#promptchallenge

[qzwzp]

🎃👻 Happy Halloween, It's time for some spooky fun!! 👻🎃

🍬 We're already in Week 5 with Nan’s Achante and Leny’s Yasu! 💗 How’s your Halloween going so far? Anyone else indulging in way too much candy today? 😋🍬 Let me know your favorite Halloween treats below! 🎃🕸️ 🍭🍬🍭🍬🍭🍬🍭🍬🍭🍬🍭🍬🍭🍬🍭 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣶⣶⣖⣦⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⡟⣉⣽⣿⢿⡿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⡗⠋⠙⡿⣷⢌⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣷⣄⣀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣤⣾⣿⣿⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠈⠙⠛⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⡀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠻⠿⠿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡄ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡾⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣴⣾⠏⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠛⠛⠛⠋⠁⠀

[twilightpackfanatfics]

Letters To Santa

Tis The Season entry #2 is live.

Summary: Leah goes to drop off a letter for Santa at her local post office, not realizing it's going to change her life for the better. Prompt: TPFHolidayChallenge1223. Song of choice: Kirje joulupukille by Paula Vesala. Story Link: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/TPFHolidayChallenge1223/works/51745360 For more information on TPF's final writing challenge of 2023, Tis The Season, please check out the Collection Profile Page here: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/TPFHolidayChallenge1223/profile Twilight Pack Fanatfics Admin Note: I'm attempting to make banners to post with all submissions - If authors wish to make their own, please contact me through FB messenger or via the TPF's Short Story Challenge email listed on the Collection Profile page. xo.

Summary: Leah goes to drop off a letter for Santa at her local post office, not realizing it's going to change her life for the better. Rating: Teen and Up. F/F. Prompt: TPFHolidayChallenge1223. Song of choice: Kirje joulupukille by Paula Vesala. Story Link: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/TPFHolidayChallenge1223/works/51745360 For more information on TPF's final writing challenge of 2023, Tis The Season, please check out the Collection Profile Page here: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/TPFHolidayChallenge1223/profile Twilight Pack Fanatfics Admin Note: I'm attempting to make banners to post with all submissions - If authors wish to make their own, please contact me through FB messenger or via the TPF's Short Story Challenge email listed on the Collection Profile page. xo.

[takk8is]

The era of AI “hallucination”: How generative technology is transforming marketing and design

© 2023 by “Draumar” at Takk™ Innovate Studio, David Cavalcante

The word of the year and why.

The word “hallucinate” was recently elected the word of the year for 2022 by the Collins Dictionary. This is mainly due to the growing use of this word in the context of generative artificial intelligence. AI models capable of generating images, texts, and other content are often described as having the ability to “hallucinate” or imagine things that do not exist.

Understanding generative AI.

What is generative AI?

Generative artificial intelligence refers to AI models trained to produce original outputs based on a prompt or input request. This includes generating entirely new images, text, code, audio, and video.

Famous examples.

The most famous example currently is DALL-E from OpenAI. It can create realistic images of virtually any text description you provide. Other popular examples include ChatGPT from Anthropic, which maintains seemingly human-like conversations, and Claude, also from Anthropic, which generates coherent texts on various topics.

How the technology works.

These AI models are trained on huge datasets to learn patterns and correlations. Afterward, they can receive a prompt and generate new outputs that match the style and context of the original data. It’s as if they can “hallucinate” or imagine entirely new versions of what they learned before.

Transforming marketing and design.

New creative possibilities.

As a marketing and technology professional, I find the rapid development of generative AI models fascinating. These tools have the potential to revolutionize digital content creation, graphic designs, brand communication, and much more.

For example, instead of hiring human designers, companies will be able to simply “ask” an AI to create logos, ads, infographics, and other customized materials for their businesses. This will save a lot of time and money.

More efficiency and scale.

Furthermore, the automated generation of content, such as blog posts, emails, video captions, and website texts, will also be possible. Thus, marketing professionals can scale and customize their communications like never before.

In the future, entire advertising campaigns could even be generated by AI based on strategic goals and target audience profiles. This will bring more efficiency and relevance to communications.

Concerns and challenges.

Ethical and security issues.

However, generative models also raise concerns about copyrights, privacy, and security. We need to be careful not to allow these tools to be used to spread misinformation or generate harmful content.

Moreover, as AI becomes more sophisticated, we will need to deal with complex issues about creativity, authorship, and the nature of human work. We don’t have all the answers yet.

Current limitations.

For now, generative models still have many limitations. They can make false claims, repeat existing biases, and fail completely when asked to perform complex or creative tasks. The technology still has a long way to go before we can truly rely on it for critical tasks.

Future perspectives.

Cautious optimism.

Overall, I am excited to see where this technology can take us. I believe generative models will bring many positive innovations if developed and used ethically and responsibly.

With the right precautions, this new era of “AI hallucination” has the potential to automate mundane tasks, enhance human creativity, and make information more accessible to everyone.

What are the main examples of generative AI today?

Some of the main examples of generative AI today are DALL-E (image generation), ChatGPT (conversational chatbots), Claude (text generation), and Jukebox (music generation).

Can generative AI replace human designers and writers?

