Microfic and Tootfic list

This is an index of all my short and episodic fiction posted to Mastodon.

It has first lines (sometimes this is the whole story - I said they were short!) and a link to the original post.  Many of these are inspired by various images and magazine covers. Where this is the case, the original post will reference the appropriate image. 

Twice a year it came out of the river, always stopping in exactly the same place, no matter what was there. Buildings, vehicles, animals, anything there would be crushed - but it never went any further, and anything along the way was avoided. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109827373377284648

Avon didn't mind it. His mum was less sure. Mother, on the other hand loved it. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109942576175386901

Rachel and Glenda were beside themselves. https://aus.social/@rdm/114345992072511092

The thieves froze in mid advance as the ghostly figure formed behind the beauty they had been stalking. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113241716977675493

Lorn was having a really bad day. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113288287632800341

Finder-of-Unnoticed-Details was having a good day. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113288290877284119

Finder-of-Unnoticed-Details was having a bad day. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113292058387053910

Both Finder-of-Unnoticed-Details and Lorn-from-the-Sky were having a day. One that was both good and bad. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113295287069903852

The pirate cruiser was having a bad day. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113345730161171866

Lorn and Finder watched the new stars - "Starships" Lorn called them, as if they were kin to the barges that travelled the river. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113345825535763781

So how did the lift break down?" "https://aus.social/@rdm"

The Space Forces base had been carved out of the Cerian jungle almost two hundred kilometres from the nearest settlement, and over three thousand from Landing, the capital. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113463487894691999

Ruth had had it. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109946210861971001

Have you ever noticed that haunted houses always have a similar sort of look? There are a couple of types, but they are all very much alike within those types. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113493818054501411

Hot damn! Acupuncture does work via voodoo! My neck feels so much better now! https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113592794362668394

Glenda swung the weapon with practised skill, smashing the explorer's helmet, and exposing him to the indigenous microbes, which made short work of his lungs. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113606450230777648

"Anne, why am I the one wearing this ridiculous and offensive costume?" Rachael asked. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113614706015993251

Earlier, in the briefing room Commander La Trous was all business. "We have a straight-forward mission today. Intel has located a major munitions dump, which their recon data strongly suggests contains fissile materials. Your mission will be to remove it from the map. Squadron Leader?" https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113623078521829056

The headmistress stalked the halls of the school. One of the second grade teachers had reported that one of his students was missing, and had been present earlier in the day. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113674412653690387

Susan had got quite flustered watching Annette dance. Why the coders required these dances to activate the emergency nanobots, she had no idea, but she appreciated the view. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113753461337484051

OK, so I think it is time I cleared up a few things about us merfolk. "https://aus.social/@rdm""https://aus.social/@rdm"

Joyful Finder sat on the grassy hillside and watched the horses, feeling their emotions. They felt safe and well fed. One of the mares was feeling slowed and heavy with her coming foal. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114017480552435962

Joyful Finder was not feeling a lot of joy at what she had found. Neither was Dives Swiftly, her hunting bird companion. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114024817076423108

"What do you think of the song?" https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109956249946742273

Histories should be recorded by those who have experienced them. To that end, I write of the Great City Earnston, lest some traveller visit that wonder without proper precautions. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114044254092574800

Within the City the greatest building the is The Temple of The Great Goddess and All the Gods. Within the many gods of the City are portrayed as parts of the Great Goddess - and all are worshipped there. No one god is regarded as more or less than another, any more than you could call your left or right hand greater. Each has a role, and is worshipped for it. And just because I write "gods", do not think for a moment that the Great Goddess is the only female in the pantheon. There are many goddesses, gods, and others besides. The Great Goddess simply contains them all. Worship of her is considerably more abstract as a result. But do not think that these gods are like those of other places. When you worship in the Temple, the god you are giving glory to will be there in person. Death, Fertility, Wisdom, Learning, and all the others, will appear if they are celebrated. They may choose to bestow a gift or curse, or may simply observe. But the gifts and curses may not be what you think, so be sincere, but try not to attract too much attention to yourself. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114044353968931478

