New Story - Snail Summer and Long Time Passing

Available here and here.

Snail Summer is a coming of age story of the classic variety, but set in a far future where Opsa's Cousin Kili comes from a distant start to visit her family's farm. There are strange snails that mimic the faces of screaming children when frightened and the two of them want to find out why. 

Long Time Passing is a love story in a future in which immortality is a curse for those without funds. The only way to gain a fortune to marry the woman he loves is to banish himself to a remote outpost deep in space for a thousand years.

[Naked City Atlanta] Hate

Snu Snu the hate bear was having a hard time with all of the negativity in her life.  She got none of the most excellent merchandising that her more positive cousins did.  You could sell a stare, but the Hate Bear 357 Magnum didn't really do well outside of the Sunday gun and knife show crowds.  And do you want to know what a person does to a stuffed snarling bear right after they buy a knife or a gun?

It isn't hugging, that's for fraggling sure.  And seriously? What was the point of being the natural enemy of positive reinforcing ursine when you couldn't even mother trucking sod ram swear properly due to the decision about what was or was not age appropriate for young impressionable mind?  So hate speech was OK.  So teaching kids to group the world into categories of good or bad, that was OK.  To exploit thousands of children who made the little dolls that were sold so the brother lucking executive at the company could have his corporate jet was OK

But Rod forbid little Timmy might have his ears profaned with a single word not on the For the Children's Special Purity Associations list of words that was aok.  There was magic in children's toys.  Everyone knew that.  What they didn't know was just how much the Other Mucking company executives knew about it and Cull Mucked the toys as soon as they made them.

Made to be bad.  That was Snu Snu.  Made to be an eternal second banana to bears that sucked and weren't really cute.  They couldn't even make matching foes...instead of things like Greed Bear and Fear Bear, it was nono the hate dolphin...really?  A hate dolphin?  Had the idiot who thought this up ever even MET a dolphin?  Hoho the hate chicken was amusing.

Chickens just sucked.

But Frothy the hate Pangolin? Wrackles the Hate Elepahnt?  No wonder they weren't selling.  And when you weren't selling, your spirit just faded away, but never quite death.  No, not death, just a lingering awareness of how much you sucked and how much it hurt when Bubba and Billy got drunk on a sunday afternoon and did unspeakable things to Snu Snu with a knife.

Of course, Snu Snu might not be able to swear, but Snu Snu did have the Hate 357 Magnum...and the home address of a certain executive.  And Snu Snu knew love for the first time in her life as the Dog Lambed Blood splattered all over the wall with said executives lack of brains....

And they all lived happily ever after.

Precyber - Chapter 25

The bad news keeps piling up on Clark.

Check out this episode!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 5 - Page 65

Row 1 Klery walks amidst a row of marching trolls, not seeing them.

Narration: It is the unseen that makes us powerful.

Row 2 Klery walks past several cops while the trolls surround her. The cops are pushed out of the way.

Narration: They do not understand the stakes or the magic of the seals. They have fought a war half brain dead, and now somehow through luck they have managed to give themselves a chance.

Row 3 Klery walks into a church, and the trolls hesitate at the edge, held back by an invisible barrier.

Narration: I cannot allow ignorance to triumph. It was their ignorance that nearly destroyed everything the first time. It is the symbols that matter.

Row 4

Box 1 The troll takes an axe and cuts into the barrier.

Narration: It is the symbols pertinent to the world itself.

Box 2 The troll steps inside and the others follow behind.

Narration: Not the brand of good and evil that they want to impose upon it.

Chapters 5 and 6 will continue soon

But I haven't had time to lay out the preposts yet.  Look here again Thursday for the finish.

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 64

Row 1 Box 1 The world is wrong, shaded gray and in mist. Pete tries to keep up behind the other three. This appears like this for the whole page.

Row 2 Box 1 They all turn a corner.

Row 2 Box 2 They go over a bridge.

Row 2 Box 3 They go past a large shop. Some people are a corner. Pete follows behind.

Row 3 Box 1 Jesra knocks something over from a toy cart.

Row 3 Box 2 People come over to help pick up the things. Jesra looks back guilty but does not stop.

Row 3 Box 3 Pete trips over one of the toys.

Row 4 Box 1 The three run into a crowd.

Row 4 Box 2 Pete stands up and looks into the crowd and doesn’t see them anywhere.

