had actually been fairly lucky. Defying the odds, they had been granted a small two-person apartment. Within the towering spires of Neo Yokosato, magisynths were usually packing into tight 30 person dwellings, scarcely better than military barracks. Cots would line the sparse and often dank lodgings. Crammed like a hive of bees, the chance to form a family was nonexistent.

At first, Aster and Cassandra were ecstatic as they were given a chance to form a bond. They each had good jobs, working as field laborers not far from each other. Alas, things were not to remain that way forever and as it said in the scorched pages of a book Cassandra had found, “All good things must come to an end.” As such, Aster had been noticed by a rich aristocratic woman on some fateful summer day.

“My, aren’t you just so pretty,” she purred. Before long, Aster found himself in her room and being used in all sorts of unseemly positions.

When he was dismissed, the workday had been over for some time. Uneasily, he headed back to his apartment, only to find Cassandra patiently waiting at the dinner table. His food was cold, but Cassandra was still speaking to him. He searched her words, looking for any kind of tone, but found none. He took her to the park that night and with what little money they had squirreled away, he bought her ice cream, her favorite treat.

Unfortunately, word had gotten out and the next day, Cassandra did not seem him out in the fields. Once again, he returned home, reeking and stinking of the perfume of other women. This time, it was an uncountable number. The offensive stench enraged her, but she knew he had no choice. The inhibition chips in each magisynth prevented free will. Prevented self defense. She couldn’t even be allowed to fight for her love.

The memories of the past faded from their present interaction and a small sigh escaped Aster’s lips. Wordlessly, Aster opened the door, leaving her and her mind to the gross and cold comfort of his activities. Cassandra took her gloves and water bottle while she stifled back her tears. With one last sip of coffee she went to the door and headed down to the fields.

Meanwhile, Aster had trudged his feet toward the alley. A line of magisynths hailed toward the sprawling trail of cars and pedestrians. The occasional flash of tits or ass delighted the eyes of the crowd, with the passing eager customers snatching a prize, taking them like a shiny apple from the produce stand.

“Hello big boy,” came the sultry voice of a tall, voluptuous woman.

Aster, lost in thoughts, had scarcely noticed her approaching. He looked into her eyes and flashing a smile, replied, “Y-yes ma’am.”

The woman groped his collar, pulling his body close to hers. “Ohh, such a gentle man. I bet we’re going to have a lot of fun together, huh?”

With the strength he lacked, Aster willed himself to push Cassandra out of his mind and failed spectacularly. He planted his lips onto hers, covering the bright red lipstick on her mouth. After a few seconds, Aster broke the kiss, and answered back, “You’ll never have a better time than with me, ma’am.”

The woman raised her eyebrow. Her prodding eyes seductively glance down Aster’s body, looking at him as if he were already naked before her, like raw meat about to be raked over a hot grill. Her mouth curled upwards on either end and through her seductive smile, she spoke again. “Well, let’s get you back home so that I can see that nice cock of yours, big boy.”

The day turned to evening as the sun slid like a solitary rain drop on a window. The faces and bodies of the women who used him blended together until his mind could not comprehend the unrecognizable mass of groping hands and bouncing tits or asses. Lipstick adorned his body and was smeared across his cheek. He stood in front of the window of a car, trying to fix his disheveled hair, while tuning out the wet sounds of his hips slapping against the thighs of the women that echoed in his mind. Their moans reverberated against his conscience, shaking his confidence in his ability to even speak to Cassandra.

Slowly, without deliberate effort, his feet made their way up into the apartment. Drenched in the perfume of innumerable women and without a word to say, Aster took a deep breath. Beyond that door sat Cassandra and doubtless, her makeup would be streaked downwards from her eyes. His fingers gripped the handle, and he held it for a long time.

His thoughts were far from empty, yet as he bounced between courage and cowardice, he let go of the handle. He turned his back, unable to face the utterly broken woman. Taking the most loving act he could think to do in that moment, however foolish it was, he left the apartment complex and walked towards the shimmering horizon.

[Mr. Satyr]

(Using the lower right picture for the prompt. First time submitting, so huzzah.)

Amy sighed, leaning back-to-back with her companion, Dugen. “It’s cold.”

He grunted with acknowledgement.

 “Do you think they’ll be here?” she asked, letting worry creep into her voice.

“They’ll be here.” he answered, soft, but firm in his belief.

That made her feel a little better. Dugen was good at taking the measure of a person. ‘A good judge of character’ as some would say. Ami, on the other hand, was good at *seeing* people and they often enjoyed the fact she wasn’t looking at a persona or mask people put up, but who the person truly was. Many found it a kind of quiet relief.

