#slice of life fantasy

[innocentlymacabre]

Due North [Part 1]: 8 Brook Way

30.07.21 | Part 0

Fantasy meets slice-of-life in the secretive, wonderous, and oddity-rich lives of the residents of Due North

8 Brook Way currently held the form of a picturesque cottage, the likes of which can be found front and centre of just about every children’s book. It was quaint, simultaneously large and small, and somehow smelled wonderfully of fresh baked cookies even empty. It had taken on several forms over its extremely long life, several far more interesting than the one it currently donned, but its walls were presently abuzz with murmurs of excitement nonetheless.

8 Brook Way was no longer empty, and its new residents, Alberto Zecca and Isabella Autin, fawned over the shape it had taken for them. A tree, the type of which eluded every botanist that had ever attempted to classify it, stood guard from the backyard garden, its branches graciously extending to the perimeter, keeping time with the wind. It sang with the wind, hundreds of voices chiming in to make one, beautiful harmony that wafted throughout town, a siren call rumoured to be able to lift the spirits of those in mourning or even heal a broken heart. Ivy crawled across the bounding walls, weaving into its very make, and small, almost imperceptible paw prints and claw marks were pressed on top. The ivy snaked and stretched underground, far further down than anyone had ever explored, secrets resting on its every strand.

8 Brook Way was the only house in its vicinity, forming a sort of block of its own, and Brook Way was the closest street to the house, rather than the one it was on. The actual Brook Way skipped the number eight, an oddity that had led to several confused new postmen. Alberto and Isabella didn”t mind the confusion in the slightest – in fact, Alberto said it was one of the endless positives that came with the house.

Having moved in only a few hours ago, the pair were lounging on a chesterfield sofa that came with the house, in the otherwise almost unfurnished living room. The full moon shone brilliantly through the glass wall opposite them, the silver light falling delicately on each surface. Beyond it lay a presently untended garden, the moon’s light dipping and diving between its weeds and many, many secrets that Number 8 couldn’t wait for the residents to uncover.

It seemed though, it would have to wait. Tonight, the residents stayed indoors, unknowingly nested amidst the liveliest walls in the house.

Liking the story? Consider reblogging so it can reach a wider audience! 💜 Continue reading below :)

“I really don’t want to cook tonight,” Alberto complained.

“Yeah, I’m too tired too,” Isabella agreed. “What about that diner we passed on the way in? Something with an O,” she said, desperately trying to picture the wooden sign jutting out of the doorway. “Oh, it’s no use. We went by so quickly, the only thing I remember is that it was painted blue and green.”

“What about pizza? There’s always pizza.”

“But…diner!” Isabella protested, always having adored a good diner. “Come on, let’s just walk around town. It’s a small place, we’re bound to find it eventually.”

Alberto begrudgingly conceded, which is how they found themselves face to face with a man in a suspiciously large trench coat, asking for directions after having gone down three long, wrong roads. Isabella suspected he was hiding snakes under that coat, judging by the suspicious hissing sounds interspersing his speech, but the fact that said speech seemed to be exclusively rhymes annoyed her more. His confusing aid, if you could even call it that, led them to yet another wrong street.

They did, of course, eventually make it to the diner – “Ossario’s! I told you it had an O!” – after being seemingly guided by a particularly friendly dog. As they approached the establishment, Alberto thought he saw the paint of the building shimmering and changing colour slightly but dismissed it as hunger (and slight annoyance at Isabella’s insistence on eating at the diner, if he was honest).

The woman behind the wrap-around counter introduced herself as Alecia Ossario, the owner of the diner. If you passed her on the street, she would most likely end up as nothing more than a face you see in a dream and wake up trying to place. Yet, for some indescribable reason, both Alberto and Isabella couldn’t help but be drawn to her, intrigued by the notion of her very existence. The room’s light seemed to bend around her, respectfully leaving her untouched; but rather than leave her shrouded in the dark, she shimmered as she moved.

“I’m Isabella and he’s Alberto. We just moved in.”

“Berto and Bella – how sweet! I didn’t know number eight had gone to such a lovely couple,” Alecia said with a smile. She smiled with her eyes, her genuineness probably the only reason Bella noticed them. She couldn’t be sure because it really wasn’t the sort of thing you saw very often, but she swore she saw her eyes change colour.

