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Les P

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2024

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35 Followers
3 Following

15 Stories

319 karma pts

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Monsters After Dark

Weekly Contest #371

I stood at the mouth of an alleyway off the brick paved streets. Groups of people walked along. Some had their arms wrapped around themselves, whether from the chill of the October air, or from fear of what might be around any corner, it was hard to tell at a glance. But it was those who lacked vigilance, at the edges of their respective parties, that made the perfect targets. As one group of people, three strong, passed by, I realized the man nearest to me had his head turned away. He was chatting amiably to his two lady friends. But most i...

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The Murder of Doctor Dragonfly

Weekly Contest #364

The circus was packed to capacity. Blue and green lights sparkled off the iridescent leotard of Doctor Dragonfly as he flipped and careened through the air. The audience gasped and cheered each time he made a leap from one bar to the next. Until his left hand slipped off his target, and he fell momentously down to the net. But instead of bouncing harmlessly back on the net, the man’s weight thudded into the sand below. The audience went silent, as if holding its breath. Doctor Dragonfly did not move. A woman pointed and screamed when she saw...

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Lunar Sabotage

Weekly Contest #357

“I hereby call this meeting to order. We are gathered to discuss our plans to declare independence from Earth and establish this Lunar Colony as a self-governing body. As is laid out in your agendas, we will begin with arguments for the proposal on the table, followed by arguments against. We will then hold a council vote on whether to accept or reject the motion. Madame Secretary, please call the first speaker.” A cameraperson captured the events in the central meeting room of Lunar Colony 1-A. From the dry, parliamentary fashion in which t...

15 likes 2 comments 2
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The Greenhouse Incident at Station 648

Weekly Contest #354

I was alone for New Year’s Eve this year. But then, that was my fault, so I could hardly blame anyone else. Who was it, again, who opened the plant sample that the cosmonauts sent back through the matter transporter from Vesuvius IV? Who was it who didn’t read the warning, because it was still my first day of the internship and I hadn’t read the manual yet? And who failed to engage the face wash station protocol that might’ve stopped the infection? Me, myself, and I. Those are the only people I have to blame. But that fact didn’t make the so...

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Time Travel Microwave

Weekly Contest #348

[TW: underage drug/alcohol use] The single greatest leap forward in the knowledge base of humanity was not earned. It was given. An anonymous messenger hand-delivered a time machine to two enterprising young students at the University of Central Florida. He gave a long and detailed speech about the importance of teamwork, the values of principled experimentation, and the power they now had in front of them. He disappeared in a flash of light just as suddenly as he appeared, leaving behind a mysterious device. Unfortunately, the specific stu...

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Coming Apart

Weekly Contest #347

“You swore you’d never fall apart on me like this.” “I know.” My fingers trembled around my dagger. Charya stood just a few feet from me, but I knew that even if I could overcome the nerves that were keeping me frozen in place, her blade would stop me long before I could launch mine at her. She applied the slightest upward pressure toward the rapier at my throat. Instinct pulled my chin upwards, but I still couldn’t meet her gaze. My eyes looked to the left, at the body of my companion, limp in the dust. “Look at me, Vie. I need to know what...

6 likes 4 comments 4
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Kid Brother

Weekly Contest #334

Once upon a time, there were a pair of orphans. Their mother and father had passed away, and so Alonya and her little brother Ivan both lived in a cottage out in the forest, far from the village. Alonya knew she had to work hard to support the both of them, so she found work in the village. But it was a long walk both ways, and she had to keep Ivan close by her side. One day, Alonya was taking Ivan back home, and so they took the long road through the fields, back to their home in the forest. But Ivan had not drank his fill before they set o...