Row 4 Box 3 Close up of Pete hanging his head sadly.

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 63

Row 1 Box 1 The crack in the sky widens a bit more.

Box 2 Angle shot from behind Sluice, Vesuvius and Jesra as they look up at it, with a blinding light. Tiny dots can be seen to come down.

Box 3 The dots become larger and are trolls on parachutes as well as some mechanical suits (still small and from a distance.

Vesuvius: Crap! Hide! We need to hide!

Box 4 Jesra looks at Vesuvius.

Jesra: Won’t the Pixie Powder

Vesuvius: No!

Jesra: What about Pe-

Vesuvius: Forget him!

Row 2 Box 1

Sluice looks down calmly at Vesuvius. Jesra is clearly NOT happy and looks like she’s about to say something unkind to Vesuvius.

Row 2 Box 2 Vesuvius calms down a bit.

Row 2 Box 3 Vesuvius looks slightly guilty.

Vesuvius: Well….OK. Don’t forget Pete.

Row 2 Box 4 Jesra glares at Vesuvius but isn’t QUITE as mad.

Jesra: Especially since he’s RIGHT here. And can hear us, even if we can hear him.

Row 3 Box 1 There is a loud BOOM in the distance.

Jesra: Half the city must have heard that. The cops should slow them down at least.

Box 2 Vesuvius shakes his head.

Vesuvius: They’re not going to be seen, just like us. But they’ll see US.

Box 3 Jesra looks around into the thin air.

Jesra: Pete, pick something up.

Box 4 Vesuvius hops up on to Jesra’s shoulder.

Vesuvius: It doesn’t work like that. If he picks it up, we won’t notice. We need to finish our mission and quickly!

Row 3 Box 1 Jesra puts her hands on her hips, “You said it washes off with water.”

Box 2: Vesuvius: “Normally yes, but with Pete who knows? The rules all change.”

Box 3: Jesra: “But you said you don’t know where to go.”

Box 4: Sluice shows a bright light in his hand to Vesuvius.

Row 4

Box 1 Vesuvius hops into Sluice’s hand.

Vesuvius: The breach…it….must have made things easier to find somehow. I think. We have a direction.

Box 2 Jesra looks at Vesuvius.

Jesra: But if it is easier for us, is it easier for them?

Vesuvius: Yes. It is. Which is why we need to hurry.

Box 3 All three start running.

Jesra: Pete! Keep up!

Precyber - Chapter 23

Clark decides to take Emily out on a date.

Check out this episode!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 62

Row 1

Box 1 A large troll that is of the same race as Sluice but more muscled, larger and with several spikes coming out of his shoulders and head is sitting at a desk relaxing in a circular ‘desk’ in the middle of a nexus of several corridors. He is leaning back in his seat almost but not quite napping.

Box 2 Close up of the end of one of those corridors with a large VII on it.

Box 3 A crack appears.

Row 2

Box 1 The troll looks up and down the corridor.

Box 2 The troll falls back in his seat

Box 3 The troll stands up and runs down the corridor.

Box 4 He enters the door way of a large room.

Row 3

Box 1 Horus sits on his throne and the troll runs up to the throne.

Box 2 The troll kneels.

Troll: There is a breach sire! I don’t know how but there is a breach. Enough for us to send through one at a time.

Box 3 Close up of Horus’s eyes.

Horus: Well then.

Box 4 Close up of his lips, smiling wickedly.

Horus: Send them through.

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 61

Row 1

Box 1 Vesuvius looks at Pete.

Vesuvius: Because we want you to.

Box 2 Sluice reaches into a bag on the ground (that had not previously appeared in any panels) and pulls up a hand of powder.

Vesuvius: It’s pretty handy stuff. It lets you be invisible to anyone you want, but it takes some getting used to.

Box 3 Angle of Pete facing Vesuvius with Vesuvius’s back to Sluice while Vesuvius is talking to Pete.

Vesuvius: Until you get used to it, you’re just invisible to everyone.

Row 2

Box 1 Sluice douses Pete with the powder.

Box 2 Vesuvius looks up confused.

Box 3 Vesuvius looks at the powder in his hand.

Box 4 Vesuvius looks at Sluice with horror.

Vesuvius: Sluice! No!

Row 3

Box 1 Pete vanishes. Vesuvius is floating through the air.

Box 2 Sluice and Vesuvius look around. They can see Jesra.

