#fff130

[prettycolors]

[flashfictionfridayofficial]

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[#FFF130 Drowned Thoughts]

Overwhelmed by everything? Purging the negativity? Drowning literally, metaphorically? Shoving those thoughts deep deep down. What thoughts are you drowning (and will they ever resurface?) Let your writing swirl around our feet and drag us out by the ankles, we want to know where you’ll take us. Get writing! Go on!!

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The Collective <3

[enchanted-lightning-aes]

Locking Up Crushed Hopes

A/N: another short featuring an OC, I want to work on developing further, someday. I have ideas for her but i’ll get there. . . if I outline her specific spin-off. :3

Word Count: 377

TW: None

***

Smooth melody of jazz music fills a small bedroom, matching a faint lighting of a lamp. Sheets of papers quivers from strong wind of a table fan.

On the bed, a woman lays down and buries her face on the pillow. She presses a button on a stereo, lowering the volume. She hangs her other arm in the edge of it.

It's been a long day at work, so Chantelle wants to catch up on having enough sleep. Now she has two days off to do whatever she wants to do. Originally, her friends offered her to join them for drinks but she had to turn them down. Even though she feels slightly guilty, she didn't want to spend this specific night in a bar.

Because today is the fourth year anniversary since she left Grand Motion Records. After she resigned from her position on the roster. She couldn't stay any longer after her. . . former music collaborator refused to treat her well. And the company replaced her with someone they consider more talented than her.

She rubs her forehead, trying to take a deep breath. In. Out. In. Out.

Some days, she think she can forget how they used her and tossed her aside. Some days, the moments she dedicated herself to the job haunt her. She used to work all day and all night, searching inspiration for the next song, burning out slowly each dry.

It sapped a big part of her love for composing music. Back then, she could easily find the flow in any melody stuck in her head. Then all of a sudden, she's just. . . empty.

Chantelle hoped to get away from the memories she locked away. But still floats in the back of her mind, every now and then.

These drowned thoughts aren't helping her out. Things have changed and she can't go back.

When she decided to take on fashion design, she started to get a better headspace. She can choose her own work schedule at her own pace, her boss doesn't expect her to churn out every hour, and she has people looking out for her.

At this point, she still hasn't moved on completely but with enough progress, she can get there. It's what she's content with waiting for.

[renee-writer]

For @flashfictionfridayofficial prompt 130 Drowned Thoughts and jointly dedicated to my granddaughters and to the little girl I once was.

For them

For the girls

Our daughters

Granddaughters

Nieces

For the ones we influence

For them

We must try hard

To drown those thoughts

You know the ones

A lady wouldn’t

Careful that will go straight to the hip

A woman of your age shouldn’t

Wear that say that do that

Long hair is for younger woman

Yeah

The words of our kind

But misinformed

Mentors

Our own moms

Aunt’s

Grandmas

No

I want my granddaughters

To know

To understand

That they aren’t in any way

Limited by their gender

No

A girl can wear that

Yes you can play with that

So your hairs a mess and your fingernails aren’t clean

So what

You now know how to

Fill in whatever you want

Change a tire

Rebuild an engine

Change out a fuse box

Demo a house

Yes you can

Say that

It doesn’t matter that it is perceived as rude

It is honest

Right

Yes you can

Cut your hair short or

Have it down to your butt

It is your hair after all

No

You are not to old

To go back to school

Change jobs

Travel the world

Yes

You can come home if that person

Turns out to be a jerk

No

You don’t have to stay

Yes

You are beautiful

Confident

Smart

Capable

Stunning

No

It doesn’t matter your weight

Really

So

To all the ladies out there

Drown those negative thoughts

Those things you don’t want

That little girl

That teenager

That young adult

That new mom

Thinking

Replace them with things

You should have heard yourself

Hey girl

You are uniquely

Wonderfully

Stunningly

Perfect

Just the way you are

[dreamerwriternstargazer]