So why would one choose to visit such a place? Knowing that you might awaken in some distant part of the world, far removed from your own people, and perhaps changed beyond recognition by them? https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114044685694740843

In the matter of customs. There are few that affect outsiders. But should you be within the city when it moves, you will be considered a local, and will be expected to adhere to the customs. If you do not, you will be given a chance, at which time the custom you have breached will be explained to you "as you are new". Repeated failure to follow the same custom once it is explained, will see you politely, if firmly escorted to the edge of the city, and told never to return. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114082155237532840

It was just as he entered orbit that the LSD kicked in. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114164328220103703

Dear, I did warn you, young geography like that is prone to premature eruption. Especially with someone a hot as you are. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114170018751577738

It had been sixteen long years since Joyful Finder had been home. Given the changes she'd seen even while growing up, she imagined it would have changed even more in the time she'd been away. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114183923548046336

Returning to the present, and Tannis. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114189254804828670

I looked across at my partner as the latest ad for some soapy ran on the TV. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114203875640869781

The Library of Infinite Books was not named for the size of the collection. In truth, it held but a few thousand volumes, although the librarians made sure that there was a steady cycling of new books. https://aus.social/@rdm/114351955076654805

Some people would say that Edith was no longer entirely human. That the computer in her head made her a monster. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110165908654984331

Mary stared at the tall, thin, studded robot as it approached her. https://aus.social/@rdm/114357928910022036

The first surveyors of the micro black hole impact site did not really know what it was they were looking at. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110239284046315996

No-one wanted to be the first to ask. All they could do was watch, seethe, admire, and/or drool slightly as Ensign Harris ate her lunch. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110269095275601366

The stranger walked into the room, eldritch energy sparking around him, and a spirit club forming in his hand. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110296163103670502

The alarms were going off everywhere. "Hull Breech!" "Frame Distortion!" "Acceleration Alert!" and dozens of others - and in three languages. One of them was French - the other one, well who knows - he guessed that it was whatever the lizards spoke. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110308712856033406

Charlie? https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110327033755676696 https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/114183923548046336

"No Mum, I don't think you should use that mask here to talk to the starport. Use the cat one instead." https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110398248295907242

Sequel Time!! https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109828632186404710

Edna was bored. So bored. They looked at the mirror. Red eyes and green skin topped with black hair looked back. https://aus.social/@rdm/114346128509462943

Myra was pissed again. No legs. Again. https://aus.social/@rdm/114346876824076986

Locusts don't have nests or queens, so these were not locusts, for all that they swarmed and devoured like them. Jackie knew all of this, because she had studied these creatures, and tracked them back to their source. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110652900481475930

Edith tried not to come into this room too often. The particulate contamination was high enough to be visible, and the protective suits were only so good. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110670167907683008

The MFAIFV was the latest project from the Pentagon. The Multi Function Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle was intended to fulfil every role that could be required for an infantry platoon. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110681820759768614

The decision to move Burning Man to DC was a bold one. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110752568650346308

"Introducing the Pforrde Model ATV. Powered by compressed phlogiston, and equipped with the latest stored lightning lighting systems, this is a vehicle that will go anywhere!" https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110805762977287571

George and Xilith had been everything. Colleagues, friends, collaborators, and eventually not so much fell as amiably wandered into love. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110896376623416070

Myra had done it! She'd finally managed to buy out what was left of her contract with the Cyborg Engineering Corps. https://aus.social/@rdm/114346879695179906

This form was new. They knew their clutchmate had come this way. They must have a similar form now. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110955568297878722

I hypothesize the existence of vast creatures that we and others like us live upon. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109831755880352974

"Which is why I knew that the communist infiltrators held you where you were! Are you impressed by my mighty... Oh, she's passed out. Probably I was too awesome for her to bear." https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/110988178366514666