Not yet. Generative AI still has many creative and contextual limitations. For now, it works best to automate simple tasks or serve as an assistant to human designers and writers.

Do generative models pose any risk?

Yes. They can be used for spreading misinformation, violating copyrights, or generating inappropriate content. Therefore, we need ethical safeguards as the technology develops.

What is needed to train these AI models?

Enormous datasets (millions of parameters) and significant computational power are required. Large technology companies invest massive resources in this training.

Will generative AI replace marketing and communication professionals?

Not in the next few years. Humans will still be needed for creative strategies, emotional connections, ethics, and supervision. However, many tasks will be automated, allowing professionals to focus on higher-value activities.

— David Cavalcante 𝕚𝕟 https://linkedin.com/in/hellodav 𝕏 https://twitter.com/Takk8IS 𝕨 https://takk.ag

[thewrittentales]

Weekend Poem Challenge, You In? - One more day! https://writtentales.substack.com/p/weekend-poem-challenge-you-in/comments

[stationeryideas-2022]

And we're off Week 3 of the #penandinkchallengeart #penandinkchallenge This week kindly hosted by myself @mgmbesalie and @penandinkchallenge , today's prompt is the humble Swallow... 🖋️ FP@conklinpens_official, @yafabrands_official, 🔵♾️ Ink @privatereserveink.official 📙 @therangeuk Did you know .....? That Swallows are mainly summer visitors to us here in the UK. But they start arriving from Africa in Spring around late March/early April. By early June most Swallows have already started breeding and by July, the first hatchlings of young has usually left the nest and flown away. Thats when the parents normally then go on to raise a second brood, or even a third, depending on the temperatures here... To join this week's challenge all you have to do is.... 1) Draw or write anything inspired by that days prompt using your trustee pen and ink 2) Tag @penandinkchallenge and myself @mgmbesalie 3) Use the hashtag #penandinkchallenge and #penandinkchallengeart in your post 4) Share the challenge and join the @penandinkchallenge community in your feed or stories. Complete at least two prompts for your chance to win the weekly giveaway. Good luck everyone I'm looking forward to seeing your creations... #promptlist #promptart #promptchallenge #penandinkcommunity #fountainpen #art #artchallenge #fountainpenink (at Sturminster Newton) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp21Jb1obbl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[travelwithmestranger]

#justwrite #travelwithmestrangerfeatures #writingchallenge #24hrchallenge #promptart #writingprompt #artprompt #visualstoryteller #writerslift #poetsupport #promptchallenge #buddingpoet #buddingwriter #poetsupportingpoets #writingstreak #creativewriting #artistsupportingartist #artinspiration #storyinspiration #writinginspiration #storyprompts #writersliftingwriters #writersandpoets #poetsandartists #poetsandwriters #quoteswriter #poetsandwritersfeature #featuringpage #promptlist #storyidea (at Creative Writing) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpQ7jRVhJ_1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tysondrawsstuff]

Batmanuary Week 2: Smash Continuing with the previous style we get this one. There was a lot of “smashing that puss” during the stream for some reason. So silly. #batmanuary #batmanuary2023 #batmanfanart #fanart #dccomics #nightwinf #harleyquinn #darkart #darkartist #torontoart #torontoartist #week2 #promptchallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/CnR59cFOOsZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[yulogica]

7. Santa's Little Helpers

8. Two people under mistletoe

9. Waiting for Santa

10. Sitting by the fire

11. Writing Christmas list

12. Christmas day

Also in 5 and 7, eveeyone who is not by hime-cut jelly boy belongs to Cherryfyre

First 3 prompts for the Sweeticals Drawing Challenge!

1. Angel

2. Santa Claus

3. Elf

I like how they turned out.

Sweeticals are a cs by ScarletDestiney

[inkandthoughts]

Character 1: "I can't stop thinking about you. Every moment we're apart feels like an eternity."

Character 2: "I know. I feel the same way."

Character 1: "Then why can't we be together? Why do we keep pretending like this isn't real?"

Character 2: "Because...because I'm scared. Scared of how much I love you. Scared of how much I need you. What if something happens to us? What if we can't make it work?"

Character 1: "We can make it work. I believe that. I believe in us."

Character 2: "But what if we hurt each other? What if we end up breaking each other's hearts?"

Character 1: "That's a risk we have to take. Because being with you is worth it. Loving you is worth it."

Character 2: "I love you too. More than anything in this world. But I can't keep pretending like everything's okay. I need you. I need to be with you."

Character 1: "Then let's take a chance. Let's be brave, together. Let's face whatever challenges come our way, and never give up on each other."

Character 2: "Okay. Let's do it. Let's take a chance on love."

#WritingPrompt #StoryStarter #PlotIdea #CreativePrompt #InspirationForWriters #FictionPrompt #PromptChallenge #WritingCommunity #PromptOfTheDay #WritersLife

[artcher-artwork]

Hello Hello everybody! There's a LOT of traffic coming in from Twitter and a few of my Twitter buds as well! Welcome to my page! I post mostly my humanoid stuff here, but if things change other places I'll post some of my cuter stuff here as well, for now, have a frog! I love working in all genres, and this is where more of the humanoid D&D and TTRPG work stays and lives, have fun!

