Challenge #03033-H110: A Different Solution
They saw Human Ji sit down for their tea after the brief fight with the braggart that had decided to be an idiot. As the crowd dispersed, people getting back to their normal routines, they first helped the owners put the tea gardens back together, mainly because they were nervous about approaching Ji, before plucking up their courage and approaching the table. Lightly clearing their throat, they asked, softly. “I’m having to deal with bullies in school that keep trying to beat me up, can you help me? Can I defend myself, too?”
It’s from this Prompt: https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-02925-h002-he-prefers-the-first-option – Fighting Fit
[AN: As always, blessings for supplying the link. Also, this now has to happen near the Edge, as bullying is almost extinct and quickly quashed in Galactic Alliance space]
Poflo saw it all from an upper gallery, where ze liked to hide from the bad kids. It was hard not to know about Master Ji. The man was a legend. The Sensei who knew everything and was able to beat anyone in an unfair fight[1]. He was a teacher, and had taught Havenworlders to hold their own against the Vorax.
Which meant that he was the man to see about hir problem. He was also the man to avoid about hir problem. People like that tended to take advantage of people like Poflo. The strong made victims of the weak. Humiliated them with it. Thusly, ze made a hesitant path to Master Ji’s line of sight. Thereafter, ze watched the Master slowly imbibe his tea and enjoy the ambiance.
Then the Master ordered a tray of treats and another pot of tea. “You can sit and talk. I don’t mind rude questions,” he said, “and you look like a soul with a lot of troubles.”
[Check the source to see the full story]
(Source: peakd.com)
Challenge #03024-H101: Mostly Harmless You Say
Pib’s parents are on a station for a while as the ship they normally work on was in for repairs, and these repairs were going to take some time. The instructor at the primary school reads the transcripts of young Pib from aboard the ship and sees the injury / kill count of the child and their jaw drops. Some of the pirates wounded, or killed, by this larval human were not exactly amateurs, or small-fry. The parents just smile. – Anon Guest
[AN: The last time we saw Human Pib was here. You’re welcome]
Understandably, the Jaunty Merchant had to pull into drydock. Even without the pirate attacks, it was more than a little overdue. Contrary to shipboard opinion, Human Pib was not responsible for a majority of that necessity. Some still joked that it was a close thing.
Now aboard Working Holiday Station, Pib was now obligated to attend the station’s education facility. Socialisation and some elementary learning was important for Humans. Which was why the Ships’ Humans of the Jaunty Merchant were talking with the administration for the Early Education Unit.
Educator Vees was going through the file. “Nice to see they’re up with the immunoflu… that’s generally a problem with far-roaming families.” Flick, they turned a page on their datareader. The eyes bugged. “Oh sweet Powers That Be…”
[Check the source to see the full story]
(Source: peakd.com)
Challenge #02975-H052: A Jay of Sunshine
Hey InterNutter, about this Prompt, about the kid that started killing young due to the brutal life they grew up in? https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-02894-g337-humane-accommodations
There’s been an interesting chat about it and could you confirm / deny for us? Now I’m dying to know!
bkf 45 9 days ago
Hm, I’d love for this guy and Mr. Sunshine to meet up. Heh. “Twins by spirit if not by blood?” That would be interesting, what do you think?
ryivhnn 67 9 days ago
Yes to this! Unless Jay is Mr Sunshine? :O
bkf 45 4 days ago
Interesting theory! Comfortable sweaters, sensible shoes, loves cats, maybe Jay IS Mr. Sunshine. Taking on a new name after he left Independance? I could see him using an alias instead of his birth name, given the pain of his family life. And then I can see him secretly sending money to his mother and surviving siblings from his paychecks and selling his paintings so they can live a good life.
ryivhnn 67 4 days ago
Awesome headcanon backstory, I’m running with that til we find out more (if we find out more XD). – DaniAndShali
[AN: Goes on an archive trawl to find all of Mr Sunshine’s stories…]
Even now, in an age where technology can outstrip theology, there are angels. Just like the written angels, they are terrifying in person. Unlike the written angels, you can’t tell they are just by looking at them. This was a planet for such angels. The ones who were sent to deal with problems with surgical precision and a great deal of blood down the drain. Jay had been assured that he was with his own kind. Fellow angels.