"Management would like to remind all hotel guests that all staff are to be treated with respect. Please refrain from overly familiar actions, and remember to use appropriately dignified honorifics. Despite their resemblence, it is not appropriate to refer to the senior customer relations officer as 'Mr Fluffikins', nor it is appropriate to scritch his ears." https://aus.social/@rdm/114346886946157778

From: Southern Andes Rehab Station Five https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111049792274787924

Debate raged for weeks as to what, exactly, Rude Mike said. And how he spoke to them. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111062309195568800

RaeXitchilla knew she'd not had a normal childhood. For starters most kids are not the result of ten years of genetic and biochemical tinkering by their parents, blending two incompatible lifeforms into a coheisve whole. https://aus.social/@rdm/114346951239474720

The night was stormy, that is true. It was also dark, being a new moon, this is also true. However, on this particular night, the, shall we say 'non-conventional' scientist was not in his laboritory, nor digging up a grave, or even playing a completely outsized keyboard. https://aus.social/@rdm/114347370671883156

Sandra had to admit that the new nano-tech negligee did look very, very sexy. But they way it grew into her skin at various points was a little disconcerting. Not that it left her exposed in any way. The problem was taking it off. Especially in a hurry. https://aus.social/@rdm/114350346794865893

The box waited in the corner. It was just a simple machine, so granting it any form of needs or wants was nothing more than anthropomorphism. Still, it had been constructed with purpose, and the room it was in had more than enough sentience to make up for the box's lack. https://aus.social/@rdm/114354047289291203

The child ran, and hid, as their parents had said. https://aus.social/@rdm/114341432717079501

Myra was beyond pissed by this point. She hated working underwater, she hated being given lower torsos without legs, and she really hated working in an open helmet. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109843600737105612

The scientist looked at their lab. Alembics bubbled, great coils had sparks linking them, a large slab with restraints occupied one corner. Screens on one wall showed scenes from the great events in the world. https://aus.social/@rdm/114354055544144267

I dunno... https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111332700947471907 https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111395844579554118 https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112030320290116014 https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113399083827804030 https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113623091728999618

"You know how long you've had me in that box??" https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111448863288162559

Darling? You acupuncturist is here! https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111522509892295120

The Forest Queen looked on at the invaders to her territory with distain. She looked to her left at her sacred guardian, and her head dropped. https://aus.social/@rdm/114359560891794627

Hey, what's this? Have we got another lea.. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111556086509514159

MR Li! Really! You should not come into my garden uninvited! Horatio is quite territorial, you know! https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111556120531660705

"Now, just a little further..." https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111638648272389598

"Get behind me Edith!" https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111706975349137944

The Nereid was not exactly a generation ship, but it still took twenty years to reach their destination. Only the adults knew what it was like to be on a planet. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109866440602199021

Now it must be made clear that this installation is just a signal relay. The real work is done by the Dyson-Nicholls swarm in orbit around our local star. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111763927394823772

Part 2f https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111809848104662101

Part something https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111813311145593423

Part 2g https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111814756863769879

Part 2h https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111827927216825125 https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111828411953423170

Part 2h/a https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111828411953423170

"Grey, please meet my brother's partner in crime, the late Lady Emily Grace. Emily, this is Grey, my spouse." https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111720400810490907 https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111837096778868513

Part 7 https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111838807808671025

Part 2i https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111861364949118073

Part 8 https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111868449013418002

OK, so the transformation potion worked fine. I even got to keep my thumbs, just as I planned. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109902445517156240

Part 2j https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111884017526358119

Part 2k https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111901014302793398

Part 2l https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111922328752492317

Part 2m https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111969861031295184

Part 2n https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/111973364341901099

It is said by the wise ones that all communications technologies get used for two things before all others. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112008592068902296

Part 2o (and rewrites of earlier material) https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112014486072080896

And do you how hard it is to hold a pose like that? I mean we are professionals and all, but these painters just don't pay us enough. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112036137781097823