[nalledimessi]

Rescue

Hello there friends, have you miss me? Well, I’m here today to complete the challenge of this month, I have to admit I almost forgot about it and I have a little of trouble trying to write, but after all I was finally able to finalized at this @hellotvshowtrash and I’m also working on @elijahs-wife and in @xxwritemeastoryxx

Dom, hope you found your muse back, but as someone said one time “sometimes you need to lose yourself to find yourself” we’ll be waiting for you.

· Pairing: Elijah Mikaelson x reader

· Warnings: Cursing words and fluff as hell, like always.

· Words: 1K.

· Prompt: “Hold on, you died.” “Yeah, well, it didn’t stick”

You sigh watching at your surroundings, trying to find a way out of the old house were the 2 men’s that capture you were vampires, you rest your head to the wall trying to remember what your boyfriend and best friend, both of the also vampires, try to teach you a few weeks back for your own protection, when you start to hear the sounds of a fight starting not far away.

The sounds of it starting to sound closer to your room making you took anything that could be used as a stake staying out of sight waiting for them to open the door.

“Y/N” you drop what you were holding as soon you recognize his voice getting out of your hidden place.

“Elijah” running to him into a crashing hug.

He pull apart just enough to see you “Are you alright?”

“I’m, now you’re here” you confess.

“Sorry to interrupt this lovely reunion but we need to go, now!” Damon announce at the doorway, making Elijah guide you out the room, Damon leading the way out and you save between him and Elijah.

You were almost at the entrance when a vampire appear in front of it “I will have the pleasure at least to kill one of you” he said with a creepy smile on his lips.

“Take her out of here” Elijah declare moving using vamp speed to move the vampire away the door.

Damon took your hand pulling you to the entrance passing them by, “Elijah” you shout looking how the vampire stab him with a stake.

He turn to see you “I love you” he whisper before Damon throw you over his shoulder and take you out there using his vamp speed, but not before you could see how his body was starting to desiccated, falling to the floor kneeling down.

Tears rolling down your cheeks, feeling your heart breaking in pieces at the thought of losing him “we can’t leave him Damon” you said while trying to get out of his car.

He place his hands on your arms, pulling you back inside “He want you to be safe” he make you see him with his fingers under your chin “I promise you I will come back for him but we need you safe first” you nod to him, stopping fighting get out.

The way back to the boarding house was made in complete silence, your head against the window while still tears roll down your cheeks, you could feel the glance from Damon from time to time but decide not look at him.

The car stop in front of the boarding house, you seat straight looking down to your feet’s and your hand on the car’s handle “don’t came back without him” you demand him before getting out in direction to the boarding house.

“Y/N” Elena pull you into a hug as soon you enter the boarding house, but you couldn’t hug her back, the pain you feel was covering your heart more and more.

“It’s your fault” you announce to her, your voice now fill with anger.

“My fault?” she question you stepping back from you.

You leave a sob escape allowing new tears to form on your eyes and closing your hands into fist “If you have only told me about the supernatural before, he would be here with me” you scream to her.

“Damon…” Elena pronounce taking his hand to her mouth to look back at Stefan watching him denied with his head “Elijah” she add to then look back at you “Y/N, you should know..”

“Nothing that you said will bring him back, so save it Elena” you shout before passing her by to go upstairs to your temporary room.

“Y/N” she call you trying to follow you when Stefan stop her with a hand over her shoulder.

“Let her calm down, we will explain her later” he offer to her, earning a nod from her with her sight still fix on the direction you disappear.

You let yourself cry on your pillow until you fall asleep, trying to escape your reality for a while.

You feel the bed sunk on your side, forcing you to open your eyes to find Damon seated on your bed “where he is?” you ask him almost in a whisper trying to avoid and start crying again.

“I need you to listen to me” he said calm

“Where he is?” you repeat this time raising your voice.

The door of your room open “I’m here” he respond on the doorway.

You stand from the bed as fast as you could and run to him, he embrace you pulling you up the floor, one of his hands on your lower back and the other one behind your head “I’m here” he repeat whispering into your hear.

You pull apart, making him put you down but still keeping you close to him “Hold on, you die”

“Yeah, well, it didn’t stick” Damon rush to answer before Elijah “he is an Original” dropping his hand on his shoulder, making you remove your sight away from him to look at him “they can’t die” looking at Elijah to then back to yourself “that’s what your sister was trying to explain you before”

“Damn!” you curse dropping your head into Elijah’s chest.

“I thing you own her an apology, love” he express before deposit a kiss on your head.

“She can wait” Damon mention “I think you have more important things to discuss” palming Elijah on the back before walking to the door, leaving you alone.

“What elseI need to know about you Elijah?” you ask him titling your head to the right.

Lifting his hand to place it on your cheek “The much I care about you, that even I can’t die a part of me would do it if you die, that I would keep you safe even it cost my own life” he confess.

“I love you too Elijah” you respond to his confession, leaning to him and kiss him.

