I was just eighteen when I attended my first anime convention and crossplayed in public. The year was two thousand five and anime was still new in the west, as were anime conventions and publications that focused on the budding culture of the scene. It was something of a gilded age for us. The art flourished, and we were striking sparks in all directions. Social media was just starting to gain traction and grow from bud to bloom. And Tokyopop, a manga publishing company had reached the zenith of its popularity and power.

“We went in, and answered all the usual questions Covid folk always asked concerning recent health. I noticed a sign on the door that said, ‘These doors are alarmed!’ I couldn’t help myself when I said to the bloke who was going to stab us. ‘Those doors are lucky. They aren’t going to be violated with anti-Covid vaccine. Me, I’m not just alarmed; I’m bloody terrified.’ Another jobsworth with either no sense of humour or no brains or possibly neither.

This is a sequel to “Burial”. Together the titles hint at Easter rather than Christmas. Appearances can deceive.

My second coming (back) to South Odom was less discreet than my first. The motorcade consisted of a large black armored limousine with tinted windows preceded by three black armored SUVs and with another three SUVs behind. Of course we entered the town at the maximum speed allowed. Did I mention that I among other things I own a security company and business is always slow just after New Year?

The Angel of Earth

by

Rodford Edmiston

Part Thirteen

The interceptor was a marvel of modern technology, capable of flying higher and faster than any other craft on Earth which was limited to airbreathing engines. Yet the only reason it was able to close with the target it had been radar-directed towards was due to that target slowing and descending. As if it were preparing to land. Or attack.

A bright boy in the Feminine Queendom Part 5

This story is set after the events that happened in the final Chapter of Beverly Taff's The Feminine Queendom 90
She kindly gave her permission for me to post this.

The election is less than a year away. The Queen must find a leader for a new party to oppose the existing Feminista parties. If not all her work will be undone.

The Queen was at her wit's end trying to come up with someone suitable to lead the new party. Victoria could see her distress and asked her what was wrong.

That fateful Saturday night was a very busy one for Sammy Hill. He was the co-owner and principal operator of Hill’s Taxi Service. The company normally served the cluster of villages that were about 10 miles to the southwest of Banbury in Oxfordshire.