Having had an easy time writing for last week’s Friday Fictioneers, the cosmic balance saw me struggling to write this time out. I’ll point the finger in equal measure at both fatigue and an over-abundance of ideas. The photo prompt this week was exciting for me insofar as I saw an opportunity to make a link, however tenuous it might be, to a story featuring some of my cyberpunk/future-noir characters and their attendant settings and atmosphere. I love this stuff, so it’s super difficult for me not to write in great depth about neon reflecting in rainslick streets populated by throngs of people right off the set of Blade Runner. Writing a piece of approximately 100 words was challenging to say the least.
Anyway, here is this week’s photo prompt, kindly provided by Madison Woods:
Madison’s story, along with links to all the other Friday Fictioneers stories, can be found at:
http://madisonwoods.wordpress.com/flash-fiction/expectations/
I hope you enjoy the story. As always, any feedback, comments and thoughts are always appreciated 🙂
‘Meet Me There’
The Enclave hacker was a confusion of biotech and cybernetics, humanity forsaken in the pursuit of bleeding edge performance in the net. Her one remaining eye regarded Masden expectantly through a neon lit haze of stratified opium smoke. He slid the required data chip across the table.
“Take me to her.”
Cherry’s virtual space resembled a private park, secreted at the fringe of Neo-Tokyo. The diminutive foxgirl wrapped him in an enthusiastic embrace, her vulpine ears and tail twitching with delight. Masden felt his heart swell.
“I got away, Masden. You saved me. I’m beyond the reach of the Scarlet Union now. Remember this place: the bench, the tunnel. Meet me there.”
Words Beyond 
I like the sound of Cherry’s vulpine ears and twitching tail. An engaging mix of weird and cybernetic characters, with a vividly portrayed backdrop for each. Nice work.
Mine’s at: http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/a-place-to-die-for-friday-fictioneers-13-april-2012/
Thanks, Sandra. I’m glad Cherry caught your attention. Thanks for your always kind and thoughtful feedback. 🙂
What a strange new world you’ve concocted. It reminds me a lot of Ken Lui’s (might have that spelled wrong) piece in this month’s Buzzy Mag. And I LOVED Blade-runner, so anything with that kind of feel is going to go over well with me, too. Great story!
Thanks Madison, I’ll have to read the Ken Liu (Exotic Pets, right?) story soon. It looks very much my sort of thing. I’m really pleased this story has received some positive feedback, as you can no doubt tell, these characters are close to my heart 🙂 Good to know you’re a Blade Runner fan, too!
Yes! That’s the one 🙂
I haven’t seen Blade Runner *gasp* but I love the world you created here. A great tale and would love to read more.
Thanks, Emma. I’m happy you liked this. I’m hoping to post some fragments, excerpts and short stories featuring these characters and settings as time goes on. Blade Runner is my all time favourite movie, so of course, I recommend you see it 😉
I have to echo Madison here–there was a Blade Runner element to it that I adored. At the same time, it’s a completely unique world. Are you expanding it? I’d love to learn more about the characters, the antagonist, and the world.
http://quillshiv.com/2012/04/12/flash-fiction-faction-from-agatha/
Thanks so much, Rinn. This flash piece was a little outing for characters and ideas which I have been working on in some way for a long time now. That you would like to see more on the strength of this has made my day 🙂 I intend to post some other material from my ‘future-noir’ writings in the near future. I hope you enjoy them too 🙂
Andy
I love the some of the words you use, “diminutive, vulpine, secreted, stratified.” And, I like your choice of names, too. 🙂
–Jan
Thanks for the compliment on word choice, it’s one aspect of writing (and particularly the Friday Fictioneers) which I get a lot of enjoyment from. I like it when a word just… works. 🙂 Also, very pleased you like my name choices. 🙂
Yes, I loved your charming description, given in a completely off hand manner, of a highly unusual setting and group of creatures. So, you managed to come up with something after all. I had a terrible time. My mind went totally numb. I have written two offerings, but I am not proud of either. just an off week for me.
Here:
Thanks,
Lindaura
I’m glad you liked it, thanks for reading and don’t worry about the linkage mixup. Easy to do 🙂
Whoops! what an idiot! I just posted your address!!!!