“Oh! Oh, no,” Berto countered, a little tired of the same song and dance over and over again. “We’re not a couple.”

“Definitely not,” Bella picked up, easing him of the burden of explanation. “He’s a writer, and I’m an artist, so we can both work from wherever we want, as long as his editor and my gallery get something every now and then. “Wherever we want” just so happens to coincide, so we moved in together to save money.”

Alecia seemed impressed and asked a little about their work, Bella noticing each time her eyes changed colour, before segueing into their orders.

“We’re starved,” Bella blurted out before Berto had a chance to ask for a menu. “Whatever can be made the fastest.”

“Burgers and chips coming right up,” Alecia noted, turning to the kitchen.

The moment she was out of earshot, Bella pulled Berto in close. “Dude! Did you see –”

“Her eyes?” Berto interjected, nodding vigorously. “Yeah, I saw ‘em too. You know what else? I saw the paint on the outside change colour too.”

-----

thanks for reading! this is a seven-part series I'll be releasing week-on-week. if you'd rather not wait, you can grab the whole thing here for the low low price of one (1) email address! it’s a big, 33-page PDF, so you’ll get plenty of bang for your non-buck - whatcha waiting for?

Update: PART 2

my writing is entirely reader-supported, so I’d be thrilled if you could drop a coin or two into my tip jar! :) annnnnd I may or may not slip a couple of for-your-eyes-only book bundles under the table as a little thanks ;)

ko-fi 💜 • newsletter ☕ • instagram • masterlist

taglist (ask to be added/removed!): @caspersgraveyard @zephsthings @loverrgf @mrunmione

[jacktheeldergod]

Bread

✦ Bread ✦

[signourneybooks]

Cozy Fantasy Book Tag

On this fine Sunday I thought it was time for a book tag. I still have some backlog book tags I’d like to get to anyway. Yes I do have a bunch saved in my email folder. Shhh. And what better kind of book tag for a Sunday than one about cozy fantasy. I like cozy SFF and slice of life SFF, though they are not the same thing to me. I might write something about that in the future. But for now we…

[thebarontheabyss]

This tale starts with your death.

Read WIP here

(Current wordcount: 240k!)

You remember only the moth, carrying you through the cosmos.

And so, the Abyss beckons you.

Now, you are a spirit, immortal. After a meeting with the Grim Reaper, Death, you were gifted with a peculiar inheritance: a bar.

This mysterious establishment and the Abyss around it serve as a nexus, connected to every realm in existence. It's a haven where spirits and deities, devils and angels, converge to drink and revel.

Yet, beneath the surface, an unease stirs. A voice calls out in your dreams—a loneliness that echoes through the Abyss. Why does it seek you?

A motley crew of spirits and immortals, each hailing from distant corners of the realms, stands with you. Bonds are waiting to be formed, or even love that transcends death itself—perhaps even with Death themself.

Manage your bar, where serving a drink to a god or an eldritch entity is just another day's work. Unravel a cosmic mystery, go on a date in infernal Hell, witness the universe's creation, or unlock the arcane secrets of magic.

Your new afterlife awaits.

A narrative-driven experience focused on character development and storytelling.

Play as any gender or none.

Shape your personality through meaningful choices.

Engage in deep and complex relationships with a diverse cast of characters.

Romance mortals and immortals alike - if you want poly, purely physical, or asexual - they will respond in kind.

Explore the afterlife, visit realms of immortals and gods, and uncover the dark secrets of the bar.

M\F\NB (Poly or Monogamous paths) Death reveals a surprising warmth beneath their eternal duty.

Is there room for love within their everlasting embrace? Read more >>>

M\F (Poly or Monogamous paths) This devilish being, a powerful magnet of desire, seeks more than power in the bar’s shadows.

Who dares to pursue the heart behind the flame?

Read more >>>

M\F (Poly or Monogamous paths) The Witch, with their feline companion, seeks a lost soul, their magic stirring trouble and passion alike.

Can a mortal love thrive in the spirit realm?

Read more >>>

M (Monogamous path)

A mercenary turned security guard, Hastur carries an immortal burden, guilt born of past battles and sacrifices.

