The Mercurioso Shop:New Clients by CerberusHound2025, literature
Literature
The Mercurioso Shop:New Clients
Part 3
The warm, inviting space of Feles Anguis’s office, a converted church, hummed with a quiet energy. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns across the plush furniture. Feles, her massive ZZZ-cupped chest straining against her custom-tailored dress, sat coiled comfortably on a plush chaise lounge. Tim sat beside her, one hand resting reassuringly on her lamia tail. Across from them sat Detective Scott Williams, his brow furrowed with worry, and beside him, Amanda, her plush lion form radiating a quiet unease. Amanda fidgeted, her large plush lion paws twitching nervously. She wore a men's t-shirt and custom-tailored jeans, her plush tail swishing gently against the floor.
"So, Amanda," Feles began, her voice gentle yet professional, "you mentioned feeling… distant from Scott. Can you elaborate on that?"
Amanda, her voice still distinctly female, sighed. "It’s… complicated. I understand Scott’s confusion. I’m… this now." She gestured to her
She had thought that she could control Kaa and make him doing what she wanted, but Margot had quickly become disenchanted. While she was under the shower, the snake had come to see her and had hypnotized her by revealing her his projects : The young woman was going to become the mother of his children. Hypnotized, Margot couldn't resist. Coiled around her, Kaa looked at her by smiling." Well, it's time to have some fun, now. Are you ready ? " He asked." For you, always... " Margot answered by smiling.Kaa then withdrew from her body, and went to the door." After your shower, my dear. Take your time. " He said.Margot agreed. Still hypnotized...
Okay, let's build a Shadowrun universe where the Awakening happened way too early, leading to a proto-cyberpunk/atompunk, 1920s-infused magical landscape:
Universe Name: Jazz Age Shadows
Universe Profile: The year is 1919. The Great War has ended, and the world is on the cusp of the Roaring Twenties. But history takes a sharp turn when magic returns not in the late 20th century, but now. The Awakening unfolds amidst the flapper dresses, jazz clubs, and the rise of industrial might. Instead of mega-corporations, powerful families, burgeoning unions, and shadowy occult societies vie for control of the magical landscape. Technology is still developing, but fueled by early magical discoveries, it takes a distinctly atompunk and proto-cyberpunk bent, resembling the stark futurism of Metropolis combined with the eerie fantasy of R.U.R.
Universe Timeline:
1919: The Awakening begins. Mana levels rise dramatically. Animals mutate, giving rise to early metaplanes and nascent magical creatures. People start manifesting magical abilities.
1920s: The "Jazz Age" is redefined. Speakeasies become hubs for magical deals and arcane rituals. The Prohibition is further complicated by the illicit trade of magical artifacts and ingredients. Organized crime incorporates magical muscle and spellcasting into their operations. Rapid technological advancements lead to art deco-inspired automatons, early cybernetics powered by mana batteries, and experimental energy weapons. "Mana Motors" replace gasoline engines in some areas.
1930s: The Great Depression hits hard, but with a magical twist. Soup kitchens offer magical healing alongside food. Desperate families turn to magical scams and shadowy deals to survive. The Dust Bowl is exacerbated by erratic weather magic. Powerful families solidify their control over magical resources and early magical technologies.
1940s: World War II sees mages and magical creatures on both sides of the conflict. Secret magical weapons programs are launched. Early cybernetics are used to create super-soldiers. The atom bomb is developed, but so are magical countermeasures and defenses.
Post-War: The world is divided into magical spheres of influence. The Cold War takes on an arcane dimension. Technological advancements continue, fueled by magical energy and leading to a unique blend of atompunk aesthetics and emerging cyberpunk technologies.
Present Day (Approx. 2023 Equivalent): The world is a sprawling urban landscape of art deco skyscrapers and underground speakeasies, where gangsters wield enchanted tommy guns, flappers cast spells between dances, and automatons patrol the streets. Powerful families control vast magical empires, vying for dominance with the assistance of their shadowrunners.
Universe Lore:
The Great Houses: Instead of megacorporations, powerful families (think the Rothschilds, Rockefellers, and Vanderbilts, but with added magical prowess) dominate the world's economy and political landscape. They control magical resources, technologies, and information.
The Roaring Shadows: Shadowrunners operate in the underworld, taking on dangerous jobs for various clients – gangsters, revolutionaries, or rival Great Houses.
Mana-Fueled Technology: Technology runs on mana batteries or utilizes arcane principles, leading to bizarre and beautiful inventions that blend art deco design with cutting-edge science. Think Tesla coils powering entire city blocks, or steam-powered automatons with embedded spell matrices.
The Awakened Gangsters: Organized crime syndicates are heavily involved in the magical underworld, using spellcasting to bolster their operations and intimidate their rivals.
