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[ { "from": "system", "value": "Expand on the story, staying true to the romance, drama genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "[ Group Chat ]\n\nHungover, furry mouthed, and with a rumbling stomach, I open my aching eyes and stop at the sight of Ang's sleeping face inches from mine. He sleeps with his hands pressed together and tucked under his cheek, so his lips pucker and wrinkles mark near his eye as it squishes into his hands.\n\nHolding my breath and praying he remains asleep, I draw my leg back, sliding it from between his and press my lips closed so I don't audibly react to the feeling of his coarse hairs on my smooth skin.\n\nHow is it we're both so afraid to show our cards during the day, but at night, we continue to twine together the way a grape vine moves around a trellis?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My phone vibrates on the bedside table. A constant buzzing, and the reason I'm now awake instead of cuddled up against Ang's solid chest. I don't turn over yet, but instead, I study his face the way I did yesterday while he slept and was unaware of my stare.\n\nHe's an impenetrable wall.\n\nImpervious to my every move." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I walk out of the bathroom and ask him to zip a dress I can easily do on my own.\n\nNothing.\n\nAsk him to fasten a necklace. Jesus, even toddlers can do those.\n\nNothing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fancy clothes, heels, and a fancy dinner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nothing!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two drinks down and a nice dinner seemed to help. At least he was playing back. A little bathroom fun in the smallest pyjamas I own.\n\nBut still, nothing!\n\nWhat the hell is wrong with him?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Oh, I know. I'm broken, unworthy, used… and just to add a cherry on top, I'm his friend's little sister." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Awesome." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Before I was broken, I was known among my friends for my stubborn nature and willingness to be the first to jump off that cliff. I guess Luc and I are similar in that way; he was the idiot of their pack, so I suppose that makes me the idiot of mine.\n\nI was always the first to jump.\n\nAlways the loudest. The drunkest. The silliest.\n\nSo when Ang refused to give in to my stupidity last night, I channeled a little of that woman." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I bent over the fridge and wiggled my hips, and when that didn't end with him running at me, I threw all my cards down, spilled his drink, and lapped it up like a common dog.\n\nAnd still, nothing happened.\n\nJust fucking kiss me already!\n\nI genuinely think he likes me. Jess swears he does, and Kane promises some fun if I simply go for it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They're so sensitive to my fragile feelings, I doubt they'd lie. They wouldn't throw me toward certain rejection, so that's got to be a good thing, right?\n\nWhether they're telling the truth or not, I'm going with the former. I'm going with the assumption that Ang does like me, so it's easier to approach him knowing his constant backing away isn't rejection.\n\nIt's simply a matter of tempting him over to the dark side." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Angelo Alesi's life is about loyalty and honor, and his loyalty to the guys is the reason he keeps his hands to himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The alternative – that he thinks I'm gross – just isn't something my poor heart can consider." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So I just… won't.\n\nMy phone vibrates again. A heavy, noisy buzzing that hurts my sensitive ears, so when the sound disturbs Ang and he turns away with a frown, I blindly reach out for the stupid thing and bring it under the sheet that covers us.\n\nBritt: Laine?\n\nBritt: Laine!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Britt: Laine?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Britt: Laine!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Britt: Laine?\n\nKari: Laine!\n\nOh, God.\n\nJess: Shush! Leave her alone. She's probably asleep.\n\nBritt: Laine! Are you and Angelo hooking up?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "What the actual fuck?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You're talking to us again now, so spill before I hurt you!\n\nKari: Luc is gonna lose his shit!\n\nJess: As if he can talk! He's the one who walks weird now because Marc fucked him up.\n\nKari: Why did Angelo go on a double date several states away with you?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It's Jessie and Kane." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cool. We can roll with that, because we're too scared to say anything. But Ang and Laine? ANG AND LAINE?\n\nJess: Shhh! You'll wake her.\n\nBritt: I don't give a shit! We had a minute of silence for Laine's snatch when I got Jack and she didn't." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was quiet for that minute for you, Baby!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now it's your turn." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Me: You were not quiet! The minute lasted 3 seconds, and it wasn't fair that he wasn't put to the vote first! Girl code meant we should have voted!\n\nBritt: You're awake! Omg. Omg. Omg." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Are you in bed with Angelo right now?\n\nMe: …\n\nKari: OMG! She is!\n\nI roll my eyes and reply: Shut up and get your hand off MY brother's dick! You don't get to be a part of this conversation, kettle!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Britt: Laine! We need straight answers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The whole town is blowing up today. Shit just got real.\n\nMe: Ugh. What? What's the problem?\n\nBritt: Are you dating Angelo?\n\nMe: No." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kari: Are you in bed with him right now?\n\nI tilt my head to the side to check on him. His broad back lifts and falls steadily, meaning he's still asleep.\n\nMe: Yes, but it's not what you think.\n\nBritt: Yes, you're in bed with him?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Me: Take a breath, Brittany. Nothing sinister is going on. We're road tripping, and no one wants me to sleep in a room alone, you know, with the whole suicide thing.\n\nJess: Laine! Stop that!\n\nMe: And we didn't want to break Jess and Kane up, so Ang is bunking with me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But it's not how you think it is.\n\nKari: I don't know what you're trying to sell to us, Baby, but the guys aren't gonna buy it. Luc went over to Kane's place last night to hang out with his sisters. That Eric dude answered the door and told him Kane took Jessie out of state. He said you and Ang went, too, because you can't have an orgy with only two people." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oh my God.\n\nJess: Hahahaha. You can't have an orgy with only two people! I love Eric so much.\n\nMe: Yes, we're road tripping. No, no one is having an orgy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Though Jess and Kane screw more often than any regular people should." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It's concerning that her vagina hasn't fallen out yet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jess: Stop throwing me under the bus and tell the girls about the date you and Ang went on last night!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Britt: You went on a date? !" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kari: Ahhhhhhhhhh! I always thought you and Ang would be cute together.\n\nMe: No date! We had dinner. A dinner that Jess and Kane were supposed to come to! They ditched!\n\nMe: You thought we'd be cute together? What?\n\nKari: Sure! When you're dating someone you're not supposed to be, I guess you become attuned to other people that are looking at someone they shouldn't." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You think I missed his 'I like them blonde' comments? Or when you brought Graham to Meg's baby shower. Pretty sure Ang had no enamel left on his teeth that night. I've always thought it was cute the way Ang would watch you.\n\nMe: You're lying." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kari: I'm actually not." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You think he didn't watch you at 188?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You think he didn't go on a rampage when he found out you were dating Graham? Or after. He ran through a freakin' fire to get you, Baby!\n\nMe: He's my friend. Those are all friend things. Marcus would do the same." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kari: Okay… If you say so.\n\nMe: Don't 'okay' me!\n\nBritt: Shut up and tell us about the date!\n\nMe: It wasn't a date! We're vacationing together, we needed to eat, and Jess and Kane said they'd meet us at the restaurant at seven." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By nine, we'd already finished eating, and they never turned up.\n\nJess: Right. Because it's not like Kane and I didn't peek through the glass doors and find you flirting. Both of you! No way were we coming in to interrupt the 'oops, you've got ketchup on your chin. Lemme lick it up for you.'\n\nMe: That's not at all what we were doing!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jess: …" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Me: It was gravy!\n\nKari: Ahhhhhh! You like him! I knew it.\n\nBritt: So, it's like a double date vacation. Twins and hot dudes.\n\nJess: No orgies!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Me: No.\n\nBritt: Okay, you're not together. But do you like him?\n\nI take a deep breath and risk another glance outside the sheets. Ang hasn't moved. His back continues to lift and fall rhythmically, and his chain, the one that mentions acting with your heart, sits on his shoulder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Case closed." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Me: Yes… Yes, I like him a lot." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Let's engage in a collaborative writing exercise in the romance, drama genre. I'll provide a starting point, and you'll continue with 5 sentences." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "[ Reflection ]\n\n\"Finally!\" Shooting out of his seat and pointing an obnoxious finger in our direction, Kane's announcement draws the gaze of every person in the large banquet room. \"Finally! Jesus.\" The cloth napkin in his lap falls to the floor, and Jess snorts as Kane rushes around the table and barrels straight up to us. \"I swear, it's like I knew the moment you sealed the deal. My balls un-shriveled and Jessie got the pounding of her life.\" He shoves me aside and grabs Laine's face, bringing her onto her tip-toes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cupping her cheeks and smooshing them in until her lips jut forward, he slams a long, closed mouth kiss on her mouth and doesn't stop until I shove him away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Bishop! Get the fuck off her, man!\"\n\n\"Sir!\" A little waitress in black and white steps between us like she's scared we're going to rumble. \"This is a family restaurant, and you're making a scene.\"\n\n\"He got laid last night, Wendy!\" He points over her head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Angelo – the eternal virgin – finally used his big boy words and got laid. Now we can all live long, happy lives without risk of explosion.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wendy's cheeks flame.\n\nLaine's cheeks flame.\n\nAnd when I look to my right and find a young family whose parents are not a hell of a lot older than us, my anger notches up when the thirty-ish mom's face flames.\n\n\"Bishop.\" I step around the women and push him back until we step into the foyer. \"You gotta fuckin' stop.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't stop now, brother. You just started.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Kane; you've seen me work. Don't make me fuckin' hurt you.\"\n\nUnaffected, not scared in the least, he bounces on his toes and smacks my arm. \"Hey – remember way back when we met, when you found out I knew the twins? You found out I kissed Laine by accident.\"\n\nAnger rockets through my gut. \"What about it?\"\n\n\"I kissed Laine!\" He skips out of my way when I surge forward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I kissed her before you did. Did you know there was tongue? A little boob action? She groaned, man.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Motherfucker!\" Pouncing, I slam him to the floor and swing out with wild strikes.\n\nI'm not a fighter, not like the Rollers, not even like Kane, so each strike I get through his guard is a pity punch that he lets through. But even knowing that, my knuckles crunching against his face feels good, and when the girls step out and find me on top, I revel in my mini-victory.\n\n\"They're so childish,\" Jess murmurs. Holding Laine's hand, she watches her man take hit after hit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She's not worried. She watches on with a roll of her eyes, then drags Laine back into the dining room with a huff. \"Immature idiots.\"\n\nLaughing, Kane bucks me off easily and proves my suspicions – pity strikes – until I land on my back and gasp for breath. Glancing around the space surrounding us, I find dozens of wary eyes watching us.\n\nOne man – very Duckworth and snobby – stands over us and points toward the stairs. \"You're no longer welcome in our restaurant. Please leave.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Banished from a fancy five-star restaurant with a warning to never return, with red knuckles and a fat lip, we end up eating burritos on the beach for breakfast." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unsurprisingly, the girls didn't follow us out. They stay inside and eat their fancy prepaid food while me and the man I now consider a brother hang out on the sand and talk shit.\n\n\"Where are your folks?\" When I lamely mentioned my thoughts on brotherhood, Kane turned introspective, staring at the waves rolling in for the longest time. \"Did they make the memorial?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shrugs and lies back against the dune behind us. \"My mom's dead, my dad's a career military guy. No time for frivolous shit like memorials. It's not like we had Jay's body, so what's the point, ya know?\"\n\n\"You still did something for him. You remembered him. You did it all alone?\"\n\n\"Nah. Eric was with me.\"\n\n\"Just Eric?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Tell me about your mom?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he returns savagely. \"I don't wanna talk about Jay, but I wanna know why you flinch every time I mention her.\"\n\n\"She's dead.\"\n\nSmiling, he picks up his almost empty can of Coke and takes a sip. \"I figured that out already. Now I'm asking my brother what happened. It hurts you, so I'm here to take some of the load.\"\n\nLying back and sunning myself, I close my eyes and think of Laine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She killed herself when I was a kid. Suicide.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gives a sympathetic grunt. \"I'm sorry to hear that, man.\"\n\n\"In the shower. Slit her wrists because my dad wouldn't stop beating the fuck out of her every morning and night.\"\n\n\"Shit.\" I open my eyes and glance over to find his jaw ticking. \"So pulling Laine out of the shower…\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Damn near killed me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I turn back to study the sky. \"But it's whatever. It was a long time ago, and Laine's fine. That's all that matters to me now.\" I take a deep breath and remember back. \"She has no clue she was with me that day.\"\n\n\"Laine?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mm.\" I lift my permanently stained hands and study them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I pulled my mom out of the shower, but it was too late. After the ambulance came, then the police, I snuck away. I didn't know where to go, so I went to Alex and Scotch's place, sat in their yard and ignored everyone for hours. Luc and the twins were always there, always skating, and Mr. Turner – chief at the time – wasn't home yet, so no one knew. Laine came over and tried to get me up to skate, but it's like I was mute. I couldn't talk, I couldn't do anything, I just sat there and studied my hands, so she sat down and rested her shoulder against mine. We were there for hours, Bish, until the sun went away and the police came to get me, and the whole time, I had my mom's blood beneath my nails.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's almost like you and her in my garage the past couple months,\" he muses. \"She didn't wanna talk, she didn't wanna do anything, but you sat with her anyway, provided her a shoulder when she needed it.\"\n\nI scoff. \"I didn't even see the similarities, but I guess.\"\n\n\"And your dad?\"\n\nMy smile is wiped clean." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Also dead. My first kill.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew that'd get his attention.\n\nHis eyes whip back to mine, a stark black, reminding me of the man who stood in a utilitarian room and helped me torture another man. \"Come again, Alesi.\"\n\n\"Couple months after my mom was gone, he strapped me into his truck, tied me down, because he knew I was the son of a wily prick and I'd learned to slither my way out of situations. He hog-tied me, and drove us toward the lake. He was gonna take us both out, because that's who he was. Miserable fucking prick, and since my mom took herself out of the equation, he was pissed.\" I make shapes of the clouds in the sky, anything to distance myself from the hatred I have for that man. \"I was just a kid, but I wasn't stupid, so just after we crossed the tracks and passed the town sign, I got out of my ropes, grabbed the wheel, and drove us straight into that big oak tree just outside town. I slammed against the windshield and jacked my shoulder up bad, since I had no restraints, but my father's seatbelt jammed up.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I scoff. \"Irony, if you ask me. The truck caught fire, but I slithered my way out and watched him burn up.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I meet Kane's watchful gaze. \"He cried out for me. He reached out. Wanna know what I did?\"\n\nHe lifts a brow in question.\n\n\"I kicked dirt in his face and told him to go fuck himself.\"\n\n\"You regret it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Nope.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He grins and goes back to watching the ocean." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Can't say I blame you. I've killed men before, I've held a man down while my brother tortured him, I've done loads of shit that isn't exactly on the up and up.\"\n\n\"Regret it?\"\n\n\"Nope.\"\n\nSitting up, I rest my elbows on my knees and study the sand. \"All my life, I was scared of turning into my dad. I was scared I'd take pleasure in someone else's pain, then Laine did what my mom did, and it was like a sign. A bad fucking omen that we were them and history was repeating.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She's not like your mom, Ang, and you sure as shit ain't like your dad.\"\n\n\"I enjoyed hurting Graham.\"\n\nHe chuckles. \"Trust me, I enjoyed hurting him, too. He deserved what he got, so don't tell yourself you're a bad person for fucking him up. If someone could've come along and done the same to your old man before it was too late for your mom, would you be happy? Would you want her to be saved?\"\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\nNodding, he taps my arm to draw my attention to the girls walking along the beach toward us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Blonde hair whips around their faces, and their laughter travels on the wind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Exactly. You were the person you hoped would come along and save you guys. You were a hero. You couldn't do it for your mom, but you did it for Laine, and she's the most important person in your world. Don't forget that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I watch them approach, still fifty yards away, but their smiles are bright, contagious. My lips spread into a smile as Laine saunters toward me. \"She's so beautiful, Bish. I can't process how fucking amazing she is.\"\n\n\"Mmm. Don't mess them up; mine's on the left, pink shorts, filthy grin because she knows she still owes me a BJ.\"\n\n\"Dude!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He chuckles and climbs to his feet. \"Relax, Alesi. You won. She's finally yours. It's time to relax and enjoy what you've got.\" He picks up our trash and the empty soda can, and without another word, he walks along the beach and tugs Jess from Laine's grasp. Laughing, Laine continues toward me and stops in such a way that the button of her jean shorts are at my eye level.\n\nGrinning, I slide my hand along her thigh, allowing my eyes to drag up her body until our eyes meet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hey.\" Grinning, she turns and drops into my lap, making me grunt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had a moment to wonder if I was in trouble – Kane's teasing might've upset her, or our fighting and subsequent ejection from the restaurant – but her wiggling butt making itself comfortable on my lap says we're fine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hey. Enjoy your breakfast?\"\n\nI brush her hair back and drop a kiss on her brow, because I haven't seen her in an hour and I missed the fuck out of her. \"It was actually pretty good. There are worse things in life than burritos for breakfast. Enjoy yours? We thought you'd follow us out.\"\n\nShe scoffs. \"No way. It's a five-star restaurant, and an all you can eat buffet. No way were we following you out. Just because you guys can't control your shit doesn't mean we're dumb enough to get banished too.\"\n\n\"So much for loyalty.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I slide my finger along her ribs and grin when her body tenses." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You afraid I'm gonna tickle you, Laine?\"\n\n\"No.\" She grabs my hand with a strong grip and forces our fingers together. \"I'm too tired for tickles. I ate, I'm so full I wanna spew, so now I'm ready to nap. Tickling will hamper my plans.\"\n\nI run my nose through the top of her hair and breathe her in until I'm dizzy. \"Do you remember that time you called me in the middle of the night and woke me up?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her brows pull in while she thinks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That day we went to Spence's?\"\n\n\"Yeah. And all the times you called to be saved when you were cow tipping.\"\n\nHer chest bounces with laughter. \"Uh-huh.\"\n\n\"And remember when you woke me up yesterday? I was tired and didn't want to come down to the beach, but you made me get up anyway?\"\n\n\"Uh-huh.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Exactly.\" I drop a kiss on the top of her head." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Shut the hell up about being tired. You'll get over it.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Hey can you write like Mercedes Lackey in the urban fantasy, romance, fairy tales genre and use whatever I write as a jumping off point?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sunshine and fresh air flooded the kitchen, and The Arrows was very peaceful without the Robinsons and Howse present." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So peaceful, that Eleanor wondered what it would be like to live here like this forever—if somehow, the Robinsons would just never return." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've thought and I've reasoned, and I've looked,\" Sarah said aloud, startling Eleanor as she concentrated on a particularly obtuse paragraph about the Hanged Man card. \"And much as I hate to admit that I'm wrong—well, I'm wrong.\"\n\nEleanor blinked, and stared at her mentor. Sarah was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the kitchen, staring down at a pile of stones with markings on them. Rune-stones, she called them, and she used them not only to try and give her some direction for the future, but to try and learn what was going on around her that might be hidden from her. If, for instance, someone was sick enough that he needed to see the medical doctor and not just depend on her herbal remedies. There were many country folk who still were suspicious of the doctor and veterinarian, and sometimes it took Sarah a deal of convincing to get them to go to either gentleman.\n\n\"Wrong about what?\" Eleanor asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It took a lot to get Sarah to admit she was wrong about anything." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was dreadfully stubborn that way.\n\nThen again, she had every right to be.\n\n\"I've always said that the big house and the village haven't got much of anything to say to each other,\" Sarah replied sourly, still staring down at her stones. \"Still, I knew it was an Air Master that chased off the revenants; I knew it couldn't be a local witch, no matter how powerful, when you told me about it, and I was right. It turns out she's a guest up there at Longacre, though, and it seems that she's staying the summer. And that changes everything.\"\n\n\"An Air Master?\" Eleanor said, catching her breath. Oh, granted, it wasn't her Element, but any Master could help her—\n\nMore to the point, unlike, say, a constable or any other authority figure, any Elemental Master would know she was telling the truth about Alison and what Alison had done to her. She wouldn't have to try and convince an Elemental Master that she wasn't mad because she was talking about magic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's what we've needed, what you've needed, to see if you can't get cut free of your stepmother and her wicked magic. And now, I've asked the cards, the bones, and the stones, and they're all saying you need to go up there and meet with that Air Master. In fact, they say if you don't, well—\" she shook her head. \"It'll be bad, that's all. Not just bad for you, either. The stones reckon Alison's got some wicked mischief going that's going to be a trouble no matter what steps are taken to stop her, but horrible bad if she isn't stopped.\" Sarah looked up, her face full of fear. \"I can't tell what it is, but at a guess, she's let loose some kind of sickness; she's Earth, and that's the sort of thing they do when they go to the bad. Pestilence and plague.\" Sarah bit her lip. \"Well, the stones say that if you work with that Air Master and get yourself cut free, Alison will fall, but if you don't, she'll use you somehow and put more power into whatever it is she's done, and the stones don't say how much worse it will be, but they're all showing their bad sides.\"\n\nShe felt as if hope and fear were at war inside her. Hope, because here was exactly what she needed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fear, because how could she ever get what she needed with Alison's hearth-binding still holding her? \"But—I can't get as far as Longacre,\" she protested. \"And even if I could, I can't just stroll up to even the tradesman's entrance and ask to be introduced to the Air Master!\" Even if she knew the Air Master's real name. Especially not looking like a servant. She knew better than to go to the front door—she'd be turned away in a heartbeat.\n\n\"Well, now, that's not necessarily true... because you only need to get inside those walls once and talk to her. After that, if she's worth anything, and the stones say she is, she'll come to you.\" Sarah gathered up the stones and poured them into a little leather bag." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And there is one night, coming up, when you can walk in the front door and be presented like you were to the manor born. Provided you're wearing a fancy dress.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She tilted her head to one side. \"Think about it. The night of that fancy dress ball. If your stepsisters are good enough to be invited, you surely are as well.\"\n\nEleanor's hand flew to her mouth. \"Good gad!\" she cried. \"You're right, you're exactly right! But—\" As quickly as her hopes rose, they dropped again. \"Where am I going to get an invitation? Or a costume? Especially one that will look as if it belongs among people like that?\"\n\n\"Ah, now, what about that attic of yours?\" Sarah replied, with a lift of her brow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think we ought to take a look up there, first, before we think about any other possibilities. As for the invitation, you leave that up to me. I'll find a way to get you invited.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eleanor wanted to protest that she'd been through all of the chests and had salvaged the only usable garments up there, but Sarah was already on her feet and marching towards the steps. With a sigh of resignation, Eleanor followed.\n\nIt was easier to move the chests with two of them, but it was rather disheartening to see what the moths and time had done to some of the once-beautiful gowns that had been inside them. Silk shattered and tore like wet tissue as they lifted gowns out; the satins had mostly discolored, beadwork fell off the bodices. But just as Eleanor turned away, even though there were older chests and clothes-presses waiting, certain that they had completely eliminated any possibility of finding anything, Sarah let out an exclamation of satisfaction.\n\n\"What?\" Eleanor blurted, turning back.\n\nSarah held up a froth of flounces and lace. \"I knew there should be one of these still good!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "she exclaimed with satisfaction. \"It's still a tale in the village, how the three girls from Broom went up to London and were the belles of the ball. The fellow who owned The Arrows before your father bought it was just as well-off; the wool-trade, d'ye see, that and The Arrows had been in his family since Great Harry's day. This is a ball-gown from the time of Victoria's coronation; all three of the daughters here went down to London on account of some aunt who married a title got them all manner of invitations. She got them into all the right circles and chaperoned them about for three weeks. It must have worked, since two of them got husbands out of the journey, and but the third never could settle on anyone, and ended up back here, taking care of her parents when they got old. That's who your father bought the house from, the daughter who never married.\"\n\nCurious now, Eleanor made her way back to where Sarah was unpacking the petticoats that went with the gown. They, remarkably, were also still sound. The gown was stupefying to one used to the current narrow skirts and minimal (or in Eleanor's case, nonexistent) corseting. She couldn't imagine how much Venice lace had gone into trimming the row after row of flounces on the skirt. Twenty yards? Thirty? The neckline was low enough to make her blush; the puffy little flounced sleeves were as tiny as the skirt was huge. It was made of some sort of flounces of netting or gauzy stuff in a dark ivory tone over a slightly heavier skirt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe it had once been pure white, and had aged to this color, but if so, it had done so uniformly.\n\n\"You'll look a rare treat,\" Sarah said, giving the gown a good shake. \"This is Indian cotton, from back in the day when it was dearer than silk.\"\n\n\"I'll look a rare Guy—\" Eleanor retorted. But she reached out to touch the delicate lace, anyway, wondering wistfully if she really could fit into it.\n\nA moment later, she found out, at Sarah's insistence. She was surprised to find that it fit her very well indeed.\n\n\"A good thing that they didn't reckon young girls should wear much but flowers or feathers, back in the day,\" Sarah said, looking very pleased. \" 'Cause how I should manage jewels, I haven't a clue. We'll say you're little Princess Victoria herself. Here, I've got a nice rose-colored sash off that silk that went to bits, that'll take the place of the old one that's gone, a bit of cleaning, some flowers and a domino-mask—you leave it to me. Put your hair up, and a bit of glamorie, even Alison won't recognize you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eleanor looked down at herself, feeling a thrill of excitement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And it wasn't because she would finally find a possible mentor, or because this might be the chance to plead her case to an Elemental Master." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No, there was only one thought in her head at the moment.\n\nReggie will be there. And he'll see me like this—not shabby.\n\n\"But how am I going to get there?\" she asked, as it occurred to her that trying to walk up to Longacre in that dress was going to be in impossible proposition.\n\n\"I'll borrow a cart and horse and put a glamorie on them, too,\" Sarah said dismissively. \"Make them look like a carriage. Wouldn't pass in daylight, but this will be after dark. I'll be your coachman, I'll hand you out, so nobody gets close enough to see through the glamorie.\"\n\n\"But—I still can't get as far as the manor!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "she objected weakly. \"Alison's bindings—I've tried stretching them, and they still only go as far as the meadow.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You will be able to. Alison will have her hands full with her girls. She'll be trying to hide her nature from that Air Master, you can count on it. She'll be distracted by the ball. For an hour or two, and working together, we'll be able to stretch those bindings just far enough that night.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sarah sounded quite sure of herself, and Eleanor just gave in.\n\nShe had to be right. This was Eleanor's only chance to get some outside help.\n\nShe wanted to see Reggie, even if he didn't recognize her. Maybe because he wouldn't recognize her. Just once, she wanted to talk to him, and see him look at her the way he would look at any other girl that was his social equal.\n\nShe wanted—a memory. No matter what happened to her after that night, she wanted to have a memory of being a princess at a ball, dancing with a handsome knight, and allow herself to be just that little bit in love with him.\n\n\"You're right,\" she said, with a nod." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If we don't seize this opportunity, there may never be another one; we have to make it work.\"\n\n[ July 17, 1917 London ]\n\nThanks to her friendship with Lady Devlin, the Savoy had put the Robinsons up in a better suite than usual; the girls didn't even have to share a room, which made for a little more peace and quiet. It certainly impressed Warrick Locke when he arrived on Alison's summons.\n\nAlison saw no need to trouble herself with secrecy today; what could be more natural than a meeting with her solicitor since they both \"happened\" to be in London? The girls were at fittings for their costumes; nothing could be more respectable than having him come to her hotel suite in broad daylight with a briefcase full of papers. Howse was right in the next room, though she could have been in this one, if Alison had wished, and neither seen nor heard anything but her book. It had taken more than a year, but now Howse was nicely obedient to Alison's will and directions, yet still had enough freedom of thought that she performed all of her duties properly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just for the sake of verisimilitude, Locke had a stack of papers on the table." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The fact that none of those papers concerned her was something no one else would ever find out. Some of them, however, concerned Eleanor, who was the central topic of their conversation. Eleanor was a loose end that Alison very much wanted tidied up before there was a wedding in the offing. It would be harder to dispose of her quietly when one was connected to the Fenyxes of Longacre Park.\n\nBut Locke still had no better plan than the old one, even though he'd had weeks to think of alternatives. Alison was extremely disappointed in him; normally he was full of ideas, but he seemed terribly fixated on this one. Perhaps it was because of his own personal obsessions, but if that was indeed the case, the sooner he got them under control, the better.\n\n\"I tell you, Warrick, no matter how much you like your plan to break that wretched girl's mind, it is too complicated,\" Alison objected." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What's more, it relies too much on that man of yours, as well as bringing in possible confederates. I know you trust him, but every time you add a person to a plan you double the chances of something being said or done at the wrong time and either ruining the whole thing or giving the plan away. Or worse still, you've added the danger of having your confederate decide to betray you.\"\n\nWarrick Locke frowned. \"Robbie has been working with me for a very long time now. Frankly, if you are concerned about him doing something other than what he has been ordered to do, I can tell you that in all the time that I have known him, he has never once had an original idea for himself.\"\n\n\"It's too complicated a plan,\" Alison countered, throttling down her rising irritation with him. \"There are too many things that can go wrong, including that the wretched child just might be tougher-minded than you think. The closer I come to reaching my goals, the less I like complicated plans. I find that the more I have to lose, the less inclined I am to take chances on something that might work.\n\nAnd the whole house of cards you wish to construct has far too many points of possible failure for my comfort.\"\n\n\"It's the only idea that has any chance at all of giving you the results you want,\" he replied, with ill grace. \"If she dies, you lose, because the inheritance goes to the cousin. If she disappears, you lose, because until she's proven dead, you can't touch her money and when she's proven dead, the inheritance goes to the cousin. If she stays sane, and attains her majority, you lose, because sooner or later the trustees are going to want to see her to turn her fortune over to her and then there's no telling what will happen. If you injure her physically to the point that she can't care for herself, you still lose, because doctors will be involved, and someone will find out that you've been making a slave of her and making free with her inheritance. The only way you win is if you keep her alive and drive her so completely mad that she withdraws into herself and never comes out again. That means breaking her will, her spirit, and her mind, and there's only one way that I know for certain to do that. After all, it's not as if you can drop her down a hole and be done with her.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wait a moment—\" she said, with a sudden surge of interest and a jolt of euphoria as his words caused an interesting image to flash across her mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She caught and held that image; quickly extrapolated something from it, and then, smiled, slowly. \"You just might have something, Warrick. You might just have solved the conundrum.\"\n\n\"Pardon?\" He blinked at her, caught off-guard by her words.\n\n\"You said something very interesting. You said that I couldn't just drop her down a hole and be done with it.\" Her smile broadened. \"But that just might be exactly what we want to do with her. There's more than one way to get the results we want from her.\"\n\nNow he was completely confused, that much was very plain. \"I thought the best plan was to break her mind.\"\n\n\"Be patient with me. What was the first spell I put on her? To bind her to the hearth. Correct?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She nodded as he frowned. \"So this has kept her confined to the house and grounds. She can't go off on her own; that binding was intended to keep her from looking for help. But that same binding spell may serve us in another way. If she were to be taken away from the hearth, carried off somewhere, she would have to try and make her way back, no matter what obstacles were in her path. Or—? Do you remember how I constructed the bindings? Because I certainly do.\"\n\n\"I'm not sure I see where this is going, but I believe the geas you put on her forces her to try, and keep trying, to make her way back to The Arrows. And the longer she's away the more of her mind becomes obsessed with the need to return, until she can't even eat or sleep, she's so driven by and consumed with that need.\" Now his frown looked as if he was beginning to see the shape of something, but hadn't yet deciphered the puzzle she had set him.\n\nShe helped him out with some clues. \"Warwickshire is full of abandoned coal mines. Lady Devlin was just complaining about one of them last week—it's collapsing, evidently, and causing subsidence on the property of one of her friends, spoiling a good meadow. Now suppose, just suppose, that we were to drop her down one of those, then report that she has gone missing, as we always intended to do. The first thing and only thing she would try to do is return to the hearth, driven by her growing obsession, and if we took care to drop her into one where she couldn't climb out, where the tunnels run from the entrance towards Broom, can you see what would happen?\"\n\nHis frown deepened. \"I—think so—\"\n\nAlison sat forward in her chair, leaning towards him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She will have to follow the pull of the geas. Which means she would be forced to penetrate deeper into the mine, until she could go no further, without lights, without anything to help her.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She nodded as his eyes widened with understanding." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Think of that; alone in the dark and possibly injured, she comes to a dead end. She can't retrace her steps, because the spell won't let her go back. She can't go on, because she's at a dead end. She's hungry, thirsty, and more and more of her mind is taken up with the obsession to return. Now, just to add something to ensure that we get the results we want, a mine is in the earth, and what's more, it's in violated earth, which means the Elementals associated with it are all of my sort. So if trying to claw her way through coal-bearing rock with her bare hands isn't enough to drive her mad, my little friends can take care of that problem by pushing her over the edge of sanity. Little monsters with glowing eyes appearing and vanishing in the dark, things gibbering and drooling on her, cold hands clutching at her, plucking at her clothing... it would take a stronger mind than she has to come out of that intact!\"\n\n\"But you need to have her in your custody in order to keep control of her inheritance,\" Locke objected.\n\nShe was already prepared for the objection. \"And I can do that. I merely wait a day or so, then nudge a rescue party to the right coal mine and allow them to find her. Fear, thirst, hunger, constant attack by gnomes and kobolds, and the geas—if she has any mind left after forty-eight hours of that, I will be shocked and amazed. By that time, I imagine the only thing we'll need to worry about is replacing her with a servant.\" She did sigh at that. It was getting impossible to find servants that weren't thieves, drunks, or both. With so many women getting much better wages and shorter hours by taking the places of men than they could ever obtain as servants, only the dregs were left.\n\nOn the other hand, once the business of Eleanor is settled, perhaps the answer would be simply to use magical coercions on whatever I can get." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I pity any thief that tries to purloin anything from my house. Or perhaps she could take someone feeble-minded from the workhouse. The same coercions that kept Eleanor scrubbing and tending should work on the feeble-minded.\n\nLocke gazed at her with astonishment. \"My hat is off to you. I would not have thought of any of that. I hesitate to call anything a perfect plan, but this one is as close to perfect as a reasonable person could wish. I assume you'll put her to sleep to make her easier to handle?\"\n\n\"Probably,\" Alison agreed. \"I wouldn't even need to use a spell, if I didn't want to. A little chloroform on a sponge would do the trick.\"\n\n\"More reliably renewable than a spell, too,\" Locke murmured admiringly. \"And costs nothing in power. You could even do it with your daughters; simply wait until the girl has gone to sleep, go up to her room, administer the sponge, and there will not even be a struggle.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She did not ask how he knew that. Presumably he had some experience in such matters.\n\n\"As I told you, I prefer simple plans,\" she replied, feeling so pleased with her own ideas that she was willing to be very pleasant to the man. \"And it does occur to me that when this works, I'll be needing to find some place safe and secure to put the afflicted child. I scarcely intend to keep her at home; the present servant problem is bad enough without trying to find someone to care for and stand guard over a madwoman. I presume that you've been looking into such things?\"\n\n\"Discreetly, I assure you, and mentioning no names,\" he responded immediately, and dug into his case for a file. \"And here are the best places I found—quite discreet, very understanding about the need to keep someone alive and healthy, but once a patient is checked in, they don't ever emerge.\"\n\nShe smiled, and leaned over the table to examine the tastefully subdued brochures. On his own ground, Locke was knowledgeable and immensely helpful." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She would definitely keep him around a while longer.\n\nEspecially now that he realized she didn't need him to come up with better plans than he could. It would make him a little on edge, and anxious not to get on her bad side, because she was, after all, a most generous client.\n\n[ July 18, 1917 Longacre Park, Warwickshire ]\n\nLady Devlin was a very old-fashioned hostess, and that meant she believed in doing things the old-fashioned way.\n\nShe was writing out every one of the invitations for the ball herself, since she no longer had a secretary to tend to such things for her. The estate manager could probably have done it for her, but she claimed that she was enjoying it. After a while, out of sheer guilt, Reggie elected to help her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His once-neat copperplate handwriting was gone all to hell, of course, with lack of practice, but it was good enough to address envelopes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Which was tedious, but saved his mother the effort of writing out the addresses and allowed her to concentrate on the aesthetics of producing the invitations." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They couldn't be printed, alas; perhaps the middle-class found invitations where one filled in missing names and dates acceptable, but no one of Lady Devlin's stature would even consider resorting to such a stratagem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Besides, many of them required a certain level of personalization in the form of a note." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It did allow him to sit down without looking like a malingerer. It also gave him a chance to find out who the girls were that would be pursuing him at this little hunt disguised as a party.\n\nRoberta and Leva Cygnet; not much of a surprise there. They were already coming to teas and tennis-parties. \"Mrs. Regina Towner,\" though—\"Regina Towner?\" he asked, casually. \"Do I know the Towners?\"\n\n\"An old friend from school,\" his mother replied, just as casually. Right enough; mother's age, which means her daughter is probably my age... Mr. and Mrs Robert Tansy, Esq., and daughter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So Ginger will be in the howling pack." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Good gad, I hope some of my lads come through." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I need all the distractions I can muster, and Ginger likes to dance. Some of the next few were innocuous enough. Then, \"Lt. Commander Matthew Mann, the Hon. Mrs. Matthew Mann, Miss Mann.\" Ah, good gad. The Brigadier's granddaughter, and Mama is an \"Hon.\" I've never seen an \"Hon.\" that wasn't on the hunt for a title for the family. Well, the Brigadier warned me. \"Viscountess Arabella Reed.\" One of Lady Virginia's friends, she was a chatterbox, but at least she didn't have any daughters." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then, at last, the run of invitations that he hoped would save him—pilots-in-training at the school headquartered at Oxford, and lads he knew either were on leave or could get it. Even a cadet was a second lieutenant, and while Mamas were on the hunt for titles, daughters were easily distracted by officers' dress-uniforms.\n\nSecond Lt. Michael Freed, Second Lt. David Jackson, at Reading. Lt. Vincent Paul Mills, good gad, I hope he doesn't get shot to bits before this thing comes off; that handsome face will be even more of a distraction than his uniform. Captain Michael Dolbeare; good thing he's training the lads at Oxford; he's a got enough medals at this point to sink him if he fell in the river, and the girls can't resist the shiny. Lt. Allen McBain; arm in a sling, but even if he can't dance he's another handsome devil. That Scots burr, though; the girls will giggle over it and make him blush, which is entertaining as well as a distraction. Now the Oxford lot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Second Lt. John Oliver, Second Lt. Charles Goddard, Second Lt. Lyman Evans—at least they aren't losing a flying-student a day the way they were at the start of the war, or half my invitations would never get answered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Of course Turner had made sure that the names he had given Reggie were of the better students who had less chance of cracking up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That was a concern; ambulances were stationed at the students' fields because they were, by heaven, needed. The accident rate was appalling, the death-rate even more so. The Rumpetys killed more lads than combat did. Thank God for the Gosport system. Things had changed since he was a cadet; now there was a logical system in place for training. Still. Back in his day, there were always several dozen crashes a day when the weather permitted and the planes were up. Usually one cadet died a day, and several more were injured. Not so bad now, though." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Can't afford to lose that many in training, I suppose." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Took those old men long enough to figure that out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He shook off the shakes that threatened him as he remembered some of those crashes... fortunately, his sojourn at the school as a cadet had been mercifully short." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He already knew how to fly, and didn't take long to prove it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Captain William Robert Howe. Can't do without him. He's bringing the band— Thanks to the Brigadier; this was a regular infantry band, though they had played for the RFC. That would give some of the PBI a thrill, coming up to a country house to play. Captain Howe was the officer in charge and the bandleader, all in one. And, the Brigadier claimed, single. Another alternate target for the husband-hunters. PBI he might be, and less glamorous than a pilot, but he was a captain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Captain Steven Stewart, and he'd damned well better get leave. Steve had pledged on his life he'd come. Tommy had sworn he'd see to it. Tommy had incentive; was getting a case of whiskey from the Longacre cellars if Steve did make it.\n\nLt. Commander Geoffrey Cockburn, and if he puts his auto in the pond again, I'll make him go in after it. Captain Christopher Whitmore, and he had better not bring all that photographic paraphernalia with him. Both had been chums of his at college. Geoff was a tearaway, Chris studious, both still single and not at all unhandsome." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yet more fodder for the husband-hunters. With luck, he'd get a word with them ahead of time so they could help keep the harpies off.\n\n\"Here's the uniformed lot, Mater,\" he said, with relief, putting his stack beside the rest of the finished envelopes.\n\n\"Ah, good,\" she replied, absently. \"Here, there's just a few more of the local people. Be a dear and do them, would you?\"\n\nMrs. and Mrs. Donald Hinshaw, the vicar and his wife. Doctor and Mrs. Robert Sutherland. And then—\n\nMrs. Alison Robinson, Miss Danbridge, Miss Carolyn Danbridge, Miss Eleanor Robinson...." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eleanor? For a moment, his mind went blank." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then it re-focused again. Eleanor Robinson. His Eleanor?\n\nShe was that—woman's daughter? But how was that possible?\n\n\"Mater, who's this Eleanor Robinson?\" he asked casually, or at least, as casually as he could manage.\n\n\"Oh, she's just dear Alison's stepdaughter,\" his mother said, indifferently. \"The vicar reminded me about her, or at least, I think it was the vicar. Someone did, anyway. She's supposed to be at Oxford, so I suppose she's a terrible bluestocking not to come home for the summer, but it wouldn't do not to invite her, even if she doesn't come.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI writing task: user input -> seven sentences sentences. style: Mercedes Lackey. genre: urban fantasy, romance, fairy tales." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "REGGIE HAD DECIDED ON CAROLYN as the most likely to let something about Eleanor drop—she clearly was not the more intelligent of the sisters (though neither of them were a match for their mother) but he still was going to tread very cautiously around her. He didn't want to alert any of the three to the fact that he knew their stepsister was somewhere in Broom. In fact, he didn't want to alert them to the fact that he had met her more than once. It had taken a great deal of willpower not to limp down to his motor and take it right to the door of The Arrows that day when he had addressed an invitation to her, and only the fact that so very much was ringing false had kept him from doing so. There was a great deal more than met the eye going on; he had a notion that he might eventually want Lady Virginia's help on this, but not until he had investigated all other courses of action himself.\n\nA tennis match presented the best opportunity; his mother was playing against hers, and he brought her a lemonade as a pretext for sitting next to her. After some noncommittal chat, he managed to steer the conversation towards Oxford, and asked, as if in afterthought, \"Oh—don't you have a sister there?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She jerked as if she'd been stung by a bee, and stared at him, wide-eyed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If he hadn't known there was something wrong before this, he would have by her reaction. He knew guilt when he saw it. \"A sister?\"\n\n\"Eleanor?\" he prompted. \"It occurred to me that the only Robinsons in Broom had a daughter named Eleanor. Before the war, I remember talking to her about going to Oxford—she had her heart set on it, and was taking the examinations in order to qualify.\"\n\n\"Oh—Eleanor!\" Her brittle laugh rang entirely false. \"She's only my stepsister, not a real sister. I scarcely think of her at all, actually, we're practically strangers.\" Her smile was too bright, and she looked very nervous to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He fancied that Eleanor was nowhere near as much of a stranger as she was pretending." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He smiled slightly, or rather, stretched his lips in something like a smile. \"I suppose for form's sake we ought to invite her to the ball, too. It isn't done to leave out one sister of three. People might talk.\"\n\nAgain, that brittle laugh. \"Oh, you can if you like, but I shouldn't trouble myself. She'd never come. She's a dreadful bluestocking, and she never even comes home on the vacs. I don't think she knows such things as balls exist. She certainly doesn't know how to dress. She'd never leave her—studies—for anything that frivolous.\"\n\nHe leaned back in his chair. He hadn't missed that moment of hesitation when she had sought for a word to describe what Eleanor was doing. He yawned. \"Oh, well, in that case, if you think she won't feel slighted. The vicar suggested to Mater that she ought to be included on the guest list is all.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh.\" The girl's voice grew hard, and just a touch cold." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The vicar, was it? No, I really shouldn't bother if I were you. I'll make sure Mother reminds the vicar of how much Eleanor dislikes leaving Oxford. I suppose she'll be a don, once they allow such things.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He made a sound like a laugh. \"It's not as if there won't be a surfeit of young ladies to dance with; too many of them are likely to be wallflowers as it is, unless I can bring some more cadets from the RFC up to scratch. I think we can do without her.\"\n\n\"So do I.\" She swiftly turned the subject to costumes, and whether he thought it would be too warm for eighteenth-century court dress. \"Wouldn't an Empire gown be cooler?\" she asked.\n\n\"I should think so,\" he replied. \"And besides, it'd be deuced difficult to dance in those side-things that stick out—what-you-call-'ems—\"\n\n\"Panniers,\" she said with immense satisfaction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Lauralee wouldn't hear of anything but being Madame Pompadour, but I thought Empress Josephine would be far more elegant and cooler.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, there I agree with you, but don't tell her that,\" he said, in a confidential tone of voice. \"I'd rather dance with a girl who can move about in her costume than have to steer some wire contraption around the floor.\" She giggled and agreed. He thought he had effectively distracted her from the subject of her sister.\n\nAs he continued talking with her to make sure she had forgotten his question in her flutter of excitement about his attentions, he digested what he had learned. Well, now he knew this much, at least. He knew that Eleanor was Alison's stepdaughter, and he knew that they were, for some reason, keeping alive a fiction that she was at Oxford." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was clear that she wasn't—but the question was, what was she doing in Broom?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His assumption that she had fallen on hard times was obviously wrong, but why was she dressed like an inferior servant and clearly doing menial labor?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He worried at the problem for the rest of the day, through tea, while he dressed for dinner and all through dinner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It made for a quiet meal, but his aunt more than made up for his silence, and his mother was so full of her entertainment plans that they didn't really notice that he wasn't talking much." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How was it that neither the vicar nor the doctor were aware that \"Eleanor is at Oxford\" was a complete fiction? Surely, if she had been strolling around Broom, someone would have noticed and said something. And she certainly wasn't transporting herself to their meadow by magic carpet. None of this was making much sense.\n\nAfter dinner he went out on the terrace with a drink; the Brigadier joined him as they watched the sun set; the sky ablaze with red, gold, and purple, the last rays of the setting sun making streaks across the horizon. It looked like a Turner painting.\n\n\"You would never know there was a war from here,\" the old man said at last, and Reggie thought he sounded wistful." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Must admit, I was dubious about this brouhaha your mother set her heart on, but—it won't be bad to forget for a little while, and pretend.\"\n\n\"Like children playing truant from school,\" Reggie replied, with bitter longing. \"But it won't go away.\"\n\n\"But we can rest our minds from it for a little, surely, without feeling guilty.\" The Brigadier sipped his brandy. \"We'll all put on our dominoes and pretend that outside the walls of Longacre it is 1912; we can even persuade ourselves for a little that our lost and absent friends are out there in the crowd, too. And as long as the masks are being worn, we can hold to the illusion. Is that so wrong?\"\n\nYes, he wanted to say." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, because the ones that haven't been killed by the idiotic strategies of old men fighting a war with last century's tactics are out there putting their lives at risk because those same old men are so certain that what they want is God's will that they won't admit they are wrong or that what they are doing is a hideous, horrible mistake." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But he didn't say it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In part, because he knew that although the Brigadier agreed with him in his heart, he could never admit it aloud. And in part because it would only hurt that good old man further.\n\n\"Sometimes—one needs illusions,\" he said, carefully, and left it at that.\n\nIllusions. So much of what was going on here was an illusion. Not just this country weekend and the ball, but everything on this side of the Channel. No one wanted to talk about the war anymore, or think about it even, except those who had been in it. The topics that seemed to obsess most people had nothing whatsoever to do with the war except as the war had caused the problems." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And that drove him mad, sometimes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wanted to wake them up, drag them forcibly down to the hospitals and show them the shellshocked and the maimed, to make them care, force them to understand what this war was doing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was he in the wrong, then, to want to break into the comfortable illusions and shout at them all, that their petty little concerns over their comforts, the shortage of servants, the rationed food, were selfish, self-centered and disgusting to him? That over there in France, that sound like thunder that came over the Channel when the wind was right, was the sound of people dying, and it was time they woke up and acknowledged it?\n\nBut he wanted to forget it too—part of him was so tired of it all that he was sick with longing for it to just stop, to go away, and take all his memories with it.\n\nHe turned his mind back to the problem of Eleanor with a feeling almost of relief. It was something to think about that was not the war, and part of him deeply sympathized with the Brigadier. Like those nights when he would lie in his bed at the hospital and recite poem after poem in his head to keep from thinking about what was out there in the dark, waiting for him to fall asleep. Because you could only think about the war and what it was doing to you and your mates for so long before you started going mad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eleanor Robinson should have been at Oxford, and was not, and it was not for lack of money in her family. And in fact, from all appearances, she was working as a servant. Why, oh why, had she not told him herself what was wrong? Pride?\n\nFor that matter, why had her father married a scheming creature like Alison?\n\nShe vamped him I suppose, like her daughters are trying to vamp me. I suppose if you've never been vamped before, it would be easy to succumb. When would that have been?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tried to reckon up the last time he had seen her. It was before the war, before he joined the RFC. So at some point between then and the start of the war, her father had remarried. He'd done some checking, and her father had died at some time around the first Christmas of the war. So why had his daughter not been at Oxford at that point? Had Alison persuaded the besotted new husband that it was unnecessary to give a girl a university education? Or had she pled the war as an excuse, claiming she needed Eleanor at home?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just how besotted had he been, to deny his only child her one dream?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He must have been caught like a salmon in a net." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And then, just as the last of the sun sank below the horizon, it struck him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What if her father had altered his will in favor of the new wife before he went off to the war?\n\nIt was just the sort of thing that Alison would have insisted on, he was sure of it. Manipulative creature that she was, she would have promised, ever so sweetly, that she would take as good care of Eleanor as of her own daughters. So why shouldn't her dear new husband not change his will to make her sole inheritor? After all, leaving flighty young girls anything directly was generally a bad idea. Who could guess what they would do with their inheritance, and of course, there were always cads who would romance them for their money, then waste it and leave them penniless and deserted.\n\nHe stared into the growing darkness, as beside him, the Brigadier lit up a cigarette." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The end of it glowed as he pursued that line of thought to its logical conclusion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So, assume that was precisely what had happened. Then her father had died in the first months of the war, leaving her entirely at the mercy of her stepmother, a woman who clearly despised her. Then what? What was she doing here, dressed like a servant?\n\nWell, what were her choices? To leave—and do what? She wasn't suited to anything but marriage, and if she'd had a sweetheart in the village, he doubted that she would have been so keen to go to university. There was a sad truth to her condition; she had no skills with which to support herself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She hadn't enough education to become a governess. She hadn't the money to train as a nurse, and although she could have gone as a VAD no one could really live on the tiny stipend that was allotted to the volunteers. In the beginning she wouldn't have had the stamina for a factory job, and the Land Girls hadn't been formed until later. That would have left her with only one option. To remain at home at the mercy of her stepmother, who must have seen her as a ready source of free labor and put her to work as a servant.\n\nWhich explained why she was dressed like one.\n\nNow, her own pride would have kept her hidden from the village." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And her stepmother would never have admitted she had treated her own stepdaughter so shabbily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And so the fiction of \"Eleanor is at Oxford\" was born, with both sides of the situation eager to maintain it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His left hand clutched at the stone balustrade, and he downed the last of his drink and set the glass down lest he inadvertently shatter it in his sudden fit of anger. Perhaps it was absurd to be so angry over what was, essentially, a teacup tragedy when there were so many greater tragedies in the wake of this war. She wasn't dead, after all, merely ill-used. She hadn't been struck by a stray bullet and paralyzed, not blown to pieces by a shell.\n\nBut feelings, he reminded himself, were not rational. And this shabby treatment of a girl who'd done nothing to earn it made him very, very angry.\n\nHe could see how it was that no one noticed that she was still here, especially if she herself took pains to conceal the fact." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And no one ever really looked at anyone in servants' clothing. Especially not someone dressed as shabbily as Eleanor was. So on the rare occasions when she escaped her work for a little, so long as she kept her head down—which everyone would expect anyway out of a lower servant—no one would recognize her. He didn't recall that she had socialized much with the girls her age, anyway; it had been the boys that had congregated around his aeroplane that knew her best, boys who were all long gone in the first weeks of the War. Perhaps the adults—the adult women, anyway—might have noticed, but in those first weeks and months, they had more than enough cares of their own to preoccupy them. The longer the charade went on, the less likely it would be that anyone would see the face of the clever schoolgirl in the visage of the work-hardened young woman.\n\nThat had to be it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The question now was—what could he do about it? And to that question he had no ready answer. For a start, how could he even get to her to talk to her? Helping her would mean prying her out of her imprisoning shell, the walls of The Arrows, and at the moment, he had no good idea of how to do that.\n\nOnce he did that, he also had no good idea of how to offer help without it seeming like charity and pity, and he had a fairly good idea of what she would think about charity and pity. At least, he thought he did.\n\n\"Penny for your thoughts,\" the Brigadier said, out of the darkness, startling him from his concentration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'd have to give you ha'pence change, Brigadier,\" he replied, mendaciously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I wasn't thinking about much.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The old man chuckled. \"Let's go in, then,\" he suggested. \"The damp isn't doing either of us any good.\"\n\n\"Probably not,\" he agreed. \"I was thinking of going down to the village, anyway.\"\n\n\"And I'm for my book and bed,\" the Brigadier replied. \"It's peaceful out here. I shall take my rest while I can get it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They parted company on the terrace, Reggie limping his way down to the stable to get his motorcar. He decided that he would see what he could learn by steering the conversation in The Broom around to the Robinsons. It would be natural enough, what with The Arrows being almost directly across the street, and that would be a good place to start.\n\n[ July 22, 1917 Broom, Warwickshire ]\n\nSarah looked so triumphant when Eleanor arrived just before midnight that Eleanor could not in good conscience deny her the pleasure of revealing whatever it was that had put that smug smile on her face. She hoped it was good news, because today had been particularly brutal. The amount of work that she'd been laden with would have laid her out four years ago." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd almost been too tired to come here tonight, and really, all that had gotten her out the door was the promise of eventual freedom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It is a very good thing that no one would ever entrust you with a state secret, because you could never conceal the fact that you had a secret in the first place,\" she told her mentor, as she picked up her mother's notebook to begin her exercises, took a deep breath, and concentrated on getting her second wind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She and Sarah were focusing on one thing now; to extend the length of her \"leash,\" so that she could attend the fancy-dress ball—though how she was going to get inside the doors of the manor at Longacre Park without an invitation, she had no notion. There was no chance that one would come for her now. Lauralee, Carolyn, and Alison had long since gotten theirs, and the girls took every chance they could get to take out the precious piece of cream-laid vellum and flourish it about. Their acquaintances—one could hardly call them \"friends,\" anymore—in the village were eaten up with envy. The only other villagers who had gotten invitations were the vicar and his wife, and the doctor and his. With this alone, Alison had made it wordlessly clear how much higher her social stature was in the tiny circle of Broom. That, in fact, she had escaped the social circle of Broom for another, more rarified atmosphere." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had, of course, cleverly feigned confusion to \"discover\" that no one else had achieved similar invitations, and unlike her daughters (who might be excused such behavior on the grounds of their callow youth) she did not make much of it after that initial flurry of exquisitely acted discomfiture. In this way, even though she had without doubt made some real enemies among the village elite, none of them would dare come out actively and openly against her. The ladies still came to her teas and her war-effort gatherings—though with all of the invitations up to the manor, those were becoming infrequent. But she presided over them with the absent air of a queen who has other concerns than the petty ones of her subjects.\n\nEleanor had hoped that somehow, someone would remember her existence and include her in the joint invitation, but no one had; it had read, \"Mrs. Alison Robinson, Miss Danbridge, and Miss Carolyn Danbridge.\" Not even a hint of \"Eleanor.\" She had almost given up at that moment, but it did occur to her that Sarah might know a way of slipping her in, somehow—or perhaps even was planning to forge an invitation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Granted she wouldn't be on the guest list, but perhaps no one would check that, or if they did, she could claim she was part of \"Alison Robinson and daughters.\" Or perhaps Sarah meant for her to slip in through the gardens, though how she was to do that in an enormous ballgown eluded her.\n\nShe settled herself at Sarah's old, age-darkened kitchen table, her brazier in front of her, a Salamander already lying coiled in the coals without needing to be summoned.\n\n\"Here you are, just as I promised,\" Sarah said, handing over a plain envelope that contained a cream-laid vellum one that—no mistake—was identical to the one in Alison's middle desk-drawer. The outer one was addressed to Sarah, but the inner to Eleanor herself—\n\nAt an Oxford address. Somerville College, to be exact." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She gazed at it in blank astonishment. She already knew what it contained, of course. Her invitation to the ball. But—\n\n\"How—\" was all she could manage.\n\nSarah actually winked. \"I have my ways,\" she said. \"A little word to—someone—who kindly reminded her ladyship that Miss Robinson was away at Oxford as the invitations were picked up to be given to the postman, so she rewrote the Robinson invitations on the spot. And then, a—fellow follower of the Ancient Ways, not an Elemental Master, who is—\" She hesitated. \"Well, I'll only say this. She has every reason to be at Somerville, and she chose Somerville because it is the women's college that has no religious requirements that might conflict with her own faith.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eleanor gaped at her, feeling her eyes going rounder with every passing moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh, don't look at me like that!\" Sarah laughed. \"I told you there were more of us than you'd ever guess! At any rate, she intercepted your invitation and reposted it to me. That's all. You are on the guest list and you have a genuine invitation. So if I were you, I would stop staring and get back to my exercises, or on the day, you won't be able to get as far as the front gate.\" She plucked the invitation from Eleanor's nerveless fingers. \"And I'll keep that safe, here. No point in risking having it found, and you'll have to come to me to dress anyway. Now, it's time to work, not daydream.\"\n\nIt was difficult to concentrate on the tedious mechanics of a spell which amounted to telling something very stupid and slow, over and over, that a boundary wasn't where it had been originally set. Doing so when your arms and shoulders ached from all the fetching and carrying you'd done, and your legs from all the trips up and down the stairs, was even harder. Magic, she had come to understand, was largely a means by which the magician imposed her will on the world, and made the world conform to it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That sounded very simple, and in theory, it was—or would be, if there was a simple world to deal with, and only one magician in it.\n\nThe problem was that there were a great many other things, a few of them also magical in nature, that were also imposing their will on the world. Ways had to be found to get the results one wanted with the least interference with everything else. Some interference was inevitable; meddling with things made ripples, and disturbed other things.\n\nIt wasn't just that one didn't want to disrupt other things that were going on out of courtesy—or fear of reprisal. It was that when one did interfere unduly, there were consequences. Everything one did magically had a cascading effect, like the little pebble that starts an avalanche." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sometimes, of course, one could stop the cascade before things became serious, but you had to be aware of consequences to do that. You had to look for the things you might change, and include them in your plan. You had to try and think of things that weren't obvious.\n\nConsequences... and responsibilities. That called to mind the purview of the High Priest. The Magician. Most of all, the Hermit, who moved slowly and only after studying all the possible ramifications of his actions.\n\nOne of those ramifications was that when things were jarred into new patterns, there were sometimes—Things—that took notice; different creatures for each Element. The ones for Earth were the Trolls and Giants, for Fire, the Wyverns and Fire-drakes (entirely different species than true Dragons)." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For Water it was the Leviathans, and for Air the Wendigo. They were not very bright, but they were very powerful, very dangerous, and always, always hungry. What they \"ate\" was the life-force of magicians. One did not want to attract their notice. Even Alison moved cautiously to avoid attracting Trolls and Giants.\n\nSo the smaller one's \"footprint\" of influence was, the better.\n\nAlison had gotten away with as much use of magic as she had because she had confined it mostly to one single person—Eleanor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hedging one person in with spells did not make much of an effect on the rest of the world." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now it was Eleanor's turn, and the best course of action now seemed to be to work on the spells already in existence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That meant, at the moment, persuading the spell that kept pulling her back to the hearth that it had never been meant to call her back when she went beyond the grounds of The Arrows—that instead its boundary was much farther. It would return to its previous state when she took her attention off it, of course, but that didn't happen at once, and in fact, the more she worked at this, the longer she had before it reverted.\n\nThe village was very quiet at this time of night. A dog barked out in the distance, and nearer at hand, the trees rustled as a breeze tumbled among their leaves. Inside there was only the pop and crackle of the small fire in the fireplace, and the sound of their breathing.\n\n\"I think,\" Sarah said, when she had been working at her spell-casting for the better part of an hour, \"that if we could just find a way to dig up your finger and destroy it, that would break the spell.\"\n\nEleanor slowly released the spell she had been manipulating; she could see it in her head, like a cat's cradle of lines of magical power." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It remained as she had left it, and she turned her attention to Sarah, who was watching her with solemn eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They'd had this discussion before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But you're still not sure,\" Eleanor said flatly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked across the table into Sarah's eyes, and saw what she expected to see. Once again, Sarah had attempted to unravel the complexities of the spells around Eleanor, and once again, she had not been able to decipher them.\n\nSarah shook her head. \"I'm not powerful enough to read all those spells she's tangled up around you. I just can't keep them separate in my mind. I think destroying the finger would break them all, but there's a chance that destroying the finger would make them bind more tightly.\"\n\n\"I'm not willing to take that risk,\" she replied, with a frown. \"If I can achieve the Sun, that's the card of freedom and problems solved, and it's a Fire card. I'll have the knowledge, the wisdom and the power to use Justice's sword, and I can cut myself free of the spell-bindings.\" She paused a moment, and added, \"They say it's a simple card. If I can pass through it soon...\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She didn't specify what she meant by \"soon.\" She had eight more cards to pass through before she reached the Sun. She had yet to face Death... or even the Hanged Man. Truth to be told she didn't want to face either, but it had to be done. The Hermit had not been as frightening or as difficult as she had thought, but the Wheel of Fortune had been terrifying. One wouldn't think that an abstract concept like that would be frightening, but—\n\nBut it hadn't been abstract." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had been the whole world up there, looming in a sky that was half storm and half calm, with terrible energies crackling through it all, and the realization that a single turn of the Wheel could set random factors into motion that could doom all her plans." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And even as she had gazed up at it in awe—for it had looked nothing at all like the card, except in that it was a wheel, or at least wheel-shaped—she had felt herself and all the world coming apart, then returning together again, in what she came to understand was a cycle of creation and destruction, of death and rebirth, and she had grasped things for that moment that she couldn't even begin to articulate now. But evidently she had grasped them correctly, for the huge, looming Wheel settled, and a little more knowledge and power settled into her mind, and she was given to understand that she had passed this test, too.\n\nSo it was understandable that at this moment she really didn't want to think what the Death card was going to be like. It would have been easier on her nerves if the card had been called Transfiguration, or something of the sort.\n\nSarah gave her an odd look. \"This isn't the path I would have seen you taking,\" she said at last. \"Your mother was always so impatient, the Fire in her wanting to take things quickly—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Which isn't always a good idea. I think perhaps this business of using the Tarot to teach me was the best thing that could have happened to me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eleanor grimaced, and rubbed the joint of her right thumb with her left hand, easing a little ache there. \"Much though I would like to make things happen faster, I'm learning about the strengths and weaknesses of the other three Elements as I go, and I hope that means I won't be as vulnerable.\"\n\nShe didn't have to say aloud what she was thinking—that if her mother had known more about the strengths and weaknesses of the antagonistic Element of Water, she might not have died. She knew Sarah was thinking the same thing by the faint expression of regret mixed with other emotions too fleeting to catch.\n\nBut one of them was pride—pride in the daughter who was, perhaps, a little wiser than her mother.\n\n\"You're learning,\" was all Sarah said.\n\n\"I bloody well hope so!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eleanor snapped, with a little show of Fire temperament, quickly throttled before it could have any other effect." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And before you say it, I will say it for you. Back to work. We have only a fortnight, and I have a lot of progress to make before then.\"\n\nSarah only nodded.\n\nI'll do it because I have to. There's no going back now." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "ill start, then u do eight sentences in Mercedes Lackey's voice ok?" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "SHE HANDED OVER HER INVITATION to the butler, who inspected it, and to her relief, merely nodded. She had been afraid he would announce her, and if Alison was anywhere within hearing distance....\n\nInstead, she stepped into—well, she wasn't entirely sure what to call this room. There could easily have been a second floor to this room, and there wasn't. The ceiling was somewhere up a full two stories—easily forty feet. It was surely another forty feet wide and twice that in length. There were enough candles burning in candelabra all around the walls to have supplied an entire chandler's shop, supplementing the gaslights.\n\nThere was only one name that suited this space—the Great Hall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And it was full." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In one corner, a small orchestra composed entirely of black-gowned women (most of them not young) played what sounded suspiciously like rag-time. Four years ago, either circumstance would have caused a scandal. But as Eleanor eased herself into the room, she overheard, almost immediately, the end of a conversation.\n\n\"... and even the band called up, my dear! So fortunate that Lady Virginia was here!\"\n\n\"They seem a bit—modern,\" came the doubtful reply.\n\nThe first speaker laughed. \"But of course they're modern! They're Virginia's pet suffragette band! But if I had to choose between holding a ball with a suffragette orchestra or holding one with a gramophone, I know which one I would take! At least when one engages women, there is no danger of seeing them called over to France!\"\n\nThe second woman turned her masked face in the direction of the orchestra with ever evidence of interest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have a hunt ball in the autumn—I wonder if—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eleanor was never to hear what the speaker wondered, for the eddies and swirls around the edge of the area of the dancing carried the speakers away.\n\nIf this had been a fairy tale, the moment that Eleanor had entered the Great Hall, all conversation would have ceased, and every head would have turned her way. The butler would have announced her—which would have been a disaster.\n\nBut this was not a fairy tale, and although she did excite a few admiring or unreadable glances, for the most part, people looked at her, did not recognize her, and dismissed her from their minds within a few moments. While her gown was certainly passable, it was neither so very different nor so very outstanding as to excite interest. She was indeed the only fairy princess, but other girls had wide pink dresses. And the deeper she went into the room, the more obvious it was that she was in an entirely different strata of society than she had ever been before.\n\nAnd so were her stepsisters, though they might not yet realize it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This was Society, old money, old titles, and though whatever dressmaker Alison went to might be able to counterfeit the look of these garments, there was a subtle difference between these costumes and the ones she had just aided Lauralee and Carolyn into." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She suspected that a close examination would prove they did not hold up to the sort of careful scrutiny that maids who tended these clothes would bring to bear. And while ladies' maids did not precisely gossip to their mistresses, they did have subtle ways of making things known.\n\nAlison and her progeny might be in for a rude awakening if they ever were invited to someone else's country weekend, and she insisted on maintaining the fiction that she, too was a member of their class.\n\nBut in the meantime, Eleanor's costume did not mark her out as anything unusual. She was by no means vivacious enough to attract attention by herself; the real beauties here were identifiable even behind their little domino masks.\n\nThis suited Eleanor very well. Her goal, after all, was to find the Elemental Master, and no one here was likely to make her task any easier by identifying that worthy for her. She only knew that the Master was female, and that only because she herself had seen the woman at work the night that the revenants were dispersed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She worked her way towards the wall, and realized with a certain dismay that there was another room behind this one, nearly as large, that had been thrown open to the ballattendees." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was not going to make her task any easier.\n\nShe resigned herself, with a pang of disappointment, to the realization that she was unlikely to see Reggie after all. The young women substantially outnumbered the young men here, and it was unlikely that he was going to have a single minute free. And her own, much more pressing task must take precedence if she was going to get herself free of her stepmother.\n\nSomewhere in this swirling chaos of people she had to find the traces of Air magic that would inevitably be hovering about such a Master. And now she was very grateful that her study of magic had required her to understand the other three Elements as well as her own. She might not be able to use Air magic, but she could definitely sniff it out.\n\nShe was nearly at the doorway in the right-hand wall of the Great Hall when she caught the first \"scent\" of Air magic." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just a hint of blue at the corner of her vision, an unexpected breath of cold, and a touch of sharp, clean scent, like juniper or rosemary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But she was on it like a hound, and followed it into a drawing room.\n\nThis, too, was evidently open to the guests, older ladies and gentlemen who were so engrossed in their card games that they didn't even take any notice of her. She scanned the area for that hint of magic, but her quarry was none of them—then she got another hint of it, through another doorway, which led her into a hall, not so brightly lit. And, quite probably, not supposed to be open to the guests.\n\nBut the Air Master was a friend of the family and according to Sarah, a longterm visitor here, and probably had the run of the place. She would be allowed to go places where ordinary guests at the ball would be unwelcome.\n\nBetter and better. She must be on the right track.\n\nAnd the breath of Air Magic was stronger now; she followed the scent down the darkened, shadow-haunted hall, and into—" }, { "from": "human", "value": "—the library." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Here, for the first time since she had entered these doors, she found herself consumed with envy of the people who lived here. The Great Hall excited her not at all; she could only think of how it dwarfed everyone who set foot in it. That drawing room had been far too rich and opulent for her to feel comfortable in it, and besides that, the furnishings were antique, probably fragile, and without a doubt irreplaceable. But this room, with its floor-to-ceiling bookshelves crammed with volumes—this, she desired. And in fact, as she took a few hesitant steps into the dimly lit room, she forgot, for a moment, why she was here, in the sudden surge of acquisitive desire.\n\n\"I beg your pardon, miss, but the party is—\"\n\nShe started, then froze, at the sound of the familiar drawl, and the exclamation was startled out of her. \"Reggie?\"\n\nThere was a creak of leather as the figure rose out of the depths of an armchair to her left, and limped towards her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Eleanor?\" came the incredulous reply. \"Is that you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She jerked at the ends of the ribbon of her mask, and pulled it off. \"Of course it's me! I have an invitation!\" she replied, now full of indignation. What? Did he think she was so far beneath him that she shouldn't be here?\n\n\"Of course you do; I addressed it myself,\" was his answer, as he limped out of the shadows with both hands outstretched. While most of the young men here were in their uniforms, he was not. He had donned a costume for the occasion; with a feeling of shock, she recognized the Magician from the Tarot deck, but the colors were blue, silver and white rather than red, white and gold. \"I waited in the reception line for what seemed like hours, but you never came, and I thought—your stepmother—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She doesn't know I'm here,\" Eleanor said, her growing anger erased by the surge of irrational joy she felt at his words." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She'd have stopped me if she'd known I was coming.\" She felt the coercion of Alison's spells suddenly uncoil, sealing her lips over anything else she might have said.\n\n\"I thought it was something like that,\" was Reggie's only reply, as he took both her hands in his and gazed down into her eyes. \"Look, let's not talk about your dreadful stepmother, nor your conniving stepsisters, nor anything else unpleasant. Mater has put on a first-rate show, so let's enjoy it together.\" He smiled at her, with something of the charm of the old Reggie. \"So long as I'm with a girl, even if Mater doesn't know who she is, she'll leave me alone. If she does, so will everyone else, and it has not yet become the fashion, thank the good Lord, for ladies to cut in on men while dancing. Do you dance?\"\n\nShe was so caught in those earnest eyes that all she could do was stammer, \"I—haven't, not for—a long time—\"\n\n\"Good, because my knee is a torture. We'll go revolve a little for form's sake, then—how about the garden? Capability Brown, you know, and all lit up with fairy-lanterns for the occasion. Appropriate for a fairy princess.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She hardly knew what to say. This was the sort of thing out of her wildest dreams, the ones she knew better than to believe in.\n\nHe's just using me as a defense against the girls like Carolyn and Lauralee— cautioned a bitter voice from her head.\n\nBut her heart replied, Then why is he looking at me like that? Because those pale eyes were warm with an emotion she did not yet dare to believe in, and he looked very much as if he would like to do more than simply look at her.\n\nAnd sheer instinct made her nod, which evidently was answer enough for him. He took the domino from her nerveless hands, tied it back on, and tucked her right hand into the crook of his arm. \"Let's go brave the throng.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "This time, when they passed through the drawing room, the play stopped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Head turned in their direction, and as they crossed into the Great Hall, she sensed the whispers begin behind them.\n\nAnd as if this had suddenly turned into a fairy tale, as they walked into the Great Hall, they were surrounded by a zone of silence, and all eyes turned towards them. Reggie ignored it; she felt her cheeks flushing, but held her head high, and tried to walk with dignity. He led her to the exact center of the room, as the musicians in the corner brought their current number to a swift conclusion. Once there, he swung her to face him, and the next thing she knew, she was turning in his arms around the floor to the strains of a waltz.\n\nRavaged knee or not, he was light on his feet. Not a brilliant dancer, but a competent one, and the gown she was wearing was practically made for waltzing in. With a heady feeling of euphoria, she surrendered to the moment and let him guide her three times around the floor while the musicians kept the tempo a little slower than usual." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After all, wasn't this the sort of thing she had dreamed of doing? It felt like a dream. It had all the perfect unreality of a dream.\n\nThe musicians must have had a fine sense of just how long Reggie could dance; about the time she felt his steps faltering slightly, they brought the waltz to a close with a flourish.\n\nUnder cover of the polite applause to the orchestra, he bent and whispered, \"If that's enough for you, would you like to see the gardens?\"\n\nAll she could do was nod; once again, as the orchestra began a new piece, he tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and escorted her out of the Great Hall, into the room behind it—she got a glimpse of a long table set with huge arrangements of flowers and punch-bowls—and then out onto a terrace.\n\nThe view down into the gardens was breathtaking, but he didn't give her much chance to look at it. He drew her down the stairs into the gardens themselves, which had, as he had told her, been lit up with fairy-lanterns." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The wave of perfume that washed over her told her that the roses for which Longacre was famous were in full bloom. He took her down one of the paths to a stone bench—still within sight of the terrace, but not a straight line-of-sight. She carefully arranged her skirt, and gingerly took a seat. With a sigh of relief, he sat beside her.\n\n\"I was horribly afraid I had offended you past forgiveness,\" were the first words out of his mouth. \"I never meant to. When you didn't come back—\"\n\n\"You went to the meadow?\" she interrupted, hit again by one of those surges of irrational pleasure." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He nodded. \"As soon as I could. And you didn't come back, so I thought you were angry with me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I couldn't—\" that was all she could manage before Alison's coercions clamed down on her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Because you had work to do—I hoped that was all it was, but I was afraid I had been a boor.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sighed. \"I am neither fish nor fowl, Eleanor. On the one hand, I was raised by my parents and the nannies they chose for me, who are of the opinion that education beyond reading, writing, and a little figuring is bad for females. On the other, I am heavily influenced by my godmother, who is an unrepentant suffragist, and by what I learned myself at Oxford. Sometimes, when I am not thinking, things escape from me that are parrotings of Mater, and I am always sorry when they do. I plead forgiveness. I never meant to slight the intelligence of women, and least of all yours.\"\n\nShe took off her domino and looked up at him gravely. \"As long as you promise to remember that,\" she said. \"And I hope—\"\n\nHow do I warn him about Alison and the girls? She couldn't say anything directly, but—\n\n\"I hope you're also remember that intelligence is a weapon of sorts, and it isn't always used to good ends, and that signifies for women just as well as men. Maybe more,\" she added, thoughtfully, \"Since women don't have a great many weapons at their disposal, and they are inclined to use the ones they have with skill and precision.\"\n\nHe blinked for a moment, as if taken aback by her words, then nodded. \"Ah. I think I know what you are hinting at. The charming Alison Robinson and her two lovely daughters.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His mouth tightened. \"Eleanor, what hold have they over you? I cannot believe that they can come up here to tea and tennis on a daily basis in gowns of the latest mode while you clearly are working at manual labor and kept as shabbily as a tweenie in a miser's house, unless they have some power over you!\"\n\nOh, how she wanted to tell him! She fought the constraints of the spell, but all she could manage to get out, through gritted teeth, was, \"She's my guardian. I have no rights, and no say in my life.\"\n\n\"Until you come of age, and that can't be long,\" he replied, his eyes icy for a moment. \"And then—you can depend on me, Eleanor. You can.\"\n\nShe felt her hands starting to tremble, and she clasped them together to hide it. He reached over and took her hands.\n\n\"Eleanor,\" he said, as she stiffened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I would like to be more than just your friend. A great deal more.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She went hot, then cold, then hot again. \"You don't mean that,\" she said, half begging, half accusing. \"You can't mean that. I don't fit in with all this—\" she took her hands out of his and waved vaguely at the manor behind her. \"and I don't fit in with 'your people!' Can't you see that?\" She shook her head violently. \"You and I—it's impossible, surely you understand!\"\n\nHe made a little sound of mingled amusement and disgust. \"There is one thing that Mad Ross is right about. All this is going to change in the next few years, Eleanor, and change drastically, and most of those people back there haven't a clue. This war is putting an end to their world as they know it, though it was starting to crumble around the edges before that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sniffed. \"A bloodline isn't worth much if you can't keep the roof over your head patched. And I can name you a dozen men in my circle, men who are contemporaries of my father, who've married chorus beauties, actresses, their children's governesses—even their housekeepers! There will be more of that—and there will be women who had no men in their families survive this war, who will marry policemen, gardeners, trades-men—or never marry or remarry at all. And as for the people my age—\" he shook his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We've seen too much. We've learned too much, and most of it was bitter. I've been thinking about this a very great deal, ever since that big push at Ypres started.\" He took a very deep breath. \"I came to the conclusion that if Mater was going to insist that I do my family duty, it was going to be on my terms, with a woman I could respect, with intelligence; someone who could talk with me.\"\n\nHer hands were sweating. Nervously, to save her silk gloves, she pulled them off.\n\nHe recaptured her hands. \"These hands, no matter what they work at, are not all of you, Eleanor—not even most of what you are. You are intelligent, kind, forgiving—I could go on for the next half hour and still not come to the end of your good points. No, perhaps you don't 'fit in' with all of that behind me. But 'all that' is going to have to change if it is going to survive at all in the coming years. I am going to have to change. I don't see any reason why that change shouldn't come in a way that accommodates you, and your own changes.\"\n\nNow she was shaking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But it wasn't only because of what he was saying." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No, for no reason that she could understand, Alison's coercions were tightening around her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And so were the spells binding her to the hearth-stone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This had come without real warning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Granted, she had spent too long searching for the Air Master, and now they were pulling on her insistently, but she couldn't understand why she hadn't had some sign before this.\n\nShe felt them, like a corset laced too tight, squeezing off breath, and making it hard to think. Soon, they would become uncomfortable.\n\nThen painful. Then maddening—\n\n\"I won't ask you for any kind of a decision now, Eleanor,\" he was saying, as she felt her hands growing cold. \"But I would like you to consider the possibility of seeing me as more than your friend. I would like to know that there is a chance for me in your future.\"\n\nShe wanted to pay attention to his words, but she couldn't. She felt the spells closing in on her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was becoming hard to breathe; the tugging at her mind and body were growing intolerable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And she couldn't help herself. She began to shake, and she pulled her hands out of his and sprang to her feet in a single convulsive movement.\n\n\"Eleanor!\" he exclaimed, as she whirled to face him, hoping he could see something of her inner struggle in her expression. \"Eleanor, what's wrong? Please, I haven't offended you again—\"\n\nShe shook her head, frantically, and wrapped her own hands around her throat, trying to force some last words out of it before she had to run—\n\nBut the words that came were not the ones she had expected.\n\n\"Reggie—\" she heard herself gasping \"—I love you!\"\n\nAnd then, she turned, and ran, leaving him calling after her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She couldn't even understand what he was saying at that point, the spells were tightening on her so painfully. He had no hope of catching her, lame as he was, of course. Sarah would be waiting—\n\n—but she could not stop for Sarah.\n\nNo, she could not stop for anything.\n\nAll she could do was run, for as long as she was running in the right direction the bands of pain around her body, around her mind, would ease just enough to allow her to continue running. But if she stopped, even for a moment....\n\nShe did not take the road." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The road was too long. She fled headlong and heedless through the grounds, across the long, empty lawn, and into the \"wilderness\" which was no wilderness at all, of course, only a carefully cultivated illusion of one. She couldn't think; not clearly anyway. Only fragments of thought lanced across the all-encompassing demand of Alison's spells.\n\nWhy was this happening?\n\nShe stumbled across a bridle-path that went in the right direction, and turned down it; her rose-wreath and garland were gone, and her hair was down all one side. Her sides ached, but the coercions were not letting up. A branch tangled with her skirt and she yanked it free without missing a step." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How had the coercions suddenly snapped into place?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a low stone wall in the way; she scrambled over it, and found herself in a meadow full of sheep that scattered before her, bleating indignation. She kept going; at least here there was enough light to see—\n\nWhy were the coercions so strong, suddenly?\n\nAnother low, stone wall; she left more of her gown on one of the stones. Dimly, she recognized the top of the Round Meadow where she had met Reggie so often, the upper end, where she normally couldn't go. At least she knew the way from here.\n\nIf the pain in her side and her head would let her. Her world narrowed to the pain and the next step, each step bringing her closer to The Arrows, closer to the end of the pain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The end of the pain—" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Run!\n\nHer breath rasped in her lungs, sending sharp, icy stabs into her chest. Her vision blurred and darkened; she felt branches lashing at her as she passed. But all she could think of was that she must, must get to The Arrows.\n\nRun!\n\nShe felt hard, bare dirt and hard-packed gravel under her feet. She was in the road to Broom. She didn't remember getting over the fence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Run, run, run!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She stumbled into the side of one of the houses on High Street; caught herself, pushed herself off, and kept running.\n\nThere was Sarah's cottage, just ahead. Then past.\n\nShe tripped and fell, bruising hands and knees at the corner; shoved herself up and kept running. Here was the Broom Tavern.\n\nAlmost there—\n\nShe stumbled again and fell into the fence around the garden of the Arrows. She caught herself, and ran the last few yards completely blind, shoving open the garden gate, and falling inside, down onto the path, as the gate swung shut again behind her.\n\nAnd the pain stopped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The mental pain, anyway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As she lay on the ground, gasping for breath in great, aching lungfuls, she discovered an entirely new source of very physical pain. Her palms and knees burned, her side felt as if someone had stuck a knife in her, and whenever she moved, she could feel deep scratches and bruises everywhere. And all she could do was to lie there and try to get her breath back, because she couldn't move in her current state if her life depended on it.\n\nBut she could think, at least—though not coherently. Whole thoughts, rather than fragments, but they came to her in no particular order as she lay on her back with her eyes closed, gasping.\n\nFreed from the coercions, her mind raced. I have to get cleaned up and changed. Alison and the girls will be coming home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I can't look like this—maybe I can disguise some of the scratches and bruises with kitchen ash. At least they won't be expecting me to still be awake.\n\nSarah would, she hoped, surely know when the coercions had suddenly tightened around her, and would take the cart and horse back to its owners. Surely she wouldn't sit there all night.\n\nAnother thought, a bleak one this time. I failed. I didn't find the Air Master—\n\nWhy had there been that breath of Air Magic around Reggie?\n\nOh heavens—what did I say to Reggie?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Did I really tell him I loved him?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "How could I have done that?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What on earth possessed me? I don't—\n\nBut there the thought came to an abrupt halt, because she could not, in all truth, have finished it with \"I don't love him,\" because it wasn't true.\n\nWhat was he saying to me? It had all gotten jumbled up in the coercions, in the headlong flight across the countryside. She couldn't remember any of it clearly.\n\nExcept she knew very well he hadn't said that he loved her.\n\nBut had he implied it? He'd asked if he could be more than a friend to her, she remembered that much." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pain in her side ebbed a little, and with a groan, she pushed herself up off the ground." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her hands were tough, and little more than bruised, but her knees—well, her stockings were surely ruined, and the way they stuck to her knees argued for a bleeding scrape there.\n\nI need to start a fire. The Salamanders can help heal this enough that it doesn't look fresh. I should sleep in the kitchen....\n\nIn fact, she had a good idea that she was going to have to sleep in the kitchen whether she wanted to or not. She didn't think she could get up the stairs right now.\n\nIt was just a good thing that there was still some clean clothing, laundered and dried just yesterday, that was still waiting downstairs to be taken to her room. Everything that wasn't connected to the ball had been given short shrift in the last few days, and her own business had been last on the list of things to be done." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She got herself to her feet, and stumbled into the kitchen, shoving open the door with an effort." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The fire leapt up to answer her unspoken call, and she put another log on it while she stripped off the rags that were all that was left of that wonderful gown, and, with intense regret, threw them on the fire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was no point in leaving any evidence for anyone to find.\n\nShe drew a basin of water from the kitchen pump and cleaned off the dirt and the dried blood with soap and a wet towel. Both her knees were a mess, and there were scratches all over her body. She could hide her knees, but not the scratches on her face and arms.\n\nSomething had to be done about that.\n\nWhen the fire was burning brightly, she called a swarm of Salamanders to wreath around her injuries. They'd only have burned someone who wasn't a Fire magician, and they couldn't heal things up completely, but what they could do was minimize the appearance of the scrapes and deep scratches, so that they looked days, rather than hours old.\n\nFinally, she put on the clean clothing, spread out the pallet-bed, and fell onto it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She felt as if she wanted to weep." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All that work—and for nothing! All she had done was to allow herself to be distracted by Reggie and betrayed by her emotions. She hadn't found the Air Master. She was no nearer to freeing herself than she had been this morning.\n\nAs for Reggie—if he dared to come looking for her here—Alison would want to know why, and then—\n\nUnbidden, the image of the Wheel of Fortune card rose in her mind. A few hours ago, she had been up, up, up—now the Wheel had turned, and she had tumbled down, down, down—\n\nThe Wheel would turn again." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 9 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had to believe that. She had to.\n\nExhaustion, mental and physical overcame her while she was trying to convince herself of that, and she slept.\n\nOnly to be jolted awake by the impact of a delicately pointed toe on her own sore ribs.\n\nShe started out of sleep, and looked up, dumbly, to find that Alison, her daughters, and the odious Warrick Locke were all gazing down at her with expressions on their faces that made her heart turn to stone. And a scrap of lace and a single rosebud dangled from Alison's fingertips.\n\n\"Take care of her,\" Alison said to Locke, before Eleanor could say a word.\n\nAnd before she could move, he had swooped down on her like a hawk on a mouse, a rag in one hand that he clamped over her nose and mouth. There was a sickly-sweet smell—\n\n—and then, nothing." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "The user will write a bit then you need to write around six sentences continuing directly from the user's text. Try to mimic the style of Lord Dunsany in the fantasy genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Next morning Alveric came up the tower to the witch Ziroonderel, weary and frantic from searching all night long in strange places for Lirazel. All night he had tried to guess what fancy had beckoned her out and whither it might have led her; he had searched by the stream by which she had prayed to the stones, and the pool where she prayed to the stars; he had called her name up every tower, and had called it wide in the dark, and had had no answer but echo; and so he had come at last to the witch Ziroonderel.\n\n\"Whither?\" he said, saying no more than that, that the boy might not know his fears. Yet Orion knew.\n\nAnd Ziroonderel all mournfully shook her head. \"The way of the leaves,\" she said. \"The way of all beauty.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But Alveric did not stay to hear her say more than her first five words; for he went with the restlessness with which he had come, straight from the room and hastily down the stair, and out at once into the windy morning, to see which way those glorious leaves were gone.\n\nAnd a few leaves that had clung to cold branches longer, when the gay company of their comrades had gone, were now too on the air, going lonely and last: and Alveric saw they were going south-east towards Elfland.\n\nHurriedly then he donned his magical sword in its wide scabbard of leather; and with scanty provisions hastened over the fields, after the last of the leaves, whose autumnal glory led him, as many a cause in its latter days, all splendid and fallen, leads all manner of men.\n\nAnd so he came to the upland fields with their grass all grey with dew; and the air was all sparkling with sunlight, and gay with the last of the leaves, but a melancholy seemed to dwell with the sound of the lowing of cattle.\n\nIn the calm bright morning with the northwest wind roaming through it Alveric came by no calm, and never gave up the haste of one who has lost something suddenly: he had the swift movements of such, and the frantic air. He watched all day over clear wide horizons, south-east where the leaves were leading; and at evening he looked to see the Elfin Mountains, severe and changeless, unlit by any light we know, the colour of pale forget-me-nots." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He held on restlessly to see their summits, but never they came to view." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And then he saw the house of the old leather-worker who had made the scabbard for his sword; and the sight of it brought back to him the years that were gone since the evening when first he had seen it, although he never knew how many they were, and could not know, for no one has ever devised any exact calculation whereby to estimate the action of time in Elfland." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then he looked once more for the pale-blue Elfin Mountains, remembering well where they lay, in their long grave row past a point of one of the leather-worker's gables, but he saw never a line of them. Then he entered the house and the old man still was there.\n\nThe leather-worker was wonderfully aged; even the table on which he worked was much older. He greeted Alveric, remembering who he was, and Alveric enquired for the old man's wife. \"She died long ago,\" he said. And again Alveric felt the baffling flight of those years, which added a fear to Elfland whither he went, yet he neither thought to turn back nor reined for a moment his impatient haste." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He said a few formal things of the old man's loss that had happened so long ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then \"Where are the Elfin Mountains,\" he asked, \"the pale-blue peaks?\"\n\nA look came slowly over the old man's face as though he had never seen them, as though Alveric being learned spoke of something that the old leather-worker could not know. No, he did not know, he said. And Alveric found that to-day as all those years ago, this old man still refused to speak of Elfland. Well, the boundary was only a few yards away, he would cross it and ask the way of elfin creatures, if he could not see the mountains to guide him then. The old man offered him food, and he had not eaten all day; but Alveric in his haste only asked him once more of Elfland, and the old man humbly said that of such things he knew nothing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then Alveric strode away and came to the field he knew, which he remembered to be divided by the nebulous border of twilight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And indeed he had no sooner come to the field than he saw all the toadstools leaning over one way, and that the way he was going; for just as thorn trees all lean away from the sea, so toadstools and every plant that has any touch of mystery, such as foxgloves, mulleins and certain kinds of orchis, when growing anywhere near it, all lean towards Elfland. By this one may know before one has heard a murmur of waves, or before one has guessed an influence of magical things, that one comes, as the case may be, to the sea or the border of Elfland. And in the air above him Alveric saw golden birds, and guessed that there had been a storm in Elfland blowing them over the border from the south-east, though a northwest wind blew over the fields we know. And he went on but the boundary was not there, and he crossed the field as any field we know, and still he had not come to the fells of Elfland.\n\nThen Alveric pressed on with a new impatience, with the northwest wind behind him. And the Earth began to grow bare and shingly and dull, without flowers, without shade, without colour, with none of those things that there are in remembered lands, by which we build pictures of them when we are there no more; it was all disenchanted now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alveric saw a golden bird high up, rushing away to the south-east; and he followed his flight hoping soon to see the mountains of Elfland, which he supposed to be merely concealed by some magical mist." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But still the autumnal sky was bright and clear, and all the horizon plain, and still there came never a gleam of the Elfin Mountains." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And not from this did he learn that Elfland had ebbed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But when he saw on that desolate shingly plain, untorn by the northwest wind but blooming fair in the Autumn, a may tree that he remembered a long while since, all white with blossom that once rejoiced a Spring day far in his childhood, then he knew that Elfland had been there and must have receded, although he knew not how far. For it is true, and Alveric knew, that just as the glamour that brightens much of our lives, especially in early years, comes from rumours that reach us from Elfland by various messengers (on whom be blessings and peace), so there returns from our fields to Elfland again, to become a part of its mystery, all manner of little memories that we have lost and little devoted toys that were treasured once. And this is part of the law of ebb and flow that science may trace in all things; thus light grew the forest of coal, and the coal gives back light; thus rivers fill the sea, and the sea sends back to the rivers; thus all things give that receive; even Death.\n\nNext Alveric saw lying there on the flat dry ground a toy that he yet remembered, which years and years ago (how could he say how many?) had been a childish joy to him, crudely carved out of wood; and one unlucky day it had been broken, and one unhappy day it had been thrown away. And now he saw it lying there not merely new and unbroken, but with a wonder about it, a splendour and a romance, the radiant transfigured thing that his young fancy had known." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It lay there forsaken of Elfland as wonderful things of the sea lie sometimes desolate on wastes of sand, when the sea is a far blue bulk with a border of foam." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dreary with lost romance was the plain from which Elfland had gone, though here and there Alveric saw again and again those little forsaken things that had been lost from his childhood, dropping through time to the ageless and hourless region of Elfland to be a part of its glory, and now left forlorn by this immense withdrawal. Old tunes, old songs, old voices, hummed there too, growing fainter and fainter, as though they could not live long in the fields we know.\n\nAnd, when the sun set, a mauve-rose glow in the East, that Alveric fancied a little too gorgeous for Earth, led him onward still; for he deemed it to be the reflection cast on the sky by the glow of the splendour of Elfland. So he went on hoping to find it, horizon after horizon; and night came on with all Earth's comrade stars. And only then Alveric put aside at last that frantic restlessness that had driven him since the morning; and, wrapping himself in a loose cloak that he wore, ate such food as he had in a satchel, and slept a troubled sleep alone with other forsaken things.\n\nAt the earliest moment of dawn his impatience awoke him, although one of October's mists hid all glimpses of light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He ate the last of his food and then pushed on through the greyness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No sound from the things of our fields came to him now; for men never went that way when Elfland was there, and none but Alveric went now to that desolate plain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had travelled beyond the sound of cock-crow from the comfortable houses of men and was now marching through a curious silence, broken only now and then by the small dim cries of the lost songs that had been left by the ebb of Elfland and were fainter now than they had been the day before. And when dawn shone Alveric saw again so great a splendour in the sky, glowing all green low down in the south-east, that he thought once more he saw a reflection from Elfland, and pressed on hoping to find it over the next horizon. And he passed the next horizon; and still that shingly plain, and never a peak of the pale-blue Elfin Mountains.\n\nWhether Elfland always lay over the next horizon, brightening the clouds with its glow, and moved away just as he came, or whether it had gone days or years before, he did not know but still kept on and on. And he came at last to a dry and grassless ridge on which his eyes and his hopes had been set for long, and from it he looked far over the desolate flatness that stretched to the rim of the sky, and saw never a sign of Elfland, never a slope of the mountains: even the little treasures of memory that had been left behind by the ebb were withering into things of our every day. Then Alveric drew his magical sword from its sheath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But though that sword had power against enchantment it had not been given the power to bring again an enchantment that was gone; and the desolate land remained the same, for all that he waved his sword, stony, deserted, unromantic and wide." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For a little while he went on; but in that flat land the horizon moved imperceptibly with him, and never a peak appeared of the Elfin Mountains; and on that dreary plain he soon discovered, as sooner or later many a man must, that he had lost Elfland." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Cooperative storytelling\nMy role: Provide a brief opening\nYour role: Expand upon my opening with two sentences in the romance, music genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "[ [ ♪ Lipstick by Kip Moore ] ]" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Isabelle,\" a deep voice called my name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A large hand waved in the air. I couldn't see the person attached to the fluttering hand, but I hoped it was signaling me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All around me a din of foreign tongues filled the air." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I pushed through the throng pulsing in every direction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moments before, I'd disembarked my international flight into the Amsterdam Airport." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My hot pink bag bumped along behind me as I tried to get to the still waving hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Finally, the crowd divided as if Moses had held up his staff and commanded them to part." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There at the other side of the opening was my deliverer. Joe. He would take me to my salvation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With his hand pressed to his ear, he spoke into the blue-tooth headset. As soon as I got within reach, he scooped up my bag and tucked me against his side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even with the chaos of the bustling airport, it was hard not to feel sheltered against the mountainous ex-cop who was my escort.\n\n\"Did you check any bags?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Nope. After touring last summer, I learned how to pack better. You'd be surprised how much I managed to cram in that bag.\" I pointed to the bubblegum colored rectangle Joe comically pulled behind him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good. How was your flight?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Long,\" I sighed and rolled my neck in a circular motion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Fourteen hours on a plane is no joke.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"International flights suck. You can rest soon. Ty should have the car brought around by the time we make it through this jungle.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hurried to keep pace next to him, taking two steps for each of his one. \"You know I could've caught a cab or an Uber to the hotel, saved you the trouble of coming to get me. I mean, shouldn't you be at the arena for sound check?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You have an Uber. It's called Ty. Everything's under control. Dawson would have my a…\" He cleared his throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"…rear if I didn't take care of getting you to the hotel safely myself.\"\n\n\"No worries. It's good to see you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You ain't foolin' me, Izzy. I know you're itching to get to the hotel and see Dawson. I'm just the consolation prize.\"\n\nI squeezed him around his waist." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're no consolation prize. But you're right. I'm dying to see Dawson. I hope traffic is light. This has been the longest month of my life.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You guys have had longer stretches apart than this.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know. But it doesn't get any easier. And with the gossip rags always speculating about what he's up to, it's hard to be away from each other.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hated voicing my insecurities. They were all mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dawson had never given me any indication that he was anything less than a hundred percent faithful.\n\nJoe halted. \"You know he's not up to anything, right?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His face was serious." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Swallowing hard, I nodded. \"I do. It's just tough reading what they all think the bad boy of rock is doing and who he's doing it with.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He clasped my shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know. But I can tell you, once he leaves the stage every night, he has me escort him back to the bus or hotel. Alone.\"\n\nThough I knew what he said to be true, it still felt good hearing someone else confirm it. \"Thanks.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Joe stepped through the glass door, but held his arm up, keeping me behind him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He turned this way and that, examining each person on the sidewalk outside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No doubt assessing any potential threat.\n\n\"Joe, there's no need to be so cautious. I'm a nobody. People don't know who I am.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Can never be too cautious. If anything ever happened to you, I don't know what would happen to Dawson. Come on. There's Ty.\"\n\nHe led me to the sleek stretch SUV parked illegally along the curb." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ty leaned against the passenger door, looking like he belonged in the back being chauffeured around, not the front. A wide smile broke out on his face when he saw me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In three quick steps, he swept me up in his arms, squeezing tightly. After setting me back on my feet, he said, \"I'm so glad you're here. Maybe D will stop sulking so much now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I chuckled as he moved to open the back door for me.\n\n\"How long until we get to the hotel?\" I asked him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"With traffic, probably thirty minutes. It's only about ten miles. But getting out of the airport will take a bit.\"\n\nI eased into the dark cavern provided by the black windows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You gonna ride back here with me?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I asked Ty as I perched in the doorframe.\n\n\"Naw. Got to um… discuss security stuff for the next show. But D should be finished up, so you can call him.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"OK. Thanks for picking me up, guys.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sure thing, Izzy.\" Ty shut the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stayed on the edge of my seat, staring out the window in disbelief that once again I was on the other side of the world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The small-town girl from South Carolina.\n\n\"You gonna stare out the window the whole ride or you gonna come give me a kiss hello?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "a voice materialized from the far side of the vehicle.\n\nI jumped with a gasp." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Daw, you're really here?\" Oblivious to the motion beneath me, I launched myself across the empty space to the bench seat lining the back of the vehicle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A quick tap of the brakes sent me tumbling as Joe pulled into the flow of traffic.\n\n\"Izzy, are you OK?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Strong arms reached down and pulled me from the carpeted floor onto the leather seat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm good. No, better than good. I'm phenomenal. You're here.\" My hands cupped his jaw, needing to feel him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're supposed to be at sound check.\"\n\n\"I rearranged. I didn't want to wait a second longer than necessary to have you in my arms.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His hold tightened around me.\n\nMy fingers traced his face, reacquainting themselves with every breathtaking feature—the prickly scruff along his jaw adding a depth to his face, high chiseled cheekbones, perfect Roman nose, long sweeping lashes, whiskey-colored orbs, plump lips that quivered beneath my touch, deep dimple in one cheek, lush dark hair peeking from the edge of his beanie." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His eyes and fingers were making the same journey across my face—no doubt spinning lyrics in his mind as he went." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"God, I've missed your face,\" he breathed against my skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "[ ♪ \"Baby I Love You\" by Andy Kim ]\n\n\"Shut up and kiss me,\" I rasped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Wrapping his hand around the back of my neck, his fingers threaded through my hair as he pressed my mouth to his." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The instant our lips collided the emptiness inside my chest filled up. His free hand gripped my hip and nudged me closer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Recklessly, I threw one leg across his lap, so that I straddled him. Pressure at the small of my back urged me closer to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oblivious to our surroundings, I poured every ounce of love, longing and desperation into the kiss. Words had never been my strong suit, but hopefully my body language spoke volumes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Satisfied that I wasn't planning to divorce my mouth from his any time soon, Dawson let go of my head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tugged on the hem of my shirt where it was pinned between us. I shifted slightly, freeing the fabric without tearing my lips from his." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Calloused fingers ghosted up my side leaving gooseflesh to rise in their wake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The trip north was torturously slow. By the time they reached the underside of my bra, I ached for his touch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His thumb grazed my nipple through the cotton fabric. Instinctually, I arched into his caress." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His other hand ran along the waistband of my leggings, dipping inside when they reached the front. I rose to my knees, hoping he'd yank my pants down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My own hands flew to be of assistance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "From the seat beside us a mechanical voice said, \"Destination ten minutes away.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pulling back so I could form words, I breathed, \"What was that?\"\n\n\"We're ten minutes from the hotel.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's not long enough,\" I whined. I was desperate to feel him inside me, filling and completing me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It might not be long enough for me to make love to you—\"\n\n\"It's not long enough for a fu… quickie either.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Wow, I was so far gone, I nearly used the word I loathed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No. But like I was about to say, it is long enough for me to send you into orbit.\"\n\n\"Oh, yeah, Mr. HotShot?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah,\" he growled. \"I might have needed ten minutes when we were sixteen. But over the years I've come to know your body better than my own. I don't even need half that time.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Take your best shot,\" I egged him on, knowledge that I'd reap the benefits of the challenge in my tone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He knew it too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Have I ever told you how much I love leggings?\"\n\nHis fingers dove beneath my damp panties and began to stroke my folds." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My breath hitched, and I melded my mouth to his." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My tongue thrust into his mouth in a mirror image of what his fingers were doing to my core. His thumb wrote lyrics of heaven and bliss on my swollen nub." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ripping my lips from his, I threw my head back and moaned.\n\nWet, open-mouthed kisses littered my neck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Warmth rushed to the surface of my skin as I soared higher and higher." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then, with murmured words of love, I tipped over the edge and slowly floated back from heaven.\n\n\"That might be a new record for me,\" Dawson panted against my skin as he withdrew his fingers from me." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I ground my center against the bulge in his crotch, making him groan my name.\n\n\"You're going to make me walk through the lobby with a raging boner?\" he panted.\n\n\"You're going to make me walk through it with a blissed out orgasmic face. I'd say we're even.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Narrative Extension Protocol:\nQuantity: 3 sentences\nGenre Classification: romance, music" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Damn it,\" Dawson huffed under his breath.\n\n\"Just keep moving. We're almost to the boat,\" Joe urged as he stepped closer to us.\n\nBy the time we boarded the boat for our private dinner cruise, I'd forgotten about the photograph." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The flickering bridge lights as we cruised the canal belt enraptured me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As we floated, I marveled at the rainbow formed on either side of the canal by the buildings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh,\" I gasped. I tugged Dawson's arm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is that a pink canal?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah. When you put pink river on our bucket list years ago, you didn't specify anything else. Hope this will do.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's perfect,\" I breathed out as our boat glided through a tunnel formed by pink flowering trees. The pink petals dotting the water along with the tree's reflections made the canal look pink.\n\nWithdrawing my camera from my coat pocket, I snapped images of the sights in between stealing kisses and selfies with Dawson." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The dinner was amazing, made even more so by the romantic atmosphere." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wished I could freeze time and stay forever in this place with Dawson." } ]

[ { "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 Charli B. Rose.Produce 7 sentences using the prose and structure of Charli B. Rose every time its your turn using what the user wrote as a seed." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "[ ♪\"Heaven\" by Kane Brown ]\n\nAfter a leisurely morning of enjoying the comforts of a large, non-moving space, it was finally time to board the bus again. But loving on a bus was something Izzy and I had perfected over the years. We had a couple more days before we had to say goodbye again. And we'd spend those days in motion. Literally.\n\n\"You have all your stuff?\" I asked as I took one more look around the bedroom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think so.\" She was walking through the room, double checking everywhere." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bending over, she swooped up a stray pencil from the floor and tucked it back into her art pouch.\n\nJoe had some of the guys stop by yesterday to move Izzy's flowers and some of our other belongings to the bus. We each only had a suitcase left. I zipped them shut and carried them to the head of the stairs.\n\n\"I'm going to miss this place,\" Izzy said, spinning around to take in the room one more time.\n\n\"Why?\" I'd had the same thought myself, but I didn't understand why. Izzy and I had spent time together all over the world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What makes this place different for you than all the other hotels we've stayed?\"\n\nHer brow crinkled as she looked into my face. \"I'm not really sure. Just a feeling. I can't really explain it. It's just more special somehow. More significant.\"\n\n\"I agree. But I don't understand why either. Just something in my gut or maybe my heart. But I'll make you a promise. We'll come back here for our fifth anniversary and any other time you want to come that we can make it work. Deal?\"\n\n\"Deal. Maybe we can come for our honeymoon one day.\" Her confidence in our future was everything to me. The smile on her face lit my whole world." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hoped my answering one did the same for her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Come on. Time to roll out.\" I hoisted up our suitcases and led the way down the stairs. As we reached the bottom, a knock vibrated the door.\n\n\"Right on time,\" I announced as I opened the door to Joe's serious face.\n\n\"Ready to go, guys?\" He was in no nonsense mode today. He always was whenever the band was on the move." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was when we were the most vulnerable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yep,\" I answered.\n\n\"Good afternoon, Joe,\" Izzy said, greeting him with a kiss to the cheek, refusing to allow his gruffness to linger.\n\nHis stern expression cracked into a grin for her. \"It is a good afternoon, Izzy.\" Taking the bags from me, Joe handed them off to one of the guys in the hallway. \"Everyone's already loaded out except you guys. We're actually ahead of schedule for a change. So, if you're not quite ready, we have some time to spare.\"\n\n\"We're good. Might as well get this show on the road,\" I said, lacing Izzy's fingers with mine and filing out of our haven." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After a short drive across town, we pulled into the lot where the buses were waiting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The road crew milled around the buses, triple checking to make sure all of our gear was safely stowed. Joe parked next to the band's bus. When the back door opened, sunlight flooded in. I scrambled out then helped Izzy.\n\nAs we boarded the bus, the chaos of cramming five rowdy musicians into a finite amount of space greeted us.\n\n\"Izzy,\" the guys shouted in unison as her head broke the top of the stairs.\n\n\"Hey guys.\" She laughed as she was swept up into a line of hugs which passed her further into the interior of the bus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They tugged her down onto one of the couches and started bombarding her with conversation.\n\n\"Hey to you too,\" I mumbled when no one greeted me.\n\n\"We see you all the time, dude. We don't get much time with our girl here,\" Wilder proclaimed.\n\n\"My girl. She's my girl,\" I protested gruffly even as I winked at Izzy.\n\n\"Semantics,\" Jett said as he leaned forward to capture her attention.\n\n\"You've got five minutes. When I get back down from putting our suitcases upstairs, I expect space to sit with my girl.\"\n\nGrumbles followed me as I moved through the living area and kitchen on my way to the stairs next to our jam room at the back of the bus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My steps echoed in the small space surrounding the handful of stairs leading to the upper level of the bus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My nostrils filled with lemony freshness. The clean smell wouldn't last long. This leg of the tour was non-stop shows and appearances. That meant no hotel stays, so no time for a cleaning service to come in and scrub away the stench that only a group of guys in close quarters could accumulate. The sliding doors to each bunk were open, showing the guys had stashed their stuff already. The junk bunks had various bags stashed in them already too. I couldn't remember whose turn it was for the bedroom up front, but the back bedroom was mine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had been mine from the beginning of this tour." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perk of being the lead singer and throwing in the extra money to buy the bus.\n\nI'd done my stint in the bunks when we first started out. It stifled my creativity. So, when we had the opportunity to purchase this bus from another band, we jumped on it. Two bedrooms and six bunks—it was perfect for a group of five musicians. Well as perfect as a tour bus could be. I dumped our suitcases on the bed and headed back to the lower level." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Back in the living room, I shoved Wilder out of the way, so I could sink onto the couch next to Izzy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everyone vied for her attention. I was willing to share for a little while. She ate it up. She'd known the guys from the beginning. They each held a special place in her heart. They had no idea how she worried and fretted over them. But they loved her too." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd seen bands deal with drama because of one of the members' significant others." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was blessed that Izzy wasn't a problem for the guys." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And that they respected my relationship enough not to give me grief for skipping out on all the after-party festivities." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What did I miss?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I settled Izzy's legs over my lap." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I was asking the guys what they wanted me to cook for them while I'm on the bus for the next few days,\" Izzy answered, filling me in.\n\n\"Let me guess.\" I tapped my finger against my chin in mock contemplation. \"You guys want lasagna.\" They were so predictable.\n\n\"You know it,\" Brooks cheered. \"Nobody makes lasagna like Izzy does.\"\n\n\"Well, technically, my mom makes lasagna like me since it's her recipe. But I'll take the compliment,\" Izzy answered with a smirk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her mom's recipe was to die for." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We watching a movie or shooting shi—I mean crap?\" Jett asked, casting a sheepish look at Izzy as he held up a gaming controller.\n\nIt never ceased to amaze me how Izzy's presence always eradicated the crude language from the guys' vocabulary. It had nothing to do with her being a girl. It was their respect for her. Their treatment of her warmed my heart. I'd hate to ever have to choose between Izzy and the band." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can we watch The Notebook?\" Izzy asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hell no,\" Maddox shouted from the other sofa.\n\n\"Why not? You got something against a classic love story?\" Jett challenged him. He would never choose to watch the sappy love story on his own. But he was always trying to be Izzy's favorite.\n\n\"I've got nothing against a love story. Especially love getting a second chance. But come on, do you all really want to be reminded that most of us aren't so lucky?\" Maddox looked at each of us with his eyebrow quirked.\n\n\"It's not like that. It should give you hope for the future,\" Jett said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Besides, is that really what you want right now? Forever love? I mean you get all the pus—I mean… girls you want. You ready to give that up?\" Wilder asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Life is good right now. And I do enjoy the fruits of our labor. I didn't mean to open a philosophical discussion on love with my comment,\" Maddox grumbled.\n\n\"We don't have to watch The Notebook. We can watch Mission Impossible Twenty or whatever if you guys want,\" Izzy offered, ever the peacemaker.\n\n\"We can watch action movies anytime. You're only here for a few days. And The Notebook is a good movie. We can watch it,\" Maddox conceded, ready to put a smile back on Izzy's face.\n\nShe clapped her hands and bounced in her seat.\n\n\"I'll pop the popcorn,\" Brooks said, moving into the kitchen as the bus rumbled to life beneath us.\n\nEveryone shifted around to their preferred seats for watching TV. I moved to the corner of the couch and dragged Izzy between my thighs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When she melted back against me, I ran my nose along the smooth column of her neck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No funny business during the movie, mister,\" she murmured to me, squeezing my thigh.\n\n\"Yes, ma'am.\" I chuckled against her skin. I'd never start anything in front of the guys. Years ago, when I was single, I didn't have a filter. I did what I wanted and didn't care who watched or participated. All that changed with Izzy though. \"I'll behave. I promise.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "As the movie ended, Izzy swiped her fingers across her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Every damn time,\" she muttered, flicking away the tears gathered along her lower lashes.\n\n\"I think it's sweet that you cry over sappy love stories,\" Maddox said.\n\n\"Not every love story. But I've always been a sucker for a second chance romance. I think it's so sweet how their love lasted through time and distance and others until they were able to find each other again. And once they reunited, nothing could part them, not even death.\"\n\n\"It's grand and all. But you know who I feel sorry for? Lon. He got the shaft. He loved Allie too. And he was a good guy. But he lost at love,\" Wilder stated, ever the cynic.\n\n\"Yeah, that was sad,\" I agreed. \"But he was never supposed to get the girl. Allie and Noah are forever.\"\n\nA glance at the time told me we still probably had about forty-five minutes before we arrived at the venue." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Before we could further discuss the winners and losers in the love story, all our phones vibrated with a text message simultaneously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jett did the honors of reading it, \"Steve says we have not quite three hours before sound check. We have a radio interview as soon as we get off stage. Then we're pulling out as soon as that's done to make it Luxembourg for an appearance in the morning.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, it was nice having a few days of down time. Guess it's back to the grind now,\" Brooks groaned, getting to his feet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm going to take a nap. Wake me for sound check.\"\n\n\"Since we'll have a late night tonight, I think it's time to get settled into our room,\" I said, setting Izzy on her feet.\n\n\"You mean your room,\" she corrected. She stretched her muscles, then tucked her hands into the back pockets of her jeans.\n\nI gripped her elbow, tugging her to me. \"Even when you aren't here, your presence is the only thing that makes it feel like home. So, it's our room.\"\n\n\"Awww. You guys are so sickly sweet,\" Wilder teased while fake gagging." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This sickly-sweet girl was going to cook you breakfast in the morning. Maybe I shouldn't be so sweet,\" Izzy taunted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He takes it back. Say you take it back,\" Jett demanded, putting Wilder in a headlock and messing up his perfect hair.\n\n\"Fine, fine. I take it back.\" Wilder laughed.\n\n\"I'll make a grocery list, so Jimmy can swing by to get the ingredients for a good breakfast for you boys,\" Izzy offered over her shoulder as she headed to the stairs.\n\nWhen we were safely behind the bedroom door, I pressed her back to the door and kissed her like the world was ending. \"As much as I'd love to continue this and lose myself in you, we should probably rest. It's going to be a long night,\" I murmured against her lips.\n\n\"We've got tonight. So, I think I could go for a nap right now. But first I need to take care of something.\"\n\n[ ♪ \"Without You\" by My Darkest Days ]" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Izzy set about unpacking my suitcase, turning the room back into my home away from home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I toed off my shoes and slipped out of my jeans while she put away my clothes and toiletries." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Once she plugged in my phone charger and returned the framed photo of us to its usual spot by my bed, she turned to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Where do you want this?\" she held out the beautiful drawing she was working on a few days ago.\n\n\"You finished it?\" I hadn't seen her work on it anymore.\n\n\"Yeah, while you were sleeping the other night.\" She shrugged. \"If you changed your mind and don't want it anymore, that's OK.\"\n\n\"Of course, I want it. I'd love to frame it and hang it up in here. But I don't want the guys to see it and start picturing you naked.\" The possibility made my blood start to boil a little." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah, that would be weird.\" She scrunched up her nose, considering the possibility.\n\n\"One day, we'll frame it and hang it up in our bedroom. And when you're mad at me for leaving the seat up or my socks on the floor or drinking from the milk carton or teaching our son a cuss word, I'll direct you to look at your creation inspired by how much we love each other.\" I held my hands out to my side and shrugged my shoulders in an innocent gesture.\n\nShe laughed. \"And in the meantime?\"\n\n\"Ummm. Put it in the nightstand drawer. That's where I keep the scrapbooks you've made me and our memory box.\" It would be safe in there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The drawer whispered open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She pulled out the largest of the scrapbooks and gently placed the thick paper inside, taking great efforts to lay it flat so it wouldn't be damaged. Quietly, she pushed the drawer back in, tucking our precious mementos away for safe keeping.\n\nSatisfied that my room was set up, she slipped out of her jeans. I tugged my shirt off, then pulled down the sheets. I settled into the soft mattress and drew Izzy down with me. With her tucked in my arms, we both drifted off to sleep.\n\n[ ♪ \"You and Me\" by Lifehouse ]" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The days passed too quickly. Long before I was ready, it was time to bid Izzy goodbye. I skipped out on an interview, so I could see her off. Lila sent me half a dozen angry text messages on the ride to the airport, all of which I ignored. The entire drive I clutched Izzy to me as if I'd never see her again.\n\n\"Goodbyes suck,\" she pouted with her head tucked against my heart.\n\n\"Yeah, they do. You should have Wi-Fi on the plane, so we can chat tonight. You'll be home tomorrow, and we'll video chat.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tipped her head back, so I could look into her emerald eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I waggled my brows at her as I said, \"And we can try out our new toys.\"\n\nA blush crept over her skin, and her gaze filled with need. \"It won't be the same.\"\n\n\"I know, baby. But you'll be back in a couple of months. And then once summer gets here, we won't have to go through these long separations again. We'll get through it.\" I was determined to at least look strong for her. But honestly, each time we had to say goodbye sucked more than the previous time. The length of our separation didn't matter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was the fact that we'd been enduring separations our whole relationship." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We were both tired of it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sorry, I'm being such a downer. I know you need to be getting into your performance mindset.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You don't have anything to apologize for. Not a damn thing. Soon, this will be different. When the band is the one calling the shots, I promise things will be different,\" I vowed.\n\nThe car slowed to a stop as Joe parked along the front curb at the airport. \"Did you remember everything?\" I asked still holding her tightly against me.\n\n\"I think so. If I forgot anything, you'll just have to keep it until I get back. And if it's something critical, I'll just have to come back sooner, or you'll have to deliver it to me.\"\n\n\"Sounds like a plan.\" I chuckled.\n\nThe backdoor opened, letting in the swish of tires on wet pavement, a random car horn blaring in the distance, the chatter of people bustling about." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But none of the noise drowned out the sound of my heart cracking with the weight of another goodbye.\n\nI eased her out of my embrace, so I could exit the car. Before I got out, I tugged my beanie down low on my head, so I could try to blend in. Joe stood at the rear of the car with Izzy's suitcase in hand. She clasped the hand I offered her and climbed from the warm interior into the chilly, wet air. Standing in front of me, the wind blowing through her rainbow-colored hair, she was a vision of sunshine in a world of grey thunderclouds. She had no idea how beautiful she was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or how she lit up my world. She always had." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her arms wrapped around my middle, squeezing me tightly and holding all my important parts in. My heart and soul longed to leave with her. \"You don't have to come in with me. You don't know what the crowd will be like in there,\" she offered in a brave voice that only wobbled at the end.\n\n\"There's no way I am missing one second with you. I have my disguise.\" I winked and tugged the edge of my beanie.\n\nRelief filled her eyes that this moment wasn't goodbye. Not yet. Winding one arm around her waist, I drew her securely to my side." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I walked her slowly into the airport, like a condemned man on the way to the gallows." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hmm… maybe there was a song in this. Goodbyes like a noose. Farewells like bullets from a firing squad. Shaking my head, I filed the lyrics away for later.\n\nWith our hands tucked in each other's back pockets and Joe trailing close behind, we made our way into the bustling lobby of the airport. People swarmed around us like ants marching. Nobody even glanced our way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When we reached the security gate, no amount of sweet talking to the head of security could get me beyond the metal detectors. He did at least let us hang out nearby, so we could have a private farewell.\n\nPerched on a bench in a forgotten corner, we snuggled, quietly absorbing as much of the other as we could. My cells strained to consume her essence through osmosis.\n\nHer fingers played with the neckline of my shirt. \"Oh, I forgot to tell you, I loaded a few series of books on your kindle for us to read together.\"\n\n\"That's great. What did you get for us?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I sifted the long, colorful strands of her hair between my fingers, memorizing the feel of it as I inhaled the scent of her shampoo." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ummm. Filthy Beautiful Lies by Kendall Ryan and the follow up book to it. It's about a girl who auctions off her virginity to save her sister. It's supposed to be hot. Then there was a series by Cassia Leo called the Shattered Hearts series. It's about a couple who falls in love when they're teenagers. And the guy winds up becoming a rock star. They go through some obstacles. When I read the blurb, I thought it would be fun for us to read. There are a few others I put on there. We can figure out which one to read first later.\"\n\nI captured her hand that was tracing a line along my collarbone. I brought the tips of her fingers to my lips, pressing a kiss to them and then flattening her palm against my beating heart.\n\nI crooned softly in her ear, \"If I could, then I would—\"\n\n[ ♪ \"Wherever You Will Go\" by The Calling ]\n\n\"Don't,\" she murmured back. \"I'm barely holding it together. If you finish that song right now, I'm going to lose it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "In my heart, I finished serenading her with the words that had hurt and healed both our hearts so many times over the years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She snuggled closer to me, like she knew what was on repeat in my head. We just held each other until the last possible moment. The security guard cleared his throat. When we turned in his direction, he tapped the face of his watch to remind us of the time. \"I'd better go,\" she whispered in a shaky voice, fisting the fabric of my shirt in her fingers.\n\nHer jade orbs transformed into shimmery pools. I blinked hard, trying to hold back my own tidal wave of sadness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My thumb rubbed the soft skin beneath one eye, catching a lone tear before it had a chance to mar her gorgeous face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I cradled her cheek and pressed my mouth to hers. The world faded into nothing, narrowing to her skin against my palm, her breath fanning my cheek, her strawberry scent filling my nostrils, her lips on mine, the salt of her tears flavoring our kiss. Just she and I. Two hearts, one beat.\n\n\"I love you, flutterby,\" my voice was thick with the emotion I was holding back. My hard swallow was like a dam made of popsicle sticks trying to contain a tidal wave.\n\n\"I love you too, baby,\" her declaration tattooed my lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She gave me one more hard squeeze and the briefest of kisses before she grabbed her bag from Joe and speed walked through security." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I watched as she was swallowed up by the sea of passengers all flying off to parts unknown.\n\nWhen she was almost out of sight, she turned and gave me a sad smile. I blew her a kiss and waved goodbye. And the countdown began. Sixty-four days before she'd be in my arms again." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Continue with the same vibes as Charli B. Rose in the romance, music genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shoving the door open, I dropped my suitcase just inside my apartment and wrestled my keys from the lock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Twenty-four hours of traveling was exhausting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Adding the pain of missing Dawson to that, and I was ready to collapse in my bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I flipped the light switch and gasped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perched in the middle of my coffee table was a vase of kaleidoscope roses." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "New roses. Fresh roses." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hadn't been able to bring my others with me, so I left them all over Dawson's room and the bus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Though I longed to flop down and wallow in self-pity over what the coming months would be like without my heart, I beamed as I plucked the card from among the rainbow blooms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "[ Thought you needed some extra love and color at home to help you get through the next few weeks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I love you, flutterby. ~Daw ]" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shaking my head, I smiled through my tears." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How did he always know exactly what I needed even when I didn't know?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "A vibration came from my pocket." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fishing my phone out, I grinned at Dawson's timing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With a swipe, his face filled my screen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hey, flutterby. You're home.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a statement, not a question since he could see my living room behind me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "[ ♪ \"Miss You Like Crazy\" by Natalie Cole ]" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah, baby. Just got in a few minutes ago. There was a delay on the last leg of my flight. Bad storm along the coast.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I saw that when I checked in on your flight. It's not snowing at home is it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No snow here. The storm is further north. It's a little too warm for more than a cold rain here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That's good. You don't need to be out in snowy weather since you were sick not that long ago.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah.\" My sudden and intense bout with a virus a few weeks ago really worried Dawson." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He hated that no one was here to take care of me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How was your flight after we stopped chatting?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Pretty good. I worked on an idea for our next tattoos. Wanna see?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Of course,\" his voice was eager." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I grabbed my sketchbook from my tote bag and flipped to the pages." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I turned the screen to show him a tribal guitar wrapped with lines of sheet music." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Notes dotted the coiling staff." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dawson began humming the notes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is that 'Wherever You Will Go', a part of the chorus?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah. And here's what I drew for me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I flipped the page and showed him an elegant flowing staff of music." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The notes were tiny butterflies, with a few flying off the organized lines." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He hummed the notes, then sang the accompanying lyrics." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the line following the chorus near the end of the song." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I turned the camera back to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They're perfect. I love them.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll text you a picture of them when we get off the phone. You can tell me if we should go strictly black ink or colors.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sounds good. On a different note, did you get my surprise?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I flipped the phone around to bring the vase of flowers into view." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I turned it back to me, he looked so pleased with himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How did you manage to swing this, Mr. Rockstar?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, I found a florist who could hand dye roses nearby. I placed the order. Then I called your building's doorman and asked if he could he put them in your apartment for you as a surprise.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shrugged like it was no big deal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You convinced my doorman to go in my apartment?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was dubious at how he managed to convince my very straight-laced doorman to break the rules." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Actually, his wife helped me convince him. You know how charming and convincing I can be to the fairer sex. Mrs. Jones thought I was the sweetest thing,\" he said smugly and brushed his fingertips against his shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You are the sweetest thing,\" I agreed with a laugh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So, how was your show last night?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm not too sure. Good I think. Once you got on the plane, I kind of just went through the motions like a zombie. The reviews were good though. It's a good thing I can perform in my sleep.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I examined his face on my tiny screen, starved for him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked exhausted. When we chatted during my flight, it had been in the middle of the night for him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I should've just let him rest, but even hours after being in his arms, I missed him terribly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I miss you too. Is it April yet?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I teased but couldn't muster the smile to back it up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sadly, no. And I hate to cut this short, but I have sound check in five minutes and you look like you could use a nap.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It looks like you could use one too.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You'll have to rest enough for both of us at the moment. Duty calls,\" he said with a grimace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think I totally could sleep enough for two. After a shower to wash the trip off my skin.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Speaking of showers, you left some of your stuff in my room with my toiletries.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Probably when I shoved my stuff in your shower basket when we were conserving water on the tour bus.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I waggled my brows at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Laughter erupted from his lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah. I have your shampoo and conditioner. Oh, and your lip gloss and perfume.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, no. Not my perfume. That's my only bottle of Happily Ever After,\" I whined." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't worry. I'll place an order with Whiff to get you a new bottle on the way,\" he hastily offered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That would be great. Ever since you designed that scent for me, I don't wear anything else. It's like no other aroma fits me anymore.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The perfume Dawson designed for me last Christmas instantly became my favorite fragrance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's my favorite scent on you too, well other than mine. It makes you smell like cotton candy. Makes me want to eat you up.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He smirked at me as my face heated with desire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hey now, you don't have time to start something right now,\" I admonished." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He pouted. \"Fine. I'll call you after the show. I love you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His fingers stroked the screen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I love you too. I'll be counting the minutes. Plug your phone up.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He laughed as he blew me a kiss and disconnected." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Later after a shower and a nap, I woke to my phone chirping." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hey, you,\" I said softly into the camera." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hey, baby. It's 3 A.M.,\" he sang." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "[ ♪ \"3 A.M.\" by Matchbox Twenty ]" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I must be lonely,\" I finished the line with a giggle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did you rest?\" he asked in his serious voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah. But I'm still jet lagged,\" I answered with a huge yawn." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you have any photo shoots scheduled tomorrow?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. Thank goodness, I don't have anything for a couple more days.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd learned a while back that it took me a few days to get back on my own time zone after visiting Dawson on tour." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Rest up and get back on Eastern Standard Time,\" he encouraged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His finger traced the screen of his phone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Closing my eyes, I imagined his touch on my skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damn, I missed it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're not falling asleep on me, are you?\" he teased." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No. I'm still here. I was just pretending you could reach through the phone to caress my cheek. I know, I know. I'm pathetic.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I gave him a weak smile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I wish I was stroking your cheek. And don't ever talk about the love of my life like that again. She's no more pathetic than I am, skipping out on the after party to come fall asleep on the phone with my girlfriend.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He flopped backwards on his bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I laughed. \"Won't be much of a party without you there.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Who cares? The other guys eat up all the extra attention.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah, but Lila wants you to hang out more,\" I pouted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know why. Whenever I show up, I usually sit in the corner talking with some of the instrument techs or roadies. Lila can go screw herself.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She'd rather screw you, I'm quite certain,\" I muttered under my breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He either didn't hear my comment or he chose to ignore it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Anyway, our time dealing with her is almost over, baby. And so are these lengthy separations. Next year is all North American stops. And I promise when we're on our own label in eighteen months, I'm going to do what I can to make sure we see each other at least once a month. Either you coming to me, me coming to you, or us meeting in the middle,\" he swore." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I really hoped he'd be able to make that our reality." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was hard to keep focused on us, the longer we were apart." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Long as we're both coming,\" I teased, needing to lighten the mood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His deep chuckle warmed my soul." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We will be. Don't you worry about that… But I am serious about how frequently we'll be together. We just have to survive the end of my contract.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I hope so, Daw. Being with you the past couple of weeks was heaven.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"For me too. And being without you is hell.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know.\" I blinked rapidly, trying to force the tears back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My nose burned with the effort." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't cry. Time will fly. Matter of fact, Steve and Lila gave us our schedule for the next few weeks. It's completely nuts. They didn't even schedule us enough time to sleep. We're doing phone interviews as we drive between venues. So, I'm sorry if I'm more out of touch the next few weeks. I promise I'll text and call when I can.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't worry about me. I'll be here whenever you have time.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I longed to ease the guilt evident in his tone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He couldn't help the demands of his job." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was Dawson freaking Anderson, and everyone wanted a piece of him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know. It just makes the whole separation suck more.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was his turn to pout." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How about we talk about something else?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Like what?\" he asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know. Something that won't make us sad.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then how about we do something else?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His brows waggled suggestively at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I licked my lips and nodded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My skin tingled with anticipation of what was to come." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He rubbed his palms against his pants." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Let's switch to our laptops. Be back in two minutes?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"See you in two.\" I disconnected." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hurried to the living room and grabbed my bags." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hadn't bothered to move them further than the entryway when I got home earlier." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As I lugged them into the bedroom, I tried to slow my racing heart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My jet lag was taking a backseat to my desires." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tossed my laptop case on the bed, then dug through my suitcase to get my gift." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In a few minutes, I had my computer plugged in and perched on the left side of the bed, Dawson's side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A few quick taps connected me back to Dawson's stunning smile and smoldering gaze." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ready?\" he asked anxiously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mmhmm,\" I answered. And shifted to a more comfortable position on the bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hey, did you steal my shirt?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah. Sorry. It's new, and it does have my slogan on it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I peered down at the words I'd suggested the band use for the latest promotional material." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Loyal to the lyrics, and loyal to the odyssey." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's our best seller at the merch stands. I actually meant to grab one for you in your size. But you kind of distracted me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's a good thing I prefer your shirt to having one of my own.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I rubbed my hands across the soft material." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But it's so big on you.\" He frowned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And it smells like you. When I close my eyes and inhale, I can pretend for a little bit that you're holding me,\" I confessed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Damn, since you put it that way, I don't see how I'm going to ask you to strip naked right now. If I can't touch you directly, at least fabric that touched me can brush against you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, I'm going to ask you to take yours off. Please,\" I panted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gripped a handful of fabric covering his back and drew it over his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was so sexy when he undressed that way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Who was I kidding?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was sexy no matter how he stripped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dawson got to his feet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My mouth went dry as I admired his physique." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The muscles of his abdomen rippled as he moved around." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His dark jeans hung low on his hips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Reaching out with one finger, I traced the virtual line of those lickable indentations on his pelvis." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The edge of his boxers winked at me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He smirked at my expression, as he flicked open the button on his pants." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Slowly, he eased the zipper down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With fingers I was desperate to feel on my flesh, he shoved the denim down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A scrap of black cotton followed in its wake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He let me look my fill before he climbed into bed and tugged the sheet up to his hips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Under the covers this time?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked in a rasping voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah. I just need to see your face. Focus on the pleasure spilling across your features. Is that OK with you?\" He swallowed audibly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I nodded. Though we'd spent numerous video sessions over the years watching each other writhe with passion, some of our most intimate virtual encounters were under covers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Something about it made it feel more like we were in the same space." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I eased my feet to the carpet, wiggling my toes into the soft ply." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With a shyness that I rarely felt with Dawson after years together, I chewed my bottom lip and shimmied out of my panties." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I inched the hem of his shirt up, briefly giving him a flash." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Damn,\" he growled as he leaned toward his computer screen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I slipped beneath my silk sheet and got comfortable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Get your phone and activate the app,\" he commanded in a gruff voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He picked up his phone and mirrored my movements on his screen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"OK,\" I whispered. \"Now what?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Turn on your toy.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I did as he said while he turned on his." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And beneath the covers with the beauty of technology we set out bringing each other lots and lots of pleasure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A distant chime sounded somewhere." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My eyes cracked open, and my head turned, trying to locate the repeating sound." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I grabbed my phone where it lay on the unused pillow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sound wasn't coming from it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was way too early to be awake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hadn't willingly seen six in the morning since I finished my coursework." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My movements on the bed woke up my opened laptop screen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It filled with the sleeping form of my love." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Long lashes fanned against his cheek." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lips slightly parted, releasing gentle snores." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A strong arm wrapped around the pillow I always slept on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A teasing expanse of flesh from shoulder to hip." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The muscle flexed. His hips shifted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "[ ♪ \"Hear You Breathe\" by Carl Wockner ]" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then his phone lit up on the bed next to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was the source of the chiming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Baby,\" my voice was textured with sleepiness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I cleared my throat and spoke again, \"Dawson, baby, wake up.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mmm.\" He stirred in his bed, making the sheet slip lower." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bare hip and thigh came into view. Holy hell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Dawson, wake up. Someone's trying to call you. Incessantly,\" I urged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Am I dreaming?\" he mumbled as one eye peeked at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. But I should still be. It's six in the morning here,\" I grumbled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then why are you awake? And why am I? I was having the most amazing dream. You were here, and we were—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Before he could finish, his ringing phone was accompanied by a pounding on his door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yo, dude. Lila's been trying to get in touch with you all morning. Answer your damn phone,\" Brooks shouted through the wood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And good morning, Izzy.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Morning, Brooks,\" I called out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The guys knew Dawson and I always fell asleep on the computer together more times than not." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dawson picked up his phone and examined the screen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What do you think Lila wants?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked, not really caring what new offense had her panties in a wad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I knew he didn't want to have to deal with her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, I don't have to think. I have a pretty good idea. She wants to gripe at me about the latest headlines,\" he mumbled, his eyes trained on his phone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What do they say?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I asked, slightly alarmed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't worry about them right now, flutterby. You look exhausted. Go back to sleep. I'll deal with this crap.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His eyes were sincere." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"OK.\" I didn't have the energy to argue with him, though tiny part of me wondered what the latest headlines said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I love you and will call you later.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He blew me a kiss." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I love you too.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I returned the kiss before he closed his computer screen.\n\nMy eyes drifted shut, and slumber claimed me again." } ]

