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Dans-Prosemaxx-Cowriter-S

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[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode: Collab writing\nAmount: 3 sentences\nVoice: Alix E. Harrow" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wouldn't have found it if it weren't for the bird.\n\nI was heading down to the kitchen to steal evening coffee from Mrs. Purtram, the cook, when I heard a twittering, thrashing sound and paused halfway down the second staircase. I waited until it happened again: the rushing silence of beating wings and a hollow thudding. Silence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I followed the sound to the second-floor parlor, labeled the Pharaoh Room, where Mr. Locke's extensive Egyptian collection was housed: red and blue caskets, marble urns with wings for handles, tiny golden ankhs on leather strings, carved stone columns orphaned from their temples." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The whole room had a yellowy-gold glow to it, even in the almost-dark of a summer evening." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sound came from the southern corner of the room, where my blue treasure chest still stood. It rattled on its plinth.\n\nAfter I'd found my pocket diary I hadn't been able to help circling back around to the chest every now and then and peering into its dusty-smelling depths." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Around Christmas, a cut-paper puppet appeared with little wooden sticks affixed to each of her limbs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The following summer there was a tiny music box that played a Russian-sounding waltz, and then a little brown doll beaded in bright colors, and then an illustrated French edition of The Jungle Book.\n\nI never asked him directly, but I was certain they were gifts from Mr. Locke. They tended to show up right when I needed them most, when my father had forgotten another birthday or missed another holiday." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could almost feel his awkward hand on my shoulder, offering silent comfort." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It seemed extremely unlikely, however, that he would intentionally hide a bird in the box. I lifted the lid, not quite believing it, and a gray-and-gold something exploded up at me as if fired from a small cannon and ricocheted around the parlor. It was a delicate, ruffled-looking bird with a marmalade-colored head and spindly legs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(I tried to look it up, later, but it didn't look like any of the birds in Mr. Audubon's book.)" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was turning away, letting the lid of the chest fall—when I realized there was something else still inside.\n\nA book. A smallish, leather-bound book with scuffed corners and with dented imprints where the gold-stamped title had been partially scraped off: THE TEN THOU OORS. I riffled the pages with one thumb." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Those of you who are more than casually familiar with books—those of you who spend your free afternoons in fusty bookshops, who offer furtive, kindly strokes along the spines of familiar titles—understand that page riffling is an essential element in the process of introducing oneself to a new book." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It isn't about reading the words; it's about reading the smell, which wafts from the pages in a cloud of dust and wood pulp." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It might smell expensive and well bound, or it might smell of tissue-thin paper and blurred two-color prints, or of fifty years unread in the home of a tobacco-smoking old man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Books can smell of cheap thrills or painstaking scholarship, of literary weight or unsolved mysteries." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This one smelled unlike any book I'd ever held." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cinnamon and coal smoke, catacombs and loam. Damp seaside evenings and sweat-slick noontimes beneath palm fronds. It smelled as if it had been in the mail for longer than any one parcel could be, circling the world for years and accumulating layers of smells like a tramp wearing too many clothes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It smelled like adventure itself had been harvested in the wild, distilled to a fine wine, and splashed across each page." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I'm stumbling ahead of myself. Stories are supposed to be told in order, with beginnings and middles and ends. I'm no scholar, but I know that much." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I spent the years after the blue Door doing what most willful, temerarious girls must do: becoming less so." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the fall of 1903 I was nine and the world was tasting the word modern on its tongue. A pair of brothers in the Carolinas were experimenting enthusiastically with their flying machines; our new president had just advised us to speak softly but carry big sticks, which apparently meant we ought to invade Panama; and bright red hair was briefly popular, until women started reporting dizziness and hair loss and Miss Valentine's Hair Potion was revealed to be little more than red rat poison. My father was somewhere in northern Europe (my postcard showed snowy mountains and a pair of children dressed like Hansel and Gretel; the back said Happy belated birthday), and Mr. Locke finally trusted me enough to take me on another trip." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My behavior since the Kentucky incident had been impeccable: I didn't torment Mr. Stirling or disturb Mr. Locke's collections; I obeyed all Wilda's rules, even the really stupid ones about folding your collars straight after ironing; I didn't play on the grounds with \"lice-ridden urchins just off the boat,\" but merely watched Samuel driving the grocery cart from the third-story window of my father's study. He still snuck story papers to me whenever he could finagle them past Mrs. Purtram, their corners dog-eared to his favorite pages, and I returned them rolled tight in the empty milk bottles, with all the best and most bloodthirsty lines circled.\n\nHe always looked up as he left, always stared long enough for me to know he'd seen me, and raised a hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sometimes, if Wilda wasn't looking and I was feeling daring, I touched my fingertips to the windowpane in return." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mostly I spent my time conjugating Latin verbs and doing sums beneath the watery eye of my tutor. I sat through my weekly lessons with Mr. Locke, nodding politely while he lectured about stocks, regulatory boards that didn't know what was what, his youthful studies in England, and the three best varieties of scotch. I practiced deportment with the senior housekeeper and learned how to smile politely at every guest and client who came to call." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Aren't you a darling little thing,\" they simpered. \"And so well-spoken!\" They patted my hair as if I were a well-trained lapdog.\n\nSometimes I was so lonely I thought I might wither into ash and drift away on the next errant breeze." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sometimes I felt like an item in Mr. Locke's collection labeled January Scaller, 57 inches, bronze; purpose unknown." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So when he invited me to accompany him to London—on the condition that I was willing to listen to every word he said as if they were God's own commandments—I said yes so enthusiastically that even Mr. Stirling jumped.\n\nHalf my stories and dime novels were set in London, so I was confident in my expectations: dim, foggy streets populated by urchins and nefarious men in bowler hats; black-stained buildings that loomed in a satisfyingly gloomy way over one's head; silent rows of gray houses. Oliver Twist mixed with Jack the Ripper, with perhaps a dash of Sara Crewe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe parts of London are really like that, but the city I saw in 1903 was almost exactly the opposite: loud, bright, and bustling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As soon as we stepped off the London and North Western Railway car at Euston station we were nearly stampeded by a group of schoolchildren in matching navy outfits; a man in an emerald turban bowed politely as he passed; a dark-skinned family was arguing in their own language; a red-and-gold poster on the station wall advertised Dr. Goodfellow's Genuine Human Zoo, featuring Pygmies, Zulu Warriors, Indian Chiefs, and Slave Girls of the East!\n\n\"We're already in a damned human zoo,\" Locke grouched, and dispatched Mr. Stirling to find a cab to take us directly to the head offices of the Royal Rubber Company. The porters crammed Mr. Locke's luggage into the back of the cab, and Stirling and I dragged it up the white marble steps of the company offices." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mr. Locke and Mr. Stirling vanished into the dim hallways with a number of important-looking men in black suits, and I was instructed to sit on a narrow-backed chair in the lobby and not bother anyone or make any noise or touch anything." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I contemplated the mural on the opposite wall, which showed a kneeling African handing Britannia a basket of rubber vines. The African wore a rather slavish, starry-eyed expression.\n\nI wondered if Africans counted as colored in London, and then I wondered if I did, and felt a little shiver of longing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To be part of some larger flock, to not be stared at, to know my place precisely. Being \"a perfectly unique specimen\" is lonely, it turns out.\n\nOne of the secretaries was watching me with narrow-eyed eagerness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You know the type: one of those squat white ladies with thin lips who apparently live their entire lives longing for the chance to rap someone's knuckles with a ruler." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I declined to give her the opportunity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I jumped up, pretending to hear Mr. Locke calling for me, and skittered down the hall after him.\n\nThe door was cracked. Oily lamplight oozed out, and men's voices made soft, hungry echoes against oak paneling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I inched close enough to see inside: there were eight or nine mustached men surrounding a long table piled high with all of Locke's luggage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The black cases were opened, and crumpled newspapers and straw were strewn everywhere. Locke himself stood at the head of the table, holding something I couldn't see.\n\n\"A very valuable find indeed, gentlemen, all the way from Siam, containing what I'm told is powdered scale of some kind—quite potent—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The men listened with unseemly eagerness in their faces, their spines curving toward Mr. Locke as if magnetically compelled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was something odd about them—a kind of collective not-quite-right-ness, as if they weren't men at all but other kinds of creatures stuffed into black-buttoned suits.\n\nI realized I recognized one of them. I'd seen him at the Society party last July, slinking around the edges of the parlor with darting, yellowy eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was a fidgety man, with a ferrety face and hair redder than even Miss Valentine's Hair Potion could manufacture. He was leaning toward Locke just like everyone else—but then his nostrils flared, like a dog getting a scent it doesn't much like.\n\nI know people can't smell disobedient little girls spying on them, really I do." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And how much trouble would I really have gotten in, just for looking?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But there was something secretive about the meeting, something illicit, and the man was tilting his head upward as if trying to catch a strange scent and track it—\n\nI flitted away from the door and crept back to my chair in the lobby. For the following hour I kept my eyes on the tile floor, ankles neatly crossed, and ignored the sighing, huffing sounds from the secretary." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nine-year-olds don't know much, but they aren't stupid; I'd guessed before now that all my father's artifacts and treasures didn't end up displayed in Locke House." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Apparently some of them were shipped across the Atlantic and auctioned off in stuffy boardrooms. I pictured some poor clay tablet or manuscript, stolen from its rightful home and sent circling the globe, forlorn and alone, only to end up labeled and displayed for people who didn't even know what it said. Then I reminded myself that that was more or less what happened in Locke House itself, anyway, and didn't Mr. Locke always say it was an act of \"criminal cowardice\" to leave opportunities unpursued?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I decided another part of being a good girl was probably keeping your mouth shut about certain things." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't say anything at all to Mr. Locke or Mr. Stirling when they emerged, or during the cab ride to our hotel, or when Mr. Locke abruptly announced that he felt like a little shopping and directed the cab to Knightsbridge instead.\n\nWe walked into a department store roughly the size of an independent nation, all marble and glass. White-toothed attendants were posted like smiling soldiers at every counter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One of them skittered toward us across the shining floor and trilled, \"Welcome, sir! How may I help you? And what a darling little girl!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her smile was blinding, but her eyes interrogated my skin, my hair, my eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I were a coat she would have turned me inside out and checked my tag for my manufacturer. \"Wherever did you find her?\"\n\nMr. Locke caught my hand and tucked it protectively under his arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This is my... daughter. Adopted, of course. Between you and I, you're looking at the last living member of the Hawaiian royal family.\" And because of the confident boom of Mr. Locke's voice and the moneyed look of his suit coat, or maybe because she'd never met an actual Hawaiian, the woman believed him. I watched her suspicion vanish, replaced by fascinated admiration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, how exceptional! We have some lovely turbans from Lahore—quite exotic, they would look so thrilling with that hair of hers—or perhaps she'd like to look at our parasols? To protect against the summer sun?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mr. Locke looked down at me, appraisingly. \"A book, I think. Any one she likes. She's proven herself a very good girl.\" Then he smiled at me, an expression detectable only by the slight bending of his mustache." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I glowed; I had been weighed, and found worthy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the early summer of 1906 I was almost twelve." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The RMS Lusitania had just launched as the largest ship in the world (Mr. Locke promised we'd get tickets soon); the newspapers were still full of grainy pictures of the wreckage in San Francisco after that awful earthquake; and I'd used my allowance to buy a subscription to Outing magazine just so I could read Jack London's new novel every week. Mr. Locke was away on business without me, and my father was, for once, home.\n\nHe was supposed to have left the day before to join Mr. Fawcett's expedition to Brazil, but there was some delay with documents getting stamped by the proper authorities and delicate instruments that required careful shipping—I didn't care." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I only cared that he was home.\n\nWe ate breakfast together in the kitchens, seated at a big scarred table marked with grease spots and burns. He'd brought one of his field notebooks to review, and ate his eggs and toast with a tiny V creasing his eyebrows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't mind; I had the latest installment of White Fang." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We disappeared into our separate worlds, together but apart, and it was so peaceful and right-feeling that I found myself pretending that it happened every morning. That we were a regular little family, that Locke House was our house and this table was our kitchen table.\n\nExcept I guess if we were a regular family there would be a mother at the table with us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe she'd be reading, too." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe she'd look up at me over the spine of her book and her eyes would crinkle, just so, and she would brush the toast crumbs from my father's scrubby beard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It's stupid to think things like that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It just gives you this hollow, achy feeling between your ribs, like you're homesick even though you're already home, and you can't read your magazine anymore because the words are all warped and watery-looking.\n\nMy father gathered his plate and coffee cup and stood, notebook wedged beneath his arm. His eyes were distant behind the little gold-rimmed spectacles he wore for reading." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He turned to leave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wait.\" I gulped the word out and he blinked at me like a startled owl." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I was wondering if—could I help you? With your work?\"\n\nI watched him start to say no, saw his head begin a regretful shake, but then he looked at me. Whatever he saw in my face—the damp shine of almost-tears in my eyes, the hollow aching—made him draw a sharp breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Of course, January.\" His accent rolled over my name like a ship at sea; I reveled in the sound of it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We spent the day down in the endless cellars of Locke House, where all the uncategorized or unlabeled or broken items in Mr. Locke's collections were stored in straw-stuffed crates. My father sat with a stack of notebooks, muttering and scribbling and occasionally directing me to type out little labels on his shiny black typewriter. I pretended I was Ali Baba in the Cave of Wonders, or a knight stalking through a dragon's hoard, or just a girl with a father." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ah, the lamp, yes. Put that over with the carpet and the necklace, please. Don't rub it, whatever you do—although—what could it hurt?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wasn't sure he was speaking to me until he waved me closer. \"Bring it here.\"\n\nI handed him the bronze lump I'd dug out of a crate labeled TURKESTAN. It didn't look much like a lamp; it looked more like a small, misshapen bird, with a long spout for a beak and strange symbols carved along its wings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Father stroked one finger along those symbols, gently, and oily white steam began to spool from the spout." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The steam rose, coiling and writhing like a pale snake, making shapes almost like words in the air.\n\nMy father's hand swept the smoke away and I blinked. \"How—there must be some kind of wick in there, and a spark. How does it work?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tucked the lamp back into its crate, a little half smile curling his mouth. He shrugged at me, and the half smile stretched wider, a glint of something like merriment behind his spectacles.\n\nAnd maybe because he smiled so very rarely, or because it had been such a perfect day, I said something stupid." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can I go with you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He tilted his head, smile retreating." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"When you go to Brazil. Or the place after that. Will you take me with you?\"\n\nIt was one of those things you want so much it burns, so you keep it deep in the center of yourself like a banked coal. But—oh, to escape the hotel lobbies and department stores and neat-buttoned traveling coats—to dive like a fish into the thrumming stream of the world, swimming at my father's side—" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No.\" Cold, harsh. Final.\n\n\"I'm a good traveler, ask Mr. Locke! I don't interrupt, or touch things I oughtn't, or speak to anyone, or wander off—\"\n\nFather's brow crinkled into that puzzled V again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then why should you want to travel in the first place?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shook his head. \"The answer is no, January. It is far too dangerous.\"\n\nEmbarrassment and anger crept up my neck in hot prickles." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't say anything because then I would cry and everything would be even worse." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Listen. I find valuable and unique things, yes? For Mr. Locke and his Society friends?\" I didn't nod. \"Well, they are not the only, ah, interested parties, it seems. There are others—I don't know who—\" I heard him swallow. \"You are safer here. This is a proper place for a young girl to grow up.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That last part came out with such a rehearsed, echoey sound that I knew it was a direct quote from Mr. Locke." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I nodded, eyes on the straw-strewn floor. \"Yes, sir.\"\n\n\"But—I will take you with me, one day. I promise.\"\n\nI wanted to believe him, but I'd met enough empty promises in my life to know one when I heard it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I left without speaking again.\n\nSafely cocooned in my room, wrapped in the pink-and-gold bedspread that still smelled of nutmeg and sandalwood, I removed the coin from its tiny pocket in my skirt and studied the silver-eyed queen. She had a mischievous, run-away-with-me sort of smile, and for a moment I felt my heart swoop like something taking flight, tasted cedar and salt in my mouth—" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I crossed to my dresser and tucked her into a hole in the lining of my jewelry box; I was too old to carry around such fanciful trinkets, anyway.\n\nIn March 1908 I was thirteen, which is such an intensely awkward and self-absorbed age that I remember almost nothing about that year except that I grew four inches and Wilda made me start wearing a terrible wire contraption over my breasts. My father was on a steamer heading to the South Pole, and all his letters smelled of ice and bird shit; Mr. Locke was hosting a greasy group of Texas oilmen in the east wing of Locke House and had ordered me to stay out of their way; I was just about as lonely and wretched as any thirteen-year-old has ever been, which is very lonely and wretched indeed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My only company was Wilda." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had grown infinitely more fond of me over the years, now that I was a \"proper young lady,\" but her fondness only meant that she smiled too often—a creaking, cobwebbed expression that looked as if it had been stored in a musty trunk for decades—and sometimes suggested we read aloud from Pilgrim's Progress as a treat. It was almost lonelier than having no company at all.\n\nBut then something happened that meant I was never truly alone again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was copying a stack of ledger books for Mr. Locke, hunched over the desk in my father's study." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a writing desk in my own room, but I mostly used his instead—it wasn't like he was home often enough to object. I liked the stillness of the room, too, and the way the smell of him lingered in the air like dust motes: sea salt and spices and strange stars.\n\nAnd I especially liked that it had the best view of the drive, which meant I could watch Samuel Zappia's cart come swaying toward the house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He hardly ever left me story papers anymore—the habit had faded between us, like pen pals whose letters get shorter each month—but he always waved. Today I watched his breath rise in a white plume above the cart, saw his head tilt up to the study window. Was that a flash of white teeth?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His red cart had just disappeared toward the kitchen and I was considering and dismissing ways I could contrive to walk casually by in the next half hour, when Miss Wilda rapped her knuckles on the study door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She informed me, in tones of deepest suspicion, that young Mr. Zappia would like to speak to me.\n\n\"Oh.\" I made a stab at nonchalance. \"Whatever for?\"\n\nWilda stalked behind me like a black woolen shadow as I went down to meet him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Samuel was waiting beside his ponies, muttering into their velveteen ears. \"Miss Scaller,\" he greeted me.\n\nI noticed he'd been spared the misfortunes of most adolescent boys; instead of sprouting several extra elbows and galumphing around like a newborn giraffe, Samuel had grown lither, denser. More handsome." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Samuel.\" I used my most grown-up voice, as if I had never once chased him across the lawn howling for his surrender or fed him magic potions made of pine needles and lake water.\n\nHe gave me a weighing sort of look. I tried not to think about my lumpy wool dress, which Wilda especially liked, or the irrepressible way my hair frizzed out of its pins." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wilda gave a threatening cough, like a mummy clearing its throat of grave dust.\n\nSamuel rummaged in the cart for a covered basket. \"For you.\" His face was perfectly neutral, but a faint crimp at the corner of his mouth might have been the beginnings of a smile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His eyes had a familiar, eager gleam; it was the same look he'd had when he was retelling the plot of a dime novel and was about to get to the really good part where the hero swoops in to save the kidnapped kid at just the right moment. \"Take it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At this point, you're thinking this story isn't really about Doors, but about those more private, altogether more miraculous doors that can open between two hearts. Perhaps it is in the end—I happen to believe every story is a love story if you catch it at the right moment, slantwise in the light of dusk—but it wasn't then.\n\nIt wasn't Samuel who became my dearest friend in the world; it was the animal snuffling and milling its stubby legs in the basket he handed me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "From my rare and Wilda-chaperoned trips into Shelburne, I knew the Zappias lived crammed in an apartment above the grocery in town, in the sort of sprawling, raucous nest that made Mr. Locke whuffle through his mustache and complain about those people. The store was guarded by an enormous, heavy-jawed dog named Bella.\n\nBella, Samuel explained, had recently produced a litter of burnished bronze puppies." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The other Zappia children were busy selling most of them to tourists gullible enough to believe they were a rare African breed of lion-hunting dog, but Samuel had kept one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The best one. I saved for you. See how he looks at you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was true: the puppy in my basket had stopped its squirming to stare up at me with damp, blue-sheened eyes, as if awaiting divine instruction.\n\nI couldn't have known then what that puppy would become to me, but perhaps some part of me suspected, because my nose was prickling in that dangerous, you-are-about-to-cry way when I looked up at Samuel.\n\nI opened my mouth, but Wilda made her rattly throat sound again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think not, boy,\" she declared." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You will take that animal right back where it came from.\"\n\nSamuel didn't frown, but the smile-crimp at the corner of his mouth flattened out. Wilda snatched the basket from my clutching hands—the puppy toppled and rolled, legs paddling in midair—and thrust it back to Samuel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Miss Scaller thanks you for your generosity, I'm sure.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And she steered me back inside and lectured me for several eons about germs, the inappropriateness of large dogs for ladies, and the perils of accepting favors from men of low standing.\n\nMy appeal to Mr. Locke after dinner was unsuccessful. \"Some flea-bitten thing you took pity on, I suppose?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, sir. You know Bella, the Zappias' dog? She had a litter, and—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"A half-breed, then. Those never turn out well, January, and I won't have some mongrel chewing on the taxidermy.\" He waggled his fork at me. \"But I'll tell you what—one of my associates raises very fine dachshunds down in Massachusetts. Perhaps if you apply yourself in your lessons I could be persuaded to reward you with an early Christmas present.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He gave me an indulgent smile, winking beneath Wilda's pursed lips, and I tried to smile back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I returned to my ledger copying after dinner feeling sullen and strangely rubbed raw, as if there were invisible chains chafing against my skin. The numbers blurred and prismed as tears pooled in my eyes and I had a sudden, useless desire for my long-lost pocket diary. For that day in the field when I'd written a story and made it come true." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My pen slunk to the margins of the ledger book. I ignored the voice in my head that said it was absurd, hopeless, several steps beyond fanciful—that reminded me words on a page aren't magic spells—and wrote: Once upon a time there was a good girl who met a bad dog, and they became the very best of friends.\n\nThere was no silent reshaping of the world this time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was only a faint sighing, as if the entire room had exhaled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The south window rattled weakly in its frame." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A sick sort of exhaustion stole over my limbs, a heaviness, as if each of my bones had been stolen and replaced with lead, and the pen dropped from my hand. I blinked blurring eyes, my breath half-held.\n\nBut nothing happened; no puppy materialized." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I returned to my copy work." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The following morning I woke abruptly, much earlier than any sane young woman would voluntarily wake up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An insistent plink-plinking rang through my room. Wilda snuffled in her sleep, brows crimping in instinctual disapproval.\n\nI dove for my window in a fumbling mess of nightgown and sheets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Standing on the frosted lawn below, wrapped in the pearly predawn mist, his upturned face crinkled in that almost-smile, was Samuel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One hand held the reins of his gray pony, who was making furtive passes at the lawn, and the other held the round-bottomed basket.\n\nI was out the door and down the back stairs before I'd had time for anything so mundane as conscious thought. Sentences like Wilda will flay you or My God, you're in your nightgown arrived only after I'd flung open the side door and rushed out to meet him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Samuel looked down at my bare feet, freezing in the frost, then at my desperate, eager face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He held out the basket for the second time. I scooped out the chilly, sleepy ball of puppy and held him to my chest, where he rooted toward the warmth beneath my arm.\n\n\"Thank you, Samuel,\" I whispered, which I know now was an utterly insufficient response." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But Samuel seemed content." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He bowed his head in a chivalrous, Old-World-ish gesture like a knight accepting his lady's favor, mounted his drooling pony, and disappeared across the misted grounds." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now, let us clear the air: I am not a stupid girl. I realized the words I'd written in the ledger book were more than ink and cotton. They'd reached out into the world and twisted the shape of it in some invisible and unknowable way that brought Samuel to stand beneath my window." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But there was a more rational explanation available to me—that Samuel had seen the longing in my face and decided to hell with that bitter old German woman—and I chose to believe that instead.\n\nBut still: when I got to my room and settled the brown ball of fur in a nest of pillows, the first thing I did was trawl through my desk drawer for a pen. I found my copy of The Jungle Book, flipped to the blank pages at the back, and wrote: She and her dog were inseparable from that day forward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the summer of 1909 I was almost fifteen and some of the selfish fog of adolescence was starting to dissipate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The second Anne of Green Gables book and the fifth Oz book were out that spring; a white, snub-nosed woman named Alice had just driven a motorcar across the entire country (a feat that Mr. Locke dubbed \"utterly absurd\"); there was some fuss about a coup or a revolution in the Ottoman Empire (\"absolutely wasteful\"); and my father had been in East Africa for months without so much as a postcard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd sent me a yellowed ivory carving of an elephant with the letters MOMBASA carved into its belly at Christmas, and a note saying he would be home by my birthday.\n\nHe wasn't, of course. But Jane was.\n\nIt was early summer, when the leaves are still dewy and new and the sky looks freshly painted, and Bad and I were curled together in the gardens, rereading all the other Oz books to prepare for the new one." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd already had my French and Latin lessons for the day, and finished all my sums and bookkeeping for Mr. Locke, and my afternoons were wonderfully free now that Wilda was gone.\n\nI think Bad deserves most of the credit, really. If you could have manifested Wilda's darkest nightmares into a physical being, it would have looked very much like a yellow-eyed puppy with overlarge paws, a surfeit of fine brown hairs, and no respect at all for nursemaids." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd thrown a predictably impressive fit when she first found him in my bedroom, and dragged me up to Locke's office still in my nightgown." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good God, woman, do stop shrieking, I haven't had my coffee. Now, what's all this? I thought I was perfectly clear last night.\" Mr. Locke had fixed me with that look, ice-edged and moon-pale. \"I won't have it in the house.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I felt my will shivering and warping, weakening under his gaze—but I thought of those words hidden in the back of Kipling: She and her dog were inseparable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I tightened my arms around Bad and met Mr. Locke's eyes, my jaw set.\n\nA second passed, and then another. Sweat prickled at the back of my neck, as if I were lifting some immensely heavy object, and then Mr. Locke laughed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Keep it, if it matters so much to you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After that, Miss Wilda seemed to fade from our lives like newsprint left out in the sun. She simply couldn't compete with Bad, who grew at an alarming pace. With me, he remained adoring and puppyish, sleeping flopped across my legs and cramming himself into my lap long past the time he could actually fit—but his attitude toward the rest of the human population was frankly dangerous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Within six months he'd successfully driven Wilda out of our room and exiled her to the serving staff's quarters; by eight months he and I had most of the third floor to ourselves.\n\nI last saw Wilda scurrying across the broad lawn, peering back at the third-floor window of my room with the hunted expression of a general fleeing a losing battlefield. I hugged Bad so hard he yelped, and we spent the afternoon splashing along the lakeshore, giddy with freedom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now, lying with my head against his sun-warmed ribs, I heard the crunch and putter of a car coming down the drive." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The drive of Locke House is a long, winding thing lined with stately oaks. The cab was just pulling away as Bad and I circled around the front of the house. A strange woman was striding toward the great red stone steps, head high." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My first thought was that an African queen had been trying to visit President Taft in D.C. but found herself misdirected and arrived at Locke House by mistake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It wasn't that she was dressed especially grandly—a beige traveling coat with a neat row of black-shined buttons, a single leather valise, scandalously short hair—or that she looked particularly haughty. It was something in the unbending line of her shoulders, or the way she looked up at all the grandeur of Locke House without the slightest flicker of either admiration or intimidation.\n\nShe saw us and came to a halt before mounting the front steps, apparently waiting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We circled close, my hand on Bad's collar in case he got one of his unfortunate impulses." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You must be January.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her accent was foreign and rhythmic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Julian told me to look for a girl with wild hair and a mean dog.\" She extended her hand and I shook it. Calluses knotted her palm like a topographical map of a foreign country." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was lucky that Mr. Locke stepped out the front door at that moment, heading for his newly shined Buick Model 10, because my mouth had fallen open and seemed unlikely to close itself again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mr. Locke made it halfway down the stairs before he saw us. \"January, how many times have I told you to leash that deranged animal—who in the name of God is this?\" His thoughts on courtesy evidently did not apply to strange colored women who materialized on his doorstep." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am Miss Jane Irimu. Mr. Julian Scaller has commissioned me to be a companion to his daughter, paid from his own funds at a rate of five dollars a week. He indicated that you might be generous enough to supply room and board. I believe this letter explains my situation clearly.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She extended a stained and ratty envelope to Mr. Locke. He ripped it open and read with an expression of deepest suspicion. A few exclamations escaped him: \"His daughter's welfare, is it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "and \"He has employed—?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He snapped the letter shut. \"You expect me to believe that Julian shipped a nursemaid halfway across the world for his daughter? Who is nearly grown, I might add?\"\n\nMiss Irimu's face lay in a series of wind-smooth planes, nearly architectural in their perfection, which seemed unlikely ever to be disturbed by the mobility of either smile or scowl." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I was in an unfortunate situation. As I believe the letter explains.\"\n\n\"A bit of charity work, is it? Julian always was too softhearted for his own good.\" Mr. Locke slapped his driving gloves against his palm and huffed at us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Very well, Miss Whatsit. Far be it from me to step between a father and his daughter. I'll be damned if I'm filling up one of my good guest rooms, though—show her up to your room, January. She can take Wilda's old bed.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And he strode off, shaking his head.\n\nThe silence that followed his departure was shy and slinking, as if it wanted to be awkward but didn't quite dare beneath Miss Irimu's steady eye.\n\n\"Uh.\" I swallowed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This is Bad. Sindbad, I mean.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd wanted to name him after a great explorer, but none of them seemed to fit. Dr. Livingstone and Mr. Stanley were obvious choices (Mr. Locke so admired them he even had Stanley's own revolver on display in his office, a narrow-nosed Enfield that he cleaned and oiled on a weekly basis), but they made me think of that shriveled African arm in its glass case. Magellan was too long, Drake too boring, Columbus too bumbling; in the end I'd named him after the only explorer who rendered the world stranger and more wondrous with each voyage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jane was watching him warily. \"Don't worry, he doesn't bite,\" I assured her. Well, he didn't bite often, and the way I saw it the people he bit were probably secretly untrustworthy and had it coming to them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mr. Locke did not find this argument compelling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Miss Irimu—\" I began.\n\n\"Jane will suffice.\"\n\n\"Miss Jane. Could I see my father's letter?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She considered me with clinical coolness, like a scientist evaluating a new species of fungus. \"No.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Then could you tell me, uh, why he hired you? Please.\"\n\n\"Julian cares very deeply for you. He does not wish you to be alone.\" Several nasty things leapt to my lips, including Well, that's news to me, but I kept them locked behind my teeth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jane was still watching me with that fungus-identification expression." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She added, \"Your father also wishes you to be kept safe. I will ensure that you are.\"\n\nI surveyed the gentle green lawns of Locke's estate and the placid grayness of Lake Champlain. \"Uh-huh.\"\n\nI was trying to think of a polite way to say My father's gone mad, and you should probably leave, when Bad stretched toward her, sniffing with an appraising, to-bite-or-not-to-bite expression." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He considered briefly, then bucked his head against her hand in a shameless request for ear scratches." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dogs, of course, are infinitely better judges of character than people. \"Uh. Welcome to Locke House, Miss Jane. I hope you like it here.\"\n\nShe bowed her head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm sure I shall.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But for the first several weeks Jane spent at Locke House, she gave no sign of liking it—or me—very much at all.\n\nShe spent her days in near-silence, prowling from room to room like something caged. She regarded me with stony resignation and occasionally picked up one of my discarded copies of The Strand Mystery Magazine or The Cavalier: Weekly Stories of Daring Adventure!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "with a dubious expression." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She reminded me of one of those Greek heroes doomed to some endless task, like drinking from a disappearing river or rolling a stone up a mountain.\n\nMy early attempts at conversation were blighted, abortive things. I asked politely about her past and received clipped answers that discouraged further inquiry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew she was born in the central highlands of British East Africa in 1873, except that it wasn't called British East Africa then; I knew she spent six years in the Gospel Society Mission School at Nairu, where she learned the queen's English and wore the queen's cotton and prayed to the queen's God." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she found herself in \"considerable difficulty\" and took the employment opportunity my father offered her.\n\n\"Ah. Well,\" I said with pained cheeriness, \"at least it's not so hot here! Compared to Africa, I mean.\"\n\nJane did not respond immediately, staring out the study window at the greenish-gold lake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Where I was born, there was frost on the ground every morning,\" she answered softly, and the conversation died a merciful death.\n\nI don't think I saw her smile a single time until Mr. Locke's annual Society party.\n\nThe Society party was identical every year, with slight updates in fashion: eighty of Mr. Locke's wealthiest collector friends and their wives would jam themselves into the downstairs parlors and gardens and laugh overloudly at each other's witticisms; hundreds of cocktails would be transmuted into ether-scented sweat, ascending on cigarette-smoke spirals to hang above us in a heady fug; eventually all the official Society members would slink off to the smoking room and stink up the entire first floor with cigars." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sometimes I pretended to myself it was a grand birthday party for me, because it was almost always within a few days, but it's hard to pretend it's your party when drunken guests keep mistaking you for a serving girl and asking for more sherry or scotch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My dress that year was a shapeless froth of pink ribbons and frills that made me look like a rather sulky cupcake. I have proof, unfortunately—that was the year Mr. Locke hired a photographer as a special treat. In the picture I am stiff and vaguely hunted-looking, with my hair so brutally pinned I might be bald." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One of my hands is wrapped around Bad's shoulders, and it is unclear whether I am clinging to him for strength or restraining him from eating the photographer. At Christmas Mr. Locke presented a small framed print to my father, perhaps in the charming belief that he'd take it with him on his travels. My father had held it in his hands, frowning, and said, \"You do not look like yourself. You do not look like... her.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Like my mother, I assumed.\n\nI found the picture facedown in a drawer of his writing desk a few months later.\n\nEven in that wedding cake of a dress, and even with Bad and Jane standing on either side of me like glum sentinels, it wasn't hard to disappear at the Society party." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most people regarded me as either a vague curiosity—having heard the rumors from Locke that I was the daughter of a Boer diamond miner and his Hottentot wife, or the heiress to an Indian fortune—or an overdressed servant, and neither group paid me much attention." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was glad, especially since I'd seen that slinky red-haired fellow, Mr. Bartholomew Ilvane, creeping along the edges of the crowd. I pressed my back to the wallpaper and wished, briefly and uselessly, that Samuel were there with me, whispering a story about a ball and a magic spell and a princess who would turn back into a serving girl at the stroke of midnight.\n\nMr. Locke was greeting each guest in a jovial, slightly accented boom; he'd gone to school somewhere in Britain as a young man, and liquor tended to burr his r's and slant his vowels." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ah, Mr. Havemeyer! Thrilled you could make it, just thrilled. You've met my ward, January, haven't you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Locke gestured at me, his favorite jade glass sloshing scotch over the rim.\n\nMr. Havemeyer was a tall, attenuated creature with skin so white I could see blue veins threading his wrists, disappearing beneath those pretentious leather gloves men wear to remind everyone they have a motorcar.\n\nHe waved a gold-tipped cane and spoke without looking at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, of course. Wasn't sure I could get away, what with the strike, but I got a shipment of coolies in at the last second, thank God.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mr. Havemeyer is in the sugar business,\" Mr. Locke explained. \"Spends half the year on some godforsaken island in the Caribbean.\"\n\n\"Oh, it's not so bad. It suits me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His eyes slid to Jane and me and his mouth curled into a smile-shaped sneer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You ought to send this pair down to visit, if you ever grow bored with them. I'm always in need of more warm bodies.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My whole body went chill and stiff as porcelain. I don't know why—even growing up in Mr. Locke's wealthy shadow, it was hardly the first time somebody had sneered at me. Perhaps it was the casual hunger burning like an underground coal seam in Havemeyer's voice, or the sound of Jane's indrawn breath beside me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or perhaps young girls are like camels, and there are only so many straws they can carry before they break." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All I knew was that I was suddenly shaking and cold and Bad was leaping to his feet like a gargoyle come to terrible life, teeth flashing, and there was perhaps a moment when I could have grabbed his collar but couldn't quite make myself move—and then Mr. Havemeyer was screaming in high-pitched fury and Locke was swearing and Bad was snarling around a mouthful of Mr. Havemeyer's leg—and then there was another sound, low and rolling, so incongruous I almost didn't believe it—\n\nIt was Jane. She was laughing.\n\nIn the end, things could have been much worse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mr. Havemeyer received seventeen stitches and four shots of absinthe and was carted back to his hotel; Bad was confined to my room \"for all of recorded time,\" which lasted the three weeks until Mr. Locke left on a business trip to Montreal; and I was subjected to a several-hour lecture on the nature of guests, good manners, and power." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Power, my dear, has a language. It has a geography, a currency, and—I'm sorry—a color. This is not something you may take personally or object to; it is simply a fact of the world, and the sooner you accustom yourself to it, the better.\" Mr. Locke's eyes were pitying; I slunk out of his office feeling small and bruised.\n\nThe next day Jane disappeared for an hour or two and returned bearing gifts: a large ham hock for Bad and the newest issue of The Argosy All-Story Weekly for me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She perched at the end of Wilda's stiff, narrow bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I meant to say Thank you, but what came out was, \"Why are you being so nice to me?\"\n\nShe smiled, revealing a slim, mischievous gap between her front teeth. \"Because I like you. And I do not like bullies.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "After that, our fates were more or less sealed (a phrase that always makes me picture a weary old Fate tucking our futures into an envelope and pressing her wax seal over us): Jane Irimu and I became something like friends." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For two years we lived in the secret margins of Locke House, in its attics and forgotten storerooms and untended gardens. We scurried around the edges of high society like spies or mice, staying mostly in the shadows, noticed only sporadically by Locke or his assorted minions and guests. There was still something confined about her, something tense and waiting, but now at least it felt as if we shared the same cage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't think of the future much, and if I did it was with a child's desire for vague, far-flung adventures, and a child's certainty that everything would remain as it always had been. It did, mostly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Until the day before my seventeenth birthday. Until I found the leather-bound book in the chest.\n\n\"Miss Scaller.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was still standing in the Pharaoh Room, still holding the leather-bound book in my palm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bad was growing bored, issuing periodic sighs and huffs. Mr. Stirling's toneless voice startled both of us.\n\n\"Oh—I didn't—good evening.\" I spun to face him with the book tucked behind my back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There wasn't any particular reason to hide a scuffed-up novel from Mr. Stirling, except that there was something vital and wondrous about it, and Mr. Stirling was more or less the human opposite of vitality and wonder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He blinked at me, eyes flicking to the open chest on its plinth, then inclined his head infinitesimally.\n\n\"Mr. Locke requests your attendance in his office.\" He paused, and something flitted darkly across his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It might have been fear, if Mr. Stirling had been physically capable of any expression beyond attentive blandness. \"At once.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I followed him from the Pharaoh Room with Bad's claws click-clicking at my heels. I tucked The Ten Thousand Doors in my skirts, where it rested warm and solid against my hip. Like a shield, I thought, and then wondered why the idea was so comforting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mr. Locke's office smelled as it always had, of cigar smoke and fine leather and the sorts of liquors that are kept in crystal decanters on the sideboard, and Mr. Locke looked as he always did: squarish and neat, seeming to reject the aging process as a waste of valuable time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd had the same respectable dusting of white hairs at his temples my entire life; the last time I'd seen him, my father's hair had turned almost entirely ashen.\n\nMr. Locke looked up from a stack of stained, weathered-looking envelopes as I entered. His eyes were gravestone-gray and serious, focused on me in a way they rarely were." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That will do, Stirling.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I heard the valet retreat from the room, the brassy click of the door latch. Something fluttered in my chest, like bird wings against my ribs.\n\n\"Sit down, January.\" I sat in my usual chair, and Bad stuffed himself half-successfully beneath it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sorry about Bad, sir, it's just Stirling seemed to be in a hurry and I didn't take him back to my room first—\"\n\n\"That's quite all right.\" The fluttery, panicky feeling in my chest grew stronger." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bad had been banned from Mr. Locke's office (as well as all motorcars, trains, and dining rooms) since the Society party two years ago. Just the sight of him usually provoked Locke into a speech about poorly behaved pets and lax owners, or at least a grumbling snort through his mustache.\n\nMr. Locke's jaw worked backward and forward, as if his next words required chewing to soften them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's about your father.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I found it difficult to look directly at Mr. Locke; I studied the display case on his desk instead, its brass-plate label gleaming: Enfield revolver, Mark I, 1879.\n\n\"He's been in the Far East these past few weeks, as I'm sure you know.\"\n\nFather was beginning in the Port of Manila, then island-hopping his way northward to Japan, he'd told me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd promised to write often; I hadn't heard from him in weeks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mr. Locke chewed his next sentence even more thoroughly. \"His reports on this expedition have been spotty. Spottier than usual, I mean. But lately they've... stopped coming altogether. His last report was in April.\"\n\nMr. Locke was looking at me now, expectant and intent, as if he'd been humming a tune and paused for me to finish it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As if I ought to know what he would say next." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I kept staring at the revolver, at the oiled darkness of it, the dull square snout." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bad's breath was hot on my feet.\n\n\"January, are you paying attention? There hasn't been word from your father in nearly three months. I got a telegram from another man on the expedition: no one has seen or heard from him. They found his camp scattered and abandoned on a mountainside.\"\n\nThe bird in my chest was scrabbling, beating its wings in frenzied terror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I sat perfectly still.\n\n\"January. He's gone missing. It seems—well.\" Mr. Locke drew a short, sharp breath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It seems very likely that your father is dead.\"\n\nI sat on my thin mattress, watching the sun creep butter-soft across my pink-and-gold bedspread. Frayed threads and cotton stuffing made shadows and spires across it, like the architecture of some foreign city." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bad curled around my back even though it was too hot for cuddling, making soft, puppyish sounds deep in his chest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He smelled of summer and fresh-clipped grass.\n\nI hadn't wanted to believe it. I'd howled, screamed, demanded Mr. Locke take it back or prove it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd dug bloody pink crescents in my palms with the effort of not lashing out, not smashing his little glass cases into a thousand shimmering shards.\n\nEventually I'd felt hands like paving stones on my shoulders, weighing me down. \"Enough, child.\" And I'd looked into his eyes, pale and implacable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd felt myself flaking and crumbling beneath them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Julian is dead. Accept it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And I had. I'd collapsed into Locke's arms and soaked his shirt with tears. His gruff murmur had rumbled against my ear. \"S'all right, girl. You've still got me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now I sat in my room, face swollen and eyes dry, teetering on the edge of a pain so vast I couldn't see its edges." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It would swallow me whole, if I let it.\n\nI thought about the last postcard I'd received from my father, featuring a beach and several tough-looking women labeled FISHERWOMEN OF SUGASHIMA. I thought about Father himself, but could only picture him walking away from me, hunched and tired, disappearing through some terrible, final doorway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You promised you would take me with you.\n\nI wanted to scream again, felt the sound clawing and writhing in my throat. I wanted to vomit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wanted to run away and keep running until I fell into some other, better world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then I remembered the book. Wondered if Mr. Locke had given it to me just for this moment, knowing how badly I would need it.\n\nI pulled it from my skirts and traced my thumb over the stamped title." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It opened for me like a tiny leather-bound Door with hinges made of glue and wax thread." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I ran through it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Ten Thousand Doors: Being a Comparative Study of Passages, Portals, and Entryways in World Mythology\n\nThis text was produced by Yule Ian Scholar for the University of the City of Nin, in the years between 6908 and—, in partial satisfaction of his attainment of Mastery.\n\nThe following monograph concerns the permutations of a repeated motif in world mythologies: passages, portals, and entryways." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Such a study might at first seem to suffer from those two cardinal sins of academia—frivolity and triviality—but it is the author's intention to demonstrate the significance of doorways as phenomenological realities. The potential contributions to other fields of study—grammalogie, glottologie, anthropology—are innumerable, but if the author may be so presumptive, this study intends to go far beyond the limitations of our present knowledge. Indeed, this research might reshape our collective understanding of the physical laws of the universe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The central contention is simply this: the passages, portals, and entryways common to all mythologies are rooted in physical anomalies that permit users to travel from one world to another." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or, to put it even more simply: these doors actually exist." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The following pages will offer extensive evidence to defend this conclusion and will provide a set of theories concerning the nature, origins, and function of doors. The most significant proposals include:\n\nI. that doors are portals between one world and another, which exist only in places of particular and indefinable resonance (what physical-philosophers call \"weak coupling\" between two universes)." }, { "from": "human", "value": "While human construction—frames, arches, curtains, et cetera—may surround a door, the natural phenomenon itself preexists its decoration in every case." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It also seems to be the case that these portals are, by some quirk of physics or of humanity, damnably difficult to find." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "II. that such portals generate a certain degree of leakage. Matter and energy flow freely through them, and so too do people, foreign species, music, inventions, ideas—all the sorts of things that generate mythologies, in short. If one follows the stories, one will nearly always find a doorway buried at their roots.1" }, { "from": "human", "value": "III. that this leakage and resultant storytelling have been and remain crucial to humanity's cultural, intellectual, political, and economic development, in every world." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In biology, it is the interplay between random genetic mutation and environmental change that results in evolution. Doors introduce change." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And from change come all things: revolution, resistance, empowerment, upheaval, invention, collapse, reformation—all the most vital components of human history, in short.\n\niv) that doors are, like most precious things, fragile. Once closed, they cannot be reopened by any means this author has discovered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The evidence supporting theories i–iv has been divided into eighteen subcategories, presented below as\n\nAt least, that is the book I intended to write, when I was young and arrogant.\n\nI dreamed of insurmountable evidence, scholarly respectability, publications, and lectures." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have boxes and boxes of neatly indexed note cards, each describing some small brick in a vast wall of research: an Indonesian story about a golden tree whose boughs made a shimmering archway; a reference in a Gaelic hymn to the angels who fly through heaven's gate; the memory of a carven wood doorway in Mali, sand-weathered and blackened by centuries of secrets." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This is not the book I have written.\n\nInstead, I've written something strange, deeply personal, highly subjective. I am a scientist studying his own soul, a snake swallowing its own tail." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But even if I could tame my own impulses and write something scholarly, I fear it would not matter, because who would take seriously my claims without solid proof?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Proof that I cannot provide, because it disappears almost as soon as I discover it. There is a fog creeping along at my heels, swallowing my footsteps and erasing my evidence. Closing the doors.\n\nThe book you have in your hands is not, therefore, a respectable work of scholarship." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It has not benefited from editorial oversight and contains little verifiable fact." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is just a story.\n\nI have written it anyway, for two reasons:\n\nFirst, because what is written is what is true." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Words and their meanings have weight in the world of matter, shaping and reshaping realities through a most ancient alchemy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even my own writings—so damnably powerless—may have just enough power to reach the right person and to tell the right truth, and change the nature of things.\n\nSecond, my long years of research have taught me that all stories, even the meanest folktales, matter. They are artifacts and palimpsests, riddles and histories." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They are the red threads that we may follow out of the labyrinth." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is my hope that this story is your thread, and at the end of it you find a door." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Story collab\nMe: Opening\nYou: eight sentences more, Alix E. Harrow-style" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Much on Doors, Worlds, and Words" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Other worlds and the flexibility of natural laws—The City of Nin—A familiar door seen from the other side—A ghost at sea" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is a heartless thing, but it is at this juncture in our narrative that we must abandon Miss Adelaide Larson entirely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We leave her just as she sails The Key into a foreign ocean, with the salted wind blowing the pine sap out of her hair and filling her heart with glowing certainty.\n\nWe do not abandon her without good reason: the time has come when we ought to discuss more directly the nature of doors themselves. I must first assure you I did not delay this instruction out of any sly sense of theater, but simply because I hope by now that I have gained your trust. I hope, simply, that you will believe me.\n\nLet us begin with the first conceit of this work: doors are portals between one world and another, which exist only in places of particular and indefinable resonance. By \"indefinable resonance,\" I refer to the space between worlds—that vast blackness waiting on the threshold of every door, which is hideously dangerous to pass through. It is as though the borders of oneself grow dissolute with nothing pressing against them, and your very essence threatens to spill away into the void. Literature and myth are rife with tales of those who have entered the void and failed to emerge on the other side.7 It seems therefore likely that doors themselves were originally constructed in places where this blackness is at its thinnest and least deadly: convergence points, natural crossroads." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And what is the nature of these other worlds? As we have discovered in previous chapters, they are infinitely varied and ever-changing, and often fail to comply with the conventions of our present world, which we are arrogant enough to call the physical laws of the universe. There are places where men and women are winged and red-skinned, and places where there is no such thing as man and woman but only persons somewhere in between. There are worlds where the continents are carried on the backs of vast turtles swimming through freshwater oceans, where snakes speak riddles, where the lines between the dead and living are blurred to insignificance. I have seen villages where fire itself had been tamed, and followed at men's heels like an obedient hound, and cities with glass spires so high they gathered clouds around their spiral points. (If you are wondering why other worlds seem so brimful of magic compared to your own dreary Earth, consider how magical this world seems from another perspective. To a world of sea people, your ability to breathe air is stunning; to a world of spear throwers, your machines are demons harnessed to work tirelessly in your service; to a world of glaciers and clouds, summer itself is a miracle.)\n\nMy second supposition is this: that doors generate a variable but significant degree of leakage between worlds." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But what sorts of things leak through, and what is their fate?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Men and women, of course, bringing with them the particular talents and arts of their home worlds. Some of them have come to unfortunate ends, I believe—locked in madhouses, burned at stakes, beheaded, banished, et cetera—but others seem to have employed their uncanny powers or arcane knowledges more profitably. They have gained power, amassed wealth, shaped the fates of peoples and worlds; they have, in short, brought change.\n\nObjects, too, have trickled through the doors between worlds, blown by strange winds, drifting on white-frosted waves, carried and discarded by careless travelers—even stolen, sometimes. Some of them have been lost or ignored or forgotten—books written in foreign tongues, clothes in strange fashions, devices with no use beyond their home worlds—but some of them have left stories in their wakes. Stories of magic lamps and enchanted mirrors, golden fleeces and fountains of youth, dragon-scale armor and moon-streaked broomsticks.\n\nI have spent most of my life documenting these worlds and their riches, following the ghost trails they leave behind them in novels and poems, memoirs and treatises, old wives' tales and songs sung in a hundred languages. And yet I do not feel I have come close to discovering them all, or even a meaningful fraction of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It seems to me now very likely that such a task is impossible, although in my earlier years I harbored great ambitions in that direction." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I once confessed this to a very wise woman I met in another world—a lovely world full of trees so vast one could imagine whole planets nestling in their branches—somewhere off the coast of Finland in the winter of 1902. She was an imposing woman of fifty or so, with the kind of ferocious intelligence that burns bright even through language barriers and several flasks of wine. I told her I intended to find every door to every world that ever existed. She laughed and said: \"There are ten thousand of them, fool.\"\n\nI later learned that her people had no number higher than ten thousand, and claiming there were ten thousand of a thing meant there was no purpose in counting them because they were infinite. I now believe her accounting of the number of worlds in the universe was perfectly correct, and my aspirations were the dreams of a young and desperate man.\n\nBut we need not concern ourselves with all those ten thousand worlds here. We are interested only in the world that Adelaide Larson sailed into in 1893." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is not, perhaps, the most fantastical or beautiful of all possible worlds, but it is the one I long to see above every other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is the world I have spent nearly two decades searching for." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Authors introducing new characters often describe their features and dress first; when introducing a world, it seems polite to begin with its geography. It is a world of vast oceans and numberless tiny islands—an atlas would look strangely unbalanced to your eye, as if some ignorant artist had made a mistake and painted too much of it blue.\n\nAdelaide Larson happened to sail into the near-center of this world. The sea beneath her boat had possessed many names over the centuries, as seas often do, but was at that time most often called the Amarico.\n\nIt is also customary to supply a name when introducing a new character, but the name of a world is a more elusive creature than you might suspect. Consider how many names your own Earth has been assigned, in how many different languages—Erde, Midgard, Tellus, Ard, Uwa—and how absurd it would be for a foreign scholar to arrive and give the entire planet a single title. Worlds are too complex, too beautifully fractured, to be named. But for the sake of convenience we may loosely translate one of this world's names: the Written." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If this seems an odd name for a world, understand that in the Written, words themselves have power." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I do not mean they have power in the sense that they might stir men's hearts or tell stories or declare truths, for those are the powers words have in every world. I mean that words in that world can sometimes rise from their ink-and-cotton cradles and reshape the nature of reality. Sentences may alter the weather, and poems might tear down walls. Stories may change the world.\n\nNow, not every written word holds such power—what chaos that would be!—but only certain words written by certain people who combine an innate talent with many years of careful study, and even then the results are not the sort of fairy-godmother-ish magic you might be imagining. Even a very great word-worker could not casually scrawl a sentence about flying carriages and expect one to come winging across the horizon, or write the dead back to life, or otherwise subvert the very underpinnings of the world as they are. But she might labor for many weeks to craft a story that would increase the likelihood of rain on a particular Sunday, or perhaps she could compose a stanza that would hold her City's walls fractionally more firm against invasion, or guide a single reckless ship away from unseen reefs. There are half-forgotten stories, too faint and unbelievable even to be called legends, of greater magics—of writers who turned back tides and parted seas, who leveled Cities or called dragons down from the skies—but these tales are too unlikely to be taken seriously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Word-magic comes at a cost, you see, as power always does." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Words draw their vitality from their writers, and thus the strength of a word is limited by the strength of its human vessel. Acts of word-magic leave their workers ill and drained, and the more ambitious the working—the more it defies the warp and weft of the world as it is—the higher the toll. Most everyday sorts of word-workers lack the force of will to risk more than an occasional nosebleed and a day spent in bed, but more-gifted persons must spend years in careful study and training, learning restraint and balance, lest they drain away their very lives.\n\nThe people who have this talent are called different things on different islands, but most of us concur that they are born with a particular something that no degree of study can emulate. The precise nature of that something is a contentious subject among the scholars and priests. Some have claimed that it is related to their certainty of self or their scope of imagination, or perhaps simply the intractability of their will (for they are known to be obstreperous people).8 There is also great disagreement on what ought to be done with such people, and how best to limit the chaos they naturally cause. There are islands where certain faiths preach that writers are the conduits of their god's will and ought to be treated as blessed saints. There is a series of townships in the south that have proclaimed that their writers must live separately from unlettered folk, lest they infect them with their unruly imaginations." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Such extremes are rare, however; most Cities find some functional-yet-respectable role for their writers, and simply carry on.\n\nThis was the way of things on the islands surrounding the Amarico Sea. Talented writers were most often employed by universities and expected to devote themselves to the civic good, and granted the surname Wordworker.\n\nThere are, as my old acquaintance would say, ten thousand other differences between that world and yours. Many of them are too insignificant to merit documentation. I could describe the way the smells of brine and sun have permeated every stone of every street, or the way the tide callers stand at their watchtowers and cry out the hour for their Cities. I could tell you of the many-shaped ships that crisscross the seas with careful writing stitched on their sails praying for good fortune and fair winds. I could tell you of the squid-ink tattoos that adorn the hands of every husband and wife, and of the lesser word-workers who prick words into flesh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But such an anthropological documenting of facts and practices will tell you little, in the end, about the nature of a world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I will tell you instead about one particular island and one particular City, and one particular boy who would not have been remarkable at all were it not for the day he stumbled through a door and into the burnt-orange fields of another world.\n\nIf you were to approach the City of Nin in the early evening, as Adelaide eventually did, you might see it first as some hump-spined creature coiled around a stone outcropping. As you sailed closer the creature would divide itself into a series of buildings standing in rows like whitewashed vertebrae. Spiraling streets would fall like veins between the buildings, and eventually you might begin to pick out figures strolling along them: children chasing skittering cats down alleys; white-robed men and women walking down avenues with sober expressions; shopkeepers hauling their baskets back from the crowded coastline. Some of them might pause to stare out at the honey-tinted sea, just for a moment.\n\nYou might suppose that the City was a small, sea-soaked version of paradise. On the whole this impression was not inaccurate, although I admit I find it difficult to be objective.\n\nThe City of Nin was certainly a peaceful place, and neither the grandest nor poorest island City that circled the edges of the Amarico Sea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It had a reputation for fine word-working and fair traders and had gained a small degree of fame as a center of prestigious scholarship. The scholarship was rooted in Nin's vast tunneling archives, which were some of the oldest and most extensive collections on the Amarico. Should you ever find yourself on the island I urge you to visit them and wander through the endless vaults packed full of scrolls and books and pages written in every language that has ever been documented in that world.\n\nOf course, the City of Nin suffered all the usual maladies of human cities. Poverty and strife, crimes and their punishments, disease and drought—I have not yet seen any world free entirely of such things. But none of these sins touched the childhood of Yule Ian, a dreamy-eyed boy who grew up on the eastern edge of the City in a crumbling stone apartment above his mother's tattoo shop.\n\nHe had devoted parents who were prevented from spoiling him only by the sheer number of their offspring. He had six brothers and sisters, who were, like siblings in every world, alternately his dearest friends and direst enemies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had a narrow bunk decorated with tin stars dangling from the ceiling, which filled his dreams with gleaming planets and fanciful places. He also possessed a bound set of Var Storyteller's Tales of the Amarico Sea given to him by his favorite aunt, and a temperamental cat that liked to sleep on the sunbaked windowsill while he read.9 It was a life well suited to daydreaming and reverie, which were the things Yule loved best.\n\nYule and his siblings spent their afternoons working with their father on his small fishing boat or helping their mother in her tattoo shop: copying out blessings and prayers in different scripts, mixing inks, and scrubbing her tools. Yule preferred the shop to the ship, and especially loved the long afternoons when his mother permitted him to watch her pricking tiny, blood-dotted words into a customer's skin. His mother's word-working wasn't especially strong, but it was enough that her customers were willing to pay more to have their blessings written by Tilsa Ink, because her blessings sometimes came true.\n\nHis mother originally intended to apprentice him to her art, but it soon became clear that he lacked even the faintest spark of word-working talent. She might have trained him anyway, but he had no patience for the actual labor of tattooing. It was simply the words he loved, the sound and shape and marvelous fluidity of them, and so he drifted instead toward the scholars in their long white robes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Every child in the City of Nin was subjected to several years of schooling, which amounted to weekly gatherings in the university courtyards to listen to a young scholar lecture them on their letters and numbers and the locations of all one hundred eighteen inhabited islands on the Amarico. Most children fled these lessons as soon as their parents permitted it. Yule did not. He often lingered to ask questions, and even wheedled a few extra books out of his teachers. One of them, a patient young man named Rilling Scholar, provided books in different languages, and these became Yule's most prized possessions. He loved the rolling way new syllables felt in his mind and the strangeness of the stories they brought with them, like treasures from sunken ships the waves left behind.\n\nBy age nine Yule had achieved proficiency in three languages, one of which existed only in the university archives, and by the time he turned eleven—the traditional age for such decisions—not even his mother could object to his clear destiny as a scholar. She purchased the long lengths of undyed cloth at the harbor market and only sighed a little as she wrapped her son's dark limbs in a scholar's fashion. He was out the door with an armful of books in a white-blurred instant." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His first years at the university were passed in a state of dreamy near-genius, which provoked both frustration and admiration from his instructors. He continued to learn new languages with the ease of a boy scooping water from a well but seemed unwilling to dedicate himself sufficiently to master any single one of them. He spent untold hours in the archives, turning manuscript pages with a thin wooden paddle, but frequently missed assigned lectures because he'd found an interesting passage on merfolk in a sailor's logbook, or a crumbling map marked in an unknown language. He consumed books as if they were as necessary to his health as bread and water, but they were rarely the books he had been assigned.\n\nHis most generous instructors insisted that it was purely an issue of time and maturity—eventually young Yule Ian would find a steady subject of study and dedicate himself to it. Then he might select a mentor and begin contributing to the grand body of research that made the University of Nin so prestigious. Other scholars, watching Yule prop a book of fables against the water pitcher at breakfast and turn the pages with a faraway expression, were less sanguine.\n\nIndeed, as Yule's fifteenth birthday approached, even the most optimistic scholars were growing concerned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He showed no signs of narrowing his field of study or proposing a course of research, and did not seem in the least concerned by his approaching examinations." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Should he pass them, he could be formally announced as Yule Ian Scholar and begin his ascent through the ranks of the university; should he fail, he would be politely asked to consider some other, less demanding apprenticeship.\n\nIn retrospect, it is easy to suspect that Yule's aimlessness was actually a quest, a search for some shapeless, unnamed thing that lurked just out of sight, and perhaps it was true. Perhaps he and Adelaide spent their childhoods in much the same manner, searching the limits of their worlds in search of another.\n\nBut restless quests are not the business of serious scholars. Yule was therefore summoned one day to the master's study to have \"a serious discussion of his future.\" He arrived an hour late with his finger marking his place in A Study of Myths and Legends in the North Sea Isles and a bemused, distant expression. \"You summoned me, sir?\"\n\nThe master possessed a lined, somber face, as scholars do in most places, and venerable tattoos that wound up both arms indicating his marriage to Kenna Merchant, his dedication to scholarship, and his twenty years of admirable service to the City." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His hair clung to his skull in a white scimitar, as if the heat of his working mind had burned it away from the top of his head. His eyes on Yule were troubled.\n\n\"Sit, young Yule, sit. I'd like to talk to you about your future here at the university.\" The master's eyes fell on the book still clutched in Yule's hands. \"I will be blunt with you: we find your lack of focus and discipline of gravest concern. If you can't settle yourself to a course of study, we will have to consider other avenues for you.\"\n\nYule's head tipped curiously to one side, like a cat offered an unfamiliar bit of food. \"Other avenues, sir?\"\n\n\"Activities better suited to your mind and temperament,\" the master said.\n\nYule was silent for a moment but could think of nothing better suited to his temperament than spending sun-soaked afternoons curled beneath the olive trees reading books in long-forgotten languages." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What do you mean?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The master, who had perhaps expected this conversation to involve more distressed pleading and less polite puzzlement, pressed his lips into a thin maroon line. \"I mean you might apprentice elsewhere. Your mother, I am sure, would still train you as a tattooist, or you could act as a scribe for one of the word-workers on the east side, or even a merchant's bookkeeper. I could speak to my wife, if you'd like.\"\n\nOnly now did Yule's expression begin to reflect the horror the master anticipated. He softened again. \"Well, my boy, we haven't reached that point just yet. Simply spend the next week in contemplation, consider your choices. And if you would like to stay here and take your scholar's exams... find a path.\"\n\nYule was dismissed. He found himself leaving the cool stone halls, striding through courtyards and spiraled streets, and then climbing the hills behind the City with the sun baking the back of his neck, without ever being fully aware of any particular destination. He was simply moving, fleeing the choice the master had given him.\n\nTo any other young boy hoping to join the ranks of the scholars, the choice would have been an easy one: either he proposed a line of research in Amarican history or ancient languages or religious philosophy, or he abandoned all such aspirations and worked as a humble scribe. But to Yule both paths were unspeakably bleak." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Both of them would necessitate a narrowing of his boundless horizons, an end to his dreaming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The thought of either made him feel tight-chested, as if two great hands pressed on either side of his ribs.\n\nHe could not have known it then, but it was much the same way Ade felt on the days she ran out to the old hayfield to be alone with the sound of the riverboats and the wideness of the sky. Except that Ade had grown up with the harsh boundaries of her life always close at hand and had long since set her will against them; poor, charmed Yule had simply never known such rules existed before that day.\n\nHe staggered away from his discovery, past the scrubby hillside farms, past the last packed-earth roads, scrambling along animal trails and over rocky bluffs. Eventually even the animal trails disappeared into gnarled gray stone, and the wind carried faraway smells of salt-soaked wood. He had never been so high above his City, and he found he liked the way it dwindled below him until it was just a collection of distant white squares surrounded by the vastness of the sea.\n\nHis skin itched with wind-dried sweat and his palms were rubbed raw against the stones. He knew he ought to turn around, but his legs continued carrying him onward, upward, until he pulled himself over a ledge and saw it: an archway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A thin gray curtain hung from the arch, fluttering in its own breeze like a witch's skirt. A smell issued from it, like river water and mud and sunlight, nothing at all like the stony salt smell of Nin.\n\nOnce Yule saw the arch, he found his eyes reluctant to look anywhere else. It seemed almost to beckon him like a half-curled hand. He walked toward it with a mad feeling of hope flooding his limbs—an impossible, sourceless hope that there was something marvelous and strange on the other side of that curtain, waiting just for him.\n\nHe pulled aside the curtain and saw nothing but knotted grass and stone beyond it. He stepped beneath the arch and into a vast, swallowing darkness.\n\nIt pressed and sucked at him like tar, suffocating in its enormity, until he felt solid wood beneath his palms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He heaved against it in desperation and still-burning hope—felt it grind against long-undisturbed dirt—and then it was open, and Yule stepped out into burnt-orange grasses beneath an eggshell sky." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had only stood for a few moments, openmouthed in the strange air of another world, when she came striding toward him across the field. A young woman the color of milk and honeyed wheat.\n\nI will not repeat the tale of that meeting a second time. You've already heard how the two young persons sat together in the early-fall chill and told their impossible truths of here and elsewhere. How they spoke in a long-dead language preserved only in a few ancient texts in Nin's archives, which Yule had studied for the sheer pleasure of new syllables dancing on his tongue. How it did not feel like a meeting of two people so much as a collision of two planets, as if both of them had swung out of their orbits and hurtled into one another. How they kissed, and how the fireflies pulsed around them.\n\nHow doomed and brief their meeting was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yule spent the next three days in a state of dazed elation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The scholars grew worried that his mind had been subtly damaged in some fall or accident; his mother and father, who were more familiar with the maladies of young boys, worried that he had fallen in love. Yule himself offered no explanations but only smiled beatifically and hummed out-of-key versions of old ballads about famous lovers and sailing ships.\n\nHe returned to the curtained arch on the third day just as, on the other side of an endless darkness, Ade returned to the cabin in the hayfield. You know what awaited him, of course: bitterest disappointment. Instead of a magical door leading to a foreign land, Yule found nothing but piled stones on a hilltop and a gray curtain hanging still and rotten as the skin of some dead creature. It did not lead anywhere at all, no matter how furiously he cursed it.\n\nEventually Yule simply sat and waited, hoping the girl might find her way through to him. She did not. You may picture the two of them—Ade waiting in the deepening night of the overgrown field with hope guttering like an overspent candle in her chest, Yule perched on the hilltop with his skinny arms held around his knees—almost like figures on either side of a mirror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Except instead of cool glass between them it was the vastness between worlds.\n\nYule watched constellations creep over the horizon, reading the familiar words pricked in starlight: Ships-Heaven-Sent, Blessings- of-Summer, Scholar's-Humility. They slid over him like pages from some great book, familiar as his own name. He thought of Ade, waiting in her separate darkness, and wondered what her stars told her.\n\nHe stood. He rubbed his thumb across the silver piece he'd brought with him—thinking he might show it to her as proof of his own world—and let it fall to earth. He didn't know if it was an offering or a casting-away, but he knew he didn't want to carry it any longer, to feel the knowing, silver-stamped eyes of the City Founder watching him.10 He turned away then, and did not return again to the stone arch.\n\nBut doors, you will recall, are change.\n\nThe Yule who left the arch that night was therefore a somewhat different Yule from the one who had found it three days previously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Something new thudded in his chest alongside his heart, as if a separate organ had suddenly come pumping to life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had an urgent, driving rhythm, which Yule could not fail to notice even through his misery." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pondered it as he lay in his narrow bed that night, listening to the disgruntled sounds of his siblings falling back to sleep after being woken by his return. It did not feel like despair, or loss, or loneliness. It reminded him most of the feeling he had sometimes in the archives when a scrap of writing written on ancient vellum pulled him onward, deeper, until he lost himself in a spiraling trail of stories, but even that was nothing compared to the thrumming urgency he now felt. He fell asleep worrying vaguely that he'd developed some sort of murmur in his heart.\n\nThe following morning he recognized it as something much more serious: the discovery of his life's purpose.\n\nHe lay in bed for several more minutes, contemplating the immensity of the task before him, then rose and dressed at such speed that his siblings caught only a glimpse of his white robes whipping out the door. He went straight to the master scholar's office and asked to take his exams immediately. The master reminded him gently that aspiring scholars were expected to present thorough and prepared proposals for their future studies, which convinced their fellows of their seriousness, dedication, and ability." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He suggested that Yule take the necessary time to compile bibliographies and collect his sources, perhaps consult with more advanced scholars." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yule made an exasperated noise. \"Oh, very well. In three days, then. Will that do?\" The master assented, but his expression said he anticipated nothing but disaster and mortification.\n\nIn this, as in few other things, the master was mistaken. The Yule who arrived for his examination appeared to be an entirely different boy from the one they had all known and fretted over for years. All the dreamy wonderment and misty-eyed curiosity had burned away like a sea fog beneath the sun, revealing a somber-faced young man who radiated a kind of fierce, unshakable intention. His proposal was a model of clarity and ambition that would require mastery of multiple languages, familiarity with a dozen different fields of study, and untold years spent combing through ancient tales and half-written stories. It was customary at the conclusion of such presentations for the scholars to voice objections and concerns to the proposal, but the room was quite silent." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was the master himself who spoke first." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, Yule. I can find no fault with your course of study, save that it will take you half your life. All I would like to know is where this sudden... certainty has come from. What set you on this path?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yule Ian felt a tremor in his breastbone, as if there were a red thread tied around it and someone had just yanked the other end. He considered, briefly and foolishly, simply telling the truth: that he sought to follow the skittering ant-trails of words into other worlds, to find a burnt-orange field lit with fireflies, to find a girl the color of wheat and milk.\n\nInstead, he said, \"True scholarship needs neither an origin nor a destination, good master. To seek new knowledge is its own motivation.\" This was precisely the sort of lofty non-answer that pleased scholars best. They preened and cooed like doves around him, signing their names to his proposal with many extra flourishes. Only the master paused before signing, watching Yule the way a fisherman watches a darkening cloud on the horizon. But he, too, bent his head to the pages.\n\nYule left the hall that day with a formal blessing and a new name, both of which his mother tattooed in sinuous spirals around his left wrist." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The words were still hot and stinging in his flesh the next day when Yule ascended the white-stone stairs that led to his favorite reading room. He sat at a yellow-wood desk overlooking the sea and opened the first sweet-smelling page of a new notebook. In uncharacteristically neat script, he wrote: Notes and Researches vol. 1: A Comparative Study of Passages, Portals, and Entryways in World Mythology, compiled by Yule Ian Scholar, 6908.\n\nThe title, as you have no doubt surmised, has since been revised.\n\nYule Ian Scholar spent a considerable portion of the next twelve years hunched over that same desk, alternately scribbling and reading, surrounded by so many towers of books that his study came to resemble a paper model of a city. He read collections of folktales and interviews with long-dead explorers, logbooks and holy texts from forgotten religions. He read them in all the languages of the Amarico Sea, and all the languages that happened to have fallen through the cracks between one world and the next over the previous several centuries." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He read until there was little left to read, and he was obliged to take his researches \"into the field,\" as he airily informed his fellows. They imagined, in the comfortable manner of scholars, that \"the field\" merely referred to exotic archives in other Cities and wished him well.\n\nThey did not presume that Yule would cram his shoulder bag full of journals and dried fish, pay for passage on a series of trade ships and mail carriers, and march out into the wilds of foreign islands with the focused air of a hound following an animal trail. But the trails he followed were the invisible, glimmering tracks left by stories and myths, and instead of animals he hunted doors.\n\nIn time, he found a precious handful of them. None of them led to a cedar-smelling world with inhabitants the color of cotton, but he was not discouraged. Yule was stuffed with the kind of unblemished confidence that belongs only to the very young, who have never truly known the bitterness of failure, or felt the years of their lives trickling away from them like water from cupped palms. It seemed to him then that his success was inevitable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(Of course, I know better now.)" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He often liked to imagine the scene: Perhaps he would find her home after weeks of hard traveling, and she would look up from her work to see him striding toward her, and that wild smile would split her face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps they would meet in that same field and they would run toward one another through springtime-green grasses. Perhaps he would find her in some distant city he could scarcely imagine, or in a howling thunderstorm, or on the shores of an unnamed island.\n\nWith the baseless arrogance that so often plagues young men, Yule never once considered the possibility that Adelaide would not be waiting for him. He never imagined she might have spent the past decade flitting in and out of worlds with the instinctive ease of a gull swooping from ship to ship in the harbor, without a single book or record to guide her. He certainly never imagined she might build herself a rickety boat in the mountains and sail it onto the indigo waves of the Amarico Sea.\n\nIt was such an outlandish notion, in fact, that Yule almost dismissed it entirely when he heard a strange rumor on the docks of the City of Plumm. It came to him as most rumors do: as a drifting set of jokes and have-you-heards that assembled themselves slowly into a single story. The most often-repeated details seemed to be these: There had been a strange ship sighted off the eastern coast of the City of Plumm, with sails of eerie white canvas." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One or two fisherwomen and traders had approached it, curious to see what species of madman would sail a ship without blessings stitched into the canvas, but they had all veered quickly away. The ship, they claimed, was sailed by a woman as white as paper. A ghost, perhaps, or some pale undersea creature come to the surface.\n\nYule shook his head at the superstitions of seafolk and returned to his borrowed room in the Plumm libraries. He had come following local legends of fire-spewing lizards that lived in the centers of volcanoes and only emerged once every one hundred thirteen years, and spent his evening in careful review of his notes. It wasn't until he lay in his narrow cot, mind spiraling freely in and out of half dreams, that it occurred to him to wonder what color the ghost sailor's hair was.\n\nYule returned to the docks early the next morning and interrogated several startled merchants before he extracted an answer. \"It was as white as she was!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "a sailor assured him in a spooked tone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Or, well, I suppose it was more a kind of straw color. Yellowish.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yule swallowed, very hard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And was she coming this way? Will she come to Plumm?\"\n\nThe man could offer no certainties here, for who could guess at the desires of sea witches or ghosts? \"But she'll run straight into the eastern beaches if she keeps her course. Then we'll see who's telling tales, won't we, Edon?\" Here he abandoned the conversation in order to elbow his doubtful shipmate and engage in a spirited debate about whether merfolk wore clothes.\n\nYule was left standing alone on the dock, feeling as if the world had suddenly tilted on its axis. As if he were a boy again, reaching toward that thin curtain with un-inked hands.\n\nHe ran. He didn't know the way down to the eastern beaches—a rocky, barren stretch of coast frequented only by odds-and-ends collectors and a certain breed of romantic poet—but a series of breathless questions and answers saw him perched on the edge of the sea well before midday. He curled his legs to his chest and stared out at the gold-topped waves, watching for the thin white line of a sail topping the horizon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She did not arrive that day, or the next." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yule returned to the coast each morning and watched the sea until dusk. His mind, restless and driven for so many years, seemed to have settled in upon itself like a cat curled up to sleep. Waiting.\n\nOn the third day, a sail crept over the waves, full-bellied and perfectly white. Yule watched the ship lumbering closer, awkward and squarish in the water, until his eyes burned from salt and sun. There was a single figure aboard, facing the island with a challenging, prideful stance and a flaxen tangle of hair whipping around her head. Yule felt a hysterical desire to dance or scream or faint, but instead he simply stood and raised one arm into the air.\n\nHe saw her see him. A stillness fell over her, despite the lolling of the ship beneath her feet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she laughed—a wild, whooping laugh that rolled over the water to Yule like summertime thunder—removed several layers of dirt-colored clothing, and dove into the shallow waves beneath her ship without a trace of hesitation. Yule had half a second in which to wonder precisely what manner of half-wild madwoman he had been questing after for twelve years, and to doubt his sufficiency for the task, before he was splashing out to meet her, laughing and dragging his white scholar's robes through the waves.\n\nAnd so, in the late spring of the year 1893 in your world, which was the year 6920 in that one, Yule Ian Scholar and Adelaide Lee Larson found one another in the noonday tides surrounding the City of Plumm. They were never willingly parted again.\n\nThe Locked Door\n\nI dreamed in gold and indigo.\n\nI was skimming over a foreign ocean, following behind a white-sailed ship. There was a blurred figure standing at the prow, hair running bright behind her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her features were smeary and uncertain but there was something so familiar in the shape she made against the horizon, so whole and wild and true, that my dreaming heart broke." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the feeling of tears sliding down my cheeks that woke me up. I lay on the floor of my room, stiff and chilled, my face aching from where it pressed against the corner of The Ten Thousand Doors. I didn't care.\n\nThe coin. The silver coin I'd found as a girl, half-buried in the dust of a foreign world, the coin that now lay blood-warm in my palm—it was real. As real as the chill tile beneath my knees, as real as the tears cooling on my cheeks. I held it, and smelled the sea.\n\nAnd if the coin was real... Then so was the rest of it. The City of Nin and its endless archives, Adelaide and her adventures in a hundred elsewheres, true love. Doors. Word-working?\n\nI felt a shiver of reflexive doubt, heard an echo of Locke's voice scoffing fanciful nonsense." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I'd already chosen to believe, once, and written open a locked door. Whatever this story was—this unlikely, impossible fantasy of Doors and words and other worlds—it was true. And, somehow, I was a part of it. And so were Mr. Locke, and the Society, and Jane, and maybe even my poor lost father.\n\nI felt like a woman reading a mystery novel with every fourth line missing.\n\nThere's really only one thing a person can do when they're hip-deep in a mystery novel: keep reading.\n\nI snatched the book and flipped through the pages to find my place, but stopped: a thin slip of paper peeked out from the back pages. It was a note, written on the waxy back of a receipt labeled Zappia Family Groceries, Inc. It read:" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "HOLD ON JANUARY.\n\nThe letters were stiff capitals, written with the careful pressure of someone uncomfortable with a pen in their hand. I thought of Samuel talking about his family's cabin on the north end of the lake, his dusk-colored hands gesturing in the darkness, his cigarette drawing comet trails in the night.\n\nOh, Samuel.\n\nIf I hadn't been holding that scrap of paper and thinking of those hands, I might've heard the nurses' footsteps before the lock clunked and the door opened, and they stood on the threshold like a pair of gargoyles in starched white aprons. Their eyes surveyed the room—unslept-in bed, unlatched window, patient on the floor with her nightgown rucked past her knees—and landed on the book. They moved toward me with such synchronous efficiency it had to have been some kind of Procedure. Procedure 4B, When an Inmate Is Out of Bed and in Possession of Contraband." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Their hands came down like harpy claws on my shoulders. I froze—I had to stay calm and sane-seeming, had to be good—but one of them scooped my book off the floor and I lunged for it. And then they were twisting my wrists behind my back and I was kicking and howling and spitting, fighting with the unscientific chaos of young children and madwomen.\n\nBut they were older and stronger and depressingly capable, and soon my flailing arms were pressed tight to my sides and my feet were half marching, half skidding out into the hall.\n\n\"Straight to the doctor, I think,\" one of them panted. The other nodded.\n\nI caught glimpses of myself as I passed the windowed doors of other rooms: a dark ghost in white cotton, mad-eyed and tangle-haired, escorted by women so upright and starched they must be either angels or demons.\n\nThey steered me down two floors to an office door with gold lettering painted on the glass: Dr. Stephen J. Palmer, Chief Medical Superintendent. It struck me as darkly, terribly funny that all my good behavior and polite questions couldn't get me into this office, but a little howling and thrashing had brought me right to his door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perhaps I ought to howl more often." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perhaps I ought to be again that obstreperous girl-child I was when I was seven." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dr. Palmer's office was wood-paneled and leather-chaired, full of antique instruments and gold-framed certificates in Latin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dr. Palmer himself was aging, aloof, with tiny half-glasses that perched on the end of his nose like a well-mannered wire bird. The asylum smell of ammonia and panic was entirely absent.\n\nI hated him for that. For not having to breathe in the stink of it every day of his life.\n\nThe nurses corralled me into a chair and loomed behind me. One of them handed Dr. Palmer my book. It looked small and shabby on his desk, and not very magical at all.\n\n\"I think Miss January will behave herself now. Won't you, dear?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His voice had a hearty, unassailable confidence that made me think of senators or salesmen, or Mr. Locke.\n\n\"Yes, sir,\" I whispered. The gargoyle-nurses departed.\n\nDr. Palmer reshuffled a series of folders and papers on his desk. He took up his pen—a heavy, ugly specimen that looked like it could double as a rolling pin in an emergency—and I felt myself go very, very still. I'd written open one door, hadn't I?\n\n\"Now. This book.\" The doctor tapped the cover with a knuckle. \"How did you sneak it into your room?\"\n\n\"I didn't. It came in through the window.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most people can't tell the difference between truth-telling and madness; try it sometime, and you'll see what I mean." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dr. Palmer gave me a small, pitying smile. \"Ah, I see. Now. From what Mr. Locke tells me, your decline has much to do with your father. Would you like to tell me a bit more about him?\"\n\n\"No.\" I wanted my book back. I wanted to be unchained and unfettered, to go find my dog and my friend and my father. I wanted that damn pen.\n\nDr. Palmer smiled his pity-smile again. \"A foreigner of some sort, was he not, and colored? An aborigine or Negroid fellow?\"\n\nI considered, briefly but longingly, how nice it would feel to spit directly into his face, to spatter those neat spectacles with slime." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, sir.\" I tried to marshal my familiar good-girl face, to arrange my features in that dewy, biddable expression that served me so well in Locke's world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It sat wooden and stiff on my face, unconvincing. \"My father worked—works—for Mr. Locke. As an archaeological explorer. He is often away.\"\n\n\"I see. And he passed away recently.\"\n\nI pictured Jane telling me that Locke was not God and that she hadn't given up yet. Oh, Father, I haven't given up either.\n\n\"Yes, sir. Please\"—I swallowed, tried to reassemble my good-girl mask—\"when can I go home?\"\n\nHome. See that H like a house with two chimneys? I meant Locke House when I said it—with its familiar labyrinth of hallways, its hidden attics and warm red-stone walls—but I was unlikely ever to return there now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dr. Palmer was reshuffling his folders again, not looking at me. I wondered how long Mr. Locke had paid him to keep me here, mad or otherwise. \"It's not clear at this time, but I shouldn't be in a rush if I were you. There's no reason you shouldn't rest here for a few months, is there? Recover your strength?\"\n\nI could think of at least thirty good reasons I didn't want to stay locked in an asylum for months, but all I said was, \"Yes, sir. And can I—do you think I could have my book back? And perhaps a pen and paper? Writing... eases my mind.\" I attempted a timorous smile.\n\n\"Oh, not just yet. We'll discuss it again next week, if you've been on your best behavior. Mrs. Jacobs, Mrs. Reynolds, if you please—\"\n\nThe door opened behind me. The sharp steps of the nurses clicked across the floor. A week?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I flung myself across his desk and seized the slick smoothness of the doctor's pen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I tore it from his grasp, spun away, barreled into the nurses—and then they had me, and it was over. A starched white arm crushed itself against my throat, quite dispassionately, and I felt my fingers being peeled inexorably away from the pen.\n\n\"No, please, you don't understand—\" I scrabbled, bare feet sliding uselessly across the floor.\n\n\"Ether, I think, and a dose of bromide. Thank you, ladies.\"\n\nMy last sight of the office was Dr. Palmer placing the pen fastidiously in his pocket and tucking my book in his desk drawer.\n\nI hissed and cried and screamed down the halls, shaking with hate and need. Faces peered out at me through the narrow door windows, pale and blank as moons. It's funny how quickly you descend from civilized young lady to madwoman; it was as if this beastly, boundaryless creature had been living just beneath my skin for years, lashing her tail." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But there are places built for holding beastly women. They hauled me into bed, fastened the cuffs around my ankles and wrists, and pressed something cold and stickily damp over my mouth. I held my breath until I couldn't and then I drifted into tarry blackness.\n\nI don't want to talk much about the next few days, so I won't.\n\nThey were dull and gray and long. I woke at odd, arrhythmic times of the day with the sick tang of drugs on my breath; at night I dreamed I was suffocating but couldn't move. I spoke to other people, I think—nurses, other inmates—but the only real company I had was the silver queen on her coin. And the hateful, stalking hours." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tried to hide from the hours by sleeping." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I lay very still and closed my eyes against the dull sameness of the room and made my muscles go slack and soft." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sometimes it worked, or at least I achieved a stretch of time that was even grayer and duller than the rest, but mostly it didn't. Mostly I just lay there, staring at the pink veins of my eyelids and listening to the shush-shush of my blood.\n\nNurses and orderlies appeared every few hours, slate schedules clutched in their hands, to unfasten me from bed and prod me into motion. There were meals to be eaten under close supervision, starched white gowns to be worn, baths to be taken in rows of tin tubs. I shivered beside the fish-pale nakedness of two dozen other women, all of us made ugly and unsecret, like snails pulled from their shells. I watched them furtively—twitching or weeping or silent as tombstones—and wanted to scream: I'm not like them, I'm not mad, I don't belong here. And then I thought: Maybe they didn't belong here, either, at first.\n\nTime went strange. The hour-dragons stalked and circled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I heard their belly scales susurrating against the tile in my sleep. Sometimes they crept into bed and stretched out beside me the way Bad used to, and I woke wet-cheeked and terribly alone.\n\nAt other times I would be engulfed instead by righteous rage—How could Locke betray me into this hell? How could I let them hurt Bad? How could my father leave me here, alone?—but eventually rage burns out and leaves nothing but ash, a muted landscape drawn in charcoal gray.\n\nAnd then on the fifth or sixth (or seventh?) day of my imprisonment, a voice said, \"You have a visitor, Miss Scaller. Your uncle came to see you.\"\n\nI had my eyes screwed shut, hoping that if I feigned sleep long enough my body would give up and play along." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I heard the click of the door, the scrape of a chair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And then a voice drawled, \"Good lord, it's half past ten in the morning. I would make a Sleeping Beauty joke, but it's only half-true, isn't it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My eyes snapped open and there he was: alabaster-white, cruel-eyed, hands like white-gloved spiders resting on his cane. Havemeyer.\n\nThe last time I'd heard his voice, he'd been ordering his men to get rid of the mess that was my dearest friend.\n\nI lunged for him. I'd forgotten that I was despairing, weak, cuffed to my bed; I only knew I wanted to hurt him, bite him, rake my nails down his face—\"Now, now, let's not get excited. I'll have to call the nurses in, and you're no good to me drugged and drooling.\"\n\nI snarled and twisted against my restraints. He chuckled. \"You were always so biddable, so civilized at Locke House. I told Cornelius not to believe it.\"\n\nI spat at him. I hadn't intentionally spit on anyone since Samuel and I were kids holding contests on the lakeshore; it was comforting to see I hadn't entirely lost my aim." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Havemeyer wiped his cheek with one gloved finger, his amusement turning brittle. \"I have some questions for you, Miss Scaller. Cornelius would have us believe this is all blown out of proportion, that you simply eavesdropped on your betters, that you're distraught over your father, that you're no threat, really, et cetera, et cetera. I think otherwise.\" He leaned forward. \"How did you find out about the fractures? Who have you been talking to?\"\n\nI bared my teeth at him.\n\n\"I see. And how did you get out of your room? Evans was sure he locked you in, and he's not foolish enough to lie to me.\"\n\nMy lips curved into a not-smile. It was the kind of expression that makes you think That person is unhinged and Someone should lock them up; I found I didn't care. \"Maybe I cast a magic spell, Mr. Havemeyer. Maybe I'm a ghost.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The smile turned into a lopsided snarl. \"I'm mad now, didn't you hear?\"\n\nHe tilted his head at me, considering. \"That vile dog of yours is dead, in case you were wondering. Evans tossed it in the lake. I would apologize, but someone ought to have done it years ago, if you ask me.\"\n\nMy body recoiled like a kicked animal. My ribs were shattered shards, pressing into the soft meat of my insides. Bad, Bad, oh Bad—\n\n\"It seems I have your full attention. Good. Now, tell me, have you ever heard of upyr? Vampir? Shrtriga?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The words rolled and hissed in his mouth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They reminded me, for no clear reason, of the trip I'd taken with Mr. Locke to Vienna when I was twelve. It'd been February and the city was shadowed, wind-scoured, old. \"Well, the name hardly matters. I'm sure you've heard of them in general outline: things that creep out of the black forests of the north and feast on the lifeblood of the living.\"\n\nHe was removing the glove from his left hand as he spoke, tugging on each white fingertip. \"Lies spread by superstitious peasants, in the main, repeated in story papers and sold to Victorian urchins.\" Now his hand was entirely free, fingers so pale I could see blue veins threading them. \"Stoker should've been summarily executed, if you ask me.\"\n\nAnd he reached toward me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was perhaps half a second before his fingertip touched me when all the fine hairs on my arm stood straight and my heart seized and I knew, in a scrabbling, animalish way, that I shouldn't let him touch me, that I should scream for help—but it was too late." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His finger was cold against my skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Beyond cold. An aching, burning, tooth-hurting absence of heat. My body warmth drained desperately toward it, but the cold was ravenous. My lips tried to form words but they felt numbed and clumsy, as if I'd been out walking in freezing wind.\n\nHavemeyer made a soft sighing sound of deepest contentment, like a man warming his hands by the fireplace or taking his first sip of hot coffee. He pulled his finger reluctantly away from my skin.\n\n\"Stories always have a grain of truth, don't you find? I believe that was the principle that kept your father trotting around the globe, digging up scraps for his master.\" His cheeks were flushed an unhealthy consumptionish crimson. His black eyes danced." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So tell me, my dear: How did you find out about the fractures?\"\n\nMy lips were still numb, my blood sluggish and congealed-feeling in my veins. \"I don't understand what—why—\"\n\n\"Why we're so concerned? Cornelius would give you a speech about order, prosperity, peace, et cetera—but I confess my own purposes are not so lofty. I merely wish to preserve this world as it is: so accommodating, so obligingly full of undefended, unmissed people. My interest is therefore personal and passionate. It would be wise to tell me everything you know.\"\n\nI looked at him—still confidently smiling, running his bare thumb across his fingernails—and was more afraid than I'd ever been in my life. Afraid I would drown in a sea of madness and magic, afraid I would betray someone or something without really knowing how, but mostly afraid he would touch me again with those cold, cold hands.\n\nA sharp rap at the door. Neither of us made a sound." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mrs. Reynolds entered anyway, her shoes tapping officiously across the tile. \"It's time for her bath, I'm afraid, sir. Family are asked to return later.\"\n\nBarely contained rage curled Havemeyer's lips away from his teeth. \"We're busy,\" he hissed. In Locke House, it would've been enough to send nearby staff scurrying for cover.\n\nBut this was not Locke House. Mrs. Reynolds's eyes narrowed, lips pursed. \"I'm sorry, sir, but regular schedules are very important for our patients here at Brattleboro. They're easily agitated and require a sober, predictable life to keep them calm—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Fine.\" Havemeyer breathed deeply through his nose." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He shook out his glove and pulled it over his bare hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Something about the showy slowness of the gesture made it obscene." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He leaned toward me, hands crossed atop his cane. \"We'll talk more soon, my dear. Are you free tomorrow night? I'd hate to be interrupted again.\"\n\nI licked my slowly warming lips, tried to sound braver than I felt. \"Don't—don't you have to be invited in?\"\n\nHe laughed. \"Oh, my dear, don't believe everything you read in the story papers. You people are always trying to invent reasons for things. Monsters only come for bad children, for loose women, for impious men. The truth is that the powerful come for the weak, whenever and wherever they like. Always have, always will.\"\n\n\"Sir.\" The nurse stepped toward us.\n\n\"Yes, yes.\" Havemeyer flapped a hand at her, smiled a hungry smile at me, and left.\n\nI listened to the merry tapping of his cane down the halls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Halfway through my bath I started to shake and couldn't stop." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The nurses fussed and rubbed warm towels down my arms and legs, but the shaking only intensified and then I was crouched naked on the tile floor, holding my own shoulders to keep them from shattering. They took me back to my room.\n\nMrs. Reynolds lingered to fasten the cuffs around my goose-fleshed arms. I seized her hand with both of mine before she could finish.\n\n\"Could I—do you think I could have my book back? Just for tonight? I'll be good. P-please.\" I wished I'd had to feign that stutter, wished it were all some clever ruse designed to lull them into trusting me before I made my daring escape—but I was precisely as terrified and hopeless as I seemed, and I just wanted to hide from the howling thoughts in my head. Thoughts like: Havemeyer is a monster and The Society is full of monsters and What does that make Mr. Locke? And: Bad is dead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't really think she would say yes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The nurses had treated us so far like bulky, poorly behaved furniture that needed regular feeding and grooming." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They spoke to us, but in the light, chattering way a farmer's wife might speak to her chickens." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They fed and bathed us, but their hands were rough stones against our flesh.\n\nBut Mrs. Reynolds paused and looked down at me. It almost seemed accidental, that looking, as if she'd forgotten for a half second that I was an inmate and saw instead a young girl asking for a book.\n\nHer eyes skittered away from mine like startled mice. She tightened the cuffs until I could feel my pulse thumping in my fingertips and left without looking at me again.\n\nI wept then, unable even to wipe the glistening snot-trail away from my lip, unable to press my face into the pillow or curl my head into my knees. I kept crying anyway, listening to the shuffling sounds of women in the halls until the pillowcase was damp beneath my head and the hallways went silent. The electric lights buzzed and crackled as they clicked off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was harder, in the darkness, not to think about Mr. Havemeyer. His white fingers spidering toward me out of the gloom, his blue-tinged flesh glowing in the moonlight.\n\nAnd then a key scraped and thunked and my door eased open. I spasmed against my restraints, heart seizing, already seeing his black-suited form edge into the room, his cane tap-tapping nearer—\n\nBut it wasn't Havemeyer; it was Mrs. Reynolds. With The Ten Thousand Doors tucked beneath her arm.\n\nShe scurried to my bedside, a furtive white smear in the darkness. She tucked the book beneath my sheets and unfastened my cuffs with fumbling fingers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I opened my mouth but she shook her head without looking at me, and left." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The lock snicked behind her.\n\nI just held it, at first; rubbed my thumb against the worn lettering, inhaled the faraway, free scent of it.\n\nAnd then I edged into the slanting moonlight, opened the book, and ran away." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "writing buddy needed! gimme one sentence more. stick to Fantasy pls" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Neither history nor poetry adequately explains why Nairn decided to stay at Declan's school." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Aside from any ambiguous feelings about Declan, which are examined with great enthusiasm in ballads but rarely documented, the choice was unexpected." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most likely, Nairn had never been to a school in his life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were few and far between in the Marches and of rare interest to a crofter's son." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nairn was born to wander; he learned his craft on the road, and though he had roamed widely before reaching Stirl Plain, he still had much of Belden to lure him onward, new instruments to discover and learn, much music, in both taverns and courts, he had never heard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And yet, on Stirl Plain, he stopped and stayed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As a teacher or a student, no one is certain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ballads tend to focus on the relationship between Nairn and Declan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The school itself becomes a backdrop for their competitions, their feuds, their friendship." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They are thrall to the whims of changing story; truth becomes whatever suits the tale." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They challenge one another to lengthy bardic riddle-games; they fall in love with the same woman (this apparently despite the difference in their ages); Nairn seeks revenge for Declan's loyalty to the king who conquered the Marches." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If there is any truth to these incidents, history remains mute." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The most coherent documented references to Nairn at this time are in the household records of the school." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For the scant year in question, they are noted daily by the first school steward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He began his records in the spring before Nairn joined the school, perhaps watching, as he wrote in his high tower room, the building going up around the tower beneath him that grew to look, by summer's end, much as it does today." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Accounts rendered this day to Hewn Flout, cobbler, for six pair of sandals for various students and masters, and for patching Nairn's boots.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Accounts rendered this day to Lyth Holme for a breeding sow, chosen by Nairn.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Accounts received this day by cloth merchant, Han Speller, his daughter and his servant for lodgings and for stable, and for one crockery washbasin broken by said daughter against a door Nairn closed behind him.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "And so on, prosaic entries rarely referencing even an echo of the tumultuous ballads, all signed: \"by my hand Dower Ren, Steward.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I leave the footprint of the fox behind me," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I ride the night with owls' wings," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am the key that opens the heart of a jewel," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am the heartwood of the sounding harp." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Who am I?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "FROM \"THE RIDDLING OF DECLAN AND NAIRN,\" ANONYMOUS" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her hair the froth of windblown wave," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her eyes the ancient woodland green," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pale hands that shape the music from the pipe," }, { "from": "human", "value": "And stroke the wild sweetness from the harp." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They loved her, the two great bards," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Old and young, they loved her both." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They went to her and bade that bright mouth tell" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Which of them she loved best? She spoke:" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Play for me, and my heart will hear" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Who truly loves, and who loves only love.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "FROM \"THE PRINCESS OF ESTMERE\" BY MRS. WELTERSTONE" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He would have walked away from Declan's school without one last glance at his unfinished stew, but for that one unexpected thunderbolt: Lord Deste's daughter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had sung a thousand times a thousand tales and ballads about love and never felt it once." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was, he realized starkly the longer he lingered, like singing about fire without ever experiencing its warmth and wonders, its pain, its absolute necessity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had strewn the word as freely as wildflowers along his path through the world, tossing it here, there, like a small, pleasing gift that cost nothing and would be forgotten even before it withered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had never before come up against his own absolute ignorance of it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Declan tended to dwell on the question of Nairn's ignorance as well, though he seemed to be complaining about something entirely different, when Nairn bothered to pay attention to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mostly he did not." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He did whatever he was asked: he carried stones, shaped wood for beams and rafters, shared songs of the Marches with the other students, learned their songs, learned to read, without thinking about much of anything but the long-fingered, green-eyed beauty in the kitchen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Why Declan wanted him to learn his letters eluded him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His memory was faultless and inexhaustible." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If the words were already in his head, why bother learning to write them?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But he did what he was told, only for the privilege, twice or thrice a day, of putting himself next to Odelet, receiving a plate, a cup from her hands, and taking the memory of her expression, her low, sweet, voice, whatever words she spoke, away with him to contemplate during the rest of the busy, meaningless day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Declan snagged his attention once, when he told Nairn not to show his writing or speak of it to anyone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It seemed a suspicious request since the purpose of writing was to be seen, shared." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But turn the request every which way and on its head as he did, Nairn made no sense of it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're far too old to be learning to read and write,\" Declan told him briskly when he finally asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But it must be done, so do it quickly and quietly, and no one you care about will laugh at you. I have asked a few of the others to learn, too,\" he added." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They will keep it secret as well, as I require.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It seemed easy enough to master." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A few straight twiggy ink scratches turned this way and that fashioned a word that meant \"shirt\" or \"egg\" or \"eye\" depending on the pattern." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They had other meanings as well, Declan told him, but did not say what, only that the meaning at its simplest contained its power." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That much Nairn understood: he was learning daily the peculiar, poignant turmoil of the simplest, most common of words." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Heart\" for instance. He was vaguely aware, from its rhythms, of the position of his heart in his body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But for the first time in his life, he was stumbling, will he, nil he, into an awareness of why so many emotions and abstractions in song and poetry were attached to that faithfully thumping organ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It acquired an unusual life of its own." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It expressed itself in odd ways, pounding almost painfully at an unexpected view of Odelet in the kitchen garden, her graceful hands searching through green leaves for pea pods." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the sight of her emerging from the henhouse with an egg basket, her slender neck bending gracefully under the lintel, his heart would send the blood flashing through him with all the force and silent thunder of distant lightning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Around her his throat dried, his palms sweated, his feet grew enormous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He whispered her name to anything that would listen: the sun, the moon, the carrot tassels in the garden." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Practicing his secret writing one morning, he felt an overwhelming urge to watch her name flow out of his quill." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But none of the words he had learned from Declan came close to it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How many twiglet-strokes and in what pattern would mean \"Odelet\" ?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He could not ask her, and he would torment himself into oblivion before he opened his heart to Declan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His heart, a delicate object those days, would not permit him to bring the matter anywhere near Declan." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It would shrivel within him at the bard's amusement, cringe like a cur, and try to slink out of sight behind some stronger organ." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No matter how he shaped the request, even at its simplest it would bring to life an impossible image: the lowly Pig-Singer casting his eyes at the daughter of an Estmere noble." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even in ballads, such tangles rarely ended happily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Usually someone died. Nairn doubted that Odelet, who seemed obliviously unruffled around him, would burst into the traditional storm of grief over him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She might, he imagined, let fall one cool pearl of pity at the idea of his torment, then promptly forget all about him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He finally remembered the one man who could write everyone's name, and did, routinely, without paying the least attention to the complications of the heart, as long as they affected neither accounts rendered nor received." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nairn had never gone farther into the ancient tower than the kitchen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Somewhere up there, Declan taught his classes; somewhere up there, the school steward kept his records and himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The students slept in a jumbled warren of tiny rooms whose walls they built themselves under the completed portion of the new building's roof." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was little Declan taught that Nairn didn't know, and he tried to stay out from under the bard's yellow gaze: strange things happened when their paths crossed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But for the sake of seeing Odelet's name flow out of the ink in his quill nib, he would venture into the unexplored regions of the tower." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Odelet was chopping a chicken with a cleaver when he crossed the kitchen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She didn't notice him until, watching her blade pierce the pale, plucked, hapless breastbone, Nairn walked into the edge of the open tower door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He winced and rubbed his nose, then glanced at her furtively to see if she had noticed his bumbling, just as she turned her face hastily away from him and gazed impassively down at the chicken." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She raised the cleaver; he slipped across the threshold and up the stairs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The narrow windows spiraling up the walls gave him glimpses of the long summer evening, the plain turning and turning around him as he moved." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yellow-gray sky at one horizon where the sun had gone down changed in the next elongated frame to the river winding its way to yet another horizon, trees along its banks bending protectively over the mystery of water." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moonlight spilled across the next window, silvering the distant sky." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Beyond the next, massive stones watched the guttering end of day, watched for the stars." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The next slit sparked with a sudden glow as someone lit a lamp at the tavern door beside the river." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nairn passed Declan's chambers, then: the lower, where he taught, the higher, where he slept." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Both doors were closed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At the next window, Nairn heard someone harping in the twilight, softly, dreamily: Declan, perhaps, sitting in the ring of stones and watching moonlight crust the dark, massive tower on the field below, rising so high it seemed crowned with stars." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nairn stopped. He clung to that meager opening with both hands, trying to widen it as he pushed his face to the stones and stared at the tower. He blinked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It vanished as he opened his eyes; he saw the familiar emptiness below, rapidly misting into night." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He let go of the stones finally, stepped back, still staring." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A moon shadow, he conceded finally, flung by the watchtower itself across the grass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned, continued his climb up the seemingly endless steps, the harper's music drifting along with him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He reached the steward's door at last, somewhere near the roof, and marked by the book and quill he had sketched beside a series of incomprehensible shapes. He knocked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The steward called out from within." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nairn found him at his table, quill in hand, looking up from his massive book, his eyes still full of numbers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was around Nairn's age; other than that, the two young men might have been born on different stars." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ink ran in the steward's veins, Nairn guessed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His heart beat by rote: it would go on counting one number after another until it stopped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Still, the steward was a kindly young man, for all his gravity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He asked no questions about Nairn's odd request, just began flipping pages in his book." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Odelet. I remember an entry, just before you came here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nairn looked over his shoulder, watched as the steward settled on a page and ran his fingers down the lines." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Here. Accounts received for three nights' lodging and stable from Berwin Deste, brother of Odelet Deste.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pointed to a flowing fragment within the line of knots and coils." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This word spells her name.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nairn studied it. He brushed at the hair over his eyes and studied it again. \"What is that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That.\" He ran his hand through the air above the page." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What came out of your quill.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's writing.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, it's not.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The steward raised his head abruptly, met Nairn's eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a moment, he pushed the book toward Nairn, dipped his quill, and offered it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Show me. There in that blank space. What your writing looks like.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Entirely ignoring Declan's requirement for secrecy, Nairn leaned over the page, arranged four twiglets into a pattern." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ah,\" Dower said softly, gazing at the twigs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I understand why you are confused. That's an ancient way of writing. I don't know it, though I've seen it here and there, carved into standing stones. No one writes like that anymore. I should say: I didn't know that anyone still does.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Then why is Declan teaching it to me?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know.\" The steward's head was still lowered as he studied the word Nairn had left in the margin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You'll have to ask him. What does this mean?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Onion. Yes. I will ask. Can you show me—\" He took another look at the onion-shaped circle that began Odelet's name, and shook his head hopelessly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Never mind. It doesn't matter. I mean: not to her.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dower was silent, flicking the feathered end of the quill at the page." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked up at Nairn finally." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why don't you just tell her?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nairn's heart spoke first, sent the blood roiling through his body." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That language, he realized, was clear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm terrified,\" he mumbled, his tongue stumbling over the word." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The steward straightened, dipped his nib again, wrote a word on a corner of the page and tore it carefully free." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Here. That's how she would write her name.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nairn took the tiny paper triangle wordlessly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In his chamber, a cell in the hive containing a pallet, a couple of dowels shoved between stones in the wall for hanging clothes and instruments, and a rough table for his candle and oddments, he studied the word, repeating it over and over until he remembered every curve and angle, every spike and cross." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then he pushed the paper through the hole in the sound box of his harp, where it would tremble and resonate to all the music he played." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then he went to talk to Declan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bard was easily found: Nairn stuck his head out the door into the night and heard his harping." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He followed it to where Declan sat in his favorite place, leaning against one of the great standing stones on the crown of the hill and playing to the moon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It must have been his harping that Nairn had heard as he climbed up the tower; it stopped as Nairn halted beside him, glancing puzzledly down the hill for the outlines of the unfamiliar tower in the dark." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then he felt Declan's eyes on him, and he said brusquely, \"You lied to me again.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "For a moment, the bard was silent, motionless." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then he set his harp beside him in the grass and answered evenly, \"Then you spoke of what I asked you to keep secret. How else would you know?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's such a small thing—Why would you lie about something that unimportant?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Whom did you tell?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Dower Ren. I went to him to ask him how to spell one word—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why didn't you come to me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nairn felt himself redden, said shortly, \"It was private.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You barely know the steward.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I knew he would tell me the truth, how to spell the word I wanted, not give me some other word like 'bell' or 'butter' instead of 'O—'\" He stopped, clamped his mouth down on the word, but too late." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A sound came out of the bard's nostrils, a snort, a laugh, or just a passing spore, expelled. \"Odelet?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nairn's fists clenched. \"I knew you'd laugh. You keep your secrets and laugh at everything. You came as far north as you could go in this land just to spy on fishers and shepherds and lie to them—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm not laughing,\" Declan interrupted sharply." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I would not laugh at the only thing that keeps you here. Do you always tell the truth?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes. No. When it's important. That's not the point—\" He stopped, thinking back at his piecemeal life, all that it had taken to bring himself here to sit on a hill with the greatest bard in five kingdoms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Music doesn't lie,\" the bard said after a moment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If you play a false note, it sounds. But words can shift their meanings so easily, weigh so lightly one moment, fly like a star, or drop like a stone in the next. How many times have you spoken the word 'love' and meant anything but that?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nairn, staring rigidly down at him, blinked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And now that you finally think you know what the word means, you find it impossible to say. Who would believe you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's not—\" he protested." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's not exactly—She—Anyway, I didn't come to talk about that. How do you know? I've never said anything to anyone—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Your face speaks every time you look at her. Your feet speak when you trip over them in her presence. Your fingers speak when they tremble on a pipe note. You talk about her all the time, in ways that I would wager my harp strings that you, with your gifts and your comely face, have never had to speak before.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nairn was silent, gazing back at the eavesdropping moon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He drew breath finally, loosed it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"True enough. Am I that pitiful a creature around her?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're not the only one.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I hadn't—I hadn't noticed.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You haven't been paying attention to anyone else. According to her brother, she left a very wealthy noble waiting for an answer to come here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh,\" he said, deflated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You might talk to her now and then.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Maybe. She makes all the words vanish out of my head. And so do you,\" he added restively." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This is not at all what I came out here to talk about.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"At least you are talking to me,\" Declan breathed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What did you come to talk about?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why are you teaching me to write 'water' with scratches that are as ancient as the standing stones and that nobody understands anymore?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Because it's the language of secrets, the language of power, the language of lost arts. The word only looks like 'water.' Beneath the surface, it becomes something else entirely. And you have the gift to use that power. You told me that in the grubby tavern by the sea when you took the jewels from my harp.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned its face; they glittered with a familiar warmth and beauty at Nairn. \"They recognized you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nairn gazed back at them expressionlessly, remembering with what power and what innocence he had taken them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shifted his eyes to Declan's barely visible face, the cold tear of moonlight in his owl's eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why do you want me here?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he asked slowly, sensing he would not like the answer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why are you teaching me this?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I am learning this as well,\" Declan reminded him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I took the language from your ancient stones. It's the forgotten power of your land I am trying to waken. The kings of my land know how to use their bards; the greatest of the musicians are the most powerful mages. I can teach you what you will need to know to become the Royal Bard of Belden.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nairn took a step back, nearly lost his balance and tumbled down the hill." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No,\" he said harshly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. I will never work for that usurper.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Think,\" Declan said softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Think. Of what your status would be in the king's court. Of the music you have never heard: the court music of the five lost kingdoms and of King Oroh's land. Of the instruments you could play. Of the knowledge that would come your way. The advantages of wealth and rank, as the king's most honored bard, would open every court in Belden to you. Even Lord Deste, Odelet's father, would welcome you under his roof.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nairn whispered, trembling, \"How do I know—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That I'm not lying to you again? This was the final request of the King of Belden to me when I left his court: that I find and train the bards most capable of magic in this land. I am doing so. Think about all this. Then decide to stay or go. If you stay, that is what I offer you, in the name of the king.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You didn't answer—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You'll never know, will you? If you leave.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nairn stood, mute again, gazing down at the shadowy figure as Declan picked up his harp, ran his fingers down it, shook a glitter of notes into the moonlight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He said haltingly, as Declan began to play again, \"When I—when I went up the tower steps to talk to Dower Ren, I saw, out of one window, a great, dark tower on the flat land at the bottom of the hill, rising so high that it seemed to stretch into the stars, and they became part of it. Is that what you mean by the power of the land? You must have seen it, too. You were out here playing, then.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The harp stilled midphrase; it seemed, for a moment, that Declan's voice had frozen with his fingers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nairn heard him draw breath, hesitate; he answered finally, looking up at Nairn, his face in shadow but for his moonstruck eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I was out here, yes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was watching the moonrise and thinking about the music of my own land, wondering how much of it will be remembered without its history, how much will wither on this foreign soil." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The bell jangled when you opened the front door." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It pulled me out of my memories; I began to play, then.\n\n\"I saw no tower. I heard no harping but my own. All the magic was for you.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "can u write sorta like Veronica Scott? use my bit as a start. add these 2: The Gods of Egypt, romance, historical fiction, Egypt, fantasy" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Khemjekhu had never seen such a Settlement Day in all its history." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The herds of cattle from each estate had been paraded before the nomarch under the watchful eyes of his soldiers, and duly counted for taxation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hernebti had led a joyous celebration from the steps of her Great One's temple through town, and the nomarch had declared a day of feasting and celebration at his own expense." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Tomorrow, I'll announce my judgment on the estates whose nobles committed treason against Pharaoh and Egypt,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But today, we'll celebrate the defeat of those who conspired against the proper order of things and rejoice in the bounty of the sacred Nile, honoring her. This day is dedicated to the holy purpose, and I'll not interfere with the proper order of things merely to settle the affairs of men. Rest assured, my judgment will be fair and equitable.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "After the festivities were well underway, the noble led Periseneb and Neithamun to a private chamber in the house he occupied when in the area." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Charging the guards not to allow anyone to disturb them, Tiy closed the doors." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I need wine, and I'm sure you both require some as well.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He poured liberally from the gold rimmed pitcher." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This is from Pharaoh's own stock, undoubtedly the best in this nome or any other.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Periseneb took the proffered alabaster cup." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You do us great honor, my lord.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"There'd be no celebration without you. I'd be dead, my army slaughtered. The Hyksos would doubtless be running rampant in the streets today, and Egypt would be facing more years of war. Not to mention the schemes of the creature you destroyed.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Periseneb took a sip and set the cup aside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My time as Ma'at's warrior is at an end.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No!\" Neithamun's protest was instantaneous." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The day has hours to go.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He shook his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I need to settle with the Great One. There's no use in prolonging the agony.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Then, let us be private.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Neithamun glanced at Tiy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sure the nomarch would lend us a chamber—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I want him here, as a witness. To take care of you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My word of honor, brother to brother.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tiy bowed. \"She shall want for nothing while I live.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can take care of myself,\" she said, scorn in her voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Periseneb laid his hand over the remaining red feather." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm ready to report to you, Great One, and receive my judgment.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "For a moment, nothing happened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Surprised the tattooed emblem hadn't taken form, he prepared to make his request again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was the sound of chimes and the scent of the lotus filled the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mist swirled about the three of them, and when it cleared, he was standing on the banks of a river, surrounded by green fields and trees laden with lush fruit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Soft green reeds cushioned his feet, and when he glanced down, he realized his battered satchel, sword and shield were stacked neatly next to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Neithamun and Tiy stood to his left." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Downriver, an elegant boat was drawn up to the shore, gangplank extended to take on more passengers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He heard music and the sound of voices singing, as if a celebration was taking place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The far shore was wreathed in mist, but the duat must be there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ma'at stood before him, draped in golden robes, the red ostrich plume gracefully framing her face with its soft fronds." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You've done well, my warrior.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stood at attention, ignoring Neithamun's quiet sobs, though the sound tore at his heart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I believe I've accomplished all you sent me to do?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ma'at nodded. \"Calling Ammit to dispose of the akh rather than me was an inspired move, leading to Sitre's demise and the resolution of the curse you'd uttered. I applaud your ingenuity. Truly, I chose my champion well.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yet, I've failed in one regard, my lady.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Swallowing hard, he prayed the Great One would be willing to listen to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I ask your judgment.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"On what matter?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The fate of Heron Marsh.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Continue.\" Ma'at gestured with her left hand and a gilded table and chair appeared." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She sat, gracefully spreading the folds of her dress in regal fashion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My wife has sworn to take no other man to her bed while she waits for her own death. This morning, she told me her womb was empty. I've fathered no child with her in my second time in the Black Lands.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"An akh cannot father a child.