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Friday Fictioneers – The Last Emperor

(Author’s note: Life gets busy. And when you get a new case handed to you with a whole bunch of things going on to get fixed, priorities come up. However, I am glad to finally have some time to write. Here’s this week’s Fictioneers entry!)

© David Stewart

The Last Emperor

by Miles H. Rost

Forced into a position where I didn’t want to be.

Father was deposed, My powers slowly stripped over 3 years, an Emperor with no empire.

Sure, they made me a king. But being subject to the whims of a larger emperor, a king in title only, was more than humiliating.

What will the history books say about me, Sunjong son of Gojeon? A prisoner in my own palace by the hands of two foreign usurpers.

Like my life, the palace is worn down. I’ve lost many years here. I never thought I’d be a gilded bird, caged in bittersweet splendour.

Emperor Yunghui (Sunjong) and Empress Sunjeong

Go ahead… read more!
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Friday Fictioneers – Bow Tie

Author’s note: Sickness is never a friend. And last week was pretty awful. So I am doing better and have something a little more… whimsical? Let’s read!

© Amanda Forestwood

Bow Tie

by Miles H. Rost

For that moment, only the sounds of panting could be heard through the hall.

Followed by a single person clapping.

“Well done! Well done both of you! Your ability has left you two in a “bow tie”.”

Charles Crumb, the concertmaster for the New Seattle Pops and Bluegrass Orchestra, smiled as the two fiddlers stood on the stage.

“In fact, I think both of you could fit with our company.”

We’re only auditioning for one newbie, Crumb’s assistant whispered.

“Bah! Who’s the guy we have again?”

“Mark O’Connor, sir.” Assistant replied.

“Fire him today. We’re bringing these two on board.”

Why not try and read more?

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Friday Fictioneers – Taking The Town (…A Third Time?!)

(Author’s note: After a week of being sick (hence why no post last week), I am back to give more fictioneers. This is a reprise… or maybe a new season, of “Taking The Town”. The last entry of this was “Taking This Town (Again)” from MANY months ago. So I figured it’d be nice to revisit the idea…)

© Rowena Curtin

Taking The Town (… A Third Time?!)

by Miles H. Rost

Professor Ronald Scott did not know what hit him.

One minute he was walking down a side street around the Royal University of Sydney, after finishing the prep for student orientation;

The next, he was bouncing in a sea of co-eds into a very active bar.

His particular ring of people involved 20 or so, led by a vibrant blonde with a Melbournian accent.

“Girls! Devour anything you see!”

With Icehouse’s “Taking The Town” thumping through the bar, the good professor barely made it out of the bar alive. Torn clothing, lipstick kisses, the works.

“They’re back…”, he said, fainting.

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Friday Fictioneers – Island Rain

(Author’s note: Hey, everyone! Getting back into the game. Hoping to start posting every week again, and maybe drop some other story ideas on here. This month is going to be further work on my first book, at least a rough draft. We’ll see how things work. I have a goal of getting it off to an editor by the end of April. We’ll see what happens. Anyhow… here’s today’s fictioneers!)

© Me!

Island Rain

by Miles H. Rost

A laundry cafe.

Not exactly a typical thing to see, but in Korea, they’ll make a cafe or bar out of anything. It seems like Korea catches waves earlier, then moves on quickly. America doesn’t usually have things like this.

While sitting and waiting for my wash to dry, I sipped on a cup of yuzu tea, the sounds of jazz fusion music in my ears. The fact I was able to find this place during my month off from teaching was helpful, as I could work through the evening on my writing.

I could stay in this place forever.

You know you want to click it.
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Friday Fictioneers – Golden Brown

(Author’s note: None. Have been dealing with some stuff the last week, mostly environmental. Here we go for this week!)

© Lisa Fox

Golden Brown

by Miles H. Rost

“This is your office, you have two windows, so that should be enough light for you.”

The new professor, with newly salt and peppered hair, finally felt as though he arrived.

“And the furnishings I have in storage?”
“We got the moving company to go and get them. They should be here within the hour.”
“Then it looks like there’s nothing left. Thank you.”

The professor walked in as the administrator took his leave.

He walked to the window and sat on the ledge. He smiled, watching the falling leaves that matched the color of his students’ hair.

Golden Brown.

Go ahead. You know you want to read more from others.
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Friday Fictioneers – “Beginnings”

(Author’s note: January was a very busy month. Exceptionally busy. Things are really picking up steam. Therefore, here’s today’s fictioneers!)