[writtenbykat]

Pumpkin Patch Proposals (Jilytober Day 25)

Prompt: James and Lily graduate from Hogwarts, and in October 1978 they go to a pumpkin patch. @jilytoberfest

“Be careful!” Lily chastised from her position curled up against his side. Sirius had challenged Peter and Remus in a race to climb to the top of a pyramid constructed of bales of hay– and then had proceeded to attempt to take out his competition by force. Remus wobbled precariously for a moment, (from Sirius’ unsportsmanlike shove) and regained his footing. Lily let out a breath of relief. 

“Already regretting bringing us along with you?” he teased, pressing a kiss to the top of her knit cap clad head. 

“Not at all,” she said, smiling up at him. “I used to come here every year with my parents and Petunia before…” she trailed off– unwilling, or unable to put into words how much she’d lost in the past year. 

They’d graduated from Hogwarts that spring, full of optimistic hope– as if through sheer determination and force of will they could change the wizarding world for the better. He and the other Marauders got a flat in Wizarding London, largely funded by his and Sirius’ trusts while they sought employment. Lily and Marlene had moved into a flat in a muggle neighborhood a few blocks away– though the boys and Marlene teased that Lily might as well have moved into the flat with him, she was there so often (not that he minded in the least). 

They’d been unprepared for the harsh reality of the world that awaited them on the other side of the castle gates. The war was starting to truly begin: tensions mounting between the Dark Lord Voldemort’s followers and those whom he wished to eradicate like a common pest infestation– people like Lily. The mere thought of it had him pulling her closer, assuring himself that she was there. She was safe. 

Even the muggle world hadn’t been the escape he knew she’d wished for. Her (in his opinion, horrendous) sister, Petunia, had announced her engagement to an absolute walrus of a man– Vernon Dursley. She’d promptly moved out, spurning any and all of Lily’s attempts at reconciliation. 

A few months later, while out for drinks with himself and the others at a muggle pub, Lily got the news of her parents’ death. He knew she’d worried they’d be targeted, due to her involvement in the Order, and had started plans to move them into hiding. What she hadn’t expected was their deaths through no fault of her own, or based on notions of blood purity, but at the hands of a  muggle driver who had too many drinks before getting behind the wheel of his automobile. The accident had made the muggle news, playing across the television screens of the pub they’d chosen that night. He’d watched as the terrible realization slowly dawned across her features. When the muggle reporter finally disclosed the names of the couple killed in the accident, she’d collapsed to the ground with a wail of grief so profoundly heartbreaking it etched itself into his bones. 

He dropped to his knees beside her, pulling Lily into his arms and ushering her out of the pub and back home to let her grieve in private. In his flat, he’d held her as she let out anguished sobs that broke his heart. He held her and didn’t let go. He held her as she wept at their funeral, held her as she railed against the injustices of the world. He held her when her sister sold their parents’ home and cut all ties with Lily, and he held her tight until her sobs became silent tears, held her until those tears dried, and held her after, as she learned to live again. 

Slowly she’d come back to him. Back to herself. And he couldn’t contain his awe at the strength of the woman snuggled up by his side today. 

“I know,” he whispered back to her, “I’m really proud of you.” 

She blessed him with one of her glorious smiles, though this one was a little watery. “It’s not as hard as I thought. To be back here,” she clarified. “I thought I’d be a sobbing mess the first time without them– thought this was another thing I’d lost. But it’s good to be back here, with family.” 

Family. 

Lily thought of him and the Marauders– whom he’d considered brothers for years now– as her family. It took James a moment for the thought to sink in. Longer than he’d like to admit– even to himself, that Lily referred to him and the Marauders as family. 

The thought made his heart swell with pride and love. 

Marry me. 

The impulse caught him by surprise, though it was a thought he’d had more and more frequently. When she laughed at a particular joke he’d told. Marry me. When she counseled Sirius, as only he had been able to before. Marry me. When she worked tirelessly to brew a drought of wolfsbane for Remus that didn’t have all the negative side-effects he normally suffered through. Marry me. She helped Peter secure a job at the ministry, without making him feel badly. Marry me. 

He’d had to tamp down on the urge to blurt it out constantly. A gentle smile when she thought he wasn’t looking. Marry me. Bickering over if four nights of take-away was too many in a row. Marry me. Waking up next to her, marry me. An exchange of goodnight’s. Marry me. 

Marry me. Marry me. Marry me. It was practically a chant inside his head. One he had to hold himself back from just randomly shouting at her daily. 

“What?” Her whispered question drew him from his reverie. “What did you just say?” she asked again. 

He stared at her in shock. Had he said it out loud? From the look on her face, it would seem that his silent mantra hadn’t been so silent after all. James felt a momentary flare of panic stir in his chest, but it was quickly overwhelmed by the love he had for the woman in front of him. 

“Marry me,” he said on an exhale. “That is, will you marry me? Will you marry me, Lily Evans?” 

“Is this a joke?” her voice sounded strangled and he could see the hesitant hope in her eyes. 

