by shukyou (主教) Read this piece’s entry on the Shousetsu Bang*Bang wiki “Step this way,” the tall man barked at the crowd, “and witness the horrors of the souls lost without Christ in their hearts!” Gavin shifted his weight on his feet and tried to look inconspicuous. That was the best way to survive these […]
Tag Archives: shukyou
23
Aug
Bar None
by shukyou (主教) “Welcome,” shouted the queen in the long sequined gown, “to the fucking meat market!” The cheer that went up from the crowd was deafening, ringing off the rafters of the warehouse they’d rented out for the evening. Zalo had wanted to cram them all into the Steel Seraph, which did have the […]
28
Jun
Landscape with Oak and Irritated Traveler
by shukyou (主教) illustrated by 2013 If he saw one fucking bug, he was going to kill himself. One single fucking bug. An ant. Ants were bugs. Weren’t they? Fuck. He was regretting every decision he’d ever made. Everything was moving. The ground was wet. The mud was staining his shoes. Everything was wet. Why […]
27
Apr
re: The Red Blossom Blades [final edits]
by shukyou (主教) Dear Edward, I received your latest round of edits with great interest. Astonishing interest. Unprecedented interest, in fact, because the edits themselves had no precedent either. In the seventeen years I’ve been publishing with Strauss & Baker — oh, I’m so sorry, I forget that you’re BillionsOfBooks4U now, how clumsy of […]
22
Feb
The Newlywed Game
by shukyou (主教) illustrated by Chiyohana Odile “Guys, you gotta help me.” The pleading look in Jeff’s eyes was like that of the world’s saddest puppy, begging to be released from the bath. “You gotta.” Lucas looked at Arsène, who looked back at him with a frown. Jeff was a great guy. He’d done a […]
26
Oct
In the Hand of Khal Keresh
by shukyou (主教) illustrated by 2013 On the train from the capital to Reshesk, Demetrius fell asleep, and as he did, he had a dream he did not understand. He dreamed that he was standing in a wooded area, the trees thick around him. It was hard to tell from the dimness if he were […]
25
Aug
The Two-Body Problem
by shukyou (主教) illustrated by melanofly “Oh my god,” Jacob groaned into the receiver, “can I please just talk to a person?” The system on the other side made the little chime it did every time it needed to pause and parse his input. He held his breath with a hope that was dashed […]
30
Jun
The Man With the Golden Syringe
by shukyou (主教) “All right,” Noah said, not even bothering to look up from his crossword, “who got shot now?” The world always wound down for the night around the same time Noah poured his first cup of coffee, which was just how he liked it. The first strains of autumn were cooling the […]
27
Apr
All Roads Lead to Rome
by Iron Eater and shukyou (主教) Joseph checked his map against his compass and scowled. The Ambiguity Zone—wherever it showed up, but especially here, when it was least convenient for him, personally—always fucked with more precise instruments, which meant looking at magnets and paper like a caveman, and the absence of so much as a […]
24
Feb
The Day After the 655th Time Through the Time Loop
by shukyou (主教) illustrated by 2013 Manny woke and something was different. For the first time in a painfully long time, something was different. It was Tuesday. He knew this because it said so on the clock beside the bed, and also it wasn’t his clock. His clock had bright red numbers and no date. […]
27
Oct
Something Else
by shukyou (主教) “What’s the oldest house you still have access to?” Alex was not exactly a stranger to being chatted up at dive bars, most of the time by ragged, lonely drunks who said he reminded them of their son, or sometimes even of their grandson. He had to admit, though, this was […]
25
Aug
Paint the Town Vermillion
by shukyou (主教) illustrated by 2013 Well, thought Zero with a sigh as he hopped onto the streetcar, that had been nothing but disappointment. There hadn’t even been any excitement, not a single lie sussed out or promising lead charmed from someone’s reluctant lips. Just a big nothing. Four potential leads, four pairs of eyes […]
23
Jun
Odysseus Didn’t Know What He Was Missing
by shukyou (主教) “Easy, pal,” I said, giving him a pat on the back. “Take it slow. We got you.” He had the brightest green eyes I’d ever seen, and believe me, I’ve seen plenty. They blinked at me once, twice, and then he started coughing. I held him forward a little so he […]
29
Apr
never love someone who could love someone like me
by shukyou (主教) illustrated by The Winter Cynic another round of soulmates are stupid I love you on purpose She didn’t look real to Jo at first; between the hazy colored lights that pulsed in time with the music and the oncoming storm of whatever was in those pills Dominick had sold her, Jo’s […]
25
Feb
Ideal Pairing
by shukyou (主教) The light in the room was hazy and dim, filtered through the cigar smoke currently lingering in the air and years of its predecessors’ remnants on the windows. Orlando knew the people the club employed to tend to such things, knew how hard they worked. Some things just wouldn’t wash clean. He […]