Voice rising in volume to match her lighter mood, she asked, “Do you think they’ll be here soon?”

Dugen grunted again.

Bored with staring at the sidewalk or down the street to watch her end, Amy took in her surroundings with more detail. They were waiting in front of a local convenience store. Neither was worried about the workers telling them to stop loitering, because these were their old stomping grounds and they still visited family and friends in the area. They were regulars.

Down the street was a restaurant both of them loved for the excellent food and cozy atmosphere. Frankly, Dugen would have preferred to wait in the restaurant to stay warm with some light appetizers, but Amy had insisted on waiting outside for their whole group to arrive. He had to admit she had a point. If the others showed up and didn’t see either Amy or Dugen, they might leave without a word and their efforts would be for naught.

Around the corner was an arcade that both had spent many happy days at, feeding coin after coin to machines that blinked and peeped with points won and lost. It was as busy as their early years and they’d seen a steady flow of people when they passed it on the way here.

“Why are we doing this again?” Amy asked, knowing the answer, but wanting to hear Dugen say it.

He shifted, making her move in response to get comfortable and not lose her warm spot. “Because we both know we need to do this.” Dugen could practically hear Amy taking a breath to comment and carried on, “They’re both bright but, ‘even the wisest man can be a consummate idiot.’”

“They’re not that dense. They’d figure it out eventually.” the young woman glanced over her shoulder and Dugen mirrored her action. His eyebrow was raised in a dubious look and Amy rolled her eyes to concede the argument. “Maybe.”

Knowing Amy wanted to fill the silence to settle her own nerves, Dugen asked as they returned to keeping vigil of their own end of the street. “Did you ever get those light bulbs?”

“Didn’t need to. Caroline saw the grocery list and told me there were a few spares in her closet I could help myself to.”

“That was nice of her.”

“Well, Caroline is nice.” Amy replied. Her voice told Dugen of the wry smile she was wearing, “Of course Max had to snark about it. Something like, ‘as far as I’m concerned, if I don’t like what i pull out of my closet lind, that’s my fault for having a crappy wardrobe.’”

Dugen actually chuckled at that, his rumble of amusement moving his back and making Amy smile wide in reaction. “Speaking of…” she began with a teasing tone and Dugen’s chuckle turned into a suppressed groan.

“Amy, really?” He’d hoped to avoid another instance of this conversation, but he supposed he walked into it when she started talking about their friends.

“I’m just saying, it’s not a huge secret that you like her. You and Max are really birds of a feather. Except she’s mouthy and you’re….well, not.”

“I’m not that obvious.” Dugen replied, a little defensively.

His companion laughed at that. His tone was so much like a sulking child and so familiar. “Everyone knows because they can all see it. Especially Max. Why not ask her out?”

Dugen stayed quiet.

“Or are you just too shy?” Amy teased a bit more.

The young man shifted again, his discomfort clear in his posture and the way he pulled in a little. A giggle from Amy and she continued, “Yes, she can be a bit confrontational, but we both know she’s a super nice person underneath. You especially know that. She’s never been anything but cool with both of us.”

Breaking his awkward silence, Dugan replied, “I know she’s cool, but…”

Amy filled in the blanks easily, “You think she’s too cool for you?”

His silence spoke volumes to his friend. “Dugen, come on. You’re cool. You don’t flaunt it or anything and you’re not a jerk or anything about it. Just like her.”

At his return to silence, Amy sighed. He was great at reading other people, but horrible with himself. “Bet ya?” she asked, cheekily.

Dugen groaned again, knowing how this was going to play out. “Really?”

“Really.” Amy grinned. Throughout the entire conversation, neither had looked back at each other and kept watch for their expected company, but each had known each other so long they could picture expressions in their mind’s eye with perfect accuracy.

Amy liked friendly bets and gambling. A trait that had led to some embarrassing circumstances for Dugen. He wasn’t a gambler himself, but he indulged Amy when she’d learned to reign in the enthusiasm and think about the stakes and how they affected others. She’d learned years ago that a friendly bet was a perfect win-win to motivate both of them. He did it to entertain her and she did it to help him when he needed a friendly kick in the ass.

Resigning himself to his fate, he sighed out, “Alright, what are the terms?”

“Hmmmm….” Amy pondered, finger to her chin and a thoughtful expression on her face. She brightened up quickly and her expression was impish. “How about this, depending on how our little get together goes, you have to ask out Max?”