“It’s not a joke. I have been thinking about it for a while now. And I was going to plan something grand and romantic, because you deserve nothing but the best. But I guess it got away from me this time.” As he spoke, it occurred to him how absolutely mental he probably sounded– rambling at her a half-done proposal, but he couldn’t stop. “I have loved you since I was fourteen years old. Probably longer. And I never thought you’d give me the time of day– but then, against all odds, you did.” She let out a watery chuckle, and he took her hand in his. 

“You let me have a second of your time, and I was done for. I fell even more in love with you, if that’s even possible. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be there for everything. I want everything with you, Lily. I know we’re young, but there’s no version of my life where I wouldn’t want you in it. Forever.” He drew a shaky breath. “So, will you marry me, Evans? Even though I practically shouted the proposal at you and I don’t even have a ring yet– oh, fuck, I don’t even have a ring– what am I doing?” 

She cut off his mad rambling with a hard kiss. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you, Potter,” she said, smiling ear to ear. “At least, I think that’s what you asked me somewhere in there,” she teased. 

“You– you will?” he hardly dared to believe he wasn’t dreaming. 

“Yes, I will marry you, James Potter. I would be beyond honored to be your wife, you silly, silly man.” With that he pulled her into a kiss, giving her a real snog this time. 

“Wait,” he said, pulling away, “Why am I silly?” 

“I don’t need the roses or fireworks or whatever other grand gesture you’d inevitably think up with Sirius. I only need you.” And she pulled him into a kiss that shut his brain up entirely– except for a new chant it had picked up. 

Wife. Wife. Wife. 

Read on AO3 or FFN

[luncalxartwork]

Butcher Demon

"Butcher Demon" Art Prompt Challenge 29 Dec 2021 Doing some personal challenge piece that will allow me to keep up with art and keep the creative juices flowing. These piece are going to be the result of my Wednesday Challenge stream. I want to keep this being a regular thing. 

Posted using PostyBirb

[polar534]

Slumber Party... OF DOOM!

So. Here is my submission for @johnnysfire ‘s TOH Prompt challenge. For anyone who doesn’t know the prompt chosen was “Evil.”

I asked my lovely friends from discord whether I should go emotional or lighthearted with this and they said lighthearted, so here we are. It was actually really really fun to take a topic like evil and twist it to something fun and hopefully fluffy. I had to keep a lot of things shorter then what I would’ve liked to meet the word count (spoiler alert, I still went a little over), so one day I do plan on fixing this up and making it an actual one shot, detailing the game and everything. Until then, enjoy the read! My idea going in? 

Haunted Boardgame:

(EDIT: Um so Tumblr ate and spat out some paragraphs at random the first time I posted... so hopefully everything is in its correct order. Yikes.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Pillows?" 

"Check."

"Blankets."

"Check!"

"Hot chocolate?"

3 sets of eyes turned to the green-haired witch sitting in the corner. Amity Blight was currently too busy staring at the glow that inexplicably seemed to surround Luz as she sounded off the ingredients for her perfect 'Slumber Party' to notice her companions all staring at her.

"..."

Amity's eyes shifted only slightly to the left as her ear twitched, finally noticing the silence and the fact that everyone was staring at her.

Wait.

Everyone was staring at her.

"Oh um..." Amity looked around panicked, flushing red as she realized she had completely zoned out. She quickly analyzed the scene. Willow had wrapped a fluffy blanket around herself as Gus clutched a pillow excitedly to his chest.

Right. The checklist. Refusing to look at Luz (to avoid any further embarrassment or lapses in attention), Amity quickly reached out and snatched her sound-off item. Only barely remembering what it was at the last moment, Amity somehow saved herself from the splash of scalding liquid that flew out of her mug.

"Hot chocolate, acquired!" She grinned forcibly and altogether too nervously.

Finally risking a glance up to her crush she realized that Luz was giggling, the human's eyes closed as she snicked softly against her hands.

Amity's ears pressed flat against her head as Willow chuckled to her left.

"Well that would be Amity for 'check.'" The plant witch giggled, shifting her body to face Luz excitedly. "So. What happens now?"

"Yes, what new human traditions are you going to show us? I'm so excited!!" Gus squeaked happily, crushing the pillow in arms.

Luz grinned. "Just a little more patience my friend. We've got to start this off correctly. So… if everyone would grab their cocoa, probably a little more gentler then Amity over there, then I'll begin the toast to make this the best slumber party ev-"

THUMP THUMP

Luz stopped short as all those in attendance whipped around to face the door. Amity was finally able to unhunch her shoulders and stare with the rest of her friends at the mysterious knock at the door. The human was inquisitive herself.

"Luz, I thought you said there was supposed to be no one home tonight?" Amity questioned her curiously, cocking her head slightly to the side.

Luz's brow furrowed as she got up.

"There isn't anyone home tonight."

The entire room seemed to hold it's breath as Luz approached the door and pausing for what had to be dramatic effect, opened it sharply.

"HAH! GOT YOU… absolutely nothing…"

Amity peered around Luz's body to see exactly what was going on only to be met with the same sight and disappointment. An empty hallway.

Glancing both ways in the doorframe, the human shrugged nonchalantly as she went to close the door.

"Wait!" Gus cried from behind all of them. Flinging the pillow away from him and into Willow's stomach, he jumped up and dived underneath Luz to swipe something up from the ground.