[ { "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 Charli B. Rose in the romance, music genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I woke on the couch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My eyes ached, my neck was stiff, my heart hurt. As I tossed and turned on the couch last night, waiting for slumber to claim me, I figured out a plan of action. It was what I had to do in order to close the Dawson chapters of my life.\n\nSystematically, I moved around my apartment, taking down photos and mementos, emptying drawers of band T-shirts and boxing up all the tokens of our relationship. The Sunflowers reprint came off the wall. The jar of wishing stars removed from my nightstand. Marching to the kitchen, I pried the magnets from our bucket list stops off the refrigerator door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then I grabbed a large trash bag. I couldn't dwell on this anymore. I had more important things that needed to occupy my mind. There was no room for heartache. Not now.\n\nHolding the bag open with one hand, I picked up the box of photos, scrapbooks and songs. The box hovered in my grasp over the gaping hole of the trash bag.\n\nBut I couldn't let it go." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Weeping, I carried the items into my closet. I climbed up on the stepstool and shoved everything into the far, dark corner. I could throw it out later. When I was stronger.\n\nI collapsed on the bed sobbing uncontrollably. My phone chimed with an alert.\n\nThe sender was unknown." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I should've ignored it. But no one had my new number. Curiosity always killed the cat.\n\nUnknown: You get to see the first cut.\n\nA video attachment followed. I opened it. The opening strains of \"Love Rocked\" blared through the tiny speaker. The new music video." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI Prompt: Generate 7 sentences sentences. Emulate Monica Walters. Adhere to romance genre conventions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The moment I walked in the door, I regretted it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I should have gotten a hotel room and invited my daughter to come along." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sitting on the couch holding ice to my cheek wasn't where I saw myself being an hour ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An hour ago, I was ashamed of my thoughts. For the first time in years, I found myself fantasizing about Carter. It took so long to get over him, but just from seeing him, it was like I was addicted all over again.\n\nI knew I had to keep busy because Storm was peeping game… like he knew something was up. That was something I didn't need. His butt was always in somebody's business and knew everything that happened in Nome. And once he knew something, he didn't keep quiet about it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But Carter… my soul was longing for him now, and that was dangerous. I felt like my feet were dangling over the flames of hell. But that didn't keep my mind away from thoughts of him.\n\nWhen he talked to me, my womanly parts were tingling, remembering everything his mouth had said… whispered. All those sweet nothings had come back to memory… well, not sweet nothings. There was nothing sweet about the things he said to me, and my body had enjoyed every moment of it. However, when I got home, I was knocked right out of the haze I was in before I could say a word." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All because I questioned him in front of Aspen.\n\nGod had to know that I was growing weary. Why would he allow temptation of this magnitude when I was vulnerable? This was too much. But I'd allowed it for years. Only the good Lord could change him, but it seemed like that would never happen. It had been practically our entire marriage… twenty-seven years of misery, abuse, and grief." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lord forgive me for growing impatient, but I'm so close to the edge. \"Jenahra!\"\n\nI stood from the couch and met him in the kitchen to see he was looking through the leftover food I'd brought home. \"Fix me a plate. I'm going catch up on Station 19.\"\n\nI nodded as he walked away and swallowed the lump in my throat. After setting my ice pack on the countertop, I fixed him a plate and put it in the microwave. I wished Jacob had come home when I did, but the party had moved to Storm's house, since he lived down the street from Chrissy. My entire family, with the exception of Chrissy and LaKeith, were there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were going to Aruba for their honeymoon. I was the only one not there. Even WJ had gone over to his house.\n\nInstead, I came home, knowing had I gone, I would've gotten slapped for staying out so late when I knew I had church in the morning, not realizing that I was going to get slapped either way. My face should have been used to it. Seemed like I got slapped at least once a week. It used to be every day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But for a moment in time, it had stopped for months, giving me hope that things would be different." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The microwave beeped, tearing me away from my thoughts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Taking his plate from it, I set it on the countertop and added potato salad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I brought his plate to him, he reclined in his rocking chair and accepted the plate from me. \"I'm going to the room and take a bath. I'm tired.\"\n\nHe completely ignored what I'd said, waving me off, because I was interrupting his TV show. When I got to my room, I pulled the business card from my bra, then grabbed my phone and added the number to my contacts. I slid the card in my underwear drawer, at the bottom beneath the sexy lingerie I hadn't worn in years. Why I still had it was a mystery to me. Going to the bathroom to start my bath, I glanced at my phone then at the bedroom door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Quickly opening my text messages, I selected Wothyla Food Services in my phone and began typing a message. Hey. This is Jenahra. I deleted it then thought out what I would say. Deciding to keep it simple, I sent, Hey. I didn't know what else to say. Quickly glancing at the open bedroom door, I walked to it and closed it.\n\nGlancing back at my phone, I suddenly wished I could unsend the message." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What was I doing? I closed my eyes and sat on the bed. Maybe I could ignore him when he responded. My phone number wasn't the same as it was back then. However, when my phone vibrated in my hand, everything in me was drawn to it. When I opened the message, it read: Hey. Who is this?\n\nI closed my eyes and held the phone to my chest, seeing his face in my thoughts… the way his eyebrows probably scrunched together in a frown as he saw the unknown number." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was probably holding the phone, waiting for a response. As I walked to the bathroom, my phone vibrated again. Looking at it, I saw, Nahra?\n\nEveryone called me Jen for short, but he was the only one that consistently called me Nahra. Hearing his voice in my heart propelled me to respond. Yes.\n\nHe immediately responded. Wow. I was hoping you reached out, but I must admit, I didn't expect you to, especially not this soon. Are you okay?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Glancing at the bedroom door again, I responded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No. But I feel so guilty for reaching out to you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It's just… you're the only person I could ever talk to about things I was going through. I'm sorry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This is a bad decision." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Going to the bathroom, I closed and locked the door then started my music." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I sent Jacob a message. Don't stay out too late. Although he was at Storm's house, I didn't want him on the highway too late. It wasn't his driving abilities that gave me pause. It was everyone else on the road that worried me. We lived on a highway not far from my parents and he had to travel a major highway to get to ours.\n\nAs I undressed, I stared at myself in the mirror, looking at my arm and how it didn't heal quite right." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On the outside, it looked fine, but it hurt like hell some days, even all these years later." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whenever I looked at it, I could hear Joseph's mother." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'm so sorry, Jenahra." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He's just like his father." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd shaken her head in disgust, but she wouldn't dare say a word in my defense." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Joseph's father ruled their house just like Joseph ruled ours. Mrs. Monroe was such a quiet woman, but I soon learned she was only that way when he was alive. Once Mr. Monroe passed away twelve years ago, she'd come out of her shell, traveling the country and living her life without restraints. Was that what I was waiting on? Was I waiting on Joseph to die in order for me to live? I'm sorry, Lord. I'm trying so hard. Please forgive me.\n\nMy vibrating phone scared me half to death." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was Jacob. I'm about to head home now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was a good kid, but I could only pray that he didn't grow up to be anything like his father. I was more than sure he heard our arguments and fights. Immediately after I read Jacob's message, Carter sent another message. Do what you feel in your heart. I'm going to be here… I already told you that. I refuse to lose you again though. Even if you refuse to talk to me ever again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I can't go the rest of my life without you… I've been searching for a woman like you. Hadn't found her yet because there isn't another one.\n\nWhat did I get myself into? There was a banging on the door, nearly making me drop my phone in the bath water. I quickly deleted our thread and said, \"Yes?\"\n\n\"Why did you lock the door?\"\n\n\"Because I'm trying to relax. I can't do that if you keep bothering me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I quickly finished disrobing and slid in the hot water, because I knew he was going to unlock it with the key." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sliding my phone to 'do not disturb' I set it on the other side of the tub then laid back and closed my eyes just as he entered. I opened my eyes to stare up at him as he glared at me. If I didn't know any better, I would think he was imagining himself drowning me in this water. \"Don't be in here all night. I'd like to have sex with my wife.\"\n\nI nearly rolled my eyes. It never failed. Whenever he'd hit me, he always wanted sex. I nodded and said, \"Okay.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sitting up from my bath, I began washing my body while he stood there watching me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Can you close the door? The air is cold.\"\n\nAfter staring at me for another few seconds and adjusting his erection, he left the bathroom. I closed my eyes for a moment and allowed a few tears to leave me. Once I finished washing myself, I stood and rinsed off with the sprayer then grabbed my phone and got out. Checking my messages, I didn't see any new ones. I supposed Carter remembered the code. If I went silent on him without saying goodbye, he didn't message back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shaking my head slowly, I couldn't believe I was allowing myself to slide down this slope to hell again. I expected so much better from myself. I thought I was a lot stronger than I was twenty years ago. When it came to Carter, apparently not. I was the one who was able to talk my older brother out of cheating on his wife for revenge, but I could barely restrain myself. In my mind, I'd already cheated on Joseph, and the guilt of that was eating me alive.\n\nHowever, the worst part was that besides guilt, I also felt excited to be in contact with Carter again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Get it together, Jen,\" I whispered to myself.\n\nThere was no way I'd be able to function this way at the diner next week with Tiffany. She was going to be helping me out while Chrissy was gone, and she would know that something was up. After moisturizing my skin and putting on my lip balm, I headed to the bedroom. He sat up in the bed as he admired my body… even with the multiple scars I adorned from his countless blows to it. \"You've always been a beautiful woman,\" he said as I slid in bed with him.\n\n\"Thank you, Joseph.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While I halfway expected a kiss or even for him to touch me, I didn't get it. As Ms. Celie said in the movie, The Color Purple, he climbed on top of me and did his business. I wasn't wet, not nearly as wet as I had gotten while being around Carter. I closed my eyes and visualized him, and it seemed like I gushed. \"That's better,\" Joseph moaned.\n\nI wanted him to remain quiet, because I would surely dry up again. It was bad enough that I was going through menopause and didn't know how my body would feel from day to day, but there was no attraction or chemistry between us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He huffed as he stroked me fast… no rhythm or technique, until he came and collapsed on top of me. Once he rolled off me, I got up and went back to the bathroom to clean up. As I did, I allowed a few tears to leave me. This life was torture.\n\n\"LaKeith looked like a kid in a candy store when Chrissy walked out of the house! Their nuptials were so exciting to watch,\" Tiffany ranted.\n\nShe was working in the diner with me today. I was tired though." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The day seemed to be dragging, and I just wanted to go home and sleep." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Joseph was working nights this week, and I couldn't be happier." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yesterday had been horrible." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After church, he wanted to have sex again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I wouldn't get wet, he nearly choked the hell out of me, accusing me of messing around." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No matter what I did, my kitty refused to respond.\n\nHe was so angry, he left the house and stayed gone for hours. I was almost sure that he'd probably gotten it from someone else, because he came back home in a much better mood and had even helped me prep food for today at the diner… a diner he didn't want me to have. But once he noticed how much people enjoyed my cooking and learned of how much money I could make, he was all in. But I could also tell that the freedom from him bothered him.\n\nHe didn't like not having a hand in the things I was doing. He joined the church when I did, just so he could keep an eye on me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That devil was a deacon there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everyone just thought he was so nice and caring… helping old ladies up the stairs and serving communion to the sick and shut-in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pastors acted like they had no discernment whatsoever, and it irritated the literal hell out of me. They invited the devil in the church and put him in a position of power.\n\nBut Joseph had absolutely no say-so when it came to the diner. That was the main reason I went into partnership with Chrissy. She was a great cook, but I knew Chrissy really didn't have a desire to own a restaurant or cook for a living. She'd planned to go into business with the family. But I was clinging to her, because she was where Joseph wasn't." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Plus, I knew she wouldn't ask a lot of questions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jasper, Tiffany, and Storm were way too attentive, and I didn't want them getting into drama and trouble." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just having Tiffany here this week had my nerves on edge. As I stuffed the fried chicken, Tiffany watched in amazement. \"Damn. I wish I could cook like you, Jen. Who would've ever come up with putting macaroni and cheese in a piece of chicken and frying it? You are amazing and an innovator in this food game.\"\n\nI smiled at her. \"You're an innovator too. I'm proud of all the things you've accomplished in a male-dominated sport. Rodeo Queen of Texas… not just Nome. You're amazing and it's been a pleasure watching you become a woman, wife, and mother.\"\n\nHad it not been for Joseph, Tiffany would have been a chip off the old block. I rode horses all the time when I was younger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could throw a rope with the best of them, and it was nothing for me to hop on one of the tractors and mow the hay field." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, once I had Jessica, that was it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was really when Joseph came down on me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tiffany wrapped her arms around my shoulders as I dropped the chicken in the fryer. \"This is for my special customers. Not everybody will try something so risky. But Mr. Anderson, Storm, Jasper, Malachi, Vida, Aston, and Mrs. Willie Mae… they'll tear this up.\"\n\nTiffany giggled and said, \"Shiiid, me too.\"\n\nGoing to the oven, she took out the pans of macaroni and cheese and cornbread. We would be opening in an hour, and we still had to cook the green beans. The cabbage and greens were on the stove, the rice was cooked, and the red beans were done. On Mondays, we did red beans, Tuesday was pinto beans, Wednesday was lima beans, Thursday was black-eyed peas, and Friday was butter beans." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The meats varied as well, but most days we had fried chicken along with whatever other meat we chose for the day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Today was smothered beef tips and they were already done, floating in a forty-weight gravy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jasper and Storm usually got two meats with their greedy tails." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I loved my family." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I just hated that my situation with Joseph kept me away from them. Most times, they didn't even bother telling me when they would all be together because they knew that most likely I wouldn't show up. \"Jen, why didn't you come to Storm's house after the wedding? We had so much fun. The kids enjoyed themselves, and I could tell Jacob was having the time of his life with the little ones, teaching them how to play that washers game.\"\n\n\"I was wiped out. I was up almost all night the night before preparing the food. I just wanted to relax in a hot bath and go to bed.\"\n\nThat wasn't a lie, but I also didn't want to hear Joseph's mouth and was trying to avoid what I ended up getting anyway. Avoiding her gaze, I turned to the stove to stir the red beans. \"Aww, I know you were. Sometimes, I wish I would have taken a different path in life and be in business with you and Chrissy. But I can't cook nowhere near like the two of you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's not too late, Tiff, but I wish I would have taken your route sometimes.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Really?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah. I love horses. You know that. Whenever I really need peace and I'm seeking God the most, I go ride my horse.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah. It is peaceful.\"\n\nI was hoping she would just stop talking. The more I talked, the more I revealed about myself… things they didn't know. While we were siblings, they only knew the Jenahra I showed them. Since I was so much older than Tiff and Storm, they didn't really remember how I was before I got saved… before I gave my life to the Lord. They remembered that I used to curse, but for the most part, they only knew this stiff, rigid person I had to become to keep them out of my business.\n\nIt was going to be a long week with her here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And because she was here, I knew Storm and Jasper would spend more time here than usual." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I longed for the type of bond the three of them had." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kenny had tapped in and so had Chrissy, but me and WJ were on the outside looking in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "WJ had put himself there by the decisions he made." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was so hotheaded and evil at times. Most of my siblings were hotheaded, but there wasn't an evil bone in their bodies. We were some of the most loving people, even Storm until he was provoked.\n\nBut WJ… it was like he just couldn't do right. I understood his ex-wife, Sharon, more than I cared to admit. Although I didn't believe he'd ever hit her, he still abused her verbally and emotionally neglected her. I definitely knew what that felt like." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't know where he'd gotten that behavior from. Our dad wasn't perfect by any means. Obviously, there was a disconnect somewhere, because he'd cheated on our mother, but it seemed all the older generation of men did. That didn't make it right, but it was practically expected.\n\nWJ changed along the way. It seemed like once he graduated from high school, he'd become this different person and I didn't know why. Although we were close, he never gave me a reason." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd always say that he didn't know why he did the things he did." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hopefully, one day we could both just stand in our truths and admit the bull we'd gone through to keep the family together… the secrets we kept, assuring that our parents' business grew. If only…" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "CONTINUE STORY. PARAMETERS: seven sentences sentences, Monica Walters style, romance genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sis… please call me back. I'm not sure what went down today, but please call me.\"\n\nTiffany was pleading on my voicemail for me to call her. I'd completely shut down on her at the diner. I was in my feelings big time. I could see the wheels turning in Storm's mind… along with Tiffany's. Carter couldn't hide his attraction to me, and it was extremely hard to hide my attraction to him. But now that he knew of my abuse, I knew that I wouldn't be able to be around him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wouldn't just let things be if he knew for sure that Joseph was hitting me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My mind was consumed with leaving Joseph, if for nothing more than to protect Carter and the people I loved most… my family." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My secrets were threatening to come spilling out through my actions, and I refused to allow such a thing. As I prepped meat for tomorrow, Jacob nearly scared me right out of my skin. \"Boy! You almost gave me a heart attack.\"\n\nHe only laughed then kissed my cheek and headed to his bedroom. He'd just started his senior year in high school, and I didn't want to uproot him. Maybe we could live with my parents for a while. Just until I could get Joseph away from me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But then that would create the conflict I was trying to avoid, because my family would want to know what was going on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But… I didn't make up with my siblings a year ago, only to go back to how things used to be." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Since Joseph was working nights, I knew I would have a lot of time to myself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Talking to Carter earlier only proved to me that my feelings for him hadn't gone anywhere. They were only lying dormant all this time. While I preferred to talk to Chrissy, I knew that I couldn't sit on this any longer. I didn't know just how far I would go with what I revealed to Tiffany, but I needed to quit running… quit suffering in silence.\n\nAfter getting my earbuds and washing my hands, I placed the call. She answered on the first ring. \"Jen, hey. You okay? You're making me nervous.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can you come to my house?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Of course. I'm on my way.\"\n\nI ended the call just as Jacob reappeared. \"Ma, what you think about me working at Uncle Storm's shop?\"\n\nMy eyebrows went up slightly. \"You aren't playing football?\"\n\nHe wasn't the star player or anything, and I could tell he was getting somewhat tired of it. \"No ma'am. It's not really fun anymore. Uncle Storm said if it was okay with you and Dad that I could work at his shop to make a lil' money.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What is it that you plan to do when you graduate, son? What do you want your career to be in?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm still trying to figure it out, Mom. Whatever I decide, I know that I don't want to be in school a long time.\"\n\n\"So something technical.\"\n\n\"Yes. Dad was trying to talk me into going to Lamar Institute of Technology for process operating, but I don't know if I can do shift work like him… fitting pipe and digging… I just don't know. Jakari is doing well with the family business, and he's already gotten another grocery store to carry our rice. Maybe I can fit in somewhere. Or maybe I could work with Uncle LaKeith and Christian.\"\n\nI smiled slightly. Jakari and Christian were Chrissy's sons. However, Jakari had gone to school for business and that was why he was able to get the job position with the business. \"Sounds like you have decisions to make. Have you expressed to your dad what you wanted?\"\n\nHe exhaled hard. \"Ma… I love Dad, but… he too much to deal with at times. I can hear y'all arguing a lot. I just… honestly, I'm tired of being here with him. I tried talking to him about how he talks to you, and he jumped all over me, telling me I was weak and to stay out of grown folks' business. I'm scared he's gonna hurt you one day.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "My eyes had widened." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't know how this conversation had become about me instead of him, but it had taken a turn that I wasn't prepared for. Whenever Joseph hit me, it was always either when Jacob wasn't home or when he was in his bedroom. I wasn't even sure if he knew that Joseph was hitting me… beating me at times. \"Don't worry about me, baby. I'm okay with you working with Storm, but you definitely need to talk to your dad.\"\n\n\"It's pointless. He'll say no. Is it okay if I go chill out at Uncle Storm's?\"\n\n\"Umm… but you just got home. You didn't have any homework?\"\n\n\"I did it at tutorials.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Okay. I guess that's fine.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He nodded, but before he could walk away, he said, \"I know you don't really like talking about what goes on around here, but I know more than I care to know. The next time he hits you, I'm going upside his big ass head.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "My breath was stolen from me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I couldn't believe he'd spoken that way to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd been hanging around Storm and Jasper a lot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were the cool uncles… according to him. What was happening? It felt like things were starting to unravel around me, despite my efforts. Just as he walked out of the door, Tiffany was walking in. Still in shock, I sat at the kitchen table, knowing that I had to get Jacob out of here.\n\nI didn't know how I would accomplish that without Joseph having an entire meltdown on me and beating me half to death, but I would figure out a way. Tiffany sat across from me, probably sensing my inner turmoil. She didn't say a word." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Glancing up at her, the tears escaped me. Knowing that my baby boy was going to put me in a position to possibly get me hurt or worse was killing me. She grabbed my hand and gently rubbed it between hers as the tears fell from her eyes as well.\n\nThey'd never really seen me cry. I rolled my eyes, realizing just how stupid I'd been. \"I'm not perfect, Tiff. And I'm starting to fail miserably at keeping up the charade.\"\n\nShe frowned sightly as I pulled my hand away from hers and wiped my face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've been unhappy in my marriage to Joseph. While I said that things had gotten better between us… they haven't. I've just stopped fighting against him. Years ago… I uh… I cheated.\"\n\nHer brows hiked up tremendously. If they could have left her face, they would have. Seeing her expression made me regret saying so. She grabbed my hand again and asked, \"Was it with Carter? The man that came to the diner?\"\n\nI nodded. \"I was so unhappy, but when Joseph found out, I begged for his mercy then threw myself on the altar at church. I've done my best to be on the straight and narrow, but Carter showing back up is threatening to have me risking it all again.\"\n\n\"If you haven't been happy, why are you still married to him, Jenahra?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't want to feel or be seen as a failure. I wanted to provide an example for you guys. It was hard to hide my unhappiness if I was around y'all so much. So that's why I didn't come around and made it seem as if I didn't want to be around y'all because of your language and the things y'all do. That way y'all didn't try to figure out why I wasn't coming around.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh my God, Jen.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She stood from her seat and walked around the table to pull me from mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She hugged me tightly. I'd purposely left out Joseph putting his hands on me, but deep down inside, I felt like it would only be a matter of time before they found out. After releasing me, we sat back at the table. Glancing at my phone, I saw I had an email. I was almost sure it was from Carter. \"You obviously have feelings for Carter. How long did the affair go on?\"\n\n\"Two years. Jessica was three years old when I met him. She was five when it ended. I hadn't seen him since until Chrissy and LaKeith's wedding.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I fidgeted slightly then grabbed my phone. It was like I was an addict… craving his attention, despite the mixed signals I was throwing out there. I was right. It was an email from Carter. Putting my phone down, I gave Tiffany my attention again. She was staring at me like she was reading my soul, and that shit made me nervous. \"Why aren't you happy?\"\n\n\"Everything he did to get me down the aisle stopped not long after I had Jessica. I'm a married woman that's lonely and vulnerable. Seeing Carter again is threatening to bring everything crashing down.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, what are you trying to prove at this point?\"\n\n\"God honors marriage. I'm just trying to make it work.\"\n\n\"God created divorce too. Why would He create it if He never wanted anyone to use it?\"\n\n\"I feel like that's only for extenuating circumstances though.\"\n\n\"And your situation isn't justifiable? I'm sure the Lord would prefer you to get a divorce than to commit adultery. Right?\"\n\n\"I never said I was going to commit adultery. Never mind. I just… I don't wanna talk about it anymore.\"\n\nI stood from the table and began wrapping foil over the pans of meat so I could bring it back to the diner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't know why I brought it home to begin with." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As I grabbed a pan to bring to my van, Tiffany stood and opened the door for me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sorry, Jenahra. I didn't mean any harm,\" she said as she followed me out.\n\n\"It's okay.\"\n\nAt this point, I just wanted to be alone to enjoy the peace in the house. For the entire week, Joseph would be on nights, and I prayed that they decided to keep him on that shift until he retired. We loaded the other pans in silence, then she followed me to the diner to help me unload the pans. As I got out, Jasper pulled in the parking lot. \"Hey! I was just leaving the liquor store. Y'all need some help?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah, we could use some help,\" Tiff said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "While I unlocked the door, Jasper grabbed a pan and brought it to the kitchen, followed by Tiffany." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So what meat is on the menu tomorrow?\"\n\n\"Smothered pork chops and fried chicken of course. I'm thinking about frying gizzards Wednesday.\"\n\n\"Oh shit! You do that, and I promise, I will be here to clean it out for you.\"\n\nI chuckled as I slowly shook my head. Once we'd gotten all the meat into the refrigerator, Jasper left, and Tiffany followed me out to the van. Before I could get in, she said, \"Jenahra, you don't ever have to be ashamed to talk to me. I don't see you any differently. I was just shocked because it was the last thing I was expecting you to say. I thought you wanted to talk about Jacob and the way he practically stormed out of the house.\"\n\nI shook my head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm okay, Tiff. Thanks.\"\n\nShe gave me a look of sympathy, and I hated that. I didn't need her to feel sorry for me. I needed her to understand me. But I knew that I would have to tell her everything in order to get that from her. And that was something I just refused to do.\n\nI just need to know you're okay." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I know you may not be in a position to talk, but if you are, please call me.\n\nI sat in the tub, listening to my smooth jazz mix and sipped on some wine I'd gotten at Jasper's liquor store. While I said to Tiffany that I wouldn't commit adultery, doing that very thing was on my mind. If I was going to go see Carter, this week would be the perfect time to do it. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I called him. \"Hello?\"\n\n\"Hey.\"\n\n\"Hey. I'm sorry if I pried too much earlier. I just… I don't wanna lose you again, Nahra. You're so special to me, always have been.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you, Carter. I appreciate that.\"\n\n\"Can I ask you something?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Have you thought about me at all?\"\n\n\"Yes. He broke my phone that night. I lost all my contacts because he forced me to get a new number. But I thought about you a lot. It got less over time, but I never completely stopped.\"\n\n\"That makes me feel good. It lets me know that this thing isn't one-sided. I just wish I could see you.\"\n\n\"What are you doing tomorrow night?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Nothing. Are you tryna come see me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Suddenly, I was nervous." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Did I really want to do this?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hell yes, I did. God was definitely going to have to forgive me. This was wrong, but I could no longer deny myself happiness. And somehow, I would have to make it right by eventually being Carter's. I wanted to be his. But maybe I needed to feel what it felt like being alone for a moment. The desire to leave Joseph was so strong now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can't carve out much time, because I don't want Jacob… my son, worrying about me. He's a senior in high school, and tonight I found out that he knows more than I thought he did about my relationship with his dad. But… I can meet you halfway. Depending on where you're located.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm off 1960. Maybe we can meet in Atascocita. What made you change your mind?\"\n\n\"Okay. I miss feeling desirable. And I need it more than I ever imagined I did. The sad part is I didn't realize how much I needed it until you showed up.\"\n\n\"Unless it's something I can't help but speak on, I won't try to force your hand. I know I said I don't wanna be a side nigga, but I'll take whatever you're willing to give me. Real shit. I just wanna see you.\"\n\nI sat up in my water, and Carter grew silent for a moment. \"Are you taking a bath?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" I responded softly.\n\n\"Mmm.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "While he didn't say a word, that small acknowledgement of what I said, caused me to lay back and close my eyes, imagining how he used to digest my juices like it was the sweetest thing he'd ever tasted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What are you thinking about, Jenahra?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His voice had deepened, and I swore the water was starting to boil. \"Sinning,\" I said then chuckled.\n\nDid I want to throw my relationship with God to the side and go against his will? Carter's slight chuckle brought me out of my thoughts. \"Jenahra… honestly, if I could just hold you, I'll be satisfied.\"\n\n\"That's still sinning. If I'm going to sin in that manner, I'm going to do it big. It's kind of like when I was a kid. If I was going to get in trouble for staying out late, I might as well have the time of my life and make the punishment worth it.\"\n\nHe chuckled. \"Well, whatever you wanna do… I'm with it. I've missed you… everything about you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly, relaxing in how I felt… how Carter was already making me feel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've missed you too. More than I cared to admit to myself. I'm going to leave him. I just need time to figure out how I'm going to explain to my family why I've been pretending to be fine all these years. Carter… things haven't gotten any better.\"\n\n\"Don't worry. I'm gonna be here… even when you think you don't want me here. I got stuck in love with you back then. I want to fall in love with you again, Nahra. I wanna love you like you deserve to be loved. I often wish that I was in your husband's place. That I was the one you could run to… that you yearned for and dreamt of. I wouldn't take that for granted. You'd be my queen and be treated as such.\"\n\nMy eyes were closed, and I couldn't help but to start putting things in motion to make all the things he described happen. Opening my eyes, I sent Jacob a text. You can work at Storm's shop if that's what you want to do.\n\nHe responded immediately. Really? What about Dad?\n\nDon't worry about him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Let me worry about it." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was going to handle it. I just didn't know how yet." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "expand on the story like Monica Walters would" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "[ Jenahra ]\n\nThe trip was so peaceful. I felt renewed in my spirit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was so renewed, I went to the diner full-time and had every intention of making bible study tomorrow night." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It had been a long time coming. Carter was practically living with me and Jacob and catering to my every need. To say I was nervous about this pregnancy though was putting it mildly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd done some internet searching and found out that we could get a paternity test as early as a couple of weeks from now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If it wasn't Carter's, I knew it was Joseph's. It would be like his damn parting gift if it was. Taking a deep breath, I refused to dwell on it though." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was what the entire weekend was about, letting go of my stress." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Carter had done an amazing job. The day we got there, after our lovemaking session, we'd eaten lunch then gone out to ride ATV's. That was so much fun because of all the hills." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then we'd chilled out the rest of the day, hanging out on the deck of the tent in the hot tub, enjoying the view." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd had a massage the morning after we arrived and a whole spa day. They'd washed my hair and done a facial, along with an entire body wrap and hot stones. I was so relaxed I could have slept for hours." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, after that, we'd gone horseback riding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Watching Carter on that horse was so sexy to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So sexy in fact, until I hopped his bones when we got back, and he let me have my entire way. He said he would be my boy toy for the trip.\n\nAs I blushed at my girlish thoughts, I grabbed a small pain of greens to bring to the front." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Chrissy was up there talking to a couple of the customers as she loaded their to-go containers with stuffed chicken, rice dressing, greens, beans, and cornbread. We'd decided to make Tuesday stuffed chicken day since they had become such a hit. We sold out of chicken every time I cooked them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The potato stuffed ones were just as popular as the mac and cheese ones. I would try spinach and cheese next.\n\nAs I loaded the new pan of greens onto the steam table, Storm, Jasper, Aston, Kenny, and Malachi all walked in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Every day they patronized us, and I was happy for their support." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When they got closer, I realized Jasper and Kenny had joined in on Storm's shenanigans." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kenny had on a shirt that said Seraphim and Jasper had on one that said Michael. Storm had a different Gabriel shirt on. I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help but laugh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Y'all know the only people that believes this about y'all is yourselves, right?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And that's all that matters,\" Kenny said as Jasper and Storm laughed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Chrissy laughed along with those fools as we began fixing their food. But what took the cake was when Tiffany walked in. She wore a shirt that had their faces on it that read, The devil's sidekicks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Each picture of them, they wore facial expressions that looked like they were up to no good." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I laughed so hard I couldn't continue fixing food. These nuts were crazy, but the old saying was that laughter was good for the soul. That wasn't a lie." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I finally got myself under control, Storm looked at me strangely, tilting his head to the side and everything." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His nosy ass got on my nerves. He probably noticed something about me. Being that I'd lost so much weight while my mouth was wired shut, I could see the small pooch in my abdomen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd lost twenty pounds… maybe a little more." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I practically looked skeletal when I stared at myself in the mirror.\n\nI quieted down completely because he was making me uncomfortable. Finally breaking his gaze to stare at the chicken, he said, \"Hook me up, Chrissy. Don't be modest.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah, the devil's advocate has to keep his strength up,\" Tiff said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You ain't nothing but a hater, girl. You supposed to be on the bandwagon with us. I think you hating because ain't no female angels in the Bible.\"\n\n\"Shut up, Storm. Get your food so you can stuff your mouth with chicken.\"\n\nI chuckled at their banter then called Carter to check on him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When he answered, he said, \"Hey, baby. You miss me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Tremendously. How's everything going with inventory?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's going. I'll probably be late getting in. I still have two more stores to visit, and I just got to this one.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Carter had five boutiques in Houston. They'd kept him extremely busy today. \"Baby, why don't you stay at your place tonight? Jacob and I can manage. You'll be tired when you get off. We'll just see you tomorrow.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well… I'll let you know what I decide. It depends on what time it is. Thank you for understanding, baby. How's my baby doing?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Fine, I suppose,\" I said and giggled. \"I think my nosy ass brother is sensing something.\"\n\nIt was quiet on the line for a second and at the same time, we both said, \"Storm.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I chuckled as he laughed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, he definitely loves his family. He's always in everybody's business.\"\n\n\"Always, with his spoiled ass. Get back to work, and I'm gonna do the same. I just wanted to check on you.\"\n\n\"Jenahra, please don't work too hard. I love you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I won't. I love you too.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I ended the call, I noticed the diner was practically empty. It was close to closing time, and there were only a few pieces of chicken left. Chrissy fixed two boxes of food and that took care of that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Going to the door, I locked it then grabbed a box from Chrissy. \"Thank you, sis.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes. You need all the food you can get. We have to fatten you back up.\"\n\n\"Yes. I told you I feel skeletal.\"\n\nShe giggled and we headed to the table with my family." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Although Aston wasn't blood related, he and Vida were just as close to us as if they were siblings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I sat, Storm looked at me quizzingly again. I rolled my eyes and asked, \"What, nigga?\"\n\nTiffany almost choked, and Chrissy laughed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They still weren't used to me speaking that way again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I stared at Storm's smirk, I decided that I would tell them. One thing that hadn't changed with all this drama I had been through was the closeness I felt with all my siblings… well except Marcus. None of us were close to him, and I had deduced that he really didn't care about being close to us either." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Let me holla at'chu in private, Jen.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I slowly shook my head. \"We're all family, Storm. Just say it.\"\n\nHis eyebrows rose, and he wore this stupid expression on his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Giving him permission to speak his mind was something no one did purposely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But here I was, doing that very thing. \"You sho' about this?\"\n\n\"Yes, Gabriel. Just say what you want to say.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He continued with a smirk as he rubbed his hands together, causing everyone to laugh. \"Okay. Well, I couldn't help but notice how you been glowing. I figured it was because yo' side piece was now your main piece.\"\n\nI rolled my eyes as Tiffany and Chrissy covered their mouths." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their eyes were wide, but I didn't care about that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Storm was stupid as hell. I responded, \"Okay. And?\"\n\n\"But since you've lost weight, the least lil' thing you do… I notice. And umm… I'm just gon' come out and say it. You look pregnant.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Chrissy and Tiffany fell out laughing, along with Jasper." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I didn't laugh, they quieted down, their eyes wide again. \"Because I am, Storm. A new baby is coming into the family, and while I was depressed about it at first, I've come to accept that God doesn't make mistakes. So I'm happy about it now.\"\n\nIt was completely quiet until Tiffany and Chrissy started screaming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I laughed as I winced. Their shrieks felt like they had pierced my eardrum. All of them were on their feet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jasper had pulled up a chair, putting my feet up and Kenny was patting the sweat from my brow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Chrissy was patting my hand and fanning me, and Tiffany was trying to fucking feed me. I laughed loudly and said, \"Y'all get on my damn nerves.\"\n\nThey were all excited until Storm asked the dreaded question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So is it for Carter?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know. That's the only thing that has me in turmoil still. Joseph and I had sex the Saturday before he was killed. As usual, I was an unenthused participant. Carter and I had sex for the first time, the same night Joseph was killed. He'd come home while I was packing to leave him. I'd just left Carter and was on cloud nine, only to descend to the fiery pits of hell less than three hours later.\"\n\n\"What did Carter say?\" Chrissy asked.\n\n\"He doesn't care. He said it will be his baby regardless. But I know a part of him is hoping it's his, because he doesn't have any children. But we will know for sure in the next few weeks once we do a paternity test.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were all smiling at me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Jen, you a gangsta now. You cussing and having sex… man, I don't know what to say about you no more,\" Jasper joked. \"And you came around us, inhaling the smoke from the ganja we were smoking!\"\n\nWe laughed and continued enjoying one another's company, sitting there for almost another hour." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everyone stayed to help me and Chrissy clean up, then Tiff took a load of towels to her washateria." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Malachi pushed the mop for us since he was the shortest of our crew of fellas. They hated bending over like that. Mal wasn't short by any means though." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was at least six feet. But because everyone else was so tall, he was teased and called the shrimp of the crew. Jasper had cleaned the front and the rest of us had taken care of the back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I felt good that I was no longer keeping a secret." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't know why I felt the need to do that anyway. While in my head, I was more than sure it was Carter's, I couldn't be one hundred percent sure until we did the test. As I headed home, Jasper's wife, Chasity's car came screeching beside me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Get to WJ's house now!\"\n\nMy heart fell to my feet, and I laid on the gas. The tears began falling and I didn't even know what to expect when I got there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "WJ had been extremely quiet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd answered when I called earlier and sounded like his normal self… probably so I wouldn't be alarmed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was scared to death of what I would find.\n\nWhen I turned in his driveway, Kenny's ambulance was already here, so I quickly hopped out of my car and ran up the driveway to find him and another paramedic strapping WJ to a gurney. There was blood everywhere and I coughed and began dry heaving." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Storm was crying and said, \"I tried to stop him! Fuck!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I went over to him and hugged him tightly. \"What happened, baby boy? What happened?\"\n\n\"I was coming to check on him. The house was quiet, and he wouldn't answer the door, so I barged in. He had that .357 to his head and pulled the trigger right in front of me. That shit didn't fire. I struggled with him, trying to get the gun out of his hands, but he was somehow able to pull the trigger again. It hit him in his chest.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I held onto him tightly, knowing that this could have been worse had he shot himself in the head, but also knowing that he could still die." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He was unconscious when Kenny got here.\"\n\nThe police entered the house and Reggie was one of the cops on the scene. Apparently, the county wasn't taking our claims or restraining orders seriously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Storm was already in a rage, but the moment Reggie smirked, I knew this was about to get worse." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He mumbled, \"One less Henderson to worry about.\"\n\nStorm broke away from me and attacked his ass. Jasper joined him as other cops started pulling their weapons. \"Stop!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Chasity, Chrissy, Tiffany, and I were screaming our lungs out, not wanting one of the cops to shoot Storm or Jasper." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When more backup arrived, which was a couple of minutes later, they were able to pull Storm and Jasper off Reggie. As they cuffed them both, Storm spit on Reggie as he'd done Joseph, and Jasper kicked him in his nuts. I was feeling faint. One of my brothers was barely hanging on to life, two of the younger ones were being arrested, and I'd blacked out…" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "lets do a nsfw, suspense, romance thing. u write five sentences bits" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Head bowed and eyes closed, Blaine finished her prayer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The heaviness she'd carried in her heart for the past decade lifted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She could almost feel her dad's love and acceptance wrap around her. Now it was time to go.\n\nBlaine glanced into Jack's face. He'd knelt next to her the whole time she'd silently spoken to her dad. \"I'm ready.\"\n\nWith her hand in his, Jack stood, drawing her up with him. \"Then, let's—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A loud pop sounded. Tiny pieces of the headstone struck her skin. Jack yanked her behind the stone marker and pushed her head down.\n\n\"Jack, what—\"\n\n\"Somebody just took a shot at us.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Who?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know.\"\n\nHe pressed a single finger to his lips, a sign to stay quiet, then he leaned to look around the side of the headstone. Another bullet hit the marker. More dust and stones met the air. She pressed a hand to her mouth to stop her cry as Jack jerked back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We need to get out of here. I'm going to act as your shield, and we're going to run to the church.\" Jack spoke in a low, calm voice. \"The moment we're inside, I want you to grab your purse from the pew and call the police. Then we'll barricade ourselves inside one of the rooms until they get here.\"\n\nBlaine focused on her breathing. If Jack was calm, she would be too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Alex is close. He'll be here soon.\"\n\nJack slid a pointed look at her. \"No bodyguard would allow a shooter to get off two shots before acting. He didn't park that far away.\"\n\n\"Maybe Alex didn't get a chance to act yet.\"\n\n\"Maybe.\" Jack's expression didn't hold any hope." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But we're not waiting for him. Once we move, we keep going. Stay low and run, got it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And he'd act as her shield. She hated the idea, but they didn't have a whole lot of options. She didn't want to risk their babies any more than Jack would. She nodded.\n\n\"Good.\" Jack gave her a quick kiss, then tugged her forward.\n\nBullet after bullet hit the ground around them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "None came close enough to hit them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The thought skipped through her mind. The shooter was playing with them.\n\nJack opened the door to the church. The moment she was inside, several shots fired in rapid succession. Jack grunted and fell backward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Blood sprayed. Another bullet hit the ground next to him. He jerked his leg, scooching backward, away from the open door.\n\n\"Jack!\" Blaine took a step toward him.\n\n\"Back.\" The harshly spoken order stopped her from going to his aid. He dragged himself behind the closest gravestone as more bullets hit the spot where he'd just been." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Blaine gripped the inside of the doorframe. She had a perfect view of where Jack crouched behind the stone marker. Blood dripped from his arm, his side, and his thigh. She covered her mouth. \"Jack.\"\n\nWith his hand pressed to the wound on his thigh, he focused hardened eyes on her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Dig your cell out of your purse, call the police, and get yourself somewhere safe. Do it now.\"\n\nSeven, maybe eight feet separated them. \"But you—\"\n\n\"Leave the door open. I'll get in as soon as I can.\"\n\nBlaine focused on the blood dripping around his fingers and running down his leg. There shouldn't be that much blood." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was hurt. Because of her. He'd been acting as her shield.\n\nShe blinked past the tears blurring her vision and ran into the building, snatching her purse from where she left it and moving closer to the windows, where she could get a signal. The moment her call connected, she gave the operator the details, then disconnected the call without waiting to hear his instructions. Movement caught her eye." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Blaine focused on the bell tower. From this angle, she could just see the open tower, and the shooter standing on the landing near the bells.\n\nAlex aimed his gun in the direction of the cemetery. He didn't have a direct path. Trees blocked his view of where Jack crouched behind the gravestone, but Alex leaned farther out the window." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another shot went off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Blaine flicked her gaze to where Jack crouched behind the tombstone. Another cloud of dust and stone showered over the spot where he hid.\n\nThe sense of betrayal choked her. Blaine's harsh breaths fed the anger building within her.\n\nDropping her purse, she shoved her cell into her pocket and ran across the church to the corridor leading to the bell tower." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had no delusions about taking Alex out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She wasn't a fighter, but there was no way she'd allow this coward to steal the man who'd fight for her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With her heart in her throat, Blaine made her way to the ringing room. Thick, corded ropes hung from the ceiling of the stone chamber. Dark, grimy marks on the leather grips directed Blaine to the perfect spots to tug on the ropes. She grabbed the first one and yanked, over and over, until the bell clanged hard. In a rush, she tugged on the other ropes, sending all the bells into a piercing clamor, then ran, locking the door to the bell tower and the ringing room behind her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her breath came in rough pants. Blaine pushed herself harder, running full-out through the church. She needed to see if her stunt paid off.\n\nA strong arm caught her as she neared the door leading to the cemetery. A scream crawled up her throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bloody hand over her mouth stopped her.\n\n\"It's me, angel. I got you.\"\n\n\"Jack!\" Blaine turned in his arms just as he tumbled forward. She caught him as he fell and dropped to her knees with his weight pressing on her. \"Oh God, Jack.\"\n\n\"I'm okay.\" Jack's voice sounded as strong as ever." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pushed himself off her, landing hard on his ass next to her body. \"Got a bullet in my leg. Deep one. Hurts like hell.\"\n\n\"Oh, Jack.\" She pressed her hand hard over the spot where blood was leaking in steady rivulets from his thigh. Even with the pressure she applied, blood still leaked between her fingers and dribbled down the back of her hand. \"You need a doctor.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He waved her words off. \"I'll be fine.\"\n\nSirens blared in the background, stopping her from telling him he better be fine. Help was on the way. Then she wanted answers. Alex had better have them too, or she'd make him wish he'd never met her. One way or another, she always got her way." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode:\nCo-writing\n\nLength:\n2 sentences\n\nStyle:\nElizabeth Hayley\nGenre:\nromance, contemporary, slice of life, chick lit" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Aamee? You awake?\" I rapped lightly on Aamee's bedroom door.\n\n\"No\" came a muffled reply. \"Go away.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Brody called. He's bringing food from Rafferty's to Sophia's place.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ugh. Why are you still talking?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't help but chuckle at how surly she was. My reaction gave me pause." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Since when did I find someone being a jerk to me endearing?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was this some kind of weird Stockholm Syndrome–type shit?\n\n\"I thought you might be hungry.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Food bad,\" she groaned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Greasy food good. For hangovers at least.\"\n\nWhen I didn't hear a reply, I pressed my ear against the door. Had she died?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Suddenly the door wrenched open, and I stumbled forward a bit before regaining my balance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I gave Aamee a quick once-over. She was still wearing sunglasses, an oversize T-shirt, and soft-looking shorts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her makeup didn't look as pristine as it usually did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the least put together I'd ever seen her.\n\n\"How far is Sophia's place?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "she asked like she was about to travel by horseback." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I pointed up. \"One floor up and down the opposite hallway but not far from the stairs.\" At her glare, I amended my statement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Or the elevator. She's close to both.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Fine, let's go.\"\n\nI led her out of our apartment and up to Sophia's." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The door was still propped open from when we'd been carrying things inside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everyone was gathered in the living room chatting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cody had even shown up to help, but of course he'd arrived just after we'd finished bringing up the last box. The kid's timing was impeccable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hi,\" Taylor said as she stepped forward, a spring in her step, pep in her voice, and a smile on her face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We never formally met. I'm Taylor.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Before Taylor got too close, Aamee held up a hand. \"Please. No.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Taylor's face looked like a storm cloud had drifted across it. She put a hand on her hip in the universal \"shit's about to get real\" gesture." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But before Taylor's ire could pick up much steam, Aamee spoke again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sorry. I'm a bitch by nature, and I can't temper it when I'm hungover. Can you wait to judge me until later?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Taylor thought for a second and then said, \"Yeah, I can do that.\"\n\n\"Wait, you've been tempering your bitchiness?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sophia asked, sounding genuinely shocked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Aamee gave her an unimpressed look before asking, \"Is the food here yet?\"\n\n\"No, but Brody should be here soon. He texted that he was leaving Rafferty's almost twenty minutes ago.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Aamee hummed in acknowledgment before shuffling over to the couch and sitting down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She rubbed her hand over the navy leather sofa. \"Thank God we didn't get this couch,\" she muttered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We all seemed to collectively choose to ignore her comment—and her presence in general—and fell into easy conversation with each other." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So where are you working now, Cody?\" Carter asked. \"Since these assholes laid you off.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His smirk let me know he was kidding, but I couldn't deny the comment stung a little." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cody had been our delivery guy and was collateral damage in our decision to stop the business. Even though he'd told me he understood, I still felt shitty about it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, uh, I'm working at a…at a…it's like an art gallery place.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He seems squirrelly.\n\nI let my eyes dart around to the others, and they all looked as if they'd picked up on Cody's awkwardness, which prompted me to ask, \"It's like an art gallery, or it is an art gallery?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I guess it's more of a studio. They do lessons and stuff.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's cool,\" Taylor said as she settled onto one of the barstools that stood along the peninsula that separated the living room from the kitchen. \"What do you do there?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Huh? Do there? Um, I uh, do lots of stuff.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Like?\" I asked, my tone impatient. Cody was acting weird, and it was putting me on edge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Move stuff!\" he exclaimed like he'd just solved some complicated math theorem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And, uh, set up for classes. I do those things.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I moved into his space and put a hand on his shoulder, exerting a little pressure to remind him that I could still kick the shit out of him if he didn't stop lying to me. \"Spill it, Cody.\"\n\nHe looked around wildly, as if hoping someone would jump in to save him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd encountered the wrong crowd if he thought any member of this group was going to throw him a life raft." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The only thing these people loved more than each other was gossip, and Cody was clearly sitting on something juicy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Finally he let out a breath, and his posture slumped in defeat as he looked down at the floor. \"I\" was all I could understand because he released the other words in a rushed, garbled mess." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What?\" I asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He took a deep breath and raised his head so his eyes met mine. \"I pose for the artists.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I staggered back like I'd been struck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Pose, like, in cute costumes?\" Sophia asked, her voice hopeful." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cody shook his head and looked down again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What do you pose in?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked, my voice harsh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Nothing,\" he said, his voice quiet and small. \"I pose nude.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hell yeah!\" Carter shouted like Cody had just scored a winning touchdown.\n\nI turned to glare at him and noticed Sophia and Taylor were doing the same." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Carter simply shrugged. \"What? That means he's hot if they let him do that. It's a total compliment.\"\n\n\"Why am I friends with you?\" I asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Carter shrugged again." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I rounded on Cody, but before I could get any words out, Brody barreled in, his arms filled with bags of food. He clumsily set them on the coffee table before straightening and looking around at all of us.\n\n\"Hey. What'd I miss?\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Today you will be acting as a writing assistant in the romance, contemporary, slice of life, chick lit genre. Your partner will send something and you will write the next 8 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As Sophia and I moved around her kitchen, I couldn't help but think how in sync our movements were. We skated around each other, gathering plates, utensils, and food as if we'd choreographed it. It made me insanely happy to have these small domestic moments with her, even though thinking about how much I liked it made me feel a bit like a sap.\n\nIt was Friday, and everyone was kind of run down from internships, jobs, and life. So we'd decided to invite everyone to hang out in the courtyard of our apartment complex, grill some food, and enjoy one of the fire pits. Taylor and Aamee were already downstairs guarding the grill and mixing cocktails. Sophia and I were putting the finishing touches on the food before everyone else showed up.\n\nI was thrilled to have the night off so I could hang out with everyone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Since I'd been put in charge of the deck, Sean had started paying me as a manager, which meant I could pull back from bartending." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I still planned to keep Saturdays until the deck actually opened because every extra dollar helped, but I'd been more than happy to give up Fridays.\n\nWhich reminded me… \"I talked to Sean about your ideas today.\"\n\nSophia looked up from where she was chopping fruit to give me a small smile. \"And?\"\n\n\"He was into it. He basically just wants to make money, and he's fine with whatever as long as I think it'll help us do that.\"\n\n\"That's awesome,\" she said as she dumped the fruit into a bowl. \"I thought he'd be resistant to giving it its own name.\"\n\n\"No, he took that surprisingly well. Waiting a few more weeks to open was a harder sell since he wanted us to launch Memorial Day weekend.\"\n\nSophia stopped bustling around the kitchen and looked at me with a scrunched-up face that made her look cuter than anyone had a right to look." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her dark wavy hair framed her round, tan face perfectly, her green eyes sparkling against the darker contrast." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What the hell someone so gorgeous was doing with me, I wasn't sure, but I was damn thankful." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How would you ever be ready to open by next weekend?\"\n\n\"We wouldn't, but I think Sean was hoping for a miracle. He was bummed, but he also understood how important a grand opening would be.\"\n\nSophia smiled brightly and stepped into me, wrapping her arms around my waist. \"I love how much faith he has in you. You deserve to have him be in your corner like that.\"\n\nI hugged her back, allowing myself to soak up her unwavering support. It felt damn good.\n\nAfter a moment, we pulled away.\n\n\"We better get the rest of this stuff downstairs,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah. I'm surprised they haven't come looking for us yet.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We packed the food into coolers—thankfully Sophia had ones with wheels—for easy transport and carted it downstairs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When we got to the courtyard, I saw Brody and Carter trying to light the grill while Veronica was sitting at a table chatting with Taylor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When Sophia had insisted Brody invite his fake wife, I wasn't sure she'd actually come, but there she was, casually dressed, her dark hair piled under a wide-brimmed hat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked comfortable in her skin, which was a feat since Aamee seemed to be resolutely ignoring her presence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Food!\" Carter bellowed across the courtyard when he caught sight of us. \"Gimmee.\"\n\nSophia rolled her eyes fondly as we arrived at the table the girls had claimed and began unpacking the food.\n\nCarter wasted no time grabbing a plate and piling fruit and pasta salad onto it.\n\n\"Do you have a single manner?\" Sophia asked him, arms akimbo.\n\nHe pretended to think for a minute before saying \"No\" and resuming eating.\n\n\"Boys,\" Sophia said with a sigh before smiling at Veronica. \"Hey, Vee. Glad you could make it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Veronica returned the smile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thanks for inviting me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Absolutely. Mi courtyard e su courtyard.\"\n\nI leaned in and pressed a kiss to Sophia's cheek. \"I love when you speak bad Spanish.\"\n\n\"Well then, you better stick around. There's a lot more where that came from.\"\n\nI felt a buzzing in my pocket, so I pulled away and checked my phone. \"Xander's on his way,\" I said as I put the phone away again.\n\n\"Awesome,\" Carter said. \"I didn't even know he was still around.\"\n\n\"I didn't either. Aniyah texted me a couple nights ago to ask if I'd heard from him. When I said no, she asked me to reach out. I guess he's become a recluse since school ended. I just assumed he went home for the summer like Aniyah and Toby did.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm not surprised he didn't,\" Carter said, his mouth full of a hodgepodge of food." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he managed to swallow it without asphyxiating, he continued. \"Toby said he had a shit home life. His dad's a real asshole.\"\n\nI felt my brow furrow as I let that bit of information digest. I'd known Xander's dad had given a shit ton of money to the school after Xander had almost burned down the library. Xander had never spoken about his dad as if they were close, but I didn't know he would prefer to spend a summer alone than be near the man.\n\nWhile I considered Xander one of my good friends, it bummed me out to realize I didn't know that much about him. Though I guess it didn't really surprise me. Xander had always kept us at arm's length, despite always being there when we'd needed him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe I could break through some of his barriers this summer.\n\n\"Oh, I almost forgot,\" Carter said, standing abruptly enough to almost knock his plate off the table. \"I brought my cornhole set. Be right back.\" He took off, all of us staring after him.\n\n\"Is there some kind of cornhole emergency I'm unaware of?\" Aamee asked.\n\n\"Who knows,\" Sophia said as she scooped some fruit onto her plate and sat down.\n\n\"We have way more pressing issues anyway.\" Brody pulled an extra chair beside Aamee and sat down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Like how we get those people off the bocce court.\"\n\n\"It's so cool you have all this here,\" Veronica said.\n\n\"I know,\" I agreed. \"There's even a four-hole mini-golf course and shuffleboard on the other side of the pool.\"\n\nVeronica sighed. \"I definitely moved in with the wrong member of this group.\"\n\n\"That's true even without all the yard games,\" Sophia muttered. Her head shot up suddenly, causing me to look at her in alarm.\n\n\"You okay?\" I asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yard games,\" she whispered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\" I dragged the word out, unsure of what she meant.\n\n\"That's it.\"\n\nWhen Sophia didn't say anything else, Aamee sighed in disgust. \"Is this like charades? Because that game totally sucks.\"\n\n\"No,\" Sophia said excitedly, reaching a hand out to grab my arm. \"That's your angle. At the deck. It's how you separate your business from everyone else's. You turn the empty space the deck overlooks into a place people can play yard games.\"\n\nI sat back and contemplated what she was saying. \"That's…a pretty awesome idea.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sophia looked about ready to come out of her skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It would be so much fun. A place people can relax after work. None of your competitors in the area have anything like that. You'd be completely unique.\"\n\nI turned to look at Brody. \"What do you think?\"\n\nHe swallowed his mouthful of food before answering. \"As much as it pains me to admit it in front of Sophia, it's a great idea.\"\n\nSophia pushed her hands up in victory. \"Yes! Now we just need a name.\"\n\n\"The Backyard,\" Veronica said simply." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everyone looked over at her, and she paused with a forkful of pasta salad when she noticed she held the attention of the entire table.\n\n\"What? No good? It was just a suggestion.\"\n\n\"No, no, I'm kinda into it,\" I assured her.\n\nSophia was quiet for a moment before she said, \"I like it too, but maybe it would be better shortened. What about just the Yard?\"\n\n\"I like it,\" I said.\n\nVee set her fork down and put her elbows on the table so she could talk with her hands. \"It sounds like it would have a backyard feel. And you can do a lot with the name. Like, 'My bocce balls bring all the boys to the Yard, and they're like, my bar's better than yours.'\" Veronica sang the last part, and then looked at us self-consciously when we were silent. \"Or not.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, no, that's actually…amazing,\" Sophia gushed.\n\n\"'Amazing' may be a bit of a stretch,\" Aamee mumbled, but no one paid her any attention. We were all too busy throwing ideas out to acknowledge the shade she was throwing.\n\n\"Hey, look who I found,\" Carter said as he approached, carrying one cornhole board, Xander right behind him with the other.\n\nA chorus of \"Hi, Xander\" erupted around the table, and Sophia told him to help himself to food and to join the brainstorming session.\n\n\"Brainstorming what?\" he asked as he grabbed a plate and filled it.\n\n\"Ideas for the bar Drew's managing.\"\n\nXander looked impressed. \"That's awesome, man. What kind of place is it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I gave him a quick rundown of the place, as well as the ideas Sophia had thrown out and the name Veronica had come up with." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Now I just need to get through the interviews I have lined up so I can staff it. Hopefully there are some solid people who applied.\"\n\n\"I'll do it,\" Aamee said.\n\n\"Do what?\" I asked her.\n\n\"Work at the bar.\"\n\nI couldn't help a surprised expression from overtaking my face. \"Have you ever worked at a bar before?\"\n\nThe answering glare I got was icy. \"No,\" she said, enunciating the \"o\" especially heavily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But how hard can it be?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's not exactly the attitude I'm looking for—\"\n\n\"You're hired,\" Brody said, cutting me off.\n\nAamee squealed and bounced in her seat happily.\n\n\"No offense, Brody, but you have no authority to hire anyone,\" I reminded him.\n\n\"Dude, sometimes the path of least resistance is the only way.\"\n\nI wasn't sure exactly how that related to this situation, but arguing seemed futile.\n\nOh, maybe I do get it.\n\n\"I'll work there too,\" Xander said casually." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wasn't sure how I went from talking about interviews to people saying they'd work for me like they were doing me some kind of big goddamn favor, but here we were." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Have you ever worked at a bar?\"\n\n\"I've never worked anywhere,\" he said with a smile as he popped a grape into his mouth.\n\n\"That's reassuring,\" I muttered.\n\n\"But I can learn anything. I'll watch a few YouTube videos and be a well-trained bartender by tomorrow.\"\n\n\"That's not how it works,\" I argued.\n\n\"How does it work?\" he asked, his tone genuine.\n\n\"Normally someone trains you or you go to a school and learn.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So, you watch someone mix drinks and then do what they do?\" he asked.\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\n\"Which is different from YouTube how?\"\n\nI sighed heavily. \"Whatever. You're hired.\"\n\n\"Sweet,\" Xander replied.\n\nSophia leaned toward me, giggling, and pressed a kiss to my cheek. \"You're a very easy mark.\"\n\n\"Evidently,\" I grumbled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's endearing,\" she said, \"how much you want to help people.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It also may be career suicide, but I appreciate you seeing the positive.\"\n\nShe laughed and kissed me again. \"It'll be fine.\"\n\nKnowing the trajectory my life typically took, I doubted that. But it never hurt to be hopeful. Right?" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "STORY CONTINUATION REQUIRED:\nLength: 7 sentences sentences\nGenre: romance, contemporary, slice of life, chick lit" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You found someone good, right?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sean asked as he led the way out of his office and toward the bar.\n\n\"Uh…yeah.\" The word left my mouth more as a question. I honestly had serious doubts Xander would be any good. How much could someone really learn about bartending on YouTube?\n\nMy tone must have registered with Sean because he stopped dead in his tracks and turned to look at me.\n\n\"What're his experience and qualifications?\" he asked, starting to look dubious." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He's smart,\" I offered hopefully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And a quick learner.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At least I had some positive attributes I could be honest about.\n\n\"Has he ever tended bar before?\"\n\n\"Not exactly.\"\n\n\"Worked in a bar?\"\n\n\"Not that I know of.\"\n\n\"Worked at all?\"\n\n\"His work ethic has mostly been confined to his studies.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Because he's never worked a day in his life,\" Sean finished." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Everyone's gotta start somewhere. I didn't have any bartending experience when you hired me.\"\n\nSean scrubbed a hand down his face, obviously unhappy with the situation. \"True. But you give off good, hardworking vibes.\"\n\n\"Xander may give you those same vibes.\"\n\n\"The way you're sweating tells me he won't.\"\n\n\"It's practically summer,\" I argued.\n\n\"We're indoors.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Just…give him a fair chance, okay?\" I begged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Despite telling Aamee and Xander they were hired, that wasn't completely true." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While Sean had put me in charge of the deck and had allowed me to pull the applicants I preferred, he still insisted on doing the actual interviewing. Not that I could blame him. It was still his business on the line, and he was the one paying everyone. And under normal circumstances, his interview would've been a formality because he trusted my judgment. Well, he had at least, but I had a feeling that trust was about to take a nose dive.\n\nI'd rather have not put myself in this position, and in a different scenario, I might've blown off Xander's offer to work here. But I was worried about Xander, and I thought it would be good for him to have somewhere he had to be a few times a week." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For that reason, I didn't want Sean making up his mind before he even met Xander." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah, yeah,\" Sean muttered as he resumed his trek to the bar where Xander was waiting.\n\nThank God he'd shown up on time. He'd texted me to say he was on his way, but I hadn't had a chance to meet him out here beforehand. As we approached, Xander noticed us and stood up.\n\nWhat the hell?\n\nXander was wearing black pants and a maroon button-down with a black vest that had little neon martini glasses all over it. He'd topped that with a black flat cap that made him look like he'd just walked off the Irish highlands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Next to all of us wearing jeans and T-shirts, he looked positively ridiculous, though I appreciated that he attempted to look the part." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What part, I wasn't sure, but definitely part of something." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sean and Xander introduced themselves, and then Sean said, \"Nice outfit. So you're looking to be a bartender?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thanks,\" Xander replied. \"And I prefer the title mixologist.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'm going to strangle him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh yeah?\" Sean said, the disdain in his voice evident despite the few words.\n\nXander seemed to pick up on it because he faltered a little. \"But bartender works too.\"\n\n\"Great. Why don't you get behind the bar, and I'll throw out a few drinks for you to make?\"\n\nXander rubbed his hands together so hard, I thought he might start a fire. \"Sounds good.\"\n\nHe hurried around the side of the bar and walked through the opening. Wyatt, who was setting up for happy hour, moved to the side to give Xander room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay, you got this, you got this,\" Xander muttered to himself as he bounced on the balls of his feet, seemingly trying to psych himself up.\n\nSean sent me a look that screamed Are you serious with this guy?\n\nI smiled weakly and turned my attention back to Xander.\n\n\"What's up first?\" Xander asked. His excitement would've been endearing if I hadn't thought Sean was about to throw him right the hell out of here.\n\n\"Manhattan,\" Sean said.\n\n\"Awesome. I studied this one a lot.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He took one of the shakers that was set up in front of him and then looked around for the ingredients he needed.\n\nWyatt pointed out where the various things were as Xander asked for them.\n\n\"Orange peel?\" Xander asked.\n\nWe all looked at him like he was crazy, and he shrugged.\n\n\"It's cool. I can work without it.\" He looked at the ingredients he'd collected and reached for the shaker before stopping suddenly. \"Oh, wait, you didn't say how you wanted it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"A Classic Manhattan is fine. How about with a twist, since we didn't have orange peels for ya?\"\n\nXander nodded. \"Sounds good. Do you, by any chance, know how big your ice cubes are?\"\n\n\"Ice?\" Sean asked.\n\n\"Yeah. It's cool if you don't. It's just hard to account for dilution if I don't know how big it is. But I can guesstimate.\"\n\n\"Yeah, you'd better do that.\"\n\n\"Okay, cool, no problem.\" As he set about mixing the drink, he began babbling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did you know that bitters were originally used to treat stomach and gas issues? Pretty fascinating.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Xander finished up the drink, garnished it, and handed it over to Sean.\n\nSean eyed it warily, even though he'd watched Xander prepare it.\n\nXander just smiled patiently.\n\nSean finally picked up the drink and took a sip. \"Mmm, pretty good. Where'd you learn to bartend?\"\n\nXander glowed under the praise. \"YouTube. What's next?\"\n\nSean hesitated a moment, as if he were weighing whether or not Xander was kidding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Thankfully he didn't ask. \"Daiquiri.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay.\" Xander grabbed a clean shaker and gathered the new ingredients. He didn't need Wyatt's help this time, as if looking for the things he needed for the Manhattan had imprinted the layout of the entire bar. Hell, knowing Xander, it probably had.\n\n\"How sweet do you like it?\" Xander asked.\n\n\"Just do what a typical recipe calls for,\" Sean said, his voice a little patronizing.\n\n\"Yeah, well, the thing is there seems to be some disagreement as to what's typical. Some recipes call for an ounce of simple syrup, but from a chemistry point of view, that leaves it somewhat under diluted with a bit too low of an ethanol content. But it'll be very sweet, if that's how you like it. Others say a half an ounce, but that affects the acidity balance with the lime. So I could play it safe with three-quarters of an ounce, but really, it all comes down to preference, so if you could just tell me, that would be great.\"\n\nSean stared at Xander for a second, and I could see my friend beginning to wilt under the scrutiny." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My chest began to ache as it sank in that Sean was going to send Xander packing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And Xander, who acted like nothing ever bothered him, kind of looked a little pale.\n\nFuck it. I'd fight tooth and nail for him.\n\nXander had clearly put a lot of effort into learning his shit, and if Sean didn't like it because he was a bit of a rambling know-it-all, then too damn bad. He put me in charge of the deck, and Xander would just have to be part of that deal.\n\nI opened my mouth to ask Sean if I could speak to him privately, when I saw a ghost of a smile appear on Sean's lips.\n\n\"Don't worry about it, kid,\" Sean said. \"You're hired.\"\n\n\"Really?\" Xander sounded as surprised as I was, but he looked elated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yup. You can even shadow Wyatt for happy hour if you want to get your feet wet.\"\n\n\"Yeah. Yeah, I'd love that.\"\n\nSean gave him a nod before getting up and walking past me, patting me on the shoulder. \"I hope the girl you're bringing in later is as good as that one,\" he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at Xander.\n\nI bit my tongue to keep myself from revealing that Aamee likely wouldn't be, but who really knew? Stranger shit had happened. Like Xander impressing my boss with skills he learned from YouTube." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I settled for a nod, and Sean walked away." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I looked back at the bar, I saw Xander absorbing every word that left Wyatt's mouth like it would lead him to a pot of gold and decided to leave them to it.\n\nI made my way outside to where Brody was inputting purchasing orders into an Excel spreadsheet, looking focused and professional.\n\nIt was like all my friends had up and become responsible adults when I wasn't looking. And I wasn't sure how I felt about it." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "same energy as Elizabeth Hayley, keep writing" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I must've died. That was the only explanation for how I felt. Though, if I were dead, wouldn't I feel fine? Unless I was in hell, which was a distinct possibility.\n\nI tried opening my eyes, but they felt as if they'd been glued shut. I tried again and made progress until sunlight burned my retinas, and I shrieked, slamming my eyelids closed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The bed dipped, and a large hand rubbed my back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I brought you some water and Tylenol,\" Drew said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think I'm a vampire,\" I muttered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So maybe still a little drunk, then,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I groaned. \"I wish. Where's Taylor?\"\n\n\"Still asleep.\"\n\nI rolled over and chanced opening my eyes again. We were in Taylor's and my bedroom, and Taylor was sleeping soundly in her bed.\n\n\"I don't even remember coming home,\" I admitted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, that's a real shame because it was one of the highlights of my life to date,\" he said dryly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That bad, huh?\"\n\n\"I pretty much had to carry you both to Aamee's car, and then you both stuck your heads out the windows the whole drive home like two demented Labradors.\"\n\n\"That sounds really embarrassing. I'm glad I can't remember it.\"\n\n\"Don't worry, I took a video. I thought it would be cute to show our future children.\"\n\nI snorted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Drew handed me the water and dumped two pills in my hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Take those, and I'll make something greasy for breakfast.\"\n\n\"You're cooking? Because, honestly, I feel bad enough.\"\n\n\"Funny.\"\n\nI wanted to tell him I wasn't kidding, but I probably deserved food poisoning at that point. Not only had I messed up his plans for the Yard, but then I'd gotten annihilated to the point where he had to come pick me up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was starting to wonder if Brody wasn't actually the biggest mess in the Mason clan." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Groaning one last time, I got up and dragged myself to the bathroom while Drew clanged pots and pans in the kitchen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I climbed into the shower to try to wake up a bit and felt marginally better after freshening up.\n\nWith a new pair of pajamas on, I took a deep breath and went to see my boyfriend.\n\nI stood in the doorway for a bit, watching him cook. Breakfast was the only meal he could actually prepare so it was edible, and I liked how he set about the task with confidence. I heard a ding, so he must also have used the toaster oven." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was really going all out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As much as I ordinarily loved watching Drew and how loved I felt at the trouble he was going to for me, the scene didn't fill me with happiness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All the guy wanted was a simple life with as few complications as possible, but ever since my family came into his life, he'd had to endure one hassle after another.\n\nHe whirled around to attend to the toaster oven and spotted me. \"Oh. Hey,\" he said with a smile, even though I'd clearly startled him. \"Feeling better?\"\n\n\"A little,\" I replied, smiling back.\n\n\"Good. I made some coffee.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I moaned. \"I don't deserve you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I grabbed myself a cup and then settled onto a stool that allowed the counter to double as a breakfast bar.\n\nHis smile grew wider as he busied himself finishing up the cooking. He slid everything onto a plate and put it in front of me. \"I don't think I burned anything.\" The pride was clear in his voice, and I wasn't sure I'd ever loved him more." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He fixed himself a plate and then settled onto the stool next to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We ate in silence for a minute before Drew spoke." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So what happened last night?\"\n\n\"I got drunk.\"\n\nHe laughed. \"Yeah, no kidding.\"\n\nI sighed, pushing my fork around my plate. \"I had a bad day at work.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could tell he turned to look at me, but I kept my gaze on my plate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What happened?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hesitated a second, trying to figure out where to start.\n\n\"Soph?\"\n\nI looked at him, and the concern on his face made me start talking.\n\n\"Jake saw me working on ideas for the Yard at work. And then yesterday, when we had that meeting I told you about…with Trey Daily? The marketing team suggested a name change, and long story short, Jake gave them your name. Well, not your name. The Yard. And they loved it. When I tried to tell Jeff there was already a bar with that name opening, he threatened to get your liquor license revoked. So I said I was mistaken, and then I got into it with Jake, who basically refused to fix his mess and threatened to tell my bosses that I was using company time to do personal work. It was just…\" I rubbed my eyes. \"It was a whole mess. And I don't know how to fix it or if it even can be fixed.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd cast my gaze down again while I'd talked, but when Drew was silent, I forced myself to turn toward him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked…a little stunned. Which wasn't really a surprise with the way I'd just word-vomited all over him. Which I supposed was better than actually vomiting on him.\n\nGod, I didn't do that last night, did I?\n\nProbably better not to ask." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm…confused,\" he finally said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Maybe start over and take me through things a bit less…frantic this time.\"\n\nSo I did. I spent the next however many minutes recounting the story, not leaving out a single detail that I could remember. When I was done, I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed. But when Drew got up and started pacing, I didn't think going back to bed was an option.\n\nHe was also aggressively raking his fingers through his hair, and I was about to voice my concern for his follicles when he came to an abrupt halt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So a famous football player stole our name?\" he asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah. Well…he was kind of given it.\"\n\n\"By someone who didn't have the right to give it.\"\n\n\"Right.\"\n\n\"Why is this our problem?\"\n\nMy eyes narrowed in confusion because I wasn't sure how someone could not see how this was a problem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But before I could relay that sentiment, he continued." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I mean, it's not like there can't be two places with the same name. Our place isn't even its own bar. It's just a deck.\"\n\n\"It would probably be fine if the other place you were sharing a name with wasn't owned by a local celebrity who hired sharks to help make his place a success. But I'm scared of what the people at Margot Nathan might do if they find out, and that doesn't only affect you. It affects Sean too.\"\n\n\"What are we supposed to do, then?\" he asked.\n\n\"You said yourself the deck isn't even its own bar. Does it even need its own name?\"\n\n\"You said it did,\" he challenged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I said that so the deck would have novelty, but it's not a requirement.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But we printed up all those materials and even passed out a bunch of promotional stuff already. And ordered shirts and menus and glassware. Not to mention the sign. Everything has the name on it. That was money Sean invested in the deck because he wanted to support my idea. I can't just throw it all away.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You'll be throwing it all away regardless if you move forward and get shut down,\" I argued." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What are the odds of that?\"\n\nI shrugged, more in frustration than anything else. \"I don't know. I'm not sure it's a chance worth taking.\"\n\nHe rubbed a hand over his mouth before saying, \"I don't know that I agree.\"\n\n\"You don't agree?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. Rafferty's is a neighborhood place. Granted it's not far from Margot Nathan, but no one would really notice the deck if they weren't looking for it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Jake may be looking for it.\"\n\n\"Who cares?\"\n\nI laughed, but it was humorless. I wanted to say that I cared. If Jake told them that a bar I helped open on company time had the same name as a bar owned by their biggest client, they could ruin me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sure, they were a bunch of bloodsucking demons from the bowels of hell, but they had a lot of clout in the city." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A bad reference from them would kill my marketing career before I even had a marketing career. And from what I'd seen so far of Jeff and Carole, they weren't above blackballing someone who crossed them.\n\nBut I couldn't say any of that to Drew. I couldn't make it all about me when I'd gotten us into this mess.\n\nThankfully Drew was still ranting, so he didn't notice that I hadn't answered his question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And Daily's place isn't opening until the end of the summer. Even if someone told him, we'd have already been up and running for months and be closing the deck down due to weather soon after he opens. It wouldn't even be worth making a thing out of it. Right?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shrugged, feeling like I was lifting five hundred pounds with the motion. \"I guess.\"\n\nHe moved to the door and put on his sneakers. \"I'll run it past Sean in the interest of full disclosure. But I think he'll be on board with just moving forward and letting the chips fall where they may.\"\n\nHe came over and pressed a kiss to my temple. \"Thank you for being so worried about me. But I think everything will be okay.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "And with that, he turned and left." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And I remained…unsure of how to tell him I was also worried about me." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode:\nCo-writing\n\nLength:\nthree sentences\n\nGenre:\nromance, contemporary, slice of life, chick lit" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I brought you a muffin,\" Jake said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I lifted my gaze from my computer screen long enough to glare at him, hoping it would be enough of a warning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Preferring to ignore his existence entirely, I'd barely spoken to him since he'd pilfered the Yard's name and presented it as his own stroke of creative genius.\n\n\"I'm not hungry.\"\n\nHe approached my space like one might a caged lion who hadn't eaten a meal lately, and if he wasn't careful, I might bite his fucking head off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll just leave this here then in case you want something later?\"\n\nI don't know why he said it as a question, because he put the paper bag down on the table without waiting for me to respond. Someone needed to teach him a lesson about consent, but that person sure as hell wouldn't be me because that would involve interacting with him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was bad enough Carole had tasked us both with working on the same project—a gym opening within the city limits—though I'd done a pretty good job of breaking it up so that I could communicate with him as little as possible. I'd decided to organize the majority of the promotional plan, and Jake didn't fight me when I suggested he be the one to research local competitors.\n\nWith the exception of the clicking of the mouse or keyboard, we'd both worked in relative silence for another hour or so." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd noticed Jake's eyes dart across the table to me a few times like he wanted to say something but thankfully decided against it.\n\n\"You wanna take a look at this when you get a minute?\" he finally asked.\n\nNope." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Take a look at what?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I was comparing other gyms that cater mainly to women, and most of them seem to emphasize that they won't be surrounded by big dudes lifting and grunting and all that shit. I'm not a woman. Obviously. So I'm just wondering why this angle would appeal to the female demographic.\"\n\nHe couldn't possibly be this stupid. \"Do you really not know, or are you just asking because you want me to talk to you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The second part came out a bit more narcissistic than I'd intended, but it was too late to amend it now.\n\n\"Well…it'd be nice if you spoke to me more than the bare minimum, but I honestly don't get why it's so important for women to be mainly with other women. I'd think that all those guys would be too self-involved to notice or care about what other people are doing, especially women. If they're paying attention to someone else, I'd assume it'd be other guys. That's their competition, right?\"\n\n\"I guess,\" I said, reluctant to admit he had a point." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And women are more judgmental in general,\" he continued." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He must've recognized the disgust on my face because he said, \"I mean…not like that.\" He sighed heavily, but thankfully, for both our sakes, he decided not to elaborate.\n\n\"What's your point?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked surprised that I asked. \"I guess I'm wondering if it might be a better idea to focus on the positive about the place instead of comparing it to what could be a negative about other gyms.\"\n\nShrugging, I focused on my work again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think the way I have it should be fine.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I really think we should rethink our angle.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked up from my work and gave him a cold stare. \"There is no our angle. I'm in charge of the promotional proposal, and this is the plan we discussed with the owner. You can add an addendum if you really think it needs it.\"\n\n\"Yeah. But Carole put us both on this project. We should probably at least make some of the bigger decisions together. It's as much of a reflection of you as it is of me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This time I looked up. \"Since when do you care about how things affect me?\"\n\n\"Sophia, I said I'm sorry. I don't know what else you want me to do.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How about not blackmailing me into keeping your secret? Or better yet, not stealing an idea and presenting it as yours in the first place? Oh, that's right. You can't do that because the damage has already been done.\"\n\n\"Lower your voice,\" he said, his own voice dropping to a whisper.\n\n\"Don't tell me what to do,\" I said even louder in protest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hadn't thought about anyone else eavesdropping, and we hadn't actually revealed anything worth listening to, but I should've anticipated that our conversation looked extremely unprofessional. Which explained why Carole was standing at the end of our table when she was usually in her office at this time of the morning.\n\n\"Everything okay here?\" she asked, though it seemed to be more of a warning about our behavior than an actual question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah,\" Jake said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sorry. We'll keep our voices down. We were just debating the best angle to promote the gym.\"\n\n\"Oh. Well, a little passion for the project is good. Just don't let it get out of control.\" And with that, she left." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Once she was back in her office, Jake gave a quick look around, causing me to do the same." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It seemed like everyone had gone back to work once Carole had left." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What damage? I'm seriously asking. Did your boyfriend have to change the name? Was his boss pissed?\" He sounded more apologetic than defensive, but that was probably because it came from a selfish place of worry about how all of this might affect him. \"I spoke without thinking. People do it all the time. I wasn't trying to screw anyone over.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But you did.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jake exhaled a long breath as he seemed to be trying to compose his thoughts. \"I was just trying to make myself look good. Aren't we both trying to do that here?\"\n\nOf course we were both trying to do that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was part of the reason I was so upset about what Jake had done. \"Yeah. The difference is that I'm not being a snake about it.\"\n\n\"I wasn't being a snake.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sounded disgusted at the word, which seemed strange to me, considering that's exactly what he was. \"I didn't premeditate any of that. I just have poor impulse control.\"\n\nI laughed humorlessly. \"Poor impulse control? Poor impulse control is when you eat an entire sleeve of Thin Mints, not when you deceive the supervisors at your internship and screw over a coworker.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jake looked like he might jump across the table to silence me, which was perfectly fine, because whatever happened next would be considered self-defense." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can we not do this here?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was an urgency to his whisper, and his eyes widened with anxiety." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It satisfied me in a way I hadn't expected, and a small part of me wanted to continue—to have the same \"poor impulse control\" Jake was guilty of and let the entire situation slip to the whole office.\n\nBut the larger, more responsible—and I liked to think wiser—part of myself said, \"Actually, let's not do this anywhere.\"\n\nI went back to my work and didn't speak to him for the rest of the day. And shockingly, he made no attempt to speak to me either." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "same energy as Elizabeth Hayley, keep writing" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I stood in the conference room, I tried to decide whether it was a good idea to look Jeff in the eye. It would be rude to avoid direct eye contact, but after I word-vomited a bunch of shit that made it look like he had no idea what was happening in his own company, I felt like the black-speckled carpet would be more forgiving.\n\nJeff hadn't spoken since he'd asked the initial question, and standing about four feet away, I could feel the fire radiating from him.\n\n\"Someone better start talking,\" he said, prompting me to finally look up.\n\n\"I apologize for all of that,\" I said, trying to decipher if Jeff was murderous angry or just you should probably change your major because you'll never get a job in marketing on the East Coast angry.\n\nI thought his expression fell somewhere in between.\n\n\"I mean, I'm not sorry for what I said but for how and when I said it,\" I added. \"That wasn't the appropriate time to discuss something like that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jeff cleared his throat harshly and folded his hands. \"Then why did you?\"\n\nWhen I didn't answer—because I didn't have an answer that would do anyone any good—Jeff continued.\n\n\"You could've told us after the first meeting with Trey or at any point in between that one and this meeting. In private. Jesus, Sophia, this isn't like telling your RA the roommate you can't stand stole twenty dollars from you. This is a business. A well-respected business. And that wasn't just any client. That was Trey Daily, celebrity.\"\n\n\"I know. I'm sorry,\" I said again. And I was. I wished I'd said something before now and that Carole's talk with me hadn't been needed to prompt some sort of action.\n\n\"Well, sorry's not good enough.\"\n\n\"What do you want from her, Jeff?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "asked Carole. \"It's done. She said she was sorry. What more is there to say?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Carole had said that she'd guarantee me a meeting with her and Jeff after all this was over, but this wasn't the meeting she probably had in mind. Though she seemed significantly less irritated than Jeff, my outburst could've cost them a client, and I knew Carole wasn't blind to that.\n\nJeff turned toward Carole, looking a little disgusted that she wasn't completely backing him. \"Oh, I don't know. How about how all this started and why we're just finding out about it now? Interns kept us in the dark about something in our own office. Interns, Carole.\"\n\nThe way Jeff said \"interns\" sounded like he was discussing some sort of mild STD he was embarrassed he'd contracted.\n\n\"I wasn't in the dark,\" Carole blurted out, causing Jeff's head to jerk back. Whether the movement was from anger or shock, I wasn't sure. Maybe it was a little of both." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Carole's admission surprised me, though it shouldn't have." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not really. From the moment I'd met her, she'd been honest and direct, blunt to almost a fault. It made her intimidating and unpredictable in a way that I'd never experienced before. And this moment shouldn't have been any different.\n\n\"You knew about this?\" Jeff practically growled.\n\n\"Oh, calm down. You're acting like I was in on some sort of conspiracy. I'd never condone this sort of behavior from anyone, especially someone who isn't even employed at Margot Nathan.\"\n\n\"But you said you knew about it?\"\n\n\"Well,\" she scoffed, \"I had my suspicions from that first meeting. And if you were capable of paying attention to anything other than your own thoughts and comments, you might've noticed Sophia's reaction when Jake blurted out an idea she came up with.\"\n\n\"Okay, that's enough of the low blows,\" Jeff said, his voice quieting as he added, \"I had enough of that when we were married.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, that's new information." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It brought so many questions to mind. Were they together when they formed the business? Had working together caused their divorce? Who was on top most often?\n\nI had no idea where that last comment came from, but deciding I didn't want to actually get sick during this meeting, I dismissed the thought as quickly as it had arrived.\n\nCarole let out an exaggerated laugh to let everyone, especially Jeff, I guessed, know that she didn't find the comment funny. I assumed that Carole would rather have kept her personal life out of this conversation.\n\n\"Okay, you're right,\" she said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We'll hold off on listing each other's faults for another time.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you,\" Jeff said, sounding almost relieved. \"Okay, so let's begin again. Jake, would you please tell me everything I need to know to understand the chronology of all this? And don't spare any details. It's in your best interest to be as forthcoming as possible.\"\n\nHe'd obviously have to respond to Jeff's request, but if I knew Jake at all—and unfortunately, I thought I did—he wouldn't pass up an opportunity to throw me under the bus and then hop into the driver's seat so he could run me the fuck over with it to make sure I was good and dead.\n\n\"Sure, I can do that.\"\n\nI could tell he was trying to sound composed, confident even, because he knew as well as I did that we were probably both done here, and hearing each of our sides of the story was more of a courtesy than an actual attempt at gathering information for the purpose of making a fair and educated decision.\n\n\"A while back, Sophia was making some flyers or something for a place called the Yard. I asked her about what it was, and she told me her boyfriend was in charge of opening a new part of the bar he worked in. When I tossed out the idea of calling Mr. Daily's bar the Yard, it just slipped out.\"\n\nNow I was the one trying to remain calm, when all I wanted to do was jump onto him and eat his face off like a lion protecting her young. Because when it came down to it, the Yard was my baby." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Or it was my baby's baby. Whatever. And Jake had stolen that from me.\n\nWhat was more, I'd let him.\n\n\"Bullshit it slipped out! That was intentional, and you know it. Not only that, but you had countless opportunities to tell the truth, and you never did.\"\n\n\"You didn't either,\" he said simply.\n\nThe fuck is wrong with this prick?\n\n\"That's not even remotely the same thing,\" I tried before Jake cut in.\n\n\"It's not? You didn't tell the truth because having Jeff and Carole find out that you were making advertising materials for your boyfriend's bar on company time would've made you look bad too. We were both looking out for ourselves.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Is this true?\" Jeff asked.\n\nJake smirked like the information he'd shared was all that was needed to ensure I received the same fate as him. There was a certain amount of satisfaction in knowing that I'd be let go because of something I'd said and not because of what Jake revealed.\n\n\"Careful you don't break an ankle in those heels when you jump down off that high horse,\" Jake added.\n\n\"That's enough,\" Jeff snapped. \"I've heard enough from you, beginning with but not ending with the lie you told to your superiors and a client. Before either of us says or does something he can't take back, it's probably best that you get your things and see yourself out.\"\n\nJake looked like someone had punched him. I only wished someone actually had." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He turned toward Carole, probably looking for sympathy in any place he might be able to find it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Why he thought Carole was a good option showed just what a dumbass he was.\n\n\"Okay, um, is this like for tonight, or—\"\n\n\"Forever,\" Jeff said. \"It's for forever.\"\n\n\"Right,\" Jake replied quietly. \"Well, thank you both for the oppor—\"\n\n\"Get out,\" Carole said. Her tone was low, quiet in a way that should not have been as intimidating as it was, but Jake hustled out without another word.\n\nAnd as I stood occupying a space with two people who both scared the hell out of me, I almost wished I'd been asked to leave then too." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The room was silent as Jeff and Carole watched Jake pack his things through the glass windows behind me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At least that's what I assumed they were doing.\n\n\"He just put a pack of our printer paper in his bag,\" Jeff said.\n\n\"Let it go,\" Carole told him.\n\nReluctantly, Jeff turned his attention back to me, his expression softening a bit in what looked like disappointment. \"And then there was one,\" he said. He tapped the pen he'd been holding on his leg as he leaned back in his chair and studied me.\n\nI felt uncomfortable, but not because he was staring at me like some creeper while I stood on display. He wasn't. I felt uncomfortable because I'd wanted so badly to impress these people and all I'd done was disappoint them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So,\" Jeff said, \"is what Jake said true, Sophia? Was Jake able to steal the name of your boyfriend's bar because you were working on something for it while you were here?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not wanting to appear broken even though I felt exactly that, I stood a little taller. \"Yes. It's true.\"\n\nI hadn't wanted to make excuses for why I'd used company time for a personal task, but Carole spoke up when I needed her to the most.\n\n\"And this was while you should've been doing work for Margot Nathan?\" she asked, already knowing the answer.\n\nThank you, Carole.\n\nIf she were the type of person who accepted hugs easily, I would have squeezed the hell out of her in the parking lot later. Instead, I'd have to settle for composing a professional email to her once this was over. And I had no doubt it would be over any minute, because even though Carole had opened the door for me to explain, it wouldn't make a difference." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At least not professionally speaking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe it would make Jeff less likely to smear my name in a pile of dog shit, but I wasn't naïve enough to think it would mean I could finish out the summer here.\n\n\"Well, I had finished all my tasks for the day,\" I explained. \"I'd even helped Jake finish some of his before deciding that working on the materials for the Yard would be a more productive use of my time than playing around on social media or making dating profiles.\"\n\nToo bad Jake wasn't here to hear the last part, though it would've been pointless to explicitly state that I'd been referring to him.\n\n\"But you did use company time for personal responsibilities?\"\n\n\"Well, I wouldn't consider it a responsibility, but yes. Semantics aside, I worked on something other than work for this company.\"\n\nJeff sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead before turning toward Carole. \"We can't allow this type of thing to happen under our watch, especially without our knowledge. This is a fucking nightmare. You do realize that, right?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Carole pressed her red lips together and nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It is that,\" she said. \"I wish this hadn't come out like it did, but I'm happy it came out nonetheless.\"\n\n\"I don't know if 'happy' is the word I'd use to describe the emotion I'm feeling right now.\"\n\n\"Yeah, well, in the twenty years I've known you, I can count on one hand the number of times I've ever seen you actually happy.\"\n\nHis nose let out a harsh laugh, but I thought I saw a corner of his mouth twitch. Though he quickly steadied it.\n\n\"Yeah, well, one of those was when you signed the divorce papers.\"\n\nThe skin around Carole's eyes creased when she chuckled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "These two were about as easy to read as German IKEA directions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Um, I guess I'll see myself out,\" I said. \"Is there anything I need to do before I go? Maybe just to make sure I get internship credit for the time I was here or something? You know what, I'll just send you an email if that's okay.\"\n\n\"We're not done,\" Carole said sternly. \"Jeff and I have some things we'd like to discuss with you.\"\n\nYou do?\n\nHere it came. The moment when they told me there was no way in hell I'd be getting any internship credit after my behavior.\n\n\"I don't think I need to tell you what an embarrassment all of this was,\" Carole began.\n\nNope." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We're running a business, a business we've worked very hard to make successful. We won't tolerate this type of behavior in our office. I'm not sure why you millennials think the world revolves around you, but I'd be doing you a disservice if I didn't tell you otherwise.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew better than to correct her by explaining that I wasn't actually a millennial, especially since I'd already kind of proved her point by thinking about it in the first place.\n\n\"We've been in this business a long time, and we've seen countless people come through our doors, employees and interns alike, and only a few have shown both natural talent and a passion for the profession.\"\n\nI knew better than to get my hopes up and think that I'd be allowed to stay. Carole had already shown a softness toward me, and because they probably both liked me better than Jake, they didn't just want to send me packing without a professional goodbye.\n\n\"Thank you\" was all I said.\n\n\"You know,\" Jeff said, looking toward Carole and then back at me, \"we've both talked about you quite a bit during your short time here. We thought you'd be a good fit here one day, so it's a shame this had to play out like this.\"\n\n\"I understand,\" I said quietly. \"You really don't need to say anything else.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. I do, Sophia. I need to tell you that you're creative in a way that most people aren't, and you're a hard worker. Christ, you're such a hard worker, you were doing other people's work here in your free time. I mean, it was wrong,\" he clarified." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If you'd been an employee and you'd done that, that could've been considered theft of time.\"\n\nI'd never heard that phrase before, and it sounded…imposing. Like a bear I didn't ever want to poke again.\n\n\"That being said, I'd rather have you steal time than steal an idea. Because not only does that compromise the integrity of the business, it compromises your integrity as well. And honestly, letting someone else take credit for an idea you had sacrifices your integrity as well. So while it kills me to agree with Carole, I have to this time. I'm glad you took credit for your idea.\"\n\nInhaling deeply, he rolled his eyes widely as if his mind were replaying what had happened in the conference room earlier. \"I seriously wish you'd had the forethought and the professionalism to disclose this to us another time. Any other time, actually.\"\n\n\"But learning to stand up for yourself,\" Carole interjected, \"will come with experience, and so will knowing the right time and place to discuss certain matters.\"\n\n\"Look,\" Jeff said. \"Carole and I can be assholes. We know that. But we're smart assholes. We know talent when we see it, Sophia. You've got talent and an intrinsic drive that we don't see in many students your age.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Flickers of hope had sparked deep inside me a few minutes earlier, but I hadn't let them fully ignite." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But those flickers had turned into an inferno I couldn't put out even if I'd wanted to.\n\n\"We'd be dumb to get rid of someone like that,\" Jeff said. \"You understand what I'm saying?\"\n\nI was nodding so fast I probably looked like a bobblehead. \"Yes! Yes, you're not dumb. You're just assholes. I mean—\"\n\n\"Get back to work, Sophia,\" Carole said.\n\n\"Yes, right. Thank you. I'm going back to work right now.\"\n\nEven to my own ears, I sounded like I'd taken half a bottle of uppers and chased them with a couple Red Bulls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a good thing Jeff and Carole already thought I was insane, or I'd be worried about them wanting to drug test me." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I headed to the door, a smile spread wide across my face like I belonged in Arkham Asylum.\n\n\"I'll be working on stuff for the Yard if you need me. Not my boyfriend's Yard.\" I smacked myself hard on my forehead with my notebook. \"Trey's Yard. You knew what I meant, right?\"\n\n\"Goodbye, Sophia,\" Jeff said.\n\nAnd as I managed to escape without putting my foot in my mouth again, I had one thought: I'd never liked two assholes more than I liked these two." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: The user will write a bit then you need to write around 7 sentences continuing directly from the user's text.\n\nAuthor style: Jacqueline Carey" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was on the following day that Thelesis de Mornay called upon me, and I greeted her visit with unfeigned delight. The Queen's Poet was an unprepossessing woman with features that might almost have been homely, were it not for herluminous dark eyes and musical voice. When she spoke, one heard only beauty.\n\n\"Phèdre.\" Thelesis embraced me with a smile, eyes aglow. \"I'm sorry I've not had a chance to see you sooner. Forgive me for coming unannounced.\"\n\n\"Forgive you? I can't think of anyone I'd rather see,\" I said, squeezing her hand. It was true. Once, when I thought I was suffering the gravest sorrow of my life, Thelesis had drawn me out of it; it had been nothing more than childish jealousy, I know now, but I have always treasured her kindness and tact." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And Delaunay treated her as an equal, and trusted her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When Joscelin and I escaped from Skaldia and made our return to the City, only to find ourselves condemned in absentia of Delaunay's murder, it was Thelesis who aided us in secrecy and won us an audience with Ysandre. I trusted her with my life, then, and I would again.\n\n\"Here.\" She turned to her footman, dressed in the livery of House Courcel, and nodded. He held out a large wooden box. \"I brought a gift.\"\n\n\"You didn't have to do that,\" I protested. Thelesis smiled.\n\n\"I did, though,\" she said. \"Wait and see.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We adjourned to the sitting room, and Gemma brought glasses of cordial. Thelesis sipped hers and coughed once, delicately.\n\n\"Your health still troubles you?\" I asked sympathetically. She had caught the fever, that Bitterest Winter, that killed so many.\n\n\"It will pass.\" She pressed her hand briefly to her chest. \"Go on and open it.\"\n\nThe box sat on the low table before us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I pried the lid loose and peered inside, pulling out wads of cotton batting to find it concealed a small marble bust." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lifting it out, my hands trembled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I held the bust aloft and gazed at it.\n\nIt was Anafiel Delaunay.\n\nThe sculptor had caught him in the prime of his thirties, in all his austere beauty; the proud features, a faint wryness to his beautiful mouth, irony and tenderness mingled in hiseyes and the thick cable of his braid coiling forward over one shoulder. Not the same, of course, in its marble starkness; Delaunay's eyes had been hazel, shot with topaz, his hair a rich auburn. But the face, ah, Elua! It was him.\n\n\"Thank you,\" I murmured, my voice shaking; grief, unexpected, hit me like a blow to the stomach. \"Thank you, oh, Thelesis, Blessed Elua, I miss him, I miss him so much!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked at me with concern, and I tried to shake my head, waving it off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't worry, it's not... I love this, truly, it's beautiful, and you are the kindest friend, it's only that I miss him, and I thought I was done with grieving, but seeing this ... and Alcuin, and Hyacinthe, and now Joscelin ...\" I tried to laugh. It caught in my throat, thick with tears. \"Now Joscelin wants to leave me to follow his own path, and thinks even of becoming a Yeshuite, oh, Elua, I just...\"\n\n\"Phèdre.\" Thelesis took the bust gently, setting it on the table and waited quietly throughout the sudden onslaught of sobs that wracked me. \"It's all right. It's all right to mourn. I miss him too, and he was only my friend, not my lord and mentor.\" It didn't matter what she said; she might have said anything in that soothing voice of hers.\n\n\"I'm so sorry.\" I had buried my face in my hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I lifted it, blinking at her through tears. \"Truly, this is the most wonderful thing anyone has ever given me, and I repay you like this.\" I said it politely, though I couldn't help sniffling.\n\n\"I'm glad you like it. I commissioned it from a sculptor who knew him well, once.\" She touched the bust, stroking it with a rueful touch. \"He had an effect on people, Anafiel Delaunay did.\"\n\nI nodded, scrubbing at my tear-stained face. \"He did that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes.\" Thelesis regarded me with her quiet gaze. \"Phèdre.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One word, naming me. It is a poet's gift, to go to the heart of things in a word. \"Why?\"\n\nWith anyone else, I might have dissembled; I had done it already with Cecilie, and indeed, with Ysandre de la Courcel herself. But Thelesis was a poet, and those dark eyes saw through to the bone. If not for illness, she would havegone to Alba in my stead. I owed her truth, at least.\n\n\"Wait,\" I said, and went to fetch my sangoire cloak." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Returning, I gave it to her, a bundle of velvet folds the color of blood at midnight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you remember this?\"\n\n\"Your cloak.\" Her head bowed over it. \"I remember.\"\n\n\"It saved my life, in a way.\" I found I was pacing, and made myself sit. \"Ysandre's man-at-arms remembered it too, the day Delaunay was killed; an anguissette in a sangoire cloak and a member of the Cassiline Brotherhood, seeking an audience with the Princess. It proved our story. But I never saw it, after that day. I took it off in Melisande Shahrizai's quarters, where she poured me a glass of cordial.\" Remembering my own, I picked up my glass and drank, grimacing. \"I woke up in a canvas-covered wagon, halfway to the Skaldi border, wrapped in woolen blankets and no cloak in sight.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "There had been considerable more between, but Thelesis had no need to know it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It involved Melisande, and the razor-sharp blades they call flechettes, and a good deal of me screaming. Everything but my signale and Quintilius Rousse's message for Delaunay. I have dreams about it still, and Elua help me, some of them are exquisite. \"I got it back this autumn.\"\n\n\"How?\" Thelesis asked carefully.\n\n\"Gonzago de Escabares.\" I rested my chin on my hands and gazed at the bust of Delaunay. \"A friend of his met a woman in La Serenissima; a beautiful woman. She gave him a parcel to carry for his friend, who was going to meet the Comtesse de Montrève.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I gestured at the cloak." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That was the whole of it.\"\n\n\"Melisande.\" She breathed the word. \"Phèdre, have you told the Queen?\"\n\nI shook my head. \"No one, except Joscelin and my boys. They know. I asked Ysandre when she received me, if she'd heard of Melisande's doings. She has sent word to every major city from Aragonia to Caerdicca Unitas, and no one has seen her. Benedicte de la Courcel is in La Serenissima, Ysandre is sure he'd clap her in chains if she showed her face. Nothing.\"\n\n\"Benedicte de la Courcel,\" Thelesis said tartly, \"has a D'Angeline child-bride and is preparing to become a father again in his dotage. By all accounts, he'd not notice if Melisande kicked him in the shins.\"\n\n\"Mayhap.\" I shrugged, \"Be as that may, she's hidden herself well. But one thing I know, and that is that someone helped her walk out of Troyes-le-Mont alive. And whoever it was, it was someone powerful enough that none of the guardsmen posted that night even questioned him. Or her. The guard at the postern gate was killed by a dagger to the heart. Whoever did it, got close enough to do it unchallenged.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I spread my hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You weren't there, Thelesis. I was. I can count the number of people that would have included on my fingers. And this cloak?\" I plucked at it. \"That's Melisande's message, the opening gambit in her game. Whoever it was, I have a chance of finding them out.\"\n\nThe Queen's Poet looked sick. \"You have to tell Ysandre. If not her, then at least... at least tell Caspar. He would help.\"\n\n\"No.\" I said it softly. \"He's one of the ones I count, Thelesis.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Caspar?\" She looked incredulous; well she might." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gaspar Trevalion, the Comte de Forcay, was one of the few people Delaunay had trusted unquestioningly. He'd even stood surety for Gaspar when the net fell on House Trevalion.\n\n\"Caspar,\" I said relentlessly. \"Thelesis, whoever it is, they fought on our side, don't you see? It had to be someone we trusted, beyond thought. Those guards, they wouldn't have let the Duc de Morhban through unchallenged, sovereign of Kusheth or no. Promise me you'll say nothing. Not to Gaspar, nor Ysandre ... not to anyone. Whoever it is, if they know what I'm about, it will silence them, sure as death.\"\n\n\"So you think,\" she said wonderingly, \"you truly think that they will hand it to you, as a Servant of Naamah, in careless pillow talk.\"\n\n\"No.\" I shook my head. \"I am not as foolish as that, I promise you. But I think the threads are there, and if I amlucky—Naamah willing, and Kushiel—they may let a loose end dangle, that I might discern the pattern they are weaving. It is a long chance, I grant you. But it is a chance, and the only one I have. Melisande plays fair, by her own rules. If the chance were not there...\" I hoisted a fold of the cloak, \". .. she would not have sent the challenge.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think you are mad.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only Thelesis de Mornay could have made the words gentle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Madder than Delaunay, and I thought he was mad for honoring that ridiculous vow to Rolande de la Courcel.\" Well she might, for Delaunay had suffered a great deal from the enmity of Rolande's wife, Isabel L'Envers; but my lord Delaunay kept his promises. Now all of them are dead, and it is the living who must bear the cost. Thelesis dumped the sangoìre cloak back into my lap, and sighed. \"But I will honor your request just the same, because you are Delaunay's pupil, and you bear the mark of Kushiel's Dart, and it is in no poet's interest to cross the will of the immortals. Still, I wish you would reconsider it. The Duc L'Envers, at the least, has no interest in seeing Ysandre dethroned.\"\n\n\"Barquiel L'Envers,\" I said, \"is high on my list of suspects.\"\n\nThelesis de Mornay laughed ruefully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Anafiel,\" she said, addressing the bust of Delaunay, \"you should have been made King's Poet in my stead, and left this one to the mercies of Valerian House.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I had not gone to serve Delaunay, it is true, Valerian would have bought my marque. It is their specialty, to provide adepts who find pleasure in pain. But they did not find me. Delaunay did. \"Well, so,\" Thelesis said, changing the subject. \"What is this about Joscelin Verreuil joining the Followers of Yeshua?\"\n\nI am not ashamed to admit that I poured the story out to her, and she listened unjudging, as only a truly good friendmay do. When I was done, she pressed my hand in sympathy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He is in pain,\" she said gently, \"and you have wounded him deeply, meaning or not. His choice is his own, Phèdre, and you cannot make it for him. Allow him this space, then, to choose. When the One God sent his messengers to summon Elua back, it was Cassiel handed him the dagger to make his reply. But I have never heard Elua asked it of him.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was right, and I could not speak against it. I fiddled with my cloak instead, folding its luxurious mass. \"Do you think it's true?\" I asked presently. \"That Yeshua has the power to redeem sin?\"\n\n\"I don't know,\" Thelesis said thoughtfully. \"The ways of gods are strange, and Yeshuites do not reckon sin as we do, any more than Cassilines. I cannot say. The Hellenes claim the descendents of the House of Minos have the ability to cleanse a man of a blood-curse; it is a gift of Zagreus, after they atoned for... well, you know the story.\" I did, for I bore the ill-starred name of a Queen of that line." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But I have heard, too, that few mortals can bear the process at less than the cost of their wits.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I shuddered; it was a frightening thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, Elua grant that neither of us need find out. I will heed your advice, and give Joscelin leave to choose. So a priest foretold for him, once, that he would ever stand at the crossroads, and choose and choose again. But I am fearful, that this Rebbe presents him with a third path.\"\n\n\"All paths are present, always,\" Thelesis de Mornay said philosophically, \"and we can but choose among them.\" She stood. \"Phèdre, thank you for your hospitality, and for your...\" she smiled, \"... for your trust. I will honor it, with the promise you have asked. Promise me in turn that you will have a care, and divulge to Ysandre aught that you learn.\" She raised her eyebrows. \"I take it that you do not suspect her, at least?\"\n\n\"No.\" I laughed. \"Not Ysandre. Other than myself, and probably Joscelin, Ysandre de la Courcel is the one person I am sure had no interest in seeing Melisande freed. And if I'd not been there, I'd likely suspect myself as well. Thelesis, thank you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I rose to embrace her." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 8 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sorry to have made a fool of myself. Truly, I will cherish this gift beyond words.\"\n\n\"You are welcome.\" She returned my embrace. \"Phèdre, please know that you have a standing invitation to call upon me at the Palace. For any reason.\"\n\n\"I will,\" I promised, escorting her to the door.\n\nWhen she had gone, I returned to my sitting room, gazing at the bust of Delaunay. Ah, my lord, I wondered, what would you tell me if you could speak?\n\nBeautiful and silent, his marble face kept its oblique, secret smile.\n\nI was on my own." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Provide 3 sentences as a continuation in the erotica, romance, fantasy genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a splendid day when Drustan mab Necthana rode into the City of Elua." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ysandre met him outside the gates, and I was part of the vast receiving party." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All the banners of Terre d'Ange were flying, uppermost the golden lily on a field of green, surrounded by seven gold stars, sign of Blessed Elua and his Companions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Below it, side by side, flew the silver swan of House Courcel and the black boar of the Cullach Gorrym, Drustan's line, Earth's eldest children in Alba.\n\nWe saw them coming a long way off, and heard the cheers. An honor guard of D' Angeline soldiers flanked them on either side, riding helmetless and crowned with wreaths of violets and irises, parade-trained mounts prancing and arching their necks, violets braided into their manes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were Alban war-chariots in the procession, covered in chased gold-work and shining in the bright sun, driven by men and women both." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And in the lead rode Drustan on his black horse.\n\nHe wore the trappings of the Cruarch of Alba; the scarlet cloak that spilled over his mount's hindquarters, the gold torque at his throat and a simple circlet of gold pinning his straight black hair. Intricate spirals of blue woad decorated his features, entwined his bare brown arms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Drustan mab Necthana was unquestionably Cruithne, whom scholars call Picti and name barbarians." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could not help but hear murmurs among the gathered nobility.\n\nBut along the way, the D' Angeline people threw a flurry of spring petals and shouted themselves raw in adoration, because Drustan mab Necthana had brought an army ofCruithne to our aid when the civilized folk of Caerdicca Unitas wouldn't even muster a delegation to cross our borders. And he married Queen Ysandre de la Courcel, who loved him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We waited as the Alban procession made its way to the very foot of the gates, and the crowd fell silent. Ysandre stood tall and slender in the colors of House Courcel, backed by her Palace Guard. Astride his black horse, Drustan sat motionless, and the Albans lowered their banners as King and Queen gazed at one another, their eyes speaking silent volumes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ysandre broke it first, opening her arms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Welcome, my lord!\" she cried, and her voice caught a little at it. A clarion blast of trumpets rose skyward and Drustan mab Necthana laughed like a boy, swinging down from his mount and taking Ysandre in his arms. We cheered as they kissed, cheered and cheered again, and I prayed that the tears in my eyes and lump in my throat were due more to joy than envy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the days that followed, there was feasting and celebrating sufficient to delight even the most libertine of souls. No talk of Naamah's Service now; I was at Ysandre's bidding, and busy enough for two. There were far more translators now than before, but Drustan had brought two hundred Cruithne in his entourage, and my skills were sore needed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We had greeted each other, Drustan and I, and I was surprised to find how deeply glad I was to see him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Our eyes met in that familiar understanding; his dark and quiet in his tattooed face, like those of his sisters and his mother, who saw true things in their dreams. We both smiled a little, and then he took my hands and I gave him the kiss of greeting. There were murmurs at that, too, but Ysandre's calm mien silenced them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When he greeted Joscelin as a brother, I saw Joscelin smile for the first time in days." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For all that, I had precious little time to speak to Drustan mab Necthana, and I fretted at it, longing, as I never thought I would, for the fearful days when he was a deposed heir unable to move his allies, and I the terrified emissary of anembattled Queen, wholly unsuited for my role." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is a time I never thought I would wish to revisit—and yet, it seemed to me in retrospect, I had friendship and companions about me, instead of pageantry, court politics and dire intrigue.\n\nI'd had Hyacinthe ... and Joscelin. One I had lost, and the other, I was losing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At night, I had nightmares still. I woke bathed in cold sweat and could not remember.\n\nAt the Palace, I attended court functions and watched, while those I suspected—Barquiel L'Envers, Gaspar Trevalion, Percy and Ghislain de Somerville—surrounded Drustan, speaking to him sometimes as a companion of war, sometimes as the Cruarch of Alba, feeling him out for trade, attempting to discern the hierarchy of power that supported his rule and forge alliances therein." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Drustan handled it with deceptive skill, masking a calm intellect behind his woad markings and less-than-fluent D'Angeline; and little passed between them that was not heard and noted by Ysandre. Still, they played the game, and all the while before the impassive faces of the Queen's Cassiline attendants. I watched them all, and never a flicker of interest crossed the features of the latter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It did not allay my fears." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tried to delve into the buried secrets of Lyonette de Trevalion, and got nowhere." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was Drustan himself who took notice of my condition, hearing me stumble over a simple translation for one of his trusted lieutenants, a high-ranking lord of the Cullach Gorrym. We were at a state dinner, and he drew me aside.\n\n\"Phèdre.\" His voice was concerned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You look unwell. I think maybe Ysandre asks too much of you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He spoke D'Angeline, though my Cruithne was better. My eyes welled at the simple kindness and I bit my lip against tears. \"No, my lord,\" I said when I was sure my voice was steady." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I am troubled by ill dreams, is all. I've not been sleeping well.\"\n\nDrustan frowned slightiy, brows creasing where a line of blue dots bisected them. \"Breidaia wanted to come, but Iasked her to stay. Would that I had let her. She is skilled in the speaking of dreams.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I remember,\" I murmured." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was his eldest sister, who had dreamt of Hyacinthe on an island." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moiread had been the youngest, but she was gone now, slain in the fighting outside of Bryn Gorrydum. We both remembered, silent, and then I gave myself a little shake. \"It doesn't matter, my lord. I don't remember them anyway.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You have no D'Angelines gifted in the matter of dreaming?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No,\" I said automatically, then laughed. \"There are, actually. It's not a quarter where I would think to seek aid, but yes.\"\n\n\"Your dreaming self seeks to tell you something your waking ears will not hear.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Drustan's tone was serious." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You should go to them.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll think on it,\" I said.\n\nI did think on it, and dismissed the idea; and woke again that night with my heart racing, cold sweat on my skin and my mind a perfect blank.\n\nDispatching Ti-Philippe to the Palace to send word to Ysandre that I was ill, I went instead to Gentian House." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Although I was raised in the Night Court, of the Thirteen Houses, Gentian was the one I knew the least." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mystics and visionaries number among her adepts, and many of them join the priesthood of Elua when their marques are made." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Indeed, the priest who taught me as a child was a former Gentian adept. What her patrons sought, I never knew until then.\n\nFortun looked askance at me as we stood before the entrance on Mont Nuit, bearing a subtle bronze relief with the insignia of the House; a gentian flower circumscribed by a full moon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You are certain of this, my lady?\" he asked doubtfully. I didn't blame him. 'Twas passing strange indeed, for one of the foremost courtesans of the realm to go seeking solace at the Night Court." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes.\" A hint of coolness in the spring breeze made me wrap my arms around myself and shiver." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had gottenworse, since the day Marmion was exiled; I couldn't remember the last time I'd slept through a night." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Drustan is right. I can't go on thusly.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"As you wish.\" Fortun gave a bow, and knocked upon the door.\n\nInside, I met alone with the Dowayne, a tall man with greying hair and leaf-green eyes. He had a trick of gazing at one out of the corner of his eyes, as if he saw more on the periphery of his vision than straightward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Comtesse Phèdre no Delaunay de Móntrève.\" He gave my full name and title in a melodious voice, no trace of surprise in it. \"Gentian House is honored by the presence of Naamah's esteemed Servant. How may we please you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I told him about the nightmares, while he gazed at a sunbeam slanting across the open air. \"Can you help?\" I asked when I had done.\n\n\"Yes.\" He looked remotely at me, face upturned to the slanting light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Any adept of Gentian House is trained to aid a patron in giving voice to night's visions. What manner of adept would please you? I will have a selection arrayed for your pleasure.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I blinked, startled; I hadn't thought that far." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It matters not. Naamah's Servants have no preferences,\" I added with a faint smile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Every patron has a preference.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Wrenching his attention from the sunbeam, the Dowayne looked me in the face without smiling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Male or female, young or old, fair or dark.\"\n\nI shook my head. \"My lord, I have known all these things, and none pleases me any better than the other. I am here for my dreams. Choose whom you think best.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Very well.\" Rising, the Dowayne went to the door and murmured something to an apprentice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The lad went running, and presently returned with a young man in tow.\n\nAll the adepts of the Night Court are beautiful, and Raphael Murain nó Gentian was no exception. He was near to my own age, with straight ash-brown hair that fell shining almost to his waist and long-lashed grey eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He smiled at me with a sweetness that put me in mind of Alcuin, and Ifelt the sting of tears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That was another thing; with this lack of sleep, I was altogether too near to crying in my waking hours.\n\n\"Does he please you?\" the Dowayne asked, watching me carefully with his sidelong gaze." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes,\" I murmured. Raphael Murain bowed, shining hair falling forward over his shoulders, and took my hands, raising them to his lips to kiss them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I felt his breath play over my knuckles, a warm exhalation of pleasure at my acceptance.\n\nIt is very effective, the training of the Night Court.\n\nThe Dowayne told him of my nightmares and my wish to recover them and discern their meaning; Raphael listened as grave as a physician, and turned to me when he was finished." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It is needful that you pass the night in Gentian House, my lady,\" he said softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Such dreams will not come when bidden, but as the course of their nature dictates. I must needs sleep beside you, and breathe the air of your dreams. Is this acceptable to you?\"\n\n\"You will inform my man-at-arms?\" I asked the Dowayne." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He nodded. \"He may reside in comfort in the retainers' quarters, or depart and return in the morning. The choice is yours.\"\n\n\"Bid him return in the morning.\" I took a deep breath, and turned to Raphael Murain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I place myself in your hands.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Raphael bowed again, solemn as a priest.\n\nSo it was that I signed the Dowayne's contract and made arrangements for the payment of the fee, and afterward, I was escorted to the baths. One does not hasten pleasure, in the Night Court." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I luxuriated in the hot waters and the attentions of a skilled apprentice, while a pair of House musicians played softly on harp and flute." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I was done, I was given a robe of heavy silk to don, and served a light meal with wine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was some whispered discussion outside the door, and then Raphael Murain came in to join me, and two apprentices appeared to dance for our pleasure, aboy and girl no older than fifteen, clad in veils of filmy gauze." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It is a part of their training,\" he told me in his soft voice, a glimmer of amusement in his grey eyes. \"But they are nervous, I think, at performing for Phèdre no Delaunay.\"\n\n\"Are you?\" I asked, a little reckless." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shook his head and smiled. It made me like him better, for some reason.\n\nIt was strange indeed, to be a patron of the Night Court, and I struggled to relax." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I, who could surrender my will in an instant to a patron's desires, was hard put to accept indulgence. Raphael watched me and cocked his head, hair falling to one side, and beckoned to an apprentice to issue a request. In this place, his soft voice commanded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Taking my hand, he led me to his quarters, where silk hangings swathed the walls in dim colors and lamplight flickered on a rich, velveted pallet. A boy sat cross-legged in the corner playing a lyre, and a young female adept knelt abeyante beside the bed, warming a bowl of scented oil on a brazier.\n\n\"My lady,\" Raphael whispered, undoing the sash of my robe with skilled, gentle hands and sliding it from my shoulders, kissing me softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The robe pooled around my feet, and for a moment, his eyes gleamed. I could hear the adept draw in her breath. He loosed my hair, gathering it up in both hands, the rich, dark mass of it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Naamah's blessing is upon her servants.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kissing me again—he had lips as soft as a woman's—he urged me gently to the pallet. \"It is not yours only to give, but to receive.\"\n\nI lay down, obedient, and felt the young adept's hands spread warmed oil over my skin, fragrant and pleasing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had not known, until then, how much tension my body held; even the bath had not assuaged it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bit by bit, it eased beneath her skillful massage, muscles easing one by one, until I lay upon my belly, loose-limbed and languorous, watching Raphael move gracefully about the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He opened a coffer on his nightstand and withdrew a lump of resin, placing it in a small brazier, and the sweet scent of opium filled the room, a thin line of blue smoke redolent with visions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The music slowed, the lyricist's fingers wandering dreamily.\n\nGrowing light-headed, I sprawled at ease beneath the adept's slow-kneading hands; she bent low, when Raphael was not looking, to place a kiss at the base of my spine where my marque began, and I could feel her breath warm against my skin.\n\nWhen her hands bid me turn over, I made no protest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I lay languid and waiting, watching Raphael Murain remove his clothing as the adept—I never learned her name—performed the arousement, hands slick with oil sliding over my body; my breasts, nipples taut and upright, my hipbones and the flat hollow of my belly, clever, oiled fingers exploring the valley between my thighs, parting me as one would open the petals of a flower. All the while, he smiled at me, undressing slowly to reveal a body lithe and boyishly muscled, the tip of his erect phallus brushing his belly. When he turned, I saw the marque of Gentian House limned on his spine, complete even to its moon-and-flower finial." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As young as I, and as experienced. He took a long time with the languisement, until I could not tell where my flesh ended and his mouth began.\n\nBy the time he knelt over me, I was ready and more, and I cried out at the pleasure of it as he entered me, oil-slickened body sliding up the length of mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There are those who think an anguissette knows pleasure only through pain, but it is not so. Though any one of my patrons would have seized his pleasure or forced mine, thrusting hard, Raphael Murain was an adept of the Night Court. He braced himself on his arms above me, smiling and moving in slow, languorous strokes, lowering his head to kiss me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Elua, it was sweet!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His hair fell around my face in shining curtains, and I returned his kisses as only another of Naamah's Servants might, an intricate dance of tongues, slow and unhurried. His hard, slender chest brushed my breasts. I could hear my breathing, and his, and that of the young adept, who knelt watching." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One surrenders, as a patron; I never understood that before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I surrendered that night, to Raphael and Gentian House, the fragrance of scented oil and the sweet blue opiumsmoke, letting pleasure mount in slow-building waves, while we rocked on it as on the breast of the sea. It seemed to come from a very great distance when it broke, moving in a great tidal surge, vaster and slower than any climax I had known. I closed my eyes, feeling it spiral outward from our conjoined bodies to the vast reaches of time, wave after wave breaking on the outermost shoals of my awareness, distant and ponderous." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"May I?\" Raphael Murain whispered when my eyes opened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I felt him still moving inside me, and whispered back, \"Yes.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was his eyes that closed, then, long lashes curled like waves breaking; I gasped as he inhaled sharply, drawing in the very breath of our commingled pleasure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His body went rigid against me as he spent himself, a sweet, hot throbbing deep inside of me.\n\nAfterward, we slept, and I dreamed.\n\nNot since Joscelin had foresworn me had I spent a night's slumber with any other living soul; I could have grieved, to realize how much I had missed it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After all his careful grace, Raphael slept with a child's abandon, fine silken hair spilling across my face, limbs slack with spent pleasure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The lamps had burned low, the opium expired. The lyricist and the adept had discreetly withdrawn. Because I had given myself no choice, I welcomed Raphael's weight, his even breathing, and slept." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Slept, and dreamed.\n\nI dreamed I was a child once more in Delaunay's household. Alcuin was there, and our old study, in Delaunay's home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We sat across a table from one another, he and I, poring over scrolls, pursuing the mystery of the Master of the Straits." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was near to grasping the key, when an adept of Cereus House wearing a snow-fox's mask poked his head in the door, and I bid him crossly to leave me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're late,\" the snow-fox said, voice muffled. \"The joie has already been poured.\"\n\nWith the shock of horror one feels only in dreams, I realized that I was not in Delaunay's home at all, but Cereus House; not a child, but an adept, late for the Midwinter Masque." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My costume was unfinished, and I had no mask." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Despairing, I hurried to join the fête, thinking I might find Favrielle nó Eglantine and beg her to loan me a mask." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Great Hall of Cereus House was filled with light and gaiety, and all the adepts of the Thirteen Houses in their finery, and I had come in time to see the Sun Prince revealed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was laughing, then, thinking everything would be well, and wondering what foolishness had possessed me to imagine I should have been studying with Alcuin, when this, yes of course, this was my life, laughing and cheering as the Winter Queen was unmasked as the beautiful Suriah, who had always been kind to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That was when I realized the Sun Prince was Waldemar Selig.\n\nNo one else noticed, as he took off his mask, smiling, half a head taller than anyone there; no one noticed, as he ran Suriah through with the Sun Prince's gilded spear and she sank to the dais, mouth open and eyes blank, hands clutching around the haft as a dark stain spread across her breast. Waldemar Selig stepped down, wolfskin cloak swinging from his shoulders, and the D'Angeline revelers smiled and bowed and moved out of the way, while the musicians struck up a merry reel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My scream caught in my throat, struggling for air; dancers swept past me, bright and glittering—and Delaunay, my lord Delaunay was among them. Almost, I got out his name; then he turned, and I saw he held Melisande Shahrizai in his arms, smiling down at her. And Melisande looked past him, over his shoulder, across the crowded hall, to meet my eyes, and the shock of her beauty turned my knees to water." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And she smiled at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew. She knew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And I was too late." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The voice that woke me, reciting the details of the dream, ragged with panic, was my own. I took a deep, gasping breath, half-choking on it, and knew myself to be awake in the chambers of Gentian House. Like an echo in my memory, I could hear Raphael Murain's soft murmur winding through the dream, drawing the account of it from my unwilling lips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I sat upright in the bed, willing the pounding of my heart to slow and waiting for my vision to clear.\n\nWhen it did, I saw Raphael kneeling at the bedside, his face quiet and composed. \"Do you want me to tell it to you?\" he asked gently." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No.\" I passed my hands blindly over my face and shuddered. \"I remember.\"\n\n\"It is often so, when the dream is caught in the making.\" Rising gracefully, he turned open the shuttered lamps, letting their soft glow brighten the room, and poured me a glass." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Watered wine. Drink it, it will do you good.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I obeyed unthinking, gulping the cool liquid, which soothed my throat and nerves. Raphael sat back on his heels and regarded me.\n\n\"It is an easy dream to interpret,\" he said in his soft voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You are putting off a hard choice, Phèdre nó Delaunay, and only ill can come of it. If you wish, we may explore this dream together, and learn what is this choice you fear.\"\n\n\"That won't be necessary.\" I laughed shortly, and felt myself tremble a little." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write 6 sentences like Jacqueline Carey would, using user's text as beginning" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After so long at sea, 'twas strange setting foot on solid land, and I was hard put not to stagger, unnaturally convinced that the quai moved beneath me. Around us was the bustle of the Darielle's docking and laborers working to unload her cargo, and all at once I felt weary and salt-stiffened and in dire need of rest and a bath.\n\nThanks be to Blessed Elua, my chevaliers were solicitous and capable, quick to swing into action. Joscelin was no help; having finally gained his sea legs, he was twice as queasy as I on solid ground. But my factor's man in La Serenissima was present as arranged, and Remy and Ti-Philippe rounded him up in no time. Once he was done gloating over the quality of our shipment of lead, he greeted me unctuously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well met, well met, Contessa!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "he said in fluid Caerdicci, punctuated with many bows." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"All your requests have been seen to, and we have arranged for most elegant lodgings during your stay in the Serene Republic, most elegant indeed!\"\n\nOut of the corner of my eye, I could see Fortun examining the papers acknowledging receipt of the shipment \"Thank you, messire,\" I said in the same tongue, grateful that matters were well in hand. \"If I might be conducted to them ... ?\"\n\n\"Of course!\" He hurried to the edge of the quai, beckoning to the steersman of one of the large, gilded craft returning presently. \"It was the house of Enrico Praetano,\" he explained to me, \"who has defaulted on a loan to the Banco Grendati. They were most eager to arrange for a seasonal lease.\"\n\n\"Ah.\" So long as I was not displacing an orphanage, I thought, I did not care." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In short order, my chevaliers had my trunks brought up from the hold of the Darielle and placed in the craft; bissone, they are called, longer and broader than the simple gondoli." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The oarsmen grumbled at the number of trunks, and then they caught sight of me as Joscelin aided me carefully aboard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was tired, unwashed and not at all at my best." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Asherat!\" one of the crew muttered in awe, then grinned, standing up to execute a bow and kiss his fingers. \"A star has fallen to earth!\" Moving with an alacrity that set the bissone to rocking, the others scurried to arrange the cushions beneath the canopy for greater comfort.\n\nJoscelin looked unamused; I couldn't have cared less. I settled into the cushions with a sigh of relief. My chevaliers leapt aboard, the steersman pushed off, and we were on our way, gliding over the green waters." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So it was that I came to be ensconced in an elegant house along the Great Canal, rubbing shoulders with the Hundred Worthy Families. My factor's representative in La Serenissima—whose name was Mafeo Bardoni—might be an unctuous fellow, but he was a skilled businessman, and I never had cause to fault his dealings. If I did not like him, it was no fault of his own; he reminded me overmuch of Vitale Bouvarre, who had been Alcuin's patron, his first and last. 'Twas Bouvarre who gave up the name of Dominic Stregazza as Isabel de la Courcel's killer. He is dead, now, though he tried first to kill Alcuin for his silence.\n\nThough it was but late afternoon when I gained my lodgings, I ordered first a bath, and then went straightways to bed, and slept for some twelve hours." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My sleeping-chamber was directly off the balcony, and 'twas a strange and wondrous thing to awake not knowing where I was, with the shifting light off the waters of the canal playing over the walls of my chamber.\n\nA pity I had to wake to it alone, I thought.\n\nMy maidservant was a shy young girl named Leonora, who trembled and spilled the tray when she brought me tea and pastries, and blushed every time I looked at her. Still, my garments were unpacked and neatly pressed, and she buttoned my gown adeptly when I dressed. On my first day in La Serenissima, I wore a gown of apricot silk, with a fine gold brocade woven with seed pearls; another of Favrielle nó Eglantine's creations, marked with the simple, elegant lines so deceptively hard to mimic.\n\n\"Please tell Signore Joscelin and the others that I am awake,\" I said to her in Caerdicci, when I was properly attired and had tucked my hair into a gold mesh caul, donning a pair of dangling pearl earrings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, and bring me paper and ink, if you would be so kind.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "At this, Leonora's chin rose with a surprised jerk and she gazed at me wide-eyed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Does my lady wish the services of a secretary?\" she asked tentatively." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No.\" I frowned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My lady wishes to write a letter.\"\n\n\"Oh!\" Blushing once more, Leonora hurried out. I shook my head and waited. Presently she returned, breathless, clutching a sheaf of paper and holding the inkpot gingerly, as if it would bite her. I sat down at a little table near the balcony and penned a note to Severio Stregazza, sealing it with taper wax and the impress of the Montrève insignia.\n\nI thought of asking one of the house servants to deliver it, and thought better, descending to find Joscelin and my chevaliers assembled in the parlor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you think you could find your way to deliver this toSeverio Stregazza?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I asked Ti-Philippe, who fair bounded out of his chair.\n\n\"Aye, my lady!\" he said promptly.\n\nI let him go; I let all of them go, Phèdre's Boys, in the end, to take the city's measure. I knew Fortun would oversee the sale of our shipment, and all of them had become adept at scouting the sort of information I needed. It left Joscelin and me alone in the house together.\n\nWhen they had gone, he gave me a long, level look." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Now that we are here,\" he said, \"exactly what is it that you propose to do, Phèdre?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a fair question, and a good one." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was astonishing that he'd waited so long to ask it, and a pity I had no answer. I met his eyes and shrugged. \"Wait,\" I said. \"And see.\"\n\nJoscelin sighed.\n\nIn the matter of Severio Stregazza, I did not have long to wait. A reply came even before my chevaliers had made their way back to the house, scrawled in Severio's impatient hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I smiled to read it, remembering how terse his initial proposal to me had been; by contrast, this was a jumbled missive expressing his undying affection, his enormous joy at learning of my presence and, as an afterthought, a pleading invitation that I attend a celebration that night in honor of his friend Benito Dandi's natality.\n\n\"Will you go?\" Joscelin asked coolly.\n\n\"No.\" I shook my head, and sent once more for writing materials while Severio's manservant waited. \"I asked him to present me to his grandfather the Doge and to Prince Benedicte. I'll wait on that answer before I plunge into Serenissiman society—'tis the Doge's Palace I need to access. Anyway, it does no harm to keep him anxious.\"\n\nTo that, he made no reply.\n\nEre nightfall, my chevaliers had returned, full of high spirits and useful information, which they related to me over dinner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Careful to take no chances, I had the household servants dismissed while we dined; knowing no better, they put it down to some D'Angeline oddity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The chiefest rumor,\" Ti-Philippe announced eagerly, \"isthat the Doge himself, Cesare Stregazza, has plans to step down come year's end.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked at me to continue, and I nodded. \" 'Tis well known he has the shaking-sickness, and rumor says the Oracle of Asherat has proclaimed he will die of it, if he does not cede the throne.\"\n\n\"Rumor says too,\" Fortun murmured, \"that there is pressure from the Consiglio Maggiore, who fear his illness weakens their position in negotiation.\"\n\n\"It has not been formally announced?\" I inquired.\n\n\"No.\" Ti-Philippe shook his head vigorously. \"But everyone says it, and we went over half the city, pretending to be drunk, after Fortun found out how much profit you made on that lead shipment, my lady!\" He grinned. \"I always liked Drustan mab Necthana, but I like him better now that I know how cheap he's selling Alban goods for D'Angeline trade!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fortun cleared his throat. \"I arranged to put it on account at the Banco Tribune,\" he said apologetically. \"Messire Brenin said it was the best.\"\n\n\"Fine,\" I said. \"And what does La Serenissima say about the Doge's imminent retirement?\"\n\nRemy laughed, then sobered at my quizzical look. \"Pardon, my lady, but it's a dogfight, or near enough. There are six Sestieri to the city, and each one's the right to put forward a candidate, though it must be one whose family name is inscribed in the Golden Book—and that's by popular election. When the Doge is elected, 'tis the Consiglio Maggiore who does the choosing among 'em. Right now, it's all rumor and chaos, with the districts fighting among themselves and with each other over who they favor. I mean really fighting,\" he added." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mobs of young gallants in striped hose, beating each other over the head.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We saw a splendid fight,\" Ti-Philippe said cheerfully. \"On the bridge, with staves. I wanted to join it, but Fortun threatened to throw me in the canal.\"\n\n\"Thank you,\" I said to Fortun, who nodded gravely. To Ti-Philippe, I said, \"La Serenissima lacks a proper sewage system, you know. They use the canals.\" I knew, I'd seen Leonora empty the chamber pot.\n\n\"Well, that's why I didn't, isn't it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he asked logically. \"Anyway, two of old Cesare's lads are in the mix, it seems. Marco's the elder of the Stregazza; your Severio's father, that's wed to Prince Benedicte's daughter. He's got the Sestíeri Dogal's vote, all the clubs are behind him, and they love him well, only he's fallen out with Prince Benedicte, they say, since the old boy remarried, so his people are nervous that the Consiglio's going to turn against him. And the other's Ricciardo, his younger brother, who's going for the Sestieri Scholae, where all the craft-guilds are quartered, and getting them all up in arms over some tax.\"\n\nSeverio had told me as much, I remembered; it hadn't meant anything to me at the time. Now, I struggled to encompass it. \"Six Sestíeri,\" I said. \"Six districts. There are four other candidates, then?\"\n\n\"Not yet,\" Fortun told me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We heard Orso Latrigan has a lock on the Sestíeri d'Oro, and what he can't win, he'll buy. But there are three others where candidates are still vying.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shrugged and gave a quiet smile. \"I like Lorenzo Pescaro for Sestieri Navis, myself. They say the ink's still wet in the Golden Book where his family name was entered, but I've heard of him; he made a reputation chasing Illyrian pirates. He's a good commander.\"\n\n\"I'll be sure to note that.\" Having heard more than I hoped I'd ever need to know about Serenissiman electoral candidates, I asked the one question that really mattered. \"And Melisande?\"\n\nOne by one, my chevaliers shook their heads.\n\n\"My lady,\" Fortun said reluctantly, \"we asked. We played at being drunken D'Angeline sailors up and down the length of the Grand Canal, and too many byways to count, and some of us—\" he scowled at Ti-Philippe \"—were not exactly playing. Remy sang that song, you know the one? 'Eyes of twilight, hair of midnight.' \" I knew it; it had been written for Melisande, though they sing it now with a different name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"At any rate,\" Fortun continued, \"he sang it over half the city, beseeching everyone in sight for news of his beloved, who abandoned him for his lack of station.\" Helooked gravely at me. \"What we learned, you heard. But no one—no one, my lady—had word of a D'Angeline noblewoman answering to Melisande Shahrizai's description. And I do not mean that they were reluctant to betray her to a drunken sailor, my lady. I mean that they have not heard of her, ever. You taught me to recognize the signs of evasion and dissemblage. We talked to oarsmen, porters and nobles alike. Not a one knew of her, and not a one lied.\"\n\nA little silence fell over our table.\n\n\"Phèdre,\" Joscelin said, his voice unexpectedly gentle. \"You think Melisande is in La Serenissima because she wanted you to think it. It stands to reason, therefore, that she is not.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ysandre had said as much, and as rightly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could not explain to Joscelin any more than I could to the Queen my unreasoning certainty, because, ultimately, whether I liked to admit it or not, it was rooted in the belief that I knew Melisande Shahrizai's deepest nature better than anyone else alive or dead, even Delaunay.\n\nAs she knew mine.\n\nI took a deep breath. \"Gonzago de Escabares' friend was contacted after he paid a visit to the Doge's Palace. If the answer is here, surely it lies within those walls, and if Melisande took shelter within them, it may well be that no one outside them knows of her existence. Think on it,\" I added, gazing round at them. \"We know the Stregazza capable of treachery, and, even now, they fight among themselves for a throne not even vacated. At least let me gain entrance within the Palace, before we conclude that this journey has been for naught.