#marlettwrites

I really want to get back into writing, but I don't want to start with any of my WIPs because they seem like too big of a project for me to try tackling atm.

So, if any of you guys have any prompts that you want to see turned into a short story, send them my way and I'll do my best! Hopefully, this will be enough to get me back in the groove.

These can be prompts you've seen on prompt blogs, or something you thought of yourself. As long as it's available for anyone to use, go for it! You can either reblog this post with the prompt or a link to the prompt, or you can send it to me in the form of an ask. I'm not picky.

No NSFW content though, please. I am sex-repulsed, and I do not feel comfortable writing smut. Please respect this.

@planets-and-prose @angelolytle @quilloftheclouds @kai-writesstuff

[Image Description: A moodboard in various shades of warm grays and browns. The images used are 1. Tightly packed white roses, 2. Cracked and dry earth, 3. A full bookshelf, 4. three hand-sculpted mugs, 5. A person carving details into an unfinished mug, 6. Hands covered in dirt carefully planting a sprout in the ground, 7. mud-caked feet, 8. A single warm brown eye, 9. A girl with dark brown skin looking away from the camera. She has a few small pieces of gold jewelry and a white shoulderless dress. Her hair is long and black with tight curls, pulled back into a ponytail. This last image is the largest one. End Image Description.]

5 Song Playlist:

Home by Phillip Phillips

Stand by You by Rachel Platten

Never Been in Love by Will Jay

Love Myself by Hailee Steinfeld

Sit Still, Look Pretty by Daya

Quote:

“I should really go, Hathor reminded herself again.

But that look on his face brought back too many memories of her brother from when they were little. Sighing, Hathor approached him and hoped she wasn’t making a terrible mistake.

‘Are you okay?’

The boy jumped and hid half behind his donkey, looking up at her fearfully. He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. A very forced smile appeared on his face. He nodded.

‘You’re sure?’ she asked skeptically, ‘Because you look like you’re about to jump out of your skin.’

His nervous expression changed to one of confusion.

‘You know? Like, you look afraid of something?’

He shrugged and stared at the ground. Hathor noted he wore no shoes. After a couple of awkward minutes of silence, the boy gestured at the vast stream of people. He clamped his hands over his ears and made a pained face.

Ah. So he was mute.

‘The market is too loud?’ Hathor guessed. 

She allowed herself to relax a little, but kept a hand on her coin pouch. The boy didn’t seem dangerous, but that meant very little in Thebes.”

Thank you for reading :). Taglist is under the cut.

Taglist:

@kai-writesstuff @runningonrain @imaghostwriter @writingnosefreak @planets-and-prose @marvel-and-writing @thatoneaceinthecorner @metaphors-and-melodrama @smudged-glasses-writing @jacquilich @marie-writess @quilloftheclouds

[Image Description: A moodboard in the colors cream, sky blue, and brown. The images used are 1. Two hands wrapping an injury on a third hand, 2. A single figure standing at the bottom of a canyon with walls of sand surrounding them, 3. A small sailboat floating down a river. Palm trees and a desert are visible in the background, 4. Two people and three camels walking in a straight line in the desert. The sun is setting and the sky is bathed in pastels pinks and blues. 5. A bust photo of a man. He is wearing a gray head scarf, and his hair is shoulder-length, dark brown, and wavy. He has kind brown eyes and a small mustache. 6. A pile of scrolls and a feather quill sitting on a table. 7. A very narrow and long sailboat. The two sails are red in color, and there are oars pushing the boat forward. The boat also has a small area covered with a tarp. 8. A different photo of hands wrapping an injury, 9. A picture of waves rolling in on the beach. End Image Description.]

5 Song Playlist:

The Beast of Pirate’s Bay by Voltaire

The London Air Raids by Vian Izak

Think About It by American Authors

Soldier, Poet, King by The Oh Hellos

The Best is Yet to Come by Sheppard

Today’s Quote is kind of long (495 words), so I’m sticking it under the cut, along with the Taglist.