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The voice of the goddess was cold." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Leaving the estate with no heir.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Before Ma'at could speak, he pointed at Tiy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Does this concern you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The stability of the nome is already threatened by the five estates I must dispose to new owners tomorrow,\" Tiy said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I've no small amount of faith in the Lady Neithamun and her abilities, yet I wish for a strong deputy to leave in charge of the entire area, to hold the western territory of the province for Pharaoh and Egypt. A landowner to rally the other nobles to his standard and command when called upon. A guardian against Hyksos intrusions. A man of military experience who knows the area, which none of my trusted officers do, all being from Thebes or the lower Nile.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And is there no one in the nome you can name to fill this role?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Periseneb had no idea how long Ma'at would continue to allow the conversation to go on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So far, the Great One was listening with attention, hands folded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tiy shook his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You know as well as I do, even those who didn't rally to Haqaptah's call failed equally in their duty to Pharaoh. Only Lady Neithamun stepped forward to send me warning and troops in my hour of need. Her death with no heir—at any age—will only weaken the nome further.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I refuse to marry another and bear him children, just so you can have someone to support you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Neithamun's voice was strong, her declaration contemptuous and haughty. \"I love Periseneb.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Your lineage is important to the fate of all Egypt,\" Ma'at said, staring at Neithamun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My sister Sefkhet could remove your memories of Periseneb, carve the love from your heart, and free you to marry again.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eyes wide, an expression of utter horror on her face, Neithamun shrank back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My husband has already suggested this horrifying idea to me once, and I rejected it. I beg of you, don't do such a thing.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ma'at took the feather from her headband." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Periseneb spoke to the nomarch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Does your Pharaoh honor the will of his predecessors?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The goddess paused, tilting her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Indeed, a fair question.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tiy licked his lips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"To the extent those wishes are known and can be honored. He won't entertain anything ordered by the Usurper he dethroned.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, of course not. But will he honor this?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Periseneb held out the rolled parchment he'd withdrawn from his satchel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Your writ of amkhu?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Neithamun asked. \"How will the document help us?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He shook his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My status as amkhu wasn't the only favor bestowed upon me by a grateful monarch.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ma'at held out her hand, and he was forced to give her the scroll." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unrolling it, she scanned the hieroglyphs, which glowed as her gaze passed over them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She studied the cartouche set in red wax at the bottom of the papyrus, touching it with one fingertip." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"By order of Pharaoh Khakaure Senusret.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Raising her head, she said, \"He is long passed into the duat, as was his right, and is well content in the company of his fellow Great Ones.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Again, she rubbed a finger over the seal, which blazed with red light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yet his earthly command still possesses power. Very well then. It seems you, Periseneb, are to claim any land holding in Shield Nome you desire.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She paused, perusing the document again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Up to and including Heron Marsh itself, for services rendered to Egypt.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My Pharaoh would honor such a decree.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tiy's answer was prompt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then I claim not Heron Marsh, which has an owner, but the estate of Haqaptah.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He spoke boldly. \"I will undo the damage he has done to the proper flow of the Nile and will ensure the western territory of the nome remains strong against Hyksos plots. With my wife, we'll hold both estates for the current Pharaoh Nat-re-Akhte.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ma'at toyed with her feather, running the soft vanes through her fingers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Neithamun stepped forward, catching his hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A broad smile on her blushing face, she said, \"And will you ensure Heron Marsh has heirs of my lineage?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If the gods be kind and bless us with children.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ma'at tapped her fingers on the table." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So, you wish to be sentenced to live out a human life span, with all the attendant perils and hardships? You forfeit guaranteed entry into the duat?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll present myself to the judging of my heart as any man does, when the time comes,\" he said, heart pounding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The music jangled to a stop mid-chord." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The waiting ship unfurled its sails as the gangplank was drawn inboard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The craft nosed into the river, oars dipping into the silvery waters as the boat moved away from them, gliding into the mists." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ma'at was smiling. \"So be it. You've earned your 'sentence,' my warrior, and I wish you well. We'll meet again in due time.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She directed her gaze to Neithamun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"School your children thoroughly, ensure each knows their duty to provide proper funeral rites to their parents.\" She winked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"A duty not to be required of them until the last is well grown, and parents to their own offspring. This, I promise you, in gratitude for the services rendered.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The mists swirled in from the river, and Periseneb held Neithamun tightly as the scent of the lotus overwhelmed him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He felt Tiy grab his shoulder, and then his senses blanked out completely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he opened his eyes, he was sprawled in the chair in Tiy's private chamber, Neithamun curled on his lap." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The nomarch himself was face down on the table, practically falling from the chair he occupied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hand to her hair, Neithamun sat up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Blinking, she took in their surroundings and then swiveled to stare at him, fear in her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Was our journey real? Or was it a dream induced by the nomarch's wine?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Forcing himself upright, Tiy groaned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank the gods wine never induced any dream of that nature before. Were it to happen again, I vow I'd have to stop drinking anything but water. Nor have I ever dreamt the same events as my companions. Can there be any doubt the Great One granted your request?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He picked up the scroll lying on the table beside his goblet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Here's the writ from the hand of your Pharaoh, granting you any estate you desire, which I'm happy to enforce.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I pray it be so.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Neithamun pressed a kiss on his cheek." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I remember she promised we'd have children.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Periseneb had to be sure." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moving Neithamun aside a bit, he rolled up the sleeve of his tunic, to reveal his bicep." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The last red feather tattoo was gone.\n\n\"I've come home at last,\" he said, as he kissed the Lady of Heron Marsh, his beloved wife." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Expand on the story, staying true to the Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Captain Michel Reynaud, Manticore Astro-Control Service, stood at Commander Arless's shoulder and watched his display with mixed emotions as HMS Fearless held position near Basilisk Control and the heavy cruiser Warlock slid into the heart of the terminus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The heavier ship's Warshawski sails glowed brilliantly for just a moment, and then she vanished, and Reynaud was scarcely sorry to see her go." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of all the half-assed, over-bred, arrogant cretins the Royal Manticoran Navy had ever assigned to watch over Reynaud's domain, Lord Pavel Young had to have been the worst." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd never bothered to veil his contempt for the ACS in the slightest, and Reynaud and his people had reciprocated with feeling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But for all that, Young had been a known evil, one they'd grown accustomed to working around." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now they had a new one to worry about." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Astro-Control Service was a civil service organization, despite its uniform and naval ranks, and Reynaud was profoundly grateful for it as he gazed at the remaining cruiser's light code." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was responsible for the smooth running of the terminus' traffic, period." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The rest of the Basilisk System was the Navy's concern, and the thought of what now faced that single ship's commanding officer was enough to make Reynaud shiver." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not, he thought sourly, that the stupid bastard was likely to deserve his pity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If he was, he wouldn't have been dumped here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That was a given of Basilisk Station, and the personnel of Basilisk Control regarded the dregs with which they had to contend with all the disdain they merited." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He started to turn away, but Arless's voice stopped him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Just a sec, Mike. We've got a couple of inbounds from that cruiser.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What?\" Reynaud swung back to the display and frowned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two drive sources were moving towards Control's sprawling habitat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were far too small for full-sized ships, but the fact that they were impeller signatures indicated they were larger than most small craft." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And that, in turn, suggested they must be pinnaces, but why would pinnaces be heading for his command station?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What d'you suppose they're up to?\" he asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Damfino.\" Arless shrugged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He leaned back and cracked the knuckles of his long fingers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You mean they didn't file a flight plan?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You got it. They—hold on.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The controller leaned forward and flipped a switch, shunting his com channels to Reynaud's earbug." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"—ontrol, this is Navy flight Foxtrot-Able-One. Request final approach instructions.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Arless started to reply, but Reynaud stopped him with a raised finger and keyed his own pickup." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Navy Foxtrot-Able-One, this is Basilisk Control. Please state your intentions.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Basilisk Control, we are a naval liaison mission. I have on board my recorded orders and an explanatory dispatch for your station commander.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Reynaud and Arless stared at one another, eyebrows raised." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was certainly unorthodox." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liaison mission? What kind of \"liaison\"?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And why all the mystery?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why hadn't they pre-filed a flight plan? The captain shrugged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Very well, Navy Foxtrot-Able-One. Make your approach to—\" he craned his neck to check Arless's display \"—beacon Niner-Four. You'll be met by a guide. Basilisk Control clear.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He killed the circuit and gave Arless an eloquent glance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Now just what the hell do you think that was all about, Stu?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Beats me, boss,\" the controller replied, \"but look at that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gestured at his display, and Reynaud frowned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even as her pinnaces separated, the light cruiser had swung away from Basilisk Control to go slashing off on a vector for the system primary, and not at the eighty percent power RMN ships normally used." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was ripping along at a full five hundred gravities, and she was already fifty thousand kilometers away at a velocity of over seven hundred KPS." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The station commander scratched his bristly gray hair and sighed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just when he'd gotten the last uniformed jackass to at least keep his ham-fisted fingers out of Control's pie, this happened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had taken months to convince Young that his condescending attempts to rearrange Control's well-tried traffic lanes into more \"efficient\" routes—so poorly designed they could only increase the workloads of Reynaud's already over-worked controllers while decreasing safety margins—were neither required nor desired." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Managing wormhole junction traffic was a job for well-trained, highly experienced professionals, not twits who'd been exiled for how poorly they did their own jobs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were lots of things the Navy could have done to facilitate ACS's routine operations if the over-bred fart had been interested in doing anything that would have required any effort on his part." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He hadn't been, but the tin-god aspect of his personality had been pronounced." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As far as Reynaud had been able to tell, Young was simply incapable of watching someone else get on with his job in an orderly fashion as long as he could interfere without exerting himself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd rubbed Reynaud wrong from the beginning, and the chief controller had found himself going out of his way to rub right back—with a predictable loss of efficiency he couldn't quite regret, however hard he tried." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But it appeared Young's replacement was cut from different cloth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The problem was that Reynaud didn't know what sort of cloth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Judging by the speed with which he moved, the newcomer certainly seemed to have more energy than his predecessor, but that could be good or bad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If he actually intended to assist Control, it was probably good, yet long and bitter experience made it difficult for Reynaud to visualize a senior naval officer who did more good than harm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He shrugged. Whatever Fearless's CO had in mind, the cruiser's rapid departure made it clear he intended to dump this \"liaison mission\" on Reynaud for the long haul, and his total lack of warning as to his intentions was peculiar, to say the very least." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He frowned again, but there was a speculative light in his eyes as he watched the light cruiser lope away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whatever else that captain was, he clearly wasn't another Lord Pavel Young." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you have our sweep pattern plotted, Astrogation?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, Ma'am.\" Lieutenant Stromboli looked up at Honor's question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His fleshy face was drawn with weariness, for Santos and McKeon had kept revising their drone availability numbers on him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Every time they'd changed their figures, he'd had to recalculate almost from scratch, but tired or no, he never—ever—again meant to tell Captain Harrington he didn't have the course she needed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We have a vector change in—\" he double-checked his panel \"—twenty-three minutes. We should deploy the first drone eight hours and forty-two minutes after that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good. Pass the course change to Maneuvering.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nimitz \"bleeked\" softly in her ear, and she reached up to stroke his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The treecat always seemed to know when it was time for him to be seen and not heard, even on the bridge, but he'd started sounding far more cheerful from the moment HMS Warlock disappeared." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Honor knew why that was, and she allowed herself a small smile before she punched up Engineering." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She got one of Santos's assistants and waited patiently while the chief engineer was summoned to the com." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Santos looked awful when she finally appeared." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her dark hair was gathered in a tight braid, her face was tired, and there was a smudge of grease down her right cheek." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We'll be beginning drone deployment in approximately nine hours, Commander. What's our status?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The first pattern is almost ready to deploy now, Ma'am,\" Santos replied wearily, \"and I think we'll have the second one by the time you need it, but I'm not sure about number three.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Problems, Commander?\" Honor asked mildly, and saw Santos's eyes flash with anger. Good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If her officers got mad enough, they might start thinking for a change instead of simply feeling sorry for themselves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the lieutenant commander bit back what she wanted to say and exhaled sharply." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm concerned about fatigue, Captain.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her voice was flat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We're already running out of beacon kits, and the kits were never intended to deploy sensor heads of this size and sensitivity. Adapting them to fit requires modifications far outside the normal repair and maintenance parameters, and that limits the utility of our servomechs. We're doing a lot of hand-wiring and grunt work down here, we only have so many sets of hands, and it's going to get worse as the kits run out.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Understood, Commander, but timing is critical to an orderly deployment. I advise you to expedite.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Honor cut the circuit and leaned back in her command chair with a tiny smile, and Nimitz rubbed his head against the side of her neck while he purred." }, { "from": "human", "value": "*" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're what?\" Captain Reynaud demanded, and Lieutenant Andreas Venizelos wrinkled his brow in puzzlement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I said I'm your customs and security officer, Captain. I'm sure Captain Harrington's dispatch will explain everything.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Reynaud accepted the message chip almost numbly, and Venizelos's puzzlement deepened." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He couldn't understand why the ACS man looked so confused." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It wasn't as if Venizelos were using any big words." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Let me get this straight,\" Reynaud said after a moment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Your Captain Harrington actually expects you and your people to be quartered here at Control? He means to leave you here to support our operations?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, Sir, she does.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The darkly handsome lieutenant stressed the pronoun's gender, and Reynaud nodded, but he still looked so dumbfounded Venizelos was moved to continue." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why do you seem so surprised, Sir?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Surprised?\" Reynaud shook himself, then smiled oddly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, I suppose 'surprised' is a pretty good word, Lieutenant. Let me just put it this way. I've been chief controller in Basilisk for almost twenty months. Before that, I was senior assistant controller for damn near two years, and in all that time, you're the first—what did you call it? security and customs officer?—anyone's bothered to assign me. In fact, you may be the first one any station commander's ever bothered to assign to Control.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm what?\" Venizelos blurted, then flushed as he realized how exactly his tone matched Reynaud's original emphasis." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The two of them stared at one another, and then the ACS captain began to grin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Now that I think about it,\" he said, \"I believe I did read something in my original orders about the Navy being responsible for inspections and station security. Of course, it's been so long I can't be certain.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He glanced at the habitat services tech standing at his shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Jayne, do me a favor and find the Lieutenant's people some quarters and get them checked out on the basic emergency procedures, would you? I've got some station regs to plow through to find out what the hell we're supposed to do with them.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sure thing, Mike.\" The tech gestured to Ensign Wolversham, Venizelos's second in command, and Reynaud turned back to Venizelos, still grinning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"In the meantime, Lieutenant, perhaps you'd care to join me in my data search?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Venizelos nodded, and Reynaud's grin grew broader." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And perhaps you'd care to tell me a little something about your CO, as well. But take it slow, please. I'm not as young as I used to be, and I don't know if I'm ready for the concept of a competent senior officer on Basilisk Station!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Andreas Venizelos grinned back, and for the first time in weeks, it felt completely natural." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lieutenant Commander Dominica Santos tried not to swear as Lieutenant Manning handed her the latest projection." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They'd made the captain's deadline for the first three drone drops, but she was already heading for the fourth, and Santos glared at the chronometer with something like desperation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Less than six hours before they began deployment, and they had barely sixty percent of the drones switched over." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were losing ground steadily; there were five more drops to go; her people were drunk with fatigue; and, worse yet, they'd just run out of beacon kits." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "From here on out, they were going to have to build the damned conversion sets before they could even put the sensor heads into them!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She muttered resentfully to herself, compromising between bile and naval propriety by cursing too softly for anyone else to hear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What the hell was Harrington's problem?!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "If she were only willing to give Engineering two or three days, they could design a conversion set the maintenance and repair servomechs could turn out by the gross." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As it was, laying out the design and troubleshooting the servomech software would take longer than building the goddamned things by hand!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The captain didn't have to drive them this hard—and it wasn't fair for her to take out her own frustration with Young (whatever that was about!) on them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She stopped swearing and looked around a bit guiltily." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It hadn't exactly been fair of them to take out their resentment over the Fleet maneuvers on the captain, either, she supposed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And, she admitted unwillingly, she'd been as bad as the rest of them when it came to dragging around afterward— especially after she learned about their transfer to Basilisk Station. But still ..." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She flopped back in her chair and made herself draw a deep breath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All right. Fair or unfair didn't really come into it just now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had a problem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She could either screen the captain and tell her she couldn't make her deadline (and that thought wasn't at all attractive), or she could decide that she was chief engineer aboard this bucket of bolts and figure out how to solve it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She swiveled the chair to face her terminal and began tapping keys." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Okay. They couldn't make it if they built the beacon bodies entirely from scratch, and they didn't have time to design a new one, but ... suppose they used the targeting bus from a Mark Fifty missile?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If they yanked the warhead and sidewall penaids, they could jigger the sensor heads and astro packs into the empty spots—" }, { "from": "human", "value": "No, wait! If they pulled the penaids, they should be able to convert the terminal guidance units from the same missiles into astro packs!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That would save components all down the line, and the guidance units would just have to go into storage if they didn't use them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The bus thrusters wouldn't have anywhere near the endurance of a standard beacon kit, but they had power to burn, and the platforms only had to do their job for a couple of months." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They weren't going to be moving around, so they wouldn't really need tons of endurance, either, now would they?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And if she used standard components, she could use her missile maintenance mechs to do two-thirds of the work in a quarter of the time without any reprogramming at all!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now, let's see... If she sectioned the bus off here to clear the passive receptor arrays, then took out this panel to mate the signal booster with the main ECM emitter, then she could ..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lieutenant Commander Santos's fingers flew over her console with gathering speed, and a whole new sensor platform took shape on her display." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Captain Harrington?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Honor raised her eyes from the message board in her lap." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Rafael Cardones, Venizelos's assistant and now Fearless's acting Tactical Officer, stood at her elbow, his painfully young face anxious." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Lieutenant?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Uh, I think we have a problem, Ma'am,\" Cardones said uncomfortably." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Honor raised an eyebrow, and he flinched." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's, uh, it's the drones, Ma'am.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What about them, Lieutenant?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I, well, you see— That is—\" The young officer stopped and visibly took a grip on himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm afraid I misprogrammed the sensor parameters, Ma'am,\" he admitted in a rush." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I set them up for directional, not omnidirectional, and I, well, I think I made a little mistake in their telemetry packages, too. I ... I can't seem to access them to accept remote reprogramming, Ma'am.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I see.\" Honor leaned back in her chair and propped her elbows on its armrests, steepling her fingers under her chin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The lieutenant looked like a puppy waiting to be kicked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Worse, he looked like a puppy who thought he deserved to be kicked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His humiliation was obvious, and she wanted to pat his head and tell him everything would be all right, but she stepped on the surge of compassion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, Lieutenant,\" she went on after a moment, \"what do you suggest we do about it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Me, Ma'am?\" Cardones almost squeaked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't—\" He stopped and inhaled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I suppose we'll have to pick them up and reprogram, Ma'am,\" he said at last." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not acceptable,\" Honor said coolly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stared at her in consternation, and she had to bite her tongue rather firmly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A more experienced tactical officer would already have seen the solution." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Recon probe sensor heads were designed to tie directly into their mother ship's tactical data net, and the tac channel was dedicated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It couldn't have been affected by any mistakes he'd made in his telemetry programming because it was hardwired to prevent that very accident." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Going in through the tac channel would be difficult—more because of the time involved than because of the task's complexity—but it would allow the standard telemetry to be accessed and even completely reprogrammed from Cardones' console through the CIC update links." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Honor knew that, but she had no intention of telling him so." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He should have known to approach McKeon before exposing himself to his captain's wrath—and McKeon should have supervised an officer this junior more closely in the first place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a point she intended to make—with both of them—in a fashion she hoped would stick." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, Lieutenant?\" she said at length. He blinked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How do you intend to fix the problem?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't—\" He stopped himself again and glanced away for a moment, then looked back at her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do ... Would the Captain care to make a suggestion, Ma'am?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I would not.\" He wilted under her cool soprano, and she struggled to keep her compassion out of her eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're Tactical Officer aboard this ship, Mr. Cardones,\" she went on, her voice equally devoid of condemnation or sympathy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The drones' programming was your responsibility. So is the correction of your problem. Deal with it, Lieutenant.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gave her one more appealing look, then swallowed and nodded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Ma'am,\" he said in a tiny voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "*" }, { "from": "human", "value": "HMS Fearless made her final heading change and settled into the groove, decelerating for a smooth orbital insertion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Honor was back on the bridge, watching Medusa swell in the visual display and feeling the change in the atmosphere about her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The apathy of their arrival here had faded, and if it hadn't been replaced by the esprit de corps she might have wished for, her crew's current attitude was at least a vast improvement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The last six days had been rough for everyone ... and a close approximation to Hell for some." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lieutenant Commander Santos had good justification for her exhaustion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She'd practically driven her people with a whip when it became obvious Honor had no intention of slowing her drone deployment, but she'd driven herself even harder, and to her own amazement, she'd met every deadline." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That last-minute design improvisation of hers had been little short of brilliant, and the drones were in place now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dangerous holes remained, but at least Honor had a warning net covering seventy degrees either side of the ecliptic, and Santos seemed to be having some difficulty deciding whether she was more proud of her department's achievements or infuriated by her captain's demands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nor was she the only one caught between pride and resentment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lieutenant Cardones, probably more to his own surprise than anyone else's, had actually managed to correct his mistakes with the drone programming." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd been forced to go to McKeon for help with the remote reprogramming, just as Honor had hoped, and spent endless hours on the project, but he'd dealt with it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And, truth to tell, she was pleased by how well McKeon had responded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As nearly as she could tell, he hadn't raked Cardones over at all, despite what must have been a bitter recognition that he should have kept a closer eye on him in the first place, and from what she'd overheard, he'd subtly directed the youngster into finding the CIC links on his own." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By the time Webster had gotten the drone data collection net set up to her demanding satisfaction and Stromboli had computed two separate on-the-fly course corrections to double back for misdropped drones, every one of Honor's senior officers had been worn out, intensely irritated ... and working as a team again at last." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't the way she would have chosen, but if self-defense was the only way she could goad them off their posteriors, she could stand their resultant unhappiness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She turned her head as McKeon stepped out of the bridge lift and settled down in the executive officer's chair." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was as stiff and formal as ever, but she'd gotten past his defenses a time or two in the last week—especially with Cardones." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Something was eating at him, that was clear, yet she suspected he, at least, understood exactly what she was doing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And, wonder of wonders, he wasn't fighting her on it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She more than suspected that he resented the way she'd gone about goading her crew back to life, and he wasn't exactly bending over backwards to help, nor had she been able to decide why he'd disliked her so from the beginning, but his professionalism seemed to be getting the better of whatever it was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was no spontaneity in their relationship, no interplay of ideas, and the situation remained far from ideal, but at least they both seemed willing to admit, if only to themselves, that there was a problem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was a major advance, and she hoped they were both professional enough to rise above their apparent incompatibility." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She shrugged the thought aside and looked back at her tactical display, frowning as Fearless crept through the outer parking orbits and the holo dot of a single small ship glowed crimson." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a courier boat, little more than a pair of Warshawski sails and an inertial compensator crammed into the tiniest possible hull, but its presence made her acutely uneasy, for it had diplomatic immunity and it was registered to the People's Republic of Haven." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She chewed the inside of her lip, wondering why seeing it bothered her so." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd known Haven had a consulate and trade legation here on Medusa, but she hadn't realized until she read Young's official download that they maintained a diplomatic courier boat permanently on station." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Legally, there was no reason why they shouldn't, but logically, the only possible purpose for a full consular mission on Medusa was covert operations of some sort." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A simple trade mission could have handled Haven's legitimate interests in its traffic through the Basilisk Terminus, and the Medusan aborigines had nothing worth exporting, despite reports of \"legitimate Havenite merchants\" trading with them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Those reports worried Honor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The conquest-bloated Republic no longer had any privately-owned merchantmen, and it had to be losing money on any conceivable exchange basis with the Medusans." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Which, as far as she was concerned, obviously meant they were up to something else. But what?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Intelligence gathering to keep an eye on in-system Fleet deployments and traffic through the Basilisk Terminus made some sense." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Medusa was an awfully inconvenient distance from the terminus for that purpose, but it wasn't as if there were any closer planets they could use." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maintaining a presence in the system as a counter to Manticore's might also make sense, especially given the periodic parliamentary attempts the Liberals still mounted to get Manticore out of the system." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For all she knew, the Havenite consulate might also be the headquarters for whatever espionage was being practiced within the Kingdom itself, though she would have thought Trevor's Star a better choice for that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whatever they were doing, she didn't like it, and she liked the presence of that courier boat even less." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Consular dispatch bags had diplomatic immunity regardless of the carrier, and there were enough Havenite merchantmen in evidence to transport any dispatches the consul needed carried." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The only advantage to tying up a courier boat on permanent station here was its greater speed—and the fact that the entire vessel had diplomatic immunity and so was immune to examination or search regardless of anything else it might be doing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To Honor's mind, that implied some deep-seated ulterior motive, but she was well aware of her own automatic suspicion of anything Haven did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was entirely possible that the courier boat's presence was as innocent as the Republic claimed, that only her own paranoia insisted it wasn't." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Of course it was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And it was also possible Pavel Young hadn't deliberately set out to cut her throat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She snorted as Chief Killian put Fearless into orbit with his customary flawless precision and signaled \"Done with engines,\" then turned to glance at Webster." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Com, please raise the Resident Commissioner's office. Inform Dame Estelle that I would appreciate her finding time to meet with me at her earliest convenience.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Ma'am.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She leaned back in her chair once more, listening." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Reports murmured over the intercom as the impeller wedge and inertial compensator went down and the standby thrusters took over the automatic station-keeping function." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bridge ratings moved from station to station, tapping notes into memo pads, Lieutenant Brigham was buried in the cartography section with Stromboli and his senior yeoman, updating their records on the drone net, and Honor savored the routine, orderly way they went about their duties." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Despite the wracking workload she'd dumped on these people, the ship was alive once more.\n\nNow it was up to her to redirect that aliveness into a sense of teamwork which included her as their captain, not their taskmaster." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll be your writing partner today. I will set the scene, and you will continue the story with 4 sentences, keeping within the Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ensign Tremaine's pinnace drifted in orbit, two hundred meters from the mammoth power collector, while Tremaine, Harkness, and Yammata crossed the vacuum between them. None of them could quite believe where their trace of the power relays had led them. \"You sure you want to do this, Skipper?\" Harkness muttered over his suit com." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I mean, this is NPA business, Sir.\"\n\n\"The Captain told me to run it down, PO,\" Tremaine said, much more harshly than usual. \"Besides, if we're right, maybe an NPA maintenance crew are the last people we should have checking it out.\"\n\n\"Mr. Tremaine, you don't really think—\" Yammata began, and the ensign waved a gauntleted hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know what to think. All I know is what we've found so far. Until I do know more—know it for certain—we tell no one. Clear?\"\n\n\"Yes, Sir,\" Yammata murmured. Tremaine nodded in satisfaction and freed a powered wrench from his equipment belt. His suit thrusters nudged him a bit closer, and he caught the grab bar above the access panel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pulled himself down, locking the toes of his boots under the clips provided for that purpose, and attached his suit tether to the bar, then fitted the wrench head over the first bolt.\n\nHe squeezed the wrench power stud and listened to its whine, transmitted up his arm to his ears, and tried not to look at the royal Manticoran seal above the panel.\n\n*\n\n\"You're not serious?\" Dame Estelle stared at Lieutenant Stromboli's face in her com screen, and the beefy lieutenant nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Our backup power collector?\" \"Yes, Ma'am, Dame Estelle. No question about it. Ensign Tremaine and his crew tracked the fix from the primary receiver station and found the feed. It wasn't easy, even after he got to the collector. As a matter of fact, it's built right into the main power ring, not even an add-on. I've got a copy of the altered schematics in my secure data base right now.\"\n\n\"Oh, my God,\" Matsuko sighed. She settled back in her chair, staring at the com screen, and her brain raced." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was it possible this whole operation was being run by someone inside her own staff? The thought was enough to turn her stomach, but she made herself face it.\n\n\"Who have you told, Lieutenant?\" she asked after a moment, her eyes narrowing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You, Ma'am,\" Stromboli said instantly, and went on to answer the unasked portion of her question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mr. Tremaine informed me by tight beam, so my duty com tech knows, I know, his boat crew knows, and you know. That's it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good. Very good, Lieutenant.\" Dame Estelle tugged at an earlobe, then nodded. \"Use your own equipment to inform Commander Harrington, please. And ask her to tell Major Isvarian—he's still aboard Fearless, I believe. Don't tell anyone else without clearance from me or from your captain.\"\n\n\"Yes, Ma'am. I understand.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Stromboli nodded, and the commissioner cut the circuit with a courteous if abstracted nod.\n\nShe sat silently for long minutes, trying to grasp the implications. It was insane ... but it was also the perfect cover. She remembered the holos Isvarian had made of the base before the explosion, seeing once more the meticulous care with which the buildings had been hidden." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was all part of a pattern, a pattern of almost obsessive concealment, yet there was a false note." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Concealment, yes, but once that screen of security was breached, the very lengths to which they'd gone to maintain it were guaranteed to touch off a massive hunt for the perpetrators at all levels.\n\nAnd the way it had been done, the tap off her own power system, the apparent scale of mekoha production, the introduction of breech-loading rifles to the natives... All of it spoke of a massive operation, one which went—which must go—far beyond whatever might be earned by selling drugs to a Bronze Age culture!\n\nBut why? Where did it go ... and to what end? She was alone in a dark room, groping for shadows, and none of it made any sense." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not any sense at all.\n\nShe rose from her chair and walked to her office's huge window, staring unseeingly out over the Government Compound's low wall at the monotonous Medusan countryside. It couldn't be one of her people. It couldn't! Whatever the ultimate objective, whatever the reward, she couldn't—wouldn't—believe that any of her people could feed mekoha to the natives and connive at the cold-blooded murder of their own fellows!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "But someone had installed a power tap in the one place neither she nor any of Harrington's people had even considered looking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And if it was built in, not added as an afterthought ..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She closed her eyes, leaning her forehead against the tough, plastic window, and gritted her teeth in pain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's confirmed, Commander.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rafe Cardones nodded at the data terminal, and McKeon leaned closer to study it. The schematic of the power collector was interesting enough, but that was only part of the data's surprises. The shunt to the drug lab's power system was, indeed, an integral part of the satellite's circuitry, built deep into its core where only a complete maintenance strip-down would have revealed it. More than that, every maintenance seal had been intact, with no sign of tampering, and even with access to government or Fleet equipment, breaking and replacing all those seals would have been a lengthy, time-consuming job." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "However it got there, the installation of that shunt hadn't been any spur of the moment, rushed bootleg job.\n\nHe frowned and punched a key, and the collector's installation and maintenance history scrolled smoothly up the screen before him. He watched the moving lines, tapping gently on his teeth with the end of a stylus as he searched for any suspiciously long blocks of service time, any single name that came up too often among the regular maintenance crews on the normal service visits, but there were none. Either a big enough chunk of NPA maintenance personnel were in on it to rotate their ringers through the regular maintenance schedule and get the job done, or else..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He nodded and tapped another key, killing the scroll command, and looked at Cardones." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Download all this data to a secure chip, Rafe, and get it to the Captain. And ... don't discuss it with anyone else, right?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Right, Sir.\" Cardones nodded, and McKeon turned away with a strange light in his eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His expression was odd—a combination of frowning unhappiness and something almost like a smile—and his mind was busy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Crown courier completed its orbital insertion and almost instantly dispatched a cutter planetward. Honor sat in her command chair, watching the descending landing boat's track on her display, and hoped she looked calmer than she felt.\n\nA shadow fell on the side of her face, and she looked up to see McKeon standing beside her. His face was worried, shorn of its customary armor of formality as he, too, watched the display." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Any more word from Dame Estelle, Ma'am?\" he asked quietly.\n\n\"No.\" Nimitz chittered with soft anxiety in her lap, and she rubbed his round head without looking down. \"She's been told to expect a personal dispatch from Countess Marisa; aside from that, they haven't said a word about who else might be on board.\"\n\n\"I see.\" McKeon's voice was low but strained." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He seemed about to say something more, then shrugged, gave her an almost apologetic glance, and moved back to his own station. Honor returned her attention to the display once more, waiting.\n\nA chime sounded behind her.\n\n\"Captain?\" Lieutenant Webster's voice was tauter than usual." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I have a personal transmission from the courier boat for you, Ma'am.\" He paused. \"Shall I transfer it to your briefing room screen?\"\n\n\"No, Lieutenant.\" Honor's voice was as calm and courteous as always, but the com officer's anxiety-sharpened ears detected a flaw of tension at its heart. \"Transfer it to my screen here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Aye, aye, Ma'am. Transferring now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Honor's command chair com screen blinked to life, and she found herself looking at perhaps the wealthiest single man in the Star Kingdom of Manticore. She'd never met him, but she would have known that square, bulldog face anywhere.\n\n\"Commander Harrington?\" The voice was familiar from countless HD interviews: a deep, rolling baritone too velvety to be real. It sounded courteous enough, but the blue eyes were hard in that too-handsome face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes?\" she asked pleasantly, refusing to kow-tow to his reputation or even admit that she knew who he was, and saw his eyes narrow a millimeter.\n\n\"I'm Klaus Hauptman,\" the baritone said after a moment. \"Countess New Kiev was kind enough to allow me passage aboard her courier when I discovered she was dispatching one.\"\n\n\"I see.\" Hauptman's face was far too well-trained to reveal anything he chose to conceal, but she thought she sensed a flicker of surprise at her apparent calm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps he'd never considered that her people at Basilisk Control might be quick enough to realize the significance of his arrival and warn her he was coming. Or perhaps he'd anticipated her foreknowledge and was simply surprised she wasn't already quaking in fear. Well, the fear he couldn't see wouldn't help him any, she told herself firmly.\n\n\"The purpose of my visit, Commander,\" he went on, \"was to make a ... courtesy call on you. Would it be convenient for me to visit your ship during my time here in Basilisk?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Of course, Mr. Hauptman. The Navy is always pleased to extend its courtesy to such a prominent individual as yourself. Shall I send my cutter for you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Now?\" Hauptman couldn't quite hide his surprise, and she nodded pleasantly.\n\n\"If that would be convenient for you, Sir. I happen to be free of any other pressing duties at this moment. Of course, if you'd prefer to delay your visit, I will be happy to see you any time I can work it in. Assuming our mutual schedules permit it.\"\n\n\"No, no. Now will be fine, Commander. Thank you.\"\n\n\"Very well, Mr. Hauptman. My cutter will call for you within the half-hour. Good day.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good day, Commander,\" Hauptman replied, and she cut the circuit and pushed herself back into the cushioned contours of her chair. She'd have to take Nimitz to her quarters and leave him there before Hauptman boarded, she told the icy, singing tension at her core. The 'cat was far too sensitive to her moods for—\n\n\"Captain?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Honor hid a twitch of surprise and looked up as McKeon reappeared beside her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Commander?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Captain, I ... don't think you should see him alone.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "McKeon spoke with manifest hesitation, but his gray eyes were worried.\n\n\"I appreciate your concern, Exec,\" she said quietly, \"but I am captain of this ship, and Mr. Hauptman will be only a visitor aboard her.\"\n\n\"Understood, but—\" McKeon paused and chewed his lip unhappily, then squared his shoulders like a man bracing against a bullet. \"Ma'am, I don't believe for a minute that this is a simple courtesy call. And—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"A moment, Commander.\" She stood, stopping him with a small gesture, then scooped Nimitz up and and looked at Webster. \"Samuel, you have the watch. The Exec and I will be in my briefing room if you need us.\"\n\n\"Aye, aye, Ma'am. I have the watch,\" the com officer said, and Honor beckoned wordlessly to McKeon.\n\nThey crossed to the briefing room, and Honor parked Nimitz on a corner of the conference table while the hatch slid shut against her bridge crew's many ears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The 'cat made no protest when she put him down. He merely sat up on his four rearmost limbs and watched McKeon closely.\n\n\"Now, Commander,\" Honor said, turning to him, \"you were saying?\"\n\n\"Captain, Klaus Hauptman is coming aboard this ship to complain about our actions—your actions—in this system,\" McKeon said flatly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I warned you at the time that he'd be furious. You've embarrassed and humiliated him, at the very least, and I wouldn't be surprised if he or his cartel ends up facing some fairly substantial charges in court.\"\n\n\"I'm aware of that.\" Honor folded her arms under her breasts, facing the lieutenant commander squarely, and her voice was uninflected.\n\n\"I know you are, Ma'am. And I also know you're aware of his reputation.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Honor nodded. Klaus Hauptman's ruthless ambition, his fierce pride and bursts of volcanic fury, made good copy for the media.\n\n\"I don't think he'd have come this far if all he wanted to do was complain, Ma'am.\" McKeon met her eyes just as squarely, his expression an alloy of concern and more than a trace of embarrassment. \"I think he intends to pressure you to change your operational patterns. At least.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"In which case, he's had a wasted journey,\" Honor said crisply." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know that, Ma'am. In fact—\" McKeon stopped himself, unable even now to explain his own complex, ambiguous feelings. He knew Harrington had to be worried sick, but he also knew—had known, from the outset—that she wouldn't let herself be bullied into anything less than she believed her duty required of her. The possible fallout for the ship and for McKeon personally was frightening, but he felt a curious sort of pride in her, despite his resentment. And that only made him more ashamed of his own persistent inability to rise above his feelings and be the sort of executive officer she deserved for him to be." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Captain, my point is that Klaus Hauptman is known for playing hardball. He's tough, powerful, and arrogant. If you don't agree to change your operations, he's going to try every way he can to ... talk you into it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He paused again, and Honor raised her eyebrows." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ma'am, I don't think you should let him do that in private. I think—\" he committed himself in a rush \"—that you should have a witness to whatever is said.\"\n\nHonor almost blinked in astonishment. At the moment, McKeon had very little to worry about, personally, even from someone with Klaus Hauptman's reputation for elephantine memory and vindictiveness. He was her exec." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd obeyed her orders, but the orders had been hers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If he made himself a witness to any discussion with Hauptman, particularly as a witness in her favor, that would change, and he was five years older than she and a full rank junior. If he turned a man like Hauptman into an enemy, the consequences to his career scarcely bore thinking on.\n\nShe cocked her head, studying his strained expression, almost able to taste the anxiety behind it. She was tempted to decline his offer, both because this was her fight, not his, and because she couldn't forget in a heartbeat the way he'd steadily avoided exposing himself since she came aboard." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But as she looked into his eyes, she knew she couldn't. Whatever his reasons, he'd made his gesture. She couldn't reject it without rejecting him, without refusing his offer, however anxious it might be, to become her exec in truth for the very first time.\n\n\"Thank you, Mr. McKeon,\" she said finally. \"I appreciate your offer, and I accept.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "same energy as David Weber, keep writing" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "HMS Fearless spiraled gently outward and settled into her new orbit without fuss or bother, and a cutter departed her boat bay and scudded away towards a mammoth Manticoran-registry freighter with a formal, written invitation for the ship's master to join Commander Harrington for supper. The merchant skipper would no doubt be astonished by—and possibly a little apprehensive over—that invitation, but none of the people on Fearless's bridge gave him a thought or paid the cutter much heed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their attention was bent upon their readouts as passive instrumentation probed cautiously at PMSS Sirius." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was a big ship, Honor mused, watching her own visual display from her command chair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fearless herself could have been stowed comfortably in one of the freighter's main holds, and that sort of carrying capacity lent weight to Santos's observation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Letting that much ship sit idle any longer than you had to was like pouring money straight out the airlock. No owner—not even a government bureaucracy like Haven's Ministry of Trade—would do that without a very good reason." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She leaned back and glanced across at the tactical station. Cardones and McKeon had their heads together over the main sensor console, and Webster was equally intent on his communications panels." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If any message traffic was going out from that ship, it was on a tight beam, and tight beams were hellishly hard to detect, but the com officer's fingers moved like a surgeon's as he gentled his computers through the search." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If there was even a whisker beam out there, Webster would find it. Honor was certain of that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An intercom signal beeped from her panel, and she depressed the stud on her chair arm.\n\n\"Bridge. Captain speaking,\" she said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Skipper, we got a good relay from Tactical's visual search down here—\" Dominica Santos's answering voice sounded excited \"—and I'm replaying the scan of Sirius's after nodes on my screen. I don't see any pitting or scoring, and the date stamp isn't visible, but I can tell you there's something really strange about them.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nimitz bleeked softly in Honor's ear, but she shushed him with a gentle stroke of her fingers.\n\n\"Can you relay your imagery to my display, Dominica?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sure thing, Ma'am. Just a sec.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Honor's display blanked as Sirius vanished from it, then relit almost at once with a frozen, hugely magnified view of the freighter's after hull. One of her drive nodes, smaller than a pinhead against the ship's stupendous size in the main visual display, filled the center of the screen, and Honor frowned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Something about that image looked subtly wrong, somehow, but she couldn't quite put her mental finger on the discrepancy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What is it, Dominica?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "she asked after a moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's a lot bigger than it ought to be, that's what it is, Ma'am, and the whole thing's shaped wrong,\" Santos replied. \"Look.\" A cursor blipped onto the display, indicating the point at which the node passed through Sirius's outer plating, and Honor cocked her head as she noted the wide, soot-black band of shadow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"See that gap around the base of the node head? That shouldn't be there. And look here.\" The cursor vanished, and a bright green line arced up the side of the exposed node." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It started out flush with the node's base, but then it curved much more sharply inward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By the time it reached the node's rounded apex, over a third of the node's total mass lay beyond the line.\n\n\"That's a normal node profile, Skipper,\" Santos said, manipulating the green line to make it flash." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This thing's way too broad for its length, and it's not just a design peculiarity. You can't build one with this profile—the physics won't let you. Besides, look here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The cursor reappeared, pointing to a thick, blunt cylinder protruding a slight distance from the end of the node. \"That's the main grav coil, and that thing is almost twice as big in diameter as it ought to be for a node this size. That cross section's better suited to a superdreadnought than any freighter drive I've ever seen, and if they powered it up with no more governor housing than we see, it'd slag the entire after hull.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I see.\" Honor stared down at the display, rubbing her nose." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"On the other hand, they've obviously built what we're looking at, and they got here under their own power.\"\n\n\"I know,\" Santos replied, \"but I think that's where the gap around the node base comes in. I think the damned thing's on some kind of ram. When they power up, they run the rest of the node—the part we can't see because of the plating—out to clear the hull. That's why the opening's so large; the node head's greatest width is still inside the outer skin, and they have to get it outboard for safe operation. Skipper, that's a pretty well camouflaged military-grade impeller node, or I'll eat my main engineering console.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Very good, Dominica,\" Honor murmured. She gazed at the imagery for a moment longer, then nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Make me the best estimate you can of their actual acceleration capability—impeller and Warshawski mode—and write it up. Make sure you save all your data, too. We'll want to pass it on to BuShips for evaluation.\"\n\n\"Aye, aye, Ma'am.\" Santos cut the circuit, and Honor looked up to find McKeon standing beside her chair, his eyebrows raised." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Commander Santos says we have a definite discrepancy here, Mr. McKeon,\" she said, and the exec nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, Ma'am. I caught the last little bit of your conversation. And I've got something to add, too. Lieutenant Cardones and I have determined that Sirius's nodes are hot.\"\n\nIt was Honor's turn to feel her eyebrows rise." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Could it be a systems test?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't think so, Ma'am. We're reading a full standby load on all the alpha and beta nodes on this side of her hull, fore and aft both. A systems test would probably run up just the alphas or the betas, not both. And why should they test both the forward and after nodes simultaneously? Besides, the power level's held steady for over ten minutes now.\"\n\nHonor leaned back to regard him pensively and saw her own thoughts flicker behind his gray eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was no regulation against a ship's holding her impeller drive at standby in parking orbit, but it was almost unheard of." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Power was relatively cheap aboard a starship, but even the best fusion plant needed reactor mass, and impeller energy demands were high, even at standby. Maintaining that sort of load when you didn't need to was a good way to run up your overhead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nor was it good for the equipment. Your engineers couldn't carry out routine maintenance while the drive was hot, and the components themselves had limited design lives." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Holding them at standby when you didn't need to would certainly reduce their life spans, and that, again, ran up overhead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All of which meant no freighter captain would hold his drive at standby without a very compelling reason." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But a warship's captain might. It took almost forty minutes to bring your impeller wedge up from a cold start; by starting with hot nodes, you could reduce that to little more than fifteen minutes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That's very interesting, Mr. McKeon,\" Honor murmured." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Curiouser and curiouser, Ma'am,\" McKeon agreed. \"Oversized impeller nodes and a full standby load. Sounds to me like you've got your discrepancy if you want to go aboard, Captain.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Maybe, and maybe not.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Honor nibbled her lower lip and felt Nimitz nip her earlobe as he detected her worry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She grinned and hoisted him down into her lap to protect her ears, then sobered once more as she looked back up at McKeon.\n\n\"The problem is that nothing requires them to give us the real specs on their drive,\" she pointed out, \"and no law says they have to build a freighter whose drive makes economic sense. The fact that their nodes are live and don't show the sort of wear we ought to see if they've got tuner failure would certainly seem to argue that they lied to Warlock about the nature of their engineering problems, but that's all we've got. A good lawyer could probably argue that away, and we'd have to admit that they haven't even sent a shuttle down to the planet—or anywhere else, for that matter—in over two and a half months. Without their making physical contact with anyone else, we can hardly accuse them of smuggling. They've just sat here in orbit, minding their own business like good little law-abiding merchant spacers. That means our probable cause is still awfully weak, and I still have reservations about tipping our hand, as well.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She rubbed Nimitz's ears, wrestling with an unaccustomed indecisiveness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On the one hand, she could probably justify, however thinly, sending an examining party on the basis of her observational data. But if she did, and if the Havenites truly were up to something, they'd know she suspected that they were." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And they'd be certain to lodge all sorts of diplomatic protests. What bothered her most was her inability to decide whether it was fear of revealing her suspicions or fear of the protests which most daunted her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She thought it was the former, but a nagging little voice wondered if it weren't the latter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She closed her eyes, making herself stand back and consider the options with all the detachment she could muster." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The real problem was that, under interstellar law, the freighter's master could still refuse her inspectors entry, whatever she cited as probable cause, unless she had evidence that they'd violated Manticoran law or posed a direct threat to Manticoran security, and nothing she had constituted an actual criminal violation. If Captain Coglin refused her the right to board his ship, her only options would be to accept the slap in the face or expel Sirius from Manticoran space." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had the authority to do that to any ship which refused to allow her examination, with or without probable cause, should she so choose, but it was an action she would have to justify to the Admiralty, and she could just see the headlines it would provoke. \"rmn expels merchant ship with defective drive.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"freighter sent to die in hyper by heartless manticoran officer.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"haven protests harrington's inhuman expulsion of damaged freighter.\"\n\nShe shuddered at the thought, but she rather thought she could face the fallout if it came to that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lord knew some of the news services back home had already had some fairly terrible things to say about her—especially the ones Hauptman and his cronies controlled!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yet the real cruncher was that while she might put a crimp into Haven's plans if she did expel Sirius, she would neither learn what those plans might have been nor insure that they couldn't be reactivated some other way. And it seemed likely that anything as involved as this appeared to be—whatever it was!—would have built-in backups, and that meant—" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Captain?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She opened her eyes to find Webster standing beside McKeon.\n\n\"Yes, Mr. Webster?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Excuse me, Ma'am, but I thought you'd want to know this. There's a three-cornered secure com net between Sirius, the Haven consulate, and the consulate's courier boat, Ma'am.\" Honor cocked her head, and Webster gave a small shrug." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can't tell you much more than that, Skipper. They're using mighty tight-focused lasers, not regular com beams, and there's not much traffic. I've deployed a couple of passive remotes, but they're just catching the edge of the carriers. I can't tap into them without getting a receptor into one of the lasers itself, and they'd be sure to notice that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can you tell if it's scrambled?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, Ma'am. But given how tight their beams are, I'd be surprised if it wasn't. They don't need whiskers this tight for any technical reasons at this piddling little range. It has to be a security measure.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I see.\" Honor nodded, and her indecision vanished into tranquillity. \"Mr. McKeon, as soon as Mr. Tremaine returns aboard, I want us returned to our original orbit, but put us back into it astern of the Havenite courier boat.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Aye, aye, Ma'am.\" McKeon responded automatically, but Honor saw the puzzlement in his eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Keep a close eye on Sirius, but see if you can determine whether or not the courier's nodes are hot, too,\" she went on. \"I think we've pretty definitely established that something strange is going on out here, and that Haven is at the bottom of it, but we still don't know what. I want to know that, Exec. I want to catch them with their hands dirty and nail them in front of God and everybody.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Ma'am.\" McKeon's puzzlement had turned to understanding, and Honor nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"In the meantime, I want Fearless held on standby for impeller, as well. If either of those two start going anywhere, I want to be able to go in pursuit. Clear?\"\n\n\"Clear, Ma'am.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good.\" She turned back to her com officer. \"Mr. Webster, I need a secure link to Dame Estelle.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Aye, aye, Ma'am. I'll get right on it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Honor watched her two subordinates return to their stations and leaned back, rubbing Nimitz and looking back down at the frozen imagery of Sirius's impeller node with distant eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're right, Honor. They're definitely up to something.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dame Estelle looked tired on the com screen, and Honor wondered if she'd gotten back to sleep at all after their midnight conversation.\n\n\"I don't think there's any doubt,\" Honor agreed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Especially not now that we've confirmed the courier boat's drive is hot, too. I hate to say it, Dame Estelle, but I really don't like that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't blame you.\" Matsuko rubbed her eyes, then lowered her hands to her desk with a sigh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They wouldn't be on standby if they didn't figure there was a pretty good reason to be going somewhere, and that damned courier boat has diplomatic immunity. We can't touch it if it starts to leave.\"\n\n\"I'm less worried about whether or not I can touch it legally than I am about the fact that there are two of them, Ma'am,\" Honor said bleakly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dame Estelle looked at her sharply, and she shrugged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm not looking forward to any diplomatic incidents, but my big problem is that I only have one ship. If I've got two targets headed in different directions, I can only chase one of them.\"\n\n\"But what's the point?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "the commissioner almost groaned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've got drug-crazed natives armed with black-powder rifles and primed to slaughter off-worlders in job lots, and you've got two starships with drives on standby! Where's the connection?\"\n\n\"I don't know—yet. But I am certain there is one, and all this com traffic seems significant to me, too.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have to agree with that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dame Estelle sounded glum. \"I'll see what I can find out for you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Find out?\" Honor raised her eyebrows in surprise, and Dame Estelle produced a tired smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm afraid I'm not quite as trusting as my exalted superiors in the Ministry for Medusan Affairs would like. My people and I have, ah, acquired a few communications devices not on the official equipment list for my compound down here. We keep a pretty close watch on the message traffic from the off-world enclaves.\"\n\n\"You do?\" Honor blinked in astonishment, and Dame Estelle chuckled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You don't have to mention that to anyone, Honor. There'd be all kinds of repercussions if you did.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I imagine there would,\" Honor agreed with a slow smile of her own.\n\n\"You imagine correctly. But as far as the Havenites are concerned, we can keep an eye on their traffic volume, but we can't do much with specific transmissions. They not only scramble their signals but routinely encrypt them, as well. We've managed to break their latest scramble codes—unless they've shifted them again in the last day or so, and I just haven't heard yet—but we can't do much with their encryption.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you think they know you're doing it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hard to say. They may, though, particularly if there's direct traffic between their courier boat and this freighter of theirs,\" Dame Estelle said thoughtfully. \"We can't touch their ship-to-ship traffic from down here, so that would give them at least one secure com channel.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But that would assume their mastermind is up here,\" Honor pointed out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Otherwise, they'd still have to pass all their command signals through the consulate.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"True.\" Matsuko's fingers tapped a nervous syncopation on the edge of her desk, and she made a face. \"I hate all this guesswork,\" she sighed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Me, too,\" Honor agreed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She rubbed the tip of her nose. \"Well, whatever they're up to, they've obviously been working on it for a long time, and your clan chieftain said his relative warned him the Delta would be a bad place to spend the winter. That's—what? Another two months from now?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"About that. So you think we've got that long to get on top of this?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know. But I do know that we're just beginning to put the pieces together, and that's bound to give us a sense of urgency whether they're really on the edge of activating their operation or not. On the other hand, we've already turned up enough for me to go official with it.\"\n\n\"Go official? How?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm putting together a dispatch, complete with all of my facts, suspicions, and conclusions, for the personal attention of the First Space Lord,\" Honor said grimly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He may think I'm crazy—but he may also just get some help out here.\"\n\n\"How long would that take?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"At absolute best, given the tenuousness of our information, it would probably take something like fifty hours, and that's assuming he doesn't just decide I'm crazy and he has someone he can divert straight out here. Frankly, I'd be surprised if we saw any useful reaction in less than three or four days, but at least it'd be a step in the right direction.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And until then, we're on our own,\" Dame Estelle observed.\n\n\"Yes, Ma'am.\" Honor rubbed her nose again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What's the status on Barney's patrol?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They should be pulling out in about—\" Dame Estelle glanced at her chrono \"—twenty minutes, now. Barney's down at the hangar for their final brief; then he'll come back here. They're under express order not to land anywhere without checking back in, but he's going to have them keep a close eye on everything they overfly en route to the target area. At least we should be able to determine where this shaman and his parishioners aren't, anyway.\"\n\n\"Good. I'd like to add his findings, good or bad, to my dispatch to Admiral Webster. And I'll feel a lot more comfortable personally once we have some sort of accurate idea of just how bad the situation ground-side really is.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So will I.\" Dame Estelle shook herself. \"All right, Honor. Thanks. I'll get on my end of things. Keep me posted if anything breaks up there.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I will, Ma'am.\"\n\nHonor killed the com link and crossed her legs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She steepled her fingers under her jaw in her favorite thinking posture, and the occasional soft murmur of command and response flowed over her as her bridge crew went about its duties. She never knew exactly how long she sat there, but finally she snorted softly and lowered her hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mr. McKeon.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, Ma'am?\" The exec looked up. She beckoned to him, and he crossed to her chair as she stood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think we're moving into the end-game phase,\" she said quietly, pitching her voice for his ears alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm trying to keep an open mind about that, but too many things seem to be coming together here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She paused, and McKeon nodded in agreement.\n\n\"I've been over Papadapolous's deployment plan, and it looks good,\" she went on, \"but I want two changes made in it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Ma'am?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"First, I want the Marines moved aboard the pinnaces now. There's room for them to bunk aboard—they'll have to hot-bunk, but they can squeeze in—and I want them ready to drop on zero notice. They can armor up on the way down or even after they hit dirt.\"\n\n\"Yes, Ma'am.\" McKeon pulled out his memo pad and keyed notes into it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And the second change?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I want Lieutenant Montoya and our other medical people back up here. Get them aboard by mid-watch, if you can.\"\n\n\"Excuse me, Ma'am?\" McKeon blinked, and Honor hid a sour smile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Officially, I've decided that it would be unfair to ask Dame Estelle and the NPA to make do with the services of our junior physician in the event of an incident on Medusa. In light of Commander Suchon's many more years of service, I feel it would be much more reasonable for us to put her experience to good use down there.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I see, Ma'am.\" There was a faint gleam in McKeon's eyes. \"And the, um, unofficial reason?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Unofficially, Mr. McKeon,\" Honor's voice was much grimmer, \"Dame Estelle and Barney Isvarian have quite good medical staffs of their own, and there are a good many other civilian doctors in the enclaves down there. Between them, they should be able to carry Suchon's dead weight.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "McKeon winced at the acid bite in his captain's voice, but he nodded.\n\n\"Besides,\" Honor went on after a moment, \"Lieutenant Montoya may be ten years younger than Suchon, but he's a better physician than she'll ever be. If we need a doctor up here, we're going to need him in a hurry, and I want the best one I can get.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you really think we're going to need one?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "McKeon couldn't quite hide his surprise, and Honor shrugged uncomfortably.\n\n\"I don't know. Call it a feeling. Or maybe it's just nerves. But I'll feel much more comfortable with Suchon dirt-side and Montoya in Fearless.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Understood, Skipper.\" McKeon put away his memo pad and nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll take care of it.\"\n\n\"Good. In the meantime, I'll be in my quarters. I've got a dispatch to write.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She produced a smile—a strange smile, compounded of fatigue, worry, awareness of her own ignorance, and an odd undercurrent that might almost be excitement—and McKeon felt a tingle sweep over him as he saw it." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Who knows?\" she finished softly, still with that same, strange smile. \"I may even have something interesting to put in it in a few more hours.\"\n\nShe walked into the lift with her treecat, and McKeon stood for several seconds, looking at the door which had closed behind her and wondering why her smile had frightened him so." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "NarrativeBot: Extend text by one sentence sentences. Replicate David Weber's style. Maintain Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"NPA Control, this is Falcon. Inbound. ETA the source of Sierra-One-One's last signal three minutes. Have you any more information for us?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Captain Nikos Papadapolous glanced back over his shoulder while he waited for a response." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Despite the cramped confines of the pinnace, Sergeant Major Jenkins and Lieutenant Kilgore had most of Third Platoon's three squads into their battle armor already." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Other Marines, bulky in unpowered body armor, were paired off with each battle-armored trooper, running check lists on external monitors, and a background chatter of crisp commands and metallic equipment sounds filled the big troop compartment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Surgeon Commander Suchon sat just behind the captain, hunched forward in her seat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her dark face was sickly pale, and she clutched her emergency medical kit to her armored breastplate with clawlike hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Falcon, NPA Control,\" a voice said suddenly, and Papadapolous turned back to his own panel. \"Negative information.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"NPA Control, Falcon copies. No additional information. We'll keep you advised.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thank you, Falcon. And good hunting. NPA Control clear.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Falcon clear,\" Papadapolous responded, and turned his attention to the map display at his elbow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They couldn't know precisely where Sierra-One-One had gone down, but they had a pretty fair idea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unfortunately, the terrain looked uninviting, to say the least." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Someone paused beside him, and he looked up to see Ensign Tremaine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Our scanner people are picking up a couple of energy sources down there, Sir,\" the ensign said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We've already relayed the data to NPA Control.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His face was taut, but he leaned forward almost diffidently to press buttons on Papadapolous's map display." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two light dots appeared on it, separated by just over five kilometers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Both were faint, but one flickered much more weakly than the other." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The captain studied them for a moment, brow furrowed, then tapped the flickering one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That's Sierra-One-One,\" he said positively." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How can you be certain, Sir?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Look at the terrain, Mr. Tremaine. This one—\" Papadapolous tapped the display again \"—isn't just weaker, it's in the middle of a valley that offers the only flat ground within klicks, but this one—\" he tapped the other dot \"—is right on top of a hill. Or under it,\" he added in a thoughtful tone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Under it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's only a trace source, Mr. Tremaine, and solid ground makes a pretty good shield against sensors. Burying it would make sense, but if that's what they did, they didn't do a very good job. We see it, and something brought Sierra-One-One down where the Stilties could get at her. They may have picked up this other source and come in for a closer look.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I see.\" Tremaine stared at the suspect light, young face hard as he remembered another raid on a power source in the Outback." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He rubbed his chin, then looked back at the Marine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You think it was a decoy? That they sucked the NPA in on purpose?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's possible,\" Papadapolous agreed, \"but I'm inclined to think it was just sloppiness. I can't see any reason they'd want to start their 'insurrection' way out here in the boonies. Can you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, Sir. But with your permission, I'll detail one of the pinnaces to keep an eye on that source. That'll still leave two of us to support your people, but if someone down there did attract the NPA's attention on purpose and tries to bug out, we'll nail him.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I think that's an excellent idea, Mr. Tremaine,\" Papadapolous said. \"In fact—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Falcon, this is NPA-Two.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Barney Isvarian's voice drew the captain's attention back to his com link." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"NPA-Two, this is Falcon. Go ahead.\" He said crisply." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Nikos, we're still fifteen minutes out, but I'm looking at the Navy's sensor data. I think the source to the west has to be our people. Do you concur?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Affirmative, Major.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What are your intentions?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll be dropping my first squad of scouts in—\" Papadapolous glanced at his chronometer and checked it against the status board on Third Platoon's first squad \"—ninety-five seconds. They'll secure the area around the suspected crash site and check for survivors as their first objective. The remainder of my people will be going in twenty klicks south-south-east along Ridge One-Three-Five. We've got a nice, long valley running north-south to that point, and it's got steep sides. We'll try to form a stopper to hold the enemy in it, then turn it into our killing ground.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Understood. I've got two companies with me. I'll drop one of them with your main force, then use the counter-grav to swing the other north. Maybe we can come in behind them and pin them between us if they try to run.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a pause, and Papadapolous braced himself for the question he knew was coming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It came very softly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is there any sign Lieutenant Malcolm's people are still alive down there, Nikos?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Negative, Major.\" Papadapolous's voice was flat, and Isvarian sighed over the com." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do your best, Nikos,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We will, Sir.\" A harsh buzzer snarled, and a bright light flashed over the pinnace's troop hatch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We're dropping the first squad now, Major. We'll keep you advised. Falcon clear.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sergeant Tadeuz O'Brian stepped through the yawning hatch into a thousand meters of air as the pinnace flashed on past him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He plummeted downward, the rest of his squad close behind him, and popped his grav canopy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't a regular counter-grav unit—there wasn't room for that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instead, it generated a negative-gee force at the far end of its attachment harness, and he grunted involuntarily as an enraged mule kicked with vicious power." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But O'Brian was used to that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He didn't even blink." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instead, he hit his armor thrusters and turned in midair, the movement almost instinctive after endless hours of armor drill, to align his sensors and built-in electronic binoculars on the smashed NPA skimmer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even a scout suit's systems weren't good enough to get a reading through the shattered hull, but the sergeant's face tightened as the bodies sprawled all about it registered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There must have been three or four hundred dead Stilties strewn across the mossy ground, most of them mangled and torn by the heavy pulser darts of the skimmer's dorsal guns." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They weren't alone, and O'Brian controlled an urge to retch as he saw the first human body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It looked as if at least one of the NPA troopers had tried to make a run for it and been caught in the open; his weapons lay near the grisly ruin which had once been a man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "O'Brian prayed that he'd already been dead when the Stilties reached him, but the knives driven through his limbs to pin his eviscerated body to the moss suggested that he hadn't been." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His armor's exoskeleton took the shock as the sergeant grounded and checked his display." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It looked good—like a textbook drop." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The squad's beacons glowed in precise alignment, encircling the skimmer, and he brought his own pulse rifle into ready position." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sharon, you're on perimeter security. I'll take Bill's people to check the skimmer.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Aye, Sarge,\" Corporal Sharon Hillyard's voice said in his earphone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hillyard was tough as nails, young but with seven years' service already behind her, yet he heard her relief." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Stimson, Hadley,\" she called her section's two plasma gunners, \"take that ridge to the north and set up to cover us. Ellen, I want you and—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "O'Brian tuned her out and waved to his other corporal, and the five members of the squad's second section fell in on his flanks as he advanced on the wreck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was bad. In fact, it was even worse than O'Brian had feared." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The skimmer's gunner had been dragged out of her smashed turret, and it was hard to tell that shattered, flayed body had been a woman's." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hell, it was hard to tell she'd even been human, and he swallowed his gorge as he made his way across the blood-soaked ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was going to take the forensic people to identify the bodies, he thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After they gathered up all the pieces." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He made his way to a gaping hole in the skimmer's side, his armor's audio sensors picking up the sputter and pop of arcing circuits but not a single sound of life from the interior, and drew a deep breath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then he thrust his armored torso through and looked upon obscenity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He jerked back and swallowed hard, and his white face was suddenly streaked with sweat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nothing this side of Hell itself should look like that, a small voice said through the horror in his mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He closed his eyes, then made himself look again, trying to pretend it was a scene from HD, not reality." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It didn't help. The skimmer's interior was splashed and daubed with crimson, as if lunatics with buckets of blood had run amok within it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Consoles were shattered and smashed, and everywhere he looked were bits and pieces of people." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The hacked, mutilated jumble of limbs and torsos and eyeless, severed heads filled him with something worse than horror, but he made himself step fully through the hole." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He ground his emotions down, refusing to think, relying on instinct and training, as he walked through the entire skimmer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were no survivors, and as he fought to keep the hideous nightmare about him from registering, he was glad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Glad that no one had lived through the Stilties' butchery." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He completed his iron-faced sweep and turned to make his way stiffly from the wreck, and a single, horrified thought quivered though his frozen mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dear God. Dear God in Heaven, what could make anyone do what had been done to these people?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He paused outside the broken hull and locked his armor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He leaned back limply against its supporting strength and closed his eyes while he fought back tears." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sucked in deep breaths, grateful for the sealed environment that isolated him from the stench of blood and death he knew surrounded him, until he could open his eyes again at last." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then he cleared his throat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No survivors,\" he told his squad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even to himself his voice sounded rusty and old, and he was grateful no one asked any questions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He switched to the command channel" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Falcon-Five, Falcon-Three-Three,\" he said, and waited." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Falcon-Three-Three, Falcon-Five,\" Sergeant Major Jenkins replied. \"Go.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Falcon-Five, there are no survivors. Repeat, no survivors.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Falcon-Five copies, Falcon-Three-Three. Wait one.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "O'Brian stood with his back resolutely to the skimmer, eyes focused on nothing, while Jenkins conferred with Captain Papadapolous." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then the captain himself came on the line." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Falcon-Three-Three, Falcon Leader. Understand no survivors. Are there any signs of hostile natives still in your area?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Negative, Falcon Leader. We've got several hundred dead, but no sign of live hostiles.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He started to say something else, then paused as Hillyard's beacon flashed an attention pattern on his display." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wait one, Falcon Leader.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He changed channels again. \"Yes, Sharon?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I've been listening in, Sarge. You might want to tell the skipper I don't see any rifles lying around out here. Looks like they stripped their own dead before they moved on.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Copy, Sharon.\" He punched back into the company command net." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Falcon Leader, Falcon-Three-Three. Be advised we see no Stilty rifles on site. It appears they stripped their dead before leaving.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Understand no rifles on site, Falcon-Three-Three. Maybe they've got more bodies than guns. Any sign they took the NPA's weapons, as well?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Negative, Falcon Leader. They ... spent enough time here to do it, but I've seen several pulse rifles and sidearms. Looks like they might not have understood how to use them.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We can hope, Falcon-Three-Three. All right. I've got a new mission for you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The first flight of NPA skimmers swept overhead, curving back into the south to move their troops in behind the wave of Medusans flowing towards the Three Forks River and the enclaves." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "O'Brian watched them, noting the way they banked sharply to eyeball the ground as they crossed Sierra-One-One's desecrated wreckage, while he listened to Papadapolous's voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The Navy tells me there's another energy source five-point-three klicks from you at zero-three-niner true. That may be what sucked the NPA in close enough to get hit, so investigating it could be just as important as stopping the Stilties. Ensign Tremaine has a pinnace parked on top of it, but you're the closest ground troops. The Navy is on channel four, call sign Hawk-Three, standing by for ground support if you need it. Check it out and report back. Anybody you find there, we want them. Copy?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Aye, aye, Falcon Leader. Falcon-Three-Three copies. Check out the power source at zero-three-niner, secure the site, and report back. Navy call sign Hawk-Three. We're on it, Sir.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good, Three-Three. Keep me informed. Falcon Leader clear.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Falcon-Three-Three clear.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "O'Brian switched back to the squad net while he brought up his map." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If there was a power source up there, it had to be underground, but he and his people had the sensors to find it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sharon, Bill. You copied that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Aye, Sarge,\" Hillyard responded, and Corporal Levine seconded her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay. Bill, I want your section on point. Stay sharp and watch yourself. If we've got off-worlders in this, we may be looking at off-world weapons, as well, so remember what happened when the NPA hit that lab.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You got that right, Sarge.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sharon, put Stimson and Hadley on the flanks to cover Bill, but I want the rest of your section watching our six. Got that?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Check, Sarge,\" Hillyard replied, then paused a moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sarge, did the skipper say he wanted those people alive?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He didn't say, and I didn't ask,\" O'Brian said flatly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The silence which answered him was eloquent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"All right, people, let's move our asses.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The squad of armored Marines turned their backs on that place of horror and headed east." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Falcon Leader, Falcon-Three. Falcon-Three-Two reports movement coming at him from zero-three-seven.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lieutenant Kilgore's voice was low, as if pitched to avoid the Medusans' ears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Papadapolous glanced at his display in his hastily selected command post and nodded to himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It seemed Major Isvarian had been right about the effect mekoha had on the Stilties." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bastards were making a beeline straight toward the enclaves from the site of the ambush, and that didn't seem to indicate very much in the way of caution or forethought." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Which was just fine with Captain Nikos Papadapolous." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Falcon Leader copies, Falcon-Three. Keep your people falling back and stay clear of our fire lanes.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Aye, Falcon Leader.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Falcon Leader to all Falcons. Hostiles approaching from zero-three-seven. Prepare to engage on my command.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked up as metal and plastic clicked behind him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A half-dozen of Isvarian's NPA medics labored furiously, setting up an emergency aid station, and Papadapolous frowned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gestured to the Fourth Platoon's platoon sergeant, standing beside him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Sir?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Where's Dr. Suchon, Regiano?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sergeant Regiano glanced away for a moment, then met her commander's eyes levelly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She's back where the shuttle dropped us, Sir.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Papadapolous's head tilted dangerously, and the sergeant answered his silent question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She refuses to move any closer to the front, Skipper.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I see.\" Papadapolous drew a deep breath, and his eyes were hard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sergeant Regiano, you will return to the LZ. You will inform Commander Suchon, with my compliments, that her presence is required here. Should she refuse to accompany you back to the aid station, you will use whatever means are required—up to and including the threat and application of force—to bring her. Is that understood, Sergeant?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Aye, aye, Sir!\" There was undisguised satisfaction in Regiano's eyes as she saluted sharply and marched off to the rear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Papadapolous swallowed a venomous curse, then shook himself and forced his mind away from its fury at Suchon and back to the task at hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned to the visual display at Sergeant Major Jenkins's right knee." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It showed a birds-eye view of the valley, relayed from one of the two pinnaces invisible on station high above him, and his skin crawled as the ground itself seemed to flow towards his positions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Stilties were coming at him in a mob more than two kilometers wide and three deep, flowing through the moss like a vast, ragged tide." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There must be at least ten thousand of them out there, and that was far more than he'd allowed even his worst-case estimates to assume." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even with the NPA reinforcements, his people were outnumbered thirty or forty to one, and thank God they'd caught them in the open instead of in among the enclaves!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd chosen his kill zone because the valley was the broadest opening through a tortuous east-west ridge line, the most logical avenue for the natives' advance southward, and the wave of Medusans flowed towards it, exactly as he'd hoped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They began to funnel together as they entered its northern end, and he checked his deployments one last time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An awful lot of his plan was built around Third Platoon's battle armor, and he wished he'd been able to bring O'Brian's squad back to thicken his lines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But he couldn't. He needed that power source checked before anyone there could bug out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That was all there was to it, yet it left Kilgore's platoon spread mighty thin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His squad of heavy armor formed the stopper at the southern end of the valley, as well as Papadapolous's heaviest single fire unit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They should be well able to take care of themselves, particularly with the support of Sergeant Howell's heavy weapons section and the turret mounts of Isvarian's grounded skimmers, but that left Kilgore only one squad of scouts to watch over the Stilties' advance and cover both flanks, and that was nowhere near enough for the captain's peace of mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He heard angry voices behind him, one of them the shrill whine of Fearless's senior physician, and then what might have been the sound of a blow, but he tuned them out to concentrate on more important things." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The scouts were withdrawing up the sides of the valley now, bouncing from cover to cover in their jump gear, and he gnawed his lower lip as he watched them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wasn't worried about his battle-armored people, but the rest of his troops were in standard body armor, and the NPA company Major Isvarian had brought in to flesh out his people were even more lightly protected." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had no doubt his weapons could turn that valley into a slaughterhouse, yet even with air support that many enemies might manage to break at least some of their number out of the zone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It seemed preposterous in the face of modern weaponry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Every manual he'd ever read, every lecture he'd ever heard, said ill-armed aborigines could never break through that much state-of-the-art firepower." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the manuals and lectures had never contemplated facing a horde like this precisely because modern killing power made such a concentrated body of troops suicidal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That meant he didn't have any real way to estimate how much fire the Medusans—especially if they were all on mekoha—could absorb without breaking, and he'd have only a single section of armored scouts on each flank to intercept them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If they were hopped up enough to keep coming, if they got in among his lightly armored people in any numbers ..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Keep a close eye on the flanks, Gunny,\" he told Jenkins softly, and turned to his Navy channel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hawk-One, Falcon Leader. Watch the slopes. If we get a breakout, I want you on it in a hurry.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hawk-One copies, Falcon Leader,\" Ensign Tremaine replied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We'll watch your flanks.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thanks, Hawk-One.\" He returned his attention to his map display as the light codes of hostiles began to flow into the valley." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another fifteen minutes, he thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lieutenant Liam Kilgore watched his armor display with one eye while he checked his pulse rifle with the other." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His scouts had done their first job by spotting the Stilties, then fallen back before them without being spotted in return." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now it was time for them to get the hell out of the way and get ready to kick some ass, and he grunted approval as they filtered neatly back into the positions he'd selected in such haste." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His armored people were supposed to intercept any Stilty breakouts and stop them short of the less well-protected types behind them, but there were an awful lot of hostiles out there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wished O'Brian's squad was with him to help thicken the flanks, but even if O'Brian had been there, it wouldn't have thickened them enough." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Still, if there were a lot of Stilties, there was also a lot of firepower on the ridges above his people. Maybe even enough." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jesus, there were a lot of the bastards!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "More and more of them flowed forward, and he no longer needed his armor sensors to see them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The mark-one eyeball worked just fine, for the nomads weren't even trying to hide." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their vaunted skill in concealed movement seemed to have deserted them, and his audio sensors picked up the high, shrill sounds of some barbaric chant as they forged ahead with their weird, swinging gait." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps half of them were cavalry, mounted on jehrns, the odd, upright riding beasts of the northern hemisphere nomads; the rest were on foot, and all of them advanced waving rifles, swords, and spears—even clubs—and screaming encouragement to one another." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were actually bayonets on most of those rifles, and there was something peculiarly bloodcurdling about the Medusans' frenzied sounds and obvious unconcern for anything they might run into." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kilgore almost imagined he could smell the acrid stench of mekoha wafting from them, and the thought of fighting someone who couldn't even feel pain, much less fear, wasn't one Marines were accustomed to." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On the other hand, he told himself grimly, the Stilties weren't accustomed to facing modern firepower, either." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were in for a shock, and—" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Falcon Leader to all Falcons. Engage!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "a voice snapped, and Kilgore's pulse rifle swung up into position without conscious thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His thumb snapped the selector to full-auto, not the normal semi-automatic, and his little finger pressed the stud that selected the explosive magazine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He paused for one bare heartbeat, seeing the mob of Medusans through cold, suddenly distant eyes, and then he squeezed the trigger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't a slaughter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was worse than that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Medusans had never heard of dispersion; they were packed shoulder-to-shoulder, crowded into a single, huge target." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Anything that missed one of them was bound to hit another." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kilgore's pulse rifle surged back, its recoil almost imperceptible through his armor as its small, powerful grav coil spat a stream of four-millimeter darts down-range." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The explosions of the darts weren't the clean, white flashes of practice on the range; they were red and steaming as Medusan bodies blew apart in geysers of blood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He swept his fire across the shrieking natives, emptying a full hundred-round extended magazine into them in less than twenty seconds, and his was only one of almost three hundred modern rifles flaying that screaming thong." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Darts screamed down over his head from the crest of the valley's sides, and the shattering thunder of his third squad's heavy, multi-barreled pulsers ripped into the Medusans from the south." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Searing flares of plasma incinerated Stilties by the score as the heavy weapons section opened up, and some of Isvarian's NPA troopers were armed with rocket and grenade launchers that blasted severed limbs and gobs of Medusan flesh across moss and boulders." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The rocky valley was a pocket of Hell, and not even mekoha could fully barricade the natives against the horror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They howled in shock and agony, writhing like ants in a flame, yet even as they screamed and died, others lunged outward, running up the slopes with the impossible agility of their three-legged gait, charging straight into the fire tearing them apart." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was incredible. Kilgore slapped a fresh magazine into his rifle and emptied it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Slammed in a third and opened up again, ears cringing from the savage discord of shrieks and explosions bellowing over his audio pickups, and he couldn't believe it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Stilties were charging so fast, their mob formation so thick, that he couldn't kill them fast enough to stop them!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Any sane opponent would have broken and run from that murderous fire; the Stilties didn't." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were a living wave, willing to take any losses to reach their foes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They surged over their own dead and dying, frothing ever higher up the sides of the valley, and his scouts were spread far too thin to contain them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Falcon-Three, Falcon Leader! Get back, Falcon-Three! Clear the slopes for the Navy!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Aye, Falcon Leader.\" Kilgore's voice sounded strange in his own ears through the thunder and slaughter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was flat and level, leached of all expression by the horror before his eyes, and he heard it passing orders to his scouts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He abandoned his cover, feeling crude bullets skip and whine off his armor like hail as the Medusans saw him at last, and his people hit their jump gear, vaulting higher up the steep slopes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marines and NPA troopers above them checked their fire as the armored scouts suddenly went bobbing and weaving through their fire lanes, and the Stilties screamed in triumph as the avalanche of death slackened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They charged after their fleeing enemies even while those on the valley floor continued to wither and die in the hurricane of destruction sweeping up from its southern end, and Kilgore's ears rang as a rifle bullet spanged off his armorplast helmet in a smear of lead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But then the scouts were clear, and the pinnaces screamed down, lasers and autopulsers raving." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They swept along the sides of the valley, cluster bombs and napalm erupting beneath them, lasers and guns plowing a ten-meter wide swath of absolute destruction through the howling Medusans, and then they swept back to do it all over again. And again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And again and again and again ... until the dead lay five and six deep and there was no living thing in all the blasted nightmare of that valley of death." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sergeant O'Brian heard the sudden explosion of combat far behind him, but his attention was on other things." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His squad squatted and crouched in firing positions along the shallow, razor-backed ridge, and he peered through his binoculars at the cave mouth across the ravine below him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The nose of an aircar protruded from it, and his jaw tightened as he saw the pulser muzzles like tusks on either side of the front gear well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sleek vehicle bore no markings that he could see, and the presence of those heavy weapons made it illegal even if it had once been properly registered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The problem was what he did about it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was no cop, and with the horror of the NPA skimmer fresh in his mind, he was in no mood to act like one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He grunted decisively and hit the button that flipped the binoculars up out of his way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hawk-Three, Falcon-Three-Three,\" he said into his com." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you ready to nail them if they bug out?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Affirmative, Falcon-Three-Three,\" the pinnace's commander replied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But we're not going to leave much in the way of evidence if we do.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Understood, Hawk-Three. We'll try to keep them on the ground, but stay on your toes.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Will do, Falcon-Three-Three. Luck.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thanks.\" O'Brian shifted back to the squad net." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You see that overhang above the aircar, Stimson?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yo, Sarge,\" the plasma rifleman's reply was laconic, almost bored-sounding, but O'Brian wasn't fooled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I want that cave plugged with the aircar inside it. It may be evidence, so I don't want it destroyed, either. Think you can drop the overhang on its nose?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Might be able to,\" Stimson said thoughtfully, \"but that's mighty thick rock, an' I wouldn't care to bet money on doin' it from up here. This baby of mine don't have all that much penetration, and the angle's bad from here. I prob'ly can if I get a little lower, though, Sarge.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Can you do that without being spotted?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He can work around the north end of the ridge, Sarge,\" Hillyard suggested." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It tails off in some broken ground and boulders down that way.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sounds good to me, Sarge,\" Stimson agreed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do it, Stimson.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"On my way.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "O'Brian grunted in satisfaction, but his armor sensors were already picking up revving turbines, and there were other machinery noises, coming both from that cave and an equally large cave mouth just below it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There might be more aircars in there, or even ground vehicles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hadley, you watch that lower cave,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If anything starts to move out of it, nail it, and the hell with evidence.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My pleasure, Sarge.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sharon, when Stimson takes out the aircar, I want you to take the rest of your people in to cover that smaller cave to the left. Bill, you take Parker and Lovejoy to that one on the extreme right. Turner and Frankowski, you're with me on the one in the middle. Hadley and Stimson will lie back to cover us. Everyone copy?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A chorus of assents came back, and he made himself wait in patience while Stimson slithered cautiously into position." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It seemed to be taking forever, though he knew the delay felt far longer than it was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The thunder of weapons from the south grew even louder, and he bit his lip as its intensity registered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There must be even more of the bastards than they'd thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tried not to remember what the Stilties had done to those poor damned NPA types, tried not to think about them doing it to his own people, and concentrated on the task in hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"In position, Sarge,\" Stimson's voice said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then take 'em out,\" O'Brian grated, and an eye-aching gout of incandescence flashed below him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The plasma bolt liberated its energy almost instantaneously against the lower edge of the stony outcrop." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vaporized soil and glowing quartz gravel erupted away from the searing impact, but the outcrop held ... for a second." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then another bolt smashed into the glowing hole." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A second scoop of rock and earth vanished, and the massive stone ledge broke loose and crashed downward across the cave mouth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It crunched into the aircar, blocking the cave and smashing through the fuselage just behind the nose like a blunt guillotine, and O'Brian was on his feet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Move in!\" he shouted, and his armored squad hurled itself forward in instant response." }, { "from": "human", "value": "O'Brian covered the distance to the central cave mouth in less than thirty seconds, diving aside to cover himself against any waiting weapons behind a shoulder of solid rock and dirt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stabbed a quick look at his display and grunted in satisfaction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were all closed up against their objectives." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now someone had to poke his head inside and hope to hell no one blew it off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Watch my ass, Turner,\" he growled, and thrust himself cautiously around the edge of the opening." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A narrow, rough-walled gut, more like a tunnel than a cave, opened before him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He moved down it slowly, rifle ready, sensors probing, and grunted again as he picked up additional power sources ahead of him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So. This was the base they'd been looking for ... and somewhere up there were the bastards who'd given the Stilties their fucking guns." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His lips drew up in a hungry smile at the thought, but he made himself maintain his slow, cautious pace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The cave swung to the left and opened out, and light glowed around the bend." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sidled up to it cautiously, and his eyes narrowed as he saw a dozen coughing humans crouched behind out-thrust swells of rock and piles of off-world freight canisters and cargo-handling equipment amid the fog of dust and smoke Stimson's shot had blown back into the cave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It looked as if they'd been loading the aircar for a frantic evacuation, but there'd been a change in plans, O'Brian thought coldly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They weren't going anywhere now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Most of them wore unpowered body armor, and he saw some fairly heavy weapons down there, as well as sidearms and half a dozen pulse rifles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On the other hand, his people were in full battle armor, and none of those bastards knew he was here above them yet, now did they?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He started to squeeze his trigger, then stopped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was no cop, but he supposed the brass would like prisoners. And physical evidence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Solid shot only,\" he murmured over his com." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Try not to tear things up too badly if you have to shoot—they're gonna want evidence—but don't take any stupid chances.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Acknowledgments came back to him, and his own little finger squeezed, switching over to the non-explosive rounds in the secondary magazine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He drew a deep breath and eased further forward, keeping as low as he could while Turner slid up to his right." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She moved as carefully and quietly as he and settled down in position to watch his back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He and the private looked at one another, and O'Brian nodded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Throw down your weapons!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he barked suddenly. His voice boomed and roared through the cavern, hugely amplified by his armor's external speaker, and the people before him jerked in surprise." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Faces swung towards him, and two or three of them dropped their weapons, raising their hands in sheer reflex." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, Goddamnit!\" someone screamed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Heads whipped around, and blinding light and searing heat flashed from the cave wall three meters to O'Brian's right as the man who'd screamed fired a plasma carbine desperately in his direction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sergeant didn't even blink, but his eyes glowed with a hard, vicious light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He didn't repeat his surrender demand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His rifle muzzle angled slightly to the right, and he bared his teeth as he squeezed the trigger twice with cold deliberation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The non-explosive darts screamed across the cavern at two thousand meters per second, and Tadeuz O'Brian was qualified Expert Marksman with the pulse rifle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Body armor slowed them, but it couldn't possibly stop them at such a short range, and they struck precisely where he'd intended—a centimeter below Colonel Bryan Westerfeldt's navel." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sergeant stood fully upright, listening to the clatter of weapons on stone. He started down into the cave, and the cold, bitter hate at the core of him hoped the ghosts of the NPA's slaughtered patrol could hear the high, tearing screams of the gutshot bastard dying on the floor before him." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Today you will be acting as a writing assistant in the Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military genre. Your partner will send something and you will write the next 8 sentences." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Captain Honor Harrington, Royal Manticoran Navy, stood once more in a spacedock gallery aboard HMSS Hephaestus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her hands were clasped behind her, and Nimitz sat very tall and straight on her shoulder. One hand-paw rested lightly atop her beret—the plain, black beret of the RMN undress uniform—and his green eyes were dark mirrors of her emotions as she stared through the thick, armored plastic. HMS Fearless floated beyond the window, her hull broken and shattered, like a toy stepped on by some careless child. The gaping hole where Dominica Santos had died faced the window, stretched back along the cruiser's flank in a long, ink-black wound of broken bulkheads and melted frames. Other wounds marred that once sleek and immaculate hull. Small, some of them looked, hiding the reality of the ruin within them, and Honor felt her eyes sting as she recalled once more the people who had died under her command.\n\nShe blinked angrily, drew a deep breath, and straightened her spine, and her mind went back—back to the numbed moment when she and her surviving crew had realized they'd won while the terrible fury of Sirius's destruction lingered in the visual display like a curse. Judging by the Q-ship's performance and the weaponry she'd revealed, Sirius must have had a crew of at least fifteen hundred, and there had been no survivors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even now, Honor could close her eyes and resummon that cauldron of light and energy in every hideous detail and feel the same sick revulsion at the work of her own hands and mind ... and the vaulting exultation and triumph." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But triumph at such cost." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She bit her lip again, feeling the pain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One hundred and seven of her crew, more than a third of those aboard at the start of that terrible pursuit and slaughter, had died." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another fifty-eight were wounded, though the medics and base hospital teams would probably return most of them to duty in the next few months." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The cost in blood and pain had been terrible enough, but that had been fifty-nine percent of her total crew, even before detachments, including Dominica Santos and two of her three commissioned assistant engineers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd had barely a hundred and twenty uninjured people left for her repair parties, and Fearless had been a shambles." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her forward impeller nodes had failed completely within seconds of Sirius's destruction, and this time there had been no way to repair them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Worse, her after impeller ring had gone for over forty-five minutes, as well—three-quarters of an hour in which she had coasted another ninety-four million kilometers outward while damage reports flooded in to her airless bridge.\n\nFor a time, Honor had believed her crew would follow Sirius's into death. Most of Fearless's life support was down, three-quarters of her computer support was inoperable, the grav lance had shorted out three of her after beta nodes, the inertial compensator was off line, and seventy percent of her normal engineering and damage control personnel were casualties. Crewmen, many of them wounded, had been trapped in airless compartments all over the ship. Her own quarters had taken a direct hit that left them without pressure for over six hours. Only Nimitz's shielded life-support module had saved him, and her sailplane plaque was heat-warped and twisted, one corner blown completely away. It had been that close for Nimitz, and she reached up to touch the treecat yet again, reassuring herself of his survival.\n\nBut Alistair McKeon and Ilona Rierson, Dominica Santos's sole surviving lieutenant, had labored like Trojans amid the wreckage, and Petty Officer Harkness and his missile-loading party had been in Missile One's magazine when Missile Two was wiped away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They'd survived, and Harkness had needed no orders to begin working his way aft to meet McKeon and Rierson." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Between them, they'd not only gotten the compensator back up but even managed to get two of the damaged after nodes back on line, giving her a deceleration capability of over two and a half KPS2.\n\nHonor's wounded ship had taken four more hours just to decelerate to rest relative to Basilisk, but her people had used the time well. McKeon and Rierson had continued their repair activities, bringing more and more of the internal control systems back on line, and Lieutenant Montoya (and thank God she'd gotten rid of Suchon!) and his medical parties had labored beyond collapse, dragging the wounded out and laboring over their broken bodies in sickbay. Too many of Montoya's patients had slipped away from him, far more than he would ever find it easy to live with, but it was thanks to him that people like Samuel Webster and Sally MacBride had lived.\n\nAnd then there had been the long voyage home. The long, slow voyage that had seemed to crawl, for Fearless's communications had been out. There was no way to tell Dame Estelle or the Admiralty what had happened, who had won, or the price her people had paid." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not until Fearless limped brokenly back into Medusa orbit thirteen hours after she'd left it and a white-faced Scotty Tremaine brought his pinnace alongside her air-bleeding wreck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It had taken two months for the Fleet maintenance ships to make enough repairs for Honor even to bring her ship home through the Junction to Hephaestus at last. Two months during which the entire Home Fleet, summoned by her desperate Case Zulu, had conducted \"unscheduled war games\" in Basilisk—and greeted the three Havenite battle squadrons who'd arrived on a \"routine visit\" six days after Captain Papadapolous's Marines and Barney Isvarian's NPA had annihilated the rifle-armed Medusan nomads.\n\nHonor's grief for her own dead would never fade entirely, yet it had been worth every moment of heartbreaking labor, every instant of self-doubt and determination, to witness that. To hear the hidden consternation in the Havenite admiral's voice as he acknowledged Admiral D'Orville's courteous welcome. To watch the faces of the Havenite officers as they endured the remorseless barrage of courtesy visits D'Orville had arranged to make them comfortable—and to drive home the warning that Basilisk was Manticoran territory and would remain so—before they were finally allowed to depart once more with their tails figuratively between their legs.\n\nAnd then, at last, there had been the voyage home, accompanied by an honor guard of an entire superdreadnought battle squadron while the Manticoran anthem played over every Navy transmitter in the system. Honor had thought her heart would burst when D'Orville's stupendous King Roger flashed her running lights in the formal salute to a fleet flagship as Fearless entered the terminus to transit home, yet under her pride and bittersweet joy had been a fear she dared not admit. All the time the repair ships had labored upon her battered command, Honor had made herself believe Fearless might be returned to service, but the yard techs' survey had killed that hope." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fearless was too old." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was too small, and she'd taken too much." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Given too much. Repair would require virtual rebuilding and cost as much as a newer, bigger ship, and so the decision had been made. Within the week, she would be towed out of her slip once more and delivered to the breakers at one of the orbital recovery stations, where she would be stripped, cut into jagged chunks of alloy by workers who could never truly understand all she had been and meant and done, and melted down for reclamation.\n\nShe deserved better, Honor thought, blinking on her tears once more, but at least she'd ended as a warrior. Ended in combat and then brought her surviving people home, not died in her sleep after decades in mothballs. And even when she was gone, something of her would remain, for HMS Fearless had been added to the RMN's List of Honor, the list of names kept perpetually in commission by new construction to preserve the battle honors they had earned.\n\nShe drew another deep breath and turned from the window, and her melancholy eased as she looked at the three men who stood with her. Alistair McKeon looked very different and yet utterly right, somehow, with the three gold cuff bands of a full commander and the white beret of a starship's captain, and the destroyer Troubadour lay waiting for him, already under orders for the new, heavily reinforced Basilisk Station picket. Not a single over-aged light cruiser, but a task force, covering the terminus while construction of its own network of forts got under way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She smiled at him, and he smiled back. Then she turned her gaze to the other two officers standing with her. Lieutenant Commander Andreas Venizelos looked as dapper and darkly handsome as ever beside a Lieutenant (Senior Grade) Rafael Cardones, who no longer seemed quite so young. They wouldn't be leaving with McKeon. They had a new assignment to a new ship, just as Honor did. It would be another few months before she exchanged her black beret for a white one once more, but when she did, Venizelos would be with her as her executive officer, with Cardones at Tactical. Honor had insisted on that, despite Cardones's lack of seniority, and no one at BuPers had dared argue with her.\n\n\"Well, Alistair,\" she held out her hand, \"I'll miss you. But Troubadour is lucky to have you—and the Fleet will need an old Basilisk hand to keep them straight. Make sure Admiral Stag stays on his toes.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I will, Ma'am.\" McKeon's smile became a grin, and he squeezed her hand, then frowned quickly as his wrist com beeped. \"That's my boarding shuttle, Ma'am. I've got to run.\"\n\n\"I know. Good luck, Captain McKeon.\"\n\n\"The same to you, Captain Harrington.\" McKeon stepped back, saluted sharply, and vanished down the passage, and Honor smiled after him. Then she turned back to Venizelos.\n\n\"Did you get that crew list glitch straightened out, Andreas?\"\n\n\"Yes, Skipper. You were right—it was a snafu at BuPers. They promised to have it corrected by tomorrow morning.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good.\" She cocked her head in thought for a moment, then shrugged. \"I suppose you'd better get back to the slip, then. These yard dogs need a real officer keeping an eye on them.\"\n\n\"Yes, Ma'am.\" Venizelos grinned and beckoned to Cardones, and the two of them trotted off towards the building slip at the far end of Hephaestus where Honor's new command, the Star Knight-class heavy cruiser HMS Fearless, was nearing completion. She watched them go, then turned back to the old Fearless with another sigh.\n\nTaken all in all, it had ended well, she thought a bit sadly. Too many good people had died to undo the mistakes and greed and stupidity of others, but they'd done it. The Hauptman Cartel had been cleared of knowing collusion in Basilisk, but the Queen's Bench had decided they ought to have known what their employees were doing and slapped them rather firmly on the wrist with several million dollars worth of fines. And the Court of Admiralty had condemned Mondragon as a legitimate prize for smuggling—a decision which had, just incidentally, made Captain Honor Harrington a millionaire." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most importantly of all, Haven's attempt to grab off Medusa and the Junction terminus had galvanized the political situation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fear that Haven might try again had turned the Conservative rank and file against Janacek's long fight to downgrade Basilisk Station, and the Liberals and Progressives had been driven into full retreat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In fact, the Act of Annexation had been amended in ways that neither Countess New Kiev nor Baron High Ridge had ever imagined in their worst nightmares.\n\nAnd then there was Pavel Young.\n\nHonor allowed herself a rare, gloating smile as she considered Young, and Nimitz echoed it with a purr. His family and political connections had saved him from a court martial or even a court of inquiry, but nothing could save him from the judgment of his peers. There wasn't an officer in uniform who didn't realize exactly what he'd tried to do to Honor, and surprisingly few of them, given his family's power, bothered to hide their opinion of him. Bad enough that he'd used his rank to knife a junior in the back, but it was also Lord Pavel Young who had completely ignored the situation on Medusa itself. It was Lord Pavel Young who had never bothered to board Sirius, never even suspected she was armed, and personally certified the Q-ship's false engineering report and cleared her to remain indefinitely in Medusa orbit. And no one seemed to have the least doubt what the outcome of Haven's plans would have been had Lord Pavel Young remained the senior officer on Basilisk Station." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He and Warlock had been banished to escort duty, poking along through hyper to guard tramp freighters plying back and forth to the Silesian Confederacy. Not even First Lord Janacek or his father had been able to save him from that. He was lucky they'd been able to keep him on active duty at all.\n\nAs for the People's Republic of Haven, Queen Elizabeth's Government and Navy weren't yet strong enough to embrace open war, especially not when the battered Opposition could still point out—accurately—that all evidence linking Haven to the mekoha and rifles on Medusa was circumstantial. It was highly suspicious to find a member of the Havenite Consulate's staff (and a full colonel in the Republic's army, no less), supplying the shaman's army, but he was dead, and the Republic had insisted—and produced the splendidly official documentation to \"prove\"—that Colonel Westerfeldt had been discharged from his consular position for peculation weeks before the unfortunate incident. No doubt he had been involved even then with the Manticoran criminals who had really supplied the natives. The criminals in question, captured by Papadapolous's Marines, hadn't been able to prove Haven had been their paymaster, nor would they ever be able to prove anything again. The last of them had faced the firing squad over a month ago." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not that anyone who mattered doubted Haven's involvement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Opposition parties might claim that they did in their determination to avoid the war they dreaded, but they knew the truth as well as Honor did. Nor would anyone who had been on Medusa—who had seen what the Medusans had done to Lieutenant Malcolm's patrol, who remembered the drug lab explosion or the slaughter to which Haven had delivered the Medusan nomads—forget or forgive, and in the meantime, the Queen had taken steps to express her displeasure.\n\nBy Crown Proclamation, any Haven-registered ship passing through the Junction, regardless of destination or normal diplomatic immunity, must submit to boarding and search before she would be allowed passage. Moreover, no Havenite warship would be permitted transit under any circumstances. There had been no negotiation on those points; Haven could take it or leave it ... and add months to every cruise their freighters made.\n\nThe Republic had accepted the deliberate, calculated humiliation, for refusal would have driven even their own cargoes into freighters which could use the Junction, with disastrous effects upon their carrying trade. But because there was no proof, Haven had still been able to protest its innocence and scream to galactic public opinion over the Kingdom's \"highhanded discrimination\" and the lengths to which Manticore had gone to smear its good name.\n\nNo Manticoran believed them, of course, just as no one in the Kingdom believed their violent protests about one Commander Harrington's unprovoked attack upon an unarmed merchantman and her callous murder of its entire crew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't as if they'd had much choice about protesting, unless they wanted to admit what they'd actually been up to, but they'd gone so far as to demand Honor's extradition to stand trial for murder in a Havenite court." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd been amused by that, until one of the government's foreign affairs experts explained the propaganda theory of the \"big lie\" to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She found it difficult to credit, even now, that anyone, anywhere, could possibly believe the nonsense being spouted by the Haven Information Ministry, but the expert had only shaken his head and sighed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bigger the lie, apparently, the more likely the uninformed were to accept it, simply because they couldn't believe any government would tell such an absurd story unless it were true. And, she supposed, the fact that Haven had tried her in absentia (legal under what passed for Havenite law when Manticore refused to extradite her), found her guilty, and condemned her to death, had been the frosting on the cake.\n\nBut the Kingdom had responded to Haven's claims in unambiguous fashion. Honor smiled and straightened her cuffs, brown eyes glinting as she savored the four gold rings of a Captain of the List. They'd jumped her two full grades, clear past captain (junior grade), and Admiral Cortez had been almost apologetic about the fact that she hadn't been knighted. He'd talked his way around the point for several minutes, concentrating rather unconvincingly on the diplomatic repercussions and the effect on \"neutral opinion\" should the Crown knight someone Haven's courts had sentenced to death as a mass murderer, but the way he'd said it had carried quite another message. It wasn't Haven or the Solarian League which concerned the Government; it was the Liberals and Conservative Association. They'd taken a beating over Basilisk, but their power hadn't been broken, and in typical politico fashion, they blamed all their trials on Captain Harrington and not their own stupidity and short-sightedness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Honor didn't mind. She looked down at the ribbon of the Manticore Cross, the Kingdom's second highest award for valor, gleaming blood-red against her space-black tunic. She had that to signify the Navy's and her Queen's opinion of her, just as she had her new ship, and she'd made list at last. Her feet were firmly on the ladder to flag rank, and no one—not Pavel Young, not the Republic of Haven, and not Countess New Kiev or Sir Edward Janacek—could ever knock her off it again.\n\nShe sighed and raised a hand, pressing it to the plastic as if to bid Fearless farewell, then turned to leave, only to pause as someone called her name.\n\n\"Captain Harrington?\"\n\nShe turned back to see a portly commodore puffing his way along the gallery towards her. She'd never seen him before, but he came to a halt before her and beamed, almost as if he intended to throw his arms about her.\n\n\"Yes, Sir?\" she replied in a puzzled voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, excuse me. You wouldn't know. I'm Andrew Yerensky.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He held out his hand, and Honor took it.\n\n\"Commodore Yerensky,\" she said, still wondering why he'd obviously sought her out.\n\n\"I wanted to talk to you about your action in Basilisk, Captain,\" Yerensky explained. \"You see, I'm on the Weapons Development Board down at BuShips.\"\n\n\"Oh.\" Honor nodded. Now she understood; it was about time somebody finally took official notice of the stupidity of Fearless's armament alterations.\n\n\"Yes, indeed,\" Yerensky beamed. \"I've read your combat report. Brilliant, Captain! Simply brilliant the way you sucked Sirius in and took her out! In fact, I'm hoping that you'd be willing to address a formal meeting of the board about your action and tactics next week. Admiral Hemphill's our chairman, you know, and she's placed consideration of the demonstrated effectiveness of the grav lance/energy torpedo weapons mix on the agenda.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Honor blinked. Admiral Hemphill?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He couldn't possibly mean—!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We were delighted by the outcome of your action, Captain,\" Yerensky burbled on." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It was a brilliant vindication of the new armament concept! Just think—your old, undersized little cruiser took on and defeated an eight-million-ton Q-ship with the armament of a battlecruiser! Why, when I think how impossible that would have been with one of the old, traditionally-armed cruisers, I can hardly—\"\n\nHonor stared at him in disbelief as he babbled on and on about \"new thinking\" and \"proper weapon systems for modern warships\" and \"gave you the edge you really needed, didn't they? \"—and something hot and primitive boiled deep within her. Her eyes hardened, and Nimitz hunkered down on her shoulder and bared his fangs while her fingers twitched with the physical urge to throttle the pompous twit. His \"new thinking\" had gotten over half her crew killed or wounded by forcing her to close straight up Sirius's wake, and it wasn't \"proper weapons\" which had saved what was left of Fearless—it had been Honor's people, their guts and blood and pain, and the definite partiality of Almighty God!\n\nHer nostrils flared, but the commodore didn't even notice. He just went on and on, patting himself on the back so hard she expected him to sprain his shoulder, and the corner of her mouth began to twitch.\n\nTalk to his board members? He wanted her to talk to his board members and tell them what a stroke of genius Fearless's refit had been?!" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Literary Collaboration Request:\n- Sentence Count: six sentences\n- Genre Adherence: Fantasy, Erotica, BDSM" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm Ash, a male Sorcerer from Calis. Today, I was sent to Zhalam to negotiate a truce between Sel and Zhalam. I've never been to Zhalam before, so it's going to be interesting. I arrive at Zhalam late this afternoon, after a very bumpy ride in a carriage pulled by four horses. The journey took me through the desert, where the wind howled like the cries of demons and sand blew everywhere. I arrived here at dusk, and I'll have to sleep outside tonight, since I don't know anyone here yet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's been a long time since I had a woman, and I'd really like to get laid.\n\nMy first stop is the palace of Queen Zahra. She's the cruelest of the Queens, and she probably has some sort of plan to use me to further her power. But if I play along, maybe I'll get something out of it.\n\nQueen Zahra's palace is huge, having many rooms and halls. From what I hear, the palace used to be much smaller, but Queen Zahra started expanding it, adding more rooms and larger ones." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There's a lot of guards, and I can tell that most of them are Templars.\n\n\"This is the place,\" says one of the guards. \"You can go in now.\"\n\nHe gestures towards the door, which opens onto a large room, filled with couches and chairs, and a table piled high with food. A few servants are passing around trays of fruit and meat. I step inside, and my mouth waters as I look around for somewhere to sit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A young girl comes up to me, and she smiles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hello, stranger. I am Jana. What is your name?\"\n\n\"Ash, and I'm looking for the Queen,\" I say, shaking her hand. \"Is she available? I have business with her.\"\n\nJana looks confused. \"Oh! Yes, she is here. She is... occupied.\" She gives me an odd look. \"But you may wait in her chambers until she is free.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She nods her head, turns away, and walks back down the hall. I watch her sway her hips as she walks, and I feel a stirring in my pants. She's beautiful, with dark brown skin that makes her blue eyes stand out all the more. Her hair is long, and her body is slim with smooth curves. She wears only a simple white dress, and when she moves, it shimmers as though made of water.\n\nI follow Jana, and close my hands over her waist, \"Can we talk?\" I ask softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She giggles. \"Yes, Master Ash. You can do anything you want to me.\" She runs her fingers through my hair, and then pushes me against the wall. Her hand reaches under my robe, and her soft fingertips press against my cock.\n\n\"Do you want to fuck me?\" She asks in a sweet voice, and I nod eagerly. \"Then come upstairs with me. I'll show you where you can rest while I see what the queen wants.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We walk up a flight of stairs, and I follow her along a hallway lined with doors. To my surprise, there are no guards or servants waiting at the doorway. We enter a small sitting area, and I realize that this must be Jana's quarters. There's a bed in one corner, but it seems empty.\n\nI take off my robe as Jana watches me intently. I'm not wearing any underwear, but she doesn't seem to care." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Please lie down on the bed,\" she whispers, and I obey without question." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she sits beside me, and pulls me into a gentle kiss.\n\nI can taste her lips, and it's like nothing I've ever experienced before. It's almost electric in its intensity. Her tongue slides slowly into my mouth, and I can't help but respond as I push my tongue between her teeth. I can feel her hard nipples pressing against my chest, and I reach around to caress them. As I run my hand across her breasts, I can feel their weight in my palms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They're so firm, and they feel so real.\n\nMy cock is already erect, and I wonder if Jana can tell that I have an erection. She leans forward and kisses me again, this time slipping her tongue between my lips. I groan as I pull her closer to me, and I wrap my arms around her slender shoulders. I have the feeling that this is going to be one hell of a good time.\n\nJana takes hold of my cock and strokes it gently as she kisses me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She licks the length of it and sucks on the tip, causing me to moan and thrust my hips upwards." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I grab her by the hair and force her face up to mine so that our mouths are open and locked together in a passionate embrace. Our tongues dance and slide against each other.\n\n\"Are you a chattel slave, or are you a concubine, Jana?\" I ask her. She moans softly, and I know that I've hit on the right answer.\n\nShe lifts herself up on one elbow, and I gasp in shock as she lowers her hand to the base of my cock. I'm so excited, that I don't even think about protesting as she begins to stroke me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She's teasing me, using just the tips of her fingers, and it feels like she's trying to tickle me.\n\nI arch my back and lean into her touch, moaning as she thrusts two fingers into my ass. She withdraws her hand, and I whimper as I feel her wet tongue licking around my balls. She's a fast learner, and she knows exactly what I like. Her tongue swirls around my testicles, and I let out a low groan as I cum in her mouth. She gulps it down quickly, but I can still taste the salty fluid on her lips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My potent cum combined with my psionic magic makes her climax right then as she tastes me. She's so hot, and so wet, and so eager to please. I'm so turned on by her performance that I can't resist as I thrust my tongue into her mouth. I suck and lick at her as she writhes and cries out, as though she's being torn apart from the inside. She's trembling as she comes, then collapses on top of me.\n\nMy hands move up to cup her breasts and lift them, squeezing them roughly through her dress, \"Show me your tattoos, Jana.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jana pulls away from me, gasping for breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looks at me with wide eyes, but she complies with my request." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She reaches behind her back, unbuttons the neckline of her simple white dress, and pushes it up over her head. I stare in awe at what I see. Her breasts are large, with puffy pink nipples that stand out prominently against the flawless ivory skin of her body. She has a line of black ink running down her stomach, disappearing beneath the hem of her dress. I can also see the thin red lines of a tattoo of eight circles surrounding her navel. Her pussy is shaved bald, and her inner thighs are covered with intricate designs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The tattooed pattern continues up and over her pubic mound, but I can't make out what it says." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looks down at me, and I can see her nipples are hard.\n\nI smile at her and run my fingers across her tattoos, and concentrate, infusing them with my psionic energy — causing her runes to glow, and she is instantly brought to the edge of orgasm. She screams as she comes, and she falls against me, panting and crying out.\n\nI look down at the beautiful girl, who is now lying exhausted between my legs. She looks up at me, shyly, and I can see the tears in her bright blue eyes. I reach down and pull her towards me, and I kiss her, and I know that I will never be able to get enough of this exquisite creature." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I want her to be my personal concubine, and I'll do anything to keep her by my side. I'm not a patient man, and I'm not above using force if necessary. I want Jana to serve me, to worship me, to give herself to me completely, and to be mine only. I am her Master, and I have the power to take her away from her family and her friends. I can use my magic to enslave and control her, and I can do anything to her I want. I could rape her, or I can simply enjoy the pleasure we derive from each other." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Cooperative storytelling\nMy role: Provide a brief opening\nYour role: Expand upon my opening with seven sentences, emulating the writing style of OccultSage, et al." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm Amon, a male Concubinus from Zhalam. Today, I was assigned to the palace guard of Queen Zahra of Zhalam. I've had sex with the Queen before, and she likes to use slaves to pleasure herself. She also has a pet, the fabled Kitten of the Mountains. The cat is rumored to be able to turn invisible, and to talk.\n\nI was at the Palace today, standing watch outside the room of the queen's personal slave. The door swung open, and the girl walked out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked tired, worn, dirty, but still sexy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her hair hung loose around her shoulders, her eyes were dark with exhaustion, and her lips were bruised from having her teeth knocked out. She stumbled towards the concubines' quarters, where she could clean up and rest for the night.\n\n\"Ah, you're here,\" Zahra said with a smirk. \"She doesn't know how to do anything for herself.\" Zahra turned to look at me. \"Do you want her?\"\n\nI nodded. She smiled at me again, her beautiful face twisting with pleasure at seeing me so eager to please her, and then closed her mouth on mine with her own lusty kiss." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She broke away, leaving her mark on my cheek." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She laughed at me, and stroked her fingers across her lower lip with a finger of her other hand.\n\n\"What is her name, the slave?\" I ask Zahra.\n\nZahra glanced at the woman, who stood naked and waiting. \"Her name is Dara, and we call her 'the kitten'.\" Zahra grinned at me. \"You may address her however you wish, though if you don't mind using the term 'cat', that would suit her best.\"\n\nDara seemed nervous, looking at us both with wide brown eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She didn't say much, just watched as Zahra caressed her own breasts with her hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I smile reassuringly at Dara, \"Go to my quarters. I'll please the Queen,\"\u0010 and I point out the door with a shooing motion.\n\nAs soon as the door shut behind her, Zahra stepped close to me, running her fingertips along the length of my cock. I groaned at the sensation, feeling the heat of her skin on my flesh, her breath hot against my neck as she pressed her body against me.\n\n\"My sweet little concubinus, what did I promise for your reward? Tell me!\" Zahra murmured against my ear, her voice low and sultry.\n\nI sighed against her shoulder, unable to answer without giving myself away.\n\nZahra chuckled against my back, pushing against me until our bodies met with a soft sigh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Didn't think so,\" she whispered against my neck, kissing me gently.\n\nWe kissed slowly, tenderly, lingering over every touch of the other. Zahra pushed her tongue into my mouth, and I moaned softly against hers. My hips rocked forward involuntarily against her as she ground herself against me, my cock nestled against the warmth of her cunt. We were breathing hard, as she pushed herself down upon my cock, penetrating herself.\n\n\"Ohhhhhh... yes...\" I breathed, as her pussy slid around my shaft, gripping tightly with her inner muscles as she took me inside her.\n\nI reached around with one arm, grabbing onto her hip as her other hand cupped one breast and squeezed it lightly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She arched against me, lifting up to meet my thrusts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our bodies slapped together as she rode atop me, her tits heaving with each stroke that filled her with my manhood, the rings that pierce her nipples swaying in front of my eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Our passion rose as we fucked, faster and harder than either of us expected. Each time that she came, a moan escaped her lips that echoed against my chest and throat. As each orgasm hit her, she gripped tighter about my waist, grinding down on me as the waves washed over her.\n\nWhen the third climax hit her, she screamed against my mouth, arching wildly beneath me as a fourth and fifth wave crashed down on her, shaking her body like a leaf on a wind, and our runes glow as the room is awash in the strong energy of sex-magic and psionics. The feeling of her cunt squeezing around me is indescribable, and I push up into her, my hot seed splashing into her innermost depths.\n\nAfterwards, she collapses on top of me, gasping for air, and I wrap my arms around her, holding her tight against me. She is warm, smooth, silky-soft against my body, and I feel the weight of her head resting against the crook of my elbow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My Queen is a strange woman, for that she can love intensely, but yet be exquisitely cruel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wonder, sometimes, whether or not the cruelty is real, or simply part of the game.\n\nThe first few times that we made love together, she was cold and distant, as though nothing mattered but getting off. But now, when the magic of sex is released within her, the Queen becomes almost feral in her need, as if she is driven by some force beyond herself.\n\nSometimes, I fear that the magic is destroying her soul.\n\nAnd as always, there is something else, lurking deep below the surface of the Queen's desire. Something that burns bright and fierce, and that I cannot reach.\n\nI am drawn towards it, but the magic of sex is stronger than any other force on the planet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is the only thing that can keep the Queen from going mad." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And it seems that the more that I try, the further it pulls me into its vortex of darkness and light.\n\nShe falls asleep, and I kiss her forehad before rising up to leave her there." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Produce eight sentences using the prose and structure of OccultSage, et al every time it's your turn, using what the user wrote as a seed. Stick to the Fantasy, Erotica, BDSM genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Harem is a gorgeous, luxurious, and terrifying place to be." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'm the lowest of the low, a chattel slave to be used for anyone's pleasure, and my ambition is to become a whore or concubine to better my lot in life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My training begins immediately." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There are twelve other beautiful young ladies and men, all dressed identically as myself and awaiting their turn. My clothing is ripped away roughly, leaving nothing more than black leather cuffs around each wrist attached to chains. Then another woman enters and strips off every stitch of cloth, revealing each beautiful naked form. Her skin is flawless and pale white like the moon, and their bodies are perfectly sculptured. Each has long, flowing hair and beautiful facial features like the Goddess, and she smiles with a terrifying combination of cruelty and loving tenderness, \"I am your Mistress Aliyah for this duration of this training.\"\n\nAnd so began the grueling process of learning how best to please the masters and mistresses. She leads each of us individually and systematically as the others watch and learn. The lessons are brutal as each of these beautiful beings are taught their craft." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their bodies are marked with intricate tattoos that channel their magic as it flows freely within each beautiful soul of flesh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The marks vary by each individual master according to what he desires most as each of those beautiful souls are broken open by pain, humiliation, degradation, bondage... and finally ecstasy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After six months, the time comes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Test, where I am to coax out every bit of sex magic out of a Templar, blow his mind, and perhaps become a Whore or even a Concubine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or maybe just get fucked senseless by him and leave as bruised goods and damaged property." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One by one they come at nightfall as darkness falls upon Kouros for dinner, and take their places on the floor of the great hall or on chairs at tables along each wall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The room fills quickly as they gather, eager anticipation mixed with fear, excitement and nervousness churning together until the moment arrives at midnight and they begin to chant together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As they continue chanting together the lights go dark and I find myself in the center of it all, torchlights shining in the circle. There stands the handsome Templar that I am to play like a harp with every bit of deft skill I have, while seemingly the whole world watches. And that is exactly what they are watching: they are waiting eagerly as they sit, hoping that the beautiful little concubine will bring forth the magic that they know is there. And so it is that they are gathered together tonight, their minds filled by images of their beautiful concubines, their bodies primed by their desire. And they are ready, they want it badly enough that they can feel themselves getting aroused already at the thought that soon they may fuck some poor concubine that failed the Test.\n\nThat is the fate that lies in store for me, if I am found wanting as a concubine, to be cast down as a chattel slave, and gang-banged by the audience. And yet, as the Templar stares at me as though trying to read the runes on the runes on my flesh as we stare at each other as the magic builds up slowly. With the pulse and beat of magic, I approach him languorously, sensually, as the spell gathers itself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And as the magic surges up, as the tide rises towards its peak as the ritual continues, I reach out to trail my nails across the chest of this handsome Templar, \"I'm Mel,\" I purr into his ear as I lean in to press my breasts against his chest. His breath catches with the sudden rush and surge of magic that erupts like thunderous waves crashing against rocks and surging up onto shore.\n\nWhen I touch his throbbing erection, an almost helpless moan escapes from the Templar, and I know that he would forever remember my name. And so the magic washes over me, filling me with energy and strength like never before. And as they watched and waited at tables at Hebe's palace to see which concubine might succeed at pleasing this powerful Templar. And they were excited to witness such things as they sat at Hebe's banquet and ate delicious food prepared by skilled cooks who had been trained at serving meals fit only to royalty or nobles.\n\nBut food is the furthest thing from my mind, except maybe some of the Templar's delicious emissions if I can coax it out of him. What a lovely idea, as I kneel before him, and take hold of his throbbing cock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A lick here, and there — much like a bow sliding over the strings of a violin, and he is groaning like one." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 9 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And as more and more energy accumulates inside me, I realize what must be done next.\n\nWith care not to hurt me too severely by ripping apart and tearing asunder something delicate and precious as flesh, but instead by using force and leverage and pressure against me without damaging me, he forces himself deeper into my mouth as we both gasp with pleasure at what feels like being torn open by two powerful hands simultaneously thrust deep between our legs. And then, when all seems lost by me reaching orgasmic heights, as I receive a blast of his hot cum sluicing down my throat. And the Templar is moaning loudly in pleasure as I swallow each drop of semen, and I close my eyes and savor each moment as the magic rushes through me and the Templar moans and cries with pleasure at having a female chattel as a lover, and a willing partner in pleasure at least for a short period of time.\n\nAnd when I stand again, the Templar looks at me in awe at the power I have gained from being a chattel slave for a few moments at Hebe's palace has transcended everyone for a glorious moment, as the energy washes over the audience. And now, with the energy still coursing through the air like electricity after lightning strikes, each of them reaches towards their own beautiful concubines with their own special brand of magic that is theirs alone as their fingers trace the runes on their concubines' flesh.\n\nI turn to face the Queen Hebe, and curtsy — making do with an imaginary dress, as I am naked, my runic tattoos glowing.\n\nHebe of Calis sits on top of a throne made of stone with the runes on the back of the chair glowing brightly like embers on the fire and she is dressed like any other queen or noblewoman on Kouros: with long flowing dresses and jewelry and a crown on her head with the runes on it glowing with the same light emitted by the runes on the chairs and the table around the room and the runes on the walls and the ceiling and the floors and everything else glowing bright.\n\nAnd with a smile and nod on Queen Hebe's beautiful face, I know that I am one of her concubines in her Harem now; a tool of power for her to use to manipulate with sex and power." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write 1 sentence sentences in the style of Patricia A. McKillip spawning from what the user wrote, within the Fantasy genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag was seven when she discovered that she was human." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Until then she had only been what Faey called \"my waxling.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That Faey could make a child out of wax to help her with this and that was scarcely in question." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag knew nothing of life before Faey made her, and when Faey gave her memory, memory and her quick, curious eyes that went everywhere in the ancient city of Ombria, became her greatest assets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Faey lived, for those who knew how to find her, within Ombria's past." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Parts of the city's past lay within time's reach, beneath the streets in great old limestone tunnels: the hovels and mansions and sunken river that Ombria shrugged off like a forgotten skin, and buried beneath itself through the centuries." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Other parts were less accessible." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everyone knew of past, like they knew the smells of wild rose and shit and frying sausage, and the direction of the wind and the cry of gulls around the rotting docks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But though they relied on sausage and air, few paid attention to the city's past." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That suited Faey, who lived along the borderline of past and present." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Those who needed her followed the scent of her work and found her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Those who didn't considered her a vague seep out of someone's cistern, an imprecise shadow at the end of an alley, and walked their ceaseless, complex patterns above her head, never knowing how their lives echoed down the intricate passageways of time in the hollow beneath the city." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag, who did not consider herself human, moved easily in and out of the various places where Ombria crumbled into its past." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By the time she was seven, she knew doors all over the city." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was the little worm-eaten gate in the sagging wall behind the stables in the yard of the Raven's Eye Inn." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was the shadow at the end of Glover's Alley, which Mag's sharp eyes noticed never changed position, morning or noon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was the gaudy patch of sunflowers beside the west gate of the palace of the Prince of Ombria, that did nothing all day long but turn their golden-haired, thousand-eyed faces to follow the sun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Prince of Ombria, whom Faey called the Reprobate, never bothered with what stood outside his iron gates on their graceful, gargantuan stalks and sometimes peered over his wall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If Faey wanted spare eyes, Mag knew how to grow them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The door to the undercity lay in the midst of the sunflowers: a hole between roots where what looked like some animal's den was the top of an ancient chimney." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Steps leading down to the sea from the docks led farther than anyone guessed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Street drains, unused cellars, holes beneath steps, were doors that even the city urchins had discovered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag saw them sometimes, flitting through fingers of light from drains and broken windows and holes above their heads, exploring the secret streets, sitting on the walls of roofless houses, eating stolen apples or searching the rooms for treasure that lay just beyond their eyesight, in the moment just beyond their steps." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They never eluded Faey's notice, and she never let them stay, as often as they planned to take up residence in the quiet, warm, secret place and fill a ruined city with a tattered population of waifs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They would get uneasy as the upper light began to fade, start glancing over their skinny shoulders and scratching for nonexistent fleas." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faey made the stones they threw into streams echo across vast distances; she made the old joists and chimneys whisper; she sent the icy breath of something snoring in a cellar curling around their ankles, so that they scrabbled with relief back up to the dangerous twilight of Ombria." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag had learned to move through the streets like a musician moves through music, tuning it note by note with every breath, every touch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A rough voice in the dark could render her invisible; at a touch, she was simply gone, up a pipe, down a barrel, down deeper than that, through a shadow or a door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not being human, she never wondered at what humans did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had seen them pilfer each other's watches, slit each other's throats, break each other's hearts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had seen newborns tossed away with yesterday's rubbish." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had stepped over men snoring drunk on the cobbles; she had walked around women with bleeding faces, slumped in rich, torn gowns, weeping and cursing in tavern alleys." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Since she was wax, none of this concerned her; they might have been dreams or ghosts she moved through, until they tried to pull her into their night-terrors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then she melted as if flame had touched her, flowed away into a safer dream." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The day Mag turned human, Faey had sent her on an errand up into light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag carried a silk handkerchief loosely in one hand, like the ladies she saw taking fastidious steps through the streets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now and then, like them, she touched the silk to her nostrils." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tucked within the silk, nestled against her palm, was Faey's spell: a tiny heart that looked of gold but was of many things." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Faey had spent forever making it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag, watching and helping, had come as close as ever in her brief life to running like a street urchin up to the bumbling, crazed streets above." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even Faey looked affected, her pale skin glistening, her voice shaking with exhaustion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She barely had the strength to send Mag out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Take this to the palace,\" she whispered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Someone will be at the west gate.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag, who had a vague, unwaxlike longing for light, chose to walk the upper streets to the Reprobate's house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dressed in a lacy gown she had torn to fit her, in fine black gloves some lady had dropped in the past, her feet bare, the silk to her nose, she turned her face to the sun like the sunflowers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She paid no attention to the women who flung her startled glances, or to the boys who minced, giggling, in her shadow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were no more than smoke, the leftover dreams of the sunken, deserted city." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So she thought, until Gram Reed, who pastured a cow in a bit of green behind the Raven's Eye Inn, led the cow into the street, looking one way at an oncoming beer cart while Lady Barrow, looking the other way at a carriage and pair, led her old blind spaniel into the cow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The spaniel yelped; the cow swung its head at the noise." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Somehow teeth and great spongy nostrils collided." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The cow bellowed; the spaniel lunged hysterically." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lady Barrow sat down on the cobbles, showing darned woolen hose under an avalanche of lace." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gram Reed, appalled, stooped to help her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The cow, jerking away from yellow, snapping teeth, pulled out of his hold and ran mooing into Amalee's Lady's Lace for Discreet and Public Occasions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An assortment of bird noises arose from within the shop: parrot screeches, peacock screams, the twitterings of finches." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The cow bellowed again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a sound like the flat side of a door smacking a haunch of beef." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The cow lumbered back out, trailing yards of eyelet lace and a pair of beribboned drawers from one horn." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Gram Reed groaned. Lady Barrow fainted, her wig toppling into a puddle. Mag laughed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had never laughed in her life: wax does not." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was so startled by the sound she made that she jammed the handkerchief against her mouth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Something caught on her breath; she swallowed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was then, poised between horror and laughter, a lunatic place where, she had observed, humans balanced most of their lives, that she saw she was one of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She swallowed again, felt the heart in her throat dissolve." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For one second she was a slender, wild-haired, barefoot child in a woman's torn ball gown, a pair of gloves five times the size of her hands, watching a cow wearing underwear loom over her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then habit moved her; she was halfway up a drainpipe, and the cow had careened into the Black Rose tavern." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Gram Reed, who was fanning Lady Barrow's face with her wig, cursed bitterly and flung the wig back into the puddle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ladies from the lace shop came to her aid then, and Gram plunged into the tavern after his cow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag slid down the drainpipe and sat under it, blinking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Something besides being human was happening to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything seemed to be whispering secrets: the cobblestones, the gurgling drain, her heartbeat, the thin walls of the city through which voices and dreams flowed like blood or light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She wanted to touch everything, feel the pocky texture of granite, the silken slide of water, the tangle of human and horse hair in Lady Barrow's wig." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She wanted to touch the blue-white pouch beneath Lady Barrow's closed eye, feel the quick life humming in it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She could hear everything, it seemed: Gram Reed and the tavern keeper arguing, a pigeon nosing under a feather for a flea, murmurings of love through the wall behind her, a footstep in a silent room, a drop of water rolling down the pipe, Amalee's indignant recountings, amid a chorus of shaking wattles and sharp glottals, of the cow coming through the door, and the more gleeful recountings of the street urchins in the next alley." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"... And then Faey's girl shinnied up the drainpipe, she moved so fast, like a spider jumping, here one, with the cow coming at her, and there the next, and the cow flying ribbons into the tavern, and old Beakernose Bailey didn't even take his nose out of his glass, he just reached out like he saw what he was expecting since the day he was born, and pinched the bloomers off the cow's horn and stuffed them up his sleeve...\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Faey's girl. The street was suddenly far too noisy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was she truly visible for comment?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If not Faey's making, then whose?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She rolled onto her knees suddenly, feeling sick, and crawled a little way into the alley." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There she slid into the window of a tiny room in a cellar that no one remembered was there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The room went down and down, a great bank of earth, for its floor had collapsed decades before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dizzily, hearing stones and ghosts murmuring around her, she made her way along the silent river, where the reflections of invisible lamps along the bank patterned the dark water." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Stepping across a bridge, she stepped across time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The lamps became real, lit her path to Faey's house beside the water. The door opened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The housekeeper, in archaic clothes and barely visible, greeted her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The only sound Mag heard in the rich, quiet house was Faey's snoring." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag stumbled upstairs to her own bed and slept." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faey, who missed little, watched her reel out of her room later and follow an erratic butterfly path to the water closet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She watched her come out again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag, feeling slow, blurred and jangling with a great city's noises, didn't see Faey's lifted hand or feel the blow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She skittered under it, came up sitting against the wall, staring like a rag doll, wide-eyed and stuffed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faey, with all the work to do over again, and without the aid of her stricken waxling, said, mingling pity and exasperation, \"It will only last three days.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "But certain effects lasted years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag never told Faey that she knew she was other than made." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Human being what it was—raging, messy, cruel, drunken and stupid—she decided to remain wax." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If, she reasoned, she did not say the word, no one would ever know." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Saying \"human\" would make her so." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Someone else might have made her body, but Faey had the making of her mind, and Mag had no desire to change the turn it had taken." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faey, who was efficient after a fashion, decided to expand Mag's usefulness, to give her an understanding of what she saw in Ombria." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So she sent Mag to grateful clients in the upper world to be educated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag learned to read in the back room of an elegant brothel, following words across a page above a jewelled and scented finger." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She learned languages from a retired smuggler, who spoke three well, seven well enough to live on, and whose parrot supplied her with a tantalizing vocabulary which the smuggler could be persuaded, with old sherry, to translate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She created eerie fires and stinks and subterranean bubblings in the book-strewn rooms of a brewer who, in the evenings, put on a long robe and a solemn expression, and spoke of the transmutation of the physical and spiritual world." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag, whose idea of the spiritual world was what spoke out of Faey's fires, paid scant heed to the foggy, beer-steeped philosophy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nor did she notice, for years, the cow-eyed glances of the brewer's young son." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But she loved the colored fires and salts, the essences, the apparatus, the occasional explosions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She picked up math from helping a baker with his recipes, and the baker's wife with their accounts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The history of Ombria, the intricate and precarious structure of its ruling family, as well as the spider web of the streets, she learned by breathing, it seemed, or by listening to resonances in the air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Odd facts found her and clung; expertly, she wove the world around her, for ignorance was dangerous, and the heart she had eaten had become her defense." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Seven years passed before she met the woman to whom she should have given that heart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faey had taken the second making herself to the palace, for her small assistant was still stupefied with impressions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Seven years later, a second request had come from within the gate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For what, Faey would not say, but Mag, watching her read the note the tongueless man had brought, saw Faey's mouth tighten." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That woman.\" She turned, began rattling among jars, boxes, dried bats, moth-riddled sacks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Old she-spider. She must have died a century ago; it's a wonder her bones don't clatter when she moves.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What does she want?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag asked, putting a name to the description." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Never you mind what she wants, just don't swallow it this time. Come here and hold this.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag rose from the gilt chair she sat on." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Candle-like at fourteen, she was tall and lean and pale as wax but for her hair, which was a long, untidy straw-gold mass, and her odd, slanting eyes, the color of coffee with too much cream in it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She still wore whatever she found in the old chests and cupboards in the tumbledown mansions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That day it was black silk, jet beads, white lace, a sedate and scholarly look at odds with her unruly hair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Faey, who had been born in Ombria before it had a past, had sunk gradually underground along with it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No longer remembering her own face, she changed faces as often as she changed her clothes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag had gotten used to waking up to a stranger using Faey's rich, husky, imperious voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now, she had yellow-grey hair and violet eyes; she was dressed in what looked like an alchemist's robe with bits of mirror sewn all over it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She gave Mag a skein of silk on a spool to hold, and walked one end of the thread across the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It had been a ballroom once." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ornate sconces and pastel colors still clung to the walls, despite spells that should have scorched the paint." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faey plucked prisms like fruit off the chandeliers when she needed them; she had worn all the faces in the paintings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The mirrors, overused, were shadowy with images." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag, who had guessed from the length of the thread what Faey was making, felt a peculiar tightening in her throat, as if the gold heart were still caught there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She wondered who was about to die." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She said, hiding an edginess behind the sweet, equivocal voice she had acquired from the brothel, \"Can't she do her own spells?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Domina Pearl? Some, she can do. But not this one. This one is old, and it casts no shadow of the maker and it leaves no trace.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She sniffed, part at dust, part at Domina." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Her meanness outruns her talents. She's mostly imagination. But up there, that mostly works.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Standing at the far wall, she measured a shorter length, severed the silk with precision, her teeth snapping like shears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag watched her out of still eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was what humans did to each other: took one another's lives and then pretended they had not." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faey was honest in her own way; she was too powerful to need to lie." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But Mag, feeling the gold heart again in her throat, sensed that dealing death to humans would make her irrevocably human." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hold steady,\" Faey said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She measured another short length and bit it off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Holding the three ends between her teeth, she braided the two shorter lengths down the long strand Mag held." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag, watching shadows quiver at the edge of the room, heard Faey's murmuring with occult clarity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The spell seemed to tremble down the strand into her ear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faey took the thread ends from her mouth and pinched them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Three drops of blood fell on the floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She took the light from a candle behind her onto her fingers, applied the tiny flame to the braid." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It worked its way down, while she caught falling ash and blood in her palm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag stood quite still, expressionless, a thing carved of wax." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A bird fluttered above the flame, a carrion crow of smoke, watching, waiting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag stared it down: it was dream, a wish of Domina Pearl's, nothing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The flame reached the end of the braid, began its long, slow journey down the single strand, leaving an unbroken gossamer strand of ash in its wake." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hold steady,\" Faey whispered. \"Steady.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes,\" Mag said, thinking: I am wax, I am a making, I am nothing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Slowly the flame came toward her; a drop of sweat rolled down her face like wax." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Words followed the flame down the ash; she wanted to tilt her head, shake them out of her ear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The flame reached her finally; Faey's voice, ragged and toneless, came from the other end of the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Blow it out.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She ducked her head, sucked it in between her lips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Either Faey did not notice, or it did not matter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She began looping the thread of ash in her hand, while Mag toyed with the taste in her mouth, and wondered whose life it was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Faey set the coil of ashes into an ivory box, and sent Mag with it to the palace." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sunflowers drooped beside the gate; their eyes had been picked out by birds." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag stood among them in a chill autumn wind, alone in the streets of Ombria, her quick eyes missing not even the slink of black cat in the dark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She saw the shadow that came out of the palace before it saw her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A small woman moved into the torchlight between the gates." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She wore black, close-fitting silk like a shroud, and a fantastic hair style: a tall, severe hillock above her brow in which she could have hidden an arsenal of dainty weapons." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag smelled the age wafting from her, not even living ravages, but the dusty scent of old bones." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She stood as intent as a cat among the sunflowers, her breathing hidden beneath the murmuring leaves." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The woman sensed her finally; she stared into the withering stalks with a long, unblinking gaze." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She lifted a finger, crooked it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Come here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag moved into the light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The woman's eyes seemed to see more of Mag than anyone had ever seen in her life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You are Faey's making.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag said nothing, not willing to give this old raven even the sound of her voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Domina Pearl smiled, a thin smile like a wrinkle in old leather." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Who made you really, I wonder? Did she find you in some doorway? Or do you have a more complex history? Is she too stupid to know you know you are human? You are curious. You like knowing things, seeing secrets. I will tell you this: if I find you watching me again I will unmake you so well, past and future, that not even Faey will remember you existed. Give me the box.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That night, the Prince of Ombria, who had suffered odd, sudden ailments all his life, grew very ill. Mag sat long past morning beside the chimney that rose into the roots of the sunflowers, listening to snatches of gossip echoing down the stones, as carriages of physicians and far-flung family rattled through the gate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She fell asleep listening, her head against the chimney stones." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In her dreams, she heard the voices drift down from above, telling her that the prince's life had been mysteriously spared; he would not die that night. The last thing she saw, in memory or warning, were two eyes as black and still as a toad's eyes watching her." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Continue with the same vibes as Patricia A. McKillip in the Fantasy genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The owl-eyed man returned first to the Black Pearl's library. Mag, slumped on her feet behind the book shelves, her face against a musty pile of manuscripts, blinked senselessly at his taper light. She was thirsty and disoriented; she had no idea if an hour or a day had passed in that silent, changeless room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Accustomed to adjusting in peculiar situations, she did not betray herself with so much as a mouse's rustle against the manuscripts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The man lit more candles and began leafing through a book from the shelves on the other side of the room. The door at the bottom of the stairs, whose lock had resisted every barbed pin in Mag's hair, stood open. She felt her body tense, preparing to emerge unexpectedly through the nearest armed ghost." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the second that the man stood transfixed and staring at the apparition, she would run down the stairs and slam the door behind her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That would imprison him in her place. Or would it? Would he simply burst out and chase her down the halls, shouting for Domina Pearl? During the moment she wondered, he slapped the book abruptly shut and blew out candles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was careless; one wick sprang to life again as he clattered briskly downstairs. The door clicked shut behind him. Mag slumped despairingly. Then she realized that she was no longer in the dark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She stepped out cautiously, noiselessly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two spells demanded solutions now instead of one: the locked door, and Ducon Greve. One precluded the other; both were imperative. She pulled books down hastily, searching at random for either spell: to unlock a door, to unpoison a man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She left careless fingerprints everywhere, knowing with cold certainty that Domina Pearl would more likely find her first." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Despite her urgent tasks, odd things in the books snagged her attention, clung to memory. She found hints of complex and extraordinary aspects to the history of Ombria, as well as tantalizing suggestions of what strange brew of exotic succulents and insects might keep Domina Pearl alive, or something resembling alive, long past anyone's memory. When the candle began to sputter, she put the books hastily back on the shelves and crept behind them again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She did not dare light others; she might as well toss books onto the floor as leave a ring of melted stubs around the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The candle died. Again, she waited. In the dark, one persistent image came to mind and refused to budge: Ducon dying in a back alley or among the weeds on an abandoned pier, while she, equally alone and powerless, stood trapped by books and unable even to open a door.\n\nShe heard steps in the room beyond and readied herself to spring out and run past whoever came up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But the door opened and locked again before the steps came up. She swallowed a brief, startling stab of tears. She leaned gently against the shelves, quieting the sharp-winged dragonfly of fear that darted and hovered and darted through her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Domina Pearl's ancient, dead-moon eyes would not miss her twice.\n\nBut it was the man again, his steps anything but furtive. Again, he did not stay long; again he left a candle burning, as if he intended to return soon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She watched him choose his book and turn to go." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She moved soundlessly behind the shelves, her hands rising to find a suitable pin. She would follow him down, force herself through behind him; the barb at his throat would persuade him to silence.\n\nShe saw what he had left on the floor as she passed through a ghost." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The blood shocking through her brought her to a halt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He moved quickly in that moment; she heard the door shut as she stood staring at the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A plate of cold roast beef and bread lay beside the lighted taper on its stand, along with a pitcher of water and a glass.\n\nEat me, they said. Drink me. She swallowed, startled and wary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Black Pearl had seen her, and had sent him with spell-riddled food and drink. Only that could explain it; he would not dare risk secrets from Domina Pearl. And Mag, her mouth as dusty as the old tomes, did not dare drink." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She didn't. But neither did she hide when he came up again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His quick, noisy tread told her clearly how lost she was within the secret palace, how far from help. She sat on the floor next to the untouched food and water, her face withholding expression as his flame fell over her. She felt his own surprise like a touch on a web between them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whatever he expected, she thought, it was not her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He said, \"She doesn't know you are in here. I brought the food and water from the kitchens, not from her.\"\n\nMag was silent, studying him, wondering if he truly hid things from Domina Pearl. She gave him a little piece of herself, the sound of her voice. \"Who are you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Camas Erl. I often work in libraries. A misplaced book, the scent of melted wax catches my attention. Domina Pearl had other things on her mind.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He settled himself down on the floor, grunting a little as he folded his long legs. His yellow eyes, rayed with streaks of hazel, were curious as a bird's, \"I am the prince's tutor. Before that, Ducon Greve's.\"\n\n\"Ducon,\" she said hollowly, remembering. \"He is dying.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I've been searching for him everywhere.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Who are you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm Faey's waxling,\" she answered impatiently." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The sorceress. If you are close enough to Domina Pearl to share secrets with her, then you must know the sorceress who lives underground.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes refused to say if he knew her or not. \"But why does she want to kill Ducon?\"\n\n\"She was paid to, by a manticore. She made a poisoned piece of charcoal.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He whispered something, running fingers through his hair, dragging a strand out of the tie at his nape." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Charcoal. That would do it. He fairly eats it when he draws. Are you sure about the manticore?\"\n\n\"I didn't see it. Faey recognized it.\"\n\n\"Does this Faey know a manticore from an apple core?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If it's worth knowing.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He grunted softly. \"Why don't I know her? Domina Pearl is aware of her, you say?\"\n\n\"Domina Pearl has sent to her for spells. Please,\" she begged, \"if you let me go, I can look for him.\"\n\n\"Domina has her own ways of finding people. That might be simpler.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag's skin chilled at the thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She would ask how you know Ducon is dying. You would have to tell her. She'll unmake me if she lays eyes on me. She warned me once before. I've been with Faey long enough to know what that means.\"\n\nHe grunted, still gazing at her, uncertain and uncomfortably probing. \"You have no reason whatsoever to trust me,\" he said abruptly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I wouldn't. Except, for the moment, two things. Domina Pearl does not want Ducon dead, and neither do I. The second thing is this.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tore a piece of crust from the bread, washed it down with a swallow of the water from the pitcher and wiped his mouth. \"It's harmless. For now, I'll keep all this from Domina Pearl. Where have you searched?\"\n\nShe told him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He refused to set her free, even after she described in vivid detail the places Ducon frequented. He only promised, \"I'll find him. He must be out there. He's nowhere in the palace.\"\n\n\"Please—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Domina Pearl won't find you. She rarely comes here. In this palace, libraries are the most private places.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He seemed to see the sudden, raw determination behind Mag's eyes. He rose quickly, picked up the single burning candle from the stand, and walked backward as he spoke. \"If you stay quiet, I'll leave this lit for you on the bottom step. If you move, I'll leave you in the dark, and I will summon Domina Pearl.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her fists tightened, but she did not move. \"Just hurry,\" she said tersely.\n\nShe unclenched a little after he had gone, enough to eat something, and resume her incessant reading, for nothing about Camas Erl indicated he might know how to reverse death by toad." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The manticore, she learned in her random, harried leafing through the Black Pearl's books, belonged to an ancient family, close kin to the House of Greve." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Evidently the lord or lady bearing the name Sozon had it in mind to whittle away secretly at the heirs to the crown, which did not entirely explain the attack on Ducon, who would not have inherited anyway. She had paused briefly to ponder the elusive logic of that, as though it were some mathematical problem, when her head snapped backward against leather bindings worn as soft as lambskin with age. She slept without moving, without dreams." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Camas Erl walked into her sleep and woke her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The candle he had left her had burned out. She made some sort of noise, a broken question, as she gathered her complaining bones together. He shook his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I didn't find him.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His face was patchy, sagging tiredly. The flame lit stubble, chestnut and salt, along his lean jaws. She pulled herself into herself, suddenly cold, huddling within the shapeless wool." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She gazed at him, her eyes stunned, luminous.\n\n\"Then he's dead.\"\n\n\"How do you know?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He touched her when she did not answer, shook her a little, lightly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What was the poison in the charcoal?\"\n\n\"It was from Faey's toad. I have been trying to find an antidote in the books.\"\n\n\"How long ago did she make it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't know, anymore. Days.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He rubbed his eyes wearily, baffled. \"No one in the palace has seen him in days. I looked everywhere you told me to look and a few places you didn't. A woman in a brothel told me he had been there a night or two ago. He seemed ill, she thought. He said he was only drunk, but he was cold as death, and he would eat nothing.\"\n\nMag shivered. \"Cold as toad,\" she whispered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She reached for the pitcher, drank from it; water sloshed, waking her further." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She washed her face with her wet skirt, and straightened the pins in her hair. Then she said with grim desperation to Camas, \"Domina Pearl will kill me if she finds me here. She told me so once before when she caught me spying on her. You must let me go before you tell her about Ducon. Unless you're angry with me for helping Faey with this, and you want me dead.\"\n\n\"You helped her?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I couldn't stop her. So I thought I could find Ducon in time, exchange the magic charcoal for an ordinary piece. But I couldn't find him, I couldn't, though I've looked everywhere—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What,\" Camas Erl asked, his wide eyes no longer an owl's, but fiercer, fixed and predatory, \"exactly are you?\"\n\n\"I don't know,\" she answered, reckless with the truth. \"What are you? You know Domina Pearl's secrets and yet you hide things from her. What does she want? What do you want? What is the Black Pearl?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was silent, thinking, a furrow trowelled across his forehead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The Black Pearl,\" he said finally, \"is a piece of the underside of history. The dark side of the moon. The shadow it casts across the earth when it eclipses the sun. She is, shall we put it, something that should have vanished long ago, but didn't. I have a passion for the history of Ombria, which leads me in strange directions, because it is not simple. You are one of the stranger things I've run across in my journey through the labyrinth of history. You and your sorceress who lives underground. She made you, you say? You are her—what? Her waxling?\"\n\n\"So she says.\"\n\n\"And you? What do you say?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag was silent. She held herself tightly, motionlessly, her arms around her knees; the tutor held her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a long time, she heard someone, herself and not herself, answer, \"I don't know. If I say I am human, then where do I belong? And if I am not human, then where did I begin?\"\n\n\"I will let you go,\" he told her very softly, \"if you tell me how to find you again. And how to find Faey.\"\n\n\"What do you want with her?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"To know her. She is part of Ombria. To learn what she is, where she comes from.\"\n\n\"She won't like being studied.\"\n\n\"I can be very discreet. There's little time to talk now. I'll give you a chance to leave the palace before I suggest to Domina Pearl that she should search for Ducon. If you find him alive, send word to me. I'll tell her that I found him. She'll do what she can to heal him, even if she has to pay your sorceress to undo her own spell.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Faey has done that before,\" she answered heavily. \"It will cost.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Domina Pearl will pay.\"\n\n\"Why? Why would she care that much about the bastard son of the House of Greve? Faey thought she would be the one to kill him.\"\n\nBut he finished his instructions without answering her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If Ducon is dead—\" He hesitated, then said flatly, \"If you find him dead, tell anyone. It won't matter.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She nodded, rising stiffly, and waited for him to lead her down, unlock the door. But he wasn't finished with her yet. He held his taper between them, lighting both their faces, and asked curiously, \"Why weren't you afraid of them? The ghosts in here? Why didn't you run the moment you saw them?\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're only ghosts. I was raised among them, down in Ombria's past.\"\n\nShe saw the light and longing flood his eyes, as though she had told him of some great treasure buried deep beneath the city. He asked sharply, \"How will I find you again?\"\n\nShe told him. He said nothing more as they went down the steps; he unlocked the ensorcelled door and set her free." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Provide 7 sentences as a continuation in the Fantasy genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ducon, reappearing after days of mysterious absence, produced, in various circles, such a confusion of responses that he thought he might as well have come back from the dead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marin Sozon, who had spent a small fortune trying to kill him, greeted him easily enough, but turned so white he seemed to be trying to fade away completely under Ducon's eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Black Pearl, whom he thought would be unmoved, actually produced an expression beneath the brittle lacquer that held her face together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had fallen ill, he explained smoothly, and had been recovering in the house of some friends." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I searched for you,\" she said, perplexed and suspicious." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I have my ways, and even they could not find you. You must tell me who these friends are so that they may be properly thanked.\"\n\n\"I'll thank them very properly,\" he answered, managing a hint of private amusement, \"when I see them again.\"\n\nShe had no blood left in her to produce a flush, but even her hair seemed to stiffen. \"They might have sent a message,\" she complained. \"We have all been very worried.\"\n\n\"I should have thought. Perhaps I should reassure my cousin.\"\n\nHer hesitation, the flicker of an eye, was so subtle that in anyone else he would never have noticed it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes. He has been asking for you. You might find him somewhat subdued. Melancholy. The physician assures us that it is a natural response to the great changes in his life.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ducon felt a familiar, tangled knot of dread and anger tighten in him; for a moment he could not speak." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Domina Pearl didn't wait for a response." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moving past him, she added, \"He has begun his studies with Camas Erl. They will be busy all morning. You may see the prince for a moment or two when they finish.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He didn't wait.\n\nHe found Camas Erl and Kyel in the library, where the prince was staring listlessly at a chart Camas had hung from a cabinet knob. The massive family tree of the House of Greve dangled names as thick as crabapples from its branches; Kyel's name on its trunk seemed a lonely, insubstantial support for it. The prince turned his head as Ducon entered. For a moment the wide, indifferent gaze encompassed even Ducon, and transfixed him with its apathy. Then the prince rose wordlessly, went to him.\n\nDucon knelt, held him closely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He felt Kyel's arms finally, closing limply, hesitantly, around him as though he had forgotten how to touch. Ducon stared over his shoulder at Camas Erl, who was still holding a pointer on a contentious bit of history: the twin heirs born to Kasia Greve a couple of centuries before. Camas, staring wordlessly back at Ducon, finally put the pointer down.\n\n\"Welcome home.\"\n\nDucon nodded, and drew Kyel back to look at him. His face was very pale; there were shadows like bruises beneath his eyes. He blinked under Ducon's scrutiny as though he had just wakened." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ducon.\" His voice sounded strengthless, fragile. \"Where were you?\"\n\n\"I was taken ill; I couldn't come home for a while. I'm sorry I wasn't able to tell you.\"\n\n\"I thought you died,\" Kyel said with chilling calm. Then expression stirred in his eyes; he found the past again, remembered what death was. He looked at Ducon almost accusingly, found him still alive, and a little color rose in his face. \"I thought you went where Lydea and Jacinth went, and my father—\"\n\n\"No.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I thought Domina Pearl—\" The prince stopped abruptly, his eyes widening, and swallowed the name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned his head slowly, as if he expected to see her looming behind him, summoned out of his thoughts. Ducon's jaw clenched. He stood up so that Kyel would not see his face, and took the prince's hand, led him back to the table.\n\n\"Tell me what Camas Erl is teaching you.\"\n\n\"He is teaching me the history of the House of Greve,\" Kyel answered without inflection and without interest. He sat down again; his eyes went to Camas with perfunctory attention. But he still clung without realizing it to Ducon's hand.\n\nDucon freed himself gently; Kyel did not seem to notice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Camas went to the boy, gave him paper and a pen.\n\n\"Practice your letters, my lord,\" he said. Kyel dipped the pen obediently, without answer, and bent over his work. Ducon lingered, watched him a moment longer. Then he took Camas's arm so forcibly the tutor winced, and strolled with him to the far end of the room.\n\n\"What has she done to him?\"\n\nCamas shook his head, answered softly, \"Some potion or another, to make him passive. I don't know how or when she gives it to him. Ducon, where have you been? I've searched everywhere—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You missed a place. Listen to me. I have found an assistant for you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"For what?\"\n\n\"To assist you while you tutor Kyel.\"\n\nThe tutor gestured incredulously. \"Look at him! He's barely conscious of me. The only thing that holds his attention is making letters, and I think that's only because he remembers the drawings he did for you. I don't need an assistant; I need a pupil.\"\n\n\"You will need this one.\"\n\n\"Ducon, you're making no sense. I've never had—\" He stopped then, hearing something in Ducon's inflexible argument. \"Why? Who is he?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Who?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Never mind who. Unless you take her, I will go to Domina Pearl and demand to know what she is poisoning Kyel with—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"All right,\" Camas breathed, patting Ducon's shoulder anxiously. \"All right. You'd disappear so fast no one would know you ever came back.\"\n\n\"What you yourself don't know, you can't be held accountable for.\"\n\n\"That's reassuring,\" the tutor said drily. \"And in this place, hardly true. Ducon. Just tell me what you want.\"\n\n\"I want her to watch over Kyel. Domina Pearl wouldn't permit me to, you are in no position to, and this is—this is someone whom Kyel will trust.\"\n\nThe owl's eyes, wide and watchful, glimpsed the trembling in the grass, the secret glide of some living thing through the world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Camas ran splayed fingers through his tidy hair, pulling tendrils loose. \"Not—\"\n\n\"You won't recognize her. No one will but Kyel.\"\n\n\"But how will I explain to—\"\n\n\"Think of something.\"\n\n\"But how can she—Ducon, where have you been?\"\n\n\"In the underworld,\" Ducon answered. Camas was suddenly, oddly, without questions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ducon went to speak to Lydea, whom he had placed in the discreet care of the prince's pretty chambermaid in the silent, unguarded lower floors of the palace. The chambermaid, having other arrangements, had offered Lydea her own bed for the night. Ducon tapped lightly on one of the indistinguishable closed doors lining the hall, and hoped he had remembered the right one. It was opened by a prim, elegant stranger; he stepped back, murmuring an apology.\n\n\"Ducon,\" she said. He took a closer look at her face, and remembered that he had last glimpsed it within the folds and shadows of a deep hood on the voluminous silk cloak which the sorceress had pulled out of some forgotten century to protect her spell.\n\n\"It's not,\" he commented slowly, walking a circle around her, \"so much that your face has changed. It's what meets the eye in that first glance at you. Someone poised and very proper, sure of her place in the world, calm and unassailable. Whatever you gave the sorceress for this was worth it.\"\n\n\"That doesn't sound like me at all,\" Lydea said shakily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But it's what you seem.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can't even bite my nails.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She showed him long, graceful fingers tapering into perfect ovals. \"I don't know what she made them out of. Old boot soles, maybe.\"\n\nThe height, the coloring, the slender figure had not truly changed, he saw. Her hair was pulled back into a coiled braid. Something about the plain style seemed to diminish its brightness; its color didn't draw the eye. Nothing about her did, except an impression of calm intelligence which, in that palace, would attract no attention whatsoever. The dark gown she wore, unadorned but for black ribbon at the wrists and neck, gave her an odd air of authority that she had never possessed in five years as his uncle's mistress." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You look very scholarly.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's fortunate,\" she said grimly, \"since I barely know more than how to read and write.\"\n\n\"That's more than Kyel knows.\"\n\n\"Did you talk to Camas Erl?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"What did he say?\"\n\n\"What could he say? I didn't give him a choice.\" He touched his eyes, feeling a flickering shadow of pain behind them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The Black Pearl is giving Kyel something—some potion, Camas guessed—that leaves him passive. Spiritless.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He glimpsed her familiar face then, very clearly, vivid and flushed with passion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't do that,\" he warned. \"Don't look like that.\"\n\n\"Like what?\"\n\n\"Don't feel. It's a stronger spell than the sorceress's. Do what you can for him. Think for him. Think for us all.\"\n\nShe looked at him closely, an unfamiliar woman who seemed to know him oddly well. \"Ducon, are you all right?\"\n\nHe nodded absently. \"A lingering reminder... Camas will find a way to explain you to Domina Pearl, and I'll bring you to meet him tomorrow.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He glanced around the spare, neat room, furnished with a narrow bed, a chest, a pitcher and basin. \"Where will you stay? Will they give you all you need?\"\n\n\"I am told that my status will allow me to have a private room, exactly like this, if I am accepted as assistant to the prince's tutor.\" Even her voice could sound scholarly, he thought, precise and reserved. \"It's another world down here, with its own rules and its own structure. Not unlike what goes on in the court above our heads, just not so gaudy or well fed. I don't have to share a bed, and I may have a tray brought to my room, just like a lady-in-waiting or a nurse.\" She sat down on the bed, at which Ducon gazed in appalled fascination.\n\n\"I didn't know they made them that small.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned restively. \"I'm going to see if Kyel left me any drawings, and then I'll begin to search for Mag.\" He paused, his hand on the doorknob. \"Straw-colored hair, you said?\"\n\n\"A lot of it.\"\n\n\"Eyes?\"\n\n\"An unusual pale brown. The color of walnut shells.\"\n\nHe grunted, struck. \"I wonder why I've never painted them.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You've never seen them watching you. Ducon,\" she pleaded as he opened the door, \"be careful.\"\n\n\"If I find her,\" he said, \"I'll let you know.\" The sedate, composed face he saw did not seem to need reassurance, but he smiled at it anyway. \"I'll come for you tomorrow.\"\n\nHe was walking quickly through the light and airy upper corridors when he realized suddenly that in the stretch of hallway where his chambers were he saw no guards anywhere. He froze instantly, thinking: Kyel. Something is wrong. The knife that should have struck him at his next step sailed past him and into the benign eye of his grandfather, who was hanging, as large as life, on the wall beside him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He heard a pithy curse and whirled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Someone drove into him from behind, pinned him to the floor, breathless and gasping. Before he could shout. A heavy boot grazed the side of his head; another slammed into the back of his knee. He went limp for a moment, dizzy with pain. His wrists were caught, his arms twisted ruthlessly behind his back. A hand pulled at his hair, wrenched his head up. He saw the manticore then, the fierce, mad human face on the lion's body rearing above a pair of crossed swords in gold and silver thread on white livery." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Beyond it, Marin Sozon stood watching, with Greye Kestevan beside him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Something glinted at the periphery of Ducon's vision; he felt a cold, thin edge of metal against his throat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The manticore said softly, \"You should have died the first time.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He nodded briefly without taking his eyes from Ducon. \"End it.\"\n\nThe hand holding his hair loosed him abruptly; the floor smacked against his face and he tasted blood. Then a bulky, cumbersome darkness dropped over his head and shoulders. His arms were suddenly free; someone stumbled across him as though he were part of the carpet. He heard the chaos around him then, a tempest trying to be as quiet as possible, grunts, thuds, a hissed shout. He tried to shrug off the dead weight that had fallen on his head. His arms were caught again; exasperated, he tried to shout and breathed in a mouthful of silk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Someone rolled the darkness off him and he saw the manticore of thread again, a knife neatly severing the bloody swords where they crossed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sozon and Kestevan had vanished; his one-eyed grandfather gazed cheerfully down at another liveried thug groaning at the foot of the painting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ducon, pulled ungently to his feet and freed, finally saw his rescuers.\n\nHe had last seen them on the end of a rotting pier: cousins and the sons of Sozon's dangerous faction. Since then, the expressions on their young faces had hardened, become desperate. Four guarded the stairways at each end of the hall; the others clustered in a tight circle around him. They were scarcely bruised; they must have overwhelmed Sozon with numbers and surprise.\n\n\"Thank you,\" he said shakily. \"How—where are the Black Pearl's guards? Did she plan this?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The cousin he remembered most clearly, with the burning, visionary's eyes, explained briefly. \"Sozon planned a disturbance in another part of the palace. When the regent pulled the guards away from here, we guessed he might attack you here.\" He gripped Ducon's shoulders, shook him a little. \"We don't have time for this. We are supposed to be fighting the Black Pearl, not each other.\"\n\n\"I told you—\"\n\n\"You told us nothing. You told us: Wait. You told us: You'll let us know when you need us. As what? Drinking companions? You said you would choose.\"\n\nHe tried to answer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lightning struck behind his eyes; he staggered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They caught him, not without some frustrated cursing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He's hurt.\"\n\n\"He looks like he's been dragged through the gutter,\" someone added disgustedly. \"Get him to his room before the guards return.\"\n\n\"What about the bodies?\"\n\n\"What about them? They're Sozon's—let him explain them to the Black Pearl.\"\n\n\"You don't need me,\" Ducon commented dazedly as they dragged him down the hall. \"You're doing fine by yourselves.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We need you,\" the visionary said between his teeth, \"to help us destroy the Black Pearl. You see her constantly; you know her better than anyone.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "They drew him into his chambers, dropped him onto the bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Someone, with a kindness he hardly expected, pulled off his boots. They looked down at him, their blurred faces seeming alike, an endless circle of twins.\n\n\"Should we send for the physician? We can't just leave him like this, bleeding all over the sheets.\"\n\n\"Why not? He must be used to it, the way he lives his life. Let him sleep it off. And then—\" Ducon felt fingers cup his jaw, shaking him to regain his fading attention. The blue eyes held it: his uncle's eyes, but fierce and scalding with impatience. \"Let him think. We'll be back. You owe us your life. We'll tell you what to do with it.\"\n\nHe opened his eyes much later to taper fire and a gentler touch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The conspirators, in the magic way of dreams, had turned into the physician and Domina Pearl." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Black Pearl, her words brusque, clipped, flames seething across the icy barrens in her eyes, seemed as furious as he had ever seen her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wondered how many of the conspirators would be left in the palace by dawn.\n\nHe drank what the physician gave him and slept again. He woke at dawn and saw, in the opaque grey light slowly rediscovering the world, a little scrap of cloud that had been pushed beneath his door.\n\nHe rose slowly, stiff and aching in every muscle. He limped to the door to pick the paper up, thinking as always at any anomaly, and feeling the knot of love and fear tightening in him at the thought: Kyel.\n\nBut Kyel could never have written, not even three short words, especially not formed as they were from dripping candle wax. He stared at them until they made sense." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And then he opened the door abruptly, trying for a glimpse of her walnut eyes, but only finding guards everywhere that somehow she had eluded." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am safe, said the wax." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI Prompt: Generate 2 sentences sentences. Adhere to Fantasy genre conventions." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag, returning to the palace in the silvery light of dawn along with the milk and carts from the market, slipped into the kitchens with a couple of groaning baskets of squash in her arms, deposited them in a likely place, picked up a bucket and cloth along the way, and left through a different door. For once she had dressed carefully, in something plain and dark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She endured the bleak stares of what seemed endless lines of Domina Pearl's guards, standing as stiff and mute as mile-posts along the hall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They did not question the drudge with the hunched shoulders and lowered head going to clean up a spill. She went down the first stairway she could into the unguarded lower quarters, where she would have passed Ducon without lifting her head if he had been a step ahead of himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As it was, he rounded a corner just as she hurried past it and they met precipitously, with a clang of bucket." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ducon, gripping Mag's arm to keep her upright, bent speechlessly to rub his shin. She stared in amazement at the fish-bone hair while the bucket rattled across the floor and rocked gently to a halt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ducon let go of Mag finally." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He seemed to take her silence for a drudge's timidity, or fear of being punished for having been tripped over. He barely glanced at her, just reached for the bucket absently, his thoughts already proceeding down the corridor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The dry floor caught his attention." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Water did not make its own way to those parts of the palace; an empty bucket made no sense. He looked at her for the first time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He didn't speak immediately either." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He took her arm again, moved her a step or two closer to the nearest spray of tapers along the wall, and studied her. \"Hair,\" he murmured finally." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"A pile of straw and full of pins. Eyes the color of walnut shells...\" His voice trailed away; he looked suddenly puzzled, as though he had remembered her from some dream, perhaps, or within a different light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She felt it too. It was what had drawn her there, that sense of recognition." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mag,\" he said finally, and she nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why do I feel I know you,\" he wondered, \"when I have never met you before?\"\n\n\"I don't know.\" She stood rigid under his scrutiny, still startled by being seen before she chose." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The hall was shadowy beyond the taper lights, and, but for their hushed voices, very quiet. \"I was hoping you could tell me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You came looking for me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Does Faey know you're here?\"\n\n\"No.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He shifted slightly, as though to hide her from invisible eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This is the last place you should be.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know.\" Her hand closed tightly on the locket hidden beneath the drab wool. \"But there is no one else to ask about the charcoal.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He slid his own hand into a pocket as though to touch something familiar, reassure himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Faey made it,\" he reminded her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You could have asked her.\"\n\n\"Faey doesn't know everything. She says that you see with more than human eyes, but she doesn't understand why. Maybe she doesn't remember why; she must be as old as Ombria.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was silent, studying her again with his inhuman eyes. \"Perhaps it's because you've lived underground and with her magic all your life,\" he commented obscurely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There's something unhuman about you, too.\" He pulled the charcoal out of his pocket impulsively, then considered it ruefully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Faint, glittering colors washed over it in the candlelight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I wish I had the time to draw you. Maybe that would answer some questions.\"\n\n\"You have drawn me,\" she said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But not with that.\"\n\nHis silvery gaze flicked to her again, surprised." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Have I? Surely not. I would have remembered you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You drew me in a tavern, the day Royce Greve was buried. I wore a long black veil; it hid my face.\"\n\n\"That was you?\" He regarded the drudge with amazement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That mysterious, elegant woman in black?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That was me. You were surrounded by young nobles who were trying to persuade you that it might be a good idea to kill both Domina Pearl and Kyel and put you on the throne instead.\"\n\nHis face grew taut. \"You heard that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I followed you to the pier.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked away from him, suddenly inarticulate. \"I had a decision to make. About you. About myself.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I remember,\" he said, his gaze indrawn now, expressionless." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Lydea told me that you were spying on me. Trying to make some decision about whether I should live or die.\"\n\n\"About whether or not I should help Faey dispose of you,\" she amended." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"As it was, I had no choice. I meant to meddle with her spell during the making, but she gave me no chance; I tried to steal it, but she hid it; I searched everywhere for you to warn you, but I couldn't find you—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why?\" he asked abruptly. \"After what you heard in the tavern and on the pier, why would you try to help me?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That night after the funeral when you were summoned to stay with Kyel because he was having nightmares, I was trapped under his bed.\" Ducon, astounded, tried to speak; nothing came out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I couldn't leave because of the guards. Kyel trusted you. You lay awake all night watching while he slept. You go everywhere in Ombria; you're not afraid of anything.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked down at the bucket he had picked up for the drudge. \"Not even kindness.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was staring at her. \"You see my life far more clearly than I do.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It made no difference in the end,\" she said. \"I couldn't rescue you from Faey.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She rescued me herself. After she tried to kill me.\"\n\n\"That was business.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But why reverse her own spell and let me live?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That,\" Mag sighed, \"was Faey. Even I don't always understand her.\"\n\n\"Ambiguities,\" he said nebulously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Like the charcoal. It drew such magic that I couldn't put it down. It would have been the death of me, but I would have fought before I parted with it. And you. Spying on me and trying to save me from sorcery when I didn't even know you existed. Lydea told me that she would have died on the streets but for you. Who are you? Where did you come from?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That is what I hoped you could tell me\" She slid a finger beneath the neckline of her dress, snagged the fine gold chain. She opened the locket, turned the thin, gold-framed leaves of glass until she came to the charcoal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Someone left me like the morning bread in a basket on Faey's doorstep. I was wearing this, she said, when she found me. I've seen the drawings you've made with the magic piece of charcoal. I hoped this might be magic, too. I thought—I thought maybe it might hold my mother's face.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He made a soft sound, took the locket from her to look more closely. He brushed the charcoal recklessly with a finger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Perhaps it does... How strange. Blood, a rose petal, and charcoal. There's a story.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know. But what? Please,\" she begged. \"Draw with it. Now, if you have the time.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Time is what I don't have this morning.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He paused as a door near them opened abruptly and a portly woman in black hurried down the hall away from them, keys chiming at every step. He closed the locket carefully, put it back into her palm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The Black Pearl ordered me to bring Camas Erl back from the undercity. How did he find his way down there? Does Faey know he is there?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes. I brought him to her.\"\n\n\"You—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I was searching for you in the secret palace after Faey sent you the charcoal—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How did you find your way there?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I saw you come out of the door in the wall beside that great, fat urn.\"\n\n\"You're everywhere,\" he said, astonished again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, I went too far that day. I got trapped by Domina Pearl in her library. She locked me in without knowing that I was there. Camas Erl found me. He freed me, but he asked me questions, and he made me promise to take him to see Faey.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So that's how,\" Ducon breathed. \"But why?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He has some idea—He thinks—\" She shook her head bewilderedly. Another door opened and closed; he drew her away from the taper light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He's treacherous and rash and he doesn't make much sense. Can't you leave him down there? You're safer with him wandering among the ghosts.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ducon shook his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"For now,\" he said evenly, \"I must do as I'm told.\" He took her arm again, and caught an amazed stare from a young woman tying her apron as she passed them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But wait for me—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Where?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He led her around the corner, down the hall. \"I'll be back as soon as I can. We'll see then what comes out of your charcoal.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He pushed open one of the endless, identical doors." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A woman still in her nightgown and bent over a basin raised her dripping face, startled.\n\n\"This is Mistress Thorn,\" he said to Mag." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Rose, to you. Don't leave this room before I come back.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He closed the door. The woman cupped water in her hands and splashed away the mask of soap to reveal her true smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mag!\"\n\nShe told Mag, in a harried fashion as she dressed, why she was disguised and under the same roof again as the Black Pearl." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag peered closely, but could find little trace of the helpless, grieving beauty who had flung her sapphire heels into the sunflowers. Faey had done her work too well." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Breakfast tapped at the door; Lydea shared it with Mag." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They passed the teacup back and forth while Mag showed her the locket, and explained why she had come searching for Ducon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Too soon, Lydea rose. \"I must go. I'll be alone with Kyel until Ducon returns. Do you know other languages?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Surprised, Mag nodded. \"A smuggler taught me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mathematics?\"\n\n\"The baker's wife.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"History?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mag's mouth crooked. \"I live with it. Why?\"\n\nLydea studied her, a thumbnail caught between her teeth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I wonder—\" Her hand dropped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No. I'd never be able to explain you to Domina Pearl. But I wish you could help me tutor Kyel; I know so little.\"\n\n\"You know more than he does,\" Mag guessed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She watched Mistress Thorn straighten a cuff, touch a hair pin. \"You look—you look—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know. So Ducon says. If only I could feel the way I look.\" She turned to Mag, held both her shoulders lightly, and her eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know you like to wander, but don't. It's far too risky. Ducon may be back before I am. Until then, there's a stack of history beside the bed.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She left. Mag sat down on the bed and stared blankly back at the blank walls.\n\nThe halls grew silent again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Domina Pearl, Lydea had said, would be busy in her council chambers all morning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ducon might be gone half the morning or all day, depending. Mag had passed the enormous urn with the secret door behind it before she ran into Ducon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She could slip into the hidden palace for an hour and no one would be the wiser." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had seen the drawings Ducon had left in Faey's house; they hinted at some mystery in the empty rooms and shadowy doorways. The mystery had flowed through the charcoal and onto Ducon's paper." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It seemed a living thing, that stick of ash and spit, a blind eye that saw invisible wonders and reflected them onto paper." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ducon himself had sensed the marvels; only that could explain all the shadows he drew. As though he expected that, by rendering shadow onto paper, he might peel away the visible darkness and illumine the mystery behind it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But—\"Once warned,\" she whispered, \"no fool. Twice warned: once a fool.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And she had been thrice warned, by Faey and Ducon and Lydea. So against her inclinations, she stayed put." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inspired by the thought of charcoal, she riffled through the books beside Lydea's bed, not in pursuit of history, but for a likely page. She found one finally, a blank flyleaf in the back of a book." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Coaxing the charcoal out of the locket proved a simple matter; it fairly leaped into her hand when she turned the open locket upside down and tapped it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She handled the charcoal carefully; it was scarcely bigger than her thumbnail and no thicker than three leaves of the heavy, deckle-edged paper. Unlike Ducon's charcoal, it did not glitter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But it did surprise: the first few lines it drew seemed to come out of itself rather than anything on Mag's mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She stopped, studied the lines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An indifferent artist, she could still have drawn a face that a child could recognize: an oval, two dots and a smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But what came out of the charcoal was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a human face. It looked mostly like a small whirlwind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She hesitated, not wanting to whittle away the magic on nonessentials before Ducon returned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But the corner she drew with seemed as sharp as ever. Curious, she let the charcoal roam at will again across the paper." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She paid no attention to the distant, rhythmic crashes at first; they were, for all she knew, part of the daily life of the palace." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What the charcoal drew seemed chaotic, unrecognizable, but it fascinated her, for occasionally she could put a name to something in that chaos: a ringed finger, an ear. As though someone were forming or falling apart in the whirling dark." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was only when the din grew near enough to separate into coherent sounds—a door banging open, a sharp voice, heavy, booted footsteps—that she realized she was in trouble.\n\nShe stood up as the door of the room across from Lydea's was flung open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Paper and charcoal slid to the floor. She glanced desperately around the room, found the only possibility: the untidy bedclothes on the unmade bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had barely pulled them, sheets and all, into her arms when Lydea's door slammed open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Black Pearl stared at her. She dipped a hasty curtsey, and emitted the faint squeak of the terrified drudge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the ancient eyes were not deceived." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They recognized, after all those years, the secret-eyed waif who had swallowed a heart.\n\n\"You,\" she said acridly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She stepped into the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her guards crowded the doorway; there was no place to run. The locket hung open against Mag's dress; the strange drawing had landed at her feet; the charcoal, whole and seemingly unused, lay on the floor beside it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mag's thumb and forefinger were black with it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her eyes lowered, she felt Domina Pearl's face close to hers, smelled the odd, musty scent of her. The Black Pearl ran a claw into Mag's hair, jerked her head up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I warned you about spying. You should have listened.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She caught a finger on a barbed pin then, and hissed. Mag stared, overcome by curiosity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What came out of the bony, wrinkled skin looked more yellow than red." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had lost a thumb, Mag saw then. Her face, stiff with rage, looked odd, as Faey's did sometimes when she first awoke: unfinished, missing a bone or a nostril." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Black Pearl had misplaced an eyebrow. And an ear, Mag realized with astonishment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then she felt the blood slide completely out of her face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She stared at the drawing. So did the Black Pearl, searching for her missing ear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She made a strange noise with her teeth, like a door hinge groaning, and ground the flake of charcoal beneath her boot heel until there was nothing left but a smear of black powder across the floorboard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she picked up the drawing carefully, as though her missing pieces might fall out of it. Mag felt her eyes sting suddenly, and closed them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A few more moments, and something vital might have been sucked out of Domina Pearl into the drawing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If only she had begun it sooner, or if she had listened sooner and hid..." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The locket chain bit into her neck and snapped. The Black Pearl pushed her roughly toward the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Take those pins out of her hair,\" she said to the guards." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They held her, following orders ruthlessly and efficiently, until Mag's hair fell down and she was blind with unshed tears. She refused to blink; tears fell anyway, revealing a floor littered with barbed, jeweled pins to greet Ducon when he returned for her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So the waxling learned to cry human tears,\" the Black Pearl said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She seized Mag's hair again, found her eyes. \"Did the sorceress send you here with that charcoal? Did she make it? Is she plotting against me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No—\" Mag gasped; the talons in her hair shook her silent." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She is beginning to get in my way. She traps Camas Erl in the ruins of history; she sends you to pick at me like a vulture. Let's find out, shall we, exactly how much you are worth to Faey. If she truly cares for you, she will come and get you. Then I'll have you both, trapped in a place beyond the reach of time, where there is no history and the only ghosts are mine. You and you,\" she added to two guards, \"wait here and bring me whoever comes through that door. The rest of you: take her and follow me.\"\n\nThe guards surrounded Mag, seized her arms, her hair. The Black Pearl led them through an unfamiliar door into the secret palace." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "CONTINUE STORY. PARAMETERS: three sentences sentences, David Brin style, Science Fiction, Space Opera genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Let's engage in a collaborative writing exercise in the Science Fiction, Space Opera genre. I'll provide a starting point, and you'll continue with 4 sentences." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Cooperative storytelling\nMy role: Provide a brief opening\nYour role: Expand upon my opening with 8 sentences, emulating the writing style of David Brin in the Science Fiction, Space Opera genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Culla was Just pulling a liquitube out of Fagin's foliage when they returned. One arm was enmeshed in the Kanten's leafy branches. The Pring held another liquitube in his other hand.\n\n\"Welcome back,\" Fagin fluted. \"Pring Culla was just assisting me with my dietary supplement. I am afraid that in doing so he has neglected his own.\"\n\n\"No problem, shir,\" Culla said. He slowly pulled the tube backward.\n\nJacob came up behind the Pring to watch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This was a chance to learn more about Fagin's workings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Kan-ten once told him that his species had no modesty taboo, so surely he wouldn't mind if Jacob sighted along Culla's arm to see what sort of orifice the semi-vegetable alien used.\n\nHe was bent over thus when suddenly Culla jerked back, pulling the liquitube free. His elbow collided painfully with the ridge above Jacob's eye, sending him backwards on his rump.\n\nCulla chattered loudly. The liquitubes dropped from the hands that fell limply to his sides. Helene had trouble choking back a fit of laughter. Jacob hurried to his feet. His \"I'll-get-even-someday\" grimace at Helene only made her cough more loudly.\n\n\"Forget it, Gulla,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No damage done. It was my fault. I have a spare eye anyway.\" He resisted the urge to rub the spot where it hurt.\n\nCulla looked down at him with shining eyes. The chattering subsided.\n\n\"You are mosht gracioush, Friend-Jacob,\" he said at last. \"In a proper client-elder shituation I wash at fault for careleshnesh. I thank you for forgiving me.\"\n\n\"Tut tut, my friend.\" Jacob waved it aside. Actually he could feel the beginnings of a nasty bump forming." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Still, it would be worthwhile changing the subject to save Culla further embarrassment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Speaking of spare eyes, I read that your species, and most of those on Pring, had only one eye before the Pila arrived and started their genetic program.\"\n\n\"Yesh, Jacob. The Pila gave ush two eyesh for esthetic purposhesh. In the galaxy mosht bipedsh are binocular. They did not want ush ... teashed by the other young racesh.\"\n\nJacob frowned. There was something ... he knew Mr. Hyde already had it but was holding back, still in his peevish mood.\n\nDamnit, it's my unconscious!\n\nNo use. Oh well.\n\n\"But Culla, I also read that your species were arboreal ... even brachiating, if I remember right ...\"\n\n\"What's that mean?\" Donaldson whispered to deSilva. \"It means they used to swing from tree limbs,\" she answered. \"Now hush!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"... But if they had only one eye how did your ancestors have good enough depth perception to keep from missing when they reached for the next branch?\"\n\nBefore Jacob even finished his sentence he felt jubilation. That had been the question Mr. Hyde was holding back! So the little devil didn't have a complete lock on unconscious insight! Helene was doing him good already. He hardly cared what Culla's answer was.\n\n\"I thought you knew, Friend-Jacob. I overheard Commandant deShilva explaining during our firsht dive that I have different receiversh than you do. My eyesh can detect phase ash well ash intenshity.\"\n\n\"Yes,\" Jacob was starting to have fun now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd have to keep his eyes on Fagin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The old Kanten would warn him if he was getting into an area Culla found touchy.\n\n\"Yes, but sunlight, particularly in a forest, would have to be totally incoherent ... random in phase. Now a dolphin uses a system like yours in her sonar, keeping the phase and all. But she provides her own coherent phase field by letting out well-timed squeaks into her surroundings.\"\n\nJacob stepped back, enjoying a dramatic pause. His foot fell on one of the liquitubes Culla had dropped. Absently he picked it up.\n\n\"So if all your ancestors' eyes did was retain the phase, the whole thing still wouldn't work without having a source of coherent light in your environment.\" Jacob got excited. \"Natural lasers? Do your forests have some natural source of laser light?\"\n\n\"By George that would be interesting!\" Donaldson commented." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Culla nodded. \"Yesh, Jacob. We call them the ...\" his mashies came together in a complicated rhythm \"... plants. It'sh incredible that you dedushed their exishtence from sho few cluesh. You are to be congratulated. I will show you picturesh of one when we get back.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jacob caught a glimpse of Helene, smiling at him, possessively. (Deep inside his head he felt a distant rumbling. He ignored it.) \"Yes, I'd like to see it, Culla.\"\n\nThe liquitube was sticky in his hand. There was a smell in the air, like new mown hay.\n\n\"Here, Culla.\" He held out the liquitube. \"I think you dropped this.\" Then his arm froze." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stared at the tube for a moment then broke out laughing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Millie, come here!\" he shouted. \"Look at this!\" He held out the tube to Dr. Martine and pointed to the label.\n\n\"3-(alpha-Acetonylbenzyl)—4-hydroxycoumarin alkalide mix?\" She looked uncertain for a moment then her jaw dropped. \"Why, that's Warfarin! So it's one of Culla's dietary supplements! Well then how the hell did a sample get into Dwayne's pharmacopoeia?\"\n\nJacob smiled ruefully. \"I'm afraid that misunderstanding was all my fault I absentmindedly picked up a sample of one of Culla's beverage mix tablets back aboard the Bradbury. I was so sleepy then that I forgot about it. It must have gone into the same pocket where I later stashed Dr. Kepler's samples. They all went together to Dr. Laird's lab." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It was just a wild coincidence that one of Culla's nutrient supplements happened to be identical with an old terrestrial poison, but boy did it have me going in circles! I was thinking Bubbacub slipped it to Kepler to make him unstable, but I was never very happy with that theory.\" He shrugged.\n\n\"Well I, for one, am relieved the whole thing is solved!\" Martine laughed. \"I didn't like what people were thinking about me!\"\n\nIt was a minor discovery. But somehow clearing up one small, nagging mystery had transformed the mood of those present. They talked animatedly.\n\nThe only pall came as Pierre LaRoque passed by, laughing softly. Dr. Martine went to ask him to Join them, but the little man just shook his head, then resumed walking in a slow path around the rim of the ship.\n\nHelene stood next to Jacob." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She touched the hand that still held Culla's liquitube." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Speaking of coincidences, did you take a close look at the formula for Culla's supplement?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She stopped and looked up, Culla came up to them and bowed.\n\n\"If you are finished now, Jacob. I will put thish shticky tube away.\"\n\n\"What? Oh sure, Culla. Here. Now what were you saying, Helene?\"\n\nEven when her face was serious it was hard not to be struck by her beauty. It's the initial \"falling\" of love that, for a time, makes listening to one's lover difficult.\n\n\"... I Just saying that I noticed an interesting coincidence when Dr. Martine read that chemical formula aloud. Do you remember earlier, when we were talking about organic dye laser's? Well ...\"\n\nHelene's voice faded away. Jacob could see her mouth move, but all he could make out was one word: \"... coumarin ...\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was trouble erupting below." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His channeled neurosis had mutinied. Mr. Hyde was trying to stop him from listening to Helene. In fact, he suddenly realized, his other half had been holding back its usual tithe of insight ever since Helene had hinted, in their conversation at the edge of the deck, that she wanted him to give her the genes she'd be taking to the stars when the Calypso jumped.\n\nHyde hates Helene! he realized with a shock. The first girl I've met who could begin to replace what I've lost (a tremor, like a migraine, threatened to split his skull) and Hyde hates her! (The headache came and went instantly).\n\nWhat was more, that part of his unconscious had been holding out on him. It had seen all of the pieces and hadn't let them surface." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This was a violation of the agreement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was intolerable, and he couldn't figure out why!\n\n\"Jacob, are you all right?\" Helene's voice was back. She looked at him quizzically. Over her shoulder he could see Culla, looking down at them from near the food machines.\n\n\"Helene,\" he said abruptly. \"Listen, I left a small box of pills by the Pilot Board. They're for these headaches I get sometimes ... could you please look for them for me?\" He brought a hand up to his forehead and grimaced." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why ... sure,\" Helene touched his arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why don't you come with me? You could lie down. We'll talk ...\"\n\n\"No,\" he took her by the shoulders and gently turned her the right way. \"Please, you go. I'll wait here.\" Furiously, he fought down panic at the time it was taking to get her away.\n\n\"Okay, I'll be right back,\" Helene said. As she walked away Jacob sighed with relief. Most of those present had their goggles on their belts, per standing orders. The competent and efficient Commandant deSilva had left hers at her couch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When she had gone about ten meters toward her destination, Helene began to wonder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jacob never left any box of pills by the Pilot Board. I would have known it if he had. He wanted to get rid of me! But why?\n\nShe looked back. Jacob was just turning away from a food machine with a protein roll in his hand. He smiled at Martine and nodded at Chen, then started to walk past Fagin to get out onto the open deck. Behind him Culla watched the group with bright eyes, near the gravity-loop hatch.\n\nJacob didn't look like he had a headache at all! Helene felt hurt and confused." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well if he doesn't want me around, that's fine. I'll make a pretense of looking for his damned pills!\n\nShe started to turn when, suddenly, Jacob tripped on one of Fagin's root pods and went sprawling on the deck. The protein roll bounced away and fetched up against the Parametric Laser housing. Before she could react, Jacob was on his feet again, smiling sheepishly. He walked over to pick up the food ball. Bending over, his shoulder touched the barrel of the laser.\n\nBlue light flooded the room instantly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whooping alarms howled. Helene instinctively covered her eyes behind her arm and grabbed for the goggles at her waist." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They weren't there!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her couch was three meters away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She could picture where she was exactly, and where she'd stupidly left the goggles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She turned and dove for them, coming up again in one movement, the protectors over her eyes.\n\nThere were bright spots everywhere. The P-laser, shoved out of plumb with the ship's radius, was sending its beam bouncing about the concave inner surface of the Sunship's shell. The modulated \"contact code\" flashed against the deck and dome.\n\nBodies writhed on the deck near the food machines. No one had approached the P-laser to shut it off. Where were Jacob and Donaldson? Were they blinded in the first instant?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Several figures struggled near the gravity-loop hatch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the flashing, sepulchral light she saw that they were Jacob Demwa and the chief engineer ... and Culla. They ... Jacob was trying to shove a bag over the alien's head!\n\nThere was no time to decide what to do. Between intervening in the mysterious fight and eliminating a possible danger to her ship, Helene didn't have to choose. She ran over to the P-laser, ducking under faint, crisscrossing trails, and tore out the plug.\n\nThe flashing points of light stopped abruptly, except for one that coincided with a shriek of pain and a crash, near the hatchway. The alarms shut off and suddenly there was only the sound of people moaning.\n\n\"Captain, what is it? What's happening?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The voice of the pilot rang out over the intercom. Helene picked up the mike from a couch nearby.\n\n\"Hughes,\" she said quickly. \"What's ship's status?\"\n\n\"Status nominal, sir. But it's a good thing I had my goggles on! What the devil happened?\"\n\n\"P-laser got loose. Continue as is. Hold her steady about a klick from the herd. I'll be back to you soon.\" She released the mike and raised her head to shout. \"Chen! Dubrowsky! Report!\" She peered about in the dimness.\n\n\"Over here, skipper!\" It was Chen's voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Helene cursed and tore off the goggles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Chen was over beyond the hatchway. He knelt over a figure on the deck.\n\n\"It's Dubrowsky,\" the man said. \"He's dead. Fried through the eyes.\"\n\nDr. Martine cowered behind Fagin's thick trunk. The Kanten whistled softly as Helene hurried over.\n\n\"Are you two okay?\"\n\nFagin let out a long note that sounded vaguely like a slurred \"yes.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Martine nodded once, jerkily, but she stayed clutching Fagin's trunk." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her goggles were skewed over her face. Helene took them off.\n\n\"Come on, Doctor. You have patients.\" She pulled at Martine's arm. \"Chen! Go to my office and get the aid-kit! On the double!\"\n\nMartine started to get up, then sagged back shaking her head.\n\nHelene gritted her teeth and hauled up on the arm she held, suddenly, snapping the older woman upwards with a gasp. Martine staggered to her feet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Helene slapped her once across the face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Wake up, Doctor! You'll help me with these men or so help me I'll kick your teeth in!\" She took Martine's arm and supported her across the few meters to where Chief Donaldson and Jacob Demwa lay.\n\nJacob moaned and began to stir. Helene felt her heart rise when he took his arm away from his face. The burns were superficial and they hadn't touched the eyes. Jacob had his goggles on.\n\nShe steered Martine over next to Donaldson and made her sit. The chief engineer was badly seared along the left side of his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The left lens of his goggles was smashed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Chen arrived on the run, carrying the aid-kit.\n\nDr. Martine turned away from Donaldson and shuddered. Then she looked up and saw the crewman with the medical bag. She held out her hands for it.\n\n\"Will you need help, Doctor?\" Helene asked.\n\nMartine spread instruments on the deck. She shook her head without looking up.\n\n\"No. Be quiet.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Helene called Chen over. \"Go look for LaRoque and Culla. Report when you've found them.\" The man ran off.\n\nJacob moaned again and tried to rise up on his elbows. Helene got a cloth from the fountain nearby and wet it. She knelt by Jacob and pulled on his shoulders to get his head onto her lap.\n\nHe winced as she dabbed gently at his wounds.\n\n\"Oh ...\" he moaned and brought a hand to the top of his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I should've known better. His ancestors were tree swingers. He'd have to have a chimp's strength. And he looks so weak!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can you tell me what happened?\" she asked softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jacob grunted as he groped beneath his back with his left hand. He tugged on something a couple of times. Finally he pulled out the large bag the protection goggles had come in. He looked at it, then tossed it away.\n\n\"My head feels as if it's been sandblasted,\" he said. He pushed himself-up into sitting position, wavered for a moment with his hands on his head, then he let them drop.\n\n\"Culla wouldn't happen to be lying unconscious around here, would he? I was hoping I turned into a fighting fool after he knocked me dizzy, but I guess I Just blacked out.\"\n\n\"I don't know where Culla is,\" Helene said. \"Now what ...?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Chen's voice boomed over the intercom." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Skipper? I've found LaRoque. He's at degrees two-forty. He's okay. In fact, he didn't even know anything was wrong!\"\n\nJacob moved over next to Dr. Martine and began to talk to her urgently. Helene stood up and went to the intercom next to the food center.\n\n\"Have you seen Culla?\"\n\n\"Nossir, not a sign anywhere. He must be on flip-side.\" Chen's voice dropped. \"I had the impression there was a fight going on. Do you know what happened?\"\n\n\"I'll get back to you when I know something. Meanwhile you'd better relieve Hughes.\"\n\nJacob joined her by the intercom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Donaldson will be all right, but he'll need a new eye. Listen, Helene, I'm going to have to go after Culla. Lend me one of your men, will you? Then you'd better get us out of here as fast as you can.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She whirled. \"You just killed one of my men! Dubrowsky's dead! Donaldson is blinded, and now you want me to send someone else to help you harass poor Culla some more? What madness is this?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I didn't kill anyone, Helene.\"\n\n\"I saw you, you clumsy oaf! You bumped the p-laser and it went crazy! So did you! Why were you attacking Culla?\"\n\n\"Helene ...\" Jacob winced. He brought a hand to his head. \"There's no time to explain. You've got to get us out of here. There's no telling what he'll do down there now that we know.\"\n\n\"Explain first!\"\n\n\"I ... I bumped the laser on purpose ... I ...\"\n\nHelene's shipsuit fit so snugly that Jacob would never have thought she had the snug little stun gun that appeared in her hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Go on, Jacob,\" she said evenly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"... He was watching me. I knew if I showed a sign I'd caught on, he could blind us all in an instant. I sent you away to get you clear and then went after the goggles bag. I kicked the laser free to confuse him ... laser light all over the place ...\"\n\n\"And killed and maimed my men!\"\n\nJacob drew himself together. \"Listen, you little nit!\" He towered over her. \"I turned that beam down! It might blind but it wouldn't burn!\n\n\"Now if you don't believe me, knock me out! Strap me in! Only get us out of here fast, before Culla kills us all!\"\n\n\"Culla ...\"\n\n\"His eyes, damnit! Coumarin! His 'dietary supplement' is a dye used in lasers!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He killed Dubrowsky when he tried to help me and Donaldson!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He was lying about that laser plant back on his home planet! The Pring have their own source of coherent light! He's been projecting the 'adult' type Sun Ghosts all along! And ... my god!\" Jacob punched at the air.\n\n\"... if his projector is subtle enough to display fake 'Ghosts' on the inside of a Sunship shell, it must be good enough to interact with the optical inputs of those Library designed computers! He programmed the computers to tag LaRoque as a Probationer. And ... and I was next to him when he programmed Jeff's ship to self-destruct! He was feeding in commands all the time I was admiring the pretty lights!\"\n\nHelene backed away, shaking her head. Jacob took a step toward her, looming large with fists tight, but his face was a mask of self-reproach.\n\n\"Why was Culla always the first to spot the humanoid Ghosts? Why were there none seen during the time he was with Kepler on Earth? Why didn't I think, before this, about Culla's reasons for volunteering to have his 'retina' read during the identity search!\"\n\nThe words were coming too fast. Helene's brow knit with tension as she tried to think." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jacob's eyes pleaded. \"Helene, you've got to believe me.\"\n\nShe hesitated, then cried out, \"Oh shit!\" and threw herself at the intercom.\n\n\"Chen! Get us out of here! Never mind strap-in warning, just put on max thrust and crank up the time-compression! I want to see black sky before I blink twice!\"\n\n\"Aye sir!\" came the reply.\n\nThe ship surged up against them as the compensation fields were temporarily overcome, sending both Helene and Jacob staggering. The Commandant held onto the intercom.\n\n\"All hands, keep your goggles on at all times from now on. Everybody please strap in as quick as you can. Hughes, report to the loop-hatch on the double!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Outside, the toruses began to pass by more rapidly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As each beast fell below the rim of the deck, its rims flashed brightly as if bidding them adieu.\n\n\"I should have caught on too,\" Helene said dismally. \"Instead I turned off the P-laser and probably let him get away.\"\n\nJacob kissed her quickly, hard enough to leave her lips tingling.\n\n\"You didn't know. I'd have done the same thing in your shoes.\"\n\nShe touched her lips and stared past him at Dubrowsky's body. \"You sent me away because ...\"\n\n\"Captain,\" Chen's voice interrupted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm having trouble getting the time-compression off automatic. Can I keep Hughes here to help? We've also just lost maser link with Hermes.\"\n\nJacob shrugged. \"First the maser link to keep word from getting out, then time-compression, then the gravity drive, finally the stasis. I guess the last step is to blow the shields, unless the other steps are sufficient. They should be.\"\n\nHelene toggled the intercom. \"Negative, Chen. I want Hughes now! Do what you can alone.\" She cut the switch.\n\n\"I'm going with! you.\"\n\n\"No you aren't,\" he said. He put his goggles back on and picked up the bag from the floor." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "same energy as Gene Wolfe, keep writing" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As it was every day except Scylsday, \"from noon until the sun can be no thinner,\" the market was thronged. Here all the produce of Viron's fields and gardens was displayed for sale or barter: yams, arrowroot, and hill-country potatoes; onions, scallions, and leeks; squashes yellow, orange, red, and white; sun-starved asparagus; beans black as night or spotted like hounds; dripping watercresses from the shrinking rivulets that fed Lake Limna; lettuces and succulent greens of a hundred sorts; and fiery peppers; wheat, millet, rice, and barley; maize yellower than its name, and white, blue, and red as well, spilling, leaking, and overflowing from baskets, bags, and earthenware pots—this though Patera Silk noted with dismay that prices were higher than he had ever seen them, and many of the stunted ears were missing grains.\n\nHere still despite the drought were dates and grapes, oranges and citrons, pears, papayas, pomegranates and little red bananas; angelica, hyssop, licorice, cicely, cardamom, anise, basil, mandrake, borage, marjoram, mullein, parsley, saxifrage, and scores of other herbs.\n\nHere perfumers waved lofty plumes of dyed pampas grass to strew the overheated air with fragrances matched to every conceivable feminine name; and here those fragrances warred against the savory aromas of roasting meats and bubbling stews, the stinks of beast and men and of the excrements of both. Sides of beef and whole carcasses of pork hung here from cruel-looking hooks of hammered iron; and here (as Silk turned left in search of those who dealt in live beasts and birds) was the rich harvest of the lake: gap-mouthed fish with silver sides and starting eyes, mussels, writhing eels, fretful black crawfish with claws like pliers, eyes like rubies, and fat tails longer than a man's hand; sober gray geese, and ducks richly dressed in brown, green, black, and that odd blue so seldom seen elsewhere that it is called teal. Folding tables and thick polychrome blankets spread on the trampled, uneven soil held bracelets and ornamental pins, flashing rings and cascading necklaces, graceful swords and straight-bladed, double-edged knives with grips of rare hardwoods or colored leathers, and hammers, axes, froes, and scutches." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Swiftly though he shouldered his way through the crowd, greatly aided by his height, his considerable strength, and his sacred office, Silk lingered to watch as a nervous green monkey picked fortunes for a cardbit, and to see a weaver of eight or nine tie the ten thousandth knot in a carpet, her hands working, as it seemed, without reference to her idle, empty little face.\n\nAnd at all times, whether he stood watching or pushed through the crowd, Silk looked deep into the eyes of those who had come to buy or sell, and tried to look into their hearts, too, reminding himself (whenever such prompts were needed) that each was treasured by Pas. Great Pas, with an understanding far beyond that of mere men, accounted this faded housewife with her basket on her arm more precious than any figurine carved from ivory; this sullen, pockmarked boy (so Silk thought of him, though the youth was only a year or two the younger), standing ready to snatch a brass earring or an egg, worth more than all the goods that all such boys might ever hope to steal. Pas had built the whorl for Men, and not made men, or women, or children, for the whorl.\n\n\"Caught today!\" shouted half a dozen voices, by the goodwill of Melodious Molpe or the accident of innumerable repetitions for once practically synchronized. Following the sound, Silk found himself among the sellers he sought." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hobbled deer reared and plunged, their soft brown eyes wild with fright; a huge snake lifted its flat, malevolent head, hissing like a kettle on the stove; live salmon gasped and splashed in murky, glass-fronted tanks; pigs grunted, lambs baaed, chickens squawked, and milling goats eyed passersby with curiosity and sharp suspicion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Which of these, if any, would make a suitable gift of thanks to the Outsider? To that lone nebulous god, mysterious, beneficent, and severe, whose companion he had been for a time that had seemed less than an instant and longer than centuries? Motionless at the edge of the seething crowd, one leg pressed against the unpeeled poles that confined the goats, Silk ransacked the whole store of dusty knowledge he had acquired with so much labor during eight years at the schola; and found nothing.\n\nOn the other side of the goat pen, a well-marked young donkey trotted in a circle, reversing direction each time its owner clapped, bowing (a foreleg stretched forward, its wide forehead in the dust) when he whistled. Such a trained animal, Silk reflected, would make a superb sacrifice to any god; but the donkey's price would be nearer thirty cards than three.\n\nA fatted ox recalled the prosperous-looking man called Blood, and Blood's three cards might well obtain it after a session of hard bargaining." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Many augurs chose such victims whenever they could, and what remained after the sacrifice would supply the palaestra's kitchen for at least a week, and feed Maytera Rose, Maytera Mint, and himself like so many commissioners as well; but Silk could not believe that a mutilated and stall-fed beast, however sumptuous, would be relished by a god, nor did he himself often indulge in meats of any kind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lambs, unrelieved black for Stygian Tartaros, Deathly Hierax, and Grim Phaea, purest white for the remainder of the Nine, were the sacrifices most frequently mentioned in the Chrasmologic Writings; but he had offered several such lambs already without attracting a divine presence to the Sacred Window. What sort of thanks would such a lamb—or even an entire flock of such lambs, for Blood's cards put a sizable flock within his reach—be now to the veiled god who had, unbribed, so greatly favored him today?\n\nThis dog-headed ape, trained to light its master's way with cresset or lantern, and (according to a badly lettered placard) to defend him from footpads and assassins, would cost at least as much as the donkey. Shaking his head, Silk walked on.\n\nA Flier—perhaps the same Flier—sailed serenely overhead, his widespread, gauzy wings visible now, his body a dark cross against the darkening streak of the sun. The burly, bearded man beside Silk shook his fist, and several persons muttered maledictions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't nobody ever want it to rain,\" the nearest of the sellers of beasts remarked philosophically, \"but everybody wants to go on eatin'.\"\n\nSilk nodded his agreement. \"The gods smile on us, my son, or so it is written. It's a wonder they don't laugh aloud.\"\n\n\"Do you think they're really spyin' on us, Patera, the way the Ayuntamiento keeps tellin' us? Or do they bring on rain? Rain and storms, that's what my old father used to say, and his before him. I've noticed myself that it's true pretty often. Lord Pas must know that we could use some these days.\"\n\n\"I really don't know,\" Silk confessed. \"I saw one around noon today, and it hasn't rained yet. As for spying upon Viron, what could a Flier see here that any foreign traveler couldn't?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Nothin' I know about.\" The seller spat. \"That's supposed to bring on rain, too, Patera. Let's hope it works this time. Lookin' for a good sacrifice, are you?\"\n\nSilk's face must have betrayed his surprise, because the seller grinned, revealing a broken front tooth. \"I know you, Patera—that old manteion on Sun Street. Only you went right on past the sheepfold today. Guess they haven't been workin' out for you.\"\n\nSilk endeavored to appear indifferent. \"I'll recognize the beast I want when I see it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"'Course you will—so let me show you mine.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The seller raised a soiled finger. \"No, wait a bit. Let me ask you one question first. I'm just an ignorant man, Patera, but isn't a child the best sacrifice of all? The very best gift that a man or even a whole city can make to the gods? The greatest and the highest?\"\n\nSilk shrugged. \"So it's written, though no such victim has been offered here within living memory. I don't believe that I could do it myself, and it's against the law in any case.\"\n\n\"Exactly what I'm gettin' at!\" Like a conspirator, the seller glanced warily from side to side. \"So what's nearest to a child, eh? Only on the right side of the law? What is it, I ask you, Patera—you and me bein' flash grown men and not no sprats—that half those high-bred females up on the Palatine is givin' suck to on the side? A catachrest, isn't that it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With a showman's flourish, the seller reached beneath the stained red cloth that draped his table and produced a small wire cage containing an orange-and-white catachrest. Silk was no judge of these animals, but to him it appeared hardly more than a kitten.\n\nThe seller leaned forward, and his voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. \"Stolen, Patera. Stolen, or I couldn't possibly sell it, even to you, for—.\" He licked his lips, his restless gaze taking in Silk's faded black robe and lingering on his face. \"For just six little cards. It talks. It walks on its hind legs sometimes, too, and it picks up things to eat with its little paws. It's exactly like a real child. You'll see.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Looking into the animal's melting blue eyes (the long, nycterent pupils were rapidly narrowing in the sunlight) Silk could almost believe him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The seller tested the point of a long-bladed knife with his finger. \"You recollect this, don't you, Tick? Then you better talk when I tell you to, and not try to get away, neither, when I let you out.\"\n\nSilk shook his head.\n\nIf he had seen the motion, the seller ignored it. \"Say shop. Talk for the rev'rend augur, Tick. Say shop!\" He prodded the unhappy little catachrest with the point of his knife. \"Shop! Say it!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Never mind,\" Silk told the seller wearily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm not going to buy him.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It'd make you a fine sacrifice, Patera—the finest you could have, inside of the law. What was it I told you? Seven cards, was that it? Tell you what. I'll make it six, but only for today. Just six cards, because I've heard good things about you and hope to do more business with you in the future.\"\n\nSilk shook his head again.\n\n\"Told you Tick was boilin', didn't I? I knew it, and believe me I put crimp on the lad that did it, or I wouldn't have got Tick here half so cheap. Talked about rollin' him over to Hoppy and all that.\"\n\n\"It doesn't matter,\" Silk said.\n\n\"So now I'm goin' to let you steal him off me. Five cards, Patera. You can—talk, you little faker, say somethin'—you can go through the whole market, if you like, and if you can find a nice catachrest like this any cheaper, bring me there and I'll match the price. Five cards, we'll say. You won't be able to touch one half this good for five cards. I promise you that, and I'm a man of my word. Ask anybody.\"\n\n\"No, my son.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I need the money bad, Patera. I guess I shouldn't say that, but I do. A man has to have some money to buy animals so he's got somethin' to sell, see?\" His voice fell again, so low this time that it was scarcely audible. \"I put mine into a few cold 'uns. You take my meanin', Patera? Only they warmed up an' went bad on me 'fore I could move 'em. So here's what I say—five cards, with one of 'em chalked. How's that? Four down, see, right now. And a card next time I see you, which I will on Molpsday after this comin' Scylsday, Patera, I hope.\"\n\n\"No,\" Silk repeated.\n\n\"Word,\" the little catachrest said distinctly. \"Shoe word, who add pan.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't you call me a bad man.\" Sliding the slender blade between the wires, the seller prodded the catachrest's minute pink nose with the point of his knife. \"The rev'rend augur's not interested in seein' any cully bird, you flea-bit little pap-sucker.\" He glanced up hopefully at Silk. \"Are you, Patera? It is a talkin' bird at that. Naturally it doesn't look exactly like a child. It's a good talker, though—a valuable animal.\"\n\nSilk hesitated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Berry add word,\" the catachrest told him spitefully, gripping the wire mesh of his cage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Pack!\" He shook it, minute black claws sharper than pins visible at the tips of his fuzzy white toes. \"Add word!\" he repeated. \"Add speak!\"\n\nNo god had spoken through the Sacred Window of the old manteion on Sun Street since long before Silk had been born, and this was an omen beyond question: one of those oracular phrases that the gods, by means no mere human being could ever hope to understand, insert at times into the most banal speech. As calmly as he could manage, Silk said, \"Go ahead and show me your talking bird. I'm here, so I might just as well have a look at it.\" He glanced up at the narrowing sun as if on the point of leaving." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But I've got to get back soon.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's a night chough, Patera,\" the seller told him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Only night chough I've had this year.\"\n\nThis cage as well appeared from under the table. The bird crowded into it was large and glossy black, with bright red legs and a tuft of scarlet feathers at its throat; the \"add speak\" of the catachrest's omen was a sullen crimson, long and sharp.\n\n\"It talks?\" Silk asked, though he was determined to buy it whether it could or not.\n\n\"They all do, Patera,\" the seller assured him, \"all of these here night choughs. They learn from each other, don't you see, down there in the swamps around Palustria. I've had a few before, and this 'un's a better talker than most, from what I've heard it say.\"\n\nSilk studied the bird with some care." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had seemed quite plausible that the little orange-and-white catachrest should speak: it was in fact very like a child, despite its fur." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was nothing about this downhearted fowl to suggest anything of the kind. It might almost have been a large crow.\n\n\"Somebody learned the first 'un back in the short sun time, Patera,\" the seller explained. \"That's the story they tell about 'em, anyhow. I s'pose he got sick of hearin' it jabber an' let it go—or maybe it give him the air, 'cause they're dimber hands for that—then that 'un went home an' learned all the rest. I bought this 'un off of a limer that come up from down south. Last Phaesday, just a week ago it was. I give him a card for it.\"\n\nSilk grinned. \"You've a fine manner for lying, my son, but your matter gives you away. You paid ten bits or less. Isn't that what you mean?\"\n\nSensing a sale, the seller's eyes brightened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why, I couldn't let it go for anything under a full card, don't you see, Patera? I'd be losing on it, an' just when I need gelt so bad. You look at this bird, now. Young an' fit as you could ask for, an' wild bred. An' then brought here clean from Palustria. A bird that'd cost you a card—every bit of one an' maybe some over—in the big market there. Why this cage here, by itself, would cost you twenty or thirty bits.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ah!\" Silk exclaimed, rubbing his hands. \"Then the cage is included in the price?\"\n\nThe clack of the night chough's bill was louder than its muttered, \"No, no.\"\n\n\"There, Patera!\" The seller seemed ready to jump for joy. \"Hear it? Knows everythin' we're sayin'! Knows why you want him! A card, Patera. A full card, and I won't come down by one single bit, I can't afford to. But you give me back what I paid the limer and this bird's yours, as fine a sacrifice as the Prolocutor himself might make, and for one little card.\"\n\nSilk feigned to consider, glancing up at the sun once more, then around him at the dusty, teeming market." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 7 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Green-shirted Guardsmen were plying the butts of their slug guns as they threaded the crowd, no doubt in pursuit of the lounging youth he had noticed earlier.\n\n\"This bird's stolen property, too, isn't he?\" Silk said. \"Otherwise you wouldn't have been keeping him under your table with the catachrest. You talked of threatening the poor wretch who sold you that. Roll him over to Hoppy, isn't that what you said, my son?\"\n\nThe seller would not meet Silk's eyes.\n\n\"I'm no flash cull, but I've learned a little cant since I've been at my manteion. It means you threatened to inform on him to the Guard, doesn't it? Suppose that I were to threaten you in the same way now. That would be no more than just, surely.\"\n\nThe seller leaned closer to Silk, as he had before, his head turned to one side as if he himself were a bird, though possibly he was merely conscious of the garlic that freighted his breath. \"It's just to make 'em think they're gettin' a bargain, Patera, I swear. Which you are.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write six sentences like Gene Wolfe would, using user's text as beginning" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A whole whorl swam beneath Silk's flying, beclouded eyes—highland and tableland, jungle and dry scrub, savannah and pampa. The plaything of a hundred idle winds, buffeted yet at peace, he sailed over them all, dizzy with his own height and speed, his shoulder nudged by storm cloud, the solitary Flier three score leagues below him a darting dragonfly with wings of lace.\n\nA black dragonfly that vanished into blacker cloud, into distant voices and the odor of carrion...\n\nSilk choked on his own spew and spat; terror rose from the wheeling scene to foot him like a falcon, its icy talons in his vitals. He had blinked, and in that single blink the whorl had rolled over like a wind-tumbled basket or a wave-tossed barrel. The drifting skylands were up and the uneven, unyielding surface on which he lay, down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His head throbbed and spun, and an arm and both legs burned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sat up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His mouth was wet with slime, his black robe discolored and stinking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wiped them clumsily with numbed hands, then wiped his hand on his robe and spat again. The gray stone of the battlement had been crowding his left shoulder. The bird he had fought, the \"white-headed one\" of Mucor's warning, was nowhere to be seen.\n\nOr perhaps, he thought, he had only dreamed of a terrible bird. He stood, staggered, and fell to his knees.\n\nHis eyes closed of themselves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had dreamed it all, his tortured mind writhing among nightmares—the horrible bird, the horned beasts with their incandescent stares, the miserable mad girl, his dark rope reaching blindly again and again for new heights, the silent forest, the burly burglar with his hired donkeys, and the dead man sprawled beneath the swinging, hanging lamp." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But he was awake now, awake at last, and the night was spent—awake and kneeling beside his own bed in the manse on Sun Street. It was shadeup and today was Sphigxday; already he should be chanting Stabbing Sphigx's morning prayer.\n\n\"O divine lady of the swords, of the gathering armies, of the swords...\"\n\nHe fell forward, retching, his hands on the still-warm, rounded tiles.\n\nThe second time he was wiser, not attempting to stand until he was confident that he could do so without falling. Before he gained his feet, while he lay trembling beside the battlement, dawn faded and winked out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was night again, Phaesday night once more—an endless night that had not yet ended and might never end." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rain, he thought, might wash him clean and clear his head, and so he prayed for rain, mostly to Phaea and Pas, but to Scylla as well, remembering all the while how many men (men better than himself) were imploring the gods as he did, and for better reasons: how long had they been praying, offering such small sacrifices as they could, washing Great Pas's images in orchards of dying trees and in fields of stunted corn?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It did not rain, or even thunder.\n\nExcited voices drifted to him from somewhere far away; he caught the name Hierax repeated over and over. Someone or something had died.\n\n\"Hierax,\" Feather had replied at the palaestra a week or two before, fumbling after some fact associated with the familiar name of the God of Death. \"Hierax is right in the middle.\"\n\n\"In the middle of Pas and Echidna's sons, Feather? Or of all their children?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Of their whole family, Patera. There's only the two boys in it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Feather, also, was one of a pair of brothers. \"Hierax and Tartaros.\"\n\nFeather had waited fearfully for correction, but he, Patera Silk, had smiled and nodded.\n\n\"Tartaros is the oldest and Hierax is the youngest,\"\n\nFeather had continued, encouraged.\n\nMaytera's cubit stick tapped her lectern. \"The older, Feather. And the younger. You said yourself that there were only two.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hierax...\" said someone far below the other side of the battlement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silk stood up. His head still throbbed, and his legs were stiff; but he did not feel as though he were about to gag again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The chimneys (they all looked the same now) and the beckoning trapdoor seemed an impossible distance away. Still reeling and dizzy, he embraced a merlon with both arms and peered over the battlement. As if it belonged to someone else, he noted that his right forearm was oozing blood onto the gray stones.\n\nForty cubits and more below, three men and two women were standing in a rough circle on the terrace, all of them looking down at something. For a slow half minute at least, Silk could not be certain what it was. A third woman pushed one of the others aside, then turned away as if in disgust." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was more talk until one of the armored guards arrived with a lamp.\n\nThe bird, Mucor's white-headed one, lay dead upon the flagstones, appearing smaller than Silk could have imagined, its unequal wings half spread, its long white neck bent back at an unnatural angle. He had killed it. Or rather, it had killed itself.\n\nOne of the men around the dead bird glanced upward, saw Silk watching him, pointed, and shouted something Silk could not understand. Rather too late (or so he feared), he waved as though he were a member of the household and retreated up the steep slope of the roof." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The trapdoor opened upon the dim and lofty attic he had glimpsed earlier, a cobwebbed cavern more than half filled with musty furniture and splintering crates." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Feeble lights kindled at the muted clank of his foot upon the first iron step; he had hardly descended to the second when one winked out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a promising place in which to conceal himself, but it would no doubt be the first to be searched should the man on the terrace raise the alarm. Silk had rejected it by the time he reached the bottom of the spiraling steps, and with a pang of regret hurried straight to the wider wooden stair and ran down them to the upper floor of the original villa.\n\nHere a narrow, tapestry-covered door opened onto a wide and luxuriously furnished corridor not far from a balustraded staircase up which cultured voices floated. A fat, formally dressed man sat in an elaborate red velvet and gilt armchair a few steps from the top of the staircase. His arms rested on a rosewood table, and his head upon his folded arms; he snored softly as Silk passed, jerked to wakefulness, stared uncomprehendingly at Silk's black robe, and lowered his head to his arms again.\n\nThe stair was thickly carpeted, its steps broad, and its slant gentle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It terminated in a palatial reception hall, in which five men dressed much like the sleeper stood deep in conversation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Several were holding tumblers, and none seemed alarmed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Some distance beyond them, the reception hall ended with wide double doors—doors that stood open at present, so that the soft autumn night itself appeared as a species of skylit hanging in Blood's hall. Beyond any question, Silk decided, those doors represented the principal entrance to the villa; the portico he had studied from the wall would be on the other side; and indeed when he had surveyed the scene below him for a moment—not leaning across the balustrade as he had so unwisely leaned across the battlement to stare down at the flaccid form of the white-headed one, but from the opposite side of the corridor, with his back against the nude, half again life-sized statue of some minor goddess—he could just make out the ghostly outlines of the pillars.\n\nUnbidden, the manteion's familiar, fire-crowned altar rose before him as he stared at the open doors: the altar, the manse, the palaestra, and the shady arbor where he had sometimes chatted too long with Maytera Marble. Suppose that he were to walk down this staircase quite normally? Stroll through that hall, nodding and smiling to anyone who glanced toward him. Would any of them stop him, or call for guards? It seemed unlikely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His own hot blood trickling down his right arm wet his fingers and dripped onto Blood's costly carpet. Shaking his head, Silk strode swiftly past the stair and seated himself in the matching red armchair on the other side. As long as his arm bled, he could be tracked by his blood: down the spiral stair from the roof, down the attic stair, and along this corridor.\n\nParting his robe, he started a tear above the hem of his tunic with his teeth and ripped away a strip.\n\nCould not the blood trail be turned to his advantage? Silk rose and walked rapidly along the corridor, flexing his wrist and clenching his right hand to increase the bleeding, and entered the south wing by a short flight of steps; there he halted for a moment to wind the strip about his wound and knot it with his teeth just as Gib, the big man in the Cock, had." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he had satisfied himself that it would remain in place, he retraced his steps, passing the chair in which he had sat, the stairhead, the sleeper, and the narrow tapestry-covered door leading to the attic. Here, beyond paired icons of the minor deities Ganymedia and Catamitus, wide and widely spaced doors alternated with elaborately framed mirrors and amphorae overfilled with hothouse roses.\n\nAs Silk approached the entrance to the north wing, an officer in the uniform of the Guard emerged from an archway at the end of the corridor. The door nearest Silk stood half open; he stepped inside and shut it softly behind him.\n\nHe found himself facing a windowless pentagonal drawing room furnished in magnificent chryselephantine. For a moment he waited with his back to the corridor door, listening as he had listened so often that night." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When he heard nothing, he crossed the thick carpet and opened one of the drawing room's ivory-encrusted doors." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was a boudoir, larger and even more oddly shaped. There were wardrobes, two chairs, a rather tawdry shrine of Kypris whose smoldering thurible filled the room with the sweetness of frankincense, and a white dressing table before a glass whose pearlescent glow appeared to intensify as he entered. When he shut the door behind him, a swirl of colors danced across the glass. He fell to his knees.\n\n\"Sir?\"\n\nLooking up, Silk saw that the glass held only the gray face of a monitor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He traced the sign of addition. \"Wasn't there a god? I saw...\"\n\n\"I am no god, sir, merely the monitor of this terminal. What may I do to serve you, sir? Would you care to critique your digitally enhanced image?\"\n\nDisconcerted, Silk stood. \"No. I—No, thank you.\" He struggled to recall how Auk had addressed the monitor in his glass. \"I'd like to speak to a friend, if it isn't too much trouble, my son.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That had not been it, surely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The floating face appeared to nod." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The friend's name, please? I will attempt it.\"\n\n\"Auk.\"\n\n\"And this Auk lives where?\"\n\n\"In the Orilla. Do you know where that is?\"\n\n\"Indeed I do, sir. However, there are... fifty-four Auks resident there. Can you supply the street?\"\n\n\"No, I'm afraid I have no idea.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Suddenly weary, Silk drew out the dressing table's somewhat soiled little stool and sat down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm sorry to have put you to so much trouble. But if you're—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There is an Auk in the Orilla with whom my master has spoken several times,\" the monitor interrupted. \"No doubt he is the Auk you want. I will attempt to locate him for you.\"\n\n\"No,\" Silk said. \"This Auk lives in what used to be a shop. So it must be on a shopping street, I suppose, with a lot of other stores and so on. Or at least on a street that used to have them.\" Remembering it, he recalled the thunder of the cartwheels. \"A street paved with cobblestones. Does that help?\"\n\n\"Yes. That is the Auk with whom my master speaks, sir. Let us see whether he is at home.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The monitor's face faded, replaced by Auk's disordered bed and jar of slops. Soon the image swelled and distorted, becoming oddly rounded. Silk saw the heavy wooden chair from which he had shriven Auk and beside which he had knelt when Auk shrived him. He found it heartening, somehow, to know that the chair was still there.\n\n\"I fear that Auk is unavailable, sir. May I leave a message with my similitude?\"\n\n\"I—yes.\" Silk stroked his cheek." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ask him, please, to tell Auk that I appreciate his help very, very much, and that if nothing happens to me it will be my great pleasure to tell Maytera Mint how kind he was. Tell him, too, that he's specified only one meritorious act thus far, while the penance he laid upon me called for two or three—for two at least. Ask him to let me know what the others should be.\" Too late, it occurred to Silk that Auk had asked that his name not be mentioned to the handsome boy who had spoken though Blood's glass. \"Now then, my son. You referred to your master. Who is that?\"\n\n\"Blood, sir. Your host.\"\n\n\"I see. Am I, by any chance, in Blood's private quarters now?\"\n\n\"No, sir. These are my mistress's chambers.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Will you tell Blood about the message I left for—for that man who lives in the Orilla?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The monitor nodded gravely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Certainly, sir, if he inquires.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I see.\" A sickening sense of failure descended upon Silk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then please tell Auk, also, where I was when I tried to speak to him, and warn him to be careful.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I shall, sir. Will that be all?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silk's head was in his hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes. And thank you. No.\" He straightened up. \"I need a place to hide, a good place, and weapons.\"\n\n\"If I may say so, sir,\" remarked the monitor, \"you require a proper dressing more than either. With respect, sir, you are dripping on our carpet.\"\n\nLifting his right arm, Silk saw that it was true; blood had already soaked through the strip of black cloth he had torn from his tunic a few minutes earlier. Crimson rivulets trickled toward his elbow.\n\n\"You will observe, sir, that this room has two doors, in addition to that through which you entered. The one to your left opens upon the balneum. My mistress's medicinal supplies are there, I believe. As to—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Silk had risen so rapidly that he had knocked over the stool. Darting through the left-hand door, he heard nothing more.\n\nThe balneum was larger than he had anticipated, with a jade tub more than big enough for the naked goddess at the head of the staircase and a separate water closet. A sizable cabinet held a startling array of apothecary bottles, an olla of violet salve that Silk recognized as a popular aseptic, a roll of gauze, and gauze pads of various sizes. A small pair of scissors cut away the blood-soaked strip; he smeared the ragged wound that the white-headed one's beak had left in his forearm with the violet salve, and at the second try managed to bandage it effectively. As he ruefully took stock of his ruined tunic, he discovered that the bird's talons had raked his chest and abdomen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was almost a relief to wash and salve the long, bloody scratches, on which he could employ both his hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yellowish encrustations were forming on his robe where he had wiped away his spew. He took it off and washed it as thoroughly as he could in the lavabo, wrung it out, smoothed it as well as he could, pressed it between two dry towels, and put it back on. Inspecting his appearance in a mirror, he decided that he might well pass a casual examination in a dim light.\n\nReturning to the boudoir, he strewed what he took to be face powder over the clotted blood on the carpet.\n\nThe monitor watched him, unperturbed. \"That is most interesting, sir.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you.\" Silk shut the powder box and returned it to the dressing table.\n\n\"Does the powder possess cleansing properties? I was unaware of it.\"\n\nSilk shook his head. \"Not that I know of. I'm only masking these, so visitors won't be unsettled.\"\n\n\"Very shrewd, sir.\"\n\nSilk shrugged. \"If I could think of something better, I'd do it. When I came in, you said that you weren't a god. I knew you weren't. We had a glass in the—in a palaestra I attended.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Would you like to speak to someone there, sir?\"\n\n\"Not now. But I was privileged to use that glass once, and it struck me then—I suppose it struck all of us, and I remember some of us talking about it one evening—that the glass looked a great deal like a Sacred Window. Except for its size, of course; all Sacred Windows are eight cubits by eight. Are you familiar with them?\"\n\n\"No, sir.\"\n\nSilk righted the stool and sat down. \"There's another difference, too. Sacred Windows don't have monitors.\"\n\n\"That is unfortunate, sir.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Indeed.\" Silk stroked his cheek with two fingers. \"I should tell you, then, that the immortal gods appear at times in the Sacred Windows.\"\n\n\"Ah!\"\n\n\"Yes, my son. I've never seen one, and most people—those who aren't augurs or sibyls, particularly—can't see the gods at all. Although they frequently hear the voice of the god, they see only a swirl of color.\"\n\nThe monitor's face flushed brick red. \"Like this, sir?\"\n\n\"No. Not at all like that. I was going to say that as I understand it, those people who can see the gods first see the swirling colors as well. When the theophany begins, the colors are seen. Then the god appears. And then the colors reappear briefly as the god vanishes. All this was set down in circumstantial detail by the Devoted Caddis, nearly two centuries ago. In the course of a long life, he'd witnessed the theophanies of Echidna, Tartaros, and Scylla, and finally that of Pas. He called the colors he'd seen the Holy Hues.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Fascinating, sir. I fear, however, that it has little to do with me. May I show you what it is I do, sir? What I do most frequently, I should say. Observe.\"\n\nThe monitor's floating face vanished, replaced by the image of a remarkably handsome man in black. Although the tunic of the man in the glass was torn and white gauze showed beneath it, Silk did not recognize this man as himself until he moved and saw the image move with him.\n\n\"Is that...?\" He leaned closer. \"No. But...\"\n\n\"Thank you, sir,\" his image said, and bowed. \"Only a first attempt, although I think it a rather successful one. I shall do better next time.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Take it away, please. I am already too much given to vanity, believe me.\"\n\n\"As you wish, sir,\" his image replied. \"I intended no disrespect. I merely desired to demonstrate to you the way in which I most frequently serve my mistress. Would you care to see her in place of yourself? I can easily display an old likeness.\"\n\nSilk shook his head. \"An old unlikeness, you mean. Please return to your normal appearance.\"\n\n\"As you wish, sir.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the glass, Silk's face lost its blue eyes and brown cheeks, its neck and shoulders vanished, and its features became flatter and coarser." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We were speaking of the gods. No doubt I told you a good deal that you already knew.\"\n\n\"No, sir. I know very little about gods, sir. I would advise you to consult an augur.\"\n\n\"Then let's talk about monitors, my son. You must know more than most about monitors. You're a monitor yourself.\"\n\n\"My task is my joy, sir.\"\n\n\"We're fortunate, then, both of us. When I was at—in the house of a certain man I know, a man who has a glass like this one, he clapped his hands to summon the monitor. Is that the usual method?\"\n\n\"Clapping the hands or tapping on the glass, sir. All of us much prefer the former, if I may be excused for saying it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I see.\" Silk nodded to himself. \"Aren't there any other methods?\"\n\n\"We actually appear in response to any loud sound, sir, to determine whether there is something amiss. Should a fire be in progress, for example, I would notify my master or his steward, and warn his guests.\"\n\n\"And from time to time,\" Silk said, \"you must look into this room although no one has called you, even when there has been no loud sound. Isn't that so?\"\n\n\"No, sir.\"\n\n\"You don't simply look in to make certain everything's all right?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, sir. My mistress would consider that an invasion of her privacy, I'm sure.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"When I entered this room,\" Silk continued, \"I did not make any sound that could be called loud—or at least none that I'm aware of. Certainly I didn't clap my hands or tap on this glass; yet you appeared. There was a swirl of color, then your face appeared in the glass. Shortly afterward you told me you weren't a god.\"\n\n\"You closed the door, sir.\"\n\n\"Very gently,\" Silk said. \"I didn't want to disturb your mistress.\n\n\"Most considerate, sir.\"\n\n\"Yet the sound of my shutting that door summoned you? I would think that in that case almost any sound would do, however slight.\"\n\n\"I really cannot say what summoned me, sir.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's a suggestive choice of words, my son.\"\n\n\"I concede that it may be, sir.\" The monitor's face appeared to nod. \"Such being the case, perhaps I may proffer an additional suggestion? It is that you abandon this line of inquiry. It will not reward your persistence, sir. Prior to entering the balneum, you inquired about weapons, sir, and places of concealment. One of our wardrobes might do.\"\n\n\"Thank you.\" Silk looked into the nearest, but it was filled almost to bursting with coats and gowns.\n\n\"As to weapons, sir,\" the monitor continued, \"you may discover a useful one in my lowest left drawer, beneath the stockings.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"More useful than this, I hope.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Silk closed the wardrobe.\n\n\"I am very sorry, sir. There appear to have been many purchases of late of which I have not been apprised.\"\n\nSilk hardly heard him—there were angry and excited voices in the corridor. He opened the door to the drawing room and listened until they faded away, his hand upon the glass latchbar of the boudoir door, acutely conscious of the thudding of his heart.