April Writing Prompts 2021

[labrathor]

April is here! Boy, that was strange, wasn't it? I swear we did this yesterday, but that can't be. It's been a whole month since March. The mods apologize for any communications you may have seen in error. Nothing to see here folks, it's business as usual. And As always--

Disclaimer: I never close old writing prompts from previous months. People can and should be encouraged to post on old month's prompts and I highly encourage players to track these posts to catch stragglers or new people writing on old prompts.

Now. With that out of the way, onto this month's prompts.

April's Writing Prompts

1. "I thought jokes were supposed to be funny."

2. A sudden case of deja vu.

3. "Well, we made it."

4. What sound or scent triggers nostalgia for your character and why?

5. "Ugh, why does this always involve so much paperwork?"

Bonus image prompt:

Comments

1 - this one finally was.

[itmeanstruth]

The Uchiwa family sat sieza at their formal table, enjoying a traditional meal for the first time together since the boys had moved into interdimensional space. The occasion for their visit was Minoru’s qualifying run on American Ninja Warrior - which would happen in just a couple of days. But until then, there was much to catch up on!

Itaru was particularly interested in his son’s studies, as he always was. It was the reason for their move to the Nexus, after all, a sabbatical of sorts in the pursuit of a more traditional doctorate. Chichi listened respectfully, nodding and affirming with each subject.

“... so yes, the IRIS has definitely challenged my mind in ways that I could not have possibly foreseen. However, dare I suggest that the greatest revelation I have encountered while living in the Nexus, came not from the laboratory, but rather from Minoru. I do not know if he has shared the exciting news, but he is currently dating someone.”

Minoru blushed a little at Isamu’s knowing smirk. The older twin had a mischievous look in his eyes that begged not to be questioned.

“Yeah. I guess I am.” He nodded to his parents, who both blinked in honest surprise. “My well, my koibito... his name is Ziggy.”

The change in topic immediately captured their parents’ attention, but Isamu waited until their father had picked up his mug of tea before continuing.

“Indeed, I had the same reaction when Minoru first confessed romantic interest in someone. But it was far more shocking when he returned home an entire morning after his usual shift to reveal he’d spent the night in Ziggy’s bed.”

“Oh my!” Chichi gasped. Itaru, unfortunately, had just taken a rather large sip of tea, and immediately choked. With no desire to aspirate a lung full of matcha, the tea went the only place it could go - out, over everything, in a cartoonish spit-take that rivaled Isamu’s several months before.

Isamu, however, pretended not to notice tea splattering over the rice and pickled vegetables.

“As I was naturally concerned over having not heard from my brother, I questioned where he had been. He revealed, without hesitation I might add, that he had slept with Ziggy.”

“Excuse me, what?” Their father coughed, spitting and sputtering. Chichi patted her husband firmly on the back.

“Exactly what I said, Papa. Minoru revealed that he had slept with Ziggy.”

“But...”

They both stared at Minoru. Their son had a nervous smile on his face, and was scratching his head - mannerisms that were in no way out of character. But the words themselves - the behavior Isamu had just referenced - did not line up with anything they knew about their child. He absolutely clueless when it came to advances from either gender, seemingly uninterested in pursuing anyone. He also had an unusual distaste for certain textures on his skin. By the time he was three, he squirmed out of every kiss they ever tried to give him. When he was little, it was a chore just to get sunscreen on him or to get him to wash that always-tousled head of hair.

“Minoru, you... um... slept with... this... Ziggy?” Chichi ventured, albeit softly.

The younger twin nodded, with Isamu filling in verbally. “He did, indeed, Mama. Ziggy. Him. In his bed. Together.”

You could hear the gears inside both of their parents’ minds grinding to a complete halt.

“Oh, my...”

“Forgive me if that sounds... incredibly sudden.” Itaru finally managed to get a more complete sentence out.

“On the one hand, I do agree with you, Papa. But Minoru was quick to explain to me that Ziggy had recently lost his fiancé, and needed an anchor to help ground him and help him cope. He was quite adamant that any friend would have behaved in the same chivalrous manner.”

“But...”

“Oh! And that our years of doing yoga together proved very beneficial.” Isamu added. He glanced at Minoru, who nodded.

“It really helped!”

“I... I see.” Itaru nodded slowly, the gesture so out of place it didn’t take a genius to tell otherwise. At all. Same with his wife, whose jaw was now hanging open and slack.

“Dare I say that was my first reaction. Minoru, do tell them what you told me when Ziggy’s father came in and found you two in bed together.”

“Heavens!”
“...Excuse me?”

“Oh yeah. He tucked us both in and made me a sandwich.”

As a father himself, Itaru could hardly imagine something as ordinary as a sandwich being the logical conclusion of that discovery. The other boy just lost his fiancé, was he even in a place to be intimate? Was Minoru pressured into doing something he did not understand? Or was there a side of their son they simply never noticed? Were they long, LONG overdue for a very important talk?