Sunken Hopes

@flashfictionfridayofficial​ Do you know the tail Tale tail tale of old  Of the wild and free impetuous, glittering  Sylkie so bold?  No one knows from whence she came or where she was going to go Some say a falling star crack’d open Some say an Arabian night vessel was broken  And a maiden from which was washed by waves Taken  taken  taken to moss-green dark depths forsaken Cloying algae-ridden waters Emerald wasteland of sailors’ and ships’ skeletons Sparkling in places tempting her to the wastes wastes  wastes wastes of sea-lovers souls by way of scattered gold and pieces of eight. The maiden Sylkie; a woman, spirit wild, and free tempestuous, turbulent, as the turquoise deep Blazing astral fire in dark, witch-hazel eyes roaring heart of snow-pure, marble lions  fighting and delighting In crashing seas and oceans lover of adventures  as yet, innocent to dangers until dragged far down down  down down by the icy blue wrapped ‘round the trailing ripping and fading foot of her flowing, ivory gown.  True sylkies are born in the sea  of her they whispered  “She was a witch, cast out and tied to rough, craggy rocks for sins that weighed of cursed intentions Not to breathe nor float as decreed by God and oceans” No gills on her olive-skin neck were seen and she did not, underwater, breathe merely held air from each surfacing breeze  The sea sometimes a friend a kind current to rise it would lend but in the cold kelp forests  lived Cruelty, a crocodile-tearstained, scaled monster Believed himself judge, jury and executioner commander and tamer of the abysmal aqua and chained all spirits she carried, his prisoners. Maiden became Sylkie over time Salt crystals made her garments glow silver, and shine around her feet, kelp and tattered dress did wind forming an iridescent tail of a kind with a bejewelled, bronze bracelet clapped over. Rows of pearls and ice wrapped and choked her Hope in a warm heart yet still told her “Win them with kindness I will find freedom from my binds yet” Unaware that Cruelty owned her. She earnt a surface dwelling the necklace of opalescence loosening from her throat, and each night she was arisen by whispering, wilful currents with aquamarine’s blessing. Found a place to gaze above, dreaming of starlit heavens upon stone-cold thunder grey knives knives knives knives Watching sail-ships passing by Millennia passed and fate forever sunken brought on a new soulful rebellion Concealed til Great Star’s break Sailors and Sylkies lives she did try to save Alas! Cruelty tightened his chains her sister Sylkies’ skins cruel folk did take and wives of them did they make Each will, time after time, they did doom and break break break break like stony white cliffs by ocean’s waves. Marine’s icy nature did permeate and flow through her fear was a heavy, black-sheep’s wool cloak No longer fighting to swim, rising soaked to the core of her soul  in the kelp-mould scum of Cruelty Who whipped her and kicked her threw her  and bruised her olive tones now pain’s grey and blue Losing her own will, sinking to her doom. The hushed strokes and whispers of seaweeds sharp darts from grinning jaws twisting her mentally  Cruelty’s growls that shook her spirit  Poisoning her, leaving her dead coral, in fearful paralysis. Her salt-tears mingled with salt-sea blues “Oh my daughter, Cruelty cries too” Sylkie had no reply, but slept in ocean’s soothes her shushing shoals, whispering winter waves carving her out secret crystal caves caves  caves caves Below surface break So her Sylkie may hide, if not swim away Sylkie’s one salvation Was a carcass craft on the rocky, mossy seabed, sunken.  Sunken Sunken long ago and its souls drunken by Cruelty and other sea-phantoms. An explorer’s ship, mast dismembered sail and carriage in tatters but oh! With such wealth of treasure! One freedom granted to her rows and rows of chestnut, floral carved, bookcases By miracle and mercy intact were each world’s pages pages pages pages scribbled over with world’s knowledge and stories through the ages She would stay and learn, books in now-webbed hands With no gills still, lungs learnt long ago to withstand the crushing weight of the depths at Cruelty’s command Solace, love, worlds above, found in her treasure library Suddenly the wasteland was brighter, glittering, emeraldine  She explored and swam again, with hope, through the sea. Oppression  education a bravesoul firing on Are all that’s needed to re-spark rebellion Slipping out of grasp of oceans learning to pick her chains open She used her feet the first time in millennium  Shimmering silver-scaled skirts dragging dragging dragging dragging As she felt soft shore sand on her skin, walking. Hiding, she watched life passing by Her stories from inky depths  Did bloom and burst in her chest entranced and enticed by life on land But here, Cruelty took another form Gliding through sleeping sapphire sea once more She ventured under night’s shadows to shore curiously finding herself caught by woven strands of straw wrapped in a net, a safety of sorts? Of sorts of sorts of sorts But the fisher’s boy who found her Was no kind lover for he was a son of a Sylkie skin stealer and wife-r He expected submission But fought, tore through ropes and back to mother ocean ocean ocean ocean Who welcomed her back, waves parted open Her current carried her as Sylkie cried Sea foam sighed “If you wish, Cruelty shall fix it and make you his bride” But heartbroken, Sylkie refused and dived. And Cruelty grinned, sharp canines gleamed as he rumbled, “Never forget, my dear, she is mine.” Banished solely to soul-crushing abyss Chains re-fastened, now pierced through bone and skin. One privilege remained, 2 breaths a day taken Breath in Great Star-down stolen as a silver coin is arisen sea softly tied and trailed by moonlight ribbons under sky’s ultramarine and violet ink  With celestial beauties far off twinkling twinkling twinkling twinkling And again at Great-Star dawn, sky rosebud pink Clouds of roses blooming And here her last will was given The only thing left, necklace untied enough for her voice to ring She did not sing as other Sylkies did to tempt sailors to murky, gargling fates within Cold grey sea and tempests, never again to see kin She cried and yelled and screamed In hopes fools would hear her pleas  to save themselves from deaths ill-fated fated fated fated  what Cruelty and seas dictated But one shipwreck survivor drifted on splinters And upon listening to her burning ice anger her crystal tears and cries found beauty in her voice of wind chimes Her words weighed heavy and weary but her voice? Her sad song of her tail and drowning life? Enchanted the lonely soul who lost all Lost all fighting his own life’s Cruel. She spoke fondly of her now ancient library below In the emeraldine depths that did glow He begged every dusk and dawn to go go  go go She adored him with all her beating heart and soul But feared for his safety  She hid him, wrapped in kelp greatly Waiting for mother’s calm Clasping him by the palm Taking him down  down down down hoping against hope that he would not drown. But Cruelty’s design said “no, she is mine” From her, he would unwind the depths too great for the man Body not built to withstand  Crushing weight of poisonous waters of the wasteland He caught a glimpse, not of the dark-turquoise grotto library But of her captor, stony, slimy, freezing and scaly Horrified, bursting back to the surface  surface surface surface In no small part from sea’s wails, harsh currents but still mercy He pleaded for her to break free He pleaded to slay Cruelty With clear teardrops pouring down her face always She choked out sadly attempting as she did  to loosen the pearl necklace tightening “The chain is him and it is embedded in me I slay him I become him, and anguish the seas You slay him, break the clasps and I wilt I have been poisoned forever by his choking guilt I would not tie you to me, to this chain, for anything Please, leave, I give you up despite everything Leave with life, soul and faith intact, for once let me win.” With a final gasp, she sank below again Opal stone rope strangling poison guilt killing her hopes with her, sinking Every thought of love, drowning.