Here’s the real thing about angels. Some come with a fiery sword and a heart bursting with justice. Others come cold and calculating with an exact measure of what is right and what is wrong. In this area of verdant gardens and lazy felines, there was an angel sitting at an easel. Jay knew how to pronounce his name.
“Mister soon-sheen-eh, I presume?” Jay said, moving carefully around to view the canvas. They had assumed that this man was like Pops. Like the other cancers they had cut out of society. Jay expected the man to lash out with his pallet knife at any given instant.
[Check the source to see the full story]
(Source: peakd.com)
Decoding the hate symbols seen at the Capitol insurrection
The more you know…
Challenge #02781-G224: Dear Employee…
If you really want to make a politician sweat write them a handwritten letter. I do this, (a) It’s rare, and they are obliged to answer. But first of course they have to find someone who can read longhand, neat, correctly spelt, longhand. Which of course forces them to focus on the contents. – Nonny the Mouse.
[AN: I’m sure I did something to this point somewhere before…]
People want to make politicians think. The problem with this is that the politicians don’t want to do that. In valiant efforts to gain their attention, various methods were attempted. Back before electronic media, the way to go was a neatly-written letter of complaint.
That was decades ago. Since the time when handwriting was the primary means of communication, those in places of power have set up barriers between themselves and any thought-provoking letter of complaint.
This is now. In an office for sorting the mail for an administrator of shenanigans, one sorter of mail comes across an anomaly. The envelope and stamp are in place, so it had to be mail, but the rest was… unintelligible. The ink on the front was loops and curves, interspersed with slashes and dots. Someone in the mailing system must have understood it, but this particular sorter did not. They passed it on to the Unreadables Office.
[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for a link to the rest of this story, and details on how to support this artist. Or visit peakd (dot) com (slash at) internutter for the stories at their freshest]
Challenge #02747-G190: Just Get the Bleeper App
A: cak-likna!
B: did you just swear?
A: I don’t know I say something random when I’m in pain
B: try not to say that again
A: wait it was a swear word?! – Anon Guest
Offensensitivity is a peculiar thing. What offends one group might be perfectly normal. It is wise for travellers to check to see what’s taboo in areas they are planning to visit for extended lengths of time. It’s always wise to find out what’s rude in the local area when one is just passing through.
As for temporary travel arrangements, it is also wise to discover the limits of one’s ride. In the case of Hitchhiker Leth, their current trucker and company on this leg of their lifelong journey had a Thing against cursing. Any swear-word could make them upset in varying directions. Most of that was directly related to personal trauma rather than moral offense.
Nevertheless, Hitchhiker Leth tried her best. In her disfavour, she had been around to very many places and had picked up a lot of colourful language. The impulse to vent with the most colourful language was very strong indeed. Which lead to made up swears that Leth thought couldn’t possibly be real.
[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for a link to the rest of this story, and details on how to support this artist. Or visit steemit (dot) com (slash at) internutter for the stories at their freshest]
Challenge #02640-G083: Why is it So?
(Not related to the other “Why” but got me thinking)
A young child begins the “Why Game” with another species. The parent offers them an out but they politely decline. Curiosity is an enviable trait and they will continue to answer for as long as the child asks…
…A small crowd of interested and amused people has begun to form, with some stepping in to field questions from their own specialties. A few humans encourage their children to join in as the first child starts to get fussy (it is past their nap time by now).
The original Answerer insists on remaining even as others offer to take their place and some of the humans begin to quietly place bets. Win, lose, or draw they have earned the humans respect and, unknowingly, a reputation for being a great babysitter. – Silverrey
Patience is a virtue, catch it if you can. Seldom seen in women, and never seen in man. – ancient Terran saying.
Human parentals seemingly need an infinite supply of patience, especially when their young start asking questions about the world around them.
“Why is space black?” asked the little Human as parent and child waited for a connection shuttle. They were peering out a porthole apparently watching for the shuttle’s approach. They were also too young to employ a brain-to-mouth bypass.
[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for a link to the rest of this story, and details on how to support this artist. Or visit steemit (dot) com (slash at) internutter for the stories at their freshest]