Will your love heal his wounds?

Read more >>>

NB (Monogamous path) The spectral diva enchants with their voice, their performance a dance of beauty tinged with the sorrow of eternal life.

Can your love find a new song for them?

Read more >>>

M\F\NB (Monogamous path) A shade keeps the bar’s order, and his silence holds the weight of cosmic secrets and the tapestry of existence.

Will your heart fall for the being behind the shadow?

Read more >>>

With feathers dark and wit sharp, The Raven’s history is as rich as the bar itself. He offers piercing insight beneath a layer of humor.

Read more >>>

The stern soothsayer-turned-accountant Yaga guards the bar’s fortune while wrestling with her own spectral regrets and wisdom.

Read more >>>

Shelly, the bar’s assistant, brings life-affirming warmth but seeks a new family to fill the void of her lost one.

Read more >>>

Welcome to the cosmos: the tapestry of existence, a complex weave of ever-changing realms. Each domain is a thread in the grand design.

Read more >>>

Feedback on any typos, grammatical errors, or other textual issues.

Notes on any continuity errors to ensure a smooth and logical progression.

Thoughts and opinions on the plot, characters, and overall narrative experience.

Don't be shy about sending your feedback - as small as it may be. I'll be answering and taking each into consideration. You are very welcome to post your reviews here!

The game explores themes of Death in various forms, including suicide.

Alcohol indulgence and its various side effects (hangovers, vomiting, etc.)

Sexual themes (currently only non-explicit)

[skittykittybean]

Woah hey! Did I ever tell anyone that I’m a writer? :3

Well, now I am! Just posted my first story onto VoyceMe for a competition they’re doing. Part of the judging criteria is view numbers. Every click counts!!

(Though reads are appreciated too! X3)

[cracklewink]

some sketches of my guy

[iluumey]

happy pride month to toxic doomed yuri (frostkettle)

[hattiestgal]

Dragons Roar

[elizabugz]

Some silly little ghibli + rain pfps <3

From: Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, Arrietty, and two from My Neighbour Totoro

[jean-wei]

Another one! This one's from 2021. Just corny vibes, no big story. : ) You can read Phrasebook vol 1 here, and vol 2 here. If you feel so inclined, you can buy digital PDFs of all of the comics on my web shop!

I'll get vol 4 done ... eventually... someday... hahahahahahah! It's been quite a while. Aiming for 5-6 in total i think. We'll see what happens!

[innocentlymacabre]

Steadman Hirsch, premier and proudest realtor in all of Due North, stood in front of his latest job-well-done. Handy job, real estate. Supported his lifestyle quite well, what with everyone always welcoming him in with open arms and big, teeth-baring smiles.

This particular listing was a particular brand of fantastic. 8 Brook Way. Oh, if these walls could talk! (The fact that some of these walls could, in fact, talk, had no bearing on Steadman Hirsch’s use of the expression, for he was born with a rare condition preventing him from recognising any sort of irony whatsoever.)

Continue Reading

[leahnardo-da-veggie]

Cia's Wonderful Day Out

“Look, for the last time: I did not rob the bank,” Ciaran said through gritted teeth. “I have never robbed a bank. I would never rob a bank. I am a librarian, ma'am, not a bank robber.”

The exorcist on the other side of the table looked unamused. Her face was cold and cruel, a smirk tilting at the side of her lips. It was the sort of smile that belonged on a traditional vampire, ironically enough. He hated it so much. 

“You were seen at the scene of the crime, vamp. There's camera footage of you,” she insisted, playing the video for the dozenth time since dawn.

“Miss, please,” he said with all the patience he could muster. It was not much. “I am a vampire, as you've said. Ergo, I do not show up on cameras. This is proof that I am not, in fact, a bank robber. If this bank were using signature trackers, you can match my magic to this mysterious individual's and put an end to this. Please.”

Her frown only deepened. “Do you know who I am, vampire? My name is Lieutenant Ariella Miller of the Luxatian Exorcists, the best damned hunter in this part of the world, and right now, I'm not in the mood to entertain your bullshit.”

