In a stunning turn of events, it was discovered that China had captured numerous wizards from the streets and detained them in secretive camps. These powerful individuals, once masters of their destinies, were now imprisoned and stripped of their freedom. The revelation sent shockwaves through the magical community, as the authoritarian regime aimed to gain control over the world of sorcery.

Idol

Idol - 1992- Age 23

January 10th, 2023
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Hello, Elise

Hello, Seth!

Sorry about the weeks going by

It's alright! No worries.

How are you?

I'm doing okay. Thanks for asking.

Going steampunk now?

Yep.

This is a story set around now. Some trans women seem to have developed an "ability" . I plan to write several short stories set in distopian or utopian settings. It depends on your point of view. Hence the Disutopia title.

"Mr. President, did you see the footage I sent you?"

"I did Miranda, but I still don't know what I was looking at. It looked like some David Blaine magic show."

"Did you not read my report, sir?"

"Miranda, I'm a busy man. That report was over 50 pages long. I don't have time for that. Just explain."

The Light Between (Part 8 of 8)

by Erisian

Book 5

Chapter 30 - Terminus

For more than thirty years, Deniz Akbas had given fishing tours of the Bosphorus with his small boat. With his pleasant demeanor (and perhaps due to a few missing teeth lending him a certain charm) tourists had found him trustworthy as well as deeming his white-tire clad vessel seaworthy for a day’s cruise. From his pilot’s position in the wooden front compartment, travelers to Istanbul had relaxed in the glass-walled and ivory-benched area in the back where they enjoyed whatever food and drink they’d brought aboard inside their many baskets - all while marveling at the magnificent views of the Turkish seaside and the wide bridge connecting Asia to Europe, a construction officially known as the 15 July Martyrs Bridge and unofficially as the First Bridge.

In all that time he had never been paid so much to do so little.

Walking into the quad, I quickly located April amongst her little group. She was holding court with about six other girls, and had her back turned to me.

Shaking my head, I approached her. I’d finally gotten the hang of the low heels she forced me to wear. It took a bit of care to make sure I didn’t step on the swishing full dress she’d wrapped around my frame. You had to kind of kick the dress out of the way, before taking a step or you risked a tumble, and I was humiliated enough already without adding that little cherry on the sundae.

(Author’s note: This story picks up the action several months after the events in Love Has No Pride and When You Wish Upon a Star.)

An unseen force pulled my braid harshly, forcing me up onto my tiptoes. If I extended as far as possible with my calves, I could slightly relieve some of the pressure. I gripped the hair and engaged some of my core strength.

“Ow!” I said as she held me up in front of her with her power. The weight bar stayed firmly embedded in the ceiling, which meant she held us both with her magical iron strength.

“Fool!” she screamed in my face, her eyes were inky black orbs fastened to me. “Your job is to always accompany me and be punctual!”

"I get the picture: The processing center looks at my old world and my new world and asks each one if they want me."

"That's a good way to put it. Then, if you're a no-go in both directions, they give you their whole-new-life bit. It's a package deal: a new name, a Greyhound bus ticket, and the offer of a shitty job that you'd never take. They walk you to the door, tell you the world is your oyster, and give you a great big swat on the butt, 'cause it's your birthday."

[Colne, Lancashire 3rd January]

“How much farther,” complained Taylor as she looked out at the grey skies and lashing rain.

See You on the Other Side
(Part 3)
By Sabrina G. Langton

***

Friday, October 29th

"Huh!"

I wasn't used to getting grabbed from behind, especially in a red dress and pumps.

"Ha, you and I are so alike, we're touchy, we're feely, we're grabby and runny and smelly, haha." Martyn was meeting me at his favorite luncheonette. We were going to discuss dinner plans.

My next class, luckily, was study-hall. Mr. Davis, the instructor, could care less that I was almost fifteen minutes tardy.

“I was talking to Mr. Stewart about an assignment.”

Davis glanced up from his EyPad, then shook his head as if he was seeing a mirage. “What the hell?”

“What?” then my hair sorta fell forward a bit. “Oh, yeah. I’m April’s Fool, today.”

He laughed. “Looks good on you, kid.”

“Hah. Thanks.” I went and found an empty seat.

Mitzy Butterfly got up and moved seats, as did Jeff Farnum.

“So?” Mitzy said.

CHAPTER 57
The place we were based at was indeed a clone of the Brenin, with extras in some ways, and surprising omissions in others. The dorms were larger, and we ended up all in one ’gender-neutral’ bunkhouse affair, which demanded a certain finesse in dressing and undressing. Looking at the rows of bunks, I remembered all those jokes about ‘The Promise’ and blessed my Dad’s insistence that I travelled with a little box of reusable foam earplugs.