7.26.20

The astrologer penned notes on the chart, relaxing in their throne. The room was scattered with little treasures; gifts from the grateful. The astrologer handed the chart back to their client. “You are here, because your Queen does not like me.” The agent smirked. “Is that in my chart?” “You don’t look like my clients.” “Gullible?” “Hopeful.” “You’re a fraud.” The astrologer smiled. “I tell people they are loved and worth loving. Your Queen says they should be frightened and subservient. Which do you believe?” “What’s in my chart?” “Only that after what comes next, I will still love you.”

4.23.20

Branwen, Queen of Spring, emerged from her blossom, fresh and renewed. She was the joy and light of the city. She was every park, every beach, every flower on every window sill. Her wings unfolded, glittering brightly. She prepared herself for the joy she would bring, as she would dance from person to person, bringing love and rainbows and…

Eyes glared down at her. Deep, Dark, and Pitiless. The Mayor frowned at Branwen.

“NOT THIS TIME, YOUNG LADY. GET INDOORS -RIGHT- NOW.”

Branwen, Queen of Spring, clutched her chest breathing rapidly as she hid in the birdhouse by Lincoln Park.

4.19.20

“Soak the herbs with vinegar.  Add dried roses for a pleasant scent.”

She worked on the series of leather masks, the pointed raven beaks filled to the brim. She looked at her elder sisters, all timeless in appearance.

“I don’t get it. We’re immortal. Why are we doing this?”

Each of the women looked at each other, sipping from bags of O positive.

“Since the 14^th century, we’ve discovered that immortality also applies to viruses. We live, it lives in us. Don’t want to poison the stock.”

“The masks? They’re not N95…”

“You haven’t smelled plague with a vampire’s nose.”

8.4.19

“I’m not supposed to talk with you.”

“Well that’s rude,” the Devil said, picking dirt off their immaculate white shoes. “It’s Saturday afternoon, we’re in a church, and I want to partake of the sacrament.”

“But you don’t ever confess. Why are you here?”

“It can work in reverse, father. Most come here, seeking to unburden their souls, to make them light enough to float to heaven. There is freedom, though, in knowing you’re damned, and treasuring the weight that brings you to perdition.”

The priest shook feebly. “I have sinned.”

“And I,” said the devil, “am here to listen.”

7.28.19

She sat in the back of the church, listening to the sermon. The preacher spoke of gays infiltrating bathrooms, of Muslims infiltrating the government. Somehow he never spoke about the children he raped. The fear and shame he enforced filled his congregation.  Each would transfer that suffering  to the weak and helpless. She scratched her arm, waiting for the worship to start. The music began. It was weak, inoffensive. But it triggered what She needed from their souls. Yearnings, pleas, grief and gratitude. Spilling from their hearts into Her Essence.

She stumbled out. A fix was a fix after all.

7.27.19

“Why is it anime for me?

I’ve spent 45 years watching this stuff, locked on to it before I even knew it was from somewhere else, for another audience. Maruki Trading company, Sandy Frank and Carl Macek had me primed for the years of untranslated Betas, the VHS subscription services, and the streaming video of today.

It’s not the color, or the style, or even the storytelling. It’s the emotion. This was always a place where a character’s emotions were present on the screen and the expressing of emotions was the point. Our hearts are as vital as our minds.”

7.26.19

Bruce Wayne sat glumly, looking over the details of the plan.

“Our R&D department is providing free municipal wifi across Gotham. Our chemical divisions are providing storage and recycling services for facilities such as ACE, The Wayne foundation is focusing on mental health, as well as addressing housing and food issues across the city. We’ve teamed up with STAR labs for renewable energy sources. In short, we’re making Gotham the place you always wanted it to be, with Wayne Industries as the engine of change.”

“I know, but…”

“Would it help if we added a bat to the letterhead, sir?”