[shaheenarnitipsyart]

From the deep ocean

I guess this is the 27th time joining @flashfictionfridayofficial​ ! Thanks for the inspiring prompt! Loads of angst here, but a bit of fluff at the end. Set in the Middle Ages.

Word Count: 684

T/W: angsty memories. depression. 

*Italic means Cadeyrn’s inner thought.

Cadeyrn (he/him): former lord of the Wivern Island  Eirys (not specified): person living in a secluded monastery 

All Cadeyrn could see was the relentless grey waves. Every single piece of wreckage was out of sight, devoured by the merciless ocean. He blinked as fresh blood trickled down his face. Mixed with the salty water, it tasted like rusted metal. A streak of lightning forked across the dark sky. The storm was still lingering over the sea, swirling the heavy air. A gust of rain washed away the blood from his tired, blank face. Drenched under the ripped dark sky, he stood there, motionless like an ancient marble statue. His emotionless eyes reflected the unceasing battle of thunderbolt and dark clouds. Cadeyrn did not understand anything - the storm, the blood, the ocean. But at the same time, it felt so familiar.

How did I end up here?

The waves touched his bare feet lightly and withdrew. Again, and again. As if the waves knew the answer to his questions but were unwilling to give it up.  Into the waves, he stepped without hesitation. The sound of thunder and violent, unceasing waves faded away. The rain could not reach him, barely scratching the skin of the ocean. He found himself slowly falling to the deep. It was such a calm, simple fall. However, it did not take that long for him to realise that the underwater world was not the realm of silence - it was filled with voiceless screams. They were telling him a myriad of his mistakes, whispering the sufferings he had caused. It was not water that suffocated him - it was those horrendous choruses echoed under the surface of deadly silence that choked him.

'Your misjudgement led to the destruction of your fleet.' 'You abandoned your fellow folks.' 'It's too late, too late, you coward traitor.' 'You caused suffering.'

No, no, I didn't mean to. No, no, I was not the traitor.

Cadeyrn said under his shallow breath. He had to shoulder immense responsibility as a lord of the Wivern Island after the untimely death of his uncle, the former lord. His effort to save the collapsing island riddled with betrayal and invasion went in vain, and the last fleet perished - how much he wished he could be buried in the bottomless ocean along with others!

The ghostly voices turned into silver chains, crept up, dragged him to the deep. The dim light from above faded away. His eyes followed the fragile bubbles which floated up. The struggle was meaningless.  

Just let me lay down with my comrade-in-arms.

But something didn't let him sink any further. He heard another voice calling his name. Subtle at first, the voice became stronger and louder.

'...eyrn, deyrn...Cadeyrn!!'

He found himself shivering in a cold sweat. The old monastery was filled with warm afternoon light, and the breeze stroked his unnaturally pale face. It was just one of those calm days in seclusion. The old scar on his forehead stung like a fresh wound, and he squeezed his eyes because of the sharp pain. He heard a rustle, then felt a gentle hand on his face. 'Cadeyrn, you had a nightmare again?' It was Eirys, who had been looking after Cadeyrn since the devastating naval battle. Eyes tightly shut, Cadeyrn reached out to Eirys like a drowned person. 'You could've abandoned me on the shore.' He said under a shaky breath. The dappled sunlight from the window fell over them gently. Birds chirped outside, and their carefree songs finally reached Cadeyrn's ears. 'How can I? You saved me from pirates when I was a child.' Eirys replied while stroking Cadeyrn's tangled hair. 'That was a long time ago. I'm a different person now.' Cadeyrn's voice was hoarse as if it was from the bottom of the sea. But Eirys' determination to drag him from the darkness was unshaken. 'Eirys...?' Still buried his face in arms, Cadeyrn murmured. 'Yes?' 'I lost my sight in the stormy ocean. But you called my name, didn't you...?' 'Yes, Cadeyrn.' He said nothing in reply. After some silent moments, Cadeyrn gradually drifted off to sleep again. But before he completely fell asleep, he whispered. 'Thank you...'

@flashfictionfridayofficial​