The clock

Conditional wording

Rain from sky-smeared cloud pools in the cracked pavement.

Otherwise

Somewhere nearby, a stray creature grunts as it tousles through long-discarded things.

Conditional wording

Raindrops gather on the wreckage overhead.

Otherwise

You see a haze of coloured light, dark figures moving within.

Conditional wording

The woman's eyes are sad but warm. Rain pelts the window behind her.

Otherwise

The woman's eyes are sad but warm. She shakes her head slowly.

Conditional wording

The woman's eyes are sad but warm. Rain pelts the window behind her.

Otherwise

The woman's eyes are sad but warm. She shakes her head slowly.

Conditional wording

Over her shoulder, you suddenly notice that in the sky, still half-dark only moments ago, the sun has inexplicably risen to its zenith.

Otherwise

Over her shoulder, you suddenly notice that in the sky, bright with midday light just moments ago, dusk has begun to fall.

Conditional wording

"What are you doing waiting around in the rain?

Otherwise

"What are you doing waiting around here?"

Conditional wording

The blue-painted door of the houseboat is sheltered from the rain, but you can still hear it dancing on the roof above.

Otherwise

The blue-painted door of the houseboat before you creaks with the gentle undulations of the bay.

Conditional wording

You return to the door of the little houseboat.

Otherwise

A soft golden glow shines from within, curtains drawn. Return during the day.

Conditional wording

You approach Carmuna's rack of clothing, protected from the rain by a clear plastic sheet. No two pieces are alike.

Otherwise

You approach Carmuna's rack of clothing, protected from the elements by a clear plastic sheet. No two pieces are alike.

Conditional wording

The old woman glances at you before returning to her magazine, its pages wet with rain.

Otherwise

The old woman glances at you before returning to her magazine.

Conditional wording

A flock of starlings murmur their strange shape over the canal water. Above them, larger brown-plumed birds hover.

Otherwise

The industrial skyline beyond is bone-white in the moonlight.

Conditional wording

He stands still, shoulders loose, glasses catching shards of daylight. In his lenses, the bazaar's colours swell.

Otherwise

His posture shifts, shoulders loose, glasses catching shards of daylight. In his lenses, the bazaar's colours swell.

Conditional wording

He nods slowly. Rivulets of rain run down his sunglasses.

Otherwise

He nods slowly. You catch an impression of his eyes as the light hits his sunglasses.

Conditional wording

You step to Rotanev's shrine, taking shelter from the grey rain.

Otherwise

Rotanev's shrine sits undisturbed under its worn wooden awning.

Conditional wording

"During the daytime? No, not usually. People have to work."

Otherwise

"Some people are probably still rolling in from last night's parties, but nothing new would be kicking off this early."

Conditional wording

Thunder. The floorboards rattle underfoot.

Otherwise

"That clarifies nothing."

Conditional wording

A man stands in front of the payphone, clutching the receiver.

Otherwise

You just make out the sounds of the ex-pilots blabbering at one another, though their words remain indistinct.

Conditional wording

He throws the alcohol back down his throat, eyes open wide, staring at the rain.

Otherwise

He throws the alcohol back down his throat, eyes open wide, staring at the sky.

Conditional wording

"You're getting soaked out here, man."

Otherwise

This branch has no recorded line.

Conditional wording

"Much to recommend about a bar that's open before noon."

Otherwise

This branch has no recorded line.

Conditional wording

"I think we'll stay for a while, enjoy the rain."

Otherwise

"I think we'll stay for a while, enjoy the view."

Conditional wording

The musicians lift their beers to you in greeting. Rain torments the scaffolding beneath them, seeping into its rusted pores.

Otherwise

The musicians raise their beers to you in greeting. Scaffolding creaks beneath them, gravity beckons.

Conditional wording

Smells like blood.

Otherwise

These people are like human dowsing rods for architecture that wants them dead.

Conditional wording

It begins to spin in the rain, veering dangerously off course...

Otherwise

It begins to spin in the air, veering dangerously off course...

Conditional wording

Droplets of rain break in to party with the dust.

Otherwise

Moonlight peers in to see what you're doing.

Conditional wording

You glimpse the sky through a concrete frame, grey teeth with a grey maw.

Otherwise

"I'm afraid of all that."

Conditional wording

It cuts a graceful arc through the rain.

