Writing Prompts

I saw him snap up a pencil the secretary dropped one time like he was doing a slight of hand routine. Just snatched it out of the air as it fell from her hand, twirled it and handed it back with a wink. I couldn't believe what I saw- but... now I think I can.

"Eric! My man! This isn't a cosplay thing is it? That's a pretty sick glow you got going on. Are we good?"

He lightly reached for my hilarious keychain airhorn and rolled it into tight foil ball between his hands and let it fall. The coal embers behind his eyes faded to a hurt but angry stare before he turned away and blinked furiously at the nearest wall.

"Freaking airhorn? ...you weren't supposed to see that."

"I get that, I get that, but- just to make sure- was that... what was that?"

"It's the family thing. I have it under control you just can't do-" He shifted to kick the remains of the airhorn towards me but stopped and just swatted it with his foot. "Sorry... Like my dad, you know... "

Eric had never spoken to me personally about it, but it was pretty well known that his father was killed by a train under extremely mysterious circumstances. His body was never found, but neither was most of the train. I always thought it was a bomb thing and maybe his father was- well, apparently that wasn't it.

"Like your dad how, exactly?"

"He fought runaway trains. You know, when they get a soul and go all crazy and attack humans. Or whatever- cars, planes, boats, but it started with trains, Casey Jones- you know my great great whatever grand dude. That guy."

If I hadn't seen him float an inch off the ground and glow red I might still not believe him. But I actually knew what he was talking about. I tripped with his crazy ass cousin a few years ago and he told me the exact same story, but of course I didn't believe his cousin then.

"Holy shit- Ronny wasn't even making it up. So- trains? You're a Casey Jones, what scion? ...Casey Jones Scion... that's a thing- hot damn."

"Yeah- but you can't tell people, they'll think it's a Grateful Dead thing and just about acid and the trains have been gaining ground with that narrative for years. It's really about winning hearts and minds... and smashing trains."

"The smashing part I think I get- not sure what about hearts and minds but sounds like you're on it. Sorry about the airhorn, that was dumb."

"Yeah- don't ever do that again."