A.Journal

Checks

1,054 checks

Medium

He knows it's impractical.

Medium

The wind whips her hair back and forth across her face. Between the strands -- flashes of your old friend, the same wild eyes, the same snarling grin.

Challenging

The fresh wound splits back open.

Medium

And managing relationships.

Medium

He doesn't like being called 'the phone guy'.

Medium

Not his thing, personally.

Challenging

Bags under his eyes, tense shoulders. Yes, this man is very, very tired of it all.

Trivial

Mysterious Rustamian? Keeps to himself? Is this... Ramses?

Medium

A deep sigh of relief calming singed nerves.

Medium

A complete absence of conviction and enthusiasm. Words simply fell out of his mouth.

Easy

'One' meaning 'Reno', of course. Singular.

Medium

A flagrant misuse of man for his own gain.

Medium

He's less confident than he used to be. Pain is a great teacher.

Easy

Said without a trace of pride.

Easy

It's hard for him to remember.

Medium

An audience member at his own vivisection.

Medium

A guest at his own vivisection.

Easy

They moved out before garbage collection day, hoping to avoid another fine stacked atop the broken lease, the lost deposit, the month's rent half-wasted...

Easy

It all happened very quickly, once they'd made the decision to leave. In that moment, the priorities seemed clear.

Easy

Still, a part of him was hoping for a little more out of their private journey.

Easy

Apart from the girl around which it is built.

Easy

A face flashes on the underside of your mind -- expression stern behind a black cigarette. Yana needs to agree to this too.

Medium

Medium

He doesn't notice.

Easy

More than a trace of envy.

Medium

He tries to underplay it, jars the cadence.

Medium

But nothing he could easily forget. Push him a little.

Easy

Former enemies can often make the most loyal allies.

Medium

And you both know it.

Medium

A massive sign marked 'NONCE' flashes red in your mind.

Challenging

Sounds pretty 'off the books'... Eszti's going to be even more mad at you now.

Medium

Except your self-doubt.

Trivial

Reno's beloved model train.

Easy

Strange that she's not, now that she thinks about it.

Easy

The twinge of pain is familiar, almost nostalgic. That one's going to leave a mark.

Medium

Spare her this knife, at least.

Legendary

The city was her chrysalis.

Challenging

She has yet to notice it's already stuck in.

Easy

You can. And you should.

Challenging

For the first time -- just for the life and death of a second -- you see her as a fearful young girl, flinching at every movement outside the door.

Easy

Raw deal, she thinks, but still a deal.

Easy

An enviable life... if you squint.

Medium

The word sounds blasphemous coming from her mouth.

Medium

It was eerie, she thinks. A silencing of all music amid the man's gravitational pull.

Medium

Yours don't seem to require the spotlight.

Medium

Now she's fan-shifting as Tempo, a gay middle-aged criminal.

Medium

A couple she's very proud of, even.

Medium

No contempt, just a light sadness.

Easy

Of course that's what you say now, in the cold light of rational thought. But a submerged part of you remembers those moments as they were.

Easy

Doesn't care for that collective noun.