Short stories/ideas

Story 1

"Get over yourself! He's never going to like you, you won't live up to his standards, just stop trying!" Sar screamed in the mirror, the unfamiliar feeling of tears welling up in his eyes stung. The man was only half a millennia old, and the thought of not being able to be with the person he thought he loved was destroying him.
Sar was a good man, he was just like every other normal Jiae his age. Except he was falling for the wrong person. The emotion pebbles worked way too fast and the second he met up with Cal, the most beautiful Jiae prince he's ever seen, he was almost head over heals. Too bad all he would ever be to Cal was a servant. Someone who worked with the emotion pebbles and brought them to life just for everyone to enjoy.
Well, everyone who could afford them, that is.

You see, these "emotion pebbles" are how the Jiae felt things. They aren't like you and I, born with emotions. They have to create and buy theirs. You know the saying 'money can't buy happiness?' Well in the world of the Jiae, it does. Otherwise you don't feel anything. In the eyes of the poor, living emotionless is hell, but you can't miss something you've never had. In the eyes of the rich, emotions are a necessity. In the eyes of Cal, everyone deserved their happiness without pay but it wasn't really his choice. He didn't rule over the Jiae. Yet.

Sar himself even liked the feelings he was getting from this despite being scared of them too. He wondered if someone was controlling his feelings for Cal. But could they really do that? He had heard that single emotion pebbles were made. Those could be used to always make the servants happy or something. But why could he feel fear, too? Or what he assumed was fear. Sar was new to all of this. He couldn't tell what he feared or liked or loved. It was just a jumble. And Cal has been helping him through these emotions.

"Maybe Cal likes me! Maybe that's why he'd alter my feelings like this, so his care could be reciprocated!" Sar almost shouted. His walls weren't that thick. If he was too loud, the other royal Jiae would know what he felt. Well, what he thought he felt.
"No... that's too far of a reach. Oh... I'll never be good enough for him." He whined, hands curling into fists as Sar looked down to his feet.

He heard a knock on the door and spun around. "Hello?" It was probably Cal. Cal was the only one who ever knocked on his room door. Everyone else just barged in without a care in the world of what he could be doing. He remembered one time a lady servant came in and Sar had just gotten out of the shower. Not one of his proudest moments. He was sure he'd never heard anyone scream that loud in his life.

He quickly wiped his eyes dry of any remains of tears and turned his attention to the door as it opened and he saw Cal standing there. Cal was a bit taller than Sar but Sar kind of liked that. He wasn't sure why. Maybe because it helped him see Cal as his superior. Yeah. That's why. Although, he wasn't really allowed to see Cal as anything other than his superior. If anyone found out about the emotions he had from just the normal pebbles, he'd definitely have his regulated.

Sar soon realized he hadn't said anything to Cal.
"H-hi..." Sar muttered out, giving a slight bow.

"Oh Sar! How many times must I tell you? You don't need to address me as a prince when no one else is around. I don't mind." Cal hummed.

Sar swallowed. Right. Cal didn't like formality, maybe that's why he liked hanging out with Sar so much. Sar wasn't usually hung up on rules like most of the staff. If the prince wanted him to do something, he did it. Especially if the prince was there with him, then no doubt would Sar have an issue with breaking the rules.

Of course, it could land Sar in serious trouble, but he trusted Cal to back him up, even if he had only been working here for a little over a month. Cal seemed to trust Sar too, so that was always a plus. Yet, Sar knew he had to keep his feelings from Cal, he was so sure Cal would tell his parents, or at least a close friend, that Sar had feelings and then Sar's life would just get twisted and messed up. He didn't want the prince to find out for his own sake. And the fact the prince probably didn't share the same feelings.

"You know what sounds super fun, Sar?" Cal asked, breaking the momentary silence between the two boys. Cal reached out with both pale hands and grabbed onto Sar's arms, holding him in place. Sar froze at the contact, a shiver going down his spine as Cal stepped closer.

"What is it? I'm not sure we can do—" Sar started, looking up to the other, whose hold just got tighter on him. He could feel the warmth from Cal's hands through the thin cloth of his shirt.

"No, it's nothing we've done before!" Cal said, cutting Sar off.
"I was thinking about going out to The Bogs." He smirked. Sar practically choked on air, his feet seemed to be working as he stumbled back, away from Cal and into a wall. Okay, he was fine with anything but this.

"You- Wait— The Bogs?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Sar exclaimed, but Cal reached forward quickly and covered Sar's mouth with his palm. Sar wasn't amused. The Bogs weren't just some fun place. They were dangerous and absolutely terrifying. It was near the very edge of the city and it was illegal to just enter anyway. They could get in serious trouble and he knew Cal's parents might not back them up if they get caught on this one. The King and Queen hated even simple mention of The Bogs. Clearly, their son did not.

"Look, Sar, I know it's dangerous. Trust me. But, I can't go my whole life not knowing what lies in there that's so bad. I have to find out. You can come if you want to or not. But I'm not sure if I have a chance of making it alone. So just... please, Sar? Aren't you at least a little bit curious about what's in there?" Cal said, slowly moving his hand away from Sar's mouth.

Sar sighed. He was curious. But curious enough to go to The Bogs? No. But he felt the need to go. What if Cal was killed? What if he got lost? He couldn't just abandon him as Cal's personal servant.

"I- This really isn't a good idea, Cal." Sar said. But Cal just gave him pleading eyes. Sar sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Fine, but if I end up dead because I was protecting you then I'm gonna haunt you for the rest of your life." Sar gave in. Cal just smiled wide and nodded.

"Great! Get ready. We're going tonight. I told my parents I was gonna go out of the city for a couple days to help the poor with things. So we have quite a bit of time." Cal said, before hurrying out the door.

A couple of days? A couple? Sar did not sign up for a couple days. Because he knew that would end up turning into just another night then a whole week. He groaned slightly, he wished Cal wasn't so cute. It would be way easier to deny him then.

[A/N]: okay that's literally it. i'm out of ideas. as said in the bio, these stories are going to usually end up going nowhere bc i don't have fully developed ideas for them, i just like to write. uhhhh yeah, i'm gonna be really disheartened if i learn there's something else out there like some of these stories bc i like to think my ideas are original but they probably aren't lmao. anyway, this is kinda bad, i'm not editing this unless it makes no fucking sense somewhere but that's story one for ya