© Roger Bultot

Beginnings

by Miles H. Rost

“Su-Yeon Noona*!”

Paul slowed himself down as he approached the bench. Su-Yeon, raven hair and all, turned his way.

“Paul? What’s going on?”
“I just saw you pass by, and wanted to talk quickly!”
“What’s going on?”

He sat down, catching his breath. The British expat needed to exercise more.

“Valentine’s day is coming up. And I’d like to take you out for a date.”

Su-Yeon’s eyes got wide, then narrowed as she grinned.

“So you want me to leave my title of noona, soona?”

Paul blinked.

Gears turned.

He laughed.

Blush appeared.

“Oh stop it, you!”

Su-Yeon just chuckled.

* – “Noona” is Korean to denote a woman who is older than a man, but is familiar to them (regardless of biology). Commonly used among younger college-aged males for the upperclass college-aged women.

Oh come on, you know you wanna join.
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Friday Fictioneers – Shinto

(Author’s note: After a wonderful birthday weekend, I am recharged and ready to go for 2023. Hopefully able to get back to doing these once a week. Enjoy today’s fictioneers!)

© Fleur Lind

Shinto

by Miles H. Rost

Evening hauls were not the best for Sadao.

He was more of a day person, and loved his music. But with the salaryman lifestyle not to his liking, he needed a way to make ends meet without living at home.

He passed through the urban Takasaki area, carrying Canadian beef on his way from Ota to Nagano. As the sun went down, he flipped on the radio.

“A trip from the past in America. This is the band Hiroshima, with Shinto…”

Sadao smiled, settling in for the last leg of his first run.

It would be a good night.

From the “Odori” album, 1980.
To join the party, click the frog
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Friday Fictioneers – My Hometown

(Author’s note: I took a month off of writing completely. Things have been a little bit busy with work and I was in a bit of a jam writing-wise. The jam is slowly removing itself, and I am starting to get back into the swing of it with a 3 work-day vacation this week, a “use-it-or-lose-it” thing. Today’s last item caps off a year that was, in a lot of ways, not the best year for a great number of folk. But, take it as you will. Here’s today’s last Fictioneers of 2022.)

© Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

My Hometown

by Miles H. Rost

Granddad opened the Nicosean Bakery along Latrobe Street in 1927, before all the other Greeks came to Melbourne.

Visitors, tourists, and famous people would come in at various times for traditional Baklava, piping hot finikia, or even traditional raised and filled donuts.

Dad took over in 1974, and the institution served to the Greek Orthodox community every year with its specialty breads.

2021 was to be the year I took over. But that disease came, and the officials who bought our baked goods shut us down. “Safety” they said.

Dad lost his life soon after. Without work, he was nothing.

(NOTE: This story is fictional. Treat it as such.)

Go ahead. Click it. You know you wanna.
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Friday Fictioneers – Good Man In A Storm

(Author’s note: Last week was Thanksgiving, and having to coordinate things got complicated. So no FF last week. Making up with a song I recently found, and a story to go with it. Here’s today’s fictioneers!)

Good Man In A Storm

by Miles H. Rost

Brian Goodwin had a ministry of security.

His home was open to anyone who needed a place of shelter, a hiding place, or a waypoint on a life-changing journey.

Domestic violence situation? He’d be there to give you a place to gather and plan the next steps.

Depressed? He’d be there with tea and a book, and give you a few days to recover.

As long as there was a reference from someone he knew, you’d have access to him and his house.

Years ago, someone showed kindness to Brian, a mute man.

He’s that good man in a storm.

Click the frog, and read more from people like me!
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Friday Fictioneers – The Jester’s In A Cast (American Pie)

(Author’s note: National Novel Writing Month is in full swing. I’m at about 17,500 words out of 50,000. I am going to be spending a lot of time coming up with marathon writing sessions, but I believe I am doing well. I now need to work on finding an editor to help with starting out this new venture. Oh well, we’ll see what happens. Anyhow, here’s today’s Fictioneers!)

© Starsinclayjars

The Jester Is In A Cast

by Miles H. Rost

“I don’t know about you, but Bob Dylan absolutely has to be the Jester.”
“How do you figure?”
“Take a look at history. Elvis’s music was big, until Bob Dylan came along. And Bob’s music was the big thing until the Rolling Stones came along.”
“What does Elvis and the Stones have to do with it?”
“Elvis was the King. The Jester stole the King’s crown. Bob Dylan took over after Elvis went through the military. As far as the Stones? Their 1967 album is ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’.”
“So, Mick Jagger is Satan?”
“Don McLean was on to something.”