Dugen had one hand on his face, peeking through his fingers to make sure he was still watching the street, but not thrilled at the direction this conversation had taken. He should have stuck to grunting. “Could you be a bit more specific?”

Amy was grinning like a jack-o-lantern by now, quite pleased with herself. “If the get-together goes well, you ask out Max. Nothing fancy, just dinner and a movie maybe. Something tried-and-true. But, if the meeting goes badly, I will shut up and you can handle any approach, or non-approach with Max at your own pace. Deal?” Amy held up one of her hands above her head, plums facing behind her. Dugen, without even looking, raised his own hand in a matching gesture and the two high-fived before twiddling their fingers at each other. Sealing the bet with their ‘secret handshake’, the duo returned to silence, but a comfortable one. Amy’s nerves were gone, replaced with a happy anticipation for the rest of the night and the days ahead, and Dugen was quietly grateful that he’d have to do something, even if his nerves had begun to tangle at the thought of asking his crush out.

“I hope they get here soon.” Dugen muttered. Only a few minutes had passed before he spotted a pair of figures approaching them from the end of the sidewalk. ‘Huh, speak of the devil…’ he thought to himself. Straightening up, he gave Amy a light nudge behind him. “They’re here.”

Amy almost vaulted from her spot, grinning with enough energy to power the entire city for a year. “Welcome, one and all!” she cheered. Dugen face-palmed behind her as the pair hesitated to approach further and he saw the tension in their postures.

“Try to tone it down a bit, please?” he asked. “We don’t want to scare them off before the night even starts.”

“Right, right.” Amy agreed, looking sheepish. “But I’m still gonna be happy. Two of our best friends might start dating. And then my other best friend will have to ask out his crush. And then we can all start having babies?!”

“Alright, Monica.” Dugen muttered again. “I don’t know how your boyfriend handles you.”

Amy stuck out her tongue as their friends had gotten over their hesitation and were almost within normal speaking distance. “He loves my energy.”

“I suppose someone has to.” her companion snarked, waving at the newcomers.

“Just you wait, buddy. You’ll be on a date yourself before the month is through.” she rebutted.

Dugen blanched just as their mutual friends greeted them and the group proceeded to the restaurant.

‘Blind dates are the best.’ Amy thought to herself with a grin.

Edited February 4, 2023 by Mr. Satyr
spacing

[MynameisAlly]

 

   The meat franks danced on the rotisserie along with fried cheese and sausage wraps. Above the pane glass read a sign detailing the special: “2 for $3.” They sparkled in the coating of grease. The smell remained incredibly prominent, filling up the convenient store. The young male stared at the clear container in a daze, watching the oils drip to the bottom. He accidentally tuned out the noises of sizzling meat and the sounds of the door bell.

 

   He felt a tight sensation in his rib. Looking down, he saw that Marissa elbowed him. “Hey, you okay? You’re just staring off into space,” she mentioned, noticing his turned glance. Marissa grabbed the available prongs, opening the plastic box and grabbing a hot dog. “You ignoring me?”

 

   “Umm, no. I was listening,” Marshall responded quickly. He scratched the back of his head. The young male looked into Marissa’a bright eyes. The simple glance took unnecessarily long, transiting into a moment of awkward silence. Marissa sucked air through her teeth. Annoyed, her forehead wrinkled.

 

   “If you were listening, you would’ve heard me asking what you’re getting,” Marissa sighed. “You’re getting a hot dog.”   With two wieners in a paper sheet, she grabbed two buns nearby. 

 

   Marshall clicked his tongue. “I-I was listening. What I was doing was still deciding,” he spat.

 

   “You’re just lying now,” Marissa shrugged her shoulders. “Can you hurry up and just pay for these?” She pushed the food items into his rough hands. Marshall rolled his eyes and followed her over to the cash register. He greeted the employee with a monotone voice.

 

   The employee eyed the girl, his silver eyebrows raised slightly before inputting the codes into the register. He showed his gums, announcing the total. As Marshall picked through his pocket, the employee tapped his chin. “You two make a lovely couple,” he chuckled.

 

   Marshall placed a ten dollar bill on the counter. “All I have is a $10,” he noted. He took a step back and placed his hands on his hips. Looking up at the ceiling as the transaction was progressing, he glanced over at Marissa. 

 

   She waved her hand. “Umm, did you hear him?” 

 

   Marshall shook his head. “Huh? Oh, thank you, sir.” He saluted the man with two fingers pushing off of his forehead. 

 

   “Unbelievable,” Marissa mumbled under her breath. She took the hot dogs in her hands and gestured her head over to the back of the store. “I’m going to take a seat back there.”

