A.Journal

Checks

574 checks

Formidable

His nails are white with the force he uses to grip the rifle. His gaze is fixed on the dark line of grit beneath them. Brown or red? Dirt or blood?

Formidable

His fellow patriots were killed in the street, or by sniper's bullets. A few of their bodies are still in the compound behind him.

Formidable

The rebel hero lies on the ground, haloed in red, a smile on his face. He knows his sacrifice will not be in vain -- he was able to inspire people to follow him in life, and so too in death, his voice will carry.

Formidable

Somewhere down the line is a makeshift switchboard with six phones manned by six bored assets. One of those assets is listening in on this call.

Formidable

The Housing Campaign, bathed in purple light. A man in a brown jacket and no pants looks up into the face of an angel. She regards him with radiant indifference.

Formidable

One hundred photographs. A family of strangers.

Formidable

A TRAITOR TO HER CLASS, A FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE. THE PARTY WILL SEE THAT SHE'S REWARDED WITH A PRIVATE ROOM IN THE LABOUR CAMPS.

Formidable

Her eyes reflect the glow of the terminal screen. She's been at her desk for fourteen hours today.

Formidable

There'll be plenty of time to think of a more personally satisfying answer while you're on the boat. Alone.

Formidable

Formidable

'Sounds like a first stab'.

Formidable

A heart without its ribcage.

Formidable

Except for the old Kohilan hands, who used to call it 'potatoes two ways'.

Formidable

Except for the old Kohilan hands, who called it 'potatoes two ways'.

Formidable

Memetic contagion. A massive risk to any modern organisation.

Formidable

A liquid supper.

Formidable

A can of Vana Kohila. Horizontal in the bottom of her purse.

Formidable

A woman glides upside down, chanting. The sun revolves outside the window.

Formidable

Spring morning. The girl tugs her father's hand. She presses her nose against the cool glass. A double-deck commuter train, 1/160 scale, rattles across a miniature country scene.

Formidable

Fig. 1452: a linocut of an early diving suit, so primitive that the explorer had to be sewn into it before he went under — and cut free after surfacing.

Formidable

Talk your way into the supply line.

Formidable

Dositeo Fernandez... nevermind.

Formidable

This conversation is many levels beneath the cat. It knows what it thinks.

Formidable

That's... that's none of his business.

Formidable

There's no need for counter-measures, this man is deluding himself.

Formidable

He might cry later.

Formidable

He's a little afraid of you now.

Formidable

It's far from the first time he's been threatened like this.

Formidable

Formidable

This is not your fault. The risks were the risks. This is not your fault.

Formidable

Your fault. Un-fixable. Fucked.

Formidable

Closing the neat nutritional loop as the culture digests itself.

Formidable

A scab across his heart he can't quite stop picking.

Formidable

HE HAS DISCOVERED A WAY TO BRIDGE CYNICISM AND EARNESTNESS. THIS METHOD REQUIRES STUDY.

Formidable

Afternoon matinee -- plush red carpet, the frosted glass windows of the box office reflecting warm orange light.

Formidable

Formidable

That's inspiration, baby.

Formidable

He wants you to tell him that it's not bullshit. He wants it to be real.

Formidable

The reigniting of a custom you'd feared lost forever.

Formidable

The world shrinks to the here and now.

Formidable

Don't tell him. There's a reason we keep it inside, where it doesn't hurt too much.

Formidable

The air gets heavier, as if you were being annexed by gravity.

Formidable

Above, a bottomless well, depths aglow with pale fires reaching out.

Formidable

He's alone, and not expecting any backup.

Formidable

Gun gäng! Gun gäng! Gun gäng!

Formidable

But you're faster.

Formidable

In a small recording studio deep in the Housing Campaign, a man slips his arms into an old military-style coat. He pops a tablet of pure L-theanine. On the desk nearby, a brown paper bag, reinforced with ultra-thin foil, waits for the head that will unleash its power.

Formidable

'Machine Gun King', if your limited Tsunese serves you well.

Formidable

Not exactly how you would be best described.

Formidable

Very you, in other words.