[Image Description: A moodboard in primarily earth tones. The images included show 1. a split lip, 2. a lotus flower with the words “Is is magic?” beneath, 3. a person in an oversized green sweater holding a book, 4. hands banging at a glass door with the words “Maybe he’d finally get to leave this place” over the top of the image, 5. A table with a cup of coffee, a pair of scissors, and some leaves and flowers on it, 6. A pile of scrolls and a feather quill, 7. Hands planting a tiny sprout in the ground, 8. A single green eye, and 9. A tunnel in an ancient Egyptian tomb with the exit seeming far away. The caption reads “I want to know.” All of the quotes are from the WIP this moodboard is for. End Image Description.]

5 Song Playlist:

Power by Bastille

Snakes by Bastille

Kaleidescope by A Great Big World

This is Gospel by Panic! At the Disco

Plant Life by Owl City

Quote: 

“Jude couldn’t help but stare as more of the city came into focus.

‘Everyone is outside.’ he said, surprised.

‘Well of course. Most people don't live underground.’ Braheem chuckled.

‘Really?’ Jude asked, fascinated.

Braheem nodded.

Jude spent the next several minutes staring at the city in silence. Drinking in every little detail with his eyes, he thought about things he’d seen in the Kingdom that could have inspired a hallucination as vivid as the one before him. Nothing came to mind.

A tiny sliver of hope rose in his chest. If he was somewhere he couldn’t imagine, then it must be real.”

WIP- A Curse of Healing

WIP intro here and if you desire the Comic Sans Powerpoint version, that exists here.

Taglist under the cut.

[Image Description: A moodboard in cool grays, lavender, and warm brown. The images used are 1. The entrance of an ancient Egyptian temple, 2. blooming lavender plants, 3. A bust photo of a shirtless teenage boy. He has brown skin, a determined expression, and short black curly hair, 4. A quiver of arrows, 5. The words “I’m going to hell on a full scholarship” over a black background, 6. A hand running along a railing that has braille writing on it, 7. A quiver full of arrows and a bow, 8. A single brown eye, 9. A different picture of blooming lavender flowers. End Image Description.]

5 Song Playlist:

King of Anything by Sara Bareilles

Luck by American Authors

Vacant Stare by Emma Pollock

I’m Still Here from Treasure Planet

I Lived by OneRepublic

(I was really tempted to include Disobedient from the Steven Universe movie in this list because the lyrics are just. So incredibly Kul that it’s ridiculous. I chose not to, because I really don’t like the vocals, but I’ll leave a link to it here anyway.)

Quote:

“Kul leaned against his desk.

‘So I guess you’ll want to start your whole healing schtick now, huh? Are you an ‘ancient chant’ kind of guy, or are you one of those idiots who want to cleanse my soul of evil entities through the powers of incense?’ Kul asked, waggling his fingers dramatically.

‘Well, it’s- I don’t-’ the healer paused and took a breath, ‘Neither,’ he finally said.

‘Oh joy,’ Kul said, ‘An experimenter. Well, I’m not letting you put anything sharp near my eyes, especially if you plan to put me to sleep first, so you can just forget about getting paid if that’s your thing.’”

Thank you for reading. Taglist is under the cut.

Taglist:

@kai-writesstuff @runningonrain @imaghostwriter @writingnosefreak @planets-and-prose @marvel-and-writing @thatoneaceinthecorner @metaphors-and-melodrama @smudged-glasses-writing @jacquilich @marie-writess @quilloftheclouds

[Image Description: A moodboard in primarily cool gray and orange. The images used are 1. The words “I got my own back” on a gray background, 2. An orange flame, 3. A large, determined looking brown eye, 4. An orange bolt of lightning, 5. A black girl in armor and a crown, 6. A girl whose face is heavily shadowed. She is holding a sword, 7. Orange-tinted sand dunes, 8. The words “Maybe swearing will help” on a gray background, 9. A girl in a white tunic with scale-plate armor over the shoulders. Her arms are crossed over her chest, her face is not visible. End Image Description.]

WIP- A Curse of Healing

5 Song Playlist:

Soldier’s Daughter by Jhameel

The Devil’s Gone to Dinner by LOLO

Glitter and Gold by Barns Courtney

Vagabond by MisterWives

Just Like Fire by P!nk

Quote:

“’You weren’t seen, were you?’

