the following prompts were taken from the novel deathless by catherynne m. valente, an american novelist & poet. the novel was loosely based on the tale of koschei the deathless, incorporating other elements of russian mythology, & setting it against the backdrop of the russian revolution. feel free to change the pronouns / prompts as you see fit, but be warned โ below the cut, itโs quite long !
โ the service of your body is not yours to give as you please. โ
โ you probably wonโt survive. โ
โ go. run. donโt look behind you. โ
โ i have come for the girl in the window. โ
โ i will never be without information. โ
โ i will see him with his skin off before i fall in love. โ
โ if the world is divided into seeing & not seeing, i will always choose to see. โ
โ secrets are jealous things, permitting no fraternization. โ
โ no, itโs not like that, when magic comes. โ
โ magic does that. it wastes you away. once it grips you by the ear, the world gets quieter & quieter until you can hardly hear it at all. โ
โ the sight of it bruised my heart so that i cannot think about anything else. โ
โ iโll be so quiet, iโll never talk again. โ
โ keep me & obey me, for i am your husband, & i can destroy you. โ
โ i shall be clever, & i shall not let him go. โ
โ it is a new world, & we do not wish to be left behind. โ