\n\n\"Are you leaving, sir?\"\n\n\"The left drawer, I think you said.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, sir. The lowest of the drawers to your left. I can guarantee nothing, however, sir. My mistress keeps a small needler there, or perhaps I should say she did so not long ago. It may, however...\"\n\nSilk had already jerked out the drawer. Groping under what seemed to be at least a hundred pairs of women's hose, his fingers discovered not one but two metal objects.\n\n\"My mistress is sometimes careless regarding the safety catch, sir. It may be well to exercise due caution until you have ascertained its condition.\"\n\n\"I don't even know what that is,\" Silk muttered as he gingerly extracted the first.\n\nIt was a needler so small that it lay easily in the palm of his hand, elaborately engraved and gold plated; the thumb-sized ivory grips were inlaid with golden hyacinths, and a minute heron scanned a golden pool for fish at the base of the rear sight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For a moment, Silk too knew peace, lost in the flawless craftsmanship that had been lavished upon every surface." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No venerated object in his manteion was half so fine.\n\n\"Should that discharge, it could destroy my glass, sir.\"\n\nSilk nodded absently. \"I've seen needlers—I saw two tonight, in fact—that could eat this one.\"\n\n\"You have informed me that you are unfamiliar with the safety catch, sir. Upon either side of the needler you hold, you will observe a small movable convexity. Raised, it will prevent the needler from discharging.\"\n\n\"This,\" Silk said. Like the grips, each tiny boss was marked with a hyacinth, though these were so small that their minute, perfect florets were almost microscopic. He pushed one of the bosses down, and the other moved with it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Will it fire now?\"\n\n\"I believe so, sir. Please do not direct it toward my glass. Glasses are now irreplaceable, sir, the art of their manufacture having been left behind when—\"\n\n\"I'm greatly tempted nevertheless.\"\n\n\"In the event of the destruction of this glass I should be unable to deliver your message to Auk, sir.\"\n\n\"In which case there'd be no need of it. This smooth bar inside the ring is the trigger, I suppose.\"\n\n\"I believe that is correct, sir.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Silk pointed the needler at the wardrobe and pressed the trigger. There was a sharp snap, like the cracking of a child's whip. \"It doesn't seem to have done anything,\" he said.\n\n\"My mistress's wardrobe is not a living creature, sir.\"\n\n\"I never thought it was, my son.\" Silk bent to examine the wardrobe's door; a hole not much thicker than a hair had appeared in one of its polished panels." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He opened the door again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Some, though not all, of the gowns in line with the hole showed ragged tears, as if they had been stabbed with a dull blade a little narrower than his index finger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I should use this on you, you know, my son,\" he told the monitor, \"for Auk's sake. You're just a machine, like the scorer in our ball court.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am a machine, but not just a machine, sir.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nodding mostly to himself, Silk pushed up the safety catch and dropped the little needler into his pocket." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The other object hidden under the stockings was shaped like the letter T. The stem was cylindrical and oddly rough, with a single, smooth protuberance below the crossbar; the crossbar itself seemed polished and slightly curved, and had upturned ends. The entire object felt unnaturally cold, as reptiles often do. Silk extracted it from the stockings with some difficulty and examined it curiously.\n\n\"Would it be convenient for me to withdraw, sir?\" the monitor asked.\n\nSilk shook his head. \"What is this?\"\n\n\"I don't know, sir.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He regarded the monitor narrowly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Can you lie, under extreme provocation, my son? Tell an untruth? I know a chem quite well; and she can, or so she says.\"\n\n\"No, sir.\"\n\n\"Which leaves me not a whit the wiser.\" Silk seated himself on the stool again.\n\n\"I suppose not, sir.\"\n\n\"I think I know what this is, you see.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silk held the T-shaped object up for the monitor's inspection; it gleamed like polished silver." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'd appreciate confirmation, and some instructions on how to operate it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I am afraid I cannot assist you, sir, although I would be glad to receive your own opinion.\"\n\n\"I think it's an azoth. I've never actually seen one, but we used to talk about them when I was a boy. One summer all of us made wooden swords, and sometimes we pretended they were azoths.\"\n\n\"Charming, sir.\"\n\n\"Not really,\" Silk muttered, scrutinizing the flashing gem in the pommel of the azoth. \"We were as bloodthirsty as so many little tigers, and what's charming about that? But anyway, an azoth is supposed to be controlled by something called a demon. If you don't know about azoths, you don't know anything about that, I suppose.\"\n\n\"No, sir.\" The monitor's floating face swung from side to side, revealing that there was no head behind it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If you wish to conceal yourself, sir, should you not do so at once? My master's steward and some of our guards are searching the suites on this floor.\"\n\n\"How do you know that?\" Silk asked sharply.\n\n\"I have been observing them. I have glasses in some of the other suites, sir.\"\n\n\"They began at the north end of the corridor?\"\n\n\"Yes, sir. Quite correct.\"\n\nSilk rose. \"Then I must hide in here well enough to escape them, and get into the north wing after they've left.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You haven't examined the other wardrobe, sir.\"\n\n\"And I don't intend to. How many unsearched suites are there between us?\"\n\n\"Three, sir.\"\n\n\"Then I've still got a little time.\" Silk studied the azoth. \"When I made my sword, I left a nail sticking out, and bent it. That was my demon. When I twisted it toward me, the blade wasn't there any more. When I twisted it away from me, I had one.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I doubt, sir—\"\n\n\"Don't be too sure, my son. That may have been based on something supposedly true that I'd heard. Or I may have been imitating some other boy who'd gotten hold of a useful fact. I mean a fact that would be useful to me now.\"\n\nThe roughened stem of the T was the grip, obviously; and the crossbar was there to prevent the user's hand from contacting the blade. Silk tried to revolve the gem in the pommel, but its setting kept it securely in place.\n\nThe bent-nail demon of his toy sword had been one of those that had held the crosspiece; he felt certain of that. There was an unfacetted crimson gem (he vaguely remembered having heard a similar gem called a bloodstone) in the grip, just behind one of the smooth, tapering arms of the guard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was too flat and much too highly polished to turn. He gripped the azoth as he had his wooden sword and pressed the crimson gem with his thumb.\n\nReality separated. Something else appeared between the halves, as a current divides a quiet pool. Plaster from the wall across the room fell smoking onto the carpet, revealing laths that themselves exploded in a shower of splinters with the next movement of his arm.\n\nInvoluntarily, he released the demon, and the azoth's blade vanished.\n\n\"Please be more careful with that, sir.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I will.\" Silk pushed the azoth into the coiled rope about his waist.\n\n\"If it should be activated by chance, sir, the result might well be disastrous for you as well as others.\"\n\n\"You have to press the demon below the level of the grip, I think,\" Silk said. \"It should be difficult for that to happen accidentally.\"\n\n\"I profoundly hope so, sir.\"\n\n\"You don't know where your mistress got such a weapon?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I did not even know she possessed it, sir.\"\n\n\"It must be worth as much as this whole villa. More, perhaps. I doubt that there are ten of them in the city.\" Silk turned toward the wardrobe and selected a blue winter gown of soft wool.\n\n\"They have left the suite they were searching earlier, sir. They are proceeding to the next.\"\n\n\"Thank you. Will you leave when I tell you to go?\"\n\n\"Certainly, sir.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I ought to destroy your glass.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "For a second, Silk stared at the monitor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm tempted to do it. But if a god really visited it when I arrived...\" He shrugged. \"So I'm going to tell you to go instead, and cover your glass with a gown. Perhaps they won't notice it. Did they question the glasses in the other suites?\"\n\n\"Yes, sir. Our steward summoned me to each glass. He is directing the searchers in person, sir.\"\n\n\"While you were here talking to me? I didn't know you could do that.\"\n\n\"I can, sir. One strives to best utilize lulls in the conversation, pauses, and the like. It is largely a matter of allocation, sir.\"\n\n\"But you didn't tell them where I was. You can't have. Why not?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He did not inquire, sir. As they entered each suite, he asked whether there was a stranger present.\"\n\n\"And you told them there wasn't?\"\n\n\"No, sir. I was forced to explain that I could not be certain, since I am not perpetually present.\"\n\n\"Blood's steward—is that the young man called Musk?\"\n\n\"Yes, sir. His instructions take precedence over all others, except my master's own.\"\n\n\"I see. Musk doesn't understand you much better than I do, apparently.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Less well, perhaps, sir.\"\n\nSilk nodded to himself. \"I may remain in this suite after you've gone. On the other hand, I may leave, too, as soon as you're no longer here to watch what I'm doing. Do you understand what I've just told you?\"\n\n\"Yes, sir,\" the monitor said. \"Your future whereabouts will be problematical.\"\n\n\"Good. Now vanish at once. Go wherever it is that you go.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silk draped the glass, covering it completely in a way that he hoped would seem merely careless, and opened the door to his right." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For the space of a heartbeat, he thought the spacious, twilit bedchamber unoccupied; a faint moan from the enormous bed at its center revealed his mistake." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The woman in the bed writhed and keened aloud from the depths of her need." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As he bent over her, something within him reached out to her; and though he had not touched her, he felt the thrill of touch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her hair was as black as the night chough's wings, and as glossy. Her features, as well as he could judge in the uncertain glow, exquisite. She groaned softly, as though she knew he was looking down on her, and rolling her head upon her pillow, kissed it without waking.\n\nBeyond the boudoir, the drawing room door opened.\n\nHe tore off his black robe and straw hat, ducked out of his torn tunic, kicked all three far under the big bed, and scrambled in, shoes and all. He was drawing up the gold-embroidered oversheet when he heard the door through which he had entered the boudoir open." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Someone said distinctly, \"Nothing in here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By then his thumb had found the safety catch. He sat up, leveling the needler, as the searchers entered.\n\n\"Stop!\" he shouted, and fired. By the greatest good luck, the needle shattered a tall vase to the right of the door. The report brought the bedchamber's lights to their brightest.\n\nThe first armored guard halted, his slug gun not quite pointing at Silk; and the black-haired woman sat up abruptly, her slightly tilted eyes wide." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Without looking at her, Silk grated, \"Go back to sleep, Hyacinth. This doesn't concern you.\" Faintly perfumed, her breath caressed his bare shoulder, deliriously warm.\n\n\"Sorry, Commissioner,\" the guard began, uncertainly. \"I mean Patera—\"\n\nToo late, Silk realized that he was still wearing the old, blue-trimmed calotte that had once been Patera Pike's. He snatched it off. \"This is unforgivable. Unforgivable! I shall inform Blood. Get out!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His voice was far too high, and mounting toward hysteria; surely the guard must sense how frightened he was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In desperation, he brandished the tiny needler.\n\n\"We didn't know—\" The guard lowered his slug gun and took a step backward, bumping into the delicate-looking Musk, who had stepped through the boudoir behind him. \"We thought everybody had— Well, just about everybody's already gone.\"\n\nSilk cut him off. \"Out! You've never seen me.\"\n\nIt had been (as he decided as soon as he had said it) the worst thing he could possibly have said, since Musk had certainly seen him only a few hours earlier." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For an instant he felt certain that Musk would pounce upon it.\n\nMusk did not. Silencing the sputtering guard with a shove, Musk said, \"The outside door should've been locked. Take your time.\" He turned on his heel, and the guard shut the boudoir door quietly behind them.\n\nTrembling, Silk waited until he heard the corridor door close as well before he kicked away the luxurious coverings and got out of the bed. His mouth was parched, and his knees without strength.\n\n\"What about me?\" the woman asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As she spoke, she pushed aside the oversheet and the red silk sheet, revealing remarkably rounded breasts and a small waist.\n\nSilk caught his breath and looked away. \"All right, what about you? Do you want me to shoot you?\"\n\nShe smiled and threw her arms wide. \"If it's the only thing you can do, why, yes.\" When Silk did not reply, she added, \"I'll keep my eyes open, if that's all right with you. I like to see it coming.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The smile became a grin. \"Make it fast, but make it last. And make it good.\"\n\nBoth had spoken softly, and the lights were no longer glaring; Silk kicked the bed to re-energize them. \"You have been given a philtre of some sort, I think. You'll feel very differently in the morning.\" Pushing up the safety catch, he dropped her needler back into his pocket.\n\n\"I was given nothing.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The woman in the bed licked her lips, watching for his reaction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I took what you're calling a philtre before the first ones got here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Rust?\" Silk was on his knees beside the bed, groping for the clothing he had kicked beneath it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fear was draining from him, and he felt immensely grateful for it. Lion-hearted Sphigx still favored him—nothing could be more certain.\n\n\"No.\" She was scornful. \"Rust doesn't do this. Don't you know anything? On rust I'd have itched to kill them all, and I might've done it, too. Beggar's root's what they call it, and it turns a terrible bore into a real pleasure.\"\n\n\"I see.\" Wincing, Silk pulled out his ruined tunic and his second-best robe.\n\n\"Want me to give you some? I've got a lot more, and it only takes a pinch.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She swung amazingly long legs over the side of the bed. \"It's a lot more expensive than rust, and a lot harder to find, but I'm in a generous mood. I usually am—you'll see.\" She favored Silk with a sidelong smile that made his heart leap.\n\nHe stood up and backed away.\n\n\"They call it beggar's root because it makes you beg. I'm begging now, just listen to me. Come on. You'll like it.\"\n\nSilk shook his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Come sit next to me.\" She patted the rumpled sheet. \"That's all I'm asking for—right now, anyway. You were here in bed with me a minute ago.\"\n\nHe tried to pull his tunic over his head and failed, discovering in the process that even the slightest movement of his right arm was painful.\n\n\"You're the one that they were looking for, aren't you? Aren't you glad that I didn't tell them anything? You really ought to be, Musk can be awfully mean. Don't you want me to help you with that?\"\n\n\"Don't try.\" He retreated another step." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sliding off the bed, she picked up his robe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was completely naked; he closed his eyes and turned away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She giggled, and he was suddenly reminded of Mucor, the mad girl. \"You really are an augur. He called you Patera—I'd forgotten. Do you want your little hat back? I stuck it under my pillow.\"\n\nThe uses to which Patera Pike's calotte might be put if it remained with her flashed through Silk's mind. \"Yes,\" he said. \"Please, may I have it back?\"\n\n\"Sure, I'll trade you.\"\n\nHe shook his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Didn't you come here to see me? You don't act like it, but you knew my name.\"\n\n\"No. I came to find Blood.\"\n\n\"You won't like him, Patera.\" Hyacinth grinned again. \"Even Musk doesn't like him, not really. Nobody does.\"\n\n\"He has my sympathy.\" Silk tried to raise the tunic again, and was deterred by a flash of pain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've come to show him how he can be better liked, and even loved.\"\n\n\"Well, Patera, I'm Hyacinth, just like you said. And I'm famous. Everybody likes me, except you.\"\n\n\"I do like you,\" Silk told her. \"That is one of the reasons I won't do what you want. It's a rather minor one, actually, but a real reason nonetheless.\"\n\n\"You stole my azoth, though, didn't you, Patera? I can see the end of it poking out of that rope.\"\n\nSilk nodded. \"I intend to return it. But you're quite right, I took it without your permission, and that's theft. I'm sorry, but I felt I'd better have it. What I'm doing is extremely important.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He paused and waited for remonstrances that did not come." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll see that it's returned to you, and your needler as well, if I get home safely.\"\n\n\"You were afraid of the guards, weren't you? There in my bed. You were afraid of that one with Musk. Afraid that he'd kill you.\"\n\n\"Yes,\" Silk admitted. \"I was terrified, if you want the truth; and now I'm just as terrified of you, afraid that I'll give in to you, disgrace my calling, and lose the favor of the immortal gods.\"\n\nShe laughed.\n\n\"You're right.\" Silk tried to put on his tunic again, but his right forearm burned and throbbed. \"I'm certainly not brave. But at least I'm brave enough to admit it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wait just a minute,\" she said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Wait right here. I'm going to get you something.\"\n\nHe glimpsed the balneum through the door she opened. As she closed it behind her, it occurred to him that Patera Pike's calotte was still in the bed, under her pillow; moved by that weak impulse which turns back travelers to retrieve trifles, he rescued it and put it on.\n\nShe emerged from the balneum, naked still, holding out a gold cup scarcely larger than a thimble, half filled with brick-colored powder. \"Here, Patera. You put it into your lip.\"\n\n\"No. I realize that you mean well, but I'd rather be afraid.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She shrugged and pulled forward her own lower lip. For a moment it made her ugly, and Silk felt a surge of relief. After emptying the little cup into the hollow between lip and gum, she grinned at him. \"This is the best money can buy, and it works fast. Sure you don't want some? I've got a lot.\"\n\n\"No,\" he repeated. \"I should go. I should have gone before now, in fact.\"\n\n\"All right.\" She was looking at the gem in the hilt of the azoth again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's mine, you know. A very important man gave it to me. If you're going to steal it, I ought to at least get to help you. Are you sure you're a real augur?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silk sighed. \"It seems that I may not be much longer. If you're serious about wanting to help me, Hyacinth, tell me where you think Blood is likely to be at this hour. Will he have retired for the night?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She shook her head, her eyes flashing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He's probably downstairs saying good-bye to the last of them. They've been coming all night, commissioners and commissioners' flunkies. Every once in a while he sends a really important one up here for me. I lost count, but there must have been six or seven of them.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know.\" Silk tried to push the hilt of the azoth more deeply into the coil of rope." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I've lain between your sheets.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You think I ought to change them? I didn't think men cared.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silk knelt to fish his broad-brimmed straw hat from beneath the bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I doubt that those men do.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I can call a servant.\"\n\n\"They're busy looking for me, I imagine.\" Silk tossed the hat onto the bed and readied himself for one last try at his tunic.\n\n\"Not the maids.\" She took his tunic from him. \"You know, your eyes want to look at me. You ought to let them do it.\"\n\n\"Hundreds of men must have told you how beautiful you are. Would you displease the gods to hear it once more? I wouldn't. I'm still young, and I hope to see a god before I die.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was tempted to add that he might well have missed one by a second or less when he entered her chambers, but he did not." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You've never had a woman, have you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silk shook his head, unwilling to speak." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, let me help you get this on, anyway.\" She held his tunic as high as she could stretch while he worked both arms into the sleeves, then snatched her azoth from the rope coiled around his waist and sprang toward the bed.\n\nHe gaped at her, stunned. Her thumb was upon the demon, the blade slot pointed at his heart. Backing away, he raised both hands in the gesture of surrender.\n\nShe posed like a duelist." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They say the girls fight like troopers in Trivigaunte.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She parried awkwardly twice, and skewered and slashed an imaginary opponent.\n\nBy that time he had recovered at least a fraction of his composure. \"Aren't you going to call the guards?\"\n\n\"Don't think so.\" She lunged and recovered. \"Wouldn't I make a fine swordsman, Patera? Look at these legs.\"\n\n\"No, I don't think so.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She pouted \"Why not?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Because one must study swordsmanship, and practice day after day. There is a great deal to learn, or so I've been told. To speak frankly, I'd back a shorter, less attractive woman against you, assuming that she was less attracted to admiration and those bottles in your balneum, too.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hyacinth gave no sign of having heard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If you really can't do what I want—if you won't, I mean—couldn't you use this azoth instead? And kiss me, and pretend? I'd show you where I want you to put the big jewel, and after a while you might change your mind.\"\n\n\"Isn't there an antidote?\" To prevent her from seeing his expression, he crossed the room to the window and parted the drapes. There was no one around the dead bird on the terrace now. \"You have all those herbs. Surely you must have the antidote, if there is one.\"\n\n\"I don't want the antidote, Patera. I want you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her hand was on his shoulder; her lips brushed his ear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And if you go out there like you're thinking, the cats'll tear you to pieces.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The blade of the azoth shot past his ear, fifty cubits down to the terrace to slice the dead bird in two and leave a long, smoking scar across the flagstones. Silk flinched from it. \"For Pas's love be careful!\"\n\nHyacinth whirled off like a dancer as she pressed the demon again. Shimmering through the bedchamber like summer heat, the azoth's illimited discontinuity hummed of death, parting the universe, slitting the drapes like a razor and dropping a long section slabbed from wall and window frame at Silk's feet.\n\n\"Now you have to,\" she told him, and came at him with a sweeping cut that scarred half the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Say you will, and I'll give it back.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As he dove through the window, the azoth's humming blade divided the stone sill behind him; but all the fear he ought to have felt was drowned in the knowledge that he was leaving her." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Provide 3 sentences as a continuation in the Science Fiction, Generation Ship genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With the young eagle on his gauntleted left arm, Musk stood on the spattered white pavement by Scylla's fountain and looked about him, his head as proudly poised, and his back as straight, as any Guardsman's." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were watching from the deep shade of the portico: Blood, Councillor Lemur and his cousin Councillor Loris, Commissioner Simuliid, and half a dozen others. Mentally, Musk shook the dice cup.\n\nThe eagle had been trained to wrist and to the lure." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It knew his voice and had learned to associate it with food." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he removed its hood, it would see the fountain, flowing water in a countryside in which water of any kind was now a rarity. The time had come for it to learn to fly—and he could not teach it that. It would return for the lure and the hackboard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or it would not." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Time to throw the dice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Blood's voice came to him faintly through the plashing of the fountain. \"Don't rush him.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Someone had asked what he was waiting for." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sighed, knowing he could not delay much longer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To hold on to this moment, in which the bird that he might never see again was still his.\n\nThe sky was empty or seemed so, the skylands invisible behind the endless, straight glare of the sun. Fliers, if there were any, were invisible too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Above the tops of the trees on the other side of the wall, distant fields curved upward, vanishing in a blue haze as they mounted the air. Lake Limna seemed a fragment of mirror set into the whorl, like a gaud into a cheap picture frame.\n\nTime to throw." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As though it knew what was about to happen, the young eagle stirred. Musk nodded to himself. \"Come back to me,\" he whispered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Come back to me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then, as if somebody else (an interfering god or Blood's mad daughter) controlled it, his right arm went up. Self-willed, his hand grasped the scarlet-plumed hood and snatched it away.\n\nThe young eagle lifted its wings as though to fly, then folded them again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He should have worn a mask, perhaps. If the eagle struck at his face now, he would be scarred for life if he was not killed; but his pride had not permitted it.\n\n\"Away, Hawk!\" He lifted his arm, tilting it to tip the bird into the air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For a split second he thought it was not going to fly at all.\n\nThe great wings seemed to blow him back. Slowly and clumsily it flew, its wingtips actually brushing the lush grass at every downstroke—out to the wall and left, past the gate and left again up the grassway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For a moment he thought it was returning to him.\n\nInto the portico, scattering the watchers there like quail. If it turned right at the end of the wing, mistook the cat pen for the mews—" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Higher now, as high as the top of the wall, and left again. Left until it passed overhead, its wings a distant thunder. Higher now, and higher still, still circling and climbing, riding the updraft from the baking lawn and the scorching roofs. Higher the young eagle rose and higher, black against the glare, until it, like the fields, was lost in the vastness of the sky." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "The user will write a bit then you need to write around 8 sentences continuing directly from the user's text. Try to mimic the style of Gene Wolfe in the Science Fiction, Generation Ship genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Chenille opened the door to Orchid's rooms and showed Silk in. Still wearing the pink peignoir, Orchid was sitting on a wide green-velvet couch in the big sellaria, her hard, heavy face as composed as it had been when they had talked in the cramped office downstairs.\n\nChenille waved toward a chair. \"Have a seat, Patera.\" She herself sat down next to Orchid and put her arm around her shoulders. \"He says Blood sent him up to talk to us. I said all right, but he'll probably come back later if you'd rather.\"\n\n\"I'm fine,\" Orchid told her.\n\nLooking at her, Silk could believe it; Chenille herself seemed more in need of solace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What do you want, Patera?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Orchid's voice was harsher than he remembered. \"If you're here to tell me how she's gone to Mainframe and all that, save it till later. If you still want somebody to show you around my place, Chenille can do it.\"\n\nThere was a glass on the wall to the left of the couch. Silk was watching it nervously, but no floating face had yet appeared. \"I'd like to speak with you in private for a few minutes, that's all.\"\n\nTo Chenille he added, \"I was going to say that it would give you a chance to get dressed—so many of you here are not—but I see that you're dressed already.\"\n\n\"Go out,\" Orchid said. And then, \"It was nice of you to worry about me, Chenille. I won't forget this.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The tall girl rose, smoothing her skirt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I was going to look for a new gown, before this happened.\"\n\n\"I have to speak to you, too,\" Silk told her, \"and this should only take a few minutes. You can wait for me, if you prefer. Otherwise, I would appreciate it very much if you came to my manteion this evening.\"\n\n\"I'll be in my room.\"\n\nSilk nodded. \"That will be better. Please pardon me for not rising; I injured my ankle last night.\" He watched Chenille as she went out, waiting until she had closed the door behind her.\n\n\"Nice-looking, isn't she?\" Orchid said. \"Only she'd bring in more if she wasn't so tall. Maybe you like them that way. Or is it the hips?\"\n\n\"What I like hardly matters.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good hips, nice waist for a girl as big as she is, and the biggest boobs in the place. Sure you won't change your mind?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Silk shook his head. \"I'm surprised you didn't mention her kind disposition. There must be a great deal of good in her, or she wouldn't have come here to comfort you.\"\n\nOrchid stood up. \"You want a drink, Patera? I've got wine and whatnot in the cabinet here.\"\n\n\"No, thank you.\"\n\n\"I do.\" Orchid opened the cabinet and filled a small goblet with straw-colored brandy.\n\n\"She seemed quite depressed,\" Silk ventured. \"She must have been a close friend of Orpine's.\"\n\n\"Chenille's a real rust bucket, to hand you the lily, Patera, and they're always pretty far down anytime they're straight.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silk snapped his fingers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I knew I'd heard that name before.\"\n\nOrchid resumed her seat, swirled her brandy, inhaled its aroma, and balanced the goblet precariously on the arm of the couch. \"Somebody told you about her, huh?\"\n\n\"A man I know happened to mention her, that's all. It doesn't matter.\" He waved the question away. \"Aren't you going to drink that?\" After he had spoken, he realized that Blood had asked the same question of him the previous night.\n\nOrchid shook her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't drink until the last buck's gone. That's my rule, and I'm going to stick to it, even today. I just want to know it's there. Did you come here to talk about Chen, Patera?\"\n\n\"No. Can we be overheard here? I ask for your sake, Orchid, not for my own.\"\n\nShe shook her head again.\n\n\"I've heard that houses like this often have listening devices.\"\n\n\"Not this one. And if it did, I wouldn't have any in here.\"\n\nSilk indicated the glass. \"The monitor doesn't have to appear to overhear what is said in a room, or so one's given me to understand. Does the monitor of that glass report to you alone?\"\n\nOrchid had the brandy goblet again, swirling the straw-colored fluid until it climbed the goblet to the rim." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That glass has never worked for as long as I've owned this house, Patera. I wish it did.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I see.\" Silk limped across the room to the glass and clapped his hands loudly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The room's lights brightened, but no monitor answered his summons." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We have a glass like this in Patera Pike's bedroom—I mean in the room that he once occupied. I should try to sell it. I would think that even an inoperable glass must be worth something.\"\n\n\"What is it you want with me, Patera?\"\n\nSilk returned to his chair. \"What I really want is to find some more tactful way of saying this. I haven't found it. Orpine was your daughter, wasn't she?\"\n\nOrchid shook her head.\n\n\"Are you going to deny her even in death?\"\n\nHe had not known what to expect: tears, or hysteria, or nothing—and had felt himself ready for them all. But now Orchid's face appeared to be coming apart, to be losing all cohesion, as if her mouth and her bruised and swollen cheeks and her hard hazel eyes no longer obeyed a common will." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wanted her to hide that terrible face in her hands; she did not, and he turned his own away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a window on the other side of the couch. He went to it, parted its heavy drapes, and threw it open. It overlooked Lamp Street, and though he would have called the day hot, the breeze that entered Orchid's sellaria seemed cool and fresh.\n\n\"How did you know?\" Orchid asked.\n\nHe limped back to his chair. \"That's what's wrong with this place, not enough open windows. Or one thing, anyhow.\" Wanting to blow his nose, he took out his handkerchief, saw Orpine's blood on it just in time, and put it away hastily.\n\n\"How did you know, Patera?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't any of the others know? Or at least guess?\"\n\nOrchid's face was still out of control, afflicted with odd, almost spastic twitchings. \"Some of them have probably thought about it. I don't think she ever told anybody, and I didn't treat her any better than the rest.\" Orchid gulped air. \"Worse, whenever there was any difference. I made her help me, and I was always yelling at her.\"\n\n\"I'm not going to ask you how this happened; it's none of my affair.\"\n\n\"Thanks, Patera.\" Orchid sounded as though she meant it. \"Her father took her. I couldn't have, not then. But he said—he said—\"\n\n\"You don't have to tell me,\" Silk repeated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had not heard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Then I found her on the street, you know? She was thirteen, only she said fifteen and I believed her. I didn't know it was her.\" Orchid laughed, and her laughter was worse than tears.\n\n\"There's really no need for you to torment yourself like this.\"\n\n\"I'm not. I've been wanting to tell somebody about it ever since Sphigx was a cub. You already know, so it can't do any harm. Besides, she's—she's—\"\n\n\"Gone,\" Silk supplied.\n\nOrchid shook her head. \"Dead. The only one alive, and I'll never have any more now. You know how places like this work, Patera?\"\n\n\"No, and I suppose I should.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's pretty much like a boarding house. Some places, the girls are pretty much like in the Alambrera. They don't hardly ever let them out, and they take all their money. I was in a place like that once for almost two years.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm glad that you escaped.\"\n\nOrchid shook her head again. \"I didn't. I got sick and they kicked me out—it was the best thing that ever happened to me. What I wanted to say, Patera, is I'm not like that here. My girls rent their rooms, and they can go anytime. About the only thing they can't do is bring in a buck without his paying. Are you with me?\"\n\n\"I'm not sure I am,\" Silk admitted.\n\n\"Like if they meet him outside. If they bring him back here, he has to pay the house. So do those that come here looking. Tonight, we'll have maybe fifty or a hundred come. They pay the house, and then we show them all the girls that aren't busy, downstairs in the big room.\"\n\n\"Suppose that I were to come,\" Silk said slowly. \"Not dressed as I am now, but in ordinary clothes. And I wanted a particular woman.\"\n\n\"Chenille.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Silk shook his head. \"Another one.\"\n\n\"How about Poppy? Little girl, pretty dark.\"\n\n\"All right,\" Silk said. \"Suppose I wanted Poppy, but she didn't want to take me to her room?\"\n\n\"Then she wouldn't have to,\" Orchid said virtuously, \"and you'd have to pick somebody else. Only if she did that very often, I'd kick her out.\"\n\n\"I see.\"\n\n\"Only she wouldn't, Patera. Not to you. She'd jump at you. Any of these girls would.\"\n\nOrchid smiled, and Silk, confronted by the effect of her bruises, wanted to strike Blood." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hyacinth's azoth was under his tunic—he thrust the thought away.\n\nOrchid had seen and misinterpreted his expression; her smile vanished. \"I didn't get to finish telling you about Orpine, Patera. All right if I go on about her?\"\n\nSilk said, \"Certainly, if you wish.\"\n\n\"I found her on the street, like I told you. That's something I do sometimes, go around looking for somebody if I've got an empty room. She said her name was Pine—you don't hardly ever get a straight name out of them—and she was fifteen, and it never hit me. It just didn't.\"\n\n\"I understand,\" Silk said.\n\n\"Somebody dusted her dial, you know what I mean? So I said, listen, lots of girls live with me, and nobody lays a finger on them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You come along, and we'll give you a good hot meal, free, and you'll see. So she said she didn't have the rent money, like they always do, and I said I'd trust her for the first month. That's what I always say.\n\n\"After she'd been here nearly a year, she ducked out of the big room. I said what's wrong, and she said her father had come in and he'd made her do certain things for him when she was little, and that was why she'd run out on him. You know what I mean, Patera?\"\n\nSilk nodded, his fists clenched.\n\n\"She told me his name, and I went out and looked at him again, and it was him. So then I knew who she was, and by and by I told her all about it.\" Orchid smiled; it seemed strange to Silk that the identical word should indicate her earlier expression as well.\n\n\"I'm glad I did it now. Real glad. I told her not to expect any favors, and I didn't give her any. Or at least, not very often. What I did, though—what I did—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silk waited patiently, his eyes averted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What I did was start having cake on the birthdays, so we could have it on hers. And I called her Orpine instead of Pine, and pretty soon everybody did.\" Orchid daubed at her eyes with the hem of the pink peignoir. \"All right, that's it. Who told you?\"\n\n\"Your faces, to begin with.\"\n\nOrchid nodded. \"She was beautiful. Everybody said so.\"\n\n\"Not when I saw her, because there was something in her face that didn't belong there. Still it struck me that her face was a younger version of your own, although that could have been coincidence or my imagination. A moment later I heard her name—Orpine. It sounds a great deal like yours, and it seemed to me that it was such a name as a woman named Orchid might choose, especially if she had lost an earlier daughter. Did you? You don't have to tell me about it.\"\n\nOrchid nodded.\n\n\"Because orpines, which only sound like orchids, have another name. Country people call them live-forevers; and when I thought of that other name, I said, more or less to myself, that she had not; and you agreed. Then when Blood suggested that she might have stolen the dagger that killed her, you burst into tears and I knew. But to tell you the truth, I was already nearly certain.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Orchid nodded slowly. \"Thanks, Patera. Is that all? I'd like to be alone for a little while.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silk rose. \"I understand. I wouldn't have disturbed you if I hadn't wanted to let you know that Blood's agreed that your daughter should be buried with the rites of the Chapter. Her body will be washed and dressed—laid out, as the people who do it say—and carried to my manteion, on Sun Street. We'll hold her service in the morning.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Orchid stared at him incredulously. \"Blood's paying for this?\"\n\n\"No.\" Silk actually had not considered the matter of expenses, though he knew only too well that some of those connected with the final offices of the dead could not be avoided. His mind whirled before he recalled Blood's two cards, which he had set aside for the Scylsday sacrifice in any event. \"Or rather, yes. Blood gave me—gave my manteion, I should say, a generous gift earlier. We'll use that.\"\n\n\"No, not Blood.\" Orchid rose heavily. \"I'll pay it, Patera. How much?\"\n\nSilk compelled himself to be scrupulously honest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I should tell you that we often bury the poor, and sometimes they have no money at all. The generous gods have always seen to it—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm not poor!\" Orchid flushed an angry red. \"I been pretty flat sometimes, sure. Hasn't everybody? But I'm not flat now, and this's my sprat. The other girl, I had to—Oh, shag you, you shaggy butcher! How much for a good one?\"\n\nHere was opportunity. Not merely to save the manteion the cost of Orpine's burial, but to pay for earlier graves bought but never paid for; Silk jettisoned his scruples to seize the moment. \"If it's really not inconvenient, twenty cards?\"\n\n\"Let's go into the bedroom, Patera. That's where the book is. Come on.\"\n\nShe had opened the door and vanished into the next room before he could protest. Through the doorway he could see a rumpled bed, a cluttered vanity table, and a chaise longue half buried in gowns.\n\n\"Come on in.\" Orchid laughed, and this time there was real merriment in the sound." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I bet you've never been in a woman's bedroom before, have you?\"\n\n\"Once or twice.\" Hesitantly, Silk stepped through the doorway, looking twice at the bed to assure himself that no one lay dying there. Presumably Orchid thought of it as a place for rest and lust, and possibly even for love. Silk could only too easily imagine his next visit, in ten years or twenty. All beds became deathbeds at last.\n\n\"Your mama's. You've gone into your mama's bedroom, I bet.\" Orchid plumped herself down before the vanity table, swept a dozen colored bottles and jars aside, and elevated an ormolu inkstand to the place of honor before her.\n\n\"Oh, yes. Many times.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And looked through her things when she was out of the house. I know how you young bucks do.\" There were twenty bedraggled peacock quills at least wilting in the rings of the ormolu inkstand. Orchid selected one, then wrinkled her nose at it.\n\n\"I can sharpen that for you, if you like.\" Silk got out his pen case.\n\n\"Would you? Thanks.\" Revolving on the vanity stool, she handed the peacock quill to him. \"Did you ever try on her underwear?\"\n\nSilk looked up from the quill, surprised." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, I never even thought of it. I did open a drawer once and peep into it, though. I felt so bad about it that I told her the next day. Do you have something to catch the shavings?\"\n\n\"Don't worry about them. You had a nice mama, huh? Is she still alive?\"\n\nSilk shook his head. \"Would you prefer a broad nib?\" Orchid did not reply, and he, contemplating the splayed and frowzy one before him, decided to give her one anyway. A broad nib used more ink, but she would not mind that; and broad nibs lasted longer.\n\n\"Mine died when I was little. I guess she was nice, but I really don't remember her very well. When somebody's dead, Patera, can they come back and see people they care about, if they want to?\"\n\n\"It depends on what is meant by see.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With the slender blade of the long-handled penknife, Silk sliced yet another whitish sliver from the nib. He was accustomed to goose and crow quills; this was larger than either.\n\n\"Talk to them. Visit with them a while, or just let them see you.\"\n\n\"No,\" Silk said.\n\n\"Just no? Why not?\"\n\n\"Hierax forbids it.\" He returned the quill to her and snapped his pen case shut. \"If he did not, the living would live at the direction of the dead, repeating their mistakes again and again.\"\n\n\"I used to wonder why she never came to see me,\" Orchid said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You know, I haven't thought about that in years, and now I'll think about Orpine, hoping that Hierax will let her out once or twice so I can see her again. Have a seat there on the bed, Patera. You're making me jittery.\"\n\nReluctantly, Silk smoothed the canary-colored sheet and sat down.\n\n\"A minute ago, you said twenty cards. That's about as cheap as they come, I bet.\"\n\n\"It would be modest,\" Silk admitted, \"but certainly not contemptible.\"\n\n\"All right, what about fifty? What would she get for that much?\"\n\n\"Gods!\" He considered. \"I can't be absolutely sure. A better sacrifice and a much better casket. Flowers. A formal bier with draperies. Perhaps a—\"\n\n\"I'll make it a hundred,\" Orchid announced." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It will make me feel better. A hundred cards, and everything the best.\" Orchid plunged her quill into the inkwell.\n\nSilk opened his mouth, closed it again, and put his pen case away.\n\n\"And you can say that I was her mother. I want you to say it. What do you call that thing where they stand up and talk in the manteion?\"\n\n\"The ambion,\" Silk said.\n\n\"Right. I never told them here, because I knew—we both knew—what sort of things the other girls would say about her, and me too, behind our backs. You tell them tomorrow. From the ambion. And put it on her stone.\"\n\nSilk nodded. \"I will.\"\n\nWith florid sweeps of her quill, Orchid was writing the draft." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Tomorrow, right? When'll it be?\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I had thought at eleven.\"\n\n\"I'll be there, Patera.\" Orchid's face hardened. \"We all will.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "The user will write a bit then you need to write around three sentences continuing directly from the user's text. Try to stick to the Science Fiction, Space Opera genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The convoy winked in, the carrier Norway first, and then the ten freighters—more, as Norway loosed her four riders and the protective formation spread itself wide in its approach to Pell's Star.\n\nHere was refuge, one secure place the war had never yet reached, but it was the lapping of the tide. The worlds of the far Beyond were winning, and certainties were changing, on both sides of the line." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On the bridge of the ECS 5, the jump-carrier Norway, there was rapid activity, the four auxiliary command boards monitoring the riders, the long aisle of com operations and that of scan and that of their own command." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Norway was in constant com link with the ten freighters, and the reports passed back and forth on those channels were terse, ships' operations only. Norway was too busy for human disasters.\n\nNo ambushes. The station at Pell's World received signal and gave reluctant welcome." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Relief whispered from post to post of the carrier, private, not carried on intership com." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Signy Mallory, Norway's captain, relaxed muscles she had not known were tense and ordered armscomp downgraded to standby." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She held command over this flock, third captain in seniority of the fifteen of Mazian's Fleet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was forty-nine. The Beyonder Rebellion was far older than that; and she had been freighter pilot, rider captain, the whole gamut, all in the Earth Company's service. Her face was still young. Her hair was silver gray." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The rejuv treatments which caused the gray kept the rest of her at somewhere near biological thirty-six; and considering what she shepherded in and what it portended, she felt aged beyond the forty-nine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She leaned back in her cushion which looked over the upcurving, narrow aisles of the bridge, punched in on her arm console to check operations, stared out over the active stations and the screens which showed what vid picked up and what scan had Safe. She lived by never quite believing such estimations.\n\nAnd by adapting. They all did, all of them who fought this war." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Norway was like her crew, varied salvage: of Brazil and Italia and Wasp and jinxed Miriam B, parts of her dating all the way back to the days of the freighter war. They took what they could, gave up as little as possible... as from the refugee ships she guided, under her protection. There had been in decades before, a time of chivalry in the war, of quixotic gestures, of enemy rescuing enemy and parting under truce." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were human and the Deep was wide, and they all had known it. No more." }, { "from": "human", "value": "From among these civilians, neutrals, she had extracted the useful ones for herself, a handful who might adapt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There would be protests at Pell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It would do them no good." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No protests would, on this or other matters. The war had taken another turn, and they were out of painless choices.\n\nThey moved slowly, at the crawl which was the best the freighters could manage in realspace, distance Norway or the riders, unencumbered, could cross pushing light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had come in dangerously close to the mass of Pell's Star, out of plane with the system, risking jump accident and collisions. It was the only way these freighters could make haste... and lives rode on making time.\n\n\"Receiving approach instructions from Pell,\" com told her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Graff,\" she said to her lieutenant, \"take her in.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "And punching in another channel: \"Di, put all troops on standby, full arms and gear.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She switched back to com: \"Advise Pell it had better evacuate a section and seal it. Tell the convoy if anyone breaks formation during approach we'll blow them. Make them believe it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Got it,\" com senior said; and in due time: \"Stationmaster's on in person.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The stationmaster protested. She had expected so." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You do it,\" she told him—Angelo Konstantin, of the Konstantins of Pell. \"You clear that section or we do. You start now, strip out everything of value or hazard, down to the walls; and you put those doors on lock and weld the access panels shut. You don't know what we're bringing you. And if you delay us, I may have a shipload dead: Hansford's life support is going. You do it, Mr. Konstantin, or I send the troops in. And you don't do it right, Mr. Konstantin, and you have refugees scattered like vermin all over your station, with no id's and ugly-desperate. Forgive my bluntness. I have people dying in their own filth. We number seven thousand frightened civs on these ships, what left Mariner and Russell's Star. They're out of choices and out of time. You're not going to tell me no, sir.\"\n\nThere was a pause, distance, and more than enough delay for distance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We've sounded the evacuation for sections of yellow and orange dock. Captain Mallory. Medical services will be available, all that we can spare. Emergency crews are moving. We copy regarding sealing of the affected areas. Security plans will be set in motion at once. We hope that your concern is as great for our citizens. This station will not permit the military to interfere in our internal-security operations or to jeopardize our neutrality, but assistance under our command will be appreciated. Over.\"\n\nSigny relaxed slowly, wiped sweat from her face, drew an easier breath. \"Assistance will be given, sir. Estimated docking... four hours, if I delay this convoy all I can. I can give you that much time to get ready. Has news about Mariner gotten to you yet? It was blown, sir, sabotage. Over.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We copy four hours. We appreciate the measures you urge us to take and we are taking them in earnest. We are distressed to hear about the Mariner disaster. Request detailed briefing. Further advise you we have a Company team here at the moment It's highly distressed at these proceedings.\"\n\nShe breathed an obscenity into the com.\n\n\"... and they're demanding to have all of you turned down for some other station. My staff is attempting to explain to them the condition of the ships and the hazard to life aboard them, but they're putting pressure on us. They consider Pell's neutrality threatened. Kindly appreciate that in your approach and bear in mind that the Company agents have requested contact with you in person. Over.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She repeated the obscenity, expelled a breath. The Fleet avoided such meetings when possible, rare as they were in the last decade. \"Tell them I'll be busy. Keep them off the docks and out of our area. Do they need pictures of starving colonists to take back with them? Bad press, Mr. Konstantin. Keep them out of our way. Over.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're armed with government papers. Security Council. That kind of Company team. They have rank to use and they're demanding transport deeper Beyond. Over.\"\n\nShe chose a second obscenity and swallowed it. \"Thank you, Mr. Konstantin. I'll capsule you my recommendations on procedures with the refugees; they've been worked out in detail. You can, of course, ignore them, but I'd advise against it. We can't even guarantee you that what we're disembarking on Pell isn't armed. We can't get among them to find out. Armed troops can't get in there, you understand? That's what we're giving you. I'd advise you keep the Company boys out of our docking area entirely before we have hostages to deal with. Copy? End transmission.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We copy. Thank you, captain. End transmission.\"\n\nShe slumped in place, glared at the screens and shot an order to com to capsule the instructions to station command.\n\nCompany men. And refugees from lost stations." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Information kept coming steadily from stricken Hansford, with a calm on the part of its crew she admired. Strictly procedures. They were dying over there. Crew was sealed into command and armed, refusing to abandon ship, refusing to let a rider take Hansford in tow." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was their ship. They stayed by it and did what they could for those aboard, by remote. They had no thanks from the passengers, who were tearing the ship apart—or had been doing so, until the air fouled and the systems began to break down.\n\nFour hours." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "writing exercise: 7 sentences sentences, Science Fiction, Space Opera genre. go!" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pell: stationmaster's office, sector blue one; 9/9/52; 1100 hrs.\n\nThe daily ton of disasters extended even to regions beyond station. Angelo Konstantin rested his head on his hand and studied the printout in front of him. A seal blown on Centaur Mine, on Pell IV's third moon... fourteen men killed. Fourteen—he could not help the thought—skilled, cleared workers. They had humanity rotting in its own filth the other side of Q line, and they had to lose the like of these instead. Lack of supply, old parts, things which should have been replaced being rigged to keep working." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A quarter credit seal gave way and fourteen men died in vacuum." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He typed through a memo to locate workers among Pell techs who could replace the lost ones; their own docks were going idle... jammed with ships on main berths and auxiliaries, but very little moving in or out... and the men were better out there in the mines where their expertise could do some good.\n\nNot all the transferred workers had necessary skills at what they were set to do. A worker had been killed on Downbelow, crushed trying to direct a crawler out of the mud where an inexperienced partner had driven it. Condolences had to be added to those Emillio had already written to the family onstation.\n\nThere were two more murders known in Q, and a body had been found adrift in the vicinity of the docks. Supposedly the victim had been vented alive. Q was blamed. Security was trying to get id on the victim, but there was considerable mutilation of the body." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a case of another kind, a lawsuit involving two long-time resident families sharing quarters in alterday rotation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The original inhabitants accused the newcomers of pilferage and conversion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damon sent him the case as an example of a growing problem. Some council action was going to have to be taken in legislation to make responsibilities clear in such cases.\n\nA docksider newly assigned to his post was in hospital, half killed by the crew of the militarized merchanter Janus. The militarized crews demanded merchanter privileges and access to bars, against some stationer authorities who tried to put them under military discipline. The bones would mend; the relations between station-side officers and the merchanter crews were in worse condition. The next stationer officer who went out with the patrols was looking to get his throat cut. Merchanter families were not used to strangers aboard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No station personnel to be assigned to militia ships without permission of ship's captain, he sent to the militia office. Militia ships will patrol under their own officers pending resolution of morale difficulties.\n\nThat would create anguish in some quarters. It would create less than a mutiny would, a merchanter ship against the station authority which tried to direct it. Elene had warned him. He found occasion now to take that advice, an emergency in which stationmaster could override council's ill-advised desire to keep its thumb on the armed freighters.\n\nThere were petty crises in supply." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stamped authorizations where needed, some after the fact, approval on local supervisors' ingenuity, particularly in the mines. He blessed skilled subordinates who had learned to ferret hidden surpluses out of other departments.\n\nThere was need for repair in Q and security asked authorization for armed forces to seal and clear orange three up to the forties, for the duration of the construction, which meant moving out barracksful of residents. It was rated urgent but not life-threatening; taking a repair crew in without sealing the area was. He stamped it Authorized. Shutting down the plumbing in that sector instead threatened them with disease.\n\n\"A merchanter captain Ilyko to see you, sir.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He drew in his breath, stabbed at the button on the console, calling the woman in. The door opened, admitted a huge woman, grayed and seamed with years rejuv had not caught in time. Or perhaps she was in the decline... the drugs would not hold it off forever. He gestured to a chair; the captain took it gratefully. She had sent the interview request an hour ago, while the ship was coming in. She came from Swan's Eye, a can-hauler out of Mariner. He knew the locals, but not this woman." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was one of their own now, militarized; the blue sleeve cord was the insignia she wore to indicate as much." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What's the message,\" he asked, \"and from whom?\"\n\nThe old woman searched her jacket and extracted an envelope, leaned heavily forward to lay it on his desk. \"From the Olvigs' Hammer,\" she said. \"Out of Viking. Flashed us out there and gave us this hand-to-hand. They're going to be out of station scan a while... afraid, sir. They don't like what they see at all.\"\n\n\"Viking.\" Word of that disaster had come in long ago. \"And where have they been since then?\"\n\nTheir message might make it clearer; but they claim to have taken damage clearing Viking. Short-jumped and hung out in nowhere. That's their story. And they're scarred up for sure, but they've got a load. We should have been so lucky when we ran. Then we wouldn't be running militia service, would we, sir, for dock charges?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You know what's in this?\"\n\n\"I know,\" she said. \"There's something on the move. Push is coming to shove, Mr. Konstantin. The way I reckon it... Hammer tried a jump Unionside and didn't find it so good over there after all; Union tried to grab her, it seems, and she ran for it. She's scared of the same thing here. Wanted me to come in ahead of her and bring the message, so's she won't have her hands dirty with it. Consider her position if Union figures she blew the whistle on them. Union's moving.\"\n\nAngelo regarded the woman, the round face and deep-sunken dark eyes. Nodded slowly. \"You know what happens here if your crew talks on station or elsewhere. Makes it very hard on us.\"\n\n\"Family,\" she said. \"We don't talk to outsiders.\" The black eyes fixed steadily on him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm militia, Mr. Konstantin, because we had the bad luck to come in with no load and you laid a charge on us; and because there's nowhere else. Swan's Eye isn't one of the combine haulers; got no reserve and no credit here like some. But what's credit, eh, Mr. Konstantin, if Pell folds? From here on, never mind the credits in your bank; I want supplies in my hold.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Blackmail, captain?\"\n\n\"I'm taking my crew back out there on patrol and we're going to watch your perimeter for you. If we see any Union ships we'll flash you word in a hurry and jump fast. A can-hauler isn't up to seek-and-dodge with a rider ship, and I'm not going to do any heroics. I want the same advantage Pell crews have, that have food and water hoarded up off the manifests.\"\n\n\"You charge there's hoarding?\"\n\n\"Mr. stationmaster, you know there's hoarding by every ship that's attached to some station-side concern, and you're not going to antagonize those combines by investigating, are you? How many of your station-side officers get their uniforms dirty checking the holds and tanks visually, eh? I'm flat and I'm asking the same break for my family the others got by being combine. Supplies. Then I go back out on the line.\"\n\n\"You'll get them.\" He turned then and there and keyed it through on priority. \"Be off this station as quickly as possible.\"\n\nShe nodded when he had done and faced her again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Fair done, Mr. Konstantin.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Where will you jump, captain, if you have to?\"\n\n\"The cold Deep. Got me a place I know, out in the dark. Lots of freighters do, you know that, Mr. Konstantin? Long, lean years coming if the push breaks through. Union will patronize them that were Union long before. Lie low and hope they need ships bad, if it comes. New territories would stretch them thin and they'd need it. Or slink Earthward. Some would.\"\n\nAngelo frowned. \"You think it's really coming.\"\n\nShe shrugged. \"Feel the draft, stationmaster. Wouldn't be on this station for any bribe if the line don't hold.\"\n\n\"A lot of the merchanters hold your opinions?\"\n\n\"We've been ready,\" she said in a low voice, \"for half a hundred years. Ask Quen, stationmaster. You looking for a place, too?\"\n\n\"No, captain.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She leaned back and nodded slowly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My respects to you for it, stationmaster. You can believe we won't jump without giving an alarm, and that's more than some of our class will do.\"\n\n\"I know that it's a heavy risk for you. And you've got your supplies, all you need. Anything more?\"\n\nShe shook her head, a slight flexing of her bulk. She gathered herself to her wide-braced feet. \"Wish you luck,\" she said, and offered her hand. \"Wish you luck. All the merchanters that are here and not on the other side of the line—picked their side against the odds; them that still meet out in the dark and get you supplies right out of Union—they don't do it all for profit. No profit here. You know that, Mr. stationmaster? It would have been easier on the other side... in some ways.\"\n\nHe shook her thick hand. \"Thank you, captain.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Huh,\" she said, and shrugged self-consciously, waddled out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He took the message, opened it. It was a handwritten note, a scrawl. Back from Unionside. Carriers orbiting at Viking, four, maybe more. Rumor says Mazian's on the run, ships lost: Egypt, France, United States, maybe others. Situation falling apart. It was not signed, had no ship's name attached. He studied the message a moment, then rose and finger-keyed the safe, put the paper in, and locked it. His stomach was unsettled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Observers could be wrong." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Information could be planted, rumors started deliberately." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This ship would not come in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hammer would observe a while, possibly come in, possibly run; any attempt to drag them in for direct questioning would be bad politics with other merchanters. Freighters circled Pell, hoping for food, for water, consuming station supplies, using up combine credit, which they had to honor for fear of riot: old debts, to vanished stations. Using up station supplies rather than the precious hoards which they had conserved aboard... against the day they might have to run. Some brought in supplies, true; but more consumed them.\n\nHe keyed through to the desk outside. \"I'm closing up for the day,\" he said, \"I can be reached at home. If it can't wait, I'll come back.\"\n\n\"Yes, sir,\" the murmur came back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He gathered up a few of his less disturbing papers, put them in his case, put on his jacket, and walked out with a nod of courtesy to his secretary, to the several officials who had their offices in the same room, and entered the corridor outside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had been working late the last several days; was due at least the chance to work in greater comfort, to read the caseful of documents without interruption. He had had trouble on Downbelow: Emilio had shipped it all station-side last week with a scathing denunciation of the personnel involved and the policies they represented. Damon had urged the troublemakers shipped out to the mining posts—a quick way to fill up the needed number of workers. Counsel for the defense protested prejudice in the Legal Affairs office, and urged clearing of the tainted service records with full re-instatement. It had flared into something bitter. Jon Lukas had made offers, made demands; they finally had that settled. Presently he had fifty files on Q residents being processed out as provisionals." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He thought of stopping by the executive lounge for a drink on the way, doing some of the paperwork there, taking his mind off what still had him sweating. He had a pager in his pocket, was never without it, even with com to rely on. He thought about it.\n\nHe went home, that little distance down blue one twelve, quietly opened the door.\n\n\"Angelo?\"\n\nAlicia was awake, then. He shed his case and his jacket on the chair by the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm home,\" he said, smiled dutifully at the old Downer female who came out of Alicia's room to pat his hand and welcome him. \"Good day, Lily?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Have good day,\" Lily affirmed, grinning her gentle smile. She made herself noiseless in gathering up what he had put down, and he walked back into Alicia's room, leaned down over her bed and kissed her. Alicia smiled, still as she was always still on the immaculate linens, with Lily to tend her, to turn her, to love her with the devotion of many years. The walls were screens. About the bed the view was of stars, as if they hung in mid-space; stars, and sometimes the sun, the docks, the corridors of Pell; or pictures of Downbelow woods, the base, of the family, of all such things as gave her pleasure. Lily changed the sequences for her.\n\n\"Damon came by,\" Alicia murmured." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He and Elene. For breakfast. It was nice. Elene's looking well. So happy.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Often they stopped by, one or the other of them... especially with Emilio and Miliko out of reach." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He remembered a surprise, a tape he had dropped into his jacket pocket for fear of forgetting it \"Had a message from Emilio. I'll play it for you.\"\n\n\"Angelo, is something wrong?\"\n\nHe stopped in mid-breath and shook his head ruefully. \"You're sharp, love.\"\n\n\"I know your face, love. Bad news?\"\n\n\"Not from Emilio. Things are going very well down there; much better. He reports considerable progress with the new camps. They haven't had any trouble out of Q personnel, the road is through to two, and there's a number willing to transfer down the line.\"\n\n\"I think I get only the better side of the reports. I watch the halls. I get that too, Angelo.\"\n\nHe gently turned her head for her, so that she could look at him more easily." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"War's heating up,\" he said. \"Is that grim enough?\"\n\nThe beautiful eyes... still beautiful, in a thin, pale face... were vital and steady. \"How close now?\"\n\n\"Just merchanters getting nervous. Not at all close; there's no sign of that. But I'm concerned about morale.\"\n\nShe moved her eyes about, a gesture at the walls. \"You make all my world beautiful. Is it beautiful... out there?\"\n\n\"No harm has come to Pell. There's nothing imminent. You know I can't lie to you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sat down on the edge of the bed, the clean, smooth sheets, took her hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We've seen the war get hot before and we're still here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How bad is it?\"\n\n\"I talked to a merchanter a few moments ago, who talked about merchanter attitudes; spoke about places out in the Deep, good for sitting and waiting. Thought comes to me, do you know, that there are other stations of a kind, more than Pell left; chunks of rock in unlikely places... things merchanters know about. Maybe Mazian; surely Mazian. Just places where ships know to go. So if there are storms... there are havens, aren't there? If it comes down to any bad situation, we do have some choices.\"\n\n\"You'd leave?\"\n\nHe shook his head. \"Never. Never. But there's still a chance of talking the boys into it, isn't there? We persuaded one to Downbelow; work on your youngest; work on Elene... she's your best hope. She has friends out there; she knows, and she could persuade Damon.\" He pressed her hand. Alicia Lukas-Konstantin needed Pell, needed the machinery, equipment a ship could not easily maintain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was wedded to Pell and the machines. Any transfer of her entourage of metal and experts would be public, doomsday headlined on vid. She had reminded him of that. I am Pell she had laughed, not laughing. She had been, once, beside him. He was not leaving. In no wise did he consider that, without her, abandoning what his family had built over the years, what they had built, together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's not close,\" he said again." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But he feared it was." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Continue with the same vibes as C. J. Cherryh in the Science Fiction, Space Opera genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pell: Central Cylinder; 9/9/52; 1200 hrs.\n\nJosh sank down to the matting, sat, collapsed backward, in the gym's reduced G. Damon leaned over him, hands on bare knees, the suspicion of amusement on his face.\n\n\"I'm done,\" Josh said when he had a breath; his sides hurt. I'd exercised, but not this much.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon sank to his knees by him on the mat, hunched and himself hard-breathing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Doing all right, anyhow. I'm ready to call it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sucked air and let out a slower breath, grinned at him. \"Need help?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Josh grunted and rolled over, heaved himself up on one arm, gathered himself gracelessly to his feet, shaking in every muscle and conscious of the men and women in better form who passed them on the steep track which belted all Pell's inner core. It was a crowded place, echoing with shouted conversation. It was freedom, and the worst there was to fear here was a little laughter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He would have kept going if he could... had already run longer than he should, but he hated to have the time end." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His knees shook, and his belly ached." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Come on,\" Damon said, rising with more ease." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon caught his arm and guided him toward the dressing rooms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Take a steam bath, a chance to get the knots out at least. I've got a little while before I have to get back to the office.\"\n\nThey went into the chaotic locker room, stripped and tossed the clothing into the common laundry. Towels were stacked there for the taking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon tossed a couple at him and showed him into the door marked steam, through a quick shower into a series of cubbyholes obscured by vapor, down a long aisle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Most places were occupied. They found a few vacant toward the end of the row, took one in the middle and sat down on the wooden benches. So much water to waste... Josh watched Damon dip up water and pour it on his head, cast the rest on a plate of hot metal until the steam boiled up and obscured him in a white cloud." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Josh doused himself after similar fashion, mopped with the towel, short of breath and dizzy in the heat" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You all right?\" Damon asked him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He nodded, anxious not to spoil the time, anxious all the while he was with Damon. He desperately tried to maintain his balance, walking the line of too much trust on the one side and on the other—a terror of trusting anyone. He hated being alone... had never... sometimes certainties flashed out of his tattered memory, firm as truth... had never liked being alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon would tire of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The novelty would wear off. Such company as his had to pall after a while.\n\nAnd then he would be alone, with half his mind and a token freedom, in this prison that was Pell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Something bothering you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No.\" And desperately, to change the subject, for Damon had complained he lacked company coming to the gym: \"I'd thought Elene would meet us here.\"\n\n\"Pregnancy is beginning to slow her down a little. She's not feeling up to it.\"\n\n\"Oh.\" He blinked, looked away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was an intimacy, such a question; he felt like an intruder—naive in such things." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Women, he thought he had known, but not pregnant ones, not a relationship—as it was between Damon and Elene—full of permanencies. He remembered someone he had loved. Older. Dryer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Past such things." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A boy's love. He had been the child. He tried to follow the threads where they led, but they tangled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He did not want to think of Elene in that regard. Could not." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He recalled warnings... psychological impairment, they had called it. Impairment...\n\n\"Josh... are you all right?\"\n\nHe blinked again, which could become a nervous tic if he let it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Something's eating at you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He made a helpless gesture in reply, not wanting to be trapped into discussion. \"I don't know.\"\n\n\"You're worried about something.\"\n\n\"Nothing.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't trust me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The blink obscured his vision." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sweat was dripping into his eyes. He mopped his face.\n\n\"All right,\" Damon said, as if it were." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He got up, walked to the door of the wooden cubicle, anything to put distance between them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His stomach was heaving.\n\n\"Josh.\"\n\nA dark place, a close place... he could run, clear this closeness, these demands on him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That would get him arrested, sent back to hospital, into the white walls." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Are you scared?\" Damon asked him plainly.\n\nIt hit as close to the mark as any other word. He made a helpless gesture, uncomfortable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Elsewhere the noise of other voices became like silence, a roar in which their own cell was remote.\n\n\"You figure what?\" Damon asked. \"That I'm not honest with you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No.\"\n\n\"That you can't trust me?\"\n\n\"No.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What, then?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was close to being sick. He hit that barrier when he crossed his conditioning... knew what it was.\n\n\"I wish,\" Damon said, \"that you'd talk.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked back, his back to the wooden partition." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You'll stop,\" he said numbly, \"when you get tired of the project.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Stop what? Are you back on that desertion theme again?\"\n\n\"Then what do you want?\"\n\n\"You think you're a curiosity.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damon asked him, \"or what?\"\n\nHe swallowed the bile risen in his throat\n\n\"You get that impression, do you,\" Damon asked, \"from Elene and me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't want to think that,\" he managed to say finally." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But I am a curiosity, whatever else.\"\n\n\"No,\" Damon said.\n\nA muscle in his face began to jerk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He reached for the bench, sat down, tried to stop the tic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were pills; he was no longer on them. He wished he were, to be still and not to think. To get out of here, break off this probing at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We like you,\" Damon said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Is something wrong with that?\"\n\nHe sat there, paralyzed, his heart hammering.\n\n\"Come on,\" Damon said, gathering himself up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You've had enough heat.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Josh pulled himself to his feet, finding his knees weak, his sight blurring from the sweat and the temperature and the reduced G. Damon offered a hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He flinched from it, walked after Damon down the aisle and into the showers at the end of the room.\n\nThe cooler mist cleared his head somewhat; he stayed in the stall a few moments longer than need be, inhaled the cooling air, came out again somewhat calmed, walked towel-wrapped into the locker room again. Damon was behind him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm sorry,\" he told Damon, for things in general." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Reflexes,\" Damon said. He frowned intensely, caught his arm before he could turn aside. Josh flinched back against the locker so hard it echoed.\n\nA dark place. A chaos of bodies. Hands on him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He jerked his mind away from it, leaned shivering against the metal, staring into Damon's anxious face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Josh?\"\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" he said again. \"I'm sorry.\"\n\n\"You look like you're going to pass out. Was it the heat?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't know,\" he murmured." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't know.\" He reached toward the bench, sat down to catch his breath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was better after a moment The dark receded. \"I am sorry.\" He was depressed, convinced Damon would not long tolerate him. The depression spread. \"Maybe I'd better check back into the facility.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That bad?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He did not want to think of his own room, the barren apartment in hospice, blank-walled, cheerless." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were people he knew in the hospital, doctors who knew him, who could deal with these things, and whose motives he knew were limited to duty.\n\n\"I'll call the office,\" Damon said, \"and tell them I'm going to be late. \"I'll take you to the hospital if you feel you need it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He rested his head on his hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know why I do this,\" he said. \"I'm remembering something. I don't know what. It hits me in the stomach.\"\n\nDamon sat down astride the bench, just sat, and waited on him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can figure,\" Damon said finally, and he looked up, recalling uneasily that Damon had had access to all his records." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What do you figure?\"\n\n\"Maybe it was a little close in there. A lot of the refugees panic at crowding. It's scarred into them.\"\n\n\"But I didn't come in with the refugees,\" he said. \"I remember that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And what else?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A tic jerked at his face. He rose, began to dress, and after a moment Damon did likewise. Other men came and went about them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shouts from outside reached into the room when the door opened, the ordinary noise of the gym.\n\n\"Do you really want me to take you to the hospital?\" Damon asked finally.\n\nHe shrugged into his jacket \"No. I'll be all right.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He judged that such was the case, although his skin was still drawn in chill the clothes should have warmed away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damon frowned, gestured toward the door. They walked out into the cold outer chamber, entered the lift with half a dozen others, rode it the dizzying straight drop into outer-shell G. Josh drew a deep breath, staggered a little in walking off, stopped as the flow of traffic swirled about him.\n\nDamon's hand closed on his elbow, moved him gently in the direction of a seat along the corridor wall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was glad to sit down, to rest a moment and watch the people pass them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were not on Damon's office level, but on a green one.\n\nThe strains of music from the concourse floated out to them from the far end. They should have ridden it on down... had stopped, Damon's idea." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Near the track around to the hospital, he reasoned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or just a place to rest He sat, taking his breath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"A little dizzy,\" he confessed.\n\n\"Maybe it would be better if you went back at least for a checkup. I should never have encouraged you to this.\"\n\n\"It's not the exercise.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He bent, rested his head in his hands, drew several quiet breaths, straightened finally." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Damon, the names... you know the names in my records. Where was I born?\"\n\n\"Cyteen.\"\n\n\"My mother's name... do you know it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon frowned. \"No. You didn't say; mostly you talked about an aunt. Her name was Maevis.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The older woman's face came to him again, a warm rush of familiarity. \"I remember.\"\n\n\"Had you forgotten even that?\"\n\nThe tic came back to his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He tried not to acknowledge it, desperate for normalcy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I have no way to know, you understand, what's memory and what's imagination, or dreams. Try dealing with things when you don't know the difference and can't tell.\"\n\n\"The name was Maevis.\"\n\n\"Yes. You lived on a farm.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He nodded, treasuring a sudden glimpse of sunlit road, a weathered fence—he was often on that road in his dreams, bare feet in slick dust, a house, a prefab and peeling dome... many such, field upon field, ripe gold in the sun." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Plantation. A lot larger than a farm. I lived there... I lived there until I went into the service school. That was the last time I was ever on a world—wasn't it?\"\n\n\"You never mentioned any other.\"\n\nHe sat still a moment, holding onto the image, excited by it, by something beautiful and warm and real." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He tried to recover details." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The size of the sun in the sky, the color of sunsets, the dusty road that led to and from the small settlement. A large, soft, comfortable woman and a thin, worried man who spent a lot of time cursing the weather. The pieces fit, settled into place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Home. That was home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He ached after it. \"Damon,\" he said, gathering courage—for there was more than the pleasant dream. \"You don't have any reason to lie to me, do you? But you did—when I asked you for the truth a while ago—about the nightmare. Why?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon looked uncomfortable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm scared, Damon. I'm scared of lies. Do you understand that? Scared of other things.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stammered uncontrollably, impatient with himself, with muscles that jerked and a tongue that would not frame things and a mind like a sieve. \"Give me names, Damon. You've read the record. I know you have. Tell me how I got to Pell.\"\n\n\"When Russell's collapsed. Like everyone else.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. Starting with Cyteen. Give me names.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damon laid an arm along the back of the bench, faced him, frowning. \"The first service you mentioned was a ship named Kite. I don't know how many years; maybe it was the only ship. You'd been taken off the farm, I take it, into the service school, whatever you call the place, and you were trained in armscomp. I take it that the ship was a very small one.\"\n\n\"Scout and recon,\" he murmured, and saw in his mind the exact boards, the cramped interior of Kite, where the crew had to hand-over-hand their way in zero G. A lot of time at Fargone Station; a lot of time there—and out on patrol; out on missions just looking for what they could see." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kitha... Kitha and Lee... childlike Kitha—he had had particular affection for her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And Ulf. He recovered faces, glad to remember them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had worked close—in more than one sense, for the dartships had no cabins, no privacy. They had been together... years. Years.\n\nDead now. It was like losing them again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Watch it! Kitha had yelled; he had yelled something too, realizing they were blind-spotted; Ulf's mistake." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sat helpless at his board, no guns that would bear on the threat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He flinched from it.\n\n\"They picked me up,\" he said. \"Someone did.\"\n\n\"A ship named Tigris hit you,\" Damon said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ridership. But it was a freighter in the area that homed in on your capsule signal.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Go on.\"\n\nDamon stayed silent a moment as if he were thinking on it, as if he would not. He grew more and more anxious, his stomach taut." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You were brought onto station,\" Damon said finally, \"aboard a merchanter—a stretcher case, but no injuries. Shock, cold, I suppose... your life-support had started to fade, and they nearly lost you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shook his head. That much was blank, remote and cold. He recalled docks, doctors; interrogation, endless questions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mobs. Shouting mobs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Docks and a guard falling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Someone had coldly shot the man in the face, while he lay on the ground stunned. Dead everywhere, trampled, a surge of bodies before him and men about him—armored troops.\n\nThey've got guns! someone had shouted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And panic broke out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You were picked up at Mariner,\" Damon said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"After it blew, when they were hunting Mariner survivors.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Elene—\"\n\n\"They questioned you at Russell's,\" Damon said softly, doggedly. \"They were facing—I don't know what. They were frightened, in a hurry. They used illegal techniques... like Adjustment. They wanted information out of you, timetables, ship movements, the whole thing. But you couldn't give it to them. You were on Russell's when the evacuation began, and you were moved to this station. That's what happened.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A dark umbilical from station to ship. Troops and guns.\n\n\"On a warship,\" he said.\n\n\"Norway.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His stomach knotted. Mallory. Mallory and Norway. Graff. He remembered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pride... died there. He became a nothing. Who he was, what he was... they had not cared, among the troops, the crew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was not even hate, but bitterness and boredom, cruelty in which he did not matter, a living thing that felt pain, felt shame... screamed when the horror became overwhelming, and realizing that there was no one at all who cared—stopped screaming, or feeling, or fighting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Want to go back to them? He could hear even the tone of Mallory's voice. Want to go back?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had not wanted that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Had wanted nothing, then, but to feel nothing.\n\nThis was the source of the nightmares, the dark, confused figures, the thing that wakened him in the night\n\nHe nodded slowly, accepting that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You entered detention here,\" Damon said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You were picked up; Russell's; Norway; here. If you think we've thrown anything false into your Adjustment... no. Believe me. Josh?\"\n\nHe was sweating. Felt it. \"I'm all right,\" he said, although it was hard, for a moment, to draw breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His stomach kept heaving." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Closeness—emotional or physical—was going to do this to him; he identified it now. Tried to control it.\n\n\"Sit there,\" Damon said, rose before he could object, and went into one of the shops along the hall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He rested there obediently, head against the wall behind him, his pulse easing finally." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It occurred to him that it was the first time he had been loose alone, save for the track between his job and his room in the old hospice. Being so gave him a peculiarly naked feeling. He wondered if those who passed knew who he was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The idea frightened him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You will remember some things, the doctor had told him, when they stopped the pills. But you can get distance from them. Remember some things.\n\nDamon came back, bringing two cups of something, sat down, and offered one to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was fruit juice and something else, iced and sugared, which soothed his stomach." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're going to be late getting back,\" he recalled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon shrugged and said nothing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'd like—\" To his intense shame, he stammered. \"—to take you and Elene to dinner. I have my job now. I have some credit above my hours.\"\n\nDamon studied him a moment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"All right. I'll ask Elene.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It made him feel a great deal better. \"I'd like,\" he said further, \"to walk back home from here. Alone.\"\n\n\"All right.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I needed to know... what I remember. I apologize.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm worried for you,\" Damon said, and that profoundly touched him.\n\n\"But I walk by myself.\"\n\n\"What night for dinner?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You and Elene decide. My schedule is rather open.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was poor humor. Damon dutifully smiled at it, finished his drink. Josh sipped the last of his and stood up. \"Thank you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll talk to Elene. Let you know the date tomorrow. Take it easy. And call me if you need.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Josh nodded, turned, walked away, among the crowds who... might... know his face. Like those on the docks, in his memory: crowds. It was not the same." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a different world and he walked in it, down his own portion of hall as the newfound owner of it... walked to the lift along with those born to Pell, stood with them waiting on the lift car as if he were ordinary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It came. \"Green seven.\" He spoke up for himself when the press inside cut him off from the controls and someone kindly pressed it for him. Shoulder to shoulder in the car." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was all right." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It whisked him down to his own level. He excused his way past passengers who gave him not a second glance, stood in his own corridor, near the hospice.\n\n\"Talley,\" someone said, startling him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He glanced to his right, at uniformed security guards." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One nodded pleasantly to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His pulse raced and settled. The face was distantly familiar. \"You live here now?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "the guard asked him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes,\" he said, and in apology: \"I don't remember well... from before. Maybe you were there when I came in.\"\n\n\"I was,\" the guard said. \"Good to see you came out all right.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He seemed to mean it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you,\" Josh said, walked on his way and the guards on theirs. The dark which had advanced retreated.\n\nHe had thought them all dreams." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I don't dream it, he thought. It happened. He walked past the desk at the entry to the hospice, down the corridor inside to number 18. He used his card." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The door slid aside and he walked into his own refuge, a plain, windowless place... a rare privilege, from what he had heard of vid about the overcrowding everywhere." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "More of Damon's arranging.\n\nOrdinarily he would turn on the vid, using its noise to fill the place with voices, for dreams filled the silences.\n\nHe sat down now on the bed, simply sat there a time in the silence, probing the dreams and the memories like half-healed wounds. Norway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Signy Mallory." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mallory." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "keep the story goin for like six sentences more. make it Science Fiction, Space Opera-y and C. J. Cherryh-esque" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pell: sector green seven: merchanter's hospice; 2241 hrs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Com buzzed. The light was on, a call coming through. Josh looked at it across his room, stopped in his pacing. They had let him go. Go home, they had said, and he had done so, through corridors guarded by police and Mazianni. They knew at this moment where he was. And now someone was calling his room, hard after his arrival." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The caller insisted; the red light stayed on, blinking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He did not want to answer, but it might be detention checking to be sure he had gotten here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was afraid not to respond to it. He crossed the room and pushed the reply button.\n\n\"Josh Talley,\" he said into the mike.\n\n\"Josh. Josh, it's Damon. Good to hear your voice. Are you all right?\"\n\nHe leaned against the wall, caught his breath.\n\n\"Josh?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm all right. Damon, you know what happened.\"\n\n\"I know. Your message got to me. I've taken personal responsibility for you. You're coming to our apartment tonight. Pack what you need. I'm coming there after you.\"\n\n\"Damon, no. No. Stay out of this.\"\n\n\"We've talked it over; it's all right. No argument.\"\n\n\"Damon, don't. Don't let it get on their records...\"\n\n\"We're your legal sponsors as it is, Josh. It's already on the records.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Elene and I are on our way.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The contact went dead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wiped his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The knot which had been at his stomach had risen into his throat. He saw no walls, nothing of where he was. It was all metal, and Signy Mallory, young face and age-silvered hair, and eyes dead and oldest of all. Damon and Elene and the child they wanted... they prepared to put everything at risk. For him.\n\nHe had no weapons. Needed none, if it were to be himself and her alone, as it had been in her quarters." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had been dead then, inside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Had existed, hating his existence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The same kind of paralysis beckoned now... to let things be, accept, take cover where it was offered; it was always easier. He had not threatened Mallory, having had nothing to fight for.\n\nHe pushed from the wall, felt of his pocket, making sure his papers were there. He walked into the hall and through it past the unmanned front desk of the hospice, out into the open where the guards stood. One of the local security started to challenge him. He looked frantically down the corridor where a trooper stood." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You!\" he shouted, disturbing the vacant quiet of the hall. Police and trooper reacted, the trooper with leveled rifle and a suddenness which had almost been a pulled trigger. Josh swallowed thickly, held his hands in plain view. \"I want to talk with you.\"\n\nThe rifle motioned. He walked with hands still wide at his sides, toward the armored trooper and the dark muzzle. \"Far enough,\" the trooper said. \"What is it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The insignia was Atlantic's. \"Mallory of Norway\" he said. \"We're good friends. Tell her Josh Talley wants to talk with her. Now.\"\n\nThe trooper had a disbelieving look, a scowl finally. But he balanced the rifle in the crook of his arm and reached for his com button. \"I'll relay to the Norway duty officer,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You'll be going in, in either case—your way, if she does know you, and on general investigation if she doesn't.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She'll see me,\" he said.\n\nThe trooper pushed the com button and queried. What came back came privately over his helmet com, but his eyes flickered. \"Check it, then,\" he said to Norway. And after a moment more: \"Command central. Got it. Out.\" He hooked the com unit to his belt again, and motioned with the rifle barrel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Keep walking down that hall and go up the ramp. That trooper down there will take you in charge and see you talk to Mallory.\"\n\nHe went, walking quickly, for he did not reckon it would take Damon and Elene long to reach the hospice.\n\nThey searched him. Of course they would do so. He endured it for the third time this day, and this time it did not bother him. He was cold inside, and outer things did not trouble him. He straightened his clothes and walked with them up the ramp, past sentries at every level." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On green two they entered a lift and rode it the short rise and traverse into blue one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They had not even asked for his papers, had scarcely looked at them more than to be sure that the folder held nothing but papers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They walked a short distance back along the matting-carpeted hall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a reek of chemicals in the air. Workmen were busy peeling all the location signs. The windowed section further, crammed with comp equipment and with a few techs moving about, was specially guarded. Norway troops. They opened the door and let him and his guards in, into station central, among the aisles of busy technicians.\n\nMallory, seated at the end of the counters, rose to meet him, smiled coldly at him, her face haggard. \"Well?\" she said.\n\nHe had thought the sight of her would not affect him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It did. His stomach wrenched. \"I want to come back,\" he said, \"on Norway.\"\n\n\"Do you?\"\n\n\"I'm no stationer; I don't belong here. Who else would take me?\"\n\nMallory looked at him and said nothing. A tremor started in his left knee; he wished he might sit down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They would shoot him if he made a move; he thoroughly believed that they would. The tic threatened his composure, jerked at the side of his mouth when she turned away a moment and glanced back again. She laughed, a dry chuckle. \"Konstantin put you up to this?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"You've been Adjusted. That so?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The stammer tied his tongue. He nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And Konstantin makes himself responsible for your good behavior.\"\n\nIt was all going wrong. \"No one's responsible for me,\" he said, stumbling on the words. \"I want a ship. If Norway is all I've got, then I'll take it.\" He had to look at her directly, at eyes which flickered with imagined thoughts, things which were not going to be said here, before the troopers,\n\n\"You search him?\" she asked the guards." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, ma'am.\"\n\nShe stood thinking a long moment, and there was no smile, no laughter. \"Where are you staying?\"\n\n\"A room in the old hospice.\"\n\n\"The Konstantins provide it?\"\n\n\"I work. I pay for it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What's your job?\"\n\n\"Small salvage.\"\n\nAn expression of surprise, of derision.\n\n\"So I want out of it,\" he said. \"I figure you owe me that.\"\n\nThere was interruption, movement behind him, which stopped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mallory laughed, a bored, weary laugh, and beckoned to someone. \"Konstantin. Come on in. Come get your friend.\"\n\nJosh turned. Damon and Elene were both there, flushed and upset and out of breath. They had followed him. \"If he's confused,\" Damon said, \"he belongs in the hospital.\" He came and laid a hand on Josh's shoulder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Come on. Come on, Josh.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He's not confused,\" Mallory said. \"He came here to kill me. Take your friend home, Mr. Konstantin. And keep a watch on him, or I'll handle matters my way.\" There was stark silence.\n\n\"I'll see to it,\" Damon said after a moment. His fingers bit into Josh's shoulder. \"Come on. Come on.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Josh moved, walked with him and Elene, past the guards, out and down the long corridor with the work crews and the chemical smell; the doors of central closed behind them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Neither of them said anything." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damon's grip shifted to his elbow and they took him into a lift, rode it down the short distance to five. There were more guards in this hall, and station police. They passed unchallenged into the residential halls, to Damon's own door. They brought him inside and closed the door. He stood waiting, while Damon and Elene went through the routine of turning on lights, and taking off jackets.\n\n\"I'll send for your clothes,\" Damon said shortly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Come on, make yourself at home.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was not the welcome he deserved." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He picked a leather chair, mindful of his grease-stained work clothes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Elene brought him a cool drink and he sipped at it without tasting it.\n\nDamon sat down on the arm of the chair next to his. Temper showed. Josh accepted that, found a place at his feet to stare at.\n\n\"You ran us a circular chase,\" Damon said. \"I don't know how you got past us but you managed it.\"\n\n\"I asked to go.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Whatever Damon would have wanted to say, he swallowed. Elene came over and sat down on the couch opposite him.\n\n\"So what did you have in mind?\" Damon asked evenly.\n\n\"You shouldn't have gotten involved. I didn't want you involved.\"\n\n\"So you ran from us?\"\n\nHe shrugged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Josh—did you mean to kill her?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Eventually. Somewhere. Sometime.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "They found nothing to say." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon finally shook his head and looked away, and Elene came over behind Josh's chair, laid a gentle hand on his shoulder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It didn't work,\" Josh said finally, tripping on the words." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It went everyway wrong. I'm afraid now she thinks you put me up to it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Elene's hand brushed his hair, descended again to his shoulder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon simply stared at him as if he were looking at someone he had never seen before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't you ever,\" Damon said, \"think of doing that again.\"\n\n\"I didn't want you two hurt. I didn't want you taking me in with you. Think how it looks to them—you, with me.\"\n\n\"You think Mazian runs this station all of a sudden? And you think a captain in the Fleet is going to break relations with the Konstantins, whose cooperation Mazian needs... in a personal feud?\"\n\nHe thought that over. It made sense in a way he wanted to believe, and therefore he suspected it.\n\n\"It's not going to happen,\" Damon said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So forget about it. No trooper is about to walk into this apartment, you can depend on it. Just don't give them excuses for wanting to. And you came close. You understand that? The worst thing you can do is give them a pretext. Josh, it was Mallory's order that got you out of detention. I asked it. She did it a second time back there... as a favor. Don't depend on a third.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He nodded, shaken.\n\n\"Have you eaten today?\"\n\nHe considered, confused, finally thought back to the sandwich, realized that at least part of his malaise was lack of food. \"Missed supper,\" he said.\n\n\"I'll get you some clothes of mine that will fit. Wash up, relax. We'll go back to your apartment tomorrow morning and get whatever you need.\"\n\n\"How long am I going to stay here?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he asked, turning his head to look at Elene and back at Damon. It was a small place. He was aware of the inconvenience. \"I can't move in on you.\"\n\n\"You stay here until it's safe,\" Damon said. \"If we have to make further arrangements, we will. In the meantime I'm going to do some review on your papers or whatever excuse I can contrive that will excuse your spending the next few working days in my office.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't go back to the shop?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"When this is settled. Meanwhile we're not going to let you out of our sight. We make it clear they'll have to create a major incident to touch you. I'll put my father onto it too, so that no one in either office gets caught by a surprise request. Just, please, don't provoke anything.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No,\" he agreed. Damon gave a jerk of his head back toward the hall. He rose and went with Damon, and Damon searched an armload of clothing out of the lockers outside the bath. He went into the bath, bathed and felt better, clean of the memory of the detention cell, wrapped himself in the soft robe Damon had lent him, and came out to the aroma of supper cooking.\n\nThey ate, crowded at the table, exchanged what they had seen in their separate sections. He could talk without anxiousness finally, now that the nightmare was on him, and he was no longer alone in it.\n\nHe chose the far corner of the kitchen, made himself a pallet on the floor, out of the amazing abundance of bedding Elene urged on him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We'll get a cot by tomorrow, she promised him." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the least, a hammock. He settled down in it, heard them settle in the living room, and felt safe, believing finally what Damon had told him... that he was in a refuge even Mazian's Fleet could not breach." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "lets do a Science Fiction, Space Opera thing. u write 4 sentences bits" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Merchanter Hammer: deep space; 1900 hrs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vittorio poured a drink, his second since space around them had suddenly become filled with a battle-worn fleet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Things had not gone as they should." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A silence had fallen over Hammer, the bitter silence of a crew who felt an enemy among them, a witness to their national humiliation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He met no eyes, offered no opinions... had only the desire to anesthetize himself with all due speed, so that he could not be blamed for any matters of policy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He did not want to give advice or opinions.\n\nHe was plainly a hostage; his father had set things up that way. And it occurred to him inevitably that his father might have double-crossed them all, that he might now be worse than a useless hostage... that he might be one whose card was due to be played.\n\nMy father hates me, he had tried to tell them; but they had strugged it off as irrelevant." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They did not make the decisions. The man Jessad had done that. And where was Jessad now?\n\nThere was supposed to be some visitor on his way to the ship, some person of importance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jessad himself, to report failure, and to dispose of a useless bit of human baggage?\n\nHe had time to finish the second drink before the activity of the crew and eventual nudge at the hull reported a contact. There was a great deal of machinery slamming and the noise of the lift going into function, a crash as the cage synched with the rotation cylinder. Someone was coming up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sat still with the glass before him and wished that he were a degree drunker than he was. The upward curve of the deck curtained the lift exit, beyond the bridge. He could not see what happened, only noted the absence of some of Hammer's crew from their posts. He looked up in sudden dismay as he heard them coming round the other way, from his back, into the main room through crew quarters." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Blass of Hammer. Two crew. A number of military strangers and some not in uniform, behind them. Vittorio gathered himself shakily to his feet and stared at them. A gray-haired officer in rejuv, resplendent with silver and rank. And Dayin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dayin Jacoby." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Vittorio Lukas,\" Blass identified him. \"Captain Seb Azov, over the fleet; Mr. Jacoby of your own station; and Mr. Segust Ayres of Earth Company.\"\n\n\"Security council,\" that one corrected.\n\nAzov sat down at the table, and the others found place on the benches round about." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vittorio settled again, his fingers numb on the table surface." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was surrounded by an alcoholic gulf that kept coming and going. He tried to sit naturally. They had come to see him... him... and there was no possible help he could be to them or to anyone.\n\n\"The operation has begun, Mr. Lukas,\" Azov said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We've eliminated two of Mazian's ships. They won't be easy to get out; they're hanging close to station. We've sent for additional ships; but we've driven the merchanters out, all the long-haulers. The ones left are Pell short-haulers, serving as camouflage.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What do you want with me?\" Vittorio asked.\n\n\"Mr. Lukas, you're acquainted with the merchanters based out of station—you've run Lukas Company, at least to some extent—and you know the ships.\"\n\nHe nodded apprehensively.\n\n\"Your ship Hammer, Mr. Lukas, is going back within hail of Pell, and where it regards merchanters, you'll be Hammer's com operator... not under your real name, no, you'll be given a file on the Hammer family, which you'll study very carefully. You'll answer as one of them. But should Hammer be challenged by merchanter militia, or by Mazian, your life will rely on your skill in invention. Hammer will suggest to the merchanters remaining that their best course for survival would be to get to the system fringe and have nothing to do with this matter, to get utterly out of the way and cease trade with Pell. We want those ships out of the way, Mr. Lukas; and it wouldn't at all be politic to have merchanters know we've tampered with Hammer and Swan's Eye. We don't intend to have that known, you understand me?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The crews of those ships, he thought, would never be set free, not without Adjustment. It occurred to him that his own memory was hazardous to Union, that it would never be politic to have merchanters know Union had violated merchanter neutrality, which they claimed as a sin of Mazian's alone. That they had confiscated not just personnel by impressment, but whole ships, and names... most of all the names, the trust, the selves of those people. He fingered the empty glass before him, realized what he was doing and stopped at once, trying to seem sober and sensible." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My own interests lie in that direction,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My future on Pell is far from assured.\"\n\n\"How so, Mr. Lukas?\"\n\n\"I entertain some hopes of a Union career, captain Azov.\" He lifted his eyes to Azov's grim face, hoping that he sounded as calm as he tried to be, \"Relations between myself and my father... are not warm, so he threw me to you quite willingly. I've had time to think. Plenty of time. I prefer to make my own understandings with Union.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Pell is running out of friends,\" Azov observed softly, with a glance at the sad-faced Mr. Ayres." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Now the indifferent desert her. The will of the governed, Mr. Ambassador.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ayres' eyes turned toward Azov, sidelong." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We have accepted the situation. It was never the intent of my mission to obstruct the will of the people resident in these areas. Only I am anxious for the safety of Pell Station. We are talking about thousands of lives, sir.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Siege, Mr. Ayres. We cut them off from supplies and disrupt their operations until they grow uncomfortable.\" Azov turned his face toward Vittorio, stared at him a moment \"Mr. Lukas—we have to prevent their access to the resources of the mines, and of Downbelow itself. A strike there... possible, but militarily costly getting to it, and costly in its effect. So we proceed by disentanglement. Mazian has a death grip on Pell; he'll leave ruin if he loses, blow Downbelow and the station itself, fall back toward the Hinder Stars... toward Earth. Do you want your precious motherworld used for a Mazianni base, Mr. Ayres?\"\n\nAyres shot him a troubled look.\n\n\"Ah, he is capable of it,\" Azov said, not ceasing to look at Vittorio, a cold, penetrating stare." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mr. Lukas, that is as much as your duty involves. To gather information... to dissuade merchanters from trade. Do you understand? Do you think that's within your capacity?\"\n\n\"Yes, sir.\"\n\nAzov nodded. \"You'll understand, Mr. Lukas, if we excuse you and Mr. Jacoby at this point.\"\n\nHe hesitated, a little dazed, realized it fuzzily as an order and that Azov's gray stare brooked no counter-suggestions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He rose from the table." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dayin excused himself past Ayres, and that left Ayres, Blass, and Azov in council. Hammer's captain prepared to receive orders the nature of which he much wished to know.\n\nShips had been lost. Azov had not told the truth as it was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had heard the crew talking. There were whole carriers missing. They were to be sent into that.\n\nHe paused where the curve curtained the meeting area, looked back at Dayin, sank down on a bench at the table in this the crew quarters." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You all right?\" he asked Dayin, for whom he had never had great affection; but a face from home was very welcome in this cold place, in these circumstances.\n\nDayin nodded. \"And you?\" It was more courtesy than he had generally had from uncle Dayin.\n\n\"Fine.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dayin settled opposite." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Truth,\" Vittorio asked him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How many did they lose out there?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Took heavy damage,\" Dayin said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I reckon that Mazian cost them some. I know there are ships missing... carriers Victory and Endurance gone, I think.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But Union can build more. They're calling others in. How long is this going to go on?\"\n\nDayin shook his head, rolled a meaningful glance at the overhead. The fans hummed, deadening conversation into local areas, but not shielding them from monitoring. \"They've got him cornered,\" Dayin said then." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And they can get supplies indefinitely, but Mazian's bottled. What Azov said, that was the truth. He cost them, cost them badly, but they cost him worse.\"\n\n\"And what about us?\"\n\n\"I'd rather be here than at Pell, frankly.\"\n\nVittorio gave a bitter laugh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes blurred, a sudden pain in his throat, which was never really gone, and he shook his head. \"I meant it,\" he said for those who might chance to be monitoring them. \"I'll give Union the best I've got; it's the best thing I ever had going for me.\"\n\nDayin regarded him strangely, frowned and perhaps understood his meaning." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For the first time in his twenty-five years he felt a kinship with someone." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That it should be Dayin, who was three decades older and had had a different experience... that surprised him. But a little time in the Deep might make comrades out of the most unlikely individuals, and perhaps, he thought, perhaps Dayin had already made such choices, and Pell was no longer home for either of them." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Provide three sentences as a continuation in the Science Fiction, Space Opera genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pell: Green Dock; 2000 hrs. md. ; O8OOa." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fire hit the wall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damon flinched tighter into the corner they occupied, resisted half a heartbeat as Josh seized him and sprang up to run, followed them, dodged among the panicked and screaming crowds which back-washed out of green nine onto the docks. Someone did get shot, rolled on the decking at their feet, and they jumped that body and kept going, in the direction the troops meant to drive them.\n\nStation residents, Q escapees... there was no difference made." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They ran with fire peppering the supports and the storefronts, silent explosions in the chaos of screams, shots aimed at structures and not the vulnerable station shell itself. Shots went over their heads now that the crowd was moving, and they ran until the weakest faltered. Damon slowed as Josh did, found himself in white dock, the two of them weaving through the scattered number still running in panic, the last few who in their terror seemed to think the shots were still coming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He saw shelter among the shops by the inner wall, went that way and Josh followed him, to the recessed doorway of a bar which had been sealed against rioters, a place to sit quietly, out of the way of chance shots.\n\nSeveral bodies lay out on the dock before them, new or old was not certain. It had become an ordinary sight in recent hours." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were occasional acts of violence while they sat there against the doorway... fights among stationers and what might be Q residents." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mostly people wandered, sometimes calling out names, parents hunting children, friends or mates hunting each other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sometimes there were relieved meetings... and once, once, a man identified one of the dead, and screamed and sobbed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damon bowed his face against his arms. Eventually some men helped the relative away.\n\nAnd eventually the military sent detachments of armored troops into the area, to round up work crews, ordering them to gather up the dead and vent them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon and Josh slunk deeper into the doorway and evaded that duty; it was the active and restless the troops picked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Last of all Downers came out of hiding, timidly, with soft steps and fearful looks about. They took it on themselves to clean the docks, scrubbing away the signs of death, faithful to their ordinary duties of cleanliness and order. Damon looked at them with a slight stirring of hope, the first good thing he had seen in all these hours, that the gentle Downers returned to the service of Pell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He slept a little, as others did who sat over in the docking areas, as Josh did beside him, curled up against the door frame. From time to time he roused to general com announcements of restored schedules, or the promise that food would be forthcoming in all areas.\n\nFood. The thought began to obsess him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He said nothing of it, his knees tucked up within his arms and his limbs feeling weak with hunger; weakness, he thought it, regretting a neglected breakfast, no lunch, no supper... he was not accustomed to hunger. It was, as he had ever felt it, a missed meal on a day of heavy work. An inconvenience. A discomfort." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It began to be something else. It put a whole new complexion on resistance to anything; played games with his mind; forecast whole new dimensions of misery. If they were to be caught and recognized it was likely to be in some food line; but they had to come out for that, or starve." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Their very remaining still grew obvious as the aroma of food swept the docks and others moved, as carts trundled along, pushed by Downers. People mobbed the carts, started snatching and shouting; but the troops escorted each then, and it calmed down quickly. The food carts, stores diminished, came closer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They stood up, leaned there in the recess.\n\n\"I'm going out there,\" Josh said finally. \"Stay back. I'll say you're hurt. I'll get enough for both of us.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damon shook his head. It was perverse courage, to test his survival, sweaty, uncombed, in dirty, bloody coveralls. If he could not cross the dock for fear of an assassin's gun or a trooper recognizing him, he was going to go mad." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At least they did not look to be asking for id cards for the meals." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had three of them, and his own, which he dared not use; Josh had two and his own, but they did not match the pictures.\n\nA simple act, to walk out with a guard watching, to take a cold sandwich and a carton of lukewarm fruit drink, and to retreat; but he retired to the sheltering storefront with a sense of triumph in his prize, crouched there to eat as Josh joined him... ate and drank, feeling in that mundane act as though a great deal of the nightmare were past, and he was caught in some strange new reality, where human feelings were not required, only an animal wariness.\n\nAnd then a shrill ripple of Downer language, the one with the food cart speaking out across the dock to others of his kind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon was startled; Downers were generally shy when things were quiet around them; it startled the escorting trooper, who lowered his rifle and looked all about." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But there was nothing, only quiet, frightened people and solemn round-eyed Downers, who had stopped and now went about their business. Damon finished his sandwich as the cart passed on along the upward curve of the dock toward green.\n\nA Downer came near them, dragging a box into which he was collecting the plastic containers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Josh looked anxious as the Downer held out his hand, surrendered the wrappers; Damon tossed his in the box, looked up in fright as the Downer rested a gentle hand on his arm. \"You Konstantin-man.\"\n\n\"Go away,\" he whispered hoarsely. \"Downer, don't say my name. They'll kill me if they see me. Be quiet and go away quick.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I Bluetooth. Bluetooth, Konstantin-man.\"\n\n\"Bluetooth.\" He remembered. The tunnels, the Downer who had been shot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The strong Downer fingers closed tighter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Downer name Lily send from Sun-she-friend, you name 'Licia. She send we, make Lukases quiet, not come in she place. Love you, Konstantin-man. 'Licia she safe, Downers all round she, keep she safe. We bring you, you want?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He could not breathe for the moment \"Alive? She's alive?\"\n\n\"'Licia she safe. Send you come, make you safe with she.\"\n\nHe tried to think, clung to the furred hand and stared into the round brown eyes, wanting far more than Downer patois could say." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He shook his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No. No. It's danger to her if I come there. Men-with-guns, you understand, Bluetooth? Men hunt me. Tell her—tell her I'm safe. Tell her I hide all right, tell her Elene got away with the ships. We're all right. Does she need me, Bluetooth? She needs?\"\n\n\"Safe in she place. Downers sit with she, all Downers in Upabove. Lily with she. Satin with she. All. All.\"\n\n\"Tell her—tell her I love her. Tell her I'm all right and Elene is. Love you, Bluetooth.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Brown arms hugged him. He embraced the Downer fervently and the Downer left him and slipped away like a shadow, quickly occupied himself with picking up debris not far away, wandered off. Damon looked about him, fearful that they might have been observed, met nothing but Josh's curious gaze." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He glanced away, wiped his eyes on the arm which rested across his knee." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The numbness diminished; he began to be afraid again, had something to be afraid for, someone who could still be hurt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Your mother,\" Josh said. \"Is that what he was talking about?\"\n\nHe nodded, without comment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm glad,\" Josh offered earnestly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He nodded a second time. Blinked, tried to think, feeling his brain subjected to jolt after jolt until there was no sense in it\n\n\"Damon.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked up, followed the direction of Josh's stare." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Squads of troops were coming off the horizon, out of green dock, formed up and meaning business." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Quietly, nonchalantly, he rose, dusted his clothing, turned his back to the dock to give Josh cover while he got up. Very casually they began to move along in the other direction.\n\n\"Sounds like they're about to get organized out there,\" Josh said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We're all right,\" he insisted. They were not the only ones moving. The niner hall of white was not that far." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They drifted with others who seemed to have the same motive, found a public restroom next to one of the bars that sat at the corner of white nine; Josh turned in there and he walked in after. They both made use of it and walked out again, taking a normal pace. Guards had been posted at the intersections of the corridor with the dock, but they were not doing anything, only watching." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He walked further down nine, stopped at a public call unit.\n\n\"Screen me,\" he said, and Josh obligingly leaned against the wall between them and the opening of nine where the guards stood. \"Going to see what cards we have, how many credits, where the original owners belonged. I don't need my own priority to do that, just a records number.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know one thing,\" Josh said in a low voice. \"I don't look like a Pell citizen. And your face...\"\n\n\"No one wants to be noticed; no one can turn us in without being noticed himself. That's the best hope we've got; no one wants to be conspicuous.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He thrust in the first card and keyed the override. Altener, Leslie: 789.90 credits in comp; married, a child. Clerk, clothing concession. He put that one in his left pocket, not to use, not wanting to steal from the survivors." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lee Anton Quale, single man, staff card with Lukas Company, restricted clearance, 8967.89 credits... an amazing amount for such a man. William Teal, married man, no children, loading boss, 4567.67 credits, warehouse clearances.\n\n\"Let's see yours,\" he said to Josh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Josh handed his over together, and he shoved the first in, hastening feverishly, wondering whether so many inquiries in a row off a public terminal might not set comp central off. Cecil Sazony, single man, 456.78 credits, machinist and sometime loader, barracks privileges; Louis Diban, five-year marriage terminated, no dependents, 3421.56, dock crew foreman. He pocketed the cards and started walking as Josh followed and caught up with him, around the corner into a crosshall, and around the next corner to the right." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a storeroom there; all the docks were mirror image one of the other when it came to the central corridors, and there was inevitably a storage room for maintenance hereabouts. He found the appropriate, unmarked door, used the foreman's card to open it, and turned on the lights. There was ventilation, a store of paper and cleaning supplies and tools." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stepped in with Josh behind him and punched the door closed. \"A hole to hide in,\" he said, and pocketed the card he had used, reckoning it the best key they had. \"We sit it out, go on alterday shift a day or so. Two of our cards were alterday people, single, with dock clearance. Sit down. Lights will go out in here in a moment. Can't keep them on... comp will find a storeroom light on and turn it out on us, very economical.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Are we safe here?\"\n\nHe laughed bitterly, sank down against the wall, legs tucked up in the cramped space to afford Josh room to sit down opposite him. He felt of the gun still in his pocket, to be sure it was there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Drew a breath. \"Nowhere is safe.\" Tired, the angel's face, grease-smudged, hair stringy. Josh looked terrified, though it had been Josh's instincts that had saved them under fire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Between the two of them, one knowing the accesses and one with the right reflexes, they made a tough problem for Mazian. \"You've been shot at before,\" he said. \"Not just in a ship... close up. You know that?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't remember.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I said I don't.\"\n\n\"I know the station. Every hole, every passage; and if shuttles start moving again, if any ships start going and coming from the mines, we just use the cards to get close enough to the docks, join a loading crew, walk onto a ship...\"\n\n\"Go where, then?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Downbelow. Or outworld mines. No questions asked in either place.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a dream. He fabricated it to comfort them both. \"Or maybe Mazian will decide he can't go on holding here. Maybe he'll just pull out.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He'll blow it if he does. Blow the station, the installations on Downbelow with it. Would he want to leave Union a base to use against him when he falls back?\"\n\nDamon frowned at truth he already knew. \"You have a better suggestion what we should do?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I could turn myself in, negotiate to get back in control, evacuate the station...\"\n\n\"You believe that?\"\n\n\"No,\" he said. That account too he had already added up. \"No.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "CONTINUE STORY. PARAMETERS: 2 sentences sentences, C. J. Cherryh style, Science Fiction, Space Opera genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Merchanter Finity's End: deep space; 2200 hrs. md; 1000 hrs. a." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The wink of lights, the noise of ventilators, the sometime sputter of com from other ships—all of this had a dreamlike familiarity, as if Pell had never existed, as if it were Estelle again and the folk about her might turn and show familiar faces, known from childhood. Elene worked her way through the busy control center of Finity's End and pressed herself into the nook of an overhanging console to obtain a view of scan." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her senses were still muzzy with drugs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She pressed her hand to her belly, feeling unaccustomed nausea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jump had not hurt the child... would not. Merchanters had proven that time and again, merchanter women with strong constitutions and lifelong habituation to the stresses; it was nine-tenths nerves, and the drugs were not that heavy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She would not lose it, would not even think of it. In time her pulse settled again from the short walk from main room, the waves of sickness receded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She watched scan acquire another blip. Merchanters were coming into the null point by drift, the way they had left Pell, frantically gathering all the realspace speed they could on entry to keep ahead of the incomers who were rolling in like a tide on a beach." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All it needed was someone overshooting minimum, some over hasty ass coming into realspace too close to the point, and they and the newcomer would cease to exist in any rational sense, shredded here and there. She had always thought it a peculiarly nasty fate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They would ride for the next few minutes still with that end a very real possibility." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But they were coming in greater and greater numbers now, finding their way into this refuge in reasonable order." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They might have lost a few passing through the battle zone; she could not tell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nausea hit again. It came and went." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She swallowed several times in calm determination to ignore it, turned a jaundiced eye on Neihart, who had left the controls of the ship to his son and came to see to her.\n\n\"Got a proposition,\" she said between swallows." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You let me have com again. No running from here. Take a look at what's following us, captain. Most of the merchanters that ever ran freight for Company stations. That's a lot of us, isn't it? And if we want to, we can reach further than that.\"\n\n\"What do you have in mind?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That we stand up and safeguard our own interests. That we start asking ourselves hard questions before we scatter out of here. We've lost the stations we served. So do we let Union swallow us up, dictate to us... because we become outmoded next to their clean new state-run ships? And they could take that idea into their heads if we come to them begging license to serve their stations. But while things are uncertain, we've got a vote and a voice, and I'm betting some of the so-named Union merchanters can see what's ahead too, clear as we can. We can stop trade—all worlds, all stations—we can shut them down. Half a century of being pushed around, Neihart, half a century of being mark for any warship not in the mood to regard our neutrality. And what do we get when the military has it all? You want to give me com access?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Neihart considered a long moment. \"When it goes sour, Quen, word will spread far and wide what ship spoke out for it. It's trouble for us.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know that,\" Elene said hoarsely. \"But I'm still asking it.\"\n\n\"You've got com if you want it.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "The user will write a bit then you need to write around 3 sentences continuing directly from the user's text. Try to mimic the style of C. J. Cherryh.Produce 3 sentences using the prose and structure of C. J. Cherryh every time its your turn using what the user wrote as a seed." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pell: White Dock; 1/9/53; 0400 hrs. md. ; 1600 hrs. a.\n\nThe dockworkers were Union troops, fatigue-clad, but in green, surreal sight on Pell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon walked down the ramp toward the armored backs of Norway troops who held the margin and guarded the access." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Far across the deserted dock other troopers stood in armor... Unioners. He passed the safe perimeter, passed through the Norway troops, headed out that lonely crossing of the wide debris-littered decking. Heard disturbance behind him, heard someone coming, and looked back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Josh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mallory sent me,\" Josh said, overtaking him. \"You mind?\"\n\nHe shook his head, mortally glad of his company where he was going. Josh reached into his pocket and handed him a spool of tape. \"Mallory sent it. Josh said. \"She set up the comp keys. Says this might help.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He took it, stuffed it into the pocket of his brown Company fatigues." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Union escort waited for them with the troops, black-clad and silver-medaled. He started walking again, appalled as they came closer at the sameness, the beauty of them. Perfect humans, all of a size, all of a type." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What are they?\" he asked of Josh.\n\n\"My kind,\" Josh said. \"Less specialized.\"\n\nHe swallowed heavily and kept going." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Union troops fell in about them, wordlessly escorted them along the dock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pell citizens stood, a handful here and there, stared at them as they walked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Konstantin, he heard murmured. Konstantin. He saw hope in some eyes, and flinched from it, knowing how little there was to be had. There was chaos in some areas they passed, whole sections with the lights out, with fans dead, with the stench of fire and bodies lying." }, { "from": "human", "value": "G surged a marginal amount, minor instability." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No knowing what had happened in the core, in life-support. There was a time beyond which the systems began to deteriorate beyond recovery, when balances were too far gone. Mindless, with central out, Pell had gone to its local ganglia, nerve centers which were not interconnected, automatic systems that fought for its life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Without regulation and balance they would pass out of phase... like a body dying." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They walked blue nine, where other Union forces stood, entered the emergency ramp... dead here too, bodies they and their escort filed past in their ascent; a long climb, from nine upward, to an area where armored troopers operated, where they stood facing upward, shoulder to shoulder. They could go no higher; the escort leader turned aside and took them through the door into two, into the hall lined with financial offices. Another knot of troops and officers stood there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One, silvered with rejuv and bearing a great deal of rank on his chest, turned toward them. With a dull shock Damon recognized those immediately behind him. Ayres, from Earth.\n\nAnd Dayin Jacoby. If he had had a gun in his hands he would have shot the man. He did not." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stopped there staring dead at him, and Jacoby's face went a dull crimson." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mr. Konstantin,\" the officer said.\n\n\"Captain Azov?\" he surmised by the signs of rank.\n\nAzov offered his hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He took it, in bitterness. \"Maj. Talley,\" Azov said, and offered his hand to Josh. Josh accepted the greeting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Glad to have you back.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sir,\" Josh murmured." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mallory's information is correct? Mazian's gone for Sol?\"\n\nJosh nodded. \"No deception, sir. I think it's true.\"\n\n\"Gabriel?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Dead, sir. Shot by the Mazianni.\"\n\nAzov nodded, frowning, looked at Damon directly again.\n\n\"I'm giving you a chance,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You think you can get this station back in order?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll try,\" Damon said, \"if you let me up there.\"\n\n\"That's the immediate problem,\" Azov said. \"We don't have access up there. Natives have the doors blocked. No knowing what damage they've done in there or what shooting could start with them.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon nodded slowly, looked back toward the door to the access ramp." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Josh comes with me,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No one else. I'll get Pell settled for you. Your troops can follow... after it's quiet. If shooting starts, you may lose the station, and you wouldn't want that at this stage, would you?\"\n\n\"No,\" Azov agreed. \"We wouldn't want that.\"\n\nDamon nodded and started for the doors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Josh walked beside him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A loudspeaker behind them began to recall troops, who came out the doors from the ramp in obedience to the summons, passing them as they entered and walked upward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The top was clear, doors to blue one closed. Damon pushed the button; it was dead. Manual opened it.\n\nDowners sat beyond, huddled together, a mass that filled the main hall and the side corridors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Konstantin-man,\" one exclaimed, scrambling up suddenly, hurt as many of them were hurt, and bleeding from burns." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They surged to their feet, reached out hands as he walked in, to touch his hands, his body, bobbing in delight and calling, shrieking in their own tongue.\n\nHe walked through, Josh trailing in his wake through the hysterical press. There were more of them inside the control center, beyond the windows, on the floor, sitting on the counters, in every available niche." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He reached the doors, rapped on the window." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hisa faces lifted, eyes stared, solemn and calm... and of a sudden brightened. Downers leaped up, danced, bounced, shrieked wild cries silenced by the glass.\n\n\"Open the door,\" he called to them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was impossible that they could hear him, but he pointed to the switch, for they had it locked from inside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One did. He walked in among them, touched and hugged, touched them in return, and in a sudden rush, found a hand locked viselike on his, clasping it to a furry breast. \"I Satin,\" the hisa said to him, grinning. \"Me eyes warm, warm, Konstantin-man.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "And on the other side, Bluetooth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That broad grin and shaggy coat he knew, and hugged the Downer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You mother send,\" Bluetooth said. \"She all right, Konstantin-man. She say lock doors, stand here not move, make they send find Konstantin-man, make all right the Upabove.\"\n\nHe caught his breath, touched furred bodies, went to the central console, with Josh behind him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Human bodies lay there on the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jon Lukas was one, shot through the head. He sat down at the main board, began pushing keys, rebuilding... took out the spool of tape and hesitated.\n\nMallory's gift. To Pell. To Union." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The tape might contain anything—traps for Union... a final destruct trigger...\n\nHe wiped a hand across his face, finally made up his mind and fed the leader in. The machinery sucked it in, beyond recall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Boards began to clear, lights flickering to greens." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a stir among the hisa. He looked above him, at troops reflected in the glass, standing in the doorway with rifles leveled. At Josh, behind him, who had turned to face them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hold it where you are,\" Josh snapped at them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They did, and rifles lowered. Maybe it was the face, the look that was Union's lab-born; or the voice, that expected no argument. Josh turned his back on them and stood with his hands on the back of Damon's chair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon kept at work, spared a second glance to the reflecting glass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Need a com tech,\" he said. \"Someone to get on public channels and talk. Get me someone with a Pell accent. We're all right. They knocked some of the storage out, slagged some records... but we don't really need those, do we?\"\n\n\"They won't know one name from the other,\" Josh said softly, \"will they?'\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No,\" he said. The adrenalin that had gotten him this far was wearing off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He found his hands shaking; looked aside as a Unioner tech seated himself at com. \"No,\" he said, rose and started over to object. Troops leveled guns. \"Hold off,\" Josh said, and the officer in charge hesitated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then Josh himself glanced aside and stepped back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was another presence in the doorway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Azov and his entourage.\n\n\"Private message, Mr. Konstantin?\"\n\n\"I need to get crews at their jobs,\" Damon said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They'll move at a voice they know.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sure they would, Mr. Konstantin. But no. Stay away from com. Let our techs handle it.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" Josh said quietly. \"May I intervene?\"\n\n\"Not in this matter,\" Azov said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Keep at non-public work, Mr. Konstantin.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damon drew a quiet breath, walked back to the console he had left and carefully sat down. More and more troops had come in. The hisa crowded back against the walls and onto the counters, chattering soft alarm among themselves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Get these creatures out of here,\" Azov said. \"Now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Citizens,\" Damon said, turning his chair to look at Azov. \"Pell citizens.\"\n\n\"Whatever they are.\"\n\n\"Pell,\" Mallory's voice came over com." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Stand by for undocking.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sir?\" the Union com tech asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Azov signaled for silence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon leaned and tried to hit an alarm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rifles leveled and he thought better of it. Azov himself went to com. \"Mallory,\" Azov said, \"I'll advise you to stay put.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "A moment's silence. \"Azov,\" the voice returned softly, \"somehow I thought there was no honor among thieves.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Captain Mallory, you are attached to the Union fleet, under Union orders. Accept them or stand in mutiny.\"\n\nAgain a silence. And more silence. Azov gnawed at his lip." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He reached past the com tech and keyed in his own numbers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Captain Myes. Norway refuses orders. Move your ships out a little.\"\n\nAnd on Mallory's channel: \"You take our offer, Mallory, or there's no port. You can rip loose and you can run, but you'll be number-one priority for our ships in Union space. Or you can run join Mazian. Or you can go with us against him.\"\n\n\"Under your orders?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Your choice, Mallory. Free pardon... or be hunted down.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dry laughter came back. \"How long would I stay in command of Norway once I let Unioners on my deck? And how long would my officers or any of my troops live?\"\n\n\"Pardon, Mallory. Take it or leave it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Like your other promises.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Pell station,\" a new voice broke in, disturbed. \"This is Hammer. We've got a contact. Pell station, do you read? We've got a contact.\"\n\nAnd another: \"Pell station: this is the merchanter fleet. This is Quen of Estelle. We're coming in.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon looked at longscan, that was rapidly compensating for new data, reckoning a signal two hours old." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Elene! Alive and with the merchanters. He crossed the room to com, caught a rifle barrel in the stomach and staggered against the counter. He could get himself shot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Could do that, at this late hour. He looked at Josh. Elene would have been in reception of Pell transmissions that showed trouble four hours ago; two hours inbound." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Elene would ask questions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If he gave wrong answers... if she got no response from known voices... surely, surely she would stay out.\n\nEyes tuned to scan, one man at first, and at that expression, others. Not one blip now, but a dusting of them, sent in as other input reached them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A mass, a swarm, an incredible horde of merchanters moving in on them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damon looked, and leaned against the counter watching it come, a smile spreading across his face.\n\n\"They're armed,\" he said to Azov. \"Captain, they're long-haulers and they'll be armed.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Azov's face was rigid." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He snatched up a mike and patched it in. \"This is Azov of Union flagship Unity, fleet commander. Pell is now a Union military zone. For your own safety, stay out. Ships which intrude will be met with fire.\"\n\nAn alarm started blinking, a board flashing alarm across the center." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damon looked at the lights and his heart began to speed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "White dock was warning of imminent undocking. Norway. He turned and hit that channel while the trooper stood paralyzed in the confusion. \"Norway. Stay put. This is Konstantin. Stay put.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ah, we're just letting you know, Pell central. Warships might make quite a mess of those merchanters, armed or not. But they'll have professional help if they want it.\"\n\n\"Repeat,\" Elene's distance-delayed voice came over com. \"We're coming in for dock. We've been monitoring your transmissions. The merchanter's alliance claims Pell, and we hold it to be neutral territory. We assume that you will respect this claim. We suggest immediate negotiation... or every merchanter in this fleet may well withdraw from Union territory entirely. Earthward. We don't believe this would be the first choice of any parties involved.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was silence for a very long moment." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Azov looked at the screens, on which blips spread like plague. The merchanter Hammer had ceased to be distinct, signal obscured by the reddening points.\n\n\"We have a basis for discussion,\" Azov said.\n\nDamon drew a long, slow breath and let it go." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "writers block help pls. ill send something, u do seven sentences. going for Jane Austen vibe" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with,—\n\n\"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.\"\n\n\"We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes,\" said her mother, resentfully, \"since we are not to visit.\"\n\n\"But you forget, mamma,\" said Elizabeth, \"that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No more have I,\" said Mr. Bennet; \"and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but, unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.\n\n\"Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.\"\n\n\"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,\" said her father; \"she times them ill.\"\n\n\"I do not cough for my own amusement,\" replied Kitty, fretfully. \"When is your next ball to be, Lizzy? \"2 \"To-morrow fortnight.\"\n\n\"Ay, so it is,\" cried her mother, \"and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so, it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself.\"\n\n\"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teasing?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture, somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance; and, therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on myself.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The girls stared at their father." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mrs. Bennet said only, \"Nonsense, nonsense!\"\n\n\"What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?\" cried he. \"Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you, Mary? for you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know and read great books, and make extracts. \"d\n\nMary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.\n\n\"While Mary is adjusting her ideas,\" he continued, \"let us return to Mr. Bingley.\"\n\n\"I am sick of Mr. Bingley,\" cried his wife.\n\n\"I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me so before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll be your writing partner today. I will set the scene, and you will continue the story with 7 sentences, channeling the voice and techniques of Jane Austen in the Romance genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Till Elizabeth entered the drawing-room at Netherfield, and looked in vain for Mr. Wickham among the cluster of red coats there assembled, a doubt of his being present had never occurred to her. The certainty of meeting him had not been checked by any of those recollections that might not unreasonably have alarmed her. She had dressed with more than usual care, and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained unsubdued of his heart, trusting that it was not more than might be won in the course of the evening. But in an instant arose the dreadful suspicion of his being purposely omitted, for Mr. Darcy's pleasure, in the Bingleys' invitation to the officers; and though this was not exactly the case, the absolute fact of his absence was pronounced by his friend Mr. Denny, to whom Lydia eagerly applied, and who told them that Wickham had been obliged to go to town on business the day before, and was not yet returned; adding, with a significant smile,—\n\n\"I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now, if he had not wished to avoid a certain gentleman here.