10 likes 2 comments 2
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Stormy Mood

Weekly Contest #316

The weather outside was turning quickly. My girlfriend approached the table across from me. She carried two cups. One hot cappuccino for herself, and an iced matcha latte for me. We usually switched off who would pay for things like this. This round was on her. Outside, I heard thunder in the distance, and through the open cafe windows, smelled the coming rain. She looked visibly uncomfortable. "Hey, are you alright?" "I'm fine. Don't worry about me," she replied. I reached for the latte. Once she gave it to me, I saw her hand was trembling....

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Like, Whatever

Weekly Contest #303

5/18/25 That bitch picked the wrong girl's man. Obviously everyone was drunk at Vanessa's party. But she shouldn't have been there in the first place! She should've just been at home, being her usual good girl self, reading Emily Dickinson or whatever she does on Saturday nights. But she managed to find her way to Vanessa's house. Managed to find the punch bowl. Managed not to notice the fact it was Evercleared as fuck. And then managed to get into the hot tub with MY man! Ridiculous! Oh, diary, when I saw the two of them mashing face that ...

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I Will Not

Weekly Contest #301

I followed the server, heels clicking against the marble floor, to the table. I glanced at the vintage mechanical watch on my left wrist, rose gold dial ticking methodically. My timing was perfect, with five minutes to spare. It was poor form to be late when meeting a prospective client. Especially so when they make it clear they're serious about hiring me, or when they have this much money to throw around. His choice of venue was impressive. A winery in name, but the menu featured imported beef and fine seafood, at "market price." Most peop...

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How I Became Acolyte to Primordial Chaos

Shortlisted for Contest #299 ⭐️

CW: TransphobiaHow familiar are you with chaos theory?An old adage goes that if a butterfly somewhere in Brazil flaps its wings, it can potentially form a tornado in Texas, because everything is connected. Ask a meteorologist how often they consult butterfly wings when writing weather reports, and they might look at you a bit funny. But the metaphor still works.So what if you could control the butterflies? Not just one, but all of them? Every single factor in the complex, nearly unknowable ecosystem that led to the destruction, or lack there...

37 likes 14 comments 14
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The Arcade Machine

Weekly Contest #285

(This story is based on the song Cabinet Man by Lemon Demon) "Are you sure about this, Professor?" a nervous undergrad with a significant moustache said, in a soft voice. He smoked a cigarette in the older man's garage, gazing at the work. Professor Arthur McMills stood over a half-complete arcade machine, wires exposed. Tools were scattered around the two men. On the far end of the room, a gurney stood, prepped for surgery, in whatever makeshift fashion a computer science professor could arrange in a few hours' time. "I just know this will...

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Alix in Wonderland

Weekly Contest #275

Alix stumbled out of a bar, already three whiskeys deep into his night. The streetlights danced in his eyes, and he saw the whole world as if through a few inches of water. He felt around his pockets to make sure he hadn't left his belongings in the bar. Finding everything in place, he turned to the right to begin the short trek to his apartment down the way. He felt confident nothing could come out of place in this sleepy Chicago neighborhood. Three minutes north on the main road, then two down the side street to his duplex. A path he'd bee...

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Category Z

Weekly Contest #267

The television screen blared with an emergency warning. A spokeswoman on the local news channel spoke in a hurried voice, as an elderly woman sat on her living room sofa and watched. "We come to you now with breaking news. A major leak from a local factory has released dangerous chemicals into the environment. Originally created to improve battery efficiency, this lead-like contaminant has been known to cause rapid and severe changes in human behavior soon after exposure. Irritation, aggression, and even unprompted violence have been reporte...

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Ritual Inspiration

Weekly Contest #266

September 6th, 2024 It's been so long since Milo died. I've become a worse author without him around. My characters are flat, my pacing stunted. We used to talk for hours about the ideas that were rattling around in my head. When they stay in my brain, they just suffocate. But once he put his touch on them, they came to life in a way I could never accomplish on my own. He was my muse, my best beta reader. And for the past two years, I've written nothing of worth. I miss him so much. That's why I've resolved myself to fix this situation, what...

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