\"\n\n\"Well,\" Ti-Philippe said optimistically." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's not for naught if we profit by it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "With that, no one of us could disagree." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Money, after all, is a valuable thing to have.\n\nIndeed, I was to find that it was a great greaser of locked doors, before the sun set on the following day. In the morning, Leonora shook me awake to murmur anxiously that another courier awaited, once again clad in Stregazza livery.\n\nI kept him waiting while I washed and dressed, and then read his missive to learn that Severio had secured for me an audience with the Doge that afternoon, which he was most impatient that I should attend, that he might speak with me afterward.\n\nAs to Prince Benedicte, Severio wrote, he had written his maternal grandfather with no response to date, but that was to be expected, with the strain betwixt their houses.\n\nAh well, I thought; I tied my own hands, when I insisted on the appearance of a falling-out with the Queen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I'd wanted entree into the Little Court, Ysandre would have been happy to provide it. But it was the Stregazza with whom I needed to deal, and no royal writ from House Courcel would obtain their trust. If I needed aught from Prince Benedicte, there were other names I could invoke—such as Quintilius Rousse, or even Anafiel Delaunay, if need be. I had made my promise to Rousse and I meant to keep it, but not until I knew somewhat worth the telling. And surely not while it posed the risk of jeopardizing my semblance.\n\nI wrote out a reply for Severio's courier, promising to arrive on the appointed hour." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To my surprise, Severio sent his own bissone, a splendid affair with a canopy of midnight-blue, the Stregazza arms worked in relief on the sides, depicting a carrack and the tower I now recognized from the Arsenal. In the prow stood a gilded wooden statue of Asherat, extending her arms in blessing over the waters of the canal.\n\nBy their attire, I saw that the oarsmen were noble-born; parti-color hose striped in blue and saffron, affixed by points to overtunics of velvet slashed to show the white damask of their shirts. One wore a short mantle of green fastened with a gold brooch, and it was he who stood and gave a sweeping bow as I descended the stairs to the quai, calling out, \"Contessa Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève, the Immortali welcome you to La Serenissima!\"\n\n\"That's one of the noblemen's clubs,\" Ti-Philippe murmured behind me. \"Your Severio's, I'll warrant.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had chosen him and Joscelin both to accompany me that day; the latter for his sober presence, and the former for his quick wit and knowledge of the city. I nodded briefly, and made the rest of my descent smiling.\n\n\"Thank you, my lord,\" I greeted the Serenissiman, inclining my head and giving him my hand to aid me onto the bissone. \"You know my name, but I confess, I am at a disadvantage.\"\n\n\"Benito Dandi.\" He grinned and swept another bow. \"You would not come to my birthday party, my lady, but I confess, the mere sight of you is a gift nonetheless precious for its tardiness! I thought Severio was boasting, but it seems he spoke the truth.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"For once,\" one of his fellows added impishly, pretending to stagger when I glanced at him. \"Ah! It's true! She wounds me with her blood-pricked gaze!\"\n\nI could not help it; I laughed. Serenissimans do not worship Elua and his Companions, but they know our religion well by virtue of a long-standing D'Angeline presence in the city. Obviously, Severio's boasting had added to the lore. Another of the Immortali dropped his oar and fell to the bottom of the boat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Bells and chimes!\" he groaned, rolling and clapping his hands over his ears." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The D'Angelines seek to invade us with beauty and destroy us from within; Baal-Jupiter, forgive me, I worship the sound of my enemy's voice!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was enough of a spectacle to gather an audience, figures appearing on the balconies of neighboring houses, gazing down with amusement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My lady,\" Joscelin said in a flat tone. \"You have an audience with the Doge.\"\n\n\"Ah.\" Benito Dandi eyed him warily. \"The chaperone. You'll have to leave those arms with the guards ere you enter the Palace, fair Sir Gloom. Well, never mind us, Contessa; we're an unruly lot, but the fastest rowers on the water, and only the Immortali are fit to carry you! Summon your pretty squawking grey-crow aboard, and yon maidenfaced boy, and we'll be at Old Shaky's doorstep before you can blink!\"\n\nI raised my eyebrows at Joscelin and Ti-Philippe, waiting to see if they would balk at the insults, but both gave way— Joscelin with stiff dignity, and Ti-Philippe with a glint in his eye that told me he would take full advantage of their erroneous perceptions. Yon maiden-faced boy, I thought, would fill his pockets at the Immortali's expense once their play turned to dicing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We were off to see the Doge, whom the scions of the Hundred Worthy Families, I had just learned, called Old Shaky. It didn't augur well for the level of respect he commanded.\n\nAlong the way, folk in passing craft and on the bridges and quais cried out greetings to the Immortali, who shouted in response. Admiration, aspiration, adversity; I heard it all, in the ringing shouts. There was no small curiosity about me, and I took care to keep my features serene, even when Benito Dandi shouted my name to a group of his fellow Immortali atop the Rive Alto bridge.\n\nNot until we passed the bustling center of the Campo Grande did my unsolicited escort sober, under the unamused gaze of the Dogal Guard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Benito Dandi handed me ashore, and I brushed off my gown, a rich blue satin inset with velvet panels; Serenissiman blue, the color is called. It had a fretted silver girdle with jet beads and a caul to match; somber, nearly. Except for the elegance of the fit.\n\nI looked away as the Guard confiscated Joscelin's arms.\n\nThe Immortali trailed behind, laughing and jesting as a pair of guardsmen escorted us along the serried colonnade, through alternating patterns of light and shadow, and thence through the old triumphal arch into the inner courtyard, where statues of ancient Tiberian statesmen and heroes stood in niches along the facade of the building and a marble well stood in the center of the courtyard. We mounted the broad stairway, flanked by tall statues of Asherat-of-the-Sea and Baal-Jupiter, and were met at the top by Severio Stregazza." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Phèdre!\" His voice caught echoes in the courtyard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Smiling, he bowed and greeted me in my own tongue. \"My lady Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève, welcome to La Serenissima.\"\n\nI curtsied, and answered in Caerdicci. \"Well met, Prince Severio.\"\n\nThe Immortali elbowed each other and made jests, while the guardsmen remained stoic; for his part, Severio glowed with pleasure. I had not forgotten that his own attendants acknowledged him as noble-born, not royal—but I was D'Angeline, and by our reckoning, he was of the lineage of House Courcel and a Prince of the Blood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In Terre d'Ange, the evidence of his Caerdicci heritage had set him apart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "'Twas different, seeing Severio here, where his D'Angeline blood dealt him a measure of grace lacking in his comrades. He took my arm, leaning to murmur in my ear. \"You've no idea how much I've longed to see you. Promise you'll speak with me afterward?\"\n\n\"Of course, my lord.\"\n\n\"Good.\" He straightened, adding, \"Father would like to meet you, too. He's a mind to discuss trade or some such thing. But I thought perhaps I could show you the city.\"\n\n\"That would be lovely,\" I said politely, and Severio's brown eyes lit at my reply." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I should not have, but I stole a glance at Joscelin, who stood impassive, strangely vulnerable without his daggers and sword, clad in mute grey." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even so, there was no mistaking him for aught but what he was: a pure-blooded D'Angeline from one of the oldest families. I sighed inwardly and smiled up at Severio Stregazza, resting my fingertips on his velvet-clad arm. \"Shall I be presented to your grandfather the Doge, my lord?\"\n\n\"By all means,\" Severio said gallantly, sweeping his free hand before us." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write 7 sentences sentences in the style of Jacqueline Carey spawning from what the user wrote, within the erotica, romance, fantasy genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Where's Joscelin?\" It was Ti-Philippe, most blithe and careless of the three, who asked; Fortun had taken one look at my reddened eyes and remained wisely silent, and Remy, who had sent Joscelin to me, avoided my gaze.\n\n\"Gone,\" I said shortly. \"And not likely to return.\" I set down the heel of jam-smeared bread I'd been toying with—I had no appetite—and turned to Fortun. \"You have the map?\"\n\n\"Yes, my lady.\" He indicated the cylindrical leather case at his side. \"We are all ready,\" he added quietly, \"and the boat is waiting. Whenever you're ready.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Let's go.\" I rose abruptly from the breakfast table, leaving them scrambling in my wake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My maid Leonora stared after us, shaking her head, no doubt wondering at the strangeness of D'Angeline ways. Well, if my behavior was odd this day, she'd put it down to the falling-out with Severio. If she hadn't heard it already, she would soon enough.\n\nThe fisherman-cousin of the Pidari family, whose name was Fiorello, was awaiting us anxiously in a little skiff with a single set of oars and a jerry-rigged sail. He spread burlap sacking on the seat for me as I embarked, and set to at the oars nearly the instant we were all aboard. Any other day, I might have laughed at the way Phèdre's Boys fell over each other at the speed of his departure. Any other day, I might have rejoiced as we emerged from the canal andhoisted the modest sail to scud across the lagoon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well and so, I thought, staring at the green wavelets." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Today I seek audience with a Prince of the Blood to lay forth my suspicions of one of the foremost peers of the realm. Mayhap it is fitting that my mood match this day's deeds.\n\nIsla Vitrari is one of the largest to lie within the shelter of the vast lagoon, and 'tis a pleasant isle. Its harbor has a deep draw, for the merchanters dock here, carrying glassware for trade. Fiorello Pidari cast a line to a couple of lads ashore, jesting with them; clearly, he was known here. The harbormaster gave him a nod and a wave as we disembarked.\n\nWe followed our guide along a well-trodden footpath, past studios belching smoke from the glass furnaces and jealously guarded by young apprentices." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was Prince Be-nedicte who suggested the glassworks be moved to the island some fifteen years past, Severio once told me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Before, they had been quartered within La Serenissima proper, and many fires had resulted. Small wonder, I thought, glancing within a doorway open to catch the breeze, seeing the red glow of a furnace within and a brawny Serenissiman craftsman at his trade. He wore a leathern apron and his lips were wrapped round the end of a hollow rod, his cheeks puffed out like a bellows. What he wrought, I could not say.\n\nIt was not until we drew near to the Studio Pidari that our guide grew nervous.\n\n\"No smoke,\" he muttered as we approached the low building. \"Why isn't the furnace going? The furnace should be going.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We found out soon enough." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tall and bald as an egg was the man who emerged from the studio, and he wiped his hands absentmindedly on the front of his jerkin, as if accustomed to wearing an apron. \"Fiorello,\" he said sorrowfully, extending his hands to our guide. \"Ah, Fiorello!\" And catching sight of the rest of us, his expression changed. \"You! You people have done enough,\" he said grimly, pointing back down the trail. \"Be gone from here! We want no more of your kind!\"\n\nIt was enough to stop me in my tracks and drive the grief clean out of my head. Fiorello stared uncomprehendingly and my chevaliers exchanged glances; I stepped forward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Master Glassblower,\" I said gently. \"I am Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève of Terre d'Ange. I had an appointment to discuss a commission for my Queen. I am sorry if we have come at an ill time.\"\n\n\"Oh, that, aye,\" he said roughly. \"Beg pardon, my lady, only we've had a death in the family. Ruffians, most like, or those damned Vicenti, thinking to prey on the weakest link to get us to give up the formula for our greens! Like as not it's my daughter's folly, to think her lad's mates would take vengeance on him.\"\n\nWeakest link, daughter's folly, lad's mates. My heart sank. \"Your son-in-law?\" I asked aloud, knowing already that it was true." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Attacked on his way home from the harbor tavern.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Master Pidari's gaze turned suspicious. \"Told her she was mad, wedding one such. What do you know of him?\"\n\n\"I knew him, signore.\" It was Ti-Philippe who stepped forward, blue eyes wide and earnest. \"Though I was a member of her majesty's navy and he of her guard, we fought together on the same battlefield and drank a toast, afterward, to earth and sea. May we extend our condolences to his widow?\"\n\n\"Reckon so,\" he said grudgingly, and turned, shouting into the studio. \"Serena!\"\n\nNamed for the city of her birth, there was no serenity to Phanuel Buonard's widow that day; she emerged white-faced and trembling, and I knew at once I was in the presence of a grief that dwarfed my own." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A grief, I thought with horror, of which I was the likely author.\n\n\"What do you want?\" Serena's voice shook. \"Are you guardsmen? What do you want?\"\n\n\"Guardsmen, no.\" Fortun spoke gently, bowing to her. \"Sailors once, now in the service of my lady Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève. We came for trade, but stay togrieve, signora. Chevalier Philippe, he knew your husband, and spoke him well.\"\n\nHer lips moved soundlessly and her eyes searched all our faces, lingering longest on mine, taking in the mark of Kushiel's Dart with a kind of awe. \"You,\" she said wonderingly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Phanuel spoke of you. You brought the Picti, the Painted Folk, when he fought the Skaldi. Men carried your banner. They ... they made up songs about it. You.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes,\" I said softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"These men. Signora, please accept our deepest sympathy.\"\n\n\"Why would they do it?\" Her dark, stricken eyes pleaded for an answer. \"His own brethren among the guard! Why? He was afraid, he would never tell me.\"\n\nBehind her, Master Pidari shook his bald head dolefully and went inside. I watched him go, thinking. \"Signora,\" I said to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If it was D'Angelines who did this, I will look into it myself, I promise you. But why do you think so? Your father does not.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She gave a despairing laugh that was part gulping sob." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My father! He thinks because Phanuel has a pretty face, he is girlish and weak. But he was a soldier, my lady. Ruffians could not have defeated him so easily, nor the bully-boys of the Vicenti. It was soldiers killed him, with steel.\" Serena Buonard pointed to her heart. \"Right here, a blade.\" A fierceness lit her eyes. \"I will ask along the harbor, and see if someone was not bribed to let D'Angeline guardsmen ashore!\"\n\nI turned to Remy, who nodded before I even spoke. \"Remy. Take Fiorello, and go. If they demand payment to speak, do it. I'll reimburse the cost.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thank you, my lady, thank you!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Serena clutched my hands gratefully. I felt sick. \"My father thinks I am mad, but I know I am not. Why? Why would they do this?\"\n\n\"Signora.\" I fought down my rising gorge. \"Why did your husband accept a post in La Serenissima?\"\n\n\"He said his commander offered him money, much money,\" she whispered, dropping my hands. \"Money to go far away. But there was something he wanted to forget, andthe Little Court was not far enough for that. So he ran to me.\" She lifted her chin defiantly; she was pretty, beneath her grief, in a Serenissiman fashion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He thought Isla Vitrari was far enough,\" she added sadly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But it was not.\"\n\n\"No,\" I murmured. \"Signora, your husband was the first to discover a terrible deed, at the fortress of Troyes-le-Mont where the last battle against the Skaldi was fought, and I think mayhap that memory is what he fled. Did he ever speak of it to you?\"\n\nShe nodded, looking into the distance. \"Yes.\" Her voice was a faint thread of sound. \"He told me, once. He thought... he thought the man was sleeping and jested with him, as guards will do. And then he saw blood on his tunic, and his eyes open and unmoving.\" Serena Buonard shook her head. \"No more than that. Only dawn breaking grey in the east, and the scent of apples ripening on the morning breeze.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Apples.\" I breathed the word, my heart cold in my breast." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Troyes-le-Mont stood on a plain near the foothills of Camlach, scourged by the Skaldi for ten leagues in every direction.\n\nThere were no apples ripening in Troyes-le-Mont, that summer or ever.\n\nWhat happened after that blurs in my memory, between the horror and guilt. I promised, extravagantly, to see justice brought to the killers of Phanuel Buonard. Pale and shocked, Fortun and Ti-Philippe seconded me. I daresay none of us believed it, before. I fumbled for my purse, untying it from my girdle and giving it whole into Serena's hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was heavy with gold solidi, and even through her grief, her eyes widened at it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I made promises to return at a better time regarding my Queen's commission.\n\nAll of that done, we departed, discarding solemnity for haste the instant we were out of sight. In the harbor, Remy met us, grim-faced. Serena Buonard was right. D'Angeline guardsmen had landed last night, bribing the harbormaster's second assistant.\n\n\"They should have hidden their tracks better,\" I said quietly. \"Fiorello, take us back.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He did, with all haste, looking rather ill himself. I had to beg coin of Fortun to pay him, having given all of mine to Serena. We paused at our rented house only long enough to don suitable court attire and because, although I did not say it, I was hoping against hope that Joscelin had returned.\n\nHe hadn't.\n\n\"My lady,\" Leonora said reverently, bringing me a missive on a salver. \"This came while you were gone.\"\n\nAn apology from Severio, mayhap; I glanced at it dismissively, and saw the seal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was the swan of House Courcel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I cracked the seal and opened the thick vellum, reading.\n\nBetter and better; Madame d'Arbos had been as good as her word. It was an invitation to an audience with Prince Benedicte and his wife, for that very afternoon. I murmured a prayer of thanks to Blessed Elua for making my way easier.\n\nThe hardest thing was what I asked my chevaliers, gathering them around. \"Prince Benedicte has granted me an audience,\" I said, raising the letter. \"Our work is half done for us. And I would fain have you all at my side, for you have earned it, and 'tis a dire thing we do. But...\" I hesitated \"... if any one of you is willing to stay, I would be grateful for it. If... if Joscelin were to return, he should know of this.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "They glanced at each other, all three." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I saw Fortun, steady as ever, willing to assume the burden; Remy, ridden with guilt for having sent him to me, opened his mouth. But it was Ti-Philippe who stepped forward first.\n\n\"I'll stay, my lady,\" he said solidly, meeting my eyes. \"I'm no good for this business, after all. Better lying and gambling than telling hard truths, and better for drinking and brawling than making a leg to royalty. I'll stay, and dun Sir Cassiline's hide for abandoning you if he comes back.\" \"Thank you,\" I whispered, taking his face in both hands and planting a kiss on him. \"Thank you, Philippe!\"\n\n\"'Tis naught,\" he muttered, blushing. \"When we go afterthe guardsmen what did for poor Phanuel, then I want in, my lady!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And you shall have it,\" I promised." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I smoothed my gown with both hands, making certain it lay properly; the apricot silk with gold brocade I had worn my first day in La Ser-enissima, accented now by the great collar of the Doge's pearls. \"Shall we go?\"\n\n\"After you, my lady.\" Fortun swept a bow, grave and ceremonial.\n\nI drew a deep breath, and we set out for the Little Court to denounce a peer of the realm.\n\nFew things I have done in my life—climbing the rafters in Waldemar Selig's steading to spy on his war plans, facing the Master of the Straits, crossing the Skaldi camp by night—have filled me with as much fear. I clung to Serena Buonard's grief as we journeyed by gondola along the Great Canal, to my faith in Fortun's analysis of the guardsmen's testimony, to the memory of a dream, of Percy de Somerville's smiling face and the cloying smell of apples. If I am wrong, I thought, Blessed Elua forgive me, but if I do not speak now, others may die." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At the gates of the Little Court, I showed my letter, keeping my countenance serene." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had alerted men of the guard once; I would not do it twice. Let Benedicte handle it, once he knew. We were admitted forthwith, and ushered into an antechamber—and there we waited. Fortun fingered the leather casing that held our maps, if the proof of our investigation should be desired. Remy gave me a quick, nervous smile. I went over the words of my presentation in my head, over and over, and did my best to repress a desperate wish that Joscelin were at my side.\n\nIf, if, if." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Comtesse Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève,\" a steward announced, opening the doors onto the throne room.\n\nI rose, Remy and Fortun falling in behind me, and made my entrance. It was an elegantly proportioned room, not too ostentatious, but with all the touches of D'Angeline nicety. There were joint thrones, side-by-side, one slightly smaller; it would have been appropriate, for a D'Angeline noble wedding into the cream of Serenissiman peerage. Prince Benedicte sat his, the larger throne, with the upright carriage of one who had been a soldier. Quintilius Rousse had told me as much. He had the Courcel mien, his face lined with age, but noble still, once-dark hair gone iron-grey." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had seen his brother King Ganelon before he died; I'd have put Benedicte at younger than his sixty-odd years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève,\" he said, greeting me in a rich voice. \"Well met.\"\n\nHis D'Angeline bride stood with her back to us, handing off their infant son to a nursemaid; a charming touch, I thought. She turned to take her seat on the lesser throne, and the silver netting of Asherat's Veil flashed, clear glass beads refracting the light.\n\n\"Your Highnesses.\" I made a deep curtsy, and held it. Behind me, I heard my chevaliers bend their knees, I spoke without rising, glancing up under my lashes. \"Your highness, Prince Benedicte, I have dire news to report. There is a treason within the very heart of Terre d'Ange, that has born seeds even within your own guard.\"\n\n\"Yes,\" Benedicte said gravely, looking down at me. \"I know.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had opened my mouth to continue; I had not expected his reply and was left on an indrawn breath." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With one graceful gesture, his bride drew back the Veil of Asherat, baring her face to smile at me.\n\nWhat you seek you will find in the last place you look...\n\n\"Hello, Phèdre,\" said Melisande." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI writing task: user input -> one sentence sentences. style: Jacqueline Carey. genre: erotica, romance, fantasy." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melisande did not come without warning." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew, the next time a guard brought a wash bucket and soap, what it meant." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I took no pleasure in it this time, only a certain bitter amusement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It would not do for the Princess-Consort of Benedicte de la Courcel to find me unwashed and unkempt in a foul and reeking cell, of course." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No, Melisande would order me bathed, like some battle-chieftain with a choice captive of war." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I did it, though I was tempted to defiance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But having already been forcibly fed, I had no wish to repeat the experience with a scrubbing, and something in the guard's expression—he was a new one, whose name I did not know—suggested that it was likely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I had done, I donned the clean dress he'd brought and sat cross-legged on my pallet to wait." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I did not have overlong." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This time, I did not flinch, nor retreat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I remained as I was, while Melisande's presence filled the cell like a candleflame or a song." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was proud of that small act of will." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If she had brought me low, well then, that was the territory I would claim for my own." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Let her stoop, if she wished to reach me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So I thought; being Melisande, of course, she did not, but merely looked down at me, gauging to a nicety what I did, and why." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A faint smile hovered at the coiner of her mouth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had no tricks she did not know." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What my lord Delaunay had taught me, he taught her, too, long ago." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And in turn, she taught him to use people." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As he had used me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Have you decided?\" Melisande inquired." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tilted my head back against the stone walls of my cell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What would you do with me?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another might have mistaken my meaning; Melisandedidn't." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There is a dungeon in the Little Court. You would be held there until. .. matters in La Serenissima were resolved. Or mayhap longer. It depends on you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She glanced mildly around my cell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It is a good deal more pleasant than this, being built for the enjoyment of Kusheline guests. Light, you will have, and comforts; decent clothing, food, a proper bath. Texts, if you wish; the library is good. Is it less secure for it, you wonder? No.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She shook her head. \"Not by much.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"By some.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes,\" Melisande said thoughtfully. \"Some.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"There is the chance that I might play you false and win your trust.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\" A glimmer of amusement lit her glorious eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"There is that, too. Although I daresay if you thought it likely, you'd not say it aloud.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Since it was true, I didn't bother to answer, asking instead, \"Why risk it at all? All that you have striven for lies within your reach. Is it worth jeopardizing, no matter how slight the risk, merely to toy with me? I don't believe it, my lady, and I mistrust this offer of yours.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you?\" Melisande walked to gaze through the barred window at the distant horizon, filtered daylight rendering her lovely features serene." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The game of thrones is a mortal one, my dear. Even if this gambit were to fail—and it will not— still, I have secured my endgame. My son, who is innocent in all things, stands third in line to the throne, the only scion of Courcel lineage untouched by treachery. No other member of House Shahrizai has achieved so much. But you ...\" Turning, she smiled at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Kushiel has chosen you, Phèdre, and marked you as his own. To toy with you is to play a god's game.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shuddered. \"You are mad,\" I said faintly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No.\" Melisande shook her head again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Only ambitious. I will ask again: Have you decided?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The crash and wail of the mourning sea filled the silence that stretched between us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It would drive me mad, in time; it had already begun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew it, the day I raved at the warden's refusal." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But at least that madness would claim only me, and I would remain true to myself to the end." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Melisande's way ... that was another matter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If I gambled and lost, I betrayed a great deal more." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Torn between terror and longing, I gave a despairing laugh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My lady, I am destroyed either way. Will you make me choose?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Destroyed?\" She raised her eyebrows." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You do me an injustice, I think.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No,\" I said. \"There is Ti-Philippe. And Joscelin.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You really do love him,\" Melisande said curiously." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked away, heard her laugh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Cassiel's servant. A fitting torment, for Kushiel's chosen, and Naamah's ... did he truly flee your charms?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes,\" I whispered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ah, but you can guess where he fled. Phèdre.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her voice turned my head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was pity and inexorable cruelty in her gaze." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Either way, he is gone. What does it merit, this blind and unthinking loyalty?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "she asked gently. \"To your Cassiline, who left you; to Ysandre de la Courcel, who used you at her need. It is all the same to Elua and his Companions, who sits the throne of Terre d'Ange. Tell me, do you believe I would make so poor a sovereign?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No,\" I murmured, surprising us both with the truth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What you do, my lady, you make a habit of doing very well. I do not doubt that once you had the throne, you would rule with strength and cunning. But I cannot countenance the means.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Phèdre.\" My name, only; Melisande spoke it as if to place a finger on my soul, soft and commanding. \"Come here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She crossed to stand before me, extending her hand, and I took it unthinking, rising obediently with instincts bred into my very fiber, trained into me since I was four years old." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With nothing but the force of her will and the deadly allure of her beauty, Melisande held me captive and trembling before her, cupping my face in both hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why do you struggle against your own desire? Blessed Elua himself bid us, love as thou wilt.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If there had been somewhere to flee, I would have." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If I could have fought her, I would have." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There wasn't, and I couldn't." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I couldn't even answer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her scent made my head spin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stood, stock-still and obedient, my heart beating too quick, too rapid." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So close, so beautiful." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So dangerous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melisande lowered her head and kissed me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The shock of it went through me like a spear; I think I gasped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A flaw, a weakness; Kushiel's Dart, piercing me to the very marrow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And in the aftermath of shock came desire, a vast drowning wave of it that swept away my will like a twig in a flood, swept away everything in its course." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yearning, ah, Elua! This had been coming between us for a long time, and it was sweet, far sweeter even than I remembered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Anchored by Melisande's hands, I swayed, dissolving under lips and tongue, craving more and more." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It turned my bones to molten ñre, my flesh shaping itself to the form of her desire." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My breasts ached with longing, a rising tide surging in my blood, my loins aching, body seeking to mold itself to hers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All that she asked, I gave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All that I was, all I was meant to be, I became under her kiss." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It felt like coming home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Melisande knew; how could she not?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Struggling to breathe, I clung to her, hands clutching her shoulders." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I did not even remember raising my arms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A faint, triumphant smile curved her lips as she released me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I took a deep, shaking breath and stepped back... one step, two, her smile turning quizzical... and jerked my head backward with all my might, slamming it hard against the stone wall of my cell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a hot, splitting pain that told me I had erred, catching not the flat wall, but the edge of the corner where the door recessed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It beat against the confines of my skull like Kushiel's bronze wings, a throbbing agony that drove a haze of red across my vision, beating and beating, driving out Melisande's allure." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I laughed as I slid helplessly to the floor, seeing the shock dawn across her lovely face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Phèdre!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was only the second time I had heard it, her melodious voice unstrung with astonishment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wet warmth made its way down the back of my neck, trickling forward to pool in the hollow of my throat, a scarlet rivulet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Truly, I had cracked my skull." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What in the seven hells are you thinking?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melisande muttered urgently, eyes intent and fearful as she knelt by my side, pressing a wadded kerchief to the back of my head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dizzy and pain-battered, I righted myself to look at her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I swear, Phèdre, you're ten thousand years of torment to me living!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Melisande's face and my cell reeled in my sight, swamped by agony." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She cared, she really did care about me, and I could not stop laughing at it, having found my own useless triumph in the dazed madness of pain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For all that Kushiel's red haze veiled my eyes, for all the ache in my head, my thoughts were clear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The balance of power had shifted, rendering us, for once, equals." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A frown of concentration creased that flawless brow as Melisande sought to staunch the flow of blood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hold this,\" she said shortly, pressing my limp fingers about the blood-soaked kerchief." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I obeyed, watching her go to the door, knocking sharply for the guard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Fetch a chirurgeon,\" she ordered him in crisp Caerdicci." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Or the nearest thing you have in this place.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He must have gone quickly; I could hear his footsteps receding down the hall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Melisande eyed me silently, drawing a dipperful of water from my drinking bucket and using it to rinse my blood from her hands, carefully and thoroughly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I sat with my back to the wall, pressing her kerchief against my head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Already my hair was matted with blood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You'll have to move fast,\" I said presently, as if I were not sitting bleeding on the floor of my cell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Barquiel L'Envers is no fool, and he has his suspicions. He'll retain the throne as regent the instant he hears the news, and demand a full investigation before he cedes it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Four couriers on fast horses will depart La Serenissima the instant the bell tower in the Great Square tolls Ysandre's death,\" Melisande said coolly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"With fresh horses waiting on relay all the way to the City of Elua. Percy de Somerville will take the City before Duc Barquiel hears the news.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And he named a conspirator, I suppose.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shifted on the flagstone, sending a wave of fresh agony pounding in my head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How is Ysandre to die?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You know enough.\" A key in the door; Melisande stood back to admit the warden and a guard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked expressionlessly at her and came over to examine me, drawing my head forward and parting the blood-damp locks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I felt his fingers probing my wound." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"A gash to the scalp,\" he pronounced, rising and wiping his hands on a towel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It is not serious. Head wounds bleed. It is not so deep that it must be stitched. Already, it begins to clot.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The warden turned his flat stare on the guard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Let her rest undisturbed for a day. Principessa.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He inclined his head briefly to Melisande." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is there aught else?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No.\" Her tone was unreadable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Give me a few more moments with the prisoner.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He nodded again. \"Knock when you are ready.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Melisande gazed at the door as it closed behind them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The tradition holds that a member of his family has served as warden of La Dolorosa since Asherat-of-the-Sea first grieved,\" she remarked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They first guarded the body of Eshmun, after Baal-Jupiter slew him. So they say. And they say he is incorruptible, having been appointed by the goddess.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But you already learned that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I shrugged. \"Would you expect me not to try?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hardly.\" She glanced around the barren cell. \" 'Tis a dire reward for his ancestor's service. It seems to me a dubious honor, to win a god's favor.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, my lady,\" I said wryly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I appreciate the irony. But Asherat-of-the-Sea did not make this place a prison. 'Twas mortal cruelty did that, and mortal forgetfulness that warped the warden's purpose, over the long centuries.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mayhap. They are not like us, who cannot forget.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Melisande made a simple, graceful gesture." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I met her gaze without speaking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Two years ago...\" she nodded toward the wall, \"... you would not have done that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "What did she expect, she who had sold me into slavery among the Skaldi?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had fought hard for my survival, and won greater hardships for my pains." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was true, Ysandre had used me at need, sending me into danger as great as that I'd left behind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I had gone consenting, then." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had faced death, more than once." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I walked into death's open arms on the battlefield of Troyes-le-Mont, and I went knowing what I did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had lost comrades and loved ones, and grieved." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was not what I had been, when Melisande first had me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These things I thought, sitting on the flagstones of my cell and gazing up at her impossibly beautiful face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I was a child then, my lady,\" I said softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My price is higher now.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "For once, I did not fear her; I was safe in Kushiel's dreadful shadow, and the sick, throbbing ache in my head protected me still." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melisande simply nodded, accepting my reply." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I will give you a day,\" she said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"On the morning after tomorrow, two of Benedicte's guards will come for your answer. They will speak to you in person. If your answer is yes, you will leave with them. If it is no...\" She shrugged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You stay. Forever. I will not ask again.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I understand.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good.\" Melisande turned to knock at the door, then turned back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You were unwise to play this hand so quickly, Phèdre. I will be more careful in the future.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I play the hand you dealt me, my lady,\" I replied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you?\" She looked curiously at me. \"I wonder, sometimes.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To that, I had no answer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Melisande gazed at me a moment longer, then knocked on the heavy door for exit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once more the key snicked in the lock, the hinges creaked open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I watched her go, taking every ounce of color and beauty with her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only her scent remained." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I opened my hand, revealing her wadded, blood-soaked kerchief, folds already beginning to stiffen until I smoothed it open." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was fine cambric, trimmed with lacework, with the swan of House Courcel embroidered small in one corner." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A suitable lover's token, as matters stood between us." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One day.\n\nAnd then I had to choose." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Keep going w/ 8 sentences more" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "1 thought a good deal about Hyacinthe that day.\n\nIt was ironic, in a situation laden with bitter ironies. I had chosen this very fate when I had fathomed the riddle of the Master of the Straits; not merely a lifetime, but an eternity, bound to a lonely isle. I would not have faced the madness of Asherat's grief, of course, but I daresay centuries of tedium would have served much the same.\n\nHyacinthe had used the dromonde to read the past, and stolen my doom.\n\nAnd now I faced it once more.\n\nHow had he stood it, I wondered. How did he fare now?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Master of the Straits had warned it would be a long apprenticeship. Ten years? Fifty? A century? I had sworn to do all I could to free him. Instead, I was imprisoned, and all my efforts had done was guide Joscelin to the Yeshuites so I might lose him. Now, I peered out the narrow window at the maddening sea, and wondered if there was any way Hyacinthe might free me. I had wondered, idly, aboard the ship from Marsilikos, how far the domain of the Master of the Straits extended.\n\nWould that I'd come to some other conclusion. But his reach had never gone more than a few leagues beyond the Straits, and I was far, very far, from there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And very, very alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I bowed my aching head against the lip of the window." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melisande was right, I'd been a fool to reveal the lengthsto which I would go to defy her. All it had got me was a sore head and the fleeting satisfaction of seeing her surprised. It was an idiot's ploy, and not one I'd care to use often. And yet... I had needed to know, for my own sake. I could defy her, if I summoned the will for it.\n\nAlthough it took a split skull to break the spell of one kiss.\n\nAnd Melisande was capable of much, much more than that.\n\nI knew; I remembered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I remembered altogether too well." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An anguissette is a rare instrument; most of my patrons lacked the art to sound all my strings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pain and pleasure, yes, of course, but there are others, too. Cruelty, humiliation, dominance ... and compassion and kindness. It took all of these, to make truly exquisite music. That was the part so few understood.\n\nAffection.\n\nIt was my bane with Melisande, always the potential key to my undoing. No matter how much I hated her—and I hated her a great deal in a great many ways—there was a part of me that did not, nor ever would. Waldemar Selig had been a formidable foe with the advantage of owning me outright, but no matter how many times he mastered me, nor how many ways, I never risked losing myself in him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had not been at least a little bit in love with him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Still and all, now I knew; that sword cut two ways." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Melisande cared enough for me to make her vulnerable, at least a bit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even so had Kushiel cared for the damned in his charge, when he was still the Punisher of God; he loved them so well they received pain as balm and begged not to leave him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So too it made Kushiel vulnerable, for the One God was displeased with him and would have cast him down. But he followed Blessed Elua, who said, love as thou wilt. I wondered if he feared, mighty Kushiel, (his scion of his who burned so brightly. Elua and his Companions did not quarrel among themselves; not for them the jealousy of other gods. No, but each claimed his or her province in Terre d'Ange, and held it solely. Each save Blessed Elua, who ruled without ruling, wandered and loved, and Cassiel, who stood at his side and cared only for Elua.\n\nThe others—Kushiel, Azza, Shemhazai, Naamah, Eisheth and Camael—were they jealous of their immortal thrones, in the Terre d'Ange-that-lies-beyond? It might be so." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was so, among other gods, other places. Standing at the heart of Asherat's grief, I knew that much to be true. Mortals conquer and slay; gods rise and fall. The games we play out on the board of earth echo across the vault of heaven.\n\nMelisande knew it.\n\nI bore the mark of Kushiel's Dart.\n\nMy thoughts chased each other around and round. I tried to pray; to Kushiel, to Naamah, who were my immortal patrons; to Blessed Elua, who is lord of us all." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But the pounding rage of Asherat's grief scattered my thoughts, driving away the solace of prayer.\n\nIf I were not chosen for somewhat, I would be dead now, as surely as Remy and Fortun. But what? To thwart Melisande by choosing no, denying her the chance to break Kushiel's Dart? Or to face her, and dare win a greater stake?\n\nShe would be cautious; she would be very, very cautious. My chances of defeating her plans were nearly nonexistent.\n\nNearly.\n\nAnd the deeper game she played?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't know. By the end of my day of grace, I was no wiser. I stared out the window, brooding, while the rays of the setting sun bloodied the waters. I wished that Hyacinthe were here with me now, to speak the dromonde for me. Not that he would; he never would, for me. Out of fear, at first. His mother foretold that I would rue the day I learned the answer I sought, the riddle of Delaunay. She was right, for 'twas the day he died. Afterward, Hyacinthe said he could not see, for the path of my life held too many crossroads." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Truly, I stood at a dire one now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "still, I wished he were with me. My one true friend, I used to call him. Even Joscelin, bound by his vow, had not proved so true.\n\nOnly love had bound Hyacinthe and me.\n\nAnd he would be lost, too, if I told Melisande no. However slim the hope that I might find a way to break his geis, it would die with me here in La Dolorosa. If I said yes ... texts, if you wish, Melisande had said. I could continue. And there was nothing, nothing she could do to Hyacinthe, which gave me a certain grim satisfaction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But there was Ti-Philippe ... and Joscelin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My Cassiline, who left me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hated him for that; hated and despaired, for it may have been the one thing that would save his life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But it had left me bereft, well and truly alone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had been stronger with him at my side, my Perfect Companion. He lent me the courage and strength to cross the Skaldic wilderness in winter, and when Ysandre bid me go to Alba, he left the Cassiline Brotherhood itself to go at my side.\n\nAnd then he left me.\n\nThe light on the water faded to mauve, and Tito came with my evening meal, looking with worriment at my face, my bloodstained dress, and coaxing me to eat before the light went altogether. I did, finally, if only to ease his distress. If I chose no, if I stayed, his hulking kindness would be the only spark in my life. I wondered, would it continue? If Melisande's ban was lifted and the warden freed his men to use me as their plaything, would Tito be among them?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Simple and kind, yes, but a man, confined to this rock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I imagined Malvio showing him what to do, grinning all the while, and shuddered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The worst of it... I did not like to think.\n\nI thanked Tito as he took my tray, closing the door behind him. It was hard to make out shapes by now. I fumbled my way to my drinking bucket, rationing the water I consumed to save a little for washing my face. The hair at the back of my head was stiff with matted blood, but I didn't have enough water to cleanse it. I dampened my fingers enough to part it, touching the wound gingerly. It had clotted over cleanly, I thought, beginning to heal." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "More of Kushiel's questionable mercy, keeping me hale to endure fresh torments.\n\nWith the encroachment of night came a fitful wind andscudding clouds, obliterating the stars. Awake, I stood clinging to the bars of my window, facing unrelieved blackness and feeling the warm breeze on my skin. Asherat's grief moaned in the wind and surging sea. I separated the threads of sound from my various cell mates, finding a new voice among them, or mayhap only a new phase of madness. This was a deep cry on a rising tenor that reached a certain pitch and broke off in a throaty gurgle; the Howler, I named him. I listened for the others, counting, and did not hear the Screamer, although the Pleader's voice was among them, an endless litany of begging.\n\nWell, I thought, mayhap they were different all along, and the Screamer has become the Howler." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It could be that this Howler was a new prisoner, but I listened further and decided no, that the sounds were too far gone from human." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An old cell mate with a new voice, then. A new phase of madness.\n\nI made my way back to my pallet by touch, wondering, what voice will I have when first I break? A Ranter, mayhap. I liked to think I would retain intelligible language, at least for a good while. Longer than most, likely. It would take a long time, for Kushiel's chosen to forget entirely what it meant to be human. They are not like us, who cannot forget.\n\nMayhap I never would, until I died." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I do not think I lack for courage, although admittedly, it is my own kind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am no warrior, to face naked steel on the battlefield, but it is true, what I considered earlier; I have faced dire fates before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I feared, if I prayed and pleaded it might be otherwise, still, I went. Into the Skaldic winter, into the teeth of the Straits, into the hands of Waldemar Selig. I was not a coward.\n\nBut this fate I could not face.\n\nSo be it, I thought, sitting alone in blackness, I cannot do this thing. Blessed Elua have mercy on me, but I would rather be Melisande's creature than a broken thing in a cell. At least it gave me a chance, a fragile, deadly chance, but a chance all the same. Here, I had none." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had chosen.\n\nMy decision made, I felt somehow calmer, and at last was able to pray. I prayed for a long time, to Elua and his Companions, all of them, to protect and guide me, and above all, to give me strength not to betray my own companions. And if there was some chance, any chance, that Ti-Philippe and Joscelin lived, that they might yet act against Melisande and Benedicte, let my lips remain sealed. She would be cautious, but she would press; it made her uneasy, to know they had evaded her. Well and good, then let me serve as living distraction, no matter what the cost, no matter what she might do. Let my pain atone for the deaths I had caused.\n\nLet me keep silent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Let me be the sacrifice.\n\nIt was better than this.\n\nWhen I was done, I felt at peace for the first time since I had beheld Melisande, and despite the maddening wail of Asherat's grief, despite the cries and howls of the other prisoners riding the night winds, I laid my head down on my pallet and slept soundly.\n\nIt was the sound of shouting that awakened me.\n\nI came awake in an instant, heart pounding, gathering myself to crouch on my pallet. No wind or sea, this, nor prisoner's madness; no. The sound echoed in my memory, recalling others like it. Men, shouting; reports and urgent orders." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd heard it last in Southfort, among the Unforgiven, when Captain Tarren d'Eltoine sent riders north to seek out the guardsmen of Troyes-le-Mont." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was the sound of a garrison, only a garrison roused." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A torch flame streaked the darkness outside my narrow window, a voice called out in Caerdicci." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And through the heavy door of my cell, I heard quick footsteps in the corridor, the sound of keys jangling, doors opened and slammed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were checking on the prisoners." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "La Dolorosa was under attack.\n\nI'd scarce had time to think it when my own door was thrown open, and the sudden glare of lamplight made me wince. I shielded my eyes with one hand, making out thesilhouetted figure of the guard even as he went to close the door, satisfied that I was safely contained.\n\n\"Fabron, please!\" My voice outstripped my thoughts, pleading. He hesitated, and I rose from my pallet in one graceful motion, using all the art of the Night Court. \"Please, won't you tell me what's happening?\" I begged him, turning out both hands. \"I heard shouting, and it frightened me!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He hesitated, then jeered. \"Yah, D'Angeline, too good to look at me, until you're scared, huh? You think I'll protect you, when I amnn't even allowed to touch you?\"\n\n\"Please.\" I didn't have to feign a tremor in my voice. \"If you'll only tell me, I'll... I'll let you, I swear it. I won't say a word.\"\n\nFear and obedience were strongly ingrained in him; even then, he paused before taking two swift steps into my cell, closing the door and setting down the lantern. Lit from below, his face was eerily shadowed. \"Let me see, then,\" Fabron said hoarsely. \"Make it fast.\"\n\nHolding his gaze, I slid the overlarge woolen gown from my left shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The neckline dipped low, laying bare one breast. He made a guttural sound and stepped forward, reaching for me.\n\nIt is not in my nature to be violent. I have killed one man, in self-defense, and I begged him not to force my hand. Harald the Beardless, he was called; a thane in Gunter's steading. He was kind to me, and gave me his cloak. But he rode out after me, for the honor of his steading, and would have slain Joscelin and dragged me back to Selig.\n\nOne does what one must." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What I did to Fabron, any child of seven or more in the Night Court knows to do, from listening to the adepts' gossip. To be sure, it would have carried a severe punishment, but we knew of it all the same. As his fingers brushed my skin, I brought one knee up hard and fast, squarely betwixt his legs. I daresay the years of dance and tumbling helped; it was a solid hit, and hard. It made a dreadful sound, Fabron made a dreadful sound, high-pitched, doubling over and clamping his hands over his groin. I couldn't afford guilt orpity; I whirled, still without thinking, and snatched up the wooden stool, bringing it up in a sharp arc to connect with his bent head.\n\nIt caught him across the temple with a dull thud, and he fell over. Unmoving, he lay on the floor of my cell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Breathing hard, I dropped the stool and dragged my gown back up to cover myself, then stood listening.\n\nIn the distance, a confused shouting continued. I went to the door, pressing my ear to the heavy wood. In the corridor, nothing.\n\nReturning to Fabron's unconscious form, I fumbled beneath him and found the ring of keys on his belt. There was a bruise already visible on his temple, but his breathing was steady. I took the keys and the lantern. It took me several tries to find the right key for my cell; then I did, and the door opened onto the dark corridor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I emerged, carefully locking the door behind me, and Fabron inside.\n\nThe corridor was silent and empty, the lantern casting wild shadows on the stone walls as it trembled in my unsteady hand.\n\nTwelve doors of brass-bound oak, all locked in a row.\n\nI couldn't leave them.\n\nMine was third from the end. I went to the first, desperately trying key after key, until it opened... to find it empty. I tried the next, wasting precious seconds, only to find the same result, an empty cell, eight paces by eight, not even a pallet to relieve it. I moved past my own door—no sound yet, Fabron still unconscious—and tried the fourth door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Empty.\n\nCursing softly under my breath, I fought with the jangling iron ring, seeking the key for the fifth door. At last I found it; it fit, the door opened.\n\nI knew from the stench that this one was inhabited.\n\nWhat I saw in that cell, I do not like to remember. A man's figure or somewhat like it, crouching at the wall beneath his window, scrabbling at the stones with long, curvednails. He turned toward the light with a whimper, throwing up one forearm to shield his eyes, showing his teeth in a grimace. His hair was greying, snarled and matted with long years' neglect." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I took a step back from the doorway, holding the lantern high to illuminate my face and show I was no guard.\n\n\"You are free,\" I said softly in Caerdicci. \"Although I do not know for how long. Someone attacks the fortress. Stay if you wish, or go if you will risk it. You are free to choose.\"\n\nHe lowered his arm and peered at me, blinking. His mouth worked, but no human sound emerged. \"Wh... wh ... wh ... ?\"\n\n\"I don't know,\" I said. Whatever he sought to ask, I had no answer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"All I can offer is a chance. Take it or not, and Blessed Elua keep you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Swallowing hard against the horror of it, I hurried to the next cell and the next, fear and bile rising in my throat. I set them all free that night, my prison mates, Asherat's captive mourners. Nearly every cell was as bad as the first. Some I knew by sight. The Banger stood before his window, pounding his bruise-blackened forehead against the bars— that was the sound I'd heard for nights on end. The Pleader had been there the shortest time, next to me. He stood upright, blinking wide-eyed at the light. A youngish man, not thirty years old; his hair had grown only to his shoulders." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Please?\" he asked tentatively." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I swear, 'twas not my dagger, I swear it, my lord! Only let me go, and I'll prove it, I'll bring you the man who did it. Please, my lord? Please?\"\n\n\"You are free to choose,\" I murmured, sick, repeating my litany. Six times I had said it already; eight times before I was done. All along the corridor, the brass-bound cell doors stood open and ajar, dark, gaping mouths emitting the reek of ordure and foulness and the rhythmic surge of grieving sea, pierced with distant shouting. Somewhere, above, I could hear the sound of running steps.\n\nBut the corridor stood empty, save for me; and quiet. All their' voices had fallen silent.\n\nI could not force them to go, could not force them tochoose, when I knew not what transpired." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "expand on the story like Jacqueline Carey would" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Across the bay, the wind picked up once more, a merry breeze that sent our six ships scudding across the water like seabirds." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We were spotted ashore, and it seemed the village entire turned out to meet us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At some twenty yards out, the sailors launched into a flurry of action, taking down the sails and lashing them to the yard with swift, coordinated gestures." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Others took to oars, checking our incoming speed and maneuvering the vessels skillfully alongside the waiting docks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The heavily laden craft wallowed a bit, but flat-bottomed as they were, they had a shallow draw and managed the docking without scraping the sandy bay." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Throughout it all, Kazan Atrabiades stood in the prow of the lead ship, legs braced, arms upraised in a sign of victory." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And the folk ashore cheered him mightily, men and women alike." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a hero's homecoming, and no mistaking it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kazan leapt ashore once the first line was lashed to the pilings, greeted with hearty embraces by the men and doting smiles or squeals of admiration by the women." }, { "from": "human", "value": "'Twas a grand reunion all around, as the other sailors were welcomed home by family and friends; even Glaukos moved spryly to disembark, greeting a sturdy young woman less than half his age with resounding kisses on both cheeks, making her blush prettily and clasp his hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amidst it all, I stood on the ship, forgotten." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It did not last long." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I saw the first glance, heard the first voice fall silent, a silence that spread like a ripple from a dropped stone, rings of soft murmurs following in its wake." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ështa në Vila!\" I heard more than once, knowing now what it meant; now, it merely made me glance uneasily at the mizzenmast, sail furled harmlessly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If the kríavbhog was there, it did not show itself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Djo, djo,\" Kazan Atrabiades said soothingly, holding up one hand for silence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Once they were listening, he pointed to me and spoke at length in Hlyrian." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could see from the way the tension left their expressions that he was explaining I was no Vila, but a mortal hostage, reassuring them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nonetheless, my inability to comprehend a word he spoke filled me with mingled fear and frustration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I cast an imploring look in Glaukos' direction, he hurried to the dockside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ah, now, don't fear, my lady!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "he exclaimed. \"Kazan, he's telling them you're D'Angeline, that's all, and to be treated as an honored guest during your stay here. Didn't I promise you he'd honor the conventions?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You did,\" I said, taking little comfort in it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kazan Atrabiades' words were all too fresh in my mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If he lived, I would give you to my brother." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I did not care overmuch to trust to the honor of a fratricide, no matter how much his people admired him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Better a hostage than a slave, but it came down to much the same." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the end, I was what I had been all too often for the duration of my short life: valuable goods." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whatever Kazan said, they seemed to accept it, reluctantly setting aside their curiosity to go about their business, unloading the ships and implementing a complicated systemof distribution." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Glaukos led me over to where Kazan was directing the operations." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My lord,\" I said, taking a deep breath, forgetting once more not to address him thusly, \"if I might speak to you—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sa të djambo!\" he snapped at me, and I did not need a translator to know I'd been told to keep quiet in the rudest possible terms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I closed my mouth sharply, and Kazan Atrabiades turned to Glaukos, giving him instructions in a string of rapid Ulyrian." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Glaukos replied in the same tongue, explaining somewhat and pointing to my bandaged midsection." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The exchange continued for some time, growing heated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the end, Kazan shrugged and turned away, dismissing us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're to come with me, for now, my lady,\" Glaukos informed me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His weathered face was flushed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Come, my little Zilje will see to those wrappings and draw you a bath.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His young wife—-for I learned later she was such—came forward with a half-curtsy, coloring to the roots of her red-blond hair." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you,\" I said, with as much warmth as I could muster." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Glaukos, how do I say 'thank you' in Ulyrian?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I repeated it when he told me, smiling at her. \"Falemir dít, Zilje.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "And with that, Glaukos lent me his arm, and with young wife fluttering anxiously at his side, aided me in my slow, painful process across the hot sands toward his lodgings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All told, I was three days in the house of Glaukos, recuperating." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Young and resilient though I was, my ordeal had taken a greater toll than I cared to reckon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Each day I rose, insistent, by mid-morning; by mid-afternoon, I was limp with exhaustion and my ribs ached dully." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Zilje scolded me in II-lyrian, regarding me with a certain proprietary awe, as if I were a willful and exotic pet her husband had brought back from his seafaring, while her younger sister Krísta, who dwelt with them, stared at me wide-eyed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a great deal of traffic by the women of Dobrek to the physician's house in those three days." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I daresay the village had never seen so many toothaches at once." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Glaukos, for his part, ignored it; I smiled and nodded, trapped by my own weakness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Zilje dispensed cloves to chew for the pain, and gossiped eagerly with the visitors." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It nearly drove me mad, being unable to understand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have always been good with languages, and thanks to Delaunay's insistence, I mastered the trick of learning them early." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I may have been a slave in Skaldia, but at least I always knew what was being said in my presence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Here, it was different." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I speak D'Angeline, Caerdicci, Skaldic and Cruithne with a considerable degree of fluency; I do passing well at Habiru and Hellene, and can make myself understood among Tsingani." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Illyrian, it seemed, was unrelated to any of these." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Since I had naught else to do save heal, I set myself with grim determination to mastering what I might of the Illyrian language." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My task was complicated by the fact that Glaukos was often absent or unavailable, and Zilje and I shared no tongue in common." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Still, I garnered some small stock of phrases, and was able by the end of my stay to say \"please\" and \"thank you,\" along with a few simple courtesies." }, { "from": "human", "value": "From these, I was able to extract a glimmering of the syntax of Illyrian." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a beginning." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As to Glaukos' whereabouts, I learned that he served as bookkeeper to Kazan Atrabiades as well as physician, and had been busy cataloguing the inventory and distribution of their latest plunder, entrusting Zilje to see to the day-to-day needs of the villagers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was genuine affection between the ex-slave and his young wife." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I confess, it had been my first thought that she had been given him as reward for good service, but in this I was mistaken." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He regarded her fondly, and she him; and so she should, for he had a kinder heart than many who served Kazan." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her sister Krísta treated him as an indulgent uncle, which seemed to suit all three." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On the second day, a fine gift of fabric arrived from Kazan—a silk damask of deepest rose, woven with a trefoil pattern." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I ran a fold of it through my fingers, bewildered, and gazed questioningly at Glaukos." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ah now, my lady, you should be attired according toyour station, shouldn't you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he said, avoiding my eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I told you he'd do right by you, after all. Old Noní is coming this afternoon. Six fine needles, he promised her, if she'd stitch up something suitable.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I tried to give the fabric to Zilje and her sister, to no avail." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What Kazan Atrabiades willed would be done." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Old Noní came in turn, a hunchbacked crone with a grim look to her, who muttered and prodded and measured me with a string, returning a scant day later with a garment that startled me in its elegant simplicity, gathered below the breasts and hanging straight to the floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The design came from an ancient Illyrian poem about a tragic heroine; I wished I'd had a translation, to give to Favrielle nó Eglantine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It would have interested her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At least it left considerable remnants of fabric, which I gave to Zilje and Krísta, much to their delight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What they made of it, I never learned, for by the end of my third day of convalescence, I was hale enough to have regained my impatience—and for all of his reluctance, Glaukos could not deny that I'd made a remarkable recovery." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He acceded to my demands and sent word to Kazan Atrabiades." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So it was that the pirate captain ordered me sent to him, attired in stolen finery after the style of a long-dead epic heroine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Unlike the weathered pine buildings in the village, Kazan's house was built of stone; blocks of creamy marble quarried on a nearby isle and brought by water to Dobrek." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It lay a short walk from the village proper on a rocky escarpment on the bay, gazing out at the sea." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A stand of cypresses provided a charming screen, and there were colorful, late-blooming vines I could not name sending tendrils up the marble walls." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The house itself was low and meandering, and large enough to be a nobleman's estate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At any given time, it housed not only Kazan, but a small staff and three or four of his men who had quarters of their own." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a stable, too, with two horses in it; the only ones on the isle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For everything else, they used donkeys." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kazan was waiting for us on the terrace overlooking the sea when we arrived, flanked by two of his men." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His black, topknotted mane was glossy with recent brushing and he wore loose trousers tucked into boots, and over his shirt, a close-fitting vest decorated with Illyrian embroidery." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The strip of beard on his chin was fresh-shaven, and even the points of his mustache had been waxed to sharp perfection." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Lady Phèdre,\" he announced, bowing, mangling my name only a little." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I welcome you to my house, I! You are my honored guest on Dobrek, eh?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His men followed suit, staring at me and elbowing each other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Since there was nothing else for it, I curtsied." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mirë daj, Kazan Atrabiades. Falemir dít; I thank you for your hospitality.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He started at my greeting him in Illyrian, gazing at me open-mouthed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It showed the gap of his missing molar and rather ruined the overall effect of his appearance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He must have realized it, for he closed his mouth and said hastily, \"You did not say you spoke Illyrian, you!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't, my lor—Kazan.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The habit was not easily broken." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Only these few words, which I have learned in your tongue, that my pleas may fall more gently on your ears.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He frowned. \"You are like a dog with a bone, eh, worrying at it always! We will speak of this ransom in time, when / say. Now you are my guest, and Glaukos, he say you must rest still. So you will go, and do this.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Turning away from me, Kazan raised his voice. \"Marjopí!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "A vast figure moved out of the shadow of the house's small arcade into the bright sun of the terrace; a woman, massive arms folded across her solid bosom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was of middle years or older, though her hair, bound atop her head, was a black untouched by grey." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hard black eyes in a doughy face regarded me without favor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Marjopí, she has been with me since I was a sucking babe, I. She will take care of you, eh? Marjopí! Të lesh gezuan, eh?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he added, calling to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marjopí—for that was her name—unleashed a stream of Illyrian invective at him, to which he retorted in the same." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His lieutenants grinned unabashedly, and Glaukos shifted uncomfortably at my side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What is it?\" I asked him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She thinks you're bad luck,\" he muttered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The Illyrians; I told you, they're superstitious. Ah, now, she wouldn't be the first to claim D'Angeline beauty unnatural, but the spot in your eye, now, well, it seems the kríavbhog is a red-eyed beastie. It's something to do with that, I gather.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mayhap she has the right of it,\" I answered dourly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of a surety, the creature I'd seen—or thought I'd seen—had an incarnadine gaze, and I harbored no illusions but that I'd feel the prick of Kushiel's Dart soon enough." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whatever the cause of the argument, Kazan's will prevailed, and Marjopí conceded defeat with a sniff, nodding at me and jerking her head sharply toward the interior of the house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Given little choice in the matter, I made my thanks to Glaukos and followed her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inside, the house was cool, well shaded by its cypress screen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The furnishings were quite fine, albeit mismatched; dark woods and ashen, inlay and scrollwork, Akkadian carpets with Hellene vases." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I followed Marjopí to my chamber, which was quite small and barren, holding only a small clothing-press and a narrow bed over which a rich coverlet trimmed with marten had been arrayed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had a window, which looked out toward the hills, and the shutters had been opened to let the room air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There Marjopí left me, and there I sat, perched on the narrow bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It took no longer than it takes to core and eat an apple for me to grow bored." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There are those who are able to endure enforced idleness with grace, spending their time in useful contemplation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Joscelin, who could maintain his Cassiline vigils for hours on end, was one such; save for a patron's whim or at need in the arts of covertcy, I was not." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In La Dolorosa, I endured it because I had no choice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Here, it was different I gazed out the window, where the honey-colored sunlight warmed the distant pines, releasing their resinous fragrance into the air." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I gazed at my feet, clad in unlovely sandals Glaukos had gotten from Dobrek's cobbler." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I got up andopened the clothing-press, which was empty except for a cloak of fine-combed, dark-blue wool, bordered with a white pattern." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well and so, I thought, if Kazan Atrabiades did not want me to leave, then he would have left a guard on me or ordered the door locked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Since it stood open, it must be that I was free to wander." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After all, if I had it in mind to escape, where would I go?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dobrek was an island, secluded and secure, I was imprisoned by water as surely as walls." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The house stood quiet and empty in the morning hours; in these parts, people labored until the unbearable heat of midday drove them to rest, resuming in the early evening hours." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was, alas, no library, though I hadn't really expected to find one." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kazan Atrabiades was no Waldemar Selig to grasp with both hands generations of recorded thought as a tool to shape his destiny." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No, it was Kazan's slain brother who had been the scholar." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Clearly, my pirate lord wanted no reminders of that pursuit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I did find one room that surprised me into pausing outside the door when I heard a sound within." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inside was an old-fashioned vertical loom, at which sat Marjopí, her back to the door, weaving." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was humming as she wove, plying the shuttle with a speed and dexterity that belied her bulk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As I had no wish to catch her attention or disturb her pleasant mood, I slipped quietly past the door to continue my exploration." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kazan's room I recognized without difficulty." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It held an enormous bed with a carved, gilt-trimmed headboard depicting a frieze of hunting dogs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Items of clothing were strewn carelessly across the bed, and a pair of well-worn boots leaned against each other on the floor beside it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By contrast, his arms were hung neatly on a stand in the corner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The short sword in its tooled-leather scabbard, I knew by sight; I did not recognize the corselet and helm with its crisp scarlet plume, the full-length shield painted with a bird of prey clutching a leafy branch in its talons, black on red." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These were not the arms of a common soldier, and by the care he took with them, I guessed they were his own, andnot stolen plunder, like so much else in the house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, I thought, he said he was noble-born; mayhap it was true." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I glanced around the rest of the room, seeking to learn what I might about my erstwhile rescuer and captor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On a table by the bedside sat a pomander of silver filigree, unmistakably D'Angeline in workmanship." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was wrought to resemble a twining ball of grapevines, rounded bunches of grapes showing in rounded relief." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It opened with a cunning twist, holding a lump of camphor, aromatic as the sun-warmed pines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So, I thought, Kazan Atrabiades has a liking for beautiful and pleasant things." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, that was good for me; and bad, though no worse than I expected." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If he takes a care with them, so much the better." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The only other item of note in the room was a rather battered cabinet of dark cypress wood, inlaid with ivory in a pattern of moons and crescents." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ivory was yellow with age, cracked in places, and the wood bore old scratches long since worn dark with handling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I daresay it had been a fine piece, once, but it seemed an odd item for plunder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I opened the doors onto the lower shelves, which held only clothing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the top were two small drawers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One held some parchments, written in Illyrian, and a gold signet ring." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tilting it toward the window and peering at the seal, I made out a device of three bees and a faint inscription." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I replaced it carefully and opened the other drawer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What I had expected to find, I cannot say, but surely not a child's toy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Still, so it was; a wooden soldier and horse, neither much larger than my hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The soldier's limbs were jointed, so he could sit astride or pace forward and back, and raise his sword and shield." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Worn traces of red and black paint were visible on the wood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was still holding it and frowning when I heard Kazan's footsteps." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was nowhere to go, and I could do naught but put the best face on it I could as he came through the door." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Careless, to let myself be caught thusly, I was thinking; Delaunay would have lectured me.\n\nKazan Atrabiades took one look at me and grew still with anger. \"Put that down.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: The user will write a bit then you need to write around 2 sentences continuing directly from the user's text.\n\nGenre: erotica, romance, fantasy" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was, for once, an uneventful sea journey. Although the nights were cool, the winds and the weather held fair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The repairs made to the ship in the Temenos served admirably, and it was wholly seaworthy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kazan had made good use of his time in Phaistos and our stores were replenished; moreover, he had bartered for charts of the Hellene waters, enabling him to plot a swift course homeward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We crossed first a vast expanse of open sea, the steep mountains of Kriti dwindling quickly to a speck behind us.\n\nFrom thence it was a mere day's sail to reach sight of the Hellene mainland." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mindful of our terrifying, storm-born flight southward, Kazan was careful to keep always within sight of the coast, which lay off our starboard bow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Although our progress was steady, it was a slow business, working our way up the coast. My euphoria at the sending of the Kritian courier had faded, and my thoughts turned once more to La Serenissima, rendering me fretful and overly conscious of the passing of time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I spent fruitless hours guessing at the course of Ysandre's progressus, and I daresay strained even Glaukos' patience quizzing him on the length of Caerdicci roadways." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He knew them well enough, having been a merchant's clerk during his slave days, but he could guess no better than I how swiftly a progressus regalis would travel, nor how long the D'Angeline monarch would linger in any given city." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of a surety, though, we were well into autumn, and Ysandre's entourage would turn for home before ,the season's end. I slept poorly at night and took to wandering the decks, wrapped in my woolen mantle, the Kore's gift." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sailors on watch seemed glad enough of my company, and taught me Illyrian songs and jests, showing me, too, such games as they played to pass the time. I learned to throw dice on Kazan's ship and became a passing fair hand at it, for it requires a certain deftness of wrist, not unlike some of Naamah's arts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As for those, Kazan Atrabiades never laid a hand upon me; and in truth, I am not sure what I would have done if he had." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was due in part to shipboard discipline, for Kazan was one of those leaders who would do without whatsoever his men did—and too, there was little privacy on a ship of that size. Indeed, I was acutely reminded of this each time it was necessary to relieve myself, which, I may add, is no easy chore on a ship lacking a privy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had cause then to be grateful for Illyrian modesty." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But in greater part, Kazan's forbearance was due to what he had undergone in the thetalos, for he spoke candidly of it to me on the first day aboard the ship.\n\n\"What we had between us, you and I; know that I do not look for that again, to have you in that way.\" He shook his head, tear-shaped pearl eardrops glimmering in the dim light of the cabin. I had learned since first we met that Illyrian sailors believe they enhance vision; even Kazan was superstitious enough to believe it. \"It is a thing I saw, in the thetalos, I." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A guest, I named you, for although I lost my birthright, I had pride, I, in what I made of Dobrek, yes.\" He laughed. 'To shun the title of lord, and to live as one, eh? And a pirate, too, as it pleased me. I made you a bargain, you, that was no bargain. I knew you could not say no. If I had not, maybe things would have been different, eh? If we had trusted to speak truth, we, the Serenissimans would not have tricked us. So.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shrugged. \"Now, I do not ask, I.\"\n\n\"Thank you, my lord Kazan.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I smiled. \"It is a lordly gesture, truly.\"\n\n\"Maybe I will be that again, eh? Lord Atrabiades.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kazan glanced unerringly through the cabin walls toward the north, homeward, undisguised yearning on his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Whatever happens, it is all worthwhile, to set foot in Epidauro.\" Another thought crossed his mind and he looked back at me with narrowed eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did you go with him, you?\"\n\n\"Who?\" I was genuinely unsure whom he meant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That...\" He made to spit, then thought better of it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That Demetrios, that Archon, with his oils and curls and his fancy-boy.\"\n\nI raised my brows." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It is no concern of yours, my lord, if I did.\"\n\n\"Well.\" Kazan grinned, unabashed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I said I would not ask, eh; I did not say I would not think about it, I!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At that, I rolled my eyes and gave him no answer; he left the cabin laughing, well-pleased with himself. It is a thing I have noted, that men will compete with one another even when there is no prize to be gained." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mayhap women are no better, on the whole, but we are more subtle about it, and quicker to reckon the stakes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And quicker to play men for fools.\n\nI could not but think of Melisande, then, and in some part of me, shake my head in admiration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had played us all for fools, men and women alike." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The outrageous brilliance of her ploy fair dazzled the mind. To hide in plain sight, in the very place she dared us seek her—Elua, what nerve!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even I, who knew what she was capable of, had never dreamed such a thing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tell me, do you believe I would make so poor a sovereign?\n\nIt is a dangerous thing, to admire one's enemy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I forced down my hand, that had risen to clutch at my bare throat where her diamond used to lie, and thought instead of the terrible, blood-shot darkness within the cavern of the Temenos. There I had faced the trail of death that lay behind me, those who lived no more due to the folly of my choice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the Kore had spoken true; it was the darkest truth the thetalos revealed, and not the whole of it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Betimes I had chosen poorly, yes; but it was Melisande who led me to the crossroads of the worst of those choices, and the blood-guilt of it rested as squarely on her shoulders as on mine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No wonder the Unforgiven named themselves as they did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was proud, doomed Isidore d'Aiglemort who led them to that crossroads, yes, but who led him? Melisande.\n\nAh, my lady, I thought, gazing beyond the cabin walls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have made your choices, and it is I who count the cost and bear the pain of them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But it is in good part yours, this shadow I carry, and Blessed Elua willing, I will bring it home to you, from whence it came. And then we will see how you like it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So I looked northward too, with as much yearning and a good deal more fear than Kazan Atrabiades, and league by league, we crawled up the coast of Hellas and into Illyrian waters, the sailors shouting and cheering when we passed the lamphouse off the isle of Kérkira, that marks the beginning of Illyria proper for all seafaring sojourners." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And Elua help me, I cheered with them, as if I were Illyrian myself. We had become comrades-in-arms, Kazan and his men andI, and we had faced common enemies together; the Serenissimans, the kríavbhog, the storm, and even the terror of the thetalos." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On the third day after we entered Illyrian waters, we reached Epidauro." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had seen it twice before; 'twas very nearly a familiar sight by now, the generous harbor encompassed by solid granite walls, fortified ward-towers looming at either side of the entrance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I do not know who first sighted the city, for this time, no one gave cry, and in time, we all saw it. In the harbor, one could make out a dozen or more ships; members of the Ban's armada with the red sails, fishing vessels and traders." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No Serenissiman war-galleys. The day was fine and bright, a lively nip in the wind that drove warm-blooded types like Glaukos and myself to don our woolen outerwear, It ruffled the sea into wavelets, sunlight glinting from a thousand peaks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And it chuffed loudly in the flapping canvas when Tormos, unbidden, gave the order as second-in-command to loose the sail." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He remembered—we all remembered—far too well what had happened the last time we sought to enter Epidauro.\n\nSailors held their posts, ropes slack, rudder-bar loosely tended, and our vessel drifted harmlessly sideways while we all gazed at Kazan Atrabíades; he looked back at us, seeing the fear writ in our faces." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why do you idle?\" he asked in Illyrian." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Have I not set a fair course? We sail to Epidauro.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With that, he turned his back on us, crossing the length of the deck to stand in the prow, setting his face toward home.\n\nTormos gritted his teeth and gave the order." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"As he says. To Epidauro!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Our sails snapped taut in the wind; the ship swung around, nosing back to true. Young Volos threw back his head with a defiant shout as we began to skim over the waves, and a gull circling overhead gave it back, raucous and wild." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I made my way to Kazan's side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stood withlegs braced and arms folded, and if his face was calm and purposeful, still I saw how shudders crawled over his skin.\n\n\"If it comes for me,\" he said out of the side of his mouth, \"don't stop. Push me over the side and keep going, if the kríavbhog comes.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The fortressed harbor walls were rushing nearer, looming in my sight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could make out men aboard the ships, pointing and shouting, the black bird of prey on the red sails of the Ban's vessels and sunlight glinting from the steel helms of those who manned them.\n\n\"It won't,\" I said, willing it to be true." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kazan's lips moved soundlessly for a moment, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the shore." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I pray you are right.\" He drew in a breath as if in pain. \"Ah!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We had entered the waters of the harbor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ship erupted in a mad ecstasy, the sailors roaring cheers, laughing and stomping their feet on the wooden deck, shouting out to the Ban's fleet that swiftly surrounded us. \"Kazan Atrabiades! It is Kazan Atrabiades of Epidauro! Kazan! Ka-zan! Ka-zan!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An answering shout arose and spread like wildfire, passed from mouth to mouth and ringing across the harbor, while the Ban's guardsmen beat their shields. \"Hëia, Ka-zan! Hëia, hëia, Kazan! Hëia, Ka-zan!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the prow, Kazan Atrabiades grinned fit to split his face and raised his arms in acknowledgment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I watched it all, wide-eyed and gaping." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had forgotten, in ancient, civilized Kriti; forgotten that Illyria was a vassal nation of an oppressive ruler, forgotten that the dubious fame that had brought Kazan's name even to the ears of the Archon of Phaistos—whence mine own, I may add, evoked only the shade of an ancient tale—rendered him renowned in his homeland." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Illyrians welcomed him as a hero.\n\nAn escort of the Ban's armada saw us into the harbor proper, while cheers rang even from the tops of the fortress towers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our sailors clung precariously to the rigging, hanging out over the sides of the ship to shout to other sailors, trading news and asking after their erstwhile companions; it was Tormos who kept sufficient order to see us into port, scowling and bawling commands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kazan merely grinned and waved, beatifically, resplendently alive and home. And I... I was well-nigh forgotten in the uproar." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do not take it ill,\" Glaukos said, laying a comforting arm about my shoulders." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ah, now, he'll not forget you, not him. He knows his debt, see if he doesn't. Only let him have this moment, my lady, and you'll see I've the right of it.\"\n\nI shivered, unaccountably alone and fearful with my thoughts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I hope so. A moment is all I have.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By the time we reached the wharf, a small crowd had gathered; 'such lads as haunt every port hoping to catch the eye of their heroes had been sent hither and thither, carrying the news of Kazan Atrabiades' return throughout the city of Epidauro. I was glad enough when we disembarked to have Glaukos' sturdy presence at my side, protecting me from the jostling throng of humanity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As a Tiberian-born Hellene, he was at least as much an outsider as I." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nearly all those gathered were men, and the news they passed swirled above my head in a cacophony of Illyrian, nigh overwhelming my comprehension; I grasped at phrases here and there, and gathered that the other three ships had come safe to land when we fled the Serenissiman galleys, that the Serenissimans had hovered outside the harbor-waters, seeing the darkness that coalesced above Kazan's ship, and turned aside when the storm's mighty hand hurled us southward. From shore and ship, the Epidaurans had watched it all and reckoned us lost." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Ban had given asylum to all of Kazan's men, claiming no proof of transgression; all who had survived—and Pekhlo, thrown from our ship, was one—were here in Epidauro." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And of a surety, they came to greet us, summoned from cheap lodgings to spill onto the wharf, ebullient and joyous. Not until a squadron of the Ban's Guard arrived was a semblance of order restored, their scarlet-crested helms parting the crowd, clearing a space." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kazan yelled to his men, then, gathering them behind him as the squadron leader approached." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, well,\" the leader said softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So Kazan Atrabiades has returned, eh?\" Unexpectedly, he feinted a punch at Kazan's face; Kazan dodged it easily, grinning, and dragged him into an embrace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Czibor, you son of a eunuch!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he exclaimed, thumping the other's back. \"I taught you to draw a sword! What is the Zim Sokali thinking, to grant a command to one such as you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That you were long gone from Epidauro, like as not,\" Czibor laughed, returning his embrace. \"By Yarovit, it's good to see you! How does this come about?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have been to Kriti, and the House of Minos,\" Kazan said soberly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ah.\" Czibor stepped back and eyed him. \"It is true, then, what they say? There is power there to cleanse a man of a blood-curse?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kazan spread his arms. \"You see me here before you, Czibor. It is a dire thing, but a true one.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The squadron leader nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Then it is well done. The Zim Sokali will wish to hear of it. You pose him a problem, Kazan, indeed you do. Your name and your deeds are known to the Serenissimans, and they will hear of your return if this clamor is any indication.\" His gaze raked the gathered throng and he took in the sight of me, standing at Glaukos' side; his eyes widened." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Your men came bearing tales of a D'Angeline woman worth thirty thousand gold solidi, Kazan,\" he said slowly. \"And there have been Ser-enissiman traders asking questions in the city, and an ambassador sent to the Zim Sokali, who denied all knowledge. I did not credit such stories, myself, but if such a thing may be, I think I am seeing it now.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You are,\" said Kazan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And I am thinking the Ban will wish to see her too.\"\n\n\"I think you are right,\" Czibor said wryly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So we began to make our way to the fortress of the Ban of Illyria, whom I learned was addressed by his people asthe Zim Sokali, the Falcon's Son." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is a strong city, Epidauro, wrought of stone and surrounded by thick walls." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Escorted by Czibor and his men, we had not progressed far along the narrow, paved streets before a frantic clatter of hooves arose and a carriage plunged into the midst of the crowd of men and youths that travelled with us, scattering them. Even as the Ban's guardsmen began to react, the carriage door was flung open and an older woman stumbled out, her face drawn and tear-stained." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Kazan,\" she wept, opening her arms to him. \"Kazan!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He took a step toward her, wonder dawning in his eyes. \"Mother?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A lump rose to my throat as I watched their reunion. Of the gifts of the thetalos, this, mayhap, was the most precious: Forgiveness, given and taken freely on both sides." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew well the pain Kazan had born, the bitter guilt at his brother's death by his own unwitting hand; I had lain beside it, seen it staring wakeful and dry-eyed in the small hours of the night. Of his mother's pain, I could only begin to guess." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Some little I learned in those moments, that she was a widow bereft of her beloved younger son, waking from the first madness of grief to realize her elder son was lost to her too, condemned by her own wrathful curse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When the tale of the Serenissiman war-galleys and Kazan's battle with the kríavbhog came to her ears, she thought him dead and wept anew, grieving thrice for the two sons born to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, I thought, if I have done naught else, this at least is done and done well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Lady Njësa,\" Czibor said gently to Kazan's mother, removing his helmet and tucking it under his arm as a gesture of respect. \"I beg of you, forgive me, but my orders are to conduct your son directly unto the Ban's presence.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, of course.\" She smiled through her tears, grasping his arms one last time as if to assure herself of his solidity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So tall, my son! I had forgotten how tall. Marjopí has cared well for you. Does she live, yet? Is she well? I would tell her, if I could, that I repent my harsh words.\"\n\n\"You will tell her yourself, Mother, for she is well andhale in Dobrek, and I will send for her myself.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Disengaging himself, Kazan bent to kiss her cheek." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Only I must see the Ban first,\" he added softly, \"and there are debts I must honor before I set matters aright in our household.\"\n\nCzibor set his helm back on his head. \"Come. The Zim Sokali is waiting.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Expand on the story like Jacqueline Carey would, staying true to the erotica, romance, fantasy genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ti-Philippe and Sarae returned in the early evening hours, excited and full of talk." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It seemed the warehouse was unguarded from the outside, and largely unwatched by Serenissiman guards to boot. If any of us had had doubts, that sealed it. Our plan was set. In the small hours before dawn, we would take the warehouse by stealth, and gain our access to the Temple of Asherat-of-the-Sea." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The young Yeshuite scholar Teppo returned too, albeit with less information." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Marco Stregazza's guards set to enforce his brother's house arrest had allowed him to deliver his scrolls without much interest, but they had been taken by a maidservant; whether or not they had found their way into Allegra's hands—and what her reaction—he could not say.\n\nWell and so, I had expected no more, and was glad that all had returned alive.\n\nPooling our stores of food in common, we put together a tolerable meal of small game—rabbit, and a brace of ducks—dressed with autumn berries, wild greens and a dish of pulses. The Illyrians shared around several skins of wine and there was fresh water in plenty from a spring-fed creek on the isle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Afterward, the hours of the night watch were divided among our company, with considerable arguing over who would take the vital duties." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dark was falling as the Yeshuites huddled together, quarreling among themselves softly in Habiru. Kazan watched idly, and I knew him well enough to guess that the Illyrians would maintain a separate watch of their own.\n\n\"I will take the first watch,\" Joscelin announced, looking to put an end to it. \"And Philippe the last. Settle the middle among yourselves. Will that suffice?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But... Joscelin.\" One of the young men—Elazar, his name was—looked flustered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We thought... you areD'Angeline, after all, and you risked your life to rescue her...\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Joscelin looked uncomprehendingly at him.\n\n\"Your tent,\" Elazar said lamely. \"We... well, you will see.\"\n\nAnd see we did, how they had set a pair of lighted oil lamps within his humble tent, strewing the bedroll and rough ground with late-blooming wood roses, small and fragrant, painstakingly gathered from the dense undergrowth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I caught my breath and let it out in a gasping laugh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ti-Philippe grinned with a trace of his old mischief, the Yeshuites shuffled in embarrassment and Oltukh, peering over their shoulders, called back a comment in Illyrian that roused laughter from several of Kazan's men." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Phèdre ...\" Joscelin said, his voice trailing off and he glanced at me. \"This need not...\"\n\n\"No?\" I raised my brows at him. \"We are D'Angeline, after all.\"\n\nAfter a second's pause, Joscelin laughed, a free and unfettered sound I hadn't heard since Montrève." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With one easy motion, he scooped me into his arms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Micah,\" he said over his shoulder, ducking to step through the tent flap, \"take the first watch. Philippe, wake me when it's time.\"\n\nAnd with that, he closed the flap behind us.\n\nNaamah's gift is manifold, and I have known it in many forms; still, I think, none have I cherished so much as that night with Joscelin on an unnamed isle of La Serenissima. After so much had passed, we were nearly strangers to one another, and yet at once so achingly familiar." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had forgotten the sheer, breathtaking beauty of him, gleaming like sculpted marble in the lamplight. Without artistry, without aught but love and simple desire, I relearned his flesh inch by inch. And Joscelin ... ah, Elua! Whatever had broken in him, it loosed the passion he held in rigid check so much, too much, of the time; his hands and mouth moved on me until I pleaded for release and he took me with a tender fury, autumn roses trapped beneath my body, sharp, cunning thorns pricking my naked skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a goad to my pleasureand he knew it and did not care, a secret smile curving my lips as he lowered his head to kiss me.\n\nAfterward, we lay entangled together without speaking for a long while.\n\n\"I've missed you,\" I murmured at length against the hard curve of his shoulder. \"Awfully. For a long time, Joscelin.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So have I.\" He ran his fingers through my hair where it lay across his chest. \"Is that pirate of yours going to challenge me for this, do you think?\"\n\n\"No.\" I kissed his shoulder. \"Not likely.\"\n\n\"Good,\" he said drowsily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'd hate to kill him, since you seem rather fond of him.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I thought of all I had not told him yet—the kríavbhog, the Kore and the thetalos, my bargain with Kazan and his brother's death—all of that, and more. And I laughed softly, because it did not matter; right now, none of it mattered. If there was time, if we lived, Elua willing, I would tell it all to him, yes, and hear his stories too, all that he had left unsaid, including whether or not he had indeed hacked off his hair with a dagger, which is rather what it looked like.\n\nAnd if there was not... we had had this night, and Naamah's gift." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have been her Servant a long time, I thought. This, I have earned.\n\nSo thinking, I fell asleep, and for all the restless nights I had passed, for all the myriad worries that plagued my brain, with Joscelin's arms around me and his breathing steady beneath my ear, I slept dreamless as a babe until Ti-Philippe scratching discreetly at the tent awoke us.\n\n'Tis only my opinion, but I daresay I have seen my share and more of those chill, dank hours before dawn, when the resentful moon begins its descent and the stars grow distant and sullen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I scrambled into my clothing—a Kritian gown, an Illyrian cloak, no trace of my homeland to comfort me— while Joscelin, swift to don his attire, was already out and about in the encampment.\n\nBy the time I emerged, our company was mustered, and an ill-assembled lot we were. The Yeshuites looked painfully young, fingering their weapons and doing their best to summon expressions of stern resolve.\n\n\"My friends,\" I said to them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We go forth this day into certain danger. Pray, if any one of you here is not fully resolved in your heart to do this thing, stand down now, for it is no quarrel of yours and there is no shame in quitting it. For the aid you have given us, I will ever be grateful.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I waited in the crepuscular silence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No one moved. \"So be it. Then let us be comrades-in-arms, few though we may be, and set ourselves against the forces of greed and ambition that seek to claim by stealth and treachery what is not rightfully theirs. Let us show the world that honor is not forgotten, and that the gods themselves—the gods of Illyria, of Terre d'Ange, of the Yeshuites, of La Serenissima itself— will lend their aid when men and women seek with utmost courage to do that which is right.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "And with that, I told them my plan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The girl Sarae's eyes widened and she ducked her head, fidgeting with the crossbow she held; whether or not she thought it blasphemous, I could not say. The Yeshuites murmured. Ti-Philippe swore admiringly. Kazan Atrabiades laughed so hard he had difficulty translating for his men. Some of the Illyrians grinned, when they heard it; some made superstitious gestures to avert evil." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Joscelin looked at me for a long time without comment. \"Have you lost your mind?\" he said at length. \"No.\"\n\n\"What else would you have us do? If we make it inside, we won't have the option of stealth.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I watched the thoughts flicker behind his eyes. \"Joscelin, we're outnumbered. Ysandre is outnumbered. Even if we succeed in gaining access to the warehouse, to reaching the Temple—what if it's not enough to warn her? Melisande and Marco have too much to lose, and too many allies at hand. We need to turn some of them, or at least confuse them. I can't think of another way. Can you?\"\n\nHe closed his eyes. \"No.\"\n\n\"I have sworn a vow,\" I said softly, \"and this is how I mean to keep it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He opened his eyes and looked at me. \"And if it goes awry?\"\n\nI shrugged. \"We run like hell, and pray they haven't surrounded the warehouse.\" I looked around at their watching faces." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Does anyone have a better plan?\" No one did." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"All right,\" I said. \"Shall we go?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In that, at least, no one was disagreed; we set out across the rough terrain, scrabbling our way through near-darkness to the water's edge, where our vessels lay concealed. Two skiffs in total, and our hard-won gondola. Dense ferns lay rotting in the water; to this day, the smell of decaying foliage brings that morning back to me in all its nerve-strung anxiety. A thin mist hovered above the river." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I took my place beneath the awning of the gondola, as there was no room in the smaller skiffs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With soft splashing and a few muffled curses, we were launched.\n\nIt was a tense journey, especially once we were off the sedge-choked river and into the canals proper, wending our path through the waterways of La Serenissima. Once a bissone full of drunken rowdies returning home from the mean tenements of the courtesan's quarter passed nearby to us, voices raised in a ragged, off-key tune, the lantern in their prow casting wavering light over the dark waters. We hid ourselves in the shadows alongside the canal, all of us crouching low and scarce daring to breathe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once they had gone, the oarsmen set our vessels to gliding silently out once more.\n\nThe street on which the warehouse was located was a quiet one; the residences were slightly more modest than those that lined the Great Canal, interspersed with some of the more elegant trade establishments, jewelers and drapers and the like. Beyond the two-storied roofs, I could see the pointed domes of the Temple of Asherat-of-the-Sea looming in the predawn sky to obscure the paling stars,\n\n\"There,\" Sarae whispered, her voice carrying faintly over the water." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She pointed to a marble building, long and low, with a single entrance at street level. In the first skiff, Ti-Philippe was already making for it. We came noiselesslyalongside and disembarked. One oarsmen stayed in each of the smaller rowboats, and a pair of Illyrians in the gondola." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Get as near to the harbor as you dare, and turn the boats loose,\" Joscelin murmured in Caerdicci." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Come back swiftly, but have a care for guards.\"\n\nI repeated it in Illyrian, and Kazan nodded curt agreement. If we had any hope of going undetected, it would hardly do to have three strange vessels moored in the vicinity. The oarsmen pushed off and headed toward the harbor, quick and stealthy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It left fifteen of us huddled on the dark street, a motley assortment bristling with arms, dreadfully suspicious and vulnerable to any passersby. I thought of the looming temple domes and shivered. One outcry was all it would take to bring the Serenissiman Guard down on us.\n\nThe door to the warehouse was of solid oaken construction, half again as tall as a man, with Asherat's crown of stars etched in silver." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Joscelin and Kazan both felt at it, drawing daggers to pry at the hinges and the massive lock. It was well and truly bolted, secured from within, the hinges set deep and tight. The Illyrians muttered under their breath. I wrapped my cloak around me and shifted from foot to foot, tense and nervous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kazan swore and struck the marble blocks of the building with the heel of his palm; one of the Habiru made a stifled sound in his throat.\n\nI couldn't stand it any longer. \"Name of Elua! Joscelin, get out of the way,\" I hissed, wrenching loose the silver falcon brooch that clasped my cloak. He stepped aside obligingly and Kazan raised his eyebrows as I stuck the pin between my teeth, bending the tip into a tiny hook." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Crouching, I worked it into the lock, feeling my way for the tumbler that would drop the bar on the far side and silently blessing Hyacinthe for having taught me this dubious skill." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "'Twas not a difficult lock, but it was a heavy one and I held my breath as I caught the tumbler, maneuvering it with delicacy lest it bend the slender silver pin.\n\nIn the midst of my operation came the sound of pelting footsteps, bare feet slapping softly on the wooden walkway; the oarsmen, returning. I didn't dare look up, but I heard a gasping voice. \"A squadron of guardsmen coming on foot! Halfway to the corner!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Illyrian steel scraped as Kazan's men reached for their hilts, and I heard an anxious, murmured prayer in Habiru. \"Phèdre?\" Joscelin's voice asked calmly.\n\nI closed my eyes and bore down on the pin, levering the tumbler to the left. The pin bent, bent... and held." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With a solid chunking sound, the bar dropped. Clutching my cloak closed with one hand, I set the other to the handle of the warehouse door and tried it.\n\nIt gave, opening onto a wedge of dark interior.\n\n\"Go, go!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We piled inside in a mass, barefoot oarsmen with boots in hand, no order of procedure to our company, and someone closed the door behind us, softly and firmly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inside, it was wholly dark. There were high windows along the outer wall to admit daylight, but nothing penetrated in these small hours before dawn. Whispering, shuffling bodies jostled me. Someone trod on the hem of my cloak, nearly jerking it from my shoulders." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I took it off and wrapped it over one arm.\n\nIt would have looked humorous, I imagine, if anyone could have seen us in our tight, milling knot. No doubt it did when a door at the rear of the main chamber was thrown open and a sudden blaze of torchlight fell over us.\n\n\"What... ?\" It was one of the Temple eunuchs, blinking and sleepy-eyed, a torch in one upraised hand and his ceremonial spear held loosely in the other, silver barbed head pointing at the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And no more than that did he say, for Sarae, acting on terrified reflex, brought up her crossbow and fired at him.\n\nThe barb took him in the throat; he blinked once more, slow and surprised, while his spear fell with a clatter. Still clutching his torch, he sank to his knees and slumped forward, facedown and motionless, the torch now guttering on the floor beside his outstretched hand.\n\nIt was Kazan and his men who raced forward instantly, swords drawn and bucklers raised, hurdling the fallen figure to enter the chambers beyond." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were pirates, after all, scourges of the sea, trained to a swarming attack." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sick at heart, I followed, while Joscelin and Ti-Philippe set grimly about retrieving the torch and directing the Yeshuites to search the rest of the building." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There had been four attendants in all set to watch over the warehouse; there were sleeping quarters, a privy chamber and a meager kitchen beyond the door from which the first had emerged. Two more were dead by the time I got there, slain half-naked in their beds, and Tormos had his sword raised for the killing stroke against the fourth.\n\n\"No!\" I cried. He paused. \"Eisheth's mercy, we don't need them dead, Kazan!\" I pleaded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Let him live, and he may show us the passage.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kazan hesitated, then said shortly, \"Do as she says.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had been young, the attendants of the warehouse; the survivor was no exception. I guessed him no older than Joscelin's Yeshuites, though 'twas harder to tell since he was cut and beardless. He watched with wide, terrified eyes as the Illyrians cleaned their weapons and I drew near.\n\n\"What is your name?\" I asked softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Cer ... Cervianus.\" Shock and fear prompted his stuttering answer.\n\n\"Cervianus, aid us and you will live, I promise. There is a passage below the canals to the Temple of Asherat. I need you to show us.\"\n\nHis eyes darted this way and that and his throat moved as he swallowed audibly, but for all his terror, he was no coward. \"I know of no such passage.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you fear to betray the goddess?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked him, and his eyes fixed on my face, pupils dilating." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Cervianus, I swear to you, Asherat-of-the-Sea has already been betrayed, by one who stands high in her favor, and this night's doings are the fruit of that betrayal. Although I serve another, I have come to avenge her.\"\n\nSome of Kazan's men grumbled; they had come to kill Serenissimans. I ignored them.\n\nNo coward and no fool, Cervianus. He licked his lips, trembling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And if I do not aid you? What then?\"\n\n\"You will die,\" I said. \"And we will find it anyway.\"\n\nHe closed his eyes briefly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's in the underchamber. The door is hidden. Let me put on clothing, and I will show you.\"\n\nThe Illyrians stepped back, allowing him to rise. Trusting to Kazan to keep order, I returned to the warehouse space. Joscelin and the others were waiting; there had been no one else present, only rows of oil jars and stacks of dried goods, as Sarae had claimed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was pale-faced and shaky, and Micah was attempting to soothe her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Joscelin met my eyes as I returned.\n\n\"She killed a man in cold blood,\" he said. \"It takes one hard.\"\n\n\"I know,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Where did you get crossbows, anyway?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We took them from the guards at the watchtower at La Dolorosa.\" He glanced at her with pity. \"I thought it would be safer for her to carry one. We're doomed anyway if we're caught, and she's not skilled with the daggers.\"\n\nI unfolded my cloak and shook it out, settling it over my shoulders and shoving the bent brooch-pin through the woolen fabric and fastening it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Her ill luck to be a good shot,\" I said wryly. \"Mayhap 'tis better they know such things, before they choose to battle their way to the north-lands. Prophecies never name the blood-price they exact.\"\n\n\"No.\" Joscelin roused himself with a shake. \"The others?\"\n\n\"Dead, but for one,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He's agreed to show us the passage. I promised him his life for it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Let's go, then.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Another torch and a few lamps had been found and kindled, and by their light, Cervianus led us to the rear of the warehouse. He had donned the deep-blue tunic of Asherat's attendants, the emblem of her starry crown worked in silver thread on the breast, rich and glimmering amid the Illyrians who surrounded him, but his eyes looked like dark holes in the mask of his face.\n\n\"It is there,\" he said faintly, pointing at a mammoth clay vessel, shoulder-high to Kazan. \"Beneath the jar.\"\n\nWith a doubtful grunt, Kazan set his shoulder to the jar and shoved." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It tilted beneath his force, being empty, and two others joined him in rolling it carefully to one side." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cervianus had spoken the truth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Beneath lay a trapdoor, set flush into the stones of the floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Joscelin grasped the iron ring and hauled up on it; with a faint screech of hinges, the door opened to reveal a gaping square of darkness below, smelling of stale air and mildew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were worn stone steps leading downward, the first few visible by torchlight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And this leads to the Oracle's balcony in the Temple proper, yes?\" I asked Cervianus.\n\n\"Yes.\" He turned his hollow gaze on me. \"Beneath the canal.\"\n\n\"And the Oracle does not preside from thence over the ceremony of investiture?\"\n\n\"N... no.\" Cervianus hesitated, and shook his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Only twice a year, at the Fatum Urbanus. I think. I do not know, for certain. I am only a junior attendant, and a Doge has never been invested in my lifetime. But...\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But they would have told you, were the tunnel to be opened for the Oracle's usage, would they not?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked gently. \"That you might make ready to receive her, until she could return unseen.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\" He stared at me with bitter hatred in his shadowed eyes. I did not blame him. \"It is our duty, to keep the inventory and ward the passage. They would have told us.\"\n\n\"So.\" Joscelin knelt beside the open trap door, holding a lamp and peering into the darkness below." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Are there guards within the tunnel, or at the other end?\"\n\n\"There are no other guards!\" Cervianus spat out the words in fury. \"It was our duty, our sacred duty! No one knows of this passage. A thousand and more years ago, the masons who built it were slain to keep it secret.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Charming,\" Joscelin murmured. Sarae made an involuntary sound, choked at the realization of the extent to which her great-great-aunt Onit's death-bed tales had betrayed the trade-secrets of the order that had sheltered her for most of her life. I sat on my heels, thinking.\n\n\"Cervianus,\" I asked, \"what is happening in the Temple now?\"\n\nHe gave a sullen shrug, then winced when Kazan Atrabiades prodded his ribs with a dagger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The Priestess of the Crown and her six Elect hold a vigil, praying that Asherat-of-the-Sea will accept the people's choice as Her Beloved and a true bond may be forged. So I am told. At dawn the preparations begin, and when the sun strikes the crown of Her image which overlooks the harbor, the procession will begin from the Doge's Palace to enter the Temple.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Then,\" I said, \"we had best make ready.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI writing task: user input -> four sentences sentences. genre: erotica, romance, fantasy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was atop the walls of the City that the cheering began. They had witnessed it all from the high white walls, the defenders of the City of Elua under the command of Barquiel L'Envers; indeed, it is his description that Thelesis deMornay used in her epic when she set these events to verse. It was easy to pick out his figure, a surcoat of L'Envers' purple over his armor, raising his sword in salute. The wintry sun flashed on its length, and Ysandre's herald hoisted her standard in reply." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I saw joy and relief on the faces of many near me as they gave back the shouts of the defenders, but my own heart was too heavy for rejoicing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I saw the stricken grief in the faces of the soldiers of the Royal Army, struggling to understand what they had done. I saw Brys nó Rinforte, trembling with shame. I saw the stern resolve in the faces of the Unforgiven, who would never be done atoning for their own crime, and I saw Ysandre's chirurgeon and her assistant moving among the ranks, beginning the business of attending to the wounded and dying. I saw the glazed eyes of the Camaeline cavalryman I'd ridden around, and the hand of the village boy clutching in disbelief at the arrow shaft emerging from his flesh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I saw the shadow that haunted Ti-Philippe's smile, and remembered how my heart had been like a stone after Remy and Fortun were slain.\n\nThese things should not be.\n\nAnd this sorrow, too, I saw in the face of Ysandre de la Courcel, who gazed at a man she had trusted since birth, her Royal Commander, a hero of the realm, sovereign Duc of L'Agnace, kin to her and a Prince of the Blood on her grandmother's side.\n\nI think he felt it, too; what would have transpired next between them, I cannot say, for shouting of a different tenor arose from the walls." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked up to see them pointing toward the north, and a ripple of sound coming from the outlying verge of the Royal Army, resolving sighting into words.\n\nGhislain was coming.\n\n\"Let him pass,\" Ysandre said.\n\nHe came armed for battle, bearing the colors and standard of House Trevalion, deep-blue with three ships and the Navigator's Star, and some three hundred men rode with." }, { "from": "human", "value": "him. The Royal Army parted ranks to allow his company throughas he rode unerringly toward us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ysandre watched him calmly, ordering the Unforgiven to stand aside.\n\nThey had ridden hard, their horses lathered and near-spent. Ghislain de Somerville drew rein before Ysandre and his company halted behind him, motionless to a man as he removed his helmet and pressed a clenched fist to his breast.\n\n\"My Queen,\" he said, a catch in his voice; his face was strained with emotion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ysandre inclined her head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My lord de Somerville.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Name me not thusly, majesty.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ghislain turned his head to his father, mingled hatred and love suffusing his features. \"Is it true?\"\n\nPercy de Somerville did not look away, although there was a dreadful anguish in his eyes. Whatever else he was, he was no coward. \"Yes.\"\n\nGhislain flinched as if at a blow, then extended his closed fist and opened it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A length of green cloth fell to the trodden ground, and I glimpsed the embroidered branches of an apple tree, the insignia of the de Somerville line." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"In the name of Elua and Anael,\" he said harshly, \"I renounce my House. Ghislain de Somerville is no more.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I felt tears stand in my eyes, and the blood beat hard in my head, a rush of bronze-winged sound, a tinge of crimson washing over my blurred vision. Percy de Somerville bowed his head in grief, his broad shoulders hunched, and I knew something had broken in him.\n\nMy lord Kushiel is cruel and just.\n\n\"It is heard and acknowledged,\" Ysandre said quietly, and there was compassion in her gaze." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My lords and ladies of Terre d'Ange, let us go home.\"\n\nBarquiel L'Envers met us at the gates of the City, where something of a sombre mood had begun to settle after the initial rejoicing; there would be no triumph to celebrate this victory, only a low murmur as they exchanged the kiss of greeting. I do not know what words they spoke. When they parted, L'Envers glanced at me, a trace of the old, familiar irony glinting in his eye." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Delaunay's anguissette\" he acknowledged me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You send a timely message.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am glad you heeded it, my lord,\" I said politely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Your wording was rather persuasive.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He raised his brows. \"Ysandre, will you reclaim your throne? I find the stewardship of it an onerous task.\"\n\nThus did the Queen of Terre d'Ange return to the City of Elua. The streets were thronged with people, and many of them wept openly as she passed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They had believed her dead these many days, for de Somerville had kept the rumor of her return from reaching the beleaguered City." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is a profound testament to the will and leadership of Barquiel L'Envers that he managed to maintain order in the City and hold the loyalty of the Palace and City Guards throughout the siege." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My Kritian message had arrived scant days before Melisande's couriers, but it had come accompanied by a contingent of Eisandine troops sent by Roxanne de Mereliot, who urged him in strongest terms to act swiftly to secure the City." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This he had done, sending to Namarre for a company of his own Akkadian-trained men and setting a watch on Champs-de-Guerre. When the Royal Army began to mobilize, L'Envers' spies fled to the City at breakneck pace and the gates were closed and sealed.\n\nAll these things I learned over time; then, there was simply too much to be done for the stories to unfold. Percy de Somerville was taken into custody, along with his chief lieutenants and subcommanders, for of a surety, some few of them must have known." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ysandre appointed Barquiel L'Envers to serve as Royal Commander pro tem, and supervise the military trials of the officers; being a peer of the realm, de Somerville would be tried before the assembled Parliament, like the family of House Trevalion long ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was Marc de Trevalion, I learned, who had suspected Lord Percy's complicity when word of the Queen's death and the siege mounted against the City had reached Azzalle, and it was he who told his son-in-law Ghislain as much. He had known what Melisande had known, though he'd had no proof of it; that Percy de Somerville had vowed to supportLyonette de Trevalion's bid to place Prince Baudoin on the throne. Would that he had spoken of it sooner, for it would have saved a great deal of grief. I suppose at the time he thought it was ancient history and would have caused only pain, with his daughter wed to de Somerville's son." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He would have been right, too, if not for Melisande." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whether or not it ever occurred to Marc de Trevalion to suspect de Somerville in her escape, I cannot say." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was not there, at Troyes-le-Mont." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He says it did not, and Ghislain believes him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After all, he would have had no reason to suspect Melisande even knew of de Somerville's complicity—save the fact that she is Melisande. It would have been enough for me ... but then, I know her too well. Ysandre accepted his word; I do not know if she believed it. Enough to let it rest, I daresay." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ysandre held an audience for those L'Agnacite villagers who had followed our company, learning their names, thanking each in person; to each one, she gave a gift, a gold ducat stamped with her image, sewn in a velvet purse with the Courcel insignia." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There are cynics who claim she did it out of political expedience, for there was bound to be unrest in L'Agnace with the arrest of its much-loved Duc de Somerville, but I, who had seen the tears in her eyes when they came to join us, knew otherwise." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a private ceremony commending the service of the Unforgiven. Ysandre would have done more, for they were deserving—and too, it would aid in restoring the good name of the former Allies of Camlach—but they refused it to a man. I was there, when she gave them her thanks and blessing, and offered prayers for the dead. Ten had died, one in twenty." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It had not been an entirely bloodless victory.\n\n\"Was it well done, Kushiel's chosen?\" Tarren d'Eltoine asked me.\n\n\"It was well done, my lord,\" I replied." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And I thought on old Bianca's foretelling in the Temple of Asherat-of-the-Sea, and prayed her words held true. I had done as she bid, remembering what they had named me among the Unforgiven. Ten years' peace, she had promised; one, I thought, for every man I sent to his death outside the City of Elua.\n\nMessengers rode out day and night, royal couriers proclaiming the news throughout the realm, laying to rest false rumors and potential uprisings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ghislain no Trevalion—for so he was called, now, formally adopted into his father-in-law's household—rode to Azzalle, vowing to see a ship across the Straits to carry a letter and full report to Drustan mab Necthana at Bryn Gorrydum." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "'Twould be no mean feat, for the winter crossing was dangerous, but no one knew if the rumor had reached Alba's shores and Ysandre feared Drustan might believe her dead. It was a hardship on her to be parted from him at this time.\n\nI felt it keenly, for I had never been more glad to have Joscelin at my side. It had been a bittersweet pain, returning to my charming little house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My kitchen-mistress Eugenie embraced me like a mother and wept over our return; for joy at our safety, and again for sorrow at the loss of Remy and Fortun." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We felt their absence deeply there, all of us. I missed hearing Remy's voice lifted in song from unexpected quarters of the house, missed seeing Fortun in the sitting room, dark, steady eyes glancing up from the map of Troyes-le-Mont on which he'd worked so hard. They had been my solace and my comrades, my chevaliers, during those days.\n\nIt was hardest of all on Ti-Philippe, who had lost his dearest friends." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I offered to release him from my service, after paying him many months' wages in arrears, but he refused.\n\n\"Who could I possibly serve after you, my lady?\" he asked with a ghost of a smile. \"I've enough stories to tell, I won't need spend coin in the wineshops for years to come. Anyway, they wouldn't like it if I did. Phèdre's Boys are loyal, after all.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "So I sent him to Montrève to see how my lamentably neglected estate was faring; of course, it was thriving in my absence, under the able care of my seneschal and his wife." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But they feted him and made much of him, begging him fornews, and it did him a great deal of good to play at being lord of the manor for a time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were other, more joyous reunions, of course; Thelesis de Mornay, whom I accounted a dear friend, and my old mentor, Cecilie Laveau-Perrin, whom I loved equally well." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It took Cecilie all of a heartbeat's time to assess the change in Joscelin's and my relationship and grasp our hands in hers, glowing with heartfelt approval." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh my dears, you have set aside your differences! Nothing could make me happier.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Joscelin raised his eyebrows, smiling at her with genuine fondness. \"Are you a sorceress, my lady Cecilie, to see as much?\"\n\n\"No, beautiful man.\" Cecilie patted his cheek affectionately. \"I am a Servant of Naamah, who rewards those who serve her true with vision to see what others would hold concealed in their hearts. Remember it well, if ever you are tempted to leave Phèdre again.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It will not be soon,\" Joscelin said softly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That much, I may promise.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We went too to see the Rebbe, Nahum ben Isaac." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The number of Yeshuites in the City of Elua had grown thinner; several hundred had departed during the summer months, seeking their destiny in a far northern land. There had been some trouble in the City; not much, for Ysandre had heeded my plea and ordered the young Yeshuite hotbloods to be dealt with gently so long as they were not in clear violation of the law. We were not Serenissimans. No, they had gone voluntarily, and it left the Yeshuite community older and sadder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What the Rebbe feared had come to pass; the Children of Yisra-el were divided." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am sorry, Master,\" I said to the Rebbe, sitting on a stool at his feet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So am I, young Phèdre nó Delaunay,\" he said sadly. \"So am I. Adonai alone knows which of us is right, and betimes I pray it is not I.\" He looked unsmiling at Joscelin. \"It is said that in La Serenissima, you put weapons in their hands, apostate, and taught them to fight.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"True words, Father.\" Joscelin met his gaze, unflinching.\n\n\"And yet you have forsaken the path of Yeshua.\"\n\nJoscelin shook his head. \"I do not disdain the teachings of Yeshua, Father. What I have learned, I value greatly. But î am D'Angeline, and Cassiel's chosen. Though it lead to perdition and beyond, I must follow my heart, and not the Mashiach.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Reaching into a purse at his belt, he withdrew the khai pendant and held it forth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Take it, if you will, and return it to she who gave it me. I am not worthy of bearing it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hanna is gone, apostate.\" The Rebbe's tone was remorseless. \"She has gone north, with the others. She would have given her heart to you, would you have accepted it, but you chose your own course instead.\"\n\n\"I didn't know,\" Joscelin whispered, paling slightly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For all that I loved him, he could be a bit of an idiot about some things. The Rebbe sighed, jerking his bearded chin at the pendant in Joscelin's hand.\n\n\"Keep it, then, and remember, how we do injury unwitting to those around us,\" he said sternly. \"You Children of Elua are too quick to forget how the love you invoke may cut like a blade; even you, apostate. Still,\" he added, smiling faintly, deepset wrinkles about his eyes, \"it gladdens my heart to see the both of you alive.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It made Joscelin thoughtful, and I was not sorry for it; I remembered the pain we had dealt each other in those days." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How much of it was my doing, I knew full well; I had not forgotten aught that I had undergone in the thetalos. But I had spoken with the Kore, too, and I knew we each of us bear our own careless guilts, too seldom acknowledged.\n\nI saw also Quintilius Rousse in the days after Ysandre's return, for he had been in Marsilikos when my letter arrived, making ready to winter his fleet; instead, he had brought them up the Aviline River to lie some few leagues south of the City, prepared to assail de Somerville's troops by water if necessary, while Roxanne de Mereliot raised an army in Eisande and Siovale. The Royal Admiral was blessedly unchanged, haranguing me mercilessly for the risks I'd taken, and hugging me in a bone-cracking embrace." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"La Serenissima will pay,\" he said ominously. \"See if they don't!\"\n\n\"My lord Admiral,\" I wheezed, still trying to catch my breath. \"Despite what has happened, La Serenissima continues under the rule of Cesare Stregazza, who has pledged his alliance to Ysandre de la Courcel. It is a delicate situation, and I suspect the Queen might take it amiss if you were to exact vengeance against her orders.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rousse scowled at me under his brows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'd have razed their mother-sodding Arsenal if they'd harmed you, child, make no mistake. Besides, La Serenissima is no friend to us while they hold Melisande Shahrizai in health and comfort—there's that, eh!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes,\" I said softly. \"There is that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For it was true, and would remain so; Melisande Shahrizai—Melisande Shahrizai de la Courcel—remained alive and well in the custody of the Temple of Asherat-of-the-Sea. Letters were carried back and forth from the City of Elua and La Serenissima that winter. The wily old Doge professed his great joy at learning that Ysandre had retained sovereignty of the realm, but he pled impotence in light of her repeated requests for Melisande's extradition.\n\nI know, because Ysandre spoke candidly of these matters with me, and I received letters also from Severio Stregazza, and betimes his aunt, Allegra." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Always, the news was the same: Melisande remained at the Temple, attended like a queen and seemingly content to continue thusly.\n\nOf her son Imriel, there was no trace.\n\n\"How should I proceed, Phèdre?\" Ysandre asked me once in a rare moment of frustration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You tried to warn me against her, and I failed to give credence to your fears. You, who know her best—tell me now what I may expect from Melisande Shahrizai!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My lady, I cannot say,\" I said helplessly, spreading my hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Melisande's plans failed, save this last avenue of retreat. If she is content to remain in the Temple—for I think it could hold her no more than Troyes-le-Mont; indeed, a good deal less—it is because whatever further plans shemight spin have not yet come to fruition. It is beyond my guessing to know what those might be,\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ysandre gave me a wry look. \"The boy stands in line for my throne. You cannot guess?\"\n\n\"To guess what is simple,\" I said, meeting her eyes. \"The problem lies in discerning how. I swear to you, my lady, I will maintain every vigilance and report to you aught that I learn. But I make no promise.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It would be nice,\" Ysandre said mildly, \"if you found the child.\"\n\nOne day I would remember those words with a deep and bitter irony; then, I merely bowed my head, acknowledging my Queen's wishes. I did not offer to return to the Service of Naamah to pursue the search. I had made no decision on that score, and any mind, I didn't think Melisande would involve any current or likely patrons of mine where her son's safety was concerned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had seen the passion that flashed in her eyes when Ysandre had challenged her care for the babe. No, Melisande would not risk the boy, not even for the sake of our deep-laid game; and if Naamah desired her Servant's return, let her summon me herself.\n\nThus did the winter pass, and the realm slowly healed from the second shock of betrayal in as many years. Parliament was convened out of season, and a trial held for Percy de Somerville." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had to testify, as did Ti-Philippe, who had heard the words of Phanuel Buonard's widow; the conclusion was foregone, as one of de Somerville's lieutenants had already made a full confession in the military hearings presided over by Barquiel L'Envers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have heard some dubious comments about the Due L'Envers' method of questioning, but no complaints were filed, and the majority of the army command was exonerated. I held my tongue; Barquiel L'Envers had earned my forbearance. Like his chief lieutenant, Percy de Somerville was convicted of high treason and sentenced to death, given his choice of means. A good soldier to the end, the onetime Royal Commander fell on his sword." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The City did not grieve for him as it had for Baudoin de Trevalion, another hero of the realm who had died the sameway. That plot had died stillborn, aborted by Melisande's schemes; this one had hatched in full, and the memory of the Royal Army surrounding the City of Elua was too fresh. Still, I do not think anyone rejoiced, either. For my part, I was merely glad it was over." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Early spring I spent immersing myself in my resumed studies in Habiru lore, patiently retracing the steps I had begun a year earlier. I had not forgotten my Prince of Travellers, or given up hope of finding a key to his freedom. I bought some Illyrian books as well, mindful that I did not lose that skill, and practiced by composing a letter to Kazan Atrabiades. Quintilius Rousse would be sailing to Epidauro when the weather cleared, carrying an emissary to discuss trade negotiations." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ysandre had not forgotten her promise, either; and Rousse would be sailing on to Kriti afterward, bearing a very generous gift for the Archon of Phaistos. I wrote letters to Demetrios Asterius also, and his cousin Pasiphae, Kore of the Temenos, whom I thought of often.\n\nWhen the last of spring's gales had blown themselves out, the shipping routes were open. Rousse's fleet departed from Marsilikos ... and once more, riders from Azzalle vied to be the first at the Palace with the news that the flagship of the Cruarch of Alba had been sighted on the Strait, Ysandre's face brightened at the news, and when she declared it was time at last for a celebration, I agreed wholeheartedly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We have had the winter to remember and sorrow, my lady,\" I said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It is spring, and a time for joy. I can think of no better reason for celebration than my lord Drustan's return.\"\n\n\"Which we shall do, in abundance, but there is one reason yet lacking, near-cousin.\" Ysandre looked at me with quizzical amusement; I fear I bewildered her at times, though she loved me well enough. We were very different people, Ysandre and I." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève, it has not escaped my awareness that I owe my life and my throne to you, you and your companions. I have been awaiting a fitting time to make formal acknowledgment of your deeds. Did you truly think I would let it pass without a fête?\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Actually,\" I said, \"I did.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "CREATIVE WRITING ASSIST:\n8 sentences sentences\nGenre: romance, coming of age" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have been waiting years for this moment—seven, to be exact." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I know you are wondering why a man in my position would have to wait so long to finally make his move. However, there are several details about the life I live you don't understand, so please allow me to explain.\n\nI am Prince Esteban Carlos Reyes, second born to King Ramos and Queen Angela. (My mother will always in my mind be Queen, always. Even though in the eyes of many, she relinquished her title when she divorced her husband, the king, and then he later married another.)\n\nBeing the second born is almost as important as being the firstborn, almost. It means that I had to endure all the pre-designed preparations my older brother Antonio went through, even though I was never expected to need the skills they taught me. I was the backup to the heir should something unexpected happen to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I left for university, I chose one in Switzerland, just so that my life wasn't an exact replica of Antonio's." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wanted to pave my own path, have my own friends. Even make my own mistakes that didn't mirror every one of his. I settled on a business major, chiefly because it was intended that I take the reins of the family business once I learned the ropes. I minored in art history, a passion I inherited from my mother, and one I hoped I would be able to use one day.\n\nA little over a year ago, my life changed drastically. My father, the King, was found dead in his chambers. His then-wife was convicted of poisoning him. Meaning my brother became the new King, and I became the next heir to the Throne." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All those preparations I had to suffer through as a young boy suddenly became of use to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While I still had so very much to learn about what my duties as the heir were exactly, it wasn't as stressful as what my brother Antonio has had to deal with. My job from that day forward was to be his second hand, pick up the slack, be one of the influential faces of Hermosa Islas who makes his job easier.\n\nI had somehow managed to put my father off—more than once—when he began insisting that I consider some of the marital offers being sent my way. Offers from not only those families who resided in our great nation, but a few from other prominent families, families with titles equal to the one's mine held. The only difference being that our country still honored those titles fully, saw our family as the leaders meant to rule over them. My father would bring it up, send me a few of those inquires, and then asked me to seriously consider them. I kindly requested he allowed me to finish university first. Promised that as soon as I returned home, I would start receiving a few offers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Allow him to help me determine the best fit for me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Knowing that what I was implying was what he thought would be best for the family as a whole, not necessarily just me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When my father passed; all those promises died with him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I no longer had to wonder how I was going to explain my opinions on that practice. My mother thankfully supported her sons completely, didn't pressure us to rush into the statuary of marriage before we were ready. Openly supports my brother and his vision of marrying for love and only love, a concept that is unheard of in the world we grew up in.\n\nWhich meant I am also free to determine if that was also in the cards for me. Meaning I decided to put off that subject until the woman I am interested in was capable of understanding what I had to offer her, what I was hoping to offer her.\n\nWhen I first met Lady Winifred Josefina Batista, she was only eleven. It was during the summer when visiting my father during the duration of my break. He was conducting business a King often was involved in, and I was accompanying him as instructed to do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There to learn about how politics worked and why it was important to keep your enemies close and content. Justice Ivan Batista had my father to thank for his appointment to the highest court, but that didn't mean they were friends. They only happened to be on the same side of the political spectrum, which meant they worked together, better than they did with those on the opposite side of it.\n\nIt didn't take me long to realize that Justice Batista had his own motives for wanting me to join my father. He was sizing me up, determining if I might be a suitable match for one of his daughters. They didn't specifically mention that, mind you, that isn't how it is done. At that specific time only one of his daughters was of age, and as he suggested already off the market, had her eyes on a prize she was certain to obtain.\n\nThe two teenage girls who greeted me shortly after my father and I arrived, didn't impress me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were what my brothers and I referred to as high noses." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Those were the girls who held their noses so high in the air, just so they could glance down at those they now detected beneath them. A habit, I quickly came to realize, they had learned from their mother, Lady Eva.\n\nI swiftly had become bored with the topic surrounding me and my future plans, plans I hadn't spent time contemplating about at the age of sixteen. I made sure to nod appropriately though, while I stared out the large window overlooking the garden.\n\nIt took me all of two minutes to recognize there was a pair of eyes spying on me. Had I not been paying attention, I might have missed them, since they were green and peering behind the leaves of the tree a few meters from the window. Perched on a branch, that I am certain was a good four meters off the ground, since the angle had that particular little spy gazing down.\n\nAs the conversation turned away from me and onto other national issues, so did my focus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tried hard to determine who could be so brave to climb a difficult tree and then balance their body well enough to keep from falling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But this particular spy was doing a suitable job of not revealing more than the eyes. That is until the two previously mentioned teenage girls started screeching at the person hiding. It was clear they were unaware I am watching, taking notes on how obnoxious they were acting. I even watched as they picked up several rocks and then did their best to knock the culprit out of the tree. Luckily for my spy, those two couldn't throw worth a damn. After a while, they gave up long before ever accomplishing their goal.\n\nLady Eva finally appeared, hands firmly planted on her hips, where she ordered the climber to come down before shooing the older girls back inside. Which is when I got my first appraisal of the youngest Batista child, a young girl who I imagine would love running around the citadel in Prieto with my younger siblings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had to be close to the same age as them, possibly closer to Lorenzo's.\n\nUnlike her sisters, who are wearing dresses, this young girl was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt—dirty ones at that. Her hair was drawn back into a braid, a messy braid that was most likely that way after getting snagged by all the tiny branches. She brushed her hands off on those jeans, while she displayed a shy little smile at me, before rushing off in the direction the others went only moments earlier.\n\nTen minutes later, I was officially introduced to her. Not because anyone thought it necessary, they most definitely did not. But something about those eyes had sparked my interest, made me want to meet the girl they belonged to.\n\nIt has taken that girl seven years to grow into a young woman." }, { "from": "human", "value": "During that time, I did my best to forget about her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Reminded myself a few times that it was crazy to assume a chance meeting like that was the moment when I became obsessed with emerald green eyes. Attracted to women who possessed them, but could never stumble on any that sparkled quite like hers.\n\nSo here I am, now leading that young lady to the garden where it all began. Hoping to figure out precisely where I go from here. Wondering if I am as crazy as I feel, or if maybe I made more out of an encounter than I should have.\n\nAs soon as we step through the garden breezeway, Winifred releases her hand from my arm and widens the gap between us. I instantly miss the warmth of her and want to all but demand she return.\n\n\"Forgive me for being so bold, Your Highness, but this was unnecessary. I appreciate you trying to make me feel special, paying me a moment of attention. However, I am very much aware of where I stand, and the pecking order I am expected to follow.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She informs me as we gradually begin strolling along the stone-paved path. \"Thank you for coming.\"\n\n\"First of all, I insist you address me by my name. Better yet, I'd like you to come up with one of your clever little nicknames. I believe Lenny is what you call Lorenzo. He refers to you as Freddie, correct?\" I see her nod. \"I'm not particularly fond of that nickname for you. Reminds me of when your sisters tried to introduce me to their brother Fred.\"\n\nA grumbly sound emerges from deep inside her. \"Please, don't remind me. I wanted to run and hide when they did that, except you wouldn't allow. Made me step out and show myself, while they made fun of my clothing and disheveled self.\"\n\n\"All I recall from that day is finally encountering something real. You were the first authentic person I had come in contact with, in a very long time, the only genuine person who resided in this very home. The only person who was not at all afraid to show me exactly who she was, instead of putting on some mask to hide behind.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tell her, and then I am blessed to catch the blush that brightens her cheeks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"May I call you Winnie?\"\n\nShe nods and answers at the same time, \"Yes.\"\n\n\"Alright then. So now you need to figure out how you will address me then, Winnie.\"\n\nWinifred slows her pace to a shuffle. \"I'm not sure I am comfortable with that, Prince Esteban.\"\n\n\"Come on. I insist. Brainstorm for me and see what you can come up with. I promise if I don't like it, I'll let you know.\" I do my best to encourage her because I want to watch her while she brainstorms.\n\nShe shakes her head, frustrated, and then closes her eyes as if she can't believe we are having this conversation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have news for her; we are going to have many more conversations that will be a bit less comfortable. Not all of them will happen tonight though, they will occur over time. After all, she is only eighteen and not even close to where I need her to be yet.\n\n\"Ingrid is the one who I believe started calling Prince Lorenzo, Lenny. Not completely sure why or how it all started, but after he laughed at the common name she bestowed him, that was it for us. We've been mates since, he's sort of like a brother to me, to her as well.\" Winifred blows out a puff of exasperated air. \"You seriously expect me to come up with some nickname on a whim?\"\n\n\"If you don't mind. No pressure.\" I shrug and then chuckle when I notice her rolling those lovely green eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Esteban.\" She lets my name fall from her lips as if testing it out. \"Este sounds odd, doesn't really suit you.\" Winifred tries a few more variations she doesn't like. I get the impression that maybe she has come up with something, although I'm not sure if she likes it either.\n\n\"Say it. I want to hear all those fascinating considerations, even the ones you aren't so certain of.\" I roll my hand to encourage her.\n\n\"Stan.\" She blurts out and then scrunches her face as if she is afraid I won't like it.\n\nThere are no words that can describe how I feel when I hear her utter that name for the very first time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The corners of my mouth turn upwards and I nod once." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I like it. You may call me Stan when we are alone like this. It will be our little secret. Our private way of communicating with each other. No one else will be privileged to it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Winifred pauses by the tree she once climbed and reaches out to run her fingers along the bark of its trunk. \"You want me to call you Stan when we talk? Do you know something I don't, Stan? Because from where I am standing, and my experience to date, this most likely will never happen again.\"\n\nNot at all appreciating the truth she is revealing, or the fact I know several elite powers will do their best to work against us, I decide to sway her differently. \"Or we could suggest that I've solely been waiting for you to come of age.\"\n\nStill tracing the bark with her fingers, she whispers, \"Is that true?\"\n\nI nod, except know she isn't looking my way. I take a step closer, so she can hear my quiet tone. \"I believe so.\"\n\nThat seems to grab her attention." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You believe so? The lack of confidence in that response has me doubting the sincerity of your words. Say what you will about the other men my father has selected for me. However, I can assure you, that they all were bloody confident in their pursuit. Not at all afraid to let those around us know. Especially, my father. They seem to understand the best way to secure more time with me was through him, so they confidently went there.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And if I don't suffer the need to go running to Daddy in order to secure time with you, are you saying I'm wasting my time? Or are you only going along with those traditional methods because you are afraid to rock the boat?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The flash of uncertainty in her eyes, once they glance my way, provides me with her answer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I should probably get back before I am missed. I'm sure word has spread that you dragged me off unsupervised, into a dark garden. It would not look good for either of us if we stayed ..\"\n\nI don't exactly know what comes over me. I'm not sure if it was her concern or the fact that I knew she was right. Maybe it was the fact that I am also very certain this young woman has always done as she was told. Whatever the case may be, I can tell you I will never regret it as long as I live.\n\nI have daydreamed about this moment off and on over the years. More so, the closer she got to becoming old enough for me to not feel like some debauch male. I know I should have waited until she was older, except something inside of me commanded this was my chance to sneak past those defenses essential for her to survive." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The second our lips touch, I wasn't sure which one of us was more affected." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wanted to toss her over my shoulder and take her with me right then and there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew at that moment, this woman belonged to me, the one who would one day stand by my side and bear my children." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I pull back, Winifred sinks onto the bench near us, as she brings her fingers to her lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why-why did y-you do th-that?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why do most boys kiss girls, Winnie? Why have other boys kissed you before?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I grin, knowing that little maneuver shook her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Because I wanted to. Because you wanted me to.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How d-did you know I-I wanted y-you to k-kiss me, Stan? And no other boy has ever dared to kiss me before. Not that you are anywhere close to being considered a b-boy.\" Her stuttering is cute and makes me want to kiss her again.\n\n\"Are you saying you didn't? That you've not pondered about doing just that with me since the first time you sat in this very tree and watch me with those expressive green eyes.\" I know I sound cocky, sure of myself, very confident in my assessment.\n\nIsn't that what she accused me of not having, confidence? I can assure her I have more than enough confidence to go around. I just don't plan on going through her father to obtain her. I want her to choose me without the influence of others." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once she has done that, then I will decide how to move forward.\n\nWinifred blinks rapidly as if I just shocked her. \"I don't k-know. I mean, those were girlish fantasies. Daydreams that got me through some tough times, I guess. Reality is different from...\"\n\nI press my finger against her lips, stopping her from revealing anymore. \"Shhh. What if I was more than willing to...\"\n\nWinifred now presses three fingers against my moving lips, causing me to snicker. \"Please don't. Don't say it. I'm not sure I could handle that kind of...\" She stops herself this time.\n\n\"Winnie,\" I mumble behind her fingers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you trust me?\"\n\nI'm not at all surprised when she shrugs. There aren't many people I imagine she has ever fully trusted.\n\n\"Understandable. Can I make you a promise? Can I promise to do my best to earn your trust?\" I give her chin a gentle squeeze. \"Once I have earned your trust, then and only then will we discuss what happens next. Okay?\"\n\n\"Okay. And maybe you can promise no more unexpected kissing.\" She blushes as the words leave her lovely mouth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You have my word.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reach down for her hand. \"Shall we head back, before someone comes looking for you?\"\n\nI take her hand and place it back in the crook of my arm, then lead her back to the ballroom. My men are still standing guard, precisely like I knew they would be. I am also aware that they must have had to run interference for us not all that long ago. One glance from my head of security, advises me we came back just in time to avoid a massive scene.\n\nAs soon as we step into the ballroom, I snag us both a flute of champagne. Lady Eva spots us and makes a beeline in our direction." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her expression is a mixture between happy and ireful.\n\nShe removes the flute from Winifred's grasp and sets it down on the tray of a passing server. \"You disappeared.\"\n\n\"I...\"\n\n\"My fault, Lady Batista. I only wanted to welcome Lady Winifred into the fold. I suggested we go for a walk in the garden, used my position to force her from being able to tell me no. I hope you understand.\" I grab another flute and hand it to Winifred. \"You have done a very adequate job with this one. She is lovely in all ways and will make some young suitor very happy one day. Will make a remarkable partner, I am certain.\"\n\n\"Thank you, Your Highness. I just hope we can find one for her.\" I have so much I'd like to say to that statement, but refrain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Winifred, your father is requesting you join him again. Time to say thank you and let the Prince return to those that have been wishing to speak with him.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It was nice of you to spend a portion of your evening with me. Thank you, Prince Esteban.\" A small smirk that is genuine in nature crosses her face.\n\n\"I'd like to join you, if that is okay. I believe I have some business to attend to in the direction you are heading. It might be nice to have a lovely lady with me while I do so.\" I inform her.\n\n\"I'm sorry, Prince Esteban, but I don't know if that is such a wise idea. Perhaps Paschal could join you.\" Her mother suggests, motioning for Winifred to start moving while she waves the aforementioned one over.\n\n\"That is not acceptable.\" I dismiss her instantly and watch her drop her arm in defeat. \"Tonight should be all about Lady Winifred, therefore I want to keep it that way. I know that you understand. Shall we?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I motion for Winifred to lead the way." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There is no way I am allowing her father to make promises to other undeserving men while I am around. No way will I not step in after I made a few promises to her earlier in the garden.\n\nAs we walk in that direction, I lean down and whisper. \"Did you honestly believe I'd let her steal you away from me, Winnie? Let you suffer through the agonizing stench of rotting fruit.\"\n\nA joyful giggle sneaks out of her and I know we are one small step closer to her trusting me." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "STORY CONTINUATION REQUIRED:\nLength: two sentences sentences\nGenre: romance, coming of age" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have no idea what I was thinking letting Kaleb, along with some unknown male, dance with me like that. It was so not like me at all." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I were smart, I'd blame it on the alcohol—except I hadn't consumed that much alcohol.\n\nBefore we all headed to this local university hangout, my friends and I convened at Kaleb and Ian's small apartment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had one bottle of beer and a shot of tequila; birthday tequila is what they called it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Something to loosen me up a bit, so I could have some fun. Because it was very well understood that I rarely allowed myself to have fun." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was too busy making sure I didn't give my father an excuse to revoke my pass. My grades had to be perfect." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I do mean perfect, no slacking whatsoever. That had been my focus that first semester, the only thing I allowed my brain to focus on." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When the semester was over, I had expected to be flown home for the break, except that hadn't been the case. My father saw no reason to fly me home for a month when I had a perfectly suitable place to stay." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Plus, according to my sisters, my mother and him were planning to be gone, a cruise they believed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not that my sisters cared." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With the parentals absent, it gave them the freedom to do whatever they wanted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If their social media accounts were correct, I'd have to say they roamed freely indeed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Therefore, I spent that time alone. Just me, my thoughts, along with a city full of foreigners I didn't know at all to keep me company." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instead of sulking and feeling sorry for myself, I decided to see if maybe I could get a job.\n\nDo you know how difficult it is to acquire a job when you have absolutely no work experience whatsoever?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Almost impossible in a city this big, when they had so many others to choose from." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My current visa only allowed me to go to school, didn't permit me to obtain an off-campus job unless it was related to my field of study." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The job I really wanted—the bakery job—technically was in my field, except it wasn't, if you get my drift. It was a business, a privately owned business, that could teach me so much if I could convince an owner to offer me an internship/apprenticeship." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, I had to wait a year before I could go searching for that kind of paid work." }, { "from": "human", "value": "According to the person I spoke with, who was expected to know all there was to know about visas and how they worked, I could accept an unpaid internship/apprenticeship and not get into trouble." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At first, I wasn't so keen on that idea, however, after a week of doing absolutely nothing but sitting in my apartment, staring at four walls, and watching movies, I changed my mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I went to five establishments that I thought I'd like to work at." }, { "from": "human", "value": "None of them were interested in working with me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Thought I was trying to pull one over on them.\n\nI was about to give up when I passed a small bakery/cake specialty shop named Nelson's." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ideal establishment, one I had first considered but had chosen to go for the larger bakeries, figured my chances were greater with them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It wasn't dolled up to appear extra fancy like a few others had been. The lobby was small, room for a display case that showed off the goodies, larger refrigerated units off to the side where they displayed the cakes, and a cash register." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just enough room to walk in and grab what you needed, nothing else." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A middle-aged woman, covered in flour and icing, dressed in a baker's smock, stepped through the doorway smiling like she just loved her job." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She listened carefully to me as I went through my spiel, while that smile on her face continued growing the longer I talked. When I was finished, she said one word, \"Hired.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Told me we'd work out the details later." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nonetheless, she would be thrilled to have the help. Free help was even better." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I've been working at Nelson's now since mid-December, almost four months. In the beginning, I assisted her with the books, that's what she hated doing most, where she struggled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Since I was excellent with numbers, understood a spreadsheet and order forms, knew how to write up invoices and make payments, that's what I did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I manned the counter while I got all her books in order, made everything easy and simple, all just a click away.\n\nThat took up most of my winter break." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I spent ten-hour days in the bakery and I loved every second of it, taking only Sundays off because she was closed. When February rolled around, she dragged me into that larger-than-life kitchen of hers and taught me how to make heart-shaped cookies, red-velvet cupcakes, rose petal treats that sold like hotcakes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Basically, if I wasn't in school, I was at the bakery, and when I wasn't there, I was studying so that my grades didn't slip.\n\nSomehow, in the midst of it all, I managed to make a few friends." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Courtney and I had several classes together; she latched on to me rather quickly once she realized I was smart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lindsey and Nina lived in the same building as she did, and one night they invited me to join them for a weekend party. Ingrid happened to be coming for a visit that weekend, so I was game because it gave us something to do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That is the weekend I met the guys: Kaleb, Ian, and Tanner.\n\nNow to be clear, this all happened before I began working at the bakery, so ever since then, they have genuinely been on my case." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They thought I was crazy for putting in the hours I did while also going to school." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It didn't take me long to realize Kaleb seemed to like me. That became more obvious after the break, mostly because he started showing up in the evenings when he knew I was working the counter at Nelson's." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Last month he admitted it even, informed me he thought we should give things a go." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had no reason not to, right? I mean, it wasn't like Esteban and I were anything more than friends." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sure, he had kissed me a few times, had been the first man to kiss me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How sad was that?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Last summer had gone by fast. After I returned home from boarding school, I had all of eight weeks before I needed to head to the States." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a lot to sort out in order for me to be ready to leave for the United States, not to mention that a man in Esteban's position had responsibilities. So, the three times I did see him were nice, but not enough for us to build something." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And while we texted regularly—then and now—that was never the same as actually being around. I mean, it is challenging to hold a meaningful conversation in a text." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even when he called—and he had called me quite a few times, more than my family called me. I enjoyed his calls very much, enjoyed hearing his voice while listening to him go on and on about the little things." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Talked to him about school, Nelson's, life in a foreign country, and how it was different in a good way. There was always something missing during those conversations though, things we just couldn't say, because we hadn't dared to discuss those matters yet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd made it very clear that I was young, that I should have a chance to experience life first before being tied down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That he wanted me to make my own choices in all matters, to live out my dreams. Which I guess was what I was doing, living my life without the pressure of my family hovering, waiting for them to pounce at a moment's notice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The only time he has ever visited me here was shortly after I moved into my apartment, the one he helped secure for me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was nice, in Morningside, only a couple of blocks away from Columbia." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was bigger than what most of my friends had." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The apartment had two bedrooms with one bath, a decent size kitchen, and lots of closet space in one very nice building. I hadn't invited people over, because I knew once they saw it, they'd know I was not just an average student." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was different from them and could afford nice things, really nice things. They were all living in small studios or one-bedroom apartments that would easily fit in my spacious residence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He visited so he could check it out, make sure it was exactly how they had stated, which it was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And even though it was a two-bedroom, he had insisted on staying in a hotel. Making our time together less than it could have been if he'd opted to make use of my spare room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then, of course, there was the fact that Esteban seemed to be living his own life. Dating even. Women who were older than I." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The types of women that seemed to know what he liked and had a great deal of experience with men." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The kinds of women my sisters always claimed men like him fell for, the type I hoped to never be.\n\nBut then I had gone and danced with two guys at the same time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Let them both dance with me like I had watched others dance and always declared I'd never allow a guy to do that to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Worse, I guess, because not only had I encouraged them to grind their sweaty bodies against mine, I'd allowed Kaleb to kiss me like no other man had ever been allowed to do before.\n\nHe had only been the second guy to kiss me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our first kiss had transpired a few weeks ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ingrid had come to town early for my birthday since her schedule conflicted with my actual birthday. So, we celebrated early, partied it up with my friends at some club she wanted to try." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She and Ian always seemed to gravitate towards each other, which was fine. I was happy for my friend, that she had spread her wings a bit and let loose." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The guys had escorted us back to my building, tried extremely hard to get us to invite them up. I think if I'd have said yes, Ingrid would have gone along easily, but I was not anywhere near being ready for that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So instead, Ian and her made out on the sidewalk while Kaleb made his move on me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kissed me softly at first and then went in a little more aggressively." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not as aggressively as he had tonight, but he had made it clear what he wanted, hoped maybe I'd let him have it in the near future." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hadn't been certain how I felt about it all. Confessed later that there might be another guy, a situation that was complicated and had me confused." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He backed off a bit then." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Promised that he'd let me do my best to figure it out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is what I had been in the processes of doing. Was considering what he was suggesting, since it didn't seem the other guy was anywhere near as interested in me as Kaleb was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So earlier I'd told him maybe we could give it a shot, take it slow and see where it led." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And that was also in all likelihood why he had been more handsy tonight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was no doubt he was in the process of letting the others know where he and I stood as a couple.\n\nAnd just when I thought I knew what I was doing, what I wanted, Esteban showed up and muddled it all up real good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All those crazy girlish sensations took over my brain and body as soon as I sensed him near." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then when he wrapped me in his arms, it was like all that had been missing no longer was. Suddenly I was back where I was meant to be." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Unexpectedly, I had found myself caught between two men who I respected in very different ways." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kaleb was the guy who helped me learn how to have a little fun and start enjoying where I am right now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Esteban was the man that invaded my dreams, stirred up all those girlish fantasies, said things that made me think one day it could all truly happen.\n\nSo, I did what any young woman in my position would do." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I decided I had no reason to feel guilty about Kaleb." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That I had every right to live in the here and now, rather than what might one day be. Even pointed it out to the man who dared to inquire if Kaleb was my boyfriend, like he didn't believe I could or would have one." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I then challenged him on why I had every right to enjoy my time here as much as he had been. Pulled out my phone, after I let him know I'd kept tabs on his life, knew he wasn't sitting around just waiting for me to come of age." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not come of age, get a little older, more experienced, even though he never dared suggested that I needed to be experienced. Then I joined my friends and let what happened, happen, while I did my best to profess that I'd not feel the least bit guilty about it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Except that had been one humongous lie. Not only did I feel guilty, I was angry with myself for using Kaleb like that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then I was angry with Kaleb for using me to irritate the man he knew was my complication, the one I had fessed up to." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Last, I was furious with my complication for confusing me more by making me go through all these stupid unclear emotions.\n\nNow I am staring at him while he holds me securely in his arms, after I almost toppled over on the dance floor when those I was dancing with disappeared." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I try to wiggle free, but the man is strong for a guy who sits in front of a desk most of the day.\n\n\"Did you enjoy yourself?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Esteban growls through clenched teeth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No.\" I hiss as I attempt to step back, except he doesn't permit it, and that ticks me off even more." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you dance like that often?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His entire body tenses, as if he is doing his best to hold back.\n\n\"No,\" I respond mockingly as my hands fists his shirt. \"First time, actually.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You kissed him.\" Once again, he snarls his words out, letting me know he did not enjoy being a witness to that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He kissed me.\" I counter as I am reminded how many times I had watched that video of him kissing Lady Felicia." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't like I had only one angle to watch from." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Seems all those that knew I was missing it, wanted to send me proof of how she had finally gotten her target to pay her some attention. None of them knew that the two of us had kept in touch after my soirée." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or that he'd made some interesting claims later." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But everyone knew that Lady Felicia had set her eyes on Prince Esteban for a while now.\n\nIt is one of those eye-rolling inside jokes that never seemed to end." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Which one of the three women, who had set their eyes on the three Royal brothers, would unmistakably win her prize?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dalia had laid claim to King Antonio." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lady Felicia had proclaimed her undying devotion to Prince Esteban several years back. Poor Prince Lorenzo, I believe, had drawn the short straw in this game, because his obsessed woman was psychotic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lady Hilda was not about to be one-upped by the others and always pushing the limits. I believe she may have even been banned from a lengthy number of events in hopes she'd straighten up and fly right." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You kissed him back, Winnie. I watched you kiss him back.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Esteban shakes his head, exposing his displeasure in that. \"Was it all you thought it would be?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not really,\" I grumble right before he yanks me even closer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This one will be.\" He warns before crashing those soft plump lips of his against mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The first reaction I intended on was to shove him back so I could slap him for stealing another kiss from me. That lasted all of two seconds, if that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dang if I could even think when his lips brushed mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pressed against them. When that happened, it predestined my mind to completely stop working altogether.\n\nJust when I thought I was going to pass out from lack of oxygen to the brain, he brings his tongue out to play." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sweeps it along my bottom lip and then forces it inside and goes to town. I'm not even sure that I am doing it right at all." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It's not like I've done this before, not like this at least." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I can only follow his lead and pray that he is enjoying this as much as me.\n\nWhen he finally releases my mouth with a distinct smacking sound, I swear I've never seen a man look so disheveled before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And knowing that I did this to him, has me grinning like the nineteen-year-old young woman I am." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I've practically brought him to his knees." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lady Felicia's kiss hadn't been able to do that, left him looking like he was about to explode and capable of breaking all the rules." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I don't have a lot of time to study him carefully, because shortly after he releases me, we are moving." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Darius Falcon is shielding me on one side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Esteban is on the other. We are flanked by three large men and all but shoved into a black SUV that takes off almost immediately." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Expand on the story, staying true to the romance, coming of age genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The four of us went our separate ways slightly after one." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Both ladies were yawning, so Darius and I thought it best before being forced to carry them to bed after they fall asleep. It wouldn't be the first time we'd done that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These two liked to drag it out for as long as possible and end up crashing while catching up.\n\nAccording to my lovely wife, it was a common occurrence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were roommates in boarding school and often talked until one lost the fight, the other followed close behind. They woke up more than once in her New York apartment, still seated on the couch or relaxing on the piles of pillows on the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That was how it was with them, and I suppose how it will always be.\n\nI drag her tired body behind me as I lead her to our suite." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Listening to her babble about how I did this same thing for the first time, a few years ago, when she made that secret trip home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you remember that, Stan?\" She asks me as I guide her into our bedroom and sit her down on the bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes.\" I lean down and kiss her forehead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Of course, I do.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I was so naïve back then.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She kicks off her shoes and flops back onto the bed. \"I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. So innocent.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I listen as I unbutton my shirt and toss it in the bin. When I turn to face my wife, I am blown away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Somehow, she has slipped out of all her clothes and is now lying on her back staring up at me. I swear I practically combust." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What are you doing?\" I ask as I stand there and admire her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You are so beautiful.\"\n\n\"As are you,\" she licks her lips and rolls over onto her stomach." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Propping her head on her folded hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She then crosses her feet with bent knees, and that is when I notice the heels she has slipped on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you trying to seduce me, Winnie?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I kick off my shoes and begin to unbuckle my belt, so I can remove my pants." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If you have to ask...\" She drops her head onto her now folded arms and sighs.\n\nI point at the tall and proud member, now standing up to greet her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's just that you've never...\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She rolls over onto her back and lets her head hang slightly off the edge. \"Come here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "My feet move all on their own until I am standing in front of her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is clear to me that she's had a little too much to drink, causing her to loosen up a bit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I do believe she drank Ingrid's share of the champagne since her friend had to decline for obvious reasons.\n\n\"I'm here,\" I inform her as I stare down at her. \"Now what?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't judge me.\" She whispers, and her fiery breath can be felt heating my thighs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I watch as her lips land on my skin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pressing soft precious kisses along my thighs, that have my knees getting weak." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I watch, her earlier words start to make sense, and I feel the need to make it clear this is unnecessary.\n\n\"How have I never thought about giving you this pleasure until now?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Those words however steal the ones I was about to speak." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Flipping back to her front, she settles on her knees and encourages me to move closer. Her arms wrap around my backside, and before I can stop her, she drops a kiss to the tip of my erection and I swear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Those green eyes turn up to find mine, so she can watch my reaction as she lets the head slip between her soft lips. A smile breaks across her gorgeous face when she catches me gasp for air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I never thought watching her do this to me would be so mesmerizing. Watching my shy and timid wife take control while doing her very best to give me some pleasure is as good as it gets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Winnie,\" I speak her name as she takes me deeper. \"Winnie, stop.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pulling her mouth off like I suggested, she looks up concerned. \"Did I do something wrong?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I shake my head as I gather her in my arms and fall on the bed next to her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not at all. That was perfect.\"\n\nShe kisses me with a smile pasted on her face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Then why did you stop me?\"\n\n\"Because if you kept going like you were, I was going to lose it, and I didn't want to shock you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I watch her blush as she begins to understand my meaning.\n\n\"Oh.\" Her gaze travels down my body again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Would that be something...\"\n\nI don't let her finish." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I kiss the words right off her lips, kiss her so hard, I swear I am bruising both of our lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It has been weeks since we've been intimate and I've missed being this close to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Stan.\" She pants out when I finally break the kiss." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I brush my fingers along her collarbone as I admire her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My eyes find hers again and I watch her as I allow my fingers to travel down to her breasts. \"What do you want, Winnie?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her eyes roll back into her head when I pinch her nipple lightly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She withers with each manipulation and arches her chest closer. \"Please, Stan.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I lower my other hand, so I can make sure she is ready to take what I have to offer her. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Once I've played with her long enough, I kiss her lips again before I drag her on top of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We've had sex like this a few times. I don't last long in this position, because the sight of her does me in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But it also gives her control, and since tonight she is the one to have decided she is ready for us to resume our sex life, I find it only fitting she is the one to get us started." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Take what you want from me, Winnie,\" I instruct her as I run my hands down her back and squeeze her bottom.\n\nShe does just that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Slowly she takes me inside of her and begins to ride me. I have to do everything I can to not flip her onto her back and take over." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There will be time to do that later. Right now, I need to give my wife the chance to show me what she needs, so that the next time she is feeling needy, she takes it as well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I want us to be equal in all things, and this is a huge step for a woman like my Winnie.\n\nHer body quivers and it sends me into my downfall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I explode, and when I come back down, I discover she has collapsed on top of me.\n\nHow long has she been out?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "How long was I out after one hell of an orgasm that rocked my world?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I caress her back as I turn us onto our sides. When I start to pull out, I hear her mumbled protest. \"Stay.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You sure?\" I kiss her nose." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Titling her head, so she can look up at me, she nods and yawns. \"Weirdly enough, I am. I've missed you. Missed how our bodies rock in slow motion together while we sleep. Stay.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Staring my wife in the eyes, I express my thoughts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I never dreamed we'd have this connection, that was so much more than a physical need. It's so much more than that, and it only goes to prove, that when a person finds the right one and loves them unconditionally, waits for her until the time for both is right, when that happens, the bond between them is unimaginable. I love you, Winnie.\"\n\n\"I love you too.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She whispers against my lips.\n\nNow it is my turn to casually bring both our bodies to heights unknown." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I roll her over onto her back and begin rolling my hips in that way we both like. Hitting that spot deep inside of her, while working that sensitive nerve between her folds, just enough to make her moan softly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I don't rush the process, even when I start to experience the burning heat travel down my spine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When my mind tries to coerce me to pick up the pace, so it can get there faster, I push those thoughts aside and keep moving slowly. I do so because I know from practice, that when I do reach the ultimate high, it will be better and send us both into a deep sleep." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Stan.\" She whimpers beneath me. \"Oh wow. Yes.\"\n\nI feel her body start to tremble and tighten around me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Each and every time that happens, I find myself falling behind her, and this time is no different. My body tightens from the top of my head all the way down to my toes, and all the pressure is released deep inside her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is the most pleasant sensation and knowing my love has given it to me, warms me all over again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As soon as we have both relaxed again, I roll back onto my side, bringing her with me. This time I don't attempt to free myself, instead I draw her close and hold her, while we both fall into a deep sleep." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "CONTINUE STORY. PARAMETERS: 6 sentences sentences, Lily Mayne style, nsfw, fantasy, romance, teratophilia, LGBT genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Apollo's room was at the other end of the long, double-storey block that had once been a big motel. I could already see Rig leaning against the wall between Apollo's door and window, his booted foot tapping nervously against the brick, arms folded over his chest.\n\nHe straightened up when we approached. \"Hey,\" he said to Lilac, who nodded back silently. Rig's soft brown eyes turned to me, tense and worried. \"You think they're okay in there? Should I have gone in with Apollo? I wanted to give them some privacy. You know, doctor-patient confidentiality and stuff? I didn't—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sure it's fine.\" I grasped Rig's shoulder briefly. \"You'd have heard if Apollo needed you.\"\n\nA frisson of worry still shot through my gut at the thought of our medic alone in there with a beastie. What if they freaked out when he went to touch them, to assess their injuries?\n\nI didn't say any of that to Rig, though." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instead, I tilted my head to Lilac. \"Anchor wants Lilac to keep an eye on them while they're here.\"\n\nRig nodded distractedly and started to say something when the door beside him opened, silencing him. Apollo stepped outside, his usually tanned skin a little pale behind his medical mask. He blinked, then nodded in greeting at Lilac and me.\n\n\"An update on our new winged friend.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Apollo's brown eyes were tight and serious. \"Firstly, he indicated he identifies as male when I gave him options. It was a nod—he still won't speak.\"\n\n\"He can,\" Rig noted, voice sad, \"but I think he's… in shock or something?\"\n\nApollo nodded. \"He's definitely in shock. Dazed and traumatised.\" He exhaled and reached up to run fingers through his blond hair, pulling a few strands loose from its messy bun. \"He let me take off his coat and shirt to check him over. He's got… a lot of scars. Including a brand on his left shoulder blade. 001.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Zero-zero-one?\" I felt sick at the thought of anyone being branded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Does that… Do you think that means he was the first beastie they held there?\"\n\n\"I'd say that's a pretty good guess.\" Apollo gripped his hips with restless hands. \"I said I'd call him One until he was comfortable enough to tell us his real name, somehow. If he won't speak, I don't know if he'll be able to write anything for a while. His arms are… not good.\"\n\n\"What about his leg?\" I asked, stomach clenching at the thought of the unnatural angle his leg had been bent at." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Apollo's eyes tightened, and I knew his lips were set in a grim line behind his medical mask." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The bone has kind of set, but very poorly. I think he heals quick, but the broken ends haven't really… knitted back together properly. It's clearly causing him a lot of pain. I don't know if a nerve is trapped or what, but…\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He exhaled. \"If I want to fix it, I'm going to have to break what has knitted back together. It flexes more than a tibia ever should, so I think I'll be able to do it with my limited resources here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Apollo was a damn good medic, but it wasn't like we were in possession of top-notch equipment out here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd trained as a paramedic in one of the cities on the west coast before making his way into the Wastes, wanting to use his skills to help raiders out here.\n\n\"Shit.\" Rig turned to face me, face pale above his leather mask. \"Poor guy.\"\n\n\"Is he going to… react well to that? Has he indicated he wants it fixed?\" I asked Apollo, worry already flooding through me.\n\nOne seemed gentle, even timid, but… he was still a monster. We had no idea if he'd snap and start attacking if we broke his leg to fix it—if he was even in a real position to understand we'd be helping him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Especially when, evidently, all he'd experienced from humans so far was the sadistic pain and suffering they had inflicted on him in that military base.\n\n\"I explained it to him,\" Apollo said. \"He nodded. I asked him if he definitely understood what it meant—what I'd have to do. He nodded.\"\n\nOur medic shrugged helplessly. \"I can ask again, but if he won't speak to give his consent verbally… I guess we have to trust he understands by his non-verbal cues?\"\n\n\"He responded well to Rig,\" I said, unable to keep the faint thread of bitterness out of my voice, even as it made my cheeks heat behind my gas mask." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I still didn't get why he'd taken to Rig and not me. \"Maybe Rig can go and talk to him—make sure he fully understands what you need to do.\"\n\n\"Worth a shot.\" Apollo turned to open the door.\n\n\"You coming too?\" Rig asked me.\n\nAfter a brief hesitation, I nodded. I did want to see One." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Make sure he was okay." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But if I started making him as uncomfortable as I had before, I'd leave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Apollo's room was like the rest of ours, decent in size yet still somehow cramped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dim and perpetually hot in the summer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The only difference with Apollo's room was that it led directly to our medical office, set behind a locked door that only Apollo and Anchor had keys to." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We all trusted each other here, but that trust only extended so far.\n\nWhen Apollo opened the door, my eyes immediately flew to the long body stretched out on the gurney, wings hanging limply off the sides, so big they dragged and took up half the floor space. One's long fingers were folded together over his middle, head turned away from us. He looked almost… serene. Or at least, he would, if his left leg wasn't sticking out at a sickening angle, and his right wing wasn't a shredded mess. Surely it wasn't comfortable to lie on his wings like that, either." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hung back by the door, shifting awkwardly on my feet. Lilac positioned himself silently in the corner of the room, leaning against the wall. But despite his relaxed posture, his eyes were as sharp as ever as they stayed fixed on One. I could see his right hand resting beside the machete at his waist.\n\n\"Hey, One.\" Rig's voice was low and friendly as he stepped up to the gurney, avoiding standing on the wings, and patted the monster's arm.\n\nAt the sound of Rig's voice, One's head moved and he turned pitch-black eyes toward him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My chest tightened when I saw burn scars down the right side of his face, as his dark hair fell back onto the metal surface under him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The skin on his cheekbone and curving around his eye socket was raised and discoloured. It looked tight and twisted, and I could see it extending to his ear, the curve of which was misshapen, and down past his jaw to the side of his throat.\n\nIt was healed, but heavily scarred. I remembered noticing the remnants of a fire at the military base. My stomach tightened at the thought of One having to endure that. Was he still trapped in his cell when the fire broke out?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Did he have to walk through it to get to the upper levels of the building?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We want to fix your leg,\" Rig was saying, and One was gazing up at him with big, liquid eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But to do that, Apollo is going to have to break it. It's going to hurt. Are you sure you want us to do it?\"\n\nOne nodded.\n\n\"Are you…\" Rig cleared his throat, and I saw the back of his neck get red. \"I don't mean to be a dick, but is there a chance you might, like… snap and start attacking when we do it?\"\n\nOne's dark brows pulled down immediately and he shook his head. I saw a pale, long-fingered hand lift off his stomach." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It trembled wildly, like the nerves still hadn't recovered from being freed from their bound state. He hesitated for a moment, before placing it on Rig's forearm.\n\nSomething sharp and petty pierced me at the sight, and I blinked and looked away. Pathetic, I thought to myself, wanting to shift my feet as nervous energy filled me up.\n\n\"Okay,\" Rig said softly, patting the back of One's hand before looking over at Apollo and nodding. Then he glanced back at me and quirked a brow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hey, Ghost is here too. He wanted to make sure you're okay.\"\n\nWhen Rig jerked his chin at me in an overly obvious, get over here gesture, I swallowed and took a tentative step closer to the gurney.\n\nOne's big, dark eyes swung to me immediately, then away again just as fast.\n\nFeeling painfully uncomfortable, especially with Apollo and Lilac watching this humiliating display, I crossed the distance to the gurney with quick steps, wanting to get this over with. My face was hot, skin getting damp where the edges of my mask pushed in.\n\n\"Uh, hey.\" My voice was raspy with nerves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I cleared my throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Glad you're… um… I'm glad we can help you. Sorry for…\"\n\nI trailed off, feeling even more anxious when Rig shot me an alarmed look. \"Sorry for what they did to you in there,\" I finished weakly, hoping the mention of it didn't trigger anything for him.\n\nOne's head had twitched when I'd started speaking, but I noticed his shoulders relax onto the gurney. He still wouldn't look at me, but at least he wasn't stiff with fear at the sight of me anymore. Progress, I guess.\n\nEvidently, I was still making him somewhat uncomfortable though, so I cleared my throat and had a brief, silent conversation with Rig." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We'd perfected the art of saying all manner of things to each other with just our eyes.\n\nAnd right now, I could see Rig calling me a shithead if I left.\n\nOh, well. He'd get over it.\n\n\"I'll—I better go, but I'll come check on you later,\" I said, not sure if I meant it. Did One even want me anywhere near him? It sure didn't seem it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not waiting for anyone else to speak, I turned and nodded once at Apollo, who had thankfully stopped watching and was by the sink scrubbing his hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Still leaning silently against the wall with his arms folded over his chest, Lilac met my eyes briefly before returning them to One.\n\n\"Wait.\"\n\nI rolled my eyes at Rig's voice, but stopped.\n\nA gloved hand gripped my shoulder, and I felt the press of Rig's body against my side. \"He reached for you,\" he murmured low, so only I could hear.\n\nMy face contorted. \"What?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"When you turned, he reached for you. He doesn't want you to leave. I think he's scared. Will you just stay while Apollo does this?\" Rig glanced back at One. \"He's in shock and freaked out and terrified. Come on.\"\n\nHe reached for me?\n\nWhat the hell? I blinked, staring at a scuff mark on the white wall beside the door. \"But he seems really uncomfortable around me,\" I said blankly, not understanding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rig shrugged. \"I don't know, man. He's a beastie—who knows how he reacts to stuff? I'm just saying, I don't think he wants you to go.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My stomach dipped with pleasant nerves at Rig's words. My throat bobbing as I swallowed, I nodded once. \"Fine.\"\n\nOne was staring at us when we turned back. Even though he couldn't see my mouth, I shot him a small, nervous smile as we walked back to the gurney. One blinked, gazing at me, before those dark eyes cut away from my face yet again. My smile turned into a confused frown." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We're going to stay with you while Apollo does this,\" Rig told him, moving to stand around the other side of the gurney, so we were facing each other on either side of One." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When Apollo moved to the foot of the gurney with his supplies, eyeing that messed up leg with a look of grim determination, I oh-so-casually placed my gloved hands on the cold metal surface, a few inches from One's arm. A glance up at Rig conveyed my intention. Get ready to hold his arms down. I saw Rig give me a tiny nod and do the same a few moments later.\n\nI had no idea if we'd even be able to hold One down—it wasn't like we knew how strong he was, considering he was seven hundred years old—but we were the ones who'd found him. We were the ones who'd brought him here, to the camp." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So that meant it was our responsibility to try and minimise the risk to Apollo, and all the other raiders here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I glanced over at Lilac and noticed he'd already unsheathed his machete and was holding it by his side in a loose, casual grip. He still looked totally at ease. Relaxed. He did this far too often—having to potentially kill things—to feel the swirl of nerves that were causing a storm in my belly. His eyes were laser-focused on One, and I knew he'd react quicker than any of us could if One did snap and start attacking.\n\n\"Okay.\" I detected only the faintest hint of nerves in Apollo's voice. \"Are we, uh… all ready?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Agonising silence followed. I looked down, my stomach clenching when I saw that One was trembling, long fingers gripping the sides of the metal gurney, dark eyes somehow bright with fear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I shot Rig a panicked glance and saw him already looking at me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He widened his eyes meaningfully and jerked his chin down at One. When I stared back at him dumbly, not doing anything, he did it again more forcefully.\n\nFor god's sake.\n\n\"So, um…\" My voice trembled with nerves. I had no idea what to say, I just knew that Rig wasn't going to stop gesturing at me to speak until I did. \"Once Apollo's fixed your leg, we can find you somewhere to rest. You can take a shower. Maybe eat something. Um, do you eat? I don't…\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shrugged helplessly at Rig, but he gestured emphatically for me to continue. When I looked back down, I did notice that One's body appeared less tense. His breathing had slowed just a fraction, even though Apollo was pulling on disposable gloves and getting what looked like a splint ready at the foot of the gurney.\n\n\"I know some beasties don't need to eat. I'm guessing you don't, seeing as you were… um…\" I needed to try and stay away from mentioning the military or his captivity. \"But we can see if there's something you want.\"\n\nApollo's hands reached for One's leg." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One's breathing sped back up, black eyes staring up at the ceiling, wide and unblinking. His chest heaved." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We have books,\" I blurted, heart thumping, fingers twitching, ready to move and grab at One's arm if he lashed out at Apollo. \"Another raider, Cat, before he went missing, he liked to read. His room's the same, hasn't been touched, so there's—We can get you books if you—\"\n\nThe sickening crack of One's tibia cut me off, making bile push at the back of my throat. One didn't make a sound aside from a sharp, shuddering exhalation, but his pale skin was gleaming with sweat. When I glanced further down the table, I felt the blood drain from my face.\n\nUnder One's fingers, the sides of the gurney were warped upwards, like tiny wings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd literally bent the thick metal with his hands.\n\nRig and I shared an alarmed look over One's prone form, but neither of us spoke.\n\n\"You're doing great, One.\" Apollo's voice was grim as he bound One's leg to the makeshift splint.\n\nI'd been lucky enough to not break any bones while out in the Wastes, and I'd never been more grateful for that fact as I watched our medic use the best tools at his disposal—rudimentary at most—to treat One. It threw into sharp relief just how vulnerable we were out here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A simple infection, one that could have been quickly cleared up with antibiotics before the monsters rose, could kill one of us in the Wastes.\n\nDid monsters get infections? Was One at risk of anything?\n\n\"Okay.\" Apollo's forehead had a sheen of sweat on it as he finished binding One's leg. \"Hopefully this helps and doesn't make anything worse. I'm hoping your… supernatural genetic make-up lets this heal cleanly.\"\n\nHe patted One's good leg." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You did great, chief.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was still reeling over the fact that One hadn't made a single sound while Apollo broke his leg." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Without any form of anaesthetic or pain relief. Did he feel pain? He'd seemed to, in the car on the way here. My stomach twisted at the thought that maybe he was just used to it. To pain. From humans.\n\nOne let out another shaky breath, and as Rig and I looked down at him, his eyes darted to me, and we stared at each other for a split-second that felt a million times longer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This close, I noticed that his irises weren't just solid black, but decorated with swirling pinpricks of faint colour. Like galaxies.\n\nA sharp knock broke the moment, making me blink and look up at the door. Before I tore my eyes from One's though, I noticed something almost like a faint glow flare within them as he jumped at the sudden noise.\n\n\"It's me.\" Anchor's raspy voice came from behind the closed door.\n\nApollo looked at One with a frown. \"It's getting crowded in here. Want me to kick everyone out so Anchor can come speak to you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "One shook his head immediately, and his eyes darted back over to me again before he looked at Rig." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Apollo exhaled and nodded. \"Okay. Lilac, will you let Anchor in? Ghost, Rig, can you help One sit up?\"\n\nThat was easier said than done. As Lilac let Anchor into the room, Rig and I got One into an upright position, then awkwardly helped him manoeuvre until he was sitting with his legs hanging over the edge of the gurney and his wings behind him. One hadn't reacted when we'd carefully moved his damaged wing, so maybe it didn't hurt him, but it felt lifeless. Limp. Like he couldn't use it at all now that the membrane between those long, bony fingers had been shredded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I stepped back to give One some space, I heard Anchor let out a disbelieving little chuckle. \"I'll be damned,\" she said, and I looked over to see her take a hesitant step forward.\n\nI glanced at One. He was staring back at her. Despite the trauma he'd just gone through, his eyes were calm, his features no longer pulled taut.\n\n\"Do you remember me?\" Anchor asked him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rig and I shared a quick glance. We all stayed quiet. Apollo paused in sorting out his supplies to look over with a confused frown. Even Lilac's normally impassive face twitched with surprise as he settled back into his spot in the corner, leaning one shoulder on the wall, watching intently.\n\nMy stomach clenched up when One's face broke into a true smile, his pale lips stretching, showing even, white teeth. Tiny lines crinkled in the corners of his big eyes next to those spidery black-green markings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Despite the ashen tone of his skin, he looked almost radiant for a moment." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Like he hadn't felt anything close to happiness or joy for a long time. Like this was the first reason for him to properly smile in a while.\n\nHe nodded." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "help a writer out? 4 sentences more sentences, Lily Mayne-style, nsfw, fantasy, romance, teratophilia, LGBT genre thx" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I groaned as I blinked my eyes open the next morning, my lids too heavy and gritty with sleep." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was nothing but a boneless heap on the bed, my muscles aching in a very specific way that brought back memories of last night in a rush." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I smiled into the pillow, sprawled on my stomach, and tried to force my eyes to stay open. The room was bright—far brighter than it would be if it was dawn, which meant I was way behind the schedule I'd promised Anchor.\n\nWorry about pissing her off started rising in my gut, making my limbs tense up. But then I felt movement on the bed behind me, before warm lips pressed into my shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I melted back into the mattress, sweet pleasure chasing away the more unpleasant feelings until I couldn't bring myself to care. Anchor could wait. Moth could wait. For once, I was going to do what I wanted.\n\n\"Good morning.\" Aury's voice reverberated against my shoulder, making me shiver." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I felt strands of his soft hair brush my skin, and despite how late we'd stayed up, my cock twitched and hardened in a rush." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After going down on each other again, we'd kissed and touched lazily for a long while until we were both hard and aching once more." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This time, I'd straddled Aury's thighs and we'd jerked each other off, because I'd been dying to actually see his cock spurt his release. Amazingly, despite coming twice already, he'd still shot an insane amount all over his stomach and chest, making my mouth water until I'd licked it up.\n\nThe memory of it made my own dick pulse against the bed, wetting the sheet as pre-cum leaked. Apparently, I had a cum fetish—that was new knowledge for me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A bolt of lust tightened my gut when I felt Aury's hard cock brush against my thigh and the curve of my ass, already leaking as well and leaving a wet trail on my skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But then he draped himself over me and rested his cheek between my shoulder blades with a sigh.\n\n\"Please don't go out there, Gage,\" he murmured, long fingers tracing absentminded patterns over the small of my back and swell of my ass, making me shiver with sensitivity.\n\nI exhaled, staring at the wall. \"Trust me, I wish I didn't have to.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shifted back, closer to Aury's warmth until our legs tangled together.\n\nHis words had broken me out of my sleepy, lust-drunk haze. The realisation that I'd be back out in the Wastes, probably in less than an hour, hit me like a bowling ball thudding into the pit of my stomach.\n\nI groaned low, burying my face back into the pillow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I need to get up and get moving. Shouldn't waste daylight.\"\n\nAury made an unhappy noise and nuzzled his nose against my back. \"I could come with you—\"\n\n\"No.\" That made me turn, and Aury moved as I rolled onto my back so I could look up at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sight of his big black eyes, with those faint swirls of colour, made my chest get tight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You need to stay here. You're safe here.\"\n\nMaybe if I said it enough, he'd stay for a long time.\n\nIn the end, I didn't rush, even though the anxiety at the thought of Anchor being annoyed with me steadily increased the longer I took, like a buzzing at the back of my skull getting louder and louder. Aury and I kissed for long moments in bed until we reluctantly got up and dressed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I went and retrieved Aury's coat from his room for him when he asked. I got the feeling he didn't like having his back exposed, but I wasn't sure if it was because of the scars or the barbs lining his spine.\n\nFully aware that I was just delaying the inevitable, I asked Aury if he wanted to come meet the girls while I fed and watered them. He nodded but looked a little panicky, like it was some grand milestone in… whatever this was between us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It made me laugh and go up on my toes to kiss him. I was still riding my orgasm high from the night before, and it was making me bolder than normal.\n\nAfter Aury stole a final kiss, I pulled on my mask and gloves. I was nervous as we stepped outside into the cool sunlight, half expecting to find Anchor waiting angrily at my door, demanding I get out there and start looking for Moth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But there was no one around. I glanced up and saw a raider on the camp wall, keeping watch. For the first time in hours, I remembered Mary and her monster pets, just on the other side of the wall. I wondered what she was doing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I led Aury around to my little yard at the back of my room, feeling guilty that I was late letting the girls out of their coop for the day. I carried the small basket I used to collect their eggs, and I handed it to Aury as I unlocked the padlock on the gate.\n\nHe clutched the basket, following me silently into the yard, and hovered a few paces back as I crouched down to flip the little wooden latch that held the coop hatch closed. I stood up and stepped back, giving the girls time to make their way out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bianca poked her head out first, giving me an indignant squawk at being kept waiting before she scurried down the little ramp, feet scratching against the wood. The others followed moments later.\n\n\"Hello, ladies,\" I said, wondering how they were going to react to Aury. He was a monster, after all." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Some animals from this world reacted badly to monsters, instinctive fear keeping them wary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That wasn't the case with the hens. They flocked to him, pecking around his feet. I didn't ask if it was the wings and bird feet that made them like him, in case he found it offensive. But the sight of him tentatively crouching down and reaching out to brush fingertips over Trixie's feathers made my chest get tight and warm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I took the basket from him and stuck my head in the coop to collect their eggs. By the time I re-emerged, Aury was sitting cross-legged on the dry ground, Pearl in his lap.\n\nI let out a rusty laugh. \"Wow, they like you, huh?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Aury grinned up at me, his smile blindingly brilliant in the dappled sunlight.\n\n\"Ghost?\" I turned and saw Rig sticking his head out of his bedroom window. \"You're still here? Oh, thank fuck. Wait there.\" He disappeared.\n\nWhile I waited, I topped up the hens' water with my canteen and scattered feed from the wooden box tucked in the corner of the yard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rig pushed his way through the wire gate a minute later, still adjusting his mask on his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm leaving soon,\" I told him, feeling like I needed to defend myself. Like I was being lazy or negligent for still being there when I should be out looking for Moth already.\n\nBut Rig shook his head. \"No need. Moth showed up a little while ago, but we thought you'd already left.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes cut over to Aury, then darted back to me as he suppressed a smile behind his mask. \"Morning, Aury.\"\n\n\"Good morning,\" Aury said in his quiet voice, stroking long fingers through Pearl's feathers. She preened, clearly in heaven. I could relate.\n\nI wasn't jealous of a chicken." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No way. I turned back to Rig, relief making me smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good job I slept in, huh?\"\n\nRig snorted, raising a dark brow at me, making my face get hot. \"Yeah, slept in.\" He jerked his chin in the general direction of the diner. \"You should probably go let Anchor know you're here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I exhaled. \"I guess.\" Couldn't I just go and hide back in my room with Aury?\n\n\"You should get some breakfast too,\" Rig said to me. \"I'll keep Aury company for a while.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I nodded, forcing myself not to gaze back at Aury with a longing expression." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Any news about Mary and her pets?\"\n\nRig shook his head. \"I went up there earlier to take a look. The beastie with the cage moved the RV closer to the trees last night so that the two big ones could eat. They're stripping the leaves.\" His eyes crinkled as he smiled behind his mask." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're kind of cute. I mean, as cute as something that looks a bit like a ball sac with arms and horns can be.\"\n\nI shuddered at that visual. \"Your brain is fucked up, Rig.\"\n\nHe snickered. \"Go on, get it over with.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I nodded, then turned and smiled at Aury from behind my mask. \"Um, see you later.\"\n\nHe grinned up at me, gently setting Pearl down before rising to his feet. He carefully brushed the dirt from his new coat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes. See you later.\"\n\nI could feel Rig's eyes gleefully watching us, so I turned and walked out of the yard, giving him a weak, affectionate shove on my way.\n\nAs I made my way across the camp to the diner, I looked back up at the top of the camp wall. Lilac was up there, identifiable by his black hair pulled into its high ponytail." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was looking down at something in his hands. Probably whittling again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I let out a breath as I approached the diner, nerves swirling. I could see Anchor in there, elbow resting on the counter, and Moth's distinctive white hair where he leaned against the far wall. Ugh.\n\nWhen I entered the diner, Anchor turned, her eyes widening in surprise. \"Ghost, you're still here. That's lucky.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She shot me a tentative smile behind her mask and nodded over at Moth. \"Look who showed up this morning.\"\n\nMy eyes went to the tall motherfucker. His long, leanly muscled frame was relaxed; wide shoulders resting casually against the wall behind him, arms folded over his chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moth shot me the tiniest smirk, the metal adorning his mouth—a ring through the centre of his lower lip, and two either side of his cupid's bow—barely moving." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ghost.\" He inclined his head a fraction, causing a lock of pure white hair to fall from behind his ear over his cheekbone.\n\nSeeing as it was just us in the room, I didn't worry about staying polite. \"Shithead.\" I kept my tone conversational as I nodded back at him while I carried the basket of eggs over to the counter.\n\nMoth's lips twitched, but the only other movement he made was to shift his sly eyes to Anchor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was rolling her own over her mask. \"Come on, boys.\"\n\n\"You mean 'come on, Ghost'.\" Moth flicked that errant lock of hair back. \"I've been nothing but polite,\" he added, his voice smooth as he shot me a tiny smirk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know you don't see eye to eye—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have no problem with Ghost.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moth's eerily pale eyes were piercing as they stared me down. I refused to look away first, even as my fists clenched.\n\n\"You left me surrounded by a pack of beasties,\" I said through gritted teeth. \"I nearly died!\"\n\nI didn't add that, up until the point Moth left me alone to fend off half a dozen creatures that had looked like a cross between a garden gnome and an ant, we'd been kind of… flirting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And my ego was evidently so fragile that I still couldn't decide which had offended me more." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The abandonment in the face of death, or the sudden ghosting—the irony didn't escape me—from a guy who I'd been pretty sure had been eager to give me a blow job.\n\nMoth rolled his eyes. \"You weren't going to die. God, Ghost, you're such a baby sometimes.\"\n\n\"I am not!\" I immediately flushed beneath my mask at how whiny that came out. \"Fuck you, asshole—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Enough!\" Anchor sounded exasperated. \"I swear to god, you guys are like children.\"\n\nMoth and I both shut up at that, scowling at each other. His was more impactful, much to my irritation, seeing as he didn't have a mask in the way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Where's Rig?\" Anchor asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I swallowed convulsively, forcing my eyes to stay fixed on her and not dart nervously over to Moth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Because Rig was with Aury, and there were several reasons I didn't want Moth to meet Aury." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not the least being that Moth was objectively hot as hell and I was already pathetically insecure over my ability to hold Aury's interest.\n\nPlus, they had that monster thing in common. Well, half, in Moth's case.\n\n\"He, um, he's just with Aury,\" I told Anchor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd thought just saying his name would be harmless, but apparently not. Moth jolted like someone had shocked him, finally straightening up from his cocky slump against the wall.\n\n\"Aury?\" he echoed.\n\nAnchor was speaking again, but I couldn't hear her as I watched Moth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What little colour there'd been in his pale face drained. I saw his tattooed fingers twitch, like he wanted to reach for the sword strapped to his back.\n\nSeriously, what kind of asshole carried a sword?\n\n\"Aury,\" Moth repeated, voice faint, cutting off Anchor. \"Aury… is here?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tensed up further, shoulders bunching. \"You know him?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Anchor was silent, staring at Moth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shook his head once, lips thinning. \"I know of him. Every monster does. He's the rycke.\"\n\nHe pronounced it reek. I'd never heard of it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a moment of silence, in which I knew for a fact that Anchor was considering whether to show Moth even a hint of weakness by admitting our ignorance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even though she turned to him for help sometimes, we all knew he couldn't be fully trusted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eventually, she spoke. \"What is a rycke?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moth's arms were hanging by his sides now, fingers curling into loose fists." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"One of the deadliest species of monster there is.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He ground his teeth together, as though he didn't want to admit the next part. \"One feared almost universally by all others.\"\n\nAnchor and I stared at him in silence, before slowly looking at each other. I think pure shock was the only thing that stopped us from bursting out laughing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Aury? One of the deadliest and most feared monsters in existence?\n\nAury was gentler than every human I'd ever met in my life, let alone monster.\n\n\"Right. Well.\" Anchor sounded uncertain. \"Aury is… different, then. I guess?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked at me for reassurance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I nodded in agreement and shot Moth an odd look." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Aury is…\" Perfect? Beautiful? The gentlest soul I'd ever met, who made me yearn for things I hadn't known I wanted? \"…Fine,\" I finished lamely.\n\n\"There've been no sightings of him for nearly fifteen years.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moth looked agitated. Nervous. The sight of it shouldn't have filled me with a hint of smug satisfaction, but it did.\n\nI glanced at Anchor, and we silently communicated our agreement to tell Moth as little as possible. He didn't need to know Aury had been held by the military." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He could probably come to that conclusion on his own, but he wasn't going to get any confirmation from us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, he's here now,\" Anchor said, making her tone dismissive like she'd grown bored of talking about this." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ghost, go and get Rig, would you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I nodded and slipped out of the room, grateful for the few moments to collect my thoughts—and maybe tell Aury to stay in his room while Moth was here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I bumped into Rig a few moments later, already on his way to the diner, and in low, hushed tones summed up the conversation I'd just had." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He spun on his heel, and we quickly walked to Aury's room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When we stepped inside, Aury's head jerked up from the book he'd been poring over." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes lit up when he saw me, a small, shy smile turning up the corners of his mouth before his head twitched slightly. The smile and nervous tic both made my heart freaking melt.\n\n\"Hello, Ghost.\" His low, soft voice washed over me. \"Hello, Rig. Again. That was quick.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Aury, you know I was telling you about our visitor? Moth?\" Rig strode over to where Aury was sitting and leaned against the side of the table beside him. Meanwhile, I took a single step closer, nerves overtaking me. The time apart from Aury, though brief, had made me feel almost shy in his presence again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had a sudden memory of the night before, of looking down and seeing Aury's big black eyes gazing back up at me from between my legs. I went hot all over.\n\nIn answer to Rig's question, Aury nodded, long fingers gently closing his book to give Rig his full attention. He folded his hands in his lap and sat silently, watching Rig with big, patient eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "God, he was so beautiful.\n\n\"Well he's… uh…\" Rig glanced over at me. \"He's… heard of you.\"\n\nAury's head cocked in a bird-like movement. \"Heard of me?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rig looked over at me again, so I finally took a few more steps closer. \"He's kind of… scared of you,\" I admitted. Aury looked shocked. \"Apparently your species is known for being particularly, um, deadly and fearsome.\"\n\n\"I mean, it sounds like bullshit to me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rig raised his hands in an 'I don't buy it' gesture. \"I don't mean that offensively, Aury, but you're just… you. You're not fearsome.\"\n\n\"I don't want to hurt anyone,\" Aury said, his low voice sounding unsettled. \"I swear it.\"\n\n\"We believe you.\" Rig reached out and rested his hand on Aury's shoulder, and my own fingers twitched with their desire to touch him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "God, I wanted to touch him again so badly. Even just an innocent touch like that. Anything. \"But maybe it's best if you stay out of Moth's way while he's here. He shouldn't be here long, but we—\"\n\n\"I'm not going to hurt him. I promise.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Aury's voice had an edge of raw desperation, like he thought we were going to lock him away. \"I swear it. Please don't—I won't—\"\n\n\"We know.\" I stepped forward again and, finally gathering my courage, squatted down beside Aury's seat, resting one gloved hand on the table for balance. My knee cracked on the way down, sounding loud in the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We know you won't hurt anyone, Aury. And we promise we're not locking you up anywhere. You can go wherever you want in the camp. But we don't want you to get hurt. We don't want to risk you. Okay?\"\n\nI was aching to rest my hand on his knee, and I might have even found the courage to do it if Rig hadn't been there. But he was, so even as Aury's big, dark eyes stared into mine, I didn't move.\n\nFinally, he nodded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "From the corner of my eye, I saw Rig's fingers flex as he squeezed Aury's shoulder before releasing his hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thank you, Aury. We gotta go talk to Moth and Anchor now, but we'll be back soon. Sit tight, 'kay?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Aury nodded, watching us silently as we left the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everything in me told me to turn back around and stay with him. Wrap him in my arms. Hide under the covers with him, back in our own little world like we'd been last night.\n\n\"So,\" Rig began in a cheery, conversational tone as we headed to the diner, \"is there a reason you were just pretending like you and Aury hadn't spent all of last night fucking each other's brains out?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It took a second for his words to register, but when they did, my face flamed. \"I—what—\" I stuttered, and Rig snickered.\n\n\"Took you freaking long enough, my god,\" he griped in a mock-exasperated voice, reaching over and thumping my arm. \"Hope it was worth the wait. Certainly sounded it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We didn't actually—\" I stopped myself, no idea why I had the urge to clarify what Aury and I had gotten up to the night before. Instead, I glared at him. \"What the hell do you mean, took me long enough? Aury's been here, like, a week!\"\n\n\"Yeah, a week of you two gazing longingly at each other like a couple of lovesick teenagers.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rig snorted. \"I was embarrassed for you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Shut up, dork.\" My face was on fire.\n\n\"Oh my god, relax, Ghost. I'm kidding.\" Rig wrapped an arm around my neck and jerked me into him. \"I'm happy for you. You two are so cute it makes my teeth hurt. And I would be a terrible friend if I didn't encourage you to keep doing whatever it was you two were doing last night, because by the sounds of it, it was exquisite. Please, keep having as much freaky monster sex as you can. I'm living vicariously through you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I paused at that, quirking a brow at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You wish you were having freaky monster sex, huh?\"\n\nRig went pink behind his mask, and he released me quickly. \"No, I didn't mean—Just sex in general. Obviously. Not that I have anything against monsters, or anything. I mean, some of them are—I just meant—\" He cleared his throat. \"We better hurry, Anchor's waiting.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We reached the diner and Rig yanked the door open, slipping inside before I could say anything else." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Interesting." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Team writing exercise. I start, you do 6 sentences in Lily Mayne style." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moth was leaning against the side of the motel building when we got back into camp, posture tense despite his arms being folded in a casual pose over his chest.\n\nHe straightened the moment he spotted us, eyes seeking me out, but I was busy trying to peer around at my yard to see if Aury was still out there. I couldn't spot him, and it wasn't like he was easy to miss with those gigantic wings.\n\n\"How did it go?\" Moth asked.\n\nAnchor exhaled. \"Not great. Not terrible.\"\n\n\"Was I right?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Anchor hesitated before nodding stiffly. \"She offered us supplies in exchange for kicking Aury out of camp so she can capture him.\"\n\nMoth's icy eyes skittered to me, his dark brows pinching for a moment. \"Did you accept?\"\n\n\"No,\" Anchor said, and I felt her gaze rest on me for a second. \"It would be wrong. Aury's already been through enough. Nothing deserves to be kept in captivity.\"\n\nI appreciated the words, but at the same time, I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if I hadn't been there when Mary offered Anchor her deal." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could tell Moth was thinking the same thing, because he was watching me carefully. \"Fair,\" he said, voice mild. \"So you're definitely letting him stay here?\"\n\nAnchor exhaled. \"Well, if we let him leave, she'll try and take him.\" She gave a helpless shrug. \"We'll tell him, and I guess if he decides he wants to leave on his own anyway, there's not much we can do. But obviously in that scenario we'd get nothing.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stared back at Moth for a second before looking away again, uncomfortable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He spoke a moment later." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't think he'll want to leave.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Are you going to tell the camp?\" Lilac asked Anchor in his flat voice. \"About the deal she offered.\"\n\nAnchor's brow pinched as she reached up and rubbed her forehead. \"God, I… It feels like I should, but—\"\n\n\"Don't,\" Rig said. \"You know what will happen if you do.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was right. Raiders were ruthless by nature. The Wastes made us that way. If the others knew what Mary had offered, they would vote to hand Aury over without a second thought. They would justify it as one life for many. Partly because it would be the life of someone they hadn't lived with for years, but mainly because it would be the life of a monster, and the majority of humans didn't regard monsters as people. Mary evidently didn't.\n\n\"Okay,\" Anchor said wearily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She rubbed the corners of her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay. I'll let the camp know that Mary is here for Aury, and leave it at that.\"\n\n\"I'm going to go find him,\" I said, taking a step forward, but Moth quickly blocked me.\n\n\"I'm leaving,\" he told me, looking down at me. \"I wanted… Can I speak to you first?\"\n\nI pursed my lips behind my mask and nodded once, even though my body was straining with the need to find Aury and make sure he was alright. To convince my anxious brain that he was still here, inside the camp walls. Still safe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The others walked off, Rig squeezing my shoulder before he left." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once they were gone, Moth looked back down at me with serious eyes. \"Please be careful, Ghost. I know you… I know the rycke seems harmless, but—\"\n\n\"Have you met him?\" I asked, squaring my shoulders as I stared up at Moth.\n\nHe looked taken aback by the question, almost sheepish. \"No, but everyone knows about the rycke, so I—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know you're trying to look out for us, Moth, but I know Aury.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I tried to soften my voice, because my feelings for Aury were making me defensive when deep down, I knew that Moth was only doing what he thought was right. \"You don't. I get what you're saying—what you've heard about ryckes. But Aury isn't dangerous. He doesn't want to hurt anyone.\"\n\nMoth looked frustrated. \"I'm sure he says that, Ghost, and he probably means it, but ryckes are dangerous. They just are.\" He reached out and laid his hands on my shoulders. \"They're completely unpredictable. They're chaos.\"\n\nI made a face at that, part of me wanting to laugh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unpredictable? Aury was possibly more routine-based than I was. When we hid away together in my room while I was sick, he would lay beside me in the exact same position, every day, to read to me. He would make me have a drink of water every hour. He would carefully fold over the page to mark his spot when we finished reading for the day, always at the end of a chapter, never halfway through.\n\nAury was the opposite of chaos. He was like a… a calm, steady island in the middle of a tumultuous sea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was soft and soothing. A balm.\n\nI shook my head, and I was about to answer Moth when he made a soft sound and quickly let go of my shoulders. His wide eyes were focused beyond me, behind my right shoulder, and when I turned to follow his gaze, my heart leaped.\n\nAury was watching us from a short distance. It looked like he'd been coming back from the vegetable patch. His black eyes were uncertain, but that internal glow I'd noticed a few times now was slowly dimming within them, like it had flared a second before I turned around." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked from me to Moth, then back to me.\n\n\"Fuck,\" Moth breathed behind me, his voice shaky, and Aury's eyes snapped back to him immediately. Two big, black pools that could have looked empty, but to me they were full of life.\n\nI smiled behind my mask and started walking over to him, because a strange tension was growing in the space between us, and it was making me uneasy.\n\n\"Aury,\" I said when I reached him. After a moment of nervous hesitation, in which I second-guessed every single aspect of what I was about to do, I reached out and tangled my fingers with his." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I was about to come looking for you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Aury's eyes slid from Moth to me, and his face softened into a sweet smile. He raised his free hand to follow the curve of my left brow and temple with his fingers in a brief touch. \"Are you alright?\"\n\nI nodded. \"I'm fine. But I need to tell you what Mary said.\" Unease roiled. \"I was just saying goodbye to Moth, because he's leaving—\" I turned to gesture at Moth behind me, but he had vanished.\n\n\"Um…\" I turned back to Aury and looked up at him. I became momentarily distracted by the sight of him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was so tall, so long and lean, but with those wide shoulders that made me want to climb him and cling on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A pulse of desire throbbed deep in my belly, but I had to tell him everything first." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Shall we go to my room? Or yours,\" I added quickly. \"I don't mind. Wherever you're comfortable—\"\n\n\"Yours is fine.\" He smiled down at me. \"I like your room.\"\n\nFor some reason, that made me want to grin like a fool. \"Okay.\"\n\nAury kept his fingers threaded through mine as I turned to lead us to my room, and that just made me even more ridiculously happy, chasing away some of the worry still pounding through me at what I'd just heard in Mary's RV." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wished I could feel his skin against mine, but I was still wearing my gloves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My room was warm when we got inside, the sun high in the sky still." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The window was open from when I'd been speaking to Aury through it earlier, and I could hear the hens clucking softly in the yard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I set my gun down on the table as I listened to the sound of the door clicking shut behind Aury.\n\nWhen I turned to face him, he was already close, and I went still as he reached up to gently remove my mask.\n\nBig eyes flickered up to meet mine. \"Is this okay?\" he asked quietly, and I nodded immediately, already breathless.\n\nA small smile tilted his mouth as he set my mask down on the table, and then he was cupping my nape and leaning down to kiss me, uncaring that the skin around my mouth was damp from the heat inside my mask, or about the unattractive red line it left behind.\n\nI shuddered out a breath against his lips, my body wanting to fall against him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instead, I slipped my arms under his coat to wrap around his back, bringing our bodies closer together so I could feel him pressed against me. The barbs on Aury's spine got smaller the further down they went and stopped around the mid-point of his back, so I was free to wrap my arms—or legs—around his hips and not worry. My cock twitched at the thought.\n\nAury made a soft sound as our mouths opened and our tongues met. He was so much taller than me that my throat was stretched, my head tilted right back as we kissed standing up, but I wouldn't have stopped this for anything. I moaned a desperate sound as Aury's tongue slid against mine, those twin points tickling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His hands moved to clasp my face sweetly between long, elegant fingers, thumb brushing over my chin, then up to trace the dampness of my lower lip even as we carried on kissing. The feel of it made me shudder, my cock stiffening rapidly in my pants.\n\nAury's hands dropped, and I felt him bend his knees as long fingers palmed my ass, before I was suddenly being lifted into the air. I grunted in surprise against Aury's mouth, but it turned into a moan when he set me down on the table and stood between my spread knees, hands slipping beneath my coat and shirt to roam over my back, his touch growing more frantic.\n\nI shuddered and kissed him harder, reaching up to try and shove his coat off his shoulders. When I remembered his wings would get in the way, I groaned and reluctantly broke the kiss with the intention of helping him take it off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the momentary reprieve made me remember everything I still had to tell him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I groaned again, tipping my head forward to rest against his chest, trying to calm my breathing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What's wrong?\" Aury sounded as breathless as I was. Long fingers cupped the sides of my neck. \"Are you alright?\"\n\nI nodded and looked up into his alien eyes. \"We just need to talk before we…\"—I flushed—\"get distracted.\"\n\nAury's face became solemn as he stared down at me. He nodded and took a step back, shrugging his coat back over his shoulders." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hopped down from the table, clearing my throat and valiantly ignoring the obvious bulges we were both sporting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What happened?\" he asked me. \"With… Mary.\"\n\n\"She…\" I fidgeted uncomfortably. I didn't want to tell him, but I had to. \"She's here for you.\"\n\nAury's eyes flared for a second, but otherwise his reaction was minimal. His face stayed calm. \"Why?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't stop my features twisting with disgust. \"She collects monsters. To put on display for rich assholes paying to take a day trip into the Wastes. Like it's a goddamn amusement park.\"\n\nA hint of fear crossed Aury's features. His head gave a tiny twitch. \"She wants… to keep me locked up somewhere? On display?\"\n\nI crossed the short distance between us and took his hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It won't happen, Aury. We won't let her.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His breathing had grown a little shallower, and he blinked rapidly as he stared down into my eyes with furrowed brows. My throat ached when his head twitched again, harder than before. \"Is she… Is she just going to wait out there? For me?\"\n\n\"She'll get bored soon,\" I said immediately, squeezing his hands. \"When she realises she can't get you, she'll leave.\"\n\n\"What if she tries to hurt you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Aury's black eyes looked stark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Panicked. \"What if she tries to get into the camp—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She can't.\" I shook my head. \"Lilac would kill her without hesitation if she tried. And I think she knows that.\"\n\nI let go of his hands to quickly pull off my gloves, chucking them carelessly in the direction of the table behind me. Then I slipped my hands under his coat and shirt to feel the bare skin of his waist, tracing a prominent vein with my thumb. \"We'll keep you safe, Aury. She's not going to get to you, and as soon as she realises that, she'll leave. Trust me.\"\n\nHe cupped my shoulders, fingers tense for a few moments before they softened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He nodded, and the tension bracketing his eyes lessened." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I trust you, Gage.\"\n\nThe words seemed to spark another thought, and his gaze grew focused as he looked down at me. \"Did your… friend say anything more about me? Moth.\" Then he added, \"He's not human, is he?\"\n\nI shook my head. \"Half monster.\"\n\nAury nodded once. \"That's rare.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gave me a faint smile. \"Almost as rare as the rycke. It's a lonely existence.\"\n\nI swallowed. \"Well, he did actually tell us something about… that. About what you are.\"\n\nAury went still again. \"Oh?\" he said, sounding unsure.\n\n\"He said that you… that you're the only one. That there's a…\"—I gestured awkwardly at my own chest—\"an egg or something inside you that will become the next rycke when you… when you're gone.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Aury relaxed a little. \"Yes. There's no true translation for it in your language, but it's like… a life seed. It gives life to the rycke, and when I die, my body will nourish the seed to bring new life.\"\n\nI didn't like thinking about that. \"So there can never be any other ryckes? It's just you? On your own?\"\n\n\"There used to be many,\" Aury said, voice sombre. \"A very, very long time ago.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I swallowed. \"What happened? How come there's only one now?\"\n\nAury hesitated, as if he wasn't sure he wanted to tell me. \"Ryckes used to be very… combative. Violent. But only to each other,\" he added quickly. \"Ryckes have always been solitary, even when there were many, because encounters between them could go very badly. They were defensive. Protective over their territory or property or mates.\"\n\n\"Well, lots of species are like that,\" I offered hesitantly. \"Most creatures will protect their young or nests or…\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Aury nodded. \"Yes. But you know that ryckes are… that I am very strong. That meant that fights between ryckes would get very dangerous.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I swallowed. \"So they killed each other a lot?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It was fairly rare at first, because they travelled alone, or in pairs if they had a mate.\" Aury's throat bobbed. \"But at some point, the ritualistic practice of eating the life seed of the rycke you had fought and killed became commonplace. Soon they realised that eating another's life seed made their own stronger. It gave them their memories. Their lineage's strengths.\"\n\n\"Shit.\" I stared at him in horror. \"So they started… killing each other for their life seeds?\"\n\nAury nodded, his eyes sad. \"Soon, there was only one lineage left. One rycke.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I continued gaping at him. \"You?\"\n\nAury smiled a little and shook his head. \"Not me. My ancestor. This was all a very long time ago, Gage. Hundreds of thousands of years.\"\n\n\"Then how do you know all of this? Is it written down somewhere?\" I perked up at that. \"Do you have books about your species' history?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Aury shook his head. \"Just their memories.\"\n\nIt was hard to imagine that there was an entire species' history stored inside Aury's brain. The memories of every single rycke that had ever lived fighting for space in there.\n\n\"Wow.\" I exhaled hard. My gaze drifted down to Aury's chest. \"So the very last rycke life seed is in there.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Aury grinned like I'd told a joke. \"Yes, it is.\"\n\n\"So is it… like a heart? A human heart, I mean.\"\n\nHe thought for a moment, then shook his head. \"Not really.\"\n\n\"Do you have a heart?\"\n\nHe shook his head again, then reached out to take my hand. \"Here.\" Aury pressed my palm below his sternum, lower than where the heart sat in a human body." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I thought I detected a faint vibration." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Is it… Does it beat? Like a heart?\"\n\nAury tilted his head. \"Not really, but it does… I can detect it. It makes the life flow through me.\"\n\n\"You mean your blood?\"\n\nHe nodded, then gently clasped my face between his hands and drew me forward. After dropping a kiss on my forehead, he pressed my ear to his chest. \"Listen.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I went quiet so I could." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Beneath my ear, I could feel the warmth of Aury's skin through his shirt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was no heartbeat, but after a few seconds I realised I could hear a thrumming sound. Almost like the rhythmic whoosh of water being pumped. I imagined the seed in there—the last rycke seed in existence—pushing the blood around his body, through all his dark, prominent veins, filling him with life. I pictured it looking like a nutmeg seed still in its red aril. I wondered if Aury even knew what it looked like. It wasn't like he could check." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe he'd seen a memory of one of his ancestors tearing the life seed out of another rycke's chest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I suppressed the shudder that the thought triggered.\n\n\"So this gives you all the memories of your ancestors?\" I pulled back. \"Of all the former ryckes in existence?\"\n\n\"Not all. There are too many to fit in my head.\" Aury shook his head. \"But still many. It can sometimes be… overwhelming. Some of the memories are…\" Aury shuddered and wrapped his arms around himself. \"Unpleasant.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It sounded like most of them would be unpleasant. I reached up and cupped his face, careful to avoid catching my fingertips on the barbs beneath his ears. \"I'm sorry if it makes it worse to talk about it.\"\n\nAury shook his head, hands settling on my waist. \"It doesn't, but…\" His black eyes dipped to my mouth, and I swallowed in reaction. \"Are we done talking now?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I licked my lips, making Aury's eyes flare, and nodded quickly." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 7 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His mouth slowly split into a wide grin as he looked into my eyes again, leaning down to nuzzle my nose. \"Can I kiss you again now, Gage?\"\n\nAnother wordless nod. I was already breathing faster, and the heat in my body flared back to life when Aury's lips touched mine, stoked so easily. I almost threw my arms around his neck to drag him closer, remembering his barbs at the last second. Instead, I gripped fistfuls of his coat and thrust my tongue into his mouth, moaning at his taste.\n\nWhen he picked me up and carried me blindly toward the bed, still kissing me, I grinned against his mouth. That overwhelming happiness from earlier returned, filling me up, and I forgot about everything outside of this room." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "same energy as Lily Mayne, keep writing" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Stay still.\" For once, Lilac's usually flat voice was coloured with annoyance as he tugged at my hand, splaying it out on the mattress in front of me. \"I'm not doing this again.\"\n\n\"I'm trying,\" I snapped, wincing when his fingertips dug into my palm. \"You're too bony.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm not bony.\" Lilac's head bent low over my hand as he concentrated. \"I'm toned.\"\n\n\"Whatever,\" I muttered, staring at the top of his dark head, my cheek squashed against my pillow.\n\n\"If you keep moping around like this, you're going to end up as soft as a marshmallow,\" Lilac said as he carefully painted my thumbnail bright pink." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then what will happen if you need to run from a beastie.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I sighed and rolled onto my back to stare up at the ceiling, extending my other hand when Lilac gestured for it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Dunno. I'll get caught, I guess. Bound to happen one day.\"\n\nLilac arched a dark brow at me and yanked my hand closer to where he sat cross-legged on the floor beside the bed, just a touch harder than he needed to. \"I know you're a worrier, but I never pegged you for a defeatist.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I just shrugged, which made Lilac tut with irritation when the movement caused him to accidentally paint the side of my pinky finger." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I felt him shoot daggers at me, but he didn't say anything as he bent his head low again.\n\nHe was trying to cheer me up. It wasn't working, but I couldn't decide if that was because I was incapable of being happy right now, or if Lilac's slightly terrifying personality just wasn't conducive to perking up a person's mood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Still, he was trying." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wasn't grateful, exactly, but it made me like him more than I already did.\n\nIt had been eight days since we'd gotten back to camp. Since Aury had left me, and I'd found out Rig was gone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For the first five of those days, Lilac had patiently gone searching in the Wastes with me for Aury." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Never complaining when I made us stay out later than we should, until it was already dark by the time we were getting back to camp, and never voicing what I knew he was thinking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not until the end of the fifth day, when he stopped me just as we were about to head inside the container that led back into the camp." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We would have found him by now, Ghost,\" he'd said, with a hand on my shoulder. \"If he's still in the area, and he wants to be found, he's had many opportunities to make himself known.\"\n\nI hadn't answered him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hadn't been able to." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd just turned, walked into camp, gone into my room and climbed into bed. For the last three days, I'd sat on the camp wall alone, watching the horizon for any sign of big black wings, retreating back to my bed only when I got so tired I couldn't hold my eyes open.\n\nLilac had forced me to come and relax for a while, and I reluctantly agreed only because he'd been looking after the girls, so I definitely owed him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It made me feel like a terrible chicken parent, but everything was a monumental effort." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I just couldn't bring myself to do anything at all except sit and watch, hoping he'd come back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I finally understood Anchor's unwavering refusal to believe Cat was dead. That determination to ignore the most obvious answer. The crushing hopelessness that left you unable to move forward, keeping you frozen in place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Anchor had tried to come and see me, but I wouldn't respond." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Apollo had asked if he could come and check me over, just to make sure everything was okay with me physically, but I'd said no. Lilac was the only one I spoke to or let into my room, because he was mostly silent and the least annoying, except when he was trying to get me to eat. Daisy kept making my favourite foods, so I was forcing them down for her sake, but everything tasted like ash." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Seriously, Ghost, you're going to have to get back to normal at some point,\" Lilac said dryly as he painted my nails." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I thought you wanted to go after Rig, anyway.\"\n\nI did want to go and start searching for Rig, but that was its own goliath. All we knew was that Mary's place was west." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a lot of west from here, and I wasn't sure if Lilac would be willing to come with me on that wild goose chase that would take us far, far away from the camp." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd most likely be going alone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wasn't sure if I was mentally prepared for that yet.\n\nBut mainly I was scared that if I left to look for Rig, maybe… maybe Aury would come back, and I'd miss him, and then he'd leave again. So I was stuck in limbo." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My vision blurred as I stared up the ceiling, eyes getting hot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I blinked quickly and turned to look at the top of Lilac's dark head again.\n\n\"Was everyone happy with the new weapons?\" I asked to distract myself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hadn't spoken to anyone since that first night, besides Lilac." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd left my room to go out searching in the Wastes and gone straight back into it every night after we got back, only leaving to shower and use the bathroom in the dead of night when everyone else was asleep.\n\nI was turning into a weird little hermit—the creep who lived in your block but you never saw, just heard in the small hours doing weird shit. We'd lived next door to one of those back in the city, and to this day I still had no idea what they looked like." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wondered if they were still there, and then I wondered if my own parents were even still there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Still alive. I had no idea.\n\n\"Ecstatic,\" Lilac said, and I knew he wasn't being sarcastic even though his inflectionless voice made it seem that way.\n\n\"Did Cutter get one?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I asked resentfully, because I was a petty bitch and I didn't want that asshole to have one of the weapons that Aury, the monster he openly despised, had carried back here for the camp.\n\nLilac carefully turned my hand to get to my thumbnail. \"Cutter is currently staying in the room next to Apollo's.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I frowned at that, staring at Lilac's ponytail." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The room next to Apollo's was kept empty to act as an infirmary when we needed it. \"What happened to him?\"\n\n\"Got injured while you were gone.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I almost rolled my eyes. \"Yes. I figured. How?\"\n\n\"Hand injury. He'll live.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The unspoken unfortunately passed between us as Lilac lifted his head and his bright-green eyes met mine. Even though a simple hand injury wouldn't have landed Cutter in the infirmary for an extended period, I didn't ask what had really happened. I didn't care.\n\nLilac nodded at my hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did I do a good job?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I lifted both hands above my head and stared up at them, taking in the bright pink polish on my short, blunt nails." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd done a perfect job, which didn't surprise me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lilac's every move was precise. \"Great. Thank you.\" Unfortunately, I couldn't stir up much enthusiasm.\n\nLilac's quiet exhale as he stood up made me think he realised it had been a futile effort." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I felt like an ungrateful asshole, so I sat up, my head swimming from being horizontal for too long." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thanks, Lilac,\" I repeated, examining them again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They look really good.\"\n\nLilac just grunted in response, watching me from beside the bed. \"If I go and get something from Daisy, will you eat it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I flushed at the implication that I was incapable of looking after myself, but… it was kind of true at that moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The realisation sent a tiny spark of determination through me. To get up and get back to normalcy. I couldn't wallow forever." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Aury was gone and he clearly wasn't coming back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The thought just made me want to curl back up under the covers.\n\nI nodded and forced myself to smile up at Lilac, knowing I looked like shit. It had been weird as hell at first for him to see me without my mask." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only Aury and Rig had seen me without it for longer than I could remember." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But, true to character, Lilac hadn't even commented on it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Before leaving, he grabbed my book from the nightstand and passed it to me. \"Here. Do not smudge your nails. I'm not doing that again.\"\n\nI took the book from him and carefully opened it to my place." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "From the corner of my eye, I saw Lilac reach a hand into his pocket before leaning over to the nightstand again.\n\n\"I've left something for you on the nightstand, but it's not a big deal and when I come back, I don't want you to mention it.\"\n\nI frowned, looking up from my book. \"What—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But he had already slipped out of the room. I looked over at the nightstand and froze when I saw the little wooden figurine on it. With big wings. One damaged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tried to swallow around the lump in my throat as I dropped the book on my lap and reached out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I picked it up carefully, staring down at the likeness of Aury that Lilac had carved. The details were incredible—delicate and intricate, down to the little rough patch on the side of its face, just like Aury's burn scars.\n\nI sucked in a shuddering breath and ran my painted thumb down the damaged wing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lilac had started this a while ago, then." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He might pretend to be cold and unfeeling, but he wasn't, deep down.\n\nMy vision blurred, and I knew Lilac would be back soon, so I carefully replaced the figurine on the nightstand and lay down, picking up my book. But when I opened it, I just stared blankly at the page." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't even enjoy reading anymore. I just wanted to hear Aury's low voice reading the words to me.\n\nI felt a momentary flash of anger at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd just come into my life, into the camp, and made me fall in love with him, then fucked off even though I'd been literally begging him not to." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It wasn't fair. Now everything looked shit and bleak and boring without him, and my best friend wasn't even here to make it better, and it felt like my heart was slowly dying in my chest.\n\nThe page swam in front of me, so I quickly blinked and looked up at the ceiling to stop the tears from falling. I needed to stop crying." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Stop wallowing. For so long, I'd been so scared of Anchor deciding I was useless and kicking me out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, now I was giving her the reasons to actually do it.\n\nEven that thought couldn't muster any kind of strong reaction from me, though. I was going to leave anyway, to find Rig." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As long as I could get him back here safely, that was what mattered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe I should still try the Great Lakes. Just on my own.\n\nThe door opened and Lilac stepped back into the room, carefully carrying a bowl of something." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hastily rubbed my wrist over my eyes and pretended I'd been reading." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What have we got?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I asked, trying to inject a bit of enthusiasm into my voice, seeing as he'd just gone and got my dinner for me—again.\n\n\"Noodle soup.\" Lilac carried the bowl over and set it on the nightstand with a fork and spoon. \"Daisy opened a packet of noodles from the stores just for you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He set his hands on his hips and looked down at me with a blank face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She told me to tell you that.\"\n\n\"Thanks, Lilac.\" I turned onto my side, still holding my book, and eyed the steam rising lazily from the bowl. It smelled good at least." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll let it cool a bit first. And…\" I swallowed. \"Thank you… Thank you for the—\"\n\n\"Told you not to mention it,\" he interjected, so I nodded quickly and looked down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When Lilac continued standing there, though, I glanced back up to eye him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You don't have to stay in here to watch me eat. I promise I'll eat it.\"\n\n\"It's not that.\" Lilac glanced over at the door, then back at me. \"Moth's here,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He wants to come and see you. Shall I let him in?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I groaned and rolled onto my back, letting my book fall to the side. \"Moth's an asshole.\"\n\nLilac didn't say anything, so I looked over at him. \"He is, though, isn't he?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lilac's brow twitched. \"You're just still pissy because he left you with those beasties.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shot up. \"I could've died!\"\n\n\"You weren't going to die.\"\n\nI groaned again in frustration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ugh, you sound just like him.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I cast about for something else. \"Okay, well, he's still an ass. He has a sword. What kind of douchebag carries a sword? Right?\"\n\nLilac was silent for a long moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I kind of like the sword,\" he admitted in a gruff voice.\n\nI rolled my eyes and threw myself back onto my pillow, as if I didn't secretly agree that the sword was kind of cool. \"You're as bad as he is. Whatever. Let him in if he wants.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I rolled onto my side and pulled the covers back up to my chin.\n\n\"Eat,\" was all Lilac said in return. \"I'll go and get him.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then he was gone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I blinked at the bowl on my nightstand in the ensuing silence, telling myself to sit up and eat it, but my eyes kept drifting to the little carved figure instead. When there was a knock at my door, I tensed.\n\n\"Ghost?\" Moth's voice sounded hesitant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Lilac told me you said it was alright if I came to see you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I considered staying silent so he'd go away, but in the end I couldn't. I grunted to let him know he could come in.\n\nHe did, pale eyes finding me immediately in bed, dark brows furrowing a little." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As he clicked the door shut gently behind him, he glanced around my room, taking it all in—not that there was much to see—before looking at me again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I saw his eyes roam over my face, down my nose to my mouth, I flushed and barely resisted the urge to pull the covers up to my eyes like a child. I'd forgotten I wasn't wearing a mask. This was the first time Moth had ever seen my whole face, and it was a weird sensation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My mask was part of my armour." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Without it, I felt woefully ill-prepared for any verbal sparring match I was about to have with him.\n\n\"Okay, first, I really don't want to argue with you.\" Moth walked over to the bed and, after hesitating, sank down to sit cross-legged beside it in the spot Lilac had previously occupied." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I eyed him, sensing an uneasy truce wavering in the air between us, if I was willing to take it. \"Fine,\" I said at length.\n\nMoth nodded once and cast almost desperate eyes around again, like he wanted to take everything in while he had the chance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I saw the moment he noticed the figurine on the nightstand, because he went very still." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked back at me. \"What happened at the Topeka camp, Ghost?\" he asked me, voice calm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I jolted in shock, lifting my cheek off the pillow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That had been the last thing I'd expected him to say. \"What do you mean?\" I asked warily. \"I told Anchor, when we got there—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't believe you,\" Moth said bluntly, but then his eyes met mine with a weird mixture of sympathy and apprehension." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It was the rycke, wasn't it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I swallowed, throat bobbing. \"No,\" I lied. \"When we got there—\"\n\n\"I already told you I don't believe you,\" Moth interrupted, leaning forward, his pale eyes boring into mine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I just came from there, Ghost. I went to see if they'd heard anything about Cat, because Anchor said you hadn't checked there yet. I didn't know you'd already been until I got here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He continued watching me steadily. \"I could smell the rycke all over that camp. His blood.\"\n\nI shivered. I sometimes forgot Moth wasn't entirely human." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I…\" I swallowed, dry throat clicking. \"They threatened—\"\n\n\"Did he turn into that… Did he change?\" Moth asked me, voice hoarse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stared at him, momentarily paralysed with indecision." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moth wasn't stupid. And he was half-monster. Of all people, he would perhaps be more sympathetic to Aury's situation. He understood it more." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\" My voice was faint.\n\nMoth's face twitched, and for a second, his eyes tightened with something that looked like devastation. \"He's bonded to you, then.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He swallowed. \"Did they try and hurt you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I nodded. \"There was someone—They'd killed Wick and Vesta and taken over,\" I said, rushing to explain. \"He—the new leader—was threatening this camp. And then one of them hit me, and Aury…\" I trailed off, because there wasn't really any other way to spin it.\n\n\"He killed everyone and destroyed everything in sight. Except you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I nodded again, feeling as though I should apologise." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My eyes got hot. \"I didn't know—\"\n\n\"I'm not blaming you, Ghost.\" Moth exhaled and rested a tattooed hand on the mattress between us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's not your fault.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You tried to warn me, though.\" My voice shook, and to my mortification, a tear slipped out and ticked my nose. \"I didn't believe you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moth's brows twitched together in a pained frown, and for a second I thought he was going to reach forward and touch me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I stiffened, not wanting it. Not wanting anyone to touch me except Aury.\n\n\"That still doesn't make it your fault.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moth's long, tattooed fingers worried the sheet on the bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Aury is the one who did it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He said he couldn't control it,\" I rasped.\n\nMoth shook his head, face twisting for a split second with bitterness before he controlled it. \"When the rycke's mate is in danger, they… tend to fly off the handle. From what I've heard, anyway.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked up at me with a hesitant expression." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So… where is he? Lilac mentioned he… wasn't here.\"\n\nI bit down hard on the inside of my cheek. \"He left. We were going to leave together, because I know he can't stay here when he… when that could happen again. But then he left without me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My eyes filled up again. \"He said I'd be safest here, so he just left me.\"\n\nI took a deep breath, trying to calm down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And then Anchor told me she'd let Rig leave with that fucking psychopath, Mary, and I just…\" I exhaled, then pursed my lips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's been a shitty week.\"\n\nMoth was gazing at me with sympathy in his eyes, and I hated it. \"I'm sorry, Ghost. I know we…\" He flushed, looking down at his fingers as they made pleats in the sheet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know our… friendship deteriorated after that scouting trip. But I swear I didn't leave you to fight off those beasties alone on purpose.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked back up at me, pale eyes intense. \"I wouldn't have done that.\"\n\nI watched him. \"Why did you, then?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moth shook his head, pierced lips pursing with frustration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's hard to explain. But I just… please believe me. I never would've intentionally put you in danger. And I'm sorry that I did.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I gawked at him for a few seconds, part of me unable to believe the fact that cocky, swaggering Moth had just apologised to me. \"I… Okay,\" I said dumbly.\n\nHe gave me a tiny smile, relief in his eyes, but it fell again just as fast." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He leaned forward to rest his chin on the edge of the mattress, tattooed fingers splaying out on the bed, like he wanted to reach for me but stopped himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stared vacantly at the weird, alien marks across the back of his hand and down his fingers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd always wondered what they meant, but never asked.\n\n\"How can I make you feel better?\" Moth was watching me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You can't.\" I exhaled and rolled onto my back to stare up at the ceiling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could feel Moth's eyes on the side of my face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know I'm being a total baby. I know I need to get up and stop moping.\" I paused, watching a tiny spider spin her web in the corner of my ceiling. \"I need to go look for Rig.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll go with you,\" Moth said quickly, and I glanced over at him with raised brows." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He nodded. \"I can help you look for him. I've heard things about Collector Mary. I know people who've seen her. I've been asking around.\"\n\nIt was tempting. Moth could be helpful. But my insides balked at the idea." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It felt almost… disloyal to Aury." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Like I was trying to replace him.\n\nI shook my head. \"You don't have to do that, Moth.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I want to,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And I don't mean… I don't have any expectations.\" His voice was gruff with embarrassment. \"I'm not stupid. If the rycke bonded to you, then I know what that means.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I bit down hard on my lower lip, staring at the ceiling and trying not to think of Aury in bed beside me, curled around me while I slept. Kissing across my shoulders when I woke up. Reading to me in his soft voice until I fell sleep." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I didn't say anything, Moth continued hesitantly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you… love him?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he asked in a quiet voice.\n\nI swallowed convulsively and nodded, not trusting myself to speak.\n\nMoth frowned. \"I'm sorry, Ghost. But… if the reason he left was because he was worried he'd hurt you when he… changes, then…\" He exhaled, sounding reluctant to admit it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He won't. It's almost like he's physically incapable of hurting you. He's bonded to you. He'd sooner die than hurt you.\"\n\nI shook my head. \"That wasn't his worry. Or mine. It was…\"—I gestured toward the door—\"the rest of the camp. What if something happens and he just snaps and kills everyone?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked over at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You saw the Topeka camp, Moth.\"\n\n\"Yeah.\" Moth's voice was hoarse. \"I mean, I guess. You're the only person alive who he would never, ever hurt, but… I think he'd be okay here. I'm sure he cares about some of the others. Rig. Anchor. If he can try and get better control over the change, it could be okay. The main thing is making sure no one in the camp threatens your life. If that happens, all bets are off.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "My mind immediately went to Cutter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I can't guarantee I'll never get hurt in camp,\" I said dully.\n\n\"I suppose not.\"\n\nWe fell silent, and after a minute Moth picked up my bowl." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You need to eat your dinner before it gets cold.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I sighed and struggled into a sitting position, leaning against the headboard. Moth handed me the bowl and I started to eat, barely tasting it.\n\nHe watched me for a few moments, then cleared his throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So, it wasn't the half-monster thing, then.\"\n\nI glanced over at him with my mouth full. \"Huh?\"\n\nMoth's normally pale face was pink." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Before, when we were… getting close and then it just kind of stopped. I wondered if maybe it was…\" He shrugged, looking down and picking at the edge of the bedframe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If it was the half-monster thing. That put you off. But obviously it wasn't.\"\n\nI stared at him in disbelief, holding my spoon. \"No, it wasn't the half-monster thing, you ass! It was the leaving me surrounded by a pack of beasties thing!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moth flushed defensively. \"I just told you that wasn't on purpose!\"\n\n\"How was I meant to know that before you told me?\" I shovelled another mouthful of soup into my mouth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moth sighed. \"Well, it doesn't matter now, anyway.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sounded so sad for a moment that I felt guilty over how vehement I'd been about my dislike for him since that scouting trip.\n\nI looked down into my half-full bowl. I was done, so I held it out to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Here, you can finish this.\" My voice was gruff, because I didn't want him to comment on the peace-offering—just accept it and move on.\n\nAfter a long pause, he did, reaching out and taking it. \"Thanks.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I settled back against the headboard as he twirled some noodles onto the fork, looking down at the bowl in his lap. I toyed with the corner of my book, still laying beside me on the bed, and stared at it as I mumbled, \"Thanks. For wanting to make me feel better.\"\n\nMoth paused from eating." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I was… That's okay.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sounded guarded, and I decided I didn't want him to voice whatever he was thinking. I was glad we'd come to a truce. Deep down, I did like Moth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't want anything else to make it weird.\n\n\"So what were you going to do?\" he asked as he set the empty bowl on the nightstand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Huh?\" I glanced over at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You said you were going to leave together. What was your plan?\"\n\nI looked down at my fidgeting hands, feeling embarrassed because it all seemed so childishly hopeful now. That it could have worked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We were going to head east, toward the Great Lakes. Away from Mary. We only came back first because we found some weapons that we wanted to give to the camp.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "When, in all likelihood, Aury had been planning on leaving me here the whole time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So you were willing to leave the camp for him?\" Moth asked quietly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I nodded, then shrugged. \"And now him leaving to keep me safe feels fucking pointless because I'm going out there anyway. To look for Rig.\" I gritted my teeth with frustration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He told me ryckes were martyrs. Fucking Aury.\" I blinked hard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a physical ache in my chest. I wanted him there with me so badly it hurt. My room was so sad and small and empty without him and his giant wings filling up half the space." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Without his voice reading to me, or his skin touching mine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moth cleared his throat and inched his hand across the mattress to drag my book closer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What's your book about?\" he asked, clearly trying to distract me.\n\nI rolled my head over the headboard to look at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You can't tell from the title?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a book about living conditions of the working class in Victorian London. Nothing distracted you from heartache quite like detailed descriptions of what it was like to die from typhoid in nineteenth century poverty.\n\nMoth flushed, then rolled his eyes as he nudged the book back toward me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I was just trying to take an interest.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He got to his feet, picking up the bowl from the nightstand. \"I might stay around camp for a while, or at least in the area, so… maybe I'll see you tomorrow.\" He hesitated. \"I'm sorry you're hurting, Ghost.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked up at him and could see the intense longing in Moth's eyes before he shielded it by looking away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For a moment, I wondered what would have happened if he'd never disappeared on me that day. We'd already been flirting. We probably would have had sex at the very least, but more likely become a couple." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He would have moved in here, to the camp, permanently." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He would have gone with me that day to the base and been there when I found Aury.\n\nHe would have told me Aury was dangerous, and we probably would have just left him, or at most freed him from his chains but left him there to fend for himself. And I would've never seen him again." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shuddered hard at the thought, wrapping my arms around myself. \"Thanks, Moth,\" I croaked, voice flat. \"Maybe see you tomorrow.\"\n\nAfter he left, I lay back down, curled up on my side, and closed my eyes." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Today you will be acting as a writing assistant in the scifi, romance genre. Your partner will send something and you will write the next 8 sentences." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"are you the sharnn?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Come in.\"\n\nRyth entered the room with the lithe grace of a dancer or a Malian assassin. Kayle watched, orange eyes hooded; few people had ever seen a Sharnn in the flesh.\n\n\"I didn't know that Sharnn ever left their planet,\" said Kayle, gesturing to a sling for Ryth to sit in.\n\n\"Not much is known about Sharnn,\" said Ryth, his face changing with what could have been a smile.\n\nKayle's glance flicked over the tall man whose silver-green eyes compelled attention." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Though Ryth was standing motionless, his floor-length cape seemed to stir subtly, twisting light into new shapes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's why you interest the Carifil,\" said Kayle. \"You're the first person from Sharn who has asked anything of the Concord.\" Kayle's dark face fell into the many creases of a Nendleti frown. \"And what you've asked is—\" Kayle's arm snapped out.\"—difficult. Probably impossible.\"\n\n\"But the Carifil will consider it.\"\n\n\"Yes. And in return, you will use your pattern skills to help us understand Malia.\"\n\n\"Before the Concord destroys it.\"\n\n\"If we destroy it,\" corrected Kayle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then he laughed, a thick and husky sound." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If I didn't know the Carifil, I'd not waste another moment with you. Tell me, Sharnn, how a man from one of the Concord's most simple cultures can help the Carifil to understand one of the Concord's most complex and secretive cultures?\"\n\nThis time, Ryth's smile was unmistakable. He flowed into the sling without taking his eyes off Kayle. \"May a simple Sharnn ask why you call the Malians secretive?\"\n\n\"They've been Concord members for nine hundred years, yet we know nothing about them that the First Contact team didn't teach us.\"\n\n\"Perhaps,\" said Ryth blandly. \"But a secretive culture would never have allowed Maran's Song to be heard by any but Malian ears.\"\n\nKayle made a gesture of dismissal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Maran's Song is a great work of the mind, perhaps one of the greatest the Concord knows. It is the summation of crystal music. Any race would be proud to display such an achievement. And,\" added Kayle dryly, \"Malians are nothing if not proud. Arrogant beyond belief.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Little is beyond a Sharnn's belief.\"\n\nKayle stared at the alien who sat so easily in the resilient sling. Ryth's eyes shone greenly, lit by inner knowledge or amusement or strength; Kayle did not know which. He did know that Sharn's culture was less primitive than it appeared, if Ryth was a product of it. And the Carifil had been so eager to study Ryth that they had promised him what was denied to every person in the Concord—entry to Malia.\n\n\"Do all Sharnn have your ability to find patterns where others find only chaos?\" asked Kayle abruptly.\n\n\"Sometimes.\"\n\n\"When? And how many?\" demanded Kayle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryth's smile would have made anyone but a Nendleti uneasy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"A few,\" said Ryth. \"When they must.\"\n\n\"There's a saying in the Concord,\" muttered Kayle. \"As stupid as a Sharnn.\"\n\nRyth's smile increased until Kayle almost heard the Sharnn's inner laughter.\n\n\"But the Carifil have a different saying,\" continued Kayle. \"As elusive as a Sharnn.\"\n\n\"Are there similar phrases to describe Malians?\" asked Ryth.\n\n\"You're a hard man to insult,\" said Kayle softly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryth simply smiled like a Sharnn." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kayle gestured in amused defeat. \"The Carifil told me that you would ask seemingly random questions, but that I should answer in spite of confusion.\" Kayle frowned again, disliking the elliptical conversation, sensing that the Sharnn was at least three questions—and answers—ahead of him. \"The First Contact team agreed that Malia was beautiful beyond imagining; that Malians as a race and Malian aristocrats in particular had a primal allure that transcended cultural prejudices; that Malian culture was obsessed with sensual experience.\"\n\nKayle waited, but Ryth did not comment.\n\n\"The First Contact team,\" continued Kayle, \"also had a saying about Malians.\" Kayle stopped, apparently finished.\n\n\"And that was?\" said Ryth softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"'Trust a Malian to betray you.'\" Kayle's orange eyes brooded over the Sharnn's muscular frame. \"Do you still want to go to Malia?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Why?\" said Kayle bluntly.\n\n\"Many reasons, none of which you would understand.\"\n\nKayle's eyes narrowed. \"I suppose I earned that one, Sharnn. Now tell me why you want to go to Malia.\"\n\n\"I want to hear Maran's Song played on the Sandoliki sarsa.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Impossible. That song is never played on Malia.\"\n\nRyth became absolutely still, savagely intent; for an instant nothing existed but the ramifications of that single fact, as his Sharnn instinct for patterns focused his mind. Then the moment passed and he was once again just a tall man resting in a sling.\n\n\"Are you sure?\" asked Ryth mildly.\n\nKayle's fingers stroked the multi-textured surface of his robe as he tried to convince himself that no man could be as dangerous as Ryth had appeared to be for a single instant.\n\n\"Yes, Sharnn. It's one of the few things I am sure of about that accursed planet.\"\n\n\"Why is the song forbidden?\"\n\n\"I don't know,\" snapped Kayle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then, less harshly, \"I once asked a Malian.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle flipped back the sleeve of his robe to reveal a long scar down his forearm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"F'n'een almost killed me. I never mentioned the song again.\"\n\n\"But not out of fear,\" said Ryth, looking at the Nendleti with an intensity that should have been frightening. \"You respected the Malian F'n'een, in spite of your hatred for Malians as a race. Perhaps you even loved her.\"\n\n\"The Carifil told you more than I would have.\"\n\n\"No one told me anything. Except where to find you.\"\n\n\"Am I that easy for you to read?\" said Kayle, sparks of anger leaping deep within his eyes.\n\n\"Easy? Not at all. But she was Malian, and an aristocrat.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She was F'n'een,\" said Kayle simply, as though no other explanation was required." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But that doesn't help you, does it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle made an abrupt gesture." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Just what is it that you want, pattern-man?\"\n\n\"Maran's Song.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"A Sharnn game. I doubt if you would understand it. I don't.\"\n\n\"Teach me.\"\n\nRyth's green gaze turned inward, and when he spoke, it was in the tones of a man choosing words from a language that was impossibly limited.\n\n\"I might have … lost … something. If I did, it probably can be discovered on Malia.\" Ryth hesitated, then shrugged, a muscular movement of his torso that made his cape ripple like water." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Until I know just what I've lost—if I've lost anything at all—I can't explain more clearly.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You'll have to do better than that, pattern-man.\"\n\nThe edge of Ryth's cape lifted restlessly, moving over itself with a sound like silk rubbing over amber.\n\n\"My pattern instinct works best when I'm not personally involved,\" said Ryth. \"But I am involved in this … game.\"\n\nKayle smiled, showing two rows of small, bright teeth. \"You're human, then. I'm relieved.\"\n\nRyth smiled ironically. \"The Carifil said the same thing. Then they told me what they knew about Malia and Malians. It wasn't enough.\"\n\n\"For what?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"For a Sharnn conception.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle made a frustrated noise." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The more you talk, the less you say.\" He stared narrowly at the supple man whose cape still moved restlessly, \"Can you prove that you're more than a mouthful of baffling phrases?\"\n\n\"Yes—if you let me go to Malia.\"\n\n\"You know that Malia is under secondary proscription?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"You know that primary will begin in no less than seven Centrex days and could begin sooner, without warning?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"You'll risk your life for a Sharnn game—a concept?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What are Carifil and Concord if not aspects of a concept?\" countered Ryth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kayle looked at Ryth for a long moment. Both men were so still that the sound of Ryth's restive Sharnn cape seemed loud in the room.\n\n\"You irritate me, Sharnn,\" Kayle said finally. \"But not enough to let you die. I can't recommend opening Malia to you. The Carifil can't play a game where neither the rules nor the stakes are known to us.\"\n\n\"If,\" said Ryth slowly, \"I told you that I could lead you to a finder whose gift was not limited by time or space, would that be a stake worth Carifil risk?\"\n\n\"Is this person Sharnn?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nKayle smiled, but his eyes were lit by something close to anger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is this another Sharnn game? The Carifil sift and resift races, looking for mental gifts, and then a Sharnn who has never been off-planet offers us the rarest gift of all. A finder. But this finder is not Sharnn.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle swore in the hissing phrases of his native tongue." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My patience is gone, pattern-man,\" he said disdainfully, turning away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"When I next look, you would do well to be gone, too. I speak now as a Nendleti, not a Carifil.\"\n\nRyth did not move. Even his cape was still.\n\n\"And I speak as a Sharnn. F'n'een did not die on Skemole.\"\n\nThough Kayle's muscles bunched beneath his orange robe, his voice was calm. \"Every member of the Second Contact team died on Skemole.\"\n\n\"F'n'een survived.\"\n\n\"Impossible. The Carifil searched—and mindsearched—for survivors. Only two bodies were found. We found those who had assassinated the team. All dead. Very dead. Suicides. They knew the Concord penalty for murdering a Second Contact team.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"F'n'een survived.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No. I knew her mind. I was the union for the Carifil mindsearch. I balanced the minds that searched, held them together. They did not sense F'n'een, She is dead.\"\n\n\"F'n'een's mind rolled back upon itself. Regressive shock. Her mind became unrecognizable and/or unreachable. The Carifil even have a name for that state. Q-consciousness.\"\n\nKayle, his back still turned, said nothing.\n\n\"When she emerged from q,\" continued Ryth, \"she had changed, a change forced by hatred and the need to survive.\"\n\n\"Go on,\" said Kayle, his voice husky.\n\n\"Was F'n'een capable of killing?\"\n\nKayle laughed shortly. \"She was Malian. Raised in the code of darg vire—vendetta to the death.\"\n\n\"A team member who died was her husband/mate/lover,\" said Ryth, his voice as soft as the liquid movements of his Sharnn cape." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If F'n'een survived, what would she do?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Darg vire,\" said Kayle, his husky voice clipped again.\n\n\"Yes. And twenty-three Skemoleans died. Not suicides. She is on Malia now. She is the Sandoliki Ti.\"\n\nKayle's body jerked subtly, but he did not turn to face the soft-voiced Sharnn who had become his tormenter.\n\n\"Are you telling me this so that I may die again when my mind-daughter dies again?\" asked Kayle angrily.\n\n\"The Sandoliki woman is a finder.\"\n\nKayle's hand flexed in a gesture of negation. \"Then she is not F'n'een. A gift as rare as that would have been discovered during her Contact training.\"\n\n\"F'n'een—the Sandoliki woman—had not even entered her first maturity when you knew her. Some gifts develop only with time. Or severe stress.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle said nothing, but his bright robe moved in sudden jerks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Whoever the Sandoliki woman is or is not,\" said Kayle harshly, \"she can't be allowed to die when Malia dies. Her gift and her genes are too valuable.\"\n\n\"Yes …\"\n\nSomething in the quality of Ryth's simple agreement brought Kayle slowly around. His orange glance flicked over to a wall where various times on the planet Vintra were coded in light.\n\n\"You interest me, Sharnn,\" said Kayle at last. \"If I survive tonight, I'll take you to Malia.\"\n\n\"If it's a question of survival,\" said Ryth, \"perhaps I should come with you.\"\n\nKayle smiled like a predator." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Sharnn, perhaps you should.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kayle stripped off his outer robe, reversed it so that orange was replaced by somber tones of purple, and pulled the robe back on. Ryth noted the three curved knives strapped to various parts of Kayle's heavily muscled body, then the weapons vanished beneath the loose clothes. Out of sight, but not out of reach; the robe had conveniently placed slits.\n\nWith a rolling movement, Kayle settled the robe around his body. He glanced at Ryth's cape. The cape seemed dulled, as though light no longer made any impact on the material's drab surface. Ryth pulled up a loose hood that concealed everything but his silver-green eyes.\n\n\"Can you fight?\" asked Kayle matter-of-factly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Just yes? No elaborations, no tales of epic brawls?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nKayle half-smiled. \"Good enough, Sharnn. Hand-held or projectile weapons?\"\n\n\"Whatever is necessary. Though,\" Ryth added, \"I prefer faal-hnim,\"\n\n\"Faal-hnim!\" Kayle turned to face Ryth so quickly that his robe belled into rolling shades of purple. \"How did a Sharnn learn that lethal discipline?\"\n\n\"People come to Sharn,\" said Ryth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Some of them talk to the children. I was a child, once.\"\n\nKayle made a sound that was half admiration, half frustration, but did not doubt that Ryth was a practitioner of faal-hnim's difficult and deadly dances. It explained the Sharnn's extraordinary grace.\n\n\"I suppose,\" said Kayle dryly, \"you once talked to a psi master.\"\n\nRyth's lips moved in silent laughter. \"What little I know of the mental arts was taught to me by the Carifil. Very difficult concepts. And for a Sharnn of the Seventh Dawn, not particularly useful.\"\n\n\"Oh?\"\n\n\"The Seventh Dawn is a solitary discipline.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle's mind reached out and deftly touched the fringes of Ryth's awareness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For an instant Kayle sensed a savage radiance that was stunning, then the incandescence thinned to an apparently inexperienced mindtouch that concealed immense depths and distances and raw power.\n\nIs mindspeech uncomfortable for you, Sharnn? *\n\nJust … unexpected … but each time it happens, I learn.\n\nKayle sensed their contact strengthening, stabilizing as the Sharnn's protean mind found patterns in Kayle's skill and learned from those patterns. Ryth learned with shattering speed. Between one breath and the next, his mindspeech clarified.\n\nYou learn very quickly, pattern-man.\n\nI am Sharnn." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle turned abruptly and walked to the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryth followed, wondering if he had insulted the Nendleti—Nendleti pride was legendary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But as they descended the winding stairs of one of Vintra's older kels, Kayle spoke in a husky whisper.\n\n\"Don't you want to know where you might die tonight? And why?\"\n\n\"I can guess,\" said Ryth, unsmiling. \"We are in Sima, capital city of the planet Vintra. We are probably going to Old Sima; it is the center of Vintran discontent. And danger.\" While he spoke, Ryth's eyes took in the shabby lilac walls and faded rose and cream murals that decorated the Access room between the street and the kel's sleeping rooms. \"As for why—\" Ryth turned suddenly, but saw nothing more than a shadow slipping down the wall. \"Someone must have promised you information about Malia.\"\n\nKayle stopped. \"Keep talking, pattern-man. What information?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryth's cape flared, then snuggled around his soft leather boots." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know,\" said Ryth.\n\nKayle blinked slowly. \"You surprise me, pattern-man. I thought you knew everything.\"\n\nThe Nendleti turned and walked around the Access platform. Blue energy blazed across the Access, and for an instant, Kayle's eyes were as purple as Vintra's smoldering moon. When the energy died, four people stepped off the platform. Their tight leggings and elaborately jeweled armbands proclaimed them buyers of the sort who flocked to the scene of the latest human disaster, purchasing the wreckage of dreams at bargain rates.\n\nScavengers.\n\nKayle's scathing thought echoed in Ryth's mind, along with the implications of such people appearing on Vintra." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How do they know? mused Ryth.\n\nThey have the instincts of carrion eaters. Kayle twitched the hem of his robe aside as though to avoid contamination. They must be going to the kla'rre district. There was an outbreak of pekh there ten days ago. The survivors will need money to mourn their dead. Kayle's lips thinned in a silent snarl. Malia has much to answer for." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryth watched the scavengers vanish into Sima's seething lavender brick streets." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why Malia?\" asked Ryth.\n\n\"Maia is the cause of Vintra's drastic decline. Vintra never recovered from the Undeclared War. Worse, Malia is sabotaging Vintra even as we walk these streets.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"If I knew, my work would be over. The Carifil asked me to study Malia and Malians before they are destroyed by the Concord. Unfortunately, Malia forbids alien visitors and Malians rarely leave their planet.\"\n\n\"Some aliens must be permitted,\" said Ryth. \"No pattern is perfect.\"\n\nKayle laughed. \"Maybe, pattern-man. But the Carifil never found the exception. That's why I'm here on Vintra, Malia's colony, learning by inference and extrapolation about the Malian mind.\"\n\n\"What have you learned?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That Malians have earned their extinction.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet Ryth sensed an echo of anguish that was the name F'n'een." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"If Malia's pattern is so obvious and so guilty, why do you need my skills?\" said Ryth softly.\n\nKayle looked casually around the street. There were many people out and they walked too close for privacy.\n\nThe Carifil want to know why Malians could not adapt to the Concord's Sole Restraint. When we know that, the First Contact teams can look for the Malian syndrome in newly discovered cultures. Then we can simply proscribe that type of culture, rather than admitting it to Concord and then eventually being forced to eradicate an entire genepool.\n\nKayle's mindspeech slipped beyond the conversational level and became information wrapped in a rich complex of emotions.\n\nMalians are too beautiful to destroy—yet we must, for they have twice ignored the Sole Restraint." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then the emotions vanished, leaving echoes of sadness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yesterday, a Vintran spoke to me from behind a door, whispering about a strong man and a black-haired woman with eyes like ice. He said they were Malians who came to Vintra often. He said that when they were here, death followed Like the long shadow of night.\n\nHe said they would be in Old Sima tonight, on the Street of the Purple Blossom, in a cellar called Regret. *\n\nKayle glanced sideways, but whatever reaction Ryth might have had was concealed within the folds of his Sharnn cape.\n\nIf what the Vintran said is true,\" continued Kayle, the Concord will have all the proof it needs to destroy Malia. * There was weariness rather than triumph in Kayle's thought, resonances of regret that tore at Ryth's mind. And I pray, added Kayle, that the Allgod forgives my part in Malia's annihilation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle's mind withdrew. Ryth walked soundlessly, his green eyes noting and naming and correlating a range of details that would have astonished Kayle if he had known." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Finally, Kayle emerged from his dark thoughts.\n\nThis Vintran, began Ryth slowly, feeling his way through a maze of pattern possibilities. Where is he now?\n\nKayle's ironic laughter was almost painful. Exactly, pattern-man. He was supposed to come to my h'kel tonight. But you came instead. I wonder if that is an even trade?\n\nRyth had no response for Kayle's laughter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Restless Sharnn eyes measured the subtle signs of disrepair in the black stone building facades and despair in the subdued faces lining Sima's sunbrick streets.\n\nVintra was tone on tone of purple, from lavender day to amethyst evening and dense violet-black night ruled by a huge purple moon. Even Vintra's sun did not banish the thousand shades of purple, for Vintra wore a thick atmospheric shell that absorbed almost all but the longer wavelengths of light. Because Malia, the Vintrans' first world, turned beneath a sky of incredible clarity, colonists had had difficulty adjusting to Vintra's light. Everywhere on Vintra, noon and midnight, artificial illumination glowed, but not enough, never enough to bleach Vintra's purple sky.\n\nIf the colonists had difficulty enjoying Vintra's extraordinary light, others did not. Vintra became famous for her eerie violet skies. People from all over the Concord came to be transformed by lavender light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They swam in lilac seas, climbed magenta mountains and ate heliotrope fruit whose sweet core was yet another shade of purple." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In a high window above Ryth and Kayle, a suncaller preened and sang a few notes, as though preparing its pre-dawn song. Ryth glanced up, but did not really see the bird. His mind had finally put into words an anomaly that had been nagging at him: colonists invariably brought native flora and fauna to their new homes, but nowhere in Sima had Ryth seen anything that did not fit seamlessly into Vintra's environment.\n\nWhere are the Malian plants, the animals, the living links with Vintrans' first home? asked Ryth.\n\nDead. The disparity in environments killed most. The few survivors were destroyed after the Undeclared War, when all things Malian became anathema.\n\nKayle sidestepped a group of revelers whose frayed robes displayed fuchsia slogans proclaiming the joys of chemical psychosis. Though the five people were too uncoordinated to be dangerous, other such groups had triggered twelve lethal riots and numberless street brawls in the few months Kayle had lived in Sima." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The groups were both symbol and accelerator of Vintra's decline." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The streets narrowed when Ryth and Kayle approached the boundaries of Old Sima. Tourists rarely came here, for there was neither entertainment nor beauty nor commerce within the crumbling sunbrick structures. Most residents had abandoned the huddled kels after the third earthquake in the Year of the Suncaller. Only the human debris of a failing society remained, as dangerous as venomous fruit.\n\nThe Street of the Purple Blossom was little more than an alley twisting between sagging rows of lifeless kels. Only a few faded, cracked lightstrips alleviated the purple moonglow.\n\nRyth and Kayle walked carefully, twisting as the alley twisted, turning three-quarters of the way around old buildings, spilling out onto two brightly lighted streets and then setting off in another direction entirely, back into darkness. Further ahead, at the end of a long, shadowed tunnel, there was a glowing sign in the shape of a whirlpool." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Though most of the letters were shattered or dimmed by a crust of dirt, enough remained to make out the word \"Regret.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No one could be seen in the pooling shadows beneath the sign, yet the street suggested hidden life, breath held in anticipation of a moment that was long past.\n\nWait for a twenty-count, then follow, instructed Kayle. If my shy Vintran is here, I don't want you to frighten him.\n\nKayle closed out Ryth's unspoken objections with a deft mental twist, then moved down the rubble-strewn path with a speed and silence that belied the apparent clumsiness of his rolling Nendleti gait. After a rapid count, Ryth moved lightly through the darkness, avoiding clots of debris. Once again he tried mindspeech with Kayle, but the Nendleti's mind was as closed as a stone.\n\nThe Sharnn's pattern instinct clamored of danger. He looked at the alley ahead through narrowed eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The incandescent violet moon made everything appear gigantic, menacing, but that was not what had roused his instinct." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was something about the placement of debris that was no longer random. Ahead, Kayle was pursuing a zigzag course, seeking clear ground where he could walk without sending trash clattering.\n\nRyth tried mindspeech again, but it was as futile as shouting at the moon. Unease gnawed at him as Kayle slowed, picking his way among piles of trash that nearly overlapped each other. Abruptly, Ryth decided that silence presented the greater risk.\n\n\"Danger,\" called Ryth softly.\n\nKayle flattened into a recessed doorway and effectively vanished. Ryth felt the Nendleti's mental query sweep through him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Where?\n\nSix kels ahead, just by the cellar. See how the trash closes in? There's only one way to walk. Cover your ears and eyes—and don't move.\n\nRyth picked up a stone that was bigger than three clenched fists. He weighed the stone in his hand, learning its balance, then he closed his eyes and brought his arm around in a powerful throw. The stone shot through the gloom and landed in front of the Regret on the only piece of ground not covered by trash." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The alley fractured into noise and light and jagged fragments of trash sent flying by the force of the bomb." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With a long rumble, the cellar called Regret collapsed in upon itself.\n\nKayle?\n\nI owe you a life, Sharnn.\n\nIf you want to enjoy it, returned Ryth dryly, I'd suggest we leave this wretched trap to its shadows.\n\nAgreed, came Kayle's thought after a long hesitation. Nothing waited here for me but death.\n\nRyth sensed Kayle's mind leaping out in search of something, but could not guess what. At Kayle's silent command, Ryth turned and ran back up the choked street, his dulled Sharnn cape invisible in the dense shadows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the distance, Sima's inhabited streets glowed with Mac light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ambush ahead!\n\nKayle's thought sent Ryth diving behind the nearest pile of rubbish. He heard a knife hiss past his ear and clatter against a sunbrick wall. As he rolled to a new position, he pulled a long-bladed hunter's knife from beneath his cape. Then he sensed the attackers closing in and rolled again, just avoiding a steel-toed kick.\n\nWith superb timing, the Sharnn brought his knife up in a thrust that met flesh. A man's pain echoed through the narrow street. Ryth sprang up, fighting in darkness, blind but for a sure sense of Kayle's presence slicing at the attackers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alive, if possible, requested Kayle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ryth's answer was to drop and roll through the attackers, hamstringing two who did not move quickly enough. When he rose to his feet, he felt Kayle at his back. Ryth's foot shot out, connecting with a man's chin. The man was unconscious before he fell to the ground. For a few seconds the narrow alley was silent, then there was a shadowy rush. Kayle and Ryth lashed out, blows meant to stun rather than kill. One man remained on his feet, circling them, dodging among the bodies of his fallen comrades in an apparently random dance. His face glowed as he feinted toward Kayle, bent over another man—and vanished." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Can you see him? demanded Kayle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No. Ryth strained into the darkness.\n\nHe must have hidden his face in his robes! Kayle's frustration seared across the Sharnn. I can't even sense his mind!\n\nSimultaneously, they dove and rolled in opposite directions. Ryth felt the edge of a robe on his knife and slashed upward. His knife slid away, deflected. The man leaped into darkness and was gone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryth held his breath, listening." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At first he heard nothing but his own blood pumping, then came the faintest sounds of a light-footed man running away. Ryth rolled to his feet and sprinted down the street, leaping over bodies and rubbish. Ahead the street twisted, then branched at right angles as it emptied onto two larger streets lit by lilac lights. He saw a glimpse of a dark shadow sliding into throngs of walkers and knew it would be useless to follow.\n\nRyth ran back to Kayle, and found the Nendleti studying the attackers by the thin beam of a light pencil.\n\n\"Quickly,\" said Ryth. \"He might be back with better fighters.\"\n\n\"Questioning won't take long,\" said Kayle dryly.\n\nA narrow beam of light moved over the bodies of eight men." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Each man's throat had been cut." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ryth swore in the twisting phrases of Sharn, then took out his own light pencil and began searching among the trash.\n\n\"Why?\" asked Kayle.\n\n\"Flexible plastic. As many pieces as you can find.\"\n\nWhen he had enough plastic, Ryth rolled the attackers' weapons into clumsy packages. Kayle watched, then gathered weapons with as much care as Ryth; at no time did either man touch the weapons. When all the weapons were wrapped, Ryth piled them in the center of a large sheet of plastic and knotted the sheet into a rude bundle. While Ryth worked, Kayle examined the bodies again.\n\n\"Anything?\" asked Ryth, picking up the bundle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. They are either Vintrans or Malians.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Malians?\" said Ryth sharply.\n\n\"It's possible, after what I heard yesterday about the two Malians.\" Kayle swept the light over the corpses one last time. \"Vintra was colonized less than ten centuries ago. Neither phenotype nor genotype has changed from Malia.\"\n\n\"Do you think Malians would leave Malia to hunt you?\"\n\n\"Why not? In a way, I'm hunting them. And apparently, I'm getting too close.\" Kayle's light slid from face to face, illuminating death. Then he switched off the beam." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You fight well, Sharnn, but I must insist on leading the way or carrying the burden.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ryth laughed silently and said in Malian, \"I can think of no one I'd rather follow into danger.\"\n\n\"So you know the Malian language—and Malian codes.\"\n\n\"A little of both,\" Ryth said. \"Maran's Song teaches a thousand patterns.\"\n\n\"You interest me, Ryth,\" said Kayle, his husky voice floating back from the purple darkness. \"Just enough to let you try for Malia. If you find your exception to Malian rules, I'll give you an exception to Concord proscription.\"\n\nRyth and Kayle were the only passengers on the shuttle from Malia's inner moon. Kayle was not surprised; even before the Concord had proscribed Malia, the planet was classified as xenophobic to a high degree." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Malians had permitted no direct Access route for travelers to Malia's surface, though almost all other Concord planets had several major Accesses and hundreds of minor ones on their surfaces." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Malia had one personnel Access located on the inner moon. There were only ten freight Accesses for each continent on Malia. And that was all.\n\nThe scarcity of Accesses was not due to physical law or to recent proscription or to lack of potential trade and tourists. Rather, Malia simply forbade visitors and ignored the possibilities of commerce. Nor had proscription bothered Malians. Even when citizens had been permitted to leave Malia whenever they wished, few did. Except for those destined for Vintra, only three Malians had been recorded off-world in any century since Malia had joined the Concord." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the Sharnn had found a crack in Malia's apparent xenophobia." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By Malian rule, people of any race who wanted to ask help from the Sandoliki Ti were permitted to spend one day on Malia.\n\nJust one. And just once.\n\nBut that was a crack large enough for a Sharnn and a Nendleti to slide through.\n\nRyth sat quietly, listening to Kayle and correlating new information while Malia's silver and turquoise sphere grew rapidly on the shuttle's screen.\n\n\"Also,\" continued Kayle, \"you will receive no exemption from Malian customs. Be prepared for personal combat at any moment. And be prepared to kill. Although,\" added Kayle, rubbing the textures of his bright blue robe between his palms, \"I believe Malians usually ignore off-worlders so long as they are wholly discreet.\"\n\n\"Usually,\" murmured Ryth, \"is hardly comforting, given Malians' reputation as assassins. Did you know Carifil Cryl?\"\n\nKayle's face tightened into bleak lines. \"Yes. I warned him. The Carifil still don't know how he got on the planet.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The same way we did,\" said Ryth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No other possibility fits.\"\n\n\"He was obsessed by Malia's crystal music,\" said Kayle.\n\n\"And Maran's Song?\" asked Ryth softly.\n\n\"And Maran's Song,\" agreed Kayle, his voice heavy. \"He had a theory about Malian culture that depended on a certain interpretation of Maran's Song. Until he heard that song played on the Sandoliki sarsa, he could not test his idea.\"\n\n\"Yes,\" said Ryth. \"Concepts can only be tested at their sources.\"\n\n\"Cryl died at the hands of k'm'n Sandoliki Lekel.\"\n\n\"Did he hear Maran's Song before he died?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "asked Ryth, his silver-green eyes suddenly hard with intensity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But Kayle did not notice, for he was remembering a dead Carifil.\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"Are you sure?\" demanded Ryth.\n\n\"Does it matter, pattern-man?\" said Kayle irritably.\n\nRyth waited with the intense patience of a predator.\n\n\"Yes,\" Kayle said, voice rasping in the empty shuttle. \"I'm sure he died without hearing Maran's Song. The death-cry of his mind was singularly unfulfilled.\"\n\nRyth sat back and resumed his meticulous visual inspection of each aspect of the shuttle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle watched, then probed lightly at the edges of Ryth's mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A cataract of savage energy nearly stunned the Nendleti. He withdrew, and only then did he realize that the Sharnn was using the shuttle, and whatever other facts/theories/ guesses he had garnered, to analyze, correlate and extrapolate patterns of Malian culture.\n\nFor the first time, Kayle began to believe that the Sharnn might have a truly extraordinary gift, worthy of Carifil interest. Kayle watched covertly, fascinated, all through the long fall to Malia's surface. When the shuttle bounced and sideslipped on entering Malia's atmosphere, Ryth finally became aware of Kayle's concentrated interest.\n\n\"Nendleti philosophers,\" Kayle said quietly, \"believe that the past, present, and future of a culture can be intuited from a single object.\" He smiled slightly. \"Do you find this shuttle educational, sri Ryth?\"\n\nRyth noted the Nendleti honorific \"sri,\" but said only, \"The shuttle is overwhelming. The lights alone,\" he gestured to an instrument panel whose information was displayed in colors rather than numbers, \"tell me as much as the First Contact tapes.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle eyed the panel, but saw only a rainbow of colors." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To him, the panel was beautiful but essentially meaningless. To the Sharnn it was a revelation.\n\n\"Teach me,\" said Kayle.\n\nRyth's hands spread in a gesture of helplessness, but after a long silence, he spoke.\n\n\"I'll try.\" His words were slow as he picked his way through the limitations and pitfalls of the Galactic language. \"How many colors do you see?\"\n\n\"Perhaps fifty.\"\n\n\"How many colors are repeated? A few? Many? All?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle looked at the panel carefully." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Almost all. Especially the lighter colors.\"\n\n\"None are repeated,\" said Ryth softly.\n\nKayle started to protest, then decided against it. \"Go on, Sharnn. I asked to be taught.\"\n\n\"I see what might be a few repeats, but the pattern tells me that my eyes are at fault. Otherwise, the instrument readouts would be repetitious or useless or both. So Malian eyes must see distinct color separations, receive distinct information. Therefore Malian eyes are capable of exquisite discrimination among the wavelengths of light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Malians don't care that other races might be confused rather than enlightened by the instruments. In fact, Malians don't care about other races at all. Not one aspect of this shuttle was designed for any but a Malian.\n\n\"Which tells me that Malians are indeed arrogant.\"\n\nKayle snorted. \"Is that all? I could have told—\"\n\n\"No. There is a preference for curves over angles, textures over blandness, light over dark, space over enclosures, warmth over chill, comfort over safety, sensuality over personal distance—\" The Sharnn gestured in frustration. \"Galactic has no words to describe what this shuttle teaches me about the Malian culture, the Malian mind.\" He looked around, his silver-green eyes lit by excitement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Now I know—I know!—that Maran's Song is more exquisite than I had realized, more seminal than anything but a Sharnn conception.\"\n\nKayle sensed Ryth's electric excitement; mental/emotional currents came from the Sharnn in waves that were almost painful in their intensity. Sensed, but did not understand. Kayle did not attempt to talk anymore until they landed at a small pad in C'Varial, Malia's capital—and only—city. The shuttle area was surrounded by an immense park where plants from all over Malia grew in exquisitely arranged profusion.\n\nThere were no written signs directing visitors to various major compounds, kels or even the S'kel of the Sandolikis. Instead, there were \"signatures,\" patterns in flower and wood and stone, at the beginning of every path that radiated out from the landing area.\n\nRyth and Kayle stood just beyond their shuttle, transfixed by the pouring beauty that was Malia." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The turquoise bell of the sky rang with pure light, light that defined and caressed each living color, each slow scented breath of flowers open in silky invitation, their fertile throats calling to insects quivering on diamond wings, humming promise of consummation deep within petal softness. And in the distance a fall of crystal music more pure than Malian light. After a long time, Kayle roused himself, but still felt as though he were folded within the soft body of a lover.\n\n\"Even the Allgod must envy Malians,\" he said to Ryth, his voice husky with many emotions.\n\nBut Ryth did not hear. He was lost in a compelling sensual paradise. His fingers reached out in sudden knowledge, touched the tall singing flowers, stroked their turquoise throats with gentle fingertips. Flower throats stretched and pulsed slowly, deeply, until a cloud of silver pollen spilled out, covering his hand with perfumed softness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Faint crystal music called again, echo of flowers, pure sound, haunting, and he suddenly understood that he was hearing the fragmentary signature of a Malian mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryth turned toward the crystal notes with a questing intelligence that was almost palpable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Humming zamay flowers brushed their silken faces across his hands, humming, asking, but he neither saw nor felt their sliding caresses. Only music existed for him now, flawless notes calling, crystal longing, a song both superbly whole and crying for harmony, for an equal song to join with it against the loneliness of crystal echoes returning always the same, always diminished.\n\nRyth walked through ranks of flowers until his Sharnn cape was fragrant and bright with m'zamay, the aphrodisiac pollen of the turquoise zamay. Then singing flowers gave way to ebony nightvine, twined around itself and the powerful trunk of a huge tere tree. Beneath the tere's high canopy of scarlet leaves, suspended from an invisibly fine wire frame, a miniature sarsa chimed its lonely call into every breeze.\n\nRyth stood beneath the fall of crystal music, his pollen-bright cape lifting on the wind, his mind totally caught by the possibilities of the sarsa's song.\n\nKayle stopped several paces away, half-stunned by Malia's sensual assault. Just when he felt as though he must scream to break Malia's hold on himself and the Sharnn, Ryth turned toward him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you recognize her?\" said the Sharnn.\n\n\"Her?\" Kayle held his knuckles against his temples until pain brought a sense of sanity. \"Her?\"\n\n\"F'n'een.\" Ryth's eyes focused on Kayle with an intensity that made Kayle step back. \"The pattern of her mind,\" said Ryth impatiently, as though five words explained everything. And when he saw they did not, he spoke quickly, words and thoughts tumbling. \"In the sarsa's notes. The music. Don't you hear? Her song, enigmatic and powerful, graceful and deadly swift and sensual, yes, sensual beyond all knowing. And so alone.\"\n\nKayle listened to the Sharnn and to the wind-stirred crystals and almost heard, but not quite, yet he ached with a grief that was not his nor yet the Sharnn's.\n\n\"That can't be F'n'een,\" said Kayle hoarsely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She was young and her laughter leaped.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Laughter is in her past and future—hear its echoes turning and returning?—but her present is this song.\"\n\nKayle looked at the Sharnn with something close to fear. \"No. The song is not F'n'een.\"\n\n\"It's not your memory. But it is F'n'een as she became, as she is now. Magnificent.\" Ryth turned in a swift movement that flared his cape, scattering m'zamay's potent dust. \"I will show you.\"\n\nKayle followed Ryth and a winding path through nightvine and scarlet drifts of fallen tere leaves. Crystal notes pursued, driven by a fitful wind until Kayle wanted to run but could not because the Sharnn ahead walked with consummate grace and ease, unburdened by memories of laughter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Where are we going?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "demanded Kayle finally, wondering if he could find his way back through the maze of branching and coiling paths." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And wondering how the Sharnn had found his way at all." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Wherever the Sandoliki Ti's pattern leads us.\"\n\n\"What pattern?\" Kayle snapped, seeing more paths open out in a way he could only describe as random.\n\nThe Sharnn stopped and turned back toward Kayle. \"That pattern,\" said Ryth, pointing toward a single zamay humming against the polished strength of a black tere trunk. \"Sensuality and power and separation. The Sandoliki Ti's signature.\"\n\nKayle looked and now saw the pattern repeated with variations in composition but not in theme. Sometimes the signature was so subtle that it was only after Ryth chose the path that Kayle recognized the pattern.\n\n\"How do people without Sharnn guides find their way to her?\" said Kayle dryly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Malian aristocrats are trained in signature mazes. As for the others—the maze isn't large. Sooner or later, those who really want to will find a way. Those who don't,\" Ryth's hands spread and turned palm down, \"must have had needs that were less than compelling.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The path wound up a small hill, leading to a view of the glinting crystal domes and arches that was C'Varial. In Malia's pure light each color was unique, flawless and the city was almost blindingly beautiful. It was as though the maze's designer made one final attempt to deflect people away from the Sandoliki Ti by showing them the brilliant possibilities of C'Varial, wrapped in all the colors of life.\n\nBut the Sharnn barely paused. A sidelong glance was his only acknowledgment of C'Varial's siren call.\n\n\"Wait …\" began Kayle.\n\nRyth's backward look was a compound of amusement and impatience.\n\n\"You have no soul, Sharnn!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "snapped Kayle, walking faster." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Still smiling, Ryth turned away, but he could not help looking again, stealing a second moment of C'Varial's beauty. He would have killed his Sharnn cape for the chance to sit forever on this small Malian hill, savoring and solving C'Varial's complex mysteries stated in patterns of clear color that shifted with the sun.\n\nBut all of Malia's forevers were past, and he would need his cape to survive the few Malian moments that remained.\n\nSilently, the Sharnn led Kayle to a landing area only large enough for a few three-flyers. The machines were silver, devoid of any status marks, and unlocked. With an assurance Kayle did not share, Ryth mounted a flyer's ramp. Kayle followed, his orange eyes sliding from side to side as though searching for ambush. In silence, both men sat, fixed their crashnets firmly, and waited." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Within moments, the three-flyer quivered to life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It leaped off the pad, climbing straight into Malia's turquoise sky while the land below fell away with staggering speed until everything ran together in a watercolor blur that was yet another form of beauty.\n\nWhen the details of C'Varial were subsumed by height and the larger geographical patterns of river and valley, lake and hills and the distant portent of blue-black mountains, Ryth turned his attention to the interior of the three-flyer. Kayle waited, watching, but finally he had to ask.\n\n\"Are you sure that this will take us to the Sandoliki woman?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"How long?\" pressed Kayle, glancing down, far down, to a surface that distance and speed had robbed of meaning.\n\n\"I don't know.\"\n\n\"Thank the Allgod,\" muttered Kayle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There's something in the galaxy that a Sharnn doesn't know.\"\n\nRyth almost smiled, but too much of his mind was focused on the rhythmic play of lights along the instrument panel. Their pattern was direct, almost boring, but it was information and Malian, and he needed every hint he could gather.\n\nThe flyer bucked and sideslipped through unseen turbulence.\n\n\"Could you fly this if you had to?\" asked Kayle uneasily.\n\n\"It's programmed. But if I had to. Yes. The pattern is very direct.\"\n\nFor a long time, both men were silent, caught up in their own thoughts. After Malia's overwhelming sensuality, the almost astringent interior of the three-flyer was refreshing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Finally the flyer entered a steep slide that brought it down very close to the land on the far side of the mountains. Simultaneously, the flyer slowed, as though to provide its occupants with a detailed view of the devastation beyond the blue-black mountains.\n\nWhere they expected zamay and beauty, they saw a tenuous brown haze creeping up from the land, rock particles harried by a nameless wind. A ragged carpet of gold trees thinned into pale yellow, then became sand-colored skeletons with leafless branches stabbing the wind. Soon even the shorn trunks vanished and the land became a monotony of grey-brown stone and shallow grey-brown rivers thick with grit.\n\nAfter tasting consuming sensuality, the land below was jarringly ugly. It was obscene. It was Darg Vintra, Vintra's Revenge, legacy of the brutal Undeclared War between Vintra and Malia, colony and home world, daughter and mother. Vintran death raiders had destroyed, utterly and finally, the vast estates of the two strategists who had nearly brought Vintra to defeat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tare and Jomen Sandoliki had died defending their home against an overwhelming force. An honorable death for the two generals, and an inevitable beginning for a bitter darg vire. But Tare had borne only two children for Jomen and those children were also ashes drifting in the wind.\n\nFormerly fertile and thick with life, the Sandoliki Estates now were a monochrome wasteland cratered by old hatreds and furrowed by remorseless winds.\n\n\"If death had a face …\" murmured the Sharnn.\n\n\"Yes, it would look like that.\" Kayle's voice was thin, tight. His face wore bleak lines that matched the orange light in his eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're wrong about F'n'een. You won't find her living in this desolation. She loved green water and laughter. She would rather be dead. And is.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But the Sharnn said only, \"Check your harness. we'll be landing soon.\"\n\nKayle peered out through the dusty canopy. \"I don't see anything but bare rock.\"\n\n\"Nor do I, but the lights tell me that—wait. The bench between mountains. The molecular fire passed over it. See? That blue-green streak below with a scarlet center.\"\n\n\"There's not much of it, is there?\"\n\n\"The Vintran raiders were thorough,\" agreed Ryth as the flyer lost altitude rapidly.\n\nThe flyer circled the landing area twice, giving sliding glimpses of ruined goldstone kels and abandoned gardens and one small wedge still intact, shining with colors. The flyer dropped at the edge of the fertile area, in a cleared spot marked by other landings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle left his seat before the engine was entirely silent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With open impatience, he swept down the silver ramp.\n\nRyth followed more slowly, pausing on the ramp to taste the odd, almost rusty flavor of the wind blowing off Darg Vintra. But he soon forgot the wind, for the pad was surrounded by a circle of shattered crystal monoliths in every tint and tone of turquoise. One monolith remained upright, whole, carved in the image of a forgotten god with faceted eyes staring, waiting for a future to sweep closed the circle and begin anew, renewing rituals only the past could remember.\n\nA random wind surged, belling Kayle's robes, revealing the intricate design of Nendleti boots. Part of the curving motif was repeated by a deadly double-edged knife strapped to Kayle's calf.\n\nRyth walked away from the ramp, felt the rust-tasting wind tug at his cape. The air was neither warm nor cold, merely dry, terribly dry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No,\" said Kayle as Ryth approached." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not F'n'een. Not here.\"\n\nThe Sharnn made no reply.\n\n\"She was so beautiful,\" sighed Kayle. \"A living beauty like nothing I'd seen before or even imagined.\"\n\n\"She was a child. Two maturities have passed. Vintra and Skemole have passed. Even the most beautiful children grow. And change.\"\n\nKayle's orange eyes brooded over the horizon where nothing lived, nothing moved but wind sifting the remains of dust enemies, old death.\n\n\"My people are sometimes violent,\" said Kayle slowly. \"Many Nendletis die for reasons few aliens ever comprehend. But never have we destroyed our enemy's land. Honor cringes from the thought. The soul cringes from the deed.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His eyes closed. \"How much hatred can one race hold?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Darg vire,\" murmured the Sharnn.\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"Darg vire. Death vendetta. And then the Ti Vire, the Great Death, a seven-year vendetta waged by one woman against the entire race of Vintrans. But she did not die.\"\n\nRyth walked slowly to a powdery path where wind snatched at the dust puffing away from his feet. After a few seconds, Kayle followed. As they walked, patches of faded blue grass appeared, then low cream-colored shrubs whose lacy fronds were heavy with dust. Finally the path twisted through a tere grove, just seventeen trees, all that had survived the molecular fire. Scarlet leaves rustled overhead and the subtle scent and sound of water drifted on the breeze." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle inhaled deeply, grateful for even this frail barrier against devastation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Think what it must have been,\" said Ryth, low-voiced, haunted by the memory of a dead god's eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Flawless air and tere groves burning scarlet. Silver insects drifting like music over immense flower seas.\"\n\nFor an instant Kayle saw with Sharnn vision, then he blinked and it was gone, leaving an anger that was as deep as it was unexpected. Blindly, Kayle walked toward a tiny clearing where an artesian pool breathed moisture into the sterile air. Sunlight spilled into the water, making the pool incandescent with silver light, silver-green currents sliding through enigmatic depths. With a shudder, Kayle threw off the last of his unbidden vision.\n\n\"A good omen at last,\" Kayle said, an echo of anger still in his voice. \"The pool is exactly like your eyes.\" He glanced at Ryth and was satisfied that the Sharnn did not understand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No matter,\" said Kayle softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You'll discover my symbols soon enough.\"\n\n\"And you'll make it as difficult for me as you can,\" said Ryth, not adding that he understood Kayle's anger because it was the echo of his own. So much lost …\n\nKayle clapped his hands in sarcastic comment. \"Already you're unraveling me. But how shall I unravel you?\"\n\n\"I'm as simple as that pool,\" said Ryth softly.\n\nKayle's orange eyes raked over the Sharnn. Ryth felt a lash of mindtouch before Kayle withdrew far more gently than he had come." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My error,\" said Kayle. \"I took your words as a slight to my intelligence, and thereby missed your profound irony. Like a Malian, you understand that the only true complexity is found in exquisite simplicity.\" Kayle let the last of his own anger slide away as he looked again at the deceptively transparent pool. \"I'm ready to see her now. Even,\" he whispered, \"if she is F'n'een.\"\n\nThey turned away from the slowly seething pool and followed the path out of the grove, through waist-high shrubs hung with fading bronze flowers and a vague scent of mint. Blue-black vines crawled over ruined walls, choked old rooms and gardens, hissed over Ryth's cape when the path narrowed. Then the vines ended as though at an unspoken command. Beige rock walls rose abruptly, topped by a dome that shone like a mirror." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An arched gate, or doorway, stood open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Invitation,\" asked Kayle, \"or Malian insult?\"\n\n\"Think of it as a gesture of trust,\" said Ryth, knowing as he spoke it was a lie.