The young drakes were apprehensive about the severe old man who came over to the wagon, even after being properly introduced. Gwen just said "Give them time, they are very young, and you were looking like you were about to get quite shouty at first." https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112064925602915522

Emily was uncommonly quiet on their way back to the castle proper. As they approached, a horse and rider sped out of the gate, and down the road. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112100371905131579

Finally it was complete! The Skywhale Masquerade Project was flying at last! https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109913692756384359

Getting into her new suite was a bit of work. She had to be sprayed down with antiseptic, and pass through a pair of makeshift airlocks. Once through, though she was finally able to take off her respirator. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112102779585090476

Interlude: A comparison of Cerian and Varan space technologies https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112102852210584673

Part 3a https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112110314360720523

Gwen sighed "Not this time, dearest. Maybe later, but we have other more important things to talk about." https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112275568984675501

(And a little snippet more) https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112275573821380458

Praise be to you, oh Maker of Bones! We thank you for the stripping of unsightly flesh, and the bringing of New People! Grace us now with your departure that we may welcome our new fellows to our lands! https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112341609849957918

It was a great surprise to everyone when an unassuming Australian physicist worked out the equations that permitted faster-than-light travel. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112415935224241413

"Oh no, Mike! It is my ex! And he's got Marian's head" https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112516970827274749

"You know Steve can't parallel park." https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112675482753823338

That was it. This was absolutely the last time they were ever letting Smithson try to bake a cake. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112698232364408801

Cynthia was bored. Who wouldn't be? https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109916774992279477

The red eyed robot spoke ominously "Humans! We have agreed that..." https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112703308998231937

Part 3b (It has been a while, hasn't it?) https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112743722418717530

Part 3c https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112744472701208379

The giant sentient beach ball looked on in horror as the terrifyingly pointy rocket dove towards its skin! https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112800049778076586

Mounted on her battle cricket, Helga charged towards the dragonworm. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112890709350264801

Dhaby knew it was time for Shelby to get up. He also knew what happened to him the last time. His back still gave him trouble. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112946800838516923

"No, George, the *nails*, you are supposed to be painting the nails!" https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/112958644290275416

Another little bit of Gwen and Grey. Enjoy. (Includes the previous snippet.) https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113005918818207840

And more! https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113006021044930573

The final tendril dropped away from the girl, and Edward reached to catch her. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113033681406444679

WX6 finish getting yourself deployed from CRU2! We've got work to do! https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/109929664303604540

Tannis, was sound asleep through all of this. With no alarms and no patrols to fly, she slept in for the first time in over two years. She eventually woke mid-morning, with her stomach rumbling. Confused at first by the soft unfamiliar bed, and the natural light, the transition from half awake to alert was somewhat less than comfortable. Looking around, though, she quickly remembered the day before. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113034385441587203

More Cerian and Varan War. This time we are backtracking a little, as I discovered I had a) forgotten to introduce someone, and b) conflated another character with the one who had been forgotten. So we go back to the previous night, before Tannis gets her own sterile quarters. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113039413667468450

Continuing from where I left things last night. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113039522086923329

"Wait! You're not the Vizier!" https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113043592023617043

Ernest's neighbours hated it when he had beans for dinner. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113049224567553085

Allen looked helplessly at Gwen, who shrugged "You may as well. Our tongue does not have the right words, and our throats cannot make the language of dragons." https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113051356687111400

"Hey! Tell me if you've heard this one before!" https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113099990716472358

Mike, we warned you about putting LOX on the BBQ. Now what are we going to do for dinner? https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113105709525344697

"Honey, I know you're from my future, but you have to understand - I'm from yours!" https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113128478935713557

Khadon snarled as Panonis smashed the pomegranate against his chest. https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113152533410248777

Hot damn! Acupuncture does work via voodoo! My neck feels so much better now! https://aus.social/users/rdm/statuses/113592794362668394

Martin looked over his shoulder at the other craft behind him.  https://aus.social/@rdm/114363239906908194


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