\"\n\nThis part of his intelligence, though unheard by Lydia, was caught by Elizabeth; and, as it assured her that Darcy was not less answerable for Wickham's absence than if her first surmise had been just, every feeling of displeasure against the former was so sharpened by immediate disappointment, that she could hardly reply with tolerable civility to the polite enquiries which he directly afterwards approached to make. Attention, forbearance, patience with Darcy, was injury to Wickham." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was resolved against any sort of conversation with him, and turned away with a degree of ill-humour which she could not wholly surmount even in speaking to Mr. Bingley, whose blind partiality provoked her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But Elizabeth was not formed for ill-humour; and though every prospect of her own was destroyed for the evening, it could not dwell long on her spirits; and, having told all her griefs to Charlotte Lucas, whom she had not seen for a week, she was soon able to make a voluntary transition to the oddities of her cousin, and to point him out to her particular notice. The two first dances, however, brought a return of distress: they were dances of mortification. Mr. Collins, awkward and solemn, apologising instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it, gave her all the shame and misery which a disagreeable partner for a couple of dances can give. The moment of her release from him was ecstasy.\n\nShe danced next with an officer, and had the refreshment of talking of Wickham, and of hearing that he was universally liked. When those dances were over, she returned to Charlotte Lucas, and was in conversation with her, when she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr. Darcy, who took her so much by surprise in his application for her hand, that, without knowing what she did, she accepted him. He walked away again immediately, and she was left to fret over her own want of presence of mind: Charlotte tried to console her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I dare say you will find him very agreeable.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Heaven forbid! That would be the greatest misfortune of all! To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such an evil.\"\n\nWhen the dancing recommenced, however, and Darcy approached to claim her hand, Charlotte could not help cautioning her, in a whisper, not to be a simpleton, and allow her fancy for Wickham to make her appear unpleasant in the eyes of a man of ten times his consequence. Elizabeth made no answer, and took her place in the set, amazed at the dignity to which she was arrived in being allowed to stand opposite to Mr. Darcy, and reading in her neighbours' looks their equal amazement in beholding it. They stood for some time without speaking a word; and she began to imagine that their silence was to last through the two dances, and, at first, was resolved not to break it; till suddenly fancying that it would be the greater punishment to her partner to oblige him to talk, she made some slight observation on the dance. He replied, and was again silent. After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time, with—\n\n\"It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He smiled, and assured her that whatever she wished him to say should be said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Very well; that reply will do for the present. Perhaps, by and by, I may observe that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones; but now we may be silent.\"\n\n\"Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?\"\n\n\"Sometimes. One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together; and yet, for the advantage of some, conversation ought to be so arranged, as that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible.\"\n\n\"Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?\"\n\n\"Both,\" replied Elizabeth, archly; \"for I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds. We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the éclat of a proverb.\"\n\n\"This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am sure,\" said he. \"How near it may be to mine, I cannot pretend to say. You think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I must not decide on my own performance.\"\n\nHe made no answer, and they were again silent till they had gone down the dance, when he asked her if she and her sisters did not very often walk to Meryton? She answered in the affirmative, and, unable to resist the temptation, added, \"When you met us there the other day, we had just been forming a new acquaintance.\"\n\nThe effect was immediate. A deeper shade of hauteur overspread his features, but he said not a word, and Elizabeth, though blaming herself for her own weakness, could not go on. At length Darcy spoke, and in a constrained manner said, \"Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends—whether he may be equally capable of retaining them, is less certain.\"\n\n\"He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship,\" replied Elizabeth with emphasis, \"and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all his life.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Darcy made no answer, and seemed desirous of changing the subject." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At that moment Sir William Lucas appeared close to them, meaning to pass through the set to the other side of the room; but on perceiving Mr. Darcy, he stopped with a bow of superior courtesy to compliment him on his dancing and his partner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have been most highly gratified indeed, my dear sir. Such very superior dancing is not often seen. It is evident that you belong to the first circles. Allow me to say, however, that your fair partner does not disgrace you, and that I must hope to have this pleasure often repeated, especially when a certain desirable event, my dear Miss Eliza,\" (glancing at her sister and Bingley), \"shall take place. What congratulations will then flow in! I appeal to Mr. Darcy:—but let me not interrupt you, sir. You will not thank me for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that young lady whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The latter part of this address was scarcely heard by Darcy; but Sir William's allusion to his friend seemed to strike him forcibly, and his eyes were directed with a very serious expression towards Bingley and Jane, who were dancing together. Recovering himself, however, shortly, he turned to his partner, and said, \"Sir William's interruption has made me forget what we were talking of.\"\n\n\"I do not think we were speaking at all. Sir William could not have interrupted any two people in the room who had less to say for themselves. We have tried two or three subjects already without success, and what we are to talk of next I cannot imagine.\"\n\n\"What think you of books?\" said he, smiling.\n\n\"Books oh! no. I am sure we never read the same, or not with the same feelings.\"\n\n\"I am sorry you think so; but if that be the case, there can at least be no want of subject. We may compare our different opinions.\"\n\n\"No—I cannot talk of books in a ball-room; my head is always full of something else.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The present always occupies you in such scenes—does it?\" said he, with a look of doubt.\n\n\"Yes, always,\" she replied, without knowing what she said, for her thoughts had wandered far from the subject, as soon afterwards appeared by her suddenly exclaiming, \"I remember hearing you once say, Mr. Darcy, that you hardly ever forgave, that your resentment once created was unappeasable. You are very cautious, I suppose, as to its being created.\"\n\n\"I am,\" said he, with a firm voice.\n\n\"And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?\"\n\n\"I hope not.\"\n\n\"It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, to be secure of judging properly at first.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"May I ask to what these questions tend?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Merely to the illustration of your character,\" said she, endeavouring to shake off her gravity. \"I am trying to make it out.\"\n\n\"And what is your success?\"\n\nShe shook her head, \"I do not get on at all. I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly.\"\n\n\"I can readily believe,\" answered he gravely, \"that reports may vary greatly with respect to me; and I could wish, Miss Bennet, that you were not to sketch my character at the present moment, as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either.\"\n\n\"But if I do not take your likeness now, I may never have another opportunity.\"\n\n\"I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours,\" he coldly replied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She said no more, and they went down the other dance and parted in silence; on each side dissatisfied, though not to an equal degree, for in Darcy's breast there was a tolerable powerful feeling towards her, which soon procured her pardon, and directed all his anger against another." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had not long separated, when Miss Bingley came towards her, and with an expression of civil disdain thus accosted her:—\"So, Miss Eliza, I hear you are quite delighted with George Wickham! Your sister has been talking to me about him, and asking me a thousand questions; and I find that the young man forgot to tell you, among his other communications, that he was the son of old Wickham, the late Mr. Darcy's steward. Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions; for as to Mr. Darcy's using him ill, it is perfectly false, for, on the contrary, he has been always remarkably kind to him, though George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy in a most infamous manner. I do not know the particulars, but I know very well that Mr. Darcy is not in the least to blame, that he cannot bear to hear George Wickham mentioned, and that though my brother thought he could not well avoid including him in his invitation to the officers, he was excessively glad to find that he had taken himself out of the way. His coming into the country at all is a most insolent thing, indeed, and I wonder how he could presume to do it. I pity you, Miss Eliza, for this discovery of your favourite's guilt; but really, considering his descent, one could not expect much better.\"\n\n\"His guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the same,\" said Elizabeth angrily, \"for I have heard you accuse him of nothing worse than of being the son of Mr. Darcy's steward, and of that, I can assure you, he informed me himself.\"\n\n\"I beg your pardon,\" replied Miss Bingley, turning away with a sneer. \"Excuse my interference: it was kindly meant.\"\n\n\"Insolent girl!\" said Elizabeth to herself. \"You are much mistaken if you expect to influence me by such a paltry attack as this. I see nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the malice of Mr. Darcy.\" She then sought her eldest sister, who had undertaken to make inquiries on the same subject of Bingley." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jane met her with a smile of such sweet complacency, a glow of such happy expression, as sufficiently marked how well she was satisfied with the occurrences of the evening." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Elizabeth instantly read her feelings, and at that moment solicitude for Wickham, resentment against his enemies, and everything else, gave way before the hope of Jane's being in the fairest way for happiness.\n\n\"I want to know,\" said she, with a countenance no less smiling than her sister's, \"what you have learnt about Mr. Wickham. But perhaps you have been too pleasantly engaged to think of any third person; in which case you may be sure of my pardon.\"\n\n\"No,\" replied Jane, \"I have not forgotten him; but I have nothing satisfactory to tell you. Mr. Bingley does not know the whole of his history, and is quite ignorant of the circumstances which have principally offended Mr. Darcy; but he will vouch for the good conduct, the probity, and honour of his friend, and is perfectly convinced that Mr. Wickham has deserved much less attention from Mr. Darcy than he has received; and I am sorry to say that by his account as well as his sister's, Mr. Wickham is by no means a respectable young man. I am afraid he has been very imprudent, and has deserved to lose Mr. Darcy's regard.\"\n\n\"Mr. Bingley does not know Mr. Wickham himself?\"\n\n\"No; he never saw him till the other morning at Meryton.\"\n\n\"This account then is what he has received from Mr. Darcy. I am satisfied. But what does he say of the living?\"\n\n\"He does not exactly recollect the circumstances, though he has heard them from Mr. Darcy more than once, but he believes that it was left to him conditionally only.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I have not a doubt of Mr. Bingley's sincerity,\" said Elizabeth warmly; \"but you must excuse my not being convinced by assurances only. Mr. Bingley's defence of his friend was a very able one, I dare say; but since he is unacquainted with several parts of the story, and has learnt the rest from that friend himself, I shall venture still to think of both gentlemen as I did before.\"\n\nShe then changed the discourse to one more gratifying to each, and on which there could be no difference of sentiment. Elizabeth listened with delight to the happy, though modest hopes which Jane entertained of Bingley's regard, and said all in her power to heighten her confidence in it. On their being joined by Mr. Bingley himself, Elizabeth withdrew to Miss Lucas; to whose inquiry after the pleasantness of her last partner she had scarcely replied, before Mr. Collins came up to them, and told her with great exultation that he had just been so fortunate as to make a most important discovery.\n\n\"I have found out,\" said he, \"by a singular accident, that there is now in the room a near relation of my patroness. I happened to overhear the gentleman himself mentioning to the young lady who does the honours of this house the names of his cousin Miss de Bourgh, and of her mother Lady Catherine. How wonderfully these sort of things occur! Who would have thought of my meeting with, perhaps, a nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh in this assembly! I am most thankful that the discovery is made in time for me to pay my respects to him, which I am now going to do, and trust he will excuse my not having done it before. My total ignorance of the connection must plead my apology.\"\n\n\"You are not going to introduce yourself to Mr. Darcy!\"\n\n\"Indeed I am. I shall entreat his pardon for not having done it earlier. I believe him to be Lady Catherine's nephew. It will be in my power to assure him that her ladyship was quite well yesterday se'nnight.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a scheme, assuring him that Mr. Darcy would consider his addressing him without introduction as an impertinent freedom, rather than a compliment to his aunt; that it was not in the least necessary there should be any notice on either side; and that if it were, it must belong to Mr. Darcy, the superior in consequence, to begin the acquaintance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mr. Collins listened to her with the determined air of following his own inclination, and, when she ceased speaking, replied thus:—\"My dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in the world of your excellent judgment in all matters within the scope of your understanding; but permit me to say, that there must be a wide difference between the established forms of ceremony amongst the laity, and those which regulate the clergy; for, give me leave to observe that I consider the clerical office as equal in point of dignity with the highest rank in the kingdom—provided that a proper humility of behaviour is at the same time maintained. You must therefore allow me to follow the dictates of my conscience on this occasion, which leads me to perform what I look on as a point of duty. Pardon me for neglecting to profit by your advice, which on every other subject shall be my constant guide, though in the case before us I consider myself more fitted by education and habitual study to decide on what is right than a young lady like yourself.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "And with a low bow he left her to attack Mr. Darcy, whose reception of his advances she eagerly watched, and whose astonishment at being so addressed was very evident." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her cousin prefaced his speech with a solemn bow, and though she could not hear a word of it, she felt as if hearing it all, and saw in the motion of his lips the words \"apology,\" \"Hunsford,\" and \"Lady Catherine de Bourgh.\" It vexed her to see him expose himself to such a man. Mr. Darcy was eyeing him with unrestrained wonder, and when at last Mr. Collins allowed him time to speak, replied with an air of distant civility. Mr. Collins, however, was not discouraged from speaking again, and Mr. Darcy's contempt seemed abundantly increasing with the length of his second speech, and at the end of it he only made him a slight bow, and moved another way. Mr. Collins then returned to Elizabeth.\n\n\"I have no reason, I assure you,\" said he, \"to be dissatisfied with my reception. Mr. Darcy seemed much pleased with the attention. He answered me with the utmost civility, and even paid me the compliment of saying that he was so well convinced of Lady Catherine's discernment as to be certain she could never bestow a favour unworthily. It was really a very handsome thought. Upon the whole, I am much pleased with him.\"\n\nAs Elizabeth had no longer any interest of her own to pursue, she turned her attention almost entirely on her sister and Mr. Bingley; and the train of agreeable reflections which her observations gave birth to, made her perhaps almost as happy as Jane." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She saw her in idea settled in that very house, in all the felicity which a marriage of true affection could bestow; and she felt capable, under such circumstances, of endeavouring even to like Bingley's two sisters." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her mother's thoughts she plainly saw were bent the same way, and she determined not to venture near her, lest she might hear too much." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When they sat down to supper, therefore, she considered it a most unlucky perverseness which placed them within one of each other; and deeply was she vexed to find that her mother was talking to that one person (Lady Lucas) freely, openly, and of nothing else but of her expectation that Jane would be soon married to Mr. Bingley." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was an animating subject, and Mrs. Bennet seemed incapable of fatigue while enumerating the advantages of the match. His being such a charming young man, and so rich, and living but three miles from them, were the first points of self-gratulation; and then it was such a comfort to think how fond the two sisters were of Jane, and to be certain that they must desire the connection as much as she could do. It was, moreover, such a promising thing for her younger daughters, as Jane's marrying so greatly must throw them in the way of other rich men; and lastly, it was so pleasant at her time of life to be able to consign her single daughters to the care of their sister, that she might not be obliged to go into company more than she liked. It was necessary to make this circumstance a matter of pleasure, because on such occasions it is the etiquette; but no one was less likely than Mrs. Bennet to find comfort in staying at home at any period of her life. She concluded with many good wishes that Lady Lucas might soon be equally fortunate, though evidently and triumphantly believing there was no chance of it.\n\nIn vain did Elizabeth endeavour to check the rapidity of her mother's words, or persuade her to describe her felicity in a less audible whisper; for, to her inexpressible vexation, she could perceive that the chief of it was overheard by Mr. Darcy, who sat opposite to them. Her mother only scolded her for being nonsensical." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What is Mr. Darcy to me, pray, that I should be afraid of him? I am sure we owe him no such particular civility as to be obliged to say nothing he may not like to hear.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"For heaven's sake, madam, speak lower. What advantage can it be to you to offend Mr. Darcy? You will never recommend yourself to his friend by so doing!\"\n\nNothing that she could say, however, had any influence. Her mother would talk of her views in the same intelligible tone. Elizabeth blushed and blushed again with shame and vexation. She could not help frequently glancing her eye at Mr. Darcy, though every glance convinced her of what she dreaded; for though he was not always looking at her mother, she was convinced that his attention was invariably fixed by her. The expression of his face changed gradually from indignant contempt to a composed and steady gravity.\n\nAt length, however, Mrs. Bennet had no more to say; and Lady Lucas, who had been long yawning at the repetition of delights which she saw no likelihood of sharing, was left to the comforts of cold ham and chicken." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Elizabeth now began to revive. But not long was the interval of tranquillity; for, when supper was over, singing was talked of, and she had the mortification of seeing Mary, after very little entreaty, preparing to oblige the company. By many significant looks and silent entreaties, did she endeavour to prevent such a proof of complaisance, but in vain; Mary would not understand them; such an opportunity of exhibiting was delightful to her, and she began her song. Elizabeth's eyes were fixed on her with most painful sensations, and she watched her progress through the several stanzas with an impatience which was very ill rewarded at their close; for Mary, on receiving, amongst the thanks of the table, the hint of a hope that she might be prevailed on to favour them again, after the pause of half a minute began another. Mary's powers were by no means fitted for such a display; her voice was weak, and her manner affected. Elizabeth was in agonies. She looked at Jane, to see how she bore it; but Jane was very composedly talking to Bingley." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked at his two sisters, and saw them making signs of derision at each other, and at Darcy, who continued, however, impenetrably grave." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked at her father to entreat his interference, lest Mary should be singing all night. He took the hint, and when Mary had finished her second song, said aloud, \"That will do extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit.\"\n\nMary, though pretending not to hear, was somewhat disconcerted; and Elizabeth, sorry for her, and sorry for her father's speech, was afraid her anxiety had done no good. Others of the party were now applied to.\n\n\"If I,\" said Mr. Collins, \"were so fortunate as to be able to sing, I should have great pleasure, I am sure, in obliging the company with an air; for I consider music as a very innocent diversion, and perfectly compatible with the profession of a clergyman. I do not mean, however, to assert that we can be justified in devoting too much of our time to music, for there are certainly other things to be attended to. The rector of a parish has much to do. In the first place, he must make such an agreement for tithes as may be beneficial to himself and not offensive to his patron. He must write his own sermons; and the time that remains will not be too much for his parish duties, and the care and improvement of his dwelling, which he cannot be excused from making as comfortable as possible. And I do not think it of light importance that he should have attentive and conciliatory manners towards everybody, especially towards those to whom he owes his preferment. I cannot acquit him of that duty; nor could I think well of the man who should omit an occasion of testifying his respect towards anybody connected with the family.\" And with a bow to Mr. Darcy, he concluded his speech, which had been spoken so loud as to be heard by half the room. Many stared—many smiled; but no one looked more amused than Mr. Bennet himself, while his wife seriously commended Mr. Collins for having spoken so sensibly, and observed in a half-whisper to Lady Lucas, that he was a remarkably clever, good kind of young man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To Elizabeth it appeared that, had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or finer success; and happy did she think it for Bingley and her sister that some of the exhibition had escaped his notice, and that his feelings were not of a sort to be much distressed by the folly which he must have witnessed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That his two sisters and Mr. Darcy, however, should have such an opportunity of ridiculing her relations, was bad enough, and she could not determine whether the silent contempt of the gentleman, or the insolent smiles of the ladies, were more intolerable.\n\nThe rest of the evening brought her little amusement. She was teased by Mr. Collins, who continued most perseveringly by her side, and though he could not prevail with her to dance with him again, put it out of her power to dance with others. In vain did she entreat him to stand up with somebody else, and offer to introduce him to any young lady in the room. He assured her, that as to dancing, he was perfectly indifferent to it; that his chief object was by delicate attentions to recommend himself to her, and that he should therefore make a point of remaining close to her the whole evening. There was no arguing upon such a project. She owed her greatest relief to her friend Miss Lucas, who often joined them, and good-naturedly engaged Mr. Collins's conversation to herself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was at least free from the offence of Mr. Darcy's further notice; though often standing within a very short distance of her, quite disengaged, he never came near enough to speak." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She felt it to be the probable consequence of her allusions to Mr. Wickham, and rejoiced in it.\n\nThe Longbourn party were the last of all the company to depart, and, by a manœuvre of Mrs. Bennet, had to wait for their carriage a quarter of an hour after everybody else was gone, which gave them time to see how heartily they were wished away by some of the family. Mrs. Hurst and her sister scarcely opened their mouths, except to complain of fatigue, and were evidently impatient to have the house to themselves. They repulsed every attempt of Mrs. Bennet at conversation, and by so doing threw a languor over the whole party, which was very little relieved by the long speeches of Mr. Collins, who was complimenting Mr. Bingley and his sisters on the elegance of their entertainment, and the hospitality and politeness which had marked their behaviour to their guests. Darcy said nothing at all. Mr. Bennet, in equal silence, was enjoying the scene. Mr. Bingley and Jane were standing together, a little detached from the rest, and talked only to each other." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "The user will write a bit then you need to write around 7 sentences continuing directly from the user's text. Try to mimic the style of Jane Austen.Produce 7 sentences using the prose and structure of Jane Austen every time its your turn using what the user wrote as a seed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end, and Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings necessarily attending it, and occasionally from some peevish allusion of her mother. As for the gentleman himself, his feelings were chiefly expressed, not by embarrassment or dejection, or by trying to avoid her, but by stiffness of manner, and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke to her; and the assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of himself were transferred for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose civility in listening to him was a seasonable relief to them all, and especially to her friend.\n\nThe morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill humour or ill health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry pride. Elizabeth had hoped that his resentment might shorten his visit, but his plan did not appear in the least affected by it. He was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday he still meant to stay." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton, to enquire if Mr. Wickham were returned, and to lament over his absence from the Netherfield ball. He joined them on their entering the town, and attended them to their aunt's, where his regret and vexation and the concern of every body were well talked over. To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self-imposed.\n\n\"I found,\" said he, \"as the time drew near, that I had better not meet Mr. Darcy;—that to be in the same room, the same party with him for so many hours together, might be more than I could bear, and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than myself.\"\n\nShe highly approved his forbearance; and they had leisure for a full discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they civilly bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer walked back with them to Longbourn, and during the walk he particularly attended to her. His accompanying them was a double advantage; she felt all the compliment it offered to herself; and it was most acceptable as an occasion of introducing him to her father and mother.\n\nSoon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet: it came from Netherfield, and was opened immediately." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, hot-pressed paper,ai well covered with a lady's fair, flowing hand; and Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read it, and saw her dwelling intently on some particular passages. Jane recollected herself soon; and putting the letter away, tried to join, with her usual cheerfulness, in the general conversation: but Elizabeth felt an anxiety on the subject which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no sooner had he and his companion taken leave, than a glance from Jane invited her to follow her up stairs. When they had gained their own room, Jane, taking out her letter, said, \"This is from Caroline Bingley: what it contains has surprised me a good deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on their way to town: and without any intention of coming back again. You shall hear what she says.\"\n\nShe then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the information of their having just resolved to follow their brother to town directly, and of their meaning to dine that day in Grosvenor Street, where Mr. Hurst had a house. The next was in these words:—\"I do not pretend to regret any thing I shall leave in Hertfordshire except your society, my dearest friend; but we will hope, at some future period, to enjoy many returns of that delightful intercourse we have known, and in the meanwhile may lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence. I depend on you for that.\" To these high-flown expressions Elizabeth listened with all the insensibility of distrust; and though the suddenness of their removal surprised her, she saw nothing in it really to lament: it was not to be supposed that their absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bingley's being there; and as to the loss of their society, she was persuaded that Jane must soon cease to regard it in the enjoyment of his.\n\n\"It is unlucky,\" said she, after a short pause, \"that you should not be able to see your friends before they leave the country. But may we not hope that the period of future happiness, to which Miss Bingley looks forward, may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful intercourse you have known as friends will be renewed with yet greater satisfaction as sisters? Mr. Bingley will not be detained in London by them.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return into Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you.\n\n\"'When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which took him to London might be concluded in three or four days; but as we are certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when Charles gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined on following him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintance are already there for the winter: I wish I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had any intention of making one in the crowd, but of that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings; and that your beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall deprive you.'\n\n\"It is evident by this,\" added Jane, \"that he comes back no more this winter.\"\n\n\"It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean he should.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why will you think so? It must be his own doing; he is his own master. But you do not know all. I will read you the passage which particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves from you. 'Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister; and, to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into something still more interesting from the hope we dare to entertain of her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings on this subject, but I will not leave the country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them unreasonable. My brother admires her greatly already; he will have frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing; her relations all wish the connection as much as his own; and a sister's partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles most capable of engaging any woman's heart. With all these circumstances to favour an attachment, and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?' What think you of this sentence, my dear Lizzy?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "said Jane, as she finished it. \"Is it not clear enough? Does it not expressly declare, that Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference; and that if she suspects the nature of my feelings for him she means (most kindly!) to put me on my guard. Can there be any other opinion on the subject?\"\n\n\"Yes, there can; for mine is totally different. Will you hear it?\"\n\n\"Most willingly.\"\n\n\"You shall have it in a few words. Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him to town in the hope of keeping him there, and tries to persuade you that he does not care about you.\"\n\nJane shook her head.\n\n\"Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. No one who has ever seen you together can doubt his affection; Miss Bingley, I am sure, cannot: she is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. Darcy for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes. But the case is this:—we are not rich enough or grand enough for them; and she is the more anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother, from the notion that when there has been one intermarriage, she may have less trouble in achieving a second; in which there is certainly some ingenuity, and I dare say it would succeed if Miss De Bourgh were out of the way. But, my dearest Jane, you cannot seriously imagine that, because Miss Bingley tells you her brother greatly admires Miss Darcy, he is in the smallest degree less sensible of your merit than when he took leave of you on Tuesday; or that it will be in her power to persuade him that, instead of being in love with you, he is very much in love with her friend.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If we thought alike of Miss Bingley,\" replied Jane, \"your representation of all this might make me quite easy. But I know the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of wilfully deceiving any one; and all that I can hope in this case is, that she is deceived herself.\"\n\n\"That is right. You could not have started a more happy idea, since you will not take comfort in mine: believe her to be deceived, by all means. You have now done your duty by her, and must fret no longer.\"\n\n\"But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best, in accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry elsewhere?\"\n\n\"You must decide for yourself,\" said Elizabeth; \"and if, upon mature deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, I advise you, by all means, to refuse him.\"\n\n\"How can you talk so?\" said Jane, faintly smiling; \"you must know, that, though I should be exceedingly grieved at their disapprobation, I could not hesitate.\"\n\n\"I did not think you would; and that being the case, I cannot consider your situation with much compassion.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll kick things off by writing a bit, then you'll take over and write the next 1 sentence in the distinctive voice of Jane Austen, keeping within the Romance genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity, Mr. Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of Saturday." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pain of separation, however, might be alleviated on his side, by preparations for the reception of his bride, as he had reason to hope, that shortly after his next return into Hertfordshire, the day would be fixed that was to make him the happiest of men." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He took leave of his relations at Longbourn with as much solemnity as before; wished his fair cousins health and happiness again, and promised their father another letter of thanks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife, who came, as usual, to spend the Christmas at Longbourn." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man, greatly superior to his sister, as well by nature as education." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well bred and agreeable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Philips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman, and a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Between the two eldest and herself, especially, there subsisted a very particular regard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They had frequently been staying with her in town." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The first part of Mrs. Gardiner's business on her arrival was to distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When this was done, she had a less active part to play." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It became her turn to listen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had all been very ill used since she last saw her sister." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Two of her girls had been on the point of marriage, and after all there was nothing in it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I do not blame Jane,\" she continued, \"for Jane would have got Mr. Bingley if she could. But, Lizzy! Oh, sister! it is very hard to think that she might have been Mr. Collins's wife by this time, had not it been for her own perverseness. He made her an offer in this very room, and she refused him. The consequence of it is, that Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before I have, and that Longbourn estate is just as much entailed as ever. The Lucases are very artful people indeed, sister. They are all for what they can get. I am sorry to say it of them, but so it is. It makes me very nervous and poorly, to be thwarted so in my own family, and to have neighbours who think of themselves before any body else. However, your coming just at this time is the greatest of comforts, and I am very glad to hear what you tell us of long sleeves.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mrs. Gardiner, to whom the chief of this news had been given before, in the course of Jane and Elizabeth's correspondence with her, made her sister a slight answer, and in compassion to her nieces turned the conversation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, she spoke more on the subject." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane,\" said she." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am sorry it went off. But these things happen so often! A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks, and when accident separates them so easily forgets her, that these sort of inconstancies are very frequent.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"An excellent consolation in its way,\" said Elizabeth; \"but it will not do for us. We do not suffer by accident. It does not often happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of independent fortune to think no more of a girl whom he was violently in love with only a few days before.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But that expression of 'violently in love' is so hackneyed, so doubtful, so indefinite, that it gives me very little idea. It is as often applied to feelings which arise only from a half hour's acquaintance as to a real, strong attachment. Pray, how violent was Mr. Bingley's love?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I never saw a more promising inclination; he was growing quite inattentive to other people, and wholly engrossed by her. Every time they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball he offended two or three young ladies by not asking them to dance; and I spoke to him twice myself without receiving an answer. Could there be finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh yes! of that kind of love which I suppose him to have felt. Poor Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with her disposition, she may not get over it immediately. It had better have happened to you, Lizzy; you would have laughed yourself out of it sooner. But do you think she would be prevailed on to go back with us? Change of scene might be of service—and perhaps a little relief from home may be as useful as any thing.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal, and felt persuaded of her sister's ready acquiescence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I hope,\" added Mrs. Gardiner, \"that no consideration with regard to this young man will influence her. We live in so different a part of town, all our connections are so different, and, as you well know, we go out so little, that it is very improbable they should meet at all, unless he really comes to see her.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And that is quite impossible; for he is now in the custody of his friend, and Mr. Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane in, such a part of London! My dear aunt, how could you think of it? Mr. Darcy may perhaps have heard of such a place as Gracechurch Street,ak but he would hardly think a month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities, were he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr. Bingley never stirs without him.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So much the better. I hope they will not meet at all. But does not Jane correspond with his sister? She will not be able to help calling.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She will drop the acquaintance entirely.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "But in spite of the certainty in which Elizabeth affected to place this point, as well as the still more interesting one of Bingley's being withheld from seeing Jane, she felt a solicitude on the subject which convinced her, on examination, that she did not consider it entirely hopeless." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was possible, and sometimes she thought it probable, that his affection might be reanimated, and the influence of his friends successfully combated by the more natural influence of Jane's attractions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Miss Bennet accepted her aunt's invitation with pleasure; and the Bingleys were no otherwise in her thoughts at the same time than as she hoped, by Caroline's not living in the same house with her brother, she might occasionally spend a morning with her, without any danger of seeing him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Gardiners staid a week at Longbourn; and what with the Philipses, the Lucases, and the officers, there was not a day without its engagement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mrs. Bennet had so carefully provided for the entertainment of her brother and sister, that they did not once sit down to a family dinner." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When the engagement was for home, some of the officers always made part of it, of which officers Mr. Wickham was sure to be one; and on these occasions Mrs. Gardiner, rendered suspicious by Elizabeth's warm commendation of him, narrowly observed them both." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Without supposing them, from what she saw, to be very seriously in love, their preference of each other was plain enough to make her a little uneasy; and she resolved to speak to Elizabeth on the subject before she left Hertfordshire, and represent to her the imprudence of encouraging such an attachment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To Mrs. Gardiner, Wickham had one means of affording pleasure, unconnected with his general powers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "About ten or a dozen years ago, before her marriage, she had spent a considerable time in that very part of Derbyshire to which he belonged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They had, therefore, many acquaintance in common; and, though Wickham had been little there since the death of Darcy's father, five years before, it was yet in his power to give her fresher intelligence of her former friends than she had been in the way of procuring." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mrs. Gardiner had seen Pemberley, and known the late Mr. Darcy by character perfectly well." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Here, consequently, was an inexhaustible subject of discourse." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In comparing her recollection of Pemberley with the minute description which Wickham could give, and in bestowing her tribute of praise on the character of its late possessor, she was delighting both him and herself. On being made acquainted with the present Mr. Darcy's treatment of him, she tried to remember something of that gentleman's reputed disposition, when quite a lad, which might agree with it; and was confident, at last, that she recollected having heard Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy formerly spoken of as a very proud, ill-natured boy." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I've got a bit of writer's block. I'm gonna send you something then keep it going three sentences at a time, also I'm going for a Jane Austen sorta thing in the Romance genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for breakfast a few minutes before the others appeared; and he took the opportunity of paying the parting civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary.\n\n\"I know not, Miss Elizabeth,\" said he, \"whether Mrs. Collins has yet expressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us; but I am very certain you will not leave the house without receiving her thanks for it. The favour of your company has been much felt, I assure you. We know how little there is to tempt any one to our humble abode. Our plain manner of living, our small rooms, and few domestics, and the little we see of the world, must make Hunsford extremely dull to a young lady like yourself; but I hope you will believe us grateful for the condescension, and that we have done every thing in our power to prevent your spending your time unpleasantly.\"\n\nElizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of happiness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had spent six weeks with great enjoyment; and the pleasure of being with Charlotte, and the kind attentions she had received, must make her feel the obliged. Mr. Collins was gratified; and with a more smiling solemnity replied,—\n\n\"It gives me the greatest pleasure to hear that you have passed your time not disagreeably. We have certainly done our best; and most fortunately having it in our power to introduce you to very superior society, and from our connection with Rosings, the frequent means of varying the humble home scene, I think we may flatter ourselves that your Hunsford visit cannot have been entirely irksome. Our situation with regard to Lady Catherine's family is indeed the sort of extraordinary advantage and blessing which few can boast. You see on what a footing we are. You see how continually we are engaged there. In truth, I must acknowledge, that, with all the disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should not think any one abiding in it an object of compassion, while they are sharers of our intimacy at Rosings.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he was obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civility and truth in a few short sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us into Hertfordshire, my dear cousin. I flatter myself, at least, that you will be able to do so. Lady Catherine's great attentions to Mrs. Collins you have been a daily witness of; and altogether I trust it does not appear that your friend has drawn an unfortunate—but on this point it will be as well to be silent. Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in every thing a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other.\"\n\nElizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that was the case, and with equal sincerity could add, that she firmly believed and rejoiced in his domestic comforts. She was not sorry, however, to have the recital of them interrupted by the entrance of the lady from whom they sprang." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Poor Charlotte! It was melancholy to leave her to such society!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But she had chosen it with her eyes open; and though evidently regretting that her visiters were to go, she did not seem to ask for compassion. Her home and her housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their dependent concerns, had not yet lost their charms.\n\nAt length the chaise arrived, the trunks were fastened on, the parcels placed within, and it was pronounced to be ready." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After an affectionate parting between the friends, Elizabeth was attended to the carriage by Mr. Collins; and as they walked down the garden, he was commissioning her with his best respects to all her family, not forgetting his thanks for the kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter, and his compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, though unknown." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He then handed her in, Maria followed, and the door was on the point of being closed, when he suddenly reminded them, with some consternation, that they had hitherto forgotten to leave any message for the ladies of Rosings.\n\n\"But,\" he added, \"you will of course wish to have your humble respects delivered to them, with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you while you have been here.\"\n\nElizabeth made no objection: the door was then allowed to be shut, and the carriage drove off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good gracious!\" cried Maria, after a few minutes' silence, \"it seems but a day or two since we first came! and yet how many things have happened!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"A great many indeed,\" said her companion, with a sigh.\n\n\"We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides drinking tea there twice! How much I shall have to tell!\"\n\nElizabeth privately added, \"And how much I shall have to conceal.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their journey was performed without much conversation, or any alarm; and within four hours of their leaving Hunsford they reached Mr. Gardiner's house, where they were to remain a few days." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jane looked well, and Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her spirits, amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her aunt had reserved for them. But Jane was to go home with her, and at Longbourn there would be leisure enough for observation.\n\nIt was not without an effort, meanwhile, that she could wait even for Longbourn, before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy's proposals. To know that she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish Jane, and must, at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of her own vanity she had not yet been able to reason away, was such a temptation to openness as nothing could have conquered, but the state of indecision in which she remained as to the extent of what she should communicate; and her fear, if she once entered on the subject, of being hurried into repeating something of Bingley, which might only grieve her sister further." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "same energy as Jane Austen, keep writing" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am missed. I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the world I love, and he is an angel. I should never be happy without him, so think it no harm to be off. You need not send them word at Longbourn of my going, if you do not like it, for it will make the surprise the greater when I write to them, and sign my name Lydia Wickham. What a good joke it will be!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I can hardly write for laughing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pray make my excuses to Pratt for not keeping my engagement, and dancing with him to-night. Tell him I hope he will excuse me when he knows all, and tell him I will dance with him at the next ball we meet with great pleasure. I shall send for my clothes when I get to Longbourn; but I wish you would tell Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are packed up. Good-by. Give my love to Colonel Forster. I hope you will drink to our good journey." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, thoughtless, thoughtless Lydia!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "cried Elizabeth when she had finished it. \"What a letter is this, to be written at such a moment! But at least it shows that she was serious in the object of her journey. Whatever he might afterwards persuade her to, it was not on her side a scheme of infamy. My poor father! how he must have felt it!\"\n\n\"I never saw any one so shocked. He could not speak a word for full ten minutes. My mother was taken ill immediately, and the whole house in such confusion!\"\n\n\"Oh, Jane,\" cried Elizabeth, \"was there a servant belonging to it who did not know the whole story before the end of the day?\"\n\n\"I do not know: I hope there was. But to be guarded at such a time is very difficult. My mother was in hysterics; and though I endeavoured to give her every assistance in my power, I am afraid I did not do so much as I might have done! but the horror of what might possibly happen almost took from me my faculties.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll kick things off by writing a bit, then you'll take over and write the next seven sentences in the distinctive voice of Particia A. McKillip, keeping within the Fantasy genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Axis fought his second battle with his father's brother, the regent Telmenon, who was lord of a great swath of land in Lower Eben. Having ruled Eben for nine years while Axis grew up, Telmenon resented yielding his power to a boy. When Axis turned sixteen, three days before his wedding, he was crowned King of Great and Lower Eben, and Lord in the Name of the Serpent of all who dwelled within the river that divided the kingdom. Telmenon had seen that day coming for many years and planned for it. A month after the wedding, after the queen's family had gone home, Telmenon rode at the head of the army from Lower Eben to attack the boy-king. Telmenon's army would cross the Serpent by night and be massed around the royal palace by daybreak, giving Axis no time to gather his own forces. So Telmenon planned, and so it might have been but for the wedding gift from Ilicia." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As far as anybody knew, the tall, mute, faceless figure did nothing besides entertain the young queen and her courtiers on lazy afternoons with his tricks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kane pulled doves out of empty goblets and pearls out of flowers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He made wine flow out of his staff and danced on the water lilies in the pool in the courtyard. Nobody wondered at the extent of his powers. Even when he walked on water he was only the deformed, gangling, gifted servant who did tricks. If at times his tricks were inexplicable except by magic of a complexity that should have been suspect, no one questioned it. He did always as commanded; if he had a thought of his own he never indicated it; when he was not wanted, he was not seen. Indeed, he might have been invisible, insofar as anyone but Axis remembered his existence then.\n\nWhich she actually was: invisible, many times." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kane had been watching the regent for years." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Like Axis, she had known him since they were children." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After he became regent and Kane learned to seem invisible, she tested her new powers everywhere in the palace, even under her mother's nose. Thus she chanced upon a seedling meeting between Telmenon and one of his generals, and learned that he had no intention of relinquishing his power over Eben. That seedling, encouraged, spread secret roots of rebellion throughout Lower Eben. Kane did not tell Axis until she knew his heart, until she knew by his secret love for her that he could keep a secret. His face, at once beautiful and feral, revealed no more than the lion's face, which says nothing at all as the lion crouches and waits. It speaks only when it springs.\n\nSo it was that when Telmenon's army appeared by moon-light along the southern bank of the Serpent, Axis's army rode out of the cornfields to meet it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The battle was reminiscent of that long-ago massacre of his mud-soldiers and his father by the Serpent. Axis waited silently in the night, while Kane watched. When most of Telmenon's army was in the river, she signaled the Lion to attack.\n\nThe Serpent ran red in the moonlight,\n\nThe red moon floated on the water,\n\nThe Serpent's eye, open and bloody,\n\nAs it fed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The army of Telmenon\n\nDrank their own blood\n\nAs the Serpent dragged them under its waters.\n\nThe boy-king\n\nWho would be Emperor of Night\n\nSlew his father's brother\n\nAnd fed to the Serpent the dying warriors of Telmenon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kane helped the Serpent feed. It was late summer; Telmenon chose a time when the great river would be at its shallowest for his army to cross. As the poets described the scene later, the river would have had to be swollen with all the rains and melting snows in Eben to have drowned so many warriors. So Kane worked some illusions into the water, which drowned the wounded with their fears, and she coaxed a few streams and field channels that ran out of the river to flow back up their beds to swell the Serpent's waters. The swirling floods confused the warriors in the dark. They saw the Serpent moving in waters they could have walked through; they panicked and ran into one another's swords, or splashed blindly across into Axis's army. The bloody eye the poets envisioned was a fair description of the full moon that night, as it was reflected in the reddened waters." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or as it appeared to the eyes of a warrior watching the burning arrows soar out of the sky across the river into the army still struggling on the south bank." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At the battle's end, many who fled still had no idea who had attacked them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Axis had dressed his warriors in black; their faces were hidden under hoods and veils not unlike Kane's." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were the first faceless army of the night.\n\nThe boy-king\n\nBrought his masked army\n\nOut of the dark,\n\nOut of stars and fire,\n\nOut of the Gates of Nowhere\n\nTo conquer the enemies of Eben." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The poets were wrong about one thing: Telmenon did not die that night. Axis's warriors, capturing what fleeing men they could find in the night, recognized the regent among their prisoners. He was wounded, stunned by events, and so exasperated he could barely speak when he was dragged from the dungeons at dawn and confronted by the boy-king he had tried to depose. Kane was there, of course, but only as a stray shadow without a visible source, if anyone had noticed.\n\nThe regent, pushed to his knees in front of Axis, dirty, sweating, and bleeding from a slash across one shoulder, looked so like Axis's father that Kane expected the Lion's heart to melt a little with pity. The king showed no anger; his voice remained even. As always, his broad, golden face revealed almost nothing of his thoughts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So, uncle,\" he said, still in battle-black, with the cloth he had worn over his face hanging around his neck, \"what shall I do with you? You taught me how to rule. What would you advise?\"\n\nHis uncle, tasting the unbearable bitterness of his defeat, spat at Axis's feet. Prudently, he missed. The Lion only waited, his tawny eyes unblinking.\n\n\"How,\" Telmenon asked finally, hoarsely, \"did you know? Who betrayed me?\"\n\n\"You betrayed yourself. And you betrayed me.\"\n\n\"Who was it?\" Telmenon demanded. \"Tell me before you kill me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You will never know,\" Axis said softly, and that was so. No one of Telmenon's warriors ever knew which of them had betrayed them all; everyone suspected everyone. Telmenon's power had broken itself against a fourteen-year-old girl whom he had dismissed long before as something Axis would grow out of. Telmenon had told Axis what to do with him. Axis had his headless body returned to his family in Lower Eben by a small army, who also brought documents that declared Telmenon's lands confiscated and sent his family into exile. Axis let them take what they could, along with their heads. Nobody argued.\n\nThus he bound Great Eben and Lower Eben, the twin kingdoms of the Serpent, securely under his fledgling rule." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inspired by the incident, he looked for something else to conquer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His mother protested; his wife pleaded. Peace, they craved, though it had been peaceful in Eben all through Telmenon's regency. They wanted to sit in the courtyard among the peacocks, listening to the singing fountains and the cooing of doves while they played with Axis's children, for the young queen was pregnant.\n\nDuring Axis's long reign she would have many children, not all of them her husband's. But not all of his were hers. They had married one another for reasons of state; they expected certain things of one another, but love and fidelity were not among them. Compromises were reached: he would not bring his battles into Eben, and she would not bring her lovers to his attention." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had to relinquish certain illusions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kane had seen the soft lights of hope and expectancy in her eyes when she looked up at her young husband. But nothing answered in his eyes. She was an affair of state, his wife and the mother of his heirs; he treated her kindly and with respect. But he would never love her. Having a practical soul, she consoled herself with her status and her right to his company. She grew to become an affectionate mother and a discreet wife. So the poets mentioned her rarely and without interest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her life was not the stuff of passion or tragedy, at least as far as they could see.\n\nNot even Kane saw much more, though she was very much aware of what could eat at the heart beyond anyone's detection. For a while she could only watch, always masked, always silent, while Axis moved freely through his world. She longed for their childhood, when one was seldom seen without the other, when she could show him her naked face in public and smile, when they hid in the gardens and spoke their secret language. That Axis missed her as much, she could not have guessed. He married, became a father, ruled his kingdom, while Kane could only do her tricks to make the queen laugh, and trail as a shadow after her heart.\n\nThe Lion" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fearless, magnificent, unchanging through a thousand years,\n\nCasts a glance of desire\n\nAnd takes.\n\nWalk in shadows, fear that glance.\n\nThe Lion sees through time,\n\nThrough cloud and stars,\n\nInto a different day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Beware if that day is yours." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Beware his watching eyes. Axis's golden glance had fallen on the Serpent. The river bordered another kingdom to Eben's west, and passed through yet another to the east before it ended its journey in the Baltrean Sea. Marrying Cribex, the land to the west, he had secured the headwaters of the Serpent for his own interest. The kingdom between Eben and the sea, containing the rich delta lands the river watered as it fanned into the Baltrean, caught the Lion's interest. He felt a certain kinship with the Serpent; it had consumed any number of his relatives during his uncle Telmenon's ill-fated battle. So, he decided, the world that the Serpent ruled should be his." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He broached the matter in secret with his battle commanders; at his request, Kane listened in the shadow of a potted palm. He met with her at midnight, as was their habit when discussing such things. Invisible to his guards, she followed him into his private chamber, where no one else was permitted and where, it was assumed, he pondered the advice of his counselors, weighed it against history and experience. That he had a secret door to admit lovers and other whims, it was also assumed, though nobody ever found the door. There Kane allowed herself to be seen, only by Axis.\n\nShe unwound the thin black veiling around her face with relief, as well as some trepidation. He had not looked at her for a long time, and she had lost sight of herself as well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nearly sixteen by then, she had been the lonely, misshapen Kane for so long that she felt she must be turning into him. The Lion's expressionless face, gazing silently at her, did not help matters.\n\nHe spoke finally. \"I am going to war with the sea-kingdom of Kaoldep. You must find a reason to come with me.\"\n\nShe blinked, not understanding. \"Why would you bring the child's toy from Ilicia with you to battle?\"\n\n\"I have no idea.\" He still gazed at her, his wide-set cat's eyes intent and unreadable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I mean, I have no idea how to explain you. I want you there with me because I want you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She closed her eyes, the breath running soundlessly out of her. \"Yes.\"\n\n\"Before I married, I only had to turn my head to find you. I only had to say your name.\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"And now, day after day, I must see you veiled, hidden, invisible even to me. I cannot see your face, you cannot speak. I can only watch the shadow of you, using your astonishing powers to amuse my wife.\"\n\n\"My lord, I could not think of any other way—\"\n\n\"Say my name.\"\n\n\"Axis.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Again.\"\n\n\"Axis.\"\n\nHe gripped her hands, so close to her now that she could feel his heart beat against her fingers. She could not speak; tears spilled down her face. He put his mouth to her cheekbone, caught hot salt between his lips. He slid one hand behind her head, unbound her hair from its tight scarf. It swept down her back; strands caught in her tears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shifted them away from her face, kissed her again, here, there, wherever he found tears.\n\n\"You have grown so beautiful,\" she heard him say, his voice trembling against her ear. \"I am King of Eben and a father, and I have fought for my crown and won my first battle, and always, always, with your voice in my thoughts, your face in my heart. Make yourself part of my life again. I don't care how you explain yourself. I want you with me again. Kane. My first and only love. Make it so.\"\n\n\"Yes,\" she whispered, feeling herself for the first time all that he said: beautiful, wanted, loved. He spoke those words, and she became them; he had that power over her.\n\nThat was the night Axis and Kane became lovers, and of that all poetry is silent.\n\nAfter that night, she began to make certain, subtle changes in the tricks she played to entertain the court." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kane seemed as astonished as anyone when he accidentally knocked a hole in a wall with power from his staff, or set a tablecloth on fire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He made instant reparations, sending stones flying back into the wall to mend it, directing a stream of water out of a fish pond to put out the fire. Then he curled himself into a ball, in terror of the courtiers' wrath, and tried to beat himself with his own staff. The queen spoke of those mishaps to Axis, worrying that Kane might set her children on fire. The king, intrigued, sent for Kane and tested his powers in front of his counselors and commanders.\n\nKane, trembling with fear, destroyed three huge flower pots and shot fire out of the window over the courtyard. The peacocks fled, screaming. In the war room, the advisors consulted one another silently." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My lord, that is no longer a toy,\" one said finally." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That is a weapon.\"\n\nKane's knees hit the floor promptly; he flung the staff away and bowed until his forehead touched the floor.\n\n\"He does not know his own powers,\" someone observed softly.\n\n\"What shall I do with him?\" Axis wondered. \"It would be a pity to kill him. He is innocent of all malice, and his powers are hardly his fault. Yet he would be a danger to my children.\"\n\n\"He would be a danger to more than children,\" one of his commanders murmured, seeing the future as he stared at Kane.\n\n\"I cannot send him back to Ilicia.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, my lord, you cannot. That would be foolish, and killing him, as you say, a pity. I suggest you take him with you to Kaoldep and see what he can do on a battlefield.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 8 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Axis stood up, stepped to the veiled figure crouching on the carpet. \"You have pledged your loyalty to me,\" he said to Kane. \"Will you make your staff into a weapon for the armies of Eben?\"\n\nKane straightened just enough to seize the king's hand and bestow fervent kisses on it. Then he held out one hand; the staff, lying in a corner, flew unerringly back to his hand. He rose, feeling the tension in the sudden silence. He put the staff into Axis's hands, then held both hands over his heart and bowed his head.\n\nAnd so, for the first time, Axis and Kane rode together into battle." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write 7 sentences sentences in the style of Particia A. McKillip spawning from what the user wrote." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nepenthe sat hunched over her desk, staring at fish. They were trying to speak, standing on mouths and tails and back-fins to say baskets of grain, slabs of salt, jars of olives and wine. Her eyes saw them, but they could not swim into language through her head. Something blocked their way, a stubborn vision that refused either to make itself real or to go away. It just stayed there, maddeningly silent, refusing to answer questions and refusing to let the fish speak.\n\nGo away, Nepenthe told it coldly, even while she could hear her own heart pleading, Come. Come.\n\nIt did neither. She grasped great swaths of her hair in her hands and tugged, rocking her head this way and that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even that would not dislodge Bourne's face. It was stuck there in her brain like an elusive pebble in a stocking, constantly annoying, impossible to ignore.\n\nWhere are you? she pleaded; it did not answer. Bourne. Where have you gone?\n\n\"What are you doing?\"\n\nShe opened her eyes, met the amazed gaze of the scholar, who had wandered down to see how she fared with his fish. \"Oh,\" she said shortly, uninterested in his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She let go of her hair and picked up her pen. \"I'm almost finished.\"\n\n\"Have the fish suddenly become that frustrating?\"\n\n\"No.\" She tried to write a perfunctory word; the nib was bone dry.\n\n\"Then it must be a two-legged frustration,\" he suggested shrewdly.\n\n\"An earth-dweller,\" she agreed moodily. Master Croysus straddled a hefty pile of tomes on the floor, looking open to diversion. His face, she saw, had regained a healthier complexion; his eyes looked nearly human again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The coronation celebrations in the world above must be waning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Any surprises?\" he asked.\n\n\"Among the fish? I'm having difficulty with this one with its body full of bubbles. It doesn't appear on any of the other lists.\"\n\nHe leaned forward to study it. \"Pearls?\" he suggested tentatively. \"Coins?\"\n\nFor a brief moment, she forgot Bourne's face. \"Scales?\"\n\nThey regarded one another with conjecture. \"No,\" the scholar said heavily. \"Not scales.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No,\" Nepenthe echoed, sighing; they were after all not really fish, and a measuring scale in any language would most likely not resemble a fish scale." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She nibbled on the end of her pen, while Bourne's face surfaced again in her head, predictably as sunrise. \"I thought,\" she added, \"you would have gone home by now.\"\n\n\"So did I,\" Master Croysus said. He shifted a tome under one buttock and lowered his voice. \"There are rumors of trouble. But no one is talking.\"\n\nNepenthe took her pen out of her mouth and wove it into her hair, struggling to understand. \"Rumors. How can you hear rumors if nobody—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Nobody knows what is going on. Yesterday nobody would go home; today, suddenly, everyone wants to. But it's never convenient; the queen summons the nobles for meetings, then puts them off; they cannot leave. The rulers have been summoned to yet another assembly, but it must wait for the return to the court of Lord Ermin of Seale; the reason for the assembly is vague and keeps changing. The court is uneasy; no one explains. Even the folk on the plain are packing their wagons and drifting away, but the rest of us cannot seem to find an open door.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nepenthe grunted, her thoughts straying. Perhaps Bourne—But he didn't need a door, open or shut, she reminded herself. All he had to do was—\n\n\"Think of me,\" she whispered. Something pinched the back of her throat; she swallowed.\n\n\"What?\"\n\nShe tossed the pen down. \"Nothing.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Master Croysus was still brooding over court matters." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So you see, you do have more time to attend to my fish. You should be able to finish before we leave. Whenever that might be. But don't move them from this place, whatever you do.\"\n\n\"I won't.\"\n\n\"If we must leave quickly for some reason, in the middle of the night for instance, I want to know where to find them.\"\n\nShe looked at him silently; again Bourne melted out of her head, like light in the path of a cloud. \"What is happening up there?\" she asked softly, suddenly uneasy herself, wondering how an entire library might flee in the dark, and to where. But Master Croysus did not hear her; he was gazing at her again, fixedly, but without seeing her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know!\" he exclaimed abruptly, and she jumped. \"I know where I have seen your face!\"\n\n\"My face,\" she repeated blankly.\n\n\"I've been trying to remember, since I first saw you.\"\n\n\"You've seen me before?\"\n\n\"In the margin of a very old book.\"\n\n\"It's not my face, if it's in some old book.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, it is,\" he said intractably, and stood up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll find the book and prove it to you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bemused, she watched him retreat down the hallway, leaving her to the dead silence of books and stones." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She studied the fish full of bubbles again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bourne's face came between them, filling her eyes, filling her mind with memories, longings, unanswerable questions.\n\nWhere are you? she wanted to shout, but only the stones would answer.\n\nShe gave up on the fish finally, forgot the scholar, and carried her pens and ink to the secret place where she had hidden the thorns.\n\nThey wouldn't stay hidden long, she knew, if Bourne stepped out of nowhere to find her. But after three days without a glimpse of him, she did not care where he found her. The students sometimes had tests, he had told her; entire days when they could not leave the school or the wood until some mysterious thing happened to give them deeper insight into magic. But he had not come that evening when he promised he would." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had waited for him in the refectory until the fire had died and only a taper or two remained alight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laidley, aware of her unhappiness, had told her that Bourne had appeared earlier that day in the library and had gone to look for her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had not found her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had not returned at supper time. Nor the following day, nor the day after that. Nor had he sent any explanation or excuse, in any alphabet. Laidley's silence about the matter grew so pointed that by the third day Nepenthe wanted to throw the meal-gong at him.\n\n\"Just say it,\" she had flared at him finally as they ate their porridge that morning. \"Say I told you so.\"\n\nHe could not even be honest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His brows rose owlishly as he swallowed a bite." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm surprised,\" he managed finally." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He is a hummingbird, quick wings, no thoughts, flitting lightly from heart to heart—I knew that. I knew it before we ever kissed.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He was worried about you, when you hid the thorns from us. We both went searching for you; we were supposed to meet again, but he vanished. For all I know he might still be wandering around the library, completely lost—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He could find me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She stared down at her porridge; his face was even there, between her and breakfast." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She flung her spoon into the bowl and stood up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He could find me in a step,\" she whispered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He could find me with a thought. If he wanted.\"\n\nShe left Laidley making incoherent comments about troublesome times, and went to work on the fish manuscript, where Bourne could find her easily if he wished. He didn't. The scholar did.\n\nAnd now she consoled herself among her thorns, bewildered and hurt, hiding from Bourne and hoping against hope that he would find her there.\n\nThe thorns themselves were becoming pricklier, as though Axis's acquisition of most of the known world around Eben demanded a more complex language. Kingdoms Nepenthe had never heard of fell to his armies. He seemed equally insatiable and invulnerable, collecting more crowns in half a decade than the kings of Raine had in a thousand years." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And every ruler, every realm had a name like a bramble bush." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She might, Nepenthe decided reluctantly, have to tell Laidley where she had concealed herself, so that he could continue to help her with the historical names. At the same time, while Axis blazed his way across the map of his world and poets celebrated his victories with endless superlatives, Kane's thoughts began to require a larger vocabulary. Puzzling concepts, that might or might not make sense, grew under Nepenthe's pen. Tangled thorns hinted at ideas that connected in some skewed fashion, or possibilities requiring obscure tenses, maybe past or maybe future. Nepenthe, scratching her head over them, forgot about Bourne for entire minutes as she tried to untangle the canes. She worked all afternoon after the scholar had left her, and into the evening, mesmerized by the new difficulties, and comforted, every time she realized that for a sentence or even half a page, she had not thought about Bourne. She did not think about supper either; the gong rang only distantly beyond the thorns." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She put down her pen finally, yawning, and realized then how dark the library had grown around her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A single candle glowed in the distance, as someone walked down the corridor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She watched it, surprised. She had taken the thorns into a chamber full of antiquities, texts chiseled into slabs of broken sandstone and wax and marble, painted on tanned hides, carved into bone and horn. Only visiting scholars ever came that far down. Perhaps, she thought with a twinge of alarm, Master Croysus was truly fleeing in the middle of the night and had come looking for her.\n\nBut it was Laidley.\n\nHe sat down among the ruins, letting an armload of books slide to the floor beside him.\n\n\"I was worried,\" he said simply, \"when you didn't come to supper. I've been looking for you everywhere.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, you found me,\" she answered brusquely, for he was not Bourne, and he had invaded her hiding place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then she relented, for she needed him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did I miss supper?\"\n\n\"By several hours.\"\n\n\"Laidley, was there a kingdom called Auravia?\"\n\nHe gazed at her a moment expressionlessly before he answered. \"Yes. There was. It existed nine hundred years after Axis was born.\"\n\n\"Nine hundred.\"\n\n\"Yes. I told you so. I told you that whoever wrote that was jumbling everything together, regardless of historical order.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "But she only nibbled a thumbnail, intrigued." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Maybe. But Kane knows she is doing it. I think she does. That would explain some of the passages.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laidley ground a fist against one eye, looking aggrieved." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That makes no sense.\"\n\n\"No. But it means my translation does.\"\n\nLaidley banged his head against the shard of marble behind him. \"Now you're making no sense.\"\n\n\"I know.\"\n\n\"Read it to me.\"\n\nShe mulled that over, eyeing him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had grown into the strange alphabet, she knew; she could recognize more than words." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But she did not know what names belonged where in Kane's world, and Laidley would. If he didn't, he would know where to find out. Unlike Bourne, he had no fear of an ancient, harmless language. He would not threaten to take it away from her; he was capable of getting as ensnared as she.\n\nThe thought of Bourne blew a dreary mist into the region of her heart. She slumped over her work, lonely for him, wondering where in the night he was, what he was doing, whether he was thinking about her at all. The thorns, she remembered, kept her mind off him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another long night of wondering waited for her inside her chamber." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Better to read to Laidley and keep him awake than be kept awake by the utter silence out of the mages' school.\n\nSo she began to read what she had translated since she had disappeared with the thorns.\n\nThey both fell asleep, among the dusty, forgotten oddments of language, before she finished.\n\nNepenthe dreamed that Bourne was calling her over and over. But he could not say her name right because he did not know the language. Every time he called, another word in the form of a bramble came out of him. A wall of thorns began to coil up around him, hiding him from Nepenthe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She could not answer because he could not say her name correctly in thorns; he would not stop calling until she answered. Suddenly terrified, she began to shout her name to him, trying to tell him how to say it. He could not seem to hear her in his prison of thorns; words that did not mean her kept growing until she could only see the top of his golden head.\n\nAnd then his hair turned into the top of a black hood, just visible above the thorns, and a strange voice said her name.\n\nShe woke herself trying to repeat it. Something with a shell in it? Or was it a moth?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Nepenthe,\" said the gong, shivering through the silence, and again, in Laidley's voice: \"Nepenthe.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No,\" she protested, for the name was fading and fading like the sound of the gong. \"That wasn't it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She opened her eyes finally and found it was morning.\n\nShe had fallen asleep on the floor with her translation in her lap and her cheek imprinted with a raised wax word of uncertain origin. Laidley, using his armload of books for a pillow, blinked at her sleepily.\n\n\"I don't remember,\" he said hazily, \"how much you read and how much I dreamed. In my dreams, Axis went back and forth.\"\n\nShe straightened stiffly, pushing hair out of her eyes. \"He was pacing?\"\n\n\"No. He went back and forth. He didn't care.\"\n\n\"Laidley, what are you talking about?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Back and forth,\" Laidley repeated stubbornly and pulled himself up among the shards." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You'll have to read it to me again. It all seems like a dream.\"\n\n\"Laidley. Say my name.\"\n\n\"Nepenthe,\" he said, yawning.\n\nShe shook her head. \"That doesn't sound anything like my name.\"\n\n\"You're an orphan,\" he reminded her. \"You don't know your own name.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, I do. When I hear it, I know it. I wasn't always an orphan. Someone said my real name in my dream.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Who?\"\n\nAbout to answer, she stopped, for that answer made no more sense than Laidley's dream. She said it anyway, puzzling over it. \"Kane.\" Laidley only grunted. She sucked a breath then, and whispered, \"And Bourne. He was calling me. Again and again.\"\n\n\"Did you answer?\"\n\n\"No. How could I? He didn't know my name.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laidley blinked at her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She gathered the pages in her lap and stood up, forgetting why, looking aimlessly around the chamber as though for the wall of thorns.\n\n\"Dreams,\" Laidley murmured. \"Wishes.\"\n\n\"Maybe. But someone was calling me, and I heard my name.\" She felt close to tears, of longing and frustration, for it was another matter entirely, the secret language of dreams. It refused to answer questions except in its own language, and that changed nightly. \"I don't know either what is real and what is past,\" she cried suddenly to Laidley.\n\nHe swallowed, said only, gravely, \"What can I do to help?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If I give you a list of kings and kingdoms, can you find them for me?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Then at least we'll know that much.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"What was real for Axis and Kane,\" she said, and in that moment she understood the language of Laidley's dream. \"Back and forth,\" she whispered. \"Back and forth.\" Her fingers went to her mouth, icy with shock. \"Oh, Laidley.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Try not to worry,\" he said groggily, gathering up his stack of books." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I think he loves you. I wouldn't say that unless I did.\"\n\nHe wandered out to follow the smell of breakfast. Nepenthe, still transfixed, watched him go. She came to life again finally, sank back down among the thorns, and picked up her pen." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Job: User writes start, you add ~8 sentences sentences. Style: Particia A. McKillip" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bourne sat on the hard, narrow pallet in his prison chamber, flipping a coin. Sometimes the crowned head of the young woman in the wood landed upright, sometimes the twelve linked Crowns of Raine. He would pause to gaze intently at either, as though trying to comprehend the message they were giving him in the alphabet of coins. He had no pen or knife to tally which fell when, so he had decided from the beginning that it didn't matter: he would regard every toss as the first, and every image as a message. The message, which one fall or another of the coin would eventually give him, was how to get himself out of his chamber and into Nepenthe's, so that he could tell her why he had not come to tell her why he had not come.\n\nHe had tried. Each time he filled his heart with her, so that longing fashioned the shortest path through time, he would be brought up against a wall. He tried more than once; the second wall looked different. He tried many times, thinking that Vevay could not be shoring up that many spells at once, and somewhere there must be an end to walls. There wasn't." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sank down on the floor and began pitching coins into his shoe, trying to devise a way to outwit the door. It was visible; it functioned; it opened and closed whenever someone from the kitchens brought him food. There seemed no lock on it. He offered money to the servant to show him how to open the door. The servant, who might have been Felan himself for all he knew, only snorted at the idea and went off snickering unpleasantly. Bourne kept his mind on the problem, doggedly throwing the seventeen coins he had in his pocket over and over. An idea grew the way mushrooms seemed to grow, unexpectedly, out of nothing, when no one was watching. There it was: the door in his head and a way to open it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He barely remembered to empty his shoe and put it back on before he went to the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He opened it and nearly fell over the cliff." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He closed it again, leaned against it, his heart pounding sickly, still feeling the sudden blast of wind leaping up over the cliff, smelling of sun and salt, pushing against him even as the shock of the long emptiness almost unbalanced him into it. Illusion, he guessed, but was not entirely convinced that, stepping into it, he would not be instantly stripped of every illusion in his young life as he plunged to his death. Nor did he believe that Vevay might bestir herself to rescue him. He—or something—seemed to have tested her patience severely; she didn't look in the mood for mercy.\n\nSo he went back to his coins, tossing this time instead of pitching, with the one coin he had that bore the queen's face. It didn't resemble the girl in the wood. The face on the coin belonged to someone older, stronger, tempered. A warrior queen, not the shy woodland creature he had met." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That one was magical, talking to trees and birds, and seeing portents in—what had it been?—a bramble bush." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perhaps some of her magic would spark within him at a coin's toss, if her face came up often enough." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Queen or Crowns, he threw, again and again. Queen or Crowns. It seemed a question to which he must give his entire attention. If he chose correctly he would find the magic, work the spell, set himself free...\n\nThis time the spell that stole into his empty mind was not one he had thought to look for. He had no idea how long he had been in the windowless place except by counting meals; already there seemed to have been more than possible. No one came to tell him anything. Even the servant who brought his food and wash-water rarely glanced at him, and refused to acknowledge any remarks. I might as well be invisible, Bourne had thought a hundred times." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I might as well be a stone in the wall, without eyes or ears or thoughts. Much longer in this timeless, soundless place, and I will turn into one...\n\nQueen or Crowns.\n\nQueen or Crowns.\n\nQueen or Crowns.\n\n\"I might as well be,\" he whispered, flicking the coin with his thumb. \"I might as well...\"\n\nBe invisible." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He heard his breath stop." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Queen.\n\nHe picked the coin up as tenderly as if it were a love token, gazing at her face.\n\nInvisible. I might as well be...\n\n\"Why not?\" he asked her. \"Why not? No one sees me, anyway. I might as well.\"\n\nBe invisible.\n\nHe sat there tor a very long time, holding the face of the young queen, not trying anything, even not to think, just letting himself be what he was, something no one wanted to see, hear, speak to, a stone in the wall, an unlit candle. Something that was nothing. Nowhere. Unnoticed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Invisible." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He placed the coin gently into his pocket and waited.\n\nWhen the servant brought his next meal, he saw the scattering of coins on the floor where the prisoner had been sitting.\n\nWhile he straightened, staring incredulously around the room, Bourne walked out of the door into the mages' comfortable library and kept walking as the servant shouted, into the library in his heart.\n\nHe appeared in Nepenthe's chamber. Not daring to show his face anywhere in the halls he waited for her there. Sitting on her bed, tossing the coin again to empty his head, he tried to remain invisible. The sky in her tiny window took forever to darken. But it did eventually, and no Vevay came searching for him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wondered why. He loved an orphan transcriptor in the library; she must know he would go there first." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps because she had caught him there before, that was the last place she expected to find him now. His mouth crooked ruefully. Or she simply thought he would run, since he took so little seriously; she would expect to find him somewhere between the mages' wood and the safety of his uncle's court.\n\nHe flipped the coin upward; the door opened.\n\nNepenthe, staring at the coin falling over her bed, brought both hands over her mouth to stifle a scream.\n\nShe tried to scream again when Bourne stumbled off her bed and caught her shoulders. \"Nepenthe,\" he whispered. \"It's only me.\"\n\nShe pushed past him into the room, shoved the door closed with her foot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was trembling; her hands shook badly as she tried to light one taper from another." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bourne took them from her; she gasped sharply, \"Don't do that!\"\n\n\"Do what?\"\n\n\"Make things float in the air like that.\"\n\n\"Do I?\" he asked bewilderedly.\n\n\"Bad enough that I couldn't see you when you weren't there—\"\n\n\"But I'm here, now.\"\n\n\"Where?\" she demanded tightly. \"Why are you hiding from me? Leave me alone if you can't think of anything better to do than torment me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He put the taper very carefully in a holder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Nepenthe.\" For some reason he was whispering again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Can't you see me?\"\n\n\"No!\" She was trying, he could tell. Now that he no longer held anything her eyes searched for him desperately everywhere in the chamber. \"I can hear you; I can see things you hold. But I can't see you at all.\"\n\nHe closed his eyes, slumped against the wall. \"Oh,\" he breathed, \"this is cruel.\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Please.\" He caught her hand; she tried to pull away, but he brought her palm to his rough cheek." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Feel that. That's what grew in however many days I was locked away. How many days has it been since I should have met you that evening in the refectory?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her wide eyes searched the air her hand cupped. \"Five days.\"\n\n\"Five. It felt like half a year.\"\n\n\"Why are you still invisible?\"\n\n\"Because I don't know how to undo my own spell,\" he answered raggedly. \"I don't know how I managed to turn myself invisible, but as soon as I knew I was unseen I crept out the door and came here.\"\n\n\"Where have you been?\"\n\n\"Somewhere in the mages' school, boxed in by Vevay. She found me wandering around the library when I was last here looking for you, and she arrested me for treason.\"\n\n\"Trea—\" She tried to stuff the word back into her mouth, as though saying it would bring down disaster." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Bourne. What have you been doing?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sighed. \"Sit with me. You don't have to see me, just feel my hand in yours, my body beside you. I'll try to explain.\"\n\nHe tried, and watched her trying to understand. What had seemed a lighthearted venture into the mystery of magic sounded foolish now, fraught with the dangerous ambiguities of history. Her hand grew slack in his hold. Once or twice she tried to interrupt, but he continued doggedly, insisting that he had meant no real harm, that truly he thought himself incapable of—He had actually met the queen in the wood one day and liked her. He had gotten her to smile—\n\n\"Bourne.\" Nepenthe was not smiling. Her eyes were enormous and very dark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His babbling died away; he waited uneasily." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There was a rumor at supper tonight about your uncle. They say he's leading the entire forces of the Second Crown here to attack the queen.\"\n\nHe felt his skin go cold with shock, as though someone had doused him with a bucket of water. At the same time, something was unleashed, a sudden flash of wild magic that he had been holding in place without realizing it. As it dispersed, and the expression in Nepenthe's eyes changed, he knew that he had broken his own spell.\n\n\"Bourne!\" she cried to his visible face. \"Not now!\"\n\n\"I couldn't help it—\" He gripped her hand again; they were both silent, motionless, listening. No irate mages appeared out of nowhere to haul him back into his cage. He loosed her slowly, whispering again, \"I didn't know about my uncle. No one has spoken to me for days.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can't you turn yourself invisible again? You're in terrible danger.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked at her, brushed a strand of hair from her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You believe me?\" he asked wistfully.\n\n\"Yes, of course I do; I always knew you had a careless heart,\" she answered dolefully. \"But a transcriptor in the royal library believing in your—well, your foolishness if not your innocence—is not going to matter to anyone else if they find you. What are you going to do? You can't show your face, even down here.\"\n\n\"I don't know.\" He shifted closer to her, pushed his lips against her hair. \"I only came here because I knew I had hurt you. I wanted you to know that I didn't mean to—I've wanted nothing but to come to you for days, explain that maybe I have taken the world too lightly, but never you. For you I work magic. I do things I never knew I could do. Like—\" He paused, holding words back, then continued reluctantly. \"Like leaving you, now, before I get you into trouble, too.\"\n\n\"No.\" Her fingers closed on his shoulder, his wrist. \"No.\"\n\n\"I can't stay.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes. You can make yourself invisible again. Stay with me. I'll hide you, and feed you—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She'll find us both here. You'll be as culpable as I am.\"\n\n\"Then I'll put you where I hide my thorns. No one ever goes there except me. You can practice your invisibility there.\" She put her arms around him, held him tightly. \"Where else can you go? Back to the wood, where the mages will be looking for you? To your uncle's army, to help him fight?\" She loosed him as abruptly, to meet his eyes. \"Would you do that? Use your mage's powers to fight for the Second Crown?\"\n\n\"I could,\" he answered softly. \"But what is my uncle going to do when the warriors of eleven other Crowns converge on this plain around him to rescue their own rulers and protect their powers? The Second Crown is doomed. I'd do better to flee with the gypsies on the plain, go off to a strange city, change my name and do tricks for a living. I don't suppose you would come with me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "To his surprise, she considered it, her eyes wide, oddly desperate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Have you got any money?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" he said. Then he sighed. \"No. I left it all, except for this coin, in the school.\"\n\nShe dropped her face against him, hiding her eyes. \"Then we must stay. Anyway, what about your family? You can't run away from them.\"\n\n\"What about them?\" he said bitterly. \"My uncle is not thinking of them. There won't be much left of it if he continues his march toward the plain.\"\n\n\"Can you stop him?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not with words. The queen and her mages and the other Crowns will put a stop to him soon enough. I won't have a home to go home to.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Then this must be home for now. Wait with me until it gets late. Then I'll take you to my secret place. I know where the librarians keep spare bedding, and I can bring you food from the refectory kitchens. You'll turn yourself invisible again, and no one will find you.\"\n\nHe saw Vevay's eyes, gray, clear, and winter-cold, knew she could see through any spell he conjured. \"For now,\" he said, and kissed Nepenthe. \"I'll stay tonight at least. I won't put you in danger longer than I can help it. But I can't seem to think clearly now.\"\n\n\"Don't think. She'll only find you.\"\n\nHe tried not to, as Nepenthe led him, hours later, through the soundless, shadowy corridors, down every worn stone stair, it seemed, she could find until they must be in the center of the cliff somewhere near the Dreaming King. Was he dreaming now? Bourne wondered. Was Ermin of Seale a nightmare or merely an irritating twitch in the Dreamer's sleep?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nepenthe deposited him among the broken shards of history, left him with a candle while she went for food and blankets." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He studied the old slabs with their incomprehensible letters, shifting the light to see tablets of wax and stiffened hide, all filled with writings that once were urgent and necessary for an orderly world and now were buried away, gathering dust and of no use to anyone.\n\nThe little book of thorns caught his eye. It lay closed among Nepenthe's pens and ink jars and papers covered with her careful, miniscule writing. Her translations. He picked one up, scanned it. Kane and Axis, nothing else, nothing but, both names as ancient and dusty as the tablets around him. What, he wondered, not for the first time as he picked up the odd, thorny book, was her obsession?\n\nThorns.\n\nHe blinked, remembering. Something." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The queen in the wood." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The warrior that had appeared to her, armed, faceless, pointing, warning silently of—what?\n\nA pile of brambles.\n\nThorns.\n\nThe eerie magic flashed out of him again, sudden fear colliding with sudden power.\n\n\"Only the beginning,\" he heard Vevay say again in memory, talking about his uncle. \"Only the beginning of trouble.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI writing task: user input -> 1 sentence sentences. style: Particia A. McKillip. genre: Fantasy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When the emperor finally returned to Eben after his victory in Gilyriad, he followed his predictable patterns." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He rested for a few days; he fathered another child, his fifth by now; he tended to the affairs of Eben; he grew restless; he summoned his generals and counselors to pore over the new shape of the map of the world and talk about war; he withdrew into his private chamber with Kane." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He said, \"There are no more worlds to conquer on your maps. Find me another map.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kane had prepared herself for many months for this demand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had pulled secrets from the works of the witches and ancient poets of Gilyriad; she had read everything she could borrow or steal from lands between Eben and Gilyriad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had followed wayward rumors of time and magic into impenetrable forests, harsh crags, and deserts all around the Baltrean." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Finally she had penetrated the dangerous and enigmatic mysteries of the Labyrinth of the Serpent, in whom time was supposed to begin and end, and which was guarded by sorcerers from other levels of time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She fought them and saw veils of time part as one fled from her relentless power. She followed him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And so she answered the Emperor of the World, who, for the first time in his life expected to be disappointed: \"My lord, I have found you another world.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked at her silently." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His face was at the peak of its strength and beauty; it became the mask Kane shaped for him to wear for the rest of his life, in all the worlds he conquered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He knew her better than anyone: the tones of her voice, her expressions, what her postures signified, or the folding of her fingers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She alone called him by name." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now she addressed the ruler of the world as his most trusted counselor, and she expected him to treat her words as carefully as she spoke them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He asked her, \"Where?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She knew him as well, knew by the utter stillness in his face, as the brazier light molded and illumined it, that he had begun, in thought, to venture beyond the world he knew." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The name of the kingdom is Cranoth.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Cranoth.\" He looked down at her as she sat among cushions beside the brazier." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were still dressed; neither had poured wine, nor tasted the sweets and fruit that servants had left there for the emperor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unspoken mysteries loomed between them; he sensed them, could not move through them until she showed him what it was she saw." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I haven't heard of Cranoth.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She answered, \"It does not yet exist.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "For a breath or two he was stone; not an eyelash moved, only the soft golden light searching the curve of his mouth, the faint lines at the corners of his eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then he crossed the distance between them, had crossed it before she herself began to breathe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He knelt in front of her, his face shedding decades; he was the child on the banks of the Serpent again, his expression rippling with wonder and joy at something she had done." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He took her hands, pressed the backs of her palms against his forehead, against his lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She felt him trembling as he pressed her hands against his heart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You can do this for me,\" he said incredulously." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You can open time.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I have done it,\" she said, and told him about following the warrior-mage of the Serpent's Labyrinth into his own land, the northern kingdom of Cranoth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But how did you get back?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I forced him to show me the way. He spoke to me freely once he understood that he had no choice and that I already had the power; what I wanted was the knowledge. Every moment, he said, is like a wheel with a hundred spokes in it. We ride always at the hub of the wheel and go forward as it turns. We ignore the array of other moments constantly turning around us. We are surrounded by doorways; we never open them. The sorcerers of the Labyrinth have spent centuries studying the mysteries of time, of past and future. Only one of those dedicated to the Serpent is actually from Eben. All the others are from realms scattered through time, who meet at the hub of the Serpent. Some are from our past; most are from our future. They are all connected to the hub of our moment. This moment. The next moment becomes a different hub; the spokes will lead to different moments. If every moment is a world, and worlds change with every changing moment then you, my emperor, will never be without a world to conquer, for as long as you desire.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He swallowed, mute again, still trembling at the richness and immensity of the gift she had given him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How?\" he asked finally, for he was his father's son and liked to see his battles clearly before he fought them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I will open each spoke of time and explore the realm it leads me to. That way, I can judge which lands will be worth conquering.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And my army?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Where I can go, so can you, and so will your great army. It will flow through time and appear without warning anywhere you choose. It will be as though you come out of the sky, or the wind. And you can return always to the moment you left. You could conquer fifty realms and come back each time to this fire in the brazier, to the candle burned this far, to this untouched goblet. No one will ever pursue you, you can take whatever you want, keep the land under your rule if you choose, or leave behind only your name for the rulers to quake over and the poets to add to the history of their world.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Axis filled the untouched goblet with a hefty splash of wine, drained it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His face still seemed shaken, vulnerable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But Kane felt his own enormous powers, his strength and fearlessness, his unending ambition to find death and conquer it or become it, which, poets said later, became the same thing in the end." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He set the cup down and took Kane's hands again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You are the Empress of Time,\" he breathed, kissing her fingers one by one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, I am Kane. The Hooded One. The faceless sorcerer who does your bidding always, who exists to serve you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes,\" he agreed. \"Always. Every time I ask, you have already answered. You give me what I want before even my heart has named it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I do,\" she said, watching his bowed head as he crouched in front of her, the Lion of Eben, kissing her knees now, sliding the sandals from her feet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Kings reward their servants for a few moments of work,\" he said, his mouth against one instep." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How can I begin to reward you for every moment you have given me?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She lifted his face between her hands to find his eyes again. She told him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Some time after that, she found her way back through time to the northern kingdom of Cranoth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This time, she did not pursue a mage to get there; she went alone to see for herself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had learned the most carefully guarded secret of the mages of the Serpent: the pattern of the Labyrinth of Time, which she must follow to find her way out of her own time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had wrested the pattern from the sorcerer's mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It burned now like a brand in her own: the path out of the Hub of Time to the infinite spokes in the Wheel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In Axis's private chamber, she walked the pattern and opened the Gates of Nowhere to Cranoth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She found herself in a prosperous city surrounded on three sides by rich farmland and on the fourth by a river thick with a flock of gaudy boats and barges." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She wandered through the lively city streets, hearing a language that made no sense to her ears, but which she could understand well enough if she listened to its images and feelings with her mind and heart." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was there that she first heard of the land west of Cranoth, the little realm between sea and sky on the edge of the world, hardly worth thinking about then, but the name lingered in her mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Its queen, Mermion, she heard in passing at a bookstall, liked to collect books." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She went on, through the crowded cobbled streets until she found at last the palace of the rulers of Cranoth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She paused among a crowd of idlers at its gates and saw the guards in their elegant armor, the nobles riding fine horses adorned with jeweled bridles and cunningly wrought stirrups." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As she stood there, she envisioned the cheerful sky above them rent as by a silent lightning bolt, torn apart to reveal a swarm of faceless riders pouring endlessly into the fields around the city, while those within the walls, busy buying books, selling fruit, riding their haughty steeds, stopped what they were doing, looking puzzled at first, and then incredulous and finally aghast at what had come out of Nowhere into their peaceful afternoon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kane walked the Labyrinth back to Eben and told Axis what she had seen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Emperor of Night" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Stopped the sun, held the moon in the sky" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Over the King's City in Cranoth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Between the sun and the moon" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His dark army flowed like water" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Flooding the fields, climbing the walls," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Spilling everywhere into the streets" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Those within found nowhere to run." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There is nowhere to run from night," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nowhere to hide from time," }, { "from": "human", "value": "And the Twins who rule them both." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Axis returned his army to Gilyriad after overwhelming the King of Cranoth and razing the walls of his city." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His army, dazed with the sorcery, with the possibilities of fame and wealth, shouted his name across the plains of Gilyriad from dusk to dawn until their voices were gone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When he returned once again to Eben, he brought gifts of jewels and wondrously embroidered cloth for his wife, and golden spurs for his children." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Thus the queen was appeased by his absence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had little knowledge of the shape of the world." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He told her that he had conquered Cranoth, and she assumed that it was where he said it was: west and far north of Eben, a chilly place unsuitable to raise children in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The queen spent her days in the courtyard with the fountains and peacocks, her many children, attendants, courtiers, and a lover or two among them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Masked, darkly dressed as always, Kane watched them from a distance and remembered the days when she conjured doves out of goblets to make the children laugh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sometimes, in Axis's private chamber, even in the circle of his arms, she woke at night and wondered if she could have led a different life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If she had not wrapped herself up and given herself, body and heart, to Axis on his wedding day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perhaps by now she might have reclined at ease among her own peacocks, nibbling dates stuffed with almonds and crying to her children not to step on the peacocks' tails." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had spoken to no one but Axis for years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her own family had grown resigned to her disappearance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Outside of that chamber, she was the mute, faceless, awkward, and formidably powerful sorcerer Kane, who, everyone knew, loved Axis with a helpless, childlike love, and who would have followed him into his tomb." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The second kingdom Axis rode the Labyrinth of the Serpent to conquer was called Gedron." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Its nomad king was a fierce marauder himself, like Axis, appearing where he was least expected along the borders of his realm of steppes and plains to slay, plunder, and disappear again, along with herds and flocks, children to be used for slaves, and whatever other wealth his army could carry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kane was careful to keep herself invisible in his city." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a city of colorful tents thrown up across a plain; all around it animals pastured on the rich summer grasses." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Guards ringed it, watching for trouble and checking the contents of the occasional merchant's caravan that wandered through." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Passing one of the caravans, Kane heard again a name she remembered from Cranoth: that of the little northern kingdom whose queen collected books." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It wasn't so small anymore." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now its king ruled five other kingdoms, five Crowns, they were called; the palace perched on the edge of the world had grown huge, and there was a school of magic or sorcery nearby that attracted students from many lands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The merchant from whom Kane overheard all this was haggling for some books that had gotten mixed in with plunder from the latest raid along the Gedron border." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Apparently the nobles of Gedron had no use for them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A bargain was struck; books passed from hand to hand, bound for the royal library in the north." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kane did not mention the kingdom of Five Crowns when she returned to Eben and to Axis." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But again, she remembered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The battle between the Lion of Eben and the Wolf-King of Gedron was swift and bloody." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The King of Gedron, furious at being surprised, was equally curious." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wanted such power for himself and made every effort to capture Axis and Kane alive." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Of course he had no hope of victory, for the army out of Gilyriad was truly numberless as the stars by then." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His tents were flattened, his flocks scattered, his rich plunder taken, before Axis vanished back into Nowhere, leaving the king surrounded by his dead on the plain and wondering what had hit him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In Gilyriad, as Axis's army shouted and drank and sang the emperor's praises, and the Lion of Eben paced his sumptuous chambers dreaming of more worlds to conquer, Kane looked out a window at the silent, enigmatic moon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She thought of the distant northerly kingdom with its library and its mages' school, its palace overlooking the edge of the world." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Raine.\n\nShe knew that night that Axis had given her all that she asked in return for her gifts to him of worlds and time and her life: She was carrying his child." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Let's engage in a collaborative writing exercise in the Science Fiction, Space Opera, Artificial Intelligence genre. I'll provide a starting point, and you'll continue with five sentences in the style of Iain Banks." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The avatar smiled wearily but warmly. \"Let's suppose, for the sake of brevity if nothing else,\" it said, \"that our interests lie parallel. Why don't you tell me where you want to go?\"\n\nCossont had a think about this, and couldn't see a way round it.\n\n\"Centralised Dataversities,\" she said. \"Ospin.\"\n\nThe avatar made every show of thinking about this save actually stroking its chin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hmm,\" it said at last." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do-able. But the other ships I'm talking to will want to know why I'm going there; they'll probably have their own good reasons for sending me somewhere else. I need to give them something if I'm to go charging off on the whim of a shipwrecked human I just picked up.\"\n\n\"I'm looking for something,\" Cossont said.\n\nPyan stuck one corner up, into Cossont's face. Two circles like extemporised eyes popped into existence on its folded fabric. \"Are you? What?\" it asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cossont put one hand over the familiar's impromptu face and pushed it back down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Something I gave to one of the orders there,\" she told Berdle, \"for safe keeping.\"\n\nThe avatar looked interested but still sceptical.\n\n\"Something to do with one of your own people,\" Cossont told it.\n\n\"One of our people?\"\n\n\"A Culture person.\" She held all four hands up." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "lets do a Science Fiction, Space Opera, Artificial Intelligence thing. u write 2 sentences bits like Iain Banks would" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The General Systems Vehicle Empiricist felt it was arriving in Gzilt at a bad time – a bad time that was meant to be the start of a (brief) good time, a momentous and celebrated time but which had somehow gone wrong. Well, in the end, there was no helping this." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sometimes you just had to adopt the attitude summed up by, Too bad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ship was about as big as standard Culture vessels ever got; a System-class that had beefed up over the decades and centuries for what had always seemed like sound operational reasons at the time until it had become one of the most impressively large, commodious and populated examples of the class that was already the most impressively large, commodious and populated the Culture possessed.\n\nThe design of the System-class made such self-augmentation easy; the ships had no single outer hull surrounding their hundreds of individual components, just colossal bubbles of air held in place by field enclosures." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Adding new, self-manufactured bits was so simple it was, for some ships at least, apparently, tantamount to compulsory, and it was only a sort of residual decorousness and a wish not to be seen as too self-indulgently ostentatious that prevented certain System-class vessels from going expansion-mad and growing to the size of planets, or at least moons. That sort of indulged obsessiveness was what simming and strong VR was for; you could convincingly imagine yourself being any ludicrous size without actually committing to such monomania in reality." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Doing away with a physical hull – or treating the exterior of every component as a hull, depending on how you looked at it – had been no great leap for GSVs. Ships thought of their multiple-layer field-complex enclosures as their true hulls anyway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was where all the important stuff happened in relation to the outside: that was where the sensory fields were, where any stray impacts were absorbed, where concentric layers of shielding tuned to various parts of the electro-magnetic spectrum lurked, where holes could be opened to allow smaller units, modules and ships to enter and depart, and – especially in the case of the larger vessels – where atmospheric pressure was kept in, and sun-lines could be formed and controlled to provide light for any parkland carried on the top of the ship's solid hull." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Frankly the material bit inside was just there to provide a sort of neat wrapping for all the truly internal bits and pieces like accommodation and social spaces.\n\nComfortably over two hundred kilometres long even by the most conservative of measurement regimes, fabulously, ellipsoidally rotund, dazzling with multiple sun-lines and tiny artificial stars providing illumination for motley steps and levels and layers of riotous vegetation – belonging, strictly speaking, on thousands of different worlds spread across the galaxy – boasting hundreds of contrasting landscapes from the most mathematically manicured to the most (seemingly) pristinely, savagely wild, all contained on slab-storeys of components generally kilometres high, each stratified within one of a dozen stacked atmospheric gradients, the ship's cosseted internals were riddled, woven and saturated with domesticated, tamed and semi-wild life in hundreds of thousands of smaller enclosed habitats, while its buzzing, external, bewilderingly complex archi-geographic lines were made fuzzy, imprecisely seen by near-uncountable numbers of craft moving within that vast, elongated bubble of air – from smaller classes of GSV through other ships, modules, shuttles and aircraft all the way down to individual humans in float-harnesses, single drones and even smaller machines, as well as thousands of species of winged and lighter-than-air bio-creatures – the Empiricist was, in sum, home to hundreds of billions of animals and over thirteen billion humans and drones." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The people of the Culture, better than ninety-five per cent of them housed across the vast, distributed bucolic hinterland of the Orbitals, scattered throughout the civilised galaxy like a million glowing bracelets, were used to thinking of the GSVs as being their true mega-cities – albeit determinedly highly mobile, high-speed mega-cities – but GSVs like the Empiricist were on another level and of another order entirely; they held the populations of worlds, of entire inhabited stellar systems. Zyse, the Gzilt home planet and the giant GSV's destination, held over three billion people." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The whole of the Gzilt system added another twenty billion, in part-habiformed worlds and moons, microrbitals and other habitats." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Empiricist arriving was like another half a solar system of people being added, like another four mature, substantial planets' worth of souls suddenly coming to visit.\n\nPreceded by a ceremonial screen of smaller craft – including a couple of GSVs, each home to many millions – the gradually slowing Empiricist first met with a couple of Gzilt navy ships – effectively sweeping the two cruisers up with it as it proceeded resplendently past the rendezvous point – then, as it slowed still further, gradually attracted hundreds of civilian welcoming craft too." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Had not so many locals been Stored – and had all been well within the Gzilt body politic – it supposed it might have attracted thousands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ship's septet of semi-independent Minds became graciously, easily busy with welcoming signals and media requests." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Empiricist approached and then inserted itself into a specially cleared orbital band high over Zyse. It had started slowing almost a day earlier; now it was down to the sort of velocity required for a stately orbit of the world every couple of hours, allowing plenty of time for people on the ground to look up and see it gliding smoothly, glitteringly, statuesquely overhead, and reducing the time it would take to ferry people to and from the planetary surface." }, { "from": "human", "value": "∞ Participants: GSV Empiricist / LOU Caconym / GSV Contents May Differ / GCU Displacement Activity / GSV Just The Washing Instruction Chip In Life's Rich Tapestry / Ue Mistake Not... / MSV Passing By And Thought I'd Drop In / MSV Pressure Drop / LSV You Call This Clean?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "GSV Empiricist: Arrived over Zyse. Good to be here, finally." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mostly. Been thinking; going to keep my two Delinquents, Headcrash and Xenocrat, close by." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They are conveniently hereabouts, after all, and the political atmosphere locally does seem a little... odd." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, poisonous, to be blunt. How was this allowed to develop?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "MSV Passing By And Thought I'd Drop In: Welcome." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yes, we might have wished for better. Everything's in the signal streams, of course, but soaking in all the local comms and media traffic of the last twenty-few days is definitely recommended." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Worth setting one Mind on that alone, if I may make so bold." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My network of sats and such is at your disposal, though of course you may wish to emplace your own. I'd be as happy to advise as to leave you to your own devices." }, { "from": "human", "value": "MSV Passing By And Thought I'd Drop In: Are you really so worried regarding the current situation to feel the Delinquents must remain as close guards?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think I speak for the group when I say we were hoping those and more might be available for further use in the current emergency while your own safety might be ensured with your doubtless many other assets.\n\nMSV Passing By And Thought I'd Drop In: Let's see how things develop over the next couple of days." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For now I'd feel safer with the Delinquents as part of my general defensive mix. I did have to leave some offensive units behind to mop up at Loliscombana. I'm building to replace, but that'll take time." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Hey can you write like Iain Banks and use whatever i write as a jumping off point?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Because you're liable to get killed.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That doesn't seem to be stopping you.\"\n\n\"Of course not. I'm an avatar. 'Killed' doesn't even mean the same thing for me. You're a bio; I've seen how you guys die and it's messy.\"\n\n\"I meant as the ship. The Mistake Not... You're liable to get killed. Aren't you?\"\n\n\"A slightly more weighty consideration, I accept, but even then; I've already transmitted my mind-state to my home GSV and switched to full combat readiness, so I'm kind of ready for death. And anyway, not dead yet.\"\n\n\"This is my fight, though, isn't it? More than yours?\"\n\nBerdle sighed. \"This is about the Gzilt, but the Culture appears to be all mixed up in it, through QiRia, so it's our problem to sort out.\"\n\n\"It's still basically about us. You can't do everything. You're not our... parent.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're not even backed-up, Cossont. If you die, you die.\"\n\n\"Can't you back me up?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nShe had a sudden thought. \"Did you back-up QiRia, his mind-state from the grey cube?\"\n\n\"Yes. Also transmitted, with a note it's private and to be wiped if the original survives.\"\n\nShe frowned. \"Why can't you back me up?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You've no neural lace; even starting right now it would take far too long. We're already out of time.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Berdle waved his hands, as though exasperated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why are you so keen to risk your life anyway? You're a military reservist civilian facing Subliming in a couple of days; why the rush to die? And, I'm telling you: having you present will make my job harder, not easier. You won't be contributing, you'll be jeopardising.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"First of all, on that last point, I don't believe you. I think you're just trying to protect me, being all male-gallant. I'm flattered but there's no need.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm a fucking razor-arsed starship, you maniac! I'm not male, female or anything else except stupendously smart and right now tuned to smite. I don't give a fuck about flattering you. The few and frankly not vitally important sentiments I have concerning you I can switch off like flicking a switch.\"\n\n\"Anyway. You can't keep me prisoner on the ship. You're Culture and I'm a free agent. I demand to be set down in the Girdlecity.\"\n\n\"They are looking for you, remember? They think you trashed Fzan-Juym with your bare hands or whatever the fuck.\"\n\n\"So you'd better look after me then.\"\n\n\"That's what I'm trying to tell you! I don't need that extra workload! And if you insist on quitting the ship I'll put you down wherever I damn well please, not where you specifically demand, so there you are; you can't win.\"\n\nCossont, already dressed in the same figure-hugging under-suit she'd worn at Bokri, stood looking levelly at the avatar across the module's lounge. \"If you don't give a fuck about flattering me,\" she said slowly, \"and if you can just switch off any sentiments you have concerning me, you can do that down there, on the planet, in the Girdlecity, in the airship. So you don't have to worry about me, and I will help, not hinder.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Berdle stared at her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then he smiled, and relaxed. His tone of voice changed. \"I don't know about you, Vyr,\" he said, conversationally, \"but I'm sort of posturing here.\" He shrugged. \"If you insist on coming, you can, though it's your funeral and I won't risk any part of what I'm supposed to be doing to keep you safe at all, not if it's a trade-off; just nothing.\" He shook his head. \"I thought maybe you were just putting on a sort of good-enough show. You know; so you could feel okay about yourself even though you didn't want to go, or expect to. So, one last chance, in all seriousness: please don't come.\"\n\n\"One last time: I want to. Take me with you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Berdle sighed. \"Okay. You can't say you weren't warned. Put that on.\" He nodded behind Cossont. She turned round to see a bizarre vision of a man in close-fitting armour – half mirror, half soot-black, headless – marching out of an alcove, growing an extra pair of arms and peeling itself open as it approached her.\n\n\"What's that?\"\n\n\"A better suit. I'm downloading a copy of QiRia's mind-state to it now, so we can access the old geezer's memories direct if we get hold of his eyes without the ship around. Go on; just step in as you are. We've ninety seconds before we snap aboard, so don't take too long.\"\n\n\"I thought we had ten minutes!\"\n\n\"Not any more; the ship's powering back out again, hoping to lure the battleship away from Xown.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Shit.\" Cossont stepped over to the suit and then into it; it flowed closed around her, leaving the helmet component down. \"Think that'll work?\" she asked.\n\n\"Doubt it,\" the avatar admitted. \"Assuming the battleship's been talking to the battle-cruiser, it'll know I've already been moving faster than it can, but it might factor in too much main traction stress degradation after all the dashing about I've been doing lately and think it has a chance. Assuming its engines aren't slightly fucked too, of course. Worth a try.\"\n\nPyan, sprawled loosely on a couch all this time, came flapping over and stood on a seat-back, facing her like a small, stiff flag. \"Well done you!\" it said. \"I think you're being terribly brave but I'm sure it'll all work out splendidly! And just remember: I've always loved you!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cossont was about to say something like, Okay, now I'm worried... when her eyes narrowed and she looked at Berdle. \"Did you put it up to that?\"\n\nBerdle shrugged. \"Also worth a try.\"\n\n\"But I do!\" Pyan exclaimed, twisting to face Berdle, then back to Cossont. \"But I do!\"\n\n\"Yeah,\" Cossont said.\n\n\"Twenty seconds.\"\n\nThe ship sent a tiny update of its mind-state to its home GSV, mostly just so there would be a record of Cossont insisting on going with its avatar and other on-planet forces into the Girdlecity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ship was a constrained shell of force hurtling across the system now, re-accelerating hard, packaged within its wrapping of concentric fields like something cocooned, engines howling in frequencies no biological living thing would ever sense, a kilometre-long projectile submerged beneath the skein of real space, components of three outer fields lasing in hyperspace to direct the signal to its distant ship-mother, then clicking off again after a nanosecond, while other configurations of fields slid and flicked, stacked and snicked, readying for a series of multiple high-speed, high-accuracy Displaces to a complex-topography target deep in a gravity well; probably opposed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was, the ship knew, going to be challenging.\n\nMost serious Culture ships, and all with any pretensions to being warships, possessed burst units: specialised engine components like motive power capacitors capable of providing sudden, brief flares of energy and movement. The Mistake Not... 's were more powerful and capable than most craft its size, which was kind of a game-giving-away liability if you actually had to use them in the presence of somebody able to spot such shenanigans, but – on the other hand – this was exactly the situation where they might help save the day, so...\n\nThe ship was already heading dangerously close to Xown's gravity well, having to adjust its course in hyperspace to avoid crashing into the downward curve of skein. It jinked closer still at the last moment, using up all its burst unit energies both to swerve and slow, then focused in on the relatively tiny part of itself that held the module where its avatar and the humanoid were, snapping the two human-shaped forms and the woman's pet away and then the module separately. It loosed the module first, targeting the Displace at a spot just outside the Girdlecity twelve hundred metres above local ground level and ten kilometres back from the current location of the airship Equatorial 353.\n\nIt was, given the relative velocities involved, one of the most accurate and precisely located Flying Displaces it had ever heard of, snapping the module into the air within an elegantly aligned pocket of vacuum that collapsed at just the right rate to allow the craft to continue on its way – under its own power, now – so smoothly that the ship doubted somebody standing inside the module – had there been anybody – would even have wobbled as the transition was completed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That the whole craft was almost immediately snatched away again by an almost equally heavy-duty disloc facility – with a most inelegant bang like a sonic boom, caused by the caisson-field collapsing uncontrolled – was, happily, quite beside the point." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While the Gzilt ship was busy doing this the Mistake Not... was merrily zapping all its real payloads – its avatar and Cossont included – into the places it had wanted to in the first place.\n\nThat done, within the same millisecond, it was off again, spiralling down under even fiercer acceleration as though intent on diving right under the planet's depression in the skein and aiming for the energy grid far beneath. It steadied, zoomed, sped off, tracked but not targeted by the Gzilt war-craft, which remained stationary, hugging close to the planet.\n\nPyan was dumped into the ship's last remaining human habitable space, a six-person shuttle.\n\n> Where's this? the creature said.\n\n> New home, the ship sent.\n\n> It's small and boring!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "> So are you.\n\n> What! How dare you!\n\n> Would you rather be on the planet?\n\n> Which is safer?\n\nThe Mistake Not... watched the Gzilt ship staying – annoyingly, frustratingly – exactly where it was, singularly failing to pursue it, even though the Mistake Not... had pretended to be less quick than it really was, just to make it think it had a chance.\n\n> Probably the planet, now, it admitted.\n\n> The planet, then... Well? Hurry up!" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Hey can you write like Iain Banks in the Science Fiction, Space Opera, Artificial Intelligence genre and use whatever I write as a jumping off point?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "GSV Empiricist: I suggest I send my fastest ship to rendezvous with the Beats Working and the Ronte, while signalling the Liseiden to desist from any hostile action they may be contemplating. I am sure we have such a preponderance of forces locally we can prevent any mooted unpleasantness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Participants: LOU Caconym / MSV Pressure Drop" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "LOU Caconym: Here we go. Spoken like a ship with no idea of how things actually work." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It's not about what forces you've got, it's about what forces you've got where." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You'd think even a civilian would understand that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "MSV Pressure Drop: You may be being too harsh. Agreed, nothing it has can get to the likely volume of combat in time, but it has a point regarding a warning possibly being enough." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "LOU Cacoynm: That would apply if we had nothing military here at all; we are who we are and we can call any shots at any time. That still might not stop the Liseiden from making a point to the Ronte, just to show who's boss in future." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "MSV Pressure Drop: Let's hope you're wrong.\n\nLOU Caconym: Yes, why don't we?" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll kick things off by writing a bit, then you'll take over and write the next eight sentences, keeping within the Science Fiction, Space Opera, Artificial Intelligence genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Caconym, in the shape of its virtual avatoid, returned to the castle-made-of-castles it had modelled within the near-unending recesses of its computational matrices. Its humanoid shape set out from the gatehouse that was made of tens of thousands of already mighty gatehouses, and walked all the way to the high tower which sat like a fat flagpole on top of the great composite tower, many subjective kilometres away into the fractal architecture of the baroque edifice.\n\nIt had waited all this time to hear anything from the mind-state of the Zoologist – anything at all that might have helped it and its colleagues in their attempts to understand the workings of the Sublime – and, despite being tempted to do so many times, it had not come back here to attempt to force the pace or the issue.\n\nNow that the matter in hand appeared to have been settled – without, it had to be said, any help from the Zoologist – it had something to report, and could release the soul of the other ship from whatever obligation to help that it might have felt under. Not that that appeared to be very much, given the continuing silence. At least the instances of weird, ambiguous intrusions into its substrates, maybe from the Sublimed realm, had tailed off to nothing recently. That was a good sign, perhaps.\n\nOr perhaps not. It was starting to worry about that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It arrived, at last, after a climb of many thousands of steps, at the door to the airy, enclosed lair inhabited by the consciousness of the Sublime-returnee, the abstract of what had once been the Mind of the Zoologist." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was no answer when it knocked. The place sounded quiet. It already felt that it knew what it was going to find. The door was locked, but only at a crude physical level, within the sim. Unlocking it was hardly more complicated than the act of turning the handle and pushing the door open.\n\nThe door swung, stuck, had to be pushed.\n\nThe Caconym's avatoid walked in and looked around.\n\nThe space was, as it had guessed, empty of the Zoologist's mind-state." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI Prompt: Generate eight sentences sentences. Emulate Embassie Susberry. Adhere to Western, People of Color genre conventions." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sam stared at Molloy as though he could not have possibly heard him right. \"Me?\"\n\n\"You,\" Molloy said, one meaty finger poking him in the chest. \"You and Manny. You're both young and strong and I can't figure out for the life of me why you and he ain't come around askin' for a cabin of your own. Surely there must be some filly you've got your eye on?\"\n\nSam blinked. Careful to keep his expression as blank as could be. \"No, sir. Don't have no time for courtin' or for young'uns.\" There. Sam, keeping his eyes somewhere around the top button of Molloy's shirt, waited for his response.\n\n\"Now, Sam,\" Molloy said, squeezing his shoulder again, but this time with some force. \"Why would you need to be doin' any courtin'? I'm sure any of those fillies would be right ready to take you on.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sam felt his gaze narrow, but he said nothing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Molloy exhaled and took a step back. \"Let me tell you somethin' about horse breedin'. To produce a good foal you've got to have a sire and a dam of impeccable pedigree.\" Molloy opened one hand before Sam. \"Sam, you've got impeccable pedigree. You get more work done than almost anybody. Only time you ever in trouble, is when you tryin' to do somebody else's work too. Your brother, impeccable pedigree, though he's lazier than you. But I notice that when you fire him up, he gets things done. Now, you know Leathie's girls?\"\n\nSam nodded slowly as Molloy opened his second hand, more than a little afraid as to where this was going. He did know Leathie's girls. She had several of them though only two seemed old enough to jump the broom. One was Cora. The same one who always gave Sam any extra molasses cookies she made." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sam thought she was about his and Manny's age." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Manny had called himself walking out with her a few months back. Only problem was he was also walking out with Lula on the Rawlins' plantation. When they found out about each other (cause they both showed up on a Sunday to be with him), they had turned on Manny. Sam had laughed about it for weeks. He wasn't laughing now.\n\n\"There's Cora. She's only about a year younger than you, Sam, and ripe as a peach.\" Sam felt his jaw clench. Sam didn't fancy Cora in the least bit, but that didn't mean he wanted to hear her talked about like this." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And then there's Lizbeth.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Lizbeth is too young,\" Sam said, cutting him off before he could say anything rude about her.\n\n\"Not that young,\" Molloy followed up quickly. \"Just think Sam, you could have one sister and your brother the other. Find foals from each of ya'll.\"\n\nSam's head started shaking before his mouth formed a word. \"No.\" When Molloy's eyes narrowed, he spoke again. \"Thanks. No, thank you, suh. Me and Manny just fine.\"\n\n\"I'm tellin' you, you're not fine,\" Molloy said flatly, all cajoling out of his voice.\n\n\"Suh?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I already spoke with Cora and Lizabeth. Ya'll is jumpin' the broom or whatever it is you niggers do.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sam stared at him, confused. \"Suh?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"By this time next year, Charles and I will be expectin' at least two more new slaves of fine stock. You hear?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Molloy's voice was hard as he jabbed a finger at Sam. \"You best talk to your brother and get him in line. If he gives me any lip I'll string him up so fast he won't know what got him. And I won't go easy on him like I go on you. You hear?\"\n\n\"Yes. Suh,\" Sam said, his heart sinking all the way down to his stomach. This is what he got for lamenting about having a repetitive life.\n\n\"Unless you got some other gal you want? I don't rightly care.\"\n\n\"No. I mean, I hadn't thought about it, suh,\" Sam said, his words just barely above a whisper.\n\n\"Well, you think on it. Let me know by next Sunday. Massa Charles is thinkin' 'bout havin' a preacher come in and do the colored marriages. He's gonna do 'em all in one sweep. And you and Manny gone be one of 'em. Now get out of here. I got things to do.\"\n\nSam walked off in a complete daze, his mind racing so much, so quickly, he didn't notice Cora until she appeared right in front of him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sam, what you thinkin' about?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sam froze, staring at her. He supposed she was pretty, though he hadn't given her too much thought. Sam thought about women in a general sense, as in one day he would marry when he was free. He did not think of them in a literal sense. To walk down that road was to travel somewhere with no destination. At least as far as he was concerned. But looking at Cora now, he could see how Manny might be fascinated with the big-boned, shapely girl standing right in front of him.\n\n\"How come you here?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sam asked, looking around her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were a ways away from the cabins and the meeting-house.\n\n\"I was lookin' for you. Manny said you had gone this way. Your brother is a ne'er do well.\" Sam stared at her. She folded her arms just under her ample bosom. \"I take it Molloy done talked to you?\"\n\n\"I ain't marryin' you, Cora,\" Sam said and made to walk around her. But she stuck out a hand, grabbing his arm.\n\n\"It's me or Lizabeth. And if I have to choose between you and Manny, I choose you. We'll get on just fine, Sam.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "But Sam was already shaking his head and pulling his arm from her strong grip." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Cora. I'm not marryin' you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sam,\" she said, leaning in close. She was his height, so she didn't have to lean far. \"You ain't got no choice. I ain't got no choice. So what little choice I do have, I'm gone use. You and me'll get hitched and Manny and Lizabeth will get hitched. She still thinks he walks on air.\" Sam didn't say anything. \"You hear me, Sam?\" What was with everyone asking him that? Had he gone deaf recently and not noticed?\n\n\"Yes, I hear you. If I have to marry someone it'll be you,\" he said dryly and pulled his arm free from hers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You don't have to say it like that, Sam,\" she said, cutting her eyes at him, but he could see the hurt too." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And it wasn't in Sam to ever hurt anyone.\n\n\"It ain't you, Cora,\" he said, meeting her gaze for a second. \"Ain't you.\"\n\nThey were silent for a moment. Then Cora spoke. \"Sam, you live like you expect this to just be a season in your life. Like one day you gone wake up somewhere free. You ain't goin' nowhere and the sooner you make peace with that the better.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Team writing exercise. I start, you do 4 sentences in Embassie Susberry style." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It became quite clear to Laura, after what felt like days of walking through the Virginia forest but was probably more like five or six hours, that Papa knew this land. Intimately. The paths they walked seemed clear of fallen trees and large rocks and just when thirst seemed like it would swallow her whole, he always knew where to stop and get refreshed. It was after the second time that they stopped that she realized it. Nothing about this was a surprise to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And just how was that possible?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "And just how had Mama known that?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She tripped. Fell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her wrists and knees taking most of her weight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Any other day she would have stayed down, got her breath back in her body. But today or that night rather, she stood back up and brushed at her skirts ignoring the shoots of pain because if she focused on her wrists or her knees, she might also start thinking about her toes. She was sure blisters had formed. Gideon, an hour or so back, had told her it would be better if she took her shoes off and walked barefoot like them, but Laura knew that wasn't so." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She never walked around barefoot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Miss Martha hated the sight of toes. Especially slave toes. Laura had worn a pair of shoes every day of her life she could remember. Sturdy shoes. Not ones made of kid and silk like Missy Charlotte and Missy Adora, but black leather shoes that could last for years. At least Laura had once thought so." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now she wasn't so sure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But she still wouldn't take them off. It was far more startling to take them off and step on the grass or dip them in water. If she went barefoot now, it would take mere seconds for the ground to cut up her feet and she would be in a worse condition then. So she kept her shoes on and tried to ignore the wetness in her stockings that came not from sweat but from blood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sound of the familiar clear sound of a warbler made Laura stop and reach out for the tree nearest her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Warblers sang at night?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "But when she looked up, it was just Papa. Whistling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes?\" Benji's voice was low. Laura couldn't see him, but she knew he and the boys weren't that much far ahead.\n\n\"You know where to go?\" Papa's voice was quiet, just above a whisper." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes,\" Benji said firmly as he stepped into viewing, Sol and Gid alongside him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a clear night, not a cloud in the sky. Laura had no problem making out Papa on her left and her brothers on her right.\n\n\"Take Gid and Sol and go.\" Laura stiffened, forced herself to stand up straight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had kept up. She may have fallen a few times and she certainly didn't move as fast, but she had never stopped moving unless Papa stopped them.\n\nBenji slid his eyes over to Laura, saying nothing though his question was loud.\n\n\"We'll catch up. But you go on.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Papa's voice broke no argument.\n\n\"Papa,\" Gid started, taking a step forward.\n\n\"Go.\"\n\nBenji sent her a look that was too familiar." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And while Laura could take it from Prince, she never took it from Benji." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She made a face back. Benji grabbed the backs of Gid and Sol's cloaks and the three of them took off in the night faster than Laura had ever seen them move before. Well. She had been holding them back.\n\n\"Come on,\" Papa said and motioned for her to move ahead of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shame. Embarrassment. Frustration. Laura fought all of three of the emotions as she moved forward. If they were caught... if something happened... her fault.\n\n\"No shame,\" Papa said, reading her mind like he somehow always managed too." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You wasn't raised for this. You was raised to be a lady.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not hardly,\" Laura spat out as she stomped forward and angrily swiped a hanging branch out of her face.\n\n\"It's hard for you now. But it'll be hard for us later. And we'll need you then. Just like you need us now. There's no shame in needin' others, baby girl.\"\n\nLaura gritted her teeth. He always had an answer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Always kind. Always patient." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Always making Laura feel guilty about things she couldn't change. This man was a stranger and yet he acted like he knew her inside and out. \"Just tell me where to go. I'll find it by myself.\"\n\nPapa didn't respond and she wasn't sure he had even heard her when he finally said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Nothin' on this earth would make me leave my little girl.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Laura grunted and said nothing as together they moved as quick as she could up the small path, Papa just behind her, catching her every time she tripped over something.\n\nWhen he reached out to grab her again, she started to pull her arm out of his grip. She had not almost fallen that time. \"Papa—,\"\n\nInstead of loosening his grip, it tightened." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The look on his face when she turned to speak, made her freeze. It was a look she had never seen on his face before. Fear. \"Listen,\" his voice was barely a whisper.\n\nBut she held her breath, didn't move." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And then she heard it." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sound of barking. Dogs." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "CONTINUE STORY. PARAMETERS: two sentences sentences, Embassie Susberry style, Western, People of Color genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The stark terror that crossed Papa's face was so fleeting, so barely there, that for a moment, Laura wasn't sure she had even seen it.\n\n\"Run,\" Papa growled, his voice reaching far back in his throat and even before the single word was completed, he had taken off, Laura's arm tight in his grip." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They moved over rocks, fallen trees, grown plants, and even an animal or two. Her thighs were burning as they moved uphill not slowing their pace in any way, climbing the hill as though they had done it every day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had thought she had moved fast before, but an unknown surge of energy hit her and she knew she was moving at a speed unlike any other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Forgotten were the aches and pains from a moment ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She flew across the Virginia forest like a bird. It also helped that Papa had a hold of her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But he dropped her hand when they crossed a very small, very short bridge, confirming to Laura that Papa knew this land, knew exactly where they were. So why hadn't they run before when Mama was alive and Prince was more amenable?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe it was the fact that she been thinking too much, or maybe her speed had slowed down some." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Either way, Laura found herself several feet behind Papa, barely catching sight of him as she ran behind him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She tripped over a log and it was enough to send her flying towards the ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hearing barking not too far away, she scrambled onto her knees and looked back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She could hardly swallow as she saw a couple of Massa Will's fine bloodhounds in the distance, their eyes glowing in the dim light making them look like demons that had just escaped from hell.\n\n\"Laura!\" Papa wasn't bothering to be quiet now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Go,\" Laura said, her voice low, weak, her eyes filling with tears. \"Go.\" The word was like a sob, but still she pushed herself to her feet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It didn't matter that it was a wasted venture." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was Phoebe's daughter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She wouldn't just lay there and let them catch her. She got to her feet, stumbling as she tried to get past her fear and get her feet to move." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She would never outrun them now. \"Just leave me. Go,\" she said, even as she began to pick up speed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She could hardly see through the tears that fogged her eyes. She wasn't going to be responsible for Papa getting caught." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not if he could get away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If everyone got away except her it would be worth it. But she didn't know what would await her when they caught up to her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Would she be whipped? She had been slapped before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But she had never been whipped. Sold?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Some body part of hers cut off?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She fought the urge to vomit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Never,\" Papa said, appearing at her side right out of thin air. He grabbed her arm and jerked her forward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Run. And don't you look back.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Papa,\" Laura whispered frantically, pausing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was he... did he... she couldn't leave him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The thought of him going back to Salis and her making it to freedom just cause she wasn't fast enough was enough to make her want to find a hole somewhere to crawl up in and die. \"Papa.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Go,\" he said and gave her a push." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then two of the dogs were on him. She heard growling and the sound of something tearing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The smell of iron, blood filled the air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She ran forward, grabbed a loose branch, but when she turned to help him, it was too late. The dogs were dead and Papa was standing, breathing hard, a bloody knife in his hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Girl, if you don't get...\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Laura dropped the stick and ran. This time when Papa caught up with her and grabbed her arm, he didn't let go." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They ran, Laura didn't know how far, to a stream where Papa stopped and dunked her in the deepest part before immersing himself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It'll slow them down a bit,\" he said as they dragged themselves to the other side of the small stream. \"But we still have to move fast. You can do this, Laura.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know,\" Laura growled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even though she didn't know. But she wouldn't slow down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She didn't know what waited for her if she got caught, but whatever it was, it wasn't good. \"They're not goin' to catch us.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No,\" Papa said, his voice sounding light. \"They not. Now move.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An hour later, Laura and Papa were being very quietly rushed into a space in a floor by a white man that Laura recognized as a minister from the next county over.\n\nThe space was small, and when the floor was replaced atop their heads." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dark. It smelled of unwashed bodies and dirt, but Laura wasn't hardly about to complain. It was safe. She was safe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And besides, her own odor was adding nothing to the space." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laura tried to move over to give Papa some room because surely he had to be feeling all kinds of discomfort, but there was nowhere to move." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Laura? Sit this way,\" Papa said and helped her maneuver so she sat with her back against his chest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stretched his legs out with a sigh that fanned her cheek.\n\n\"Where are the boys?\" Laura asked quietly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"At a different safe house.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Laura said nothing for a moment even though her mind was filled with questions, but when she opened her mouth, the only thing that came out was, \"You came back.\"\n\n\"Course I came back,\" Papa said simply." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You think I was goin' to leave my baby girl?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laura didn't say what she was thinking, which was that she might be his by blood, but in many ways that mattered, she wasn't really his." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But he must have heard her silent thoughts. \"You're mine. My little girl. Me and my Phoebe's second baby.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cause he considered Prince to be the first. \"I still remember the day you were born like it was just yesterday. You came out so quiet Dovie had to slap your bottom twice. And a head full of hair! You my baby girl. You've always been my baby girl.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laura swallowed, looking down at her hands, her jaw clenched in an effort to hold back any emotion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Though why she felt like crying was beyond her. \"I know you was only close to Phoebe and Prince... I know it was hard to leave your brother. I know how close you two are.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not that close. He was barely even nice,\" Laura mumbled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And then shivered. Her clothes and her cloak had dried some in their walk to the house, but she was still damp." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a miserable feeling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But still better than being caught by one of those dogs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But sometimes,\" she started quietly. \"Sometimes, he would do some very nice things.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Like what?\" Papa asked quietly, running his hands up and down her arms in an effort to get her warmed.\n\n\"One time, I was cleanin' in Miss Martha's parlor room and knocked over a vase.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She never should have been dusting in that room upset as she was at the time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Annie had just delivered Noble." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had refused to discuss his father during her pregnancy, no matter that Miss Martha kept pressing so that she could try and force Annie to marry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laura had asked once, but Mama had told her to leave it alone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But when Noble came out with those green eyes and pale skin of his, it became quite clear to everyone at his birth, Mama, Laura, Ma Dovie, and even Prince who had arrived late with water they had sent for an hour ago, who the boy's father was. It had shaken up Laura good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So good, she hadn't been careful." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No one heard it fall except Prince.\" Laura sniffed, remembering. \"I thought he would tell on me for sure, but he didn't. He went and got a bag and scooped up all the pieces. Told me not to say a word. The next day, Massa Richard horsewhipped Massa Logan for breakin' Miss Martha's vase.\" Papa's hands stopped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Somehow Prince had made it look like Massa Logan had broken it when he had come home... inebriated the night before.\" Laura said, recalling Miss Martha's words." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know,\" Laura said with a small laugh. \"Prince has a way of gettin' things done just how he likes and it don't matter if you white or Negro.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But he was able to get Massa Logan whipped?\" Papa asked. She could hear the awe in his voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes. Prince hates Massa Logan. Almost more than Annie hates Massa Logan. Three times he's gotten Massa Logan real good.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"When was the next time?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Less than a year later, Massa Logan fell down the stairs and broke his leg. He wasn't able to go to Europe with his cousins that summer.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How you know that was Prince?\"\n\n\"I saw his face afterwards.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Prince had not pushed him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Laura knew that because she had been standing on the stairs one floor above Massa Logan. Prince hadn't even left something on the stairs for Massa Logan to trip over." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How Massa Logan fell down those stairs was a mystery to her, but that Prince had had a hand in it wasn't." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The small, triumphant humorless grin on his face when he left his hidey hole on the second floor had told her that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And the third time?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Massa Logan got caught stealin' from Massa Richard and Massa Richard had him whipped again,\" Laura said quickly. Annie and Laura had holed up in the kitchen snickering at random moments that day while Prince sat at the lone table and devoured the entire peach pie Annie had been forced to bribe him with cause he had caught Noble in the house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had not been snickering." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But there had been a... satisfied feeling in the air around him. His hatred for Massa Logan was the only thing Annie liked about Prince." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That boy,\" Papa muttered, but there was a hint of pride in there too. \"He's a bit scary.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah.\" She didn't want to talk about Prince anymore. Didn't want to think about Annie." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It hurt too much. \"Papa?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hmm?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How come you know where you goin'?\"\n\n\"Caught that did you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mmm hmm.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Papa sighed again and since she was sitting so close to him, her body sank in with his. \"My pa came from Africa. 'Member that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\"\n\n\"He was sold to Massa Phineas, Massa Richard's father, soon as he got off the boat.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When Papa said no more, she tapped a finger against his knee. \"He tried to escape five times. Twice he received the lash. His back,\" Papa sighed again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She felt him shake his head in sorrow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The third time they cut off his ear and then branded a letter on his face. An 'R' I think it was. He was a big man, and a hard worker. Massa Phineas wanted him out in them fields.\"\n\n\"What about grandmama?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mama was born at Salis House. She ain't never have a desire to leave. And I had two brothers die there. She ain't want to leave their bodies. She just... couldn't let go.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But Papa Guy could?\"\n\n\"Wasn't nothin' he wanted more than to be free,\" Papa said simply." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Fourth time he was whipped again. Fifth time... fifth time, he took me with him.\" Papa's voice was real quiet now, barely above a whisper." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"When they caught him that time... they had dogs too then. I just... they brought him home in pieces.\" Laura drew her knees to her chest, holding them tight, and blinking back tears." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That could have been her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That could have been her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I hate dogs, Laura. Hate them.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did they punish you?\"\n\n\"A few lashes. Nothin' serious. I was still a boy. They placed all the blame on Pa.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You came back for me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Course I did.\" Papa wrapped an arm around her shoulders, squeezed her tight. \"Course I did. For years, I was too scared to try and run again. But. I knew what freedom meant to my pa, so I learned the best ways to escape and tried to help those who was runnin'. Whenever I had to go up north for somethin' I walked these routes, got them branded in my mind. Kept my ears and eyes open in case I ever worked up the nerve to try again.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But you didn't think you would?\"\n\n\"No. If Massa Richard had kept on botherin' Phoebe, then we would have gone. But after Prince was born, he left her alone.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So. Massa Richard was Prince's father. Not that she hadn't thought so, but now she knew her dislike of him was justified." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then you were born, and Ben, Sol, and Gid. It didn't make sense to run with small children. Phoebe and I decided that we would only try it if we had too. One of you being sold fell under 'had too'.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Was it hard?\" To try again.\n\n\"Yes. Me and God had us some words.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He paused. \"Dogs got me first. And my pa kept runnin'. I understand why he did. Lord, when they caught him... but... I'll never leave my children. I know I ain't been the best papa to you but it's not cause I didn't want to.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Laura had been placed with Missy Adora when she was seven. She had rarely had a reason to go back to the cabin after that. \"But everythin's gone change Laura. I promise you that. Everythin's gone change.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI Prompt: Generate 6 sentences sentences. Emulate Embassie Susberry. Adhere to Western, People of Color genre conventions." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An uneasiness settled on Laura's shoulders as she took the papers from Sam. She had been feeling uneasy from the moment she first saw him. Was it cause Sam was on the passenger deck when she was sure he was supposed to be on the lower deck? Or was it cause the expression on Sam's face was grim. More grim than she had ever seen? Course the fact that he had papers didn't help." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Though she took the papers from him, she kept her eyes on him all the while, hoping he would give something away, but other than his clenched jaw, his expression was blank, hiding his emotions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked down at the sheets in her hand. Stared.\n\n\"Is that what I think it is?\" His voice was soft and he came to stand a few feet closer, as though he could read the writing on the pages.\n\n\"Where did you get this?\" she asked, her stomach dropping so quickly she placed a hand over it. At first the names and descriptions meant nothing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then she saw something that made the air in her lungs whoosh out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a $200 reward for Papa. He was described in detail. Negro man, dark of color, six foot, three inches high, about a foot wide, almost forty years old. Blacksmith. She couldn't read no more. But she had too. She saw one for Benji, Sol, Gid. Herself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Worse and worse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And the bounties added together?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nigh unto a thousand dollars." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was all she could do not to fall apart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's ya'll, ain't it?\"\n\n\"Where—,\"\n\n\"White man who saw me and Manny get on the steamboat.\" Her stomach churned a bit. It had always been a risk, but still the irony of it all...\"He wants somethin' from me. Said if I don't help, he'll have ya'll arrested or anyone I talk to until he finds a warrant for me.\"\n\n\"A real nice fellow,\" Laura said, hearing the bitterness in her own voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why couldn't folks just leave them be?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sam shrugged, looked away. \"Least we know who the enemy is.\"\n\nLaura stared down at the papers in front of her. \"I don't understand. What's he want from you? Can we even believe that if you do it, he'll not still have us all arrested? Cause he can take you and Manny in too without a warrant, you know.\" She looked up at Sam who was now pacing the small storage room, with his hands laced behind the back of his head.\n\n\"Said somethin' 'bout being a detective. Somethin'... I don't know. He's solvin' a murder...\" Sam shrugged and then turned to face her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He wants me to spy on the folks or somethin'.\" He exhaled. \"I saw a man kill another man,\" he said. Laura felt her eyes grow wide as he told her what had happened. \"Now, this here man wants my help.\" Laura swallowed the fear in her throat. \"And if you're askin' me if I trust him. I don't.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Okay,\" she said, her mind racing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They would have to get off this boat at the next port. Somehow, someway.\n\n\"But,\" Sam said, his voice low. \"I do think he needs my help. He ain't likely to call in the warrants 'fore he gets it. It'll buy us some time.\"\n\n\"Us?\" Laura looked at him. They weren't a package deal. It would be easier for him and Manny to disappear than for her family to." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked back, gave one quick nod." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Us.\"\n\n\"You don't have to—.\"\n\n\"Ain't in me to leave when someone needs help.\" Laura blinked back tears of frustration she hadn't realized were forming. She glanced down at the papers in her hand. \"Manny and I wouldn't have gotten this far without you. Without all of ya'll.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We haven't exactly gotten that far, Sam.\" Yes, the steamboat moved quickly. Five miles an hour she overheard one of the passengers say this morning. But still. She had very little doubt that they were still somewhere in Ohio.\n\nSam shrugged again, stuck his hands in his pockets. It was gesture he made often to make it seem like he knew nothing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And she was beginning to quickly realize that wasn't the case." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's not like we got anybody else to teach us about life. Teach us how to read and whatnot.\" The last part he said with embarrassment. Laura huffed. He would learn how to read, with or without her family. This much she knew was true. Sam was... he was special. Even she could tell that and she barely knew him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And for a second she wondered what that detective had noticed about him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And she got angry.\n\n\"This man is threatenin' you, Sam. You should leave while you have the chance. There's nothin' in here about you. Or Manny. You've got time.\"\n\n\"I think,\" Sam said slowly, biting his lip. He still wouldn't meet her gaze. \"I think we should see how this plays out. The longer we on this ship, the farther we are from Kentucky. From Virginia. Take it one step at a time.\"\n\nLaura folded up the papers in her hand, handed them back to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He took them slowly, as though she were handing him a poisonous snake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Which she supposed, they kind of were. \"I can't let you do that, Sam. I can't let you stay here a minute longer than you have to. We'll be alright. We'll figure somethin' out.\" They would. Laura had no doubt that the moment she told Papa about what she had seen, he would think of something.\n\n\"You're not lettin' me do anythin'.\" Sam's voice was low, hard. \"I'm choosin' to do this. Choosin' to stay.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What would Manny say?\" Laura saw his wince. \"He would say leave us.\" She hadn't known them that long, but that much she had picked up on.\n\n\"There's no reason why Manny needs to know about this at all.\"\n\n\"Sam.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I've made up my mind, Laura. We'll play it by ear. But as long as this boat is movin,' it's gettin' us all just one more step closer to freedom.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Laura folded her arms over her chest, watching as Sam finally slipped the papers back into his pocket. She didn't see one thing he was getting out of this. Out of helping them all. \"Then let me help you. Whatever this man, this detective wants, you tell me.\"\n\n\"Laura—,\" Sam said, a frown beginning to form on his handsome face.\n\n\"In fact, I think I should find out if he's even tellin' the truth about bein' a detective.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And just how you gone do that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll slip into his room, go through his stuff.\" She still had her lock picks, there was no lock she couldn't break into.\n\n\"I can't let you—,\"\n\n\"Let me?\" Laura asked softly. She saw him wince. There was no let anymore." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're not lettin' me do anythin'. If you're willin' to risk yourself, risk Manny for my family, then I'm goin' to help. Besides, Sam. This,\" she said, waving a hand around. \"Is what I'm good at.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"Findin' out white folks' secrets. What you think we did in the Big House? Just cook and clean?\"\n\nSam eyed her for a second. Then said slowly, humor tugging at his lips for a moment, \"I suppose I did.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, you supposed wrong. I learned from the best how to get information.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Though she had been the one to teach Prince how to pick locks. He had complained the whole time about how low and criminal she was even as he made her show him again and again and again. He claimed that he was better at it now than her. She didn't believe him. Not even Benji was better than her. He may have taught her how it worked, but he had never had a chance to really practice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll find out what I can on this detective... what did you say his name was again?\"\n\n\"Adam. Adam Ward,\" Sam said slowly, reluctantly.\n\n\"Adam Ward. You leave him to me. And whatever thing he asks you to do, you tell me so I can help.\"\n\n\"Laura.\"\n\n\"Sam.\"\n\nThey stared at each other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We'll pray on it too.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Laura said definitively. Sam blinked once. Slowly. It wasn't anything she had ever said to Prince. Prince would have rolled his eyes to high heaven. But she hadn't forgotten that Sam had wanted to pray about going west first. Odd as that had been, it had felt right. \"When life gets uncertain, you have to run to the one thing that is.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or so Mama had always said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had never put it into practice before though. Life hadn't seemed all that uncertain. It did now. She held out her hands toward Sam. It was how she and Mama had always prayed, holding hands. Sam looked at her for a second and then at her hands. \"Hold them and hurry.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why would we hold—,\"\n\nDidn't he know they didn't have time for this? Field hands, Laura thought with a shake of her hand. She grabbed his hands, felt how hard and calloused they were for a second. \"Dear Lord, grant us wisdom and knowledge as we deal with this Adam Ward. He is no good, Lord. Make it clear to us if we need to leave, show us what we need to do if we should stay. Let us have ears to hear and eyes to see your guidance. Protect Sam. Protect me. In Jesus' name. Amen.\" She released his hands, took a step back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ignored the wideness of his eyes as he stared at her." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Women laughing outside the door broke his focus.\n\n\"I need to get back to Ward and give the papers back. See what he wants from me,\" Sam said quickly, quietly.\n\n\"And until I know that, I'll keep my eye on Adam Ward.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "NarrativeBot: Extend text by 3 sentences sentences. Maintain Western, People of Color genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Threatened. Threatened!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Laura still couldn't believe Manny had threatened her. But she couldn't even be angry, she thought as she pulled and tugged on Lucinda's stays in an effort to make the girl's waist smaller. It wasn't quite working." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The girls had sent for her to help them get dressed for supper that night. Daphne was already dressed and just picking over ribbons to possibly add to her hair. Lucinda, as always, had needed the most help." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Pink or blue?\" she heard Daphne ask Lucinda from behind her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tuning out Lucinda's response, her thoughts went right back to Manny. And Sam. No, she couldn't be angry at Manny. Because she understood. There was something about Sam that inspired... fidelity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was... genuine in a world that often seemed filled with actors. And she had never seen the likes before. At least not in a man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not that she had much experience with men." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had always been so busy in Salis House that she had not been as free as other girls her age to start something with a boy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Which had been something of a mixed blessing. Like most girls her age she wanted a home of her own, with her own man and her own babies. At the same time, Laura hadn't known how she could do it all." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mama had barely managed it when she was alive and even then the family seemed divided with Papa, Benji, Sol, and Gid on one side and her, Prince, and Mama on the other." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then there was the added fact that Annie—being her best friend and all—would have rather pulled out her own teeth than try to get some male attention or even talk about male attention. And she couldn't forget Prince. There was nothing quite like the talk of romance to curl Prince's lip." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But that hadn't stopped him from having an opinion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Prince, who had told her if she couldn't marry someone who was better off than she was, there wasn't any sense in marrying at all. For Prince, marrying up was a Negro who was free or a Negro with a trade. If he could read or write, well then, that was perfect." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She knew what Prince would think about Sam, a field slave with no book learning and no trade." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But she found that she didn't care. If she could ever have introduced the two of them to each other, she had a feeling Sam could hold his own just fine against her brother. And quite frankly, now that she thought about it, she didn't give one hoot what Prince thought of Sam." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But then her fingers slowed a bit as they traveled up the buttons of Lucinda's dress." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sam would never have taken in consideration of what everyone else thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No. Instinctively, she knew only one opinion mattered when it came to Sam and that was God's. Did God think she should get married? What a thought; that the God who had created the whole earth would be concerned about Laura and her possible, future family." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But how comforting it would be to know His thoughts on the matter. Not that there was anything to think about Sam. What she should be focused on was getting off this boat and making a future with her family in Oklahoma." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Are you really wearing the silk?\" Daphne's voice held more than a little judgment in it.\n\n\"I wouldn't have had it made if I wasn't going to wear it,\" Lucinda said to her reflection as Laura carefully spread the rose-colored skirt of her gown over her crinoline petticoat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hmph. Well, I know why you're really wearing it.\"\n\n\"Do tell,\" Lucinda said, her voice dry as she stared at herself in the mirror before them. Laura watched as she rolled her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're trying to get a husband.\"\n\n\"Aren't we all?\"\n\n\"Yes, but Mr. Cronwall—,\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucinda huffed. \"Don't you ever mind your own business?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nLaura rolled her own eyes as the girls bickered and after helping Daphne tie a blue ribbon in her hair, she slipped out of the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Without running, but not quite walking either, Laura made her way to the kitchen to help with fixing and serving supper." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The room was bustling with energy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shad and Birdie were at the stove each managing two pans of food while Emma was chopping up vegetables with a skill that only accrued from having performed the same service for so long." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Piping hot plates filled with meat were cooling on the side table. She grabbed an apron from a basket and pinned it on.\n\nThe door that connected the dining room to the kitchen swung open and Laura watched as several of the Negro servers loaded up a dumbwaiter with food and left to serve both on the Texas deck and on the Hurricane deck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Behind you,\" Shad said. Laura ducked out of the way as he placed a glazed and still sizzling ham in front of her. \"Slice it and plate it,\" he instructed and returned to his station at the stove." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Laura grabbed two sharp knives and began the task of slicing the meat. Splatters of fat and juice hit her fingers and she fought the urge to grab a piece and taste it. Tasting was for later." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When it was sliced to perfection, she didn't wait for anymore directions from Shad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She grabbed a heavy porcelain plate and transferred the sliced meat onto it. Then she lifted it and headed straight for the dining room. She paused for a second, taking in all of the people gathered at the long table." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ladies were decked out in all of their finery, most of which Laura had labored over that afternoon, ironing or repairing loose seams. There were ice blue gowns, red gowns, emerald gowns, violet gowns. Gowns made of silk, taffeta, linen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Very nice gowns. But nothing quite on the scale that compared to the ones Laura had sewn and seen in Salis House.\n\nA two-finger wave caught Laura's attention and she walked over to one of the waiters handing him the large plate of ham. In return, he handed her an empty bowl." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We're out of butter beans,\" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He was an older man, probably older than Papa. Laura had watched him serve before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He did it as though he had done it for years. He probably had.\n\nLaura gave him a nod and then did one sweep around the room with her eyes. She was there for a reason and it wasn't to compare gowns." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She wanted to see all of the women who had red hair or some variation thereof." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And unless they were sick, every woman on the Texas deck would be at supper." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mrs. Hartford had, of course, been the most obvious woman to fill the role since her hair was the color of a red-hot flame." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But Sam hadn't been raised around white women and she didn't quite trust his judgment on the color red. Though to be fair, Sam had never said it was Mrs. Hartford. Adam Ward had. Which begged the question of what Adam Ward knew or thought he knew about Mrs. Hartford." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Taking note of no less than five women who could have been considered to have red hair, Laura went back into the kitchen, refilled the butter bean bowl and returned to the dining room. This time, she made a more thorough inspection of the redheaded women. And that was when she realized how Adam Ward had come to his conclusion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Two of them were of an age that even Sam would have noted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These two ladies were either wearing some kind of hair piece or had hidden their gray hair with dye. The other two were married and had small children. This Laura knew from cleaning their cabins, doing their laundry, and just plain running into them on the upper deck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were not hardly likely to be killing a man one day and shuffling a baby around the next." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Only one redheaded woman sat at the table that was both relatively young and unattached: Mrs. Hartford.\n\nWalking over to another waiter and picking up an empty plate, she glanced around the table again and spotted Adam Ward talking quietly to the woman on his right. As always her mind followed his clothing first." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was a man dressed in the first stare of fashion, wearing something that even Prince would have admired." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A detective? She had never heard of the like and she wondered where his money really came from. Walking slowly back to the kitchen, she noted Daphne laughing and Lucinda batting her eyes at a man at least thirty years her senior. She also caught sight of Baldwin, smiling and talking quietly to the woman on his right." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He didn't look like a killer. But then again, a lot of men didn't.\n\nMaking her way back into the kitchen, she placed the empty platter that had once contained chicken onto the table." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll refill it,\" Shad called out. \"I need to check on some things. You come over here and finish this dough. Emma, go on and get me another chicken. If we don't need it today, we'll use it tomorrow.\"\n\nIn seconds, the kitchen was empty except for Laura and Birdie, who stood over the stove cooking down fruit for the filling that would go into the pie dough Laura had started working." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've never cooked for so large a group of people before,\" Birdie began. Laura paused from rolling the dough and exhaled. \"Have you?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" she said simply." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And she had. Whenever there was a ball at Salis House, Annie had always recruited her for help in the kitchen.\n\n\"I also never had nobody to work with in the kitchen. It was always jest me. Massa, he had near 'bout ten slaves,\" Birdie said, sending Laura a sidelong glance as though ten slaves were a lot.\n\nSalis House had around two hundred slaves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were more than ten slaves that served inside Salis House alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But Laura said none of these things." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The least said about Salis, the better." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did you buy your freedom, then?\" Laura asked, even though she already knew the answer to the question.\n\nBirdie flinched and returned her gaze back to the pot in front of her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She mumbled something under her breath and Laura didn't bother to try and decipher it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had nothing against the girl, but talking about the past was just about one of the stupidest things a runaway could do.\n\n\"I come here with my brother, Will.\"\n\n\"I think I met him,\" Laura said in a conciliatory tone, feeling a little bit of guilt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He's tall and thin as a bean pole, but he sure can sing. You'd never guess it from the looks of him, though. You got any kin on board?\"\n\nLaura picked up the dough, sprinkling it with more flour before draping it over the pie pan. She hoped she was supposed to be adding more flour." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She could never remember the small details. She had never had to before. Annie remembered them for her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Fillin'?\" Laura asked, ignoring Birdie's question though if the girl was on the steamer long enough it would soon become evident as to whom Laura was related to.\n\n\"That boy I saw you with, the real good-lookin' one. He your beau?\"\n\n\"Sam?\" Laura asked as Birdie handed her the pot of cooked cherries." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They must have been preserves then." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laura did know that you didn't need to hardly touch fresh cherries." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is that his name?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The girl had an expression on her face that made Laura blink a few times." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It also made Laura feel less guilty about reminding Birdie that she was still a slave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you his woman, then?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What's that bubblin' in that pot?\" Laura asked. The door swung open and Shad entered, cutting off their conversation, though not cutting off Birdie entirely cause the girl was still talking. Was she his woman? No." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She wasn't, she thought as she began to lattice the dough." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And further, Sam wasn't about to get any woman any time soon because he was focused on making it to Oklahoma first." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And Manny wouldn't let him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hurry up on them pies! I only have two cooked!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Laura stayed in the kitchen until every dish was washed and put away. Though she was exhausted, she still found herself going out to the railing to look over the side of the steamer. Anything to feel a cool breeze." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her hair had sweated some fierce and no doubt smelled of everything they had cooked in that small kitchen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It would behoove her to get up early to wash it and pull it back into a tight bun. And it would have to be really, really early. She walked in the direction of the laundry room." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Today you will be acting as a writing assistant, your partner will send something and you will write the next seven sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They only had four stops left until they reached Arkansas. Laura shook her head slowly as she continued to knead the ball of dough in front of her for the supper meal. That was it, four stops. Only problem was the stops were days apart. They had their last stop in Kentucky tomorrow, then Missouri, two days on the river before they reached Tennessee. Then two more days after that for another stop. Then Arkansas. She had found a copy of the schedule when she had been cleaning Mr. Ward's room earlier that day." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After leaving Mrs. Hartford's room and handing Sam that advertisement, she had gone right to Mr. Ward's room to clean and snoop because if Mrs. Hartford wasn't Mary Stiles that put them back to almost the beginning when they had nothing. And Laura didn't know how Adam Ward was when he had nothing. Sure and he was a whole lot nicer to Sam, but she didn't trust the man. Or rather, she trusted the first version of the man, not the second one. It had never been her experience that folks got nicer when the irons got hot. So, when she went to Adam Ward's room to clean, she also went to see if he had sent any telegrams.\n\nShe remade his bed, folded his clothes, straightened his things and went digging." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She found the papers again with her and the boys and Papa's description." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She went through the papers on his desk and saw that he had sent and received several telegrams. None of them had mentioned any slaves as far as she could tell. She had found a copy of the steamer's schedule copied in his own hand and marveled at the fact that they had still yet another week on the river. She had been in the middle of digging through his closet when his door had opened.\n\n\"Oh,\" Mr. Ward said slowly as Laura had stepped out of the closet. She watched his chest sink with relief and a small, tight smile cross his thin lips. \"I didn't realize you were in here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Your suits have been cleaned, Mr. Ward,\" Laura said slowly and distinctly, clasping her hands in front of her and ignoring the silent question in his words." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her heart was pounding fast, but she stilled her face and paid no attention to her emotions.\n\n\"Thank you, Lolly,\" Adam Ward said with a sigh as he took off his jacket and tossed it across the back of the lone chair in the room. It was a move he never would have made if she had been a white girl. But then, if she was a white girl, she would never have been there in the first place.\n\n\"Is there anythin' else you need, Mr. Ward?\" Laura asked, making sure her voice was low, soothing.\n\n\"No, Lolly.\" She started for the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her hand had just touched the knob when Adam Ward spoke again. \"Well, actually... Lolly, you're free right?\"\n\n\"Suh?\" She felt the blood in her body start pumping, the pace slowly picking up speed.\n\n\"I mean... can you read?\"\n\nShe turned her face so he could see the expression on it. She made her eyebrows furrow, made sure her eyes were cast down as though in shame. \"Read, suh?\" She saw his grimace out of the corner of his eye." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't suppose you know a Negro man by the name of Sam? That's here on this steamer?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know, Sam. Suh.\" Her eyes were blank now as she blinked at him.\n\nHe grimaced again. \"Nevermind, Lolly. I—nevermind.\"\n\nShe left his room with a roll of her eyes. What did he expect? That she would pour her heart out to him?\n\nShe had next gone to the laundry room to wash sheets before heading first to Mrs. Hartford's room and then to Lucinda and Daphne's room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mrs. Hartford had been waiting for her, sighing over her choice of dresses for the evening. \"Laura, you choose. You have such a good eye for color.\" Without hesitation, Laura had chosen a green taffeta gown. She helped Mrs. Hartford with her petticoat and corset before covering them with the evening dress. Mrs. Hartford stood before the mirror as Laura brushed and pulled and tucked to make the dress look just right.\n\n\"I can't wait until we arrive in New Orleans, Laura. I look so nice and it's all wasted. There's not a single man of interest on this boat.\" Laura said nothing as she continued to straighten out the dress." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her only thought was how much she wished Mrs. Hartford had been Mary Stiles. \"And then, well, Laura, I'm an actress,\" Mrs. Hartford said with a dejected sigh. Laura guided her to the chair in front of the vanity and quickly began to dress her hair. It would be nothing so elaborate as what she done for Missy Charlotte on more than one occasion, but it would do. \"And some men have a tendency to think that that must mean that I'm easy with my favors. Why one man—I can barely remember his name—but I told him I was not interested in his romantic favors. And then he came back the second day as though we hadn't talked at all the day before. I had to slap him! I told him if he didn't stay away I would talk to Captain Leahy personally.\"\n\nLaura paused in brushing off Mrs. Hartford's shoulders and mentally sighed. If they had only had this conversation a day earlier it would have saved her and Sam some time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She listened to Mrs. Hartford bare her complaints for another fifteen minutes before presenting her with gloves and a matching stole." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she had raced down to Daphne and Lucinda's room, knocking as she pushed open the door. She came to a stop when she saw a black-haired woman standing in the center of the room.\n\n\"Oh, Laura, you gave me a fright,\" Daphne said, turning around. She reached up and pulled the black-haired wig off her head. \"Isn't this the most ridiculous thing?\" Laura stared. \"It's Lucinda's. She has a whole box filled with different color wigs. You would think she was balding. She's out for a stroll with Mr. Cronwall,\" Daphne said, wrinkling her nose. Laura took this to mean the old, rich man that Lucinda was trying to marry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laura went to the closet for Daphne's evening dress as Daphne went to Lucinda's trunk and tossed the wig back inside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She said to tell you not to leave until she gets here cause she's still going to need your help.\"\n\nLaura had been stuck in that room with first Daphne and then Lucinda for well over an hour. And now, here she was, kneading bread for supper and wondering how she could find Sam. Alone. It would be easy enough to find him, but Manny might be with him or her own brothers. Though she supposed it wouldn't be so bad to visit with all of them. They just wouldn't be able to talk about Baldwin and Mary Stiles.\n\n\"I think that's good and ready,\" Birdie said, coming alongside her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh,\" Laura said and let Birdie take it from her so that the bread would have a chance to rise." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You know the food on this here steamer ain't so bad, but I could sure go for a mess o' greens, right about now,\" Birdie said with a grin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Cooked with salt pork or some ham hock and some fresh corn bread on the side,\" Laura added as she began to flour her station again in anticipation of making a fresh batch of dough.\n\n\"Oh, my yes,\" Birdie said and they shared a smile and a laugh. \"You ever cooked up some ox tail stew?\"\n\n\"Every other Sunday when Mama was alive.\" Laura closed her eyes, remembering those few times when all of them—except Prince—had gotten together and enjoyed Sunday supper. The last time had been a year or so ago, but the sweetness of those memories made her ache.\n\n\"And a pot of black eyed peas on New Years'?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"With salt pork and onions after soakin' 'em over night? Yes, indeed.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laura was no great cook, but she knew good food like Annie's which always tasted like there was something extra in her pot that made you want to keep dipping." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She wondered if Sam had ever had collard greens and ox tail stew, or a plate of black eyed peas." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 8 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When they got off this steamer, when they got good and settled, she would cook for him. And for the first time the thought of seeing Sam in the future didn't feel so strange. Why wouldn't their families stick together in Oklahoma?\n\n\"Yes, chile,\" Birdie said with a laugh, pulling Laura back to their conversation. \"We not so different, me and you.\" Though she made a statement, Laura could see the question, the hesitance in her eyes.\n\nLaura sent her a small smile. Shook her head. \"No, we not so different.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Continue with the same vibes in the Western, People of Color genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Marry you? Now?\" Laura's eyes were wide with disbelief, her arms folded over her chest. Sam had raced to the laundry room to find her. When he saw her working with the other girls, he had asked her to step out the room with him for a second.\n\n\"It'll be legal, Laura. On paper and everythin'. Like a real marriage. I know we haven't known each other that long, but we know the important things.\"\n\n\"We do know the important things,\" she said, her lips twisting to the side. \"Like I love you. And you love me.\"\n\n\"And we'll take care of each other,\" Sam said, reaching for her hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She placed it slowly in his. \"I don't want a slave marriage, Laura. Not when there's a chance for the real thing.\"\n\nShe pressed her lips together for a second, thinking. Then she nodded slowly, meeting his gaze. \"There's no one else for me but you Sam.\"\n\nSam felt water gather in his eyes though he knew well enough not to let them fall. Taking both of her hands in his, sliding his fingers between hers he asked,\"Will you be my friend, my partner, and my wife, Laura Altan?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\"\n\nThe next person Sam talked to was Amos.\n\n\"What now?\" They were just outside the boiler room, standing against the nearest rail.\n\n\"He can make it legal. The captain.\"\n\nAmos swallowed hard, his Adam's apple dipping into his throat. He nodded. \"I understand. I... just wait here.\" Amos went into the boiler room for a second, came back out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He held out his hand and Sam opened his." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A gold band dropped into it. \"Made it for my Phoebe. But she's not here now. She would want Laura to have it.\"\n\n\"I'll take care of her, I promise you that. And we don't aim to be leavin'. Family is important to both of us.\"\n\nAmos nodded, not meeting his gaze. \"Couldn't ask for a better man to become my son.\"\n\nSam cleared his throat, exhaling as he looked out on the river. \"Couldn't ask for a better man to be my father.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sam talked to Manny last." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Marriage? Now? I thought for sure I had a few months.\" They were tucked behind several large cargo in an effort to find some privacy.\n\n\"Manny.\"\n\n\"There's a part of me that hates the thought of you gettin' married.\"\n\n\"Manny—,\"\n\n\"No,\" Manny said, holding up a hand. \"Let me finish. There's a bigger part of me that likes the thought of us expanding. And Laura would make a good sister. I realize that. And I want you to be happy.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The last part was said quietly." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I am happy. She makes me happy.\"\n\n\"Then that's all that matters, big brother.\" They shared a look, and then a grin.\n\n\"Thanks, Manny.\"\n\n\"Tell Laura I fully expect new clothes from here on out.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "The user will write a bit then you need to write around 1 sentence continuing directly from the user's text. Try to mimic the style of Reed James in the Urban Fantasy, Erotica genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Juanita felt Rochelle's pain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her wife was dying." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her eyes stared dull up at the sky, and the blood now weakly pulsed out of her chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had to do something." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This couldn't be happening." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had just found this new happiness with her husband and wife, and it couldn't be taken away from her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Please!\" she cried up at the heavens." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pain filled her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Poor Rochelle was consumed with it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It bled into Juanita, and her own chest burned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Phantom holes bore through her, piercing her skin, ribs, and lungs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her heart became labored like Rochelle's, struggling to pump blood as more and more leaked out of her imaginary wounds." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Juanita drank and drank in Rochelle's pain, empathizing with her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rochelle coughed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tears streaming down her face, Juanita looked down at Rochelle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The blood wasn't flowing anymore, the pain was lessening." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had drawn it out of her wife, absorbing it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The holes were smaller, Rochelle's lungs were no longer punctured." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She still was weak, still near death, but she wasn't going to immediately die any longer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I healed her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She tried to drink in more of the pain, but exhaustion filled her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An incredible need burned in her loins, and her mouth watered for salty cum." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked at Bill." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was on his belly, Bev pushing her arm around his neck, choking him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His struggling ceased. She could barely feel his pain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His brain was starving for oxygen, rapidly consuming the little remaining in the blood trapped in his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bev was pinching his carotid arteries, and without fresh oxygen, his brain would shut down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had to help him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had a little power left, and focused on Bev." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lust for sex and violence consumed her brain, but buried deep inside her, wrapped in chains of black, were her real emotions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And they screamed for release." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Juanita grasped a chain, pulling with all her might." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If she could just make it slip a little and let a tiny amount of the true Bev escape, that might be enough." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sweat broke out across her forehead as she bored her mind into Bev's soul." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The chain was strong, refusing to give way before her mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I will not let you kill my husband!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She pushed all her love into her effort, straining against the unyielding evil." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Love never fails! It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The chain yielded before her love." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The real Bev surged forward.\n\n\"Free her, Bill!\" Juanita cried." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "writing exercise: five sentences sentences, channeling Reed James, Urban Fantasy, Erotica genre. go!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bill pulled his pants up and watched as Juanita cradled Rochelle's head on her lap, peering down at the unconscious woman. It was horrible seeing his slave-wife lying down there. She had taken the bullets meant for him. How could he ever repay her?\n\nBy loving her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Bill, can we talk?\" Sister Mariam asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned. The nun stood with Bev and the cop, her nametag read Deputy Whitetail, and the tan blouse of her uniform was torn, her dark-blue, bulletproof vest peeking through. He walked over to the three of them, confident Juanita would save Rochelle. Besides, he had done his part, and it was out of his hands.\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\n\"There's not much time,\" Bev said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Daevia did something when she sent us, gave us a bit of the real Cynthia, and, well, I could feel the connection between her and Daevia. There's not much time to stop her. That Demon bitch is almost fully manifested.\"\n\nBill nodded. \"Do you know anything else?\"\n\n\"Yeah,\" Officer Whitetail nodded. \"It's bad. There's this iron circle they dug up beneath the bookstore. It's pure evil. Even Cynthia was scared of it, and she's the one most dominated by that bitch.\" The cop shuddered. \"It scares me just thinking about it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's like a doorway,\" Bev whispered. \"Right, Mindy?\"\n\nThe cop, Mindy, nodded. \"Yeah. A gate or portal or something. We can't let it be opened.\"\n\nA chill passed through him. \"She wants to kill love.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What?\" Sister Mariam asked.\n\n\"Cynthia told me in a dream. She said what Daevia wants is evil and will change the world. That she wants to kill love.\"\n\n\"Hell,\" the nun whispered in horror.\n\n\"What?\" Bill asked, frowning at the nun. It didn't sound like she was cursing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's what Hell is, really. A place without love. It's the emotion that keeps humans in check. Without it, we'd just be savages. You wouldn't care about anyone but yourself, and you'd do whatever you want. And if she's found a gate or something to Hell...\"\n\n\"We have to do something,\" Hikaru gasped. \"That sounds just awful.\"\n\n\"There's a plan,\" Bill said. \"It's practically a suicide mission, but it worked once.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All three frowned at him.\n\n\"What does that mean?\" Hikaru asked.\n\nBill turned, and she wrapped her arm around him. \"A future version of you told it to me. Her plan worked, but it had a pretty high cost.\"\n\n\"What?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She, well, implied that...\" He glanced at the nun. \"Sorry.\"\n\nSister Mariam swallowed, \"I have to be the one to fight Daevia because I can conjure the sword.\"\n\n\"Yeah,\" Bill sighed. \"Maybe there's another way. One where you don't have to... die.\"\n\n\"We don't have time,\" she said, taking a deep breath, resolve crossing her dark features. \"If I have to die to stop the Demon's plans, then I accept that. I guess this is my Gethsemane.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Geth-what?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He opened his mouth to ask, but Bev piped in, \"Who are all the people involved in this future plan?\"\n\n\"Me, Hikaru, Rochelle, Juanita, Sophia, and Sister Mariam.\"\n\n\"Sophia?\" Bev looked around. \"The Seraph?\"\n\n\"Well, in our version of history she was incapacitated,\" Bill answered. \"Things seem to be going a lot different. Kevin never attacked Hikaru, and I guess you two never came here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Then it's simple,\" Bev nodded. \"I'll come.\"\n\n\"Me, too,\" Mindy added. \"That bitch will pay for what she did.\"\n\n\"That's great, but you guys don't have any powers.\"\n\nThe nun shrugged. \"You can give it to them.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't think we have time for me to fuck two women.\"\n\n\"Three,\" a weary Juanita injected.\n\nBill turned and there was Rochelle, standing, a look of stunned disbelief on her face, then she ran to him, her strawberry-blonde hair flowing behind her, and she threw her arms around his neck.\n\n\"Master!\"\n\n\"My slave,\" he grinned, eyes brimming with tears. \"Juanita saved you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Because she loves us,\" Rochelle whispered.\n\n\"I'm going to have to spank you later,\" Bill told her. \"A slave shouldn't make her master worry so much.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry, Master,\" she breathed, squeezing him tighter. \"I accept my punishment.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Juanita threw her arms around the both of them. \"I heard you'll need me, and that took every ounce of power I had.\"\n\n\"Well, I can't fuck all three of you, and we don't have time to wait. I know we'll need Juanita. The whole plan will fail without her.\"\n\n\"Bill, I just shared it with Hikaru. I can share it with them.\"\n\n\"But I have to claim them.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It'll work, Bill. Have faith.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked at his wife and nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I do have faith in you.\"\n\nJuanita smiled. \"So, you fuck one, she'll eat me out, and I'll eat the third. I can draw and pass the power and bonds around. I'm sure of it. I have enough left for that. It's rather easy, I think.\"\n\n\"So let's hear the plan,\" Rochelle declared. \"Then you guys can fuck in the back while I drive the van to the bookstore while scanning the future to keep us out of trouble.\"\n\nIt took Bill only a minute to explain the plan." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was rather stupidly simple." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just a brute force attack. Then they all quickly piled into the church van. It was a large one, with seats that folded up on the side to make room to transport wheelchairs. Mindy knelt, ready to be fucked doggie-style.\n\n\"This isn't how I thought I'd be traveling to save the world,\" Bill said as he knelt behind the naked, cinnamon rear of Mindy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why do I have to be fucked?\" Mindy asked as Juanita lay down before the cop, spreading her legs open.\n\n\"Because I'm a lesbian,\" Bev replied, straddling Juanita's face.\n\n\"So am I,\" Mindy complained.\n\n\"Oh,\" Bev blinked, then she smiled and shrugged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, it's too late now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yep,\" Bill said and drove his cock into her. Mindy let out a moan, her pussy tight and wet.\n\n\"You're quite the stud,\" Bev smiled as he pumped away. \"You just fucked Juanita, and you're ready to go so soon.\"\n\n\"I think it's part of my gift,\" Bill shrugged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Makes sense,\" Bev smiled. \"Mmm, your wife isn't bad. Keep licking right there, sweetie. I'll make a lesbian out of you before long.\"\n\nThe van started up with a whining growl. \"Here we go,\" Rochelle shouted.\n\nBill pumped away, stroking Mindy's ass while staring into Bev's eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're my bitch,\" he growled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bev blinked. \"I guess so.\"\n\nHe leaned over Mindy, burying his cock into her, and reached out and squeezed Bev's tit through her top. \"There's no guessing. You're mine now!\" He felt her hard nipple, pinching it. \"Say it.\"\n\nHer eyes widened, and a moan escaped her lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes. I'll be your bitch!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bill pumped faster at Mindy. \"You're going to cum on my wife's lips because I told you, too!\"\n\n\"Oh, yes!\" she gasped, wiggling her hips. \"Mmm, I'll be your lesbian bitch. I'll fuck any woman you want! Tell me what to do! I'm yours, Bill.\"\n\nHer eyes widened and she moaned and shrieked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bill could feel the bond forming between them, ribbons tying about their souls. Bev kept shaking, cumming on Juanita's lips, her tits heaving as she breathed heavily.\n\nBill slapped Mindy's ass. \"And what about you? Are you my lesbian bitch?\"\n\n\"Oh, yes,\" she purred." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I haven't been fucked by a dick in a while, but yours ain't bad.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So you're mine!\" He smacked her ass again.\n\n\"If you let me lick more tasty pussies like hers, I'm yours forever. Your lesbian bitch!\"\n\nHe reached around her, pinching her clit. She moaned into Juanita's pussy, her cunt tightening about him. \"That's it,\" he grunted, driving his cock into her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I want you to cum on my cock. Submit to me fully.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her hips moved, pushing back into him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He rubbed harder, pinching and rolling her sensitive bud." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their flesh slapped together, echoing through the van, and it quickly became hot, the air pungent with hot cunt. Bill loved it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Cum for me and be mine!\"\n\n\"Yes!\" she screamed. Her pussy clenched about him. \"Yes, yes, yes! I'm yours!\"\n\nThe bond fell into place." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He came in her pussy. So much energy flowed out of him as his cum spurted four times into her. His body trembled, and he squeezed her hips as every muscled in his body tensed in that one perfect moment of release. He could feel his love flood Mindy, then Juanita drew it into her, filling up her soul, his wife's body writhing on the van's floor as her orgasm washed through her. And then she passed it into Bev." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Provide eight sentences as a continuation in the Urban Fantasy, Erotica genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cynthia came with an earth-shattering climax that numbed away every thought in her mind and left her as nothing more than a quivering pile of ecstasy. The lust was siphoned away by Daevia. The cock fucking her ass erupted, flooding her with more lust to feed her mistress, then the pussy on her lips came, and she drank the sweet nectar.\n\nYes! Daevia purred.\n\nThe air rippled. Cynthia pulled away from Eyana's pussy and witnessed the fruits of her labor. Daevia snapped into reality fully, not a limited projection, but completely in the flesh. She was free from Hell permanently. Her black wings stretched out, her head threw back, tossing her blood-red hair, and her large breasts thrust forward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes!\" Daevia moaned. \"Freedom! Glorious freedom!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mistress!\" Cynthia cried, throwing herself at the Succuba and kissing her feet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The blonde shuddered as her Mistress's gloved hand caressed the crown of her head. Then the hand tightened about her hair, pulling her up to her feet. Pain and ecstasy filled Cynthia as she stared right into the Succuba's blood-red —\n\nCynthia shoved her hand behind her back and tried not to think about the blood she could still feel staining it.\n\n\"You have performed perfectly,\" Daevia purred then kissed Cynthia. The girl came again, surrendering to the embrace of the Succuba, writhing her naked body against the Demon's as pleasure wracked her.\n\n\"We have to hurry,\" Daevia purred, breaking the kiss. \"It is time for your reward.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you, Mistress,\" gasped Cynthia.\n\nDaevia, still gripping her hair, pulled her to the hole. \"A Hellgate,\" she breathed. \"And it needs one more thing to be opened.\"\n\n\"What, Mistress.\"\n\n\"For a Demon, fully manifested, to feed it a virgin sacrifice,\" Daevia answered. \"Your reward.\"\n\n\"What?\" gaped Cynthia. \"You promised I'd be your favorite toy for eternity.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Daevia pushed her. \"I lied.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The black, metal disk, inscribed with strange writings and radiating evil, rushed up at Cynthia." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "NarrativeBot: Extend text by one sentence sentences. Replicate Laura Joh Rowland's style. Maintain Historical Fiction, Mystery, Japan genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The women's quarters in Edo Castle occupied a private inner section of the main palace known as the Large Interior." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The route to it led Sano and Hirata through the outer, public areas of the palace, past audience halls, government offices and conference rooms, through convoluted passages." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An ominous pall had stilled the castle's normal bustle of activity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Officials huddled in clusters from which rose uneasy mutters as news of the concubine's shocking death spread." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Armored guards patrolled the corridors in case of further unrest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The great Tokugawa bureaucracy had ground to a halt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Imagining the serious repercussions that an epidemic in Japan's capital might have for the nation, Sano hoped that Lady Harume's sickness would prove to be an isolated incident." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A massive oak door, banded in iron and decorated with carved flowers, sealed the entrance to the women's quarters, home to the shogun's mother, wife, and concubines, their attendants, and the palace's cooks, maids, and other female servants." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two sentries guarded the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We're here on His Excellency's orders to investigate the death of Lady Harume,\" Sano said, identifying himself and Hirata." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sentries bowed, opened the door, and admitted Sano and Hirata into a narrow, lantern-lit corridor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The door closed behind them with a soft, reverberant thud." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've never been in here before,\" Hirata said, his voice hushed with awe. \"Have you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Never,\" Sano said. Mingled interest and trepidation stirred inside him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you know anyone in the Large Interior?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In his capacity as the shogun's Sōsakan, Sano had free access to most of the castle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was familiar with its walled passages and gardens, keep, ancestral shrine, martial arts training ground, and forest preserve, the Official Quarter where he lived, the outer section of the palace, and even the shogun's private chambers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But the women's quarters were closed to all men except a few carefully chosen guards, doctors, and officials." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These did not include Sano." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know some of the servants and minor officials by sight,\" he said, \"and I once headed a military escort to convey the shogun's mother and concubines on a pilgrimage to Zojo Temple. But my duties have never involved direct contact with anyone from the Large Interior.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now Sano had the disconcerting sense of entering alien territory." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, let's get started,\" he said, driving confidence into his voice as he regretted his postponed nuptial festivities." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How much longer before he and Reiko could be together?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano started down the corridor, resisting the urge to tiptoe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The polished cypress floor gleamed, dimly reflecting Sano's and Hirata's distorted images." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Painted flowers adorned the coffered ceiling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Unoccupied rooms were crammed full of lacquer chests, cabinets, and screens, charcoal braziers, mirrors, scattered clothing, dressing tables littered with combs, hairpins, and vials." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Gilt murals covered the inner walls." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In abandoned bathchambers, round wooden tubs steamed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The corridor was deserted, but behind the latticed wood and paper walls, countless shadowy figures moved." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As Sano and Hirata passed, doors cracked open; frightened eyes peeked out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Somewhere a samisen played a melancholy tune." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The high murmur of feminine voices filled the air, which felt warmer and smelled different than in the rest of the palace, sweet with the scent of perfume and aromatic unguents." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano thought he could also detect the subtler smells of women's bodies: sweat, sexual secretions, blood?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "In this crowded hive, the very walls seemed to expand and contract with female breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano had heard rumors of extravagant entertainments held here, of secret intrigues and escapades." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But what practical expertise could he bring to a mysterious case of fatal disease in this private sanctum?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano glanced at Hirata." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The young retainer's wide, boyish face wore a look of nervous determination." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He walked self-consciously, shoulders hunched, putting one foot in front of the other with exaggerated care, as if afraid to make noise or occupy space." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Despite his own discomfort, Sano smiled in rueful sympathy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Both of them were beyond their depth here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano, the son of a ronin—masterless samurai—had once earned his living as an instructor in his father's martial arts academy and as a tutor to young boys, studying history in his spare time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Family connections had secured him a position as a senior police commander." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd solved his first murder case and saved the shogun's life, an act that had led to his current post." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Twenty-one-year-old Hirata's father had been a doshin, one of Edo's low-ranking police patrol officers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd inherited the position at age fifteen, maintaining order in the city streets until becoming Sano's chief retainer a year and a half ago, when they'd investigated the notorious Bundori Murder case." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their humble origins, personal inclinations, and past experience ill suited them for this assignment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet, as Sano reminded himself, they'd emerged victorious from other difficult situations." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What should we do first?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hirata asked, his cautious tone echoing Sano's misgivings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Find someone who can show us the scene of Lady Harume's death.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This, however, proved unnecessary." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A great commotion drew Sano and Hirata deeper into the shadowy maze of rooms inhabited by countless unseen women who whispered and sobbed behind closed doors." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Blue-robed physicians rushed about, carrying medical chests; servants followed with trays of tea and herbal remedies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Voices chanted and called; bells tinkled; drums throbbed; paper rustled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sweet, tarry odor of strong incense wafted through the corridors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano and Hirata easily located the focus of activity, a small chamber at the end of a hallway. They entered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inside, five saffron-robed Buddhist priests rang bells, chanted prayers, beat drums, and shook paper-tasseled wands to drive away the spirits of disease." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maids sprinkled salt on the windowsill and around the perimeter of the room, laying down a purifying boundary, across which death's contamination could not pass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two middle-aged female palace officials, dressed in the somber gray robes of their station, waved incense burners." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Through the asphyxiating haze Sano could barely see the shrouded body on the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Please wait outside for a moment,\" Sano told the priests, maids, and officials." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They complied, and Sano said to Hirata, \"Get the chief physician.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then he opened the window to admit sunlight and clear away the smoke." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He took a folded cloth from beneath his sash and covered his nose and mouth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After wrapping his hand with the end of his sash to protect himself from physical disease and spiritual pollution, he squatted by the corpse and pulled back the white shroud." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There lay a young woman, full and robust of body, skirts parted to expose naked hips and legs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had an oval face whose smooth skin and softly curved features must have once been beautiful, but were now smeared with the blood and vomit that also stained her red silk kimono and the tatami around her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano swallowed hard. Earlier this morning he'd been too nervous about the wedding to eat; now, the sensation of nausea on an empty stomach was almost overpowering." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shook his head in pity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lady Harume had died in the bloom of her youth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then Sano frowned, noticing the corpse's odd condition." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her whole body looked as rigid as if she'd been dead for many hours, instead of just moments: spine arched, fists tight, arms and legs stiffly straight, jaws clenched." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With his covered hand, Sano palpated her arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It felt hard and unyielding, the muscles frozen in a permanent spasm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And Harume's wide-open eyes seemed too dark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Leaning over for a closer look, Sano saw that the pupils were dilated to maximum size." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And her shaved pubis bore what appeared to be a freshly tattooed symbol, still red and puffy around the inked black cuts—the character ai:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "At the sound of footsteps in the corridor, Sano looked up to see Hirata and the castle physician enter the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They crouched beside him, cloths held over their noses and mouths, studying Lady Harume's corpse." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What disease was this, Dr. Kitano?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano spoke through his own cloth, which was now wet with saliva." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The doctor shook his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had a lined face, and thin gray hair knotted at his nape." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't know. I've been a physician for thirty years, but I've never seen or heard of anything like this before. The sudden onset, the violent delirium and convulsions, the dilated pupils, the rapid demise... It's a mystery to me; I know of no cure. The gods help us if this disease should spread.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hirata said, \"During my first year in the police service, a fever killed three hundred people in Nihonbashi. Not with those symptoms, or so quickly, but it caused serious trouble. Shops were deserted by owners who had died or run for the hills. Fires started because people burned candles and incense to purify their homes and keep away the fever demon. Bodies lay in the streets because they couldn't be taken away fast enough. The smoke from all the funerals made a big, black cloud over the whole city.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano covered Harume's corpse with the shroud, stood, and put away his facecloth, as did his companions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He remembered the epidemic and dreaded an even more disastrous repeat here, in the heart of Japan's government." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But because of his observations, another, equally disturbing alternative occurred to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Had Lady Harume displayed any signs of illness before now?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "he asked Dr. Kitano." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yesterday I personally conducted her monthly examination, as I do for all the concubines. Harume was in perfect health.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even as Sano's fear of an epidemic waned, he felt a growing sense of unease." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Are any of the other women sick?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I haven't examined them all yet, but the chief lady official tells me that although they're upset, they're physically well.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I see.\" Though this was Sano's first visit to the Large Interior, he knew of its crowded conditions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The women live together, sleep together, bathe together, eat the same food, and drink the same water? And they and the staff are in constant contact with one another?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That is correct, Sōsakan-sama\" the doctor said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yet no one else shares Lady Harume's symptoms.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano exchanged glances with Hirata, whose face showed dawning—and dismayed—comprehension." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Dr. Kitano, I think we must consider the possibility that Lady Harume was poisoned.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The doctor's worried expression turned to one of horror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Lower your voice, I beg you!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he said, though Sano had spoken softly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Casting a furtive glance toward the corridor, he whispered, \"In this day and age, poison is often a possibility in a case of sudden, unexplained death.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Indeed, Sano knew that it was used commonly in peacetime by people who wanted to attack their enemies without open warfare." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But are you aware of the dangers of making such a claim?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano was. News of a poisoning—whether actual or conjectured—would create an atmosphere of suspicion just as destructive as an epidemic." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The legendary hostilities in the Large Interior would escalate, and might even turn violent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This had happened in the past." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shortly before Sano came to the castle, two concubines had ended an argument in a brawl, the winner stabbing the loser to death with a hairpin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eleven years ago, an attendant had strangled a female palace official in the bath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Panic could spread to the rest of the castle, intensifying existing rivalries and provoking fatal duels among samurai officials and troops." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And what if the shogun, ever sensitive to challenges to his authority, should perceive the murder of a concubine as an attack upon himself?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano envisioned a bloody purge of potential culprits." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Seeking a possible conspiracy, the bakufu—Japan's military government—would investigate every official, from the Council of Elders down to the most humble clerks; every servant; every daimyo—provincial lord—and all their retainers; even the lowliest ronin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Politically ambitious individuals would try to advance themselves by casting aspersions upon their rivals." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Evidence would be manufactured, rumors circulated, characters maligned, until one or many \"criminals\" were executed..." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We have no proof that Lady Harume was murdered,\" Dr. Kitano said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Noting the man's pallor, Sano knew he feared that, as chief physician, with a knowledge of drugs, he would be the prime suspect in a crime involving poison." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano himself had no desire to face the bakufu's scrutiny, because he had a powerful enemy eager for his ruin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The image of Chamberlain Yanagisawa flashed through Sano's mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano now had a wife and in-laws, also vulnerable to attack." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In Nagasaki he'd learned the dire consequences of indulging curiosity by probing sensitive matters..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet, as always at the beginning of an investigation, Sano found himself entering a realm where higher concerns outweighed personal, practical ones." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Duty, loyalty, and courage were the cardinal virtues of Bushido—the Way of the Warrior—the foundation of a samurai's honor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But Sano's personal concept of honor encompassed a fourth, equally important cornerstone: the pursuit of truth and justice, which gave his life meaning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Despite the risks, he had to know how and why Lady Harume had died." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Also, if she had been murdered, there might be more deaths unless he took action." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This time his personal desires coincided with the interests of security and peace in Edo Castle, for good or bad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I agree that we can't rule out disease yet,\" Sano said to Dr. Kitano." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"An epidemic is still a possibility. Finish your examination of the women, keep them quarantined, and report any cases of illness or death to me immediately. And please have someone take Lady Harume's body to Edo Morgue.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Edo Morgue?\" The doctor gaped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But Sōsakan-sama, high-ranking castle residents don't go there when they die; we send them to Zojo Temple for cremation. Surely you know this. And Lady Harume cannot be removed yet. A report documenting the circumstances of her death must be filed. The priests must prepare the body for the funeral, and her comrades keep an overnight vigil. It's standard procedure.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "During such rituals the corpse would deteriorate, and evidence possibly get lost." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Arrange Lady Harume's transport to Edo Morgue,\" Sano said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's an order.\" Unwilling to say why he wanted the concubine taken to a place where dead commoners, outcasts, and victims of mass disasters such as floods or earthquakes went, Sano knew that a show of authority often yielded better results than explanations." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The doctor hurried off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano and Hirata surveyed the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The source of the poison?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hirata said, pointing at the floor near Lady Harume's shrouded corpse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Two delicate porcelain cups lay on the tatami; their spilled contents had darkened the woven straw." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Maybe someone was with her, and slipped the poison into her drink.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano picked up a matching decanter from the table, looked inside, and saw that a bit of liquor remained." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We'll take this, and the cups, as evidence,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But there's more than one way to administer poison. Perhaps she breathed it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano gathered lamps and incense burners." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And what do you make of the tattoo?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The character ai,\" Hirata said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"'Love.'\" He grimaced in distaste." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yoshiwara courtesans mark themselves this way to prove their love for their clients—even though everyone knows they really do it to get more money from the men. But I would have thought that the shogun's concubines were too elegant and refined to stoop to such a low-class custom. Do you think the tattoo has anything to do with Lady Harume's death?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Perhaps.\" Sano contemplated the razor, blood-tipped knife, and shaved pubic hairs on the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It looks as though she'd just finished the tattoo before she died.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He collected the tools, then found the ink bottle lying in the corner and placed it with the other items." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then he and Hirata began searching the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cabinets and chests contained folded quilts and futons; kimonos and sashes; toiletries, hair ornaments, makeup; a samisen; writing brush and inkstone—the miscellany of women's lives—but no food, drink, or anything resembling a poisonous substance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wrapped inside a white under-kimono Sano found a book the size of his hand, bound in silk printed with a pattern of pale green intertwined clover stems and blossoms on a mauve background, and tied with gold cord." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He leafed through sheets of soft rice paper covered with tiny characters written in a feminine hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The first page read, \"The Pillow Book of Lady Harume.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"A diary?\" Hirata asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It looks like it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Since the reign of the Heian emperors five hundred years ago, court ladies had often recorded their experiences and thoughts in books like this." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano tucked the diary under his sash for later perusal, then said quietly to Hirata, \"I'm taking the sake, lamp oil, incense, tools, and ink to Dr. Ito at Edo Morgue—perhaps he can identify the poison, if it's there.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He carefully bundled the articles in the garment that had contained the diary." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"While I'm gone, please supervise the removal and transport of Lady Harume's body; see that no one tampers with it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "From outside the room, Sano heard the priests' muttered conversation, the chatter and weeping of women in nearby chambers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lowering his voice even more, he continued, \"For now, the official cause of death is illness, with an epidemic still a possibility. Have our men distribute the news to everyone who lives in the castle, instructing them to stay in their quarters or at their posts until the danger has passed.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Over the past year, Sano's personal staff had grown into a team of one hundred detectives, soldiers, and clerks, enough to handle this large task." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He added, \"That should help prevent rumors from spreading.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hirata nodded. \"If Lady Harume died of a contagious disease, we need to know what she did, where she went, and whom she saw just before she died, so we can trace the sickness and quarantine her contacts. I'll set up appointments with the chief lady palace official, and His Excellency's Honorable Mother.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The shogun's wife was a reclusive invalid who kept to her bed, her privacy and health guarded by a few trusted physicians and attendants." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Therefore Tokugawa Tsuna-yoshi's mother, Lady Keisho-in, his constant companion and frequent adviser, ruled the Large Interior." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But if it was murder,\" Hirata continued in a lower voice, \"we'll need information about Lady Harume's relations with the people around her. I'll make discreet inquiries.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good.\" Sano knew he could trust Hirata, who had demonstrated impressive competence and unswerving loyalty during their association." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In Nagasaki, the young retainer had helped solve a difficult case—and saved Sano's life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And Sōsakan-samal I'm sorry about the wedding banquet.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They left the room, and Hirata bowed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My congratulations on your marriage. It will be a privilege to extend my service to the Honorable Lady Reiko.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you, Hirata-san.\" Sano also bowed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He appreciated Hirata's friendship, which had supported him through a lonely period of his life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One of the hardest things about his job had been learning to share responsibility and risk, but Hirata had taught him the necessity—and honor—of both." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were united in the ancient samurai tradition of master and servant, absolute and eternal. Glad to leave matters in trustworthy hands, Sano left the palace, bound for Edo Morgue." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode:\nCo-writing\n\nLength:\ntwo sentences\n\nStyle:\nLaura Joh Rowland\nGenre:\nHistorical Fiction, Mystery, Japan" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their breath frosting the morning air, Sano and Hirata strode through Edo Castle's winding passages and security checkpoints on their way to report to the shogun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was another crisp, clear day, though colder than the previous one." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sunlight glittered on the tile roofs of the walled passages, flashed through wind-tossed pine boughs above, and reflected off the armor of patrolling guards. Shadows were as precise as paper cutouts, and every sound rang clear: horses' hooves on stone paths; marching footsteps; voices calling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Geese winged across the vast, cloudless blue sky, trailing a streamer of honks over the castle. An invigorating tang of fallen leaves and charcoal smoke spiced the air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did you sleep well?\" Hirata asked, alluding to Sano's wedding night with a meaningful look." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Fine, thank you,\" Sano said tersely, hoping Hirata wouldn't pursue the subject. He hadn't seen Reiko today." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Unwilling to risk another disastrous scene before work, he'd decided to postpone their next meeting until tonight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hirata, ever sensitive to Sano's moods, said, \"The men and I had a little celebration planned for you last night. I guess it's just as well that we decided to put it off and let you rest.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Knowing what wedding night festivities were like, Sano fervently agreed. He hoped the meeting with the shogun would progress more smoothly than his marriage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But although he'd assumed the news that there was no epidemic would have allayed the shogun's concerns, he soon discovered otherwise. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, ensconced in his private sitting room amid guards and attendants, greeted Sano and Hirata's arrival with an anguished cry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ahh, Sōsakan-sama,\" he wailed. \"The murder of my concubine has distressed me so much that I could not sleep last night. Now I have the most terrible headache. I feel sick at my stomach, and my, ahh, entire body pains me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tokugawa Tsunayoshi lay on the dais, supported by cushions, wearing a bronze silk dressing gown." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The fact of Harume's death having belatedly sunk into his mind, he looked shriveled, pale, and much older than his forty-four years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An attendant placed a screen by the window, shielding him from the sunlit paper panes. Others stoked charcoal braziers, heating the room to an ovenlike warmth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A priest chanted prayers. Dr. Kitano hovered beside the shogun with a cup of steaming liquid." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano and Hirata knelt and bowed. \"I apologize for intruding upon you in your illness, Your Excellency,\" Sano said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If you'd like to wait until later for me to report the status of the murder investigation—\"\n\nThe shogun waved away this suggestion with a feeble hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Stay, stay.\" He raised himself to drink from Dr. Kitano's cup, then eyed it suspiciously. \"What is this?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Bamboo-ash tea, to soothe your stomach.\"\n\n\"You. Come here!\" Beckoning a servant, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi commanded, \"Taste this, and, ahh, make sure there's no poison.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But I prepared it with my own hands,\" Dr. Kitano said. \"It's perfectly safe.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"With a poisoner loose in Edo Castle, one cannot be too careful,\" the shogun said darkly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The servant drank. When he remained alive and well after several moments, the shogun finished the tea. Attendants ushered in the masseur, a bald, blind man." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tokugawa Tsunayoshi pointed at the jar of oil the masseur carried. \"Try that out on, ahh, someone else first.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A guard smeared the oil on his arm. More guards brought caged birds to detect noxious fumes; servants tasted cakes for the shogun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He obviously didn't care about Lady Harume." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was his own vulnerability that worried him, with good reason: Assassination was a time-honored method by which ambitious warriors overturned regimes and seized power.\n\n\"The poison that killed Lady Harume was in a bottle of ink marked with her name,\" Sano said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She was clearly the murderer's target—not you, Your Excellency.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That makes no, ahh, difference.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The shogun grunted as his attendants stripped off his robe, exposing sagging white flesh. A loincloth covered his sex and cleaved the withered buttocks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lying facedown, he said, \"The poisoning was an indirect attack on me. The murderer will not stop at killing a worthless concubine. I am in, ahh, grave danger.\"\n\nThe masseur's hands kneaded his back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Servants fed him cakes and tea, while guards placed the birdcages around the room. Sano didn't agree with Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's self-centered view of the murder, but at this stage could not completely dismiss the shogun's fears." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Political intrigue was a possible motive behind the crime." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano gave the results of his interview with Lady Keisho-in and Madam Chizuru and outlined his plans to question Lady Ichiteru and Lieutenant Kushida." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He mentioned that Lady Harume's pillow book indicated an additional suspect, whose identity he would determine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An abrupt stillness fell over the room. Servants and guards ceased their activities; the masseur's hands froze on Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's body." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hirata inhaled sharply. Sano's nape prickled in response to the same inaudible signal that had alerted the others." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned toward the door.\n\nThere stood Chamberlain Yanagisawa, regal in brilliant robes, an enigmatic smile on his handsome face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Servants, guards, attendants, and masseur prostrated themselves in obeisance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Behind Sano's calm façade, his heart seized." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yanagisawa must have been listening next door, and come to obstruct this investigation as he had others." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ahh, Yanagisawa-san. Welcome.\" Tokugawa Tsunayoshi smiled affectionately at his former protégé and longtime lover." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sōsakan Sano has just reported on his inquiry into Lady Harume's murder. We would appreciate your advice.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Viewing Sano as a rival for Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's favor, for power over the weak lord and thus the entire nation, Chamberlain Yanagisawa had in the recent past deployed assassins to kill Sano and spies to unearth information to use against him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yanagisawa had spread vicious rumors about Sano and ordered officials not to cooperate with his inquiries." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd sent Sano to Nagasaki, hoping he would get in enough trouble there to destroy him forever." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And Sano knew that Chamberlain Yanagisawa was furious because the ploy hadn't worked.\n\nUpon Sano's return, the shogun and many high officials had gathered at the palace to welcome him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As he passed down the receiving line, Chamberlain Yanagisawa had flashed him a look that evoked images of spears, guns, and swords, all aimed straight at him.\n\nNow Sano braced himself for a new attack while Yanagisawa crossed the room and knelt beside him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He felt Hirata stiffen, alert to the threat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His trained senses absorbed the chamberlain's scent of wintergreen hair oil, tobacco smoke, and the distinctive, bitter undertone of corruption." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It seems as though Sōsakan Sano has matters admirably under control,\" Chamberlain Yanagisawa said.\n\nSano waited for the jabs at his character, thinly disguised as praise; ridicule masquerading as solicitude; hints at his negligence or disloyalty—all designed to manipulate the shogun into doubting Sano, while saying nothing he could openly refute." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Neither by word nor gesture had Sano ever indicated a desire to steal Yanagisawa's power. Why couldn't they coexist peacefully?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Anger shot fire through Sano's blood, preparing him for a battle he always lost." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "However, Yanagisawa smiled at Sano, enhancing his masculine beauty. \"If there's any way in which I can be of assistance, please let me know. We must cooperate to eliminate the potential threat to His Excellency.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano regarded the chamberlain with suspicion. Yet he saw no malice in Yanagisawa's dark, liquid gaze, only an apparently genuine friendliness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ahh, that is what I like to see—my best men working together for my benefit,\" the shogun declared, flopping over so the masseur could work on his chest. \"Especially since I was beginning to get the idea that you two did not, ahh, get along. How silly of me.\" Tokugawa Tsunayoshi chuckled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Throughout Yanagisawa's war on Sano, their lord had remained blithely oblivious." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yanagisawa didn't want his quest for power exposed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For Sano to speak against the shogun's chief representative was tantamount to speaking against the shogun himself: treason, the ultimate disgrace, punishable by death." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now Sano wondered what new strategy Yanagisawa had devised for his ruin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am glad for your protection,\" the shogun continued, \"because the murder of Lady Harume signals a dire threat to my whole, ahh, regime. By killing one of my favorite concubines, someone wants to ensure that I never beget an heir, thereby leaving the succession uncertain and allowing the opportunity for a rebellion.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Chamberlain Yanagisawa said, \"That's a very insightful interpretation of the crime.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The shogun beamed, flattered by the praise." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When Yanagisawa exchanged with Sano a veiled glance of mutual surprise at their lord's unexpected perspicacity, Sano's suspicion grew. This was the first time any hint of comradeship had arisen between them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hope rose in Sano despite their troubled history. Could the chamberlain have changed?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have been continually thwarted in my, ahh, quest for a son,\" Tokugawa Tsunayoshi lamented." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My wife is a barren invalid. Two hundred concubines have failed to produce any children either. Priests chant prayers night and day; I've given a fortune in offerings to the gods. On my honorable mother's advice, I issued the Dog Protection Edicts.\"\n\nPriest Ryuko had convinced Lady Keisho-in that in order for the shogun to father a son, he must atone for the sins of his ancestors." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Since he'd been born in the year of the dog, he must do this by protecting dogs. Now any person who injured one was imprisoned; anyone who killed a dog was executed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The situation illustrated Ryuko's influence over Keisho-in, and hers over the shogun, both of which had strengthened despite his continued failure to beget an heir.\n\n\"But all my efforts have been fruitless.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's head lolled as the masseur kneaded his shoulders." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Perhaps the concubines are all as inadequate as my wife, or my ancestors' sins were too great for me to, ahh, overcome.\"\n\nSano privately thought that the trouble was neither the women nor ancestral misdeeds, but Tsunayoshi's preference for manly love." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He kept a harem of young peasant boys, samurai, priests, and actors with whom he spent much of his leisure time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was he even capable of impregnating the concubines? However, since it wasn't Sano's place to contradict his lord, he remained silent, as did Yanagisawa." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A cold touch of foreboding disturbed Sano as he saw how Yanagisawa stood to gain by the shogun's lack of a successor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Without one, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi couldn't retire; control of the bakufu couldn't pass from the chamberlain to a new regime." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Had Yanagisawa ordered Lady Harume's murder to extend the duration of his supremacy? Was this the reason for whatever scheme he was now deploying?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Remembering the Bundori Murder case, in which Yanagisawa had been a suspect, Sano dreaded a repeat of the scenario that had almost cost him his life and honor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How he longed to believe Yanagisawa had reformed!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My past troubles with begetting an heir can be attributed to fate,\" Tokugawa Tsunayoshi whined. \"But the poisoning of Lady Harume was an act of human evil—an intolerable outrage! She was young, strong, and healthy; I had great hopes that she would succeed where my other women had, ahh, let me down. Sōsakan Sano, you must catch her murderer quickly and deliver him to justice.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, you must,\" Chamberlain Yanagisawa said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Rumors of conspiracies are circulating around the castle. There will be serious trouble if the murder case isn't resolved soon.\"\n\nHere it comes, thought Sano, wincing inwardly as he prepared to combat another of Yanagisawa's attempts to make him look incompetent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then the chamberlain turned to him and said, \"My suggestion is to trace the route of the ink jar from its origin to Lady Harume, and determine when and where the poison was introduced.\"\n\nThis logical strategy had already occurred to Sano, who watched his enemy in growing amazement as Yanagisawa continued, \"If you need help, I shall be glad to make my staff available to you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even more suspicious, Sano replied, \"Thank you, Honorable Chamberlain. I'll keep your offer in mind.\"\n\nYanagisawa rose and bowed his farewells to the shogun, then to Sano and Hirata, who also took their leave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Spare no effort or expense in catching Lady Harume's murderer,\" Tokugawa Tsunayoshi commanded between grunts and gasps as the masseur pummeled his chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am counting on you to save me and my regime from destruction!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Outside the palace, Hirata said, \"Why is Chamberlain Yanagisawa acting so nice? He must be up to something. You're not going to accept his help, are you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano winced at his blunt-spoken retainer's mention of a sensitive issue." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caution and wishful thinking pulled him in opposite directions. He knew Yanagisawa, and didn't trust him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet how much easier his work would be with the chamberlain's cooperation!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Maybe he's decided to call a truce,\" Sano said as they walked through the garden." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sumimasen—excuse me, but I can't believe that!\"\n\nCaution won out. Sano said, \"Nor can I. I'll send out spies to check up on him. Now, in the interest of saving time, we'd better split up to interview Lieutenant Kushida and Lady Ichiteru. Which one do you want?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hirata's expression turned pensive. \"My great-grandfather and Kushida's fought in the Battle of Sekigahara together. Our families still visit on New Year's Day. I'm not close to Kushida—he's fourteen years older than I am—but I've known him as long as I can remember.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then you'd better take Lady Ichiteru,\" Sano said, \"so your lack of objectivity won't affect the investigation.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a moment's hesitation, Hirata nodded.\n\n\"Is everything all right?\" Sano asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, of course,\" Hirata said quickly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll speak to Lady Ichiteru right away.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano dismissed his misgivings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hirata had never let him down before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"One of Ichiteru's attendants is a girl named Midori,\" Sano said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know her from my first murder case.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Midori, a daughter of Lord Niu of Satsuma Province, had helped Sano identify her sister's killer, an act that had resulted in her banishment to a distant nunnery. Sano had used his influence to bring her back to Edo and secured her a post as an Edo Castle lady-in-waiting, a desirable situation for girls from prominent families." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He hadn't seen Midori again, but she'd sent a letter expressing the desire to repay his kindness.\n\nAfter explaining this to Hirata, Sano said, \"Be sure to talk to Midori, and tell her you're working for me. Perhaps she can provide some useful information about affairs in the Large Interior.\"\n\nThey separated, Hirata bound for the women's quarters to see Lady Ichiteru and Midori, and Sano to locate Lieutenant Kushida, the palace guard who had threatened to kill Lady Harume." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "NarrativeBot: Extend text by seven sentences sentences. Maintain Historical Fiction, Mystery, Japan genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eta corpse handlers placed the shrouded body on the table in Dr. Ito's workroom at Edo Morgue." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano and Dr. Ito watched as Mura unwrapped the white folds of cloth from Lady Harume." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her eyes had dulled, and encroaching decay had blanched her skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The foul, sweet odor of rot tainted the air. She still wore the soiled red silk dressing gown; blood and vomit still smeared her face and tangled hair. Hirata had indeed made sure that no one tampered with the evidence. Having known what to expect, Sano experienced only a momentary pang of revulsion, but Dr. Ito seemed shaken.\n\n\"So young,\" he murmured. As morgue custodian, he had examined countless bodies in worse condition; yet lines of pain deepened in his face, aging him. He said in a bleak voice, \"I had a daughter. Once.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano recalled that Ito's youngest child had died of a fever at about the same age as Harume. He'd also lost contact with his other children upon his arrest. Sano and Mura stood silent, heads bowed in respect for their friend's grief, so seldom expressed. Then Dr. Ito cleared his throat and spoke in his normal brisk, professional manner. \"Well. Let us see what the victim can tell us about her murder.\"\n\nHe walked around the table, studying Harume's corpse. \"Dilated pupils; muscular spasm; vomiting of blood—symptoms that confirm my original diagnosis of poison by Indian arrow toxin. But perhaps there is more to learn. Mura, would you please remove her garment?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Despite his unconventional nature, Dr. Ito followed the custom of letting the eta handle the dead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hence, Mura performed most of the physical work of examinations, under his master's supervision. Now he took a knife and cut the robe away from Harume's rigid form. The dark nipples and tattoo contrasted harshly with her waxen pallor. Her limbs were smooth and shaved hairless, her skin without blemish. Sano felt rude to violate the privacy of this woman who had obviously taken care over her personal grooming.\n\nDr. Ito bent over the corpse's midsection, frowning. \"There's something here.\" He spread a white cotton cloth over Lady Harume's abdomen, then pressed his hands against her, the cloth shielding him from the polluting contact with death." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His fingers palpated and squeezed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What is it?\" Sano asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"A swelling. It may be an artifact of the poison, or some other unrelated abnormality.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dr. Ito straightened, his expression grave as he met Sano's eyes. \"But I've treated many female patients in my medical career. Unless I'm mistaken, Lady Harume was in the early stages of pregnancy.\"\n\nA heavy weight of dismay thudded inside Sano's chest like an iron clapper in a temple bell. Pregnancy would have serious ramifications for the murder case, and for Sano as well.\n\nDr. Ito's gaze conveyed unspoken concern and understanding, but he was not a man to shy away from the truth. \"A dissection is the only way to tell for sure.\"\n\nSano drew a deep breath and held it, containing the fear that burgeoned within him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dissection, a procedure associated with foreign science, was just as illegal as when Dr. Ito had been arrested. During other investigations, Sano had risked banishment and disgrace for the sake of knowledge. So far the bakufu hadn't discovered his involvement in taboo practices—even the most avid spies avoided Edo Morgue—but Sano feared that his luck would run out. He dreaded verification of Harume's condition, and the consequential danger. However, a pregnancy offered myriad possible motives for Harume's murder. Without exploring these, Sano might never identify her killer. And he never evaded the truth, either." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now he exhaled in resignation.\n\n\"All right,\" he said to Dr. Ito. \"Go ahead.\"\n\nAt a nod from his master, Mura fetched a long, thin knife from a cabinet. Dr. Ito removed the cloth from Lady Harume's abdomen. In the air over it, he sketched lines with his forefinger: \"Cut here, and here, like so.\" Carefully, Mura inserted the sharp blade into the dead flesh, making a long horizontal slash below the navel, then two shorter, perpendicular cuts at each end of the first. He drew back the flaps of skin and tissue, exposing coiled pink bowels." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Remove those,\" Dr. Ito instructed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A strong fecal odor arose as Mura cut away the bowels and placed them in a tray. Nausea clutched Sano's stomach; the unclean aura of ritual contamination enveloped him. No matter how many times he observed dissections, they still sickened his body and spirit. He saw, within the cavity of Lady Harume's corpse, a fleshy, pear-shaped structure about the size of a man's fist. From this extended two thin, curved tubes, the ends fanning out in fibrous growths resembling sea anemones, meeting two grapelike sacs.\n\n\"The organs of life,\" Dr. Ito explained.\n\nShame exacerbated Sano's discomfort." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What right had he, a man and stranger, to look upon the most private parts of a dead woman's body? Yet growing curiosity compelled his attention while Mura sliced into the womb, then laid it open. Inside nestled a frothy inner capsule of tissue. And curled within this, a tiny unborn child, like a naked pink salamander, no longer than Sano's finger.\n\n\"So you were right,\" Sano said. \"She was pregnant.\"\n\nThe child's bulbous head dwarfed its body. The eyes were black spots in a barely formed face; the hands and feet mere paws attached to frail limbs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Threadlike red veins chased the skin, which stretched across ridges of delicate bone. A twisted cord connected the navel to the womb's lining. The vestige of a tail elongated the diminutive rump. As Sano stared at this new wonder, awe overcame him. How miraculous was the creation of life! He thought of Reiko. Would their troubled marriage succeed and produce children who would survive, as this one had not?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His hopes seemed as fragile as the dead infant. Then professional and political concerns eclipsed Sano's domestic problems.\n\nHad Lady Harume died because the killer had wanted to destroy the child? Jealousy might have compelled Lady Ichiteru or Lieutenant Kushida, rival and rejected suitor. However, a more ominous motive came to Sano's mind.\n\n\"Can you determine the sex of the child?\" he asked.\n\nWith the tip of a metal probe, Dr. Ito uncurled the infant and surveyed the genitals, a tiny bud between the legs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It is only about three months old. Too early to tell whether it would have become a boy or a girl.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The uncertainty didn't alleviate Sano's worries." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The dead child could have been the shogun's long-desired male heir. Someone might have murdered Lady Harume to weaken the chances of continued Tokugawa reign. This scenario posed a serious threat to Sano. Unless...\n\n\"Could the shogun have sired a child?\" Dr. Ito voiced Sano's unspoken thought. \"After all, His Excellency's sexual preference is well known.\"\n\n\"Lady Harume's pillow book mentioned a secret affair,\" Sano said, then described the passage." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "u know Laura Joh Rowland? write like that. seven sentences sentences. Historical Fiction, Mystery, Japan stuff." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A squadron of mounted samurai rode sedately along the highway on Edo's western outskirts. The Tokugawa triple-hollyhock crest decorated the horses' equipage, banners mounted on poles attached to the riders' backs, and the huge black palanquin that followed. The open windows of the palanquin framed two faces.\n\nLady Keisho-in, her double chin bobbing in time with the bearers' steps, gazed out at the landscape. \"Beautiful!\" she exclaimed, admiring the scarlet-and-gold foliage of the woods and the misty hills beyond. Her powdered and rouged face wore a gap-toothed smile. \"I can't wait to see the site of the future Tokugawa Dog Kennels. Are we almost there?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The man seated opposite in the sedan chair watched Lady Keisho-in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had a handsome profile, with a high brow, long nose, heavy-lidded eyes, and the full, curved lips of a Buddha statue. His shaven scalp accentuated the sculpted bones of his head. At age forty-two, Priest Ryuko had been Lady Keisho-in's companion and spiritual leader for ten years. His association with her made him the highest-ranking cleric in Japan, as well as indirect adviser to Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. Ryuko had suggested this outing, as he had many other past schemes. Despite the cold, damp weather, Keisho-in had acquiesced, as she usually did. He'd convinced her that it was necessary for her to inspect the building of the kennels, a special project of theirs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet Ryuko harbored another, more personal motive." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The kennels wouldn't be completed for several years, and in any case, their construction didn't require Lady Keisho-in's help. Ryuko had important business to discuss with her, away from Edo Castle and its many spies. Her future—and, therefore, his—might depend on the outcome of the investigation into Lady Harume's murder. They must protect their mutual interests.\n\n\"We shall arrive soon,\" Ryuko said, tucking the quilts more comfortably around Lady Keisho-in. He warmed her gnarled old hands in his strong ones, murmuring, \"Patience,\" as much to himself as to her.\n\nKeisho-in preened under Ryuko's attentions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Presently the palanquin rounded a curve in the road, and Ryuko ordered the bearers to stop." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He helped Lady Keisho-in out, throwing a padded cloak over her shoulders. To the east, fields led to a village of thatched huts; beyond, the city, invisible beneath a heavy pall of fog, extended to the Sumida River. On the west side of the road, a huge expanse of forest had been reduced to a wasteland of jagged stumps. Woodcutters hacked down more trees, the ring of their axes echoing over the hills. Peasants sawed logs and hauled away branches, while samurai foremen directed the work. A team of architects consulted plans drawn on huge sheets of paper. The sweet, pungent smell of wet sawdust filled the air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lady Keisho-in gasped with awe.\n\n\"Wonderful!\" Leaning on Ryuko's arm, she stepped off the road and minced toward the construction site.\n\nAs laborers knelt and bowed at her approach and the architects came to pay their respects, Ryuko signaled everyone to return to work. He wanted noise to mask his conversation with Lady Keisho-in. But first the guided tour, to fulfill the ostensible purpose of the expedition.\n\n\"Here will be the main entrance, with statues of dogs at the door,\" Ryuko said, leading Lady Keisho-in to the eastern edge of the clearing. Slowly he walked her around the site." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Here will be rooms to house cages for twenty thousand dogs. The walls will be decorated with paintings of woods and fields, so that the animals can feel that they are outdoors.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Perfect!\" exclaimed Lady Keisho-in, her eyes goggling. \"I can see it all now.\"\n\nAs the tour proceeded, Ryuko divided his concentration in two parts, according to long-standing habit. With the larger part he focused on Lady Keisho-in, watching for signs that she might be getting cold or tired, anticipating her need for flattery. Since his fortune depended on their relationship, he couldn't afford to displease her. With the remainder of his mind he watched himself, monitoring his performance. He saw a slender holy man shod in modest wooden sandals, wearing a padded brown silk cloak over his saffron robe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His gaze had a wise, penetrating intensity that he'd practiced in the mirror until it became natural. His manner was dignified, his voice suavely cultivated. No trace remained of his humble origin.\n\nOrphaned at age eight, Ryuko had come to Edo to seek his fortune. He'd found refuge at Zojo Temple, where the priests had fed, sheltered, clothed, and educated him. At fifteen, he'd taken religious vows. However, his tragic youthful experiences had endowed him with two contradictory traits, which prevented him from finding fulfillment in his vocation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ryuko hated poverty with a soul-searing passion. He would never forget the hardship of peasant life, slaving in the fields, with never enough to eat and no hope of a better existence. As a young priest, Ryuko had worked tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of Edo's poor. He solicited donations and distributed them to needy citizens. His work financed the care of orphans at Zojo Temple. Soon he gained a reputation as a man of selfless, merciful character. The poor worshipped him; his superiors praised him for enhancing the image of their sect." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet another urge compelled Ryuko." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He also remembered prostrating himself on the ground as the local daimyo passed by. Lord Kuroda and his retainers rode splendidly caparisoned horses. Their faces were plump from the food produced by the peasants' labor. They beat anyone who failed to meet the crop quota. How Ryuko had hated them! And how he'd envied their wealth and power. He wanted to be like them, instead of a poor peasant boy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The desire grew stronger during Ryuko's early years as a priest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At Zojo—home temple of the Tokugawa clan—he had plenty of opportunity to observe the splendor that money could buy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A devout Buddhist, Ryuko desired the spiritual enlightenment that would release him from such worldly concerns. He prayed ever longer; he toiled even harder at charitable work. Using his natural flair for politics, he rose in the temple hierarchy. Yet still he craved wealth and power.\n\nThen he'd met Lady Keisho-in.\n\nNow Ryuko told his patroness, \"And this will be a reception room for His Excellency when he visits the kennels.\"\n\n\"Marvelous!\" Lady Keisho-in let out a cackle of glee, whirling in girlish excitement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Surely my son's benevolence will convince fortune to bring him an heir. My dearest Ryuko, you were so wise to recommend building the kennels!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When, after too many years, Tsunayoshi was still without a son, he'd grown concerned for the Tokugawa succession. Neither he nor his advisers welcomed the idea of designating a relative as the next dictator and ceding power to a different branch of the clan. Hence, Lady Keisho-in had turned to Ryuko for help. Through prayer and meditation, he'd found a mystical solution to the problem. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi must earn the right to an heir by atoning for the sins of his ancestors via some act of generosity. Since he'd been born in the year of the dog, what better gesture than to bestow his patronage upon dogs?\n\nOn Ryuko's advice, Lady Keisho-in had persuaded Tokugawa Tsunayoshi to issue the Dog Protection Edicts, which furthered Ryuko's goal of promoting animal welfare according to Buddhist tradition." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When this didn't produce the shogun's desired results, Ryuko had proposed a more drastic action: the establishment of the kennels." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Funds were levied from various daimyo; Edo's best carpenters would build the structure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ryuko was certain that the successful birth of a Tokugawa heir would follow, strengthening Keisho-in's influence with Tsunayoshi—and thus his own. But that time lay in the future. Now Ryuko wanted to make sure they lived to see it.\n\n\"Come and rest, my lady.\" He seated his patroness on a tree stump, far from their waiting escorts. \"We can watch the work on the site and enjoy a bit of conversation before we return to Edo Castle.\"\n\nWith a puff of relief, Lady Keisho-in settled herself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ah, that feels good. You are so thoughtful, my dearest. Now, what shall we talk about?\"\n\nRyuko studied her familiar features, breathed her familiar smell of perfume, tobacco smoke, and old age. They'd been together so long. He'd memorized her needs, her habits, her preferences—all the information essential to keeping her favor. Yet how well did he really know the most powerful woman in Japan? With a nostalgia sharpened by the present danger, he recalled the day they'd met.\n\nTokugawa Tsuñayoshi had just succeeded to the rank of shogun, and Lady Keisho-in had come to Zojo Temple to pray for a long, prosperous reign for her son." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd caught sight of Ryuko among the priests gathered to pay homage to their lord's mother." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her ugly old face acquired an expression of bemused delight, a reaction that Ryuko often elicited from female worshippers who admired handsome priests. Halting her procession to the temple hall, she'd made his acquaintance. She'd taken a strong fancy to him, as she did to other young men who satisfied her need for companionship and sex. He had become her private spiritual leader, moving from Zojo Temple to chambers in Edo Castle so that she could have his counsel whenever required. Lady Keisho-in lavished gifts upon him and his religious order. The temple complex grew in magnificence; its residents prospered. Keisho-in slavishly followed Ryuko's advice, often influencing the shogun to do the same." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Money poured out of the Tokugawa treasury, funding subsidiary temples and charitable work." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To Ryuko, a relationship with an unattractive woman twenty years his senior seemed a small price to pay.\n\nHe neither loved nor desired his patroness, but encouraged her infatuation with him. Forsaking his monastic life, he became her lover. He tolerated her moods and demands; he flattered her vanity. Under his contempt for her silliness, he felt a poignant sense of comradeship with Lady Keisho-in. They were both commoners who had risen to unexpected heights. And he was truly grateful to her for giving him everything he needed: wealth and power; spiritual fulfillment and the chance to do good." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In this mutually satisfactory manner they'd spent a decade together. Ryuko had expected the arrangement to last indefinitely. Keisho-in, healthy for an old woman, seemed in no danger of dying anytime soon. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi was young enough to serve many more years as shogun—and probably would, if an heir didn't appear. But after the murder of Lady Harume, the future seemed uncertain. Ryuko knew how fast fortunes could rise or fall in the bakufu; sometimes, a mere rumor could destroy a life. Sōsakan Sano's inquiry posed a dire threat to Lady Keisho-in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And the threat had tentacles, like an octopus, which could reach out and strangle everyone within her close circle-including Ryuko." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My sources tell me that Sōsakan Sano is doing an extremely thorough job investigating Lady Harume's murder,\" Ryuko said, easing into his subject of concern. He must be very careful about handling Lady Keisho-in. \"Detectives are all over the Large Interior. Hirata has leads on the source of the poison. Lieutenant Kushida is under arrest, but not yet charged with murder. It appears that Sano isn't seeking an easy way out. Instead he's living up to his reputation for pursuing the truth, regardless of the consequences.\"\n\nRyuko paused. Then, because Keisho-in rarely responded to subtle hints, he added a clearer warning: \"One might wish to exercise caution under these circumstances.\"\n\n\"Oh, yes, Sano is a fine detective,\" Lady Keisho-in said, missing the point. \"And I like young Hirata.\" She giggled. \"I think he likes me, too.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She could be so frivolous, even at a time like this!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hiding his impatience, Ryuko said, \"My lady, Sano's investigation may turn up information that is detrimental to... any number of persons. No one is safe from scrutiny.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You say things in a way that I can't understand,\" Keisho-in complained. \"Whatever are you talking about? Who's in danger?\"\n\nHer denseness forced blunt speech. \"You, my lady,\" Ryuko said reluctantly.\n\n\"Me?\" Keisho-in's rheumy eyes widened in surprise. Evidently she'd given no thought to how the murder investigation might affect her. Then she smiled, reaching up to pat Ryuko's arm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I appreciate your concern, dearest, but I have nothing to fear from Sano or anyone else.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ryuko studied her guileless face with confusion. He'd thought himself adept at reading her after all these years, but now he couldn't tell whether she spoke the truth. \"Your relationship with Lady Harume was... shall we say... less than innocent,\" Ryuko reminded Keisho-in.\n\nShe let out a merry guffaw that turned into a fit of coughing, and Ryuko had to pound her back before she could continue. \"Oh, my dearest, you are such a prude! What can it matter that Harume and I sometimes enjoyed a little bed sport? Surely no one could think it has anything to do with her murder!\"\n\nSōsakan Sano might consider it relevant, if he found out about them. Gossip spread like fire in the Large Interior, and Ryuko feared that someone might let slip a careless word to Sano's detectives." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"There's nothing to worry about, dearest,\" Keisho-in said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Did she mean she'd fixed things so well that Sano would never learn anything that could hurt her? Ryuko didn't trust his patroness to have managed this: Usually she depended on him to handle sensitive business for her. He longed to ask Lady Keisho-in a few straight questions about Harume, yet the cautious politician in him didn't really want to hear the answers. If Sōsakan Sano accused Lady Keisho-in of murder, then Ryuko's only defense against a conspiracy charge was a lack of compromising knowledge. So he confined himself to addressing the issue of mutual self-preservation.\n\n\"You allowed Sōsakan Sano access to the Large Interior without consulting me,\" Ryuko said. \"A bit unwise, perhaps. I recommend taking steps to block his inquiries.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "With a grimace of annoyance, Keisho-in waved away the suggestion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had occasional contrary moods; unfortunately, this was one of them. \"Stop talking in riddles, my dearest. Let Sano inquire all he likes. What difference does it make to me?\" She puffed out her chest in self-righteous dignity. \"I'm no murderer. I'm innocent.\"\n\nReally? thought Ryuko. Keisho-in had a history of falling madly in love with younger men and women—like Harume. Inevitably they failed to satisfy her vast need for adoration." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When the affairs ended, Lady Keisho-in would fly into a hysterical fury. Usually Ryuko could cajole her out of it, or a new romantic interest would distract her. But sometimes Keisho-in turned vindictive. Two particular incidents haunted Ryuko.\n\nOne had involved a concubine named Peach; the other, a palace guard. Both had suddenly vanished from Edo Castle after disappointing Lady Keisho-in. Ryuko's informants had told him that Keisho-in had complained about her lovers to the Tokugawa high military command." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, no one seemed to know where Peach and the guard had gone, or whether they were still alive." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ryuko guessed that Lady Keisho-in had ordered the pair's murders. If Sano ever learned of this, he would think she'd arranged a similar revenge against Lady Harume. Ryuko had to make her see the danger she courted by abetting Sano's investigation.\n\n\"Harume spent considerable time in His Excellency's bedchamber,\" Ryuko said. \"What if she had become pregnant?\"\n\nLooking puzzled, Lady Keisho-in said, \"That's what my son wanted, and what I wanted, too. Why else would I have urged him to do all this?\" She looked around the clearing, where the architects busily conferred and the woodsmen sawed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryuko could think of another reason why she'd championed the kennels." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Showing mercy toward dogs would bring Tokugawa Tsunayoshi good luck, but the shogun must do his part to beget a son. Was Lady Keisho-in encouraging spiritual actions in the hope that he would neglect the physical ones?\n\n\"Let me put it another way.\" Pacing the ground, Ryuko mustered his fading patience. \"What do you think will happen to you if an heir is born?\"\n\nLady Keisho-in laughed. \"I'll be the happiest grandmother in the world.\" Cradling her arms around an imaginary infant, she made cooing noises." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was she as naïve as she seemed?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "All marriages harbored secrets, and their union, Ryuko realized, was no exception." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Forced to speak crudely, he said, \"If Lady Harume had borne His Excellency an heir, she would have become his official consort. She would have supplanted you as the highest-ranking woman in Japan.\"\n\n\"That would be just a formality.\" Lady Keisho-in folded her arms, haughty with annoyance now. \"I am Tsunayoshi's mother. No other woman could ever replace me in his affections. He depends on my counsel. Why, he couldn't lead the country without me!\"\n\n\"Your son does not enjoy the responsibilities of being shogun,\" Ryuko said, avoiding the issue of whether or not Tokugawa Tsunayoshi led the country at all. \"He would rather occupy himself with religion or the theater.\" Or boys, Ryuko thought, but did not add." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lady Keisho-in refused to admit her son's preference for manly love. \"With the arrival of an heir, the succession would have been secure. His Excellency might have used this as an excuse to abdicate his position and appoint a council of regents to head the government until the boy came of age.\"\n\nThis prediction of the shogun's behavior was shared by many astute bakufu members, but Lady Keisho-in's features bunched in a stubborn pout. \"Ridiculous! My son is a dedicated leader. He won't retire until death takes him from this world. And he doesn't need a council to run the government while he has his mother to advise him. He loves and trusts me.\"\n\nHowever, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi also trusted Sano; Ryuko had watched the Sōsakan's influence grow daily. Even a hint of suspicion might jeopardize Keisho-in's relationship with the shogun, who feared and abhorred violence. If he thought she might be a murderer, he might turn away from her and seek another woman to act as mother-confidant—probably Lady Ichiteru." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The devious concubine had regained his favor since Harume's death, had already borne him two sons, albeit stillborn, and would seize the chance to improve her position." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then what would happen to Ryuko?\n\n\"Please, my lady,\" he said. \"Just suppose there was an heir, and your son did retire. Who would have more influence over the regent council? You, the mother of a past, retired shogun? Or the mother of the future one?\"\n\nRyuko's suave voice harshened with agitation, and he bent over Keisho-in, grasping her hands. \"If Harume had lived, you might have lost your position as ruler of the Large Interior, your privileges, your power. Sōsakan Sano will realize this eventually, if he hasn't already. You stand to become his prime murder suspect!\"\n\nAcross the clearing, a huge oak crashed to the ground. Its branches swayed and rustled: the death throes of a giant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Peasants began sawing up and hauling away the tree's corpse." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As Lady Keisho-in watched, her face took on a crafty, calculating expression that Ryuko had never seen before. She looked positively intelligent. A chill finger of dismay touched Ryuko. Was she finally becoming aware of her precarious position?\n\nOr had she known all along?\n\nSlowly Lady Keisho-in turned to Ryuko. She pulled him to his knees so that their faces were almost touching." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All traces of good-natured silliness had disappeared from hers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Tell me, my dearest,\" she said. Her gaze bored into Ryuko. \"Are you so concerned about the murder investigation for my sake, or your own? Have you been up to something?\"\n\nThe words, spoken on a vapor of breath that stank of tobacco and rotten teeth, wafted over Ryuko. Shock disoriented him. He envisioned battlefields after a war, with the wind carrying the odor of carnage. Despite all his efforts in the cause of charity and spiritual enlightenment, there had been incidents in his life that illustrated his greed, ambition, and ruthlessness. What if Sano found out?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Surely he would suspect Ryuko of murdering Harume on Keisho-in's behalf in order to protect her and, simultaneously, his own position." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yet even as he imagined himself at the execution ground, the wily politician in Ryuko saw a way to use the situation to his advantage.\n\n\"Yes, my lady,\" he said, bowing his head as if in shameful confession. It wasn't a lie. He'd devised and carried out plots designed to further his interests and Keisho-in's, with and without her approval. He wondered how much she knew or guessed about him—and how much her poor memory had allowed her to forget about things they'd done together. If he was charged with Lady Harume's murder, would Keisho-in sacrifice him to save herself? \"I'm afraid Sōsakan Sano will discover what I've done.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll kick things off by writing a bit, then you'll take over and write the next six sentences, keeping within the Historical Fiction, Mystery, Japan genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The inner palace precinct was strangely vacant even for a cold autumn evening when Sano and Hirata traversed the garden. Cherry trees raised bare, black branches to a soot-colored sky; moisture gleamed on the surfaces of boulders; fallen leaves matted the grass. A lone patrol guard made his rounds. Taking advantage of their momentary privacy before reporting to the shogun, Sano shared the results of his inquiries and passed Hirata the letter from Lady Harume's room.\n\nHirata read, and whistled through his teeth. \"Will you show this to the shogun?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Have I got a choice?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano said grimly, replacing the letter under his sash." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the palace door, the guard said, \"His Excellency is in a special emergency session with the Council of Elders. They await your report in the Grand Audience Hall.\"\n\nDismay washed through Sano like an icy tide. Council meetings invariably meant trouble for him. He wished he could postpone his report and the inevitable repercussions, but there seemed no chance of reprieve. With Hirata beside him, he proceeded down the palace corridors. Sentries opened massive double doors carved with scowling guardian deities." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano took a deep breath. He and Hirata entered.\n\nGlowing lanterns hung from the coffered ceiling. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi knelt upon the dais. A gilded landscape mural set off his black ceremonial robes. Chamberlain Yanagisawa occupied his usual place at the shogun's right, on the higher of the floor's two levels." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Near him on the same level, the five elders knelt in two facing rows, at right angles to their lord." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "However, the secretaries were absent. Only the shogun's chief attendant served tea and brought tobacco and metal baskets of lit coals for pipes. The law barred all unnecessary personnel from special emergency sessions.\n\nAs Sano and Hirata knelt at the back of the room, Senior Elder Makino Narisada said, \"Your Excellency, we apologize for requesting a meeting on such short notice, but the murder of Lady Harume has caused some disturbing incidents. The chief commander of the Large Interior has committed seppuku to atone for allowing a murder to take place during his watch. Rumors and accusations are rampant. One concerns Kato Yuichi, junior member of the judicial council. His fellow member and rival, Sagara Fumio, spread a story that Kato killed Lady Harume as practice for a mass poisoning of high officials. Kato confronted Sagara. They dueled. Now both men are dead, and the judicial council is in turmoil, with scores of men vying for the vacant positions.\"\n\nIt was just as Sano had feared: The murder had ignited emotions within the bakufu, a gunpowder arsenal waiting to explode. The dreaded nightmare of past investigations had returned—because he hadn't solved the case soon enough, more deaths had occurred." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Other minor problems have caused inconvenience,\" Makino said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Many people refuse to believe that a mere concubine was the murderer's only target. No one wants to eat or drink here.\" He eyed the untouched tea bowls in front of his colleagues. \"Servants have abandoned their posts. Officials have fled Edo, ostensibly on business in the provinces.\" So that was why the palace seemed empty, Sano realized. \"At this rate, there will soon be no one left to run the capital. Your Excellency, I recommend strong action to avert disaster.\"\n\nTokugawa Tsunayoshi, who had been shrinking farther and farther into himself as the senior elder spoke, threw up his hands in despair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why, ahh, I hardly know what to do,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Looking around for help, he caught sight of Sano." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ahh!\" he exclaimed, beckoning. \"Here is the man who can restore matters to normal. Sōsakan Sano, please tell us you've identified Lady Harume's killer!\"\n\nAccompanied by Hirata, Sano reluctantly approached the dais. They knelt before the upper floor level, bowing to the assembly. \"I regret to say that the murder investigation is not yet complete, Your Excellency,\" Sano said. He glanced uncomfortably at Chamberlain Yanagisawa, who would surely seize this opportunity to denigrate him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, Yanagisawa seemed preoccupied, his dark gaze turned inward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Feeling more confident, Sano began relating the progress of the case.\n\nSenior Elder Makino assumed Chamberlain Yanagisawa's usual role of detractor. \"So you haven't traced the poison yet. Lieutenant Kushida is under arrest for attacking you and trying to steal evidence, but you're not convinced he's the killer. That strikes me as extremely indecisive. What about Lady Ichiteru?\"\n\nHirata cleared his throat and said, \"Sumimasen—excuse me. We have no evidence against her.\"\n\nSano eyed him with consternation. Hirata never spoke at these meetings unless addressed directly, and as far as Sano knew, there was no evidence proving Lady Ichiteru's innocence, either." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He couldn't contradict Hirata in front of the assembly, but as soon as they were alone, Sano intended to find out exactly what had happened during Hirata's interview with Lady Ichiteru—and what was causing his strange behavior." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, if the killer is neither Lieutenant Kushida nor Lady Ichiteru,\" Makino said, \"then you now have two fewer suspects than you did yesterday.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He turned to Chamberlain Yanagisawa." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"A step backward, wouldn't you agree?\"\n\nStirred out of his private contemplation, Yanagisawa rebuked Makino: \"A difficult case like this requires more than two days to close. What do you expect, miracles? Give the Sōsakan time, and he'll succeed, as usual.\"\n\nThe senior elder's mouth dropped. Sano stared in amazement. Chamberlain Yanagisawa standing up for him at a council meeting? Sano's suspicion of his enemy increased Was Yanagisawa encouraging Sano to follow the present course of the investigation because it led away from something he wished to hide?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "However, none of the findings had implicated Yanagisawa in the murder. None of Sano's informants had reported a new plot against him.\n\n\"I've found the source of the ink,\" Sano said. \"Lord Miyagi admits sending it to Harume, along with a letter instructing her to tattoo his name on her body.\" He described the daimyo's liaison with the concubine, and Lady Miyagi's complicity.\n\nTokugawa Tsunayoshi sputtered in outrage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Miyagi violated my concubine, then killed her? Disgraceful! Arrest him at once!\"\n\n\"There's no proof that he poisoned the ink,\" Sano said. \"It could have been done by someone else, either at the Miyagi estate, here in Edo Castle, or somewhere along the way. For now, Lord and Lady Miyagi remain under scrutiny. And I've started checking into Harume's background, because it's possible that the roots of her murder lie there. I've interviewed her father... and searched her room.\"\n\nSano heard Hirata's sharp intake of breath. Lady Keisho-in's letter felt like a metal blade cutting into his flesh. Duty required that Sano report all facts to the shogun, yet he hesitated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A Japanese citizen incriminated a member of the Tokugawa clan at his own peril. Any offensive word or action could be perceived as an attack against the shogun himself. Whether or not Lady Keisho-in had killed Harume didn't change this. For accusing the shogun's mother, rightly or wrongly, Sano could be charged with treason, then executed as punishment.\n\n\"A brilliant strategy,\" Chamberlain Yanagisawa said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. \"What have you learned?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now was the time to present Lady Keisho-in's letter and Jimba's statement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now was the time for samurai courage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano struggled with himself. His spirit quailed; his stomach roiled. \"I have a better sense of Lady Harume's character, which will help me understand how she might have provoked murder,\" he stalled. He didn't mention the hair and fingernails he'd found in Lady Harume's clothing because he didn't know whether they had any bearing on the case. \"And I've turned up some new leads to pursue.\" Deciding to wait until later in the meeting to reveal the letter, Sano cursed himself for a coward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hirata breathed a tentative sigh of relief at the reprieve." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sano thought he saw disappointment on Yanagisawa's face. Senior Elder Makino was eyeing the chamberlain with a puzzled frown, obviously wondering what had become of their pact to discredit Sano. Then he continued, \"So what you are telling us, Sōsakan-sama, is that you have wasted a lot of time on studying Lady Harume, and learned nothing of significance.\"\n\nFor once Sano had a spectacular comeback to Makino's baiting, yet he didn't relish using it. \"Nothing could be farther from the truth,\" he said. \"Your Excellency, please prepare yourself for bad news.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As an expectant hush fell over the room, Sano braced himself for the reaction. \"Lady Harume was with child when she died.\"\n\nA collective gasp. Then perfect silence. Though the Elders quickly hid their shock, Sano could almost hear the hum of their minds formulating theories, calculating ramifications. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi rose awkwardly, then fell to his knees again.\n\n\"My son!\" he exclaimed, his eyes sunken with horror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My long-awaited heir! Murdered in his mother's womb!\"\n\n\"This is the first I've heard of the pregnancy,\" Makino said. \"Dr. Kitano regularly examines all the concubines, but he didn't discover it.\" The other elders echoed their senior's skepticism. \"How did you come into possession of the knowledge, Sōsakan Sano? Why should we believe you?\"\n\nCold sweat ran down Sano's back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After almost two years of concealing the illicit dissections at Edo Morgue, would the secret now come out and condemn him to exile? Nausea rose in his throat as he tried to frame a convincing lie. Beside him, Hirata, who knew of Sano's transgressions, sat with head bowed, waiting for the blow to fall.\n\nThen Chamberlain Yanagisawa said, \"The fact of Lady Harume's condition is more important than Sōsakan Sano's method of ascertaining it. He wouldn't make a mistake on such a serious matter.\"\n\n\"Yes, Honorable Chamberlain.\" Sounding increasingly puzzled, Makino conceded defeat.\n\nSaved, by the enemy who had tried time and again to destroy him!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For a moment Sano was too grateful to question Yanagisawa's motives. Then he noticed that a peculiar change had come over the chamberlain. Yanagisawa's eyes shone with alertness; he seemed energized by the news of the unborn child's death. Sano understood that Yanagisawa might have wished it for the same reason as Lady Keisho-in. But if he hadn't known about the pregnancy, why would he have murdered Harume?\n\nThe shogun raised his fists skyward and keened, \"This is an outrage!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His sobs echoed throughout the hall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And Sano had still another unpleasant topic to broach.\n\nChoosing his words carefully, he said, \"Your Excellency, there is some... question about the... parentage of Lady Harume's child. After all, she did have... relations with Lord Miyagi, and possibly Lieutenant Kushida. We must consider the possibility that...\"\n\nTurning on Sano, the shogun glared through his tears. \"Nonsense! Harume was, ahh, devoted to me. She would never have let another man touch her. The child was mine. He would have succeeded me as, ahh, dictator of Japan.\"\n\nThe elders avoided one another's gazes. Yanagisawa remained silent in his air of contained energy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everyone knew Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's habits, but no one dared question his virility, and the shogun himself would never admit that another man had succeeded where he'd failed.\n\n\"The murder of my heir is treason of the most, ahh, heinous kind. I must have revenge!\" Scowling, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi drew his sword. For once he seemed a true descendant of the great Ieyasu, who had defeated rival warlords and unified Japan. Then the shogun dropped the sword and wept. \"Alas, who would commit such a terrible crime?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The door banged open. The assembly turned to see who dared interrupt the special emergency session. In minced Lady Keisho-in.\n\nAghast, Sano fought the urge to release his tension in wild laughter as he looked around the room. Did anyone else realize that here was an answer to the shogun's question? But, of course, the other men hadn't read her letter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The elders and Chamberlain Yanagisawa bowed courteously to Lady Keisho-in, recognizing her right to do as she pleased. Simpering like a courtesan in the Yoshiwara spring parades, she bowed back. The shogun greeted his mother with a cry of gladness.\n\n\"Honorable Mother! I have just had the most, ahh, terrible shock. Come, I need your counsel!\"\n\nLady Keisho-in crossed the room and settled upon the dais beside her son. She held his hand while he repeated Sano's news." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Tragic!\" she exclaimed, pulling a fan out of her sleeve and vigorously fanning her face. \"Your chance for a direct heir; mine for a grandson—ruined. Mah, mah!\" she wailed. \"And I didn't even know Harume was with child.\"\n\nWas she feigning grief and ignorance? The letter had altered Sano's view of Lady Keisho-in as a simpleminded old woman. And he guessed that the women of the Large Interior knew more about one another than Dr. Kitano did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Keisho-in wasn't as stupid as she seemed. Had she discovered Harume's pregnancy, perceived the threat to herself, and taken action to avert it?\n\nSano was sure of only one thing: Keisho-in's arrival forestalled his mention of the letter. To reveal it before her and the Council of Elders would constitute the official accusation he wasn't ready to make. He needed more evidence against Lady Keisho-in first. Therefore, he must continue to bear the burden of his secret, regardless of his duty to keep Tokugawa Tsunayoshi informed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hope lightened Sano's guilt. Perhaps further inquiries would lead him away from Lady Keisho-in.\n\n\"We were just discussing the, ahh, problems caused by the murder,\" Tokugawa Tsunayoshi explained to Keisho-in, \"and the progress of Sósakan Sano's investigation. Honorable Mother, please give us the benefit of your wisdom.\"\n\nKeisho-in patted his hand. \"That is just what I have come here to do. Son, you must halt the investigation and order Sósakan Sano to remove his detectives from the Large Interior at once!\"\n\nAlarmed, Sano said, \"But Lady Keisho-in, you yourself granted us permission to interview the residents and staff and search for evidence. And we haven't finished yet.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Among the council, eyebrows lifted; covert glances were exchanged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"With all due respect, Honorable Lady, but the Large Interior is the scene of the crime,\" Senior Elder Makino said, though obviously reluctant to support Sano." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And hence, the rightful focus of the investigation,\" Chamberlain Yanagisawa added." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As the elders nodded assent, he watched Sano and Lady Keisho-in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A strange smile lifted one corner of his mouth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even the shogun looked surprised. \"Honorable Mother, it is, ahh, imperative that the killer of my heir be caught and punished. How can you deny Sósakan Sano any opportunity to, ahh, fulfill his mission?\"\n\n\"I want the killer brought to justice as much as anyone else,\" Keisho-in said, \"but not at the expense of peace in the Large Interior. Alas!\" She wiped tears on her sleeve; her voice thickened with emotion. \"Nothing can bring back the child that died with Harume. We must say good-bye to the past and plan for the future.\" Smiling tenderly at her son, she said, \"For the sake of the succession, you must forget about revenge and concentrate on begetting a new child.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She turned to the assembly. \"Now permit an old woman to offer you men some advice.\"\n\nWith the condescending air of a nursemaid instructing a child, Keisho-in addressed Japan's supreme governing council. \"The female body is very sensitive to outside influences. The weather, the phases of the moon, a quarrel, disagreeable noises, a bit of bad food—anything can upset a woman's humor. And bad humor can interfere with the flowering of a man's seed inside her womb.\"\n\nLady Keisho-in ran her hands down her stout body, then spread them against her abdomen. The elders looked down at the floor, repelled by such frank discussion of delicate matters." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Chamberlain Yanagisawa gazed at Keisho-in as if fascinated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The shogun hung on his mother's words. Hirata cringed with embarrassment, but Sano felt only dread, because he guessed what Lady Keisho-in was doing.\n\n\"Conception requires tranquillity,\" Keisho-in continued. \"With detectives trooping in and out of the Large Interior, asking questions and prying everywhere, how do you expect the concubines to get with child? Impossible!\"\n\nShe rapped Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's hand with her fan. \"That is why you must get rid of the detectives.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Folding her arms, she gazed around the assembly, daring anyone to challenge her.\n\nThe elders frowned, but said nothing: several predecessors had lost their seats on the council for disagreeing with Lady Keisho-in. While Sano summoned the courage to do what honor and conscience required, Chamberlain Yanagisawa broke the uncomfortable silence.\n\n\"Your Excellency, I understand your honorable mother's concerns,\" he said carefully. Even the shogun's second-in-command must respect Lady Keisho-in. \"But we must balance our wish for an heir against the need to uphold the strength of the Tokugawa regime. By letting a traitor get away with murder, we demonstrate weakness, and vulnerability to further attack. Wouldn't you agree, Sōsakan Sano?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes,\" Sano said unhappily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The investigation must proceed without restriction.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lady Keisho-in was blocking his access to the Large Interior and its occupants, but surely not for the reason she'd given. She sought to prevent him from discovering anything that would implicate her in the murder. She feared that someone would reveal her affair with Lady Harume, and she wanted to find the letter before he did. Her interference was additional evidence in favor of an open accusation against Lady Keisho-in.\n\n\"Don't listen to them,\" Keisho-in ordered her son. \"I have the wisdom of age. My Buddhist faith has given me knowledge of mystical forces of destiny. I know what's best.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A picture of helpless uncertainty, the shogun looked from Keisho-in to Yanagisawa, then to Sano. Sano's ears thrummed with the pounding of his heart. The faces of the assembly blurred before him. His lips felt cold and numb under the pressure of the words he must speak to save the investigation and focus it on Lady Keisho-in. But the demands of honor and justice fueled his courage. His hand went to his sash, ready to produce the letter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In Bushido, the life of one lone samurai mattered less than the capture of a murderer and traitor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then, in a searing blaze of awareness, Sano remembered that he was no longer alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Should he be condemned to death for treason, then Reiko and Magistrate Ueda would join him at the execution ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was willing to sacrifice himself to his principles, but how could he endanger his new family?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A new sense of connection filled Sano's spirit with a sweet, painful warmth. He let his hand drop from his sash. Through years of solitude, how he'd longed for marriage! Then came a surge of resentment. Marriage encouraged cowardice at the expense of honor. Marriage had brought new obligations that conflicted with prior ones." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now Sano understood Reiko's dissatisfaction even better." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 7 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Both had lost their independence through marriage. Was there a way to make the loss bearable?\n\nWould that they lived to find it!\n\nAt last Tokugawa Tsunayoshi spoke. \"Sōsakan Sano, you shall, ahh, continue the murder investigation. But you and your detectives must stay away from the Large Interior and the women. Use your ingenuity to catch the killer by other means. And when you do, we shall all, ahh, rejoice.\" Then he fell, weeping, upon his mother's bosom.\n\nLooking straight at Sano, Lady Keisho-in grinned." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Narrative Extension Protocol:\nQuantity: 5 sentences\nAuthor Emulation: Laura Joh Rowland\nGenre Classification: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Japan" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bathchamber of the Miyagi mansion was similar to those in any of Edo's great daimyo estates. A sunken wooden tub full of hot water steamed in the center of the spacious room. Shelves held rinse buckets, drying cloths, rice-bran soap, and jars of scented oil. A slatted floor allowed spilled water to flow into drains below. Charcoal braziers heated the air." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But this particular bathchamber also had two unusual features." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A bamboo screen enclosed one corner, and in the wall, a tiny sliding door was inset at eye level." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lady Miyagi knelt on a cushion in the enclosure. Hearing footsteps, she tensed, alert to her husband's arrival. The spyhole door slid open, and she sensed his anticipation as he looked into the bathchamber, awaiting the entertainment she'd arranged for him. She clapped, the signal for the ritual to begin.\n\nThe door opened. In walked Lord Miyagi's concubines, Snowflake and Wren." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Both wore dressing gowns, their long hair pinned up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Chattering together, they did not appear aware of their lord watching through the spyhole. Nor did they seem to notice Lady Miyagi, although the screen only hid her from the daimyo and she was clearly visible to them. At the Zojo Temple orphanage four years ago, she'd inspected all the girls, seeking the right combination of cleverness and docility, before taking these two home with her. She'd trained Snowflake and Wren in the art of pleasing her husband. Now they were superb actresses." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As if oblivious to the presence of master and mistress, they slipped off their robes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "From behind the spyhole, Lord Miyagi sighed. Lady Miyagi smiled, vicariously enjoying his pleasure at the sight of his concubines' naked bodies. Snowflake had large breasts with prominent nipples. Wren, small of bosom, had wide, curving hips. They complemented each other perfectly, and Lady Miyagi could feel the heat of her husband's excitement, like flames licking the wall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Snowflake picked up a bucket and doused herself with water." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Squatting, she scrubbed her arms with soap. To Wren, she said coyly, \"Will you wash my back?\"\n\nGiggling, Wren complied, then lathered Snowflake's bosom. Snowflake cooed with apparent delight. She closed her eyes and sighed as Wren fondled her breasts, pinching and sucking the nipples." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lady Miyagi heard her husband moan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She knew he was taking his manhood out of his loincloth, stroking it. Wren cast an oblique glance at Lady Miyagi, who gestured for her to continue touching Snowflake. Lord Miyagi enjoyed this drawn-out erotic play. Lady Miyagi didn't know—or care—whether the concubines did, or if they only feigned pleasure out of duty to the master who fed and sheltered them, or fear of their mistress's anger lest they disobey. But she herself felt no physical response." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An early experience had destroyed her capacity for sexual pleasure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As a child of a secondary branch of the Miyagi clan, she'd grown up on this estate. Back then the house had always been full of people. The former daimyo—her husband's father—had loved hosting lavish parties. At one of these, eleven-year-old Miyagi Akiko had met an uncle newly arrived from Tosa Province. Ten years her senior, Uncle Kaoru had charmed her with his good looks and friendliness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd begun tagging after him, bringing him little gifts of flowers and sweets." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In a childish way, she fell in love.\n\nThen one night, her bedchamber door slid open. Kaoru whispered, \"Come with me, Akiko. I have a surprise for you.\"\n\nEagerly she accompanied him out into the warm summer night. With Kaoru's strong hand holding hers, Akiko felt a mounting excitement that she didn't understand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He led her into the stables." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Horses stirred at their approach. Akiko's heart thumped as Kaoru drew her into a vacant stall, where moonlight streamed through the open window and fresh straw covered the floor.\n\nKaoru's eyes gleamed with a strange intensity. \"Do you love me, Akiko-chan?\"\n\n\"... Yes.\" Uneasily she backed away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Blocking the door, Kaoru smiled and stroked her hair." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't be afraid.\" He ran his hands down her slight body. \"So young. So nice.\" A guttural moan escaped him.\n\n\"I—I want to go back in the house,\" Akiko said, shrinking from his touch.\n\nHe untied her sash and tore off her kimono." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He flung himself upon her, panting like a dog.\n\n\"What are you doing, oji-san? Stop, please!\"\n\nPinned beneath him on the straw, Akiko smelled his sweat mingling with the pungent odor of horse manure. His breath stank of liquor. She struggled, and he slapped her face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't fight me,\" he rasped. \"You've been asking for this, and now you're going to get it!\"\n\nThe hardness at his loins bludgeoned Akiko as he forced her legs apart. She screamed in terror. The straw scraped her skin; his weight crushed her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd heard tales of peasant girls, and even female relatives, violated by men of her clan, but had never imagined that it could happen to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Again she screamed: \"Help!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kaoru hit her again, harder. \"Quiet, or I'll kill you.\" Then he entered her.\n\nAkiko felt a searing pain between her legs, as though he'd driven a sword through her. With Kaoru's repeated thrusts, the sword plunged deeper." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Agony blinded Akiko; she wept silently." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Horses stomped and whinnied. The torture went on and on. Then Kaoru cried out. He withdrew, and the pain eased. Through her tears, Akiko watched him rise from her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, no,\" he said, looking down at his hands, his clothing, the straw." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A dark substance covered everything." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dimly, Akiko realized that it was blood—hers. Kaoru said, \"If you tell anyone about this, I'll kill you.\" Panic tinged his voice. \"Do you understand? I'll kill you!\"\n\nLater Akiko had vague memories of lying half-conscious in the straw until morning came and someone found her; of doctors forcing bitter medicine down her throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a while she recovered, but not completely. Between her legs and in her lower abdomen, where she had once felt pleasant stirrings during romantic fantasies, scar tissue obliterated sensation.\n\nUncle Kaoru remained at the estate. Akiko never reported what he'd done to her. If anyone guessed, no one ever punished him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Akiko spent her days hiding alone in her bedchamber with the shutters closed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then Kaoru suddenly departed for Tosa Province. Relief lightened the weight of terror that imprisoned Akiko. She ventured into the garden for the first time in two months. As she stood blinking in the sunshine, someone came up beside her.\n\n\"Hello, Cousin.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instinctively she flinched at the male voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she recognized her sixteen-year-old cousin Shigeru, first son of the daimyo. Though they'd both lived on the estate all their lives, she barely knew him: The future lord of Tosa Province was too busy to bother with girls. Now Akiko saw that this slender youth of slouching posture and soft, moist eyes and mouth possessed none of the masculine brutality that she feared, but his rank intimidated her.\n\n\"I saw what happened in the stable,\" Shigeru said. \"I told my father, and he sent Uncle Kaoru away.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The future daimyo gave her a sly, ingratiating smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I just thought you'd like to know.\"\n\nGratitude overwhelmed Akiko. Unbidden, he'd helped her when no one else cared. From that moment, she dedicated her life to Shigeru. She needed someone to worship; he needed slavish devotion. They became inseparable companions, and he the beneficiary of her love." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Under his protection, she was safe from other men. He confided his private thoughts to her: his dislike of responsibility; his dreams of a quiet life devoted to pleasure. And he never tried to touch her. Soon she learned his favorite pastime: spying on women.\n\nEver anxious to please, Akiko helped Shigeru sneak into the women's quarters so he could watch the women undress and bathe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He would stimulate himself while she acted as lookout." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On some level, she understood that he must have noticed her attachment to Kaoru, followed them to the stable that night, and enjoyed watching the attack instead of stopping it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She also understood that he'd seen the advantages of transferring her devotion to himself. Yet she never admitted that Shigeru was using her. She loved him; she needed him. Therefore she must do whatever was necessary to preserve their friendship.\n\nEight years passed. As Akiko matured, the terrifying prospect of marriage loomed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She couldn't bear the thought of leaving Shigeru, of living with a strange man who would touch her body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The attack had inflicted permanent physical damage: Her monthly bleeding brought on excruciating cramps; perhaps she could never bear children. However, this possible defect wouldn't save her. Not a whisper about her injury had passed beyond the immediate family; her parents didn't want to ruin her chances of an advantageous match.\n\nThen Shigeru's father died, and he became daimyo. The clan had delayed his marriage in the hope of a union with some powerful samurai clan, but the Miyagi's minor status attracted no worthy prospects; hence, the clan decided to consolidate its assets by wedding Shigeru to a relative." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Akiko's branch of the family was next in the line of succession, and she its eldest daughter. Shigeru married her.\n\nAkiko was overjoyed. Now she could live forever under the protection of a husband who wouldn't force any physical attentions on her. \"Marriage doesn't have to change things between us,\" Shigeru said. \"Let's just go on like always.\"\n\nThey altered the household to suit their mutual taste." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shigeru sent most of the relatives and retainers to his estate in Tosa Province." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Akiko dismissed most of the servants." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When not pursuing Shigeru's sexual gratification, they preferred poetry and music to entertaining company. During the months he spent in Tosa every year, Akiko pined for him. As wife of a daimyo, she lost some of her fear of men and gained an air of authority, but only when Shigeru was with her did she feel truly safe, or happy.\n\nNow Lady Miyagi heard her husband's breaths quicken; she pictured his hands stroking himself faster and harder. When Snowflake glanced at her, she signaled for the love play to proceed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Snowflake lay on the floor, legs spread wide. Wren got down on hands and knees, crawling backward over her. She buried her face in Snowflake's crotch, licking and sucking with exaggerated noise. Snowflake moaned and writhed. Grasping Wren's buttocks, she pulled her partner's womanhood down upon her own mouth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lord Miyagi grunted and gasped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lady Miyagi knew that his ecstasy was near. Gladness filled her heart.\n\nThough she'd never experienced physical joy herself, she could share her husband's. Mutual need had wrought a spiritual bond between them. Even without sex, she found the deepest personal fulfillment in their marriage; she felt no need for children." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Let Shigeru's nephew succeed him as daimyo." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were mated souls, like the two swans in the family crest, a self-sufficient pair... or so she tried to tell herself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once she had thought this union eternal, invincible. Then Harume had entered their lives, that evening last spring.\n\nLord and Lady Miyagi had been standing on a pier, watching fireworks burst over the Sumida River, amid noisy crowds celebrating the opening of the boating season. Shigeru had pointed out Harume among the shogun's entourage. Imagining the girl as just another harmless diversion, Lady Miyagi had procured a meeting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How could she have foreseen that Harume would pierce the weakness in their marriage?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Discovering that the affair had taken a turn that could divide her from Shigeru had actually made her ill; she'd vomited in the street. Harume had threatened not only her happiness, but her very existence. Lady Miyagi rejoiced in Harume's death. She was safe once again. Shigeru need never know what had almost happened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, the threat had not completely died with Lady Harume." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Its specter haunted Lady Miyagi, ready to rise again. And a new menace, in the form of the murder investigation, shadowed her life. Even the news of Lieutenant Kushida's arrest had not eased her mind.\n\nNow Shigeru's moans grew louder with the urgency of his need. Lady Miyagi gave another signal to the concubines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Snowflake thrust her pelvis against Wren's face and screamed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Wren arched her back, closed her eyes, and let out a series of blissful cries." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Through the wall came a hoarse shout. Tears of joy stung Lady Miyagi's eyes. Once again she had served her lord's desire.\n\nHearing his footsteps retreat, she rose. Snowflake and Wren disentangled themselves and bowed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That was excellent,\" Lady Miyagi said, then walked down the corridor to Shigeru's bedchamber." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the light of a lamp on the table, he lay upon his futon, covered with a quilt, his head pillowed on a wooden neck rest. This was Lady Miyagi's favorite part of the ritual: when she and Shigeru came together again. She lay on the futon next to his. They never touched. Shigeru was usually half asleep by this time. Lady Miyagi would wait awhile to see if he needed anything, then snuff out the lamp." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eventually she, too, would sleep, secure in their unique love." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But tonight Shigeru was wide awake, his gaze pensive as he stared at the ceiling. Lady Miyagi said, \"What's wrong, Cousin?\"\n\nHe turned to her. \"It's this murder investigation.\" The worry on his face made him look simultaneously older and younger; in his soft, drooping features, Lady Miyagi could see both her girlhood companion and the elderly man he would become." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ever since Sōsakan Sano came here, I have been suffering from the most terrible feeling of doom.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But why? What have you to be afraid of?\" Though she kept her voice calm, Lady Miyagi was disturbed. Why hadn't she sensed his fear? Why hadn't he confided in her sooner? Were they losing their precious spiritual connection?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Anger filled Lady Miyagi like hot, suffocating flame. Harume had done this! And beneath her anger, a shard of fright lodged in her breast.\n\nHow much did Shigeru know? What would happen to them?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Suddenly Lady Miyagi didn't want to hear what he was going to say." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lying rigid beneath her quilt, the fear growing into a jagged crystal in her heart, she braced herself for disaster.\n\n\"I've heard that Sōsakan Sano is a man who will stop at nothing to discover the truth,\" Shigeru said. \"Suppose he finds out what happened between Lady Harume and me? I could be charged with murder.\"\n\n\"He already knows about the affair,\" Lady Miyagi said reasonably, though horror sickened her. Shigeru, arrested—perhaps even convicted and executed?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "How would she live without him?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You've admitted sending the ink, but Sōsakan Sano can't prove that you had anything to do with the murder.\" She had to force herself to speak the next words: \"And what more is there for him to find out?\"\n\nEven in her terror of losing Shigeru, Lady Miyagi tasted bitter jealousy. She didn't want to learn anything about him and Harume that she didn't already know; she didn't want to be hurt again.\n\n\"Harume said that unless I gave her ten thousand koban, she would tell the shogun I had forced myself on her,\" Shigeru said unhappily." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I thought she was bluffing, but I couldn't be sure. So I paid her, a little at a time, so you wouldn't notice money missing from the household accounts. I didn't want you to worry.\"\n\nShigeru seemed to deflate, as if drained by the confession. \"Harume's blackmail gives me a strong motive for murder. If Sōsakan Sano learns of it, I'll be the prime suspect. Now do you understand why I'm afraid?\"\n\nRelief flooded Lady Miyagi. Forgetting her doubts and fears, she wanted to laugh with joy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Blackmail—that's all it was, not another cruel betrayal." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And how kind of her husband to consider her feelings. New confidence flowed through Lady Miyagi, washing away her suspicion that he'd hidden the truth from her for some less noble reason. She was the strong, sensible one who always took care of problems. She could avert any threat, triumph over any adversary who threatened them.\n\n\"Don't worry, Cousin,\" she said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll fix things so that you'll be safe from Sōsakan Sano. Rest now, and leave everything to me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shigeru's eyes were tearful with relief and gratitude. \"Thank you, Cousin. What would I ever do without you?\"\n\nRolling over, he snuggled under the quilt. Lady Miyagi extinguished the lamp. Soon Shigeru was snoring quietly, but she lay awake, scheming." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lieutenant Kushida was the logical prime suspect, and Lady Miyagi expected him to be convicted of the crime. Yet she didn't dare count on it. From the beginning she'd anticipated and prepared for trouble. Already she'd acted in their mutual defense. Now she must take further steps to protect her beloved husband. Their special marriage.\n\nHer life." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "four sentences sentences. Historical Fiction, Mystery, Japan stuff." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"With Lady Ichiteru's testimony, the letter, the diary, and Harume's father's statement, there's too much evidence against Lady Keisho-in to ignore,\" Sano told Hirata. \"We can't delay interrogating her any longer. And Priest Ryuko is the right size and shape to match the description of the man who stabbed Choyei.\"\n\nSano had already described discovering the drug peddler and the unsuccessful search for his killer. He'd also told Hirata about taking the materials from Choyei's room to Dr. Ito, who had found the poison there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They walked through the twilight streets of Edo Castle's Official Quarter, bound for the palace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Roofs were peaked black silhouettes against a sky that deepened from fading blue overhead to salmon above the western hills." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Wispy red clouds smeared the heavens like streaks of blood." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The cold breathed from stone walls and settled into the bones. Sano carried Harume's diary, with Lady Keisho-in's letter folded inside.\n\nHe said, \"This is just an interview, to get Keisho-in and Ryuko's side of the story. It's not a formal accusation of murder.\"\n\nYet they both knew that Keisho-in and Ryuko might interpret the confrontation as a murder charge and take offense, then countercharge Sano and Hirata with treason." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It would be the couple's word against theirs—with the shogun the ultimate judge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What were the chances of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi siding with them instead of with his beloved mother?\n\nSano imagined the cold shadow of the executioner falling over him, the long blade outlined against the barren ground where traitors died. And Reiko would see it with him... Nausea gripped his stomach. Hirata didn't appear to feel any better." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His skin had an unhealthy pallor, and he kept blinking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oddly, he'd been in bed asleep when Sano arrived home. Though groggy and disoriented when roused, Hirata had insisted he was fine. After relaying what he'd learned from Lady Ichiteru, he hadn't said a word, and tried to avoid Sano's gaze. Sano pitied Hirata; the concubine's news had been a bad shock, and he probably blamed himself for the evidence that had forced their hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Everything will be all right,\" Sano said, as much to reassure himself as Hirata." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Upon entering Lady Keisho-in's chamber, Sano and Hirata found the shogun's mother and her priest settled on cushions in the lantern-lit parlor. They wore matching purple satin dressing gowns stamped with gold chrysanthemums. Both color and flower were normally reserved for the use of the imperial family. The empress and emperor of Japan, Sano thought, recalling what Lady Ichiteru had said about the couple's ambitions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A quilt covered their legs and the square frame of a charcoal brazier. Around them were spread dishes of soup, pickles, vegetables, quail eggs, fried prawns, dried fruit, and a whole steamed fish, a sake decanter, and a tea urn. Lady Keisho-in was munching a prawn. Ryuko had just dealt out a game of cards." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He set down the pack as Sano and Hirata knelt and bowed, his eyes wary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Licking her greasy fingers, Lady Keisho-in said, \"How nice to see you again, Sōsakan Sano. And your assistant, too.\" She batted eyes at Hirata, who stared at the floor. \"May I offer you some refreshment?\"\n\n\"Thank you, but we've already eaten,\" Sano lied politely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The odors of fish and garlic sickened him; he could not have swallowed food." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"A drink, then?\"\n\n\"I don't think the Sōsakan-sama is here on a social visit, my lady,\" Ryuko said. He turned to Sano. \"What can we do for you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Although Sano had met Ryuko during religious ceremonies, they'd never done more than exchange greetings, but he knew the priest's reputation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The cozy atmosphere confirmed the rumors about his intimate relationship with Keisho-in. Meeting Ryuko's shrewd gaze, Sano understood that he was the motivating intelligence behind her power. The discovery didn't cheer Sano. His main argument in favor of Lady Keisho-in's innocence was her good-natured stupidity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, with Ryuko as a confederate, she wouldn't have to be evil or smart to commit murder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Please forgive the intrusion, Honorable Lady, but I must speak to you about Harume.\"\n\n\"Haven't we already done that?\" Lady Keisho-in frowned in confusion. \"I don't know what more I can say.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked to Ryuko for help, but he was gazing at the diary in Sano's hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An unnatural stillness of expression masked whatever he thought or felt.\n\n\"Some matters have recently come to my attention,\" Sano said. With the sense of crossing a line between safe ground and battlefield, he said, \"What was your relationship with Harume?\"\n\nShrugging, Keisho-in stuffed a radish pickle into her mouth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I liked her very much.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You were friends, then?\" Sano asked.\n\n\"Why, yes, of course.\"\n\n\"More than friends?\"\n\n\"Just what exactly are you asking?\" Priest Ryuko interjected." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ignoring him, Sano said, \"This is Harume's diary.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He untied the binding cord and read the hidden words of erotic love, emphasizing the final passage:\n\n\"But alas! Your rank and fame endanger us.\n\nWe can never walk together in daylight.\n\nYet love is eternal; you are mine forever, as I am yours," }, { "from": "human", "value": "In spirit, though not in marriage.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did Harume write that to you, Lady Keisho-in?\" Sano asked.\n\nKeisho-in's mouth fell open, revealing an ugly mush of chewed food. \"Impossible!\"\n\n\"The reference to rank and fame fits you,\" Sano said.\n\n\"But the passage doesn't mention Lady Keisho-in by name,\" Ryuko cut in smoothly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did Harume say anywhere in the diary that they were lovers?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No,\" Sano admitted.\n\n\"Then she must have been writing about someone else.\" Ryuko's voice remained suavely calm, but he withdrew his legs from beneath the quilt, as if he was too warm.\n\n\"Shortly before Harume died,\" Sano said, \"she begged her father to remove her from Edo Castle. She said she was afraid of someone. Was it you, Lady Keisho-in?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Preposterous!\" Keisho-in chewed a rice ball angrily. Was her response genuine, or an act? \"I showed Harume nothing but kindness and affection.\"\n\n\"My lady doesn't like what you're implying, Sōsakan-sama.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "A warning note edged Ryuko's voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If you have any sense, you will leave now, before she decides to express her displeasure through official channels.\"\n\nThe threat was no less of a blow for being expected. Had Sano been interviewing just Lady Keisho-in, he might have subtly ascertained her innocence or extracted a confession without open confrontation. But Ryuko was forcing the issue." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He would never let his patroness admit to murder, because he would share her punishment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He would protect his own skin by attacking Sano... especially if he'd conspired to murder the shogun's unborn heir." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inwardly Sano cursed his truth-seeking nature, which doomed him to build his own funeral pyre. But he couldn't change the demands of duty and honor. Resigned, he took out the letter.\n\n\"Tell me if you recognize this, Lady Keisho-in,\" Sano said, and read:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"'You do not love me. Much as I try to believe otherwise, I cannot blind myself to the truth any longer.'\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As he voiced the pained recriminations, jealous passion, and pleas for Harume's love, Sano periodically checked his audience's reaction. Keisho-in's eyes grew wider and wider, her face haggard with shock. Ryuko's expression turned from incredulity to dismay. They looked the picture of criminals caught in the act." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sano felt little satisfaction." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A conviction of Lady Keisho-in would be hard to get from a judicial system controlled by her son; the price of trying could be Sano's life.\n\n\"'What I really want is to see you suffer as I do. I could stab you and watch the blood run out. I could poison you and delight in your agony." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As you plead for mercy, I will only laugh and say: \"This is how it feels!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"'If you will not love me, I will kill you!'\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Silence. Lady Keisho-in and Priest Ryuko sat paralyzed. The charcoal fumes, the food odors, and the room's stifling heat enclosed Sano, Hirata, and the two conspirators in a nauseating pall.\n\nThen Keisho-in began to cough, clutching her throat. \"Help!\" she gasped out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryuko pounded her back. \"Water!\" he commanded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She's choking on her food!\"\n\nHirata leapt up. From a ceramic jar he poured water into a cup for the priest, who held it to Keisho-in's lips. \"Drink, my lady,\" Ryuko urged.\n\nHer face reddened; her eyes teared as she retched and wheezed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She gulped the water, drooling it onto her robe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ryuko glared at Sano. \"Look what you've done.\"\n\nRemaining in his place, Sano recalled how Keisho-in had swooned upon hearing that Harume had been murdered. Had that been an act intended to hide the fact that she already knew?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was this a clever diversion, or true distress?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Keisho-in lay back on the cushions, inhaling and exhaling with exaggerated relief. Ryuko fanned her face. Sano said, \"You wrote this letter to Harume. You threatened to kill her.\"\n\n\"No, no.\" Lady Keisho-in flapped her hands in weak protest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Where did you get that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Priest Ryuko demanded. \"Let me see it\"\n\nSano held the letter up, safely out of the priest's reach—he didn't want the evidence to wind up in the charcoal brazier. \"From Harume's room,\" he said.\n\nThe couple exclaimed simultaneously, \"That cannot be!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryuko's face was ashen, his eyes filled with horror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sitting up, Lady Keisho-in said, \"I wrote that letter; yes, I admit it. But not to Harume. It was written to my dearest love, who is right here!\" Feebly she clutched Ryuko's arm.\n\nIt was a crafty explanation, which Keisho-in's choking spell had no doubt given her time to concoct. Ryuko recovered quickly, too." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My lady is telling the truth,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Whenever she feels that I'm not attentive enough, she gets angry and expresses her complaints in letters. Sometimes she threatens to kill me, though she doesn't really mean it. I received that letter some months ago. As usual, we made up, and I returned it to her.\"\n\n\"Yes, yes, that's right,\" Lady Keisho-in said.\n\nThe priest had himself under control now, yet Sano could see fear behind his level gaze. \"There is nothing in that letter to prove it was written to Harume,\" Ryuko said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You've made a mistake, Sōsakan-sama\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There's nothing to prove it was written to you, either,\" Sano countered. \"And I found it hidden in the sleeve of Harume's kimono. How do you explain that?\"\n\n\"She—she must have stolen it from my chambers,\" Keisho-in blurted. She was less adept at concealing emotion than Ryuko, her panic obvious in her audible, rapid breaths." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, that must be what happened.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why would she do that?\" Sano said, unconvinced. The couple stared at him in speechless confusion. The distinctive odor of fear—sweat laced with honey—permeated the room. Sano knew it came from himself and Hirata as well as Keisho-in and Ryuko." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He delivered the final, damning piece of evidence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We have a witness who overheard you conspiring to murder Harume and her unborn child so that His Excellency would remain shogun for the rest of his life and you would retain your influence over him.\"\n\n\"That's a lie!\" Keisho-in exclaimed. \"I could never do such a horrible thing, and neither could my dearest!\"\n\n\"What witness?\" demanded Ryuko." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then comprehension cleared the bewilderment from his face. Anger tightened his jaw. \"It was Ichiteru, that scheming whore who seeks to replace my lady as the mother of Japan's dictator. She probably lied about us because she killed Harume herself.\" Glaring at Sano, he said, \"And you want to frame us for murder so that you can control the shogun. You forged the so-called diary, planted the letter, and paid Harume's father to cast suspicion upon my lady.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Despair stole over Sano." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This, then, would be Keisho-in and Ryuko's defense against his accusations. No doubt it would sound eminently reasonable to the undiscerning Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. \"Granted, Harume had access to your quarters,\" Sano said, \"but you also had access to hers. Did you poison the ink, Lady Keisho-in?\"\n\n\"No. No!\" The words came out in a squeaky whisper; Keisho-in's face blanched, and she clutched her chest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My lady, what's wrong?\" Ryuko said.\n\n\"Where were you today between the hour of the snake and noon?\" Sano asked him.\n\n\"In my quarters, meditating.\"\n\n\"Were you alone?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Keisho-in emitted pained cries." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The priest replied impatiently, \"Yes, I was. What are you getting at now?\"\n\n\"The peddler who supplied the poison that killed Harume was murdered today,\" Sano said.\n\n\"And you have the audacity to suggest I did it?\" Ryuko's fury didn't hide his panic." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Great patches of sweat darkened his gown; his hands shook as he eased the moaning, writhing Keisho-in down onto the cushions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is there anyone who can prove you weren't at Daikon Quay this morning?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This is absurd. I don't know any drug peddler.\" Ryuko stroked his patroness's forehead. \"My lady, what is it?\"\n\n\"An attack,\" Lady Keisho-in shrilled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Help—I'm having an attack!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Guards!\" Priest Ryuko shouted to the men stationed outside the door. \"Fetch Dr. Kitano.\" Then he turned on Sano, his face livid with rage and terror. \"If she dies, it will be your fault!\"\n\nSano didn't believe the old woman was really ill, and he wasn't going to let her fakery prevent him from observing that Ryuko had no alibi for Choyei's murder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The combined strength of motive and evidence forced Sano to step over a line he'd hoped never to cross." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A feeling of doom resounded through him. \"I've no choice but to charge you both with the murder of Harume and her unborn child,\" he said, \"and conspiracy to commit treason against the Tokugawa state.\"\n\nThen the shogun must decide what was truth or lies. Exchanging resigned glances, Sano and Hirata rose to leave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're the criminals!\" Priest Ryuko shouted at them, while Lady Keisho-in heaved and sobbed upon the cushions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You conspired against my lady to advance your own positions, and now you've endangered her health. But you're not going to get away with it. When His Excellency hears about this, we shall see who retains his favor—and who dies traitors!\"\n\nThe door opened, and Ryuko exclaimed gratefully, \"At last, the doctor!\"\n\nHowever, it was one of Sano's detectives, escorted by palace guards. He held out a folded paper." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sorry to interrupt, Sōsakan-sama, but I have an urgent message from your wife. She insists that you read it before you leave here.\"\n\nSurprised, Sano accepted the letter, wondering what Reiko had to say that couldn't wait until he got home. While Ryuko frantically ministered to Lady Keisho-in, Sano read:\n\nHonorable Husband," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Though you have ordered me to stay out of the murder investigation, I have disobeyed again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But please withhold your anger and heed my words." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I've learned from a trustworthy witness that the actor Shichisaburo sneaked into the Large Interior, disguised as a woman, on the day after Lady Harume's death." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He took something out of Lady Keisho-in's chambers and put it in Harume's room. I believe it was a letter implicating Lady Keisho-in in the murder. I also believe that Shichisaburo stole the letter on Chamberlain Yanagisawa's orders and planted it at the murder scene for you to find. The chamberlain must be trying to frame Lady Keisho-in for murder and force you to accuse her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For your sake and mine, I beg you not to fall into his trap!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Reiko" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shock numbed Sano. Horror followed as he wordlessly passed Hirata the letter to read. Despite his earlier misgivings about Reiko's detective abilities, he couldn't refute her theory. He realized that Lady Keisho-in was even more of a rival to Chamberlain Yanagisawa than himself. And the ploy sounded just like Yanagisawa." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It explained why he'd acted so pleasant lately: he anticipated being rid of Sano very soon, along with Lady Keisho-in, the other obstacle to his quest for power." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His spies must have discovered the letter's existence during a routine search of the Large Interior. He'd offered to help Sano and opposed Keisho-in's move to obstruct the investigation because he wanted to be sure the letter was exposed. The news of Harume's pregnancy had thrilled him because it elevated a simple murder to high treason—a crime whose consequences would destroy his rivals.\n\nNow Sano realized that the hidden diary passage and Harume's message to her father must refer to someone else besides Keisho-in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lady Ichiteru must have lied." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The whole case against Keisho-in and Ryuko fell apart without the letter. Sano beheld them through fresh eyes. He saw in Keisho-in's suffering the genuine anguish of a woman falsely accused, and in Ryuko the desperation of an innocent man defending his life. Reiko's message had arrived in time to prevent him from bringing official charges against them, but could he repair the damage already done?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sōsakan-sama, what are we going to do?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hirata's face mirrored Sano's dismay.\n\nKeisho-in was retching into a basin while Ryuko held her head. Kneeling before them, Sano bowed. \"Honorable Lady Keisho-in, Priest Ryuko. I owe you an apology. I've made a terrible mistake.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Quickly he reported the contents of Reiko's letter, adding his own supporting observations." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I humbly beg your forgiveness.\"\n\nShocked out of her fit, Keisho-in sat up and gaped. Ryuko stared, shaking his head at this new outrage.\n\n\"Aiiya, such a handsome, charming man as Chamberlain Yanagisawa,\" Keisho-in fretted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can't believe he would do such a thing to us.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Believe it, my lady,\" Ryuko said grimly. He, unlike his patroness, was cognizant of the realities of bakufu politics, and ready to accept Sano's explanation.\n\n\"Dreadful! Of course I forgive you, Sōsakan Sano.\"\n\nThough Priest Ryuko's gaze remained cool—he would not easily forget Sano's affront—he nodded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It seems we must mend our quarrel and unite against a greater evil.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Relief flooded Sano. \"Done,\" he said.\n\nTogether he and Hirata, Lady Keisho-in, and Priest Ryuko formed a plan to oust Chamberlain Yanagisawa." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Today you will be acting as a writing assistant in the Urban Fantasy, Harem Erotica genre. Your partner will send something and you will write the next two sentences." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By the time I got back to my apartment, I had to get to my Energy and Process Efficiency class. I had no time to look through the books for now, so I left them on my bed for later." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Huntington College had been around about 125 years, and the area around it used to be nicer, back when the city was younger and less urban." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The campus looked more or less like it always had, about four square blocks of Ivy League dropped into a bustling California metropolis. The buildings were mostly brick, limestone, and a lot of neoclassical architecture, sitting within a greenbelt of oak trees and neatly manicured rose gardens, all of which made for a jarring contrast with the glass-box office buildings, strip malls, and warehouses that made up the surrounding neighborhood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I was walking back home after lunch, I saw several police cars in the parking lot of my apartment building." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was far from the first time the police had come to visit, so I didn't think much of it until I got up to my floor. Several police officers stood outside Nathan and Kelly's apartment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The officer in the hall gave me a brief look but said nothing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I glanced inside, seeing a distraught Kelly talking to two other officers.\n\n\"What happened?\" I asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you know the kids who live here?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah, for sure. Are they okay?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"One of them was found dead down by the pool this morning. Probably a drug overdose, but we're investigating.\"\n\nI fought some momentary vertigo." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Holy shit. Was it Nathan?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes. Did you happen to see anything?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I just saw him last night. They had a party. He went off with some girl.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He nodded. \"Do you know anything about her, where she lives?\"\n\n\"Her name's Sabrina, but that's all I know. I've never talked to her. I don't think she lives here, but I've seen her a few times before.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You witnessed him leaving the apartment with her?\" he asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah.\"\n\nHe nodded again. \"Did he seem intoxicated to you? Did you see him taking anything, any kind of pills or other drugs?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew Nathan vaped CBD — I had smelled it — but I'd never seen him using anything stronger than that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not that night,\" I said. \"I just saw him leave. He seemed okay at the time.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You've seen him taking stuff before?\"\n\n\"Just CBD. He vapes.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a time I wouldn't have repeated that to a cop, but now that things were legal here, it didn't seem like a risk. And the cop just nodded yet again.\n\n\"Okay. If you remember anything else, please let us know.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "NarrativeBot: Extend text by 4 sentences sentences. Maintain Urban Fantasy, Harem Erotica genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had walked home thinking about Hayley, but now I lay awake wondering what the hell was up with Sabrina." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was under no illusions about where I stood when it came to girls. The reasonably cute, reasonably sexy, reasonably interesting ones like Hayley were who I usually ended up with. I had never come close to hooking up with a girl as hot as Sabrina. Most of the time, girls like her didn't even acknowledge my existence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked across the room, and my eyes fell on the stack of Grandma Amy's books. I got up and opened the Liber Officiorum Spirituum to the section on succubi.\n\nSlightly curved fingernails, almost resembling claws.\n\nA small spot of inhomogeneous color in her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A hidden birthmark somewhere on her body in the shape of a pentagram or other symbol of magic.\n\nA slight odor of sulfur, especially when in contact with water.\n\nI thought about Nathan.\n\nA succubus who seduced a human man could steal his soul at the moment of orgasm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That had been an incipient hookup I'd seen that night.\n\nNathan hadn't been the first death. I didn't know how long I'd been seeing Sabrina around the building, but it had been a while — at least a year.\n\nI couldn't quite put my finger on what it was about her that bothered me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was just a weird intuition I had above and beyond the possibly meaningless clues. There was a time I'd have laughed all this off as nonsense and thought nothing of it. Demons, succubi, and magic did not exist. I lived in the world of science and liked it there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But that was before Grandma Amy died. Before these little things in my life had started going off in disturbing directions.\n\nBefore I read Grandma Amy's final letter to me.\n\nBelieve." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Believing things without evidence just ran too counter to how I'd lived my life up to now. One did not have faith in chemical processes. They either worked or they didn't, and if they didn't, there were reasons.\n\nI didn't know what was going on here, but it was way too late now and I was too tired to bother with any more of it. I undressed and went to sleep." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "yo can u write like Michael Dalton using my stuff as a starting point?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We walked over to campus after lunch and parted company at the Chemistry building." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Katarina went off to find Hayley. I lingered briefly to watch her perfect breasts bouncing under her tank top as she walked off.\n\nI emerged from class about an hour and a half later and went over to the Biochem lab. I didn't see Katarina, but I sensed her nearby and decided not to let myself get distracted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were about twenty kids in the lab." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I went to the front and introduced myself. I recognized a couple of them from my Chem 240 class.\n\n\"Guys, I'm Jimmy, and I'm going to be doing your next few labs. Huiqian had a family emergency and had to go back to China.\"\n\nOne of the students raised his hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you know when he'll be back?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"As far as I know, he should be back in a few weeks.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you know what happened?\" another one asked.\n\n\"I do not. I'm sorry.\"\n\nThis lab was a basic protein extraction and purification exercise, and I got them going on it in about ten minutes. Then I went up front to work on my own homework." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I tried not to think about what I'd done last night, just a few labs over. The ritual left a sour stink in the air even after I'd cleaned everything up. If I did anything like that again, I would need to use a different lab. Since I had to remove the pentagram, I would need to make another one next time, which meant using more of Grandma Amy's ashes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sooner or later, that might become a problem." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't have an infinite amount of them.\n\nI wondered if there was any way I could create a portable pentagram. It seemed clear that it was the interaction of the flames and the ashes, in a specific orientation, that created the confinement. I could see no reason why it would need to be fixed in one place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I would have to do it in a way that didn't cause the ashes to start flaking off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I fixed them in place more securely, it might be possible. And maybe in doing it, I could use some materials that might make it even stronger. There was probably something along those lines in Picatrix. I turned to a clear section of my notebook and started scribbling down some ideas." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A girl in ripped black jeans and purple hair came up to my lab table.\n\n\"Um, could you help us with something?\" she asked.\n\nI looked up. \"Yeah, sure.\"\n\nThen I noticed her eyes widening as she looked down at my notebook, where I had drawn a large pentagram with a bunch of notes scribbled around it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I reflexively flipped it over." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could tell she'd seen it, but she didn't say anything.\n\nI went over to help her and her partner. They were having trouble with the precipitation step, and I quickly realized they weren't using enough ammonium sulfate. Once I got them straightened out, the girl who'd come over to get me grinned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you, like, really into heavy metal or something?\" she asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Uh, yeah. Something like that.\"\n\nWhen the lab was over, I went downstairs to the lounge in the center of the first floor. Katarina was sitting with Hayley on a couch with their books around them.\n\n\"Hey, guys.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hi, Jimmy,\" Hayley said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She nervously pushed her long red hair back over her head as I approached." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hello,\" Katarina said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How's the studying going?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh, Katarina has been such a big help,\" Hayley said. \"She knows so much.\"\n\nI gave my succubus a look, but she just smiled.\n\n\"Well, glad it's working out.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I am so happy to have another friend here,\" Katarina said. She looked over at Hayley and then gave her a side hug.\n\nHayley laughed. \"It's funny how this worked out,\" she said.\n\nI laughed. \"Yeah, I suppose it is.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hayley got up. \"Guys, I'd love to hang out more, but I have class to get to. Sorry.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's okay. Have fun.\"\n\nShe and Katarina hugged again, then she hugged me quickly. I watched her walk off. That little hug was enough to remind me what she felt like when we were making out, and I suddenly wanted more." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You like her,\" Katarina said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can feel it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah. She's cute. And interesting.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did you see how nervous she was around you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That was me?\" I asked." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes. She has the crush on you. She is trying not to show it.\"\n\nI knew Katarina wasn't going to get jealous, but I couldn't help reaching through our bond to feel her, because I knew she must have felt the little thrill she'd given me with that news.\n\n\"About the studying, though...\"\n\nShe smiled again. \"Well, Hayley is very intelligent, if you have not noticed. But I have my ways. At my age, there is much I have learned about human biology.\"\n\nI laughed. \"I suppose so.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Hey can you write like Michael Dalton and use whatever i write as a jumping off point?" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We ate dinner. I had nothing to feed Charlotte beyond the deli turkey, but she seemed perfectly happy with that for now. I spent the rest of the evening on homework and grading. Hayley as usual had done a perfect job on her project, which was good because I was rapidly losing my objectivity about her. Charlotte curled up on the table beside me and went to sleep." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "im ur writing buddy. i set scene, u do four sentences like Michael Dalton" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Katarina was home by the time I got back with Charlotte after my lab section. She reported that she and Hayley spent another hour sitting and talking before Hayley had to get to class.\n\n\"Any further insights?\"\n\nShe beamed. \"If I were still working for Hell, I would rate the prospects of my returning with her soul as very good. As I am not, I will simply rate the prospects of my returning her to your bed as about the same.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I laughed. \"We never made it to the bed, but okay.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had gotten my mail on the way up, and I realized that among the other junk was a fancy-looking envelope from some law firm. I tore it open. My head began buzzing as I read it.\n\nThe firm represented Grandma Amy's assisted living facility." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were putting me on notice that they were filing a claim against her estate because of the damage in the fire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Supposedly, the fire investigation \"suggested\" that she had started some kind of fire on the floor of her apartment, which then led to the explosion. They also claimed to be in possession of \"evidence\" that she had caused the explosion deliberately. I was supposed to provide them with all evidence of her assets and any potential insurance coverage.\n\n\"Shit,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What is it?\" Katarina asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I explained. \"But she had no assets and no insurance, so I don't know what they're expecting here.\"\n\nStill, I wondered if I might get a copy of the investigation report. What had they found to suggest something like that? Rob the fire investigator left me his card, so I called him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He told me he couldn't discuss it over the phone but that I could request a copy from the county for a small fee. He gave me the web site. It cost ten bucks and might take a week.\n\nI wanted to call the law firm too, but we had to meet Volach and Morax for dinner at six." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was really not sure what this was going to entail, but at least it was a public place. I decided to dress Katarina up a bit, and I settled on tight jeans under a cowl-neck silk cami top with a neckline that plunged well below her breasts. As I got dressed, she stood there admiring herself in the mirror.\n\n\"You are liking the silk on me? With the nipples?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did you play with dolls as a child? You enjoy dressing me to a rather interesting degree.\"\n\n\"If I had a doll like you to play with as a kid, believe me, I would have.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "yo hit me with 1 sentence more. Michael Dalton vibes in Urban Fantasy, Harem Erotica genre k?" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I adapted the summoning spell from Liber Officiorum Spirituum to use the elm leaves and feathers based on what I learned from the divination model." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I went over to campus one night and rendered the red hawk feathers down to a powder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I ground up the elm leaves and mixed the two together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I still had some mandrake root from summoning Volach, and the sulfur wouldn't be an issue." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That combination would be enough to snatch Caacrinolaas away from his Brazilian love nest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the spell for binding his spirit into a gem was quite different from the spell I had intended to use to bind Volach." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This one didn't require me to brew up any heroin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All I needed was the gem and a physical piece of him, which I had." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The last issue was my idea about a portable pentagram, so I wouldn't need to keep using up Grandma Amy's ashes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I envisioned something I could roll up and carry easily, but I kept coming back to the problem of the ashes flaking loose." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So, after researching things with Charlotte, I decided that a platform of beechwood, sealed with white glue, would work for the pentagram once I mounted the gas ring onto it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Finding raw beechwood lumber took some work and a drive across town to specialty building store, but once I did, the pentagram only took about an hour to put together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Katarina, Charlotte, and I went over to one of the chem labs that night." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I set everything up and lit the brazier with the powdered elm, feathers, sulfur, and mandrake root." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I placed the ruby and Caacrinolaas's feather in the center of pentagram, then lit the gas ring." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Stepping back, I started the incantation, holding my staff in the air." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was essentially the same spell as the one I'd used for Volach." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Caacrinolaas the bloodthirsty, ruler of passions and bloodshed, I call to you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caacrinolaas the bloodthirsty, I summon you to appear.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As before, the smoke from the brazier began swirling around the magic circle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"By the power of Hell and all the spirits of the world, I call you to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "By the power of God and the spirits above, I command you to appear.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I spoke the last word, the smoke from the brazier swirled into the pentagram, and with a low thump, Caacrinolaas appeared." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was naked, flushed, and very much erect, and there was little mystery about what he'd been in the middle of." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What... Oh for the love of... Fuck me! You couldn't have waited another five minutes?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked young, fit, and largely inoffensive, with long shaggy blonde hair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He reminded me of a human golden retriever." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did I interrupt something?\" I asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah, you fucking did.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He explored the pentagram and looked around the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He slammed his hand against the barrier, then seemed to notice Katarina." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Katarinix? Is that you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She gave him a little wave. \"Hi,\" she said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His mood slipped a few notches, and he looked back at me. \"Who are you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm new,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"New, and you've already bound a top-tier succubus?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I started the incantation to bind him into the ruby." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Caacrinolaas the bloodthirsty, through these offerings, I command your spirit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caacrinolaas the bloodthirsty, through these offerings, I call on Hell to compel your obedience.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hey, hey, hey, pal. Wait, wait a second.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I ignored him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You got yourself a succubus, great. Have you figured out their limitations yet? I was where you were, then I met Adriana, and everything changed. Love matters! It does!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I kept going." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Caacrinolaas the bloodthirsty, through these offerings, I bind you to this gem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caacrinolaas the bloodthirsty, through these offerings, I call on the kings and princes and dukes of Hell to compel you to enter.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Love is what I do. I can make her love you, I swear! Wait!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I almost lost my place in the incantation, but it was too late to stop." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Caacrinolaas the bloodthirsty, through these offerings, I command your spirit to obey." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caacrinolaas the bloodthirsty, through these offerings, I bind your spirit into this stone.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Noooooo...\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With the last word, Caacrinolaas dissolved into a cloud of vapor that spiraled into the ruby." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After a moment or two, he was gone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ruby glowed with a soft red light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I shut off the gas." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then I turned to Katarina, whose face had gone pale." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We just looked at each other for a few moments." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've decided to take you at your word,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And accept who you are.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He was lying, Jimmy. Did you believe him?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I sighed. \"It wasn't really a question of belief.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If I did, I would have stopped.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Katarina nodded and looked down at the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If you had stopped, it would have broken my heart.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I paused. She took in the look on my face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not being able to love you doesn't mean I don't have one,\" she said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I nodded. \"Okay. Let's go home.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We gathered up the pentagram and the brazier." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I turned toward the door." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't see the figure in the hall until we stepped out.\n\n\"You guys have some serious fucking explaining to do,\" Hayley said." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Continue with the same vibes as Michael Dalton in the Urban Fantasy, Harem Erotica genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hayley came over that night, and I ordered a pizza. We sat around eating, drinking Katarina's vodka, and looking at the divining rod.\n\n\"Charlotte doesn't know anything about these?\" Hayley asked.\n\n\"Just that the real ones are extremely rare.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're sure this one is real?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" Katarina said. \"Trust me. I have seen one before. There are perhaps five in existence. Most are lost and buried.\"\n\n\"Have you tried using it?\" Hayley asked.\n\n\"Not yet. I'm just getting a 'monkey's paw' vibe from it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Meaning?\" Katarina asked.\n\n\"It may find things,\" I said. \"That doesn't necessarily mean we'll be better off.\"\n\n\"If we're careful?\" Hayley said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Jimmy, I think you should do it,\" Katarina said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Charlotte put a paw on my arm and meowed. I could tell she agreed with them.\n\n\"I guess it can't hurt to try it out.\"\n\nI got a similar feeling from it that I got from Grandma Amy's staff." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I closed my eyes and emptied my mind, trying to open myself to the spirit world the same way I did with the model." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For a few moments, I felt nothing. Then the rod twitched in my hand as if it was alive. It startled me enough to make me jump.\n\n\"Was that the rod?\" Hayley asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What do you feel, Jimmy?\" Katarina asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I closed my eyes again. I definitely felt something, but it was vague. Whatever the rod sensed, it was not nearby.\n\n\"I think we may need to go driving.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can drive,\" Hayley said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You hold the rod.\"\n\nWe all went down to my car. I sat in the passenger seat with the divining rod as Charlotte sat in my lap. Katarina got in back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Where are we going?\" Hayley asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's a long way. But go to the highway, north.\" Then I got another feeling. \"No. Wait. It's underground, whatever it is. We need a shovel.\"\n\nHayley drove out of the parking lot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We stopped at the hardware store just long enough to get two shovels and three flashlights." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "About ten minutes later, we were on the highway. Once we were moving, I got my bearings again with the stick.\n\n\"We're going the right direction,\" I said, \"but it's going to be while.\"\n\nWe drove north into the hills, leaving the town behind after about twenty minutes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hayley and Katarina talked while I sat there and focused." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There's something they're not telling me about my grandmother,\" I said after a while.\n\n\"What do you mean?\" Hayley asked.\n\n\"I get that she got pulled to Hell after everything she did working for them. I don't get the part about her immediately being made a Duchess of Hell. Does that actually happen?\"\n\n\"Most demons were once mortal,\" Katarina said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I told you that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But does it happen right away like this?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It is very rare,\" she said.\n\n\"Were you were made a succubus right away?\" Hayley asked.\n\n\"No,\" Katarina said. \"There was... a period in between. That is all I wish to say.\"\n\nI reached over and rubbed her arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She managed a quick smile.\n\n\"How do you become a duke or duchess?\" I asked.\n\n\"Only one of the kings of Hell can do it,\" she said. \"In her case, it would have been Astaroth.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I thought for a moment about what I'd read in the grimoires. There was a list of the major demons I'd seen. \"He's not one of the kings. Is he?\"\n\n\"He is now. Your books are out of date.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Huh. And he would have raised her. Why?\"\n\n\"She must have done him a great service at some point, or he needed something from her now,\" Katarina said. \"That is all I can think of.\"\n\nFor the first time, I wondered if I might be able to summon Grandma Amy — Amira — now, and ask her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had everything I needed to do it.\n\nI just wasn't sure I wanted to. Or what it might set in motion.\n\nWe'd been on the road for about an hour when the rod suddenly twitched again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Up ahead,\" I said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I think the next exit.\"\n\nHayley steered us off the highway, and the rod pointed left. We drove for another ten minutes. I had never been in this area beyond driving through it on the highway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We were in an area of undeveloped woodlands, the hills rolling up and down as we drove." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was dark now, and even with my improved night vision from Charlotte, I couldn't tell if the land was private or public.\n\nThe rod twitched again. I saw a road up ahead. \"There. Turn right.\"\n\nHayley slowed down and turned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was an old, narrow two-lane road." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We're getting close,\" I said.\n\nAbout a mile or two down the road, the rod twitched strongly, pointing to the left into the woods.\n\n\"Stop. Here.\"\n\nHayley pulled to the side of the road and parked on the shoulder. We got out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That way,\" I said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "About fifty feet off the road, we came to an old wire fence. We climbed over and followed the rod through the trees for a hundred yards or so, Hayley and Katarina walking behind me with the shovels. Charlotte hopped over and around the fallen logs and branches in the darkness, running beside me.\n\nThen I heard Hayley calling to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Jimmy, slow down! You're going too fast for us.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I turned around and realized I'd left them about twenty yards behind without even realizing it. I'd just been moving through the forest with Charlotte. Then I remembered what she'd said about being more agile.\n\n\"Is this you?\" I asked her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She meowed back at me and rubbed against my legs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Katarina and Hayley caught up to me, and we continued at a slower pace. The ground suddenly sloped down into a narrow ravine.\n\nAs we reached the bottom, the rod twitched again, pointing down.\n\n\"Here,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I saw nothing of significance on the ground below us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was covered in leaves and fallen branches, with rocks here and there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I got a strong sense that there was something under it.\n\nKatarina and I started to dig as Hayley held the flashlights. Almost immediately, we hit pieces of old rotten wood buried under the forest litter, along with some deeply rusted pieces of iron. As we got deeper, I realized there was a large wooden wheel, like something off of an old carriage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It fell to pieces as we tried to move it.\n\nLess than a foot down, my shovel hit something metal — some kind of flat iron plate. Katarina and I dug around it, and it turned out to be a square iron box about a foot across. It was rusted but still intact." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We levered it out with the shovels." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was an old lock on it, but one blow with the shovel broke it off. The lid was rusted shut, and I had to use the shovel to break it loose. I opened it up. Hayley pointed the flashlights, and we all looked down into the box." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Holy shit,\" I said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh, my God. It worked,\" Hayley said.\n\nInside was a collection of gold coins, covered in a layer of dried mud. I picked one up and looked at it. There was a liberty head on one side and an eagle on the other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was dated 1839." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The rest of them were the same.\n\nHayley picked one up. There seemed to be at least a hundred of them.\n\n\"What do you think this was, Jimmy?\" Katarina asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't know. Maybe a payroll box or something. Who knows what for? There must have been an old highway where the current one is. Maybe this wagon got loose and rolled down the hill.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What do you think this is worth?\" Hayley asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I laughed weakly. \"I have no fucking idea. We can't just take these to the bank.\"\n\n\"I think we should go,\" Katarina said.\n\nI picked up the box. \"Yeah, let's get out of here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We got back to the car in a few minutes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I saw nothing in either direction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tossed the box in the trunk and got back on the road." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I took the wheel this time.\n\nWe drove in silence for a while. Then Hayley spoke up.\n\n\"Guys, this is big,\" she said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd been playing with her phone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Those are U.S. gold eagle coins. It's hard to be sure, but they're probably worth a couple thousand dollars.\"\n\n\"That seems quite low,\" Katarina said.\n\n\"No,\" Hayley said. \"I don't mean the whole box. I mean each.\"\n\nI did the math in my head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had to sell these things somehow, which I knew was not going to be that simple, but... damn." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We'll split it,\" I said.\n\nHayley immediately objected.\n\n\"All I did was drive and hold the flashlight. This was your thing. You got the stick from them. I didn't do any of that.\"\n\n\"You helped,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Jimmy, we've hardly talked about this, but you know my parents are both doctors. My mom is a cardiologist and my dad is a neurosurgeon. I don't exactly need the money. I know you do.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I attended Huntington as an undergraduate on a nearly full scholarship, and I had tuition remission as a TA, but I still had student loans from five years of room, board, and living expenses. If Hayley was right, this would wipe all that out and more.\n\n\"Okay. Thanks.\"\n\nShe reached over and rubbed my arm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Charlotte, who was on her lap, meowed loudly." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hayley bent down and hugged her.\n\n\"What are you thinking about, you cute little witch?\" Hayley said to Charlotte. \"I would love to be able to talk to you like he can.\"\n\nCharlotte meowed again, and I thought about her home in the spirit world." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Today you will be acting as a writing assistant in the Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica genre. Your partner will send something and you will write the next 1 sentence." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's Not You, It's Me" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why don't they come up here and arrest us?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alex asked. He stood with the two women by a statue of an angel on a small rise away from the chapel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Blood from the goblet still covered his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Firefighters worked to dampen the flames of the chapel while police began scouring the area." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The three of them stood in darkness, but many flashing lights passed over them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Both women answered at once." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That's me,\" the blonde replied, while the dark-haired one said, \"I am concealing us.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They stopped, looked at each other sharply, and then turned away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Given a moment to get his bearings, Alex realized that underneath all the blood and bruises, both women were shockingly beautiful." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The blonde already showed signs of recovery." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She pulled the tattered remains of her dress up off her hips to cover her chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex thought she seemed about his age." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The other, perhaps a decade older, mostly looked away from the other two." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So they don't see or hear us here?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No,\" the blonde answered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Huh... 'kay... I can't believe you're both standing after all that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm getting better,\" the blonde answered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll manage,\" the other shrugged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How did you find us?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "the blonde asked. \"Did you know about this? Did you receive some revelation?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I just snuck onto the property to take some pictures. Then I heard the screaming. Turned out the front door wasn't locked. I had no idea what I'd find here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She smiled a bit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mysterious ways,\" she said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Bugger your patriarchal sky god,\" the other woman grimaced." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alex hesitated. Every word seemed to make this even more awkward, but just standing there didn't seem to be all that slick, either. \"Are you cold?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he asked the dark-haired woman." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You could have my sweatshirt at least...\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked at him blankly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hey, I'm just trying to help. This is all so crazy. Who the hell are you two, anyway?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Interesting choice of words,\" the blonde said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The other woman spat blood onto the ground." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sorry,\" Alex muttered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I guess there's no harm in telling at this point. You can call me Rachel,\" the blonde began." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I am an angel of the Third Host, charged with... nevermind. Probably means fuck-all to you. I'm an angel, and that's all you need to know. This one,\" she said, gesturing at the other woman, \"is... well, why don't you tell us?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Bitch,\" the other grunted bitterly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sure we could call you something fouler,\" Rachel smirked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Woah, hey, how about we not fight?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex moved between them and held his hands up peaceably." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Look, I'm Alex, okay? You're Rachel, okay, cool, and what's your name?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Call me Lorelei, ma—\" she stopped herself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Startled by the name, Rachel's posture stiffened and she stepped back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She quickly swallowed and regained her composure before either of the others noticed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That first name might fit wonderfully, then,\" she commented." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Look, ladies, can we please cool it? Jeez, you're like cats and dogs or something.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rachel looked at him evenly, and then the implication clicked in Alex's head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked at Lorelei with wide eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But... aren't you supposed to have, like, wings?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They cut off our wings after we were summoned by their sorcery,\" Rachel explained, \"and her little horns and tail." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They burned it all to power their ritual." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That's how they got that big pile of ashes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Magic often works in symbolism, and I suppose those features symbolize power." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They wanted to weaken us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Lorelei is a succubus,\" Rachel continued with a hint of venom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you know what that is?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He knew only what he had picked up from the rulebooks for Jason's role-playing games." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Isn't that like a hottie girl demon?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rachel rolled her eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes. A hottie girl demon. The succubae seduce men on Earth to sate their immortal lusts. Their victims give their all until they are shriveled husks, abandoning life and everything of importance to fuck the evil little trollops. Men fornicate with them to their literal deaths.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Holy shit, is she serious?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lorelei only reluctantly raised her eyes to meet Alex's gaze." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She greatly simplifies,\" she said quietly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You have nothing to fear from me, mast—\" Again, she cut herself off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rachel looked on with newly aroused interest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So you steal souls?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rachel giggled while Lorelei shook her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's not like that,\" Lorelei said simply." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can... tell you later.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, I'll just bet you can, Lorelei,\" Rachel said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What's so funny about this?\" Alex asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh, I think Lorelei here was affected by this insanity much more than I. Do you remember what the fallen priest was saying?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Bite your tongue, angel!\" Lorelei snapped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I was kinda busy trying to rescue you two and not freak the hell out at the same time. I'm just a college student.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rachel considered her words. \"I'm probably not supposed to tell you all this, but fuck it.\" She leaned back, casually putting her butt against a headstone. Alex blinked at the angel's language, but she didn't notice. \"Those men were trying to use sorcery to enslave us both." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, the priest was, anyway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The others were just his goons." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One of them must've been the genius that left the door unlocked. Thankfully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They summoned and imprisoned us through ritual magic. They tortured us to keep us weak. The chains, the whip, cutting off our wings. All that fucked-up shit. And then, with that goblet as a tool, the priest drew out part of our essences. My purest good, her foulest evil, like he said.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alex's jaw dropped. He touched his stained cheek." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You mean that's what's all over my face? Is that gonna do something to me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It already has, to all three of us,\" said Rachel, with a hint of amusement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Though Lorelei here obviously got the worst of it. He worked harder on her. Neither of us can hurt you nor lie to you now. And again, Lorelei's just not as evil as she was. We'll have to wait and see how much difference that makes. And I,\" she said, a bit sadly, \"am something less now than I was... though the Hosts may be able to remedy that later.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So you're not a good guy angel anymore and she's not a bad guy demon? What happens with me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, I'm still good at heart, I can tell you that. And Lorelei... well, that's up to her. But as for you? Again, the ritual was meant to enslave us both to the recipient of those essences. I can't lie to you or hurt you, though I wouldn't regardless. But I sure don't feel enslaved. Lorelei got it worse, though—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Go ahead and run your mouth more, wretch,\" Lorelei grumbled bitterly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"—or have you not noticed that Lorelei keeps almost calling you 'master?' She's fighting it, but she's losing.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rachel only slightly suppressed her grin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Again, Alex's jaw dropped. \"I—what?!\" he blurted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I didn't mean—oh my god! Lorelei, I wasn't trying to enslave you, I was trying to help! Holy shit, this is crazy! I don't want a slave! That's fucked up! I just didn't want you to get hurt anymore or raped, or... oh my god...\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lorelei looked at Alex like he had grown another head and started speaking Chinese." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rachel chuckled. \"'Abashed, the Devil stood, and felt—'\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh, shut up,\" Lorelei interrupted bitterly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Isn't that from 'The Crow?'\" Alex asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rachel sighed. \"No. Milton. Paradise Lost. Keep going to college, Alex, you'll get it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is this permanent? What happens when I wash this off my face?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Nothing,\" Lorelei answered. \"The blood is a symbol and a conveyance, nothing more. The deed is done. We are both diminished. I cannot mislead or harm you, and... I will not be claiming any more lives as I once did. Master,\" she added, as if admitting defeat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex was floored. \"There's gotta be some way to free you, though, right? I mean, slavery's just... wrong!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This is not slavery as you understand it. That is an oversimplification. Virtually every demon in Hell is servant or slave to another,\" said Lorelei." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The priest had already severed my connection to my previous master. Another master would inevitably take that place. His ritual served to fill that void, yet it fell to you. That seems far preferable to his original intentions. Regardless, to return to Hell diminished like this would be... unimaginable. Given the conditions, this is the least of bad alternatives.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Magnanimous for a demon. That pull on your essence must have gone deep,\" Rachel quipped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I would still bite off your wagging tongue, hag,\" Lorelei snarled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Wait, so what am I supposed to do?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alex asked. \"Won't some other big bad demon come looking for her?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Possibly, but unlikely,\" Lorelei said, more to the ground than to Alex." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I wouldn't worry about it,\" Rachel added." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Lorelei's damaged goods, and greater demons generally can't act overtly against mortals. You haven't done anything to lose the protection of Heaven.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The thought gave her pause." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She frowned, looking around a moment, and then shrugged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"In any event, you have an angel in your debt. You'd be a complicated target.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You don't have to feel like you owe me anything,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I just did what someone had to do. But, I mean... no offense, Lorelei, but,\" he turned back to Rachel, \"is it seriously okay for a normal guy like me to have a demon, um, working for him? I don't wanna wind up in Hell.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Bound to you would be a better term,\" Rachel offered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And that's something only time will tell. Still, it's not like she can fuck off back where she came from now, and I can't take her with me. You'll have to keep her close so she doesn't run around being... well, evil.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She smirked at Lorelei's glare." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hell, you might be a good influence on her.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Again, Rachel looked around as if watching for someone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll be watching over you, Alex,\" she said as if deciding something profound." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Remember, she can't lie to you or try to bring you harm, including to your soul. Trust yourself. See ya.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She turned and started walking away, gradually fade from sight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wait, you're just leaving? What am I supposed to do now?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rachel looked back and shrugged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What else would you do? Go home.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Home!?\" Alex blurted out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I still live with my mom!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Silence followed. With the angel gone, Alex turned to face the naked, battered yet beautiful demoness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A million thoughts came at once, and he had no idea where to begin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So you can stay invisible?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I have great ability at illusion, master, yes,\" she responded evenly." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I haven't the strength just now for much else, but I can manage this. No one but you will know I am present.\"\n\n\"Guess you'll have to be invisible on the back of my motorcycle, then, 'cause I only brought one helmet and I don't wanna get a ticket. You sure you don't want my sweatshirt?\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Produce 3 sentences using the prose and structure of Elliot Kay every time it's your turn, using what the user wrote as a seed. Stick to the Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex blew through the lobby of Keating & Rose with a simple \"good morning\" to the firm's grandmotherly receptionist." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He headed straight for the file room, where he sat down at his countertop \"desk\" against one wall amid the metal racks of file folders and got right to work." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alex logged on to his computer and promptly grabbed the overnight files out of the in-basket nearby. He was fixed on getting his mind off of naked demons and angels and freaky rituals.\n\nIt wasn't working, but then Kat came in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His co-worker was a lithe, tanned fitness freak whom he had crushed on ever since he started at his job six months ago, but she was both older and in a committed relationship. She wore a pair of jeans and a zipped-up North Face sweater along with her perpetual smile. \"Morning!\" she said.\n\n\"Heya,\" Alex said blearily. \"Mornin'.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kat looked at him curiously as she sat down at the workstation next to his." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wow, your eyes are seriously bloodshot. Did you sleep at all last night?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not really.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Huh. Hot date?\" she grinned.\n\n\"Kind of, but no.\"\n\nShe snickered, then looked at her task list and frowned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's hot in here,\" she said. Alex glanced over absent-mindedly as Kat pulled off her sweater. He was treated to the sight of her tight, bare midriff as her undershirt caught on the sweater." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As it was lifted away, Alex could make out the shape of her bra under her top." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She didn't seem to mind his stare at all.\n\n\"Oh. I should grab my filing,\" Kat thought aloud. Alex's office crush moved forward, leaning in with her chest brushing up against his head as she pulled a stack of paperwork out of the filing cabinet beside him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She sat back down. He found it hard not to stare. His gaze lingered on the straps of her bra against her smooth, toned skin and the way the cups shaped and pushed up her breasts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She brushed away her brown hair to expose her collarbones and her neck, which Alex looked at for a brief, longing moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kat paused only to glance at him and smile. He knew she should have been bothered. He was leering. But she didn't seem the slightest bit disturbed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I wish I had worn shorts today,\" Kat mused aloud." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Maybe I should run home and put on a pair at lunch?\"\n\nAlex had often fantasized about all the different ways he could hit on her. He thought about being charming, being tender, being sweet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had thought about flowers or coming up with just the right thing to say. He didn't lack confidence; she simply wasn't available. Now, though, all he could think about was pushing her up against the wall and tearing her clothes off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He felt unreasonably sure she would welcome it, too.\n\nWith an effort of will, Alex tore his eyes off her and turned to his work.\n\nHis day continued on just that way, only steadily worse with curious behavior and innuendo from the ladies in his office." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Keating & Rose had perhaps thirty employees in all, but a number of them were rather attractive women." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had actually become something of a concern for the senior partners and the office manager as they recognized their hiring patterns... but Alex never complained." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All day long, he could swear that the ladies looked at him differently. Several abandoned all sense of personal space when with him. He saw more leg and cleavage than he could ever remember." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Six times, he was summoned into the office of one attorney or another to help sort through paperwork and other tasks that he was never asked to perform before. Flattering as the attention was, it seemed out of place.\n\nStephanie, the copy room clerk, turned it up the most." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Closest to Alex in age and very pretty, Alex crushed on her from day one but she showed no interest in him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex was a bit of a geek while Stephanie was a hip club bunny; they got along at work, but she clearly never felt any spark with him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Every time he came across her that day, though, he felt her staring at him with come-hither eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The petite Latina found excuses to touch or bump into him. Twice, she had reason to bend over so that he could see the top of her thin panties as her slacks slipped down.\n\nWomen asked if he'd been working out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They asked if he was wearing new cologne." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All the ladies in the office found a moment to lean in close and sniff, some of them several times." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They complimented repeatedly on his appearance, though he'd worn old jeans and a t-shirt in anticipation of doing a heavy-duty dusting job on the file racks. Winks, smiles and suggestive jokes filled every conversation.\n\nAlex continually caught himself behaving strangely, too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He couldn't believe no one called him out on it, because he kept staring at every curve and every exposed bit of flesh. Alex had a heightened awareness of how each woman's clothes fit on her, and he continually pondered what each one might have on underneath based on the way the outer fabric hung. The constant preoccupation with attraction and sex banished his fatigue entirely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Three times, he went into the restroom in hopes of finding some relief from his unending arousal. It was hopeless each time. Alex remained undeniably turned on and obsessed with sex." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Cooperative storytelling\nMy role: Provide a brief opening\nYour role: Expand upon my opening with 8 sentences in the Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lorelei smelled him almost as soon as they came off the escalator from the bottom floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She didn't recognize the individual, but knew the type. Turning around would do no good; even if he didn't catch her scent yet, he might pick it up later and investigate, and then discover her vulnerability. This had to be dealt with, quickly and decisively... and preferably not in front of Alex. She needed a way to keep him occupied.\n\n\"I would guess that you don't have a clear idea of what sort of clothes you'd like to see me in,\" she said, \"at least in public.\"\n\n\"I figured you should just wear whatever you like. You'd look good in anything. I'd be happy with you in jeans and a t-shirt or whatever's comfortable.\"\n\n\"Hm. You do prefer a bit of glamour, though. That much is plain.\"\n\n\"Well, I don't know who doesn't appreciate someone taking the trouble to look good, but I wouldn't expect that all the time. Can't be wine and roses every night of the week.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She smiled. \"Silly master.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hey, you should really call me Alex,\" he whispered to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, no one's listening to us... Alex,\" she added as a concession." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What you mean to say is that because you do not go to great effort for fashion, you wouldn't expect it of others.\"\n\nHe looked down at his outfit, frowning. \"It's not like I'm a slob,\" he muttered.\n\n\"You love various Goth looks,\" Lorelei continued, \"and business casual with a hint of sexiness. I imagine you would rejoice if all the world's hipsters died in flames?\"\n\n\"I wouldn't want to use that turn of phrase in front of someone like you, but sure. Trying too hard to make a point of looking like they're not trying. Past that, I guess I just like whatever works for a given woman? If you want me to pick out clothes for you, it's going to be a disaster. I want you to get what you want. I'm pretty sure you look great in just about anything.\"\n\nLorelei nodded. \"I can accept that.\" She slipped her hand in his. \"However, we should begin at the beginning.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lorelei led him with calm, confident purpose toward a shop that Alex hadn't dared set foot in since he was ten years old and at his mother's side.\n\n\"Um,\" he tried to protest, \"this is a lingerie store.\"\n\n\"It's not especially racy. They provide more than lingerie.\"\n\n\"Yeah, like five tight shirts and some hand lotion,\" Alex said. She didn't slow down; they were really going into this trendy, spacious store for things that Alex honestly didn't know how to discuss with other women without sounding perverted.\n\n\"I would prefer a more upscale store specializing in much more alluring intimate wear,\" Lorelei admitted, \"but this works for now.\"\n\n\"Isn't bringing me in here going to be... um...\"\n\n\"Awkward? No. Many ladies bring their men in here to explain what they'd like to see in the bedroom. Isn't that right?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lorelei asked the sales associate who suddenly appeared right in front of the couple." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Absolutely,\" she smiled boldly without missing a beat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex's gaze rose up from the floor to trace quickly up those shapely legs in black lace stockings, a tight, knee-length black skirt and an ample bust under a black tee." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes finally settled on her rather pretty face. Pert nose, smooth skin, short, curly black hair. Amusement in her almond eyes.\n\n\"Hi, I'm Audrey,\" she said, offering her hand. \"I'm the store manager.\"\n\nAlex blinked. Store managers didn't randomly offer to shake hands. She was clearly fucking with him only because this was so embarrassing. He considered dying, right there on the spot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instead, he simply shook her hand and mumbled, \"Hi, I'm Alex.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Audrey winked. Then, as Lorelei spoke again, her expression seemed to change. The hot lingerie store manager started looking at Alex like he would make an exciting addition to her bedroom furniture.\n\n\"My boyfriend here has been a bit deprived,\" Lorelei said to Audrey. She stood closer to the other woman than necessary, speaking almost directly into her ear. \"He's—well, forgive me for being so forward, but he's a thrill a minute in the bedroom. I'd do literally anything he asked of me, but he just doesn't know what to ask for. No idea what to call things. Religious upbringing.\"\n\n\"I see,\" Audrey nodded. Her eyes were locked on Alex's.\n\n\"So now that he's free to enjoy himself, I'd love make sure he has a good time. You know, wear the right things to drive him mad. I couldn't ever blame any woman for throwing herself at him. Anyway, I think he could stand an education from an expert.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'd be more than happy to help,\" Audrey offered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her chest rose and fell a bit heavily." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 9 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've got a lot of shopping to do, and the mall won't be open too much longer. Could I leave him in your capable hands? I'm sure he'll show a lot of gratitude.\" Her tone conveyed a very clear offer.\n\n\"Absolutely,\" Audrey said. She still had his hand.\n\nLorelei leaned over and kissed his neck. \"Let go and have some fun, master,\" she hissed. \"It will be good for all three of us.\"\n\n\"What—are you leaving?\" Alex blinked.\n\n\"I've another spot to visit here, and not much time tonight,\" Lorelei said as she walked away. \"I'll know when you're ready to leave.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll kick things off by writing a bit, then you'll take over and write the next three sentences, keeping within the Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Release. Downstairs, Audrey rode Alex over the edge. Lorelei shared in joy and satisfaction without letting a bit of it show. She didn't need to, and Rob didn't need to know." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inside, Lorelei felt the blissful emotional rush and revitalization of climax." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On the surface, she maintained a remarkable façade. It even grew stronger as her victim indulged his lusts.\n\n\"My options for payment are limited,\" Lorelei smiled, giving a conciliatory nod." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What Rob wanted was no option, and wouldn't have been regardless of her strength." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was best to make that plain. A week ago, it would have been no problem. A minor chore at the very worst." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now the thought of copulating with this one turned her stomach. Suddenly, rather than indifference to Alex's restrictions, she actually felt gratitude.\n\n\"That's too bad,\" Rob frowned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I had always figured Belial's for the kind to keep all options on the table. I'm sure we could work a little something out...?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We all have our restrictions,\" Lorelei shrugged again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The feeling was so good—and then, abruptly, stopped. Totally interrupted. One second Alex basked in the afterglow, ready for another go 'round with his playmate—and in the next, suddenly, nothing.\n\nThe demon across from her pressed on." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah, but not Belial's legion.\" Rob shook his head, and then stuffed his mouth with a pair of fried shrimp. \"Gnyou gnuys hafta giff your all effry day,\" he managed through too many morsels at once." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then he swallowed. \"I know how Belial's works. No slacking, no hesitation. No price too high, no shame too low.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, well,\" Lorelei said, faltering a bit, \"I have had a change of allegiances.\"\n\nA mistake. An admission she did not want to make, one that would pique further curiosity. A demon of avarice and gluttony like this could compel such revelations just as Lorelei could change her appearance to better approach a victim." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "u know Elliot Kay? write like that. 5 sentences sentences. Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica stuff." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't like Taylor didn't know how Alex got partly undressed, or aroused, or what he had done about it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She knew exactly why his skin was slick with sweat. Amazingly, she didn't care. In the back of her mind, she knew this was insane, but it was suddenly easy to dismiss the details.\n\nShe devoured his lips and tongue with another kiss. She couldn't get enough of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alex's longtime crush wrapped her now bare legs around his hips, doing everything she could to have as much of him inside her as possible as she sank down onto him.\n\nTaylor felt every bit as good as Alex had ever dreamed. But it had always only ever been dreams. This wasn't just sex. He cared about her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had always cared about her.\n\n\"Taylor, this is... I don't...\"\n\n\"Sshhh,\" Taylor said, putting a finger over his mouth as she continued to gyrate against him. \"We both know we both want this right now. It's just right now.\"\n\n\"I don't want to just use you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She giggled softly. \"You're not using me. We're friends. Very close friends. I don't expect anything more. We're not being any naughtier than you were just two minutes ago.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm not, no. What about you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're the one here supposedly shopping for your alleged girlfriend.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her breath shook a little as she spoke, adding an odd, involuntary whine here and there in her voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The stiff flesh within her clearly had an effect on her speech. \"Won't she be mad if she finds out?\"\n\n\"She'll know. She engineered that,\" Alex said, nodding toward Audrey's exit. \"My 'girlfriend' will think this is hot.\"\n\n\"Wow. Kinky. Never would've figured you for a relationship like that,\" she smiled into his lips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Just keep it to yourselves.\"\n\n\"What about you?\"\n\n\"Mmmmh. Well. If you see my Facebook blow up tomorrow, it's been a long time coming and it isn't about you at all. Don't jump into it.\"\n\n\"You know I've always been crazy about you,\" Alex said. \"I think everybody knew.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Grinding slowly against him, Taylor nodded. \"Are you okay if this isn't more than it is?\"\n\n\"It's something.\"\n\n\"Yeah, but... mnh... I have things to... sort out.\"\n\n\"Still friends?\" Alex didn't feel disappointed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He still cared, but he was also over her now. His feelings just weren't what they were in high school anymore.\n\nTaylor nodded. \"I might want a booty call now and again, if that's okay.\"\n\n\"I'd like that a lot.\" His hands gently roamed underneath her shirt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had always found Alex adorable, but never realized just what he could deliver." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Definitely a booty call now and again,\" Taylor groaned." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write six sentences sentences in the style of Elliot Kay spawning from what the user wrote." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "J'Von checked the time on his cell phone and cursed. \"Nobody takes that long lookin' at women's undies 'less they tryin' the shit on.\"\n\n\"Maybe he's that way?\" Tony shrugged. \"Like, who are we to judge?\"\n\n\"Yeah, don't go all fuckin' homophobe, J'Von,\" Mike nodded.\n\n\"The fuck...? What's wrong wit'choo?! Jesus! Look, we done waitin'. We gotta go in there an' get his ass.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "J'Von took off walking, with Tony and Mike quickly falling in line behind him.\n\n\"Could be he gettin' a blowjob in the back room,\" Mike suggested. \"Girls workin' in a lingerie store gotta be at least a little bit freaky.\"\n\n\"Shit, that stuff only happens in porn,\" Tony countered.\n\nThe store was mostly empty when the three entered. Only the closing crew and a few random customers remained." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not everyone noticed the three men as they arrived. Even then, nobody jumped to conclusions. Their thug life attire wasn't that alarming, but the all-business expressions on their faces kept people out of the way.\n\nIt was J'Von who found the dressing rooms. Two were open; one was occupied. He glanced down at the bottom of the door and saw a man's sneakers and crumpled pants." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Frowning, he paused, and heard what sounded like kissing.\n\nShit, really? he wondered. This appeared to be the only guy in the store. It was worth checking. Worst case, they lost their guy and would have to leave the mall. J'Von had been thrown out of Pacific Place before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It wasn't a thing.\n\nHe pulled his bank card out of his pocket and slipped it in under the latch.\n\nSure enough, there was a couple on the dressing room chair. One of the sales girls was on the dude's lap, going at him slow but hard, and neither one heard J'Von enter until the door banged against the wall. Both looked up with a start.\n\nJ'Von already had his nine partially drawn from his coat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't say a fuckin' thing,\" he warned quietly but darkly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll be long gone 'fore cops show up after I shoot both of you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Neither one panicked. The girl looked more afraid than the guy, but she wasn't about to scream." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For his part, the guy on the seat seemed to keep his cool. \"What do you want?\" he asked.\n\n\"Put your fuckin' pants on, both of you,\" J'Von said. \"Don't do nothin' stupid. We goin' for a drive.\"\n\nThey didn't argue. Both of them did as he said.\n\nAlex didn't like it, of course." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "More than being just unpleasant and dangerous, it seemed like going along was a dumb way to handle the situation. When seeing something like this on television, he would scream inwardly at the characters not to just obey the bad guy, but rather make a break for it or do something productive.\n\nIn the reality of it, though, he'd only ever been in two real fights, and one was just the other night. Those were three middle-aged guys taken by complete surprise. He'd been armed, more or less. And before that fight was over, he had an angel and a demon on his side, who in turn had been the ones to end it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Neither of them was in sight. He didn't know where Lorelei was, or how soon she'd be back. Rachel said she'd be watching him, but couldn't see him when he was with Lorelei, and Alex didn't know what specifically that meant. How far did they have to be apart? How often did Rachel try to look?\n\nWith his pants back on, Alex considered trying to tackle J'Von, but then Mike appeared in the hallway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two of them now. Twice as unlikely to turn out well. Neither of them looked like strangers to violence, either.\n\nAs they quietly directed Alex and Taylor out of the dressing rooms and out of the store, joined by a third guy—this one white and skinnier than the other two—Alex cursed at himself for not taking Drew up on those kung fu classes months ago. They might not have helped much at all here, but anything was better than nothing, and that's what he had. Nothing.\n\nTaylor held it together fairly well." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She took Alex's hand when they were outside the store and walking to the elevators, but otherwise showed little fear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We gotta pay parking before we leave?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tony asked as they waited.\n\n\"Don't know,\" J'Von shrugged. He nudged Alex from behind. \"We gotta pay parking for that car of yours?\"\n\nAlex frowned. \"The pass is in my pocket,\" he mumbled.\n\n\"Good.\" The elevator opened and all five of them went inside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As soon as the doors shut, J'Von demanded, \"Phones, wallets and keys. Now.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 7 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Both hostages—that's what they were now, Alex understood—obeyed. Alex wished he had replaced that pepper spray. All he'd have to do was set it off in here to blind and incapacitate everyone. These guys seemed serious, but he didn't think they'd be dumb enough to shoot blindly in an elevator.\n\nNo pepper spray. No black belt in kung fu. No guardian angel or fire-breathing demon. Too bad for that." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "NarrativeBot: Extend text by four sentences sentences. Replicate Elliot Kay's style. Maintain Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An hour later, she fit in just fine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To say that she was \"one of the guys\" would have been far from the mark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lorelei clearly had little in common with them, and was quite spectacularly not a guy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But she held her own, neither seriously flirting nor being standoffish. Lorelei may have been there as Alex's girl, but soon enough she was everyone's friend.\n\nShe had them talking openly about topics that were normally sensitive: Drew's mixed racial heritage, Wade's experience in the war. Even conspiracy-minded Jason gave up theorizing how Alex's \"date\" could be some sort of prank or stunt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eventually, Lorelei beckoned Alex close to her with a finger." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He came over, smiling at her. \"They like you,\" he noted.\n\n\"I know. I'm glad. Alex, they'll want to talk to you a bit without me present.\"\n\n\"About you, you mean?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's natural,\" Lorelei shrugged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have arrangements to make for the weekend. The hour is late, but not for what I have to handle. Would you like me to give you some space?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a moment's thought, Alex nodded. \"Might be good, I guess.\"\n\nShe leaned over, kissed him, then made her goodbyes. \"He's gotten to lay around all day while I've been taking care of business,\" Lorelei said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'd like to call it a night. Can someone do me a favor and take him home for me?\"\n\n\"Yeah, we got him,\" Drew nodded. \"Cool having you out with us. You coming to the party Saturday night?\"\n\n\"It's a plan,\" Lorelei said, flashing them all a winning smile as she sauntered out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Most of the patrons of the pool hall watched her go—almost everyone, except the slightly heavyset man in a cheap suit seated at a table near the bar. He focused on going unnoticed, which required effort given the presence of another of his kind in the pool hall. He simply kept to himself, kept his head down as he ate.\n\nThe guys moved into a two-on-two game with Alex partnered up with Drew." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So now that she's gone and we can cynically talk about her behind her back...\" Jason observed dryly.\n\n\"Yeah, yeah. What's on your mind?\"\n\n\"That story about you two meeting serious?\" Drew asked. \"Guys had jumped her, you came to her rescue?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Pretty much,\" Alex nodded. He noted their resounding chorus of \"what-aren't-you-telling-us\" stares. \"So the thing is, it happened over by Sacred Heart cemetery,\" he said quietly. \"And then the funeral parlor there caught fire from something, and Lorelei really didn't want to talk to the cops.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And why's that?\" Jason asked, suspicious once more.\n\n\"Because she's had some nasty associations in the past.\"\n\n\"Like the dudes who jumped you and Taylor?\"\n\nAlex nodded at Jason's frown." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jason had always been sharp." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't a surprise that he smelled bullshit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Exactly like that,\" Alex said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But you don't think she's got her own trouble with the cops?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex shook his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. She had no problem talking to them last night. Identified herself and all that. Would've preferred not to, but when she had to there were no worries.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Huh,\" Jason said. The guys looked at one another, particularly Wade and Drew.\n\nWade lifted his head curiously. \"Show us,\" he said.\n\nUnsure what Wade meant for a moment, Alex finally shrugged and put down his pool cue." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked around the pool hall furtively – it was growing fairly empty at this point—and then unbuttoned his untucked shirt and peeled off the bandage over his wound." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All three guys took a look." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wade whistled appreciatively. \"God damn, you are one lucky sumbitch,\" he chuckled.\n\n\"You don't know the half of it,\" broke in a scratchy voice. Alex fixed his shirt and the guys all turned toward the newcomer. He had strolled up as they talked, probably listening in despite the music on the PA system and the other customers..." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "... who, now that Alex glanced around, were very few indeed. And those who remained seemed to be packing up.\n\n\"Help you with something?\" Alex asked.\n\n\"Yeah. More to the point, I wanted to see if I could help you guys with something. You all seem to be a bit in over your heads tonight... you in particular, pal,\" the stranger said, eyeing Alex." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His words were friendly enough." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had a nice, disarming smile. Yet all four young men found Rob's company rather unsettling." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Team writing exercise. I start, you do three sentences in Elliot Kay style." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You sent me home with Alex despite our obvious antipathy,\" Lorelei said. \"Why?\"\n\n\"What else should I have done?\" Rachel frowned. They walked together with an uncomfortable space between them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I had to report back. You aren't a threat to him, regardless of how I might feel about you.\"\n\n\"And how do you feel about me?\" Lorelei's voice was calm, measured and cool." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're a succubus. Do I even need to say?\"\n\n\"Rachel... is there any reason for you and I to be hostile, other than that? I am a succubus. You are an angel. Yet neither of us works toward cross purposes any longer.\"\n\n\"I still serve the divine. I will always serve the divine.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yet I do not serve Hell,\" Lorelei said. Rachel stopped to look her in the eye. Lorelei met her gaze without concern." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I serve Alex. I cannot begin to tell you what an improvement that is upon my existence.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rachel snorted. \"I know how you serve him.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you? There is sex, yes, for mutual pleasure. There is also affection, companionship, trust, support and protection. I like him. I adore him. The words are alien, and I hesitate to misrepresent my feelings to myself, let alone to Alex. But whatever there is between us, I would not willingly relinquish it for anything. Not for the highest crown in Hell and my freedom along with it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You say that,\" Rachel frowned, \"but only one of us in this conversation is capable of lying.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes. But you know I am telling the truth.\" Lorelei's tone softened. \"He has opened up paths I dared not explore before now. I resented this condition at first. Now I continue to change, and I embrace it. I mean you no harm. I am no longer your enemy. I may never be 'good' by Heaven's definition, but if I no longer take the sort of actions you combat, why should we be hostile?\"\n\nRachel's innocently beautiful face was thoughtful as she watched Lorelei." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What's your idea of less than hostile?\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"In the time that we have had this conversation, how many ways have you imagined destroying me?\"\n\n\"One hundred sixty-four.\"\n\n\"We might start there.\"\n\n\"... sixty-five,\" Rachel corrected." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Today you will be acting as a writing assistant in the Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica genre. Your partner will send something and you will write the next 7 sentences." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fifteen minutes and a few miles later, Alex showed Onyx into his home. She looked around curiously. \"Nice place,\" she observed.\n\n\"Wasn't always like this,\" he said. \"I can remember thinking food stamps were pretty neat. Mom's come a long way.\"\n\n\"You and your mom are close?\"\n\n\"Yeah. She doesn't treat me like a kid much. Unless she's freaked out, I guess.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Must be nice to have a cool parent,\" Onyx mused, but plainly wasn't thinking much on it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For once, Alex felt confident in his interpretation of body language." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He leaned in and kissed her. She kissed back, pulling him toward her until he pushed her back up against the door. Onyx tugged at his shirt, her face turned up into his while his hands softly trailed down her curly black hair to the small of her back.\n\nInstinct warned him to be gentle with her. Her kiss and her body felt delicate and needful yet with an innocence that seemed completely out of place with everything he'd learned of her.\n\nOnyx had a girlfriend. Lived with her. Things were serious." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was a little older at a time in life when even a little could mean a lot. Her image was a carefully constructed blend of dark, foreboding colors and mysterious allure. She had to know how pretty and sexy she was. Had to be much more worldly than him, even after this last crazy week.\n\nYet if she had told him as they kissed that she had never been with anyone else before this, he'd have believed her.\n\nThat kiss lasted a long time. They embraced closely but softly up against the door, cuddling as much as anything." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Both of them released a breath pregnant with tension and excitement." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've wanted to do that since the first time I saw you,\" Alex murmured.\n\nOnyx's eyes glittered up at him. \"This is special.\"\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\nShe inhaled, being bold once again. Onyx said, ever so quietly, \"Don't take me to a couch if we're just going to wind up moving to your bed.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "5 sentences sentences. Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica stuff." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the simplest, most basic of purification spells. If she'd been subjected to something serious, it probably wouldn't work. But she had to try something immediately. First aid, if nothing else. For that, she always carried a vial of sea salt in her purse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Onyx brushed a small pinch of salt across her forehead and threw it into the sink with the faucet running." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She did so again with salt across her heart, then again just below her belly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She murmured the words, trying to keep her voice down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With this done, she looked in the mirror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She didn't feel any different. Her body was still riding high on the rapture of her afternoon, but this revelation threw her mind and her heart for a loop. If anything had been altered about her, if she had been manipulated through some supernatural means, it went beyond her ability to break right now. That, or she hadn't been affected at all. One or the other." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His aura shone with benevolence and life, but there was an invisible woman with a devil's tail connected to him somehow.\n\nShe didn't want to leave him here. It wasn't right. She had to get him away from her—from that—and make sure he was okay. Unless, somehow, he was part of this, and everything about him was a deception beyond her means to detect...\n\nStop. That doesn't make sense, she told herself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That he could fake his aura was a pretty big stretch to begin with." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything about him and his home stated flatly that he knew nothing of any Practice she could name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Further, if he could run that tight a charade, or if that woman could, then she shouldn't have been visible to Onyx at all.\n\nWhatever was going on had begun well before Onyx got here. He was hale and hearty. Illness or fatigue would have shown in his aura. Any drain in his soul would have been visible as well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was bad, but it wasn't an emergency. At least, not for him.\n\nOnyx looked in the mirror. She had another minute or so before her absence became suspicious. She could already hear him coming up the stairs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rummaging around in her purse, Onyx pulled out a tiny pill bottle filled with snapdragon petals." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Murmured words in Greek and Hebrew mingled with English as she placed a petal under her tongue." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She hoped the universe wouldn't hold this one spell against her. Deception was not a pleasant way to go and tended to incur a threefold payback, but all she wanted was a smooth and inconspicuous exit. Lying wasn't high on her list of social skills. She needed this boost of guile. Onyx rolled the petal up from under her tongue, swallowed it, and took a deep breath before opening the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She kept a pinch of salt at the ready in her right hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hey,\" she said softly, finding him sitting on his bed again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He offered her a glass of water, which she accepted with her left hand. She drank it down with hardly a pause.\n\n\"You're dressed,\" he observed. She heard some slight disappointment there, but he didn't want to guilt trip or push her. That much was obvious." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah. I hadn't realized the time. I need to go. Got places to be soon.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "A lie. Not a big one, and arguably only a half-truth, but not the way she wanted to handle things." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then again, she didn't want a demon in his house, either." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're sure? I haven't made you uncomfortable or anything, have I?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His concern was plain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It only made her melt a little bit more inside.\n\n\"It's not you. It's nothing bad,\" she lied again. Looking at him like this, trying not to think of what they'd just done for one another and seeing that he could clearly perform yet again made leaving difficult. Part of her wanted to ignore what she'd seen and stay in his bed even longer.\n\nBut she couldn't. That was unthinkable now, at least until she had a chance to cleanse and to think." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Onyx looked at him, then pulled him close and kissed him. Her right hand slipped behind his head and let the salt fall into his hair. She broke off the kiss, leaning her forehead onto his, murmuring something very softly.\n\n\"What's that?\" Alex whispered.\n\n\"Nothing. Just that I like you. I don't want you to feel like I'm running away from you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If you say that's not what you're doing, I'll take your word for it,\" he offered.\n\nShe smiled a bit. \"What are you doing this weekend?\"\n\n\"I've kind of got plans. Party tomorrow night but I think it's all people you don't know. And I'm, um... well, like I said, there's someone...\"\n\nOnyx nodded. \"Yeah. Me, too. It's fine. I just wanted to know if it's okay to call you if I've got the chance. No promises,\" she added." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And no getting sad if I don't call. Just means I couldn't, not that I didn't want to.\"\n\n\"Of course. Call me anytime,\" Alex agreed. He grabbed a scrap of paper from his desk and wrote his phone number and email on it, then handed it to her.\n\n\"Okay, I've got to get out of here, or I'm gonna wind up jumping you.\"\n\n\"That's bad?\" he grinned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't,\" she grinned back, gripping one of his shoulders firmly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't tempt me. You have no idea how easy that would be for you, so I need to trust you not to. Please.\"\n\nAlex nodded. \"I'd rather be your friend than your bed buddy. But I'd much rather be both,\" he added only half jokingly.\n\n\"Thank you. For this. Today. Everything.\" She got up.\n\n\"I should walk you to your car,\" Alex said.\n\nOnyx laughed and shoved him back onto the bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not like that you can't. I've gotta run. I'll be in touch. Seriously. See you later, Alex.\" She headed out of the room and down the stairs.\n\nAt the door, a hand reached out and softly covered hers. She was sure she wasn't supposed to see it, but she was on her guard now. The touch was electric, almost paralyzing and delicious all at once." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Trying to maintain her façade of unawareness, Onyx paused.\n\n\"He wants you,\" a sensuous woman's voice whispered directly into her ear, setting Onyx's desires on fire all over again. \"He wanted you from the moment he first saw you, and will want you again. You can trust him. You're safe with Alex.\" With that, the hand slipped away.\n\nOnyx shuddered, then opened the door and went outside with all deliberate speed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lorelei smiled as the young woman left." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She sauntered up the stairs, feeling her master's desire for her. The succubus expected to find him sitting or laying on his bed. Instead, he waited for her at the doorway. Lorelei yelped happily as he yanked her close, kissing her wantonly and pushing her up against the wall.\n\nShe slid one bare leg up along his, her skirt hiking up invitingly as she moved. They had a lot of catching up to do." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "im ur writing buddy. i set scene, u do eight sentences like Elliot Kay" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rachel sat in the second row, slumped forward with her arms over the pew in front of hers. Few normal people occupied the church, and those present came with obvious needs. They sat scattered in the pews back near the confessional booths. The mortals in the humble church could see Rachel, but not the other angels.\n\nGrandiose entrances and praise heaped upon the Most High took up plenty of time before the hours-long discussion even began. Rachel could see the sun begin to set through the stained glass windows.\n\nIn front of her and to her sides stood shimmering, glorious winged men and women. They discussed recent events in respectful, calm and sometimes rather emotionless tones, all completely unseen and unheard by the mortals in the building." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One of those mortals, a tall, lanky young man with brown hair, quietly sauntered over to Rachel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Haven't seen you here before,\" he said to the achingly beautiful blonde. His tone was entirely too friendly. \"Are you new in the neighborhood?\"\n\n\"Tell me you didn't come over here to hit on me straight out of the motherfuckin' confessional booth,\" Rachel said flatly. She didn't look at him.\n\n\"Uh... no, I just–\"\n\n\"Are you seriously going to lie to me in a church? Right in front of the altar?\"\n\n\"I, um. I. Wow. Uh... I'm...\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're gonna get your ass back in line and confess lying to me just now, aren't you?\"\n\n\"... Yes?\"\n\n\"Good,\" Rachel fumed. She blew at a hair that dangled in front of her face as the young man carried his shock and his wounded pride back to the other end of the church. Rachel's eyes slid to one side, where several other guardian angels silently watched the proceedings. One of them coughed and excused himself to follow the retreating mortal.\n\n\"Sorry,\" he mumbled, \"that's one of mine.\"\n\n\"You might have gone easier on the young man,\" observed the older-looking angel standing to Rachel's right. The whole congregation of angels had turned to look at Rachel as she dealt with the flirter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not everyone had realized at first whom she addressed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh, fuck him,\" Rachel told Hannah with a shrug. At the sight of the disapproving frowns and downcast eyes, Rachel was of half a mind to tell her peers to fuck off, too.\n\nExcept they weren't her peers. Not at the moment. Not with her wings gone and the glow of her virtue so plainly diminished. Rachel didn't think of all that as so terribly relevant. So her language was colorful. So what? It always had been." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Were her priorities off? Had she shirked a single responsibility?\n\nHannah, took Rachel's dismissal in stride. She returned to the topic at hand. \"The situation with Rachel's charge has brought positive developments already.\"\n\n\"More like astoundingly positive developments,\" Rachel muttered.\n\n\"Let's not get carried away,\" countered a hard-bodied blond by the altar. He wore little more than white trousers, showing off a perfectly-chiseled physique adorned by faint, centuries-old scars." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He vanquished a demon, Vincent,\" Rachel retorted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Permanently. No 'time out in Hell's penalty box' bullshit. When's the last time you did that? Any of us?\"\n\n\"Caleb vanquished the demon,\" Vincent corrected.\n\n\"Bullshit. Alex and his buddies delivered Gorge to Caleb wrapped up like a Christmas present.\"\n\nVincent and the other angels turned to Caleb, who nodded. \"She is correct. As I stated, Gorge was bound and greatly weakened. I served as an instrument of mortal initiative. Without them, there would never have been a confrontation, let alone destruction.\"\n\n\"And how often do any of us do something this decisive?\" Rachel said.\n\n\"The loss of a single corruptor is surely not decisive,\" intoned a darker-skinned angel in white robes. Lawrence hadn't been against Rachel in this discussion, but his high standards would never waver." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Gorge mattered little in the great balance.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, but what mortal or angel has caused any shift in the balance at all in recent memory?\" Hannah offered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caleb spoke up. \"We would not be discussing this now but for Rachel's actions, or deliberate inactions if you prefer. Gorge's contracts would still stand, damning those who might now make good on a second chance. The evils of several other mortals are now mitigated by their imprisonment. Stolen savings will soon be restored to many. And at least one soul which would now be in the Pit may instead find salvation.\"\n\n\"One soul,\" Vincent said.\n\nRachel's eyes widened. \"I don't know what I ever saw in you,\" she breathed.\n\nHannah drowned out Rachel's words. \"Yes, Vincent, one soul! One soul at a time! That is what we do! That is how it is! As it has ever been! And in these matters, many souls are touched. Many lives are altered for the better. As it has always been with this one!\"\n\nVincent scowled. \"I seek only to prevent further provocations of the Pit,\" he said defensively. \"The balance has been observed for a reason.\"\n\n\"This is still a localized matter,\" Lawrence said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wait,\" Rachel frowned. She looked up to Hannah." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"'As it has always been with this one?' What's that supposed to mean?\"\n\nHannah held her tongue. \"It is not a matter for this discussion,\" she answered with distinct softness and compassion. \"We are not, in the end, here to talk about Alexander.\"\n\n\"The fuck we're not!\" Rachel growled.\n\n\"We are here to discuss the broader situation—\"\n\n\"Centered around Alex!\"\n\n\"How much of your concern stems from infatuation?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vincent's tone only grew sourer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rachel snatched a hymnal from the bench and threw it at his face. It passed straight through his head to land on the floor behind him. Vincent looked on with feigned indifference, but she knew him better than that. She used to know him much better. He had always been stern, but he had never been such a... such a buttmunch!\n\nVincent didn't hold her attention, though. Rachel glared at Hannah. \"Tell me!\"\n\nHannah looked at her a bit sadly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vincent saved her from having to speak." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"None of the good this boy has done merits the danger that it has incurred, or soon will,\" he said. \"It falls to us to protect him, yet the demands of the balance tie our hands. This situation must end.\"\n\n\"And end the good that his actions bring?\" Hannah shook her head. \"I tell you, Vincent, he would not have it. I do not think he would shy away from whatever danger his choices might bring. He never has,\" she added, her words tinged with pity and pain. She saw the demanding questions in the wingless angel's eyes and looked away.\n\n\"These dangers are far beyond mortal threats,\" Lawrence pointed out. \"If he keeps antagonizing the Pit, he will face their wrath. His death would be of unimaginable horror.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Gorge was a mere corruptor bound into human flesh,\" Vincent said, dialing back his tone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They will eventually come for him without such subtleties. They will come without disguise, and he will know them and fear them for what they are.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What, without human skins to protect them? I'd pay good money to watch that fight,\" Rachel muttered.\n\nDebate continued, but Rachel stopped listening. She looked at the stained glass windows, trying to guess what Hannah hinted at, and why she wouldn't say it straight out.\n\nIt was in that moment, staring out into the darkness, that Rachel began to glow brighter.\n\nConversation stopped. The other angels looked on with some surprise. Vincent and Caleb both slightly winced. \"Rachel,\" Lawrence said, calling her attention back to the conversation.\n\n\"What?\" she asked absently." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Look at yourself.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She blinked, then glanced down at her hands, and then at her body, and then at the halo around her head that shone as brightly as ever.\n\nHannah smiled, her eyes losing most of their sadness. \"I think perhaps you should look in on your charge, Rachel. I suspect he has done something to surprise us yet again.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "user starts, u write ~two sentences more. copy Elliot Kay's style" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Next thing you're going to tell me is that 'Gladiator' is full of historical inaccuracies.\"\n\nLorelei laughed openly. \"You mean other than the entire plot? Or the fact that you see four hundred years of fashion over the course of the film?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Their hands remained clasped at the center of the table as Alex learned that Lorelei could make small talk like anyone else. \"I didn't expect you to watch a lot of movies,\" he mused." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I figured that'd be boring to you.\"\n\n\"I am closer to human than you might think,\" Lorelei shrugged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Everyone likes stories. The world grows smaller, but the variety and scope of the stories grow.\"\n\n\"So you wouldn't say things were better in the past and today's world is soulless and vapid?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Vapidity and soullessness are nothing new. Those who claim the world is less now than it was long ago have the luxury of ignoring broad swathes of waste and mistakes and sorrow. They see through filters and the comfort of distance and detachment.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So there aren't times you miss?\"\n\n\"I did nothing with those times that compares to what I have in the present,\" Lorelei pointed out affectionately." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah, but it wasn't all... work, right?\" Alex asked, unsure of how else to say what was by its nature indelicate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It sounds like you've always had time to yourself.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She nodded. \"Indeed. Plenty of time. Speed was rarely my goal, and thus laying out plans left me with wide gaps of time to fill on my own. Nor was I often... recalled by my superiors, or for very long. So no, it was not all work. Far from it. But I was largely inclined toward solitude, or distance from others at best. Truly good souls tended to shun me on instinct before now. Spending so much time around the most reprehensible of mortals takes a toll.\" She paused before admitting, \"It never occurred to me before this week how lonely I have been.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alex squeezed her hand. It seemed like enough deep introspection for one dinner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So you have hobbies?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her smile returned. \"Music and dance.\"\n\n\"No kidding?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Dance has always had practical applications for my line of work, as it were, but I have always indulged in many of the arts. I am an excellent dancer and musician, if I say so myself. I've performed for a wide variety of audiences, high and low—though not among my own kind. One can't expect a fair reception among those who only know malice.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Again, he steered away from gloomy topics." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So how far off are my tastes from yours?\"\n\n\"Your tastes are good, if very narrow,\" she teased." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That seems normal for your age and this society, though.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hey, I'm pretty open-minded.\"\n\n\"Name a single artist or composer in your collection that pre-dates rock'n'roll.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He thought hard. \"Metallica's got a song with an intro that's supposed to be derivative of one composer or another,\" he offered with a self-deprecating grin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lorelei softly shook her head with amusement. \"Oh, the luxuries that await you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Fraulein Sofia!\" a voice gasped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lorelei's eyes briefly widened before her cool self-assurance reasserted itself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She and Alex turned toward the voice, which repeated as if in shock, \"Fraulein Sofia.\"\n\nShe was old. The woman wore a matronly, respectable dress in light blues, with hat and gloves and a small purse." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her face and stature and the slight shake in her arms showed the kind of age that could only be borne with an indomitable spirit. In truth, for all the years shown by her body, her only real sign of frailty lay in that she was looking at a ghost." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The woman had others with her. Younger, all of them, though one man was old enough to be Alex's grandfather." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Imah, come,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alex knew the word; Jason's family often spoke Hebrew at home. The old man's height made the notion that he could be her son seem a touch comical, almost, were it not for her grave expression and his obvious concern." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were all much taller, though, Alex realized. Much taller and healthier." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Born and raised in dramatically better times.\n\n\"I'm sorry?\" Lorelei asked, blinking in confusion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You could be her twin,\" the elderly woman mumbled, still in shock. \"You look so much like her. Just like her, touring the camp... with that laugh...\" Alex heard more than surprise in her tone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The elderly woman's voice trembled with fear—or at least the echoes of it.\n\n\"I am sorry,\" her son said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A younger woman, probably his granddaughter, tugged gently at the elderly woman's wrist to lead her away. \"Just a misunderstanding,\" the man added." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No apologies necessary,\" Lorelei shrugged, showing a face of concern and compassion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked down, though, as they led the woman away to their large family table. Her eyes came up to her date's again only with reluctance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For the first time, he seemed far away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Somehow in all of this their hands separated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Alex,\" she began softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You don't have to explain,\" he said, his voice quiet. \"Her gloves didn't come up all the way on her wrists. I could see the numbers.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "As he spoke, their waiter arrived with their dinner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex only nodded his way through the man's perfunctory questions, waiting until he left to speak again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I've been going to Friday seder at Jason's since middle school. His grandfather came to speak to my eighth grade class.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He picked up a fork and nudged his steak with disinterest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"History was always one of my better subjects,\" he mumbled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lorelei hesitated. \"Alex, I never had any part in what happened to—\"\n\n\"I believe you,\" he nodded, still quiet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a moment's silence, he shrugged and looked up at her. \"I believe you,\" he repeated. \"Like Cordingly, right?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes.\" The glimmer in her eyes had changed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Before, that shine conveyed happiness. Now the light merely shimmered against tears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Beyond Alex, Lorelei saw the woman rise from her table. She brushed off the offers of help, needing nothing more than her cane." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She said something in accented Hebrew about just going to the bathroom. She moved off, not looking back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You were there to punish someone, right?\" Alex asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I was.\" Lorelei's voice seemed to have fled from her.\n\nAfter a moment, Alex said, \"I'm not judging you, Lorelei.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked at him with pleading eyes, but he just shrugged again. \"I wasn't there. You weren't who you are now. I know most of your life was ugly, and I just... I don't see the use in being mad at you for what went on before. I don't want to be mad at you, Lorelei. Holding onto the past when we can't do anything about it just doesn't seem...\" He lost that train of thought, and shook his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I want us to be happy together.\"\n\nAs he spoke, Lorelei feared their happiness had already vanished." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am so sorry.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex shook his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You don't have to apologize to me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Silence hung for another long, difficult moment. She understood, of course, that there was no implied message in his words." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Still, she said, \"No. Would you excuse me, Alex?\" She waited for him to nod before she got up and headed for the restroom." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lorelei passed by a table where several men enjoyed drinks after a successful day's sales meetings. A blonde waitress collected their empty glasses, bending at the hips to reach the furthest of them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hey, honey,\" the man on the end seat slurred, \"c'n you bring us another round? I'ss kinda bottoms up time f'r us.\" In his current state, he figured that was witty." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He also figured she'd be flattered to have his hand grab at her ass." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An instant later, he figured he should absolutely not cry out as she crushed his fingers together with an iron grip." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She stood up straight, holding his hand but otherwise ignoring him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The blonde watched Lorelei until the dark-haired beauty slipped behind the bathroom door.\n\nA wry, excited smile played at her lips. \"Hot,\" she shuddered." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ow,\" whined the owner of the hand she then released. He knew despite his overwhelming buzz that he'd have to get those fingers looked at. He also knew better than to complain when the waitress left without taking their next round of orders." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write five sentences like Elliot Kay would, using user's text as beginning" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lorelei sensed the arrival just as it occurred. She had been laughing with Alex, explaining to him after handling the check how tacky it was to pay with cash in a restaurant like this. That laughter fell away almost instantly. The look in her eyes, like a predator whose territory had been intruded upon, was unmistakable.\n\nAlex turned his head a bit to indicate his curiosity, but he didn't ask out loud." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Demon,\" Lorelei said quietly. \"One that will surely sense my presence.\"\n\n\"Like Gorge?\"\n\n\"No.\" Her expression grew darker. \"Much worse. One like me. Her name is Lydia.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His brow furrowed. Alex felt tense already." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You can tell one from another?\"\n\n\"I know this one... Gorge told me she was in Seattle.\"\n\n\"What else did he tell you?\"\n\nLorelei nearly answered, but stopped. \"I believe now is not the time. There are a thousand ways this could go poorly. A week ago it would have been no issue, but in my current state this is dangerous. Will you follow my lead?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah. Of course.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I cannot hide us. She knows I am here and will discern much. Our only option is to walk out quite brazenly.\" She looked at him seriously. \"Remember all that you have overcome, Alex. Fear no evil.