 

   Marshall nodded his head. For the brief moment, he cheeked the time on his phone. “Almost getting late out,” he spoke to himself. He accepted his change and dragged his feet over to Marissa. He caught her taking several bites of her hot dog. Taking the seat across from her, he looked down at his own. 

 

   Gas station frankfurters definitely stood as a risk. Scratching his head, Marshall swallowed his cowardice and took a big bite of his food. He could tell the meat had been warming up on the rotisserie for a while. Compared to Marissa, she was having an easier time chowing down. She swallowed with less restraint. 

 

   As he tried chewing his bite, the silence was broken. “Y’know, I think I can do a lot better,” she gulped. Marissa propped her elbow up on the table and leaned on her hand. 

 

   Marshall slowly blinked, trying to process the comment. “,,,What are you even talking about?” He massaged his neck, already feeling uncomfortable.

 

   “Well, it’s like I said. I can do way better than you,” Marissa reinforced her statement. “Anything to add?”

 

   Marshall exhaled before raising his hands. “You’re probably right. You could do a lot better.”

 

   Marissa scoffed, “Ha! That’s what women like. Men without confidence.”

 

   Marshall shook his head, daring another bite of his meal. After two bites, he was done and couldn’t touch his food again. There was a hint of silence enveloping the table. Despite the sounds of the convenient store, Marshall couldn’t hear anything.

 

   The silence was broken when the cashier confronted their table. He placed a familiar cellular device near Marshall’s plate. “Hello, you forgot this at the counter.”

 

   “Jeez, your head is not screwed on, right?” Marissa commented. Marshall tapped his pockets and realized he did forget it after all. He thanked the cashier, slipping the phone back into his pocket.

 

   “I like the sassy ones too,” the cashier smirked. He headed back behind the counter leaving the two to finish their meal.

 

   Marissa gagged. She shook her head and swallowed the last morsel of her hot dog. “We’ll probably need some drinks and chips for the apartment. Do you mind going by yourself? The guy creeps me out,” she admitted.

 

   Marshall gave her a thumbs up gesture. He dragged his feet, glancing over at Marissa who waited at the door for him. Grabbing two sodas and two bags of chips, he began his transaction with the store employee again.

 

   After scanning the items quietly, the cashier spoke up. “I get it, man. Jail bait is probably one of my weaknesses too,” the cashier chuckled. 

 

   Marshall put his PIN number into the machine. He looked up as he finalized the purchase. His eyes squinted and his brow furrowed. Clenching his fist, he muttered “What?” The young man was unsure what he heard.

 

   Marissa reached over his shoulder and grabbed the bag with the goods. “Umm, thank you! We’ll be going now!” She rubbed on Marshall’s arm, trying to get him to exit the store.

 

   It was a quiet walk to their apartment. Marshall stayed close to the road as he walked beside Marissa. Mainly because Marissa mentioned that’s what he needs to do. Upon arriving to their apartment, he could feel her judgement.

 

   It wasn’t Marissa’s first time spending the night over. Marshall didn’t have much in his studio apartment. With the mattress on the floor and a small tv in the corner, he was doing his best to get by. He wished he could do more. As they ate their chips and watched tv, he felt more of how Marissa was uncomfortable.

 

   As they shared the bed on the floor, he focused on the churning of the ceiling fan to fall asleep. Again, the silence was broken by Marissa speaking up. “I don’t think I can do this,” she muttered.

 

   The air was heavy but Marshall expected it. He breathed slowly before speaking. “Not what you’re used to, huh?”

 

   Marissa shifted, ruffling the blanket they shared. “You know that’s not it. You’re not opening up to me. You completely dazed out today, forgetting your phone, there was just so many things…”

 

   Marshall stayed quiet. His heavy sighing was a sign of itself that he was listening.

 

   “I know that you had your issues with your mom. I know you had your reason to leave as soon as you were given the chance. I get that,” Marissa spoke clearly. “I don’t hold it against you. Mom, she never opened up to me about her drug problem.”

 

   Marissa turned around, facing the back of Marshall’s head. “You wouldn’t have known either. I am grateful for you taking me in but you have to speak to me. I know it’s eating at you. Please, I don’t have anyone else to speak to. If you don’t, I don’t think I can stick around.”

 

   There was only heavy silence that followed. Marshal’s heavy sighing had stopped. Only the ceiling fan could be heard between the two. Marissa shifted back to her original position as time went by, knowing that Marshall made his decision to not confide in her. She almost drifted into sleep until the silence was broken.

 

   “It hurts,” Marshal said. 
 

(11:59)