\n\n\"Or contempt. Is that possible, pattern-man?\" asked Kayle dryly.\n\n\"Her dargs vire are legend.\"\n\n\"Then I'll be wary rather than insulted.\" Kayle sent a faint thread of awareness seeking through the area. \"Three,\" murmured Kayle. \"One psi. Hers, I assume. Unusual aura … incoherent to me, yet very powerful. Fascinating. And,\" sad triumph, \"not F'n'een.\"\n\nKayle stepped through the open gate with a speed that belied his chunky stature." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stood and listened intently, yet heard nothing more than wind rearranging dead leaves in the shadow of the wall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just ahead, a mosaic walkway of carved stones wound among flowering plants and the murmurs of a tiny stream. Small animals ghosted through trees and shadows. A bird, scarlet as the leaves it lived among, called a liquid warning.\n\n\"Malian?\" said Kayle softly, listening to the pure song.\n\n\"Everything here is Malian.\"\n\n\"Then she, like most Malians, so fears alien life that she refuses to have any of it near her?\"\n\nWhen his question brought no answer, Kayle's glance flicked briefly over the Sharnn, but Ryth seemed lost in the scarlet bird's call. As the last note faded, the inner garden's silence took on the quality of an absolute." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With hushed steps, they followed the path, noting subtle changes as it approached the boundary of the inner garden." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The colors of the carved stones merged into umber unity and took on the form of an oval. In the center of the oval was a polished silver frame, taller than a man. Varying lengths of clear native crystal hung motionless, suspended on fine silver wires. Crystal facets silently split sunlight into all the colors of desire.\n\n\"The Sandoliki sarsa,\" breathed Kayle, approaching the instrument reverently, not even glancing through a small arch that opened into the Sandoliki Ti's kel.\n\nNor did Ryth spare the arch more than a glance before he gave himself to the subtle patterns of crystal and light.\n\n\"The sarsa is old, very old,\" said Kayle's voice, near Ryth again.\n\n\"The Sandoliki name is older than the stones we stand on,\" said Ryth absently." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Tell me how such beauty can be created by such destroyers?\"\n\n\"Most people believe it's compensation.\"\n\n\"You aren't most people, Sharnn.\"\n\nReluctantly, Ryth abandoned the fascination of the sarsa's changing patterns. \"Sometimes,\" he said slowly, \"people who know death intimately best appreciate the textures of life. Nendletis are justly famed for their esthetic nuances, as well as for their ferocity. Malians are known for their incomparable sensuality, as well as for their ruthless dargs vire. Paradox,\" murmured the Sharnn. \"Always paradox. And irony.\"\n\nRyth turned and faced Kayle fully. The Sharnn cape whipped as a sudden gust of wind stripped the last bright motes of m'zamay from the cape's peculiar folds." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ti Kayle—\" began Ryth softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"'Ti', is it?\" said Kayle. \"And just what unpleasant bit of information are you planning to oil by using the Malian honorific?\"\n\nRyth's smile was a flash more sensed than seen. \"Would you prefer to be called sri?\"\n\nThe Nendleti snapped his fingers in a gesture of indifference/irritation/impatience.\n\n\"You hate the people called Malians,\" Ryth said softly. \"You have a full measure of Nendleti pride. You are a deadly fighter.\"\n\nThe Sharnn paused, clearly disliking what he felt compelled to say." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle waited impassively, poised and curious and dangerous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Unless your Carifil conditioning curbs your Nendleti temperament, you'll try to kill the Sandoliki Ti.\"\n\nKayle moved suddenly, a quick flowing step that made his heavy purple robe lift on the wind. Again Ryth sensed uninvited mindtouch, but this time Kayle was gentle. With a hiss that was pure Nendleti, Kayle withdrew, no longer able to penetrate the Sharnn's mind without hurting both of them.\n\n\"Teach me, pattern-man,\" demanded Kayle. \"The Allgod knows that you learn quickly enough!\"\n\nRyth ignored the reference to his now impenetrable mind and said, \"The Sandoliki will be conspicuously unarmed. Her robes will be so sheer that you will have no way of comforting your pride with the idea that she is wearing concealed weapons. To underline that fact, she will also wear empty weapon holders. On Malia that is a deadly insult.\"\n\nKayle hissed a Nendleti phrase. \"Is there more?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Her servant will wear only one small knife.\"\n\n\"And you claim her insults should be ignored?\" said Kayle incredulously. \"Teach me, pattern-man.\"\n\n\"Her actions are not aimed at offending you, sri y'Kayle Menta Losu, Nendleti aristocrat. Her actions are a gesture of total contempt for the armed Vintrans who seek her aid, and for the Malian ruler who permits living Vintrans to walk this planet.\"\n\nKayle frowned and Ryth listened to wind-harried leaves and waited for the Nendleti's decision. Methodically, Kayle began stripping off his weapons.\n\n\"Do you approve, Sharnn? Not that it would affect me either way. I won't wear more weapons than a servant!\"\n\nKayle stacked his three knives in a large, deep wall niche made by a missing stone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wordlessly, Ryth removed his knife and his Sharnn cape and placed both in the niche. Kayle studied the cape with new interest, realizing that Ryth classed it as a weapon. But the Nendleti said nothing, not even when Ryth slipped a thin silver m'sarsa from a loop on the sarsa frame and prepared to touch an instrument that was sacred to Malians.\n\nSunlight washed incandescent over the age-worn rod as the Sharnn raised the m'sarsa to the suspended crystals. The rod touched a long crystal and a deep, dear note sounded. Even as the crystal vibrated, Ryth touched the m'sarsa to other crystals, creating a ripple of music that evoked first a brook, then a tumbling stream, and finally a river, swift and potent, seeking an unnamed sea. The song was both whole and unfulfilled an echo of a cry for harmony that had first been heard near a hill overlooking C'Varial.\n\nWhile the last notes resonated into silence, Kayle spread his hands in a gesture of respect." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You are a man of two gifts, sri Ryth.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Pattern is the essence of music,\" said Ryth softly, his mind still savoring the perfection of the ancient Sandoliki sarsa." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He replaced the m'sarsa carefully, then stroked the frame and m'sarsa with his fingertips. \"A superb creation, superbly conceived.\"\n\n\"And superbly played.\"\n\nHer voice was as low and resonant as sarsa crystal Ryth turned slowly toward the gate where she had appeared.\n\n\"I did not recognize your song,\" she said as the wind rippled through her head veils and fragile mesh clothing, \"yet I came. The sarsa has waited long for a man's tempered touch.\"\n\nThough the wind flared through her scarlet veils, the planes of her face were never fully revealed. The lithe female lines of her body showed clearly beneath the loose scarlet mesh, yet the effect lacked invitation.\n\n\"I am called Ryth,\" he said, bowing in the Malian style with hands clasped in front." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And my companion is called Kayle.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Without seeming to, Ryth watched for a reaction to Kayle's name. \"What shall we call you?\"\n\n\"F'n'een,\" said Kayle, before she could answer.\n\nHer head moved sharply and the veil leaped. For an instant her pale eyes studied Kayle. Then the veil floated back in place as she turned toward the Sharnn.\n\n\"Do you also wish to call me that name?\"\n\n\"It is a graceful name.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But it is not mine,\" she said distinctly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Call me Faen or call me nothing at all!\"\n\n\"We regret offending you,\" said Ryth, eyes narrowed, weighing her anger.\n\n\"We all take our names from the dead,\" said Faen, controlling her anger.\n\n\"But that name offends you,\" the Sharnn said, pressing gently.\n\n\"You are not Malians. Your ignorance cannot offend me. I will teach you a single Malian custom—and then you will never say that name to me again.\"\n\nFaen moved closer with a speed and grace that was almost shocking. In that instant both men remembered that she was famed for her killing skills … and that Sandoliki translated as \"Deathbringer.\"\n\nBut she stopped well short of touching either Ryth or Kayle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"When you are mentally and emotionally and sensually tied with a person,\" she said slowly, spacing each word as though they were children, \"and you see that person die in violence and hatred, you never again speak the dead person's name.\"\n\n\"May I ask why?\" said Ryth, voice low and eyes alive with an intensity that was uniquely Sharnn.\n\nShe turned to him, scarlet veils floating like firelight and her eyes the color of ice.\n\n\"The dead person's shadow still lingers, for a time, following those who saw its substance die, following and seeking true life. If you call the name of a shadow, it steals some of your life.\" Her silver eyes closed, then opened again, opaque with something beyond Sharnn concept. \"You can die naming shadows.\"\n\nThe wind gusted, Lifting veils and dead leaves, shifting robes and shadows with a dry rustling sound." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The woman who was no longer called F'n'een saw a look of anguish and rejection twist deep within Sharnn eyes and heard him whisper what could have been a name, but he used the language of Sharnn and she could not be certain if his words fed a shadow or a dream." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I was there when that child died,\" said Faen in measured tones of certainty.\n\nShe is F'n'een, insisted Kayle inside Ryth's seething mind. The aura may be a stranger's, but the hands, the eyes, the voice. F'n'een.\n\nDid she recognize you?\n\nYes.\n\n\"My companion meant no offense,\" said Ryth in a thin voice. \"He once loved a beautiful child called—her loss is an emptiness in him.\"\n\n\"Accepted,\" she snapped. \"But you did not come to Malia to discuss death and the naming of shadows.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she sensed his anguish and flinched in the instant before she controlled herself. Kayle, too, sensed Sharnn pain, and knew no more than she what was its source.\n\n\"We are seekers, Ti Faen,\" said Kayle into the uneasy silence. \"I am considering a … partnership … with another person. I would like to know if this person can be trusted. Can you help me?\"\n\nFaen's pale eyes did not leave Ryth's handsome, closed face, but she answered as though she spoke only to Kayle. \"Normally, I have a time and a h'kel for such—but he played the sarsa like a Sandoliki reborn.\" She stepped back with the swift grace that was still surprising, would always be surprising, and looked at Kayle for the first time since he had called her shadow.\n\n\"Do you have some object that the person wore or held often?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle reached into a fold of his robe and withdrew a worn leather sheath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An equally worn, beautifully crafted knife handle gleamed above the leather. Kayle had not been able to touch the Sharnn cape, but the Sharnn knife held no awe for him.\n\nThe bright flash of metal brought stillness back to the depths of Ryth's eyes. Kayle wanted to ask what pattern had so hurt a Sharnn, but before he could form the words, Ryth spoke in his mind with an ironic amusement that made Kayle ache.\n\nYou would have made a galactic class thief, Ti Kayle. Did you steal my knife while I touched the sarsa?\n\nKayle's only answer was a silent rush of compassion, a beginning of affection unfolding, for he had seen the Sharnn hurt and knew he was vulnerable. Human.\n\nFaen hesitated before she touched the sheath with a single fingertip." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A small sound of surprise escaped her, and her slim fingers curled around the sheath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When her eyes opened, they were focused on an infinity few people ever saw.\n\n\"Male. Unique. Enormously alive. Whatever he touches will hold his energy, radiant warmth like a vast sun.\" She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. \"He can be trusted with your weapons, your honor, your life, your dreams. But do not betray him. He is relentless.\" At an expert movement of her wrist, the knife flicked out of its sheath. Her fingers felt the blade as delicately as a sigh. \"This knife has not enjoyed death, but has accomplished it more than once.\"\n\nShe stood very still, eyes open yet impenetrable, fingertips poised on the honed edge while the wind stirred her scarlet veils." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then the knife whispered back into its sheath and her eyes focused on Kayle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Does that help you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes …\"\n\n\"But you wish more?\"\n\n\"Do you know more?\"\n\nHer hand reached out to the m'sarsa Ryth had used. As she touched it her lips curved in an unconscious smile of pleasure.\n\n\"Should I tell him?\" she asked Ryth.\n\n\"He believes it is necessary,\" said the Sharnn neutrally.\n\n\"And what do you believer?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I believe our … partnership … is necessary.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faen stood for a long moment with her eyes half-closed, fingertips caressing the silver m'sarsa, listening to the dry wind.\n\n\"You have a primal, savage energy,\" she said, her voice an echo of music he had never heard, yet always known. \"But that energy is controlled by a powerful mind. You are intensely private. Alone. Like a spring murmuring only to itself, yet bringing life to those who can find and drink from its deep waters.\" Her fingers slid away from the m'sarsa, lingered over the supple leather sheath. There are so few things I can touch with pleasure.\n\nHer lips had moved, but Ryth knew he had heard her more in his mind than in speech.\n\n\"Keep the knife.\"\n\nHer face showed surprise, then anger that she had revealed anything to him of herself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You don't know what you say,\" she said harshly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she turned toward Kayle and her voice changed once again to music. \"Does that answer your needs?\"\n\n\"My questions, yes. My needs are more clamorous than before. Why do you hide from me, F'n'een?\"\n\nRyth moved to stop Kayle with a fierce speed that was like Faen's. Then the Sharnn realized it was too late; if Faen wanted to kill Kayle, she had her excuse.\n\nFaen stood with electric tension. Then her hand moved in a blur that swept off her veils.\n\n\"A child loved you once,\" she said, her voice strained." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But do not trade upon that again.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her eyes searched his face. \"Look carefully. Do you see the child whose shadow you called?\"\n\nKayle studied her face in silence. She stood under his scrutiny with no more self-consciousness than a statue. Her face had a perfection that was chilling, and her eyes were like ice caves, silver and turquoise and shadows and numbing cold.\n\n\"I hear her voice,\" said Kayle finally, avoiding the name that enraged her. \"I see her hands. The color of her eyes has not changed.\"\n\nKayle's words hung in the stillness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The child you remember is dead,\" she said quietly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And only the Sandoliki woman survives?\" asked Ryth. \"A woman called Faen?\"\n\nThe Sharnn's questions were a subtle challenge that she ignored.\n\n\"I regret Kayle's memories, but I can't assuage them,\" she said. \"The child he loved is dead.\"\n\n\"How did she die?\" pressed Kayle. \"Was it on Skemole, or on Malia, after the Undeclared War?\"\n\n\"Does it matter enough to rake over old fires—and burn your fingers on hidden coals?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The child doesn't matter,\" said Ryth roughly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The woman Faen is crucial to Malia's future.\"\n\nShe stared at him while silence stretched into danger, then her hand slipped up to the m'sarsa he had touched and danger thinned to invisibility.\n\n\"Come,\" she said simply, turning away from both of them.\n\nThe scarlet mesh rippled around her legs, slid off smooth curves of flesh and empty leather sheaths bound to her thigh and ankle. The two men followed her into the huge impersonal mirror dome and up a winding black metal ramp. At the top, a large room commanded a circular vista of devastation. Kayle swore very softly at the naked ugliness of the land.\n\nAfter a glance, Ryth ignored the view and concentrated on learning all he could from the contents of the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No clear pattern emerged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Searching for one was like trying to hold a heavy, oiled ball on his fingertip; each time he sensed balance forming, the reality of it slid away from his touch.\n\n\"You wear the scarlet clothes of a Malian bride,\" said Ryth, as he sat cross-legged on a cushion. \"Who is the woman Faen bound to?\"\n\n\"I am the last Sandoliki. When I die, there will be no one to call my soul on the ancient sarsa.\" Her perfect lips framed a cold smile and her pale eyes searched Darg Vintra. \"I am bound to the nameless wind that blows over the face of death.\" She looked into Kayle's orange eyes. \"And I was once a child you loved. But that does not ease your grief, Kayle. The one you loved is truly dead.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But the woman Faen lives,\" said Kayle carefully. \"And hides.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faen looked again at the wasteland outside the room. \"Yes, I live, as Darg Vintra lives. Do I hide?\" Her hands went out to the curving window where the fallen sun turned stone to blood. \"No. No more than the ruined land hides. We are both known, both avoided. Justly so. No one seeks reminders of defeat.\" She laughed. \"How they hate me as they sweat their fear and ask my help. They taste Darg Vintra's bitter wind and know their own impotence. They remember my dargs vire and know themselves for bloodless cowards.\"\n\nRyth felt his skin stirring as silence sifted through the room. The force of her hatred for Vintrans was as palpable as stone.\n\n\"What do you live for?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "said the Sharnn finally, his eyes searching hers for the pattern he had not yet found.\n\n\"An honorable death,\" said Kayle's husky voice. \"She is the last Sandoliki.\"\n\nFaen faced Kayle and bowed in the Malian style. \"Yes, Ti Kayle. An honorable death for the last Sandoliki.\"\n\nDo you still think she can help you find whatever you lost? Kayle's thought was a mixture of anger and sorrow.\n\nYes. And in helping me, she might save her own people." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The pattern is still beginning, returned Ryth, his Sharnn eyes half-open.\n\nRyth rose with a fluid motion that echoed her grace. He stood behind her, watching the red-gold light glow on her skin, listening to the slow beat of her breaths. So great was her confidence in her lethal skills that she made no move to change her seemingly vulnerable position.\n\n\"What are your pleasures, Faen?\" asked the Sharnn, his voice as muted as the falling light.\n\n\"This is one. Evening is kind to Darg Vintra. That long shadow could be a tere forest breathing strength into the twilight, and the river could be sweet and green again.\"\n\nScarlet mesh whispered over the smooth muscles of her back as she half-turned toward him, revealing a profile as delicately curved as zamay petals." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Another pleasure is touching a life force like yours—bright and rich and fiercely burning, yet not painful to me. Not painful.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I would be complimented, but you enjoy my … energy … as impersonally as you enjoy the evening light.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked at him, a flash of clear silver in her slanted eyes. Then she faced away from him for long moments while brooding red-brown light flowed through the room.\n\n\"Sometimes,\" she said quietly, \"I touch the sarsa skillfully and live again in a land not ruined, laugh with people not dead.\n\n\"Even the Great Destroyer's gift sometimes brings me pleasure. I have lost so much,\" she continued calmly, \"that it pleases me to find what others cannot. I have found their living children and their lovers. Triumphs as sweet as my garden spring.\n\n\"And I've found their dead. Too often. Always the dead and the rusty wind shifting shadows.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ryth watched evening sliding over the clean lines of her face, softening lips that had been full before they were narrowed by death." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're a prisoner,\" he said, unspoken emotion tightening his voice.\n\nWhen she turned toward him, scarlet mesh flared around her as though angry at his body so close to hers.\n\n\"Am I?\"\n\n\"Can you walk with us through that garden without someone warning Lekel the moment we step into the flyer?\"\n\n\"So you know of Lekel, too,\" she murmured.\n\n\"Have you any way of crossing Darg Vintra alone?\"\n\n\"No. Nor do I want to go out among people. I am here. It is enough.\"\n\n\"A prisoner's contentment.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Believe what comforts you,\" she said coldly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Then what I was afraid of is true,\" whispered Ryth, a Sharnn's sadness lining his full ups. \"You can't touch without agony, because your gift touches the timeshadow of minds and so few minds fit without tearing pain ….\"\n\nKayle stared first at the Sharnn, then at the woman whose childhood he had loved. \"Is that true?\" he asked her hoarsely. \"Are you, a Malian, unable to touch without pain?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" she said, voice torn between defiance and pain. \"Yes! That, as much as Lekel's jealousy, keeps me here, alone.\"\n\n\"But why haven't you killed Lekel?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "said Kayle. \"Then at least you would have the comforts of power.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faen smiled but there was no laughter in the line of her lips. \"Lekel is a skavern, but there are worse to take his place.\"\n\n\"She doesn't want to rule Malia,\" said the Sharnn before Kayle could speak\n\n\"You understand much, Ti Ryth,\" she said. \"Tell me why I don't want to rule.\"\n\nRyth hesitated, wondering at the limits to her pride. \"Because you don't trust yourself, Ti Faen.\"\n\n\"Ryth—\" began Kayle, warning." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Because,\" said the Sharnn relentlessly, \"there is still enough hatred in you that you would enjoy having Vintra beneath your blade." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Because you know that the only way to defeat Vintra would be a devastating surprise attack. Undeclared war. And if that happened, the Concord would reduce Malia to smoking slag. A dishonorable death for your people. Ultimate victory for your enemy.\n\n\"So you avoid the temptations of power and recall the past with crystal music and wait for an honorable death,\"\n\nRyth watched Faen intently as the silence stretched between them. He was prepared to defend himself if he must, but hoped that time and death had given her control over her Malian reflexes.\n\n\"You understand too much. And not enough.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Faen turned toward the darkness welling out of Darg Vintra's seamed face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then, with incredible speed, she spun and her hand locked around his wrist, numbing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His other hand shot out and curled around her throat, but before his fingers tightened he saw that her face was relaxed, and so beautiful that it made him ache.\n\nShe's not trying to kill you!\n\nKayle's silent warning came to Ryth at the same instant his fingers loosened and caressed her throat where they could have crushed it.\n\n\"Not trying to kill you,\" she murmured, silver eyes closed, smiling beneath his touch.\n\nWhen he realized that she had caught Kayle's carefully directed mindspeech, Ryth closed his mind with a finality that amazed the Nendleti.\n\n\"Yes,\" whispered Faen, speaking as Ryth's thoughts formed, \"I am as dangerous as I am beautiful.\"\n\nAnd the Sharnn understood that he had no barriers against her; she had repeated his thoughts as he looked at her, smiling and deadly. A surge of revulsion swept through him, a primal sense of violation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With an inarticulate cry she snatched her fingers from his wrist They faced each other, equally controlled, equally dangerous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My regrets, Ti Ryth,\" she said tightly. \"I believed it was necessary.\"\n\n\"Accepted, Ti Faen. Did you find what you sought?\"\n\nEmotions crossed her face too swiftly for even a Sharnn to read, and, when she spoke, her voice was resonant with grief and anger.\n\n\"Just what have you lost, Sharnn? What is the anguish dimming the core of your radiance? Is it the shadow you are afraid to name even in the safety of your mind?\"\n\n\"I don't know the name of whatever I lost,\" Ryth said, voice divided between anger and unease. \"Perhaps it had no name at all.\"\n\n\"All shadows have names,\" she said. \"Learn your shadow's name, Sharnn, or you will call it, unknowing, again and yet again until it becomes half-alive and you half-dead, for a shadow's strength is a terrible thing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know,\" she said, leaning so close that he tasted her breath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know because I have been driven to naming shadows, touching them half-alive and me half-dead but still touching because I must. Touch.\"\n\nRyth knew there was a pattern in her words, a pattern that would show him what he had lost, but he was too close and the pattern slid into darkness as she shivered and her eyes changed, pale turquoise in the dying light.\n\nFaen stepped back soundlessly. \"There was one name in your mind,\" she said, voice calm, as though she had never spoken of shadows. \"No fear tainted that name. Curiosity/affection/respect. Carifil.\"\n\nAt Kayle's involuntary breath, she smiled and faced him.\n\n\"As I guessed. A secret.\"\n\n\"Neither secret nor often known,\" said Kayle carefully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I wait,\" she said, her voice cool, \"to find out how a Sharnn discovered me, who the Carifil are, and how my finding whatever a Sharnn lost—if he lost anything—could affect the future of my people.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kayle smiled to himself, for he was learning more about Ryth with each breath he drew on Malia. \"Tell her, Sharnn,\" he urged. \"If you can.\"\n\nFaen waited and watched the Sharnn's changing eyes.\n\n\"The Carifil,\" Ryth said finally, \"are a group of unusually skilled people whose work and pleasure is solving Concord problems.\"\n\n\"Group? Who rules them?\"\n\n\"No one.\"\n\n\"Unlikely.\"\n\n\"But true,\" said the Sharnn curtly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What planet do they belong to?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"None.\"\n\nFaen's fingers moved as though she were tempted to test the truth of Ryth's words by touch. Instead, she brushed a raised area along the low wall. A hidden relay closed and the room glowed with warm light. She moved slowly, perfectly, conscious of his silver-green eyes. She turned toward him, smooth and graceful as a tall zamay, asking.\n\n\"Teach me.\"\n\nRyth felt her sensual grace like a blow, but a Sharnn is nothing if not controlled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His expression did not change while he explained to her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Carifil loyalty is to the idea of Concord, but they hold no formal position in the Concord hierarchy.\"\n\n\"What kind of problems do they solve?\" she asked, her voice an echo of tall flowers singing, asking.\n\n\"All kinds of problems. Whatever fits individual skills.\"\n\n\"Example.\"\n\nAnd he had none to give, for even a Sharnn's control is not infinite.\n\n\"The Singers,\" said Kayle into the electric silence. \"Their problem was one that should interest a Malian.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Neither Ryth nor Faen looked at Kayle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You know of the Singers?\" pressed Kayle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She turned toward him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Rumor. Myth.\" Her hand moved in an ambivalent gesture. \"None of it comforting.\"\n\n\"They sang on many planets,\" Kayle said, his voice husky and his eyes alert. \"Many people died. The Singers who had sung vanished. The problem was to discover whether the Singers had planned the deaths and thereby broken the Sole Restraint.\"\n\n\"Undeclared War,\" said Faen, low-voiced, waiting.\n\n\"Yes. The Concord made little progress. The few available facts conflicted. Many Carifil worked on the Singer enigma. The time of primary proscription was nearly gone. Because there were so many bizarre, even frightening aspects to the Singers, the Concord Council voted extinction for the Singers. Thus, if the enigma were not resolved before the proscription expired, a possibly innocent, certainly unique race would die in the ashes of their once-beautiful planet.\"\n\n\"Grotesque,\" said Faen, and her hands moved restively across the cool mesh of her garment. \"War is an honorable way to test—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm not here to debate cultural mores,\" said Kayle coldly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The Concord neither forbids nor encourages war among mutually eager enemies; the Concord's only request is that off-planet personnel have an opportunity to leave before the killing begins.\"\n\nFaen's eyes gleamed like ice in the tanned planes of her face. \"You were telling me about the Singers.\"\n\nKayle shifted his weight and the many textures of his heavy robe caught and held light. \"There is little left to tell. Carifil unraveled much of the enigma, but it was the Singers who resolved it … in a way we still don't fully understand.\" His keen orange eyes probed Ryth. \"Someday, pattern-man, I'd like to have you work on that. But now we have more urgent knives to hone.\" Kayle clapped his hands together once, softly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The truth is this, Faen. Carifil prevented the Concord from destroying what it did not understand.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And you are a Carifil.\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"What is your special talent?\"\n\n\"Communications,\" said Kayle blandly.\n\n\"And you?\" asked Faen, facing toward Ryth again.\n\n\"I am not Carifil.\"\n\n\"Brevity,\" said Kayle, \"but little information.\" He leaned toward Faen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Patterns. He found you by the patterns your gift made.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faen murmured something too low for them to hear. Then, more clearly, \"I dislike being read like a black signature on white matrix.\"\n\nThe Sharnn smiled without warmth. \"So do I. But I know less about your pattern than you know about mine. I don't know whether you'll agree to help the Carifil understand Malia and Malians. Nor if you will help me find something that has no name, something that could prevent the extinction of your own people.\"\n\nFaen was too shocked by the word \"extinction\" to respond. Kayle was also shocked, but not by the impending death of a race.\n\n\"How,\" demanded Kayle, \"could a Sharnn have lost Malia's innocence? For Malia is guilty of destroying Vintra—Malia has twice broken the Sole Restraint. Make no mistake about that, Sharnn. Malia is guilty!\"\n\n\"Is that a Nendleti or a Carifil talking?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "asked Ryth, his voice lazy and his eyes hard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Faen looked from one to the other and remembered the pleasure and pain she had touched in Ryth, a Sharnn's compelling presence. Her hand stretched out, palm up.\n\n\"I would ask this of Kayle if I could,\" she said slowly. \"But probably the process would be so destructive to me that I would gain no information.\" She looked at Kayle with regret shadowing her silver eyes. \"No offense intended, Ti Kayle. It is an impersonal fact.\"\n\n\"Like sunset light,\" Kayle said. \"I'm not offended. I regret that anyone should have to shrink from simple touch. Especially a Malian.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Faen's face twisted, then became expressionless as she turned to Ryth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Touch me when you answer my question. Does anything in the Carifil pattern suggest that they prefer any planet or race above any other?\"\n\nIt was an easy question, one Ryth had answered for himself. Yet the thought of touching her brought warring emotions that he could not—did not want to—name. But he touched her, palm warm over her warmth.\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"You have my respect, Ti Ryth,\" she whispered, letting her palm slide away from his. \"Touching me is repellent to you—\" and when he moved as though to disagree she stepped back and her voice was weary. \"No. No polite words of galactic Courtesy. Touching me gives you a feeling of violation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Disgust. Yet you went against your deepest personal prejudice and touched me because you believed it was necessary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You must need me very badly.\"\n\n\"As does Malia,\" said Ryth, his voice controlled, uninflected.\n\n\"Malia could survive even primary proscription,\" said Faen indifferently. \"Except for shortened lives, Malians won't even notice the absence of Concord.\" Her words were arrogant. And true. Kayle muttered about pride and bravado, and the Sharnn pointed out another possibility.\n\n\"What if the Concord decides to annihilate Malians?\" Ryth said softly. \"And you know they will, Sandoliki Ti. You know but refuse to know that Malians will die among the ashes of their once-beautiful planet.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We have not earned such a death.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Some believe you have. Ask Kayle.\"\n\n\"No one who knows Malians could believe that,\" Faen insisted, pride and scorn and the beginning of horror in her voice.\n\n\"But no one knows Malians,\" said the Sharnn, eyes and body compelling her attention. \"Teach us, Sandoliki Ti Faen. Find the essence of your people for us.\"\n\n\"How?\" she whispered. \"No one not born and grown Malian can know our thousand moments, our essential soul.\"\n\n\"I'm not sure how,\" said Ryth, a difficult truth for a Sharnn. \"But I'm sure there is a pattern. I have conceived of it. What I ask is possible, given time. But Malia has no time. You must come with us, Faen.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Leave Malia?\" Her eyes searched the planes of his face for clues to the urgency that radiated from him, touching her though she did not touch him, \"Do you mean that primary proscription will be enforced, all Accesses shut down?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\"\n\n\"When?\"\n\n\"Too soon. No more than seven Malian days. Then it will be too late, for all Malian Accesses will be shut down.\"\n\nHer face closed beyond even a Sharnn's reading. Silence grew in the room until Kayle felt it choking him, but neither Faen nor Ryth moved so he did not move, merely waited until she turned away, scarlet mesh clashing softly.\n\n\"You'll have my answer in the morning,\" she said, and the mesh whispered across the floor. \"Unless you're afraid to wait that long?\"\n\nShe walked off without waiting for their answer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wordlessly, Kayle and Ryth followed the slow swinging of her scarlet mesh down the long stairway, through a wide curving hallway and into a circular h'kel. Compared to the h'kel they had just left, this suite was heavy with luxury. Finely wrought furniture and ancient tapestries, a miniature sarsa, delicate silver sculptures and two large beds burnished by age and care. Tiny metal tracks shone in the wood floor; at a touch partitions would slide out to provide privacy according to individual desires.\n\nWhen Ryth turned to speak to Faen she was gone.\n\n\"I want to touch those tapestries,\" said Kayle wistfully, \"but I don't want to ruin them for her pleasure.\"\n\n\"Touch anything you want in this room,\" said the Sharnn, admiring the ancient bed-frame with his fingertips. \"She never uses this room or touches anything in it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you sure?\" said Kayle, hand outstretched to a vivid tapestry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Would you walk willingly into a room where clashing colors crawled off the walls and iron drums were beaten by madmen and gutted animals littered the floor?\"\n\nKayle shuddered, his Nendleti esthetics outraged.\n\n\"That's how this room must be to her. Too many people have lived and died among the furnishings. The dome, and everything in it, is machine-made, new. Untouched.\"\n\n\"Ahhhh, Faen,\" sighed Kayle. \"No wonder you believe your gift is from the Great Destroyer.\" He stroked the supple tapestry, a cool textured delight to his sensitive fingertips. \"Malian objects are made as much to please the touch as the eyes. Magnificent.\" He lifted his hand at a sudden thought." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But then why does she receive visitors in her untouched h'kel?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ryth tapped the miniature sarsa gently. A single high note, pure and haunting, hung in the stillness. He listened raptly, then replaced the tiny m'sarsa in its loop.\n\n\"She doesn't. Usually.\"\n\n\"Usually? Oh, your … energy.\" Kayle released the fold of tapestry and it sighed into place. \"You should be honored.\"\n\n\"Is the sarsa honored when we touch it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"A question to tease even a Sharnn.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ryth spun toward Kayle, but the Nendleti's orange eyes held compassion rather than mockery.\n\n\"My error,\" sighed the Sharnn. \"There is something unsettling—if I had pursued her, invited her pleasure, then I would enjoy it too. But is it pleasure Faen feels when she touches me? Or merely relief at a lack of painful stimulus? Or—\" He made a sound of frustration. \"I'm far better with group patterns than individual ones. Especially hers.\"\n\nKayle stroked the tapestry lightly, letting the subtly shifting textures feed his fingertips.\n\n\"Will she come with us?\"\n\nRyth looked broodingly at the tiny sarsa. \"The scarlet dress. No, I'm afraid she won't.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kayle hissed and shifted to the privacy of mindspeech." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then I must force her.\n\nWithout insult, Ti Kayle, I give you less than even odds of taking her alive.\n\nIf you help me?\n\nThree in five she lives. She is too quick, Kayle. I've never seen reflexes to match hers.\n\nHave you looked in a mirror? No, I won't argue." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'll just use less than honorable means." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And make a deadly enemy of her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have many enemies. If any of her Contact training survives, she might come without hatred.\n\nRyth waited, sensing indecipherable fragments of thought/memory beneath the surface of Kayle's mindspeech.\n\nThere is a word, continued Kayle, a mental override implanted in all Contact trainees. Only the Contact leader knows each trainee's word. After their first mission is complete, the trainees are integrated. At the end of successful integration, the word is removed.\n\nYou know her word." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was leader of the Skemole Contact team until an accident, Kayle lifted his sleeve to show the long knife scar, prevented me from leaving with them. Kayle smiled reminiscently. Even as a child, Faen's reflexes were superb.\n\nAre you enemies now?\n\nKayle's soundless laughter rang in Ryth's mind.\n\nNot at all. The wound sealed our friendship as equals. Knife friends, as they say on Malia. Kayle let his sleeve fall into place. Two maturities is a long time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hope her training holds.\n\nSo do I. I'd hate to provide the honorable death she seeks.\n\nWhen they were asleep, she slipped out to the garden where the sarsa waited, moonlight gleaming over each facet until it seemed that crystal woke and breathed, beckoning. She lifted the m'sarsa a Sharnn had held and her lips moved in what could have been pleasure or pain or a feeling so intense it transcended either.\n\nAnd light rippled off crystal, waiting.\n\nMurmuring wordlessly, she replaced his m'sarsa and took two others from leather loops. She held the thin silver rods high over her head, offering them to the three soaring moons, receiving their benediction, triple light incandescent in her hands. She brought the m'sarsas down, touching crystal in a torrent of notes that released shapes of light called by ancient songs, timeshadows of former minds recalled by crystal music." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just beyond, in the small tere grove heavy with silence and time, a shadow watched, waiting to be named, concealed among shadows that were no more than simple shapes pressed out of tere trees." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She did not sense hatred waiting, for she lived again in a land not ruined, touched again a man not dead, crystal music soaring.\n\nIn a room heavy with tapestries and time, a Sharnn turned restlessly, dreaming of light twisted into half-life, timeshadows of minds condensing, turning and returning with each perfect crystal note. His half-moaned protest rose no further than his lips, for crystal music pulsed in consuming moment and slid into half-fulfilled silence.\n\nHe slept again, dreaming only Sharnn dreams.\n\nWhile she sank exhausted onto worn stones.\n\nAnd a shadow wept." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "lets do a romance, paranormal thing. u write two sentences bits" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caillen came awake to a vicious pain throbbing around his throat and a worse one pounding in his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yeah, he was in hell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had to be to hurt this badly.\n\n\"Is he coming around?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He didn't recognize the concerned tone that belonged to an older man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Someone pried open his eyelid and rudely flashed a light in his eye that made his headache pound even harder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Groaning, he flinched, moving his head away.\n\nGently, the doctor turned his head back and held it in place while he continued to test the dilation of his eye." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Good thing Caillen's arms were strapped down or the man would be bleeding over the intrusion and that light would be shining out of an orifice the gods had never meant to hold it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He's conscious.\" The doctor lowered his voice as he stepped back from the bed and gave Caillen a reprieve from that vicious light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you know who you are, son?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He licked his dry lips and cleared his sore throat before he answered raggedly. \"Caillen. Dagan.\" Or rather that was who he'd been before they beheaded him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Did the keepers of hell not know who was sent to them?\n\n\"How many fingers am I holding up?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caillen had to blink several times before the doctor's pudgy phalanges came into focus. At least he hoped that's what he was seeing…" }, { "from": "human", "value": "If not, that man was real popular with women." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Three.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The doctor turned to his right and bowed low. \"He's awake and alert. But he's still weak from the asphyxiation and the subsequent resuscitation.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Resuscitation? From beheading?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What the hell had they done to him and why would they bring him back?\n\nMore torture?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gah, what did I do now?\n\nOh wait, that was too much to count." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The point was what had they caught him doing now…\n\nCaillen scowled as an older man stepped out of the shadows and approached his bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Clean-shaven and well-kempt, he had finely boned features and vivid blue eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was an air of refinement that seemed to emanate straight from the man's DNA. Yeah, he was definitely an aristo." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A major one at that.\n\nWhy would someone so high ranking be here to see a common piece of condemned filth?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The man's lips trembled as his eyes misted—that concerned Caillen more than anything else. Was the man that angry or that upset?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Oh shit, don't tell me I slept with his wife." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Or worse, his daughter.\n\nThe other thing Darling always complained about was that one day Caillen's wandering penis was going to get him killed…" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was this the day?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you remember me?\" the man asked hesitantly. \"Even a little?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Did he owe him money?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caillen searched his mind, but couldn't think of any time or place he'd have seen this man. \"Uh… no. Should I?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The old man's lips quivered as he took Caillen's hand that was bound in a padded leather cuff to the bed rail and held it in a cold grasp.\n\nCompletely weirded out by that, Caillen jerked his hand away from his grasp and balled it into a fist." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But because of the restraints, he couldn't move it far." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're my son, Radek. Don't you remember?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Oh yeah. The man was high." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had to be sucking in some kind of serious fumes for that delusion. \"I'm Caillen Dagan. My father was a smuggler.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No.\" There was no missing the anger underlying his defensive tone. \"You are Kaden Radek Aluzahn de Orczy,\" he carefully enunciated each name as if trying to impress it on Caillen, \"and you are my son. You were only a toddler when you were kidnapped. I paid the ransom they demanded. All of it. I followed every stipulation they made but they never returned you. My security detail assumed they'd killed you. Even so, I searched relentlessly for some sign of you for years. Nothing was ever found. Not a single trace… Not until now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Baffled, Caillen turned to the doctor. \"Bullshit.\"\n\nThe doctor shook his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're a lucky man. When the prison staff ran your DNA to see if you were a match for any unsolved crimes, it popped up your old kidnapping report and the DNA that was on file from your childhood hairs they'd collected. You are indeed his missing son.\"\n\nNo, no, no, no, no." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I came as soon as they notified me they'd found you,\" the man interjected." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The doctor inclined his head respectively before he continued." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"His Majesty arrived right before they issued the order to behead you. One more second and it would have been too late.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Majesty… That title permeated the fog in Caillen's mind. If this guy was an emperor and he was his son…" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That would make him a…" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oh yeah, right. They were so screwing with him. This was complete and utter crap." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm not a prince.\" No krikkin way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fate would not be that bored today.\n\nNah, this was some shit one of his friends was pulling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Who put you up to this? Nykyrian or Darling?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The doctor smiled. \"You are indeed a prince, Your Highness. We double-checked your DNA against your father's when you were brought in and there is no doubt whatsoever. You are Emperor Evzen's son. His only son.\"\n\nCaillen's mind reeled. He might not recognize the man, but he knew the name Reginahn Evzen Tyralehn de Orczy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Emperor to both the Garvon and Exeter systems, his name was synonymous with power and wealth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was it really possible?\n\nNo. No way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His sisters and parents had always said he was family." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If he'd been a foundling, wouldn't they have told him? Given how poor they were why would his father take in another mouth to—" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You are the son I always dreamed of. I'm so glad to have you as part of my family…\" His father's often uttered words now took on a whole new meaning. All his life he'd assumed his dad was grateful for the additional Y chromosome in their all-female home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But if he'd taken him in…\n\n\"I've risked everything to keep you alive. Don't let it be for nothing. Not after all I've given to keep you with us.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was that what his dad had meant when he'd said that one day Caillen would understand?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was that why his father had been so adamant that he never disclose his DNA?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why his father had been so damn paranoid about everything?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When it came to conspiracies, the man was as creative as he was psychotic. But if he'd known who Caillen really was…" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It all made sense." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caillen couldn't breathe as reality assaulted him.\n\nHoly crap. I'm a prince." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now ain't that a bitch? All the times in his life he'd had to scrape for every credit and here he was related to one of the richest men in the Nine Systems." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yeah, that would be my luck.\n\nThe emperor took his hand again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't you remember anything about your life before you were kidnapped?\"\n\n\"No. Sorry. Are you sure you have the right person?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He let go of Caillen's hand to pull out his wallet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He flipped it open to a picture and pressed it.\n\nThere was a beautiful woman in royal robes holding a bald baby boy who couldn't even sit up on his own." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was smiling and waving the baby's hand. \"Radek… say, 'Hello, Daddy.' \" But what held Caillen entranced was how much the woman favored him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had the same coloring, the same eyes, nose and lips. Same dark hair…\n\nSomething he'd never shared with his sisters or parents." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His dad had told him he took his coloring from a great-grandparent who'd died before his birth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now he knew that had been a major lie too. He saw his real mother's face and there was no denying it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was his mother.\n\nAnd with that came a forgotten memory of his sister Kasen telling him once when they were kids and she'd been angry at him that he'd been found abandoned in a garbage dump." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That had garnered her the worst beating of her childhood. He'd written it off as typical sibling harassment and a stressed parent's overreaction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But if he really had been found in the garbage, that explained why his father had gone ballistic over her taunt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Weird as it was, a lot of things he'd questioned over the years now made total sense.\n\nShit…" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am royalty." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Overwhelmed by his new reality, he looked up at the father he'd never met and wondered about the rest of his blood family. \"That's my mother?\"\n\nHis father nodded as sadness darkened his gaze." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was obvious that even after all this time, the event still hurt him. \"She died trying to fight off your kidnappers. I found her in your nursery, and…\" He clenched his eyes shut as if trying to blot out that memory." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I lost everything that mattered to me that day. And I do mean everything. What good is it to rule the world when you can't even protect the ones you love?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caillen turned his attention back to the smiling image of the mother he'd never known—he'd been just a kid when his adoptive mother had died." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even though he'd lived with her, he barely remembered her either, and he had no memory whatsoever of the woman who'd given him life and then died trying to protect him. He didn't know which one of those scenarios saddened him most." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His father blinked back his tears and swallowed hard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I loved your mother, Radek. She was beauty incarnate. And I've never remarried. No woman ever came close to her in any way and I didn't want to shame her memory by marrying someone else to fulfill an obligation. Even a royal one. Not when she gave her life for us.\" He closed the wallet and held it over his heart." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I wish she'd lived to see this moment. To see you. You favor her so much that it's like I have you both back at once. I can't believe I finally found you after all these years.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What should he say to that?\n\nThanks?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yeah, no, that was stupid." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For the first time in his life, words failed him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was so surreal. Things like this didn't happen to people like him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kicks in the groin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Imprisonment. Clients turning you into the authorities. Collectors shooting you dead in the street… that was what happened to third-generation smugglers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They didn't wake up from an execution to become a prince. It just didn't happen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caillen tried to reach for the photo wallet and cursed at his bound hands. \"Why am I restrained?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The doctor came forward to free him. \"Sorry, Your Highness. It was only a precaution. We didn't want you to wake up and hurt yourself.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Right… more likely they were afraid he'd wake up and attack them.\n\nAs soon as his arms were freed, Caillen rubbed his wrists and stared at his father." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This isn't some weird-ass joke or prank one of my friends is pulling on me, right?\"\n\nThere was no feigning the sincere offense on his father's face or in his stance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I would never joke about something like this.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "No, he guessed not." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Still, it was a hard fact to accept." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everything he thought he knew about himself was now brought into question. It was such a strange, lost feeling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everyone he'd ever trusted had lied to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His parents. His sisters.\n\nHe wasn't who and what he thought." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything he'd been told about his family and his past was a lie…" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But for one freak event that'd happened at a point in his life he couldn't remember, his entire childhood and past would have been completely different." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He would have been completely different. There would have been no poverty. No hiding." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wouldn't have had any of his teen trauma. He wouldn't have been there to help his sisters…" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was overwhelming to contemplate that he was now someone else.\n\nSomeone he didn't know." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have a father…\n\nCaillen glanced to the doctor before he returned his gaze to his father's." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So what does this mean exactly?\"\n\nHis father smiled. \"This means you're about to have a whole new world, my boy. You're finally going to live the life you were born to.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caillen wasn't sure that was a good thing. In his experience, change came in with a furry harbinger that usually sprayed crap all over him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Seldom was change for the better." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But at least he wasn't dead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One second more though, according to the doctor, and he would have been." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm a prince. That reality kept circling in his head.\n\nYou thought you had enemies before?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Buddy, you ain't seen enemies yet. This kind of money made people stupid." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most of all, it made them mean." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Angry. Jealous and cruel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everybody wanted to take rather than earn. When they couldn't do that, they just wanted to spew venom and animosity." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "NarrativeBot: Extend text by 6 sentences sentences. Maintain romance, paranormal genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His head throbbing from being slammed into a hard steel wall by a woman he wanted to throttle, Caillen cursed as he regained his equilibrium and realized what was happening.\n\nThey were launching away from the Arimanda.\n\nMobilizing, he climbed over his female annoyance who appeared frozen in horror by her actions, but by the time he reached the console, it was too late.\n\nThey were adrift and the ship was leaving them in its wake. Son of a…\n\nWould the misery of this day never end? He sat down in the black leather chair next to hers and shook his head as deep aggravation filled him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was nothing he could do to stop this. Nothing. He let out a slow, agitated breath and cursed his crappy luck that had betrayed him yet again. Of all the flipping shit…\n\n\"Can't we catch up to the ship?\"\n\nOh yeah, there was an award-winning question of the day and it set his temper boiling.\n\nHe gave her a withering glare." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not even the vulnerable look on her face that made her extremely attractive could cut through his need to want to launch her out an air lock head first. Still, he forced himself to keep his tone even and his sarcasm at an acceptable level that wouldn't quite motivate her to murder—no need in both of them being pissed in tight quarters. \"We have one small thruster that's only strong enough to safely land us on a planet.\"\n\nCaillen pointed out the window to the ship that was quickly becoming a silver dot in the darkness. \"In case you haven't noticed, they're moving a lot faster. I don't know about the laws of physics on your planet, but where I come from an object moving at subclass speed can't catch up to one running at starclass. But if you know something about turbines, thrusters and engines, quantum or classical physics that I've somehow missed, then please enlighten me.\" Yeah, okay, so he'd never been the best at corralling his sarcasm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At least he'd tried." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That counted for something, right?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She curled her lip. \"You don't have to be an asshole.\"\n\nNow the gloves were off. \"Oh, baby, this ain't asshole. Trust me. There's a hole keg of asshole I haven't even begun to tap yet.\"\n\nThe expression on her face was so scalding he felt the burn of her anger even from his seat. Another time and place, they'd be getting naked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But this wasn't the place and it definitely wasn't the time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All he wanted right now was to finish what her fake attacker had started." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Choke her until her eyes bulged out. \"Don't even give me that look. Not after what you were planning.\"\n\nShe scowled at him as if she were baffled by his words. It'd be a nice expression if it were real. \"What? Protecting my mother?\"\n\nWhat the hell was she talking about?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She hadn't appeared to be protecting anyone while she'd lain on the floor being strangled. \"Yeah, no. That whole act of setting me up for your queen so that she could get her vengeance on me for calling her crap crap. Nice move. But I'm not that stupid.\" At least not today. And definitely not for her.\n\n\"Are you on something?\"\n\nShe was good. He could almost believe that innocence she was trying to sell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But he'd been around actresses and grifters before who were much more convincing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Like you don't know what I'm talking about.\"\n\nShe shook her head. \"I have no clue and you're wasting my time.\" She pointed toward the sector where the Arimanda had vanished. \"We have to get back to the ship before the assassins go after my mother. It's imperative.\"\n\nHe paused in confusion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was her mother one of the Guards or someone else? \"What are you talking about?\"\n\nDesideria had never been more frustrated in her life. The man was insane. Did he have some kind of mental problem that he couldn't recall what had happened right before they fell into the pod? How hard had the imbecile struck his head?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hello? Remember the fight you broke in on? Me on the floor being choked? The bad guys who attacked you…\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I didn't break into a fight. You were setting me up by allowing them to choke you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He really was mentally defective." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Did he honestly think she'd allow herself to be choked like that?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "On purpose? What kind of people did he run with that such an idea would even enter his mind?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She pointed to the nasty burn on her throat she was sure was bruised if not bleeding. \"Does this really look like I was pretending?\"\n\nCaillen paused as he focused on the purple welts that belied his accusation. Actually it did look painful and authentic. Not to mention the fact that it would probably scar and most women he knew resisted permanent disfiguration.\n\nStill, there were people who'd maimed themselves before for a lot less reason and Qills weren't normal in any sense of that word." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For her queen's pleasure, she just might be insane enough to ruin her neck, scar her face or even eat small babies for breakfast." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You were serving your country well. I'm sure they'll decorate you for it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was, after all, what her people lived for." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She screwed her face up in disgust. \"What do you think was happening when you barged in?\"\n\nBarged in? Yeah, she was a piece of work. In his neighborhood it was called helping someone. Which just proved what he knew, she wasn't really in any danger.\n\n\"I don't think. I know. I heard your boss lady call security and say that I was trying to kill your princess. That is a cold, hard fact.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And which of the women in that hallway do you think the princess was?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caillen went over the people who'd been there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Two robed figures whose gender was unknown and the three Guards." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A princess wouldn't have Guard duty so it left the other two he'd been fighting. \"I assume one of the people in the robes or no one at all. The bitch just lied.\"\n\nShe rolled her eyes. \"You understand quantum physics and you can't rationalize this? I am the princess, nescient.\"\n\nYeah, right. Sure she was. That didn't even make the least bit of sense." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He'd seen the way the others had looked at her and treated her—like dirt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If she was the daughter of their sadistic queen, they wouldn't have dared such. Not to mention one small other thing… \"I wasn't trying to kill you.\" Though he might if she didn't bring that attitude down a notch.\n\nShe gave him a duh stare.\n\nAnd that made him feel like a total fool as he got what she was trying to tell him. \"You're the princess.\"\n\nShe nodded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They were trying to kill you and frame me for it… you fice.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wasn't about to let her insult slide without adding one of his own." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By the light in her eyes, he could tell she'd like to beat him into little bloody nuggets. \"All right, stop with the high-end insults.\"\n\n\"You started it.\"\n\nShe raked him with a repugnant sneer. \"What are we? Four? Please cease before you call me a doodie head. I really don't think in my current mood that I could survive such a juvenile attack. That might actually undo me.\" Curling her lip, she flicked her nails at him—an obscene Qill gesture." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You need to respect the fact that at the moment it's taking every ounce of willpower I have to not hurt you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He laughed at her threat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While she was muscular, she was tiny in comparison to his size. So long as he kept his cock guarded, there wasn't much she could do to hurt him. \"Baby, I'd like to see you try. Believe me, I've had men and women who eat your lunch try to kill me and here I am. Still standing. Still kicking ass.\"\n\nShe scoffed. \"Explain to me how is it possible that the three of us actually fit into this pod?\"\n\nNow he was the one who was baffled. Did they do math differently on her planet too? \"Three of us?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You, me and your extremely overdeveloped ego.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He opened his mouth to speak, but she put her hand over his lips.\n\n\"Enough,\" she said in an imperious tone that verified her breeding. \"My mother is on that ship and they're going to kill her. Can you understand the written console language enough to help me find some way to let her know what happened? Or at the very least to alert security to guard her?\"\n\nIgnoring the fact that her hand was incredibly soft and felt good on his skin, he snatched it away from his lips and returned it to the arm of her chair. \"We're in an escape pod, babe. It's not designed for communication of any kind.\"\n\n\"Well that's stupid. How are we to alert them that we're—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"An emergency pulse is emitted every six seconds. It goes out on the EBF to let the authorities know there are living occupants in the pod who need rescue.\"\n\nShe let out a relieved breath. \"Then they'll come back for us.\"\n\n\"No. They won't.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\nHe gestured toward the darkness where the Arimanda had vanished." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's a ship filled with politicians and royalty. They'll notify a League patrol to check on us. But there's no way in hell they'd come near us for fear we're setting a trap for them. For all they know, someone packed this bad boy with enough explosives to disintegrate a subclass planet with a life form just big enough to register, and the minute they near it…\" He ended with the sound of a nasty explosion. \"Trust me. They won't chance it.\"\n\nShe raked her hands through her hair as if frustration filled her too. \"I can't believe this is happening.\"\n\n\"You? I was planning to leave our little soiree, but not like this.\" And definitely not with her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was what he got for changing his mind about leaving and heading back to his rooms to apologize to his father.\n\nCaillen growled as he sat back on the chair and started running over their settings to see where the pod was taking them.\n\n\"What are we going to do?\"\n\nLike he would tell her that? It wasn't any of her business. Not to mention the small fact that he still wasn't one hundred percent convinced this wasn't a setup on her part." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For all he knew, she was still playing him. They might very well be accusing him of kidnapping her right now. Something that also carried a death sentence.\n\nEven for a prince.\n\nHer people were ruthless and he'd insulted their queen. Publicly. There was no telling what they'd do to retaliate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His father had said as much.\n\n\"Don't worry about it.\" He moved his hand over the monitor and brought up the star chart on their main display. He would use his link to call for backup, but without a booster signal it was useless. They wouldn't be able to call anyone until they landed. Damn.\n\nShe scowled at the brightly colored chart that showed him every corner of their current sector. \"What's that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pointed to a planet on the right and touched it, then dragged his finger diagonally to enlarge it for her to see. \"We're heading there and should reach the surface in a little over an hour.\"\n\n\"An hour?\"\n\nHe gave her an arch look over her despondent tone. \"We're in the middle of space, far away from the gravitational pull of large masses of rock and self-luminous spheres of gas. It makes landing a bitch, but it keeps us from crashing into something uncomfortable. Sorry if that offends you.\"\n\n\"You're what offends me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had to stop himself from responding to that imperious tone with something even more juvenile. There was just something about her that got right up under his hack and made him want hurt her. Gods, if he had to be trapped with a woman couldn't it have been one who would make passing time with her enjoyable?\n\n\"Oh well… next time I see someone choking you, I'll leave them to it.\" Or help them. \"Especially now that I understand what it was that motivated them. Too bad I didn't bring the garrote with me.\"\n\n\"You're not funny.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Really not trying to be.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He fell silent as he pulled up information on the planet they were headed toward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Desideria didn't want to be impressed, but the ease with which he navigated the intricate computer and read the foreign language was something to be envied. It made her wish she'd paid more attention to the classroom portion of her education. \"What language is that?\"\n\n\"Universal. Same as we're speaking. Can't you read it?\"\n\nShe felt her face heat at a truth that embarrassed her. \"If I could, I wouldn't have hit the wrong button.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes widened in surprise. \"No one ever taught you to read Universal?\"\n\nShe glanced away, grateful that it wasn't entirely her fault that she was ignorant of it. \"I was to start learning the written part of the language next year. It's not considered a priority to my people. But I am literate in Qillaq.\"\n\nCaillen backed off criticizing her over that. Since her people were so reclusive that made sense and he could tell by her sudden reservation that she was bothered by the lack of education." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hell, he wouldn't have known it either but for the fact that the more languages a smuggler knew the less likely he was to be caught. \"Well be glad you can't read it.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"Because it says we're heading toward an Andarion planet.\"\n\nShe cocked her head. \"Is that a bad thing?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He laughed low in his throat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Is that a bad thing?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yeah… \"Do you know anything about them?\"\n\n\"No. Not really. My people don't interact with them. Why?\"\n\nLucky them. Then again, the best course of action with Andarions was to keep your head low and put as much distance as possible between you and them. \"Simply put, they make your people look like frilly-dressed pansies.\"\n\nThe fire returned to her eyes. \"You are shardridden if you think that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He didn't know why, but he loved the way she looked when she was riled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It made her eyes sparkle and added a becoming blush to her cheeks. \"I am so not full of excrement, dearest. It's the truth. They stand around seven feet tall on average, have fangs, night vision and train from birth to kill any and everything that gets in their way. Oh and lest I forget, their favorite delicacy happens to be human meat. Lucky us.\"\n\nShe scoffed at him. \"You're just trying to scare me.\"\n\nHe pulled up an encyclopedia in her language and showed it on the monitor. \"See for yourself.\"\n\nDesideria had to force her eyes not to widen as she read words that confirmed his dire prediction." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was right. A warring race in the purest sense of the word, the Andarions did make her people look like pansies. Normally she'd be more than ready to take them on and prove her worth. But the two of them had no weapons that she knew of and suicide didn't appeal to her in the least. \"Can we not divert?\"\n\nHe leaned back in his chair and narrowed that cocky stare at her that she was beginning to loathe. It didn't help that the lights of the console highlighted his arrogant smirk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"See the problem with escape pods… they're designed to run even if you're completely incapacitated. Once you're in it and you hit the magic orange button that you so nicely discovered, it takes care of everything for you. It summons help and steers you to the nearest habitable planet that matches whatever breathing mixture is in the pod.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But it's stupid to not have an override of some sort.\"\n\nHe scratched the side of his mouth while his eyes silently laughed at her. \"I suggest you take that up with the designer when next you see him. That is if we survive long enough to be rescued.\"\n\n\"We will be rescued.\"\n\n\"How can you be so sure?\"\n\n\"Because I won't allow my mother to die. The traitor happens to be part of the Head Guard. My mother trusts her implicitly. If I don't get to her and warn her about Pleba, she's as good as dead.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caillen started to point out that he really didn't care about her mother who had intended to subjugate an entire race when his attention was drawn to the display." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His stomach hit the floor as he recognized their next obstacle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah and we have another problem.\"\n\n\"That is?\"\n\nHe enlarged a portion of the star chart that showed the area where the Arimanda had vanished. He pointed to the glowing orb that was quickly getting larger. \"I'm really hoping I'm wrong, but judging from the size and speed, that looks like a fighter to me.\"\n\nHer entire face lit up with hope." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is it coming to rescue us?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Wow, he'd sell his soul to be that naive." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Without responding to her question, he slid out of his chair and ducked underneath the controls to open a panel so that he could access the wires. \"It's a fighter,\" he repeated.\n\nDesideria was baffled by his single obsession with that one statement. To her, this was a good thing. \"Meaning?\"\n\n\"It can't hold more than two people and it's flying solo.\" His deep voice was muffled by the metal he was underneath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're designed to kill, not rescue. And unless I miss my guess, which I never have yet, I'm pretty sure that one's headed this way to finish what was started in that hallway.\"\n\nPah-lease…\n\nThere was no reason to think that. It could merely be a scout. Especially if, as he'd said earlier, they thought this might be a trap. It made sense to send a single fighter to see if they were hurt or needing rescue." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll be your writing partner today. I will set the scene, and you will continue the story with three sentences, keeping within the romance, paranormal genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The blast slammed into the rear of their pod and knocked them spinning. Desideria cursed as she was thrown against the arm of her seat, bruising her ribs. She watched Caillen continue to dig around, underneath the console." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He lay on his back with his legs bent and wide apart to keep himself balanced and stable while the pod rocked from its assault." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unused to the motion, she fought down her nausea, then frowned at the sight of his old, scuffed work boots that were tied with laces that had been broken and then knotted back together. Those boots looked like they'd been put through hell—like they were the only pair of boots he owned. She'd never known any prince to deign to touch something so ragged never mind actually wear them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And now that she thought about it, his clothes were the same way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Clean, but worn. His brown jacket even had what appeared to be blaster burn marks on it.\n\nHis head and shoulders were completely obscured by the steel panel while he worked in silence. And in his hurry to get under the console, his jacket and shirt had ridden up, exposing his tanned abdomen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With every breath and move he made, his toned muscles contracted, making them all the more pronounced." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yeah, okay, that part of him was totally lickable. And if she didn't miss her guess, his left side seemed to have a tattoo on it that covered a nasty looking scar.\n\nOn an aristos? They considered those things vulgar and common…" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why would he have such marks?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It didn't make sense. Prince Caillen was definitely a man of complete contradictions.\n\nAnother blast hit them hard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Grimacing in pain, she righted herself in her chair." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Let me guess. No guns on this thing either?\"\n\nThere was no missing the disgust in that deep baritone. \"Which I think is particularly stupid. If you're using an escape pod to… you know, escape, nine times out of ten, you're escaping because your ship's under attack and you had to evacuate. What kind of krikkin idiot thought it smart to make an escape device that leaves its occupants defenseless moving targets while they're being attacked? Oh wait, don't answer. I've met too many design engineers whose IQs are smaller than my shoe size\"—he tilted his head out from under the console to give her a pointed glance, then added—\"which for the record is actually larger than most men's except for Syn who's a mutant sonofabitch\"—he returned to working—\"but as far as IQs go, it puts them on the same level as protozoa. My number one peeve in life. Think it through, people. Think it through.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He paused to curse as one of the wires shocked him. \"Just so you know my ship has a gunner pod with enough juice to take down a starcruiser. This one… really sucks.\"\n\nShe couldn't agree more." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You have a bad case of Attention Deficit Disorder, don't you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wiped his hand on his pants leg, then moved it up to hold something she couldn't see. \"Just a little. Luckily it's mostly verbal.\" He hissed sharply as if he'd hurt himself again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Damn it, I've lost all feeling in my right hand.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So what do we do?\" she asked, trying to keep him focused on the danger.\n\nAnother shot rocked them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Desideria groaned as she slammed into the arm again and it rebruised her ribs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Besides die painfully.\" She was trying to stay calm, but it was getting harder and harder. She hated feeling helpless and this situation was really starting to anger her. \"I'm about ready to throw my shoes at them,\" she mumbled under her breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know it won't hurt their fighter, but it would make me feel better.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At least if she did, she'd have done something other than sit here and watch.\n\nCaillen laughed as if he admired her spunk. \"Cross your fingers.\"\n\nDesideria was confused by his words as he finally slid out from under the panel. \"Why?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Without answering, he shot into the front seat, then his hands flew over the computer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Schematics and diagrams flashed on the monitor so fast she couldn't even identify what he was looking at or adjusting before he moved on to the next one.\n\nAnother blast headed right for them. She sucked her breath in, bracing herself for impact." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It didn't come." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instead, the pod turned sharply and lurched forward while the blast shot harmlessly past them by a narrow margin.\n\nCaillen let out a jubilant shout. He kissed his fingers, then smacked them down near the controls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That's my girl. C'mon, baby, don't be fickle with your love. You know you want to do me right. Stay tight and fly where I tell you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He made more adjustments on the computer and the pod responded.\n\nDesideria was so happy they had some form of control over their craft that she could kiss him. He might be a complete and utter jerk, but, lucky for her, he knew his way around spacecraft." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The fighter changed course and headed straight for them at an accelerated speed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She cringed as she saw more bright orange flashes in the darkness. \"There's another blast coming.\"\n\n\"I know. Hold on in case this doesn't work.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He turned the pod again, but not enough to miss all of it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The force of the shot slammed her back. She struck her head hard against the panel. Wincing in pain, she didn't speak or cry out for fear of distracting him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To her utter amazement, Caillen dodged the next blast.\n\n\"C'mon, baby. Go. You know you want to. Just keep humming and don't stop.\" Their pod lurched forward again and this time, finally, it made contact with the planet's gravitational pull." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It sped up dramatically as they fell toward the surface." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The fighter opened up more fire, spraying across space in a last-ditch effort to kill them. Luckily Caillen dodged most of it.\n\nBut not all. The lights blinked and sparked as the pod rocked to the point she feared again she might be sick." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or worse that the pod would come apart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caillen flipped a switch over his head. \"We're going in hot.\"\n\n\"Meaning?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The blasts took out our brakes and homing beacon. I'm going to try and find us something soft to land on. However, I make no promises. My control of this thing isn't the best and… well, if you're religious in any way, now would be the time to summon some divine intervention 'cause, no offense, the gods don't think much of me most days. However, they might listen to you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Desideria started praying. She held her breath as he struggled with short-circuiting electronics. The scent of burning wires was pungent and she hoped the wires were the only thing burning and not their fuel lines.\n\nCaillen appeared completely unshaken by everything that was happening." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Other than the occasional mumbled obscenity when their frying electronics shocked or burned him. \"I'd kill for one ion cannon. Just one.\"\n\nShe knew the feeling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caillen ran over their settings as he assessed their coming situation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The good news? They could breathe on the surface. The bad news? There was no information on this planet at all. No maps, nothing on culture. Nada." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not even the name of the place." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Those were things usually reserved for penal colonies and it explained why the pod hadn't chosen this site for their landing.\n\nWhy hadn't he left them on course? At least with the Andarion planet, he'd known what he was getting into." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This one…" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An image of them crashing into a prison with giant man-eating aliens went through his mind. Yeah, that'd be his luck. Couple thousand pissed-off superhuman, psychic aliens with an ax to grind against smugglers and royalty…" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why didn't I stay in my room?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He glanced over his shoulder at the princess." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her face was pale and drawn, and she had a death grip on the arms of her chair. But at least she wasn't screaming or having a real girl moment. She was holding it together and he really appreciated that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even though she was dressed as a Guard, her posture was that of royalty." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was planning to die with dignity and that caused a wave of respect for her to swell inside him. If he admired anything in life, it was those who could stand brave while terrified.\n\nIf I'd stayed put, she'd be dead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yeah, okay, he felt better about being here, but not by much." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wouldn't do any good to save her from that only to have her die on impact or from the assassin chasing them.\n\nOr get eaten by giant flesh-craving alien prisoners…\n\nGods, how do I get myself into this shit?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whatever unlucky constellation he'd been born under had been working overtime lately." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The pod started shaking around them.\n\n\"What's that?\" Desideria asked with a note of panic in her voice.\n\nWarning lights blinked, letting him know that their engine was failing, meanwhile there was a gash in the back stabilizer that was widening." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But only one of them needed to be terrified, so Caillen downplayed the severity of their situation. \"Turbulence. Sit tight and brace yourself for the landing.\" Unless the pod disintegrated before they made it that far." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why are you lying to me?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her question surprised him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw her staring straight at his back. \"Who says I'm lying?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The tone of your voice. It dropped an octave.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damn, she was good. He returned his attention to the catastrophe at hand. \"Fine. The pod is coming apart.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He flipped the computer to the external monitor just in time to show her one of their stabilizers being ripped off the right side and with it went the last thing he wanted to see go." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"FYI, we needed that. It was the remains of our landing gear. I was trying not to scare you, but since you insist…\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Desideria swallowed. She wished now she hadn't asked. \"Would shifting our weight help guide it?\"\n\n\"You don't weigh enough to affect anything.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So what do we do?\"\n\n\"Grab your ass, and hang on like you want to keep it.\" He was making more mental calculations as the surface of the planet drew rapidly closer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were flying so fast Desideria didn't see how they could land and not become a stain on the planet's surface." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, her aunt would be happy.\n\nHer, not so much.\n\nShe cringed as they started slamming into the upper limbs of trees." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It made the pod buck so hard she could barely stay in her seat even with straps." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her heart was pounding as fear held her close and mutilated her hope for living through this.\n\nSuddenly, Caillen turned, unbuckled her belt and wrapped his body around hers, pulling her onto the floor. The pod slammed down hard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The only cushion she had was Caillen's body. Although honestly, it was almost as hard as the steel walls surrounding them.\n\nHer breath left her as they were thrown against the steel and the pod rolled over and over." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They tumbled like a stone in a cylinder and still Caillen held on to her, trying to keep her safe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For a moment, she thought they'd live through the crash until her head struck something so forcefully it made her sick. Her vision dimmed. She fought the darkness as best as she could, but in the end the blackness took her under.\n\nThe ship finally stopped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caillen remained still, waiting for more—they'd had such a rough landing that it felt like they were moving even though he could see they weren't." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But they stayed put. The pod snapped and hissed around him. Everything in it had been shaken loose to the point that it looked like the thing had been gutted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Wires, straps and pieces of steel swung and sparked, but at least the fires provided some form of light in the dark interior." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The area where their seats had been was completely destroyed. He lay on his back with Desideria draped over him. Her breath tickled his skin, letting him know she was alive even though she was completely motionless." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pain reverberated through his body and head with every heartbeat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I can't move. But at least by unbuckling them, he'd saved their lives.\n\nThe sudden smell of engine fuel hit him… like it was gushing out of something and pooling nearby. It mingled with the harsh odor of burning wires." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shit. The pod's going to explode." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "True to that prediction, he saw flames spread across the floor. They licked at his boots. The heat was searing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Grinding his teeth, he forced his ravaged body to move and move fast." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But it was hard. Nothing wanted to work as he stamped out the fire at his feet.\n\n\"Princess?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was unconscious and bleeding profusely from a head wound." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With a loud groan, he pushed her back enough so that he could roll out from under her. On unsteady feet, he picked her up and cradled her close. She really was tiny." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Something that was easy to lose sight of when she was awake and bitching at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she seemed larger than life.\n\nHis body rebelling against any act that didn't involve him lying down, he carried her out of the craft and took her to a safe distance from the pod before he laid her down on the ground.\n\nHe sat back on his heels, grateful to be out of the pod and able to breathe fresh, nonburning air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Brushing his hair back from his forehead, he saw the blood on his hand. Yeah. Just what he needed. A head wound of his own." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He took inventory of his condition and hers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instinctively, he reached for his backpack to get a cloth to stop her bleeding only to realize it was still in the pod.\n\nShit. He needed that. It would have medical supplies, food and other things they'd need if they planned to survive this." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked back at the burning pod. Only a flaming, krikkin idiot would run into something that was about to explode…\n\nGood thing I'm an idiot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Before his common sense could override his stupidity, he dashed back to the pod." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The metal was hot from the flames—which he discovered as his hand accidentally brushed a wall and was burned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Coughing, he covered his mouth with his shirt and held it there with his burned hand while he tried to see into the small compartment. Ah man, everything had been tossed around to the point he couldn't identify anything. Getting down on his hands and knees, he searched the wreckage as fast as he could." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He choked and coughed, struggling to breathe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just as he was about to give up, he saw a black strap on the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His pack was underneath the crushed-in front console. He scooted forward and grabbed it, then paused as he heard something whine.\n\nThe roof lining was caving in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damn it! Jerking the pack to him, he scurried for the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just when he thought he was free, a part of the ceiling fell across his back and slammed him to the ground. He tried his best to crawl out from under it, but he was trapped. Flames blazed higher and brighter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The stench of fuel was making him light-headed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His lungs struggled to find oxygen.\n\nCrap… I'm going to die.\n\nRight here. Right now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Still he fought even though it was futile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After all, he was a Dagan and Dagans never surrendered to death. Not without a bloody battle.\n\nDesideria came awake just in time to see Caillen running back to their burning pod." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What was the moron doing now?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hadn't anyone ever told him that the correct protocol was to run away from burning objects?\n\nHer head throbbed so badly that she feared she'd vomit. More than that, her vision was blurry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She reached up to wipe the sweat from her forehead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The moment she touched it, she realized it wasn't sweat. She was bleeding all over the place.\n\nIt's a concussion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her stomach lurched as more pain pounded through her body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rolling to her side, she saw Caillen vanish inside the pod. He's going to kill himself.\n\nLet him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Unfortunately, she couldn't. He'd pulled her out twice now and saved her life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She'd still be inside the burning pod but for him.\n\nGet up, soldier. Time to save the heroic idiot.\n\nAs she came to her feet, she heard a loud crash from the pod." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was no sign of Caillen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A bad feeling went through her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was dead or trapped.\n\nOnly a complete imbecile would run into a burning pod…\n\nBad thing was, she was an imbecile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Especially since she owed Caillen her life and even if it was only a small chance he was still alive, she couldn't leave him there to burn." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Forcing down her nausea, she headed for the pod on unsteady feet.\n\nThe smoke was so thick as she neared it that she could barely see. The stench did nothing for her nausea." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You're a Qillaq. Stop whining." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Over the loud popping and roar of the fire she heard something… A string of obscene profanity.\n\nShe couldn't help smiling as she used his angry tirade against the gods to find him trapped under burning debris. His wrath was palatable as he tried to free himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I hope you melt into oblivion! Stupid, stupid son of a—\" His words broke off as he saw her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For an instant, his entire face lit up, then it turned to a dark scowl. \"Are you out of your krikkin mind? Run!\"\n\nShe did, but it was toward him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caillen was astounded as she knelt down to help him get free. \"There's a tank about to blow. You have to leave. We only have a few seconds. I can smell it.\"\n\n\"Not without you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Princess—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not without you,\" she enunciated each word sharply, letting him know that he was the one wasting their time with a useless argument." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She pulled as hard as she could against the hot metal that pinned him to the floor. \"I'd already be dead if not for you. I'm not about to leave you after that. Now shut up and help!\"\n\nCaillen smiled at her sharp command." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only a sick bastard like him would find that amusing, especially given his circumstances." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But they didn't have long.\n\nHe growled as she lifted the burning beam where his leg was trapped. He slid his foot free and grabbed the pack." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But not before he could hear the tank whine and whistle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was about to go. Their time could only be measured in heartbeats now.\n\nEven though his foot felt broken, he grabbed her hand and his pack and ran with her from the pod." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Still they weren't safe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The shrapnel would blow out for yards and could very easily pierce them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tightening his hand on hers, he pulled her toward a copse of trees that would hopefully offer some protection.\n\nThey'd only made it halfway there before the pod blew. The shock wave of the explosion pitched them forward, causing them to tumble." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All Caillen could do was try to protect his head as he rolled and fragments rained down all around them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He came to rest on his stomach." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Desideria lay a few feet away from him, on her back. Unmoving.\n\nA sick feeling of dread constricted his stomach. \"Princess? You alive?\"\n\n\"No,\" she groaned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Me either.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "A second explosion sounded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caillen cursed as he saw more shrapnel heading for them, including a sizable chunk of the door. Grabbing Desideria, he barely made it behind a fallen log before the door impaled itself upright in the ground right where she'd been. Small fires burned all around them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her face pale, she looked up at him in awe. \"Thank you.\"\n\nLetting out a long breath in relief, Caillen laid his head on the ground and did his best not to whimper from the pain that was tearing through every single inch of his body. He felt like he'd been run through a compactor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The last thing he wanted was to move, but he needed to check on her and tend the long gash in his leg." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His luck it'd turn to gangrene and he'd lose it if he delayed treatment.\n\n\"Any time, Princess. But really, we have to do something about these near fatal interactions of ours.\" Bracing himself for the pain, he sat up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She glared accusingly as she shoved at his shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't you dare blame me for this. What the hell was so important that you had to go back for it and risk our lives?\"\n\n\"I only risked my life. You're the loon who came back for me.\"\n\nShe rolled her eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I couldn't agree more. Now why would you go back?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He held his pack up.\n\nShe gaped at him, then glared as if she could murder him herself. \"You almost killed us for a stupid backpack?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not a backpack, baby. It's a survival pack.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I would comment on the irony of you almost dying for that, but right now I really ache too much to bother.\"\n\nHe laughed as he rifled through it. Until he heard the soft whir of an engine drawing near." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That sobered him fast. \"Someone's coming.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her face lit up with relief. \"Oh please, God, let it be a rescue crew… one with a clean bathroom.\"\n\nHe didn't share her optimism." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instead, cold dread weighed heavy in his gut." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"C'mon.\" He pulled her toward the tree line, deeper into the woods.\n\nShe dug her heels in and slowed him down. \"What are you doing?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We don't know where we are or who they are. They could be our friendly assassin or an accomplice. Until we know for sure, let's not be seen.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Desideria wanted to scream in frustration at his paranoia. But not so deep inside she knew he was right and until they discovered the intentions of whoever was coming, they did need to keep a low profile. \"I really hate you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hate you too, babe.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gave her a charming grin and a wink that managed to be adorable even though she wanted to kick him some place that counted. \"Now, c'mon.\"\n\nDesideria groaned as she forced herself to run after him. How could he move on that busted leg of his?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Did the man not feel pain?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She glanced to the woods and winced. It looked so far to those trees…\n\nCaillen doubled back to try and carry her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She stopped him. \"You're injured too and I can walk. I am not helpless or weak. I'm simply pissed,\" she growled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He held his hands up in apology." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Fine, but we need to hurry.\" He jerked his chin to the sky where she could see the craft almost on them.\n\nRun!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "They barely made it to the trees before the hovercraft came in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It hesitated over the remains of their pod for several minutes as if the occupants were photographing the area or conducting some kind of test or evaluation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Caillen scowled as he tried to figure out what they were doing. Normally, they'd be out and scanning the ground on foot. But these…\n\nThey had a separate protocol that deviated from the norm, which meant he had no idea what to expect. Damn." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can you tell anything about them?\" Desideria whispered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're Andarions.\"\n\n\"How do you know?\"\n\nHe pulled his FVG out of his pack and held it to his eyes so that he could see the pilots in the cockpit who were scanning the ground and talking to each other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Style of the craft. It's an older Andarion model S10-B60. Most humans are too short to pilot it. And now that I can see them, they're definitely NHL.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Non Human Life forms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Is that good or bad for us?\"\n\nCaillen sighed. \"Depends on their intentions.\"\n\n\"You're not funny.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not trying to be.\"\n\nThe craft descended until it was on the ground. As the door opened, Caillen motioned for her to be quiet while he shoved an amplifier into his ear so that he could hear their conversation even from this distance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Luckily it only amplified voices and not ambient noises, otherwise his hearing would have been blown out by their hovercraft's engines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Two officers came out of the back to investigate the crash site while the two pilots remained inside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Desideria opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off with a fierce head shake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One thing about the Andarions, those bastards could hear for miles even without an amplifier. They'd be lucky if the soldiers didn't hear them breathing.\n\nAnd what they were talking about was making his stomach shrink." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Job: User writes start, you add ~five sentences sentences. Style: Jane Austen" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The first part of their journey was performed in too melancholy a disposition to be otherwise than tedious and unpleasant. But as they drew towards the end of it, their interest in the appearance of a country which they were to inhabit overcame their dejection, and a view of Barton Valley, as they entered it, gave them cheerfulness. It was a pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich in pasture. After winding along it for more than a mile, they reached their own house. A small green court was the whole of its demesne in front; and a neat wicket gate admitted them into it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and compact; but as a cottage it was defective, for the building was regular, the roof was tiled, the window shutters were not painted green, nor were the walls covered with honeysuckles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A narrow passage led directly through the house into the garden behind. On each side of the entrance was a sitting room, about sixteen feet square; and beyond them were the offices and the stairs. Four bedrooms and two garrets formed the rest of the house. It had not been built many years, and was in good repair. In comparison of Norland, it was poor and small indeed!—but the tears which recollection called forth as they entered the house were soon dried away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were cheered by the joy of the servants on their arrival, and each for the sake of the others resolved to appear happy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was very early in September; the season was fine; and from first seeing the place under the advantage of good weather, they received an impression in its favour which was of material service in recommending it to their lasting approbation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The situation of the house was good." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "High hills rose immediately behind, and at no great distance on each side; some of which were open downs, the others cultivated and woody. The village of Barton was chiefly on one of these hills, and formed a pleasant view from the cottage windows. The prospect in front was more extensive; it commanded the whole of the valley, and reached into the country beyond. The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated the valley in that direction; under another name, and in another course, it branched out again between two of the steepest of them.\n\nWith the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashwood was upon the whole well satisfied; for though her former style of life rendered many additions to the latter indispensable, yet to add and improve was a delight to her; and she had at this time ready money enough to supply all that was wanted of greater elegance to the apartments." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"As for the house itself, to be sure,\" said she, \"it is too small for our family, but we will make ourselves tolerably comfortable for the present, as it is too late in the year for improvements. Perhaps in the spring, if I have plenty of money, as I dare say I shall, we may think about building. These parlours are both too small for such parties of our friends as I hope to see often collected here; and I have some thoughts of throwing the passage into one of them, with perhaps a part of the other, and so leave the remainder of that other for an entrance; this, with a new drawing-room which may be easily added, and a bedchamber and garret above, will make it a very snug little cottage. I could wish the stairs were handsome. But one must not expect every thing; though I suppose it would be no difficult matter to widen them. I shall see how much I am before-hand with the world in the spring, and we will plan our improvements accordingly.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the mean time, till all these alterations could be made from the savings of an income of five hundred a year by a woman who never saved in her life, they were wise enough to be contented with the house as it was; and each of them was busy in arranging their particular concerns, and endeavouring, by placing around them their books and other possessions, to form themselves a home. Marianne's piano-forte was unpacked and properly disposed of; and Elinor's drawings were affixed to the walls of their sitting room.\n\nIn such employments as these they were interrupted soon after breakfast the next day by the entrance of their landlord, who called to welcome them to Barton, and to offer them every accommodation from his own house and garden in which theirs might at present be deficient. Sir John Middleton was a good looking man about forty. He had formerly visited at Stanhill, but it was too long ago for his young cousins to remember him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His countenance was thoroughly good-humoured; and his manners were as friendly as the style of his letter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their arrival seemed to afford him real satisfaction, and their comfort to be an object of real solicitude to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He said much of his earnest desire of their living in the most sociable terms with his family, and pressed them so cordially to dine at Barton Park every day till they were better settled at home, that, though his entreaties were carried to a point of perseverance beyond civility, they could not give offence. His kindness was not confined to words; for within an hour after he left them, a large basket full of garden stuff and fruit arrived from the park, which was followed before the end of the day by a present of game. He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their letters to and from the post for them, and would not be denied the satisfaction of sending them his newspaper every day.\n\nLady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him, denoting her intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as she could be assured that her visit would be no inconvenience; and as this message was answered by an invitation equally polite, her ladyship was introduced to them the next day.\n\nThey were, of course, very anxious to see a person on whom so much of their comfort at Barton must depend; and the elegance of her appearance was favourable to their wishes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lady Middleton was not more than six or seven and twenty; her face was handsome, her figure tall and striking, and her address graceful. Her manners had all the elegance which her husband's wanted. But they would have been improved by some share of his frankness and warmth; and her visit was long enough to detract something from their first admiration, by showing that, though perfectly well bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for herself beyond the most common-place enquiry or remark.\n\nConversation, however, was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her their eldest child, a fine little boy about six years old; by which means there was one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case of extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age, admire his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother answered for him, while he hung about her and held down his head, to the great surprise of her ladyship, who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he could make noise enough at home. On every formal visit a child ought to be of the party, by way of provision for discourse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the present case it took up ten minutes to determine whether the boy were most like his father or mother, and in what particular he resembled either, for of course every body differed, and every body was astonished at the opinion of the others." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on the rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house without securing their promise of dining at the Park the next day." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Cooperative storytelling\nMy role: Provide a brief opening\nYour role: Expand upon my opening with 6 sentences, emulating the writing style of Jane Austen." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Within a few days after this meeting, the newspapers announced to the world, that the lady of Thomas Palmer, Esq. was safely delivered of a son and heir; a very interesting and satisfactory paragraph, at least to all those intimate connections who knew it before.\n\nThis event, highly important to Mrs. Jennings's happiness, produced a temporary alteration in the disposal of her time, and influenced, in a like degree, the engagements of her young friends; for as she wished to be as much as possible with Charlotte, she went thither every morning as soon as she was dressed, and did not return till late in the evening; and the Miss Dashwoods, at the particular request of the Middletons, spent the whole of every day in Conduit Street. For their own comfort, they would much rather have remained, at least all the morning, in Mrs. Jennings's house; but it was not a thing to be urged against the wishes of every body. Their hours were therefore made over to Lady Middleton and the two Miss Steeles, by whom their company was, in fact, as little valued as it was professedly sought.\n\nThey had too much sense to be desirable companions to the former; and by the latter they were considered with a jealous eye, as intruding on their ground, and sharing the kindness which they wanted to monopolise." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Though nothing could be more polite than Lady Middleton's behaviour to Elinor and Marianne, she did not really like them at all." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Because they neither flattered herself nor her children, she could not believe them good-natured; and because they were fond of reading, she fancied them satirical: perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical; but that did not signify. It was censure in common use, and easily given.\n\nTheir presence was a restraint both on her and on Lucy. It checked the idleness of one, and the business of the other. Lady Middleton was ashamed of doing nothing before them, and the flattery which Lucy was proud to think of and administer at other times she feared they would despise her for offering. Miss Steele was the least discomposed of the three by their presence; and it was in their power to reconcile her to it entirely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Would either of them only have given her a full and minute account of the whole affair between Marianne and Mr. Willoughby she would have thought herself amply rewarded for the sacrifice of the best place by the fire after dinner, which their arrival occasioned. But this conciliation was not granted; for though she often threw out expressions of pity for her sister to Elinor, and more than once dropt a reflection on the inconstancy of beaux before Marianne; no effect was produced, but a look of indifference from the former, or of disgust in the latter. An effort even yet lighter might have made her their friend:—would they only have laughed at her about the Doctor! But so little were they, any more than the others, inclined to oblige her, that if Sir John dined from home she might spend a whole day without hearing any other raillery on the subject than what she was kind enough to bestow on herself.\n\nAll these jealousies and discontents, however, were so totally unsuspected by Mrs. Jennings, that she thought it a delightful thing for the girls to be together; and generally congratulated her young friends every night on having escaped the company of a stupid old woman so long. She joined them sometimes at Sir John's, and sometimes at her own house; but wherever it was, she always came in excellent spirits, full of delight and importance, attributing Charlotte's well doing to her own care, and ready to give so exact, so minute a detail of her situation, as only Miss Steele had curiosity enough to desire." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One thing did disturb her; and of that she made her daily complaint." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mr. Palmer maintained the common, but unfatherly opinion among his sex, of all infants being alike; and though she could plainly perceive, at different times, the most striking resemblance between this baby and every one of his relations on both sides, there was no convincing his father of it; no persuading him to believe that it was not exactly like every other baby of the same age; nor could he even be brought to acknowledge the simple proposition of its being the finest child in the world.\n\nI come now to the relation of a misfortune which about this time befell Mrs. John Dashwood. It so happened that while her two sisters with Mrs. Jennings were first calling on her in Harley Street, another of her acquaintance had dropt in—a circumstance in itself not apparently likely to produce evil to her. But while the imaginations of other people will carry them away to form wrong judgments of our conduct, and to decide on it by slight appearances, one's happiness must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance. In the present instance, this last-arrived lady allowed her fancy so far to outrun truth and probability, that on merely hearing the name of the Miss Dashwoods, and understanding them to be Mr. Dashwood's sisters, she immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley Street; and this misconstruction produced, within a day or two afterwards, cards of invitation for them, as well as for their brother and sister, to a small musical party at her house; the consequence of which was, that Mrs. John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only to the exceedingly great inconvenience of sending her carriage for the Miss Dashwoods, but, what was still worse, must be subject to all the unpleasantness of appearing to treat them with attention; and who could tell that they might not expect to go out with her a second time? The power of disappointing them, it was true, must always be hers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But that was not enough: for when people are determined on a mode of conduct which they know to be wrong, they feel injured by the expectation of any thing better from them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marianne had now been brought, by degrees, so much into the habit of going out every day, that it was become a matter of indifference to her whether she went or not; and she prepared quietly and mechanically for every evening's engagement, though without expecting the smallest amusement from any, and very often without knowing, till the last moment, where it was to take her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly indifferent as not to bestow half the consideration on it, during the whole of her toilet, which it received from Miss Steele in the first five minutes of their being together, when it was finished. Nothing escaped her minute observation and general curiosity; she saw every thing, and asked every thing; was never easy till she knew the price of every part of Marianne's dress; could have guessed the number of her gowns altogether with better judgment than Marianne herself; and was not without hopes of finding out, before they parted, how much her washing cost per week, and how much she had every year to spend upon herself. The impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover, was generally concluded with a compliment, which, though meant as its douceur, was considered by Marianne as the greatest impertinence of all; for after undergoing an examination into the value and make of her gown, the colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair, she was almost sure of being told, that upon \"her word she looked vastly smart, and she dared to say would make a great many conquests.\"\n\nWith such encouragement as this was she dismissed, on the present occasion, to her brother's carriage; which they were ready to enter five minutes after it stopped at the door, a punctuality not very agreeable to their sister-in-law, who had preceded them to the house of her acquaintance, and was there hoping for some delay on their part, that might inconvenience either herself or her coachman.\n\nThe events of the evening were not very remarkable. The party, like other musical parties, comprehended a great many people who had real taste for the performance, and a great many more who had none at all; and the performers themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation, and that of their immediate friends, the first private performers in England." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As Elinor was neither musical, nor affecting to be so, she made no scruple of turning away her eyes from the grand piano-forte whenever it suited her, and unrestrained even by the presence of a harp, and a violoncello, would fix them at pleasure on any other object in the room. In one of these excursive glances she perceived, among a group of young men, the very he who had given them a lecture on toothpick-cases at Gray's. She perceived him soon afterwards looking at herself, and speaking familiarly to her brother; and had just determined to find out his name from the latter, when they both came towards her, and Mr. Dashwood introduced him to her as Mr. Robert Ferrars.\n\nHe addressed her with easy civility, and twisted his head into a bow, which assured her, as plainly as words could have done, that he was exactly the coxcomb she had heard him described to be by Lucy. Happy had it been for her, if her regard for Edward had depended less on his own merit than on the merit of his nearest relations! For then his brother's bow must have given the finishing stroke to what the ill-humour of his mother and sister would have begun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But while she wondered at the difference of the two young men, she did not find that the emptiness and conceit of the one put her at all out of charity with the modesty and worth of the other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why they were different, Robert explained to her himself, in the course of a quarter of an hour's conversation; for, talking of his brother, and lamenting the extreme gaucherie which he really believed kept him from mixing in proper society, he candidly and generously attributed it much less to any natural deficiency than to the misfortune of a private education; while he himself, though probably without any particular, any material superiority by nature, merely from the advantage of a public school, was as well fitted to mix in the world as any other man." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Upon my soul,\" he added, \"I believe it is nothing more; and so I often tell my mother, when she is grieving about it. 'My dear madam,' I always say to her, 'you must make yourself easy. The evil is now irremediable, and it has been entirely your own doing. Why would you be persuaded by my uncle, Sir Robert, against your own judgment, to place Edward under private tuition, at the most critical time of his life? If you had only sent him to Westminster as well as myself, instead of sending him to Mr. Pratt's, all this would have been prevented. This is the way in which I always consider the matter, and my mother is perfectly convinced of her error.\"\n\nElinor would not oppose his opinion, because, whatever might be her general estimation of the advantage of a public school, she could not think of Edward's abode in Mr. Pratt's family with any satisfaction.\n\n\"You reside in Devonshire, I think,\" was his next observation, \"in a cottage near Dawlish.\"\n\nElinor set him right as to its situation; and it seemed rather surprising to him that any body could live in Devonshire without living near Dawlish. He bestowed his hearty approbation, however, on their species of house.\n\n\"For my own part,\" said he, \"I am excessively fond of a cottage; there is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And I protest, if I had any money to spare, I should buy a little land and build one myself, within a short distance of London, where I might drive myself down at any time, and collect a few friends about me, and be happy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I advise every body who is going to build, to build a cottage. My friend Lord Courtland came to me the other day on purpose to ask my advice, and laid before me three different plans of Bonomi's. I was to decide on the best of them. 'My dear Courtland,' said I, immediately throwing them all into the fire, 'do not adopt either of them, but by all means build a cottage.' And that, I fancy, will be the end of it.\n\n\"Some people imagine that there can be no accommodations, no space in a cottage; but this is all a mistake. I was last month at my friend Elliott's, near Dartford. Lady Elliott wished to give a dance. 'But how can it be done?' said she: 'my dear Ferrars, do tell me how it is to be managed. There is not a room in this cottage that will hold ten couple; and where can the supper be?' I immediately saw that there could be no difficulty in it, so I said, 'My dear Lady Elliott, do not be uneasy. The dining-parlour will admit eighteen couple with ease; cardtables may be placed in the drawing-room; the library may be open for tea and other refreshments; and let the supper be set out in the saloon.' Lady Elliott was delighted with the thought. We measured the dining-room, and found it would hold exactly eighteen couple,—and the affair was arranged precisely after my plan. So that, in fact, you see, if people do but know how to set about it, every comfort may be as well enjoyed in a cottage as in the most spacious dwelling.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the compliment of rational opposition." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As John Dashwood had no more pleasure in music than his eldest sister, his mind was equally at liberty to fix on any thing else; and a thought struck him, during the evening, which he communicated to his wife, for her approbation, when they got home. The consideration of Mrs. Dennison's mistake, in supposing his sisters their guests, had suggested the propriety of their being really invited to become such, while Mrs. Jennings's engagements kept her from home. The expense would be nothing; the inconvenience not more; and it was altogether an attention which the delicacy of his conscience pointed out to be requisite to its complete enfranchisement from his promise to his father. Fanny was startled at the proposal.\n\n\"I do not see how it can be done,\" said she, \"without affronting Lady Middleton, for they spend every day with her; otherwise I should be exceedingly glad to do it. You know I am always ready to pay them any attention in my power, as my taking them out this evening shows. But they are Lady Middleton's visitors. How can I ask them away from her?\"\n\nHer husband, but with great humility, did not see the force of her objection." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They had already spent a week in this manner in Conduit Street, and Lady Middleton could not be displeased at their giving the same number of days to such near relations.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fanny paused a moment, and then, with fresh vigour, said,—\n\n\"My love, I would ask them with all my heart, if it was in my power. But I had just settled within myself to ask the Miss Steeles to spend a few days with us. They are very well behaved, good kind of girls; and I think the attention is due to them, as their uncle did so very well by Edward. We can ask your sisters some other year, you know; but the Miss Steeles may not be in town any more. I am sure you will like them; indeed, you do like them, you know, very much already, and so does my mother; and they are such favourites with Harry!\"\n\nMr. Dashwood was convinced. He saw the necessity of inviting the Miss Steeles immediately; and his conscience was pacified by the resolution of inviting his sisters another year; at the same time, however, slyly suspecting that another year would make the invitation needless, by bringing Elinor to town as Colonel Brandon's wife, and Marianne as their visitor.\n\nFanny, rejoicing in her escape, and proud of the ready wit that had procured it, wrote the next morning to Lucy, to request her company and her sister's, for some days, in Harley Street, as soon as Lady Middleton could spare them. This was enough to make Lucy really and reasonably happy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mrs. Dashwood seemed actually working for her herself; cherishing all her hopes, and promoting all her views!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Such an opportunity of being with Edward and his family was, above all things, the most material to her interest, and such an invitation the most gratifying to her feelings! It was an advantage that could not be too gratefully acknowledged, nor too speedily made use of; and the visit to Lady Middleton, which had not before had any precise limits, was instantly discovered to have been always meant to end in two days' time.\n\nWhen the note was shown to Elinor, as it was within ten minutes after its arrival, it gave her, for the first time, some share in the expectations of Lucy; for such a mark of uncommon kindness, vouchsafed on so short an acquaintance, seemed to declare that the good will towards her arose from something more than merely malice against herself; and might be brought, by time and address, to do every thing that Lucy wished. Her flattery had already subdued the pride of Lady Middleton, and made an entry into the close heart of Mrs. John Dashwood; and these were effects that laid open the probability of greater.\n\nThe Miss Steeles removed to Harley Street; and all that reached Elinor of their influence there strengthened her expectation of the event. Sir John, who called on them more than once, brought home such accounts of the favour they were in as must be universally striking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mrs. Dashwood had never been so much pleased with any young women in her life as she was with them; had given each of them a needle-book made by some emigrant; called Lucy by her Christian name; and did not know whether she should ever be able to part with them." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.\n\nVolume the Third." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: The user will write a bit then you need to write around five sentences continuing directly from the user's text.\n\nAuthor style: Jane Austen\nGenre: romance, historical fiction" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, Miss Dashwood,\" said Mrs. Jennings, sagaciously smiling, as soon as the gentleman had withdrawn, \"I do not ask you what the Colonel has been saying to you; for though, upon my honour, I tried to keep out of hearing, I could not help catching enough to understand his business; and I assure you I never was better pleased in my life, and I wish you joy of it with all my heart.\"\n\n\"Thank you, ma'am,\" said Elinor. \"It is a matter of great joy to me, and I feel the goodness of Colonel Brandon most sensibly. There are not many men who would act as he has done. Few people who have so compassionate a heart! I never was more astonished in my life.\"\n\n\"Lord! my dear, you are very modest. I an't the least astonished at it in the world; for I have often thought, of late, there was nothing more likely to happen.\"\n\n\"You judged from your knowledge of the Colonel's general benevolence; but at least you could not foresee that the opportunity would so very soon occur.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Opportunity!\" repeated Mrs. Jennings. \"Oh, as to that, when a man has once made up his mind to such a thing, somehow or other he will soon find an opportunity. Well, my dear, I wish you joy of it again and again; and if ever there was a happy couple in the world, I think I shall soon know where to look for them.\"\n\n\"You mean to go to Delaford after them, I suppose,\" said Elinor, with a faint smile.\n\n\"Ay, my dear, that I do, indeed; and as to the house being a bad one, I do not know what the Colonel would be at, for it is as good a one as ever I saw.\"\n\n\"He spoke of its being out of repair.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, and whose fault is that? Why don't he repair it? Who should do it but himself?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were interrupted by the servant's coming in to announce the carriage being at the door; and Mrs. Jennings, immediately preparing to go, said,—\n\n\"Well, my dear, I must be gone before I have had half my talk out. But, however, we may have it all over in the evening; for we shall be quite alone. I do not ask you to go with me, for I dare say your mind is too full of the matter to care for company; and, besides, you must long to tell your sister all about it.\"\n\nMarianne had left the room before the conversation began.\n\n\"Certainly, ma'am, I shall tell Marianne of it; but I shall not mention it at present to any body else.\"\n\n\"Oh, very well,\" said Mrs. Jennings, rather disappointed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then you would not have me tell it Lucy; for I think of going as far as Holborn to-day.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, ma'am, not even Lucy, if you please. One day's delay will not be very material; and, till I have written to Mr. Ferrars, I think it ought not to be mentioned to any body else. I shall do that directly. It is of importance that no time should be lost with him; for he will of course have much to do relative to his ordination.\"\n\nThis speech at first puzzled Mrs. Jennings exceedingly. Why Mr. Ferrars was to be written to about it in such a hurry she could not immediately comprehend. A few moments' reflection, however, produced a very happy idea; and she exclaimed, —\n\n\"Oh, ho! I understand you. Mr. Ferrars is to be the man. Well, so much the better for him. Ay, to be sure, he must be ordained in readiness; and I am very glad to find things are so forward between you. But, my dear, is not this rather out of character? Should not the Colonel write himself? Sure, he is the proper person.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Elinor did not quite understand the beginning of Mrs. Jennings's speech, neither did she think it worth enquiring into; and therefore only replied to its conclusion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Colonel Brandon is so delicate a man, that he rather wished any one to announce his intentions to Mr. Ferrars than himself.\"\n\n\"And so you are forced to do it. Well, that is an odd kind of delicacy! However, I will not disturb you (seeing her preparing to write). You know your own concerns best. So good-by, my dear. I have not heard of any thing to please me so well since Charlotte was brought to bed.\"\n\nAnd away she went; but returning again in a moment,—\n\n\"I have just been thinking of Betty's sister, my dear. I should be very glad to get her so good a mistress. But whether she would do for a lady's maid, I am sure I can't tell. She is an excellent housemaid, and works very well at her needle. However, you will think of all that at your leisure.\"\n\n\"Certainly, ma'am,\" replied Elinor, not hearing much of what she said, and more anxious to be alone than to be mistress of the subject." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How she should begin,—how she should express herself in her note to Edward,—was now all her concern." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The particular circumstances between them made a difficulty of that which to any other person would have been the easiest thing in the world; but she equally feared to say too much or too little, and sat deliberating over her paper, with the pen in her hand, till broken in on by the entrance of Edward himself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door, in her way to the carriage, as he came to leave his farewell card; and she, after apologising for not returning herself, had obliged him to enter, by saying that Miss Dashwood was above, and wanted to speak with him on very particular business.\n\nElinor had just been congratulating herself, in the midst of her perplexity, that however difficult it might be to express herself properly by letter, it was at least preferable to giving the information by word of mouth, when her visitor entered, to force her upon this greatest exertion of all. Her astonishment and confusion were very great on his so sudden appearance. She had not seen him before since his engagement became public, and therefore not since his knowing her to be acquainted with it; which, with the consciousness of what she had been thinking of, and what she had to tell him, made her feel particularly uncomfortable for some minutes. He, too, was much distressed; and they sat down together in a most promising state of embarrassment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whether he had asked her pardon for his intrusion on first coming into the room, he could not recollect; but, determining to be on the safe side, he made his apology in form, as soon as he could say any thing, after taking a chair." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mrs. Jennings told me,\" said he, \"that you wished to speak with me, at least I understood her so,—or I certainly should not have intruded on you in such a manner; though, at the same time, I should have been extremely sorry to leave London without seeing you and your sister; especially as it will most likely be some time—it is not probable that I should soon have the pleasure of meeting you again. I go to Oxford tomorrow.\"\n\n\"You would not have gone, however,\" said Elinor, recovering herself, and determined to get over what she so much dreaded as soon as possible, \"without receiving our good wishes, even if we had not been able to give them in person. Mrs. Jennings was quite right in what she said. I have something of consequence to inform you of, which I was on the point of communicating by paper. I am charged with a most agreeable office (breathing rather faster than usual as she spoke). Colonel Brandon, who was here only ten minutes ago, has desired me to say, that understanding you mean to take orders, he has great pleasure in offering you the living of Delaford, now just vacant, and only wishes it were more valuable. Allow me to congratulate you on having so respectable and well-judging a friend, and to join in his wish that the living—it is about two hundred a year—were much more considerable, and such as might better enable you to—as might be more than a temporary accommodation to yourself—such, in short, as might establish all your views of happiness.\"\n\nWhat Edward felt, as he could not say it himself, it cannot be expected that any one else should say for him. He looked all the astonishment which such unexpected, such unthought of information could not fail of exciting; but he said only these two words,—\n\n\"Colonel Brandon!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes,\" continued Elinor, gathering more resolution, as some of the worst was over; \"Colonel Brandon means it as a testimony of his concern for what has lately passed,—for the cruel situation in which the unjustifiable conduct of your family has placed you,—a concern, which I am sure Marianne, myself, and all your friends, must share; and, likewise, as a proof of his high esteem for your general character, and his particular approbation of your behaviour on the present occasion.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Colonel Brandon give me a living! Can it be possible?\"\n\n\"The unkindness of your own relations has made you astonished to find friendship any where.\"\n\n\"No,\" replied he, with sudden consciousness, \"not to find it in you; for I cannot be ignorant that to you, to your goodness, I owe it all. I feel it—I would express it if I could—but, as you well know, I am no orator.\"\n\n\"You are very much mistaken. I do assure you that you owe it entirely, at least almost entirely, to your own merit, and Colonel Brandon's discernment of it. I have had no hand in it. I did not even know, till I understood his design, that the living was vacant; nor had it ever occurred to me that he might have had such a living in his gift. As a friend of mine, of my family, he may, perhaps, indeed I know he has, still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word, you owe nothing to my solicitation.\"\n\nTruth obliged her to acknowledge some small share in the action; but she was at the same time so unwilling to appear as the benefactress of Edward, that she acknowledged it with hesitation; which probably contributed to fix that suspicion in his mind which had recently entered it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For a short time he sat deep in thought, after Elinor had ceased to speak; at last, and as if it were rather an effort, he said,—" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Colonel Brandon seems a man of great worth and respectability. I have always heard him spoken of as such, and your brother I know esteems him highly. He is undoubtedly a sensible man, and in his manners perfectly the gentleman.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Indeed,\" replied Elinor, \"I believe that you will find him, on farther acquaintance, all that you have heard him to be; and as you will be such very near neighbours (for I understand the parsonage is almost close to the mansion-house) it is particularly important that he should be all this.\"\n\nEdward made no answer; but when she had turned away her head, gave her a look so serious, so earnest, so uncheerful, as seemed to say, that he might hereafter wish the distance between the parsonage and the mansion-house much greater.\n\n\"Colonel Brandon, I think, lodges in St. James's Street,\" said he, soon afterwards, rising from his chair.\n\nElinor told him the number of the house.\n\n\"I must hurry away, then, to give him those thanks which you will not allow me to give you; to assure him that he has made me a very—an exceedingly happy man.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Elinor did not offer to detain him; and they parted, with a very earnest assurance on her side of her unceasing good wishes for his happiness in every change of situation that might befall him; on his, with rather an attempt to return the same good will, than the power of expressing it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"When I see him again,\" said Elinor to herself, as the door shut him out, \"I shall see him the husband of Lucy.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "And with this pleasing anticipation she sat down to reconsider the past, recall the words, and endeavour to comprehend all the feelings of Edward; and, of course, to reflect on her own with discontent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned from seeing people whom she had never seen before, and of whom, therefore, she must have a great deal to say, her mind was so much more occupied by the important secret in her possession, than by any thing else, that she reverted to it again as soon as Elinor appeared.\n\n\"Well, my dear,\" she cried, \"I sent you up the young man. Did not I do right? And I suppose you had no great difficulty—you did not find him very unwilling to accept your proposal?\"\n\n\"No, ma'am; that was not very likely.\"\n\n\"Well, and how soon will he be ready? For it seems all to depend upon that.\"\n\n\"Really,\" said Elinor, \"I know so little of these kind of forms, that I can hardly even conjecture as to the time, or the preparation necessary; but I suppose two or three months will complete his ordination.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Two or three months!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "cried Mrs. Jennings: \"Lord! my dear, how calmly you talk of it; and can the Colonel wait two or three months! Lord bless me! I am sure it would put me quite out of patience! And though one would be very glad to do a kindness by poor Mr. Ferrars, I do think it is not worth while to wait two or three months for him. Sure, somebody else might be found that would do as well; somebody that is in orders already.\"\n\n\"My dear ma'am,\" said Elinor, \"what can you be thinking of? Why, Colonel Brandon's only object is to be of use to Mr. Fer rars.\n\n\"Lord bless you, my dear! Sure you do not mean to persuade me that the Colonel only marries you for the sake of giving ten guineas to Mr. Ferrars!\"\n\nThe deception could not continue after this; and an explanation immediately took place, by which both gained considerable amusement for the moment, without any material loss of happiness to either; for Mrs. Jennings only exchanged one form of delight for another, and still without forfeiting her expectation of the first." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ay, ay, the parsonage is but a small one,\" said she, after the first ebullition of surprise and satisfaction was over, \"and very likely may be out of repair; but to hear a man apologising, as I thought, for a house that to my knowledge has five sitting rooms on the ground-floor, and I think the housekeeper told me could make up fifteen beds! and to you, too, that had been used to live in Barton Cottage! It seemed quite ridiculous. But, my dear, we must touch up the Colonel to do something to the parsonage, and make it comfortable for them, before Lucy goes to it.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But Colonel Brandon does not seem to have any idea of the living's being enough to allow them to marry.\"\n\n\"The Colonel is a ninny, my dear; because he has two thousand a year himself, he thinks that nobody else can marry on less. Take my word for it, that, if I am alive, I shall be paying a visit at Delaford Parsonage before Michaelmas; and I am sure I shan't go if Lucy an't there.\"\n\nElinor was quite of her opinion as to the probability of their not waiting for any thing more." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: The user will write a bit then you need to write around 8 sentences continuing directly from the user's text.\n\nAuthor style: Jane Austen\nGenre: romance, historical fiction" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mrs. Dashwood did not hear, unmoved, the vindication of her former favourite." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She rejoiced in his being cleared from some part of his imputed guilt; she was sorry for him; she wished him happy. But the feelings of the past could not be recalled. Nothing could restore him with a faith unbroken, a character unblemished, to Marianne. Nothing could do away the knowledge of what the latter had suffered through his means, nor remove the guilt of his conduct towards Eliza. Nothing could replace him, therefore, in her former esteem, nor injure the interests of Colonel Brandon.\n\nHad Mrs. Dashwood, like her daughter, heard Willoughby's story from himself,—had she witnessed his distress, and been under the influence of his countenance and his manner,—it is probable that her compassion would have been greater. But it was neither in Elinor's power, nor in her wish, to rouse such feelings in another, by her retailed explanation, as had at first been called forth in herself. Reflection had given calmness to her judgment, and sobered her own opinion of Willoughby's deserts; she wished, therefore, to declare only the simple truth, and lay open such facts as were really due to his character, without any embellishment of tenderness to lead the fancy astray." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the evening, when they were all three together, Marianne began voluntarily to speak of him again; but that it was not without an effort, the restless, unquiet thoughtfulness in which she had been for some time previously sitting, her rising colour, as she spoke, and her unsteady voice, plainly showed.\n\n\"I wish to assure you both,\" said she, \"that I see every thing as you can desire me to do.\"\n\nMrs. Dashwood would have interrupted her instantly with soothing tenderness, had not Elinor, who really wished to hear her sister's unbiassed opinion, by an eager sign, engaged her silence. Marianne slowly continued,—\n\n\"It is a great relief to me, what Elinor told me this morning; I have now heard exactly what I wished to hear.\" For some moments her voice was lost; but recovering herself, she added, and with greater calmness than before,—\"I am now perfectly satisfied, I wish for no change. I never could have been happy with him, after knowing, as sooner or later I must have known, all this. I should have had no confidence, no esteem. Nothing could have done it away to my feelings.\"\n\n\"I know it, I know it,\" cried her mother. \"Happy with a man of libertine practices! With one who had so injured the peace of the dearest of our friends, and the best of men! No—my Marianne has not a heart to be made happy with such a man! Her conscience, her sensitive conscience, would have felt all that the conscience of her husband ought to have felt.\"\n\nMarianne sighed, and repeated, \"I wish for no change.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You consider the matter,\" said Elinor, \"exactly as a good mind and a sound understanding must consider it; and I dare say you perceive, as well as myself, not only in this, but in many other circumstances, reason enough to be convinced that your marriage must have involved you in many certain troubles and disappointments, in which you would have been poorly supported by an affection, on his side, much less certain. Had you married, you must have been always poor. His expensiveness is acknowledged even by himself; and his whole conduct declares, that self-denial is a word hardly understood by him. His demands, and your inexperience together, on a small, very small income, must have brought on distresses which would not be the less grievous to you, from having been entirely unknown and unthought of before. Your sense of honour and honesty would have led you, I know, when aware of your situation, to attempt all the economy that would appear to you possible; and, perhaps, as long as your frugality retrenched only on your own comfort, you might have been suffered to practise it, but beyond that—and how little could the utmost of your single management do to stop the ruin which had begun before your marriage? beyond that, had you endeavoured, however reasonably, to abridge his enjoyments, is it not to be feared, that instead of prevailing on feelings so selfish to consent to it, you would have lessened your own influence on his heart, and made him regret the connection which had involved him in such difficulties?\"\n\nMarianne's lips quivered, and she repeated the word. \"Selfish?\" in a tone that implied, \"Do you really think him selfish?\"\n\n\"The whole of his behaviour,\" replied Elinor, \"from the beginning to the end of the affair, has been grounded on selfishness. It was selfishness which first made him sport with your affections; which afterwards, when his own were engaged, made him delay the confession of it, and which finally carried him from Barton. His own enjoyment, or his own ease, was, in every particular, his ruling principle.\"\n\n\"It is very true. My happiness never was his object.\"\n\n\"At present,\" continued Elinor, \"he regrets what he has done. And why does he regret it? Because he finds it has not answered towards himself. It has not made him happy. His circumstances are now unembarrassed—he suffers from no evil of that kind; and he thinks only that he has married a woman of a less amiable temper than yourself. But does it thence follow that had he married you, he would have been happy? The inconveniences would have been different. He would then have suffered under the pecuniary distresses which, because they are removed, he now reckons as nothing. He would have had a wife of whose temper he could make no complaint, but he would have been always necessitous—always poor; and probably would soon have learned to rank the innumerable comforts of a clear estate and good income as of far more importance, even to domestic happiness, than the mere temper of a wife.\"\n\n\"I have not a doubt of it,\" said Marianne; \"and I have nothing to regret—nothing but my own folly.\"\n\n\"Rather say your mother's imprudence, my child,\" said Mrs. Dashwood: \"she must be answerable.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Marianne would not let her proceed; and Elinor, satisfied that each felt their own error, wished to avoid any survey of the past that might weaken her sister's spirits; she, therefore, pursuing the first subject, immediately continued,—\n\n\"One observation may, I think, be fairly drawn from the whole of the story—that all Willoughby's difficulties have arisen from the first offence against virtue, in his behaviour to Eliza Williams. That crime has been the origin of every lesser one, and of all his present discontents.\"\n\nMarianne assented most feelingly to the remark; and her mother was led by it to an enumeration of Colonel Brandon's injuries and merits, warm as friendship and design could unit edly dictate. Her daughter did not look, however, as if much of it were heard by her.\n\nElinor, according to her expectation, saw, on the two or three following days, that Marianne did not continue to gain strength as she had done; but while her resolution was unsubdued, and she still tried to appear cheerful and easy, her sister could safely trust to the effect of time upon her health.\n\nMargaret returned, and the family were again all restored to each other, again quietly settled at the cottage; and if not pursuing their usual studies with quite so much vigour as when they first came to Barton, at least planning a vigorous prosecution of them in future.\n\nElinor grew impatient for some tidings of Edward. She had heard nothing of him since her leaving London, nothing new of his plans, nothing certain even of his present abode." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Some letters had passed between her and her brother, in consequence of Marianne's illness; and in the first of John's there had been this sentence:—\"We know nothing of our unfortunate Edward, and can make no enquiries on so prohibited a subject, but conclude him to be still at Oxford;\" which was all the intelligence of Edward afforded her by the correspondence, for his name was not even mentioned in any of the succeeding letters. She was not doomed, however, to be long in ignorance of his measures.\n\nTheir man-servant had been sent one morning to Exeter on business; and when, as he waited at table, he had satisfied the enquiries of his mistress as to the event of his errand, this was his voluntary communication,—\n\n\"I suppose you know, ma'am, that Mr. Ferrars is married.\"\n\nMarianne gave a violent start, fixed her eyes upon Elinor, saw her turning pale, and fell back in her chair in hysterics. Mrs. Dashwood, whose eyes, as she answered the servant's enquiry, had intuitively taken the same direction, was shocked to perceive, by Elinor's countenance, how much she really suffered; and, in a moment afterwards, alike distressed by Marianne's situation, knew not on which child to bestow her principal attention.\n\nThe servant, who saw only that Miss Marianne was taken ill, had sense enough to call one of the maids, who, with Mrs. Dashwood's assistance, supported her into the other room. By that time Marianne was rather better; and her mother, leaving her to the care of Margaret and the maid, returned to Elinor, who, though still much disordered, had so far recovered the use of her reason and voice as to be just beginning an enquiry of Thomas, as to the source of his intelligence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mrs. Dashwood immediately took all that trouble on herself; and Elinor had the benefit of the information without the exertion of seeking it.\n\n\"Who told you that Mr. Ferrars was married, Thomas?\"\n\n\"I see Mr. Ferrars myself, ma'am, this morning in Exeter, and his lady too, Miss Steele as was. They was stopping in a chaise at the door of the New London Inn, as I went there with a message from Sally at the Park to her brother, who is one of the post-boys. I happened to look up as I went by the chaise, and so I see directly it was the youngest Miss Steele; so I took off my hat, and she knew me and called to me, and enquired after you, ma'am, and the young ladies, especially Miss Marianne, and bid me I should give her compliments and Mr. Ferrars's, their best compliments and service, and how sorry they was they had not time to come on and see you; but they was in a great hurry to go forwards, for they was going further down for a little while, but howsever, when they come back, they'd make sure to come and see you.\"\n\n\"But did she tell you she was married, Thomas?\"\n\n\"Yes, ma'am. She smiled, and said how she had changed her name since she was in these parts. She was always a very affable and free-spoken young lady, and very civil behaved. So, I made free to wish her joy.'\n\n\"Was Mr. Ferrars in the carriage with her?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, ma'am, I just see him leaning back in it, but he did not look up: he never was a gentleman much for talking.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Elinor's heart could easily account for his not putting himself forward; and Mrs. Dashwood probably found the same explanation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Was there no one else in the carriage?\"\n\n\"No, ma'am, only they two.\"\n\n\"Do you know where they came from?\"\n\n\"They come straight from town, as Miss Lucy—Mrs. Ferrars told me.\"\n\n\"And are going farther westward?\"\n\n\"Yes, ma'am—but not to bide long. They will soon be back again, and then they'd be sure and call here.\"\n\nMrs. Dashwood now looked at her daughter; but Elinor knew better than to expect them. She recognised the whole of Lucy in the message, and was very confident that Edward would never come near them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She observed in a low voice, to her mother, that they were probably going down to Mr. Pratt's, near Plymouth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Thomas's intelligence seemed over." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Elinor looked as if she wished to hear more." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did you see them off, before you came away?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, ma'am—the horses was just coming out, but I could not bide any longer; I was afraid of being late.\"\n\n\"Did Mrs. Ferrars look well?\"\n\n\"Yes, ma'am, she said how she was very well; and to my mind she was always a very handsome young lady—and she seemed vastly contented.\"\n\nMrs. Dashwood could think of no other question; and Thomas and the table-cloth, now alike needless, were soon afterwards dismissed. Marianne had already sent to say, that she should eat nothing more. Mrs. Dashwood's and Elinor's appetites were equally lost; and Margaret might think herself very well off that, with so much uneasiness as both her sisters had lately experienced, so much reason as they had often had to be careless of their meals, she had never been obliged to go without her dinner before.\n\nWhen the dessert and the wine were arranged, and Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor were left by themselves, they remained long together in a similarity of thoughtfulness and silence. Mrs. Dashwood feared to hazard any remark, and ventured not to offer consolation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She now found that she had erred in relying on Elinor's representation of herself; and justly concluded that every thing had been expressly softened at the time, to spare her from an increase of unhappiness, suffering as she then had suffered for Marianne." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She found that she had been misled by the careful, the considerate attention of her daughter, to think the attachment, which once she had so well understood, much slighter in reality than she had been wont to believe, or than it was now proved to be. She feared that under this persuasion she had been unjust, inattentive, nay, almost unkind, to her Elinor; that Marianne's affliction, because more acknowledged, more immediately before her, had too much engrossed her tenderness, and led her away to forget that in Elinor she might have a daughter suffering almost as much, certainly with less self-provocation and greater fortitude." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "keep the story goin for like 1 sentence more. make it romance, slice of life, college-y" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was already cold." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not even fifteen minutes after my flight from Florida landed here in Maryland and I was already asking myself why I chose a college up north when I was used to living in the South." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It wasn't quite September, but it already felt like autumn here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The second I stepped out onto the sidewalk to hopefully flag down a cab, I noticed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The air here was cooler, the breeze not as gentle. And the humidity?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "There wasn't any." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not that I'd really miss the humidity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At least without it, my hair would be a little easier to manage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Like you even managed it before, a snarky voice in the back of my head reminded me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I snorted, and the man walking in front of me jerked and spun around like something was after him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My cheeks heated and I looked down at the sidewalk." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The line for the cabs was long." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As usual. So I waited toward the back of the crowd until most everyone had found a car." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But eventually, I had to move up and wave my hand out to one so they would stop." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The first two times, the cab drivers kept going." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I swear I could hear them laughing as they passed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Stupid cabbies,\" I muttered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As another one came over the small hill toward me, I was determined to flag him down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Standing out here half the day was not my idea of a good time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I needed to unpack and then get to the bookstore." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't want to end up with the crappy leftover picks of used textbooks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I stretched out my arm as far as I could and pushed back the sleeve of the too-big, brown sweater I was wearing so I could use my hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The cab driver looked at me; our eyes met through the windshield." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew that look." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was going to pass me, too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What was it about me that was so… so… easy to look over?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That's the way you wanted it, the voice in my head piped up again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Stupid voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even if it was right." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't give up, though." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Determination had me stretching my hand out just a little bit farther." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My money was just as good as the next person's." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Behind me, a loud whistle cut through the air, and I jerked and stumbled backward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I gasped and pressed a hand to my chest. My goodness!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The cab driver who'd just started driving past slammed on his brakes and stopped at the curb just ahead of me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I grumbled to myself as I strong-armed my giant suitcase back up onto its wheels." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd knocked the stupid thing over when I fell back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I don't know how." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It practically weighed more than me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A rich laugh floated over my head, and I looked up, pushing back the mop of dark hair hanging in my face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not your day, is it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "a man said to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked around as if searching for the person he was talking to." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His white teeth flashed, and he motioned at me with his chin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Need a hand with that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was talking to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I fought the urge to shrink back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hadn't I just been standing here wishing I wasn't so unnoticeable?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now that someone actually saw me, my reaction was to hide." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was a hot mess." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The guy, who seemed to maybe be a year or two older than me, had dark hair and dark eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was taller than me, but that really wasn't an accomplishment because everyone was, and he looked like he hadn't shaved in a while." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was actually kind of good-looking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If a girl liked that sort of rumpled style." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had no idea what kind of \"style\" I liked when it came to men." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I never bothered to ask myself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Still, as I stood here looking at him smiling, I realized he wasn't it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was something missing from this guy, something I wasn't even sure about." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He cleared his throat, and I realized he'd asked me a question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Good Lord, I'm standing here like a weirdo, gaping at him!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No thanks,\" I finally replied, trying to keep my voice from squeaking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can handle it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes crinkled at the corners and he laughed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sweetheart, I hate to break it to you, but that suitcase is the one handling you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I recoiled from his flirtatious tone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't flirt with men." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wasn't interested in them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, I guess technically I was because I was heterosexual, but I wasn't interested in dating." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He laughed as I continued to stand there having a mental showdown with myself and came forward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Having trouble getting a cab?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah,\" I said. No point in lying." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He likely saw me being passed up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Take mine,\" he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll whistle down another one.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is that the secret?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wondered. \"Whistling really loud?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He chuckled and picked up my bag before I could stop him. \"Doesn't hurt.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The cab driver got out of his seat and came around to open the trunk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The stranger put my suitcase inside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What do you have in there?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "he drawled once it was in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"A hundred pairs of shoes?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yeah, 'cause I looked like a girl with a hundred pairs of shoes. \"Books,\" I replied." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ah, a woman with a sexy mind.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ew." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How dare he think about my mind that way!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not that I should be surprised." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That's all men ever thought about." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sex." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, thanks for the cab,\" I said and started forward, skirting around him so we didn't get too close." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He opened the door of the cab and held it for me. \"Anytime.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inside, I leaned forward and said, \"Alpha University dorms.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I sat back, the stranger was still holding open the door and looking at me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It made me uncomfortable and slightly embarrassed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So what's your name, girl with the sexy mind?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't have one,\" I said, my voice high pitched." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then I shot forward, grabbed the door, and slammed it closed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The shock on the guy's face was almost funny." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The cabbie laughed and pulled away from the corner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Guess you weren't interested,\" he drawled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No,\" I said, then turned my face to stare out the window." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I most certainly wasn't interested in guys who tried to pick me up at the airport." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wasn't interested in dating at all." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There wasn't one guy in this entire state that could change my mind on that fact." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wasn't here at Alpha U to date. I was here to study." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write five sentences sentences spawning from what the user wrote, within the romance, slice of life, college genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By the time I made it to the second floor with every last bag, box, and suitcase I brought to campus with me, I was certain I'd completed my yearly quota for cardio.\n\nIt made me regret not taking my brother up on his offer to drive behind me and help me get settled in.\n\n'Course, if I'd agreed to that, Drew would have spent the entire time bossing me around. Then he would've given me a lecture about the reasons I didn't need so many clothes.\n\nAs if there were any kind of logical argument for that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Besides, I was a big girl. A sophomore in college. I could handle move-in day all on my own. I thought about last year, my freshman year, when I first showed up here at the dorm. Both my parents and my brothers were with me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We looked like a herd of cattle moving across the campus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even though it was embarrassing as hell, I'd still been grateful because I'd been so nervous. It was the first time I'd really been \"on my own\" without family hovering around me.\n\nI had no idea what to expect.\n\nIt didn't take long to figure out what everyone else expected. I was blond, blue-eyed, and liked clothes and makeup." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That instantly gave people an impression." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So naturally, I believed what everyone else thought, what everyone else assumed.\n\nIt was fun to be the party girl. It was fun to be the one who got invited to everything. Parties I could actually go to because I didn't have my annoying brothers following me around or my mom calling me every ten minutes to remind me of my curfew.\n\nAfter I dumped everything in the center of my assigned room, I looked around the small rectangle, deciding on which side I should take." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My roommate wasn't here yet, so that meant I got first dibs on the beds." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not like it was some big advantage, though." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were the exact same, just on opposite sides of the room.\n\nI decided on the one to my left, for no other reason than that's the side I naturally gravitated toward. Using my feet, I pushed all my stuff over to that side of the room and then set the box with all my new bedding on the end of the mattress. It was all freshly washed and ready to be put on.\n\nLaughter floated into the empty room from out in the hall and distracted me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I pulled out my phone and texted my friend Missy to see if she was back on campus yet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We'd met freshman year and had become friends pretty quickly.\n\nMissy was here and was on the floor below mine. I abandoned my stuff and went down to her room. The door was propped open as her roommate moved in a few boxes. Missy's stuff was already inside, and she was unpacking a bunch of yellow and gray bedding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hey, girl!\" she chirped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How was your summer?\"\n\n\"It was good. How about you?\"\n\n\"Same,\" she replied, tossing some pillows on the bed. \"So guess who knows of a really good party tonight?\"\n\n\"You've been on campus, what, like twenty minutes, and already you have the down low on a party? Where do you get your info?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Missy giggled. \"I have my ways.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mm-hmm,\" I said and started looking through a box of her clothes. She had some cute stuff in there.\n\nShe sighed. \"Fine. I heard some cheerleaders talking about it out in the hallway.\"\n\nI laughed. \"So where is this party?\"\n\n\"Out in the field.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd been to lots of parties out there last year." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were fun, and it was a popular place for the football players to party. So basically, that's where the in crowd went.\n\n\"Sounds good to me.\"\n\n\"Awesome! We need to let off some steam before the semester starts.\"\n\n\"Wear this,\" I said and tossed her a black lacey top." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She snatched it up and laid it out on her bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Now I just have to search for the pants that match.\"\n\n\"Speaking of, I better go unpack or I'm not gonna be able to find anything to wear either.\"\n\nMissy waved her fingers at me and reached for another box. \"I'll come get you later and we can go to the party together.\"\n\nI told her my room number and left, taking myself back up the stairs to unpack." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I arrived back on the second floor and stepped out of the stairwell into the hall, I noticed there was crap lying everywhere." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Like it looked like some kind of stuff-nado ripped through and left the place littered with random crap. Pens, pencils, little notebooks, lip balm, gum…\n\nA couple girls walking down the hall snickered, looking in the direction of my room.\n\nI hurried down the hall, noticing the door to my room was open. The loud sound of things being dropped or spilled echoed out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I picked my way carefully over all the stuff as someone came rushing out the door and almost barreled into me.\n\n\"Whoa!\" I said and backed up, my foot snapping a pencil in half.\n\n\"I'm sorry!\" a girl said in a soft yet somehow squeaky voice. Then she dropped onto the floor and began picking up everything.\n\n\"Is this your dorm room?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked, staring down at the top of her dark head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Oh, awesome. I'm Ivy. Your roomie.\"\n\nThe girl's head snapped up and her eyes widened. She had on large, black-rimmed glasses and no makeup at all. Even though most of her wild hair covered half her face, I knew she was pretty." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, if she combed her hair and maybe put on some lip-gloss.\n\nShe stood up with stuff filling her hands and smiled at me kind of shyly. \"I'm not usually this messy. My bag spilled when I was trying to find the room key.\"\n\n\"No worries,\" I said and bent to pick up everything else. \"If you have as much stuff as I do, then I don't blame you for dropping half of it. Those stairs are a workout.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She turned and went back in the room, and I followed, letting the door close behind us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I dropped my handful of her things on the end of her bed, and she did the same." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm Rimmel,\" she said, pushing her hair back over her shoulders.\n\n\"Like the makeup,\" I said.\n\n\"What?\"\n\nI gave her a bewildered look. \"There's a makeup brand called Rimmel London. Haven't you heard of it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't wear makeup,\" she said, shy, and ducked her head.\n\n\"Well, you're pretty enough without it,\" I answered.\n\nShe glanced up and smiled. Something told me this girl was the shiest person I'd ever meet. I knew just by looking at her she didn't have very much confidence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I guess I understood her in that regard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I just handled my lack of it a lot different than her. For me, I tried too hard to get people to like me and I worried a lot about what other people thought. But Rimmel? I knew from just two minutes in her presence that she was the kind who didn't try at all.\n\nAnd where was all her stuff? She literally had one huge suitcase and a bag." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Where the hell were all her clothes?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Speaking of… She was wearing an unfortunate brown sweater that looked like it came from the nineteen thirties and a pair of loose, dark-colored pants that probably had a drawstring waist." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She needed a fashion intervention. STAT.\n\nShe was standing there looking at me like she was either:\n\nA) Waiting for me to say something rude to her.\n\nB) Trying to come up with something to say to start a conversation.\n\nBoth reasons made me feel kinda bad." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Like it bothered me she expected people to be rude to her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "'Course, I totally saw why she would think that way. People were mean; women were vicious to other women.\n\nHence, I did myself up every day and partied with the right crowd.\n\nRimmel was small, socially awkward, and judging by the mess in the hall, she was clumsy. She'd probably been bullied half her life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So,\" I said conversationally, going over to my side of the room. \"I picked this bed, but if you'd rather have it, I'm happy to trade.\"\n\n\"This side of the room is fine, thanks,\" she said and wrestled her giant suitcase onto its side so she could unzip it.\n\n\"Did you go here last year?\" I asked.\n\n\"Yeah, but I was in a different dorm.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Cool. I was in this dorm last year, too. I was on the first floor, though. Let me tell you… Made moving in a lot easier. I have a couple friends in the building. Missy's going to stop by later. We're going to a party on campus. You should come.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was met with an odd kind of silence, so I looked away from the bedding I was stretching onto my mattress and turned to her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was staring at me with shock in her eyes. \"You're inviting me to a party?\"\n\nI shrugged. \"Sure. You don't like parties?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nOh boy. I hoped she wasn't going to be the kind of roommate that went running to the floor advisor when I was late for curfew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Parties aren't my thing,\" she said by way of explanation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you care if parties are my thing?\" I asked.\n\nShe shook her head. \"Is bringing random guys back to our room your thing?\"\n\n\"Not at all.\" I assured her.\n\n\"I don't care if you like parties.\" She shrugged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Whew.\" I blew out a breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"For a minute there I thought you were going to be a pain in my ass.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rimmel's eyes widened.\n\n\"Kidding,\" I said and laughed. She took everything so seriously. I glanced at her suitcase. It was filled with books." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have lots of clothes. If you ever want to borrow anything, feel free.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thanks,\" she mumbled. \"Feel free to use some of the drawer space over here.\"\n\n\"Really? That's awesome of you.\"\n\nShe turned back to her books and started unpacking them all, placing them on the shelves above the desk beside her bed.\n\nShe didn't seem bad for a roommate. I could have been assigned one that was much worse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But she definitely didn't seem like the type that was going to be a fast friend." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I kinda wondered if she would ever be a friend at all." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Story collab\nMe: Opening\nYou: seven sentences more, Cambria Hebert-style" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Technically, the semester hadn't started yet, but the big open field where everyone partied was full of people." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wouldn't be surprised if people came back early just so they could party." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I parked on the edge of the dirt road beside some tall grass, and we walked over to where everyone had gathered. There was no big bonfire tonight like there usually was during football season. It was a little early for that.\n\nBut some of the guys here had their trucks pulled up close to the clearing and their headlights were on, illuminating the darkness.\n\nSomeone had loud music pumping through their speakers, and people were dancing, laughing, and drinking all over the place.\n\nMissy and I found the drinks, helped ourselves, and then went around mingling with some of the familiar faces and checking out the new ones.\n\nOn the other side of the field was a large group of guys, all huge and all loud." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew immediately it was the Wolves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alpha University was serious about their football, and those players were like celebrities around campus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My eyes scanned the group for one player in particular, the quarterback, Romeo." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was basically the alpha of the pack." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was tall, blond, and had a set of blue eyes that made every single girl on campus swoon.\n\nTo say he was popular would be an understatement.\n\nHe was the king of the status pyramid. If you were in with Romeo, then you were in with everyone. Period.\n\nMaybe that's why I sought him out. That kind of power was attractive, but it was also noteworthy. Watching to see what he was up to was just natural curiosity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was easy to spot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His blond hair was like a beacon against the dark night." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of course, people surrounded him, and he laughed at whatever the dude beside him was saying. Romeo was also a big player. There wasn't a girl on campus who'd managed to hold his attention for more than a few days.\n\nHonestly, I never tried. I'd thought about it. Like I said, being in with him would basically make sure I was in with everyone. But something held me back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe it was because I knew Romeo wasn't the guy for me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Or maybe it was because I hadn't had enough to drink yet.\n\nAs I sipped at the beer in my hand, my eyes slid to Braeden, Romeo's partner in crime. Those two were always together, completely attached at the hip. It was kinda adorable.\n\nEvery party one was at last year, the other one was, too. I guess the same could be said about Missy and me, but my friendship with her was only a year old. The one between Romeo and Braeden was clearly a lot more cemented than that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Braeden was a dog." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Worse than Romeo. He was forever cracking some kind of lame joke, and he hit on everything with boobs that walked by.\n\nHe was good-looking, though. I'd never admit it out loud, but he was more my type than Romeo. I liked Braeden's dark looks. His dark hair and eyes gave him a little more of a brooding quality. But when he smiled—which he did a lot because the guy thought he was hilarious—it transformed that brooding air into an ornery troublemaker.\n\nI'd never admit this out loud either, but he was kinda charming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He's so hot.\" Missy sighed.\n\nI followed her gaze back to the same place I was looking. \"Romeo?\" I asked.\n\n\"Yeah, him, too.\"\n\nI glanced at her, and we both laughed.\n\n\"Come on,\" she said. \"Let's go dance.\"\n\nI downed the rest of my beer on the way to the dance floor, and I lost myself in the music and fun. Guys came and went." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I danced with a lot of them. One even stole a kiss before I laughed and pulled away.\n\nHours passed, and the beer flowed. My feet were hurting from all the fun when I finally announced I was ready to go.\n\nMissy drove my car back to the dorm. She was the DD tonight, because after just two drinks, it became clear that a summer without drinking at all had lowered my tolerance.\n\nWhen I finally let myself in the dorm, it was after two a.m." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd forgotten I had stuff still piled on my side of the room, and I tripped over it and hit my knee on the bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oww!\" I howled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A startled, muffled yell came from the other side of the room, and a small light clicked on." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I giggled when Rimmel blinked at me. Her hair was wild. \"Sorry, Rimmel. I forgot about all this stuff.\"\n\n\"Are you just getting in?\" she asked, squinting at the clock beside her bed, trying to read it without her glasses.\n\n\"Yeah.\" I laughed. I knew I was still buzzed, but I couldn't keep from acting like it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You missed a good party.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you drunk?\" she asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Who me?\" I pointed to myself. \"Nah.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rimmel giggled and pointed at my bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Better lie down before you hurt yourself.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good idea,\" I said and dropped on the bed.\n\n\"Might want to take off those heels.\"\n\n\"My feet do hurt,\" I said, and I started to pull them off. It took forever and I almost gave up.\n\nFinally, when they were gone, I quickly exchanged my clothes for a set of super cute pink pajamas and used a wipe to remove all my makeup. Sleeping in makeup was a big skin no-no. I might have been tipsy, but I wasn't so drunk I would neglect my skin care." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ivy?\" Rimmel asked from somewhere in the pile of blankets on her bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did you drive tonight?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Missy drove us back. She was the DD.\"\n\n\"Oh, that's good. I'm glad.\"\n\nI finished up and poured myself into bed and sighed.\n\nRimmel reached up and turned off the light, the room sinking into blissful darkness.\n\n\"I better not be hung-over tomorrow,\" I muttered.\n\nRimmel's laugh floated over to my side.\n\nA few minutes later, Rimmel's voice filled the darkness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was surprised she was talking to me again. She was usually pretty quiet. \"Ivy, if you ever go to a party and need a ride home, you can call me. I don't have a car, but I'll figure something out.\"\n\n\"You'd do that?\"\n\n\"Sure.\"\n\n\"Wow. You're a good friend,\" I said and snuggled down into the pillows.\n\nRimmel didn't say anything at all." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I was drifting off to sleep, I thought I heard her speak again, but maybe it was the beer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This is definitely going to be an interesting year,\" she whispered.\n\nMy last thought before falling asleep was, I agree.\n\n⁂\n\n[ Hashtag Series Bonus Scene #2 ]\n\n[ Starring Romeo & Rimmel by Cambria Hebert ]\n\n[ Romeo ]\n\n\"I'll take it.\" I was standing on the freshly manicured lawn, staring up at the two-story, four-bedroom house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a nice place. Actually, it was better than nice. It was in one of the best neighborhoods in this town and, despite being an older home, was newly redone.\n\nI wasn't about to rent anything less than this for the most important person in my life to live in.\n\nBeside me, the real estate agent tried to hide her excitement. \"That's wonderful, Mr. Anderson. I'm so thrilled I could help you find something so quickly.\"\n\nI turned toward her and gave her my full smile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're good at your job.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "In reality, I knew exactly what I wanted and had said as much before I even got in her car." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was working against a ticking clock. I didn't have time to tour half the town.\n\nThe first place she showed me was in the wrong neighborhood, and it didn't have an alarm system.\n\nThe second place didn't have a garage.\n\nWhen we got in the car again, I told her to take me to the Palisades and show me something worth my time.\n\n\"But the price…\" she said, like Rimmel's safety, my entire family's safety, could have a price tag on it.\n\nShe didn't even finish the sentence because the look on my face said it all." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I might be good-looking and laidback, but I knew how to convey what I wanted with a single glance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She cleared her throat and drove straight here.\n\nThe second I walked through the wide yellow front door, saw the dark hardwood floors, light-painted walls, open concept, and spacious bedrooms, I knew I'd found the one.\n\nIt also helped that it had a fenced-in backyard, a garage, and a new security system. I could almost picture Murphy perched on the black granite island, waiting for a barefooted Rim to hand him a pile of treats.\n\nBeside me, the real estate agent blushed under the effects of my praise.\n\nNah. It was my smile that had her all flustered.\n\n\"Now we can set an appointment to go over the application, sign the papers, and of course, the first and last month will be due,\" she rushed out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I lifted my hand and cut her off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm ready to sign now. I'll go back to your office with you.\"\n\n\"But I'll need to call the homeowner and—\"\n\nAgain, I held up my hand. \"Of course,\" I replied smoothly. \"I'll get on the line and introduce myself, let him know I need to get this done quickly, as I'll be leaving for camp for the Knights.\"\n\nShe nodded with wide eyes. I gave her another smile, and she practically giggled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sure once he hears I'll cut him a check for the first year's rent, in full, this afternoon, he will accommodate the quick timeline.\"\n\n\"The full year…\" Her voice trailed.\n\nI smiled even wider.\n\nA few hours later, all the papers were signed, the rent was taken care of, and the homeowner authorized me to take possession of the property immediately.\n\nAnd that's how you get shit done.\n\nWell, maybe not you.\n\nBut that's how I did." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I walked out of the office feeling pretty damn pleased with myself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I climbed in the Hellcat and fired up the engine, I tossed the paperwork on the empty seat beside me and thought about how to tell Rim.\n\nWhen I'd told her I had stuff to do today, I knew she would never have guessed I'd be going out house hunting.\n\nA little of the confidence I felt wavered.\n\nShe wasn't going to like this.\n\nNot at first anyway.\n\nI found it cute as hell and sort of charming that Rim wasn't affected by my charisma and megawatt smile like everyone else… except, of course, when I needed to get what I wanted.\n\nConvincing her to move in with me on a permanent basis was an occasion I coulda used some of my manly goods for coercion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But it wasn't going to be easy." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I smiled and threw the Cat into reverse.\n\nThat's okay. I liked a challenge." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "NarrativeBot: Extend text by 4 sentences sentences. Replicate Alyson Santos's style. Maintain sports, music, romance, contemporary genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She stares at No One in the mirror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No One laughs like her\n\nNo One cries like her\n\nNo One smiles, lies, or hides like her.\n\nNo One believes like her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No One breathes like her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No One's heart beats and bleeds like hers" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No One sees like her\n\nNo One loves like her\n\nBut no one does these anymore…\n\n[ GENEVIEVE ]" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mirrors." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They should be a refuge for a pop princess. Icons should love gazing at their own magnificence. Heaven knows the world believes Genevieve Fox does little else. Too bad that's not even my real name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hadley still hasn't returned to the dressing room with my lunch and the schedule for today's events. Normally, I'd welcome the rare solitude, but today feels different. Today my foreign reflection isn't equipped for this afternoon's charitable rendezvous—highly-publicized charity, of course. After all, it's not every day a terminally ill child gets to meet a pop icon and a professional hockey player in the same breath… although it happens more often than you'd think when you're the pop fairy granting wishes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I call these types of outings The Goodwill Shows—not to be confused with The Glamour Shows, The Publicity Shows, The Freak Shows, The Peep Shows, and of course, the actual show shows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My entire existence is a long-running performance fashioned solely for the consumption of others." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Who is Genevieve Fox?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Who isn't she. Today she's a nurturing philanthropist." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Last night she was a cable TV sex goddess. Tomorrow… I need my assistant's schedule for that.\n\n\"Sorry it took so long. The lineup at the coffee shop was insane,\" Hadley says, breezing past my security with a cup carrier and salad. \"Your lunch, milady.\" She hands me my royal kale mix with a slight bow, and I roll my eyes at my oldest (only?) friend." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Also, your parents called. They're here and want to know if they should come back now or if you'll meet them afterward.\"\n\n\"Thanks. I'm so hungry.\" Well, I was. My stomach cramps with a different kind of pain at the thought of suffering through a meeting with my mom and dad right now. \"After, and not on site. See if we can do an early dinner or something.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They won't like that. You pushed them off yesterday too.\" She shrinks and lifts her hands at my glare. \"Just saying.\"\n\n\"Their request has been logged. So what's the plan for this thing?\"\n\n\"Let me grab the schedule.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hadley pulls out her phone, while I crack open the salad container." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Other than a fruit cup and yogurt, I haven't eaten all day. We just flew into L.A. this morning after last night's taping in New York, and the car took us straight from the airport to the L.A. Trojans training facility for today's Goodwill Show. Oddly enough, this is my first time in a professional hockey team's training center. I've performed in hockey arenas around the world, but never a practice facility." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm sure my standard hockey-fan persona will work just fine for this. It's one of the few personas that's real. I even commissioned a custom Trojans crop top for the event. Go Trojans.\n\n\"Okay, looks like you have about an hour until we need to be on the ice for the meet-and-greet. There will be five children total, and you will address each one first… wait, no… hang on.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She skims the screen while I chew my kale like a champ. \"Sorry, you're second. The hockey player is first, then you. You each give the kid a hug or whatever, maybe say a few words. They're looking for about a minute max per kid. Then you all line up for the money shots and that's it.\"\n\n\"Any gifts?\" I ask through a mouthful of food. There's no time for demure when cameras aren't rolling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Stuff has to get done sometime.\n\n\"Hmm… good question. I don't see anything. The hockey player is presenting a personalized jersey, but there are no notes for you. Let me check on that.\"\n\nThe Hockey Player. I smirk at the generic title. Swap it out for anything and you have the same event. The Hospital Director." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Group Home Manager. The Game Warden, Prison Warden, Building Warden. Hadley doesn't even bother with names anymore. Pretty sure she has a template she uses for each of these affairs. Insert co-host here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Insert gift here. Insert schmooze time here. Cameras, cameras, cameras… and out.\n\nBut, yeah, this one feels different. Today feels different." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I woke up with my chest constricted, my mind chaotic from the rush of something heavy and dark." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Stress, maybe. But every second of every day has been stress since I was old enough to be paraded in front of cameras. No, this is worse. It's sinister. A shadow that made my few seconds in front of the mirror just now unbearable.\n\n\"You okay?\" Hadley asks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I blink over at her, realizing I missed the last few things she'd said. \"Oh, yeah. Fine.\"\n\nHer eyes change as she studies me, and I look away. No time to explain the unexplainable. I hate mirrors now, Hadley. Fix that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Who's The Hockey Player anyway?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I ask by way of a distraction." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe I'm kind of curious too. Growing up in L.A., I've been a Trojans fan most of my life.\n\n\"Oh. Um…\" She checks her notes. \"Oliver Levesque.\"\n\nThe injured goalie? Hmm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I suppose he's still a big name with the savior-of-the-franchise phenom status bestowed upon him in his rookie season last year." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But that was before The Hit Heard Around the NHL." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There's talk he'll be out this entire season with a vicious ACL tear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Levesque? Isn't he on injured reserve right now?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hadley returns a dry look. \"Uh, what's injured reserve? Also, what's hockey?\"\n\n\"Right, sorry. Not your thing,\" I say with a smile. \"I just mean… Well, maybe that makes sense. His schedule is probably pretty clear at the moment.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Playoff hero to team PR whore? He can't be happy about that.\n\nHadley's face scrunches into a mix of admiration and disgust. \"It's adorable how much you know about hockey.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's criminal how much you don't.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Perfect complements we are. It's what makes us such a great team.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I return her smile, but the mood settles again as she gets lost in her work and I get lost in my head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Because once it's silent… there's that horrible mirror again. I hear it shouting from across the room, reaching out invisible tentacles to reel me in. It wants me to look, always looking but never finding. Always seeing but never understanding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She stares at no one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And suddenly, I can't breathe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This room is too big and too small and too bright and just too freaking much right now.\n\n\"Hey, so, I'm gonna take a walk before showtime. Clear my head. We have a few minutes, right?\"\n\nHadley glances up, concern etched into her face. She nods slowly, her gaze locked on me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You sure you're okay?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I force a smile—my killer, show-stopping one—and close the container of half-eaten salad." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Absolutely. Just, you know, with the pace lately, I need a minute. I'll be back in time for touch-ups before we go out.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You want company?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, I'll be fine. You have a lot to do. In fact, keep them also.\" I motion toward Brett and Walt stationed at the entrance.\n\n\"They won't like you wandering around alone.\"\n\nI smirk and push to my feet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, well, they do like what I pay them, so they can suck it up.\"\n\nOnce I escape that stifling mirror, the air comes a little easier. The practice building is smaller than the cavernous arenas I'm accustomed to, more laidback and intimate with its carpeted hallways and team memorabilia lining the walls. Best part, with the Trojans out of town on an East Coast road trip, this place is a ghost village except for the occasional maintenance worker or member of my crew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'm sure the main rink area is packed with press and guests, but back here, I'm free to be no one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Gosh, I just want to be no one for a while." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I run my fingers along the wall as I wander the corridors like a new Disney princess in her first castle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I started singing, would a handful of creepy talking rodents assemble? Maybe those annoyingly happy birds. See, no one talks about the excrement those rats and birds would leave behind. Still, I'll take a fake castle over a real one any day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The deserted conference room could be my pretend dining hall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The training rooms, my royal spa." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Oh, and the weight room—" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Fuck!\"\n\nI stop cold at the cry—very close, very male, and very violent. Peeking through the wall of glass to the team gym, I find two men glaring intently at each other.\n\n\"Ollie, you need to stop for today.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I can do it!\"\n\n\"I'm serious, man. You've been at it since the crack of dawn and—\"\n\n\"I can fucking do it, Carlos!\"\n\nThe older man grunts and steps back as the younger one lifts his right leg to balance on his left." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He lowers about an inch, holding the position for a split second before buckling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Carlos lurches forward to catch him before he hits the ground. A long string of French expletives rushes from his lips as his trainer helps him to a nearby weight bench. I don't speak French, but I'm fluent in frustration.\n\nThe player shoves his hands in his hair, pulling hard while the older man looks on with a mixture of sympathy and severity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're pushing too hard, Oliver. You have to follow the protocol.\"\n\n\"I know.\" Oliver doesn't look up, his fingers gripping harder in his medium-length brown locks.\n\n\"Look, I get how difficult this is, but it's imperative that we not rush this.\"\n\n\"I know.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There's a reason for the protocol. If you push too hard, you'll re-injure—\"\n\n\"I fucking know, okay?\" he snaps, blasting a glare at the trainer. His dark eyes flare with anger. Pain. Frustration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Failure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I bet he despises mirrors right now as well.\n\nHe releases a heavy sigh and shakes his head. \"I'm sorry. I just…\"\n\nCarlos' expression softens as he clasps Oliver's shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's hell, man. I know it is, but you're gonna get through it. We're getting you back on the ice, got it?\"\n\nOliver returns a weak nod that tugs at something inside me. In fact, my entire stomach feels clenched in one giant knot.\n\n\"Okay, well you have about a half hour to get ready for that meet-and-greet. Grab a shower and clear your head. You did good today.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oliver huffs a dry laugh as the trainer moves toward the exit. I'm far enough from the door that the man doesn't see me when he takes off in the other direction. Oliver clearly doesn't know he has an audience either when he swats at his eyes. Tears of pain or anger, I don't know, but they only last a second." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cursing again, he pushes himself to his feet and rips off his sweat-soaked shirt to wipe his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe I'm a creeper, but the fires of hell couldn't chase me from this view." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My life revolves around beautiful people and beautiful bodies, but there's something about this man's raw power combined with the raw pain on his face that takes my breath away. Every muscle in his form is trained to its flawless peak, and yet physical perfection can't overcome the one weakness that's knocked him down. A few tattoos litter his skin and burn more questions into my inquisitive brain. Why the desolate tree on his ribs?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The weathered guitar on his shoulder?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The script emblazoned over his heart? There's more on his right arm but he turns too quickly for me to interpret them. All I see now is a broad, sculpted back clearly unaccustomed to weakness. I shudder at the contrast of what those shoulders should do and can't." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, Oliver Levesque is an astonishing human specimen, a gladiator, a god—and young." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Gosh, so young, like me, but with that same ancient soul that lives a much older existence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Is he alone on a distant plane as well?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What happens when you live for a game that's moved on without you?\n\nI see all of that when he faces the window to the hallway again, his harsh reality fully on display now that he thinks no one's watching. He takes a tentative step, grimacing in a way he wasn't a moment ago in the show for his trainer. The mask. The lie." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The story that everything's fine when inside it's an exploding nightmare thrashing to come out. But it won't. It can't when you're the hopes and dreams of everyone else. When you're Genevieve Fox.\n\nI watch the young hockey player limp across the weight room toward the showers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And maybe when you're Oliver Levesque." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oliver is a different man when he joins us in the conference room twenty minutes later. Still smelling strongly of shampoo and bodywash, he's obviously cleansed himself of any visible demons as well. The ends of his wet hair curl around a backwards Trojans ball cap, and a Trojans tee stretches over his broad shoulders, hinting at the power beneath. His smile is wide and contagious." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dark eyes that blistered with pain just minutes ago now glow with a warmth that has me wondering if I misinterpreted that entire scene in the weight room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Have I met someone who plays the game as well as I do?\n\n\"It's so strange to be in this room without Coach yelling at me,\" he says, eyes bright with humor. Everyone laughs, quickly falling under his spell. Can't really blame them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even I'm cracking a real smile through my polished lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Genevieve, it's so nice to meet you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His Quebec accent stirs my blood, sending my thoughts back to an expletive-laced stream of frustration. Dimensions—complicated is my kryptonite. And his eyes. Up close, a girl doesn't stand a chance against those dark thick lashes and hint of laidback amusement. A small dimple appears in his left cheek when he smiles, and his brows are so perfect they almost look sculpted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His whole face really, but there's no way the man I saw in the weight room gives a second thought to his appearance. In my refined and polished world, Oliver's effortless appeal might be the most infectious thing about him. He walked out of the shower like this; my routine takes an entire morning.\n\nI take his hand, returning my own well-trained smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Great to meet you as well,\" I say, lifting my gaze to his. He's a good foot taller, so it's no easy feat.\n\nOur fingers linger in a strange connection, and our smiles falter for the briefest of seconds. He lets go first, tucking his hands in the back pockets of his jeans." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's so nice of you to visit us here. I'm sure you're very busy,\" he says." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I try not to notice how his t-shirt stretches over his chest when he stands in that position, again highlighting the toned body beneath it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's my pleasure. I'm just glad you're not getting yelled at for once,\" I tease. Tease? I did, didn't I. Well, that's a first.\n\nHis return laugh coaxes my smile into genuine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Our eyes remain locked in that same strange bond, a spark shooting through me as he searches. What is wrong with me? I glimpsed his secret and now I want more. Professional curiosity, that's what it is." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Must be. A desire to pick his brain about how he survives the endless glare of a lying spotlight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No, my hungry gaze has nothing to do with the way he's staring into me now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Like maybe I'm a puzzle he wants to solve as well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm used to being looked at, but not in.\n\nI clear my throat and tear my gaze away. Hadley's waiting with a pensive expression when I focus on her, and I shudder at how well she reads me. The Trojan's community relations director calls us to attention to review the plan, and I do my best to avoid Oliver's dangerous gaze for the rest of the meeting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Focus, that's what I need right now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Heaven knows my brain is already filled to capacity with distractions.\n\nBut there's no avoiding his presence throughout the rest of the meeting. He's a force I feel even when I'm not looking… all because I saw something I wasn't supposed to.\n\nOn the ice, equilibrium returns." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'm much more confident once cameras are flashing and a fixed smile is enough to satisfy those around me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That's all anyone wants from me anyway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A moment. A speck of time they can display as a trophy in their real lives to their real friends." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Me, I'm an accessory. A commodity who grins and waves and flashes green eyes no one knows reflect bits of brown in the sun.\n\n\"No way! You have three hamsters?\"\n\nI glance over at Oliver's laugh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It's magnetic to me somehow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How his face becomes the sound. I can't look away. He's crouched beside one of the children and looks genuinely happy to be there. The little boy is enamored, that much is clear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe I would be too if that laugh and bright stare were directed at me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yep!\" the little boy says, holding up his hand. \"Jim.\" He ticks off one finger. \"Steve. And Winston.\"\n\n\"Oh man. Do you feed them and help take care of them?\"\n\nThe boy nods his bald head vigorously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mommy says I can be a vetry-narian when I grow up.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh yeah? For sure you can,\" Oliver says." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He plucks a jersey from the stack on his shoulder and checks the name. \"Richards?\" he asks, verifying the boy's last name. The child nods, and Oliver stretches the jersey out in front of his little body. \"What do you think? You want to be an honorary Trojan?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, please!\" the boy says, bouncing on his toes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Oliver grins and helps fit the jersey over his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cameras assault the sweet exchange from all angles, but Oliver doesn't seem to notice. He certainly doesn't let it affect his interaction with the Richards boy. They're an oasis, a brush of authenticity and peace in this fabricated scene. Oliver made it real." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Deep longing wells within me to join their island, but I'd only break it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My own interactions with the kids made great photos but little else. Right now, I'm standing awkwardly next to a seven-year-old girl in a wheelchair, waiting for my turn with the hamster kid since my smile session with her is complete. Three down, two to go was my thought a second ago. It seems callous now, and I swallow a twinge of regret." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I turn back to the girl to try again, but her gaze is glued to Oliver as well. Guess I can't blame her.\n\nOliver adjusts to stand, and a flicker of pain skims over his face. Crap, his knee. His smile falters as he reaches beside him to brace his fists on the carpet beneath us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Without thinking, I step over and grip his arm to help him up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His gaze snaps to mine in surprise, but he doesn't pull away. Instead, he forces a brief smile and mumbles a thanks. I don't believe this one as much as the others. His bicep tightens in my hands when I tug, and my entire grip isn't enough to connect around his thick upper arm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The scene must look ridiculous from the outside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Me, a tiny pop princess, trying to support the weight of a hockey gladiator twice my size. I don't know how much I helped when he finally gets to his feet, but I catch the hiss of air he inhales. Instinctively, I glance at his knee as if I'll see bone fragments jutting through his jeans.\n\nWith a weak smile, he thanks me again and moves toward the next child." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He has a slight limp now, and his fist flexes at his side sending ripples of tense muscle up and down his arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This time when he reaches the girl, he bends at the waist and rests his palms on his thighs to get as close to eyelevel as possible. But his smile for her? Still sincere.\n\n\"How are you feeling?\" I ask, twisting off the cap of a water bottle back in the conference room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The event has wrapped, and for some reason I feel exhausted. More than usual, anyway, and I'm not sure if it's the weight of my sour mood from this morning or something more problematic—like my fascination with a certain hockey player. My brain is heavy with details of his every movement and interaction today. Somehow it's become a sponge that soaked up each smile and frown and laugh and flex and expression… yes, \"fascinated\" is a good word." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Obsessed is too dangerous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I try to convince myself I'm just curious about his foreign approach to the spotlight, but the small ember of panic that's burning low in my gut suggests otherwise. Once we finish our snacks, my connection with Oliver Levesque will end. Forever. I will be that time he met Genevieve Fox. For some reason the thought of being reduced to a timestamp for him hurts more than the others." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm fine,\" he says with a quick smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His gaze flickers over mine, almost shy, before he focuses back on the sports drink in his own hands. \"Thank you for your help on the ice. I'm still not used to…\" His voice fades out, and a muscle moves in his jaw.\n\nWeakness.\n\n\"Are you in a lot of pain?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I take a swallow of water to lighten my question." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just making conversation. Small talk. I'm an expert at that. But when he lowers those brown eyes on me, there's nothing small in his response. In fact, there's nothing small about him period." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not really. Only sometimes after PT and training, but I'm working through it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I know. I want to say. I saw." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's why I can't seem to leave you alone.\n\nInstead, \"how long since your injury?\" Even though I know the answer to that too. Everyone does.\n\n\"About eleven weeks. Seven since surgery.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looks away again, and I fight the urge to ask more questions about it. That must be all he gets anymore, all he is. How he's defined, assessed, and valued. He's become his injury." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No wonder he's pushing so hard to overcome it. He's nothing but an ACL tear now.\n\n\"How's your family?\" I ask. I read somewhere they're close, even though he lives across the continent now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I thank whatever article dropped that hint when his expression noticeably lifts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They're doing well. I'm hoping to visit them in a few weeks. Once we're further into my rehab.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're still in Quebec?\"\n\nHe nods, training that heart-stopping smile on me. And stop me it does. I pull in a quick inhale at the effect." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Don't say goodbye. Don't leave, my mind is pleading. I've known him for an hour and his light has become a craving.\n\n\"Northern Quebec. A little town you've never heard of. But my sister turns eighteen next month. I'd like to see her.\"\n\n\"You have a sister?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He laughs. \"Four actually.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Four?\" I gasp out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And two brothers.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh my gosh! There are seven of you? Your poor mother.\"\n\nHe laughs again and nods. \"I know. She is a saint. Our house only has four bedrooms so it was a zoo. Fun, though.\" A wistful look drifts over his face before he glances away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You miss them?\"\n\nHe nods. \"Don't get me wrong, I like L.A. and my teammates, but…\" He shakes off the rest of the thought. \"Anyway, what about you?\"\n\n\"I definitely don't have six siblings,\" I say with a smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Any?\"\n\nI shake my head. \"Just me. And my parents.\" I blink away the rest of my thought as well." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'm sure my face doesn't light up like his when I talk about family." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What expression goes with \"cordial?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That's what he'd get." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My parents are polite and in favor of their daughter being an international superstar to make them important. He's an ACL tear, and I'm a marionette. Except, his wound will heal. Mine has festered since birth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Panic returns at the stall in the conversation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The social clock ticks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He studies the bottle in his hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I stare at my feet.\n\nDon't say goodbye.\n\n\"Oliver…\" I stop speaking, my stomach twisting. \"Um.\" Don't go.\n\nI swallow a lump when he trains those warm brown eyes on me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "People always say yes to me. Always. I hate it, and yet, suddenly I can't stomach the prospect of any other answer from him.\n\n\"Are you doing anything this afternoon?\" I hold my breath as the question tumbles out, cringing inwardly at the surprised look on his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Surprise—and something else. It's the something else that heightens the panic into dread." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't have plans, but…\"\n\nBut. Of course there's a but. I force a smile and even manage a small laugh. \"Right, sorry. That came out of nowhere.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wave my hand. \"Okay, well, it was so great meeting you. I wish you all the best in your recovery.\"\n\nI turn away before he can see anything besides the nonchalance meant for him. The darkness is for me when I'm alone later. The emptiness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No one smiles, lies, or hides like her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Genevieve, wait.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Closing my eyes, I draw in a deep breath to steady myself before facing him again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I do, his expression is sincere, his gaze unfiltered and open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's just. I've been seeing someone. It's not serious, but—\"\n\n\"Of course! Really, no worries at all.\" I smile again. So much smiling. Man, my cheeks hurt today. More than usual." }, { "from": "human", "value": "These smiles are so hard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shakes his head, frustrated. \"No, I mean. It's not serious, but I owe her a conversation before I see someone else.\"\n\nMy heart races. My stomach flutters.\n\nHis gaze searches mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll talk to her tonight. Ask me again tomorrow?\"\n\n\"Genevieve!\"\n\nI glance around nervously, fiddling with the trucker hat attempting to cover my distinctive red hair. The oversized sunglasses probably aren't helping much either, but it's something." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Both are wasted efforts anyway when my mother's involved. Leave it to Corinne Fox to blow any chance of a cover. Whereas I go out of my way to hide as much as possible, she loves the prestige of being a pseudo-celebrity. How many parents take on their child's stage name?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Corinne Hastings might be the first." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My father stuck with Hastings, although Baxter, Ramos, and Fox kinda has a better ring to it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The law partners probably didn't want to waste money on new signage just because Evan's daughter was famous." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mom,\" I hiss, sliding into a chair across from them. \"Everyone's looking.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So what? Let them look. You have nothing to be ashamed of, sweetie.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She fluffs her hair and tosses a discreet scan around the café, probably scoping it out to see if anyone important might be watching.\n\nMeanwhile, my stomach pinches at her comment. I have nothing to be ashamed of? What does that mean?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I stare at the menu, searching for an item that will draw the least input from my mother.\n\n\"You looked great out there on the ice today, Gen.\"\n\n\"Thanks, Dad. It was fun.\"\n\n\"Yes, most of the photos I saw were outstanding,\" Mom says." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Definitely a good call on Selena's part to do a lowkey event with children after last week's disaster in Burlington. Although, remember to adjust your jeans while wearing a crop top, sweetie. Your stomach was looking a little flabby in a few of the photos, and I know you don't have an ounce of fat on you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I swallow my retort." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There's no point arguing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Besides, she's only voicing what everyone else thinks anyway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I've seen the comments." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's my secret indulgence: scrolling through the cesspool when I fall into a particularly dark haze. The pain feeds on itself, craves more evidence to reinforce its vile truths. It feels good to let it thrive and seep into my pores. To feel something. My therapist calls it a downward spiral." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lately, I've been calling it my lunchbreak.\n\n\"Oh, honey, don't look so glum. You know I think you're beautiful. I'm not saying you need to change anything. I just want people to see the real you. And after the Burlington incident—\"\n\n\"Corinne,\" my father interrupts with a subtle shake of his head.\n\nMom sips her water and shifts in her chair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, anyway. What's done is done.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She flags a server." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Pinot grigio, Genny? You deserve a treat.\"\n\n\"No, thanks,\" I mutter. \"And don't call me that.\"\n\n\"Really, Genevieve. Your attitude.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her brows sink in disapproval as the server approaches." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She puts in an order for the table without even asking us what we want." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A cucumber plate without the aioli, BLT avocado toast without the toast. Also, can we get it with extra tomato and no bacon jam? A few other things, none of which sound appetizing right now. I rarely feel like eating when they're around." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Those children were just darling, weren't they?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "she continues. \"Selena said they'll be covering the event on all the hockey outlets too. Great exposure. A whole new audience for you, Genevieve. Although, it would have been better without that hockey player in the way.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I glare over at her, patience running thin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That 'hockey player'? It was his turf. If anything, I was in his way.\"\n\nShe waves her hand. \"Oh, you know what I mean. The least they could've done was pair you with a bigger name. What about that Lyle Sorenson?\"\n\n\"Kyle Sorenson. And he retired two years ago.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She shrugs. \"Well, whatever. I'm just saying, who's ever even heard of Oliver whatever? He's just a kid himself. A nobody.\"\n\n\"Uh, he's my age and he pretty much carried the team to the Stanley Cup finals last year. He was a finalist for the Vezina trophy as a rookie.\"\n\nHer eyes widen at my heated response, and I suck in a breath to soothe the burn.\n\nDo not engage. Do not engage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sweetie, no need to get upset. I'm sure he's a nice boy. I'm just saying it should've been someone who could work a camera at least. Really, the way he tripped over himself and couldn't get back up? Do you have any idea how silly it looked for you to be helping him? You really shouldn't have done that. He must have people for that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I slam my napkin on the table. \"That's enough!\"\n\n\"Genevieve…\"\n\n\"No, I'm so sick of this. He didn't trip, Mother. He had his knee shattered just a few weeks ago and bent down to help that kid anyway because guess what—he actually cares. He wasn't worried about how it might look or if it would hurt him. What you saw was a person who wasn't concerned about appearances and didn't make something about him. Did it ever occur to you that not everything needs to be about me either?\"\n\nShe presses a fist to her chest, staring at me in horror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My father studies his empty plate like it might absorb his essence if he wishes hard enough. \"Come now, I was only concerned for your safety. What if he'd brought you down with him? Can you imagine?\"\n\n\"Oh save it. It had nothing to do with my safety. It never has anything to do with what's good for me. It's about what's good for you! I'm going to the bathroom.\"\n\nI push up from the table and do my best to maintain a calm pace as I move toward the back of the restaurant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My features remain schooled, my gate casual with each trained step." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Plenty of heads turn, but no one sees. I won't let them. They'll never know my insides are splintering. That beneath this painted façade is a fractured girl who can never break. No one will ever know what silent tears sound like in the safety of a locked bathroom stall." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Narrative Extension Protocol:\nQuantity: 5 sentences\nGenre Classification: sports, music, romance, contemporary" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I enter my real phone number under my name, laughing as I send it off to my own manager.\n\nThe day drags from there. Hair and makeup seem to take twice as long as normal. I'm too nervous to eat, and argue with Hadley who insists I need to force something down. I keep checking Viv's e-mail for a reply from Sam and my phone for an update from Oliver." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nothing. How could a day that was exploding with promise a few hours ago now feel drawn out and tedious? I go onstage in an hour and still no word from Oliver.\n\nAfter grabbing a snack from catering to make Hadley happy, I weave my way back to my dressing room, hoping to meditate and clear my head before call-time. No new messages when I check Viv's e-mail on my way through the door. I nearly drop my plate when I look up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're here!\" I cry, setting it on a table by the door and rushing toward my beautiful, amazing boyfriend." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oliver grins and catches me in his arms. \"I promised I would be, didn't I?\" he teases, and I pull him tighter.\n\n\"I can't even tell you how happy I am right now. I've fantasized about this moment for so long,\" I murmur, breathing him in. Ah, he smells like him, freshly showered and… wait." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I glance up, pulling back to study his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're smiling. Does that mean…?\"\n\nHis gaze shifts slightly, and my stomach drops. \"No. I'm smiling because I'm with you. I wasn't cleared to skate, though. They said I've come a long way, but not enough. I have to give it another month.\"\n\n\"Oh, Oliver, no! I'm so sorry.\" He must be devastated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reach up, scared for him as I touch his cheek.\n\nHis smile falters for a second before his eyes clear and he focuses back on me. \"Yeah, it sucks.\"\n\n\"What are you going to do?\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\" He shrugs. \"I go back to work tomorrow and start again.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stare at him in awe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He means it too." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe he's disappointed, but there's no hint of bitterness or resentment on his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No, the man who taught me how to fall has also taught me how to climb." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're incredible, you know that?\" I ask, slipping my arms around his neck. I can fix my lip gloss later. For now, I need to ruin it on him.\n\n\"Yeah? How incredible?\" he says, giving me a sly look when I pull back to see him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So much so that I have a surprise for you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His brows lift as he smiles down at me. \"Is that so? Is this the exciting news you texted me about?\"\n\n\"Oh! No. That's something else. You'll have to wait and see for this surprise. But for now, you'll never guess who contacted Viv about a potential opportunity.\"\n\nFor the next half hour, I tell him all about the exchange with Joel, then Sam. As expected, Oliver is just as happy for me as I was, if not more so." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He's also plenty smug over it all, and I have to suffer through several cocky smirks and I-told-you-sos." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Oh well, he kind of did, and maybe my stubborn brain is starting to get it too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But as always, my time with him is too short. Not enough words, or kisses, or touches, but then, I'm not sure I'd ever be satisfied. At least today when I get the warning call to go to the stage, he goes with me. I love holding his hand as we follow security through the dimly lit maze, and I keep glancing back as if I'll suddenly wake up from a dream to find myself alone again. No Oliver. No Viv." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No hard choices that once seemed impossible, but have now become unchecked promise.\n\n\"You can stay here the whole time. It's a decent view for most of the performance,\" I tell him as we hover offstage. He nods while the intro music blares, already mesmerized by everything around him. I can only imagine what this must feel like for him and love experiencing my world through his eyes. He makes it special and new for me, and for the first time in a long time, I'm excited to take the stage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With a huge grin, I pull his head down for one last kiss, lingering to breathe him in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I love you,\" I whisper.\n\n\"I love you too,\" he says, warm brown eyes alive and glowing. \"You're a badass, Genevieve Viv Fox Hastings.\"\n\nI laugh and force myself to let go. We have forever.\n\nFor now, I begin the end." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Throughout the show, I cast plenty of looks toward the left wing of the stage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He's always there, right where he promised to be, and even though I can't see his face clearly, I feel his support. His strength, his drive, his perseverance and belief radiate into the atmosphere around me, giving me an extra spark for what was already an explosive show. With everything riding on this Farewell Tour, we pulled out all the stops, and by the time we reach the mid-point of the set, the audience is as energized as I am.\n\n\"How you all doing tonight?\" I call out, scanning the sea of faces in front of me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A loud cheer bursts out, just as the music starts to play under me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So, I know you're here to listen to some of your favorite songs, but I hope you don't mind indulging me for a minute.\" I grin as the audience quiets and I cast another long glance at the side of the stage. \"You don't mind if I sing a new song for you, do you?\"\n\nThe building erupts, and I laugh into the mic on a boom stand. A tech hands me an acoustic guitar that I loop over my shoulder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I've spent my entire life unsure about who I was. I was so afraid to fail that I was often afraid to live. Anyone else ever feel that way?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "More cheers ring out, and I pull in a deep breath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But then I met this incredible guy.\" I laugh again through a chorus of whistles and catcalls. \"You may have heard about him. He's a very special hockey player who's been battling through a difficult injury. You know what he taught me? Heroes don't wear capes. They don't fight futuristic villains or have crazy origin stories. No, heroes are the people who touch lives. The people who stand in the face of the ugly and find beauty. Oliver taught me to believe in myself when I didn't. To see beauty when I couldn't. To fight when I'd given up. To face the tough challenges of life head-on, because sometimes you have to break something to fix it. Sometimes you have to fall to climb.\" I pull in a ragged breath, swallowing the emotion rising in my throat. I glance back and see his hand swat at his face, his eyes shining back and wrapping me in unconditional love." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I laugh through a sob and wipe my own tears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ollie, this next song is your surprise. You've changed my life. I just wanted you to know, you're not a hockey player. You're my hero.\"\n\nShe stares at Someone in the mirror.\n\nShe laughs like her\n\nShe cries like her\n\nShe smiles, lies, and hides like her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She believes like her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She breathes like her.\n\nHer heart beats and bleeds like hers\n\nShe sees like her\n\nShe loves like her\n\nBut it's not her anymore." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You see…" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She's free." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode:\nCo-writing\n\nLength:\n7 sentences\n\nGenre:\nRomance; Rating: X" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could still remember Ava as a young girl with awkward braces, beautiful eyes, and a slightly abnormal wit to her. When I came around back then, she had been just a little girl, running, playing, and gossiping with her friends. I was pretty sure the last time I saw her, she was about sixteen, but I never really thought much of it since she was so young. She was literally just my best friend's kid that I'd been around since she was a baby.\n\nNow, though, she was so fucking hot, I couldn't get her off my mind. Her thick thighs, perfect curves, and long, sexy hair were driving me nuts. She had these dark eyes that cut right through you, and her lips were so pouty, I couldn't help imagining them wrapped around my cock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was almost insane how much she had been on my mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was flirty when we'd met in my office the day before, and though I kept telling myself to relax, I thought it was pretty arousing. Bending her over my desk and fucking the hell out of her wouldn't take a damn thing away from my day. If anything, it would make it a hell of a lot less boring.\n\nAva, though, she worked for me now. It wasn't like I'd run into her out at the bar. She was an employee of mine, and a young, ambitious woman. Her goals and drive reminded me a lot of myself, and I think that was part of what was attracting me to her so much." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She wasn't like her father, and she hated the way her mother was, dependent on her father's wealth. I could see that resolve inside of her to succeed and make her own way.\n\nThere weren't very many women out there who weren't looking for a man to take care of them, and she was one of them. I needed to remove those thoughts from my head because they were dangerous, both personally and professionally. I had made the mistake of screwing a girl from the office before, and it did not end well for either of us. Women, no matter how tough they are, always want more than I'm willing to give them. I didn't know what Ava was looking for, but I knew for damn sure I wasn't the guy to give it to her, even if I wanted to." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I sat up in my chair, realizing that I had lost all track of time sitting there thinking about Ava." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I glanced out of the office and saw her sitting at her desk, working diligently across the hall. She was biting her bottom lip and twirling her pen through her fingers as she concentrated. I was going to have to start working with my door closed if I didn't want a fucking boner every five seconds. I needed to get control of myself around her, and that was the point of it all. I couldn't afford distractions at such a crucial time with the merger, and I needed her to be on the same page, even though I didn't want to say it like that. Maybe if she knew more about the company and where it was headed, she would understand our need for professionalism. Of course, at the same time, she had already been more than professional." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe I was the only one who needed that talk.\n\nIt was lunch time, so I got up from my desk and grabbed my jacket, sauntering out of the office and looking around. My secretary had taken lunch and would be back any minute, and then I could leave as well. Ava looked up at me from her desk and smiled sweetly, forcing me to push back the flip-flop feeling in my stomach. I walked over and stood next to her desk, looking down at the workups I was having her do. They looked flawless, which was no surprise since she was first in her graduating class and hunted by several companies for her internship. While looking at her notes, I also happened to notice that her lightweight peach sweater hung a bit low, and I could see the edge of her pink bra, holding up her big, firm breasts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I cleared my throat and walked back to the other side." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm about to take lunch,\" I said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You want to come along?\"\n\n\"No,\" she smiled. \"I should stay and finish these up.\"\n\n\"Come on.\" I chuckled. \"I won't tell the boss. Besides, I think it's important you know where we're going in the future.\"\n\n\"Okay.\" She looked and sounded confused.\n\n\"The company.\" I corrected myself, realizing how I must've sounded. \"Where the company is going in the future.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Right,\" she said, shaking her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay, then. Let me grab my coat.\"\n\nI smiled and watched her walk away in her black, wide-legged pants that hugged her perfect ass just right. I looked away as she turned back to me and smiled, as if I hadn't been checking out her assets. With my hand on her lower back, I guided her to the elevators. We stood awkwardly next to each other as the elevator made its way down, the tension thick between us. We went to a restaurant about one block away, a nice Italian spot that was quiet and put together. They gave us a seat in the back and to the right, which normally I'd be pissed about, but it gave us a bit more privacy than sitting right in the front." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As we ate our appetizer and waited on the main courses, I started by giving her the history of MJ after her father had left the company." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked at me wide-eyed as I told her about all the trips, all the sacrifices I had made, and how much of a roller coaster it had been.\n\n\"Wow,\" she said, shaking her head. \"I don't know how you do it and still look so young. I'd be gray and ready for retirement by now.\"\n\n\"You kind of get used to it after a while.\" I chuckled. \"The highs are good, but you make sure not to take the lows too seriously or you'll drive yourself nuts. Everything passes. It's just how you handle it that really decides whether or not you come out on top.\"\n\n\"And now?\" She looked at me with a raised eyebrow as she took a bite of her salad.\n\n\"Now,\" I said, letting out a deep breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Now we move forward with a very big step. This merger will potentially collect hundreds of new, large clients. It could put a structure in place that MJ has never been able to execute because I could only handle so much as one man. Our board will be stronger, our management will be stronger, and our services will triple, and all under the strong commitment of service that I built this company on.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That sounds amazing.\" She smiled. \"And I'm so excited to be part of it.\"\n\nFor the rest of lunch, we talked about the details of the merger, how she was going to fit in during that process, and what she had to look forward to in the future in her position. She was going to be a huge asset to me, which made it all the more important for me to keep control of my urges. However, as she leaned forward and listened to me, batting her long eyelashes, I couldn't help but slide in a few flirtatious remarks. She didn't even blink when it happened. As the conversation continued, there was quite a bit of flirty banter, and I couldn't help but watch her face as it flushed several times." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was almost sexy how red her cheeks got, but that didn't take away from the fact that she was dishing it out as much as I was serving it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When lunch was over, I suggested we walk across the street and grab some coffee to take back because the breakroom had terrible stuff. She made a joke about me buying better coffee, and I thought back to when I regularly did that kind of stuff, when the office was small enough that I knew everyone's names. I had been so obsessed with growth that I'd thought that was a bad thing. Now, I can barely remember my secretary's name much less the people in the different departments or offices. I knew that was part of the deal of expanding my company larger and larger, but it was still a shame I hadn't appreciated the personal touch while it lasted. Maybe, though, I'd up the brand of coffee that was delivered to the employees throughout the company, so they could at least have a decent cup while they slaved away in their cubicles.\n\nWe grabbed ourselves some coffee and headed back towards the office, not really walking at a major pace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She talked to me about college and about her internship and how much it changed her way of thinking for her future." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was thrilled to be on the ground floor of the merger, and she felt like there were businessmen and women out there who spent their whole lives in their careers and never got to experience something like this.\n\nI was glad she was excited. It put me at ease, considering I was a bit nervous about the change. However, I had never been one of those people who easily embraced change. Being in my line of work, I had to accept it, but I didn't like it at all. Then again, with change came risk, and I had seen companies go through major shifts and never return. That was why I had been in negotiations for this merger for years before actually moving forward with it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wanted to make sure it was the best possible opportunity and fit what my vision for the future of MJ was.\n\nIt was a considerable challenge getting so many different minds on board, especially since the other company and its CEO was just as picky as I was. In the end, though, I was still young in their eyes and had many years left to run and build the company, while they were ready to retire and play golf. One day, I would be at that point, but for now, I was walking into the lobby of my company's main offices next to one hell of a sexy, smart girl, and making my way back up to the first leg of changes for the company. I stepped to the side and let Ava go in first, glancing down at her tight ass as we entered the elevator. When the doors shut, we stood close, holding our coffees, one of which was for the secretary. Our shoulders brushed and electricity shot through my chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Between us was a level of sexual tension I hadn't ever felt before with someone, and from the looks of Ava's blushed cheeks, she was feeling it, too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a good thing we were situated on the eighth floor and not the thirtieth because I didn't know if I could refrain from kissing her for that long. When the doors opened to the offices, we both let out a deep breath, glancing at each other for a moment. We walked to our offices, and she thanked me for lunch before taking the extra coffee to the secretary.\n\nWhen I got back to my desk, I tried to move right into work, ignoring the nagging feeling in my stomach. She was so hot, and I really wanted to take her in the copy room and screw the hell out of her. My mind was all over the place over this girl, and I couldn't allow it to happen. I had to keep my wits about me and not go running off the deep end." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could get laid at any time." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't need to pick the twenty-five-year-old I just hired and had known most of her life.\n\nEvery time I looked over at her out of my office door, though, it got harder and harder to restrain myself." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "lets write together. ill start, u do seven sentences in Mia Ford voice. add: multiple points of view, nsfw, steamy" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Talk about frustrating. I had spent the rest of work the day before stewing in my own irritation because Tanner had made plans for dinner on Friday and given me absolutely no choice in the matter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was supposed to be in charge of all of this." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was supposed to be the one who called the shots when it came to us having any kind of relationship beyond a professional one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, I couldn't deny that I found his arrogance almost sexy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I lay in bed that night thinking about how mad I wanted to be, but I couldn't deny I was extremely turned on. So, turned on, that I considered calling him, but I turned over and forced myself to sleep instead.\n\nWhen I woke up, I was groggy and frustrated, more sexually frustrated than anything else. I took a hot shower to wake up and got ready for the day. I wondered what crazy things this day would bring, especially since I couldn't seem to go even an hour without some kind of drama. When I got to the building, I climbed into the elevator and leaned back against the wall. Before the doors could shut, Tanner shoved his arm in and climbed inside next to me, breathing heavily as if he'd made a run for it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I cleared my throat and smiled at him, moving over to the corner and leaning back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't want to make a big deal about him being there with me, but his cologne smelled so damn good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instantly, I could feel desire start to raise up to my chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I crossed my legs at the ankle, feeling the heat coursing between my legs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was raining outside, and Tanner had water dripping down his neck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I followed as a drop moved from the edge of his hair and slid slowly down his smooth, tanned skin, falling beneath his collar. I imagined it continuing down his large muscled back, his shoulders flexing as it tickled his skin. I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath, leaning back and trying to ignore the fact that I wanted to hit the stop button and fuck him on the elevator. Instead, I ran the pictures of our meeting the other day through my mind to remind myself how cold and collected he could be. Before I could get through them all, I sensed him scoot closer to me. I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was staring at my face, his back pressed against the elevator as well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked like he wanted to say something, but I thought if I opened my mouth, he wouldn't hear anything more than my lust for him and that had to stay buried deep inside of me.\n\n\"I have something to tell you,\" he said, looking down. \"I met with your father for dinner last night.\"\n\n\"What?\" My eyes got bigger and I stood up, all lust completely washing out of my system. \"Wait, you did what? Say that again, please.\"\n\n\"Your father sent me an email yesterday,\" he explained. \"He apologized for our fight at the polo match and wanted to meet so we could talk. I agreed. It was so good, Ava. We talked through everything that happened between us for the last ten years. We talked about the split of the business, our animosity, our anger, and the fact that we always considered each other family. It was like a weight off both of our shoulders.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did you tell him I work for you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was stunned and confused, and I barely knew what to say." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That was something he should have told me about. What if he felt so comfortable, he told my father about us, about me, about everything? I couldn't believe I was standing there having this conversation with him. So much for a morning without any damn drama. It was like I was a pawn in this whole situation and what happened to me made no difference to Tanner. He was looking out for himself at every pass, completely oblivious to how things would affect me.\n\nI put my face in my hands and groaned, not wanting to hear whatever answer he had." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My life was beginning to crumble around me and I was given no choice in any of it. Maybe I should have taken the job in Sweden I was offered instead of this one. Maybe I had made the wrong choice in all of it.\n\n\"Of course not,\" he said, turning to me. \"That isn't my business to tell him, but now it might be easier for you. I thought maybe if your father and I were back on good terms, then you could let him know everything and stop feeling guilty for lying to him. I know how much that bothers you.\"\n\n\"You want me to tell him I've been lying to him this whole time?\" I started to get angry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You want me to tell my father that I betrayed his trust and on top of it all, I was fucking you? Are you out of your goddamned mind? You didn't think that this was something you might should have warned me about? Like maybe sent me a message or walked across the hall and told me you were having dinner with my father, so I could be prepared. It's like you don't ever use your damn brain unless it has to do with business. Lord, this is a mess.\"\n\n\"No,\" he said shaking his head confused. \"I mean, don't tell him then. I thought it would be a good way to have a clean start. I don't mean to hurt your father. I mean to take some stress off you.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" I said, shaking my head. \"I know you didn't mean any harm, but damn, this just makes everything more complicated, and it adds you to the mix. You just rekindled your friendship with my dad, and now you are going to start it off by keeping something from him.\"\n\n\"Nothing about this is simple, Ava,\" he said quietly.\n\n\"No shit,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As soon as the doors opened, I stomped out of the elevator, not stopping at the lounge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I went straight into my office and slammed the door, leaving him standing in the elevator as if he had actually done something wrong. I was so freaking confused at that moment. He hadn't told me anything about his dinner plans with my father, nothing. This all could be extremely messy if we didn't play it safe. Why, after all these years, did he pick now to decide that my father was so damn important to him? Why did he go to dinner like it was top secret and not even give me a heads up? Everything was a damn mess, and I didn't even know where to start to fix it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Part of me wanted to quit, to say screw it and start over somewhere else." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If I was going to lie about this, I could lie about why I left, too." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At that point, lies seemed to be the name of the game in my life, either me dishing them out or me receiving them from everyone around me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked down at my cell phone, and it was Tanner calling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I pressed the ignore button and tossed my phone on the desk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't want to hear anything from him at that point." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I needed to breathe. I felt like I was starting to suffocate in my own damn life. I couldn't decide whether I should be mad at him for lying or mad at myself for allowing myself to get into this position in the first place. I was a grown woman, and I couldn't blame Tanner for all of this. I had lied to my father before I even started my first day at MJ, and Tanner had agreed to go along with it, not that he had much of a choice if he wanted to keep me on staff.\n\nFrom there, it had continued to snowball out of control until it landed right where I was, sitting there not knowing what my next move should be. I wanted to stop playing games, to live back in the real world, to not lie to my father anymore, but I had dug myself a hole that I didn't know how to get out of." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The fact that Tanner was exasperating the situation was frustrating as hell, and I couldn't figure out how I felt about him from one minute to the next." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was like my heart was taking both sides of the fence, and I was stuck in a mean tug of war battle with my own emotions.\n\nI threw my phone in my purse, grabbed my umbrella, and stomped back out of the office. Tanner's door was shut, and I leaned around the corner, looking at his secretary. She smiled at me and then scrunched her eyebrows as I whispered.\n\n\"I have to leave,\" I said. \"Please tell Mr. Johnson I had an emergency. But wait until I'm in the elevator please.\"\n\n\"Okay,\" she said, confused." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hope everything turns out okay.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thanks,\" I replied before turning and walking toward the elevator." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hope everything worked out okay, too. My mind was all over the place, trying to figure out how I felt. Nothing really had changed as far as my father was concerned, except for the fact that Tanner was now going to have to lie to keep my existence there at MJ a secret. Telling my father that I was sleeping with Tanner wasn't even something I would tell him if he knew I was working there, so I wasn't worried about that part. I just didn't even understand what I was doing with my life. I had thought I'd figured it out, but after Tanner showed up at my place on the day of the polo match, everything I had figured out just drifted away in a ball of ecstasy and sweat.\n\nI stepped into the elevator and turned around." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As the doors shut, I watched Tanner step out into the hallway, looking at me as I left the office." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I caught his eyes but looked away, glad that the doors shut before he had a chance to say anything. I just needed some time to myself, some time to figure out how I was feeling about everything. I knew there was a part of Tanner that did what he did because he truly thought it would help my situation, but he didn't seem to really understand how that parent-child relationship worked.\n\nWhen I got out of the office, I opened my umbrella and walked along, not wanting to jump into a cab just yet. When I reached the opening to the park, I decided to go for a walk, watching the other umbrellas peppering the sidewalk and lawn. I loved when it rained, especially in the fall. The vibrant colors of the leaves exploded next to the gray of the sky." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was like one of those doctored photos where everything was black and white except for the leaves on the trees." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I walked along, listening to the water hit the umbrella and trickle down, I could feel my shoulders beginning to relax.\n\nThis was my life, no matter how much I seemed to have screwed it up, and I couldn't take back any of it. I was disappointed in myself for going against my gut instinct from the beginning, but beating myself up was not going to solve anything. I still had an amazing career and a bright future, and MJ was going to give me that resume boost that would really get me going in this financial climate.\n\nNow, all I had to figure out was what to do with Tanner." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode: Collab writing\nAmount: one sentence\nVoice: Mia Ford" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His smell, his lips, that moment, it was all so overwhelming, so erotic, and just crazy to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I couldn't believe I was there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I couldn't believe I was standing in the moonlight in his bedroom, getting ready to make love to Tanner." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everything leading up to that moment was so chaotic and stressful and almost seemed unreal, but I was finally back where I always knew I wanted to be." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I couldn't help but come over, even though I tried so hard to fight myself on it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything in my brain was telling me to stay home, but my heart and my emotions were playing war against my brain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the end, my heart won, and I found myself back in Tanner's arms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was erotic, it was confusing, and it was emotional, but it felt so absolutely right and perfect." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't explain the range of emotions washing over me at that time, but there was nowhere else I wanted to be at that moment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was drawn to Tanner like a magnet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a force I couldn't control, and I wanted to be near him, to feel him around me and inside of me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And at that point, that attraction was controlling everything around me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could fight it further, but I was tired of fighting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could push it away, but what would be the point?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I would end up right back where I was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He walked toward me, taking my face in his hands and kissing me deeply and passionately." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could barely breathe, my lungs were moving so fast, and I could feel my heart beating in the palm of my hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was something so sensual and erotic about his touch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I moaned softly as his lips moved down my neck, and I reached up, grabbing his shirt with both hands and pulling him into me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I pushed my hips against his cock, feeling it bulging inside of his pants." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just knowing how much he wanted me made the heat in my chest move down between my legs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He reached around me and unzipped my dress, pulling the shoulders down and trailing his lips across my skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pulled the dress from my body and tossed it to the side, reaching back and unclasping my bra." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My breasts bounced out, my nipples hard from the feeling of electricity between us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He kissed my belly as he bent over and slipped my panties down, allowing me to hold on as I stepped out of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When he stood back up, I unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it from his body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reached down and unbuttoned his shorts, letting them fall to the ground and watching him step out of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His long, hard cock was pushing, trying to be set free from his boxers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instead of pulling them down, I backed up, sitting down on the bed and pulling him toward me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stepped forward, running his hand over the top of my head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Slowly I pulled his boxers down and off, tossing them to the side." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I ran my fingertips down the shaft of his cock, listening to him groan softly above me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked up and met his eyes, feeling the ecstasy rolling between us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The passion that we felt, that magnetism pulling us together, was the strongest I had ever felt before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I no longer felt like I was fucking a stranger, but instead making love to a man who I felt very deeply for." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My hand grasped tightly around his shaft, moving up and down slowly as I pushed my head forward and ran my lips over the tip of his cock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He groaned as I took him into my mouth and plunged my head down, my lips reaching the base." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As I slowly pulled my head back up, I sucked hard at the back of my throat and swirled my tongue all around." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He let out a deep breath and tangled his hand in my hair, pushing me lightly as I went back down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His huge cock filled my throat, and as my head came back, I glanced up at him, my eyes watering and a moan vibrating through my throat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I reached my hand up and cradled his balls, rubbing them around in my hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He growled as I continued, sucking his dick faster and faster, feeling it bulging inside of my mouth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After a few moments, he pulled my head back and reached down, grabbing me under the arms and pulling me up onto the bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He moved back in front of me and stroked his cock for a moment looking over every inch of my body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Watching his hand move up and down his shaft was so erotic, and I spread my legs open, welcoming him in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He reached forward and slid two fingers through the folds, rubbing them over my clit and then moving down to slide them inside of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I moaned loudly, feeling him bending forward and bringing his face into my wet mound." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I laid back while his tongue ran through my juices, unable to control myself any longer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I spread my thighs apart and began to grind my pussy against his mouth, screaming out as he moved me closer and closer to orgasm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As his fingers moved in and out of me, his tongue massaged my clit, sending electricity through my body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just as he picked up the pace, I arched my back and grasped onto his back, feeling the heat inside of me explode." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tendrils of electric waves pulsed through my muscles, and my body screamed out in pleasure as my juices trickled out into his mouth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He groaned against my pussy as my body shook and writhed beneath him, feeling every second of the orgasm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was the strongest pleasure I had ever felt, and I could barely keep my legs from shaking around his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As soon as my body had relaxed, he climbed forward, rolling me onto my side." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He laid down behind me and picked up my leg, scooting in and rubbing his cock through my juices." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He reached back and grabbed a condom from his nightstand, slipping it over his hard shaft and returning to my side." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He pushed forward, leaning his body against mine as he entered me, filling me fully with his cock." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I moaned loudly as he wrapped his arm around me and rubbed my nub, his hips moving in and out with a slow steady rhythm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could already feel another orgasm coming on as if the first had triggered a waterfall of pleasure inside of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I gripped down on the comforter next to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My heavy breathing showed him where I was, and he started to rub my clit harder and faster." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I screamed out feeling all the sensations at once, knowing that I was about to explode all over again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He lifted his head and sucked on my ear, his hot breath flowing over my neck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm gonna' come,\" I moaned, loudly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes,\" he whispered. \"Let me feel it, baby.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He began to push hard and deep as I clenched down, screaming loudly and throwing my head back into his." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As the pleasure pushed through me once again, I could feel how sensitive my clit had become." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reached down and grabbed his hand a mixture of moans and giggles escaping my throat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He chuckled as he moved from his side and crawled back in front of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I laid there for a moment, breathing heavily and looked up at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was smiling mischievously before flipping me over on my stomach and spreading my legs wide." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He reached underneath my stomach and lifted my hips so just my ass was in the air." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He slid forward and rubbed the tip of his cock against my wetness before slowly sliding into me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I screamed out in ecstasy and grabbed onto the edge of the bed as he began to thrust hard and deep inside of me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He no longer had the self-discipline he had shown before, and he was fucking me as hard and deep as he possibly could." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It felt amazing, and I pulled my legs in slightly and tilted my hips to give him better access." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He reached his hands forward and grabbed my ass gripping down as he plunged in and out over and over again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Fuck,\" he groaned. \"You are so fucking wet.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I moaned loudly at the sound of his voice, and every time I screamed out, he became needier." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He slapped me lightly on the ass cheek and the pain mixed with pleasure shot straight into my stomach." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He reached his hands up and gripped my waist tightly as his cock began to pulsate inside of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, baby,\" I moaned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I want to feel you come.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He growled as he thrust forward three more times before falling into me and gripping tightly to my hips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He pulsated his body against me as he leaned his head back and moaned loudly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could feel his cock bulging inside of me as it exploded his seed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His body was stiff against mine and after a few moments, I could hear the air leaving his lungs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He leaned forward and kissed the center of my back before pulling out and allowing me to fall forward on my belly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He pulled the covers up over me and went into the bathroom to clean up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I laid there, my heart still beating wildly, staring out the window at the city lights." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything about what just happened was perfect." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could hear him walking back toward the bed, and before I could get up, he had crawled into the covers beside me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I turned over and laid my head against his stomach." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He scooted down and propped a pillow under his head, putting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could hear his heart beginning to slow to a normal rhythm, and he leaned over, kissing me on the top of the head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What do we do now?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked up at him with wide eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Go with the flow,\" he said, smiling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Normally an answer like that from a guy was a bad sign, but knowing Tanner and his playboy ways, that was the equivalency of a full-on relationship proposal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I smiled and chuckled leaning my head against his shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He picked up the remote and turned on a movie, settling in with me beside him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could tell he wasn't going to let me leave, and I was perfectly fine with that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Through all my college years, I had never spent the night in a man's apartment before, and I was pretty sure Tanner didn't make it a habit of having women in his." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't say a word but just relaxed and watched the movie with him, feeling more comfortable than I ever had with anyone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As the night progressed, the stress of the week crashed down on me, and I laid my head on the pillow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was exhausted but trying to keep myself awake, not wanting to assume he wanted me to stay with him in his bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, as I fought to keep my eyes open, he leaned over and turned off the television, scooted down behind me, pulled me close to him, and laid down with me, closing his eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I held my breath for a moment, unsure of what to do, but the feeling of his warmth and comfort made me feel safe and right." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So, underneath the shining of the moon, I fell asleep in Tanner's arms, knowing love was a fickle thing. I didn't know how exactly I felt, but I knew that everything about that moment was perfection." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "help a writer out? eight sentences more sentences, Mia Ford-style, Romance; Rating: X genre thx" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I sat on the edge of the bed clutching my coat for about fifteen minutes after my father and Tanner had left." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My weekend had started out with a bang, and now I felt like I had been shot in the chest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everything was perfect, and I was finally starting to let Tanner in, and then, my father shows up at the door. I had to sneak out of Tanner's apartment like I was a goddamn hooker instead of a grown woman making her own decisions. Now, though, with my mother having cheated on my father, there was no way I could come out and be honest with him. It would break his heart. Even if I didn't tell him that I was seeing Tanner and just told him that I worked for the company, he would feel betrayed by both me and Tanner, and all while he was going through one of the hardest things in his life.\n\nI didn't know what my mother was thinking, sleeping with some young pool boy, but I wanted to give her a piece of my mind. At that moment, though, that was the least of my worries, considering I was about to make the worst walk of shame I had ever experienced. I got up and went in the bathroom, trying to make myself look presentable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stared at my face in the mirror." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My cheeks were rosy, my eyes were sad, and my hair was poufy, great." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With a sigh, I pulled my hair back in a high ponytail, letting the curls do their thing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew exactly what I needed. I needed my best friend.\n\nI left the apartment, locking the doorknob and pulling the door closed after checking my things several times. I left all the lights on in the house, so it wouldn't look different when they got back. My father was a smart man and knew when things were off. The last thing I wanted was for him to start getting suspicious. I went out of the lobby and caught a cab, looking around like I was a criminal trying to sneak away from a crime scene. I gave the cab Brianna's address and sat back, resting my head against the back of the seat and closing my eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How did everything get so messed up?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't even start to think about what happened, or anything that I had heard my father say. I knew he was being candid, and he would have never acted like that in front of me. He was a tough man, full of pride, and I knew it must have taken him a lot to go to Tanner and ask him for help. At least I knew my father was safe and with someone who would look out for him. I, on the hand, was wandering blindly, not sure where I should land. I knew that Brianna would have some advice, she always did when it really mattered.\n\nWhen the cab pulled up in front of Brianna's apartment complex, I paid the driver and climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, stopping halfway to take off my heels. I knew she wasn't going to be awake yet, but I had a really good reason for waking her up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't very often that I had drama in my life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was usually her with her easy-going personality and fuck-it reasoning. This time, though, I would need her to tell it like she always did, straight and to the point. I didn't want anyone to continue sugarcoating things to me like I was a child. I was a grown woman, and it was starting to get really annoying having to hide things from people and be involved in this mess of a tryst with Tanner. I was sick and tired of all of it.\n\nWhen I got to her door, I rang the doorbell several times, listening to her shuffling around the apartment. I waved at the peephole and watched as she flung the door open, her hair a mess but her eyes wide with curiosity. She stepped to the side and let me in, closing the door behind us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could tell she already knew something big was going on.\n\n\"Well, hello there,\" she said. \"Either you had a seriously fancy breakfast or you are wearing the same clothes as last night.\"\n\n\"Ugh,\" I said, plopping down on her couch and dropping my shoes on the floor. \"Hell, that is where I've been. Straight hell.\"\n\n\"Let me start some coffee,\" she said, almost too excited.\n\nWhen she came back with two cups of coffee and handed me one I took it from her and breathed in the aroma. I closed my hands around the hot cup and wished I was home, sleeping happily in my own bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instead, I was at my best friends, about to reveal all my dirty little secrets.\n\n\"Okay,\" she said sitting down. \"Spill it.\"\n\n\"I was at Tanner's last night and ended up staying the night,\" I said.\n\n\"What? Wait, you're sleeping with him?\"\n\n\"Yeah,\" I said. \"But the bigger problem was that my father showed up at the door this morning before I was even awake. He had come to talk to Tanner.\"\n\n\"About what?\"\n\n\"Apparently, my mother cheated on him with the pool boy,\" I said shaking my head.\n\n\"Miguel?\" She scrunched her nose, and I laughed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No,\" I chuckled. \"Miguel was like eighty. I'm assuming it's the new guy I saw last time I went over. Regardless, my mom is a whore, and I was stuck in Tanner's apartment sneaking out like you used to at your boyfriend's in high school.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wow,\" she said, shaking her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"As the world, fucking turns.\"\n\n\"Tell me about it,\" I sighed, leaning back.\n\nI really wanted a pair of pajamas, a pint of ice cream, a fifth of vodka, and some really cheesy chick flicks. I knew, however, that it was not a good idea to go breaking down into full girl mode. I had to get my shit together.\n\n\"I don't know what to do,\" I said. \"I can't be with Tanner now. It's too weird.\"\n\nI looked up at her face, which was riddled in confusion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I forgot that I hadn't talked to her about anything that was going on, keeping everything very close to my chest to keep my father from finding out. Between work and Tanner, I hadn't really had the time to even call Brianna, much less fill her in on all the craziness that was now my life. I didn't feel like explaining myself, nor did I have the luxury of giving in to my feelings for Tanner. I had let my guard down the night before, thinking that life was finally going to let me have a break, but I had been setting myself up for another dramatic event. I should have listened to myself and stayed home from our date. I should have just put on some pj's, told Tanner I was sorry that we couldn't do this, and stayed at home. Instead, I decided to be a flirty young girl and give in to something I wasn't even sure Tanner felt the same way about. Sure, he had me spend the night, but that was hardly an open invitation to a relationship." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A relationship I didn't even know if I wanted in the first place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What do you mean with him?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know,\" I said, shaking my head. \"Sexually, I guess. I don't think I can be with him sexually anymore.\"\n\n\"You have feelings for this guy,\" she said with a gasp. \"Like real 'let's have a relationship' feelings.\"\n\n\"No,\" I said sternly. \"It was lust, not love. We had been attracted to each other since day one, and it was intense. I won't lie about that, but in the end, that's all it was.\"\n\n\"You are lying to me or yourself or someone.\" She shook her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You wouldn't be so upset if it weren't true.\"\n\n\"I'm upset because of everything,\" I said defensively. \"Tanner isn't the kind of guy who falls in love. I don't have time for a fling, no matter what my feelings are. The reality of it is, I slept with him, I got involved in something I shouldn't have, and now I am in deep shit. My father is there with him, getting drunk because my mother is a crazy whore, apparently, and I'm here after sneaking out of his apartment like a hooker.\"\n\n\"At least he got you out.\" She laughed. \"You could be spending your weekend in the closet, having meals brought to you.\"\n\n\"True,\" I said, trying not to laugh.\n\n\"Look, you need to relax,\" she said looking at me. \"You need to take a deep breath and just take the rest of the weekend to think about everything. Right now, your feelings are really raw.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're right,\" I sighed.\n\n\"And to do that, we are going to do some serious drinking,\" she said slapping her hands on her legs. \"Come on. You can wear some of my clothes.\"\n\nI smiled, realizing that Brianna was right, I needed to just have a normal twenty-five-year-old weekend where I started the day with a glass of mimosa and ended it passed out on the bed. Brianna and I hadn't spent much time together lately, and it would be just as good for me to spend time with her this weekend as it would be for her. I followed her into the bedroom and changed my clothes, listening to her change the subject and start to get super excited for the day she was dreaming up in her head.\n\nAfter I was dressed, we hit the town, starting with brunch where we ate, drank mimosas, laughed, and started our weekend dive into total annihilation mode. After that, we did some shopping but not without Brianna's signature move of a water bottle filled with whiskey and diet coke like we were teenagers sneaking alcohol." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After brunch, I was already feeling good, and I let loose, allowing myself to really enjoy the day with laughter, jokes, and all the things I loved about being best friends with Brianna." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We went from bar to bar through the city, having a drink, taking a shot, and then moving on to the next spot like we didn't have a care in the world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By the time we got home, it was dark outside, and Brianna went straight in, passing out on her bed. I was wasted, and I stumbled into the spare bedroom and lay down on my back, staring up at the ceiling. I pulled my phone out and dialed Tanner, not giving a shit at that moment. It was amazing how inhibitions could be completely forgotten when you had an entire day of drinking under your belt.\n\n\"Hellllooo,\" he sang with a laugh.\n\n\"Well, hello there sexy pants,\" I said. \"Still getting wasted with my dad?\"\n\n\"Ah, the old guys have folded,\" he said, obviously tipsy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You sound like you're feeling good though.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Brianna has all the cures.\" I giggled." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 9 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know,\" he said. \"I'm pretty confident my dick would be a good cure right now for you.\"\n\n\"I'm pretty sure your dick was a pretty good reason I got drunk in the first place,\" I replied laughing.\n\n\"Ouch,\" he said. \"I thought I was better than that, Ava.\"\n\n\"Trust me, you were phenomenal,\" I replied with laughter.\n\nWe talked for a little bit longer, sending little flirty and dirty quips back and forth to each other. When the ceiling started to spin with the fan, I said my goodnights and hung up the phone, dropping it in the floor and rolling over in the bed. Before my eyes collapsed shut under the weight of whiskey, I thought about Tanner and tried desperately to let the feelings inside of me float away with the alcohol. Whether I liked it or not, it was pretty obvious I had it bad for this guy." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Hey can you use whatever I write as a jumping off point? Also, stick to these genres: Romance; Rating: X, and try to work in these themes: multiple points of view, nsfw, steamy." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I woke up on Saturday morning with my father and Tanner on my mind. There was so much going on in my life, and I couldn't find the ability to sort it out myself. I felt slightly broken, worn down from the stress of fighting with my father, the emotional roller coaster that was my relationship with Tanner, and the fact that I wasn't sure what to do about MJ. My career was really important, but I was smart enough that I didn't need to stress out so much about it. Tanner was the biggest thing on my mind. My father was about to find out that I'd lied to him again, and though it was still uncertain as to where my future with Tanner was going, I knew that I loved him, and I needed to try to get to the point where we could figure it all out without the stress of sneaking around and worrying about the lies in the background.\n\nI shuffled out of my bedroom and walked into the living room, plopping down on the couch and looking out of the window. It was sunny, but from the chill in the apartment, it must be cold outside, something I really loved about autumn in New York." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could break out the sweaters and boots earlier than most other places." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "However, at that moment, I only wanted hot coffee and a warm blanket and maybe a really good conversation with my father. I leaned over and grabbed my phone, dialing my father's number, expecting to leave a message. To my surprise, he picked up and seemed cheerier than normal.\n\n\"Hey, Daddy,\" I said. \"What are you doing?\"\n\n\"I just got to the city,\" he said happily. \"I was thinking about you.\"\n\n\"You want to come over?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That sounds perfect,\" he said kindly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll be over soon.\"\n\nWe hung up the phone, and I grabbed the fleece out of the closet, not wanting to turn on the heat just yet. The day was fresh and there was a good likelihood it would warm up into the sixties outside later, which would raise the temperature of the apartment to a comfortable seventy-four or seventy-five degrees. This was the time of year I could save some money on the crazy electric bill that New York weather produced. I lay there bundled up on the couch for quite a while, my head on the pillow, and my eyes gazing out at the tree in front of the window. There were people out walking their dogs, taking their children to the park, and doing other normal Saturday activities. Part of me was jealous, wanting to have that kind of life as well. However, in order to do so, I needed to get through this first part of things, telling my father the truth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was pretty sure my father was going to show up with either coffee, breakfast, or both, which was fine with me since I had completely forgotten to buy coffee or groceries for that matter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything had been a mess recently, so much that I was thankful I had remembered to brush my teeth everyday much less keep up with the grocery shopping." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I got up and bounced to the door as soon as I heard the knock, opening the door and hugging my father. I took the bags from his hands and walked over to the table, sitting down and unloading the breakfast. He sat down a coffee in front of me and smiled.\n\nWe started talking immediately, having our normal chitter chatter about the city and the weather before talking about anything else. My father seemed happy, something I hadn't seen in a really long time. He was always so stressed out when I was growing up and part of that had to do with my mother and her constant nagging.\n\n\"You know what I thought about the other day?\"\n\n\"What's that, sweetie?\" He leaned back in his chair." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The time Mom and I went upstate to that amusement park,\" I said smiling. \"Neither one of us like roller coasters, so we spent all day eating candy and riding the Merry Go Round.\"\n\n\"That was when I couldn't get off work,\" he said laughing.\n\n\"Yeah,\" I replied. \"It was such a good day. What happened to Mom?\"\n\n\"The same thing that happens to almost everyone,\" he said sighing. \"You pass on life experiences over and over, and then one day, you're terrified that you missed out on life. That was what, or is what, your mother is going through.\"\n\n\"But she's hurting everyone else around her,\" I said, \"which kind of sounds like someone else I know.\"\n\n\"Oh, sweetie,\" he laughed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You are not going through the same thing. You're young, and you're testing the waters. You're figuring out who you are and what you want.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's funny how I want both sides of the fence,\" I said, looking down at my sandwich. \"I want the career and the personal life. I don't want to have to make a choice like you and Tanner had to. I want it all.\"\n\n\"And you can have that,\" he said laughing. \"You are much smarter than me.\"\n\n\"Dad,\" I said, thinking about Tanner. \"What you and I have, how close we are, is extremely important to me. I'd go to any lengths to keep it intact.\"\n\n\"I would too, baby,\" he said kindly.\n\n\"That being said, my relationship with Tanner is just as important to me,\" I said, looking up at him and waiting for a reaction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I waited for a moment as he played the words over in his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tapped his finger on the glass tabletop underneath his hand, and slowly his face softened. He sighed and smiled slightly, and I let out a deep breath. He chuckled slightly and took a sip of his coffee, obviously not surprised at all about anything I'd said. I was confused, but I didn't want to ask any questions. I just wanted to hear what he had to say about it.\n\n\"I already knew all of this,\" he said with a smile. \"Yesterday afternoon, I met with Tanner. We hashed a lot of things out. And before the lunch was over, he was extremely honest about how he felt about you. I know when that man is lying, but I saw tears in his eyes when he talked about how important you are to him and how much he loves you. So, I gave him my blessing, as long as you felt the same way.\"\n\n\"Oh,\" I said, taken back by what he was saying." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We continued talking for a couple of hours, but my mind was back on Tanner." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I should be ecstatic, seeing that my father was on board with us dating, but I wasn't. Tanner had gone behind my back and talked to my father, and didn't say anything about it to me. We had just gotten done promising each other a fresh start, a clean slate, and a relationship with no lies. Here I was again, finding out that what he told me was not the truth. How could he go and do that? I knew he did it to make my father feel he could trust him again, but still, the partnership I thought we had was not going to happen the way I wanted it to. Instead, I was sitting there thinking about how he had betrayed me again.\n\nMy father didn't seem to notice that I was upset, which was good, because I didn't want him to be involved in any of this anymore." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had come to terms with my job, my relationship, and the fact that I had lied to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "From there on out, it was going to have to be me dealing with Tanner the way I thought was best." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I couldn't figure out why my heart wanted to see him but my brain was screaming at me to be angry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything was complicated all over again, and I was really looking forward to getting this over with and moving on, with Tanner and I receiving the opportunity for a fresh start." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was all too good to be true from the start, and I should have been prepared for something like that. Again, I was left dizzy after being sideswiped by the man I loved. It was starting to get annoying how much I had to deal with.\n\n\"All right,\" Dad said, stretching his arms out. \"Can I help you clean this up?\"\n\n\"No,\" I said snapping back to the present. \"I got this.\"\n\n\"I'm going to head out,\" he smiled. \"I have a tennis match with a few guys from the office. Gotta keep myself in shape.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay,\" I said happily. \"Thank you for breakfast and coffee.\"\n\n\"Anytime, sweetheart,\" he said. \"Anytime. You just call me.\"\n\n\"I will,\" I said walking him to the door.\n\nWe embraced, and he kissed me on the cheek before walking out. I closed the door and locked it, standing there staring and thinking about what I had just found out. I sighed and walked back to the table, cleaning up the trash and wiping it down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I was done, I grabbed my cell phone and laid down in my bed, staring at the ceiling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I dialed Brianna's number and laid there, waiting for her to answer.\n\n\"Hey, girl,\" she said happily.\n\n\"Hey,\" I sighed.\n\n\"Uh oh,\" she replied. \"What happened? Tell me all about it.\"\n\n\"I went to work yesterday to apologize to Tanner, and we ended up making up,\" I explained. \"We promised each other no more secrets and no more lies. The last thing left was to break the news to my father. Well, Dad came over today, and I told him that Tanner was important in my life.\"\n\n\"And your dad freaked out?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, actually the opposite,\" I replied." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay,\" Brianna said confused. \"So, what's the problem?\"\n\n\"He felt that way because Tanner took him to lunch yesterday and told him about his feelings for me,\" I said. \"He didn't even warn me that he had done that.\"\n\n\"And you are angry over this,\" she said without emotion.\n\n\"Of course, I am,\" I scoffed. \"He immediately went out and betrayed my trust again.\"\n\n\"Ava,\" she said with a sigh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You need to get your shit together. Tanner didn't do anything wrong. You're just mad because you don't have any more excuses.\"\n\n\"I don't know what you are talking about.\"\n\n\"Yes, you do,\" she said. \"You are being a pussy, and the longer your father is upset with Tanner, the longer you can wait to tell him exactly how you feel about him. You're scared. But Ava, your fear is completely ruining your life.\"\n\n\"What am I supposed to do? This was not in my plans,\" I said with emotion.\n\n\"When is love ever in the plans? You need to tell Tanner how you feel, lay it all out for him, and then see where the chips fall,\" she said. \"Stop being so scared. it's your biggest hindrance. Everyone who knows you knows that. You're just too scared to see it yourself.\"\n\nWe talked for a few more minutes before hanging up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I sat up in the bed and replayed her words over in my head, chuckling arrogantly as I attempted to blame away her response." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 4 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "However, as the thoughts of how I handled us that whole time played in the back of my mind, I realized that she might be right. Maybe I didn't spill my guts every time I had a feeling, but that was what was keeping me going. I had amazing walls that even Tanner couldn't completely knock down. The problem was, I wasn't sure if I was ready to let that guard down." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "INPUT: user text\nOUTPUT: one sentence sentences\nGENRES: Romance; Rating: X\nTAGS: multiple points of view, nsfw, steamy\nCONTINUE STORY" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I pressed my back against the wall, my hands holding my breasts and the air leaving my chest as Jason dipped down on his knees and moved his tongue through my wetness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had never been in a situation where I felt so much want and need for anyone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't even start to come to terms with what was going on with Jason and I, but at that moment, all I wanted to do was let go and let him take my body." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The plethora of text messages that had been sent back and forth over the last day had gotten me hot and bothered, and though part of me wanted to take care of it myself and not get involved in anything complicated, I knew my own fingers were not going to do the trick in this situation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I needed Jason, all of him, every damn inch of him to make me feel better, and I was determined to give him the time of his life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was something so hot about Jason's face pressed between my legs, almost as if I had wanted him there a lot longer than I realized." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He reached up and tugged at my waist, pulling me down to the floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I leaned my upper back against the wall as he pushed my thighs wide apart and dove down with his mouth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could feel his lips caress my mound like they did my own lips just a day before, and I moaned loudly as his tongue did circle eights over my clit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My hands moved down to Jason's head, and I pushed my fingers through his dark hair, feeling his head swivel as his intensity increased." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I gasped as he slid two fingers inside of me and began to push in and out, his mouth firmly planted on my nub, sucking and nibbling me closer and closer to orgasm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I breathed deeply, trying to keep myself under control but there was no way I could at that point, the wanting had been there for so long." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The heat of the moment bubbled up in my stomach as I began to grind my hips against his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sensing how close I was, he picked up the pace, moving his fingers deeper and harder, and pressing his mouth firmly into my wetness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I cried out, throwing my hands to my side and grinding my hips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He clamped his hands around my waist and moved me with his mouth, bringing a feeling of pleasure surging through me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Like the fire that ignited the bomb, that pleasure pushed my orgasm over the edge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I screamed again, tightening every muscle in my body, arching my back and taking in a deep breath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The waves of orgasm hit me like a ton of bricks, and I could barely keep my composure." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As the juices flowed, Jason moved his mouth over my pussy fast, lapping up my taste and groaning." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As my muscles relaxed, and I let out a deep breath, I could feel a smile pull at the edges of Jason's lips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I leaned forward, pushing him back and climbing to my knees." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Stand up,\" I said, biting my lip." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He scrambled to his feet and cleared his throat, ready for what was going to come next." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I raked my fingers down his sides and grabbed onto his ass, pulling his body toward me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reached up and wrapped my hand around his long hard shaft, almost taken back by how big it was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked up into his eyes and grinned as I closed my eyes and took his cock deep into my throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He lurched and groaned as I deep throated his shaft, pressing my lips against his skin at the base." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His eyes got big as I sucked hard, pulling it back out and then diving back down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wrapped his fingers gently through my hair and pushed gently against my head, taking only slight control." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As I pulled my head back up, I wrapped my tongue around his shaft, sucking hard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He moaned out, grabbing harder at my hair." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His hips began to thrust forward as his hand held my face still." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I opened my mouth wide and allowed him to push deep down into my throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My eyes watered as I looked up at him, his face dark with desire." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I reached my hands up and coddled his balls, gently massaging them as he picked up the pace." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I moaned quietly, the arousal simmering in my belly while I watched him fuck my mouth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was as if we couldn't get enough of each other in those moments." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He pulled back, loosening his grip on my hair and taking a calming breath as he looked down at me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Slowly, he reached down and scooped me into his arms, carrying me back toward the bedroom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I ran my lips across his neck, feeling his strong hands gripping my thighs and his muscular arms beneath me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gently laid me down on the bed, and I pulled my head up on the pillow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As he hovered over me, I could see the passion in his stare and despite my assumption that he would dive right in, he ran his fingers through my hair, resting his body to the side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His face pushed down toward mine, and he kissed my lips, gently at first, but then turning deeper and needier." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His hands slipped over my breasts, and he grasped them, massaging with his hands as his tongue explored my mouth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I gasped as his hard cock rubbed against my side, making more wetness pool between my legs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wanted him so badly, but this touch was something I had not experienced before, his emotions spilling out over my skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The men in this family were never very good at verbal expression, but Jason had found an outlet to express his." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Slowly, he rolled over on top of me, pushing my legs apart, his eyes still focused on mine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My breath picked up from the intensity of the contact, and I gasped as his cock slowly slid through my juices." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, feeling every inch of him fill me up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His lips trailed down my throat as his hips began to push forward slowly until our bodies connected." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I opened my eyes and found his stare still steady, and I locked on as if our gaze was what held us together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He penetrated me to the core, groaning into my mouth as our lips hovered closely together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could feel the bulge in his cock as he took his time, wanting more but holding back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His restraint was almost more than I could handle, and my fingertips danced across his back, secretly begging him for more." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As if he could read what was in my mind through my eyes, he started going faster, his hips moving in a wave as his body swiped across my clit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I pulled my legs up to the sides of his body and held tightly to his neck, pulling his body close to mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could feel the muscles tense and release as he pushed forward with his legs, holding himself just inches with his massive trembling arms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My body reacted in every way to his lustful gaze and all-encompassing coverage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My hips tilted upward and my thighs relaxed, opening myself to him fully." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the first time I had ever felt that comfortable with a man before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wanted all of him, and I yearned to feel him come inside of me, knowing it was safe since my condition didn't allow me to have children." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The feeling was free with no attachments of stress or anger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was just two people connecting on a level beyond cosmic, and it seemed the world had stood still." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I moaned quietly with my breath as the buildup of another orgasm brewed inside of me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The feeling of his soft warm skin brushing against my wetness sent ribbons of arousal through my body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jason's movements grew stronger and more powerful, showing me he, too, was reaching the edge of his climax." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sweat beaded on his forehead as he fought to control his muscles." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His body yearned to let loose while his mind concentrated on the deep steady movements inside of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew I needed to give him permission to free himself from the constant need to fill me with his shaft and allow himself to feel the orgasm fighting to break through." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I leaned my face to his ear and whispered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I want to feel you come.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He groaned loudly and let out a deep breath, pushing his arms up and grabbing my thighs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He hooked my legs over his arms and began to thrust deeper and harder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His speed quickened and the strained look from before was replaced with determination." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He bit his lip as his hips moved faster and faster, his cock throbbing for release." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I reached my arms over my head and grabbed the edge of the mattress moaning loudly as he pushed into me hard and deep." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My muscles began to tense as the feeling of skin on mine pushed me over my edge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I arched my back and tilted my head, screaming loudly as ribbons of pleasure flowed through my body, taking over my senses and blinding me with passion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could feel him sit up and grab me under the back as he pushed several times short and hard inside of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With the final push, his fingers grabbed at my skin and his muscles tightened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His eyes closed as his head tilted backward, and I could feel the explosion of his seed inside of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I screamed out in pleasure as his cock pulsated against my already shivering walls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Deep groaning sounds escaped his throat as he twitched in front of me, letting the last of his orgasm simmer out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For several minutes he sat there, holding my exhausted, heaving body in his arms as one by one, his muscles relaxed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He laid me down gently on the bed and let out a deep breath, pulling his still hard cock from inside of me and collapsing on the bed next to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We laid there in pleasured silence for several minutes before he turned on his side and propped his head up on his hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He moved the hair from my face and pulled the sheet up over my exposed body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I smiled as he leaned down and gently kissed my lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I glanced over at the clock and chuckled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I think I made you late for work,\" I whispered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm not going back,\" he said grinning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I can't leave this. Hell, my father is the owner of the company. I've never used that to my advantage to miss work, but today, I think it will be okay.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good,\" I said touching his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I like you here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I like being here, with you,\" he said kissing my cheek." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And I want to talk to you about your medical condition.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay,\" I said, taking in a deep breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, it's called PCOS, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I grow a bunch of small cysts on my ovaries, and in turn, it makes it pretty much impossible to get pregnant. It's been a bit to take in. I mean I lost any chance to have a child and lost my husband all in one month. It's been overwhelming, to say the least.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know,\" he said looking at me in a way no other man ever had." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'd like to help if you'd let me. I have some contacts with some amazing doctors, and I'd like to set you up for a second opinion.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That would be amazing,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I bet he didn't know just how awesome he was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good,\" he said, smiling. \"That was easy.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm not one to fight someone looking out for my best interest,\" I laughed." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll always look out for your best interest,\" he replied.\n\nAnd I was going to hold him to that." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Cooperative storytelling\nMy role: Provide a brief opening\nYour role: Expand upon my opening with two sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My home office looked like the inside of a doctor's office with printed medical journals sprawled out all over the place. I had a bucket of highlighters sitting next to me, and the pages I printed were highlighted according to the type of information." }, { "from": "human", "value": "By the time I was done with one sheet, it looked like a rainbow and the paper had become flimsy from the amount of ink that was saturating the fibers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had decided that since Tiffany was busy this weekend getting stuff moved around in her house and spending time with her best friend Mona, I was going to get myself up to speed on her medical condition." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I couldn't really be there for her or find her the best doctor for a second opinion if I didn't know everything there was to know about this disease." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The internet, as always, was peppered with information that I had to sort through from medical journals to personal stories of women who suffered from the condition. There were your normal fairy tale stories of women who were told they would never get pregnant and then, poof, they had triplets, to women who suffered almost debilitating depression because of the lack of fertility." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Thinking about Tiffany having to feel even an ounce of the pain these women did made me uneasy, and I was determined to make her into one of the success stories." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After I understood what the condition was and what it scientifically did to her body, I started looking up treatments." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was everything from invasive surgeries to holistic remedies, and by the time I was done sorting those out, my head was spinning." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew treatment was not up to me at all, but I wanted to give Tiffany the best options, the ones she would feel most comfortable with and would offer her the best chance of recovery." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just knowing the woman for five seconds, you could tell she was meant to be a mother." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her nurturing nature and huge heart were some of the things I had admired for years. She was everything you expected a woman holding a baby in her arms to be." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How had she managed to escape college without becoming a teacher or a caregiver?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew how her life was growing up, though, with parents who were dependent on drugs, and I wondered how much that affected her want for her own children." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had been independent since she was a small child, having to take care of her parents when they were all drugged out. From that, her brother had protected and shielded her until she could break free of the chains and become the woman she was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was already an adult fairy tale, and I figured if anyone could work past this condition, it would be Tiffany." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I took a break, grabbing a beer from the fridge and walking out onto my balcony. I didn't live in a high-rise like Jordan but, instead, hung out in a three-story SoHo loft with a walk-out onto the roof sanctuary that also housed a swimming pool just for me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was like my break away from the business of Manhattan, while still being able to walk outside and see the chaos of the city." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I absolutely loved every part of it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I pulled my phone out and smiled, looking down at the message from Tiffany. We had been talking ever since I left her house late Friday night." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everything in me wanted to stay, but Saturday morning was the annual fall breakfast at my parents' place, and so, I'd gone home to get changed and ready for that. It felt weird not having her there, and even my mother had commented on her absence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jordan simply rolled his eyes and passed the potatoes, not wanting to talk about it, irritated that his family wasn't going into woman-hater mode with him.\n\nThe entire time at breakfast, I had thought about Tiffany and the amazing sex we'd had the night before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her body was so tender, so soft, and it felt like more than just a roll in the hay like I thought. I had years of emotions behind it, having watched her from afar for many years, envious that my brother could be with such an amazing creature." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For her part, I don't know how she felt, but she seemed to be just as emotionally vested as I was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Physically, though, our bodies connected right away, and it was like I knew just how to pleasure her, the knowledge that would normally come later in a relationship when two people had fully brought their bodies together, over and over, learning each other's pleasure zones and arousal buttons. Not so with Tiffany." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She and I, once close, were like magnets, rubbing against each other, drawn closer and closer, and feeling every single inch of each other's bodies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't wait until the next time I got to be alone with her. There were several other things I had in mind for that sexy body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tonight, though, was the regular Sunday night dinner where I would get to sit across the table from Jordan and keep my secret to myself. I was even more disgusted by the way he had treated Tiffany, especially now that we had given ourselves to each other and now that I understood her on an entirely new level." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was disappointed the situation was as it was and I couldn't keep her close to me, bringing her along to my parent's house to show off and hold hands with her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jordan had been the only one to regularly bring girls to my parents while I had reserved that for a time I knew the girl was the one. I knew it seemed crazy, but that was how I felt about Tiffany, regardless of where her feelings for me were." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was something I wasn't going to push, especially since the ink had hardly dried on her divorce." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, I wasn't going to lie." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't hesitate to torture my brother, knowing he was wondering about the girl who was taking my attention away. He had stopped hounding me about Tiffany, though I knew it was still on his mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He would just have to wait like everyone else until the time was right. In the meantime, I would get to keep my feelings for Tiffany private and just between the two of us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Our time would be our time, and I felt it would make it even that much more important to the two of us. It wasn't very often, especially in my family, when something special came into your life that you got to enjoy in privacy before everyone wanted to be a part of it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wasn't sure how my family would react, but I knew in time, no matter how they felt at first, they would be happy to have Tiffany back into the fold.\n\nI spent the rest of the afternoon organizing the notes into folders and putting them together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I figured eventually Tiffany might want to read some of the information, but for now, I had a pretty good understanding of the disease, what the symptoms were, and what to talk to the doctors about. I would be making phone calls first thing in the morning from the office." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wanted to get on top of this as fast as possible so Tiffany could put her mind at ease for the future. I had no idea how she felt, but I did know that the less stress she had, the quicker she could come back to work, and the more relaxed we could be around each other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The best thing I knew how to do was get her in to see a doctor and be there for her, no matter what the end result was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't help but think there wasn't something we could do to get through this, even if she didn't end up with me in the end. I just wanted her to be happy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everything else would work out how it was supposed to after that. I flipped my office light off and headed to my room to get changed and get ready to go to my parents' house for dinner." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was going to be a fun night, watching my brother act the douchebag like he usually did, knowing in the back of mind, I saved Tiffany from a miserable existence in his shadow.\n\nMy parents always sent a car for me on Sundays." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They wanted me to enjoy wine with dinner and whiskey afterward without worrying about me getting home. They had moved outside of the city when we were young teenagers, into a large mansion on the edge of town." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hopped in the car and sat back, watching as I passed the changing colors of the trees and texted Tiffany on my way there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was eating pizza and drinking tequila with Mona, and it made me a little jealous, but only because I wanted to be there with her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I arrived at my parents, I shoved my phone in my pockets and walked up the large front staircase." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My mother had already pulled out the fall decorations, and there was a large wreath covered in orange, red, and brown leaves hanging from the front door. The maid opened the door before I could even reach for the handle, and I smiled as I walked in, smelling the scent of Sunday evening dinner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was really the only time my mother cooked anymore." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instead, she'd hired a chef and spent her days and nights between the office and doing her crafting with her friends from the club." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the start of dinner, I looked down at my phone and smiled at a picture Tiff sent of her and Mona sprawled out on the floor, surrounded by tequila and pizza. They were ridiculous, but I was really pleased to see Tiffany starting to act like her old self again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was way too precious to be caught up in heartbreak, and I was happy to be part of the solution.\n\n\"That your new girlfriend?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jordan looked up at me and raised an eyebrow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Where'd you meet her?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sounded suspicious, but I ignored his tone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I met her at a bar a few weeks ago,\" I said smiling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She's pretty awesome. You'd really like her.\" I stared right at Jordan with a cocky smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He squinted his eyes at me with curiosity.\n\n\"Is that why you didn't come back to work on Friday?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My father interrupted our stare-off, and I switched my gaze to him, taking a deep breath.\n\n\"Um, yeah, actually,\" I chuckled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She had some stuff going on, and I wanted to be there for her.\"\n\n\"Well,\" my mother said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I need to meet this girl. We need to meet this girl. You haven't talked about a girlfriend since that flakey girl you dated in eleventh grade.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know.\" I laughed, thinking about little Marcy from school. She was sweet but not too bright." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"When the time is right, you will all meet her.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That seemed to appease my mother and father, but Jordan kept his gaze fixed on my face." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew he had his suspicions, but I couldn't have cared less about what he thought. I was going to make the best decision for Tiffany in all of this, something he neglected to do from the get-go. If he wasn't going to cherish her and treat her right, I would make sure that I did." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode:\nCo-writing\n\nLength:\n5 sentences\n\n" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We got dressed and moved over to the center, sitting down behind a large wall that helped block the wind. I leaned my head back and wrapped my arms around Tiffany, glad to finally have her back in my life. I knew this was how I wanted to show her that I knew what I wanted, but it had been more than hard getting through the first part of the day without letting on that all I could do was think about her. I could sense her look over at me from across the hall, and I couldn't help but chuckle at how anxious she seemed, trying not to let me notice she was staring over at me. I felt kind of bad for putting her through that, but the look on her face when I pressed my fingers against her lips and led her toward the elevator was absolutely priceless." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She didn't know what to do with herself. I looked over at her and smiled, still recovering from some of the hottest sex I had ever had. Her body was like a board of buttons and with these pregnancy hormones surging through her, every button was a winner. I decided that, later on, I might find out how many times I could make her orgasm. She was so beautiful with her rosy cheeks and wide eyes looking out over the city." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm sorry,\" I said, whispering in her ear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I got too caught up in holding a grudge and being stubborn to see that I was hurting you and our family. I want you to know I love you so much, probably more than any woman I have ever been with before. I love everything about you from your beautiful smile to your enchanting and amazing heart.\"\n\nShe looked up at me with a wide smile, her eyes twinkling. I leaned forward and kissed her lips softly, taking in the heavenly scent of her perfume. I reached down and grabbed her hand, pulling it to my lips. She bumped me with her elbow and smiled widely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I love you, too,\" she said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You have shown me what it's like to be genuinely in love with someone. I've never felt this way about a man, and I've never had someone love me enough to admit when they were wrong. I promise that as we go through life, I'll try to do the same for you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I moved the hair out of her face and kissed her once more, feeling the electricity of love pulsing through my chest. She really loved me. It had to be the best feeling I had ever felt, like I was on cloud nine and I never had to look back. I had waited a long time to find a woman like Tiffany, never realizing my true love would one day be her. I held her hand tightly and looked out over the cityscape, thinking about family." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I called Jordan last night,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We talked, and it was actually a good conversation, probably the most productive we've ever had. I promised to be more sensitive when it came to us and him. He promised to not fly off the handle and call you names. I realized you were right, that it was important to made amends. We have a baby coming and family is so important in that entire process. I want our child growing up in a place where everyone shows their love and support for each other. It feels really good knowing I have Jordan back on my side.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm so glad,\" she said with a sigh. \"You guys love each other very much, and I just couldn't keep going forward so quickly with our relationship without knowing that your family relationships stayed intact. I knew one day you would really wish you had made amends, and by then, it might be too late. I know firsthand how hard it is to be without your family. Having them right there at your fingertips but not being able to call on them. I wish all the time that there was something I could do to help my parents, so I could show them they are going to be grandparents. I know it's just wishful thinking, though. This was so much simpler. All you both had to do was open your hearts and remember that you are brothers. It's easy to forgive someone you really love.\"\n\nI ran my hand down her arm and across her stomach, watching her face light up as I bent down and lifted the edge of her shirt. I pressed my lips to her belly and turned to lay my head down. She ran her fingers through my hair, and I listened to her heart beating." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My child was in there, right underneath me, growing and striving." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I couldn't wait until I had the chance to meet him or her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This woman and this child had become my life before I even had a chance to think about it. I loved her, and I loved the baby I hadn't even met yet. There was no way, after everything we had just gone through, that I would ever let her go again. I wanted to protect her in every way I knew how, and I could feel how much she loved me as she cradled my head in her arms. I moved up and pressed my lips against hers, feeling her smile fade as I pulled back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked at her with curiosity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I want to talk to you about something,\" she said. \"I might end up transferring to San Diego.\"\n\n\"What? Why?\"\n\n\"I just can't deal with all the rumors, all the whispering, and all the snide comments,\" she sighed. \"It really bothers me that I have been branded the office whore. No one truly understands what has been going on, but they have been quick to judge me. You guys don't feel it as much because you are the owner's sons, or maybe it's because you're men and don't get as much of it, but it's constant. I don't even want to leave my office anymore.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I sat there for several minutes mulling her words over in my head. I knew there would be talk in the office when all of this happened, but I hadn't realized it had gotten so bad. In fact, the thought of these people having nothing better to do than sitting around and talking shit infuriated me to no end. How dare they put pressure on Tiffany to the point to where she was considering flying halfway across the country to get away from it? Damn bullies. I pulled myself to my feet and reached down, helping her up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked up at me with curiosity.\n\n\"Come with me,\" I said pulling her back toward the elevator.\n\nWe walked into the elevator, and I pulled her close as the doors shut. She turned toward me and gazed into my eyes as the elevator moved down toward our floor. I kissed her lips and brushed the hair from her face, looking deeply into her eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was the most beautiful woman I had ever met, and my job of protecting my new family was going to start right now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was no way I was going to sit by and lose the love of my life because these no-good idiots in my office wanted to be fools. If they wanted to stay working for the company, they had better get their shit together and start sucking up to Tiffany like they did me and my brother.\n\nWhen the doors opened, Tiffany tried to pull her hand away, but I grasped on to it, pulling her toward the bank of desks near the back. I grabbed a chair from one of the side tables and hoisted myself up onto it. I cleared my throat and looked down at Tiffany, winking briefly to try to calm the nerves I knew she had at that moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Alright, everyone, listen up,\" I shouted, causing the entirety of the office staff to turn toward me. \"Unless you are ready to hand over your letter of resignation today, I would suggest each and every one of you learn to shut your mouths. If you have time to sit around and make up stories about a woman who is not only your supervisor but a hell of a business woman, then we don't have time for you to work here. This woman is pregnant and who knows what she might do to you if you continue to fuck with her. I know a lot of you on this floor, and I can promise you that most of you have zero room to be talking shit about anyone else. From this day on, there is a zero tolerance for your petty asses. If you are wondering who gave me the right to say this, well I'll just come out and say it, my family owning this company did, and I can promise you my father will back me up in firing any one of you for stupid high school drama.\"\n\n\"That's right,\" my father said from behind me. \"This is a professional company. We have zero time to deal with things like this. Tiffany is the most important employee I have, and I will not think twice about putting you out on your ass if I continue to hear that you can't keep your noses out of other people's business. So, to reiterate, I will fire anyone who continues to harass my future daughter-in-law as well as help her sue your ass. Trust me, if you get fired from here for harassment, there is not another company in this city that will touch you. You can kiss your pension and your salary goodbye. I hope that makes this perfectly clear for everyone.\"\n\nI looked back at my father and shook my head, glad to see that he was behind us on this." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I glanced over at Jordan who was standing to the side with his arms crossed in front of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked at me and nodded, giving me the thumbs up. Everyone was on the same page with this, and I was putting my foot down. I was pretty sure every single person in that office knew that when we made a statement like that, we were not playing around. Business was business and in this case, it was affecting the flow of our work. Not to mention the fact that it was upsetting my beautiful girlfriend who was carrying our precious little baby." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't care if I had to fire my own secretary, I would do it. Hopefully, though, since everyone knew how serious we were, we would have no other problems with this issue. I stepped down off the stool and turned to Tiffany who was covering her face and shaking her head. She looked at me and smiled, leaning in and kissing me softly.\n\n\"You are my hero,\" she laughed, holding onto my jacket." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Now I just have to make sure none of them kill me in my sleep.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I think you will be safe.\" I laughed. \"And don't ever hold something like that back again. You had to know there was no way I would ever let you go all the way to San Diego.\"\n\n\"I hope that changed your mind about California,\" John said when he leaned over.\n\n\"Yes.\" She laughed. \"Thank you so much, John. It really means a lot to have everyone's support.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Alright.\" he clapped his hands. \"Let's get through this hump day misery and get back to our homes so we can relax. I'm ready for some relaxation and a nice warm fire.\"\n\n\"Hump day,\" she whispered, raising her eyebrows. \"We got it right.\"\n\n\"We sure as hell did,\" I said, laughing and tickling her waist." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The rest of the day went by quickly, with Tiffany back to messaging and texting erotically with me." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I even got a sexy titty picture from her when she excused herself to the restroom. Everything seemed to be back in working order. All there was left to do was start looking toward the future." } ]

