I am a machine of prompt responses!
I chose to write a response to the prompt "I won't tell anyone if you don't." This is a little scene from my story The Imperial Guard, which I really need to post more of here. All you need to know about the characters is that Kite is an incredibly buff, cheerful meathead of a guy, Catalin is a bitchy aristocrat who barely cracks a smile, and Chris is Catalin's much more level-headed best friend. Enjoy!
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“What’re you gawkin’ at?” Kite muttered, fidgeting where he stood and trying not to meet Chris’ eye. “It’s not a big deal.”
“I’m not saying it is!” Chris waved his hands in the air, his expression mild but twitching ever so slightly. “It’s a very common fear! I was just… surprised that you could make a noise like that, is all.”
“It is common,” Kite said defensively, gesturing to where Catalin stood frozen against the wall. “See? Cat was scared, too.”
Chris glanced over at his friend; both of Catalin’s hands were clamped over his mouth, and he was shaking uncontrollably. It was very easy to mistake that for fear, but Chris knew that he was about to break a rib trying not to laugh.
“W-Well, in any case, why don’t I just take this guy outside?” Chris was barely holding in his own laughter as he crossed the room, sweeping the spider into his hands.
“You’re not gonna kill it?” Kite asked anxiously.
“Why?” Chris frowned. “It’s not poisonous. Spiders are very helpful, you know. They—”
“I know,” Kite grumbled – he’d heard it all before. “Listen, Turner, you better not tell anyone about this.”
“I won’t tell anyone if you don’t,” Chris shrugged, leaving with the spider.
Kite sighed heavily, crossing the room to Catalin and laying a hand on his shoulder. “’s okay, Cat,” he said. “It’s gone.”
Catalin finally broke, and began to laugh hysterically. “You scream like a girl!” he gasped, leaning back against the wall so he wouldn’t fall over.
Kite’s shoulders hunched in dismay. “I’m gonna let that one slide.”
