Location prompt: Forbidden House.
Character prompt: Brave Bandit.
An ancient manor is lit by moonlight and torches. Two figures, dressed in all black, enter through the first-floor window. Jack (a big and tough bandit), whispers to Rick (a smaller, scrawnier one). "Go grab the jewels, I'll go upstairs and steal the paintings."
Premise prompt: Unexpected characteristic or trait for this character.
Unusual thing: A bandit who hates confrontation.
Rick mumbles nervously. "Are you sure we should do this? What if we see someone? I just hate confrontation."
Justification. What is he doing here then? Do we need justification, if it's just his personality? Let's say we do, just to explain how he ended up here.
"What kind of a thief are you?" Jack growls, "what are you even doing here, if you're such a coward?"
Rick shifts uncomfortably. "You were so excited about this project, and it just felt too awkward to refuse, you know how much I hate saying no to people."
Okay, now the game is "!a criminal who hates confrontation".
Now I just need to heighten it a cople of times. If he hates confrontstion, what other absurd things would he do or say in this situation? How do we juxtapose the scary/tough criminal world with a meek yes-man guy?
Jack gets in his face, furiously "I needed a partner, not a sniveling mop. Now shut up and do the job we came here to do!"
"I guess you make some good points."
I guess now they could confront the guards?
Torches illuminate the hallway, clanking of metal armor echoes through the corridor. Large figures of guards run at the bandits.
"There they are! Drop your weapons, hands behind your head!"
"You make some good points." Rick drops his crossbow.
Now what? How would I escalate that? Cut to the courtroom? Or could he say/do something else here?
Jack roars at him. "What the hell are you doing, traitor! Do you have no honor? Fight or die, that is our code."
Ooh! I know! He kicks the guards' asses, just because he was told to and it was awkward to say no! Thats also the perfect twist/button at the end, he is a badass, he just lacks confidence!
The scene switches into slow motion. The guards loose the arrows. Rick drops to the floor, pushing Jack from the line of attack. The guard swings a huge sword at Rick, who, in one smooth motion, rolls out of the way, picks up his crossbow, and fires it through his attacker's head.
Two more guards run at Rick. He backflips, kicking their swords out of their hands, bounces off the wall, knocks them unconscious with two powerful punches. Snatches a falling sword out of the air, and pushes it through the chest of the remaining guard.
Jack looks up at the scene from the floor, stares at the carnage in shocked silence.
"Thank you, brother."
"No biggie, happy to help. You did make some good points."