by Hiwaru Kibi (火悪 木美) The slipper itself was beautiful. Jean-Cristophe referred to its substance as “miraculous fairy crystal” and seemed quite disappointed every time they stopped and someone asked about “that glass shoe”. Right now it was resting on the toes of a curvy farmer’s daughter, stubbornly refusing to go over her heel. […]
Author Archives: ssbb-admin
28
Jun
Bending the Knee
written and illustrated by juou no zan (女王のザン) It was only the second year of Lorrit’s reign when the barbarians invaded. The country hadn’t been to war in decades, hadn’t fought off an invasion for more than a century, and Lorrit didn’t have the experience or the people to fight them off. It was only […]
28
Jun
How the Other Halves Live
written and illustrated by Iron Eater “May the sea and the sky, the light and the dark, and all things between the seasons witness it: I declare you, O Great King of Devils, and you, O Champion of Light, to be wed, and the cycle of strife between you thusly dissolved. Embrace and be […]
28
Jun
Hungry
by Shirozubon Saruko (城図凡然る子) Looking up at the dark cave-mouth of the place where she would die, all Li Hua could think was that it was actually sort of a relief. The past weeks had been an endless ordeal: solemn banquets where everyone was miserable, being dressed and preened and polished by servants who were […]
28
Jun
Xunantunich
by shukyou (主教) It was just after sunset when they saw the woman walking alongside the road. At first, Hilde didn’t think anything of it: This was about a rural as Belize got, after all, the sort of place where those who did own cars often wound up walking anyway for how often they broke […]
27
Apr
A Knight of Enchantment
by Hiwaru Kibi (火悪 木美) Staring down from atop the great height of her dapple-grey horse, the one-eyed knight was formidable indeed. “Halt, brigands!” Mia glanced from Sefir at her right to Kalshinai at her left, then back to the knight. “Excuse me, brigands?” Mia echoed, confused. Admittedly, the lady knight has missing half […]
26
Apr
Novice
by shukyou (主教) Of course Aryun was balls-deep in him, pinning Gino’s hands to the mattress above his head, when Yuliya walked in. It wasn’t how he’d wanted her to find out. Gino wasn’t sure how he’d wanted the high priest’s daughter to find out, exactly, if at all, but he knew it wasn’t this: […]
26
Apr
Scraps of Kindness
by TK Hoshikuzu (TK 星屑) Laurence had just settled into a seat at the counter, when the bartender asked, setting a gin and tonic in front of him, “No students tonight, professor?” Ken was stone-faced, but his lips were pressed to hide his smirk. Laurence couldn’t shrug off the usual wisecrack, which came out whenever […]
26
Apr
Pebbles Are Traditional
written and illustrated by Renaissance Makoto J. (ルネサンス・真・J) Kouki figured he was young and smitten, and therefore allowed to get drunk and sneak into his potential boyfriend’s room. Douglas would maybe be happy to see him, and they could hash out what they were to each other. It would be great. He ducked behind a […]
26
Apr
Celestial Mechanics
by Iwatani Meiko (岩谷 明衣子) It was only a few months ago that Lavinia had picked up an apprentice, and then, not entirely by choice. She had built her Seclusium to be deliberately forbidding (a black obsidian spire), remote (atop a mountain range), and difficult to ascend (full of traps). She had been secure here […]
26
Apr
So How Did
by Phun Saa (พรรษา) Probably, Sean would reflect later on, after it had turned into a whole thing, if he hadn’t whiffed so badly the very first time then he wouldn’t have had to compensate and it never would’ve become a thing at all. Maybe. He knew at least some of his faults, and he […]
26
Apr
Shore Leave
by Kimyō Tabibito (奇妙 旅人) and Tobias Stout illustrated by beili Lieutenant Treng is about to prove correct several stereotypes about soldiers, which are as follows: One: It’s frowned upon to sleep with fellow grunts on a starship, so by the time leave rolls around they’re absolutely desperate for anything besides their own hand. Two: […]
26
Apr
Activity Report
by Hyakunichisou 13 (百日草 十三) “You’re in a good mood today,” Lew said from his couch, as Russell hummed at the kitchen pass-through counter, bopping in place a little as he stirred his coffee. “Yeah, I guess I am.” Russell rinsed his spoon and set it in the drainboard. “I went out last night. It […]
26
Apr
Contact Zones
by Togi Kayako (土宜草子) → I first see Shelly at the local high school track, on New Year’s day, though I won’t learn her name for ages. She’s built sturdy as a tank but looks like Bambi as she eases up off the bleachers, wobbling on her spotless pastel pink skates. She hears me skate […]
26
Apr
Cultural Contact
by juou no zan (女王のザン) With a newly freed-up schedule, Osett decided he might as well track down General Ordoni. He dropped his paperwork off in his office and made his way to the courtyard where Ordoni and some of the other generals sparred and sometimes ate. He was in luck; Ordoni was there. Growing […]