Holding it proudly over his head both him and Luz marched back into the room, the bedroom door closing softly behind them. Willow and Amity leaned in close as Gus dropped the mysterious object to the ground with a soft and dramatic thump.

"What… is it?" Willow asked curiously, inspecting what looked to be a black rectangular box that lay before them.

"Is this part of the slumber party?" Gus asked curiously as Luz picked up the box and gave it a small shake.

"Not that I'm aware of. Let's open it!" The human said excitably, turning the box over to rip it open.

"Wait!" Amity yelped, grabbing Luz by the arm to stop her. Realizing what she was doing, Amity immediately dropped the contact, blushing profusely as she pointed to a small piece of paper that had fluttered to the ground.

"A note!!" Luz's eyes twinkled, causing the blushing witch to somehow go even redder. "Amity, you should read it for us!"

"What?!" Amity choked in surprise. "Why me?!"

"You found it! Besides you have a nice voice!" Luz explained casually, shaking the box slightly and holding it up to her ear.

Amity found it difficult to breathe as she shakily grabbed the note and held it in front of her, Willow and Gus scooting forward in excitement. Trying to ignore the thundering of her heartbeat in her chest and the full attention of the room, Amity glanced down at the note.

"Dear Sleeping Party attendants! You have been called upon to vanquish the evil from within this board! Inside you'll find what seems to be a normal board game, but is actually a prison for a very powerful and evil spirit! The only way to keep it's villainy contained is to play and win the game. The world is counting on you. Good luck! Mwehehehehehe."

Amity frowned and reread the note to herself. The world? That seemed farfetched to say the least. Where did this box even come from? Who sent it to them? Looking up Amity saw the stars dancing in Luz's eyes. Her crush was sold. Gus was practically buzzing beside her.

"I've heard of objects that could be bound with spirits before, but never like this!" He babbled excitedly.

"I have! You know how many human stories are filled with things like this? How long I've been wanting to do this?!" Luz grinned, finally figuring out how to open the box.

As the top lid slid off, a cheap and busted old board fell to the ground with a cloud of dust. Flipping the box over, a pile of cards, dice and one rather large hour glass spilled out as Luz gave it one final shake. Willow automatically went to organize everything and flipping the board over Amity saw a long and complicated maze pattern. The entire board seemed to be black, with the path cutting along through it a dull, brownish red. It seemed like each square had one of 3 icons sprinkled randomly throughout. In the very, very center of the board there was some sort of design. Amity reached forward and brushed the dust and dirt away from it as Luz and Gus talked excitedly above her.

The chatter quickly faded as everyone's eyes slid to the symbol that Amity had just uncovered. It was carved into the board itself, the deep grooves of the design painted in a faded and chipped white. Luz stared curiously while Gus, Willow and Amity all exchanged a concerned look. The design was simple, a small circle, with 4 tight loops surrounding it in all 4 cardinal directions, connecting in a diamond pattern in the very center of the circle.

The Witch's Knot.

Luz looked up at the plant witch curiously, one eyebrow raised as Amity swallowed the lump that was quickly growing in her throat.

"Oooh. That's elegant." Luz cooed.

"It's not elegant Luz…" Willow breathed quietly.

"That's," Amity pointed at the symbol, "a witch's knot. It's a symbol used to ward off evil."

Luz turned her head down to the board game and nodded. "Oh I get it, because of the evviiiilll theme this game has going on right?" She chuckled lightheartedly. When no one responded in kind, the human became quiet, her grin slowly slipping off her face.

"No. You don't understand. The Witch's Knot isn't just some superstition or tradition. In the Boiling Isles it had been used as a spell, carved to literally seal away evil. It hasn't been used in centuries though." Amity explained further, staring at the ancient white symbol. A cold feeling crept up her back.

Maybe there really was something to this game.

"Well, that makes what I'm about to say next, something that I have wanted to say forever by the way, a little more somber…" Luz gulped as she grabbed the dice Willow had set aside. The human tossed them into the air, and as they all watched the cubes crash down, she spoke again.

"Let the game… begin."

***

Despite the incredibly dramatic and powerful gesture, Luz had no idea how to play the game, none of them did. Luckily for the companions, Willow eventually found the directions taped to the inside lid of the box Luz had tossed aside. They were scribbled out in child-like handwriting but they were detailed enough to understand:

- Rolling the dice will move your character that many steps forward. On the board there are 3 different symbols. These represent your obstacles, fail to complete them and you lose your life. The only way to reverse this death is for a living player to revive you by taking a detour off the fastest route. Be warned, choosing this path will waste precious time and you will be risking your own life. You may only revive one player per game.

- Each player must choose a small token to represent themselves on the board. You will work together with those around you to overcome each obstacle in your path to the sigil. The goal is to reach the end with at least one player still standing to revive the The Witch's Knot protecting us from the evil.

- You may not begin the game until you have flipped the hour glass. If the last grain drains from the timer and you have not reached the end, evil will be unleashed.

-The Board itself is enchanted to tell if the players are worthy. It will be the judge and jury for the challenges you complete.