Vesuvius: Where is he? Can you see him?

Box 3 Sluice looks worried.

Jesra: Where is he? What happened?

Box 4 Vesuvius falls to the ground.

Vesuvius: I have no idea. That’s why I thought it would be a horrible idea….

Row 4

Wide shot of the area, in the sky a crack appears in the VII symbol. A tiny word balloon unseen from below

Vesuvius: To expose him to the powder.

Precyber - Chapter 22

Emily is warned to stay away from Clark.

Check out this episode!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 60

Row 1 Box 1 Jesra looks at Pete.

Jesra: I think it was. I think it was very good thinking that got us out of there in time.

Row 1 Box 2 Sluice smiles at Jesra.

Row 1 Box 3 Pete frowns at the smile. He doesn’t SAY anything but the ‘why are you taking his side over mine’ should be implied.

Row 2 Box 1 Vesuvius hops onto Pete’s shoulder.

Vesuvius: We need to get you hidden from the cops Jesra.

Row 2 Box 2 Jesra throws her her shoulders back and hands out questioningly.

Jesra: I’m open to ideas. You guys have some kind of magic?

Row 2 Box 3 Vesuvius nods.

Vesuvius: Same stuff that makes us invisible. Sluice, get the Pixie Powder.

Row 2 Box 4 Sluice reaches into a pouch that was not previously seen and pulls out a small vial.

Row 3 Box 1 He moves to sprinkle Jesra.

Row 3 Box 2 Jesra holds up a hand.

Jesra: Wait. Are there any side effects I should know about?

Row 3 Box 3 Vesuvius laughs.

Vesuvius: Just don’t get wet unless you have a spell to protect you from the rain.

Row 3 Box 4 Jesra nods.

Row 4 Box 1 Jesra holds her arms up and closes her eyes.

Row 4 Box 2 Sluice sprinkles her with the powder.

Row 4 Box 3 Jesra glows

Row 4 Box 4 Jesra vanishes from Pete’s view.

Pete: Where…wow it worked. I can’t see her. But how come I can still see you two? (Looks at Vesuvius and Sluice)

Precyber - Chapter 21

Clarke gets yet another threat and a warning from his boss.  He is in a downward spiral.

Check out this episode!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 58

Row 1 Box 1 A older woman (KLERELY) in her early sixties walks up to the museum where Forsalio had his hot dog stand.

Row 1 Box 2 Klerly holds her stomache like she is hungry and licks her lips.

Row 1 Box 3 Klerely moves towards where the stand was, but now isn’t. Trash and a few bits of paper show that the stand isn’t there anymore.

Row 2 Box 1 Klerely sighs and then looks over at the museum where Forsalio once saw Pete and Jesra kissing, but where there is now nothing.

Row 2 Box 2 Klerely looks sad about something and then moves on.

Row 3 Box 1 Amanda and Slither are watching Forsalio from a distance outside of his house. Amanda listens to Slither say something in her ear whilst on her shoulder.

Row 3 Box 2 Amanda looks at Slither.

Amanda: Yes, its possible for him to see me out here, but I can’t talk to him if I’m invisible can I? There are problems with that, and going back and forth across the veil can do…bad things to you.

Row 3 Box 3 Slither whispers in her ear again.

Row 4 Box 1 Amanda looks at Forsalio with Slither on her shoulder.

Amanda: Yes. Humans consider that bad. Now we just need to keep him out of circulation long enough..and its over.

Row 4 Box 2 Close up of Slither with a somewhat demonic look on his face.

Row 4 Box 3 Amanda shudders and keeps looking at Forsalio.

Amanda: No. We can’t just dump him into the lake. He has to stay here for the magic to work.

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 57

Giant page large picture of Sluice holding Vesuvius, Pete and Jesra and leaping up through the air. Pete and Jesra look to be having a blast, the cops (tiny below) look astonished, and Vesuvius looks like, “Why, yes, this does happen to me every day whilst smiling.”

Tiny corner of the upper left: Shows Sluice grabbing everyone quickly.

Tiny corner in upper right: Close up of a cop looking up in disbelief.

Tiny corner in lower left: Close up of a cop looking in disbelief.

Tiny corner in lower right: Close up of a dog looking up looking clueless.