Here is Laura’s:
http://fictionvictimtoo.blogspot.com
Sounds like an interesting setting with some out there characters! The first scene made me think of the cantina in Star Wars – I need to read more science fiction for more current references! I like the ending as it gives a promise of more to come.
Mine is here: http://erinleary.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/flash-friday-fiction-2/
Hehe, I really like that the opening put you in mind of the Mos Eisley cantina. That can only be a good thing! 🙂 I think the enclave hacker would be right at home there, somehow. Thanks for such a nice comment. 🙂
The foxgirl reminds me of Vulpix; that’s a pokemon. I used to be obsessed with that show.
Quite a curious new world. The last line is particularly suspenseful on that, among other things. It really is wide open.
I’m not sure Cherry would appreciate being tossed around in a small red and white ball 😉 Everyone enjoys a little bit of Pokemon. Even if they won’t admit it. Thanks for your feedback 🙂
Wonderful cyber-punk with shifter mixed in. Great!
Here’s mine:http://teschoenborn.com/2012/04/13/friday-fictioneers-3/
Thanks very much, I’m happy you liked it 🙂 I love writing cyberpunk and similar, so this was a cheeky tangent from the prompt 😉
Excellent story again this week, Andy. Having been in the same position myself a couple of weeks ago, it’s great to see you finally getting to reveal your own characters too!
I’ve had the privelege of reading the many stories – both new and old – featuring Masden, not to mention being there for the “birth” of Cherry, so seeing them get the attention they deserve is wonderful to see.
I love the intelligent way you slipped in the reference to the photo prompt too, a very nice touch. 🙂
Though you’ve read mine, here’s a link anyway:
Thanks, Gaz. As always, your support and input mean a great deal to me. You’re my initial barometer for this stuff, so I’m glad you liked this one too. You call my referencing of the photo prompt ‘intelligent’; a less kind man might have said, ‘tenuous’ or ‘opportunistic’ instead 😉 But hey, it’s all good fun. Thanks again 🙂
Very imaginative. The most original (and poetic) piece I’ve read so far today. Here’s mine: http://furiousfictions.com.
Thanks so much, Joseph. High praise indeed 🙂
I seriously enjoyed yours this week. Stellar work.
I really liked the cloak and dagger sense at the end. Nicely done, Andy.
Here’s mine:
http://siobhanmuir.blogspot.com/2012/04/running-100words-for-fridayfictioneers.html
Siobhan
Thank you, I was hoping for a slight air of mystery in the closing line. Not that you can tell from this piece, but my Masden character here is a P.I. too, something in common with your Nik character. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Excellent story Andy.
An interesting but scary world you’ve created here..
I’m glad you liked it, Mike. The world populated by Masden, Cherry and co. is pretty much a dark mirror of our own, set in the not too distant future. Thanks so much for reading.
Excellent story and a very intriguing world you have going here. Looking forward to reading more.
http://tollykitsjourney.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/flash-fiction-story-1-for-fridayfictioneers/
Thanks, I’m pleased you enjoyed and were left feeling like you would be happy to read more. I hope to post more material from this setting with these characters or similar. I hope you come back to enjoy those stories too. Once again, I wish you all the best in your Friday Fictioneers journey. 🙂
Sci-fi, intrigue, romance. This could be expanded in so many directions! Loved the description of the cyber-girl.
Hehe, ‘Sci-Fi, intrigue, romance…’ you should be my publicist 😉 Thanks for such a lovely and supportive comment. This stuff is close to my heart, so it’s especially gratifying to receive positive feedback this week. Yours was especially touching. 🙂
Awesome! I especially liked “neon lit haze of stratified opium smoke”. One of those “I have no idea what that means…and yet I can see it!”
I had a similar problem with my Friday Fiction, trying to fit a huge world into 100 words. I don’t think I was quite as successful as you, but here it is:
http://the-drabbler.com/the-tunnel-of-misfortune/
Thanks for the kind words, Robert. While being kind to me, you’re being too hard on yourself. Your story was very cool and you conveyed a great sense of your character in a really short form. I’m happy you enjoyed this piece, as I hope to post more in a similar vein. /end shameless plug 😉
I had to read this a few times. I think I get it. Most intriguing, I am not that familiar with these worlds. It seems to be just a bit of a much larger story. The part about the virtual space is interesting, and I loved your words. Very colorful in a maybe not so colorful world. Thanks for reading my story.