The Magical Underground: Speakeasies are not just places to drink and dance, but also hubs for magical rituals, spellcasting services, and illicit deals.
The Spirit World Speaks: The barriers between the physical world and the spirit world are thin, leading to frequent encounters with spirits and elementals. Seances are a popular form of communication and divination.
Universe Tagline: "Jazz. Magic. Bullets. Welcome to the Roaring Shadows."
Universe Theme/Genre/Motif: Proto-cyberpunk/Atompunk fantasy Noir, 1920s Pop Culture with a magical twist, with elements of Fritz Lang's Metropolis, R.U.R., and classic Shadowrun.
Additional Notes:
This setting could be heavily influenced by 1920s fashion, music, and art.
The tone could range from grim and gritty noir to whimsical and fantastical.
The lack of advanced technology compared to the original Shadowrun would necessitate creative solutions using magic and early technology.
The morality of the characters would be heavily influenced by the era, leading to different perspectives on social issues and ethics.
Consequence of the Butterfly Effect that Lead to This Timeline Different Than Original Timeline:
Accelerated Technological Development (Weirdly): The need to understand and harness magic leads to rapid advancements in physics, engineering, and chemistry. However, the technological trajectory diverges significantly from our own, resulting in a unique blend of art deco aesthetics and atompunk functionality.
Redefinition of Social Norms: The Awakening disrupts traditional social hierarchies and values. Magical abilities become a new form of social currency, leading to both opportunities and discrimination. Women and minorities may find themselves in positions of power previously unattainable.
Shifting Geopolitical Landscape: The world map is redrawn as nations struggle to control magical resources and technologies. New alliances are formed, and old rivalries intensify. The League of Nations becomes a battlefield for magical influence.
Magical Prohibition: The rise of magical crime leads to calls for regulation and control. Some countries attempt to ban magic altogether, creating a thriving black market and fueling the growth of shadowrunners.
New Religions and Cults: The Awakening sparks a surge in religious fervor and the emergence of new cults centered around magical power and ancient spirits.
The Spirit World Awakens: The early Awakening causes the spirit world to become more active and volatile. Spirits exert a greater influence on the physical world, leading to both blessings and curses.
Longer Lifespans: Magical healing and elixirs leads to longer lifespans for individuals who can access it, further concentrating wealth and power in the hands of the elite.
This Jazz Age Shadows universe offers a rich and unique setting for Shadowrun adventures, blending the familiar elements of magic and corporate intrigue with the style and atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties.
Krystal and Renamon - Theft in Space by TheTopTier, literature
Literature
Krystal and Renamon - Theft in Space
Krystal had been lounging about in the back of her ship, letting the autopilot do the work for her as the ship sailed through the grand vastness of space. She had been accompanied by Renamon, a member of the Digimon race hailing from the planet Earth.The two were currently discussing their past adventures. Krystal was in the midst of sharing her latest major mission, which brought her to delve into a particularly uncertain issue."So yeah, right now things with Fox are a little … complicated, to say the least," Krystal confided to her yellow companion. Ever since the Star Fox team's successful battle against the Aparoids, her relationship w...
Alice Meets the Naga(Warning there are hints of kidnapping, blood and a few other not nice things, You’ve been warned,)“Damn it, damn the brat’s parents for leaving us high and dry!” In the darkness a young seven year old girl by the name of Alice laid curled up under a dirty blanket, cringing when the man’s angry voice shook the small closest which she was confined.
“What use do we have for this worthless runt now?” The girl whimpered softly in fright, a shift kick against the door and a curse in her rough direction caused her to draw silent.
“We could sell her, there always some old sick chump who wants a bitty little thing like her.” ...
Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Ta-“Will you cut that out?” Startled, Eric turned around to find his roommate, John, standing behind him. “That tapping sound you keep making is keeping me up!” yelled John, his fists curled up. “Whatever it is you’re doing, stop it! I’m trying to sleep!”“Oh… sorry,” said Eric, grinning sheepishly. “I… didn’t realize that I was being so loud.” Frowning, he turned back to his computer. “To be honest, though, I’m not entirely sure how you heard me. All I was doing was typing something at my computer.”“Well, you’re a very loud typer then!” said John. “I don’t know how you make such a racket with that thing, but you...
James finished up the last few lines on his sketch, a quick pencil drawing of a cluster of orchids. He scratched a bit of dirt off the edge of the page with his claws, filed and dulled for functional use. The flowers were a lucky find being so close to the entrance of the forest's entrance; they were still blooming as well, without a single wilt or blemish. That sat on their own basking in the spring sun; much like James' wings, their shimmering fur contrasting against the trees with a sharp turquoise. His sketch complete, he walked to his car and opened the back door. Everything seemed to be intact, just shuffled around in the journey. He...
