The Trope Variety Hour

165 words of original work written for @thepromptfoundry's Jazzy July and @tropevarietyhour's July theme, The Lies We Tell.

Day 7 Prompts: Battle of the Bands and “Do You Want Me to Lie and Say I Love You?”

Once again I have no idea what is happening. And once again I am going less literal with ‘battle of the bands’. More like ‘battle of the words’. Which is kinda dumb but whatever.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Do you want me to lie and say I love you?”

“I want you to say it and mean it.”

“You should know better than to ask that of me now.”

“Fine.”

“It’s not fine, though.”

“It is.”

“It’s not.”

“Well, it’s not going to change. So.”

“But you want it to change.”

“Yes, I want it to change. I want you to love me the way that I love you. But that isn’t going to happen. So it’s fine.”

“You don’t sound fine.”

“And that doesn’t matter. You’re the priority in this situation.”

“Just because I’m the one who can’t change my feelings doesn’t mean you can’t be affected by it.”

“My feelings don’t matter because I’m not the one who would be hurt.”

“But you are hurt.”

“I’m fine.”

“I don’t want you to lie to me.”

“You can’t change your feelings, I’m fine, and it doesn’t matter.”

“I do love you.”

“I know.”

“Just not in the way you want.”

260 words of original work written for @thepromptfoundry's Jazzy July and @tropevarietyhour's July theme, The Lies We Tell.

Day 6 Prompts: Warm Radio and “Look Me In the Eye and Say It Again.”

Don’t ask me what’s happening here because I don’t know either. Also I do not agree with the character’s views on jazz music.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Don’t ignore me.”

The radio’s song drifts between us in the silence.

“I’m not,” I say.

“Then why won’t you look at me?”

194 words of original work written for @thepromptfoundry's Jazzy July and @tropevarietyhour's July theme, The Lies We Tell.

Day 2 Prompts: Speakeasy and "It's Good to See You."

Again, more vibes, and again. We move.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It’s strange, having to meet in secret places. In secret rooms, lit by candlelight. We used to meet under the sun.

They smile at me. “It’s good to see you.”

398 words of original work written for @thepromptfoundry's Jazzy July and @tropevarietyhour's July theme, The Lies We Tell.

Day 3 Prompts: First Instrument and “Don’t Worry About It.”

This one is like . . . fanfic of my own work? Even though it's technically canon by virtue of me writing it.

Basically there's a lot of backstory and other stuff going on that doesn't get explained, but I hope it's enjoyable to read anyway.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“You’re back!”

The excited exclamation brought Sid out of the painful stupor she had slipped into. The small body slamming into her helped too.

She wrapped her arms around her little sister. 

“Yeah, I’m back.”

August looked up at her. “Where did you go?”

Sid waved one of hands around. “Oh, you know. Here and there. Don’t worry about it.”

“Right. Well, I’m glad you’re back. It’s weird when you’re not around.” August didn’t believe her, obviously. But sometimes you lie to protect people. 

Sid rested her hand on top of August’s head. “Hey. Don’t worry about it.”

August stepped out of their hug. “Okay. As long as you’re okay. You’re okay right?”

Sid ignored the pain in her side. “I’m totally okay.” She painted a smile onto her face. “And I brought something for you.”

August’s eyes lit up. “Yeah? What is it?”

“Come on. It’s in the music room, so we need to be quiet.” 

Together, they walked to the music room. They made sure to keep very quiet so there’s no chance of them being caught breaking curfew. 

Sid closed the door gently after they entered. 

August was lifting her heels up and lowering them quickly, almost bouncing. The music room has always been her favorite place.

“What did you bring me?” she asked, 

Sid shook her head playfully. “Eager, aren’t we?”

August stopped bounding and glared at Sid. “You’re the one who brought it up.”

“I know, I know,” Sid laughed. “It’s over here.”

Sid led her to the other wall. There, hanging on a stand, was a beautiful violin. 

August’s eyes went wide and she crouched down to touch it reverently. “Wow,” she breathed. 

Sid felt a real smile creep onto her face. “Is it a good one?”

“Yes, it’s amazing! Thank you!” August leapt up and hugged Sid again. She kept the smile on through the pain of August’s arm on her side. 

“I can actually learn to play now!”

Sid gently smoothed her hand over August’s hair. “I know. That’s why I got it.”

“It’s the best present ever.”

“You’re welcome. But we should head back to our rooms.”

August’s joy dimmed just a bit. 

“Hey.” Sid cupped August’s face in her hands. “It’s okay. You can start learning with Onyx tomorrow.”

August forced a smile on. “Yeah. I can’t wait.”

“Come on. Let’s go.”

387 words of original work written for @thepromptfoundry's Jazzy July and @tropevarietyhour's July theme, The Lies We Tell.

Day 4 Prompts: Midnight Music and "Were You Ever Going to Tell Me?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was midnight. 

There was music drifting through the air. I didn’t know where it was coming from, but it wasn’t important. 

What was important was that I had just been told something by the wrong person, at the wrong time.

I ran through the grass. I was halfway there before I realised I didn’t bother to put on my shoes on the way out.

I found them lying underneath a tree, eyes closed, their head swaying to the mysterious music. 

I came to a stop next to them, panting. 

I could tell that they knew I was there, but they didn’t open their eyes. I sat down next to them. They didn’t acknowledge me at all. I pulled my legs up and rested my head on my knees. 

After a moment, I broke the silence. “Were you ever going to tell me?”

Their eyes opened slowly and they smiled when they saw me. “Tell you what?”

I stared at them long enough that their smile faded and they sat up, leaning against the tree. 

They still didn’t say anything, though. It was looking like I was going to have to be the brave one, here. 

“You love me?” I asked. That was it. I had heard it from the wrong person at the wrong time, because I should have heard it from them, and I should have heard it years ago.

Another smile crept onto their face, this one looking more pained. “Always have.”

I squeezed my legs harder. “Then why didn’t you ever–?” I cut myself off. What does it matter? They didn’t tell me.

They knocked their head against the tree trunk, looking at the stars through the leaves. “It never felt like the right time, you know?”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t know.”

They laughed, just a little. “You were always . . . I don’t know. Busy, I guess.”

“Never too busy for you,” I whispered.

Their smile turned less painful. “Yeah, I know. But I didn’t really know, you know?” They laughed, in a better way this time. 

“No,” I said again. “I don’t know.”

They turned to face me. “Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. You’re busy again.”

I stared at them. “Didn’t you just hear me?”

371 words of original work written for @thepromptfoundry's Jazzy July and @tropevarietyhour's July theme, The Lies We Tell.

Day 1 Prompt: Swing Time and "I"m Fine."

I went more with the vibe of swing time than literal swing, but we move.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tonight is amazing conditions. The stars will be perfectly visible, not a single shooting star covered by clouds. Or worse, light pollution. 

It’s really a shame that I feel too bad to enjoy it. 

#CLOIS: I’m still into you

Audio: relias.mp4 (TikTok)