See this piece’s entry on the Shousetsu Bang*Bang wiki. by shukyou (主教) illustrated by the Winter Cynic Max spent nearly an hour outside the shop, huddled under an awning that barely shielded him from the bitter rain, smoking one cigarette after another down until he nearly burned his fingers. He was desperate, that much was […]
Category Archives: Text
25
Oct
Aiken Sings the Circle of Life
See this piece’s entry on the Shousetsu Bang*Bang wiki. by Hyakunichisou 13 (百日草 十三) Being clean was such a blessing that Aiken almost welcomed the tingle of frigid air on his freshly scrubbed skin. Well, for a few seconds, anyway. He folded his goose-bumped arms over his chest and regarded the unpleasant crumple of his […]
23
Aug
The Mysterious Moth-Boy: City Lights
by H.P. Lovecock (力。下。愛ちんちん) illustrated by Sly Sketcher Moth-Boy #1: The Moth Takes Wing “And now, in local news: a group of construction workers were saved by an eccentric costumed crime-fighter in an incident that is being investigated as sabotage. “Workers at 1 Progress Place were trapped on the upper floors of the development last […]
23
Aug
Mare Testimonii
written and illustrated by Iron Eater The sun was not quite low enough for Hugh to risk folding up his parasol before he stepped into the lodging house that was set to be his home for the next several days. The interior looked more like a tavern than what he’d expected, though given how small […]
23
Aug
The Same River Twice
by Shirozubon Saruko (城図凡然る子) illustrated by safelybeds PROLOGUE. The gentle folk up top could keep their fine houses, their gardens staid as soldiers, their broad thoroughfares made for fancy horses and fancier carriages. Boney Jim loved the sewer, and she loved him. Oh, your better class of people would faint dead away at the stench, […]
23
Aug
If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem
by shukyou (主教) illustrated by beili Shayel began to mutter something under his breath as the ship hit the atmosphere, something in Hallic that Uzhab couldn’t understand. Uzhab chose not to interpret it as a critique of his piloting skills. “Switching engines,” Uzhab said, pulling the lever that toggled off the propulsion system that […]
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 […]