“You okay, Papa?” Minoru asked, shaking Itaru out of his thoughts.

“I am fine.” He stuttered nervously. “Absolutely fine, Minoru. I just... you must admit, this is a little hard for us to believe...”

“Seriously. What’s so hard to believe?!” He grinned, looking over at Isamu.

“Indeed.” Isamu concurred. “The facts are the facts.”

“To begin with... You... YOU... slept with... Ziggy, I believe you said his name was?”

“Yes, Ziggy...” Chichi put a hand on top of her husband’s.

Finally, Isamu’s straight face faltered. His lips curled up in a devious smile. “Oh! Pardon my word choice. I did not mean it like that.”

“Yeah, not like THAT!” Minoru chuckled.

Once again, their parents were caught off guard. Itaru questioned both of his boys. “Then, what, specifically, did you mean?”

“I sat on Ziggy’s bed as he cried, and held him in my arms for hours until he fell asleep on top of me. Didn’t want to wake him, and I was so exhausted after my shift, I pretty much just passed out too.”

“Honestly, Mama. Papa... What did you THINK Minoru was doing?!”

Both of their parents blushed. The twins, unable to contain themselves any longer, burst out laughing at their own joke.

It took a moment for Itaru to recover his voice. “...You boys did that on purpose.”

Chichi merely shook her head. “I thought jokes were supposed to be funny.”

“Oh, believe me.” Isamu caught his breath in between sizable laughter. “This one finally was.”

Image Prompt: First Contact

[itmeanstruth]

Isamu yawned as he came out of his room to make breakfast. He was a little surprised to see Minoru still up - or at least crashing on the couch instead of crashing in his own bed. He sat up immediately, and that made Isamu pause.

“Were you waiting for me to awaken?” He asked, If so, toaster pastries could likely wait a few more minutes.

“Yeah... I uh... need your opinion on something.” Minoru replied sheepishly. He scratched his head, his telltale sign of nervousness.

“Yes?”

“...How do I tell Mama and Papa?”

Isamu cocked an eyebrow. “Forgive me, but I am uncertain as to the context of the question. How do you tell Mama and Papa... what, exactly?”

“About Ziggy.” He answered.

“I believe we both broke the ice quite successfully over dinner the night before your qualifying round.” Isamu replied, a little unsure of why it needed repeating but very pleased with himself all at the same time. “I have never seen Papa make such a hilarious expression... it really was...”

“No, no... not that I’m DATING him. I know they know THAT. But you know... what he is...”

“As in, an alien?”

Minoru nodded. “I mean, how do you tell your parents you’re coming out of the space closet?”

Isamu sat down next to his brother, pondering the question thoughtfully. Ever since humans first looked upon the stars, they likely wondered what, if anything, was out there. When the observable universe finally stretched beyond Earth’s atmosphere, the prospect of discovering that we were not alone inspired so many different stories. Isamu had to admit, he preferred the Star Trek version. Upon proving ourselves capable of faster than light travel, a logical and intelligent species finally comes in peace. How ironic, really, that actual First Contact should be so anticlimactic.

“Man dreams for centuries to learn that he’s not alone in the universe. And First Contact is literally bringing your girlfriend over for dinner...” Isamu couldn’t help but chuckle a little. Who knew?

“I’m serious, bro. How do I tell them? What if they freak out?”

“By the time we left, they seemed entirely nonchalant about the use of masculine pronouns but feminine titles. They must at least have deduced that Ziggy is gender non-conforming.”

“That’s different, though. THAT’S normal!”

“Minoru...” Isamu pulled his brother closer, holding eye contact as he repeated, “Minoru, our parents love us both unconditionally. Believe me, you have given them ample opportunities to change their minds before you ever started dating someone of a different species.”

Minoru couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“The only thing Mama and Papa want is for us to live our lives with honor and purpose. How we do that, how we succeed and find happiness, that is up to us.” He insisted. “And honestly... you should not be feeling any pressure one way or the other to mention it. If you are not ready or if Ziggy is not ready, then that is enough. And I believe Mama and Papa would both respect that.”

“You do?”

“Most certainly.” He nodded. Isamu had the benefit of experience when it came to bringing home girls (and even a boy on the rare occasion). Not once did their parents ever make one of his dates feel unwelcome. “I am also certain they will treat Ziggy with the same kindness and respect that you do.”

Minoru smiled. “Thanks, bro.”

Isamu returned the smile. “Do not let it trouble you any more. Especially when you should be getting some much-needed sleep. You look completely exhausted.”

“Yeah, yeah... I know...” he yawned. Another hug, and he was finally shuffling off to bed.

When his door closed, Isamu made his way back to the kitchen to prepare some toaster pastries. He couldn’t help but wonder how many instances of First Contact had already happened this way, and how many polite parents simply didn’t ask any questions.