“Romantasy Collab” — FWG Flash Fiction for 7/12/2025

Okay, this one’s a little…experimental. And kinda meta.

The prompt is:

https://pixabay.com/photos/to-stage-baltic-sea-water-coast-4434535

ROMANTASY COLLAB

The ancient pilings stood sentinel against the strong Baltic currents.

“Oh, crap. That line is worse than ‘It was a dark and stormy night.’”

Caroline, Joy’s collaborator in fiction and in life, leaned over her shoulder.

“Let me see…hmmm. It’s not…that bad. We are romance writers, after all.”

Joy stuck her tongue out. “We write cozy mysteromance, nothing dark.”

“‘Mysteromance?’ Is that even a thing?”

Joy grinned. “It is now.” She looked out the window of their B&B at the line of pilings exposed by the low tide. “I wonder what it used to be.”

Caroline shrugged. “A pier, I imagine.”

Joy shook her head. “There should be two parallel lines of them, then. No, they’re too close together, too. As if you could walk on them…”

“…Out into the raging sea…”

“…Where your Merfolk lover awaits…”

“…To kiss you and give you…”

“…The magic breath…”

“…That morphs you…”

“…Into a member…”

“…Of the Merfolk…”

“…Clan.”

Joy and Caroline stared at each other, open-mouthed. Tentatively, Joy said, “But the magic breath…”

“…only works if both lovers…”

“…are truly in love…”

“…and truly believe…”

“…in the other’s love for them.”

Caroline’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Tales were told…”

“…of false Merfolk…”

“…and their false love…”

“…who lured humans to…”

“…a most hideous…”

“…death.”

Caroline nodded furiously. “Constance was sure of her love…”

“…for Persidius, but…”

“…his last message…”

“…written in sand at low tide…”

“…spoke not of their love for each other…”

“…but of how anxious his family was…”

“…to welcome her?…”

“…or to eat her? Was he…”

“…inviting her?…”

“…or warning her?”

Eyes wide, the two women stared out at the walkway that was already returning to the sea’s rising tide.

Finally, Joy whispered, “I think we just jumped genres.”

Caroline nodded. “I think we need a new pen name.”

THE END