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 Ficlet prompts for October
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| M1795537OCVirn |
Posted on 01-10-2025 13:42
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 Admin  Posts: 15638 Joined: 14.01.22 |
This time, Travisina sends us Things beginning with Oct - Octave Octet Octogram etc any more you can think of, plus, as previously mentioned: Octopus and Ogtopus! Also, with a slight nod to Game of Thrones - Wynterfylleth In Old English, "Winterfylleth" (Ƿinterfylleþ) referred to the month of October, marking the beginning of winter for the Anglo-Saxons. The name is a compound of "winter" and "full moon," denoting the onset of winter at the month's full moon, as recorded by Bede. "You're not sulking, I hope?"
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| BlueyH |
Posted on 01-10-2025 23:19
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 Gamma Grade  Posts: 307 Joined: 04.02.25 |
There is indeed an 'oct' inserted (in)appropriately into the story. Not in the way Travisina intended, but hey, we are rebels after all... S.W.O! "So Dayna," began Tarrant, as the Liberator sped away from Keezarn, "Are you going to let us in on the secret? Just where did you pull that heat-seeking explosive drone from?" "Do you really want to know?" she replied, "it's really not that interesting". "Why not let us be the judge of that. Hey Vila, come over here, Dayna is going to tell us where she hides those explosives" "I can't wait to see this" said Vila. Dayna reached behind her and began to unzip the back of her outfit. She turned and bent over. "There we go, behold my S.W.O! My Special Weapons Orifice." "Oh, now that is very impressive indeed" said Tarrant as he bent down for a better look. "The storage racks are exquisite" "B..b..but it's bigger on the inside" stammered Vila "How?" "Well, when you're hiding from the Federation as we were, it's always best to be prepared." replied Dayna, "So my Father invited a specialist Space Proctological Surgeon from Kaldor City to assist with some modifications to help me better protect myself" "Well yes, I've seen body modifications before, but not like this" said Tarrant "The surgeon was assisted by a man named Drax. I forget where he came from, but his people were experts in Trans-Dimensional engineering, hence they were able to make it bigger on the inside" "Can we go see this Drax?" asked Vila, "I could do with something similar to stash my emergency supply of Adrenaline and Soma in." "That's the last time I accept a drink from Vila" retorted Tarrant. "What an appalling thought" added Dayna. (Both laugh like drains because it's the funniest thing they've ever heard, until that joke about raising babies after the genocide on Auron in a weeks time...) I look exactly as Avon reasoned I would.
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| Cygnus Bazza |
Posted on 05-10-2025 09:12
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 Alpha Grade  Posts: 7169 Joined: 14.06.22 |
Blimey, BlueyH - that'll have them shifting uncomfortably on their seats... Lol! TIME SQUASH “So let me get this straight, Avon. October used to be the eighth month, which is why it’s called October. As in octopus, a long-extinct cephalopod and not, as I used to think, a cat with eight legs. But then October became the tenth month.” “Correct, Vila.” “So why didn’t they change its name and call it the tenth month?” “Because they already had one of those.” “Really?” “Yes. Really. December.” “The twelfth month.” “Correct”. “The tenth month was the twelfth month.” “Correct. December, the twelfth month, was originally the tenth month. As in ‘decimal’. As in ‘decimate’. As in ‘decimate the Decima’. But December, the tenth month, became December, the twelfth month, when the Romans added January and February to the calendar.” “What a stupid idea. All that bad weather. Crazy… But OK in Australia, I’d imagine. Or was time just a bit more squashed up in the very old days?” “Vila, we’re straying from the point. The eighth month, October, became the tenth month. The ninth month, November, became the eleventh month…” “That’s very helpful.” “And the tenth month became the twelfth month.” “Well, no wonder people kept missing their dental appointments. To be honest, Avon, I always found it hard to tell the time anyway. Especially after I got given one of those antique wristwatches for Christmas. I was ten. At least I think I was ten. Maybe I was twelve but didn’t realise it.” “So what was the problem with the wristwatch?” “Well, it was a bit like Tarrant when he’s had a few drinks. Hands all over the place.” “Hands all over the place? How many hands exactly?” “Three.” “Interesting. Don’t think I’ve ever actually seen one of those old wristwatches. Always preferred digital. Being a go-ahead kinda guy. So how precisely did these three hands convey information?” “Well, Avon, the first hand was the hour hand. The second hand was the minute hand. And the third hand was the second hand.” “I thought you said the second hand was the minute hand?” “I did.” “But now you’re telling me the second hand was the third hand.” “Correct.” “So it only had two hands?” “No, three. Pay attention.” “I AM paying attention. You said the third hand was the second hand. And the second hand was the minute hand. So the minute hand must have been the third hand…” “No, Avon. The minute hand was the second hand. The second hand was the third hand… Look, if you want something explained properly, just ask an Irish comedian. Have a look at this…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QVPU...QVPUIRGthI |
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| BlueyH |
Posted on 06-10-2025 08:23
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Gamma Grade Posts: 307 Joined: 04.02.25 |
Blimey, BlueyH - that'll have them shifting uncomfortably on their seats... Lol! Well it saves TT the effort of having to explain it later! And maybe next month, in honour of the Ashes series starting (YES…I have my tickets!!) Avon can explain the rules of cricket to Orac… I look exactly as Avon reasoned I would.
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| M1795537OCVirn |
Posted on 07-10-2025 09:38
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Admin Posts: 15638 Joined: 14.01.22 |
Well done, both of you! What a load of nonsense...but clever, amusing nonsense.
"You're not sulking, I hope?"
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| Cygnus Bazza |
Posted on 07-10-2025 10:37
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Alpha Grade Posts: 7169 Joined: 14.06.22 |
Well done, both of you! Thanks for that, M1. That's my last contribution for a while - I've started to bore myself with my own ficlets. |
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| Paula |
Posted on 07-10-2025 19:39
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 Moderator  Posts: 5447 Joined: 15.01.22 |
Excellent stories. Well done.
Resist the Host
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| littlesue |
Posted on 09-10-2025 07:32
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 Alpha Grade Posts: 4206 Joined: 17.01.22 |
Thank you CB for that Dave Allen bit.....made me laugh first thing in the morning. Love the man.
Edited by littlesue on 10-10-2025 08:00 Cold! You don't know the meaning of the word cold! Cold is when you have ice on the INSIDE of your window!! Sue's Book Shelf https://www.mediafire.com/folder/z1xg...Zine_Shelf Rebel Run Video https://youtu.be/8prqS-XZtLo |
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| Cygnus Bazza |
Posted on 10-10-2025 06:40
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Alpha Grade Posts: 7169 Joined: 14.06.22 |
Thank you CB for that Dace Allen bit.....made me laugh first thing in the morning. Love the man. Saw him 'live' a couple of times back in the 80s. Even better than he was on TV. |
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| littlesue |
Posted on 10-10-2025 08:02
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Alpha Grade Posts: 4206 Joined: 17.01.22 |
Thank you CB for that Dace Allen bit.....made me laugh first thing in the morning. Love the man. Saw him 'live' a couple of times back in the 80s. Even better than he was on TV. Oh you are sooooo lucky! Mind you I am in stitches watching his TV show, so goodness knows how I would have been watching his live shows!!!!!!! Cold! You don't know the meaning of the word cold! Cold is when you have ice on the INSIDE of your window!! Sue's Book Shelf https://www.mediafire.com/folder/z1xg...Zine_Shelf Rebel Run Video https://youtu.be/8prqS-XZtLo |
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| Cygnus Bazza |
Posted on 10-10-2025 08:47
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Alpha Grade Posts: 7169 Joined: 14.06.22 |
Thank you CB for that Dace Allen bit.....made me laugh first thing in the morning. Love the man. Saw him 'live' a couple of times back in the 80s. Even better than he was on TV. Oh you are sooooo lucky! Mind you I am in stitches watching his TV show, so goodness knows how I would have been watching his live shows!!!!!!! Genuinely, his 'live' shows should have come with a health warning. On both occasions, I almost passed out. I was laughing so much, so hard I literally almost couldn't breathe. |
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| littlesue |
Posted on 18-10-2025 12:33
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Alpha Grade Posts: 4206 Joined: 17.01.22 |
Well here goes...for some reason upon reading the prompts I started humming Ringo Starr's Octopus' Garden in the sea...... A Helping Hand...or Eight! “A distress signal? From where?” Blake asked. “It’s not exactly a signal...just an awareness,” Cally replied. “A feeling you mean?” Jenna suggested. Cally nodded, “It can’t be too far away. On one of these planets in this system.” “This ‘feeling’,” Gan said, “Is it human?” “No,” Cally shook her head,” but it’s under a great deal of stress.” “Well, Avon?” “This planet is the only inhabited one in this system,” Avon said. “And...?” “It belongs to a man called Octavian who has constructed, what he claims, is a most interesting and original site. He calls it the Octagon Gardens. Unfortunately his endeavourer to attract the elite of the Federation came to nought and the gardens have fallen into disrepair.” “So, it’s this Octavian who is sending out the distress signal...” “No,” interjected Cally, “As I said, it’s not a human.” Octavian was human; a thoroughly delighted one when he saw his visitors. “Oh my goodness! Welcome to my Octagon Gardens! Why didn’t you call ahead? I’m afraid I haven’t anything ready. Did you require any refreshment? I would have to reactivate the auto servers.” “No,” Blake replied, “My friend and I were just passing...” “Then we found out that this was the site of the famous Octagon Gardens,” Jenna smiled, “And we had to stop. You don’t mind, do you?” “Do you mind holding that light over here,” Vila murmured. “I thought you could open any lock,” Avon said. “Not in the dark!” “Cally, are you sure about this?” Avon asked. “Yes, the distress is coming from here. Please hurry Vila, it can sense us.” “It’s not a monster, is it?” Vila nervously enquired. The door slowly creaked open to reveal a lighted tunnel under a gigantic aquarium. “It’s beautiful,” declared Vila, “and not a monster in sight!” “I wouldn’t be too sure about that, “Avon warned, just as a gigantic Octopus swam into view. “It needs our help to get back to its home,” Cally whispered. “Home?” Avon queried. “Yes, the open ocean out there. It was lured into this place and trapped.” “By this Octavian, I presume.” “Hence Octagon Gardens,” Vila deduced, “And I presume this rather antiquated control panel opens the door to freedom? After you computer genius...” Avon refused to rise to the bait, “I just hope Blake doesn’t find himself on the end of Octavian’s anger as his prize exhibit leaves.” ”...I know it’s run down, but if you let your friends know about this place then I can refurbish it,” Octavian stopped in mid sentence. “Something wrong?” Blake asked. “Look! My control panel. The ocean gate is opening...” “Is that a problem?” Jenna smiled. “Someone’s letting my prize exhibit escape. The reason for this place! The Octopus!! Do something.......” “We just did,” Blake informed him, “and we are leaving too......” Back in the Liberator’s teleport section, it was smiles all round. “Did the Octopus have anything to say?” Gan asked. “As a matter of fact, yes,” replied Cally, “It said thank you.” Cold! You don't know the meaning of the word cold! Cold is when you have ice on the INSIDE of your window!! Sue's Book Shelf https://www.mediafire.com/folder/z1xg...Zine_Shelf Rebel Run Video https://youtu.be/8prqS-XZtLo |
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| M1795537OCVirn |
Posted on 22-10-2025 15:22
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Admin Posts: 15638 Joined: 14.01.22 |
Ogtober Ficlet “The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success” (Bruce Feirstein) “Mum!” she dropped the slate and ran to the lounge, “Mum! I got the job!” “That’s good news, Cassie,” Mora answered brightly, but her heart sank, “When do you start?” “The shuttle leaves the day after tomorrow. I’m actually going!” Her excitement was infectious. Mora smiled and nodded as the girl raced away to start packing. This job had been Cassie’s dream since she graduated from University, but something still didn’t feel right. It was no use trying to explain such vague uneasiness to Cassie, and anyway, why spoil her fun? This new job - her first - gave her daughter independence, travel, money, and a certain amount of recognition in scientific circles. A mother ought to be glad. But the research station was so far away! Still, their newly-installed comlink would keep them in touch. The doubts remained, even after she waved Cassie off on the scoot to the spaceport. Having landed safely, Cassie emerged from the shuttle, uncomfortable in her pressure suit and breather. Her new employer, who wore neither, smiled and shook his head. “I know, “she answered laughing, “But they’re required for the flight, and it’s the easiest way to carry them.” They loaded her things onto a floater and set off for the installation. “Here’s your cabin,” he pointed to a door, “The laboratory is that way. “ Within days, Cassie settled in and threw herself into the work. She helped him with the equipment, the scans, the data recording...her coms with Mora were full of enthusiasm. Any moral considerations vanished in the glow of achievement. She didn’t even think to question why the previous assistant had left. With only the two of them on the base, it was perhaps inevitable that their relationship developed in the way it did. Cassie was in love for the first time, and everything was wonderful. The experiments, the sampling, the testing, the after-care and training continued as planned, reliability improving as they adjusted the variables. Then one day, he came to her smiling, kissed her and asked, charming as ever, “I wonder – would you consider letting me take a few samples - as a control?” Proud to be included, she agreed on the spot. Why wouldn’t she? It was only when the sedative began to take hold that she felt a twinge of misgiving. The final transplant went well, and the post-operative checks showed that the implants were functioning better than expected. Justin moved Og’s sleeping body back to its cage. The work – his work – was progressing well. With Og he would prove that it could be done, and the Federation would no doubt hail him as a genius. The donor body he disposed of, like the others. "You're not sulking, I hope?"
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| M1795537OCVirn |
Posted on 22-10-2025 15:23
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Admin Posts: 15638 Joined: 14.01.22 |
Loved the telepathic octopus, Sue!
"You're not sulking, I hope?"
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| AnneArthur |
Posted on 01-11-2025 10:49
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 Alpha Grade Posts: 8570 Joined: 16.01.22 |
Those were very entertaining! I loved the Octopus, and especially the Justin fic, Ms Virn - only too plausible. |
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