The voice came from somewhere to Hathor’s left. On instinct, her hand traveled down to grip her khopesh.

‘Of course not,’ she said, keeping an eye on the suspiciously dark corner in the left side of the room.

A subtle creak reached Hathor’s ears. Whipping out her khopesh, she spun around just in time to block the sword bearing down on her.

A woman with a long black braid and a strong jawline grinned down at her.

‘Oh good,’ she said, ‘You’re learning.’

‘I should hope so,’ Hathor shot back, ‘Otherwise I might need a new teacher.’

Keeping her eyes locked on Akela’s, Hathor kicked at her shin. Akela lost her balance for only a moment, but that was all Hathor needed. With a flourish of her khopesh, Akela’s sword flew across the room, well out of her grasp. 

‘Ooh, we’re feisty today. Good. Helps keep you sharp.’

Delivering a swift kick to her chest, Hathor sent Akela sprawling to the ground. Carefully, so as not to draw any blood, Hathor pressed her blade to her teacher’s throat.

Akela tapped the ground with her hand three times, their signal for surrender.

‘Alright, you win!’

Satisfied, Hathor tucked her khopesh back into her sash and held out a hand for Akela. She took it, looking pleased.

The next thing Hathor knew, both arms were pinned behind her back and a blade was pressed against her throat.

‘You still haven’t learned the most important lesson, princess,’ Akela breathed, ‘Never let down your guard, and always always watch the hands. Hands will kill you.’

Thank you for reading! Taglist is under the cut.

Hello my friends!

Since this month is Pride month, I’m going to be releasing a series of prompt responses that I’ve been working on since February. Here is the list of prompts that I may or may not have stolen from @yetmorestories (I did. I took it from them because I thought it looked fun).

30 Day OTP Writing Challenge

1. Nose kiss(es)

2. Reunion hug

3. Spooning for warmth

4. Walking hand-in-hand

5. Late night talks

6. Getting caught while making out

7. Surprise(s)

8. Can’t keep hands off each other (in public)

9. (Unnecessary) spoiling

10. Bear hug

11. Fingers in the other’s hair

12. Movie night

13. Hand holding for comfort

14. Forehead kiss(es)

15. Shared looks from across the room

16. Pet names

17. Early morning cuddling

18. Admiring each other

19. Laughing together

20. One (or both) is injured

21. Kiss in the rain

22. Blushing

23. Hot and heavy

24. Shoulder kiss(es)

25. Getting dressed up

26. Dancing

27. Falling asleep together

28. (Bad) flirting

29. Protecting the/each other

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Child abuse, descriptions of gore, ableism 

Title: A Curse of Healing

Genre: YA historical fantasy

Status: Working on the first draft, 46,870 words.

POV: Third person, split

Setting: Ancient Egypt

Features: Found Family trope, LGBTQIA+ characters, disabled characters, POC characters (duh, it’s ancient Egypt), a twist on local mythology, teenage rebellion.

Themes: Self-discovery, breaking free, exploration (of both the world and oneself), healing, manipulation, family, inner strength versus outer, what it means to be selfless versus having no sense of self.

Blurb:

15-year-old Jude has a gift. He can heal any ailment with a single touch- at a price. Any malady he heals becomes his own. Despite knowing the cost, his older brother Kasaika, the King of Thieves, readily takes full advantage of Jude's ability in order to keep his armies strong.

After Kasaika's demands finally take their toll, Jude decides he wants out. He manages to escape the Kingdom of Thieves, only to land in the hands of the Pharaoh.

Egypt's ruler gives him an ultimatum- heal his blind son, or be thrown back to the mercy of his brother. Jude cautiously agrees to the Pharaoh's terms, but he quickly learns there is one more issue that won't be so easily resolved.

The prince doesn't want to be healed.

With the Kingdom of Thieves hot on his heels and mounting pressure from the Pharaoh on his shoulders, Jude finds himself struggling to make a decision between staying safe and staying alive.

Thank you for reading!

Taglist under the cut. Please let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from the list!