[Naked City Atlanta] Progression - Connection of Cowcatcher to Why

by Emmit Other

Train gets cow catcher

Cow Catcher hits cow

Cow splatters to hamburger

Hamburger turned into Hamburger

Hamburger becomes Profit

Hamburger also becomes Sewage

Profit becomes Rent

Rent becomes part of Mr. Blingermeyer's Bow Tie

Sewage becomes part of river

River becomes part of fish

Bowtie becomes part of suit

Suit is part of courtship

Courtship leads to marriage

Fish becomes part of larger fish

Larger fish becomes part of East Asian Carp

Float around the world Mr. Carp

He sees the world and ages well.

Marriage leads to baby

Baby becomes another Blingermeyer

Carp circles the globe and returns to the lock

Carp hits Carp Catcher

Carp served for 5.99 at All You Can Eat Fish Buffet

Blingermeyer eats Fish

Blingermeyer J.R. Marries Again

Blingermeyer becomes Farmer

Farmer Dies

Bride becomes Widow

Annoyed at Fly

Swallows Fly Spider Frog Cat Dog Cow Death

Widow Becomes Tree

Tree Grows

Along Comes Blingermeyer III

Tree loves Three

Play Apples Cash House Boat Stump 

Happy Dead Tree

Happy Dead Three

Happy Worms

Happy Fungi

Happy Orchard

Happy Agricultural Industrial Conglomerate

Happy Harvest of Underpaid Cheap Illegal Immigration

Happy Process of Vitamin and Chemical Enrichment

Happy Part of This Nutritiously Balanced Sugary Cereal Breakfast

That's where it came from.

Now shut up and let me read my God Damn paper.

Precyber - Chapter 20

Clarke finally solves one problem....though perhaps not to his ultimate satisfaction.

Check out this episode!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 56

Row 1 Box1 Pete shrieks with anger.

Pete: HEY!

Row 1 Box 2 The cop shouts at them from behind the car.

Cop: Stop where you are! The next shot won’t miss!

Row 1 Box 3 Pete looks at Jesra.

Pete: Maybe we should…

Row 2 Box 1 Vesuvius throws his hands up in the air.

Vesuvius: We don’t have time for this! If we don’t stop Horus none of this will matter. We have to find the third seal.

Row 2 Box 1 The cop shouts at the two kids.

Cop: Lay down on the ground. Now!

Row 2 Box 2 Jesra looks at the cop and at Vesuvius.

Row 2 Box 3 She nods to Vesuvius and starts to run.

Row 2 Box 4 The cop shoots the gun again.

Row 3 Box 1 Jesra falls down and the cop stands up. From the cops perspective he hit Jesra.

Row 3 Box 2 Sluice stands up and rubs his back, he is clearly standing over Jesra.

Sluice: That stings.

Row 3 Box 3 A cop car pulls around the corner where Pete and Jesra are standing opposite to the cop who is shooting behind the over turned car.

Row 4 Box 1 Another cop car turns around a third corner.

Row 4 Box 2 Pete looks very concerned.

Pete: We’re…surrounded!

[Seventh Seal] Chapter 4 - Page 55

Row 1 Box 1 Jesra looks at Vesuvius.

Jesra: I only took what I needed to survive.

Row 1 Box 2 Vesuvius uncrosses his arms and smiles wider.

Vesuvius: Well why didn't you say that? We just kind of assumed the two of you didn't really have any useful skills.

Row 1 Box 3 Jesra looks really annoyed at him.

Jesra: No useful skills? And you’re some Harry Houdini?

Row 2 Box 1 One cop car drives down the street. Siren flashing.

Row 2 Box 2 Another cop car joins the first in a different part of the city.

Row 2 Box 3 A third cop car joins the other two.

Row 3 Box 1 Vesuvius laughs.

Vesuvius: I've been training for this for centuries. And I've been fighting in this war for ninety years.

Row 3 Box 2 Sluice looks worried and looks at Vesuvius and Jesra.

Sluice: We should go. Now.

Row 3 Box 3 Vesuvius looks at Sluice smiling.

Row 3 Box 4 Close up of Sluice’s face, very unhappy.

Row 4 Box 1 Vesuvius stops smiling.

Row 4 Box 2 Vesuvius sighs.

Row 4 Box 3 Vesuvius looks at Jesra.

Vesuvius: Alright. Let’s get out of here.

Row 4 Box 4 Copy from behind the thrown car shoots and barely misses Pete.