Otherwise

It arcs through the air, no spin.

Conditional wording

Light up in the rain.

Otherwise

This branch has no recorded line.

Conditional wording

"What'll you have?" She raises her voice over the murmurings of the crowded bar.

Otherwise

"What'll you have?" Her voice echoes in the near-empty bar.

Conditional wording

"This is about it, but it's mostly just me in here doing all the work." She exhales. "Takes it out of me."

Otherwise

"It was earlier but most of the night's over now. I'm starting to clear down -- by myself, again." She wipes her brow.

Conditional wording

"Isn't it wonderful?" He faces the tree, eyes welling, raindrops rolling down his face.

Otherwise

"Isn't it wonderful?" He faces the tree, bracing himself, eyes welling.

Conditional wording

He looks to the distance, at the city skyline as it's drenched from above. The steady mill of pedestrian traffic and the squawk of a seabird fills the uneasy silence between you.

Otherwise

He looks to the distance, at the city skyline as it's drenched in white light from above. The steady mill of pedestrian traffic and the squawk of a seabird fills the uneasy silence between you.

Conditional wording

He looks to the distance, at the city skyline as it's drenched in white light from above. The steady mill of pedestrian traffic and the squawk of a seabird fills the uneasy silence between you.

Otherwise

He looks to the distance, at the orange sun slowly dipping behind the silhouette of the city. The far-off hum of commuter traffic and the squawk of a seabird fills the uneasy silence between you.

Conditional wording

"Nothing yet. Even in this rain they cling steadfast to their branches."

Otherwise

"Nothing yet. The weather doesn't seem to want to test them, either."

Conditional wording

Dockworkers' voices carry to you on the breeze, breaking the shrine's strange peace.

Otherwise

In the darkness, you feel the presence of all the strangers' offerings more powerfully behind you.

Conditional wording

Flowers sway in the breeze, rain needles the metal slats above. Polaris' shelter protects them from the worst of the weather.

Otherwise

Flowers sway in the breeze, a wind chime tinkles gently. Polaris' shelter protects them from the worst of the weather.

Conditional wording

"How may I support you this fine day?"

Otherwise

"How may I support you this fine day?"

Conditional wording

"In any event, it's getting late here. There's probably some other operant somewhere who's gone squishy on their post-historical materialism. Goodnight, CASCADE."

Otherwise

UNIVERSAL

Conditional wording

"Oh dear. Has your time in the Developed World got you looking for a little ideological pick-me-up?"

Otherwise

UNIVERSAL

Conditional wording

"Put me back in line. The day's still young."

Otherwise

UNIVERSAL

Conditional wording

"I want to walk around all day with your words in my ear."

Otherwise

UNIVERSAL

Conditional wording

Rain splatters off the plastic sheets covering the notices.

Otherwise

Above your head, seagulls wheel and dive.

Conditional wording

The sheen of rain across the purple makes her image vivid, alive... realer than you.

Otherwise

"I hope you're getting on alright, V."

Conditional wording

The cat rotates its head a few degrees toward you, fur wet.

Otherwise

The cat rotates its head a few degrees toward you.

Conditional wording

Rain patters against the man's coat.

Otherwise

The cat looks on, undisturbed.

Conditional wording

"What you want, anyway?" He helicopters the scooter around its handle. "You a Nestor fan or you just here for my vibe? Duckin' out of the rain? Or maybe you want to get wet."

Otherwise

"What you want, anyway?" He helicopters the scooter around its handle. "You a Nestor fan or you just here for my vibe? I can roll either way."

Conditional wording

The fallen leaves crunch gently beneath your feet. The day opens wide before you.

Otherwise

The fallen leaves crunch gently beneath your feet. The day opens wide before you.

Conditional wording

Rain patters the terrace.

Otherwise

"You got the kibble? Yes. Thank you."

Conditional wording

Bands of light rain continue to move slowly north and east across the region. Walks home expected to be unseasonably melancholic. North wind 5-8 kph, becoming calm after midnight.

Otherwise

"Or we'll be back here... as a boar, as a cat, maybe as a pair of fishermen. Our souls will be together... in -- in every lifetime." He closes his eyes.

Conditional wording

The boy shifts in his cocoon of mismatched fabric, his hair wilting in the rain.

Otherwise

The boy shifts in his cocoon of mismatched fabric.