through the second city

The elder was quick to push his spear down. “Look around: they growl like dogs when you raise that.”

“That… abomination–!”

“Tension’s been building for months. You’ll spark a riot!”

“Its left the city,” Branson conceded, spitting. “Let squatters fend for squatters.”

The man-shaped brass continued to clang down the ancient road resembling nothing so much as a living suit of armor. It walked through another thatch hut and the crowd staggered around the tumbling mess, keeping their tight ring. In front, the mob parted around another obstacle that soon stood blocking the statue’s path.

“Flower girl?” shouted Goss. “Move!”

bypassing rangers

the ground here was soft and there was little difficulty imagining why the tower leaned. their boots slid a little but the beam thunked quietly into place. with a wave and a smile she bid them follow. the three hurried down a worn path bordered by pink blooming shrubs. they turned and waded through white and yellow wildflowers, then scrambled over a sloped earthen wall.

“will they free themselves?” asked the bald one.

“they’ve learned to keep a rope,” she replied. “they can catch up… if i wish.” the smaller man just shook his head and made for the road.

smells

“Rose, ginger, altogether too much lavender–”
Stumbling through the dark, he admitted it was quite lavish for a sick room.
“–Vanilla, musk, more musk, and,” Goss paused, examining a table. “Onion?”
“You catalog air I’d merely label as ‘expensive.’” Zane said, avoiding exotic bottles scattered like fallen soldiers. “Perfume could be our next business venture.”
“Perfume? This? Is your nose broken?”
“It is vulgar, around nobles, to call attention to every offending emittance.” Zane tugged dusty drapes aside. Relatively bright sunlight spilled suddenly across the wide bed.
“Guessing this, I politely refrained from mentioning, but…”
“Medicine is a week late.”

feeling insignifigant

“See, the thing i realize now is that i need to be important in someone’s life,” I told her. “It’s why I’ve always tended to pick the strange girls, the ones on the fringe.”

“The outcasts.” Her arms were crossed, walling me off.

“Having fewer social options, my affection is instantly an important part in a girl like that’s life.”

“Great. So you’re a parasite?”

“Hey, that doesn’t make me a deviant.”

“Alright,” she sighed. “Still, that doesn’t change circumstances. It doesn’t change me.”

“Good relationships thrive on compromise…?”

“I’m imaginary.”

“That’s pretty minor!”

I glanced away as she glared.

paper gun

I hefted the angular rifle and looked it over. Where did you fold in ammo? For that matter, i did not even know what damage it did. Secretly glad that no one was there to see me taking such squeamish aim, i stepped back and shot the fallen soldier.

With a snap, the corpse jerked. An exploded hole was suddenly ripped up its side. Simple, white confetti and ropes of accordion-chained paper spilled out.

“Oh, Paper Christ!”

Somehow it was more vulgar than blood and gore. I wanted to throw the gun down. Instead, i looked up at the castle.

hiatus

i haven’t written here in a while. so much for making an honest person with good habits out of me, no? so anyway, lets not wait: on to the excuses!

Provoked-Response Otherworldly Manifestation

“Stay frosty?” the radio squelched. “My visor’s covered in frost. I qualify. Just tell me what’s worth breaching containment.”

Gage wheeled over to the console. “There’s no sense to make in this manual. PROM engines aren’t supposed to stop. So… we poke around.”

Ker-klunk. “I think I just invalidated the warranty.”

“Invalidate harder. I’m not drifting to the next cluster on just momentum. Not alone with you.”

“Alone,” the scratchy radio rasped. She checked the video feed. Nothing.

“What? Peter?”

The radio whispered static. Gage spun around. The monitor wall dripped blood.

“You don’t know alone,” said a child’s voice.

B & L: The “Night Market”

“I suspect she was being ironic, Johnathan,” one said.

“Like ‘five finger discount‘?” asked another.

These nobs were so green. Jakip had crept close enough to spit on one. Twice. The thief even considered voicing a few suggestions and judged it likely he’d remain unnoticed.

And clearly the eight of them could use some direction. That stall was full of nothing but petty curios. He sighed, not even quietly. Well, garbage or not, an armed gang was about to vandalize a Contracted Entrepreneurs’ shop. It was as if they underestimated the guild Enforcers. Liquid courage, indeed!

Jakip made himself comfortable.

B & L: Law Priorities

Last, the Patrolman wrapped each hand tightly in Dust-clay leathers until he wore over-large gauntlets of the same style as his girdle. “No,” he growled,  snatching up a boar spear. He marched immediately into the fog. “Vengeance.”

“Wrong answer!” As one, the circle of men turned back to the woman with violet hair between them. “I-I’ll scream. Again,” she added. “And more will come.”

“We’re not thugs,” Reynold assured her, alcohol thick on his breath. “Now, explain ‘juju‘.”

“And, quickly,” Eccin slurred, “or Brittne won’t be the only one bleeding out in a gutter tonight.”

“Err, not you.”

“Prob’ly, not.”

B & L: Amateurs

Young Johnathan hammered pins into the dull metal behind the blades. Finished ash-pole spears were laid out beside him. Hymie Blag already had a few strapped across his back. The Mirov brothers wrestled a chest down stairs and dropped it in the entry. Leather hinges creaked.

“Here’s fitting props!” Standish crowed. He grabbed a saber and swung it around, stumbling on empty rum jars.

“Sharp end first.” Igor suggested, coming over with wide leather belts.

There was the crunch of glass underfoot drawing their eyes to the gaping hole that used to be a window just as Blag jumped out.