[ ~ ] Draw a blue card and cast the correct type of magic listed on it at the board. If you fail to cast the correct spell you lose your life.

Below are the symbols you will encounter on your quest:

[ + ] Draw a pink card and complete the challenge listed upon it. If you fail to meet this challenge you lose your life.

[ * ] Draw a green card. Answer the question on it correctly to move forward. If you get it wrong you lose your life.

Now having read through the rules, everyone seemed a lot more hesitant to start.

- When your token reaches the end, the correct lines to reseal the evil will appear. Read them aloud in a strong and clear voice.

"This seems like a bad idea." Amity echoed the thoughts of everyone in the room. Her amber eyes flicked up and caught Luz's warm brown ones. The human gave her a shaky smile.

"Come on Ami," Amity had to remind herself to keep breathing at the idea of her nickname. "It will be fun. Besides… I'm not exactly itching to find out what happens if we don't play." The human admitted quietly. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the dice.

They had all chose board pieces to represent themselves from Luz's large collection of knickknacks. Luz was a small figure of Azura while Amity was Hecate. Gus found himself a tiny rubber chameleon toy while Willow fittingly found a small plastic flower. Each kid seemed to fidget with their tokens as Luz looked at them each in turn. Nodding, the human set her figure down on the start square. Immediately a buzzing sound filled the room and the dull red path illuminated itself. The symbols now glowed their respective card color.

"Well. That seems ominous." Luz laughed nervously, her eyes growing wide as the light from the path traveled towards the Witch's Knot, as it reached the chipped white paint, the symbol flashed, changing it's paint to a bright angry red. "Scratch that. That is just ominous. Is my soul about to be consumed? Did I just sell my soul to a board game?"

Willow set her piece down next, a small ring of light forming around it as the board recognized yet another player.

"Well, I wasn't really using my soul for anything important at the moment. Let's do this." The plant witch grinned and Amity watched as Luz's confidence swiftly returned.

Gus whooped and set his own piece on the board earning him a wide smile from both of his friends. Soon all sets of eyes drifted to Amity who was staring down at the note that had been originally taped to the box. She couldn't shake the horrible suspicion that someone was setting them up. Looking down at the now glowing and obviously magic board, it was clear they were already too far into the trap to back out now. Taking a deep breath she placed Hecate down right next to Azura.

"Alright. Let's do this." Amity nodded, swiftly grabbing the hour glass sitting next to her. "Is uh, everyone ready?"

"Oooh! Can I say it? Amity pleaaaseeee?" Luz jumped in suddenly, startling the green-haired witch into nearly dropping the time piece. Resetting her heartbeat, Amity handed the hourglass to Luz who grinned widely.

"Alright. This time for real. Let the game begin." The human announced as she flipped it and begun their countdown.

The dice magically floated over to Luz as soon as the first grain of sand hit the bottom of the glass. It was clear who was going first. Tossing them out in front of her Luz rolled a 3 and 5. As she reached to move her figure, it zoomed away from her hand, darting forward 8 spaces by itself. The symbol beneath it glowed a bright pink. A challenge space.

Luz grabbed a card, and the race against time began.

Gus was the first to die, his token being swallowed by the board itself after he lost his balance 2 seconds into a 5 second handstand.

Amity was the next to lose to the game. Her concentration on a fireball spell having been completely shattered by Luz's supportive hand laying on her shoulder. Amity knew it wasn't her simply being startled like Luz apologized profusely for, but there was NO way she would be explaining that today. Not over a stupid board game at least. Fate of the world or not.  

Luz and Willow were about 3/4th through the path leading to the sigil when just a few spaces ahead the path split in two. Written in very faint lettering was the words: "Forest of Revival" by the detour path. Looking down it, the companions saw every single square through the 'forest' was lined with knowledge cards. The path itself eventually weaved back to the sigil, but was easily twice as long and packed with symbols.

If they wanted to revive someone it would be a struggle. Deciding to move forward Willow rolled her dice and landed on a spell square.

"Summon a small abomination to pick up your token off the board."

The group fell silent. Willow had never been good at abominations. She slumped in defeat.

Amity had to speak up, the painful memory of her teasing hanging over the entire room.

"You've got this." She said quietly, looking anywhere but Willow.

Luz's eyes flicked worriedly towards Amity, before they turned back to Willow.

"Amity's right. I've seen you do much cooler then a little abomination." Luz cheered helpfully.

"Thanks you two, but I think we both know what happens now." Willow admitted holding a hand up and drawing a pristine circle.

The resulting pile of barely sentient goop unsurprisingly earned a negative reaction from the board and Willow's token disappeared.

Luz wasted no time grabbing the dice for the next turn. They only had about 20 minutes left.

"I'm going to revive someone." She announced, rolling the dice and moving her token into the empty space before the forest.

"Wait, Luz! The forest is full of knowledge checks. Chances are you're going to get something you haven't learned yet. And we won't be able to help you." Amity spoke up quickly.

"Yeah, well you can't really help me if you all are dead right? Look. I'll be fine. There's 12 spaces to the revive square. If I roll double sixes, I'm there."

