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 […]
Category Archives: Text
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
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,” […]
19
Jun
Meat Cute
by loveonthefarm Detective Damian Jersey was on the move. The Wednesday afternoon sun blared high overhead. Heat shimmered in the air. He’d left his partner behind, struck out on his own. The crush of bodies crowding the park was overwhelming, and voices—some chanting, some singing, some yelling—cluttered Jersey’s ears, but his goal, glimmering silver […]
19
Jun
Funeral Potatoes
by shukyou (主教) Britt was so absorbed in the wording for the obituary that he didn’t hear the doorbell ring. He did hear it shut, though, as well as the few lines of muffled conversation that preceded it. A few seconds later, Kendra walked back into the living room, heading toward the kitchen with a […]
23
Mar
Loren and the Machine
written and illustrated by Yuriko Toru (百合子 亨) (mirrors http://s2b2.livejournal.com/353218.html) The shop smelled like motor oil from a block away. Pushing the door open, Loren was hit with a wave of exhaust fumes and a grimy gray gloom. Peering into the darkness, she picked her way across the floor to a counter she could barely […]
23
Mar
Palindrome International
by H.P. Lovecock (力。下。愛ちんちん) (mirrors http://s2b2.livejournal.com/353310.html) Let’s do a thought experiment: say you had a button that caused simulated pain. Sort of like the Milgram experiment, but in a different context. Let’s say you have four pixels on a screen in front of you, and whenever you press the button a tiny speech bubble pops […]
23
Mar
What You Deserve
by TK Hoshikuzu (TK 星屑) (mirrors http://s2b2.livejournal.com/353895.html) 203X She was proud of the faded scar beneath her navel. It was a tiny reminder of the meticulously planned trip to the clinic, which had included deceiving her mother and her job about her whereabouts. It wasn’t as though she regretting having Ashlyn, but – working through […]