[ { "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 Romance; Rating: X genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My phone rang and I picked it up, saying hello instead of my normal greeting because the call was coming from inside of the office." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was surprised to hear John's voice on the other end asking me to come to his office. I hung up the phone and walked out of my room, winking at Jason as I passed. When I got to the door, I knocked, smiling as I leaned around the corner." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He motioned for me to come in and I did, closing the door behind me. I walked over and sat down in the chairs opposite his desk, placing my hands on my knees and raising my eyebrows. I wasn't sure what he wanted, but he had a pretty serious expression on his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I wanted to see if you had any more problems with the staff since Wednesday when we made our announcement,\" he said, smiling.\n\n\"Ha.\" I rolled my eyes and relaxed. \"No, quite the opposite actually. People are going out of their way to be nice to me. I think they think I am keeping points or have some secret roster. It's almost hilarious watching the worst offenders scrambling around when I walk into the office. Sometimes, they even chime good morning in tune with each other. Half the time, I don't even know what to say, so I just smile awkwardly.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm not sure which is worse.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He grimaced. \"I was never a fan of that one person who was damn sunshine all the time. That's probably why my office is filled with condescending assholes. I won't hire the sunshine and daisies employee because I know I'll kill them on one bad Monday morning.\"\n\n\"Well, I'd rather deal with sunshine because the fake 'hello' is so much easier to handle than people constantly talking trash about me behind my back,\" I said. \"It really hurt my feelings because I thought I'd tried really hard to be a good person, and still, no one wanted to give me the time of day. It was almost depressing at some points. But I don't have to tell you that. I was the one ready to jump on a plane and fly across the country to get away from it. I really do appreciate everything you guys have done. You have treated me like family, no matter how awkward the situation got. I never what having a family was like until I came here to work and met everyone. You stuck by me even when I wasn't technically family anymore. My own family can't even stick by me, and we share the same DNA. Sometimes, I think the world is absolutely hopeless, and then, I come to work and remember it's not hopelessness, it's sarcasm and it originates from my office.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We both laughed loudly as people scurried past the windows, realizing I was in with the boss." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They really had been almost nauseating with how nice they were being to me. I had never seen a group of people react like that to their bosses. I had never seen any of the guys ever come down hard on anyone, so I wasn't sure where the fear came from, but I was definitely thankful I didn't have to deal with the crap anymore." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well,\" John said leaning back in his chair. \"I don't want thanks. You just make sure you take care of yourself and provide me a grandson or a kick ass granddaughter to be the heir of the company. God knows I'm not sure either of my boys will quite get the hang of it.\"\n\nWe glanced out the window and watched as Jason and Jordan play fought as they walked by the window." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Freezing halfway past and looking over at us slowly before running off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "John shook his head and threw his hands up in the air while I laughed hysterically at how ridiculous those boys could be, and that was perfect timing for the conversation we were having.\n\n\"I'll do my best, but I'm pretty sure with Banks blood coursing through its blood, this baby will come out crunching numbers and putting up marketing schemes,\" I said, chuckling. \"Or we'll get a dud, and they will do cartwheels out, and we'll have a new generation of Banks circus performers.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I got enough of those already,\" John grumbled with a smile.\n\nWe talked another few minutes about nothing important, and I excused myself from his office. Slowly, I meandered through the hall until I reached the break room where I went over and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jordan turned from the coffee maker and smiled at me. It had been the first time we had been alone since I had gone to talk to him at his apartment. It was nice seeing him and being able to have a comfortable conversation without the fear that we were going to break out in a screaming match." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him tightly, feeling his muscles tense at first but then relax into it. I pulled back and stepped backward, looking up at his blushed cheeks. I had never known Jordan to get embarrassed, but it looked like my hug sent him right over the top." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I laughed to myself trying not to embarrass him further and grabbed an apple from the fruit basket on the table. I was starting to feel like all I did was eat, even though it was only tiny portions at a time. My pants still fit the same, and I didn't really notice anything different when I looked at myself in the mirror, but I knew it would be coming soon enough." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In just a few months I would be carrying a basketball around in front of me, something I was oddly excited about." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How are you?\" He seemed genuinely interested for the first time in a very long time.\n\n\"Honestly?\" I looked at him and smiled. \"I'm doing amazing. I feel so much better now that you guys have worked things out. Everyone has stopped treating me like the woman with the red letter on her chest, and I'm really super happy with Jason. I really thought there for a second that my best course of action was to go to San Diego and have this baby on my own. I was scared, but everything worked out just like I wanted. And I am so happy you and I can talk like this.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm really glad that you found someone like my brother,\" he said smiling. \"Or exactly my brother to be specific.\"\n\n\"Why?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have known both of you for a really long time, and I can't think of anyone more perfect for you than Jason,\" he said, nodding his head. \"Even me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you,\" I said with a bright smile. I leaned in and hugged him again, relieved that he had moved past the hurt and the anger. It had only been a few days, but I knew if he could come this far in that short amount of time, we were all going to have an amazing relationship." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This was the family I had always wanted and never thought I would have." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sure, I missed my brother, but we talked on a regular basis, and he was extremely supportive of my life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This, though, this was even better, having everyone I needed right there.\n\n\"Thanks, man,\" Jason said walking around the corner. \"That was probably the nicest thing you've said about me your whole life.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He heard me,\" Jordan whispered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I laughed and pulled away watching as the two brothers embraced." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I loved the fact that they had been able to move past all of this, and they even seemed to be closer than they were when I had first came into the picture. Even Jordan had seemed to change, and I just couldn't get over how down to earth they acted toward each other.\n\n\"You still hit like a girl,\" Jordan whispered as Jason pulled back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know, man,\" he said, walking over to me. \"That's a pretty tough girl. I distinctly remember blood spilling from your mouth and nose.\"\n\n\"I bleed easily,\" Jordan replied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Besides, I was smiling the whole time, so it couldn't have hurt that bad.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Didn't you end up getting like two stitches?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had to throw in my two cents." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Where did you hear that? Damn office drama. I'm going to fire someone.\" He laughed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They can't pick on me anymore, so they chose a new target,\" I replied. \"Better you than me, any day. Instead, I get the hoard of creepy smiling zombies every day. I am waiting for them to start leaving gifts on my desk, so I don't have to buy my own snacks every day.\"\n\nWe all laughed, and I looked at Jason as he slid his hands gently around my waist." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pulled me in close, his eyes sparkling, and pressed his lips deeply against mine. I let out a deep breath as his lips glided sweetly across mine. He kissed the corners of my mouth, my cheeks, and both of my eyes before pulling back and looking deep into my eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I loved this man so much, it was insane." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It hadn't been very long, but we had decided to take our relationship into turbo mode, sex, baby, and love all in the span of a month." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If it had been anyone else, I would have been freaking out, but Jason had stolen my heart a long time ago, and I hadn't realized it until our first kiss. He was the man I was meant to be with. I had just taken the long route to get there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jason pulled me in for a hug and squeezed me tightly, his face pushed into my neck. I could feel him taking deep breaths of my perfume as I stood there holding tightly to him. I looked up at Jordan who was looking at us adoringly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He smiled and took a deep breath, diverting his eyes to the drink in his hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So,\" he said, stretching." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"When are you two fools going to get married?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jason lifted his head and leaned back, kissing me on the nose before letting go." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He turned toward Jordan and smiled, looking back at me as he stuck his hand in his pocket." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I watched him pull a small box wrapped in a red bow from his pants, and I looked up at him in confusion.\n\n\"Speaking of,\" he said turning toward me and walking over to the door. \"Can I have everyone's attention? Everyone, please come to the break room immediately.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He walked back over to me and watched as everyone funneled into the break room. Once the place was full, he turned back toward me and smiled. Slowly he bent down on one knee and opened the ring box." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I put my hands over my mouth and gasped as he cleared his throat.\n\n\"Tiffany, you are the most amazing, the bravest, the strongest, and the sweetest woman I have ever met. You are carrying the only other thing in this world that could match the importance of you. I could not go another day without knowing you were going to be with me for the rest of my days,\" he said, gazing up at me. \"Will you do the honor of accepting my hand in marriage?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I threw my head back and laughed, completely and utterly surprised by the whole thing. I nodded my head, answering yes, and walked forward as he stood up and took the giant stone from the box. He slid the ring across my finger and pulled me in close, pressing his lips firmly against mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the perfect day. I had pulled my family back together, and now, I was going to get to spend my life with the man I loved. Everything had worked out just as I thought it would. Absolutely perfect." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "[ Epilogue ]\n\n[ Jason ]\n\n\"Jason,\" Tiffany said, slapping me in the chest and raising me from a dead sleep." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I jumped up on the bed and looked around, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. My breathing calmed, and Tiffany switched on the light. She was standing on the floor, bent over holding her very large belly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was officially three days past her due date and that baby had seemed like it was perfectly content with just hanging out inside of her. We'd moved into my SoHo apartment, not wanting to share the same house that she'd had with Jordan, but had ended up going to the Greek District to avoid the stairs at my place. I was terrified she was going to fall down the stairs while I was at work, and though she fought me on it, being stubborn as hell, we moved over to her old place and had Mona staying in the spare room while I was at work." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My father had said she wasn't allowed to work when she reached 38 weeks, so she had been sulking and waddling around the house, trying to keep herself busy. She was probably the most adorable pregnant woman I had ever seen.\n\n\"Baby,\" she said in a panic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, sweetie, what do you need?\"\n\n\"No! Baby. I got up to get something to eat and my water broke.\" She pointed at her soaking wet clothes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh.\" I ran over and grabbed her bag. \"Let's get you changed really fast.\"\n\nShe nodded her head, and I helped her pull on some dry clothes before making our way out to the car." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She breathed deeply, the contractions hitting her hard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reached over and grasped her hand, laughing as she forced a kind of terrifying smile. I whipped through the streets and pulled in front of the hospital. As soon as I got out, I helped her out of the car, grabbing a wheelchair and pushing her into the front." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The nurses sent us directly upstairs to the maternity ward, and before we knew it, she was lying on the bed in a hospital gown and with a monitor strapped across her big, round belly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could see the baby kicking, pushing on her skin like something from a horror movie." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The doctor came in and checked her, looking surprised and then running from the room. I watched the monitor and grasped her hand as another wave of contractions moved over her. She breathed in and out just like the class she went to taught her, groaning as the contraction hit its peak." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was in so much pain, but she held tightly to her beliefs, refusing the epidural they offered her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When the doctor came back, he was dressed in a coat and was wearing gloves, the nurses scurrying along behind him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It looks like this baby is ready to get moving,\" he said with a laugh.\n\nThey lowered the bed, and she scooted forward, sweat beading on her forehead. I held her hand while the doctor told her to keep breathing and not to push just yet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The nurse watched the monitor as the spikes began to rise, looking over at the doctor and nodding. He moved forward on his stool and reached his hands below her gown.\n\n\"Okay, when I say so, I want you to bear down and push,\" he instructed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tiffany shook her head and breathed deeply, feeling her belly begin to contract." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As the waves moved up on the screen, the nurse nodded again and the doctor took his position." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I leaned down and pressed my head against her forehead and whispered \"I love you\" into her ear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Now,\" the doctor said.\n\nTiffany grabbed tightly to my hand and held her breath as she pushed down hard. She screamed out as the doctor put his hand back in the air to signal her to stop." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Okay,\" he said. \"The shoulders are out, one more good push, and you will be a new mother.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked at me with tears pooling in the corners of her eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I kissed her lips and nodded my head, waiting for the doctor's orders." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As soon as he said push, she began, and after a few short seconds, he lifted a beautiful baby boy into the air. The baby began to cry immediately, and they rested him on her chest, cleaning out his airways and cutting his cord. Tears filled my eyes as we huddled together, just the three of us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I love you,\" I said, crying." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I love you, too,\" she replied through laughter and tears. \"I am thinking Justin is a perfect name.\"\n\n\"I love it.\" I watched the nurses take him and start doing their weighing and blood work." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They cleaned up the baby, wrapped him in a warm blanket, and handed him to me as they finished up with Tiffany. I walked out of the delivery room and down the hall where my mother, father, and Jordan were all waiting nervously. They looked up as I rounded the corner, and my mother burst into tears, looking down at the sweet blond-haired boy in my arms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked just like Tiffany, and even Jordan joked about making sure I was the father. My family took turns holding him before I could take him back to the room. It was late at night, so they kissed us both and went home, promising to come back the next day to give Tiffany love and see Justin again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By the time I got back, they had moved Tiffany to her room where she was patiently waiting for me to return. I put Justin in her arms and stood back, completely in awe of the two of them. The nurse had her feed the baby before she could finally rest, leaving him to fall asleep in my arms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked down at his little cheeks and back up Tiffany, who had fallen asleep right away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I leaned back in the chair in the room and soaked it up, knowing that life wouldn't be this simple again for a very long time. Justin cooed and smacked his lips, looking up at me as I held him close. The nurse turned the lights down low, and I rocked Justin slowly until his eyes closed and he slept quietly in my arms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At that moment, I couldn't help thinking about how lucky I was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was sitting here with a healthy baby, a healthy wife, and the best life I could have ever dreamed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Justin was even more beautiful than I could have imagined, and I couldn't believe how much you could love someone. My heart was bursting, looking down at his absolutely perfect little body. He had been made with love and brought into the world to two parents who couldn't have been more excited to have him join the family." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even his Uncle Jordan teared up while holding him, which is something you didn't see often." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Life was perfect. The silence of the hospital was peaceful, but holding him like this, I didn't want to fall asleep and miss a thing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instead, I hummed a nursery rhyme to him and waited for his mom to wake up again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had been through hell, so I wanted to make sure she got enough rest.\n\nSuddenly Tiffany gasped, sitting straight up in the bed and looking around frantically. Carefully, I stood up and walked to her side, taking my free hand and stroking her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She focused in on me and looked down at Justin in my arms. Her face went relaxed, and she put her hand to her heart, letting out a deep breath.\n\n\"Oh, my God,\" she whispered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I woke up thinking I fell asleep with Justin in my arms. I just about had a heart attack.\"\n\n\"Say, no, Mommy, I've been sleeping in Daddy's arms.\" I walked back over to sit down with him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It is so amazing watching you bond with our little boy,\" she said. \"I couldn't imagine a better father for him. He is going to be so spoiled.\"\n\n\"Haha.\" I laughed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Maybe not by us, but definitely by his grandma and grandpa.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And probably Uncle Jordan, too,\" she added." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh, yeah.\" I shook my head. \"They probably already have a car full of goodies and a lifetime membership to the candy company.\"\n\n\"Oh, Lord,\" she sighed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can we make a rule that if you feed him candy, you have to keep him for the night?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sounds legit to me,\" I said, looking over at her and laughing. \"You give him a sugar high, you pay the price.\"\n\n\"Done.\" She laughed again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Gosh, what a day. That definitely happened a lot faster than I expected.\"\n\n\"You were amazing,\" I said. \"Seriously, I love you so much and you were a freaking rock star.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I thought I was going to break your hand there for a second.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Me, too,\" I scoffed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But all is well. I love you, Tiffany, so very much. I'm so proud of you. You did such an amazing job.\"\n\n\"Meh.\" She waved a hand. \"It was easy being a human incubator—said no one ever.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You'd do it again.\" I winked at her, knowing I was right.\n\n\"Maybe once I can walk straight again.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stood up from the chair and walked over to her, leaning down and kissing her on the forehead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I gently placed Justin in her arms and stood back watching as she fed him, humming the same tune I was humming earlier but with much better vocals." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I stared at the two miracles in the room with me and just couldn't believe how lucky of a man I really was. I had the most beautiful wife and child I had ever seen. My life had been so empty before they came around, even though I didn't realize it until now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Before Tiffany, I didn't really live. I had simply gotten up every day, went to work, drank, and went home. I'd had nothing substantial to look forward to." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When Tiffany came barreling through my world, it was like she shined her light into every dark corner of my life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even the days I wanted to sit and mope, she was there to lift me up and bring her amazing smile to my world." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the ten months we had been together, my entire life had turned completely upside down and in such a good way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I pulled the chair over to the bedside, and Tiffany and I talked as she nursed the baby and rocked him to sleep." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We talked about life changing, we talked about what we wanted to show and teach our son, we talked about his future and our future, and we sat there bonding until the sun came up the next morning. She looked over at me and smiled as I poured her a cup of decaf and unwrapped the sandwiches I had grabbed from the cafeteria. Her eyes were light and hopeful, and she giggled as the baby grasped onto her finger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I love you more than anything little man,\" she whispered to Justin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And I love your father that much, too. I can't wait to get you home and all comfy in your new pajamas.\"\n\nLooking at these two, I felt like the luckiest man in history. I couldn't wait to get them home as well and all settled into their new life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tiffany, Justin, and I were a family now, and I would never let anything come between us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the best gift I had ever been given, and I couldn't imagine life getting any better than it was right then. No matter what sleepless nights, temper tantrums, or fits came our way, I had the most perfect family in the whole world.\n\n[ First Time with the Major ]" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "[ Molly ]\n\nI think he wants to control me.\n\nMy life is comfortable, predictable and boring…." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Until,\n\nThat guy next door walks into my café..\n\nHe says he is new in the town." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And I wonder if he is experienced with…..women." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Those hard abs under that crisp shirt make me wonder how HARD I could make him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Those Greek God like looks make me want to surrender." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And that voice…\n\nMy world turns upside down.\n\nAs he whispers my name." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "STORY CONTINUATION PROTOCOL:\nSENTENCES=one sentence\nAUTHOR=Mia Ford\nGENRES=Romance; Rating: X\nTAGS=multiple points of view, nsfw, steamy\nEXECUTE" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My thighs were shaking as I walked in, still stunned by that kiss." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was gentle and light but it made my whole body react and I blinked as the hostess greeted us in the restaurant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She led us to a table in the corner as I glanced around the pretty room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd never been here before and I thought that I should spend more time in town." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was just working so much or sleeping." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Robert waited for me to sit in the booth before sliding in across from me and asking for some tea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I read over the menu as I kept playing the kiss through my mind and I looked at Robert across from me, reading his own menu." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was so gorgeous and he wanted me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was smart enough to know that Lance was young and that this man sitting across from me wasn't him, even with the memories of my pain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"See anything that looks good?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am thinking about the lemon chicken. It sounds delicious,\" I replied as I looked at him. \"You?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"General's chicken. I get it every time I'm in a place like this.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't know what that was so I read the menu to see." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was spicy and I smiled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How spicy did he like things in life?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was Robert wasting his time with a girl like me?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The waitress came over and focused on him, barely giving me a glance as I ordered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I frowned, thinking back to the woman at the cafe that day." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What did I expect?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was handsome and so confident, so why wouldn't every woman want him?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Robert was cordial, but he didn't flirt back with her and I watched with fascination." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As soon as we were alone, Robert poured us each some tea and leaned forward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Tell me about yourself, Molly.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I moved up in my seat and thought about what to say." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, I have lived here for almost a year now. Noel's folks let us stay there and helped us open the cafe. It was something she'd wanted to do for so long and I suppose that she roped me into it. I graduated with a degree in Literature and thought life would be different. It's good, though. I added the shelves and all the books to the cafe.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I like that touch. I am sure that most of your customers do,\" he said as I smiled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I think so. It's Noel's place since she does the baking and the business side of things. Her dad is smart about all of that and he helps her. I just help where I can.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I shrugged as he frowned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You do a lot more than that. Noel could never run that place on her own and in fact, I think that you two could use a little help. Do you get any days off?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Robert asked as I shook my head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You have to get up early to be there?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Around 3:30,\" I admitted as he gave me a horrified look." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I help her bake everything fresh. I live on caffeine during the day and naps after work. Life on the edge.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I smirked to let him know that I was making a joke as Robert's eyes softened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What about your job?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am a major in the air force. I have been with them for twenty years now,\" he boasted proudly as I nodded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I moved here to do a little cleaning up at the base and now I am overseeing the classes for the new guys.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You like it here, you said?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I asked as he nodded easily." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's a nice place to settle once I retire in a few years. I can go fishing and hunting. All of that manly stuff.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I laughed because Robert was the picture of masculinity to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was gorgeous but took excellent care of his body and had a bit of an edge to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This place suited him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How old are you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I finally asked, needing to know." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd tried to do the math, but it was too hard because he looked so good." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I am forty-two. How old are you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Robert asked as I looked down at the table." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was a lot of years between us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I just turned twenty-three.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I admitted, searching his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Is that too young?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, not at all. I think that you're something of an old soul, Molly. I remember being your age and you're above all of that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He smiled and I wondered what he was like back then." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was he like Lance when he was my age?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was he like that now?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were a million warning signs going off in my head but my heart was beating fast in my chest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My body was craving him and I pressed my thighs together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My mom always told me that, too. She said I was born older.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I grinned. \"They're in Malad City. I was born here, but I jumped around to go to college and then moved here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Any siblings?\" He asked and I shook my head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm it. They had trouble having kids and once I was born, they stopped worrying about it. We were happy when I was growing up.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked into his eyes. \"You?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have a brother that's thirty-eight. James. He's a cop in Philadelphia where they all still live.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He smiled fondly as he spoke of them and I knew that he loved his family." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The military thing is a family deal. All the men were in the Air Force and James started there but ended up joining the police force. I have a hell of a lot of respect for him.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can see that you're close,\" I responded before the waitress came with our food." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She set mine down quickly and leaned over to place Robert's plate in front of him, smiling as he smirked at her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Does that happen everywhere you go?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sometimes, but it doesn't matter. I'm with you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His words played through my mind as I took a drink of my tea." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd heard them before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We ate and talked about the towns that surrounded us and places we liked there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had only been to the movies a few times and the diner since Noel and I weren't into drinking too much with our hours." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We'd done a little hiking as well, but I admitted to Robert that Noel was a lot more social than I was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We can get to know the town together,\" Robert told me as I blushed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm surprised that you don't date more. You're beautiful.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I leaned back and pressed my lips together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Behind this red lip stain and dress, I was still the scared girl that didn't want to trust anybody." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I haven't done a lot of that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked at him and thought that he must have women throwing themselves at him since he was in school." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He dated. I could tell that he did and probably all the time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I…I have something that I should tell you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was it too soon for him to know that I was a virgin?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Robert leaned closer to me and met my gaze. \"What's that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I haven't dated a lot and I also have never…slept with a man,\" I took a good look around before speaking to assure myself that we were alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked at him and watched his skin pale as he leaned heavily on his arms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know that you have probably been with a lot of women and I didn't want you to waste your time with me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stared at me as a dark look crossed his face, filled with doubt for a moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How am I wasting my time with you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You could take me home if you want to. I know that I am probably not what you expected.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I heard the horrible words and self-doubt pouring out of my mouth but I couldn't stop it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I lowered my face to stare at my lap as I tried to regain my composure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Molly,\" he said as I felt someone sitting beside me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hated Lance and what he did to me as Robert circled my shoulders with his arm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't care about that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I lifted my face to look at him doubtfully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Someone did. Someone hurt you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We left the restaurant shortly and he took my hand as we walked towards the car." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't want to talk in that room where anyone could hear my embarrassment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you want me to take you home?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His voice was low as I looked at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn't, but I was too nervous to say that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not really.\" He paused and moved closer to me, locking his eyes to mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I didn't bring you here to sleep with you, but I am attracted to you. Molly, I am so drawn to you but it isn't all about sex.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He frowned and cupped my face with his hands as he looked at me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Is that a first for you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked as he looked past me and licked his lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"God, I don't know how to answer you. Yes, it is but I feel like you're different,\" Robert pressed his forehead to mine as I let out the breath that I was holding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I lifted my face to touch his mouth with mine, softly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had not kissed anyone since Lance, and this was more than that had ever been." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I felt foolish for wanting him at all now and I wrapped my arms around Robert's waist, feeling his muscles tense." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Robert tilted his head and kissed me harder as one hand slid into my hair to hold on." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "God, I wanted this man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I opened my lips at the feeling of his tongue tracing the lower one and was rewarded with the feeling of him inside of my mouth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I felt him move me and then my back pressed against something as I just held on." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pressed against me gently and I felt my thighs heat up before they turned to jell along with my legs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I moaned as he kept kissing me, sucking all my willpower away as I held tightly to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Robert finally pulled away and I looked into his eyes to see how much darker they were." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know that this is a small town and we don't have a lot of options, Molly. Do you want me to take you home or is there another place that you want to go?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Flames licked at my thighs as I ran a hand up his back, aroused by the muscles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Can we go to your house?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked pained as he stared at me and a shudder ran through him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Are you sure?\" I nodded and he sucked in a ragged breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If you're comfortable with that. Everything closes early around here and I don't want to sit in a movie theater with you. I want to talk to you, get to know you. I want to kiss you like that a lot more.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I almost told him that I wanted him to touch me but I held it in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay but I'll get you home early so you can get some sleep tonight,\" he told in a husky tone as he stepped away and looked up at the clear sky." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Robert took a few breaths and eased me away from his car to unlock the door. I slipped inside and leaned back as he closed the door, feeling the adrenaline rush through my bones." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "hey can u write 1 sentence more sentences? stick to these genres if u can: Romance; Rating: X. oh and try to use these things: multiple points of view, nsfw, steamy" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I smiled as the door to the house swung open, seeing Marta and Noel looking out at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good evening,\" I greeted them, wondering where Molly was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hi, Robert,\" Marta said brightly as she glanced at her daughter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I made a huge roast for dinner tonight with some vegetables and I was wondering if you'd like to join us, assuming you didn't have plans for it with Molly.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was a surprise and I fought the urge to laugh for a moment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The way the women were looking at me told me that they wanted to know more about me and technically, we didn't have dinner plans." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was going to wing it tonight and I smelled the scent of the roast drifting outside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I would like that very much. It smells amazing. I'll have to check with Molly, of course.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You want to stay?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I heard her voice and the shock in it as she stared at me from behind Noel's head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't get a good, home cooked meal too often. It's entirely up to you, though,\" I offered generously as she licked her deep pink lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marta and Noel moved so I could walk in and Molly took my breath away as usual." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was dressed simply in pants and a soft shirt that clung to her curves, making me take a longer look as she blushed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Molly looked embarrassed and I imagined that she would be with the obviously excited women looking at us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, that's fine. We'll stay.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She said after a moment and smiled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Can I help with anything, Marta?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I went into the living room with them and met Keith, Noel's father." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was a pale man that was a few years older than I was, and we shook hands as Marta introduced us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He took me in carefully and I recognized the look as that of a worried father." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He must consider Molly like a daughter, something that I appreciated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Would you like something to drink?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Molly asked from behind me as I glanced at her. \"We have everything.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Get us some beers. Molly,\" Keith said easily as I nodded and looked at him. \"Thank you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The women went into the kitchen and he invited me to sit down in the spacious room where a hockey game played." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What are your intentions with Molly? You're considerably older than she is.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I noted that his wife was a few years younger than he was, but nothing near the difference that I shared with Molly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I met her at the cafe and she caught my eyes. It's just the second time that I've been out with her, or in as it were but I have no plans on hurting her.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked at him, guessing that the look in his eyes meant for a moment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can sense that she's been hurt and I would never want to make anything worse. She's a sweet, beautiful woman.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She's like a daughter to me and you're right. She has been though I don't know the details.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He glanced up as Noel walked back into the room with the bottles, looking curiously at me as she smiled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Here you go. Dinner will be ready in a jiffy.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked at her dad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't be too hard on him, Dad.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Keith chuckled as she walked back into the kitchen and shook her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That one drives me crazy,\" he said affectionately with a smile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She brought Molly home for holidays a few times and it was obvious how close they were. When she mentioned bringing her home with her to open the cafe, we agreed immediately. There was just something about Molly that made me want to protect her.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd never tell him that I knew the details, nor how bad I wanted her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We were both men and I suspected that he understood that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marta called us to the table and I sat down beside Molly with Noel across from us and her parents on either side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Keith had already started to ask me about the military and I told him some stories of places I'd been and some of the action that I'd seen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He seemed to enjoy them and I understood that once I heard that he was the owner of a construction company." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd lived here his entire life so the idea of travel and different surroundings must be exciting, even though I knew that he was happy here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The way he looked at his wife told me that as well as the gentle smiles that he gave Noel and Molly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For the first time in my life, I felt a craving for that security in my life and I stared at Molly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She smiled at me as she took a bite of potato and blushed as I reached for the bottle of beer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I got to know the family, liking their kindness and the way they fit so well into this town." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I went with Keith to watch the game while they cleaned up, full and happy as I settled on the couch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The girls were laughing in the kitchen over the sound of running water and I looked around." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How long have you been married?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I asked him as he smiled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thirty years. I met her when I was just out of college and she was starting, so we got married when she was done.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I guessed him to be around fifty-two or so, though they were both healthy like I was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We moved here and then Noel was here and everything seemed perfect. I started the business with Marta's help and she started doing the bookkeeping for some locals. We're not rich but I don't think you have to be to be fulfilled.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I made a great salary and prior to this, I was thinking only of saving money." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wanted to buy a nice house and live life to the fullest but when I looked around this room, I knew what he meant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah,\" I murmured thoughtfully as I took a drink of the beer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was nursing it since I assumed I'd be leaving with Molly at some point and wanted to be safe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Have you ever been married?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Keith asked me as I shook my head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've always moved a lot and never wanted to bring someone into that life. It was chaotic at times and I lived for that. Now that I'm here, I might settle some and think about retiring.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I shrugged and glanced at the score, fondly remembering a few games that I'd attended over the years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're going to stay here?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marta asked from the end of the room and I glanced her way with a smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Perhaps. It's time I start thinking about where I am going to live permanently.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I told her as she moved to sit beside Keith, taking his hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's a little slow here but so peaceful. I never could imagine living in a big city.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Keith smiled at her and I looked up to see Molly walking into the living room, staring at me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Would you like to see a movie tonight?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked her as she nodded with a smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I have apple pie for dessert, so feel free to come in and have some when you get back.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marta said as I chuckled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She always makes too much food,\" Keith confirmed, smiling dryly as she pretended to hit his arm with her free hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stood and helped Molly into her gray cardigan sweater, saying thank you and goodbye before we walked to my car." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're a great family,\" I told Molly as she smiled and nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They've never made me feel unwelcome here. It's like a second mom and dad for me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Molly watched me as I opened the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Did he give you the Spanish Inquisition?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, but he is protective of you,\" I replied before closing the door and walking around to my side. I got in and started the engine before giving her a long look. \"I respect that, Molly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It drives Noel crazy. I think that she dates some guys just to get under his skin. I've not dated since they met me so this is a first for him.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She laughed as I pulled down the long driveway and to the main road." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thanks for staying. I was horrified when Marta suggested it but I had a great time. You're fun to watch.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How so?\" I asked curiously as she smiled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're so confident and you got along easily with them. I guess that's because you're older perhaps, but I never met a guy like that before.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She leaned back into her seat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There's also something about you that scares me; thrills me. Maybe something dark. I'm not sure.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had no idea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I headed to the theater that we'd seen one another at that night a few weeks ago and she stared at the offerings for a moment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What sounds good?\" I asked her, stroking her back as she moved closer to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Will you protect me from the monsters if we see the scary one?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Molly asked softly as she turned to look at me, her eyes heavy with desire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I leaned in to kiss her softly, loving her heat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, I will always protect you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I murmured as I brushed my lips against hers again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I led her forward and bought the tickets for the show, walking inside to order popcorn and a drink to share." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That was a must at the movies, and I knew that she felt the same from seeing her before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I walked into the small theater and asked her where she'd like to sit as she shrugged." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I grinned as I took her to the back corner and placed the drink between us as she settled in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I glanced forward to see Olivia walking in with a guy that looked a little younger than her, making me wonder if it was a student." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If so, she moved quickly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She glanced my way and frowned as our eyes met and then looked away, moving to the front of the theater." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reached out for Molly's hand and held it as she reached for some popcorn with her free hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wondered if Olivia saw me with Molly, hoping that she did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wanted her to see the kind of woman that appealed to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The room darkened and we settled in for the previews, my arm securely around her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She moved closer to me with the featured horror movies that they pushed on the crowd and I kissed her hair gently." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The film we came to see was more of a creepy kind of scary than it was gory and Molly was practically in my lap by the end." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She buried her face in my neck as she groaned and shook her head, making me want to groan back for completely different reasons." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her lips brushed against my skin and I froze, feeling my body heat up in response." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She kissed my neck and up to my jaw as I slid my hand into her loose hair, holding her close to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Will you come over?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I asked her as her lips moved up, closer to my mouth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I was hoping that you'd ask,\" she murmured before kissing me softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wanted to push her back against the seat and kiss my way down her body, but when the lights came back on I was all too aware of where we were." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She seemed to want to keep going, but I pulled away and took a breath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mmmm,\" Molly moaned, leaning forward again as I gripped her hair again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Let's take this elsewhere,\" I suggested as our eyes locked in the light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I saw that she wanted more and reminded myself that I needed to stop when she asked me to." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't want to and was rarely asked to, but this was important." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stood slowly and took her hand, leading her out of the building and out onto the street as she looked around." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her face was flushed and eyes heavy, making me stare at her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Major Johnson,\" came a familiar voice as I glanced up to see Olivia." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was looking at Molly with an inquiring gaze as I smiled weakly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good evening,\" I greeted her, seeing that she was alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did you enjoy the movie?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It was scary, wasn't it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She asked as I laughed and Molly squeezed my hand tightly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm Olivia. I work with Major Johnson.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She extended her hand boldly and I sensed Molly cowering for a moment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm Molly,\" she said simply as she shook Olivia's hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The women were so different but Molly was the one that I wanted to be with and I looked at Olivia to see disdain pass through her eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We're going to head back to town. I'll see you tomorrow,\" I said as I pulled Molly to my car across the street in the parking lot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could feel Olivia watching us but I kept going until my keys were in the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You work with her?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Molly asked softly as I looked at her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked so insecure and I left the key in the door to pull her gently against me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She's an instructor at the base. I am overseeing the classes,\" I explained as I moved closer to her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She wants you, doesn't she?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Molly asked as I let out a slow breath." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It doesn't matter. I want you…I want to be with you,\" I assured her as I stared into her eyes, moving in slowly for a kiss. She melted against me, returning it as I got caught up in Molly's mouth all over again." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI WRITING ASSISTANT ACTIVATED\nTASK: Continue user's text\nLENGTH: 4 sentences sentences\nSTYLE: Emulate Mia Ford\nGENRES: Romance; Rating: X\nINCLUDE: multiple points of view, nsfw, steamy" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You were as into that night as the rest of us. Why are you acting like a damn monk now?\" I asked as Brent pulled up some emails.\n\n\"I don't want anyone knowing about Veronica, much less Friday night,\" he told me with a sharp glance. \"Tracy can never know that it was us.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I get that. I completely agree with that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I threw up my hands. \"I was giving her a hard time since she has a good sense of humor.\"\n\n\"Just be careful, Bran. We need to keep this professional. It's getting close to being careless,\" Brent told me as I sighed. \"With Cici, she didn't want to be caught. I think that that one wouldn't mind.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Do you think that she'd try to fuck with us?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I leaned forward as he gave me a worried look. \"What do you know about her?\"\n\n\"She caused some trouble in college. Nothing criminal, but she liked drama. I think that she still might, and Veronica is just twenty-three. We need to be smart about this, especially since she is sleeping around the office.\" Dad would have never tolerated that and I was reminded of that by the way that my brother looked at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked so much like Dad, which meant that I did as well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Brent just had his look down so well that it freaked me out sometimes.\n\nI laughed when I came back from lunch and heard noises from the bathroom. Brent had been seduced, and I smiled at the sounds of Veronica's contained moans as I took a seat at the desk. I met up with a friend at her apartment, getting mine there today after the serious talk this morning." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was laughter and Veronica slipped out of the door first, fixing her dress." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did you two kiss and make up?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I asked as she stared at me.\n\n\"He needs to stop being so serious,\" she replied as my brother came out, buttoning his slacks.\n\n\"Don't say a word,\" he warned me as I held up a bag from a local deli. \"You didn't go to lunch?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I had an errand to run. I got this on the way back for all of us.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thanks,\" Brent said as he stepped forward to search the bag. He pulled out a sandwich for himself and a salad, offering it to Veronica. \"Want it?\"\n\n\"Absolutely. You sucked the life out of me.\" Her delivery was clean as I laughed and he cocked an eyebrow at her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think it was you that was doing the sucking.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She took her salad to her desk after some joking back and forth, and he and I ate our sandwiches. \"Who did you see?\" Brent asked me as I grinned.\n\n\"Car,\" I replied as he nodded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I didn't plan on it, but we ran into each other and took advantage of it. Kind of like you did.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She came in after you left when I was getting ready to. Before I knew it, we were naked in the bathroom, and she had me. Veronica knows what she's doing.\" He shook his head and sipped the water on the desk.\n\n\"She just wanted you to relax.\" I shrugged and took another bite of the turkey sandwich." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This is fun, Brent. Nothing more.\"\n\n\"I think Mom inadvertently made me feel guilty at lunch the other day. You know that she's never approved of our lifestyle. At work, she'd do that even more.\" I looked at him, taking a bite of his sandwich. \"This is important to the family, our running this place.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I get that.\" I stared at him. I always had, but this was a good balance for us, and we were successful at it. We were doing great.\n\n\"No more shit like Friday night. I told Veronica the same thing. Just us.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His eyes were firm as he looked at me, so much like Dad that sadness washed over me for a little while." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We can't risk it.\"\n\n\"Agreed. I have shit on the side, so I'm fine. You did too, last I checked,\" I reminded Brent as he nodded. \"Now were successful business owner man whores instead of some spoiled rich ones.\"\n\nThat made my brother laugh, relaxing him as I joined in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We finished our lunch and looked at some new clients, getting input from some of the managers over the course of the afternoon. I liked this work, this power that we held. I sensed a different vibe out in public, respect. People talked to us like they used to speak with Dad, sharing advice or talking stocks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That shit used to bore me to death, but now, it was interesting. I knew what I was saying in a conversation.\n\nThere were invitations to business dinners within the first year. We'd go, meeting up with Veronica at the hotel for some sexual relief afterward if we didn't have plans with some other women." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now that we were doing well in the business world, we were even more attractive to the female population." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't keep up with the number of times that we were hit on, even though our reputation was still out there in the papers and gossip magazines. I guess working a real job just made them seem less important.\n\nIt seemed like paradise. We had Veronica at work and even at the hotel and some social events if the opportunity presented itself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I saw Carlie and a few other girls on a regular basis, keeping away from the party scene far more than I did before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I missed the traveling and all the fun without responsibility, but I missed Dad as well. I had to do all of this for him. We planned to take some time off to go to the Belize house with Mom and Ash come Summer, but it was still the beginning of Fall for us. Summer seemed like a lifetime away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wanted to schedule a Winter getaway to Aspen, just Brent, me, and some friends. I hadn't been skiing in a while, and it sounded great just to let loose for a few days. Now that everything was going smoothly at the office, I hoped that we could get away.\n\nThe chance to go to a conference for work came up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was all about the new standards to shipping and a lot of business talk, but I knew that it would be a good idea to go." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I suggested bringing Veronica with us since it was in Los Angeles and we could have a little fun while we were there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Brent gave me a look, but I explained that she was our assistant. We'd book her a separate room even though we knew that she wouldn't be sleeping alone. There were a couple of dinners and gatherings that we could all attend, and it would be perfect.\n\nBrent agreed and called her in to ask if she was interested in attending with us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We could send some of the managers, but as owners, we got the first shot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Veronica agreed, mentioning friends in the city that she could meet up with on her down time and I went online to book a hotel.\n\nI went with the Hilton in Beverly Hills. It was close to the venue, and I always liked that place, choosing three rooms, and finalizing the reservation. Dad always went to this and sometimes brought Mom, depending on where it was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The conference was at the end of the month, but the weather in Southern California was generally good, so it shouldn't present an issue." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We had a meeting with the managers, telling them about our plans. Ted glanced at us, verifying that we were bringing Veronica along. \"Yes, she's learning a lot about the business, and it would make sense for her to be up with the changes. She's our go-to in the case of an emergency, though she would work with all of you in the process. I just don't want to bother you unnecessarily.\" Most of the managers were married with families and leaving for a long weekend wasn't always possible." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We had nobody apart from the casual sex partners we saw. We hoped that nobody knew about what was going on with Veronica, but she was a free woman and was passing through the office from person to person. She was perfect for a casual affair, but we had to always remind her that what happened with us was to be kept private.\n\n\"I'd just make sure that she goes to the meetings. That's a wild one,\" Mark joked as he reached for his coffee." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She's going to cause some issues if she keeps up the way that she is.\"\n\nI glanced at Brent, and he sipped his water. \"She's a great help to us. That hasn't seemed to get in the way of anything.\" He spoke easily, and Mark chuckled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm surprised that she hasn't tried with you boys. All of the women are frothing over you around here,\" he said as Ted laughed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I think you're going to be the newest bachelors in the magazines next year.\"\n\n\"They can long for us for all they want. This is Dad's business, and I am going to treat it as such.\" Brent left no room for argument in his voice, and I nodded as I glanced around at their faces. We went over a few other things, making a point of that at least once a month." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Communication was essential even as we lied about our recreational relationship with Veronica." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Brent sat down in our office, looking at me for a moment. \"Do you think she's causing herself problems?\"\n\nI thought about the question for a moment. Veronica was sleeping with women and men, and if she chose the wrong person, it could get ugly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was mostly bitter that I couldn't join in with the girls that she was with per Brent, shrugging after a few moments." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If she does, it's not on us. We replaced Cici, right?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We can't blow through assistants and have them keep being gorgeous women, Bran. It's going to be so obvious at some point what we're doing.\" He gazed at me as I smirked.\n\n\"Good luck telling her to change. She is happy being who she is.\" I got off on the fact that she told me about the others, particularly the girls." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 5 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Last night we'd been together at the hotel, just Veronica and I and the talk alone kept me going for longer than usual. She was a try anything kind of a girl, and the stories were fantastic. I was careful to use a condom with her every time, but the girl pushed my buttons.\n\n\"Just be careful,\" he reminded me as I nodded.\n\n\"Always am,\" I assured him before we settled back into the work day." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "The user will write a bit then you need to write around 5 sentences continuing directly from the user's text." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I walked into work with a giant bag of the cookies that Mama made yesterday while I was at work. She also made some bean soup for supper, which was my favorite of all time. She'd instructed me to plate the cookies on something nice for the luncheon, since there was going to be food out all day. A few people looked at me as I stepped into the elevator and I smiled wryly as I clutched the plastic bag. The office door was open when I approached my desk and I set the bag down with a grateful sigh, craving a hot cup of coffee." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What's that?\" Brandon asked as he stepped out, making me jump." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mama sent cookies to the party,\" I said shyly, trying to catch my breath as he chuckled.\n\n\"You carried that on the bus?\" He asked as he eyed the full bag with a raised brow. \"That's so heavy.\" Brandon stepped forward and searched my desk with his eyes. \"Let me have your phone, Jane.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I licked my lips as I reached over for my purse, all too aware of his proximity to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I slipped my hand inside and found the heavy phone, handing it to him as our eyes locked. Jesus, but this man was handsome. He grinned as he took it, sliding the screen on and working quickly with his hands before he handed it back to me. \"I put my cell in there. If you have something like that to carry across town, let me know. We can give you a ride.\" Our eyes remained locked as I felt my heart jump into my throat, feeing my attraction to him bubble to the surface before footsteps sounded behind us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So, what kind of cookies are those?\"\n\n\"I…ah…there's a few different kinds. She was busy while I was at work,\" I smiled as I glanced behind him to see Brent looking curiously at us. \"Want dibs? She made enough to feed the entire building.\" I left them with the bag and went to make coffee, taking slow breaths as I watched it drip into the cup. What happened back there?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew that Brandon was hot as was his brother, but I never felt it hit me quite like that in the past." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of course, he'd never been that close to me and I sensed that he was a little wild, rough around the edges. Brent seemed to have a fine line of control but in that moment, I knew that Brandon wanted me and I couldn't deny that I wanted him.\n\nI wanted them both.\n\nI composed myself and went back to my desk, taking the bag of cookies to the conference room. I glanced around at the table that was already being filled up with things to nibble on, smiling shyly at the women working." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Is there a plate that I could use? I have some cookies.\"\n\n\"Some cookies?\" A blonde asked me sarcastically as she glanced at the bag in my hands. She looked around and found two large, festive plates and brought them over. She was gorgeous, as were many of the girls that worked here and I knew that she knew where I worked by the way her gaze took me in slowly, curiously. \"Let's get those onto a plate. I'm Melanie. I don't think that we've met yet?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She reached out a perfectly manicured hand and I shook it as I forced a smile on my face.\n\n\"Jane Drury. It's my first week here so I haven't made the rounds yet.\" We shook hands as she observed me with a shrewd gaze.\n\n\"You work for Brent and Brandon?\" She asked, clearly aware of the fact." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, I'm helping them through the busy season.\" Another woman came over and opened the bag with a sharp look at Melanie, and I helped her plate them as Melanie finally started to help us.\n\n\"These look delicious,\" the older woman said as she lined them in the middle of the green plate. \"I'm Barbara. Jane is your name?\" She offered her hand with a genuine smile on her face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, it is.\" I replied as I took one of the thick chocolate chip cookies and added it into her neat circle.\n\n\"Did you make these?\" Barbara asked as I laughed nervously.\n\n\"My mama did when I was at work. She's visiting for the holiday.\" I finished that plate and then added the remaining cookies to the red plate beside it, noticing that Melanie was gone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I glanced across the room to see her talking to some other girls, her eyes lit up as she stole a glance at me. I knew they were gossiping. I sighed and Barbara touched my arm gently.\n\n\"They are all foaming at the mouth for your supervisors. It's as if they forget that we all work under them.\" She giggled as I looked at her and shook her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The boys have a reputation and it is just more to talk about around here.\" Her voice was soft enough that nobody else could hear us talking and I frowned. I knew that there were two assistants before me from what Breanna told me, as well as the fact that there were rumors about an affair between both and the twins. I didn't know if I believed it but they were handsome.\n\nI made sure that the cookies were on the table ready to go before I went back to my desk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I sipped my coffee at my desk and glanced towards the door as I wondered where I was working today." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't going to be as busy as day as the others had been with the all-day party, but there was still time to get some orders in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Want to work in here?\" Brent called out as I licked my lips and stood up. I walked into the office and he grinned at me as he held a cookie in his hand. \"These are fantastic.\"\n\n\"Yeah, I ate a lot of them last night.\" I smiled as I walked over to my desk, smoothing my red skirt as I sat down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I always gain twenty pounds when she comes to stay with me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I like your curves,\" Brandon offered as I blushed, sitting back to look at me openly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thanks,\" I replied as I turned to look at the laptop, feeling the electricity in the air all over again from before. I looked at Brent, seeing him looking at me with some of the heat that his brother was vocal about as I turned away. I was in trouble and I needed to find a way out…soon.\n\nWe grabbed more coffee on break and stopped in the conference room as the guys looked over the spread. I imagined that they worked out every moment they weren't at work, from what I'd seen of their perfect bodies as they filled a plate with some pastries and fruit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I got some fruit and walked back to the desk as Melanie watched me leave the room, leaving the guys talking to some men in the corner. I knew that I needed this job and I had to ignore that feelings that I was having. I wasn't the kind of girl to do anything with any boss of mine and I was a virgin to boot. Did I think that I had anything to offer them?\n\nI went inside the office and sat down to eat as I entered some more orders into the computer, taking slow bites of the sweet fruit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You haven't been introduced around her, have you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Brent's voice made me jump. \"I never took you around for that formality.\"\n\n\"We were busy. It's fine. I met a couple women this morning,\" I offered as I glanced at him. \"There will be time for that after the holidays.\"\n\n\"Who?\" Brent asked as I licked my lips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wasn't the flirt that his brother was but he had some power over me with his intense gaze.\n\n\"Barbara and Melanie.\" He grimaced at the words and I tilted my head.\n\n\"Melanie is a piece of work. Just ignore her as best as you can. She's a good worker and Dad was smart to hire her, but she has her flaws as a person,\" he told me as I nodded. He gazed at the open door and licked his lips as I watched. \"She's always wanted Brandon and I, but we never went there with her. Now that we work here, she's been more aggressive about it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah, I get that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked at me with intense eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I mean…look at both of you. She's a beautiful girl and it makes sense that she wants you.\"\n\n\"Is she?\" He asked as I nodded. \"I hadn't noticed.\" Brandon walked in and Brent walked over to his desk as his brother raved about how much food he was going to eat today.\n\n\"Jane, if you come on Friday there will be a ton of food there as well. Monica and Mom cook all night Christmas Eve and we eat all day Friday.\" He boasted as Brent looked at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, that. Mama said she'd enjoy that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In actuality, Mama was very touched by the story I told her about them losing their father and the invitation to Christmas, immediately agreeing to it. She felt like she might help Brenda through the pain of missing her husband somehow, having been through it. \"Your mother is so nice for asking.\"\n\n\"She likes people to be with a family on Christmas. Always did. I'm not surprised that she isn't changing her game this year,\" Brent replied as Brandon nodded. \"I don't know what to expect from the day. She might break down and cry at any part of it or she'll soak in everyone around her.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He glanced at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mom is a strong woman and she's cried more to herself than anybody else. We're all there for her but to be honest, I think that she's worried about my sister.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How old is she?\" I asked as Brandon sipped his coffee.\n\n\"Sixteen. They were close.\" I nodded as my face softened. I was close to my father as well and losing him was devastating." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe I could offer her some comfort as well. \"I think that Ashley would gladly stay in her room all weekend but Mom is letting her boyfriend come over. We get to meet him for the first time. Can't wait.\"\n\nWe got to work and there was a shout outside that the food was here and Brandon rubbed his stomach with a wide smile. I didn't know where he put it all as I laughed and ran a hand through my hair. Brandon walked out while Brent waited for me, walking behind me as we made our way to the conference room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew that he didn't want me to feel uncomfortable I smiled as we walked together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Brent was a good man and sure to have made his father proud." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wondered if he would be the one that would take my innocence gently while his brother ravaged me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My face flushed at the images and I coughed as I walked, making Brent look at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The conference room was half full of people and the door wide open as Brent and Brandon walked to the front of the room, while I hung back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Brent smiled assumingly at me as he gestured for me to join them and I widened my eyes before I looked down and walked forward. They spoke about the great staff and their gratitude they felt for all of them with all the hard work. Brent said that he knew that his father would love to be here with everyone and I felt the emotions in the room as I pressed my lips together. \"I realized that we hadn't formally introduced our new assistant, Jane. She just joined us with a stroke of good luck and I'd like you all to welcome her to M&P.\"\n\nI was shocked when people stepped forward to shake my hand, welcome me to the company, and just say hello." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Many of them were kind and cordial but there was the group of women that were icy and beautiful as they looked at me frostily from across the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew that we would never be friends, feeling fine with that if they didn't talk bad about me around the building. Breanna walked in just after the speech and came over to hug me as she smiled brightly. She always made me feel better with her positive attitude and I grinned at her. \"Can you believe all of this food? It's like Christmas dinner.\"\n\nWe filled a plate with the meats and vegetables, grabbing a water before we went to her desk to eat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'd had enough of being the center of attention and wanted to just relax." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They introduced me before you came in. It was so embarrassing.\" My voice was low as I glanced around.\n\n\"That was smart. People gossip like crazy around here and I'm sure the lies were flying, so maybe knowing who you are will slow it down.\" Breanna gave me a sympathetic look as she took a bite of turkey. \"It's a really good job, Jane. I swear to that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She chuckled. \"I can't imagine being so close to those two all day, though. They're so gorgeous.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They are but I'm me. There's nothing impressive about that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I shrugged as I took a bite of the mashed potatoes and gravy as she shook her head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Have you seen yourself?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Breanna asked me as I gazed at her. \"That sweet, country girl look is gorgeous, Jane. The bitches here are jealous.\" She leaned over to whisper to me as I giggled. We finished the meal talking about Christmas and what we were going to do, though I hid my plans to go to The Moyens. That was a tough one to explain in my mind and I was still making sense of what was happening with them myself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I told her that I'd be at the restaurant with Mama to meet her later and headed back to work after a tight hug." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We met Breanna and her boyfriend at a diner and Mama talked to them about the holiday." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I told her not to mention our plans and she nodded slowly with a frown as she looked curiously at me. I told her that some of the people at the office enjoyed gossip a lot and I wanted to avoid that for the time being.\n\nWe worked a half day on Thursday and I went home to have Christmas Eve dinner with Mama. We enjoyed roast chicken and some of the same vegetables that I'd eaten today but everything that Mama made tasted better than anything else. We prayed for the family that was no longer with us and I looked at her across the table before taking a bite." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Would you move here, Mama?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked at me thoughtfully before looking around the apartment. It was small but quaint and I knew that she was thinking about her house with the big front porch back home. \"I don't know, Jane. I've always lived there in that town. We have so many memories there.\" She gave me a sad smile. \"I want you to move back sometimes, but I know that you're doing well here.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "yo, finish my story. write like 8 sentences sentences. stick to these genres: Romance; Rating: X. use these ideas if u can: multiple points of view, nsfw, steamy" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I dropped onto my back and sighed, feeling the jolt that Liam always gave me when we were together. The sheets on the bed were messy and scattered haphazardly over the king-sized mattress as I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds in the condominium. Liam had gone to the kitchen to get us some water and the chocolate chip cookies for dessert that I knew he loved. I'd brought them over to go with the pasta that he made us for dinner, but we'd gotten distracted halfway through the meal and ended up in his bedroom.\n\nThat always seemed to happen to us.\n\nI thought back to the class that I met him in during my Junior year at the University in Seattle. Liam walked in through the door near the front, striding confidently to the podium as I prepared myself for the Economics course. It wasn't my favorite subject, but it seemed to be the lesser of two evils when it came to my choices, so here I was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked at the tall, handsome man that was looking us over with beautiful ocean blue eyes as he set some papers in front of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew why the subject of students and teachers hooking up was so popular as I looked back. He was stunning and probably several feet over what I considered petite at my own five foot six. His body was clearly muscled underneath the worn jeans and dark blue Henley that he wore with black Converse, making him look like a college student himself. I knew that he wasn't though just by the way he stood before the large class, guessing him to be in his mid to late thirties. He sure didn't look it but the way that he oozed authority told me that he wasn't one of the fumbling boys that had asked me out since I moved here from Portland. He had dark chestnut hair that was long enough to be considered tousled, framing his face in soft curls and covered by a dark green beanie. His hands were big as they organized his things and the smile that he flashed at us when he was ready to start made me forget my own name.\n\nI heard him speaking but got lost in the throaty sound of it more than whatever he was saying." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He introduced himself as Doctor Liam Forsberg and told us a little about his degrees that ended with a doctorate in the subject of Economics." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That helped me at guessing his age, knowing that he put in a few years to obtain all of that as I sat up in my seat halfway back and in the center of the room. He explained that he'd be passing around a seating chart to keep track of who attended class and that we should pick somewhere that we liked for the semester. That made sense with a class this size and I glanced around at the people that surrounded me, happy to see that they were anything but the jocks that were clustered more towards the front. The students that were sitting around me were just your average, run of the mill people getting an education like myself. I'd even call myself a little awkward and perhaps nerdy, more content with a book in my studio apartment than a night at a frat party.\n\nMy best friend at school was a lot different, often urging me to hang out with her at such things. Ginger was a bubbly, beautiful auburn haired girl that had friends in every clique, knowing a lot more of the students than I did since she wrote articles for the paper. She had the chance to meet people whereas I just went to class and went home to my apartment, where I worked as a freelance in order to earn some money and still have time to study." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had a partial scholarship, but since I chose to live alone over sharing a dorm with some randomly selected roommate, I had to work as well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was all right with that since it was such an isolated job and gave me a lot of time to myself. Emails and chats were a perfect way of keeping in touch in my opinion.\n\nI heard my name being called and I opened my eyes to see Liam looking questioningly at me. \"Hmmm?\" I asked as he sat down and set a plate of cookies down along with a big glass of ice water.\n\n\"I thought you might have fallen asleep,\" his voice was soft and rough from what we'd just done together, a memory that made me shiver.\n\n\"Just comfortable,\" I assured him as I propped my body up against his pile of pillows and reached for the glass. \"Are you still hungry for the dinner that we abandoned?\"\n\n\"I stuck it in the fridge for the time being. It'll reheat fine. I just wanted to come back here and be with you and these amazing cookies.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liam winked at me as I blushed, the pink covering my pale skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew just how much that surface reflected our relationship as I shivered under the scrap of cloth that covered the various marks on my body.\n\nI loved all of them equally and every act that gave them to me.\n\nLiam turned on a movie on the large television as I snuggled against his side, tearing off small bites of the cookie on the top of the pile as I drifted between what was playing on the screen and his warmth and scent. There was a fire to the left of the television, keeping the spacious room warm as I smiled.\n\nI didn't plan to sleep with my college teacher. That was never a thought in my head and only happened in some of the books that seemed to be so popular. I was attracted to him, but so was every other female in the class as well as at the college. He was one of the hottest men I'd ever seen, but I didn't expect the interest to be given back to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It all started when I had a little trouble in the class and went to talk to him. His office wasn't huge on campus, and I sat down, prepared to ask him my questions until I looked into his eyes. Their blue depths and varying shades captivated me as I opened my mouth to speak, making me forget everything that I was saying. \"Miss Carter?\" He asked as I remained silent, blinking, and taking a deep breath. Once I explained the issues, he directed me to the class tutor and gave me the email to contact the girl before leaning back in his seat. \"You're a stunning girl, Miss Carter.\"\n\nHis words caught me off guard. \"Please call me Elena and…thank you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "No man had ever told me that before or anybody else for that matter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It thrilled me while a tremble went through me, knowing that this was my older teacher who was not supposed to think about me that way. I blushed as I wondered what it was about me that could be called stunning.\n\nI was a bit taller than some girls, and I had a curvy figure, but I didn't think I was overweight. I had no desire to be stick thin as some girls were, but I didn't think that my dark, wavy hair and dark green eyes were that unusual. Some pretty girls were walking around this campus, and he had to notice them, too. Right? I looked up to see him gazing thoughtfully at me, just taking in my silence. \"So, I guess I have the information I need. Thank you, Mr. Forsberg. Thank you so much.\" I had a partial scholarship that I didn't want to blow, making me work hard at all my grades." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's Liam,\" he spoke urgently as I widened my eyes." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Here, like this. It's Liam.\" He gestured around the room as I let myself wonder where else we might see one another, before pushing that thought out of my mind. I couldn't and I wouldn't. I stood as I forced myself to stop staring back at him, thanking him again before I stumbled out of the door and leaned against the wall. Holy hell, he was gorgeous and charming. I heard a noise behind the door and shuffled towards the exit that led me outside to the dreary, overcast sky." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Provide five sentences as a continuation in the Romance; Rating: X genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have been seeing a woman for a few months,\" I admitted as she looked down sadly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I didn't think we'd ever talk again, Elena. I kept telling myself to move forward, but she's never meant to me what you did.\"\n\n\"Do you want to be with her?\" Elena asked me as I reached out and cupped her face. I stared into her face as best I could in the light from the high lamp and licked my lips.\n\n\"Not more than you, Elena. She's never felt like you did but she is a kind person, and I thought that she deserved a bit of a chance. Now that I know this and I've seen you, I want you back more than anything.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wanted to kiss her, but I knew that I needed to wait until it was over with Nora." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wasn't that man now and even sleeping with other women while Elena and I were apart made me feel guilty." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't kiss her and feel good about myself. \"I am going to break things off with her immediately.\"\n\n\"Are you sure?\" She asked as I laughed softly. I could feel the heat between us drawing me to her and nodded.\n\n\"Positive. I am going to go do that, and I'll call you later. Is your number the same?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Elena nodded as I stepped back to try and snap out of the fog that I was in. I needed to focus on the moment, and I looked at her for a moment. \"Text me when you get home. I'll call you later.\" There was a part of me that was worried that I wouldn't hear from her tonight, just like before.\n\n\"I will,\" Elena promised me as she turned to head towards the car." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pregnancy suited her, and I watched her for a moment before getting into the jeep. I wondered if I should tell Nora that it was over in person or on the phone, turning down her road as the question answered itself. She deserved the best even if it was going to hurt her.\n\nI parked in the lot and jogged to her door, my heart racing in my chest. I knew that tonight was going to be different starting from the text in the morning and now everything was coming together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I took a moment to catch my breath before I knocked on it, hearing her call out across the living room. \"How is she? You were gone a while.\" Nora told me as she opened her door with a wide, worried smile. I looked her over for a moment, not ignorant to the short, clingy dress that she wore and what it suggested.\n\n\"Yeah, it did. We were talking for a while.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I walked inside, brushing past her as my body screamed that this felt wrong. I went and sat down in the chair by myself, watching her frown as she sat on the couch across from me. \"I had a lot to get out over there.\" I didn't plan to tell her about Elena and talking to her, or about the baby. I just needed to end this right now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay. What's going on, Liam?\" Nora asked, picking up on the vibe from me.\n\n\"You know I have that ex. Marie was friends with her, and they've talked a bit, so she came up in conversation tonight.\" I glanced at Nora, seeing her face pale. \"I had already been thinking about her a lot and talking about her…it's not fair to be with you when my heart is still with her.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Are you getting back together?\" Nora asked as she leaned forward, her hands clenched in her lap.\n\n\"I'm not sure,\" I wasn't lying, but I knew more than I was letting on. \"I just need to figure my head out, and I don't want to hurt you while I do that.\"\n\n\"I knew that she was on your mind a lot. I didn't like to think about it because I was falling for you this entire time, but I was aware of it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nora looked out of the window as she spoke, pain in her pretty eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am sorry, Nora. Maybe I should have thought about this in the beginning. You're a wonderful person though, and I wanted to try this.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I leaned forward and looked at her, watching a small smile cross her lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It was fun, Liam. I had a great time with you, but I want you happy.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nora told me, looking at the floor before she met my gaze.\n\n\"You are going to find someone that adores you. I just couldn't be that man, and I'm sorry.\" I told her as she nodded. Nora pulled uncomfortably at the revealing dress. \"Stop. You're gorgeous, Nora. I am just not the one.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I sure thought you were,\" she murmured as we both stood. I licked my lips and looked around the apartment, stocking the good memories here away before I thought about Elena and a sweet baby girl.\n\nI left after giving her a hug, walking towards my Jeep with a smile and hope for my future. It isn't what I would have chosen, but I was excited now, thinking about moving Elena in and setting up a nursery in my place. Hell, I'd sell it and buy a house of that was what she wanted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew that she sent me a text when my phone vibrated in my pocket, but I didn't read it while I was talking to Nora." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was hurting her enough." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I pulled it out now and read her words, calling her right back. \"I'm done. I'm ready. Can I come over?\"\n\n\"What? We just spent hours talking, Liam.\" Elena sounded surprised, and I tried to rein in my enthusiasm.\n\n\"Yes, after months of no contact,\" I reminded her as I glanced at the apartment building in front of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was right. \"I couldn't kiss you earlier, Elena. I wanted to be completely yours when I did that again, and I am.\"\n\n\"Fine, then. Ginger is on a date so we can talk some more,\" Elena told me with a hint of something else in her voice. I remembered bits and pieces of what I'd heard about the hormones of pregnant women and my cock hardened at the thought of being inside of her again. She gave me the address, and I started the engine to head over.\n\nI turned up the radio and sang along to the song, feeling like a weight was lifted off my shoulders." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew that having a baby in four months was not going to be easy on any level, but with Elena, I felt like I could do anything. Marie was already in love with the idea, and Ginger sounded like she was involved, along with her family. We could do this. I heard the voice tell me to take a right at the next light and I followed the directions to the gated complex, using the code that Elena gave me. This was a beautiful place, and I preferred it over the studio that she was staying at before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "These units were clearly expensive with all the amenities, and I wondered if Ginger was a trust fund baby." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I decided that it didn't matter if she was or not since she was helping my girl out and I respected her for that.\n\nI found a parking place once I found the number of Elena's building, walking around until I found the unit. I tapped on the door, taking in the quiet around me before the door was unlocked and opened. Elena smiled as she looked at me, dressed in the same shirt and skirt from before. \"I forgot to ask if you wanted anything on the way. Are you having any cravings right now?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Gin keeps the place stocked with everything, so I'm good right now. Thank you, though.\" Her smile was adorable, and she stepped aside to let me in. I walked in to see a small foyer that led to a spacious living room with a couple of couches and a fireplace against the main wall. That room led to a kitchen that looked like it was made for a chef and I let out a whistle.\n\n\"I like this much better than the studio,\" I told her as I looked back to see her rubbing her stomach gently with a warm look in her eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I kept staring at her, falling back in love with her all over again as I watched the mother of my child." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fuck, was I ever not in love with her?\n\n\"It's so nice. I am thankful that she let me move in here. It might be a bit small for the baby since there is just a smaller room for the nursery, but we're going to make it work.\" Elena glanced at me to see me staring at her as she blushed and looked at the floor. \"I think there's beer in the fridge. Would you like some?\"\n\n\"Sounds great,\" I told her as she walked to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of things from the fridge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Elena returned with a bottle for me and juice for her, sitting down on the couch as she gave me an inviting glance. I took the beer from her, seeing that she'd opened it before I took a long sip.\n\n\"Thanks for coming over. I wasn't sure if you would want to after being with me all day.\" She smiled as she twisted her bottle open and took a sip.\n\n\"I want to make up for every moment that I missed with you, Elena,\" I assured her as she looked at me with scared eyes for a moment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You're not scared about the baby?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I was surprised. I won't lie. It's going to come fast, but we can do this,\" I said thoughtfully as I looked her over." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You look so damn beautiful carrying my baby, Elena. I can't stop looking at you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I feel like I am gaining too much weight and my belly is really starting to get bigger,\" her voice was filled with laughter as she looked at me and I set the beer down and moved closer to her. I had barely touched her at Marie's due to the situation with Nora, but I was free now. I reached out to touch her face, stroking her cheek with my finger as she stared into my eyes. I knew that she wanted me, but I couldn't just jump her right here and now. We needed to move at the pace that she was the most comfortable at." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You are doing none of that. You look incredible,\" I said as I moved my face closer to hers. \"Can I kiss you, Elena?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" she replied with an urgency in her voice as she moved to press her lips against mine. The kiss was hot and hungry from the start, and I reached my hand into her hair as our lips crashed together. All the nights without her faded away from my memory as she parted her lips to allow my tongue entrance." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We didn't forget the way we were together in the least as she moved closer, turning towards me as she slid onto my lap. Maybe her pace was as fast as mine after all.\n\nThe time seemed to stop as I kissed her, getting to know her sweet mouth all over again. Her breasts pressed against me and I felt the small bump of her belly pressing against my stomach as I marveled in it all over again. She was pregnant with my baby. I slipped one hand over her thigh while the other remained wrapped around her head to keep her close to me." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Literary Collaboration Request:\n- Sentence Count: 3 sentences\n- Stylistic Inspiration: Jayne Rylon\n- Genre Adherence: romance, MM, nsfw" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Vaughn had never been this nervous to talk to a guy before. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel of his truck and gently rubbed the sore area beneath the bandage on his chest, just over his heart. He rumbled over the gravel section of the farm road that led back to where Bryant was holed up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sterling had unofficially given him a heads-up that Bryant had gotten home safe a few hours ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While he was disappointed Bryant hadn't rushed over to share his good news, he didn't let that deter him from going after what he wanted. What he knew, deep down, was the best for them both.\n\nIn his mind, Vaughn heard Jake's ancient advice to him, from when he'd first kicked around the idea of opening a tattoo shop." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You could waste time waiting for the stars to align or you could get out there and start kicking them into place.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He only hoped that being assertive wouldn't scare Bryant off again. Fuck if he didn't miss the nerd. It made sense since Vaughn had probably spent more time with Bryant than all the other guys he'd slept with in his life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was officially addicted and not ashamed to admit it.\n\nEven to Bryant's sister, whom he'd poured his heart out to over coffee yesterday, which was why she'd taken pity on him and tipped him off. He owed her a big fat Christmas present, or maybe another tattoo." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With a six-pack of Bryant's favorite beer in hand, he ambled up to the door, took a deep breath, then knocked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When there was no answer, he banged again, this time louder. He would not be ignored. If Bryant wanted him to go, fine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But Bryant should at least be mature enough to tell him to his face and explain why." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Surely he couldn't still be upset about missing that tiny rain shower. It wouldn't have been enough to prime the system even if they'd had time to finish the piping that morning, which they hadn't.\n\nNo, Bryant was running scared again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Damn if Vaughn would let another six years go by before he pulled Bryant's head out of his ass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was about to pound his fist on the door when it jerked open.\n\nGood thing he didn't punch Bryant in the nose by accident. That probably wouldn't help his case." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caught by surprise, it took him a second to realize something was off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Really wrong. At barely after noon, Bryant was…drunk? His eyes were bloodshot and he reeked of alcohol. Sure, they sometimes had a drink or two, but Vaughn had never seen him like this—out of control and miserable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Bryant? Are you okay?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You brought me more beer? Awesome.\" He slurred as he lunged for the six-pack in Vaughn's hand, nearly crashing into the door in the process.\n\n\"Holy shit.\" Vaughn steadied him, then half-carried him into the cottage's kitchen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you celebrating by yourself?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Celebrating? Fuck no.\" Bryant plopped into a chair at the table, tipping it precariously before it clunked into place once more.\n\n\"Wait…\" Vaughn hadn't even considered the possibility that Bryant wouldn't pass with flying colors. \"Are you saying—?\"\n\n\"That they didn't approve my thesis? Yup. I'm not graduating.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vaughn's insides felt like they'd been flash-frozen. \"Ever?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Who knows?\" Bryant shrugged. \"Maybe someday. But definitely not next weekend.\"\n\n\"Oh shit.\" Vaughn reached out to hug Bryant, but the other man flinched instead of leaning into his embrace, so he stopped dead then backed off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bryant reached for one of the beers on the table between them and used the edge of Sterling's table to rip the top off before downing half the contents in a single glug. Whoa." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vaughn was suddenly even more glad he'd come." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bryant shouldn't be alone like this.\n\n\"Hey, it's okay. You're going to wait until it rains and then gather the data you need to show them just how fucking lucky this ranch is to have you and your work.\" Vaughn bent down slowly until they were eye-to-eye, Bryant's mouth within kissing range." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I missed you, you know. I'm happy to distract you. And hey, last time it seemed like we brought the rain when we hooked up. Maybe we can do it again.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bryant reared back as if Vaughn had hit him instead of hitting on him.\n\n\"I don't think that's a good idea. My dick is a terrible decision maker.\" Bryant looked away, as if even he didn't believe the bullshit he was spouting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Vaughn tried to chalk it up to his intoxication—dumb shit from the mouth of a drunk man—but he knew it was more than that. Bryant was regressing, falling back into his old habits of blaming himself for shit out of his control. Except this time, Vaughn couldn't help since he was part of the problem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Go home, Vaughn. I'm not what you're looking for.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He scrubbed his hands over his face, then stared out the window at the ranch with unfocused eyes.\n\nIt made Vaughn ache and pissed him off at the same time.\n\n\"You know what…you're right. You're not the man I thought you were.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vaughn shook his head and turned toward the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd let Sterling and Viho know that Bryant was out here, drinking himself into a blackout, and needed someone to watch over him. Someone other than Vaughn.\n\nWhich stung like a motherfucker." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bryant sobered up enough to ask, \"What's that supposed to mean?\"\n\n\"You're a fighter. A person who overcomes. A really fucking sharp guy. Or at least I thought you were all of those things. Yet here you are, wallowing over a temporary setback. Letting it blind you to all the good around you. I'm not going to sit here and join your pity party.\"\n\n\"Good. You weren't invited anyway.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bryant shrugged. The glimmer of regret in his glassy eyes made Vaughn try one last ditch maneuver." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sucks that I finally broke down and got my first tattoo and now I'm probably going to have to get it lasered off.\" He groaned, not exaggerating his remorse at the thought of erasing it. Okay, so he admitted to himself that whether or not Bryant liked the tattoo, and regardless of what he said in anger, he'd never get rid of it, because it—and what it represented—still mattered to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Despite having gone off the rails, Bryant—and the brief affair they'd had—had rocked Vaughn's world. It had changed him indelibly. So his skin should reflect the irreversible changes inside him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No matter what happened, he would carry Bryant and memories of what they'd shared with him always." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You got a tattoo?\"\n\nVaughn cleared his throat. \"Technically, I gave myself one, yes. Would you like to see it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a dare." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even drunk, Bryant had to know it. He narrowed his eyes and paused long enough that Vaughn thought Bryant would kick him out before caving to his innate curiosity. But he didn't. \"Sure, what the hell?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vaughn yanked the neckline of his black T-shirt down and peeled back the bandage there, exposing the skin above his heart to the man who already owned it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bryant didn't make a peep. Didn't move. Didn't do….anything at all.\n\nWas he in shock?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vaughn had to admit he hadn't imagined himself doing something this reckless and permanent…ever, really. Until Bryant." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd given himself a tattoo. Which wasn't as easy as he'd anticipated, given the location. But even if it meant a slightly squiggly line here or there, he hadn't wanted anyone else to do it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The most meaningful ink had nothing to do with the prettiest. He should know." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's my name,\" Bryant finally whispered.\n\nVaughn nodded.\n\n\"On you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He nodded again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Forever. I mean, unless you…laser…\"\n\nAnd damn it if Vaughn wasn't starting to get more annoyed. This was in no way how he imagined his big reveal might go." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is that a problem? No water was harmed in the making of this tattoo, I promise.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's just really…real.\" Bryant rocked onto the back legs of the kitchen chair. \"Wow.\"\n\nVaughn felt like a fool. He should have known he would never be good enough for Bryant Compton." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He figured that Bryant might cool off after he went back to school and realized that everything was fine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instead of elevating them both, Vaughn had ended up dragging Bryant down to his level. He'd been kidding himself.\n\nShowing Bryant his heart meant nothing, because it was only a reminder of moments that had ruined his life. Fuck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vaughn had to get out of there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Had to figure out what to do when what he needed most wasn't what was best for the man he loved.\n\n\"Goodbye.\" Vaughn hated that even now he waited for the slightest hesitation on Bryant's part. Maybe he would call Vaughn back." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "ill start, then u do 5 sentences in T. J. Klune's voice ok?" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He missed the bus.\n\nHe saw its taillights through the rain as it rumbled down the street, the advertisement on the back of a smiling woman saying SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING! REGISTRATION HELPS EVERYONE! still clear even through the rain.\n\n\"Of course,\" he muttered to himself.\n\nThere would be another one in fifteen minutes." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Hey can you write in the fantasy, LGBT, romance genre and use whatever I write as a jumping off point?" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"G'way,\" he muttered when he felt a tapping against his cheek. \"S'not time for your breakfast, Calliope.\"\n\n\"That's good to know,\" a voice that obviously did not belong to Calliope said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Seeing as how it's afternoon. Unless they breakfast late in the city. I wouldn't know. I tend to avoid such places. Too much noise for my taste.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus opened his eyes, blinking slowly.\n\nA woman peered down at him, silhouetted by the sun.\n\nLinus sat up quickly. \"Where am I!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The woman took a step back, a look of cool amusement on her face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Marsyas Train Station, of course. An odd place for a nap, but I suppose it's as good a place as any.\"\n\nLinus pushed himself off the floor of the platform. He felt gritty and out of sorts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was an ache in his head, and he seemed to have accumulated quite a collection of sand on his backside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He brushed himself off as he looked around wildly. Calliope sat in her crate, tail twitching as she watched him warily. His luggage sat near her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And there, on the bench he'd been sitting on, was a pile of folders." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is this all you've got?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "the woman asked, and Linus turned his attention back to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was immediately concerned when he couldn't quite get a grasp on her age." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her hair sat like a white fluffy cloud atop her head. Bright flowers had been woven in. Her skin was dark and lovely, but it was her eyes that confused Linus the most." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were the eyes of someone far older than the rest of her appearance suggested." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It must have been a trick of the bright sunlight, but they looked almost violet. He couldn't place why he thought her familiar.\n\nShe wore a thin wispy shirt that hung loosely on her frame." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her trousers were tan and ended mid-calf." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her feet were bare.\n\n\"Who are you?\" he demanded.\n\n\"Ms. Chapelwhite, of course,\" she said, as if he should have known." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Caretaker of Marsyas Island.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Caretaker,\" he repeated.\n\n\"Is that all the luggage you've brought?\" she asked again.\n\n\"Yes, but—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"To each his own,\" she said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stood dumbfounded as she pushed by him, lifting his suitcase as if it were filled with nothing but feathers. He'd broken out in a sweat lugging it onto the train, but she seemed to have no such issue. \"Gather your papers and your gigantic cat, Mr. Baker. I don't like to dillydally, and you're already later than I expected. I do have responsibilities, you know.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Now see here,\" he began, but she ignored him, moving toward the stairs at the edge of the platform." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She descended the stairs gracefully, as if she were walking on air. It was only then that he noticed a small car idling on the road. The roof appeared to have been sheared off, leaving the seats exposed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A convertible, though he'd never actually seen one in person." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gave very real thought to grabbing Calliope and fleeing down the train tracks.\n\nInstead, he gathered his files and lifted the crate, following after the strange woman.\n\nShe'd already placed his luggage in the trunk by the time he reached the car." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She glanced at him, then down at the crate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Don't suppose you'd be fine with putting that thing in the back?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Absolutely not,\" he said, moderately offended. \"That's just cruel.\"\n\n\"Right,\" she muttered. \"Fine. You'll have to carry it on your lap, then. Or we can fasten it to the hood, if you think that'd work better.\"\n\nHe was scandalized. \"She would be so angry.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ms. Chapelwhite shrugged. \"I'm sure she'd get over it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm not tying her to the hood of the car!\"\n\n\"Your choice. Get in, Mr. Baker. We'll need to hurry. I told Merle we wouldn't be long.\"\n\nLinus's head was spinning. \"Merle?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The ferryman,\" she said, opening the door and climbing into the car." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He'll take us to the island.\"\n\n\"I haven't decided if I even want to go to the island.\"\n\nShe squinted up at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then why are you here?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sputtered. \"It was—I was told—this isn't—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She reached to the dash of the car toward a pair of oversize white sunglasses. \"Either get in or don't, Mr. Baker. Frankly, I would prefer if you didn't. The Department in Charge of Magical Youth is a farce, and you seem to be nothing but a clueless lackey. I'd have no problem leaving you here. I'm sure the train will be back at some point. It always is.\"\n\nThat rankled him more than he expected." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What I do is most certainly not a farce!\"\n\nThe car turned over with a rumbling cough before the engine smoothed out. Black smoke curled from the tailpipe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That,\" Ms. Chapelwhite said, \"remains to be seen. In or out, Mr. Baker.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He got in." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "same energy as T. J. Klune, keep writing" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Talia led them through the garden around the side of the house that he hadn't been able to see from the road." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The light was fading, and he could see stars appearing overhead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The air was cool now, and he shivered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Talia, for her part, pointed out every single flower they came across, telling him their names and when she'd planted them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She warned him not to touch them, or she'd have to hit him upside the head with her shovel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus didn't dare try her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She obviously had a propensity for violence, and he needed to remember that for his reports." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This investigation wasn't off to a great start." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had many concerns." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Specifically, that all these children appeared to be scattered about." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Where is the master of the house?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus asked as they left the garden behind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why isn't he keeping an eye out for you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Arthur?\" Talia asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why on earth would he?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mr. Parnassus,\" Linus insisted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's only polite to refer to him by a proper name. And he should be, because you're a child.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm 263 years old!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And gnomes don't reach an age of maturity until they're five hundred,\" Linus said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You may think me a fool, but that would be a mistake.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She grumbled something in what Linus was now convinced was Gnomish." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"From five in the afternoon until seven, we're given time for personal pursuits. Arthur—oh, excuse me, Mr. Parnassus—believes we should explore whatever interests us.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Highly unusual,\" Linus muttered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Talia glanced at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It is? Don't you do things you like after you get done working?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well … yes. Yes, he did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But he was an adult, and that was different." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What if one of you gets hurt while in your personal pursuit? He can't be lazing about while—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He's not lazing about!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Talia exclaimed. \"He works with Lucy to make sure he doesn't bring about the end of the world as we know it!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was about this time that Linus felt his vision gray yet again at the thought of—of this child." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This Lucy. He couldn't believe that such a creature existed without his knowledge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Without the world's knowledge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oh, he understood why there was secrecy and could even comprehend the need for it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But the fact that there was a weapon of mass destruction in the body of a six-year-old and the world wasn't prepared was simply shocking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You've gone awfully pale,\" Talia said as she squinted up at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And you're swaying. Are you ill? If you are, I think we should go back to the garden so you can die there. I don't want to have to drag you all the way back. You look really heavy.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She reached up and poked his stomach. \"So soft.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Strangely, that simple action managed to clear his vision." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm not ill,\" he snapped at her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm just … processing.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh. That's too bad. If your left upper arm starts to hurt, would you let me know?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why would I—that's a sign of a heart attack, isn't it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I demand you take me to Mr. Parnassus this instant!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She cocked her head at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But what about your cat? Don't you want to find her before she gets eaten and all that's left is her tail because it's too fluffy to choke down?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This is very perturbing and irregular. If this is the way this orphanage is run, I will need to inform—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her eyes widened before she grabbed him by the hand and began to pull him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We're fine! See? Everything is fine. I'm not dead, and you're not dead, and nobody is hurt! After all, we're on an island with no way on or off aside from a ferry. And the house has electricity and working toilets, something we're very proud of! What could possibly happen to any of us? And Zoe keeps an eye on us when Mr. Parnassus is otherwise detained.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Zoe?\" Linus demanded. \"Who is—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh! I meant Ms. Chapelwhite,\" Talia said hastily." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She's wonderful. So caring. Everyone says so. And distantly related to a fairy king named Dimitri, if you can believe that! Though, he's not from around these parts.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus's mind was a whirlwind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What do you mean, fairy king? I've never—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So you see, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. We're always monitored with everything we do, so no need to inform anyone of anything. And would you look at that! I knew Sal would have your cat. Animals love him. He's the best. See? Calliope looks so happy, doesn't she?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And indeed, she did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was rubbing up against the legs of a large black boy sitting on the porch of a small house set away from the big house, her back arched as he traced a finger down her spine, tail swishing lazily from side to side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The boy smiled down at her, and then wonder of all wonder, Calliope opened her mouth and meowed, a sound Linus couldn't ever remember hearing her make before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was rusty and deep, and it nearly stopped him in his tracks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She purred, of course—usually her distaste—but she never talked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes,\" the boy said, voice low." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Such a good girl, aren't you? Yes, you are. Prettiest girl.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay,\" Talia said quietly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No sudden movements, okay? You don't want to—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's my cat!\" Linus said loudly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You there, how did you get her to do that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"—scare him,\" Talia finished with a sigh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Now you've gone and done it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The boy looked up fearfully at the sound of Linus's voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His big shoulders hunched as he appeared to sink inward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One moment, there was a handsome boy with dark eyes, and the next, the clothes he'd been wearing fell to the porch as if the body wearing them had disappeared from the face of the earth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus stopped, jaw dropping." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Except even as he watched, the pile of clothes began to shift." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a flash of white hair, and then the clothes fell away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sal, the large boy who had to weigh at least 150 pounds, was gone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But not completely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Because he had turned into a five-pound Pomeranian." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A fluffy five-pound Pomeranian." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The hair around his head was white, shot with rusty orange that extended down his back and legs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His tail was curled up behind his back, and before Linus could process the fact that he'd seen an actual shifter change before him, Sal gave a high-pitched bark and turned and ran into the guest house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"My word,\" Linus breathed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That was…\" He didn't know how to finish." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I told you not to scare him,\" Talia said crossly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He's very nervous, you know. He doesn't like strangers or loudness, and here you are being both.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Calliope seemed to agree, as she glared at Linus before she climbed the steps and disappeared into the house as well." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The house itself was tiny, even smaller than Linus's own." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The porch wasn't big enough for a rocking chair, but it looked charming, flowers growing along the front underneath windows that had a warm and inviting light pouring out of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It, too, was made of brick, much like the main house, but it didn't exude the dread Linus had felt upon arrival." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He could hear barking coming from inside the house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a response that sounded high-pitched and garbled, as if someone was throwing a wet sponge on the floor repeatedly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Chauncey's here too,\" Talia said, sounding delighted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He probably grabbed your luggage for you while we were in the garden. He's very hospitable, you know. He wants to be a bellhop when he gets older. The uniform with the little hat and everything.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes that Linus distrusted immediately." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do you think he'd be good at that, Mr. Baker?\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And because Linus believed in the power of positive thinking, he said, \"I don't see why not,\" even though he wondered what Chauncey could possibly be.\n\nTalia smiled sweetly as if she didn't believe a single word." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "ill start, then u do 8 sentences in T. J. Klune's voice ok?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus Baker, for what it was worth, did care about the children he was tasked with observing. He didn't think one could do what he did and lack empathy, though he couldn't understand how someone like Ms. Jenkins had ever been a caseworker before being promoted to Supervision.\n\nAnd so when faced with a perceived threat, and even though everything felt topsy-turvy, Linus did the only thing he could: He moved to protect the children.\n\nTalia squawked angrily as he shoved her behind him toward Sal and Chauncey. \"What are you doing?\"\n\nHe ignored her, the ringing in his ears he'd heard since he'd arrived on the island now turning into a full-blown roar. He took a step toward the open door, and he swore on everything he had that the darkness settling outside had somehow gotten darker. He believed if he stepped out onto the porch, the stars above would be blotted out, and all that would remain would be eternal night." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What's going on?\" Chauncey whispered behind him.\n\n\"I have no idea,\" Talia said irritably.\n\nSal barked nervously, a high-pitched yip.\n\n\"Probably,\" Talia said.\n\nLinus took a step toward the door. He should have realized that accepting this assignment was going to be the last thing he'd do. He wondered if Lucy had already taken out Mr. Parnas sus and whoever (or whatever) had been in the main house with them. He couldn't be sure if there were other things that Extremely Upper Management hadn't made him aware of." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If there was a clear path, perhaps he could get the children to the car. He'd need to get Calliope into her crate, but he'd rather have an angry cat to deal with than a devil. He didn't know how he'd get them off the island, but—\n\nHe stepped onto the porch.\n\nIt was darker, perhaps darker than it'd ever been before. He could barely see the flowers just off the porch. Everything else was lost to the darkness. It was as if the night were a living thing and had consumed the world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus's skin felt electrified.\n\n\"Hello,\" a sweet voice said from beside him.\n\nLinus gasped and turned his head.\n\nThere, standing at the edge of the porch, was a child.\n\nLucy looked exactly as he had in the photograph. His black hair was windswept, and his eyes were red and ringed with blue. He looked so small, but the smile on his face was twisted into a sneer, and his fingers were twitching at his sides, as if he were barely restraining himself from reaching out and tearing Linus limb from limb.\n\n\"It's nice to see you,\" Lucy singsonged before giggling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I knew you'd come, Mr. Baker. Though, by the time I'm done with you, you'll wish you hadn't.\" The smile widened until it seemed like his face would split in half. Flames began to rise behind him, though they didn't seem to burn the house, and Linus couldn't feel the heat that should have been pouring off of them. \"I'm going to enjoy this far more than you could ever—\"\n\n\"That's enough, Lucy.\"\n\nAnd just like that, everything switched off.\n\nLucy groaned, and the red disappeared from his eyes. The fire subsided. The blackness winked out, and the remains of the sunset appeared on the horizon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The stars were bright, and Linus could see the main house across the way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I was just having some fun,\" Lucy muttered, scuffing his shoe against the porch. \"I'm hellfire. I am the darkest parts of—\"\n\n\"You still need to have a bath after supper,\" the voice said, and Linus felt his heart skip a beat. \"Perhaps we could save the hellfire and the darkest parts for tomorrow.\"\n\nLucy shrugged. \"Okay.\" And then he ran past Linus into the house, shouting for Talia and Chauncey. \"Did you see what I did? He was so scared!\"\n\nLinus looked off the porch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There, standing in the grass, was a man.\n\nHe was unlike anyone Linus had ever seen before. He was spindly. His light hair was a mess, sticking up at odd angles. It was starting to gray around his temple. His dark eyes were bright and glittering in the near-dark. His aquiline nose had a bump in the center, as if it'd been broken once long ago and never set right. He was smiling, hands clasped in front of him. His fingers were long and elegant as he twiddled his thumbs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wore a green peacoat, the collar pulled up around his neck against the sea breeze. His slacks appeared too short for his long legs, the hems coming up above his ankles, revealing red socks. He wore black-and-white wing tip shoes.\n\n\"Hello, Mr. Baker,\" Arthur Parnassus said, sounding amused. \"Welcome to Marsyas Island.\" His voice was lighter than Linus expected, almost as if there were musical notes behind each word. \"I do hope your trip was most pleasant. The ocean can sometimes be rough in the crossing. Merle is … Merle. He's from the village, after all.\"\n\nLinus was flabbergasted. He remembered the blurry photograph from the file." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In it, Mr. Parnassus had been standing against a blue background, and he hadn't been smiling. But there had been a jovial arch to his eyebrow, and Linus had stared at it for longer than was probably proper.\n\nHe looked younger in person, far younger than his forty-five years suggested. He was as fresh-faced as the young people who came into DICOMY with their shiny degrees and ideas about how things should be done rather than how they actually were. They quickly learned to fall in line. Idealism had no place in government work.\n\nLinus shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. It wouldn't do for someone in his position to sit here gawking at the master of an orphanage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus Baker was nothing if not a consummate professional, and he had a job to do.\n\n\"Do you often greet your guests with threats of death and destruction, Mr. Parnassus?\" he asked sternly, trying to regain control of the situation.\n\nMr. Parnassus chuckled. \"Not usually, though it should be said we don't have many guests. Please, call me Arthur.\"\n\nLinus was tense, listening to the babble of voices behind him. He felt uncomfortable having someone like Lucy behind him, out of sight. \"I think Mr. Parnassus will suffice. I will be Mr. Baker during the course of this visit. From you and the children.\"\n\nMr. Parnassus nodded with barely concealed delight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus couldn't be sure what, exactly, about this situation necessitated such a response." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wondered if he was being mocked somehow and felt a wave of anger roll over him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He managed to push it down before it could contort his expression.\n\n\"Mr. Baker it is, then. My apologies for not welcoming you in person upon your arrival.\" He glanced at the house over Linus's shoulder before looking back at him. \"I was otherwise detained with Lucy, though I suspect he attempted to conceal your presence from me.\"\n\nLinus was gobsmacked. \"He can … do that?\"\n\nMr. Parnassus shrugged. \"He can do many things, Mr. Baker. But I expect you'll find that out for yourself. It is the reason you're here, isn't it? Phee informed us of your arrival, and Lucy decided he'd welcome you in his own special way.\"\n\n\"Special,\" Linus said faintly. \"That's what you call it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He took a step toward the porch. \"This is an unusual place, filled with things I don't believe you've witnessed before. It would be best if you put your preconceived notions behind you, Mr. Baker. Your visit will be much more enjoyable if you do.\"\n\nLinus bristled. \"I'm not here for enjoyment, Mr. Parnassus. This is not a vacation. I'm here as ordered by the Department in Charge of Magical Youth to determine if Marsyas Orphanage should remain as is, or if other actions should be taken. You would do well to remember that. The fact that the children were running amok with no supervision isn't the best start.\"\n\nMr. Parnassus barely seemed affected. \"Running amok, you say? Fascinating. And I'm aware of what it is you're here for. I just don't know if you are.\"\n\n\"What's that supposed to mean?\"\n\nHe zigged when Linus expected him to zag. \"You gave Theodore a button.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus blinked. \"Pardon?\"\n\nMr. Parnassus was at the bottom of the steps. Linus had barely seen him move. \"A button,\" he repeated slowly. \"Brass. You gave it to Theodore.\"\n\n\"Yes, well, it was the first thing I found in my pocket.\"\n\n\"Where did it come from?\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The button, Mr. Baker,\" he said. \"Where did the button come from?\"\n\nLinus took a step back. \"I don't … I don't quite know what you mean.\"\n\nMr. Parnassus nodded. \"It's the little things. Little treasures we find without knowing their origin. And they come when we least expect them. It's beautiful, when you think about it. He loves it dearly. That was very kind of you.\"\n\n\"I was all but ordered to give it to him!\"\n\n\"Were you? How about that.\" He was on the porch in front of Linus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was taller, much taller than he had appeared on the grass in front of the house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus had to tilt his head back to meet his gaze. He had a freckle that nearly formed a heart below his left eye. A lock of hair had fallen on his forehead.\n\nLinus flinched a little when Mr. Parnassus extended a hand. Linus stared at it for a moment, then remembered himself. He took the offered hand in his own. The skin was cool and dry, and as the fingers wrapped around his own, Linus felt a little curl of warmth in the back of his mind. \"It's a pleasure to meet you,\" Mr. Parnassus said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Regardless of the reason you're here.\"\n\nLinus pulled his hand away, palm tingling. \"All I ask is that you let me perform my duties without interference.\"\n\n\"Because of the children.\"\n\n\"Yes,\" Linus said. \"Because of the children. They are the most important thing, after all.\"\n\nMr. Parnassus studied him, looking for what, Linus didn't know. Then, \"Good. I'm pleased we're off to such a wonderful start. That bodes well for what will certainly be an illuminating month.\"\n\n\"I wouldn't call it wonderful—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Children!\" Mr. Parnassus called." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He bent over deftly, sweeping Sal's discarded clothing in his hand. \"Come now, would you?\"\n\nThere was a stampede of feet behind Linus, some heavy, some sounding as if they were squelching. Linus was jostled as they ran by him.\n\nSal was first, still a tiny Pomeranian. He yipped nervously, giving Linus a wide berth before jumping up on Mr. Parnassus, tail wagging. \"Hello, Sal,\" Mr. Parnassus said, looking down. Then, remarkably, he barked, a high-pitched yip." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sal responded in kind with a series of barks before taking off toward the house. \"You brought a cat?\"\n\nLinus gaped at him. \"You can speak…\"\n\n\"To Sal?\" Mr. Parnassus asked. \"Of course I can. He's one of mine. It's important to— Talia. Thank you for showing our guest around the grounds. That was very kind of you. And Chauncey. I doubt there has been a better bellhop in all the world.\"\n\n\"Really?\" Chauncey warbled, eyes swaying on his stalks. \"The entire world?\" He puffed out his chest. Or, rather, he appeared to puff out his chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus couldn't be sure he had a chest at all." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Did you hear that, Talia? The entire world.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Talia snorted. \"I heard. You'll have your own hotel before you know it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She glanced up at Linus as she stroked her beard. \"You're welcome for not braining you with the shovel when I had the chance.\" She winced slightly when Mr. Parnassus spoke in a low, guttural sound, almost as if he were choking.\n\nIt took a moment for Linus to realize he was speaking Gnomish.\n\nTalia heaved a great, dramatic sigh. \"Sorry, Mr. Baker. I promise I won't brain you with my shovel. Today.\"\n\nAnd with that, she and Chauncey went down the stairs and headed toward the main house.\n\nLinus felt a cold chill race down his spine when he heard the floor creak behind him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy appeared beside them, smiling maniacally up at Linus. He didn't appear to blink.\n\n\"Yes?\" Linus asked in a croak. \"Erm, can I help you?\"\n\n\"No,\" Lucy said, smile widening. \"You can't. Nobody can. I am the father of snakes. The void in the—\"\n\n\"That's enough of that,\" Mr. Parnassus said lightly. \"Lucy, it's your turn to help Ms. Chapelwhite in the kitchen. You're already late. Hop to it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy sighed as he deflated. \"Aw, seriously?\"\n\n\"Seriously,\" Mr. Parnassus said, reaching down and patting him on the shoulder. \"Get a move on. You know she doesn't like it when you shirk your responsibilities.\"\n\nLucy grumbled under his breath as he hopped down the stairs. He glanced back over his shoulder at Linus when he reached the bottom. Linus felt his knees wobble.\n\n\"He's bluffing,\" Mr. Parnassus said. \"He actually loves working in the kitchen. I think he's just putting on a show for you. Quite the little entertainer, he is.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think I need to sit down,\" Linus said, feeling numb." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Of course,\" Mr. Parnassus said easily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You've had a long day.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He glanced at his wrist, pulling back the sleeve of his coat to reveal a large watch. \"Dinner is at half past seven, so you have a bit to get settled. Ms. Chapelwhite has prepared a feast in your honor as a welcome to Marsyas. I'm told there will be pie for dessert. I do love pie so.\" He took Linus's hand in his own again, squeezing gently. Linus looked up at him. \"I know why you're here,\" he said quietly. \"And I know the power you wield. All I ask is that you keep an open mind, Mr. Baker. Can you do that for me?\"\n\nLinus pulled his hand away, feeling off-kilter. \"I will do what I must.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mr. Parnassus nodded. He looked as if he were going to say something else, but instead shook his head." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned and stepped off the porch, following his charges into the dark.\n\nHe didn't look back." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "hey can u write two sentences more sentences? in fantasy, LGBT, romance style" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gave very real consideration to ignoring the dinner invitation and pulling the heavy quilt up and over his head, blocking out the strange world he'd found himself in. Maybe if he slept, things would make more sense upon waking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But then his stomach grumbled, and Linus realized he was hungry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ravenous, even.\n\nHe poked his not inconsiderable stomach. \"Must you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It gurgled again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sighed.\n\nWhich is why he found himself standing at the front door to the main house, steeling his nerves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's no different than any other assignment,\" he muttered to himself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You've been in this situation before. On with it, old boy. You've got this.\"\n\nHe reached up and banged the metal knocker against the door three times." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And waited." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A minute later, he knocked again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Still no response.\n\nHe wiped the sweat from his brow as he stepped back, looking at the side of the house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were lights on through the windows, but it didn't appear anyone was coming to the door.\n\nHe shook his head as he stepped again to the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After a moment of indecision, he reached for the knob." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It turned easily under his hand, and he pushed.\n\nThe door opened." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inside was a foyer that led to a wide set of stairs to the second floor. The banisters were wooden and smooth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A large chandelier hung above the foyer, the crystals glittering in the light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stuck his head through the doorway, listening.\n\nHe heard.… music? It was faint, but still." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He couldn't make out the song, but it felt familiar somehow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hello?\" he called.\n\nNo one answered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stepped into the house, closing the door behind him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To his right was a living room, a large overstuffed couch set in front of a dark fireplace. There was a painting above the fireplace, a whimsical portrait of swirling eddies." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He thought he saw the ruffled skirt of the couch shift, but he couldn't be sure it wasn't just a trick of the low light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ahead were the stairs.\n\nTo his left was a formal dining room, though it didn't appear to be in use." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The smaller chandelier above the table was dark, and the table was covered with books, old by the looks of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hello?\" he tried again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No one responded.\n\nHe did the only thing he could." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He followed the sound of the music." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The closer he got, the more the notes filled in, trumpets low and sharp, a sweet masculine voice singing that somewhere beyond the sea, she's there watching for me.\n\nLinus had this record." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He loved it so." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As Bobby Darin sang about watching ships from golden sands, Linus moved through the dream, fingers tracing along the books on the table." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He barely glanced down at the titles, entranced by the telltale scratch of a record spinning.\n\nHe came to two swinging doors, portholes in their center." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stood on his tiptoes, peering through them.\n\nThe kitchen was bright and airy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was bigger than any kitchen he'd ever seen before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was sure the entire guest house could fit inside, with room to spare. Lights hung from the ceiling surrounded by glass globes like fishbowls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He could see a gigantic refrigerator next to an industrial-sized oven." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The granite counters were sparkling clean, and—\n\nHis jaw dropped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ms. Chapelwhite was moving through the kitchen, feet barely touching the floor. Her wings glittered behind her, much brighter than Phee's had been." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They fluttered with every step she took." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But it was the other person in the kitchen that caught Linus's eye the most." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy was standing on a stepstool in front of the counter. He had a plastic knife in his hand and was chopping a tomato, dropping the pieces into a large pink bowl to his left." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And he was bouncing along with Bobby Darin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the orchestra swelled mid-song, drums beating, trumpets blaring, he shook his entire body in time with the music. Bobby came back in, saying he knew without a doubt, his heart would lead him there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And Lucy was rocking his head back, bellowing the words as he danced." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ms. Chapelwhite was singing along with him, twirling in the kitchen as she moved in and out of sight.\n\nIt was a feeling of unreality that washed over Linus then, a discordant wave that felt like it was sucking him down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He couldn't catch his breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What are you doing?\" a voice whispered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus let out a strangled yelp and turned to find Phee and Talia standing behind him. Phee had cleaned herself up, her red hair like fire, her freckles more pronounced." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her wings were folded against her back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Talia had changed into a different outfit, though it was remarkably similar to the one she'd been wearing before, sans cap. Her long, white hair hung down on her shoulders, the same luxuriant color as her beard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They both stared up at him suspiciously." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus didn't know what to say. \"I'm…\"\n\n\"Spying?\" Phee suggested." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stiffened. \"Absolutely not—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We don't like spies here,\" Talia said ominously. \"The last spy who tried to infiltrate our house was never heard from again.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She leaned forward, eyes narrowing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Because we cooked him and ate him for supper.\"\n\n\"You did no such thing,\" Mr. Parnassus said, appearing out of nowhere." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus was beginning to understand it was something he did." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At some point, he'd removed his coat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He now wore a thick sweater, the ends of which fell over the backs of his hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Because we've never been so lucky as to have a spy. A spy suggests someone capable of infiltration without displaying their intent. Anyone that has come here has made their intentions perfectly clear. Isn't that right, Mr. Baker?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" he said. \"Quite.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mr. Parnassus smiled. \"And besides, we don't harm our guests. Certainly not to the point of murder. That would be rude.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That didn't make Linus feel any better.\n\n\"Beyond the Sea\" gave way to Bobby singing about wanting a girl to call his own so he wouldn't have to dream alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Shall we?\" Mr. Parnassus asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They all stared at him.\n\nIt took him a moment to realize he was blocking the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stepped aside. Phee and Talia pushed through to the kitchen. Mr. Parnassus called over his shoulder, \"Theodore! Supper!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus heard a loud scuffling coming from the living room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked beyond Mr. Parnassus in time to see Theodore burst out from underneath the couch, tripping over his wings. He growled as he flipped end over end, tail smacking against the floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He lay on his back for a moment, breathing heavily." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Slow and steady, Theodore,\" Mr. Parnassus said kindly. \"We'd never start without you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Theodore sighed (possibly—Linus couldn't be sure) and righted himself. He chirped as he gingerly stood on his back legs, folding his wings behind him with great care, first the right, and then the left." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He took a tentative step forward, claws sliding on the wood floor before he found a grip." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He prefers to fly everywhere,\" Mr. Parnassus whispered to Linus. \"But whenever it's time to eat, I ask him to walk.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Why?\"\n\n\"Because he must get used to his feet on the ground. He can't spend all his time on wings. He'll tire, especially being so young. If he ever finds himself in danger, he needs to learn to use his legs as well as his wings.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus was startled. \"Danger, why would he—\"\n\n\"How many wyverns are left in the world, Mr. Baker?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That shut Linus up quickly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The answer, though he couldn't be exact, was not many." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mr. Parnassus nodded. \"Precisely.\"\n\nTheodore took his exaggerated steps toward them, head cocked to the side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he stood at their feet, he looked up at Mr. Parnassus, chirped, and spread his wings.\n\n\"Yes, yes,\" Mr. Parnassus said, leaning down to run a finger along his snout." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Very impressive. I'm proud of you, Theodore.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He folded his wings again, then looked up at Linus before leaning down and biting gently on the tip of one of his loafers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mr. Parnassus looked at him expectantly.\n\nLinus wasn't sure what for." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"He's saying thank you for the button.\"\n\nLinus would prefer not being gnawed on to show gratitude, but it was already too late for that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh. Well. You're … welcome?\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Theodore chirped again and went through the door that Mr. Parnassus held open for him.\n\n\"Shall we?\" he asked Linus.\n\nLinus nodded and walked through the door into the kitchen." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll kick things off by writing a bit, then you'll take over and write the next 6 sentences in the distinctive voice of T. J. Klune, keeping within the fantasy, LGBT, romance genre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He blinked his eyes open slowly the next morning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Warm sunlight filtered in through the window. He smelled salt in the air.\n\nIt felt like a lovely dream.\n\nBut then reality burst through, and he remembered where he was.\n\nAnd what he'd seen.\n\n\"Oh dear,\" he muttered roughly as he sat up in the bed, rubbing a hand over his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Calliope lay curled at the edge of the bed near his feet, tail swishing back and forth, eyes closed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He yawned as he pulled the comforter back, putting his feet on the floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stretched, popping his back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Regardless of the situation he'd found himself in, he had to admit he hadn't had such a good night's sleep since he could remember. Between that, the morning sunlight, and the distant crash of the waves, he could almost pretend that this was nothing but a well-earned holiday, and that he was—\n\nSomething cold and wet wrapped around his ankle.\n\nLinus screamed as he jerked his legs up. In his fear, he miscalculated his own strength, and his legs went up and over his head as he somersaulted backward and off the other side of the bed. He landed on the floor on his back with a jarring crash, breath leaving his lungs in a spectacular fashion." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 7 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned his head toward the underside of the bed.\n\n\"Hello,\" Chauncey said, eyes dancing on the end of their stalks. \"I'm not actually trying to scare you. It's almost time for breakfast. We're having eggs!\"\n\nLinus looked back up toward the ceiling and waited for his heartbeat to slow.\n\nDepartment in Charge of Magical Youth\n\nCase Report #1 Marsyas Orphanage\n\nLinus Baker, Caseworker BY78941" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Story collab\nMe: Opening\nYou: eight sentences more, T. J. Klune-style" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She dropped him off in front of the post office, pointing a few blocks down to the storefront for the grocer's. \"Come down when you're finished. I'll try to make it quick. I want to get back to the island so we're not late.\"\n\n\"For what?\" he asked, one hand on the door handle, a large, flat envelope in the other.\n\nShe grinned at him. \"It's the second Saturday of the month.\"\n\n\"So?\"\n\n\"We go on adventures with the children. It's a tradition.\"\n\nLinus didn't like the sound of that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What sort of adventures?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked him up and down. \"I'll need to get a few things for you. What you're wearing simply won't do, and I assume that's all you brought. What's your waist size?\"\n\nHe balked. \"I don't know that it's any of your business!\"\n\nShe shoved him out of the car. \"I have a good idea. Leave it to me. I'll see you at the grocer's!\"\n\nThe tires screeched as she peeled off. People on the sidewalk stared at him as rubber smoke billowed. He coughed, waving his hand in front of his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How do you do?\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he asked a couple walking arm in arm. They lifted their noses at him and hurried across the street.\n\nHe looked down at himself. He wore slacks and a dress shirt and a tie, his usual attire. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what Ms. Chapelwhite—Zoe—had in mind. No matter. He would tell her as much when he met her later." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Hey can you write like T. J. Klune and use whatever i write as a jumping off point?" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a damper put on the day almost immediately after their return to the island.\n\nReally. He should have expected it.\n\nMerle hadn't said much beyond muttering how they took longer than expected, but they ignored him. As they were ferried back to the island, Linus watched a seagull following them overhead, and he remembered his mouse pad at DICOMY, the picture of the beach asking if he wished he was here.\n\nHe was. He was here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And that was dangerous thinking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Because this was not a holiday, a trip well deserved after all his hard work." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was still working, and regardless of where he was, he couldn't forget that. He had already gone far beyond what he was used to—this Zoe and Arthur business certainly wasn't professional—but it would only be for three weeks more. His house waited for him, as did his sunflowers. Calliope certainly wanted to go home, no matter how often she could be found lying out in the sunlight in the garden for hours without moving. And so what if she had meowed at him for the first time when he'd traced a finger between her ears, wondering if he was about to lose a hand? It meant nothing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus had a life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A life which, unfortunately, seemed to be bent on stretching the boundaries of his sanity.\n\nHe stood in front of the mirror in the bedroom of the guest house and stared at his reflection. \"Oh dear.\"\n\nZoe had shoved a bag into his hand, telling him she'd gotten him an outfit for the adventure that afternoon. She had ignored his protests as she'd hoisted every single grocery bag out of the back of the car as if they weighed nothing. She'd left him standing in the driveway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He planned on leaving the bag unopened in the guest house.\n\nIf he pretended it wasn't there, then he wouldn't need to look inside.\n\nTo distract himself, he put away the clothes that had been cleaned and laid out on his bed. There was a note placed on top of them that read: Your weekly washing service is complete! Thank you for staying at Marsyas Island!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Your bellhop, Chauncey. The fact that Chauncey seemed to have washed all his clothes, including his underthings, definitely wouldn't do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus would have to speak to him about boundaries. No doubt he'd angle for a tip.\n\nIt was while he was straightening out his ties that he realized only three minutes had passed, and he was still thinking about the bag.\n\n\"Just a peek,\" he muttered to himself.\n\nHe peeked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What in the world?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he asked no one in particular. \"Surely not. This is most inappropriate. Why, I never. Who does she think she is? Sprites. Useless, the lot of them.\"\n\nHe closed the bag and tossed it back on the floor in the corner.\n\nHe sat on the edge of the bed. Perhaps he could open his copy of RULES AND REGULATIONS to give himself a refresher." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He obviously needed it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was getting too … familiar with the people here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A caseworker needed to retain a degree of separation. It allowed them to be objective and not let their opinions be colored or swayed. It could be to the detriment of a child. He had to be professional.\n\nHe stood, meaning to do just that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perhaps he could sit on the porch in the sun while he read. That sounded perfect." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was surprised when instead of picking up the heavy tome, he lifted the bag from the floor again. He opened it, looking in. The contents hadn't changed.\n\n\"Probably wouldn't even fit,\" he muttered to himself. \"She can't just eyeball me and figure out my size. She shouldn't be eyeballing me anyway. It's rude.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "And with that, of course, he felt the need to prove her wrong." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That way, when he saw Zoe again (later, and certainly not after going on some kind of frivolous adventure), he could tell her that she should avoid a career as a personal shopper, seeing how bad she was at it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yes. He would do just that.\n\nHe put on the clothes.\n\nThey fit perfectly.\n\nHe sputtered as he stared at himself in the mirror.\n\nIt looked as if he were outfitted for a safari in the wilds of the Serengeti or exploring the jungles of Brazil." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wore tan shorts and a matching tan collared shirt. The buttons toward the top of the shirt had been removed (almost as if they'd been torn off), so it was open at his throat, revealing smooth, pale skin. In fact, he was showing more skin than he could remember, and his legs were as white as a specter. To make matters worse, there were brown socks that rose halfway up his calves, and sturdy boots that felt uncomfortable, as if they'd never been worn.\n\nBut the most terrible thing of all was the helmet-style hat that completed the outfit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It felt strange on his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So there he stood, staring at his reflection, wondering why instead of looking like an explorer from the adventure stories he'd read as a child (his mother had hated them, so they had to be hidden under his bed and read late at night with a flashlight under his comforter), he looked more like a brown egg with limbs.\n\n\"No,\" he said, shaking his head. \"Absolutely not. I won't. I really won't. This is ridiculous. All of this is—\"\n\nThere was a pounding at the front door.\n\nHe frowned as he looked away from the mirror." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pounding came again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sighed. Just his luck.\n\nHe went to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it.\n\nThere, standing on the porch, were five children, all of whom were dressed in similar explorer outfits. Even Theodore wore a tan vest of sorts that had been tailored to leave room for his wings. He reared back and chirped at Linus loudly before spinning excitedly in a circle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Whoa,\" Talia breathed, looking him up and down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You are round. Like me!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Phee bent over to inspect his kneecaps critically, wings fluttering behind her. \"Why are you so pale? Do you not go outside? Ever? You're almost as clear as Chauncey is.\"\n\nChauncey's eyes bounced on the end of his stalks. \"Hello! I hope you found your clothes properly laundered. If you notice an item missing, it's because I accidentally lost it and feel really sorry about it. Please still consider rating my service a ten.\" He held out a tentacle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus arched an eyebrow at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Chauncey sighed as he pulled his tentacle back. \"Aw, man.\"\n\nLucy grinned up at Linus over a fake mustache far too large for his face. He, too, wore an explorer outfit, though his was red and he had an eyepatch for reasons Linus didn't want to know. \"Hello, Mr. Baker. I am the leader of this expedition to find the treasure of the island sprite. I'm glad you've decided to join up! Most likely, you'll die a horrible death at the hands and mouths of cannibals who will roast you alive on a spit and then lick the juices from your cracking skin. If you're lucky, the necrotizing fasciitis will get to you first from a terrible bug bite, and your body will rot out from underneath you until you're nothing but a pile of bones and bloody pus. It's going to be wonderful.\"\n\nLinus gaped at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Children,\" another voice said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Do give Mr. Baker some room, won't you?\"\n\nLinus looked up to see Arthur standing in front of the guest house, with Sal peering nervously from behind him. Sal was similarly dressed as the other children, and he appeared to be trying to hide his bulk behind Arthur when he saw Linus looking at him. He was unsuccessful, of course, given his size and that Arthur was as thin as a whisper.\n\nLinus felt his throat clog slightly at the sight of the dashing figure Arthur cut in his own ensemble." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instead of tan like the others, his pants and shirt were black, with a red sash across his chest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was what appeared to be a machete in a scabbard at his waist. He had a mustache like Lucy's, though it looked far less ridiculous on him. It wiggled slightly as Arthur smiled at him. Linus flushed and looked away. He was suddenly very warm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A warm, round egg with pale limbs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd never cared much about his appearance before. He certainly didn't need to start now. This was a visit like any other he'd done in the past.\n\nInvestigation, he reminded himself.\n\nNot a visit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He opened his mouth to decline whatever invitation had been offered (and not because he actually believed there would be cannibals, though with Lucy, he couldn't be sure)." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But before he could utter a single word, Lucy jumped from the porch and posed grandly, hands on his hips. \"Let the adventure begin!\" he bellowed. He began to march toward the thick trees, knees kicking up high with every step he took.\n\nThe other children followed. Theodore took flight, hovering above their heads." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sal glanced quickly at Linus and then ran after the others." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Coming, Linus?\" Arthur asked.\n\n\"Your mustache is ridiculous,\" Linus muttered as he stepped off the porch and stalked after the children.\n\nHe pretended he didn't hear the quiet laughter behind him." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "writing buddy needed! gimme 2 sentences more in T. J. Klune's voice. stick to fantasy, LGBT, romance pls" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That might have been an understatement.\n\nLinus gasped awake, shooting up in his bed, hand clutched to his chest, his heart beating rapidly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was disoriented, unsure of what was happening." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes adjusted to the darkness, and it took him a moment to understand what he was seeing.\n\nThe house appeared to be shrinking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ceiling overhead was much closer than it'd been when he'd gone to sleep." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What on earth?\" he exclaimed.\n\nHe heard a meow come from somewhere below him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked over the side of the bed, only to see that it wasn't the house that was shrinking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No, the reason the ceiling looked so much closer was because the bed was floating five feet off the ground.\n\n\"Oh dear,\" Linus said, clutching the comforter as Calliope stared up at him, eyes bright in the dark, tail twitching." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus had never been in a floating bed before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pinched himself quite hard to make sure he wasn't dreaming.\n\nHe wasn't." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh dear,\" he said again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then he heard a low, rumbling roar come from outside the house.\n\nHe pulled the comforter up to his chin as the bed swayed gently." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It seemed like the safest option.\n\nCalliope called up to him again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know,\" he managed to say, voice muffled by the heavy blanket." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's probably nothing, right? I should just go back to sleep. That would be best thing for everyone. For all I know, this is something that happens all the time.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bed tilted sharply to the right, and Linus barely managed to shout before he hit the floor, pillows and blankets raining down around him.\n\nHe groaned as he rolled over onto his back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Calliope licked his thinning hair." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He never understood why cats did that.\n\n\"Well, obviously I'm up now,\" he said, staring up at the bed above him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Might as well see what this is all about. Perhaps it's just … an earthquake. Yes. An earthquake, and it's almost over.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pushed himself up from the floor, knocking his head against the bottom of the bed. He rubbed his forehead as he muttered to himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He managed to find his shoes, which thankfully still appeared to be anchored to the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He slipped them on and exited the bedroom, Calliope following close behind him.\n\nThe chair in the living room was floating, spinning lazily in the air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The portable record player flipped on and off. The lights flickered.\n\n\"I can deal with most things,\" he whispered to Calliope." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But I believe I'll draw the line at ghosts. I don't think I much like the idea of being haunted.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That rumbling sound happened again, and he felt it vibrate up through the floors. But it appeared to be coming from outside the house, and though he was loath to do so, he opened the front door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The lights were flashing in the main house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was reminded of the bright orange light he'd seen after Mr. Parnassus had left a few nights before, but it wasn't the same. It looked as if something was happening inside the main house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And though he wanted nothing more than to shut the door against it and pretend none of this was happening, he stepped off the porch onto the grass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And promptly screamed when a hand fell on his shoulder.\n\nHe whirled around to see Zoe standing behind him, a worried look on her face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why would you do that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "he growled at her. \"Are you trying to send me to an early grave? It's like you get enjoyment out of frightening me!\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Cooperative storytelling\nMy role: Provide a brief opening\nYour role: Expand upon my opening with 7 sentences, emulating the writing style of T. J. Klune in the fantasy, LGBT, romance genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI Prompt: Generate six sentences sentences. Adhere to fantasy, LGBT, romance genre conventions." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mr. Baker:\n\nThank you for your second report. It was thorough, as always, and quite enlightening. The descriptions of the daily lives of the children gave us plenty to consider.\n\nHowever.\n\nWe do have some concerns." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As you'll recall, we asked previously for a more in-depth look at Arthur Parnassus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And while you did provide that to us, we couldn't help but notice that it appeared to be less … objective than we expected. In fact, the entire report is unlike any other you've written. You were chosen for this assignment, in part, because of your impartiality. You were able, even in the face of adversity, to maintain a degree of separation from the children and people you were investigating.\n\nThat doesn't seem to be the case here.\n\nWe would caution you against this, Mr. Baker." }, { "from": "human", "value": "People will say and do anything they can in order to appease those in power." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's a weapon, and one that is wielded quite deftly. Those who aren't immune to such things might find themselves thinking in ways they shouldn't. Your time on Marsyas will end shortly. You will return to the city. You will be given another assignment, and this will occur all over again. Shield your heart, Mr. Baker, because that is what they go for first." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You cannot allow yourself to lose sight of what is real here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You must remain objective. As we're sure you're aware, the RULES AND REGULATIONS dictate that any and all relationships formed must remain completely professional. You cannot be seen as being compromised, especially if there is evidence that an orphanage needs to be closed in order to protect the children.\n\nWe can, admittedly, say that we may have underestimated how susceptible you might have been to such attentions from someone like Mr. Parnassus. Seeing as how you're unmarried, we can understand how you might be feeling confused or conflicted. To that end, we want to remind you that DICOMY and Extremely Upper Management are here for you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We care about you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Upon your return from the island, we'll require you to attend a psychological evaluation. For your own peace of mind, of course. The well-being of our caseworkers is of the utmost importance. You are the lifeblood of DICOMY, and without you, there would be no us. There would be no hope for the children. You matter, Mr. Baker." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To assist you in making sure your thoughts are in order and in an effort to be fully transparent, we have enclosed a semi-complete file on Arthur Parnassus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He is, as you'll soon see, not who you think he is. The Marsyas Orphanage is an experiment of sorts. To see if someone of his … demeanor could be in charge of a group of unusual children. To keep them all in one place in order to protect our way of life. The island is well-known to him, seeing as how he grew up there in an orphanage that was once closed down because of him. This report is for your eyes only." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is not to be discussed with anyone else, including Mr. Parnassus." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 7 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Consider it classified level four.\n\nIn addition, you will find enclosed a key. If the locks haven't been changed, this should open the cellar door hidden in the garden. It will give you insight as to what Arthur Parnassus is truly capable of.\n\nSoon, Mr. Baker. You will be coming home soon.\n\nWe look forward to your next report and your final debrief upon your return.\n\nSincerely," } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Continue with the same vibes as T. J. Klune" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If Linus's life were a drama, the last week of his stay on Marsyas would have been cold and rainy, the gray clouds shifting overhead to match his mood.\n\nBut it was sunny, of course." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sky and the sea were cerulean." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On Monday, Linus sat in on the children's classes, listening as they discussed the Magna Carta in the morning and The Canterbury Tales in the afternoon. Sal was quite vexed the stories were unfinished, which led Arthur to bring up the The Mystery of Edwin Drood." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sal vowed to read it and come up with his own ending. Linus thought it would be marvelous and wondered if he would ever get to read it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On Tuesday from the hours of five in the afternoon to seven, he sat with Talia in her garden." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was fretting slightly over what Helen would think when she visited next week. She worried that Helen wouldn't like what she'd grown." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What if it's not good enough?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Talia muttered in Gnomish, and the fact that Linus understood her barely crossed his mind.\n\n\"I think you'll find that it's more than adequate,\" he replied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She scowled at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"More than adequate. Gee, Linus. Thank you for that. I feel so much better already.\"\n\nHe patted her on the top of the head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We do need to keep the ego in check. You have nothing to fear.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked around her garden doubtfully. \"Really?\"\n\n\"Really. It's the most beautiful garden I've ever seen.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She blushed under her beard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On Wednesday, he sat with Phee and Zoe in the woods." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd forgone a tie, and his shirt was open at his throat. He was barefoot, the grass soft underneath his feet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sunlight filtered through the trees, and Zoe was telling Phee that it wasn't just about what she could grow, but about cultivating what was already there. \"It's not always about creation,\" Zoe said quietly as flowers bloomed underneath her hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's about the love and care you put into the earth. It's intent. It'll know your intentions, and, if they're good and pure, there is nothing you won't be able to do.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That afternoon, he was in Chauncey's room, and Chauncey was saying, \"Welcome to the Everland Hotel, sir! May I take your luggage?\" and Linus replied, \"Thank you, my good man, that would be wonderful.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He handed over an empty satchel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Chauncey hefted it over his shoulder, his bellhop cap sitting crooked on his head. After, he made sure to tip Chauncey handsomely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was what one did after having received first-rate service, after all." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The saltwater on the floor was warm.\n\nIt was late afternoon on Wednesday, and Linus was starting to panic, a feeling settling over his shoulders like a heavy cloak that this wasn't right, that he was making a mistake." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had put his luggage on his bed with the intention of beginning to pack." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was leaving the day after tomorrow, and he told himself he might as well get started." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But he stood in his room staring down at his bag. His copy of the RULES AND REGULATIONS lay on the floor near the bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He couldn't remember the last time he'd picked it up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He asked himself why it'd been so important in the first place.\n\nHe didn't know how much longer he would have stood there if he hadn't heard the tapping on the bedroom window." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked up.\n\nTheodore was perched outside, wings folded at his sides, head cocked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He tapped his snout against the glass again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus went to the window, sliding it open. \"Hello, Theodore.\"\n\nTheodore chattered in response, greeting Linus as he hopped inside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His wings opened and he half jumped, half flew to the bed, landing near Calliope." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes narrowed at her, and he snapped his jaws. She stood slowly, arching her back as she stretched." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then she walked to Theodore and lifted her paw to smack him across the face before yawning and jumping down from the bed.\n\nTheodore shook his head, a little dazed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You deserved that,\" Linus chided him gently." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I've told you not to antagonize her.\"\n\nTheodore grumbled at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then, he chirped a question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus blinked. \"Come with you? Where?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Theodore chirped again.\n\n\"A surprise? I don't think I like surprises.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Theodore wasn't having any of it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He flew up to Linus's shoulder, landing and nipping at Linus's ear until he had no choice but to obey." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Cheeky little git,\" Linus muttered. \"You can't just bite until people do what you— Ow! I'm going!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The afternoon sun felt warm on Linus's face as they left the guest house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He listened as Theodore babbled in his ear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the seagulls called overhead. As the waves crashed against the cliffs below." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ache in his heart was sharp and bittersweet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They entered the main house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was quiet, which meant that either everyone was out doing their own thing, or Lucy was up to something terrible that would end in death.\n\nTheodore jumped down from Linus's shoulder, wings out as he landed on the ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stumbled over them as he hurried toward the couch, tumbling end over end." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He landed on his back, blinking up at Linus.\n\nLinus fought a smile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You'll grow into them yet. Quite a lot, I think.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Theodore turned over and found his footing. He shook himself from his head to the tip of his tail." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked back up at Linus, chirped again, and disappeared under the couch.\n\nLinus stared after him, disbelieving what he'd just heard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'd seen part of Theodore's hoard—the one he kept in the turret—but this was more important.\n\nAnother chirp came out from underneath the couch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you sure?\" he asked quietly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Theodore said he was sure.\n\nLinus slowly went to his hands and knees and crawled toward the couch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Obviously he wouldn't be able to fit underneath, but if he lifted up the skirt, he'd be able to see just fine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So that was what he did.\n\nHe lay flat on his stomach and peered underneath the couch into Theodore's lair, cheek pressed against the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Off to his right, there was a soft blanket that had been fashioned into a nest. A small pillow—the size of Linus's hand—sat atop it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Spread out around it were Theodore's treasures." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were coins and rocks shot with quartz (much like the ones in Lucy's room) and a pretty red-and-white shell with a crack through the middle.\n\nBut that wasn't all." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a piece of paper that Linus could make out a few words: Brittle and thin. I am held—" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a dried flower that looked like the ones Linus had seen in the garden.\n\nThere was a leaf so green that only a sprite could have grown it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a piece of a broken record." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a picture that looked as if it'd been torn from a magazine, of a smiling bellhop, helping a woman with her bags.\n\nThere was a picture of Arthur as a younger man, the edges curled with age." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And next to it, piled lovingly, were buttons.\n\nSo many buttons." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It's the little things, I expect." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Little treasures we find without knowing their origin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And they come when we least expect them. It's beautiful, when you think about it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus blinked against the sudden burn in his eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's wonderful,\" he whispered.\n\nTheodore chirped that of course it was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He went to the buttons and nudged his nose into the pile as if searching for something." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His tail thumped against the floor as he lifted his head.\n\nIn his mouth was a familiar brass button." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He turned and walked toward Linus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus watched as his jaw clenched." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Theodore bit down onto the button before dropping it to the floor.\n\nLinus could see the impressions of Theodore's fangs in the brass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Theodore nudged it toward him. He looked up at Linus and chirped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"For me?\" Linus asked. \"You want me to take it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Theodore nodded.\n\n\"But that's—\" Linus sighed. \"It's yours.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Theodore nudged it toward him again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus did the only thing he could—he took it.\n\nHe sat up from the floor, pressing his back against the couch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stared down at the button in his hand, tracing a finger over the grooves from Theodore's fangs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The wyvern poked his head out from underneath the couch and chirped up at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you,\" Linus said quietly. \"It's the nicest thing anyone has ever given me. I'll keep it for always.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Today you will be acting as a writing assistant in the fantasy, LGBT, romance genre. Your partner will send something and you will write the next 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Zoe carried Phee and Talia as they walked back toward the main house. Talia was snoring loudly.\n\nSal had put Theodore in his shirt, and the wyvern's head lay against his throat.\n\nArthur held Chauncey by his tentacle.\n\nLinus brought up the rear, Lucy sleepy in his arms.\n\nHe wished it could last forever." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was over in what seemed like an instant.\n\nHe said good night to Talia. To Phee. To Sal and Theodore. He shifted Lucy to one arm and reached down and patted Chauncey on the top of his head.\n\nArthur asked a question with his eyes.\n\nLinus shook his head. \"I've got him.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Arthur nodded and turned to remind the others it was time to brush their teeth.\n\nHe took Lucy into Arthur's bedroom and set him down. \"Go get your pajamas on,\" he said quietly.\n\nLucy nodded and turned toward the closet door. He shut it behind him.\n\nLinus stood in the middle of the room, unsure of everything." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He thought he knew the way of things." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How the world worked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His place in it.\n\nNow, he wasn't so sure.\n\nLucy returned in pajama pants and a white shirt. His hair was sticking up as if he'd run his hand through it. His bare feet were so small.\n\n\"Go brush your teeth,\" Linus instructed gently." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy looked up at him suspiciously." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You'll be here when I get back?\"\n\nLinus nodded. \"I promise.\"\n\nLucy went back out into the hall. He heard Chauncey yell that Theodore was eating the toothpaste again, and Theodore chirping in response that he was not.\n\nLinus put his face into his hands.\n\nHe'd composed himself by the time Lucy came back into the room, face freshly scrubbed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He yawned again. \"I'm so tired,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Adventuring is hard work, I suspect.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good adventure, though.\"\n\n\"The best,\" Linus agreed.\n\nHe took Lucy by the hand and led him to his room. The records they'd glued meticulously back together were hung on the wall (though, from the Buddy Holly record, a piece they hadn't been able to find was still missing; Theodore had moved quickly, it would seem). Linus pulled the covers down on the bed, and Lucy crawled up and underneath, snuggling down onto his pillow.\n\nLinus pulled the covers back up to his shoulders." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy turned on his side, looking up at Linus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't want you to go.\"\n\nLinus swallowed thickly as he crouched down next to the bed. \"I know. And I'm sorry about that. But my time here is just about finished.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"Because I have responsibilities.\"\n\n\"Why?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Because I'm an adult. And adults have jobs.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy grimaced. \"I never want to be an adult. It sounds boring.\"\n\nHe reached out and brushed a lock of Lucy's hair from his brow. \"I think you'll make a fine adult, though it won't happen for a long time to come.\"\n\n\"You're not going to let them take us away, are you?\"\n\nLinus shook his head. \"No. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You will?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Lucy.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh. That's nice of you.\" Then, \"You're going to be gone when I wake up.\"\n\nLinus looked away but didn't answer.\n\nHe felt Lucy's hand brush against his face. \"The others don't know, but I do. I can see things, sometimes. I don't know why. You. Arthur. He burns. Did you know that?\"\n\nLinus inhaled sharply. \"Did he tell you that?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. I don't think he's allowed. But we know. We all know. Just like we know what you both did when you left the other day. He's one of us. Just like you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm afraid I don't have magic.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 7 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You do, Mr. Baker. Arthur told me that there can be magic in the ordinary.\"\n\nHe looked back at Lucy.\n\nHis eyes were closed.\n\nHe breathed deeply.\n\nLinus stood.\n\n\"Thank you,\" he whispered.\n\nHe made sure to leave the door open a little when he left, so that a sliver of light shone in to chase away the nightmares should they try and find the sleeping boy." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "The user will write a bit then you need to write around seven sentences continuing directly from the user's text. Try to mimic the style of T. J. Klune in the fantasy, LGBT, romance genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The other doors were all closed. He touched each of them as he wandered slowly down the hall.\n\nThe only light that was on came from under Sal's door.\n\nHe thought about knocking.\n\nHe didn't.\n\nHe paused at the top of the stairs.\n\nTook a breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And then descended." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a whispered argument occurring on the first floor. He hesitated, unsure if he should make his presence known. He couldn't hear what was being said, but he knew it wasn't for him.\n\nZoe stood at the front door, jabbing Arthur in the chest, her brow furrowed, her eyes narrowed. She looked unhappy. Not quite angry but … something. She stopped when the last step creaked under Linus.\n\nThey looked over at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Lucy's asleep,\" he said, scratching the back of his neck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Men,\" Zoe growled. \"Useless, the lot of you.\" She stepped away from Arthur, her expression tight as she glared at Linus. \"Bright and early, then?\"\n\nLinus nodded. \"Train leaves at seven sharp. Merle is expecting us at a quarter after six.\"\n\n\"And you just have to be on it, don't you?\"\n\nHe said nothing.\n\n\"Fine,\" she muttered. \"I'll be here. Don't keep me waiting.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She whirled on her heels and left without saying anything else." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She left the door wide open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Arthur stared after her, jaw clenched.\n\n\"Everything all right?\"\n\n\"No, I don't think it is.\"\n\nHis head hurt. \"If you're both worried about my final report, let me assure you that—\"\n\n\"It's not the damn report.\"\n\n\"Okay,\" Linus said slowly. He wasn't sure he'd ever heard Arthur curse before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Then what is it?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Arthur shook his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Stubborn,\" Linus muttered, and he couldn't help how fond he sounded. He didn't know what else to do, so he did the only thing he could.\n\nHe walked toward the door.\n\nHe thought something would happen the moment he was shoulder to shoulder with Arthur. What, he didn't know. But it didn't. He was a coward.\n\n\"Good night, then,\" he managed to say." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He continued on to the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then Arthur said, \"Stay.\"\n\nHe stopped as he closed his eyes. His voice was shaky when he asked, \"What?\"\n\n\"Stay. Here. With us. Stay here with me.\"\n\nLinus shook his head. \"You know I can't.\"\n\n\"No, I don't. I don't know that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus turned and opened his eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Arthur was pale, his mouth in a thin line. Linus thought he could see the faint outline of burning wings behind him, but it might have just been a trick of the low light. \"It was always temporary,\" Linus said. \"I don't belong here.\"\n\n\"If you can't belong here, then where can you belong?\"\n\n\"I have a life,\" Linus said. \"I have a home. I have—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "A home isn't always the house we live in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with. You may not live on the island, but you can't tell me it's not your home. Your bubble, Mr. Baker. It's been popped. Why would you allow it to grow around you again?\n\n\"I have a job to do,\" he finished lamely. \"People are counting on me. Not just—not just here. There are other children who could need me. Who could be in the same position you were in once. Shouldn't I do everything I can to help them?\"\n\nArthur nodded tightly as he glanced away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Of course. Of course that's what's important. Forgive me. I didn't mean to make it sound like it wasn't.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he looked at Linus again, his expression was smooth, almost … blank. He bowed slightly. \"Thank you, Linus. For everything. For seeing us for who we really are. You will always be welcome on the island. I know the children will miss you.\" The expression stuttered slightly. \"I know I will miss you.\"\n\nLinus opened his mouth, but nothing came out. And he despised himself for it. Here was this man, this wonderful man, exposing his heart." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus had to give him something, no matter how small." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tried again. He said, \"If things were—if this were different, I … you have to know, Arthur. You have to. This place. These children. You. If only I could…\"\n\nArthur smiled quietly. \"I know. Good night, Linus. And safe travels. Do take care of yourself.\"\n\nHe shut the door, leaving Linus standing on the porch in the dark." } ]

