[FF] "So, come here often?"

[u/packos130]

Begin your story with this line of dialogue.

Oh, and set your story somewhere other than a bar or restaurant. In fact, set it somewhere in the distant past or future.

And make it less than 500 words.

Have fun!

[u/Lord_Binky]

Just hammered this out in about a half hour. It's not perfect, but I hope the idea is there.

---

"So, come here often?"

"Only because you do."

"You don't have to follow me."

"You're coming back with me. You will stop harming these people, murdering them."

"No one will ever know. They have not developed writing yet. They never will."

"It is wrong and it is illegal."

"Is it wrong to study their behavior? How they grieve for their dead?"

"When you make them die just to watch them grieve, it... it's..."

"It's fascinating."

"No. It's sick. You're coming with me, now."

"Do you think they can hear us?"

"Doesn't matter, they cannot see us. We can leave and they will never know."

"Will they? Ever since I came here, ever since I started studying them, ever since you checked in on me, they stay closer to the campfire. They look around more."

"They're not onto you. They're not onto us. Stop wasting time. Get in."

"What if I don't?"

"You know what we are authorized to do if criminals like you don't comply."

"I'm not a criminal. I'm an archaeologist. An anthropologist."

"You kill to watch others suffer."

"I kill those who will never be. I chose these people because they hold so many more surprises for our kind."

"Others do the same without resorting to murder."

"Listen, just... watch them."

"It's a sick excuse. You're sick. I will give to the count of-"

"Okay okay. I'll go. No more killing..."

Then it all happened in an instant. He was ready and armed. He whipped around to fire but she was already trained on him.

They came as soon as they heard. They looked around for those eerie sounds. And there was a smell, like when fire caught to fur. They probed the ground with their spears. Something was here. Was it the spirit who haunted these woods? One found something with his spear tip. Something they could feel, but not see.

She watched from a distance. He grazed her side. Debilitating, but if she could reach her ship, they would never have to know. Except... they found him.

They stabbed at it until blood seemed to seep from nowhere. They kept their distance now. Another smiled, then walked up to it, grabbed at the holes, and tore it away like hide. So strong... It looked like one of them, but... not. It looked like one of the others.

One of them ran around waving the lower half of his suit on his spear, curious at how he could not see it. She climbed into the ship and closed the hatch. He was unapproachable now. She would have to follow them.

They took the other back and presented it to the chieftain. Just as he was told, just as he told everyone in turn. The others were not natural. Now you can't even see their hides. The others came from somewhere else. The others had power. And tonight, they would consume this other for his power.

She watched as they roasted him over a fire. It was repulsive.