"That's a pretty big IF Luz..." Willow said worriedly, glancing over at the hourglass.

Turns out they didn't have to be worried at all. As double sixes appeared on the dice, Azura shot forward safely through the forest and landed directly on the revive square.

"I'm reviving Amity." Luz announced decisively as the square began to glow a bright yellow and Hecate appeared beside Azura.

"Me? Why?"

"Because statistically you are the most obvious choice. Top Student and well versed in multiple different magic tracks." Gus nodded, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Good choice Luz!"

Willow merely looked away in shame and Amity felt guilt twist at her heart.

"Well that's not exactly true, but I figure since all of us are always getting up to magic mischief that Amity should get to be a bigger part of this adventure. Plus, historically we have made a pretty good team." Luz beamed, somehow melting the tension of the entire room with her words.

She practically melted Amity face too as heat rushed to the witch’s cheeks at the compliment.

They resumed the game, getting further and further through the forest. As the sand ran down in the hour glass, Hecate and Azura inched closer towards the sigil and the evil within the board.

"1234...5...6... and 7. Nice! Just enough!!" Luz counted excitedly as the board moved her token into the final square before the Witch's Knot. She glanced worriedly at Amity who was still several spaces away and then at the hour glass with just a sliver of sand left.

They were running out of time.

Luckily the board seemed to recognize Luz's finish as a team victory and Hecate was pulled straight to the end, standing alongside her friend/rival Azura.

Two white cards appeared in front of Luz and Amity.

"Ok. So... now we just read whatever's on this card and the evil gets re-sealed?" Luz asked uncertainly, fidgeting with her card.

Amity simply stared at the white card still laying in front of her, dread building in her chest. If there was ever a time for the trap to spring... it would be now. Haunted objects like this often came with a curse, especially here in the Boiling Isles. The ancient symbol currently pulsating red in the center of the board reminded Amity that there was a chance that whatever 'evil' this board contained may be far too old and powerful to simply be sealed away by two witches in training...

"Yep. And hurry! There's not much time left!" Gus's panicked voice jolted Amity out of her thoughts. Taking a deep breath, Amity snatched the card up and flipped it over, almost completely in sync with Luz.

"To defeat the evil within in this board, I hereby announce that-" The two read off in unison.

"... King is the greatest of all time."

"... Luz is a buttface."

The entire room fell silent as the two finished the 'spell' causing the Witch's Knot in the middle to flash a bright, blinding blue before the entire board went dim.

From the doorway the companions could all hear a malicious cackling.

Amity turned around slowly, only to see the resident demon of the Owl House rolling around on his back, laughing.

"YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN YOUR FACES! Oooooh. Oh nooooo! The evil of the board is going to get usssss. Wheeeeheheehehe."

"King!!" Luz reprimanded angrily, but the smile on her face gave away her true feelings. "You know, if you wanted us to play a board game you made, you could've just asked!"

The little demon pushed himself off the floor and wiped his eyes. He walked to the center of the board and kicked over the hourglass, seconds away from running out of sand.

"Psssh. Like I'd want to be involved in your silly little 'Sleep Party' thing anyways. Not that I got an invite or anything..." King grumbled.

Amity felt bad for the little guy, even if the game had them all stressed over nothing, he just wanted to feel included. Reaching forward hesitantly, knowing she didn't have the best relationship with the demon, Amity gently scooped him into her arms and coddled him.

And to both of their surprise, The King of Demons let her.

"Besides, it's not my game anyways. I just wrote those last two cards." King continued, crossing his arms defiantly from his position in Amity's arms.

Luz frowned. "But if you didn't make it then... who did?"

"I don't know. Eda just had it laying around. I found it a couple of days ago and planned this spectacular and amazing prank to pull on you guys for not inviting me. And it workkkeedd! Hah!"

Amity tensed. Nobody knew who made it? A board this enchanted had to have been made by someone.

"No, that's not right. There has to be some sort of clue, right?" Luz frowned, looking around at her friends.

"I don't know, I didn't look." The demon king shrugged before stretching out and curling tightly into Amity's chest.

"Try flipping it over? Maybe there's a name or something. That's what my dad's always do to our stuff in case it gets lost." Willow suggested helpfully.

Everyone nodded as Luz tentatively reached over and flipped the board over. On the back, faintly scratched into the cheap cardboard, were two initials and a small inscription. They had found their answer.

L + E - Vanquishing evil together. Forever.

The End

[midnite-dreary]

Inktober Day 3: Bait.

“Hiya, Georgie.”

Phew. Nearly used up my new pen on that background.

[figandthewasp]

This is going to be so much fun!!! Thanks @cchelseawwolfe & @billsafi #anotherworldoctober 🌛🎃🌜 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #chelseawolfe #billcrisafi #creativity #creativityprompts #promptchallenge #october #octoberchallenge #create #introspection #selfcare #selflove #autumn #themagicofautumn #magic #magick #useyourimagination #reflect #imagination #imagine #visualize #vision #play #havefun #supporteachother art #loveistheanswer #halloween #samhain https://www.instagram.com/p/CFSr0O0JfGA/?igshid=1hnpr5pc2x6uc