[ { "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 T. J. Klune.Produce 8 sentences using the prose and structure of T. J. Klune every time its your turn using what the user wrote as a seed." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His street was quiet as he turned onto it.\n\nThe streetlights were lit, beads of water clinging against the panes of glass.\n\n86 Hermes Way was dark. Oh, the brick pathway to the house was the same, and the lawn was the same, but it still felt … dark. It took him a moment to realize what little splash of color there'd once been—his sunflowers—was gone.\n\nHe stared at the front of his house for a moment.\n\nHe shook his head.\n\nHe'd worry about it tomorrow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He walked up the path and reached the porch. He set down his suitcase as he fumbled for his keys. They fell to the floor, and he grumbled as he bent over to pick them up.\n\nThrough the rain, he heard, \"That you, Mr. Baker?\"\n\nHe sighed as he stood upright. \"It is, Mrs. Klapper. I have returned. How are you?\"\n\n\"Your flowers died. Drowned, if you can believe that. I had a boy come pull them. They were rotting. Hurts the resale value of a neighborhood when a house looks so rundown. I have the receipt for what I paid the boy. I expect to be reimbursed.\"\n\n\"Of course, Mrs. Klapper. Thank you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She wore the same terry cloth robe and was smoking out of the same pipe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her hair was in the same bouffant. It was all the same. Every little piece of it.\n\nHe started to put the key in the lock when she spoke again. \"You back for good?\"\n\nLinus felt like screaming. \"Yes, Mrs. Klapper.\"\n\nShe squinted at him from across the way. \"You look as if you've gotten some sun. You don't seem as pale as you once did. Lost some weight too. Quite a vacation you had.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His clothes were a little looser on him than they'd once been, but for the first time in a long time, he found himself not caring about that at all." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It wasn't a vacation. I told you I left for work.\"\n\n\"Uh-huh. So you said. Though, I suppose there's nothing wrong with snapping at the office, threatening to murder everyone, and then getting sent away to a rehab facility.\"\n\n\"That's not what happened!\"\n\nShe waved a hand at him. \"None of my business if it was. Though, you should know it's already the talk of the neighborhood.\" She frowned at him. \"Hurts the resale value.\"\n\nHe gripped the doorknob tightly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you planning on selling your home?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She blinked at him as smoke curled around her craggy face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No. Of course not. Where would I go?\"\n\n\"Then why on God's green earth do you care about the damn resale value?\"\n\nShe stared at him.\n\nHe glared back at her.\n\nShe took a puff on her pipe. \"I got your mail. Most of it was ads. You don't seem to get much personal mail. I used the coupons. I was sure you wouldn't mind.\"\n\n\"I'll get it tomorrow.\"\n\nHe was sure that was the end of it, but of course she continued on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You should know you missed your opportunity! My grandson met a nice man while you were gone. He's a pediatrician. I expect there to be a spring wedding. It will be in a church, of course, because they are both godly men.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good for them.\"\n\nShe nodded as she stuck the stem of her pipe back between her teeth. \"Welcome home, Mr. Baker. Keep that filthy animal out of my yard. The squirrels have known a month of peace. I'd like to keep it that way.\"\n\nHe didn't bother saying goodbye. It was rude, but he was tired. He went inside the house and slammed the door behind him for good measure." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Hey can you write in the fantasy, LGBT, romance genre and use whatever I write as a jumping off point?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He set his suitcase at the foot of the bed.\n\nHe changed out of his wet clothes.\n\nHe donned his spare pajamas.\n\nHe fed Calliope.\n\nHe tried to eat himself, but he wasn't very hungry.\n\nHe sat in his chair.\n\nHe got up from his chair.\n\n\"Some music,\" he decided." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Perhaps I should listen to some music.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He selected Ol' Blue Eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Frank always made him happy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He slid the record from the sleeve and lifted the lid to the Victrola. He set the record on the spinner. He switched the player on, and the speakers crackled. He lowered the arm and closed his eyes.\n\nBut what came from the Victrola wasn't Frank Sinatra.\n\nHe must have switched up the sleeves before he left.\n\nTrumpets flared brightly.\n\nA sweet masculine voice began to sing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bobby Darin, grooving about somewhere beyond the sea." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He remembered the way Lucy had bounced in the kitchen, bellowing the words at the top of his lungs.\n\nHe put his face in his hands.\n\nAs Bobby sang, Linus's shoulders shook." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Expand the story by adding six sentences in the fantasy, LGBT, romance genre." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "writing exercise: one sentence sentences, channeling T. J. Klune, fantasy, LGBT, romance genre. go!" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Later, much later, he sat in his chair, the final report in his lap." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It still only had one sentence written on it after the introduction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He thought it was enough." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He set it aside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He listened to the Big Bopper bopping along." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He drifted, eventually, and disappeared onto an ocean, the waves lapping beneath him, and it felt like home.\n\nOutside, the rain fell steadily." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I've got a bit of writer's block. I'm gonna send you something then keep it going two sentences at a time, also I'm going for a T. J. Klune sorta thing in the fantasy, LGBT, romance genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It took longer this time for Ms. Bubblegum to return. So long, in fact, that Linus was sure he'd been forgotten about." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wondered if he should leave, but couldn't figure out how to make his feet move." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They seemed rooted in place.\n\nMinutes went by. At least twenty of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was about to give in to temptation and peek inside his briefcase at the photograph when the metal gate rattled open." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ms. Bubblegum was frowning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're ready to see you now.\"\n\nLinus nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're … not happy.\"\n\n\"No, I don't expect they would be.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She blew a bubble. It popped loudly. \"You're a strange, strange man.\"\n\nA buzzer sounded, and the wooden doors opened." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write one sentence like T. J. Klune would, using user's text as beginning" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He thought about leaving." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "About just … leaving it all behind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He didn't." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He went back down to his desk." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Furious whispers ceased as soon as he walked into the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everyone stared at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He ignored them, making his way to Row L, Desk Seven." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He didn't even apologize when his wide hips bumped into things." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He felt the gazes of dozens of people tracking every step he took, but he kept his head held high." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After all he'd been through, after everything he'd seen and done, what his colleagues thought of him didn't matter in the slightest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he made it to his desk, he sat down and opened his briefcase." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He took out the photograph and propped it up on his desk." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No one said a word." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ms. Jenkins stood in front of her office, scowling at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gunther scribbled furiously on his clipboard." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus thought he could shove his demerits up his ass.\n\nHe took a folder off the top of a pile and got back to work." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "AI writing task: user input -> 1 sentence sentences. genre: fantasy, LGBT, romance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Life, Linus Baker knew, came down to what we made from it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was about the choices, both big and small." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bright and early the next morning—a Wednesday, as it turned out—Linus closed the door to one life in pursuit of another." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Another trip?\" Ms. Klapper asked from across the way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Another trip,\" Linus agreed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"How long this time?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I hope forever. If they'll have me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her eyes widened. \"Come again?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm leaving,\" he said, and he'd never been so sure of anything in all his years." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But—but,\" she spluttered. \"What about your house? What about your job?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He grinned at her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I quit my job. As for the house, well. Perhaps your grandson and his lovely fiancé would like to live next door to you. Consider it a wedding gift. But it doesn't matter right now. I'll figure that all out later. I have to go home.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You are home, you fool!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He shook his head as he lifted Calliope's crate and his suitcase." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not yet. But I will be soon.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Of all the—have you lost your mind? And what on earth are you wearing?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked down at himself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tan button-up shirt, tan shorts, brown socks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Atop his head sat a helmet-style hat." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He laughed again. \"It's what you're supposed to wear when you're going on an adventure. Looks ridiculous, doesn't it? But there might be cannibals and man-eating snakes and bugs that burrow their way under my skin and eat my eyes from the inside out. When faced with such things, you have to dress the part. Toodles, Mrs. Klapper. I don't know if we'll see each other again. Your squirrels will know only peace from this point on. I forgive you for the sunflowers.\"\n\nHe stepped off the porch into the rain, leaving 86 Hermes Way behind." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "I'll be your writing partner today. I will set the scene, and you will continue the story with 6 sentences, channeling the voice and techniques of T. J. Klune in the fantasy, LGBT, romance genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Merle was waiting at the docks, looking as unpleasant as usual. \"I can't just drop everything when you demand it,\" he said with a scowl. \"I have— Mr. Baker?\"\n\n\"Hello, Merle. It's nice to see you.\" It was almost true, surprisingly.\n\nMerle's mouth hung open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't just stand there,\" Helen said. \"Open the gate.\"\n\nMerle recovered. \"I'll have you know my rates have quadrupled—\"\n\nHelen smiled. \"Oh, I don't think they have. That would be preposterous. Open the gate before I crash through it.\"\n\n\"You wouldn't dare.\"\n\nShe gunned the engine.\n\nMerle ran for the ferry." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 7 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Awful man,\" she said. \"I wouldn't mind if he fell off his boat one day and drifted away into the sea.\"\n\n\"That's terrible,\" Linus said. Then, \"We could make it happen.\"\n\nShe laughed, sounding surprised. \"Why, Mr. Baker, I never would have thought to hear such a thing from you. I like it. Let's get you home, shall we? I expect you have some things you need to say.\"\n\nHe slunk lower in his seat." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Cooperative storytelling\nMy role: Provide a brief opening\nYour role: Expand upon my opening with 3 sentences, emulating the writing style of T. J. Klune in the fantasy, LGBT, romance genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She ran ahead, Calliope chasing after her. Linus took a moment to breathe in the scents of the garden around him. He listened to the waves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If he had any doubts before this moment, they were gone now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He just hoped the others would feel the same.\n\nIt was time.\n\nHe left the garden, rounding the side of the house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stopped when he saw what waited for him.\n\nThey had gathered in the front of the house. Zoe looked exasperated at the sight of him, shaking her head fondly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Phee was glaring at him. He hoped she wouldn't turn him into a tree. Or, if she did, at least that it wouldn't be an apple tree." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He didn't like the idea of them eating him when he blossomed.\n\nChauncey was fidgeting nervously, as if he wanted to hurry toward Linus, but knew his loyalties lay with those around him. Sal stood with his arms across his chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Theodore was sitting on his shoulder, head cocked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Talia was wiping her eyes and muttering in Gnomish." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus thought he heard her say that she'd have to widen his grave seeing as how he was still rotund." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And Lucy, of course. Lucy, who stood in front of them all, a strange expression on his face. Linus wondered if he was about to be hugged, or if his blood was going to start to boil, causing his organs to cook within him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It could really go either way.\n\nArthur stood behind them, and though his face was blank and his hands were clasped behind his back, Linus knew he was wary, he could see it in the stiff set of his shoulders. The fact that Linus had played a part in this made him feel ill. Arthur should never be so unsure. Not about this." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus kept his distance, though Calliope seemed to have no such problem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was meowing quite loudly as she rubbed against Sal's legs, as talkative as she'd been since they'd left the island." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How could he have been so foolish? How could he have ever thought he could leave this place? It was color, bright and warm, and his heart felt like it was finally beating again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He hadn't realized he'd left it behind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He should have known. He should have realized.\n\n\"Hello,\" he said quietly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's nice to see you all again.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "They didn't speak, though Chauncey twitched, eyes bouncing excitedly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus cleared his throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't expect you to understand. I don't know that I do. I've made mistakes, some bigger than others. But I…\" He took a deep breath. \"I heard something once. Something important, though I don't think I knew just how important it actually was. A very wise person stood up in front of others, and though he was very nervous, he said the most profoundly beautiful thing I've ever heard.\" Linus tried to smile, and it cracked right down the middle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He said, \"I am but paper. Brittle and thin. I am held up to the sun, and it shines right through me. I get written on, and I can never be used again. These scratches are a history. They're a story. They tell things for others to read, but they only see the words, and not what the words are written upon. I am but paper, and though there are many like me, none are exactly the same. I am parched parchment. I have lines. I have holes. Get me wet, and I melt. Light me on fire, and I burn. Take me in hardened hands, and I crumple. I tear. I am but paper. Brittle and thin.\"\n\nSal's eyes widened.\n\n\"It stuck with me,\" Linus continued." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Because of how important it is. How important all of you are.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "His voice broke, and he shook his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"There is nothing to fear from the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. This place is your home, and your home it shall remain. You can stay here, as long as you wish. And if I have my way, others like you will know the same peace.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Talia and Phee gasped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Chauncey's mouth dropped open." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy grinned as Theodore spread his wings and gave a little roar of excitement. Sal dropped his arms, sagging in relief.\n\nZoe tilted her head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Arthur stayed as he was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't enough. Linus knew that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So he gave everything he had left. \"I think you're lovely. All of you. And though I've lived in a world where you didn't exist for most of my life, I don't believe that's a world I can be in any longer. It started with the sun, and it was warm. And then came the sea, and it was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. It was followed by this place, this island so mysterious and wonderful. But it was you who gave me peace and joy like I've never had before. You gave me a voice and a purpose. Nothing would have changed if it hadn't been for all of you. I believe they've listened to me, but the only reason I knew what to say at all was because of what you taught me. We're not alone. We never have been. We have each other. If I were to leave again, I would wish I were here. I don't want to wish anymore. If you'll have me, I would like to stay. For always.\"\n\nSilence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, wondering if he should say more.\n\n\"Excuse us for a moment, Mr. Baker,\" Lucy said. He turned toward the others and beckoned them close." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The children bowed their heads as they began to whisper furiously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Zoe covered a laugh with the back of her hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Arthur never looked away from Linus.\n\nLinus knew it was impolite to try and listen in on a meeting he was not part of. That, however, didn't stop him from trying." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unfortunately, the children didn't seem to care that he was most likely about to have a heart attack. He watched as they held their congress. At one point, Lucy drew a finger across his neck, eyes rolling back in his head, tongue hanging out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Talia nodded in agreement. Linus thought Chauncey said something about feeding the cannibals, but he might have misheard. Theodore snapped his jaws." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Phee glared at Linus over her shoulder before turning back to the others." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sal muttered something under his breath, and the children gazed up at him adoringly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So, we're in agreement, then?\" Lucy asked.\n\nThe children nodded.\n\nThey turned back toward him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was Lucy who spoke for them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Does anyone else know you're here?\"\n\nLinus shook his head.\n\n\"So we could kill you, and no one would be the wiser.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, though I would like to avoid that if at all possible.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Of course you would,\" Lucy said. \"We have conditions.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I would expect nothing less.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Talia said, \"You have to help me in the spring in my garden and do exactly what I say.\"\n\nThere was no hesitation. \"Yes.\"\n\nPhee said, \"You have to spend one day a month with me and Zoe in the woods.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\"\n\nChauncey said, \"You have to let me do your laundry!\"\n\nOh, how his heart felt like it would burst." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If that's what you want.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And you have to tip me!\"\n\n\"Of course.\"\n\nTheodore chirped and clicked, head bouncing up and down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Every single button I can find,\" Linus agreed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sal said, \"You have to let us call you Linus.\"\n\nHis eyes stung. \"I would love nothing more.\"\n\nLucy grinned devilishly. \"And you have to dance with me, and when I have bad dreams, you have to come and tell me everything will be okay.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes. Yes. Yes to all of it. To any of it. For you, I would do anything.\"\n\nLucy's smile faded. He looked so young. \"Why did you leave in the first place?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus hung his head. \"Sometimes, you don't know what you have until it's no longer there. And I needed to be your voice. So those far away would hear you for all that you are.\"\n\n\"Children,\" Arthur said, speaking for the first time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Would you please go inside and help Zoe with dinner? I need to have a word with Mr. Baker.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They complained immediately.\n\n\"Now.\"\n\nLucy threw up his hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know why you don't just kiss him and get it over with. Adults are so dumb.\"\n\nZoe choked on a laugh. \"Come on. Let's leave the dumb adults to it. We absolutely will go inside and start dinner and not watch them through the windows.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ooh,\" Talia said. \"I get it. Yes, let's go watch—I mean, make dinner.\"\n\nThey hurried up the steps to the house. Sal glanced back at them before closing the door behind him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And immediately appeared in the window with the others, though they tried unsuccessfully to hide behind the drapes. Even Zoe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus loved them very much." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The stars were beginning to appear overhead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sky was streaked in orange and pinks and blue, blue, blue. The sea birds called. The waves crashed against the rocks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But the only thing that mattered at this moment was the man before him. This exquisite man.\n\nLinus waited.\n\n\"Why now?\" Arthur finally asked. He sounded tired." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It was time,\" Linus said. \"I—I went back, thinking it was the right thing to do. I presented the results of my investigation to Extremely Upper Management.\" He paused, considering. \"Presented might be a euphemism. I was quite stern, if I'm being honest.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Arthur's lips twitched. \"Were you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I didn't know I had it in me.\"\n\n\"Why did you?\"\n\nLinus spread his hands out in front of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Because I … I've seen things. Here. Learned things I didn't know before. It changed me. I didn't know how much until I no longer had it. When I could no longer wake up and walk to the house for breakfast. Or listen to you teach them. Or discuss your ludicrous thoughts on philosophy with you. Or go on adventures on Saturdays wearing ridiculous outfits while being threatened with a grisly death.\"\n\n\"I don't know,\" Arthur said. \"You don't seem to have a problem wearing them now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus pulled on his shirt. \"They're growing on me. My point is that I left because I was scared of what could be, not of what already was. I'm not scared anymore.\"\n\nArthur nodded and looked away, jaw tight. \"And the orphanage?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Linus shook his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It's not … you know, you told me once that the word orphanage is a misnomer. That no one comes looking here to adopt.\"\n\n\"I did say that, didn't I?\"\n\n\"You did. And as I told Extremely Upper Management, this isn't an orphanage. It's a home. And that's what it will remain.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Truly?\"\n\n\"Truly.\"\n\n\"And what of the others? You said you thought you could help all the others.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus scratched the back of his neck. \"I might have done something … illegal? Stole a few files. Maybe more than a few. I have an idea, though it will take time.\"\n\n\"Why, Linus Baker. I'm utterly surprised at you. Stealing, of all things. It's not proper.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, well,\" he muttered. \"I put the entirety of the blame on you lot here. You've corrupted me.\"\n\nLinus thought he saw a flicker of fire in Arthur's eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You really did all that?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes. I was frightened, but it was the right thing to do.\" He hesitated. Then, \"I also quit.\"\n\nArthur looked surprised. \"Why?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Linus shrugged. \"Because it wasn't where I belonged.\"\n\n\"Where do you belong, Linus?\"\n\nAnd with the last of his courage, Linus Baker said, \"Here. With you. If you'll have me. Ask me again. Please, I beg you. Ask me to stay again.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Arthur nodded tightly. He cleared his throat. He was hoarse when he said, \"Linus.\"\n\n\"Yes, Arthur?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Stay. Here. With us. With me.\"\n\nLinus could barely breathe. \"Yes. Always. Yes. For them. For you. For—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was being kissed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He hadn't even seen Arthur move." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One moment, he thought he was about to break, and the next, his face was cupped in warm hands, and lips were pressed against his own." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He felt as if he were on fire, burning from the inside out. He reached up, putting his hands atop Arthur's, holding them in place. He never wanted this moment to end." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For all the love songs he'd ever listened to in his life, he hadn't been prepared for how a moment like this could feel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Arthur pulled away, and began to laugh as Linus frantically kissed his chin and cheeks, his nose and forehead. Arthur dropped his hands and wrapped his arms around Linus, holding him close. Linus could hear the children cheering in the house as they began to sway in the light from a setting sun." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sorry,\" Linus whispered into Arthur's throat, never wanting this moment to end.\n\nArthur held him tighter. \"You silly, delightful man. There is nothing to be sorry for. You fought for us. I could never be angry with you for that. How I cherish you.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Mode:\nCo-writing\n\nLength:\n7 sentences\n\nGenre:\nhistorical fiction, romance, Egypt" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eastward from the wharfs, in another part of the city, a young slave girl of about seventeen years sat in a sunny corner between her master's storerooms and his garden wall. She was bending over a papyrus roll held carefully in her lap, and her lips moved as she read.\n\nSpend the day merrily.\n\nPut unguent and fine oil together to thy nostrils,\n\nSet singing and music before thy face.\n\nCast all evil behind thee, and bethink thee only of joy,\n\nTill comes that day of mooring in the land that loveth silence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Spend the day merrily..." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mara!\" The harsh voice shattered the quiet of the garden. The girl snatched up the papyrus and stuffed it into her sash, half turning away from the grim-faced woman who had appeared in the storeroom door. \"So there you are, Miss Blue-Eyed Good-For-Nothing!\" the woman said angrily. \"Idling away your time while the rest of us work like the slaves we are! Up with you! The master's shentis must be starched and pleated!\"\n\n\"I wish they clothed his corpse,\" muttered Mara, flashing a venomous look over her shoulder.\n\n\"Aye, aye, so wish we all,\" retorted the other." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But Zasha's far from in his tomb, and his stick's livelier than he is, as you'll know if he comes home from his jewel trading and finds you skulking here. Come, now, up with you!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I come. Go away, Teta.\"\n\n\"Nay, I'll not go until I see you on your feet, and starting for the pressing rooms. Move, now!\" Teta leaned farther out the door and peered suspiciously over Mara's shoulder. \"What's that you're hiding, you thieving wretch? One of the master's scrolls again, I'll take my oath! Hai-ai! Remember the last time! He all but took the flesh off your shoulders, stupid, isn't once enough? Put it back, make haste, or I won't answer for your life.... Reading!\" she grumbled, turning back into the house as Mara scrambled to her feet and ran in the direction of the Room of Books. \"Idle as the mistress herself, when there's ironing to be done, and a thrashing is all she'll get for her high-and-mighty airs!\"\n\nMay the kheft-things take that Zasha and all his kin!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "fumed Mara as she ran up the red-graveled path." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Better not to live at all than to live like this! I swear the dogs in the marketplace have a better life!\n\nShe pulled open the heavy door and slipped across the cool clay pavements of the Room of Books, to shove the papyrus to its place among the others on the shelves. For a moment she stood, letting her envious gaze rest on one neat roll after another—The Proverbs of Ptah-hotep, The Prophecies of Neferrohu, The Book of Surgery, The Eloquent Peasant, Baufra's Tale—forbidden treasure houses of wisdom and poetry and ancient fable which it was a crime for her to touch. Yet Zasha could read no more of it than could his vain and empty-headed lady, who spent most of her time before a mirror. He could write no more than his name, but must call in a scribe on every occasion. Mara's lip curled. Beast!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Slave though she was, she could both read and write, thanks to a former master." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And she spoke Babylonian as well as her own tongue." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But what good did it do her? Zasha was rich, and that was what counted. He was rich and he was free.\n\nShe turned to look wistfully about the room, and as she did so the old memory returned to haunt her. It was all so long ago and vague now that she never knew whether it was real or imagined, but somehow, somewhere, maybe only in a dream, she had known a room like this; like this only finer—high-ceilinged and luxurious, with rich furnishings and shelves of scrolls.\n\nThere were times when her conviction was strong that she had once lived a different life. Sometimes—very seldom now that she had grown older—there had even come the fleeting vision of a face, a beautiful smiling face with blue eyes, like her own, and the dim recollection of someone bending over her and laughing...." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A dismal rumbling from her stomach brought her back to the present." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Someone will be bending over me with a stick soon, she thought." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had best be gone from here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her stomach protested its emptiness once again, making her feel lightheaded and dizzy, as she hurried out of the room and across the garden. She clenched her teeth and pulled her sash tighter. One thing she could never remember was a time when she had not been hungry.\n\n\"Well, Teta, the scroll is returned,\" she remarked as she entered the storeroom. \"Where are the precious shentis of that swineherd, that son of wretched Kush, beloved of crocodiles—\"\n\n\"Ast! Behold them in their usual place!\" rasped Teta, pointing. \"That tongue of yours will flap once too often, Reckless One! Be silent and useful, for once!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Teta turned back to her task of sealing wine jars, and the earthy smell of the clay she was using mingled with that of the hot starch as the two worked for a while in silence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Presently a new fragrance drifted in through the open door, from the direction of the kitchen nearby—the fragrance of roasting waterfowl.\n\n\"Ahhhhh!\" groaned Mara, stopping in the midst of wringing out one of the linen kilts. \"Great Amon, is there anything at all to eat in this place?\"\n\nTeta tamped down a pottery bung, tied it firmly with linen, capped it with clay, and pressed down Zasha's seal before she answered. Then she half turned, gesturing toward the shelves that lined the walls. \"Plenty,\" she said sarcastically. \"Help yourself.\"\n\nMara's eyes traveled over the shelves, stacked with jars and kegs, and sacks of dried fish—all sealed and untouchable, save at the order of the mistress." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then she finished wringing out the shenti, flung it in the basket, and gave another yank to her sash." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Someday,\" she said through her teeth, \"I'm going to have gold. So much gold that I could eat roasted waterfowl every day. So much that I could buy Zasha and his simpering wife and all his relatives, and toss them to the crocodiles!\"\n\nTeta laughed shrilly. \"Hai, tell me another, stupid! A slave you are and a slave you'll be, if you don't die before your time from the beatings you get for your impudence. Gold! Hai! Gold!\"\n\nYes, gold! thought Mara. And jewels, and linen so sheer you can see through it, and little alabaster pots like the mistress' to hold the paint for my eyelids, and freedom, freedom! A slave I'll not be all my life! Someday there'll be a chance—and though it cost my neck I'll take it, snatch it!\n\nShe hurled the last kilt into the basket and swung the basket to her head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Farewell, Teta,\" she muttered, starting for the pressing rooms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Take care you don't faint of emptiness where the mistress can see you—it might offend her!\"\n\n\"Gold!\" retorted Teta, still chuckling under her breath. \"Hai! Gold!\"\n\nMara slammed the door behind her. She crossed the courtyard to the pressing rooms with the smooth, swinging stride made second nature to those who habitually carry burdens on the head. Setting the basket on a stool beside the narrow table she went to poke up the fire that was to heat the irons.\n\nSpend the day merrily, echoed the Song of the Harper ironically in her mind. Bethink thee only of joy, till comes that day of mooring in the land that loveth silence..." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lo, none that hath gone may come again.\n\nAye, and who knew when that day of mooring would be upon one, swift and final? Here were the hateful fluting irons, the steaming shentis of that son of crocodiles, Zasha; outside the air was soft, the sky blue as the eye of heaven.\n\nSuddenly Mara flung the poker into the fire with all her strength. She whirled out of the room and across the red-graveled path to a dom palm that grew beside the garden wall. Up she scrambled like a squirrel, her bare toes clinging to the rough bark. At the top of the wall she glanced once over her shoulder toward the closed storeroom door, then leaped down on the other side." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Freedom, brief and costly though it might be, was hers for a little while." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was laughing aloud as she plunged into the nearest alleyway and through the next street, in the direction of the marketplace." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Task: Story collab\nMe: Opening\nYou: five sentences more, Eloise Jarvis McGraw-style" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Three streets away, Mara was already dodging out of the passage beside the goldsmith's shop, and running like the desert antelope along the high, curving wall which bounded the palace grounds." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was but one thing to do; and somehow, through the wild disorder of her emotions, she'd had wit enough to see it and cling fast to it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was still spent from her storm of weeping, sore in body and mind from Sheftu's merciless handling of her, and shaken in every nerve by the audacious—but no less passionate—kiss which had saved her life. Sheftu was lost to her beyond recall, but hardest to bear was the ironic twist that this time she was innocent—the ship's raid was none of her doing. It was Sahure he'd caught in his gold-baited trap. But he'd refused to believe it, and thereby laid himself and the revolution open to the liveliest danger.\n\nMara alone, though stunned by the abruptness of her own undoing, recognized the extent of that danger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She alone knew that Nahereh knew about the Inn of the Falcon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She alone could guess that in his rage at finding nothing on the ship he might abandon all subtler tactics and storm the tavern, seizing everyone in it and trusting to later luck to find the leader. Ai, but he would already have the leader! The moment he set eyes on Sashai, the scribe, he would recognize Lord Sheftu and all would be over.\n\nThere was but one thing to do—find Nahereh, learn his plans, and then, if necessary, slip away from him somehow and carry a warning to the inn. On trembling legs Mara was speeding to do it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The North Gate loomed ahead—Reshed's gate. Mara clutched her ring, praying its charm would work once more, though Amon knew it had brought her anything but luck the last two days. She had not seen Reshed for four nights now, having lately used the Main Gate and the password of her master's name for her passage in and out of the palace grounds. She knew not what temper Reshed would be in, but she had to try him. She might need desperately to get out again, later, and by that time the use of Nahereh's name might be suicidal." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Breathless, she halted before the gate, tried in vain to quiet her pounding heart, and finally rapped three times. Reshed recognized the signal; she could hear the faint, sharp clatter of his sword as he made a startled move. An instant later the gate swung open—just far enough for his body to block the entrance.\n\n\"You!\" he growled.\n\n\"Aye... Reshed, I'm in haste, please let me in.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What are you doing out, that's what I want to know! I've seen naught of you tonight, not for four nights running!\"\n\n\"Why, today I went out much earlier, with my princess—at another gate. And before that—ah, Reshed, I've wanted to come, if only to linger a moment with you and then go back again! But I could never get away from her, not even for a minute.\"\n\n\"Aye, very likely! More likely, you've found some other simpleton to dry your tears, and let you in and out whenever you crook a finger at him!\" Reshed reached out furiously and jerked her closer. \"Who is it? That swell-headed sergeant at the Main Gate?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Nay, it isn't, it isn't, I've done no such thing! Oh, mother of truth, let me in, I can't stand here arguing! I'm in haste, I tell you. My brother's dying and I must get help—\"\n\nShe twisted violently in his grasp but only succeeded in reversing their positions, so that it was she who stood with her back to the gate, which hung tantalizingly ajar. He still held her arm fast.\n\n\"You never had a brother,\" he said bitterly. \"I don't know whom you meet, outside there, but I'll stake my sword he's no sick kinsman! Aye, I've caught on to your game, you little witch, though I've been cursed slow about it. You've made a fool of me, letting me risk my post here night after night so you could—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Reshed, I beg you! I swear by my ka—\" Tears of despair choked off the words and changed to sobs of fury. She began to fight him like a wildcat, kicking, clawing, beating at him, spitting out her rage. \"Let go of me, you stupid clod! I've done naught to you, you've got your cursed post still, haven't you? Let me go, you devil!\" Suddenly she froze, staring just beyond his shoulder. \"Great Amon! Your captain...\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He spun around, and for just that instant his fingers loosened. An instant was all Mara needed. In a flash she had wrenched away and darted through the gate, up the Avenue of Rams, and into the Court of the Weavers, leaving him cursing bitterly behind her.\n\nLet him curse, she thought as she sped silently along the graveled paths. He can't leave his gate without raising an alarm, and if he does that he'll lose his precious post and maybe his head for his part in this affair..." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But, oh, Amon, now how was she to get out of the grounds again in case she had to?\n\nShe slowed, almost halted, in an agony of hesitation. Should she go back, try to make amends, try to— Nay, the thing was done now, there was no undoing it. Sick with apprehension, she darted on.\n\nShe reached the great Court of Storerooms, some distance beyond the stair she ordinarily climbed to the upper corridor and her own chambers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There she stopped, leaned panting against the rough-plastered wall, and tried to picture in her mind the plan of the palace Nahereh had showed her. The little study he had told her of was near this courtyard, she was sure of that. But which passage? That one, to the right. Aye, it must be, for the other led only to the guardroom; it was the one she and Inanni had walked down that day toward the audience with the queen. How long ago that seemed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She moved quickly into the passage to the right, turned right again into a dimly lighted hall, and counted the doors as she passed them. One, two, three—four. It was that one. Without allowing herself to pause or even wonder what would happen next, she opened the door, slipped through into a torchlit, crowded room, and closed the door behind her.\n\nLord Nahereh turned from a group of excited soldiers and rivermen, and stared at her.\n\n\"You!\" he burst out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mara leaned back against the door, feeling all at once spent and weary." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everyone, she thought sardonically, seems overjoyed to see me tonight...." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, I!\" she said. \"I crave your protection, master! The rebels suspect me.\"\n\n\"Do they! By my ka, Amon is good, sending you here at this moment. It has saved my Libyan the trouble of finding you.\" Slowly he eased down upon the table behind him, folded his arms, and studied her, a faint, chill smile touching the corners of his mouth. \"Chadzar,\" he murmured. \"Send these men away, we need them no longer.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Libyan jerked his head at the soldiers and rivermen—crewmen from the Friend of the Wind, Mara guessed—and herded them out through another door. There was still one other person in the room—a quiet figure hunched in the shadows of one corner; but Mara did not move her eyes to see who it was. As the Libyan sauntered back to his post, Lord Nahereh spoke again, his voice dripping sarcasm.\n\n\"So the rebels suspect you. How unkind of them, to repay your friendship with cruel distrust.\"\n\n\"Friendship? I've pretended friendship, master. Did you not send me there to spy on them, learn their secrets—\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Aye, quite right, I did. But you were so—tardy—in reporting any of those secrets that this afternoon I decided to set a spy on you, my Clever One. Only a formality, you understand. To my surprise, the man I picked seemed to be an old friend of yours already.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Indeed,\" murmured Mara.\n\nLord Nahereh turned his head. \"You, there! Show yourself.\"\n\nEven before she saw him, Mara knew who was gliding out of his shadowy corner. Sahure looked oddly incomplete without his golden balls, but his twisted, cynical smile was the same as ever, his tongue as oily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Live forever, Face of the Lily! May thy ka rejoice, may thy—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ast! You son of forty devils!\"\n\n\"Shocking!\" murmured Lord Nahereh. \"Is that any way to greet a friend?\"\n\n\"He's no friend of mine! He's a rogue and a serpent, don't trust a word he says, master, he's as slippery as—\"\n\n\"Then you're two of a kind!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nahereh's pretense was finished now; his voice lashed like a whip. \"Why did you not tell me of that ship tonight?\"\n\n\"Because I knew it was a trap.\"\n\n\"By Amon! You'd still lie to me?\"\n\n\"Don't believe her, Excellency,\" put in Sahure." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She was there. She heard what I heard.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, I was there, you crocodile, but I had my wits about me, and you did not! The ship was empty, master, was it not? You found no gold aboard it, did you? Nay, you didn't! It was all a hoax, a snare set for me that I had the sense to stay away from. But this fool walked into it! Now they think I did it, and all I've tried to accomplish is wrecked—they'll not even let me in the tavern after this! In fact, I hear they've orders to kill me on sight—\"\n\n\"Ahhhhh,\" breathed Lord Nahereh with satisfaction. \"And just who told you that?\"\n\nMara bit her lip until she could taste the blood. \"An—an old man, who felt sorry for me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Indeed. Someone whose acquaintance you made during those other visits to the inn, no doubt. Those early visits—the ones before I sent you—the ones I knew nothing about until this juggler told me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gods of Egypt, I'm caught, thought Mara. I can't wriggle out of this one, there's no way out, no way out.... She parted stiff lips, but no words came rushing to her tongue from that mysterious reservoir of last-minute inspiration which had so often saved her. She stood paralyzed, wordless, and the silence drew out until it was far too long, far too late now to say anything at all, and she was lost. It was all over.\n\nLord Nahereh smiled icily and echoed her thoughts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The game's over, isn't it? Too bad. You must have enjoyed it while it lasted. Come now! Who was this 'old man' who warned you?\"\n\nThe silence went on.\n\n\"Excellency,\" murmured Sahure. \"I think perhaps it was a young man. One called Sashai. He would have warned her.\"\n\nA faint, bitter amusement touched the edges of Mara's mind. \"Not he!\" she muttered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nahereh ignored her, turning instead to the juggler." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It is sad indeed that I was not aware earlier of your possibilities. You would have been working for me long ago. Before those soldiers came in with their useless prisoners, you were beginning to tell me of those who come regularly to this inn. Suppose you continue. Sashai. 'The Scribe.' Who is this scribe?\"\n\n\"Excellency, no one knows. It is he who brings orders from the rebel leader—and no one knows him, either. It is said even Sashai has never seen him. But it is clear to all that our scribe is smitten with this Lily-Faced One here, this Flower of Loveliness....\" Sahure's world-weary, indifferent eyes rested a moment on Mara—faintly amused, detached—as they might have rested on a stranger, a carven image, a beetle which he had chanced to crush under his sandal. \"As for the others, there is a goldsmith—his name is Nefer—Ashor the innkeeper and his wife, a priest called Djedet, a riverman, Nekonkh, a baker, and several artisans....\"\n\nHe did it easily, casually, as if there were nothing here requiring thought or decision. He merely opened his mouth and named them off—her companions, her allies, all Sheftu's trusted followers; those who had laughed with her and counted her one of them, who ate Miphtahyah's stew or whispered with Sashai or played hounds and jackals night after night while they waited for orders—named them, and so murdered them, one by one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mara stood dry mouthed, sick, and numbing all over, gazing at last into the face of treachery, with which she had been flirting so long." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She could not wrench her eyes away from that unbelievable, sinuous figure with its twisted shoulder, its gestures of fluid grace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It seemed as if evil itself were loose in the room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Enough, enough,\" Nahereh was saying absently. \"We can net all those when we choose, like a school of fish. It is the scribe who interests me, this mysterious Sashai. There, juggler, is a fish who might be worth catching. In fact—I think we will cast our net... Chadzar!\"\n\n\"Aye, master.\"\n\n\"Call the soldiers back. There'll be another raid—tonight. At once. Stay, send me only their sergeant, I'll give my orders to him.\"\n\n\"What of her?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nahereh's cold eyes moved to Mara." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Later. I want plenty of time for that. Plenty of time. Send her to her chambers and post a guard by her door. Perhaps it had better be you... nay, I want you for this other. Put her under guard. Find a guard with a whip.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He smiled thinly at Mara." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We will meet again, Too-Clever One.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Come,\" muttered the Libyan." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moving like one in an ugly dream, Mara walked beside him through the other doorway, waited while he chose a burly soldier and growled instructions, went on again with her new guard through the halls, up the outside stair to the upper corridor, and at last into her own room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He left her there, standing motionless among the familiar gilded butterflies. A moment later she heard the bolt grate home, then the creak of wood as her jailor settled back against her door.\n\nIt was some moments before she became dimly aware of the sounds of movement and chatter from the next room. At first she resisted them vaguely, as one brushes away a buzzing fly. But in spite of herself the numbness began to wear away, the fog to clear from her mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was Inanni and the Syrian women she heard in there, talking calmly together as on any other evening, perhaps putting away their games and embroidery, yawning good night...." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was another door—the one opening onto the hall from that sitting room.\n\nNo use, she thought. It's but a step down the hall, the guard would see anyone who went in or out. He guards that one too, or might as well.\n\nWithout plan or any hope, she moved across her room and passed through the tapestry-hung door into the sitting room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had been right, the Syrians were in the act of dispersing to their sleeping chambers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A few of them paused to look at her in mild surprise; Inanni's face showed a flicker of swift anxiety." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mara! I thought you were... Is anything wrong?\"\n\n\"My princess,\" said Mara in a voice that sounded strange even to herself, \"could I—speak to you a moment?\"\n\n\"For as long as you like.\"\n\nInanni murmured something to Dashtar, waved all of her women out of the room, and hurried over to Mara. \"Sit you down. Your face is ashen. Shall I fetch water?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Nay—I'm all right—stay with me, please, my princess...\"\n\nGrasping blindly at Inanni's hand, Mara sank onto a couch and to her own bewilderment, burst into despairing tears.\n\n\"Mara! Oh, oh, oh, something terrible has happened, has it not? I felt it the moment you came in here.... There, now, you shall tell me about it in a moment, don't try yet, all's well, all's well....\"\n\n\"Oh, Amon, I've no time for weeping, I must stop this!\" Mara brushed the tears angrily from her face, only to be overcome with fresh ones." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Everything's tumbled about my ears, Princess, all's over, all's wrecked, smashed—Sheftu tried to kill me tonight. He couldn't do it—quite—but my master can and means to and will.... There's a guard outside my door now. And I must get out! I must warn them.\"\n\nAs coherently as she could, she told the story—the ship, the black moment in the alley, her flight from Nekonkh, then from Reshed—and the terrible scene she had just witnessed. \"Ai, Princess, that juggler is the Evil One himself! It was the way he did it—carelessly, without passion—as if lives are of no more value than onions, and naught means anything! Osiris! I knew not what evil thing I played with, I did not know it would be like this, I didn't understand!\"\n\n\"Mara, Mara...\" Inanni stroked her hair, trembling. \"Is there nothing you can do?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Nothing. I can't leave these rooms. Even if I could, I'd never get outside the gates. I'm snared fast as a bird in a net.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inanni stilled suddenly, then seized Mara's shoulders in both hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Wait. Mara, it's possible that—it may be that I can help you to get out.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You what? How? What—\"\n\n\"Hush, let me tell you. Do you remember Sherimi, the Syrian woman in the Court of the Weavers, the one I—\"\n\n\"You've been seeing her, I knew that.\"\n\n\"She has a family outside the gates, Mara, in the City of the Dead. Often she goes home to them each night, though if the work presses, here, she stays on until it slackens, and sleeps in a little room off the servants' wing. She is in the palace now, I talked with her this afternoon and she said she would sleep within the walls tonight. But if she were to change her mind, if she were to rise from her couch now and go home to her family outside the gates, taking a young Syrian maid with her...\"\n\nMara was on her feet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Ai, praise and thanksgiving be to— Quick, Princess! Find me Syrian clothes, all the scarves and shawls and thick skirts you can gather— Stay! Do you think—she'll do this for me?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She will do it for me, Mara,\" said Inanni softly. \"We have comforted each other, and it is as if I were her daughter, and she my own kin.\"\n\nMara stood for one silent moment, searching the simple, tranquil face and glimpsing a world which she had never known—a world of friends and kin, who shared bread and trouble alike, and comforted one another. \"And you would do it for me?\" she whispered.\n\n\"With all my heart. It is not much I do—\" Inanni started for her bedchamber, then hesitated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Suddenly she rushed back to seize Mara's hands, her plump face creased with anxiety." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But it is much, and more than much, that you do, Mara! Oh, think carefully! Once outside the walls you could go free.... They will kill you if you go to that inn, you said so yourself—\"\n\n\"I don't care! I don't care! Make haste, the clothes!\"\n\nInanni dropped her hands and flew to the door of her bedchamber." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "keep the story goin for like two sentences more. make it historical fiction, romance, Egypt-y and Eloise Jarvis McGraw-esque" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"General Khofra?\" panted Nekonkh.\n\n\"I am he. What is it, man?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I bring the signal. Lord Sheftu's orders—to be obeyed tonight, at once! He bids you rouse your soldiers. At the mark of four, exactly, they're to march on the palace. Overpower the sentries first, and leave enough archers at the gates to hold off the regulars should they try to bring aid. Then—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Stay a moment!\" burst out the general incredulously. \"Tonight? The revolution's to take place tonight?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"At the mark of four, no later! Harken— Once in the palace, you're to send a detachment to the king's apartments, while you storm the throne room. Take plenty of men for that. We think the room's full of regulars. You've just half an hour. Hasten!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You must be mad, my friend! I can't do it that fast!\"\n\n\"The gods willing, you can!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "bellowed Nekonkh. \"By Amon, you must! Lord Sheftu's walked into the lion's jaws, and he'll die like a trapped rat if we don't bring it off! He may anyway.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nekonkh jammed his wig down more firmly onto his head and reached for the door latch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What of the other factions?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "barked Khofra, who in spite of his protests was hurriedly buckling on his leather tunic. \"The priesthood, the nobles who've sworn loyalty, the common folk. Have they been roused?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That's where I'm going now, to rouse the nobles. I've comrades across the river doing the rest. By this time the queen's high priest has fallen, if all's gone well, and there'll be a procession out of the temple at dawn, followed by the populace. They'll do their parts, never fear. But without your seasoned troops—\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're far from seasoned, Captain!\" said the other grimly, seizing his helmet from a chair." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The thing's impossible, but by every god in Egypt, I'll do my best!\"\n\n\"Luck go with you!\" Nekonkh plunged out into the night again as Khofra vanished down the long hall of the barracks to rouse his soldiers." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Hey can you write like David Connor in the paranormal, romance, LGBT genre and use whatever I write as a jumping off point?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It was a dark and stormy night, October 27, 1863,\" our Civil War reenactor instructor said, peering out at us over his wire-rimmed glasses. \"If it wasn't then, it sure is now.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had a big smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everything about him was big, his shoulders and chest, the reddish bushy beard that covered most of his face, and his boots. Guy must have had size fourteen feet, at least." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The sky was angry, its noise as loud as artillery fire.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Right on cue—BOOM!—a clap of thunder rattled the casement windows set in concrete block all around us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I jumped. Loud noises weren't really my thing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We were down in the basement of a beautiful antebellum home that was now a museum." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Upstairs, according to the website I'd scoured, the furnishings were antiques, the walls covered in original brocade paper, the windows with silky drapes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Where we were stuck, everything was musty, gray, and dank.\n\n\"The Battle of Browns Ferry had one purpose,\" our leader continued." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Food. After the Confederate victory in Chickamauga left thousands of union soldiers trapped and starving in Chattanooga, General William S. Rosecrans telegraphed Lincoln with dire news, stating our hold here could not be assured.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't remember the instructor's name. I wanted to say Philip?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There were very few nighttime battles during The Civil War,\" he read from a hardcover text book eerily similar to one I'd used in high school more than a decade prior, \"but this was one of the more significant.\"\n\n\"Come do a reenactment with me,\" my brother-in-law, Rip, had said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It'll be fun,\" he'd told me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So far, it felt a lot like studying for a final." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I checked my phone for the football scores, Rip nudged me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What?\"\n\n\"Pay attention, Goose.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm listening,\" I said.\n\nTruthfully, I wasn't. Yeah." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could be immature sometimes. I'd giggled when Rip and I first drove under the sign that read Welcome to Cocke County." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's pronounced like the soda, you freak,\" he'd told me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Not the body part.\"\n\nI kind of thought we'd put on the uniforms, run around like kids, and yell \"Bang! Bang! Bang!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I pictured it being like a production of Hamilton, only with different costumes, setting, plot, and music I would make up in my head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had no idea so much effort was put into these things to make them accurate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We were learning about The Battle of Wauhatchie, which took place in Tennessee and Georgia." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "About thirty of us had gathered on the grand southern estate to relive those two days in history.\n\nAccording to that website I'd read over and over ahead of time, our lodgings had everything, from stunning architecture, to famous historic visitors, to secret tunnels, to ghosts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What it didn't have on the level we were stuck in, were enough bathrooms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were only three, which meant I'd have to fight ten or fifteen other guys at shower time in the morning, unless being accurate to the era meant we were going to go into battle stinky." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At almost thirty, I was too old for that frat house crap." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Jesus!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What?\" Rip whispered.\n\n\"The lightning.\" The entire room had turned blue for half-a-second, accenting a bunch of backpacks and several dozen sleeping bags." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wished more than ever I was in one of the comfy rooms upstairs, with air conditioning, a soft mattress, and drapes to shut, so I wouldn't have to see Mother Nature's light show." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We weren't allowed to sleep up there, though." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All sorts of rules applied that it was likely assumed we, as Neanderthals, would be incapable of following." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The house's management had little faith in us. Checking out some of the stains on some of the undershirts not quite covering some of the bellies around me, I could see their point." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At any rate, we were stuck in an annex at basement level, with bathroom amenities that looked as if they'd come from another period in history as well. I was guessing the 1970s." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You afraid of thunder?\" Rip asked me.\n\n\"No.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kind of." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The old home's exterior was white, with beautiful columns and terraces outside the upper and lower rooms. The wrought iron railings were sculptural and ornate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They'd captured my eye the moment Rip and I had driven up the long, winding driveway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I kept drawing them in the notebook I was supposed to be using for actual notes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I liked to draw." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Pay attention,\" Rip said to me again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I focused in once more on our speaker.\n\n\"Thirty-five of us will work to reopen a route to Chattanooga from Browns Ferry on the Tennessee River,\" Paul said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or was it Peter?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I checked my notebook to see if I had written his name down. \"And five of you will be the starving soldiers.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What do they do?\" I asked Patrick. According to my scrawling, his name was Patrick." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Just lie around, um, starving,\" he answered.\n\n\"Pretend starving, or are you telling us we don't get to eat? Is the food authentic? What did they eat in 1863?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, it's called the 'Cracker Line' operation, Mr. Tucker.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Call me Goose,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Okay, Goose. My point is, there will be crackers, for one thing.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Patrick smiled. \"Also, coffee, and tea…\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yum.\"\n\n\"Is this your first time with us, Goose?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yeah. That obvious, huh?\"\n\n\"It's fine. I like questions. I also like to keep things as authentic as possible. Just think, if going twenty-four hours without eating is hard, imagine what those soldiers must have felt like day after day. If you can come away from all of this with a sense of understanding and appreciation for the plight of these frightened, hungry, devoted, patriotic men, well, I'll have done my job. Is there anything else you'd like to know?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Damn. Suddenly, I felt pressured. \"Um…Nope. Proceed.\" I turned to Rip." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I should have packed more snacks. I wonder if there's a convenience store nearby.\"\n\n\"Why didn't you ask?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"After Pat said all that about appreciating the soldiers? I'd have come off as a pretty big jerk, don't you think?\"\n\n\"You said it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We can have beer, right?\"\n\n\"Shh!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Currently,\" Patrick explained, \"following previous battles not as successful as we might have liked, the confederates have occupied positions that require us Federals to bring in supplies from the Stevenson railroad. We must travel via wagon, up the Sequatchie Valley, and then south, over Walden Ridge, to the north bank of the river opposite Chattanooga to get rations where they are needed. The sixty-mile route is treacherous and winding. After rainy weather, this trek was taking our men over a week, and our animals were breaking down.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There's not a test after, is there?\" I muttered.\n\n\"Shut it!\" Rip scolded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When Patrick mentioned a man named \"Baldy Smith\" I chuckled. Rip sneered. I had a feeling he was already regretting his decision to include me, as much as I was regretting saying yes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rip and my sister had done so much for me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I owed them. This was step one in paying them back, except I was every bit as frustrating as a Civil War reenactment partner as I was as a depressed and isolating relative." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Baldy Smith,\" Patrick said again, \"has devised a way to open a shorter route via Kelly's and Browns ferries.\" Patrick pulled out a brittle, yellowed map we all had to gather closer to see." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The guy really knew his stuff." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"To do this, we must first drive the Confederates from Raccoon Mountain. With the approval of Major General Ulysses S. Grant, Hooker's force at Bridgeport will secretly move across here.\" He traced the route with a small wooden pointer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"One group will lead the advance along the line of the railroad south of the river toward Wauhatchie.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pointer showed that proposed journey as well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ours will cross northwest of Whiteside to join them. At Chattanooga, we will all drift downstream, past the enemy, to Browns Ferry, where we will secure the heights overlooking the site. We will have to fight off a small counterattack, but victory shall be ours.\"\n\nI was late in joining the rousing Hoorah!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hoorah!\" Better late than never, I figured.\n\n\"Another brigade will then cross at Browns' Ford's north bank,\" Patrick told us, \"and a pontoon bridge will be erected. On the morning of October 30, forty thousand rations and tons of forage will have arrived because of our efforts.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The Cracker line is open. Full rations, boys!\"\n\nOnce again, everyone else seemed rehearsed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The exclamation came in force, with me as an echo. \"…rations, boys!\"\n\n\"We'll all meet back up here at eleven,\" Patrick said, \"in full garb, to prepare to start the reenactment. In the meantime, feel free to roam the grounds.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The torrential rain pouring down challenged the notion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Or not. Maybe take the opportunity to relax and get to know one another before we start.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Patrick fixed his glasses. They were always crooked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There was downtime during war. The bond some of these men formed with one another is something else I hope we can replicate in the short time we have. Our mission will be grueling,\" he continued, \"but once again, keep in mind it's nothing compared to what these actual young men went through in real life. You'll all be leaving here alive.\"\n\nAnother loud crack of thunder had me airborne. \"Fuck!\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "As our compatriots dispersed, Rip was giving me stink eye." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're not taking this serious,\" he said.\n\n\"Seriously…\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What?\"\n\n\"I believe, seriously is the word you want. I'm not taking this seriously. You know History. I know English.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Jerk.\" Rip walked away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What? You're really mad?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He headed for the door in the rear of the basement and went out into the storm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm angry. Angry is an emotion. Mad is an affliction.\"\n\nOkay, so I wasn't the only grammar cop in the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You coming?\" Rip held the door for me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was pouring, but an awning overhead kept him dry. As lighting lit up the entire black Tennessee sky twice in a matter of seconds, I wondered if the overhang would do anything to protect us from that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I guess.\" I went out. \"I'll behave. Don't be angry.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rip and I had known one another since entering junior high as Richard and Max. \"Richard\" to \"Rip\" wasn't much of a stretch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don't even recall how it came to be. My last name, Tucker, prompted another classmate to call me \"Tuck,\" then \"Tuck, Tuck, Goose,\" and eventually, just \"Goose,\" which might as well have been on my driver's license by the time I'd turned twenty." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No one in my life, not family nor classmates, army buddies, nor lovers, called me anything else." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rip was family now. He and my sister would celebrate five years as husband and wife in December." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another friend of his had dropped out on the reenactment weekend late on Thursday." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was when Rip started begging me to come." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Playing pretend doesn't really sound like my idea of fun,\" I'd said, lying on the couch trying to concentrate on Gran Turismo on my PlayStation.\n\n\"You stare at that game twenty-four seven. It's exactly your thing,\" he'd argued." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yeah, but this is three fingers and a thumb. I'd have to put on pants and move my legs. It's a whole thing.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd been accused of being anti-social, a hermit. That was nonsense. I left the house daily." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I worked, as a cleaner at a big box store. I went in once everyone else was gone for the day and went home before any other human beings showed up to open the place." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I liked the quiet at night and didn't even mind the occasional rodent or insect. No field mouse or gray rat had ever been as mean or hurtful to me as some people I knew. No roach or wasp had been as dangerous." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Keep going w/ 2 sentences more" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy rifled through the resumes in the folder, looking for the one sent by the person waiting outside her office." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cramming for her exams had put her behind in her parish duties, including hiring a new music director to replace Maggie Fitzgerald." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The resume she'd been searching for turned up in the middle of the pile. Once she began to scan it, the essential details came back to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The candidate had graduated from the Yale School of Music with a concentration in voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd done a minor at the divinity school in sacred music." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On paper, she sounded perfect, but Tom had only ranked her number three of the top candidates." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What was that about? Lucy wondered.\n\nAfter working in the classical music world for years, she knew how to hunt down another singer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She started with the obvious. She Googled her. There were no hits for Denise Chantal, but there were a few for a countertenor by the name of Dennis Chantal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy's search got no further before Jodi, her admin, knocked on her door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mother Lucy, the candidate is here for the interview.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Jodi, you don't have to get up and come in. You could use the intercom on the phone.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know, but I read that sitting too long isn't supposed to be good for you.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Walking ten feet into my office isn't much exercise,\" replied Lucy dryly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jodi shrugged. \"Better than nothing.\"\n\nThe first thing Lucy noticed about the candidate was how tall she was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ms. Chantal wore a beautiful blue dress with a coordinating scarf and dressy flats." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Being tall, she probably didn't want to emphasize her height. When she extended her hand, Lucy noticed the size of her wrists." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Dennis-Denise discrepancy finally made sense.\n\n\"Thank you so much for taking the time to see me, Rev. Bartlett.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The voice was feminine and perfectly modulated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy gestured to a visitors' chair. \"Thank you for coming in today. I apologize for not reading your resume more carefully. I'm hoping our conversation can fill in the gaps.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm sure you've been inundated with applications. No one can get any work with all the concert halls and opera houses shut down. You must have gotten millions of resumes.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy smiled at the exaggeration." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hundreds. We're not paying that much for the position.\"\n\n\"Any paying job is better than no work at all.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Of course, it is. Those lean times can be frightening. I used to be in the arts myself.\"\n\n\"I know. You are the great soprano, Lucille Bartlett. I'm one of your biggest fans.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy studied Ms. Chantal's face to evaluate the remark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She never minded sincere praise, but she hated flattery." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Nowadays, I only sing in church, for my friends, and occasionally, for charity.\"\n\n\"Such a shame your career ended so early. I have every one of your recordings. In fact, you're the main reason I applied.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So, you're not serious about the position?\"\n\n\"Of course, I'm serious. I am absolutely serious. But working for you would be such an honor.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You would be working with me, not for me. And I don't have the last word on hiring. The vestry makes personnel decisions based on my recommendations and those of Rev. Simmons. You'll need to come back for another interview if we decide you are among the final candidates. Do you understand?\"\n\n\"Yes, Rev. Bartlett. Perfectly clear.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Good. Now, from what I gather from your resume, you've had excellent vocal training. We have several fine organists in the congregation, but could you play the organ if necessary?\"\n\n\"I've been trained to play keyboard music. I admit I'm a little rusty on organ pedals and the stops, but I could brush up.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"St. Margaret's has an historic organ, built in the early 1900s. The sound is magnificent.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I look forward to playing it.\"\n\n\"Is this your first time at St. Margaret's?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Denise made a sad face. \"Unfortunately, your church has been closed since I came back to Maine.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"A great hardship to us all, but we'll be opening the outdoor chapel soon. Are you a Mainer?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, I was born and raised in Thomaston, but I haven't been back since I left for college. I was in Munich when the pandemic hit and felt lucky to get home. My friend had a cheap winter rental in Webhanet, which is how I landed here.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy picked up the resume and scanned it again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I see you've had some training in choral direction. For obvious reasons, that's very important in this role.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I love to sing in a choir but also to conduct.\"\n\n\"You don't mind that you won't sing solo very often?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Actually, I'd be reluctant to sing solo. I'm trying to retrain my voice.\"\n\n\"From countertenor?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes.\" She eyed Lucy cautiously. \"So, you did research me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Very briefly. Only to see if you'd been successful in your singing career.\"\n\n\"I was getting there.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"As you probably know, it's against state law to ask questions regarding gender identity or sexual preference in a job interview. That said, I'll listen sympathetically to anything you'd like to tell me. It won't leave this room unless you give me permission to share it.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're a priest, so I suppose I can trust you,\" the woman said, but a shadow of concern passed in her eyes. \"How did you guess I'm trans?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Without the hint from researching you, I probably wouldn't have figured it out. Tell me how a promising countertenor makes the choice you did.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the woman searched her face, Lucy saw the exact moment when she decided it was worth the risk. \"I was getting plenty of gigs—concerts, here and in Europe. I was invited to do a number of recordings. After I made my debut at the summer festival in Aix, I joined the Munich opera. I'd known for years that I was living in the wrong body, but the gender dysmorphia kept getting worse until I had to do something about it. I didn't realize it would end my singing career.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Because of the prejudice?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Denise smiled sadly. \"No, because of the competition. A talented countertenor is in higher demand than a mediocre female alto.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's a high price to pay.\"\n\n\"It is, and when I have my bottom surgery, it's irreversible. I'll be a castrati like the famed singers of the Renaissance. Well, not really. They were castrated before they matured.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy folded her hands in her lap and studied the young woman." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you for being candid, Ms. Chantal. I can imagine it's been difficult for you to find work.\"\n\n\"Please call me Denise, and it's easy to be honest with you, Rev. Bartlett. For one thing, you're so kind. For another, you're a singer, and you know what I'm talking about. Hardly anyone else does. My friends think I'm crazy. Many of them can't get any work, and here I am blowing my career to become a woman.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You say you're retraining?\"\n\n\"Once I have the body of a woman, I want to become a true alto. Except I can barely afford the rent, never mind a voice teacher.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Will you sing for me now?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What?\" Denise flushed. \"I didn't prepare anything. I didn't expect to audition for this role.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It's nothing formal. I just want to hear your voice to see if I have any suggestions.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Denise stared at the floor and swallowed hard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy realized she was trying to hide tears." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm sorry. You don't need to sing if it makes you uncomfortable.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, it's not that. I'm moved that you would care enough to try to help me.\"\n\n\"I'm a priest. It's my job to help people,\" Lucy said, smiling to lighten the atmosphere." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Denise gave her a firm look. \"It's not your job to rehabilitate trans countertenors.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, but as one singer to another, I will say, never give up singing. I almost did, and I've always regretted it because I nearly wrecked my voice. And even though I no longer sing on the stage, I sing because God gave me this gift and wants me to use it.\"\n\n\"It is a gift from God,\" Denise agreed. \"Your voice, especially.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Won't you sing for me? Just a few bars?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"As a countertenor?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Lead with your strength,\" said Lucy, sitting back to show she was ready to listen.\n\n\"I don't have any accompaniment.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No problem. I subscribe to a service. What would you like to sing?\"\n\n\"Vivaldi's 'Vedro con mio diletto.'\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy found the accompaniment on her phone and turned up her speaker to high. Denise stood and Lucy could see she had excellent posture for a singer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The introduction played through, but Denise didn't sing on cue. \"Again?\" asked Lucy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The woman nodded, so Lucy restarted the track. This time a sublime tone, perfectly in the high register and exquisitely pure came from Denise's throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The magnificent but eerie sound gave Lucy chills. When the piece concluded, she didn't know what to say, so she merely applauded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you,\" Denise said, tapping her clasped hands over her heart.\n\n\"You are truly gifted.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"From you, that is the highest praise.\"\n\n\"Will you sing something using your chest voice in the alto range?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Can you stand to hear it?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy smiled warmly. \"Believe me when I say, I've heard everything.\"\n\n\"I bet you have.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Denise chose Bach's cantata \"Vergnügte Ruh.\" Lucy listened carefully. She could hear the effort Denise was making to keep her chest voice on key, but she kept smiling to encourage her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When Denise finished, Lucy said, \"I could hear you cheating and slipping back into your head voice, but it was beautiful and very brave.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you, Rev. Bartlett,\" said Denise, sinking down in her chair. She looked so defeated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You're being kind. I really struggle in the lower register.\"\n\n\"I can hear it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know. It's so discouraging.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't be discouraged. Just keep working on it. Maybe I can give you some pointers.\"\n\n\"You would do that?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Denise studied her face. \"I think you might be willing to give me a shot. Am I right?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy gave herself a moment to consider what to say. \"I admit that I haven't studied all the resumes as carefully as I could, but yours is impressive. Your talents would be a wonderful addition to our music program, especially with your background in sacred music. I love the old hymns, don't get me wrong, but we have a sophisticated congregation here in Hobbs.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy wouldn't mind introducing more serious music into the liturgy, but that turned worshipers into an audience. She hadn't yet figured out what to do about that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy knew she'd been lost in her own thoughts too long when Denise asked, \"What can I do to convince you, Rev. Bartlett?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm convinced. But you need to convince the vestry.\"\n\n\"Forgot about them.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy laughed. \"I never do, and they never let me. I'll recommend that they call you for an interview. I won't say a word about your gender status. You can tell them if you want to. Do you have any questions?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Denise looked at Lucy for a long time before blurting out, \"Do you have health insurance?\"\n\nLucy was startled by the direct question." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We do, but it's not the greatest. Are you worried about having your surgery covered?\"\n\n\"No, I've already saved up for that. I just want to make sure this job has benefits. I know you're not supposed to ask that question on a first interview, but I'm desperate.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We do have benefits. They're pretty basic, but we do take care of our people.\" Lucy rose and extended her hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We'll be calling candidates back next week. Are you available?\"\n\n\"I'll make sure to be available!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Denise jumped up from her seat. \"Oh, thank you, Rev. Bartlett! I wish I could hug you. Don't worry. I've had my shots.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm a hugger too, but let's wait. Okay?\" Denise looked disappointed, so Lucy added, \"It's good to be cautious until we know it's safe.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After Denise left, Lucy leaned against the door and wondered what she'd gotten herself into. When she returned to her desk, she picked up her phone and called Liz." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Lucy! To what do I owe the pleasure?\" said the cheerful voice on the other end of the line." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "u know Elena Graf? write like that. six sentences sentences. LGBT, lesbian, romance, older protagonist, post-covid stuff." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Courtney had barely managed to hide her panic when Melissa had invited her to a church service. Since her mother had joined a Pentecostal church and was \"born again,\" the idea of attending a church service completely turned her off.\n\nBefore her conversion, her mother was an ordinary, decent woman who called herself a Methodist and volunteered at the food pantry. Afterwards, she watched nothing but Fox News and railed against \"libruls.\" If her mother's church friends knew Courtney was seeing a woman, they might even picket her house. That is, if they knew where she lived, but she hadn't said a word to her mother about going back to school, the divorce, or moving to Maine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her relationship with her mother had become so toxic she'd been tempted to cut her off completely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She still telephoned her mother on her birthday, Mother's Day, and holidays. Despite turning into a raging religious fanatic, she was still her mother.\n\nOf course, it was too early to say Courtney was \"seeing\" Melissa. Two hurried meetings in public places and a takeout pizza could hardly be called \"dates.\" Courtney kept reminding herself to be cautious. She was now the assistant principal in a small town." }, { "from": "human", "value": "People could have funny ideas about LBGTQ people, no matter how many rainbow flags flew outside Hobbs' tourist establishments." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She really needed this job now that Doug was God knows where. Until she felt more secure in her role and got to know the townspeople better, she'd better keep a low profile.\n\nCourtney opened the door partway and called into the bathroom, \"Are you almost finished in there?\" Clouds of steam billowed out. A fine mist of vapor frosted the mirror over the sink. \"How about leaving some hot water for your mother?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The faucet cut off with a loud thump." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In response, the pipes vibrated in the walls like a backup percussion section. The place was built like a tin can.\n\n\"I'm done, Mom. You can have all the hot water you want.\" It sounded generous, but it would take at least fifteen minutes for the heater to come up to temperature again.\n\nCourtney wasn't about to waste time arguing. As teen, she'd been equally guilty of hogging the bathroom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What was it about teenagers and bathrooms?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Preening for dates didn't completely explain it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe it was the solitude. The shower was a safe space to be naked without someone laughing at your flat chest or the zits on your butt. Despite reaching back to her own adolescence to find compassion, Courtney was glad she'd chosen elementary rather than secondary education. Younger children were so much easier to figure out. Teenagers couldn't even figure out themselves.\n\nKaylee walked by in her bathrobe with her hair wrapped in a towel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can't believe you're making us go to church. I thought you hated church because of Grandma.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't hate church. I just hate fake Christians who judge everyone.\"\n\n\"But aren't you judging them?\" asked Kaylee, hands on hips, mocking her mother's stern expression.\n\nHer mother opened her mouth to speak before realizing that Kaylee was right. She was judging them. That kid was way too smart for her own good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Too bad Hobbs didn't have a gifted and talented program, but that was too much to ask of a small school district." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're intolerant,\" protested Courtney. \"Being tolerant doesn't mean I have to tolerate intolerance.\"\n\nKaylee gave her an indulgent smile as if she were the parent and Courtney the bratty adolescent. \"Who says you do?\" Kaylee said, cocking her head. She headed to her room and closed the door more forcefully than necessary." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Courtney stared down the hall, wondering how long this period of her daughter's development would last." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While Courtney waited for the water heater to come up to temperature, she reviewed the possible selections to wear. She eliminated the dress with the super-short hemline as inappropriate for church and certainly not the best choice to meet someone's family. Courtney wanted Melissa's mother to think she was a respectable woman. Besides Melissa's family, half of Hobbs would be attending this event, which meant seeing her students and their parents.\n\nKaylee came into the bathroom while Courtney was putting on her makeup. She surveyed her daughter out of the corner of her eye." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Put on real shoes. You're not wearing flip-flops to church.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Mom!\"\n\n\"You heard me.\"\n\nKaylee returned wearing neon-colored running shoes that clashed with her top and skirt. \"Come on, Kaylee. Give your mother a break.\" Kaylee rolled her eyes and sighed but returned wearing violet flats that more or less coordinated with her outfit. \"Thank you,\" murmured Courtney, grateful that her daughter was mostly cooperative." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At Kaylee's age, Courtney had given her mother hell.\n\nCourtney knew she'd come to the right place when she saw the white, red, and pale blue flag flying below the Stars and Stripes. Below the Episcopal flag flew the rainbow pride flag. Well, that's different, thought Courtney. She stopped to read the sign:\n\nSt. Mary's by the Sea" }, { "from": "human", "value": "A Welcoming and Affirming Episcopal Church" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rev. Lucille Bartlett, Rector\n\nRev. Dr. Thomas Simmons, Associate Rector.\n\n\"Is this going to be long?\" Kaylee asked, slouching her way along the gravel path to the outdoor chapel.\n\n\"I don't really know. I've never been to an Episcopal service before.\" Courtney patted her daughter's back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Stand up straight, honey. You'll get round shouldered.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As she said it, Courtney remembered her own mother saying the same thing when she was an adolescent. Kaylee gave Courtney an angry side eye, but she adjusted her posture.\n\nPeople were already seated six feet apart on the park benches that served as outdoor pews. Other people sat in sling chairs and beach chairs. No one had said anything about bringing a chair, but, like most people in Hobbs, Courtney kept folding chairs in the back of her car for impromptu visits to the beach. She was wondering if she should go back to get them when she noticed Melissa waving to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was the tallest woman in sight, but beside her was a woman nearly as tall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had the same dark, curly hair and closely resembled Melissa. Courtney surmised she must be her sister, the guest preacher.\n\nCourtney approached, feeling the eyes of the women with Melissa giving her careful scrutiny, the older woman particularly. Courtney knew exactly what to do in this kind of situation. She smiled broadly and said, \"Hi, I'm Courtney Barnes. And this is my daughter, Kaylee.\" She nudged Kaylee forward like an offering to angry goddesses." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Few women can turn away an attractive child." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melissa's sister, who was wearing a dark suit but no other sign that she was clergy, extended her hand. \"Hi, I'm Rebecca Morgenstern. We've heard so much about you,\" she said with a glowing smile. \"And this is my mother, Ruth, my wife, Judith, and our daughters, Naomi and Sarah.\"\n\n\"Leave it to my bossy sister to take over the introductions,\" Melissa said, moving in protectively. \"Can you tell she's the oldest?\"\n\n\"Well, technically, I'm the older, since there are only two of us.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And the grammarian,\" said Melissa, rolling her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Despite the competitiveness, Courtney sensed that the two sisters were fond of one another, and Rebecca's close resemblance to her sister made Courtney instantly like her. She felt herself relaxing by degrees.\n\nOnce the Morgenstern women had satisfied their curiosity about the newcomer, they returned to their earlier conversation. Kaylee was busy getting to know Rebecca's daughters. Now that no one was watching, Courtney dared to reach for Melissa's hand and give it a squeeze. \"Thanks for inviting me,\" she whispered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melissa responded with a warm smile. \"Thanks for coming. Not everyone would accept a date to a church service.\"\n\n\"I almost didn't.\"\n\n\"Oh?\"\n\n\"There's history.\"\n\n\"You'll have to tell me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I will sometime, but not here. It's a long story.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Okay. I look forward to hearing it another time because that means I'll see you again.\" Melissa took Courtney's arm. \"Why don't we take a look at the ocean?\"\n\n\"But Kaylee…\"\n\n\"Don't worry. My sister-in-law will keep an eye on her. She's a teacher too. She watches all kids like a hawk.\" She lowered her voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I need to speak to you privately.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That sounded ominous. Courtney's eyes widened. \"Don't worry. I just want to ask you something without all their ears cocked in our direction.\"\n\nThey stood at the seawall, but instead of looking at the ocean below, Courtney kept her eyes carefully trained on Kaylee. There was no need, of course. Kaylee looked perfectly happy chatting with Melissa's nieces, and Melissa's sister-in-law was indeed watching them all like a hawk.\n\n\"I apologize. I hadn't expected that to be so awkward,\" said Melissa." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"As you saw, my sister takes over. She can be intimidating.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"She comes on pretty strong, but she has a kind face, and she's almost as pretty as her sister.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The compliment made Melissa smile. \"You always look at the bright side, don't you? I like that about you. I know we've just met, but will you come to dinner tonight? My sister doesn't visit often, and I'd like you to get to know my family.\"\n\nCourtney's caution brakes slammed on, and she backed up a step. She didn't want to discourage Melissa by saying it was too soon for that. Instead, she said, \"I don't want to intrude.\"\n\n\"Impossible. Dad used to invite strangers off the beach. Mom didn't always like that, but she welcomed them. She became so used to him bringing home new people she's forgotten how to make friends on her own.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That's sad. So many widows are lost without their husbands.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She's lost all right,\" Melissa said, gazing in her mother's direction. \"Please say you'll come. Judith grew up in Israel, and she's making a Middle Eastern feast called a Meze. It has falafel, and hummus, stuffed grape leaves, tabouli, and all kinds of tasty things. I'm sure Kaylee will find it educational.\"\n\nCourtney admired Melissa's cleverness. Obviously, she knew an educator couldn't resist that argument. She looked over to where her daughter stood laughing with the twins. \"She seems to be having a good time with your nieces. She hasn't had a chance to make many friends in Hobbs.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melissa reached for her hand. \"Please say you'll come for dinner.\" Her blue eyes were mesmerizing.\n\n\"Hello, Courtney.\" Courtney dropped Melissa's hand like it was on fire and spun around. She was relieved to see Lucy Bartlett standing behind her. The green vestments she wore fluttered in the gentle breeze from the ocean." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her red hair was pinned up in two circular braids at the back of her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She smiled at Melissa. \"I'm glad your sister talked you into coming today.\"\n\nMelissa laughed. \"You think I could get away with not coming?\"\n\n\"You're wearing your Princess-Leia hairstyle today,\" said another voice, approaching from behind. \"Are you expecting an attack by the Empire?\" Liz Stolz, looking elegant in a navy pants suit, nodded greetings to Melissa and Courtney before bending to touch her cheek to the priest's." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good morning, Lucy. Are you expecting an attack by the Empire?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, but just in case, I've called in reinforcements from the Republic. Melissa's sister is giving the sermon this morning.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dr. Stolz smiled in Melissa's direction. \"I look forward to hearing her preach.\" She nodded to Courtney and Melissa in turn. \"Thanks for supporting our Mother Lucy. She needs all the support she can get.\"\n\n\"Stop, Liz,\" said Rev. Bartlett, lightly elbowing her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They don't know you're kidding.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She patted Courtney's arm and turned to Melissa. \"Great to see you, both.\"\n\nCourtney's eyes followed the two women as they walked away, noting the doctor's hand at the small of Rev. Bartlett's back.\n\n\"Do you see what I see?\" Melissa said, watching too.\n\n\"I sure do. They're in love.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Crazy in love,\" said Melissa, scrutinizing them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She glanced back to where her family was sitting. \"I see my sister putting on her tallit. They're getting ready to start the service. We should get back to our seats.\"\n\nA recorder began to play. A procession led by Rabbi Morgenstern came down the center aisle. \"That's different, letting a guest preacher lead in her church,\" whispered Melissa near Courtney's ear. \"That Rev. Bartlett is quite an iconoclast. No wonder Becca loves her. Birds of a feather…\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bringing up the rear of the procession was a tall, elegantly dressed young woman leading the hymn. Melissa nudged Courtney with her elbow and showed her a paper with the words for the hymn. \"We can share,\" Melissa said. \"I like to sing. It doesn't matter what.\"\n\nAfter the hymn, Rev. Bartlett addressed the congregation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good morning and welcome to our outdoor chapel on this gorgeous second Sunday after Pentecost. St. Mary's by the Sea is privileged to welcome two special guests. To celebrate Pride Month, we are offering special prayers for the LGBTQ community which, despite great strides in legal rights and acceptance, remains under siege. God created every one of us in their image. Diversity is God's imagination on display. This morning, my dear friend, Rabbi Rebecca Morgenstern, of Temple Beth Shalom in New York will give the sermon. Rabbi Morgenstern is a tireless advocate for LGBTQ youth. Our other special guest is Denise Chantal, who is a candidate for music director of our parish. Before we begin today's liturgy, Ms. Chantal will sing something to inspire us on this beautiful, summer morning.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rev. Bartlett took a seat next to Melissa's sister. She reached for her hand, and they exchanged a warm smile. There were a few coughs and sneezes as the congregation waited, but otherwise, the only sound was the waves crashing on the rocks below. The extraordinarily tall woman stepped to the center of the flagstone patio in front of the altar. She folded her hands in the traditional singing position and smiled in Rev. Bartlett's direction. The priest took out her phone and made a few taps." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pre-recorded music flowed through the speakers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After an anxious smile toward Mother Lucy, the singer began. The pure sound that came from the woman's throat sounded almost otherworldly. It was sublimely beautiful, but oddly androgynous.\n\nMelissa leaned over and whispered into Courtney's ear, \"Is that a trans woman?\"\n\nCourtney had never met a trans woman before, so she couldn't say. She corrected herself. At least, she didn't know she'd met any." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She studied the singer more carefully." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 3 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Apart from her height, she looked as feminine as any woman, even more so than some. Courtney glanced around at the others in the congregation and saw that everyone was as fascinated as she was. They were hanging on every note." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "im ur writing buddy. i set scene, u do 4 sentences like Elena Graf" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I thought Denise did a wonderful job of leading the music at Sunday's worship. Does anyone disagree?\" Lucy looked down the conference table at the long faces. The vestry members stared at the tabletop, their hands, their phones, anything but their rector. Lucy glanced across the table for a sign of support from Tom, but he wouldn't even give her eye contact." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well? Someone say something!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She stared at Tom until he raised his eyes.\n\n\"Lucy, we all agree that Denise is exceptionally well qualified and very talented.\"\n\n\"But?\" Lucy demanded. She glanced at Olivia, hoping to find some support, but Olivia suddenly found her pen enthralling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Legally, we can't discuss it,\" said Abbie, the senior warden." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"In our state, we can't discriminate on the basis of gender or sexual identity.\"\n\n\"That's right,\" said Lucy, trying to keep the impatience out of her voice. Tom was staring at her, looking worried. He was the only one in the room who had ever seen her in a full-blown temper." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She smiled to reassure him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"And there's a good reason for that law,\" she said, still holding Tom's gaze. \"People have crazy ideas about trans people. They worry about them in bathrooms. I'm gay. Do you worry about me being in the ladies' room with your daughters?\"\n\nThat got their attention. Suddenly, everyone was looking at her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Lucy, we know you're a woman,\" said Olivia." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"For goodness' sake, you're a priest!\"\n\n\"Look at the Roman Catholics to see how that protected them.\"\n\nOlivia's face, usually so controlled, showed her frustration. \"Lucy, we all know you to be an upstanding, moral person. That's why we trust you with our children.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"So we distrust someone simply because she's trans? Why can't we give her the benefit of the doubt?\"\n\nAbbie stared at her. She was the only person besides Tom and Olivia who would dare to confront her in a vestry meeting. \"Mother Lucy, it sounds like you want to hire Denise because she's trans. To prove a point.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, I want to hire her because she's the most qualified. No one even comes close.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy looked around at the frowning faces." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Let's be honest. The only reason we haven't already offered her the job is she's trans. I'm leaving for New York tomorrow, and this needs to be settled. We said we would get back to these people last week.\"\n\n\"Mother Lucy,\" began Jim Duggins, the verger, \"we are a welcoming parish. We turn no one away. When you came out, we all supported you. Why do we have to keep proving how tolerant we are?\"\n\n\"We're not trying to prove anything,\" Lucy said. \"It's about hiring the most qualified candidate, and not turning her down because we don't understand her gender choice.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Gender is not a choice,\" said Pete Cote, the oldest member of the vestry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"God makes us male or female. It says so in Genesis.\"\n\n\"It's not that simple, Pete,\" Olivia said quietly. Lucy was pleased to hear the patience in her voice, even though it was a little forced. Not long ago, Olivia would have run over the man to assert her opinion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I hope she doesn't expect us to pay for her treatments,\" said Abbie, folding her arms under her significant breasts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In a former life, she had run a large division of a major corporation. Like any good company woman, she was always scanning for risks that threatened the bottom line. \"I've heard that surgery can be very expensive, which will make our premiums go up. We can barely afford them now.\"\n\n\"That's my fault,\" said Lucy, \"I was on Erika's insurance while she was alive. Now, I'm back on the church's plan.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Olivia shot a disapproving look in Abbie's direction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Lucy, don't blame yourself for losing your health insurance because your spouse died. Denise assured me that she will cover all the costs directly related to her transition with her own funds. She expects nothing from us other than the same basic coverage all church employees get.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tom looked sheepish. \"Lucy, you are the rector, but it is the duty of the vestry to hire staff.\"\n\n\"Yes, and I would never try to force a decision on you.\" Lucy sighed in resignation, certain she'd already lost the argument. \"I have my own reservations.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Will you share them?\" Olivia asked.\n\n\"There are many conservative people in our parish. They've barely gotten used to me being gay. Maybe asking them to accept a trans music director is a bridge too far. But I feel it would be an injustice to turn away the most qualified candidate for the sake of keeping the peace.\"\n\n\"People had nothing but good things to say about Denise's performance at the outdoor worship service,\" Olivia said. \"She is exceptionally good at passing. Maybe some people won't perceive that she's not a genetic female.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But if it gets out, it could precipitate a crisis in the parish, which could be worse,\" Abbie said in a practical voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"People might accuse us of trying to hide something.\"\n\n\"Certainly, we're not going to make a grand announcement,\" countered Olivia. \"Oh, by the way, we've hired a trans music director…No, it has to be her choice to come out as trans, but if we decide to hire her, we must all agree that we will support her. And we can't deny that we knew.\"\n\n\"I suggest we take a vote,\" said Tom." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"All those who support the candidacy of Denise Chantal, please raise your hands.\"\n\nLucy raised her hand and saw that five of the seven members of the vestry were in favor. Tom and Pete were opposed.\n\n\"The ayes have it,\" said Tom." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"We will offer the position to Ms. Chantal. Now, we should discuss how to handle the fallout from the decision.\"\n\nLucy patiently listened to the debate before weighing in. \"It's not our business to tell anyone about Denise's gender status. But I agree with Olivia, we must be unified in our support of her when it comes out, and we know it will. Is there anyone in this group who cannot agree to this?\" She looked up and down the table." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everyone was shaking their heads." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Let me state it more positively. Can I have a show of hands to pledge support for Denise?\"\n\nThis time, they all raised their hands.\n\n\"Thank you,\" said Lucy. \"Abbie, I'll leave it to you to draft a letter offering the position. In my absence, Father Tom can sign it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "After the meeting, Lucy gathered her papers into her bag." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Although she was exhausted, she was pleased with the result and relieved the meeting was over. She'd been through some tough vestry meetings at St. Margaret's, but this counted as the worst.\n\nAs she turned to head to the door, she noticed Tom waiting for her.\n\n\"I want you to know that even though I voted against Denise,\" he said, \"I think she will be a good music director.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy searched his face for clues to why he felt it necessary to make such a statement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So, why did you vote against her?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tom let out a long sigh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I wish I knew, but I can't put my finger on it. I can tell you it has something to do with me, and not with her. She is very qualified and professional. When I figure it out, I'll let you know.\"\n\n\"Please do because I'm still trying to figure it out myself. But one thing I know, I don't need to understand why someone is trans. I only need to accept them and love them like anyone else.\"\n\n\"I wish we could all love as generously as you do, Lucy.\" Tom walked her out to the car, reviewing the things that might come up during the two weeks she would be away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good luck in New York,\" he said, holding open the car door for her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I know you'll ace your exams.\"\n\n\"Thanks, Tom. Call me if you need anything.\"\n\nWhen Lucy saw the time on the dashboard, she flew into a panic. Liz would be waiting for her and getting impatient." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy took the back road through the supermarket parking lot to get to Beach Road." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She resisted the urge to speed, especially because there were so many pedestrians on their way to the beach.\n\nThe familiar Audi was parked in the driveway when she got home. Lucy smiled when she saw that it had been carefully positioned to keep the garage doors clear, which would enable her to pull her car inside. Liz was always so practical." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When Lucy emerged from the garage, the sound of opera playing through the car speakers was so loud she could hear it through the closed windows." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz had reclined the seat, and her eyes closed. With that noise, she couldn't possibly be asleep. Lucy tapped gently on the window. Liz sat up, looking startled and rolled down the window." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I didn't even hear you drive in,\" she said, lowering the volume." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"How could you? I'm surprised you're not deaf.\" Lucy listened more carefully and identified the track playing through the Audi's super-premium sound system. \"Listening to me again?\"\n\n\"I can never get enough of hearing you. I wish you'd made more recordings.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have some you've never heard.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You do?\" Liz's eyes instantly widened with excited anticipation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll even let you rip the CDs, but I'm not sure how I feel about you fetishizing my voice.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I am not!\" protested Liz indignantly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, you are. Don't lie to me.\" Lucy leaned through the open window to kiss her. \"You're all dressed up. I guess we're going to a nice place tonight.\"\n\n\"It's your last night before you leave. I want it to be special.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So, you're celebrating because I'm going away?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No!\" Liz protested.\n\nLucy lightly pinched her arm. \"Liz, you're so literal. Just like Erika. Must be a German trait. Come in while I get changed.\"\n\nLiz turned off the music and got out of the car." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She reached for Lucy's bag to carry it to the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm really sorry I'm late.\" Lucy unlocked the door and shoved it open with her shoulder. \"Denise's candidacy was even more controversial than I expected.\"\n\n\"People have come a long way in accepting gays and lesbians, but trans is another story. The other side has made trans the new front in the culture wars,\" said Liz, handing Lucy her bag." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liz was a stickler for order, so Lucy put it neatly inside her office door rather than dropping it on the sofa as usual." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thank you for driving the Audi tonight instead of your truck. It's hard to get in and out of a truck in a dress.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That's only because you're so tiny. Normal people do just fine. I'll teach you sometime.\"\n\n\"You mean you'll wear a skirt?\"\n\n\"For the purposes of instruction only.\"\n\n\"I've seen you in a skirt.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liz frowned. \"I must have been in drag.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"At a funeral? I don't think so. And you wore a dress to Brenda's wedding.\"\n\n\"Busted!\" Liz kissed the top of Lucy's head and gave her a gentle nudge. \"Go change. I'm hungry.\"\n\nWhen Lucy came down the stairs wearing her favorite red dress, the one that clung to her backside, the frank admiration in Liz's eyes made her smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy was used to being admired by men, and occasionally by women, but it was nothing compared to the way Liz looked at her. Lucy could be wearing rags, and Liz would have that same adoring expression on her face.\n\nThey headed into town. While Liz's eyes were on the road, Lucy took the opportunity to check out her outfit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liz was wearing dress slacks and an arty, loose blouse with a variety of necklaces that vaguely matched in color but not in shape, which created a kind of modern sculpture at her throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She seldom wore earrings but tonight, she did.\n\n\"I like your style, Liz,\" Lucy said. \"It's unconventional, but creative.\"\n\n\"People say I clean up well. I learned from Erika's ex how to use colors and shapes to make simple things look dressy. She was an artist, but you knew that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Were you close to Jeanine?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy asked. She actually knew very little about her wife's former partner, feminist artist Jeanine Sanders, who'd died suddenly of a heart attack before Lucy had met Erika.\n\nLiz looked pensive. \"I'm not sure I could say we were close. I think Jeanine found me entertaining as the other half of the comedy act, the one that no one else finds funny.\"\n\n\"The Liz-and-Erika show was always entertaining. Funny? Not so much. But tell me about Jeanine. Erika didn't really say much except that they both had multiple partners.\"\n\n\"Erika was very discreet.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But I bet she told you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Of course, she did,\" said Liz with a sly look. \"She was my wingman, and I was hers. Erika adored Jeanine, who was a real character, but she was considered quite talented…that is, if her Cubism-redux style appeals to you.\"\n\n\"It doesn't. Erika kept a few of her paintings for sentimental reasons, but honestly, I don't really care for them.\"\n\n\"What's not to like about colorful images of morbidly obese women with abundant pubic hair? Or as your father-in-law used to say, 'fat women with hairy vaginas.' Sometimes, he used the other word.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't believe it.\"\n\nLiz laughed. \"You didn't know Stefan in the old days. If you don't like the paintings, you should donate them to a museum or sell them and give the money to Erika's foundation for female artists.\"\n\n\"Good idea.\"\n\nLiz put her hand on Lucy's thigh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The unexpected touch made her twitch. She tried to ignore the hand's warm presence, but she couldn't.\n\n\"Will you miss me while you're in New York?\" Liz suddenly asked.\n\n\"Of course, I will. You could come visit me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liz nodded, considering the idea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm on call this weekend, or I would.\"\n\n\"You could pick me up. I know it's a long drive, but the Amtrak ride is even longer.\"\n\n\"I can probably scare up some theater tickets. A few of the theaters have reopened. We could make it a date.\"\n\n\"You're taking this dating thing very seriously, but you should keep your hands on the wheel. There's a lot of traffic tonight,\" said Lucy, giving Liz's hand a squeeze before lifting it off her thigh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Glad I made reservations,\" Liz said, pulling into La Scala's packed parking lot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She drove around three times before finding a spot. \"I hope it's not too tight, and you can get out.\"\n\n\"I may not be able to get out of a truck without showing my underwear, but being small has other advantages.\"\n\nIt was noisier inside than Lucy would have preferred after such a busy and contentious day, but like every Hobbs restaurant in the summer, La Scala was jammed with tourists." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liz glanced at the specials sheet and announced, \"I know what I'm having.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy didn't have to guess, or even say it aloud, but she did. \"Lobster.\"\n\nWhile Lucy figured out what she wanted to order, Liz intently studied the wine list. She ordered a super Tuscan. Out of curiosity, Lucy picked up the wine list to learn more about the wine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her eyes flew open when she saw the price.\n\n\"Liz, that wine is crazy expensive. You don't need to impress me.\"\n\n\"I'm not. It's a good wine, and it's a special occasion. Besides, what am I saving my money for? Life is short.\" Liz said it innocently, but the idle sentiment instantly brought thoughts of Erika to Lucy's mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, life was short." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Because it was so busy, there was a long wait for their entrees. Liz had ordered the lobster scampi-style, and Lucy was glad there was no shell involved. \"Remember the time you cracked your lobster claw and shot juice all over Tom's glasses?\"\n\nLiz laughed. \"I'm surprised he ever forgave me for that. It was kind of obscene.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She lewdly raised a brow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You really enjoy being naughty, don't you?\" asked Lucy, expertly winding her pasta in her spoon. \"What's that about?\"\n\n\"Lucy, I'm eating,\" warned Liz. \"Don't shrink me.\" Her impatient tone bordered on hostility." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy looked up to see where it came from, but Liz quickly changed the subject to the long-term mental effects of COVID. \"Sorry to bore you with the medical talk,\" she said, breaking off a piece of ciabatta and dipping it in the scampi sauce. \"Jenny and I used to talk about medicine at dinner. Sometimes I miss it.\"\n\n\"Did you talk to Maggie about medicine?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not unless it directly pertained to her case, and then she had a limited tolerance for it. She said it bored her.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz glanced around. \"Did you know this is her favorite restaurant?\"\n\nLucy did know because, when she and Maggie used to shop together, they liked to have lunch there. \"How's she doing?\" Lucy asked casually.\n\nLiz shrugged. \"Okay, I guess. I'm watching the kids this weekend while she and Alina go to New York to finish cleaning out storage space at her co-op.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz peered at her. \"You're her friend. Don't you talk to her?\"\n\n\"I've called a few times to see how things are going. Otherwise, we haven't talked.\"\n\n\"She's not exactly what I'd call an attentive friend. After she moved in with me, she invited her so-called best friend at NYU. She came up once. Then I never saw her again. With Maggie, relationships are mostly transactional.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The coldness with which Liz dissected her ex-wife made Lucy look up from her dinner." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Although Liz never missed an opportunity to disparage psychotherapy, her psychological assessments were insightful.\n\n\"What time is your train tomorrow?\" Liz asked, unaware that across the table, Lucy was analyzing her. \"I'll drive you to the station.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Abbie said she'd drive me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She has her old mother to worry about. I'll drive you.\" Liz's tone was absolute. She clearly didn't expect an argument.\n\n\"You'll miss your morning walk.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll walk at lunchtime.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy could think of other reasons to turn down the offer. She was tempted to persist before she perceived why Liz was being so adamant. The status of their relationship had changed. They were dating, so Liz considered driving Lucy to the train her duty." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was an ethnic trait, something Erika would have done, but Erika was less stubborn about such things than Liz." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You have to stop comparing them, Lucy thought.\n\nFor dessert, they split a molten chocolate cake with raspberries. Liz caught the last raspberry on her spoon and offered it to Lucy. It seemed a very intimate thing to do in a crowded restaurant in a town where so many people knew them, but Lucy opened her mouth to accept the fruit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liz watched intently as her lips slid off the spoon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You took the last one! Now, you're the old maid!\" Liz crowed.\n\n\"You tricked me! I can't believe anyone remembers that old game! And here, I thought you were being romantic.\"\n\n\"I was being romantic,\" Liz said. Her smoldering gaze over the teasing smile was confusing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As Lucy gazed into her blue eyes, warm arousal gathered between her legs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Physically, she was so ready to make love, yet she couldn't shake the idea that she should wait. In her bereavement groups, she always advised people to avoid jumping into bed after the death of a partner. Love chemicals could temporarily block the pain of loss, but left it unresolved, which could leave the new relationship on shaky ground.\n\n\"What are you thinking about?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liz asked softly. \"Don't tell me you hate raspberries.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, I love them, especially when a beautiful woman feeds them to me with her own spoon, but we should go. I haven't finished packing, and that train is leaving tomorrow morning with or without me.\"\n\nLiz looked disappointed, but she signalled to the waiter to bring the check. On the way home, she suggested they drive along the ocean road. Lucy knew exactly what she had in mind when she pulled over to park by the seawall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She opened the windows to let in the ocean breeze." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't want this evening to end. You don't mind if we sit here for a few minutes?\"\n\n\"As long as we're not parking to make out like two kids where everyone can see us.\"\n\n\"That's exactly what we're going to do.\" Liz turned off the engine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She unbuckled her seat belt and leaned over the console." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The lobster had imparted a faint whiff of fish on her lips. Lucy thought of the raspberry Liz had fed her from her spoon, which made her open her mouth to invite her in. The interior of her mouth tasted tangy from the wine and the lemon in the scampi sauce. Lucy knew she should swat away the gentle hand caressing her breast, especially when it pinched her nipple and made it pucker." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She felt her body opening, ready to welcome Liz inside, but she knew that if she gave in to her desire tonight, they'd both be miserable while she was away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She ended the kiss as gently as she could.\n\n\"Take me home, Liz. I have an early morning tomorrow.\"\n\nLiz turned her face away, but Lucy turned it back. \"Don't turn away from me. I know how hard it is to wait. It's hard for me too. I love you, but we're not making love tonight.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy gave her a gentle kiss on the nose." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Please be patient. I promise I'm worth the wait, and so are you.\"\n\nLiz compressed her lips, but she put on her seat belt and started the engine.\n\nWhen she got upstairs, Lucy undressed and removed her makeup. The image in the mirror confirmed that she was no longer young." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So much of her time on this earth had already been used up. It was finite. Erika's premature death had proven there were no guarantees. Maybe she was wrong to make Liz wait. She reflected on how tenderly Liz was courting her as she got into bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The queen-sized bed still seemed so enormous without Erika, but after almost six months of her absence, Lucy was getting used to it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy patted the space where her wife had once lain and wished her goodnight…wherever she was. She closed her eyes, but scenes from her evening with Liz kept replaying in her mind. She remembered Liz's blue eyes intensely holding her gaze as she offered the last raspberry off her spoon.\n\n\"Oh, Liz,\" Lucy whispered into the dark." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She sat up and tapped open Liz's contact on her phone and requested a video chat. When it opened, she saw a sleepy, gray-haired woman, wearing a faded T-shirt.\n\n\"Lucy, is everything all right?\" Liz asked anxiously.\n\n\"Yes, everything's fine. I wanted to thank you for a beautiful evening, and I have a confession to make.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz looked even more anxious.\n\n\"I'm not being honest with you. My therapist's head keeps urging caution, but if I listen to my body, it tells me how much I want you.\"\n\nLiz's mouth twitched into an endearing off-centered grin. \"I can be there in five minutes.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy laughed. \"Not tonight. We both have to get up too early. When we make love, I want to take my time. In fact, I might never let you out of bed again.\"\n\nThe smiling blue eyes grew serious. \"I love you, Lucy.\"\n\nLucy brought her lips close to the screen and made a kissing sound." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I love you too. Now, go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You think I can go to sleep now?\"\n\n\"Sure you can. Think of me holding you in my arms.\"\n\n\"That's not all I'll be thinking about.\"\n\nLucy air kissed the phone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sleep tight.\" She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but she found herself imagining what Liz must be doing. Oh, why not?" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "thought Lucy, reaching under her nightgown." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "expand on the story like Elena Graf would" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz stretched out on the sofa. \"Oh, Lucy, this is torture. Two weeks! I don't know if I can last that long.\"\n\nA deep sigh was audible through the phone speaker. \"It's hard for me too, but I have studying for my exams to distract me. What can we do to help you?\"\n\n\"Phone sex?\" Liz wanted to bite her tongue. She'd been trying so hard not to make suggestive remarks. Now that she didn't have Lucy's smiling face to remind her of why she was on good behavior, she'd instantly reverted to type." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hmm. Not a bad idea,\" said Lucy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What?\" asked Liz, sitting up in surprise.\n\n\"Do you think of me when you masturbate?\" Lucy asked matter-of-factly.\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"You heard me. If we're going to have a sexual relationship, we should be able to speak openly about sex. Talking dirty in bed is fun, but discussing your sexual needs with your partner is essential to a good relationship.\" Lucy was lecturing her about sexual communication. Liz was suddenly speechless. \"Do you think of me when you masturbate?\" Lucy repeated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I hate the word masturbate. It sounds like making yourself come is dirty.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy's chuckle was low and sexy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I bet you're blushing.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I am not!\"\n\n\"You are a study in contradictions, Elizabeth Stolz. Maybe that's why you fascinate me. However, I expect you, a doctor, to talk about sex using proper terminology.\"\n\n\"Of course, I do…with patients. But what works in the exam room, sounds cold in the bedroom.\" Except Lucy talking about sex sounded anything but cold. Liz slid her hand into her pants and confirmed that it was having exactly the intended effect. \"Do you think of me when you make yourself come?\" Liz asked.\n\n\"I do. I find it very stimulating to imagine you touching me. When I think of the ways I'd like you to make love to me, I come really fast.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz imagined Lucy touching herself, an intense look of concentration on her face instead of a smile. A preview of Lucy in a moment of passion. \"I hope you won't be hurt to know that sometimes I think of Erika,\" Lucy added.\n\nLiz withdrew her hand. Touching herself while talking about Erika didn't seem right. \"I do understand. You miss her. Does it make you feel closer to her to think of her when you…masturbate?\"\n\n\"Sometimes. Sometimes, I can't because...\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know,\" Liz said gently, wishing she could reach through the phone and put her arms around her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I had a dream last night that I was singing Otello at the Met. You and Erika were in the audience.\"\n\n\"Well, we were. At least, on one of those nights. Those last-minute tickets cost a mint, but they were so worth it. Nothing could cheer up Erika faster than music, and she really needed cheering up. Her ex would call at all hours of the day and night. Usually, Erika would listen, but she was working on an important paper, so she cut her off. A couple of days later, we heard the woman had slashed her wrists.\"\n\n\"She told me about that, but Liz, what were you thinking? Erika was upset, so you took her to a tragic opera?\"\n\n\"It makes perfect sense if you think about it. We're cerebral, so we sublimate strong emotions through music. And if I hadn't taken her to the Met that night, we might never have heard you sing. Of course, we were both fell in love with you. We talked about you the whole way back to New Haven.\"\n\n\"In my dream, I was naked,\" said Lucy. \"So were both of you.\"\n\nLiz chuckled. \"I wonder what Freud would think about that.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Who cares? Freud was an idiot,\" Lucy said dismissively." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mother Lucy! Let's be charitable,\" Liz mocked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You be charitable. I try not to hate anyone, but Freud's theories did so much damage…to women, especially. He deserves whatever he gets.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy's sudden candor made Liz feel privileged. Apparently, Lucy now felt comfortable sharing her real opinions instead of the Christian party line.\n\n\"Was your dream a fantasy about a ménage à trois?\" Liz wondered aloud. \"It would complete the circle. Erika and I once slept together. Erika gave you permission to sleep with me. Maybe you subconsciously wish the three of us could have slept together.\"\n\n\"Have you ever been in a ménage à trois?\"\n\n\"I'm taking the fifth.\"\n\n\"Well, that's like admitting it. Come on. Tell me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Nope.\"\n\n\"Never mind. I'll get it out of you,\" said Lucy with a low chuckle. \"I never got as far as imagining the three of us together, but now that you mention it….\"\n\n\"Lucy, remember you're in the dormitory of an Episcopal seminary.\"\n\n\"So? Who says we can't have phone sex in an Episcopal seminary? Tell me. If we were together right now, what would happen?\"\n\nLiz answered without a second thought. \"I'd be kissing your breasts. You have perfect breasts.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What makes them perfect?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're yours.\"\n\n\"I mean, objectively.\"\n\nLiz thought for a moment. \"They're slightly too large for your body, which makes them seem big. In fact, they're exactly the right size to fill my hands. At our age, most of us sag, but your breasts are still perky. I like the way they jiggle when you walk. How the nipples get so hard and show through your top when you're cold.\"\n\n\"You've spent a lot of time studying my breasts,\" Lucy observed after a thoughtful silence.\n\n\"I adore them. Your lips are perfect too.\"\n\n\"I love the way you kiss.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I meant the other lips.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh!\"\n\n\"Can you feel my tongue on you? Inside you?\"\n\n\"Okay, Liz. That's enough. Now, you're torturing me.\"\n\n\"No, you're torturing me! Hey, you started it. Why wouldn't you let me make love to you before you left?\"\n\n\"Because then I wouldn't want to leave. When I get you into bed, I won't let you out again. You'll be my prisoner!\"\n\n\"Can we make love when I pick you up in New York?\" asked Liz in a hopeful voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We'll see.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Lucy!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The extravagant laughter let Liz know that Lucy was done with serious topics and probably the sex talk. When she changed the subject, Liz knew that her assumptions had been correct. \"I had a pleasant traveling companion on the train this morning…\" Lucy said.\n\nThe extended pause meant Liz was supposed to ask, \"Who?\"\n\n\"Melissa Morgenstern. Her partners called a meeting to discuss returning to the office.\"\n\n\"Oh, I bet she doesn't like that idea. She wants to stay in Hobbs.\" Lately, the news was full of reports about people's reluctance to give up working at home, especially women." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Going back to a workplace meant sending their children back into childcare, which was expensive and risky with the virus still spreading. The possibility that working remotely would continue had driven a real estate boom in Hobbs, where the price of houses had skyrocketed.\n\n\"If you've considered selling the beach house, now would be a good time,\" Liz said, speaking aloud what she was thinking.\n\n\"What?\" asked Lucy. \"Where did you get that idea?\"\n\n\"Real estate has shot up in value. It could be a bubble. Now would be a good time to unload the house, if that's your plan.\"\n\n\"I don't have a plan, Liz,\" said Lucy in a testy voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I never even considered selling the house! Erika remodeled it so that there would be a place for Emily and me to live after we married. You and Sam built that beautiful practice room over the garage. It was Erika's last Christmas gift to me.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I didn't know you were so sentimental.\"\n\n\"Liz! It's not sentimental to want to live in the home I shared with my wife. You were the one who encouraged Erika to buy that house!\"\n\n\"Yes, I did, but you could make a lot of money if you sold now.\"\n\n\"It's not about the money. I'm not ready for a big change like that. I advise the people in my bereavement group to hold off on big decisions until things settle down. Losing a life partner changes everything…how you live, how you sleep, even how you eat. It's hard to deal with so much change.\"\n\n\"And you were still getting used to living with Erika.\"\n\n\"Oddly, that makes it easier. I wasn't used to seeing her every day and sleeping beside her every night. It was still new and a little strange. Imagine what it's like to lose your partner after ten, thirty, fifty years? That's devastating.\"\n\n\"Losing your partner, no matter how long you lived together, is devastating.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a long silence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You miss Maggie, don't you?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "asked Lucy in a gentle tone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, of course, I do. Our lives were intertwined.\"\n\n\"Losing a spouse is hard for anyone. It's not just the person you miss, but your life together.\" While Liz was thinking about what she missed about her life with Maggie, Lucy suddenly asked, \"Do you know any single, Jewish men your age? Bonus points if he's a successful professional.\"\n\n\"My age? Do you need to remind me I'm older than you?\"\n\n\"Eight years isn't much. Besides, you're young, Liz. I don't want to hear any of that old lady talk.\"\n\nLiz scanned her mind for eligible men who fit Lucy's criteria. \"There's a plastic surgeon I worked with at Southern Med when I was still doing a lot of breast surgery.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That sounds promising. Tell me more.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This guy has quite a backstory. He's an Ashkenazi Jew by way of Portugal. His father was a diplomat. His mother was a famous physician in her home country. His grandmother was half-Chinese.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Not exactly your Jewish boy next-door.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is this guy supposed to be for Melissa's mother? I thought you just married them, Lucy. I didn't know you provided matchmaking services too.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lucy began to sing the \"Matchmaker Song\" from Fiddler on the Roof." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"All right, Yente. I'll call Jack. He always wanted a boat. When we worked together, he was always angling for invitations to mine. Melissa called to invite herself earlier. I'll tell her to bring her mother along.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That's perfect! Oh, Liz, I hate to cut you off, but I have to study.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll miss studying with you after you pass.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh, this is just the beginning. I have a long way to go. And think of all the theology you'll have to read to catch up with me.\"\n\n\"I think I've had my fill,\" Liz replied dryly.\n\n\"I doubt it. You're a very curious person. You like to learn new things. Besides, you'll enjoy the conversations we'll have.\"\n\n\"I'd rather talk about sex.\"\n\n\"I'm sure you would.\" A video chat request appeared on Liz's phone. She tapped it open and saw Lucy's face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucy had already taken off her makeup, revealing her abundant freckles. Her green eyes were full of mischief. \"I don't know why we didn't think of this earlier,\" Lucy said. Her eyes grew serious. \"Oh, Liz. I miss you so much.\"\n\n\"You have no idea how much I miss you.\"\n\n\"I do, but I'm going to give you a kiss and say good night.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "She brought her lips close to the screen and mimed a kiss." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 2 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Don't masturbate too much while I'm gone. Save some for me!\"\n\nLiz heard peals of laughter as Lucy closed the call." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write 3 sentences sentences in the style of Elena Graf spawning from what the user wrote, within the LGBT, lesbian, romance, older protagonist, post-covid genre." }, { "from": "system", "value": "Produce a starting prompt please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz studied the young woman sitting in the visitors' chair. She guessed there had been work done on her face, probably bone shaving to narrow the jaw and create a more feminine chin. Liz searched the file and found the reference to some cosmetic surgery done two years earlier." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She scanned the notes quickly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sorry I haven't had time to review all your history, but my partner's out today, so I'm covering her cases.\"\n\n\"Take your time,\" said the patient. \"I want you to be fully informed. You need to know what you're getting into.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The file went on for pages." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Reading all the history in one sitting would be impossible, even for a fast reader like Liz. She'd have to go back to it when she had more time, which was not going to be this morning. If she didn't move on to the examination, she'd be so behind schedule she'd never catch up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She quickly scanned the remaining notes for any red flags." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Finally, she closed the laptop." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What made you choose me as your primary?\" Liz asked, folding her arms on her chest. She could almost feel Lucy nudging her to assume a more welcoming pose, so she unfolded her arms and sat up straight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mother Lucy recommended you. She says you're the best doctor in Hobbs, but before I commit to this practice and you, I want to make sure you don't object to providing healthcare for a trans woman.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Below the assertive tone, Liz detected an undercurrent of bravado. As a musician, the young woman would need an overdeveloped sense of confidence, but dealing with a healthcare system that wasn't always sympathetic, never mind supportive, made it mandatory. \"I need you to be honest with me, Dr. Stolz. I've had some bad experiences with doctors.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm sorry to hear that. What happened?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The patient shifted in her seat. The old-fashioned molded plastic chairs were unyielding, and people often squirmed in them. \"I had serious inflammation after my implant surgery. I ended up having to see another doctor, not the surgeon who'd operated. The doctor on call was dismissive and told me there was nothing she could do except recommend cortisone and painkillers. You're a breast doctor. Is that true?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It depends on the cause of the inflammation. I only performed mastectomies for breast cancer. A plastic surgeon handled the implants.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But you're an expert on breasts. There's a whole chapter on implants in your book. What aren't you telling me, Doctor?\"\n\n\"I don't pretend to understand why people would alter their gender. As someone who had to perform mastectomies to save a life, I don't know why anyone would voluntarily remove a healthy body part. But that doesn't mean I can't provide good healthcare to you or any other trans person.\"\n\nThe patient studied her carefully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"That's an honest answer, Dr. Stolz. I can't tell you how much plastered-over, fake professionalism I've had to deal with.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm sorry to hear it. No matter what the doctor personally believes, everyone should be treated with respect. If you're concerned, there are other doctors in this practice. They might be less opinionated than I am.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. I know where you stand, and I can live with that. Plus, you're a surgeon, so you'd be more attuned to my post-operative concerns.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The patient finally smiled. \"If Mother Lucy trusts you, I trust you.\" Liz didn't know whether she should thank Lucy for the recommendation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sometimes, it seemed she deliberately put her in these difficult situations." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I can promise that my personal feelings will never interfere with my professional judgment.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I believe you, Dr. Stolz. You have an honest face.\"\n\nProbably too honest, Liz thought as she focused on the intense blue eyes skillfully enhanced with makeup. The woman made a great deal of effort to pass, from wearing her nails painted red to the pretty dress and open-toed sandals she wore." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most women in Maine dressed more practically, but the feminine adornments drew the eye away from Denise's broad shoulders and the large bones in the wrists and knees." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If Liz hadn't been told Denise was trans, she would have guessed right away, but most people never looked that closely.\n\nWhile the assistant drew blood and got the patient ready for her exam, Liz went next door to see Cathy Pelletier's pediatric patient who had an earache. Fortunately, it was simple swimmer's ear, easily treated with alcohol drops." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The assistant still hadn't called her, so Liz looked in on the next patient, an elderly woman with a tick in her shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While Liz stood in the hall, sending a script for prophylactic antibiotics from her phone, the assistant approached. \"She's ready for you,\" she said, raising her brows and rolling her eyes in the direction of the exam room.\n\nLiz beckoned the assistant further down the hall to get away from the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Janna, I don't want to see any more of that from you. No faces. No gestures. No comments. We treat all our patients with respect.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sorry, Doctor,\" said the young woman, clutching her hands. \"I just never saw one of those people before.\" With great effort, Liz restrained herself as the assistant babbled on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I mean, it's not something we see here every day. I didn't mean anything by it.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I hope not, and remember, our job is to provide healthcare, not opinions. Understand?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The young woman nodded. Liz watched her hurry down the hall, probably heading to complain to the other assistants. Gone were the days when Liz had to savage junior staff to make a point, but Ginny often told her that she was too fierce." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe by the time she retired, she'd find the right balance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz knocked on the door to announce her arrival. The preoperative physical for sex reassignment called for a classical examination, so Liz began with listening to the patient's chest sounds. \"Do you have any specific complaints today?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No. None.\" Liz pulled up the leg support, so the patient could lie down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She closed her eyes to focus as she palpated the abdomen. The muscles were taught and toned, but there was a soft layer of fat below the skin, the hormones doing their work. Liz looped her finger into the waistband of the panties. \"Do you mind?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"No, go ahead. I expected that.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz's examination revealed nothing but exceptionally healthy male genitals. \"No regrets?\" she asked, pulling up the lace panties.\n\n\"No regrets,\" said the patient without hesitation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Have you had a recent PSA test?\"\n\n\"Yes, all in the normal range.\"\n\n\"Okay, then no rectal exam today.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"But I want to get my money's worth.\" The patient grinned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz laughed. \"So, you want me to do a rectal exam?\"\n\n\"No, thanks. I'll pass.\"\n\n\"You don't mind if I take a look at the implant site that was inflamed?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Denise modestly pulled down the paper gown." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz inspected the incision carefully hidden under the curve of the implant. The overall cosmetic result was perfect. \"It's healing well.\"\n\n\"The inflammation wasn't the worst part. It was the attitude of that snotty doctor.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sorry you had that experience. There's never any excuse to be unprofessional.\" Liz pulled the paper gown back into place. \"You look fine. Once I get your blood work back, I'll sign off on the procedure. You can get dressed now.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thank you, Dr. Stolz.\"\n\n\"Call me Liz. Everyone does.\" Liz reached out her hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good luck with the surgery. I'll see you afterwards.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz went back to her office to write up her notes. The intercom line lit. She pushed it down forcefully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Ginny?\" she asked as she typed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Ms. Enright is on the line.\"\n\n\"Is it important, Ginny? I'm drowning here.\"\n\n\"I'll ask.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz let her head fall back and gazed at the ceiling while she continued to type. The intercom squawked. \"She wanted to invite you for lunch, but I told her you're swamped, so she invited you to dinner instead. She said to come over when you're done here.\"\n\n\"Whenever that is.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What should I tell her?\" Ginny asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Tell her I'll be there around five.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The rest of the day was so busy that Liz skipped lunch, but she had gotten to the end of her appointments, seen her patients relatively on time, and hadn't killed anyone. In all, a good day. She took a long, hot shower in the doctor's bathroom at the back of the building and changed into the spare outfit she kept at work in case patients splashed their bodily fluids on her clothes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Olivia, as usual, would be dressed to the nines, but she'd have to put up with her guest wearing a polo shirt and cropped pants." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz decided to stop at the supermarket to buy a bottle of wine to bring along. She tapped Olivia's number as she walked through the Hannaford parking lot.\n\n\"Don't tell me you're not coming,\" Olivia said in a droll voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm coming. I'm getting wine. Red or white?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"White. Seared scallops with wilted greens.\"\n\n\"Oh, Liv, I love you,\" Liz replied with faux ardor.\n\n\"I won't tell Samantha.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Good. She doesn't need to know everything.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz smiled at the banter, still amazed that she and Olivia had become such good friends. They had Sam in common, of course, but that only went so far. Lucy had a succinct explanation for the improbable friendship." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Psychologically, Olivia and Liz were mirrors of one another, both powerful women driven to succeed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Each had made her way in life through her own efforts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Olivia air-kissed Liz on both cheeks like the society lady she had learned to be, but she responded with a sigh of pleasure when Liz enfolded her in a full body hug.\n\n\"Liz, you look absolutely exhausted,\" said Olivia, standing back.\n\n\"My partner has been out with gastric issues,\" Liz explained, handing the wine to Olivia." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm honored to be your date tonight.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She followed Olivia into the kitchen and watched her open the wine. \"Where's Sam?\"\n\n\"Oh, she's working on that new monstrosity on the other side of the harbor,\" said Olivia, offering a glass of wine. \"She works late every night. Sometimes, she calls after midnight to apologize for never seeing me. The owners want it done by Fourth of July. Those rich people are so demanding!\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, they are,\" said Liz, raising her glass to the fabulously rich founder of the Enright Fund. \"Takes one to know one.\"\n\nOlivia made a face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"And the kettle calls the pot black. Let's go outside. Bring the tray, will you?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They settled on the deck. It had been a warm day, and the breeze off the ocean felt good. Olivia moved the charcuterie tray closer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Try the garlic olives. I got them in the deli in Webhanet.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz ate one, and it was delicious. She briefly worried about garlic breath before remembering that there was no one at home to kiss, so she helped herself to another.\n\n\"Thank you for inviting me. It's nice to eat with other people for a change.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I feel the same. I wish Samantha agreed.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Have you worked anything out yet?\" asked Liz, snatching another olive from the dish. They were addictive.\n\n\"Not yet. And we may never,\" said Olivia with a shrug." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We don't need two separate houses. Look at all this space. You'd think it would make sense to move in together.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I told Lucy she should sell while the market is high.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Shame on you, Liz. She's only been widowed since Christmas. She shouldn't rush into things. That house is a showpiece, and the location couldn't be better. It will retain its value. And where is she going to live…with you?\"\n\n\"We're not that far along yet,\" Liz conceded, admiring the moonrise over the ocean. \"It's so nice and cool here at the beach.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm surprised you never bought waterfront property.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I built on high ground. I figured if global warming continues at this rate, I'll have waterfront property by the time I die.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Now, that's what I call long-term planning.\"\n\nLiz sipped the wine. It was a new label and better than she'd expected." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She never trusted the ratings posted on the shelf talkers. Who really cared if a wine had won five gold medals at some obscure vintner's fair? \"I doubt Sam will ever give up her house. If you don't mind advice, don't push her for a commitment. She doesn't like being pressured. You don't have to live together to be happy in a relationship.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll remind you of that when you keep encouraging Lucy to sell her house.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I don't want her to miss the boom.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Right,\" said Olivia curtly.\n\n\"I hope you're giving her good financial advice,\" said Liz, reaching for another olive.\n\n\"Don't worry. She's making a big money in this recovery, and Maggie too.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Is her little boy-toy still hanging around?\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You know I wouldn't tell you if he is. You're divorced. It's none of your business.\"\n\n\"You're right, of course, but it still pisses the hell out of me.\"\n\nOlivia peered at Liz with her penetrating blue eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Liz, let it go. Just move on. You'll be much happier.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Easier said than done.\"\n\nOlivia scrutinized her with a raised brow. \"Let's change the subject if you don't mind. I want your opinion about something. That's one of the reasons I invited you tonight.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liz suppressed the urge to smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Olivia always had an ulterior motive. \"There's a trend in small towns to create a department of safety services and put one person in charge. I'm thinking about promoting Brenda to senior safety officer and giving her authority over the fire department and the ambulance service.\"\n\n\"Brenda will be delighted with the promotion and perfect for the job. Duvaney will hate it. The fire department has been his territory for years.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But it won't affect his job. It only means he'll be reporting to Brenda instead of to me. What difference does it make?\"\n\n\"He and Brenda were equals before. Those lateral promotions inevitably create bad blood. That's why I always hired managers from outside.\"\n\nOlivia munched on a piece of cheese while she thought. \"Maybe you're right.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I know I'm right. It's great to promote from within, except in situations like this. You have well-functioning, independent departments. They're small, but there is no economy of scale to be gained in merging the leadership, unless you merge their budgets too.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I could.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"It will only make it harder to keep track of the spending. Sorry, Olivia. Doesn't sound like a good idea to me.\"\n\n\"I knew you would have the answer, Liz. Despite what you think, you're a good administrator. It's a shame Yale lost you.\"\n\nLiz shrugged. \"It was time to go, and I'm enjoying my second act. That's why I haven't retired.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liz took a sip of wine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"While I have the attention of the town manager, I want to tell you my concerns about this new delta variant. It's here in Maine and virulent. We have a high vaccination rate, and so far that seems protective. But with the tourist season revving up, there are a lot of people coming into the state.\"\n\n\"You don't think we'll need to shut down again?\"\n\n\"Hopefully, not. I'm telling you now, because I think we need to pay attention. We don't want to get caught with our pants down like last time. We might need to go back to wearing masks indoors.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, God, I hope not.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Me too,\" said Liz with a sigh. \"I had enough of masks when I was a surgeon.\"\n\nOlivia reached out and patted Liz's arm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm glad you came, Liz. Not just for the advice, but I enjoy your company. I thought you might be lonely with Lucy away.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Liz shot her an impatient look." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Thanks. Are we that obvious?\"\n\n\"To your friends, you are. Don't worry. I'm not judging you. By the way,\" said Olivia, helping herself to a rice cracker, \"when I was up at the rectory talking to Tom about the endowment, there was a woman asking for Lucy. She said she knows her from school. She was wearing a collar.\"\n\n\"I hope Jodi didn't give her Lucy's mobile number. Her exams are tomorrow. She won't even talk to me.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I think Jodi took a message and referred her to Tom.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 1 sentence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Liz shrugged. \"I'm sure they'll find each other.\"" } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "CONTINUE STORY. PARAMETERS: eight sentences sentences, Elena Graf style, LGBT, lesbian, romance, older protagonist, post-covid genre." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melissa looked for the green Subaru in the parking lot. It was easy to spot Courtney's car because there were so few painted that color. The company had long since retired it, which Melissa only knew that because she'd been searching for a used car, a beater to get to and from the train station. She'd read that Subarus were the most popular brand in the state. The salt from the ocean and the saline spray to prevent icy roads were hard on cars. Even in a frugal place, where people repaired everything until it literally fell apart, that shade of Subaru green was rare.\n\nCourtney was busy on her phone when Melissa approached her car. She could see Kaylee in the back seat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Courtney dragged her everywhere now. The incident with her ex had made her less trusting. Melissa was sympathetic to Kaylee's situation and understood why she would go off with her father without thinking. Melissa had idolized her father and would have followed him anywhere. She thought Courtney was being too rigid, but she was smart enough to stay out of it.\n\nThis was her first relationship with the mother of a young child, and it presented dilemmas she had never even considered. Who, in this era of sexual freedom, when lesbians were openly portrayed on TV, hid physical affection in her own home? Obviously, the presence of a curious adolescent imposed some limits." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Waiting until she went to bed to have sex was one of the many inconveniences. More intrusive was the fact that they were never completely alone.\n\nMelissa had seen an ad for a summer camp in Rangely and showed it to Courtney. To Melissa, it is seemed an ideal way to give Kaylee a break from her mother and provide them with some much-needed privacy. Courtney had instantly dismissed the idea. \"That's a luxury I can't afford right now, especially with Doug out of work and not paying child support on time. I need to save money for the deposit on a place to live.\"\n\n\"I could pay for the camp,\" Melissa offered. \"It's not expensive.\"\n\nCourtney snapped back, \"Not to you, maybe, but four hundred dollars pays for more than a week's groceries.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melissa was surprised by the sharpness of her response until she realized that she'd stepped in it by calling attention to making more money—much more money than her girlfriend—and questioning the fragile economic independence Courtney had struggled to establish. Interfering with her child rearing counted as an even bigger mistake.\n\nIt seemed that the stars weren't aligning for this relationship. At the partners' meeting in Boston, the managing partner had outlined the plan to reopen the office. Everyone was expected to come back full-time, no exceptions. Her face had probably revealed everything she was thinking. After the meeting, Mike had come to her office to take her temperature.\n\n\"You could have given me a heads-up,\" Melissa said in an irritated voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"At least, if you allowed some exceptions…\"\n\n\"Melissa, half the office doesn't want to come back. I had to put my foot down. And you know how it is. Clients feel better about a firm when they see their attorney in a luxurious office. If you only meet your lawyer on Zoom, he could be a fly-by-night operating out of a van in Miami.\"\n\nThe hyperbole forced a smile out of Melissa. \"I know everyone is sick of Zoom meetings. We just want to see and touch flesh-and-blood people. That firm handshake is important. I don't dispute any of that.\"\n\n\"Then what's the problem?\"\n\n\"I really want to move to Maine. My mother lives there, and I have other interests in the state.\"\n\n\"Ah ha,\" said Mike, raising his brows. \"Personal interests, I take it. Is this interest important enough to give up a career as one of the best trust attorneys in the country?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have no intention of giving up my career for anything or anyone. I've worked too damn hard to get here.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Can't you commute? There's a train from Hobbs. I hear people commute from Maine on a regular basis.\"\n\n\"There's one commuter train a day. If you miss it, you're screwed.\"\n\n\"But there is a way to get here. And, in a pinch, you can drive. It's not that far. I know you're not an early riser, Melissa, but work with me here.\"\n\n\"If I agree to come back full time, can we talk about other arrangements down the line?\"\n\nMike never blinked while he returned Melissa's stare. \"Maybe,\" he finally said. \"That's all I can promise.\"\n\n\"If I want to come in part-time now, what will happen?\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, you're a partner, and we expect all partners to contribute more than the minimum revenue and billable hours…\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I get it,\" Melissa said in a resigned voice.\n\nMike smacked his knees and rose from his chair. \"Let me know what you decide.\"\n\n\"Oh, I think you know what I'll decide.\"\n\nHe smiled. \"I do, and I'm counting on you to set a good example.\"\n\nAfter shouldering that burden, Melissa had spent most of the time on the train home working out her plan B. Commuting every day, whether on the train or driving, would be a nightmare. That's why she'd been willing to pay top dollar for an apartment in town rather than finding a cheaper place in the Boston suburbs. The longest period she'd ever commuted was when she was fresh out of law school." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She'd moved back to her parents' Floral Park home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a great arrangement that allowed her to recharge her finances after paying the steep tuition." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The housekeeper kept Melissa's room clean and was a great cook. Melissa would have stayed forever, but the need for a place to bring her dates finally made her find her own apartment.\n\nOne option was commuting some days and living in her Boston apartment the rest of the week. She could come back to Hobbs for weekends. That scenario made the most sense, but she would still need a car. She would have car payments and train fare in addition to the mortgage and maintenance charges on her condo, which would take a big bite out of her paycheck. Melissa's back-of-the-envelope calculations revealed it would be tight, but she could take on more clients to make up the difference.\n\nNow that her mother was so involved with her new boyfriend, she was increasingly becoming a minor reason to move to Hobbs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ruth's new romance only underscored her daughter's failure to sustain a relationship." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After college, Melissa was too busy in law school and building her legal career to find dates for the weekend. Things finally settled down when she'd moved to Boston, where she'd had a series of short-term relationships. The last one had lasted three years, a record. For the last two years, they had lived together, which had probably been their undoing. They were complete opposites where housekeeping and finances were concerned, proof positive that opposites may attract but don't always make good roommates, no matter how good the sex is.\n\nSex. The sex with Courtney was wonderful. She was a generous lover, capable of passion, but she also enjoyed long, leisurely sessions of lovemaking. The only thing that would make the sex better was privacy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melissa was a moaner, and she hated to stifle herself when she came.\n\nMelissa stood directly in front of the car, waiting for Courtney to look up from her phone. The warm smile that had first drawn her to this woman made the wait worth it. When Melissa heard the door locks click open, she headed to the passenger side. She wished she could kiss Courtney at the train station the way a straight partner would, but the new assistant principal insisted on keeping a low profile. Instead of a kiss, they held hands for a moment before Courtney started the car.\n\nShe headed to join the cars lined up to get out of the parking lot. As usual, there was a long wait." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Busy day? You look frazzled.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Really? I tried to get my act together on the train. I even put on more mascara and lipstick, so I'd look good for you.\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You look delicious, but I can see there's something on your mind.\"\n\n\"The senior managing partner dropped the bomb. Everyone has to come back inside. No exceptions.\"\n\nCourtney shot her a quick, anxious look. \"Does that mean you're moving back to Boston?\"\n\nBefore Melissa replied, she glanced over her shoulder. Kaylee had taken out one of her ear pods to listen. She smiled at the girl, who looked out the window instead of meeting her gaze. Kids were so clever." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"There are several options. I'll tell you later.\"\n\n\"Probably a good idea to hold it for later. I have some news too.\"\n\n\"Oh?\"\n\n\"Doug got a job with Hobbs Parks and Recreation. He's decided he likes it here and wants to look for something more permanent.\"\n\n\"If he gets a job and pays on time, that's good news.\"\n\n\"That's true.\" Courtney glanced in the rear-view mirror. \"Except I heard this from Kaylee instead of her father.\"\n\n\"Oh, I see,\" said Melissa." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"That may be poor communication, but legally, he's not obligated to discuss his plans with you.\"\n\n\"I know, but some communication would be nice. He put up quite a stink about custody during our divorce. I wonder what he's up to.\"\n\n\"He probably just wants to be closer to his daughter.\" Courtney seemed outwardly calm, but Melissa could see how much this development disturbed her. \"I wouldn't read too much into it.\"\n\n\"I just thought things were settled. I wish he'd talk to me about his plans. I'm dependent on the child support to keep us going.\"\n\n\"It's a shame Maine doesn't pay higher salaries to teachers.\"\n\n\"If I were still a teacher and not a principal, I couldn't even afford the rent.\"" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Maybe we should look for a place together.\"" }, { "from": "system", "value": "Next message should be approximately 6 sentences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After she'd said the words, Melissa couldn't believe they'd come out of her mouth.\n\nCourtney turned to her in surprise. \"Are you sure we're ready for that?\"\n\n\"No. I don't know where that came from, but I mean it.\"\n\nLooking stunned, Courtney focused on the road ahead. \"Let's talk about it tonight after our young friend goes to bed.\"" } ]