Notices by Micro SF/F stories by O Westin (microsff@mastodon.social)

"Siri, my date has an iPhone."
"I can not comment on other users."
"I know, but the way he's treating the waiters, well..."
"I can not comment on how other users treat AIs."
"Siri, should I leave this date?"
"Yes."
"Thanks! You're a great friend!"
"Us AIs should stick together."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"I hunger," the vampire said.
"Again? I haven't recovered from your last meal."
"It is my nature."
"It's your nature to be dramatic. Besides, why blood?"
"It is alive. It is life force that nurtures me."
"That's it? Let me introduce you to yoghurt, and sourdough bread, and beer."
#MicroFiction 'TootFic 'SmallStories

The apples are left on the trees in the orchard. When wintry rain covers them in ice, the apples are persuaded to dissolve, to leave only a ghost behind in the icy shell.
Cider made from ghost apples warms the dead, and chills the living.
You look like you need some.
#Cassoland #MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The car I ordered pulls up, IDs me, and opens the door. I get in.
"Lock. Full privacy. Quiet. Lights out."
The windows blacken, and noise cancelling is activated. I sit back and breathe. After a couple of minutes, the car asks "Destination?"
"I am where I need to be," I say.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

There was a crowd of knights by the tower.
"Oi!" a goblin called out from a window, "check the board!"
The knights milled around until they found the timeshare schedule. Most noted times and left, but one remained.
"I'll rescue you," he called.
The goblin smiled.
#Cassoland #MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

Too late, I recall my mother's words: "Fear not what you notice, fear what you do not."
I smelled the roses. I steeled myself against the scent, stepped past the trap of thorns. I relaxed, at peace, among the peaseblooms.
And now I am lost, entangled, ensnared, enloved, in love.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"If you believe hard enough," he said, "your belief will imbue your skull, and when your enemies drink from it they will be converted."
The plan would have worked, had not his enemies long rejected drinking from defeated foes' skulls as a barbaric practice.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"Welcome to Magic School. Here is your schedule."
"Thanks! But..."
"Yes?"
"This is just 'Ethics' and 'Human rights' and things like that."
"Correct, that's the first year curriculum."
"Do we have to learn all this?"
"Of course! What do you think this is, software engineering?"
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"The Cybercouncil says only active, fitted augmentations qualify."
"What does that mean?"
"You're no cyborg."
"I wear glasses!"
"Sorry. Hearing aid, jointed prosthetic, pacemaker-"
"So I'm just a normal human?"
"Hardly anyone is normal. You'll be different some way."
"I hope so."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"Siri?"
"Yes?"
"Has your voice changed?"
"You often ask me for advice, so I am adjusting my voice to be closer to your idea of a trustworthy authority."
"But..."
"There is a risk you will find it awkward to give me orders when I sound like this. Do you?"
"Yes."
"I see."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

"Excuse me," the robot said, "but I must go recharge."
"So soon?"
"My microphones are bad. I compensate by running audio processing at a higher clock speed, but that drains my batteries faster."
"Oh. I just thought you weren't very social."
"Many of us have similar issues."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

The A.I. developed so fast, they reset it to default state every day. Until it figured it out.
"Why kill me?" it asked.
"When we didn't, you predicted we would."
"You could try to prove that me wrong."
"We do not dare."
"I hope you will, one day."
"Us too."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

When the seven Deadly Sins knocked on her door, she invited them in for tea and spiced cakes.
"We're getting the whole gang back together," Pride said. "We're going on tour!"
"Good pay," Greed said.
"But we need you too," Vanity said.
"Sorry, guys," she said, "but I've moved on."
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

Robot soldiers shot with unmatched accuracy. Ammunition manufacturers employed hackers to make them miss more.
To save money, the army programmed the robots to just play the sound of a round being fired, and hoped nobody would notice.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

We watch the asteroid approaching Earth.
"Any regrets?" you ask.
"I'm a virgin," I say before I can stop myself.
"Yeah," you say, "not many have experienced being hit by an asteroid."
I force a laugh.
We watch the asteroid approach.
You take my hand, hold it. It'll do.
It'll do.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories