heat, transformation, heists, solidarity, love

November 5, 2024 8:37 AM

A few short fantasy stories about strangers joining forces to save each other, win vengeance, and discover tenderness. A dragon who wants to be left alone has to cope with the maiden "sacrificed" at his door. The rogue in an adventuring party keeps stealing a handkerchief she gave you (by bixbythemartian - previously). An old woman considers a request to turn a housewife into a swan. Story ideas for "a heist film where a group of vampires band together to steal back their old stuff from museums". And a baker in the aftermath of war meets a decommissioned military robot - "When There is Sugar" by Leonard Richardson.

Disclaimer: Richardson is my spouse, but per the revised rules on friend-linking, this is a link I would post even if I didn't know the author.

posted by brainwane (19 comments total)

I think that vampires only need invitations to enter private residences. Public buildings are open to everyone. (In the later Kitty Norville books, the diner gets that protection, which disturbs the resident "good guy" vampire.)
I too would enjoy a good vampire heist film. (I'd also enjoy a gang-bangers vs. a family of Minnesota werewolves story.)
posted by Spike Glee at 8:49 AM on November 5

Do vampires need living blood? A heist caper with a blood bank or hospital might be fun.
posted by rhizome at 10:17 AM on November 5

“When There Was Sugar” was great; I love stories about weary people rooting around in their hearts for scraps of kindness. It’s relatable. The swan story was good too, but no malevolent person should have a moment’s hesitation turning someone into a swan. Sean’s are the epitome of malice and spite, and will always cause misery.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:33 AM on November 5 [1 favorite]

"I can work with that." Muahahahah.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:48 AM on November 5 [2 favorites]

Awwww, the Rose story.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:50 AM on November 5 [2 favorites]

Yeah, I liked them all, but Rose Varasdaughter was the best.
posted by Spike Glee at 11:28 AM on November 5 [4 favorites]

Curiously, I remembered the title as “When There Was Sugar,” rather than the actual “When There Is Sugar,” which gives the story a more backward-looking feeling rather than the maybe hopeful one it has….
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:46 AM on November 5

I sometimes misremember it as "There Will Be Sugar"!
posted by brainwane at 11:55 AM on November 5 [1 favorite]

pondering as Dragons are want to do

wont

/end of prescriptivist nitpick
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:40 PM on November 5

Loved these!
posted by Wretch729 at 5:22 PM on November 5 [2 favorites]

I had just run across the swan one recently, I don't remember where. It is lovely.
posted by notoriety public at 5:51 PM on November 5 [1 favorite]

Lovely as always, brainwane.

Where is my vampire heist novel!!?
posted by BlueHorse at 6:07 PM on November 5 [1 favorite]

Greg_Ace you missed this one: "Thou hath". "Thou hast", please, hedgehogoftime.
"Want" bothered me, though it's a simple homophonic slip. It's harder to excuse conjugation mistakes when archaisms are brandished.
posted by anadem at 7:14 PM on November 5

And if you've every had your archaism brandished, you know how painful that can be!
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:46 PM on November 5 [1 favorite]

Sean’s are the epitome of malice and spite, and will always cause misery.

This tracks. Every Sean I knew in middle school was a total bully. Shawns too.
posted by hovey at 5:22 AM on November 6

Ugh if you don't have a tumbler account it cuts you off in the middle of the first story. Will have to read later when I'm on a computer and can delete the pop-up window.
posted by quillbreaker at 8:06 AM on November 6

A dragon who wants to be left alone has to cope with the maiden "sacrificed" at his door.

This basically the premise of Dealing with Dragons. Except there's also neckbeard wizards whose fatal weakness is soapy water.
posted by pwnguin at 7:53 PM on November 6

As good a place as any to mention that I've just started reading a novel called Someone To Build A Nest In about a shapeshifting monster who falls in love with a young woman and wants to lay its eggs in her. I'm about 20% in and so far it's absolutely delightful.
posted by neuron at 3:16 PM on November 7

Brainwane, this was delightful. I read them all with appreciation.
posted by bunderful at 7:08 AM on November 9 [2 favorites]