“He's right, though.” This came from Miller's partner, a tiny woman who was all but hunched into herself. There was something awfully familiar about her, Ciaran thought. But who cared? He just wanted to get home before the next episode of ‘Delia’s Delicious Delicacies' aired. Supposedly, she was going to do an excellent blood-wine sauce, and he wanted to try it himself. “It can't have been him, what with the camera footage.”

“Did I ask for your opinion, Megumi? Shut it.” Nonetheless, the damage had been done. Both of them, as well as Ciaran himself, knew that nothing was going to happen now. 

“I am a librarian,” he repeated quietly. “Not a bank robber. Will you please let me go?”

The exorcists looked at each other. Finally, Miller sighed. “Get out. Don't even think about running. One way or another, we'll get you, vampire. I know what your kind are.”

Ciaran stood up, stretching as he did so. If only he had been turned at a younger age, he thought. It would have been nicer to experience eternal youth than eternal aching bones. Without another word, the exorcists let him pass. 

The clock at the front of the police station told him it was dusk. How (not) fortunate. He had missed the episode by a good three hours. The cop manning the front desk glared at him as he passed over his meagre belongings. 

Tagging: @coffeeangelinabox, @dorky-pals, @calliecwrites, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @shukei-jiwa

@thewingedbaron, @pluppsauthor, @cowboybrunch, @wylloblr,

@possiblyeldritch @tragedycoded, @finickyfelix, @urnumber1star, @ratedn,

@ramwritblr @vampirelover890, @possiblylisle, @illarian-rambling, @the-ellia-west,

@differentnighttale @evilgabe29, @glitched-dawn, @rivenantiqnerd, @dragonhoardesfandoms,

@abiteofhoney @drchenquill, @everythingismadeofchaos, @dimitrakies, @beloveddawn-blog

@riveriafalll, @the-golden-comet, @rascaronii, @trippingpossum, @real-fragments

@unrepentantcheeseaddict, @the-inkwell-variable, @paeliae-occasionally, @an-indecisive-nerd, @thecomfywriter

@seastarblue, @wyked-ao3, @bookwormclover, @oliolioxenfreewrites, @aalinaaaaaa

@the-letterbox-archives (Anyone else who wants to get added can tell me in the comments, pm me, or send me an ask about it!)

[signourneybooks]

Of Knights and Books and Falling in Love | Book Review

Book: Of Knights and Books and Falling in Love by Rita A. RubinRelease Date: June 29th 2023Tags: New Adult | High Fantasy | Slice of Life Fantasy | Cozy Fantasy | M/M Romance Trigger/Content Warnings: Torture | War victims | Kidnapping Jayce has little memory of life before entering servitude to the Dark Lord, and no hope of ever escaping. Until he meets Alexius, the knight with a heart of gold.…

[fallstaticexit]

Adie Briar is no typical 8 year old. She has access to an ancient and powerful magic that has a dark side. Follow her on her journey to learn more about her magical birthright as well as her budding friendship with a gifted faerie child, Edin Silversweater. Beginning - Character Page - COTF Tag

[silencedminstrel]

Art by Andrea Marcias @ WAARP

A DIALOGUE OF SCIENTISTS - ESPER-TROC AND MORFOROKO ABOUT TO ACTIVATE A VERY CONTROVERSIAL DEVICE FROM THEIR FEUDING PAST

(Gasp) Of all the...! Esper-Troc this damned thing nearly brought the...! Your memory is quite good, Morforoko, I'm impressed! Eight thousand years ago the entire New Haven

Had experienced its longest winter in history, and the League of Twelve Cities nearly collapsed onto themselves from the constant squabbling for resources, correct?

And you would have destroyed the entire planet with this thing have I not stopped you from tearing through the fabric of reality, Esper-Troc! But unbeknownst to you, I've

Perfected it long after you destroyed my lab! So you want me to thank you? Only if you'd launch it...! (Sigh) I'm going to regret this Esper-Troc! Inputting target coordinates...!

[tempestmothstorm]

Ok since Monika still has her admin powers in the side stories you think she could just discover them accidentally or use them without realizing

Anyways au where Monika and friends discover her admin powers but dont know about the wider context of what it means. So they just go around thinking Monika has magic and try practicing with a bunch of silly fun shenanigans because they figure it’s some chosen one bloodline stuff and not like. A product of their reality being a constricted digital science experiment.

This au will not end well