by Tamari Erin (玉里えりん) The rain hammered on the roof of the car. It fell in sheets on his windshield, obscuring what little of the road his headlights had lit up. Carter tried to start the engine yet again, and swore as it sputtered and grinded noisily and died again. He slammed a hand against […]
Author Archives: ssbb-admin
20
Jun
Still Love After
by aohime (青姫) The soft press of lips is grounding, centering amid the scents of stale sweat and remnants of chemical cleaner. Suhayl touches rough cloth, under to smooth skin damp from the heat. Étienne gasps, arching closer, head tilted up to catch Suhayl’s lips in his own, hand pulling Suhayl down to his level. […]
20
Jun
The undersampling of success
by Hyakunichisou 13 (百日草 十三) i. Make empathy great again. Girls just wanna have fundamental rights. The number of people massed on this oval of urban grass and the roads that encircled it must have been larger than the entire population of the town Henry’d grown up in, the signs as varied and colourful as […]
20
Jun
Brittle Limit
written and illustrated by Iron Eater Riaag had been in a palace before, and it had struck him as rather nice at the time, but in terms of scale that one may as well have been an outhouse compared to the sprawling estate he now found himself in. Unlike the one he’d stayed in previously, […]
20
Jun
A Gentle Summer
by Emayel The rays of the late afternoon sun seep through the treetops as a single rider and his horse pass through the forest. Leaning forward and squinting in attempt to make out any signs of civilization in the distance, Sang swings his gaze from left to right, while his steed ambles peacefully on the […]
20
Jun
Obsidian Devil and the Dead Man’s Hand
by H.P. Lovecock (力。下。愛ちんちん) illustrated by beili New Mexico Territory, 1859 I’d rolled into Last Ditch three days back, horseless and little more than a rucksack and the rags on my back. A sole free man wasn’t unheard of in these parts, but the more downtrodden I appeared the better. I assumed Slick Sam and […]
20
Jun
Nonpareil Star Dawn
by TK Hoshikuzu (TK 星屑) After a week of missing classes, Katou Haruo tried to maintain a calm composure. Stepping into his classroom, he ignored strange glances from his classmates, repeating to himself that this awkwardness was temporary. He took a seat at his desk, unpacked his belongings, and stared straight ahead. Behind him, a […]
20
Jun
The Prince’s Plaything
by juou no zan (女王のザン) He’d actually always thought it was a myth, one of those stories people whispered about the royals because they were royals and you made shit up about them. But he sure did have a summons from the prince. The prince! What did the prince need with a candlemaker? The steward […]
20
Jun
Try to keep it all the year
by Hyakunichisou 13 (百日草 十三) Half-frozen rain ticked against the windowpanes, trailing watery smears and blurring the colours of the traffic lights and gas station neon outside. Inside, everything was dark leather and maroon damask. A real wood fire burned in a real fireplace; candle flames drew sparks of gilt from wine glasses and silverware […]
20
Jun
Jól
by shukyou (主教) It was difficult to believe in such a chill, even as Hrolf stepped out into it. Breathing it in was like taking a blow to the chest every time. With his hands, hobbled as they were in fur-lined mittens, he redoubled the scarf around his mouth and nose. The morning sky was […]
19
Jun
Constantine’s red letter day
by Hyakunichisou 13 (百日草 十三) After eight hours, the highlights of which were a bag of half-full spice bottles, a batch of Mladenka’s handmade soap, and an extended argument over whether nostalgia value equalled actual value (no), Constantine locked the back room behind the counter and closed the door of Stores behind him. He […]
19
Jun
Summer Heat
by Tamari Erin (玉里えりん) illustrated by beili Alain lazed on the rattan chaise longue by the edge of the pool. One of his feet dangled off the chair and he watched the ripples spread out from where he dipped his toes in the water. The weather was so beautiful—it was dry and hot, and […]
19
Jun
Honest in Our Hunger
by T.F. Grognon Officially, Mike is only supposed to volunteer two days a week at Nourishing Justice. Thursdays, when the crates are packed for subscribers, and Sundays, when he drives the Nom-Mobile, loaded with fresh produce, to a neighborhood plagued by food deserts. He was here yesterday morning; he’s here again today, Thursday; and he […]
19
Jun
Cream Puff
by TK Hoshikuzu (TK 星屑) On paper, everything was peachy. Suddenly inheriting a house outside of a thriving city gave him the opportunity start anew. He was blessed with no mortgage and minimal student loans (thank goodness his parents couldn’t take back what was already paid – though they tried). Though the circumstances of their […]
19
Jun
been missing this
by A.S. Mara “Well?” Irene asked, eyes bright. Shaz hesitated, and shot another glance across the room to where the subject of their discussion sat: Mr Tall, Dark and Handsome was chatting with their host, hands moving animatedly. When he looked back to Irene, she was wearing a wide, expectant smile. He sighed. “All right,” […]