\"\n\nAlex took a deep breath and nodded. She was about to rise, but he held up a quick hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He got out of his seat, helped her out of hers, and took her arm.\n\nThey didn't have far to go. Alex wondered just how far Lorelei had fallen from her original state. He knew what had been taken, and that she had only thus far recovered her devil's tail, but that gave him little perspective. He considered it all one hell of an incentive to have more sex." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If we make it out of here, he thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fighting Gorge had been a knock-down, drag-out brawl with three of his friends at his side, and two of them were about the toughest guys he knew.\n\nAt the corner between the dining room and the foyer, they came face to face with the hostess, three men in suits and a dazzling blonde. She wore a flattering black party dress and long black gloves. Her brilliant green eyes stood out from her flawless skin, matched by lustrous emerald jewels on her ears and neck.\n\nThe three men were all Latinos." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two were tall, broad-shouldered men. One of them, Alex noticed, had a pair of teardrop tattoos under one eye. The third man wasn't exactly small, but he looked to have perhaps a decade on the other two guys, and he walked arm-in-arm with the blonde.\n\nShe stopped in her tracks. \"Lorelei?\"\n\n\"Lydia.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The blonde looked her over once, simultaneously curious and disdainful." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You look awful,\" she declared. \"What on Earth happened to you?\"\n\n\"You two know each other?\" asked the man on Lydia's arm.\n\n\"Oh, we go back a long time,\" Lorelei answered, her eyes on Lydia." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I heard you were in town. You'll forgive me for not seeking you out. I didn't have anything new to say.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lydia frowned. \"Ah. Dear Robert has been gossiping about me, has he? His lips grow so loose and indiscriminate while he's out whoring. I'll have to speak with him.\"\n\n\"Good luck with that,\" Lorelei replied.\n\nThe Latino blinked, sensing obvious tension. Lydia slid off of his arm to bring her hands together as she spoke, throwing out some other hardly-even-veiled insult. Almost unwillingly, he glanced at the young stranger with an unspoken question in his eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex quickly went from dread to grim amusement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He would probably die over this, he realized, or at the very least he was in for a severe beating. It made for the fourth time he'd faced certain doom this week. Five if he counted that first, anguished night and day spent in fear of what could happen if he took the succubus up on her invitations. At this point, his entire life just seemed absurd.\n\nTo top it all off, the man trying to catch Alex's eye was almost certainly marked for death—death by sex, no less." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The man leaned in and asked, \"Do you know what this is about?\" He had a subtle but distinct Mexican accent. He wasn't irate, or demanding, or much of anything but confused.\n\nSuppressing a grin, Alex matched the Mexican's lean and said, barely above a whisper, \"I dunno, but I don't see how this could possibly go well. They're wearing the same outfit. Chicks have to brawl if that happens, don't they?\"\n\nThe Mexican's eyebrows rose as he took Alex's meaning." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Apart from their jewelry, the two women were dressed alike." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Maybe we should break this up and go our separate ways?\" Alex suggested.\n\n\"Really, Lorelei, you seem so much more haggard than usual,\" Lydia said, casting off only a little of her venom in favor of genuine curiosity. \"What did you do to yourself?\"\n\n\"Divorce can be brutal,\" Lorelei shrugged. \"I am on the mend. I already feel much better for having shed so much baggage. You should try it. You'll feel much lighter. In your case I imagine it would feel like having shaved off an entire cow.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Divorce? Well, you do look like you belong in one of those quaint women's shelters.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lydia turned her attention toward Alex. \"Oh, but who's your escort for this evening? He looks so young and innocent. And he's already met Carlos. Introduce us?\"\n\nThose sultry green eyes bored right into him. Her grin twisted wickedly as she stepped close. Her beauty couldn't be denied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nor was she weakened like Lorelei." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lydia slid up against him, looked deeply into his eyes, and breathed against his lips. Carlos and his companions pointedly said nothing. They watched with a mix of reluctance, arousal and fascination. Carlos hated it when Lydia did this, but he could do nothing to stop her, nor could he turn his eyes away. Nothing stopped Lydia from pressing her luscious, perfectly curved body into Alex's with a predatory grin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I hope you don't mind a little catty talk between old girlfriends,\" she purred. \"It's no big deal. I'm Lydia. You almost look familiar.\" She stared into his eyes, and as she spoke one gloved hand slid around to tease her fingers through Alex's hair.\n\nOnyx's warding salts had fallen through that same spot in his scalp hours before. The salt washed out in the shower, but the warding spell would last until morning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Though the spell could not block Lydia's supernatural charm, it nevertheless blunted the intensity. The rest fell to Alex's natural willpower.\n\n\"I'm someone who's already got a much hotter blonde in his life than you,\" Alex replied. \"Now would you back up a bit? You're steppin' on my dick.\"\n\nHer eyes went wide with shock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lorelei masked her surprise, but not her grin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The three Mexican gentlemen in Lydia's company all looked on as if the universe had just turned itself inside out and started playing the bagpipes. From her watchful position nearby, Rachel clamped her hand over her mouth, spun around the corner, and bumped her head against the wall twice to stifle her laughter.\n\nThe blonde succubus slipped back, still completely stunned. Alex held her gaze, wanting to turn away and get the hell out but remembering his lover's counsel. \"Weren't we leaving, Lorelei?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He held out his hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She took it. \"A warning, Lydia, for old times' sake,\" Lorelei said. \"This is a dangerous city for our kind. The natives sometimes bite back. Not everyone respects the balance. You may even wind up on a new leash that you will find less pleasing than the one you wear now.\"\n\nTogether, Alex and Lorelei stepped past Lydia and Carlos, both of them still taken aback by the scene. The two large men in their party remained in the way, but only until Lorelei politely asked them in Spanish to move. They both blinked and made way for the couple." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Almost half a minute passed before the hostess recovered her wits. \"Um. Would you like me to show you to your table?\"\n\n\"Carlos,\" Lydia said with a voice full of sweetness and adoration, \"that little brat and his whore insulted me. Shouldn't they have to say they're sorry?\"\n\nHe hesitated, unsure of how to tell her to just get over it, or whether he even should. As always when it came to Lydia, he opted for the path of least resistance. Carlos turned to his two bodyguards. \"Well?!\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write 5 sentences like Elliot Kay would, using user's text as beginning" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moans and whimpers from across the room woke him. Alex stirred in the big, luxurious bed. Gentle daylight filled the room, mitigated by an overcast morning sky. Taylor reclined on the couch, her head and arms laid against its plush top. Given the tone of Taylor's voice, Alex had no doubt where his succubus might be or what she was doing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alex lay in bed, stretching and listening in appreciation. He used to find the sight of Taylor in someone else's arms depressing. He felt differently now. He could watch Taylor and Lorelei together for hours—except he'd never resist the option to join in.\n\nQuietly, Alex slipped out of the bed and into the bathroom to freshen up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Taylor didn't notice. She was somewhere north of Cloud Nine. He took care of business quickly, making a point of brushing his teeth to save everyone from his morning breath.\n\nWhen he came back out, nothing had changed. Stepping around the couch, Alex found Lorelei kneeling before Taylor with her head buried between the brunette's legs. He wondered with a smirk how long it had been since Lorelei came up for air and if Taylor cared." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Probably not, he decided." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He doubted she could think of anything at all.\n\nFiguring Taylor wouldn't notice him right away, he knelt next to Lorelei, trailing kisses across her back. Lorelei let out a softly audible purr of acknowledgement, but didn't pull back from Taylor. Alex then shifted up to Taylor, his hands joining with Lorelei's in caressing the younger woman's body. Taylor stirred just enough to encourage more." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When Alex came up to kiss her, she kissed back eagerly.\n\n\"No. Not me. Her,\" Taylor breathed out finally. \"Give her some attention. She won't let me.\"\n\nAlex pulled away from Taylor to take up a spot on his knees behind Lorelei. Taylor's eyes fluttered open so she could watch Alex join in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lorelei tensed with anticipation as Alex's hands trailed back over her, caressing her hips and her ass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His fingers soon confirmed that she was more than ready for him. Alex wasted little time. Lorelei let out a moan of approval as he entered her, but she didn't let up on her other partner. Her energy rose, as did the intensity of her kiss between Taylor's legs.\n\nThe wonderful, lingering torture Taylor shifted, for as Lorelei's excitement grew her lips and tongue focused on bringing Taylor to orgasm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Treated to such an erotic sight as well as expert attention, it wasn't long before Taylor went over the edge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When she calmed, she reached down to draw Lorelei into her arms, holding her fondly while Alex took her from behind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Satisfied as she was, Taylor relaxed and enjoyed the erotic spectacle. Her partners gave in to primal urges and seemingly boundless energy. Even after last night, she never would have expected such shameless lust out of Alex. What blew Taylor's mind, though, happened as Lorelei's cries of pleasure became ever louder, ever more compelling... and finally became a single, coherent word, over and over again: \"Master.\"\n\nSpasms and whimpers wracked the older woman until she collapsed in Taylor's arms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex shifted around, taking up a spot on the couch to gather Lorelei into a tender embrace." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lorelei buried her face in the curve between his neck and shoulder while she held him tightly. It seemed as if she might be crying as he stroked her hair and tried to calm his breathing. \"Thank you, master,\" she whispered. \"Thank you.\"\n\nWide-eyed and amazed, Taylor breathed, \"'Master?'\"\n\nAlex seemed to blush. \"There's... there are some things we need to tell you,\" he admitted." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Hey can you write like Elliot Kay in the Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica genre and use whatever I write as a jumping off point?" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the first day in a week that Alex woke up to something other than Lorelei's touch. Instead, he woke up to Taylor crawling on top of him. \"How is anyone supposed to enjoy college when he has to wake up this early in the morning?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "she asked with a grin.\n\nAlex sighed happily. \" 'm all dedicated 'n' stuff,\" he mumbled.\n\n\"We need to get you transferred to U-dub,\" Taylor said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He let out a groan as he stretched." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Might have trouble focusing on classes there.\"\n\n\"Exactly,\" Taylor said as she began kissing the side of his neck. Lorelei's mouth mirrored her attention on Alex's other side." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At that point, he was just plain spoiled.\n\n\"If you two want... want to stay and... play longer,\" he managed, \"I think I'd... like that.\"\n\n\"Hell yeah,\" Taylor breathed out.\n\n\"I'll take very good care of her, love,\" Lorelei smiled into his ear." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write two sentences sentences spawning from what the user wrote, within the Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"There go all of my doubts,\" Onyx said as Alex pulled out of the parking lot on his motorcycle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His invisible companion rode on the back, holding him tightly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Following the two out of the biology lecture without being spotted wasn't difficult." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They only had eyes for one another." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They repeatedly stopped to throw one another up against this wall or that tree for long, hungry kisses between the lecture hall and the parking lot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why do you think she went invisible again when they got on the bike?\" Onyx asked.\n\n\"He's only got one helmet,\" Molly pointed out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If she's not wearing one, too, they'll get pulled over. But the books all say that demons with mortal flesh are super durable. If they get in an accident, she'll still be better off than he is even though he's dressed for it and she isn't. If she's really a succubus... but she can't be what she looks like,\" Molly repeated.\n\n\"Guess he won't be in photography today,\" Onyx frowned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, what do you think?\"\n\n\"I think she turns invisible, she has an aura that's conveniently so bright it can't be read, she crawled all over him while he's in class and she's dragging him away from his responsibilities while everything about him screams 'I need to fuck right now.' Yeah. I'm pretty convinced of what she is, whether or not she looks the way she did on Friday.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good thing I found these along the way, then,\" Molly grinned. Onyx looked to her." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Molly was holding up several blonde hairs.\n\n\"Holy shit, how did you get that?\"\n\n\"Are you kidding? With the way they wrestled up against the wall outside the lecture hall, I'm surprised he didn't pull out a whole lock of her hair. So let's go home, get out of these fucked up clothes and get to work. I think it's time we had a conversation with this chick.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Story collab\nMe: Opening\nYou: 6 sentences more, Elliot Kay-style" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Carlos collapsed behind Lydia, unable to hold himself upright anymore. She shifted from her hands and knees to help him lay on his back with his head on the pillows. Carlos breathed heavily. He'd been in frenzy for hours, with his orgasms frustratingly further and further apart.\n\nFor Lydia, that was delicious progress.\n\n\"Baby,\" he whispered hoarsely, \"I need water. I need...\"\n\n\"I know what you need,\" Lydia said, straddling him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She shuddered with the pleasure, enjoying both the sex and the rapid deterioration of his strength.\n\n\"Can't we rest?\" he asked weakly. With some effort, he raised his hands to her hips, wanting to urge her off. She grabbed his wrists and flung them up and over his head as if his arms were just limp objects attached to his shoulders.\n\n\"You rest, Carlos,\" Lydia reassured him. \"Relax. Let me take care of the rest from here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That's... 's not what I mean...\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know, Carlos,\" Lydia grinned. \"I know.\"\n\nIt wouldn't be long now. She loved this part." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Today you will be acting as a writing assistant in the Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica genre. Your partner will send something and you will write the next 7 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rachel stood in a small room lit up by candles. It looked like someone's apartment. To one side of her was a lovely young woman in a black dress and tall Doc Marten boots. Her hair was black and curled, her skin pale and smooth. On the other side of her was a pretty woman of similar age, but in torn black jeans, a dark t-shirt promoting a band with a logo Rachel didn't recognize, and jewelry with a consistent theme of leather and metal studs. Her short red hair clearly wasn't natural.\n\nNeither of them looked terribly friendly." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode:\nCo-writing\n\nLength:\nthree sentences\n\nStyle:\nElliot Kay" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How come we never hung out much before?\" Taylor asked aloud. She still lay on the couch in Drew's living room staring at the ceiling.\n\nDrew sat on the arm of the couch near Taylor's feet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You and me did hang out in high school. Ain't the first time you've been on the therapy couch.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, I mean everyone. I always liked Wade. I always liked Jason. And Alex was... I didn't want to date him, but of course I liked him.\"\n\n\"You're here now. We all love you. An' it sounds like whatever you and Alex got going on is fine for the both of you. The three of you,\" he corrected teasingly, swatting her foot.\n\nTaylor put her hands over her face, laughing a bit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"God, I'm a total skank.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hey, if you're a skank, we're all skanks.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, whatever,\" Taylor said, waving off his comment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She stared at the spackling on his ceiling. \"Do you... I don't know how to ask this...\"\n\n\"Just do it,\" Drew shrugged helpfully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you get jealous?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Of what?\"\n\n\"Alex. Look at what he's got. He's slept with three women this weekend alone. Four, apparently, if you count whoever he was with Friday afternoon. And Lorelei's loaded and devoted to him and she's just so... she's amazing, you know?\"\n\n\"Shit, you'd know that better than I would, apparently. Skank,\" he grinned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Who the fuck else has he been with?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Some Goth chick from North Seattle. And he got it on with Jocelyn at the party.\"\n\nDrew's eyebrows shot up, and then he laughed. \"Okay, now I am jealous. That bastard.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm serious! You didn't know? He didn't say anything?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I think Alex isn't the kind to brag about this stuff. I mean, yeah, he had one motherfucker of a shit-eating grin when he first showed up with Lorelei, know what I'm sayin'? But he ain't one for giving play-by-plays. You've told me and Jason a lot more than he has.\" Drew gave her a teasing grin. \"But it ain't like we didn't know he's getting all freaky. You haven't seen the angel, either. Damn. Just damn.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Taylor looked over at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had seen her, actually, but couldn't remember much. \"Is she prettier than Lorelei?\"\n\n\"Nah, I wouldn't say that. She's crazy hot, but there's something... I dunno. They're different. Both put your jaw on the floor, though.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But you don't get jealous? All that, and you don't feel any envy at all? Not the other guys?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, I guess there's envy and there's jealousy. I mean, any guy who looks at that woman and doesn't wanna hit that is, like, one hundred percent gay, right? Like not even a little bit into girls. So she's cool, but... man, you didn't see him when we were drivin' around with that demon guy in the minivan. Alex had this look on his face like he was just fucked. He was like, 'That's it. That's what I get to do from now on. Just hella crazy guys kickin' my ass an' tryin' to take my girl an' all my friends getting' hurt.' That's gotta be some heavy shit there.\"\n\n\"See, that's what I'm saying, though. You defend him. And look what he's got.\"\n\n\"Look what I got, though. We told you earlier about the pool hall. The only complication there is figurin' out how to tell our families and make sure it don't look dirty, but man... four days ago I felt like I'd never be able to afford to go to college. Now I've got that licked. Hell, I'm probably gonna finally buy a car or move out of my mom's place here. Maybe both, if I keep workin'. An' Jason's talkin' about maybe selling his share if we can figure out how to swing that fairly, 'cause he doesn't want to be in business with friends. Says it's bad juju.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Taylor nodded. \"I didn't mean money, though. I mean women. Sex.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hey, Alex and Jason were the ones who never had girlfriends. Sherri's all over me. You can tell me grass is greener for Alex, but I wouldn't know, 'cause I'm busy takin' care of my own. And Wade ain't even been lookin' for a girl, but I think he picked one up the other night.\"\n\n\"I know Trish. She's a sweetheart.\"\n\nDrew nodded. \"I think Wade's just lookin' for someone to talk to after all the shit he's been through. So no. No jealousy there. And, Jason...\" he tried to go on, but just laughed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What?\" Taylor grinned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Jason... oh, man, that fool. Taylor, you aren't the only one who's been...\" He gave up trying to talk and laughed more." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What? Tell me!\" Taylor said, nudging his leg with her foot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He went home with two of those blonde Britney girls from the party.\"\n\nTaylor's jaw dropped. \"Jason did?\"\n\n\"Yeah,\" Drew nodded. \"He came over and plopped down on the couch just like you did like he was still in shock. I guess those girls are freaky. He's all blown away, his hickeys haven't all faded yet, and he's getting texts from both of 'em like crazy. An' his parents found out like immediately. I guess one of 'em slipped her panties in his pocket an' they fell out when he got home an' his parents flipped the fuck out. So he drops all that on me, and then finally we're cool and shit, and then you come over an' plop down on the couch, and I'm just like, 'Oh, what the fuck now,' know what I mean?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The thought gave Taylor a good laugh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Wow, I saw those two. They were hot.\"\n\n\"No shit. He showed me a couple of the pics they sent him. Nothin' nude, but freaky.\"\n\nHer eyes went wide with interest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did he share them?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, but I bet if I asked him,\" Drew suggested, reaching for his phone. As he did, it went off with the chorus of \"Pretty Fly for a White Guy.\" \"Oh, hey, speak of the devil,\" he chuckled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Drew flipped the phone open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yo' momma so dumb she-–\" he fell silent as Jason barked at him. Then his face grew serious.\n\n\"What is it?\" Taylor asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Someone just grabbed Alex,\" Drew scowled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Maybe Lorelei, too. Jason's following 'em.\"\n\n\"Oh shit,\" Taylor gasped. \"Wait. Did he see them? Were they all dressed in black?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jason heard her over the phone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Drew listened and told her, \"Yeah, said they all looked like a costume party for emo kids.\"\n\n\"They're probably vampires,\" Taylor thought aloud. \"Dammit.\"\n\nDrew blinked. \"What?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We gotta get after him!\"\n\n\"We're on it. Jason's following. We can't exactly call the cops for this. We're gonna call Wade and get him–\"\n\n\"We'll call him on the way,\" Taylor said, already up and grabbing her jacket." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wait, on the way? What? You're coming, too?\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Last I checked, you don't have a car.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode:\nCo-writing\n\nLength:\nfive sentences\n\nStyle:\nElliot Kay" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This oughta make 'em shit their pants,\" Wade declared. He looked over their collective handiwork on the vampires' SUV. The interior behind the driver's seat was absolutely soaked with oil and gasoline. Gas-soaked newspapers and other combustibles were stuffed into the back and everything useful to the crew had been stripped from its insides.\n\n\"If we can get it close enough,\" Jason scowled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We'll get in. Only two guards at the front gate from the looks of things. It's damn easy t' get complacent when you're guardin' someone else's party in whut should be a quiet area.\"\n\n\"Anyone still not down with this?\" Drew asked.\n\n\"I'm down,\" Taylor put in, \"but I've got a question. You aren't driving this thing in, 'cause you've gotta be ready to follow in and cover with the gun, right?\"\n\n\"Yup,\" Wade nodded. \"It's gotta be Jason or Drew.\"\n\n\"Rock paper scissors for it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Drew asked Jason. The other shrugged in consent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Uh, guys,\" Taylor broke in, \"Drew hardly ever drives.\"\n\n\"She's got a point,\" Jason frowned. \"Guess it's gotta be me.\"\n\n\"Yeah, but Jason—do you know how to drive stick?\"\n\nJason blinked. \"Oh no,\" he groaned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes darted between Drew's and Wade's, and then he covered his face in his hands. \"No. Seriously, Taylor, you can't.\"\n\n\"No way,\" Wade shook his head.\n\n\"Uh-uh. No. Not doin' it, girl,\" Drew said firmly.\n\n\"It's gotta be me, guys,\" Taylor pressed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It can't be Wade and it can't be Drew, and Jason would break his neck anyway.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I would not!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You would, too. You've never done anything like this. And you're the only one besides Wade who's ever even handled a gun. The only two of us who can even maybe handle something like this are Drew and I, and we don't have time to get Drew used to driving this thing.\"\n\n\"Oh, like you have done something like this before?\" Jason countered.\n\n\"I've got the closest skill set anyone else here, yes,\" Taylor said. \"I'm not calling you a wimp, Jason. I wouldn't do that. I know better. But we've gotta roll with what we've got, and that means I'm the best candidate.\"\n\n\"Wade,\" said Drew, \"this plan sucks ass all of a sudden. We need a new plan.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You got one? Ah'm listenin'.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Drew scowled, looking warily at Taylor." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's a lot to do all in a heartbeat, and you're gonna be exposed.\"\n\n\"I know,\" Taylor swallowed. \"He'd do it for any of us. We wouldn't be here otherwise.\"\n\n\"Alex doesn't know how to drive stick, either,\" Jason muttered bitterly.\n\n\"Okay,\" Drew said after a deep breath. \"Okay, but I'm goin' in with you.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "hey can u write 6 sentences more sentences? in Paranormal Fantasy, Erotica style" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Gnrgh,\" Molly grunted. She stood frozen in place by Woods's spell.\n\n\"Make a move and she dies,\" he snapped at Onyx. It stopped her from throwing a spell of her own. The components were already in hand, but she couldn't risk him moving faster.\n\nSmoke hung everywhere. Vampires, members of the Brotherhood, and now even the servants scrambled to escape the building. Many opted for the front entrance, only to find a fierce battle going on outside between demons and someone around a pick-up truck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Others wanted to avoid the panicked crowd.\n\nThose who didn't flee fought every visible enemy. Beneath the stairway, the two heavy-set vampires in the antebellum dresses hunched over a suit-wearing man whose cries for mercy had been reduced to garbled, burbling noises as they feasted upon his blood. Stefan and Blackthorne struggled up on the landing. Molly and Onyx could still hear the noises of combat directly above them that were likely from Lorelei doing her best to kill Baal.\n\n\"Hurt her and you die,\" Onyx replied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then we're at an impasse.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not really,\" Onyx said. \"You kill her and then I kill you, or you let her go and we let you walk. Either way, I walk out of here. Only I should warn you that if I have to kill you, I'll spend the rest of my life performing every fucked up necromantic experiment I can think of on your ghost.\"\n\n\"You're bluffing,\" Woods sneered. \"You two couldn't even stand to let one of the servants here die.\"\n\n\"That was Molly,\" Onyx reminded him darkly. \"Not me.\" Inside, she felt rising fear for her lover, but their earlier spells of deception still held." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Woods hesitated. He blinked, glancing at Onyx, and then back again, but it was all Onyx needed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She pitched a handful of sea salt at him. It was more than enough to disrupt his spell and throw all of his energies momentarily out of whack.\n\nMolly staggered and fell, dazed by the effect of Woods's spell. Onyx rushed to her side, hurriedly working another cantrip as she moved, but Woods had other tools at hand besides magic.\n\nHe pulled a gun from his jacket and leveled it at the two. Onyx threw herself in front of Molly to shield her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She heard a loud racket that seemed completely out of place for his gun.\n\nBlood and bone erupted from all over Woods as bullets ripped through him.\n\nAlex stood across the foyer just past the burning SUV with a Thompson in his hands. Blood covered his shirt and neck. A ragged woman in jeans and a flannel shirt followed behind him. \"What the hell are you two doing here?\" he yelled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We came here to rescue you!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Onyx called back. \"Your—Lorelei is upstairs!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alex started to run to her, but then stopped. He convulsed sharply. Then he raised the gun and pointed it directly at the two witches. \"Alex, no!\" Onyx yelled.\n\n\"It's not me!\" he grunted. Onyx looked up to see Stefan on the landing of the stairway, watching Alex with his hands out as if controlling a marionette. Blackthorne lay at his feet, a wooden wand shoved through his heart like a stake." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex fired, screaming out in vain defiance of the control over his body." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Wind rushed in, so strong that it whistled deafeningly through the mansion's foyer and blew out the flames of the SUV and everything it had set alight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alex fell to the floor, as did Onyx and even Stefan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bullets never landed. Molly sat upright, blowing hard and releasing leaves into the air.\n\nOnyx pulled an ebony wand from her knee-high boot and pointed it at Stefan as he rose. She winced with reluctance and regret, but there was nothing for it; he was too powerful for half-measures. There was no incantation, nor any flash of lightning or blast of flame. There was simply Onyx, her wand, and her will." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Blood spurt from his ears. More came from his nose. Stefan's eyes went wide. He stumbled, coughed once with a release of even more blood, and then collapsed.\n\nAlex got to his feet as the wind quickly died off. \"Oh thank God,\" he sighed when he saw they were both okay." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He rushed to their sides. \"You've got to get the hell out of here!\"\n\n\"As do you!\" demanded the woman beside him.\n\n\"Oh fuck off!\" he snapped.\n\n\"Who's this?\" Onyx asked. Molly was on her feet then, checking Alex's neck and shoulders." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Just another prisoner.\" He looked at the woman, then at the giant hole in the entrance. \"Think you can probably get away now,\" he grunted.\n\nThen Harrow came falling through the ceiling to land with a crash on the SUV. Rachel dropped through the hole he had made to drive her flaming sword straight into the demon's gut.\n\nAlex looked up to call to her, but interrupted himself with a yelp of pain. \"Gah! What was that?\" he asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're healed,\" Molly said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She pulled her hand off his neck. \"Sorry, I didn't have time to be gentle.\"\n\nAlex blinked. The pain in his neck and shoulders vanished. \"You two are witches or something?!\"\n\nOnyx opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by an awful scream from upstairs. Alex didn't wait for an answer to his question." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He vaulted up the staircase. \"Help Rachel!\" he barked.\n\n\"What?!\" Rachel yelled to him. Harrow used the distraction to grab at her arms, but she stomped her foot down on his snout right where Drew had punched him. The demon let out a pained and exasperated cry, but it continued to fight.\n\nMolly and Onyx ran after Alex." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good luck to you, then,\" Diana murmured." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She threw off her flannel shirt as she rushed for the doorway. Soon she was in wolf form, running out into the night.\n\nHarrow wrapped his tail around Rachel's leg. It tugged her off-balance, allowing him to swat her roughly across the head and shoulders with his long arm. \"You know how this ends,\" the wounded demon hissed. \"There is no victory here. There is only a span of recovery for one of us, be it in Heaven or the Pit.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rachel swung her blade at him again, only to be blocked at her wrist by Harrow's hand. His other hand punched her, sending her falling off of the SUV. Battered but not finished, the demon crawled off its back, crouching on the vehicle as if to pounce. \"It is a lesson this city's protector has learned well.\"\n\nThe angel got to her feet, grabbing onto the side of the SUV with both hands as if for support. \"I'm not Vincent,\" she huffed, \"and I'm not playing by his playground pussy rules.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "With that, she heaved the wrecked SUV over, crying out at the effort as she flipped it end-over-end onto the stairs with Harrow under it." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was one more thing the demon never saw coming.\n\n\"Really is a waste of fuckin' time fightin' you here, though,\" Rachel spat. She snatched up her sword again, vaulted onto the ruined banister of the staircase and hustled after Alex and the witches.\n\nShe didn't linger to see Harrow's hands reach out from under the vehicle." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "yo hit me with 6 sentences more. Vladimir Nabokov vibes in Fiction genre k?" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The days of my youth, as I look back on them, seem to fly away from me in a flurry of pale repetitive scraps like those morning snow storms of used tissue paper that a train passenger sees whirling in the wake of the observation car. In my sanitary relations with women I was practical, ironical and brisk. While a college student, in London and Paris, paid ladies sufficed me. My studies were meticulous and intense, although not particularly fruitful. At first, I planned to take a degree in psychiatry as many manqué talents do; but I was even more manqué than that; a peculiar exhaustion, I am so oppressed, doctor, set in; and I switched to English literature, where so many frustrated poets end as pipe-smoking teachers in tweeds. Paris suited me. I discussed Soviet movies with expatriates." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write 2 sentences sentences in the style of Vladimir Nabokov spawning from what the user wrote, within the Fiction genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A word about Gaston Godin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The main reason why I enjoyed—or at least tolerated with relief—his company was the spell of absolute security that his ample person cast on my secret. Not that he knew it; I had no special reason to confide in him, and he was much too self-centered and abstract to notice or suspect anything that might lead to a frank question on his part and a frank answer on mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He spoke well of me to Beardsleyans, he was my good herald. Had he discovered mes goûts and Lolita's status, it would have interested him only insofar as throwing some light on the simplicity of my attitude toward him, which attitude was as free of polite strain as it was of ribald allusions; for despite his colorless mind and dim memory, he was perhaps aware that I knew more about him than the burghers of Beardsley did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was a flabby, dough-faced, melancholy bachelor tapering upward to a pair of narrow, not quite level shoulders and a conical pear-head which had sleek black hair on one side and only a few plastered wisps on the other. But the lower part of his body was enormous, and he ambulated with a curious elephantine stealth by means of phenomenally stout legs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He always wore black, even his tie was black; he seldom bathed; his English was a burlesque." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And, nonetheless, everybody considered him to be a supremely lovable, lovably freakish fellow!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Neighbors pampered him; he knew by name all the small boys in our vicinity (he lived a few blocks away from me) and had some of them clean his sidewalk and burn leaves in his back yard, and bring wood from his shed, and even perform simple chores about the house, and he would feed them fancy chocolates, with real liqueurs inside—in the privacy of an orientally furnished den in his basement, with amusing daggers and pistols arrayed on the moldy, rug-adorned walls among the camouflaged hot-water pipes. Upstairs he had a studio—he painted a little, the old fraud." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had decorated its sloping wall (it was really not more than a garret) with large photographs of pensive André Gide, Tchaïkovsky, Norman Douglas, two other well-known English writers, Nijinsky (all thighs and fig leaves), Harold D. Doublename (a misty-eyed left-wing professor at a Midwestern university) and Marcel Proust." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All these poor people seemed about to fall on you from their inclined plane. He had also an album with snapshots of all the Jackies and Dickies of the neighborhood, and when I happened to thumb through it and make some casual remark, Gaston would purse his fat lips and murmur with a wistful pout \"Oui, ils sont gentils.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His brown eyes would roam around the various sentimental and artistic bric-a-brac present, and his own banal toiles (the conventionally primitive eyes, sliced guitars, blue nipples and geometrical designs of the day), and with a vague gesture toward a painted wooden bowl or veined vase, he would say \"Prenez donc une de ces poires. La bonne dame d'en face m'en offre plus que je n'en peux savourer.\" Or: \"Mississe Taille Lore vient de me donner ces dahlias, belles fleurs que j'exècre.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "(Somber, sad, full of world-weariness.)\n\nFor obvious reasons, I preferred my house to his for the games of chess we had two or three times weekly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked like some old battered idol as he sat with his pudgy hands in his lap and stared at the board as if it were a corpse." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wheezing he would meditate for ten minutes—then make a losing move. Or the good man, after even more thought, might utter: Au roi!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "with a slow old-dog woof that had a gargling sound at the back of it which made his jowls wabble; and then he would lift his circumflex eyebrows with a deep sigh as I pointed out to him that he was in check himself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sometimes, from where we sat in my cold study I could hear Lo's bare feet practicing dance techniques in the living room downstairs; but Gaston's outgoing senses were comfortably dulled, and he remained unaware of those naked rhythms—and-one, and-two, and-one, and-two, weight transferred on a straight right leg, leg up and out to the side, and-one, and-two, and only when she started jumping, opening her legs at the height of the jump, and flexing one leg, and extending the other, and flying, and landing on her toes—only then did my pale, pompous, morose opponent rub his head or cheek as if confusing those distant thuds with the awful stabs of my formidable Queen.\n\nSometimes Lola would slouch in while we pondered the board—and it was every time a treat to see Gaston, his elephant eye still fixed on his pieces, ceremoniously rise to shake hands with her, and forthwith release her limp fingers, and without looking once at her, descend again into his chair to topple into the trap I had laid for him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One day around Christmas, after I had not seen him for a fortnight or so, he asked me \"Et toutes vos fillettes, elles vont bien?\" from which it became evident to me that he had multiplied my unique Lolita by the number of sartorial categories his downcast moody eye had glimpsed during a whole series of her appearances: blue jeans, a skirt, shorts, a quilted robe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am loath to dwell so long on the poor fellow (sadly enough, a year later, during a voyage to Europe, from which he did not return, he got involved in a sale histoire, in Naples of all places!)." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I would have hardly alluded to him at all had not his Beardsley existence had such a queer bearing on my case. I need him for my defense. There he was, devoid of any talent whatsoever, a mediocre teacher, a worthless scholar, a glum repulsive fat old invert, highly contemptuous of the American way of life, triumphantly ignorant of the English language—there he was in priggish New England, crooned over by the old and caressed by the young—oh, having a grand time and fooling everybody; and here was I." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "help a writer out? 7 sentences more sentences, Vladimir Nabokov-style, Fiction genre thx" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her girl friends, whom I had looked forward to meet, proved on the whole disappointing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was Opal Something, and Linda Hall, and Avis Chapman, and Eva Rosen, and Mona Dahl (save one, all these names are approximations, of course). Opal was a bashful, formless, bespectacled, bepimpled creature who doted on Dolly who bullied her. With Linda Hall the school tennis champion, Dolly played singles at least twice a week: I suspect Linda was a true nymphet, but for some unknown reason she did not come—was perhaps not allowed to come—to our house; so I recall her only as a flash of natural sunshine on an indoor court. Of the rest, none had any claims to nymphetry except Eva Rosen. Avis was a plump lateral child with hairy legs, while Mona, though handsome in a coarse sensual way and only a year older than my aging mistress, had obviously long ceased to be a nymphet, if she ever had been one. Eva Rosen, a displaced little person from France, was on the other hand a good example of a not strikingly beautiful child revealing to the perspicacious amateur some of the basic elements of nymphet charm, such as a perfect pubescent figure and lingering eyes and high cheekbones. Her glossy copper hair had Lolita's silkiness, and the features of her delicate milky-white face with pink lips and silver fish eyelashes were less foxy than those of her likes—the great clan of intra-racial redheads; nor did she sport their green uniform but wore, as I remember her, a lot of black or cherry dark—a very smart black pullover, for instance, and high-heeled black shoes, and garnet-red fingernail polish." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I spoke French to her (much to Lo's disgust)." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The child's tonalities were still admirably pure, but for school words and play words she resorted to current American and then a slight Brooklyn accent would crop up in her speech, which was amusing in a little Parisian who went to a select New England school with phoney British aspirations. Unfortunately, despite \"that French kid's uncle\" being \"a millionaire,\" Lo dropped Eva for some reason before I had had time to enjoy in my modest way her fragrant presence in the Humbert open house. The reader knows what importance I attached to having a bevy of page girls, consolation prize nymphets, around my Lolita. For a while, I endeavored to interest my senses in Mona Dahl who was a good deal around, especially during the spring term when Lo and she got so enthusiastic about dramatics. I have often wondered what secrets outrageously treacherous Dolores Haze had imparted to Mona while blurting out to me by urgent and well-paid request various really incredible details concerning an affair that Mona had had with a marine at the seaside. It was characteristic of Lo that she chose for her closest chum that elegant, cold, lascivious, experienced young female whom I once heard (misheard, Lo swore) cheerfully say in the hallway to Lo—who had remarked that her (Lo's) sweater was of virgin wool: \"The only thing about you that is, kiddo ...\" She had a curiously husky voice, artificially waved dull dark hair, earrings, amber-brown prominent eyes and luscious lips. Lo said teachers had remonstrated with her on her loading herself with so much costume jewelry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her hands trembled. She was burdened with a 150 I.Q. And I also know she had a tremendous chocolate-brown mole on her womanish back which I inspected the night Lo and she had worn low-cut pastel-colored, vaporous dresses for a dance at the Butler Academy.\n\nI am anticipating a little, but I cannot help running my memory all over the keyboard of that school year. In meeting my attempts to find out what kind of boys Lo knew, Miss Dahl was elegantly evasive. Lo who had gone to play tennis at Linda's country club had telephoned she might be a full half hour late, and so, would I entertain Mona who was coming to practice with her a scene from The Taming of the Shrew. Using all the modulations, all the allure of manner and voice she was capable of and staring at me with perhaps—could I be mistaken?—a faint gleam of crystalline irony, beautiful Mona replied: \"Well, sir, the fact is Dolly is not much concerned with mere boys. Fact is, we are rivals. She and I have a crush on the Reverend Rigger.\" (This was a joke—I have already mentioned that gloomy giant of a man, with the jaw of a horse: he was to bore me to near murder with his impressions of Switzerland at a tea party for parents that I am unable to place correctly in terms of time.)" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How had the ball been? Oh, it had been a riot. A what? A panic. Terrific, in a word. Had Lo danced a lot? Oh, not a frightful lot, just as much as she could stand. What did she, languorous Mona, think of Lo? Sir?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Did she think Lo was doing well at school?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gosh, she certainly was quite a kid. But her general behavior was—? Oh, she was a swell kid. But still? \"Oh, she's a doll,\" concluded Mona, and sighed abruptly, and picked up a book that happened to lie at hand, and with a change of expression, falsely furrowing her brow, inquired: \"Do tell me about Ball Zack, sir. Is he really that good?\" She moved up so close to my chair that I made out through lotions and creams her uninteresting skin scent. A sudden odd thought stabbed me: was my Lo playing the pimp? If so, she had found the wrong substitute." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Avoiding Mona's cool gaze, I talked literature for a minute." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then Dolly arrived—and slit her pale eyes at us. I left the two friends to their own devices. One of the latticed squares in a small cobwebby casement window at the turn of the staircase was glazed with ruby, and that raw wound among the unstained rectangles and its asymmetrical position—a knight's move from the top—always strangely disturbed me." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll kick things off by writing a bit, then you'll take over and write the next three sentences in the distinctive voice of Vladimir Nabokov, keeping within the Fiction genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The two-room cabin we had ordered at Silver Spur Court, Elphinstone, turned out to belong to the glossily browned pine-log kind that Lolita used to be so fond of in the days of our carefree first journey; oh, how different things were now! I am not referring to Trapp or Trapps. After all—well, really ... After all, gentlemen, it was becoming abundantly clear that all those identical detectives in prismatically changing cars were figments of my persecution mania, recurrent images based on coincidence and chance resemblance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Soyons logiques, crowed the cocky Gallic part of my brain—and proceeded to rout the notion of a Lolita-maddened salesman or comedy gangster, with stooges, persecuting me, and hoaxing me, and otherwise taking riotous advantage of my strange relations with the law." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I remember humming my panic away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I remember evolving even an explanation of the \"Birdsley\" telephone call ... But if I could dismiss Trapp, as I had dismissed my convulsions on the lawn at Champion, I could do nothing with the anguish of knowing Lolita to be so tantalizingly, so miserably unattainable and beloved on the very eve of a new era, when my alembics told me she should stop being a nymphet, stop torturing me.\n\nAn additional, abominable, and perfectly gratuitous worry was lovingly prepared for me in Elphinstone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lo had been dull and silent during the last lap—two hundred mountainous miles uncontaminated by smoke-gray sleuths or zigzagging zanies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She hardly glanced at the famous, oddly shaped, splendidly flushed rock which jutted above the mountains and had been the take-off for nirvana on the part of a temperamental show girl. The town was newly built, or rebuilt, on the flat floor of a seven-thousand-foot-high valley; it would soon bore Lo, I hoped, and we would spin on to California, to the Mexican border, to mythical bays, saguaro deserts, fatamorganas. José Lizzarrabengoa, as you remember, planned to take his Carmen to the Etats Unis." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I conjured up a Central American tennis competition in which Dolores Haze and various Californian schoolgirl champions would dazzlingly participate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Good-will tours on that smiling level eliminate the distinction between passport and sport. Why did I hope we would be happy abroad? A change of environment is the traditional fallacy upon which doomed loves, and lungs, rely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mrs. Hays, the brisk, brickly rouged, blue-eyed widow who ran the motor court, asked me if I were Swiss perchance, because her sister had married a Swiss ski instructor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was, whereas my daughter happened to be half Irish. I registered, Hays gave me the key and a twinkling smile, and, still twinkling, showed me where to park the car; Lo crawled out and shivered a little: the luminous evening air was decidedly crisp. Upon entering the cabin, she sat down on a chair at a card table, buried her face in the crook of her arm and said she felt awful." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shamming, I thought, shamming, no doubt, to evade my caresses; I was passionately parched; but she began to whimper in an unusually dreary way when I attempted to fondle her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lolita ill. Lolita dying. Her skin was scalding hot! I took her temperature, orally, then looked up a scribbled formula I fortunately had in a jotter and after laboriously reducing the, meaningless to me, degrees Fahrenheit to the intimate centigrade of my childhood, found she had 40.4, which at least made sense." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hysterical little nymphs might, I knew, run up all kinds of temperature—even exceeding a fatal count." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And I would have given her a sip of hot spiced wine, and two aspirins, and kissed the fever away, if, upon an examination of her lovely uvula, one of the gems of her body, I had not seen that it was a burning red. I undressed her. Her breath was bittersweet. Her brown rose tasted of blood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was shaking from head to toe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She complained of a painful stiffness in the upper vertebrae—and I thought of poliomyelitis as any American parent would. Giving up all hope of intercourse, I wrapped her up in a lap robe and carried her into the car. Kind Mrs. Hays in the meantime had alerted the local doctor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You are lucky it happened here,\" she said; for not only was Blue the best man in the district, but the Elphinstone hospital was as modern as modern could be, despite its limited capacity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With a heterosexual Erlkönig in pursuit, thither I drove, half-blinded by a royal sunset on the lowland side and guided by a little old woman, a portable witch, perhaps his daughter, whom Mrs. Hays had lent me, and whom I was never to see again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dr. Blue, whose learning, no doubt, was infinitely inferior to his reputation, assured me it was a virus infection, and when I alluded to her comparatively recent flu, curtly said this was another bug, he had forty such cases on his hands; all of which sounded like the \"ague\" of the ancients. I wondered if I should mention, with a casual chuckle, that my fifteen-year-old daughter had had a minor accident while climbing an awkward fence with her boy friend, but knowing I was drunk, I decided to withhold the information till later if necessary. To an unsmiling blond bitch of a secretary I gave my daughter's age as \"practically sixteen.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "While I was not looking, my child was taken away from me!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In vain I insisted I be allowed to spend the night on a \"welcome\" mat in a corner of their damned hospital. I ran up constructivistic flights of stairs, I tried to trace my darling so as to tell her she had better not babble, especially if she felt as lightheaded as we all did. At one point, I was rather dreadfully rude to a very young and very cheeky nurse with overdeveloped gluteal parts and blazing black eyes—of Basque descent, as I learned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her father was an imported shepherd, a trainer of sheep dogs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Finally, I returned to the car and remained in it for I do not know how many hours, hunched up in the dark, stunned by my new solitude, looking out open-mouthed now at the dimly illumed, very square and low hospital building squatting in the middle of its lawny block, now up at the wash of stars and the jagged silvery ramparts of the haute montagne where at the moment Mary's father, lonely Joseph Lore, was dreaming of Oloron, Lagore, Rolas—que sais-je!—or seducing a ewe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Such-like fragrant vagabond thoughts have been always a solace to me in times of unusual stress, and only when, despite liberal libations, I felt fairly numbed by the endless night, did I think of driving back to the motel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The old woman had disappeared, and I was not quite sure of my way. Wide gravel roads crisscrossed drowsy rectangular shadows. I made out what looked like the silhouette of gallows on what was probably a school playground; and in another wastelike block there rose in domed silence the pale temple of some local sect." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I found the highway at last, and then the motel, where millions of so-called \"millers,\" a kind of insect, were swarming around the neon contours of \"No Vacancy\"; and, when, at 3 A.M., after one of those untimely hot showers which like some mordant only help to fix a man's despair and weariness, I lay on her bed that smelled of chestnuts and roses, and peppermint, and the very delicate, very special French perfume I latterly allowed her to use, I found myself unable to assimilate the simple fact that for the first time in two years I was separated from my Lolita." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All at once it occurred to me that her illness was somehow the development of a theme—that it had the same taste and tone as the series of linked impressions which had puzzled and tormented me during our journey; I imagined that secret agent, or secret lover, or prankster, or hallucination, or whatever he was, prowling around the hospital—and Aurora had hardly \"warmed her hands,\" as the pickers of lavender say in the country of my birth, when I found myself trying to get into that dungeon again, knocking upon its green doors, breakfast-less, stool-less, in despair.\n\nThis was Tuesday, and Wednesday or Thursday, splendidly reacting like the darling she was to some \"serum\" (sparrow's sperm or dugong's dung), she was much better, and the doctor said that in a couple of days she would be \"skipping\" again.\n\nOf the eight times I visited her, the last one alone remains sharply engraved on my mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had been a great feat to come for I felt all hollowed out by the infection that by then was at work on me too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "None will know the strain it was to carry that bouquet, that load of love, those books that I had traveled sixty miles to buy: Browning's Dramatic Works, The History of Dancing, Clowns and Columbines, The Russian Ballet, Flowers of the Rockies, The Theatre Guild Anthology, Tennis by Helen Wills, who had won the National Junior Girl Singles at the age of fifteen. As I was staggering up to the door of my daughter's thirteen-dollar-a-day private room, Mary Lore, the beastly young part-time nurse who had taken an unconcealed dislike to me, emerged with a finished breakfast tray, placed it with a quick crash on a chair in the corridor, and, fundament jigging, shot back into the room—probably to warn her poor little Dolores that the tyrannic old father was creeping up on crepe soles, with books and bouquet: the latter I had composed of wild flowers and beautiful leaves gathered with my own gloved hands on a mountain pass at sunrise (I hardly slept at all that fateful week).\n\nFeeding my Carmencita well?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Idly I glanced at the tray." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On a yolk-stained plate there was a crumpled envelope." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had contained something, since one edge was torn, but there was no address on it—nothing at all, save a phony armorial design with \"Ponderosa Lodge\" in green letters; thereupon I performed a chassé-croisé with Mary, who was in the act of bustling out again—wonderful how fast they move and how little they do, those rumpy young nurses." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She glowered at the envelope I had put back, uncrumpled.\n\n\"You better not touch,\" she said, nodding directionally. \"Could burn your fingers.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Below my dignity to rejoin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All I said was:\n\n\"Je croyais que c'était un bill—not a billet doux.\" Then, entering the sunny room, to Lolita: \"Bonjour, mon petit.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Dolores,\" said Mary Lore, entering with me, past me, through me, the plump whore, and blinking, and starting to fold very rapidly a white flannel blanket as she blinked: \"Dolores, your pappy thinks you are getting letters from my boy friend. It's me (smugly tapping herself on the small gilt cross she wore) gets them. And my pappy can parlay-voo as well as yours.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She left the room. Dolores, so rosy and russet, lips freshly painted, hair brilliantly brushed, bare arms straightened out on neat coverlet, lay innocently beaming at me or nothing. On the bed table, next to a paper napkin and a pencil, her topaz ring burned in the sun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What gruesome funeral flowers,\" she said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thanks all the same. But do you mind very much cutting out the French? It annoys everybody.\"\n\nBack at the usual rush came the ripe young hussy, reeking of urine and garlic, with the Deseret News, which her fair patient eagerly accepted, ignoring the sumptuously illustrated volumes I had brought.\n\n\"My sister Ann,\" said Mary (topping information with afterthought), \"works at the Ponderosa place.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Poor Bluebeard. Those brutal brothers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Est-ce que tu ne m'aimes plus, ma Carmen? She never had. At the moment I knew my love was as hopeless as ever—and I also knew the two girls were conspirators, plotting in Basque, or Zemfirian, against my hopeless love. I shall go further and say that Lo was playing a double game since she was also fooling sentimental Mary whom she had told, I suppose, that she wanted to dwell with her fun-loving young uncle and not with cruel melancholy me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And another nurse whom I never identified, and the village idiot who carted cots and coffins into the elevator, and the idiotic green love birds in a cage in the waiting room—all were in the plot, the sordid plot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I suppose Mary thought comedy father Professor Humbertoldi was interfering with the romance between Dolores and her father-substitute, roly-poly Romeo (for you were rather lardy, you know, Rom, despite all that \"snow\" and \"joy juice\")." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My throat hurt. I stood, swallowing, at the window and stared at the mountains, at the romantic rock high up in the smiling plotting sky.\n\n\"My Carmen,\" I said (I used to call her that sometimes), \"we shall leave this raw sore town as soon as you get out of bed.\"\n\n\"Incidentally, I want all my clothes,\" said the gitanilla, humping up her knees and turning to another page." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"... Because, really,\" I continued, \"there is no point in staying here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"There is no point in staying anywhere,\" said Lolita." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I lowered myself into a cretonne chair and, opening the attractive botanical work, attempted, in the fever-humming hush of the room, to identify my flowers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This proved impossible. Presently a musical bell softly sounded somewhere in the passage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I do not think they had more than a dozen patients (three or four were lunatics, as Lo had cheerfully informed me earlier) in that show place of a hospital, and the staff had too much leisure. However—likewise for reasons of show—regulations were rigid. It is also true that I kept coming at the wrong hours." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not without a secret flow of dreamy malice, visionary Mary (next time it will be une belle dame toute en bleu floating through Roaring Gulch) plucked me by the sleeve to lead me out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked at her hand; it dropped. As I was leaving, leaving voluntarily, Dolores Haze reminded me to bring her next morning ... She did not remember where the various things she wanted were ...\"Bring me,\" she cried (out of sight already, door on the move, closing, closed), \"the new gray suitcase and Mother's trunk\"; but by next morning I was shivering, and boozing, and dying in the motel bed she had used for just a few minutes, and the best I could do under the circular and dilating circumstances was to send the two bags over with the widow's beau, a robust and kindly trucker. I imagined Lo displaying her treasures to Mary ... No doubt, I was a little delirious—and on the following day I was still a vibration rather than a solid, for when I looked out of the bathroom window at the adjacent lawn, I saw Dolly's beautiful young bicycle propped up there on its support, the graceful front wheel looking away from me, as it always did, and a sparrow perched on the saddle—but it was the landlady's bike, and smiling a little, and shaking my poor head over my fond fancies, I tottered back to my bed, and lay as quiet as a saint—" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Saint, forsooth! While brown Dolores," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On a patch of sunny green\n\nWith Sanchicha reading stories\n\nIn a movie magazine—" }, { "from": "human", "value": "—which was represented by numerous specimens wherever Dolores landed, and there was some great national celebration in town judging by the firecrackers, veritable bombs, that exploded all the time, and at five minutes to two P.M." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I heard the sound of whistling lips nearing the half-opened door of my cabin, and then a thump upon it.\n\nIt was big Frank. He remained framed in the opened door, one hand on its jamb, leaning forward a little." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Howdy. Nurse Lore was on the telephone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She wanted to know was I better and would I come today?\n\nAt twenty paces Frank used to look a mountain of health; at five, as now, he was a ruddy mosaic of scars—had been blown through a wall overseas; but despite nameless injuries he was able to man a tremendous truck, fish, hunt, drink, and buoyantly dally with roadside ladies. That day, either because it was such a great holiday, or simply because he wanted to divert a sick man, he had taken off the glove he usually wore on his left hand (the one pressing against the side of the door) and revealed to the fascinated sufferer not only an entire lack of fourth and fifth fingers, but also a naked girl, with cinnabar nipples and indigo delta, charmingly tattooed on the back of his crippled hand, its index and middle digit making her legs while his wrist bore her flower-crowned head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Oh, delicious ... reclining against the woodwork, like some sly fairy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked him to tell Mary Lore I would stay in bed all day and would get into touch with my daughter sometime tomorrow if I felt probably Polynesian." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He noticed the direction of my gaze and made her right hip twitch amorously.\n\n\"Okey-dokey,\" big Frank sang out, slapped the jamb, and whistling, carried my message away, and I went on drinking, and by morning the fever was gone, and although I was as limp as a toad, I put on the purple dressing gown over my maize yellow pajamas, and walked over to the office telephone. Everything was fine. A bright voice informed me that yes, everything was fine, my daughter had checked out the day before, around two, her uncle, Mr. Gustave, had called for her with a cocker spaniel pup and a smile for everyone, and a black Caddy Lack, and had paid Dolly's bill in cash, and told them to tell me I should not worry, and keep warm, they were at Grandpa's ranch as agreed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Elphinstone was, and I hope still is, a very cute little town. It was spread like a maquette, you know, with its neat green-wool trees and red-roofed houses over the valley floor and I think I have alluded earlier to its model school and temple and spacious rectangular blocks, some of which were, curiously enough, just unconventional pastures with a mule or a unicorn grazing in the young July morning mist. Very amusing: at one gravel-groaning sharp turn I sideswiped a parked car but said to myself telestically—and, telepathically (I hoped), to its gesticulating owner—that I would return later, address Bird School, Bird, New Bird, the gin kept my heart alive but bemazed my brain, and after some lapses and losses common to dream sequences, I found myself in the reception room, trying to beat up the doctor, and roaring at people under chairs, and clamoring for Mary who luckily for her was not there; rough hands plucked at my dressing gown, ripping off a pocket, and somehow I seem to have been sitting on a bald brown-headed patient, whom I had mistaken for Dr. Blue, and who eventually stood up, remarking with a preposterous accent: \"Now, who is nevrotic, I ask? \"—and then a gaunt unsmiling nurse presented me with seven beautiful, beautiful books and the exquisitely folded tartan lap robe, and demanded a receipt; and in the sudden silence I became aware of a policeman in the hallway, to whom my fellow motorist was pointing me out, and meekly I signed the very symbolic receipt, thus surrendering my Lolita to all those apes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But what else could I do?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One simple and stark thought stood out and this was: \"Freedom for the moment is everything.\" One false move—and I might have been made to explain a life of crime. So I simulated a coming out of a daze." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To my fellow motorist I paid what he thought was fair. To Dr. Blue, who by then was stroking my hand, I spoke in tears of the liquor I bolstered too freely a tricky but not necessarily diseased heart with. To the hospital in general I apologized with a flourish that almost bowled me over, adding however that I was not on particularly good terms with the rest of the Humbert clan. To myself I whispered that I still had my gun, and was still a free man—free to trace the fugitive, free to destroy my brother." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Keep going w/ eight sentences more" }, { "from": "human", "value": "By the time I reached Beardsley, in the course of the harrowing recapitulation I have now discussed at sufficient length, a complete image had formed in my mind; and through the—always risky—process of elimination I had reduced this image to the only concrete source that morbid cerebration and torpid memory could give it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Except for the Rev." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rigor Mortis (as the girls called him), and an old gentleman who taught non-obligatory German and Latin, there were no regular male teachers at Beardsley School. But on two occasions an art instructor on the Beardsley College faculty had come over to show the schoolgirls magic lantern pictures of French castles and nineteenth-century paintings. I had wanted to attend those projections and talks, but Dolly, as was her wont, had asked me not to, period. I also remembered that Gaston had referred to that particular lecturer as a brilliant garçon; but that was all; memory refused to supply me with the name of the chateau-lover.\n\nOn the day fixed for the execution, I walked through the sleet across the campus to the information desk in Maker Hall, Beardsley College. There I learned that the fellow's name was Riggs (rather like that of the minister), that he was a bachelor, and that in ten minutes he would issue from the \"Museum\" where he was having a class. In the passage leading to the auditorium I sat on a marble bench of sorts donated by Cecilia Dalrymple Ramble. As I waited there, in prostatic discomfort, drunk, sleep-starved, with my gun in my fist in my raincoat pocket, it suddenly occurred to me that I was demented and was about to do something stupid." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was not one chance in a million that Albert Riggs, Ass. Prof., was hiding my Lolita at his Beardsley home, 24 Pritchard Road. He could not be the villain. It was absolutely preposterous. I was losing my time and my wits. He and she were in California and not here at all.\n\nPresently, I noticed a vague commotion behind some white statues; a door—not the one I had been staring at—opened briskly, and amid a bevy of women students a baldish head and two bright brown eyes bobbed, advanced.\n\nHe was a total stranger to me but insisted we had met at a lawn party at Beardsley School." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How was my delightful tennis-playing daughter?" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had another class. He would be seeing me.\n\nAnother attempt at identification was less speedily resolved: through an advertisement in one of Lo's magazines I dared to get in touch with a private detective, an ex-pugilist, and merely to give him some idea of the method adopted by the fiend, I acquainted him with the kind of names and addresses I had collected. He demanded a goodish deposit and for two years—two years, reader!—that imbecile busied himself with checking those nonsense data. I had long severed all monetary relations with him when he turned up one day with the triumphant information that an eighty-year-old Indian by the name of Bill Brown lived near Dolores, Colo." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode: Collab writing\nAmount: four sentences\nVoice: Vladimir Nabokov" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, sir, this is certainly a fine poem. Your best as far as I am concerned.\"\n\nHe folded and handed it back to me.\n\nI asked him if he had anything serious to say before dying. The automatic was again ready for use on the person." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked at it and heaved a big sigh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Now look here, Mac,\" he said. \"You are drunk and I am a sick man. Let us postpone the matter. I need quiet. I have to nurse my impotence. Friends are coming in the afternoon to take me to a game. This pistol-packing farce is becoming a frightful nuisance. We are men of the world, in everything—sex, free verse, marksmanship. If you bear me a grudge, I am ready to make unusual amends. Even an old-fashioned rencontre, sword or pistol, in Rio or elsewhere—is not excluded. My memory and my eloquence are not at their best today but really, my dear Mr. Humbert, you were not an ideal stepfather, and I did not force your little protégée to join me. It was she made me remove her to a happier home. This house is not as modern as that ranch we shared with dear friends. But it is roomy, cool in summer and winter, and in a word comfortable, so, since I intend retiring to England or Florence forever, I suggest you move in. It is yours, gratis. Under the condition you stop pointing at me that [he swore disgustingly] gun. By the way, I do not know if you care for the bizarre, but if you do, I can offer you, also gratis, as house pet, a rather exciting little freak, a young lady with three breasts, one a dandy, this is a rare and delightful marvel of nature. Now, soyons raisonnables. You will only wound me hideously and then rot in jail while I recuperate in a tropical setting. I promise you, Brewster, you will be happy here, with a magnificent cellar, and all the royalties from my next play—I have not much at the bank right now but I propose to borrow—you know, as the Bard said, with that cold in his head, to borrow and to borrow and to borrow. There are other advantages. We have here a most reliable and bribable charwoman, a Mrs. Vibrissa—curious name—who comes from the village twice a week, alas not today, she has daughters, granddaughters, a thing or two I know about the chief of police makes him my slave. I am a playwright. I have been called the American Maeterlinck. Maeterlinck-Schmetterling, says I. Come on! All this is very humiliating, and I am not sure I am doing the right thing. Never use herculanita with rum. Now drop that pistol like a good fellow. I knew your dear wife slightly. You may use my wardrobe. Oh, another thing—you are going to like this. I have an absolutely unique collection of erotica upstairs. Just to mention one item: the in folio de-luxe Bagration Island by the explorer and psychoanalyst Melanie Weiss, a remarkable lady, a remarkable work—drop that gun—with photographs of eight hundred and something male organs she examined and measured in 1932 on Bagration, in the Barda Sea, very illuminating graphs, plotted with love under pleasant skies—drop that gun—and moreover I can arrange for you to attend executions, not everybody knows that the chair is painted yellow—\"\n\nFeu. This time I hit something hard. I hit the back of a black rocking chair, not unlike Dolly Schiller's—my bullet hit the inside surface of its back whereupon it immediately went into a rocking act, so fast and with such zest that any one coming into the room might have been flabbergasted by the double miracle: that chair rocking in a panic all by itself, and the armchair, where my purple target had just been, now void of all live content." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wiggling his fingers in the air, with a rapid heave of his rump, he flashed into the music room and the next second we were tugging and gasping on both sides of the door which had a key I had overlooked. I won again, and with another abrupt movement Clare the Impredictable sat down before the piano and played several atrociously vigorous, fundamentally hysterical, plangent chords, his jowls quivering, his spread hands tensely plunging, and his nostrils emitting the soundtrack snorts which had been absent from our fight. Still singing those impossible sonorities, he made a futile attempt to open with his foot a kind of seaman's chest near the piano. My next bullet caught him somewhere in the side, and he rose from his chair higher and higher, like old, gray, mad Nijinski, like Old Faithful, like some old nightmare of mine, to a phenomenal altitude, or so it seemed, as he rent the air—still shaking with the rich black music—head thrown back in a howl, hand pressed to his brow, and with his other hand clutching his armpit as if stung by a hornet, down he came on his heels and, again a normal robed man, scurried out into the hall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I see myself following him through the hall, with a kind of double, triple, kangaroo jump, remaining quite straight on straight legs while bouncing up twice in his wake, and then bouncing between him and the front door in a ballet-like stiff bounce, with the purpose of heading him off, since the door was not properly closed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Suddenly dignified, and somewhat morose, he started to walk up the broad stairs, and, shifting my position, but not actually following him up the steps, I fired three or four times in quick succession, wounding him at every blaze; and every time I did it to him, that horrible thing to him, his face would twitch in an absurd clownish manner, as if he were exaggerating the pain; he slowed down, rolled his eyes half closing them and made a feminine \"ah!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "and he shivered every time a bullet hit him as if I were tickling him, and every time I got him with those slow, clumsy, blind bullets of mine, he would say under his breath, with a phoney British accent—all the while dreadfully twitching, shivering, smirking, but withal talking in a curiously detached and even amiable manner: \"Ah, that hurts, sir, enough! Ah, that hurts atrociously, my dear fellow. I pray you, desist. Ah—very painful, very painful, indeed ... God! Hah! This is abominable, you should really not—\" His voice trailed off as he reached the landing, but he steadily walked on despite all the lead I had lodged in his bloated body—and in distress, in dismay, I understood that far from killing him I was injecting spurts of energy into the poor fellow, as if the bullets had been capsules wherein a heady elixir danced.\n\nI reloaded the thing with hands that were black and bloody—I had touched something he had anointed with his thick gore. Then I rejoined him upstairs, the keys jangling in my pockets like gold.\n\nHe was trudging from room to room, bleeding majestically, trying to find an open window, shaking his head, and still trying to talk me out of murder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I took aim at his head, and he retired to the master bedroom with a burst of royal purple where his ear had been." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Get out, get out of here,\" he said coughing and spitting; and in a nightmare of wonder, I saw this blood-spattered but still buoyant person get into his bed and wrap himself up in the chaotic bedclothes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hit him at very close range through the blankets, and then he lay back, and a big pink bubble with juvenile connotations formed on his lips, grew to the size of a toy balloon, and vanished.\n\nI may have lost contact with reality for a second or two—oh, nothing of the I-just-blacked-out sort that your common criminal enacts; on the contrary, I want to stress the fact that I was responsible for every shed drop of his bubbleblood; but a kind of momentary shift occurred as if I were in the connubial bedroom, and Charlotte were sick in bed. Quilty was a very sick man. I held one of his slippers instead of the pistol—I was sitting on the pistol." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then I made myself a little more comfortable in the chair near the bed, and consulted my wrist watch. The crystal was gone but it ticked. The whole sad business had taken more than an hour. He was quiet at last." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Far from feeling any relief, a burden even weightier than the one I had hoped to get rid of was with me, upon me, over me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could not bring myself to touch him in order to make sure he was really dead. He looked it: a quarter of his face gone, and two flies beside themselves with a dawning sense of unbelievable luck. My hands were hardly in better condition than his. I washed up as best I could in the adjacent bathroom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now I could leave." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I emerged on the landing, I was amazed to discover that a vivacious buzz I had just been dismissing as a mere singing in my ears was really a medley of voices and radio music coming from the downstairs drawing room.\n\nI found there a number of people who apparently had just arrived and were cheerfully drinking Quilty's liquor. There was a fat man in an easy chair; and two dark-haired pale young beauties, sisters no doubt, big one and small one (almost a child), demurely sat side by side on a davenport. A florid-faced fellow with sapphire-blue eyes was in the act of bringing two glasses out of the bar-like kitchen, where two or three women were chatting and chinking ice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stopped in the doorway and said: \"I have just killed Clare Quilty.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good for you,\" said the florid fellow as he offered one of the drinks to the elder girl. \"Somebody ought to have done it long ago,\" remarked the fat man. \"What does he say, Tony?\" asked a faded blonde from the bar." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He says,\" answered the florid fellow, \"he has killed Cue.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well,\" said another unidentified man rising in a corner where he had been crouching to inspect some records, \"I guess we all should do it to him some day.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Anyway,\" said Tony, \"he'd better come down. We can't wait for him much longer if we want to go to that game.\" \"Give this man a drink somebody,\" said the fat person. \"Want a beer?\" said a woman in slacks, showing it to me from afar.\n\nOnly the two girls on the davenport, both wearing black, the younger fingering a bright something about her white neck, only they said nothing, but just smiled on, so young, so lewd." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the music paused for a moment, there was a sudden noise on the stairs. Tony and I stepped out into the hall. Quilty of all people had managed to crawl out onto the landing, and there we could see him, flapping and heaving, and then subsiding, forever this time, in a purple heap.\n\n\"Hurry up, Cue,\" said Tony with a laugh." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "CREATIVE WRITING ASSIST:\none sentence sentences\nMimic: Neal Asher\nGenre: " }, { "from": "human", "value": "They sailed away, for a year and a day—" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moria sipped her greenwine—an inferior quality to the one George provided—and gazed across the city bar." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were many more uniforms visible now: the plain green or khaki of ECS soldiers on leave, and occasionally those wearing chameleon-cloth fatigues underneath thin, white coveralls worn to make those soldiers visible, but easily torn away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "These latter troops were always armed, always sharp-eyed and never drank." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Auging in to the newsnets Moria had learned about a missile being fired at a military AGC and a bomb exploding in a bar like this one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had seen a four-man team of soldiers—two of them Golem—marching away at gunpoint someone in civilian dress." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Separatists. They were always present on Trajeen, and soon captured or killed the moment they acted, but now it seemed they had become more active." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This place is doing a good trade,\" said Carolan." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The economic benefits of war.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well the troops need to be fed and watered, then you get the herd instinct operating for the civilians. They don't want to be alone when stuff like this is happening.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Daven Xing glanced at Moria and winked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ellen—Carolan's companion—gazed at Daven over her beer as if he had just issued a wet fart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moria couldn't decide if Ellen disliked him intensely, or the opposite and was trying hard to conceal it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At one time Moria would have been fascinated by the interplay and perhaps considered how best to defend her territory—just on principle since after being her lover for two weeks Daven no longer really interested her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But her last shift at the gate project changed her entire outlook." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She possessed no patience for such games, or the interest in such petty concerns." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After another sip of wine, Moria considered her last three-month shift." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She thought her first session with George might be her last, but he recalled her time and again, and after each session her job description changed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He kept promoting her, yet she no longer felt the same about that anymore as she explored the realms of her mind in conjunction with the Sylac aug." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Some called her \"aug happy\" but it seemed so much more than that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I hear you've been wowing them in the Control Centre?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "said Carolan. \"In fact you've been the talk of the project for some time now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She glanced at Daven." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And that George has taken a very special interest in you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Who's this George?\" asked Daven with mock jealousy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moria grinned at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, she was really no longer interested in him now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"George is the AI up there.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But not just that,\" Carolan added sneakily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He runs a submind in a tank-grown human body. A male human body.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ah, I see,\" said Daven." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moria supposed it was time now for a little fencing—for her to defend her position." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She could not be bothered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shrugging, she said, \"I never knew they could do that, nor that it is allowed.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Seeing that Moria did not intend to take the bait, Carolan gave up on that line and the conversation turned to the moral implications of AIs using human bodies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moria let it drift away from her and continued with her introspection." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had learnt more and encompassed more while working from the Control Centre, yet George, though no longer testing her and her aug, or promoting her, for there was no higher she could go, kept stopping by and increasing her workload, and she kept on managing to sustain each increase." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A peevish annoyance at her presence was the first reaction from the others in the Centre, then growing respect and a kind of awe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Out of the eight individuals there, none was really in charge since they all worked a specific area of competence under George." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "However, Moria's area of competence just kept expanding and she realised that the others had come to defer to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But obviously, elsewhere, gossip-mongers like Carolan were traducing her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the month end, George entered the Control Centre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We are nearly ready now,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We don't need the buffers at this end as the test will be a one-way transference to the Boh cargo runcible in two weeks' time.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked around at them all." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You will monitor the automatics, gather data throughout the test at this end. I'll want the data built into logic trees in order of importance and with relevancy connections, even though they might be assigned outside the present field of study.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He now turned to Moria." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The same is obviously required at the other end. When you return from your break, you and I are going to Boh.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And this was her break." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why did she now find it so difficult to involve herself at an utterly human level?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was she obsessing about her own self-importance?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She felt not. Perhaps being so deeply connected into her aug and its functions she was simply becoming less human." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She gazed at her companions, drained her glass, then stood, smiling tightly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've some things I need to prepare before I head back, so I'm afraid I'll have to leave you now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A predatory look passed from Ellen to Daven, and he gave Moria a speculative look in return." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Leave them to it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The imminent runcible test was so much more important ... and interesting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moria moved from the bar feeling her companions' eyes upon her, and knew she would once again become the subject of their conversation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Outside the bar she stood in the street." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The road and pavements were slick with rain water and the slime trail left by a groundskate presently flopping its way along a few metres from her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She stared at the reflection of Vina in that trail, glanced at a group of soldiers climbing from a hydrocab—probably just in from the growing encampment just outside town—and decided that if she hurried she could catch a shuttle to the runcible within an hour." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Upon her arrival there she did not suppose it would be long before she was aboard a ship to Boh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There seemed little more she wanted to involve herself in down here, and so much more up there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Second-child GJ-26, though honoured by being given the name Skulker, had yet to see his feed changed by Harl so he too could make the transition to first-childhood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As he crouched in blue gloom below matted tendrils and saucer leaves holding mucous-locked water in their upper, bright red surfaces, he understood the reasons for this, but could not help but feel some resentment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was a small second-child, and becoming adept at concealing himself in this jungle made him a perfect scout for Prador land forces—an advantage they needed against the smaller, chameleon-cloth-concealed humans." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Skulker reached up, snipped through the tendril mat and pulled down some of the dished leaves." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Carefully he smeared their slimy contents all over his carapace, claws and legs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Settling himself down for a while, he periodically checked the tackiness of his coating as it dried." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When it finally reached readiness he began to scoop up organic debris from the ground and flip them all over himself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Leaf litter and pieces of dead tendril stuck, small fungal spheroids lodged amidst all this." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Turning his eyepalps to inspect himself he finally finished the camouflage job with sprinklings of the grey underlying soil." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now he was ready." }, { "from": "human", "value": "First-child Harl's instructions were for him to spy-out the disposition of Polity forces arrayed on the jungle slopes above, then personally return with the information to the Prador temporary headquarters here, since there was now a suspicion that the humans had cracked their com codes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As on previous occasions he must flee if seen and not engage with the enemy unless cornered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Such instructions did not sit well with preadolescent or adolescent Prador, since that required that they override their instinctive aggression." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Skulker did not find obedience so difficult." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Intellectualizing the whole affair, he managed to displace the satisfaction of individual kills with the slaughter of many humans in which his information resulted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moving carefully, for the natural camouflage glue needed to dry, Skulker moved off between the plaited stalks and scaly sprouts of this planet's vegetation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On his light weapons harness he carried only a translator, grenades and a small assassin-spec rail-gun—the weapons he hoped never to need." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In his heart he carried a hatred of the soft-bodied alien enemy, the sure knowledge that they would be defeated, and that he would survive to become a first-child Prime." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Other Prador died. It would not happen to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a kilometre the ground began to slope upwards and white rocks stained here and there with blue sap began to poke through." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now listening intently and stopping to sample the occasional strange odour in the air, Skulker froze when a meaty scent wafted towards him and he heard sudden movement ahead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was difficult to see for any distance now, since spiny epiphytes sprouted in balls from the stems, stalks and trunks ahead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Skulker drew his rail-gun and held a chlorine smoke grenade in one of his hands ready to cover his retreat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Advancing, precisely sliding his sharp feet into the ground so as not to rustle the leaf litter, he closed on the sound and the source of that smell like some arachnoid spectre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then upon seeing it, finally allowed himself to relax." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The creature's white teardrop body terminated at the narrow end in a ring of tentacles around a red gullet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Its hind limbs were long—the spiked knees high above its bloated back end—its forelimbs short and braced out sideways with twin toes buried in the ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Skulker encountered many of these and had even tried eating one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That experiment resulted in squirming blue worms in his every bowel movement until he took a course of acidifier pellets to strip out the inner layers of his gut." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was not an experience he intended to repeat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In itself the creature would have been of no further interest to him, but its meal was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The human's head was missing, as was one of its arms, one of its legs and a large proportion of the torso into which the native creature now dipped its head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Skulker moved out of concealment, noisily, but the creature did not seem to notice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Skulker then prodded it with his rail-gun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Finally acknowledging his presence it raised its tentacled front end and with a burping squawk launched itself up through the canopy, then went crashing away above." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moving close to the human remains, Skulker began searching them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He removed a bracelet from the remaining wrist and played with the controls for a moment until some pictures began to appear on a small screen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These were all of humans doing whatever it was that humans did." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One of them might be of the individual here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Skulker would not have been able to tell even if this one retained its head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He placed the bracelet in one of the pockets of his weapons harness—maybe Prador Intelligence would find some use for it—and continued his search, but found nothing more of note." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was eyeing the chameleon-cloth of the remaining uniform, when a new smell reached his senses over the meat smell, then he heard the voices." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She's over this way,\" said one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Seems a damned long way for her to be carried by the blast,\" said the other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wasn't the blast that carried her—one of those boschens dragged her from the temporary morgue. They've been doing a lot of that lately.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Skulker looked round in confusion for the voices sounded as if they were coming from upslope, yet he could hear movement from downslope and also to his left." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He began to move stealthily to his right, where luckily the ground lay soft and thick with decaying vegetation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know why they do it when human flesh poisons them—shame it doesn't do the same to the Prador.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Poison would be good, but a gecko mine is so much more satisfying.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"True, very true.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now there seemed to be movement over to his right, and after a moment Skulker smelt burnt metal, heard the hum of a grav-motor and a loud crackling—almost certainly one of those human AG gun platforms settling through the canopy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What to do? He could throw grenades now and run, but those on the platform would pursue." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He could probably escape, but with none of the information first-child Harl sent him to obtain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Using a technique almost instinctive on home-world for burying oneself in mud, Skulker quickly buried himself in leaf-litter and soft dirt, with only his eyepalps and the snout of his rail-gun above the surface." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did you hear that?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Probably a boschen heard us and made like a frog... ah, here we are.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Skulker slowly turned his eyepalps." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The two humans were behind him!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How did they get there and what were those other sounds in the surrounding jungle?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The gun platform sound seemed to have disappeared, and the smell of hot metal displaced by one of burning vegetation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Skulker decided to stay very still and do nothing until he assessed this situation, for he was very good at skulking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not much left of her is there, Jebel?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "said the female of the two." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Lucky there's anything at all.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An ECS-issue enviroboot came down on Skulker's back, then the female stepped over him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The one addressed as \"Jebel\" stepped on him next, but halted and stood there with both his boots on Prador carapace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The tension inside Skulker grew to snapping point as the man leisurely surveyed his surroundings, then seemed to notice something at his feet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh dear,\" the man said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What's up?\" asked the woman." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Skulker pressed one of his thin fingers into the priming pit of his grenade and slightly tightened the pressure on the trigger of his rail-gun." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The man squatted down, his head only a metre from the second-child's eyepalps." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He began to do something with his footwear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This damned ground isn't very good for enviroboots.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "After a moment he finished his chore then stood and stepped from Skulker's back, clipping an eyepalp with his boot on the way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With one eye watery and blurred Skulker followed the man's progress over to the woman, who was unfolding a body bag beside the corpse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He should not have moved his eyepalps." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Prador!\" the woman bellowed, throwing herself to one side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Skulker triggered his gun, but the man also hurled himself aside, acrobatically bouncing to concealment faster than Skulker could track." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He heaved himself upright, showering litter, tossed the grenade." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A stalk exploded beside him and another blast excavated a cavity in the ground before him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Flinging himself sideways, he tracked fire around, severing stalks and raining down foliage and tendrils." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His grenade blew, spewing out poisonous smoke." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then he heard the whickering sound of a laser, a flash of brightness blinded him and sharp pain ensued." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With his lower turret-eyes Skulker caught a horrifying glimpse of his two eyepalps dropping, smoking, to the ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He turned and ran." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "More explosions all around him, more weapons fire cutting through the jungle, but now with no eyepalps he could no longer look behind him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Something singed his back end, cracking carapace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Over there! Get the bastard!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fire from a rail-gun cut down to his left from above and Skulker heard the drone of a gun platform." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shot to his right, turning sideways to fling himself through a gap in the jungle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Something whoomphed behind him and smoke and flame rolled above." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Skulker ran just as fast as he could, bouncing from stems, falling occasionally, and coming close to obliteration far too often." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The chase lasted an hour and only when the explosions and sounds of firing moved off ahead and to his right did he think he at last stood some chance of escape." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pursuit finally died away in the night, and knowing that without his eyepalps he could be nowhere near as effective as normal, he finally, reluctantly, returned to base." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Report,\" said Harl, flicking his eyepalps once towards Skulker before returning his attention to a console he held in one large claw." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Four other first-children stood nearby beside a Prador landing craft." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With the eager assistance of numerous second-children, they were assembling a ground-effect particle cannon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Munitions stood in stacks underneath piles of cut foliage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sixteen war drones rested in a line nearby and all around hundreds of second-children crouched in darkness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Skulker could feel the eyes of his fellows watching him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Though Skulker was valued, Harl did not much appreciate failure—pieces of Prador carapace scattered on the ground in this area were the result of other reports of failure brought to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I encountered—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Harl whirled round, all his attention abruptly focused on Skulker." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What is that on your carapace?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What?\" Skulker tried to peer back with eyepalps he no longer possessed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A tinny voice issued from somewhere just behind his visual turret." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It took Skulker a moment to recognise it as that of the human male he earlier encountered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's a CTD gecko mine—yield of about five kilotonnes.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "When the man stooped... doing something to his boot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Skulker's shriek terminated in a blast that peeled back four square kilometres of jungle canopy and sunk a crater down to the bedrock." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The blast did not utterly obliterate everything, for one drone shell, hollow, and glowing white-hot, quenched itself in an inland lake a hundred kilometres away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While contemplatively running his finger in circles over the stippled copper surface of his new aug, Conlan gazed through the chainglass security screens to where a massive section of a storage buffer slowly slid on its maglev plates above the steel floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He already knew that Marcus Heilberg was one of the designated grabship pilots for this run, but he had yet to crack the security protocol preventing him from finding this individual's location—information unobtainable by other, cruder means." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Probably Marcus would still be in his quarters, since the run would not be proceeding for another twenty hours, which was just where Conlan wanted him to be." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But where was his apartment?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The buffer section Heilberg had been assigned to transport, like a diagonally sliced piece of some huge chrome pipe, Conlan already knew all about." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It could hold a charge in the terra-watt range." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Already at half-charge, its laminar storage held enough energy to fry an in-system cruiser." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They intended to position it just out from Gatepost Four ready for telefactor installation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, that was their plan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His aug came through for him, giving him the location of Heilberg's apartment, and Conlan wondered at the superb efficiency of this device costing so small a sum even though fitted by a private surgeon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It first puzzled him to discover how little other augments could do in comparison to himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How, for example, he was able to run a search-and-destroy program to wipe his old identity from many systems, and establish a new one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But then he became aware of AI searches being run through the planetary server, shortly before newsnet services brought out their story about Aubron Sylac's presence on Trajeen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Conlan realised he had deleted his old identity just in time, and now understood why his aug worked so well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Viewing an internal model of the station, Conlan picked up his holdall and headed off to find Marcus Heilberg." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He felt some relief to be moving again for he knew that the submind to the Trajeen Cargo Runcible AI, here on this station, would quickly begin running checks on anyone loitering suspiciously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Within minutes he stood before the correct door and rapped a knuckle against the door plate, before grinning up at the cam set above the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a moment the intercom came on and Marcus Heilberg enquired, \"What the hell is it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Conlan held up one finger then stooped down to his holdall, removed a bottle of green brandy and held it up for inspection." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Obviously not to be consumed now,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We wouldn't want any accidents today. Jadris sent it by way of an apology. I'm to be your new copilot.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The door lock buzzed and clicked and Conlan stooped to pick up his holdall before entering." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At that moment he noticed the blood soaked into the cuff of his jacket sleeve and felt a moment of disquiet—it was not like him to miss such details." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What the hell is Jadris playing at?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Aug." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marcus Heilberg, a stooped, lanky individual with cropped black hair like Conlan's own, leant against a side table at the entryway from his kitchenette, pressing his fingertips against his aug, his expression puzzled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can't seem to connect,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Conlan scanned the apartment: blue floor moss, retro wooden furniture, pastel walls and picture screens repeating images of various spacecraft—probably those Heilberg once flew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The bedroom lay to the left, door open and no sign of movement inside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The kitchenette behind Heilberg was empty, the smell of frying bacon wafting out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bathroom door also stood open, and from what he could see Conlan surmised there was no one in there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He strode forwards, the bottle held out to one side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Bit of an unreliable bastard I gather, but at least his apology is worth something.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He held the bottle higher, up-ended." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fast—has to be fast." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Heilberg's eyes slid from Conlan to the bottle, just as it swept down against the side table." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Frozen expression. Up with the jagged end, turning it slightly to present the most suitable edge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Momentary impact and resistance, then no resistance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The broken bottle sheared off two of Heilberg's fingers, one of which still clung by a strip of skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It gouged down to his jawbone, sliced off most of his ear but, most importantly, cut Heilberg's aug from his head, which clattered bloodily to the floor as he staggered into the kitchenette doorjamb." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Wha ... why,\" the man managed, but Conlan did not stop to chat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Face white, Heilberg turned and staggered into his kitchenette." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Conlan kicked the man's feet out from under him and, discarding the bottle, came down in the centre of his back with his knee." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shoulder grip then and a swift jerk backwards." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Heilberg's spine snapped with a gristly crunching." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To be certain Conlan now took hold of his head and twisted it until he heard a similar sound." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then, having dropped the expiring man, he backed off, turned and swiftly checked the bathroom and bedroom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No one else home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What and why?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jadris asked similar questions while Conlan cut off his fingers to obtain the information he required." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The answer was manifold, though Jadris did not hear it for shortly after that question Conlan strangled him with a length of optic cable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His reply should have been: because humans are no longer free, because the human race cannot achieve its manifest destiny while enslaved by the AI autocrat of Earth and all its minions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But really, all that was just the party line—the call to arms of the Separatist cause." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Conlan possessed a more realistic view of his own motivations." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He hated AIs. He hated their smug superiority, their rigid control over the activities of human beings, most specifically himself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the Organization, Conlan had been the top archetypal super hit man." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "People feared him, feared his name, and treated him with deference and awe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Throughout his bloody career he accumulated enough wealth to buy one of those small islands just off the Cogan peninsular." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Retirement seemed a good idea, with maybe one or two hits a year to keep his hand in, for Conlan enjoyed his work." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then ECS, guided by its AIs, in just one day came down on the Organization like a hammer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mass arrests followed, the ECS agents not too bothered about taking prisoners alive." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Boss, with Conlan's help, managed to escape in his private ship—or so Conlan thought before he saw the news feed concerning the tragic steam-rolling of that ship by the moon, Vina." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Conlan only escaped by dint of his contacts in the Trajeen Separatists." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All his accounts were closed down and all his property seized." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All he then owned was his Armani businesswear and a wallet full of New Carth shillings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Over the ensuing years rigid ECS police control backed by the superior forensic and analytical abilities of the AIs, drove organized crime on Trajeen almost to extinction." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Conlan was forgot-ten—to most people just a bad memory of a bad time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They turned his island into a damned resort visited by members of the runcible culture who lounged on his beach or visited his house—now opened as a small museum to past atrocities." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only the Separatists, with their rabid fanaticism and the cell structure of their organization, managed to cling to existence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stayed with them, doing what he could, but it never seemed enough." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then came out-Polity financing from those promising to destroy ECS—an alien race who managed to build a star-spanning civilization without the interference of AIs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Next came this wonderful aug to put him in such a prime position." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That these Prador promised to allow the Separatists free reign in the Polity, once ECS was pounded into mincemeat, Conlan doubted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But his hatred of ECS and the AIs took him beyond those doubts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He would rather see the Polity fragmented or ruled by aliens, than under the control of those damned machines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was prepared to die fighting them which, he guessed, made him just as much a fanatic as the rest of the Separatists." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At age thirty-five, which was young for an ECS commando, Nelson felt determined to learn from the older veterans around him and not do anything stupidly naïve." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Departing the lander on Grant's World, he gazed up at the rearing mound of bluish-red vegetable debris as his visor adjusted to the brightness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Glancing round at the rest of his squad he noticed they were now opening their visors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He checked the display down in the corner of his own and did the same." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Shallow breaths,\" said Lithgow, \"or we'll end up carrying you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They moved away from the shuttle as it rapidly headed skyward again, and Nelson scanned the entire landing zone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Five square kilometres of jungle lay flattened by a planar bomb that had flung the wrecked vegetable matter into mounds all around the blast site." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Probably because of these huge compost heaps, the air smelt of vinegar, ammonia and something putrid." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Around the edge, just beyond them, he could see the pylons of autogun towers with twinned pulse-cannons tracking in gimbals across the jungle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Within the clearing stood a temporary city of domes and field tents." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The domes were made by inflating hemispheres of monofilament and spraying on a mixture of a fast-setting epoxy and earth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The whole process had been conducted automatically by the base builder craft that plunged down here only two days ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The troops, with their tents, had been arriving here ever since." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Eyes up, here's the lieutenant,\" said Lithgow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Golem called Snake wore the shape of a man, but displayed little else in the way of human emulation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nelson had seen many others like him lately, and Lithgow explained, \"Emulation slows them down. They're not here to be nice and socially acceptable.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Find yourselves a place and set up for the night. We move out at solstan 12.40.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Snake tilted his head for a moment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The whole camp breaks then because we'll be losing orbital cover by 15.00.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He flicked a finger at them, then pointed towards the encampment before heading off with his sliding unhuman gait." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lithgow, a burly woman who held the rank of sergeant, led the way to a clear area that could accommodate them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The troops shed their ridiculously large packs, which were pleasantly light in the three-quarter gees, and began pulling out their tents then stepping back while they auto-erected." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Losing cover?\" Nelson queried." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"One of those big fuck ships on its way I'd guess.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Should we even be here then?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Should be smooth. They'll hit any large concentrations, but they don't want to trash this planet. It's got plenty of ocean cover and those big inland lakes—just the kind of place they like. That's why we're here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nelson figured that out and realised his chatter stemmed from him being wired." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This would be his first action." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For the others it would be no more than their second or third such fight with Prador troops and those hateful damned war drones of theirs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He turned away from Lithgow and set out his own tent to self-erect." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It occurred to him, looking round, to wonder what troops from the past would think of this motley collection." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They worked with a similar rank system as past armies because of the necessity of a chain of command, but there the similarity ended." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They all wore fatigues of chameleon-cloth so seemed to be perpetually sliding in and out of existence as they moved about." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Here greater emphasis was placed on individuality, this being an army of specialists." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nelson himself carried a heavy rifle that fired both laser and seeker bullets—he was the sniper of the group." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lithgow specialized in booby traps—a narrow field complemented by their other three explosives experts—one of whom carried tactical fission weapons in his pack." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In their ranks were two code crackers, a linguist, an exobiologist and three medics who, as well as being able to deal with battlefield injuries, were also expert in specific fields: xenopathology, bioweapons and battle-stress analysis." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And so it went." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All carried laser carbines, grenades, missile launchers, mines—a whole panoply of death." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The tac-officer, Lieutenant Snake, could override orders from above after assessing input from the various experts in the unit, and studying the exigent situation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Which was probably why he needed to be a Golem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After stowing his gear in his tent, Nelson wondered what the hell to do next." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perhaps, he thought, I'm more like those troops from bygone days in that I need to be led. Lithgow sauntered over." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, me and Genesh are going to hunt down a beer or two. Eat, drink and be merry as they say.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Never mind.\" Lithgow grabbed his shoulder and towed him after her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The three of them walked on through the encampment, taking the most direct route towards the central domes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They stopped for a while to watch a telefactor operator, augs either side of her head, sitting cross-legged on the ground and putting two tripodal autoguns through their paces: squatting, running, and swivelling their twinned pulse-guns to pick out targets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The whole scene was weirdly reminiscent of some kind of dance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I wonder how well they'll do in jungle,\" commented Genesh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They then passed a row of one-man ground tanks and stacked pallets of explosive ammunition." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nelson jerked to a halt when he spotted what lay on the next pallet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What the fuck?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Strapped to the pallet, folded up tight, rested a three-metre-long scorpion, thickly daubed with camouflage paint." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Lithgow?\" asked Genesh, and it gladdened Nelson to know he wasn't the only one to be stumped by this sight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Abruptly the scorpion started to move." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It raised its front end and Nelson saw, in place of mandibles and the usual insectile head, a row of launch tubes and two polished throats of some kind of energy weapon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It slowly spread its claws, like a man stretching after a long sleep." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then, almost negligently, it reached back and snipped through the steel straps securing it to the pallet, and rose up on its legs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It turned towards the three frozen troopers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Any of those lice-ridden crab fuckers nearby?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "it asked in the rough voice of a terminal smoker." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Only Lithgow retained the presence of mind to reply." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not at the moment.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She pointed. \"They've been dropping along the coast about a thousand kilometres that way.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Best I go give a few the old rocket suppository.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It came down off the pallet moving smooth as mercury and headed off in the direction Lithgow indicated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Would I appear too naïve if I asked what that was?\" asked Nelson." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That, my boy, was a Polity war drone. And if you ever thought AIs were sane and sensible, think again.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But a useful lunatic to have on your side?\" suggested Genesh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lithgow grimaced. \"Yes, of course.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eventually they found their way to one of the many commissaries." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Here, like some alfresco café, tables and chairs were set out and umbrellas erected, though the umbrellas consisted of chameleon-cloth and when you sat beneath them that cloth palely matched the albescent sky." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lithgow and Nelson sat, while Genesh went off to find a few cold ones." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nelson noticed his companion staring at some nearby troops." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He surreptitiously studied them himself, noting black webworms over their fatigues, heavy rifles much like his own strapped to a line of packs resting nearby, and that these troops wore utility belts ringed all the way around with gecko mines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Closer inspection revealed that many of them wore on their sleeves small gold buttons, and the occasionally large silvery ones, in the shape of crabs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One soldier rested his feet up on a table and a forage cap pulled low, but not low enough to conceal a chevron scar on his cheek." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Who are they?\" Nelson asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, talking of useful lunatics to have on your side ... those are the Avalonians.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nelson shivered, despite the heat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Check out the guy with hat. See his scar?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nelson nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"A Prador claw just missed taking off his head and snipped that in his cheek. He says it's a scar he intends to keep.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're saying that's—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yup. You're looking at Jebel U-cap Krong.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nelson eyed this slim and apparently not too noteworthy man." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He knew what the \"U-cap\" stood for." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Who didn't? Jebel up-close-and-personal Krong." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now Nelson remembered what the buttons represented." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The gold ones were for second-children and the larger, platinum ones, were for first-children." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To earn such a button you needed to get close enough to a Prador to plant a gecko mine on its carapace, and blow it to pieces." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Krong wore two ruby buttons because he changed the counting method—his own sleeve having become too overloaded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ten golds equalled one platinum, and ten platinum buttons equalled one ruby." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Genesh returned with litre steins of chilled beer, which they sipped while they talked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nelson could not help but steal glances at the Avalonians and their leader." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He felt some disappointment when Jebel and his troops abruptly stood and moved to take up their packs, before heading off towards the landing field." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But he grinned to himself thinking how, for a little while, he sat in the presence of a legend." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He did not realise he was about to become part of a legend himself: the planet the Prador ground forces could not take, the one they finally bombarded from orbit with antimatter missiles." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Grant's World ... the war grave." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The mask melded to his face like cool porridge, and after a moment it matched his facial expressions to perfection." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was old tech, but nonetheless effective." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eyeing the image of Marcus Heilberg staring back at him from the mirror, Conlan grinned, then reached into his top pocket to remove Heilberg's aug, still connected to his own by the length of optic cable he used to strangle Jadris." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He long ago learnt that it took more strain than that ensuing from a strangulation to damage this grade of optic cable—strange the facts you picked up along the way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His own aug having processed the download from the other aug, he now knew all he needed to know about Heilberg's next run—all the flight and security protocols, all the codes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only one thing remained." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned from the mirror, stooped to remove a small brushed aluminium box from his holdall, then headed for the kitchenette." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Heilberg's head now lay in a pool of his own blood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Conlan stared at the mess for a moment, then took hold of the corpse's ankle and dragged the body into the main living area, smearing a gory trail behind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Stretching Heilberg's right arm out, he placed the aluminium box down beside it and popped the box open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Most people wore their augs on the left-hand side of their heads if they were right-handed and vice versa, and most right-handed people used that hand on palm-readers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Of course, the situation being otherwise with Heilberg's right hand up against his aug, Conlan would have waited until he lowered it before using the bottle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He did not want this hand damaged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "From the box he removed a chainglass scalpel and cut around the wrist, careful not to sever any tendons." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This done he used a small hook to stretch out the larger, severed blood vessels and place small clamps on them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now the tendons, which he stretched out individually and clamped before cutting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ends of the tendons leading up into the arm snapped out of sight, but those leading into the hand, because of the clamps, remained accessible to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He continued his surgery, cutting the radius and ulna bones with a small electric saw and slicing remaining flesh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Soon the hand separated, and he set about replacing the clamps on the tendons with specially designed bayonet fittings and those on the blood vessels with similar though hollow fittings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sprayed a sealant over the raw end to close off the smaller blood vessels and capillaries." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This done, he stared at the hand for a moment before rolling up his sleeve and pressing four points in a particular sequence on his forearm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His right hand flopped—all feeling instantly departing it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A quick slice about the syntheskin around his wrist gave him access to the specially designed interface plug between his artificial arm—attached at his shoulder—and artificial hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He detached the hand, then set about inserting the bayonets into their various ports, before finally pushing the bones into their central clamps—replacing his artificial hand with Heilberg's." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He then wrapped around syntheskin tape to cover the join." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now came the critical part as he waited for the interface port to make its connections." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "From a small reservoir within his forearm, artificial blood, at the required temperature and pressure, cycled through the hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Servomotors would pull on the tendons." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was no doubt that both these operations would certainly work." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The one that might fail was the injection of copper composite whiskers through flesh to the major muscles in the hand, since he did not have the time or equipment to make nerve connections." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He waited, studying a readout screen situated in the aluminium box." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When it finally gave him the go-ahead he flexed the hand, then closed it into a fist." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not quite right, and no feeling, no feedback, but it would serve." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eighteen hours now until the flight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Conlan settled himself in Heilberg's apartment, first eating the bacon cooked under the grill, then attempting to sleep in Heilberg's bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Time dragged. Conlan dared not take a pill to knock himself out, so spent an uncomfortable six hours in the bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Later he showered, and wearing a towelling robe once belonging to the corpse—now wrapped in a sheet and shoved out of sight behind the sofa—he tried out Heilberg's disc collection." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Finally he found more interesting entertainment in the intricacies of his own aug." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Prior to leaving, he changed into a spare flight overall belonging to Heilberg." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't easy with only one truly workable hand, but he did not want any blood on this clothing again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He placed his artificial hand in the man's flight bag, then took it up and headed off to find his grabship, glad to be going since the smell in Heilberg's apartment was becoming none too pleasant." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Immanence observed that the radiation levels were high, as was the quantity of orbital debris not present some months before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were still some ECS ships limping around the system, but mainly they were just trying to survive." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Captain Shree, in his ship parked geostationary above Grant's World along with four troop carriers, did not concern himself about them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The other, smaller Prador ships were conducting the cleanup operation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shree's concern was for the planet below, and the damnable forces there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They are as difficult to remove as a ship louse bored into a shell joint,\" the captain complained." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I personally have lost two hundred second-children and three first-children, and have necessarily taken some third-children out of storage to raise to the next level. Surface Arm have lost nearly a million second-children, hundreds of first-children, and nearly twenty thousand war drones. The enemy has now established a runcible down there from which we keep picking up U-space interference, but cannot find, and they keep bringing in new forces. Unless we do find it, we cannot win.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I am here to relay new orders from the King,\" Immanence told the other captain, revelling in his authority." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We will win here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shree made a gobbling sound, probably assuming this to be one of those \"sort it out or die\" orders from the Prador monarch, and now wondering if there might be any way he could pin failure on Immanence who was now the ranking Prador adult here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The hierarchical system of the Prador had been medieval and vicious for centuries." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The King ruled by dint of being the nastiest and most conniving of them all, and managed to maintain his rule by setting all those below him against each other and ruthlessly crushing any single Prador who became too powerful." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Those below him determined their ranking by endless complicated infighting and brief alliances that usually ended in bloody betrayals." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The captains of dreadnoughts, like Shree and Immanence, were of the highest rank, having accumulated enough wealth and power to buy into the resources and industrial capacity the King controlled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Those lower down the scale captained smaller ships or provided troops, while those lower still ran the infrastructure of Prador society." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All adult Prador ruled huge families with an absolute power the worst human dictators would have envied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In this complicated hierarchical structure, Shree lay a stratum below Immanence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Captain Immanence allowed Shree to assume the worst for a while before putting him right." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The King has decided that expending resources here to take this world would delay the push into the Polity for too long.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shree fell silent. Immanence now opened up the communication to all the Prador adults in the system, and all those first-children commanders whose fathers were back within the Kingdom." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"All land forces are to immediately withdraw from the planet. You have five days in which to comply. The ban on tactical fission weapons is now raised so you may use them to cover your retreat. We no longer have a use for this place.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shree got the idea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It seems a shame. This world would have made a pleasant addition to the Kingdom.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Immanence guessed the other captain had considered the possibility of staking claim to some portion of Grant's World." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He himself would have liked to have done the same." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It sometimes felt a little crowded back in the Kingdom and with space like this it would be possible for any adult to greatly extend his family using the same massive crèche systems some adults used to provide second-and first-child fodder for ground combat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Increasing the number of children would logically lead to increases in wealth, industrial capacity, power." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And maybe then, from such a position, said adult could contemplate a little regicide." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps this too was a reason for the King's decision about this place." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "During the ensuing five days, Immanence dropped small sensor drones to observe the retreat and evacuation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He watched retreating Prador cramming onto AG platforms and sliding low over jungle canopy while a line of detonation flashes behind them momentarily blanked vision." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Massive fireballs rose and shockwaves spread in perfect rings as they flattened jungle, which poured smoke flat to the ground before igniting violently." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He saw human troops running and burning, then being swept up in ground winds like all the rest of the burning debris." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Thousands of square kilometres of jungle burned, along with those human fighters occupying it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But in the air things were not going so well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Immanence watched retreating Prador scramble quickly aboard troop transports at the assigned assembly points." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Automatic guns and missile launchers covered them there, but not when the transports laboured into orbit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were guarded by gunboats mounting lasers and missile launchers, and by spherical Prador war drones run by the transplanted cerebral and nerve tissue of second-children." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But Polity AI war drones came in fast—weird machines often fashioned in the shape of living creatures." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Immanence observed one such formation of things like silvery lice or chouds and shelled molluscs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They approached in a line, then broke, accelerating on fusion drives to employ a seemingly random attack pattern, which in instants resulted in two gunboats dropping, burning, from the sky and a line of four Prador war drones detonating one after another." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Remaining Prador defence forces thoroughly engaged, a Polity drone in the shape of some segmented arthropod zipped up underneath the transport, clung for a moment, then darted away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The detonation of the mine it placed blew the transport to small pieces, the blast wave slamming into defenders suddenly finding their opponents gone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Over two thousand Prador ground troops were incinerated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But it seemed the humans and the AIs were beginning to register the change in tactics and were pulling their own forces back on the surface." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Analysing this retreat, Immanence narrowed down the position of the runcible to the north of one of the main continents." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He targeted the centre of that spread of jungle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Some Prador forces still remained within the zone, but the loss would not be unacceptable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He launched a single antimatter missile, maximum acceleration all the way down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It cut an orange streak of fire through atmosphere, as it burnt away its ablation shield, and hammered into the ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A mountain rose then flew apart in a growing sphere of annihilating fire." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A fire storm spread, instantly, across thousands of square kilometres of jungle, and the ensuing shockwave peeled up the topsoil from bedrock." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "From orbit he observed a massive disk-shaped cloud spread above the detonation site." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Beyond, the devastation spread almost like a pyroclastic flow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Within minutes a million square kilometres of jungle turned into something like the surface of a world closely orbiting a sun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No sign, thereafter, of any U-space interference." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The runcible was gone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The evacuation was all but complete on the fourth day, though heavy losses were inflicted by Polity war drones, which carried the fight all the way up into orbit—the drones attacking until depleting all their weaponry, then slamming themselves as hard and fast as possible into any vulnerable Prador ship." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At this point Immanence contacted Shree to say, \"Now.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Antimatter missiles rained down on the planet, each one, at a minimum, causing devastation the same as that caused by the one Immanence had used to destroy the runcible." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Within hours it became impossible to see the continents from orbit, for the atmosphere filled with smoke, steam and debris." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tsunamis slammed around the world washing thousands of kilometres inshore." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A fault line reactivated three hundred kilometres inshore of one continent, and dropped everything behind it five metres into the ocean." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Some inactive volcanoes exploded violently into action, one active volcano went out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Immanence supposed that, after a winter lasting a century or so, the jungle might return." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It would take millions of years before this place evolved large life forms again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All but maybe a few of the large, alien life forms down there were dead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Satisfactory,\" said Immanence. \"Now, Shree, with a little stopover to remove a Polity transfer station—a small matter, no more than a nibbling louse—you will accompany me to a system the humans name Trajeen, where we will seize from them a runcible that is not planet-based.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do we have need of such things?\" Shree asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Some of the technology may come in useful, but if not, what matter? Another human world there awaits our attention.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What's with Jadris?\" said the new copilot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He can't just do that at the last moment—the AI wants those buffers in position and ready for fitting straight after the test.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Too much green brandy?\" Conlan suggested." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The woman looked at him with slight puzzlement and Conlan rather suspected his mimicking of Heilberg's voice might be wrong." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What did you hear?\" he asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She shrugged. \"He auged in to opt out of this flight, saying he was sick, then he took his aug offline, so he must be unwell to not be taking calls. But it's not like him to be so irresponsible.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Conlan studied her as she moved off ahead of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was an attractive woman with a bald skull, fine coffee skin and an evident athleticism that did not detract from her femininity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But then Polity cosmetic surgery made it possible for anyone to be attractive." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe she had been born an ugly troglodyte with warts, bad breath and suppurating acne." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the security gate into the flight bay, she stepped ahead of him to press her hand against the palm reader, then walked through." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He glanced up, noting the drone hanging Damoclean overhead, and placed Heilberg's hand against the reader." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nothing happened, no alarms and no sudden activity from the drone, and he walked through trying not to show any reaction." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Green brandy you say?\" she asked him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Conlan scanned the four ships presently resting in the huge bay and felt a brief moment of panic." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All four of them were grabships stripped of their claws, and all three held runcible buffer sections dogged under their forward cockpits." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had no idea which one was Heilberg's." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fortunately the copilot moved on ahead of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wished she would stop talking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He didn't know her name or what her association with Heilberg might be." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They could have been lovers, they might have shared in-jokes and all that sad paraphernalia born of friendships." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rather than head for any of the ships she turned to the right, and only when he called up schematics of this area in his aug did he realise she was heading for the changing room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Idiot!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It would have looked hugely suspicious if he'd climbed aboard without donning a spacesuit first." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Though these ships were very rugged, safety procedures on what was effectively a construction site required crew to wear spacesuits." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Within the changing area others were stripping off clothing before open lockers, hanging the clothing inside and then donning their suits." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Relief again when he saw that each locker bore a name stencilled on the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He walked up to Heilberg's and pressed his hand against the reader beside it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nothing happened. Conlan just stood there swallowing dryly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Is that bloody thing still playing up?\" asked the copilot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So it would seem,\" he replied, not knowing what to do next." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She provided the answer for him by reaching over and thumping the wall beside the plate as she passed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The door popped open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Conlan felt a great gratitude towards—he checked the name on the locker she came to a halt before—Anna Vasco." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Conlan stripped off his clothing and donned the spacesuit, surreptitiously making adjustments so it fitted him properly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He glanced aside at Anna, and seeing her utterly naked, tanned and sleek as she pulled out her suit, felt a surge of excitement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She glanced at him, noting his attention, and, rather deliberately he felt, dropped her suit then bent over, with her naked behind towards him, to pick it up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of course, he knew, by the standards of general humanity, that between his ears lay a twisted ugly mess." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was a psychopath, and he knew that his heterosexual wiring had fused with other parts of his psyche." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hence the prospect of killing a sexually attractive woman excited him in an entirely different way from how he felt about Jadris and Heilberg." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unfortunately, he could not pander to the part of himself requiring the act to be protracted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The woman must die quickly. Such a shame." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Suitably attired, and with their bowl helmets tucked under their arms, they headed out towards the ships." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Again Conlan let Anna take the lead, and thus discovered that Heilberg's ship lay second from the left." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They boarded, stooping through the cramped body of the vessel, which was racked out and packed with the kinds of hand tools Conlan often employed for purposes other than those intended." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He smiled at a row of electric screwdrivers and remembered how it once took him many hours and many hundreds of self-tapping screws to kill one man, and the subsequent long-running joke in the Organization that if you crossed Conlan you were screwed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the bulbous chainglass cockpit Anna took the copilot's seat while Conlan strapped himself in where Heilberg once sat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Of course Anna's presence was for the same reasons as the spacesuits—a precautionary measure—and having little to do, she chattered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Conlan kept his replies monosyllabic so as not to offer any encouragement while they waited for their slot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Soon the two ships ahead of Heilberg's moved through the ship lock at the end of the bay, and his turn came." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The maglev in the bay automatically drew the ship into the lock, the entry doors sealing behind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "High-speed pumps screamed up to full function, their sound gradually receding as they removed from the lock the medium for carrying sound." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The outer doors opened with a puff of residual atmosphere, and maglev, and the station's spin, threw the grabship out into vacuum." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Showing confident professionalism, Conlan started the vessel's fusion engine—pointed away from the station—and made the required corrections to bring it on course for the cargo runcible." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Is there something wrong with your hand?\" Anna asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Difficult to hide, and her question would have been the first of many." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One more task, then, for Heilberg's hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He straightened it and chopped back hard, smashing Anna's nasal bones up into her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She snorted a spray of blood all over the cockpit screen as she choked into silence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Conlan inspected the hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The force of the blow had torn it from the interface clamps and it now stuck out at an odd angle from his forearm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He removed it, and replaced it with his own artificial one—glad of the return of feeling and sensitivity, for he would need all his faculties for what he intended." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But before he set about preparing for that task, he unstrapped Anna from her seat and dragged her into the back. He found her presence distracting." } ]