Prompt: Twitchel
If you’re walking in the rain
Avoid the alley that looks quite plain
Between its tight evergreen shrubs
Lies one of London’s most dangerous clubs
Once you take two steps inside
Out he’ll step with misplaced pride
He’ll smirk and flash a grin
And then the ultimatum will begin
“Alright, hand over your bag,”
He’ll say in almost a brag
“Make it quick, or you’ll get a poke,”
He’ll add as eyes look out from behind an oak
You might want to giggle or mock
But if you do, you’ll be in for a shock
Sure, you’re staring at a tiny hedgehog
But around here, he’s the top dog.
Hephaestus the hog is world-renowned
The toughest mob boss around
You’ll be walking alone and then hear a noise
As he shouts, “Prick ’em, boys!”
He’s run bootleg catfood from Hull to Leeds
And sells people black market rose seeds
He offers fake eggs with counterfeit yolks
And runs a massive online bird hoax
Hephaestus has a finger in every pie
The twitchel’s most famous bad guy
But here’s a secret between you and me
He’ll leave you alone for a cup of black tea.
Jonathon Greenall is a freelance writer, artist, and tabletop roleplaying game designer who has written for CBR, Polygon, Nintendo Life, Gayley Dreadful, Enbylife, and many other publications. They have also published several popular and highly-praised tabletop roleplaying games including “You Have One Ability….The Ability To Fuck This Up,” “Macarons, Milkshakes, And Magic,” and “Wander Wizards.”
Jonathon has always been fascinated by media, from the big hitters to the small, obscure, and often overlooked titles that linger on the sidelines, capturing both the on and off-camera stories that make these shows so fascinating.
Jonathon is also a major anime fan, having been exposed to the medium through shows like Sailor Moon and Revolutionary Girl Utena. Since then, Jonathon has maintained a passion for anime, watching most new shows each season and hunting down overlooked gems from previous ones.