So with the borders opened up, it's time for a bit of a business trip. He isn't expecting to be gone long, but there are things he's promised to get for people, things he's promised people Outside he was coming to buy soon. All sorts of promises all over the map. So that needs to get done and there's certainly very little he can do about whatever ( Read more... )

The borders are finally open. And no major crises occurred, no huge disasters narrowly averted. Just the weird reactions of the landscape, houses popping up where there weren't any before, trees and rocks and bushes out of nowhere. It's a little worrying, but then, maybe this is how the Deck copes with a sudden population expansion. Maybe once ( Read more... )

Christmas, New Year's - all passed, all over, all gone. It was back to business as usual for everyone ( Read more... )

New Year's Day found Lasse a little bit tired, a little bit hungover, possibly still a little bit drunk. But in spite of all that, he seemed mostly content, happiness humming quietly under his skin, as he wandered around outside. The crisp winter air didn't bother him that much. Actually it was quite refreshing after being holed up all day in his ( Read more... )

Friday morning. Isadore sat in the hospital waiting room, staring at the floor. She was a Four, confirmed as a Four, and she was miserable.

Max was in surgery now, the doctors attempting to repair his punctured lung. And all she can think is it wasn't supposed to be like this.

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( Read more... )

Jack of Spades. That's going to take some getting used to. Maybe it was slightly less demeaning than being called a number, even though he's had plenty of time to get used to that. But he has a feeling that they'll change his name from Michael to Jack whether he likes it or not ( Read more... )

Black and white were the traditional colours in a kitchen, and the kitchen staff at the Ivy adhered to this tradition. White coat paired with black trousers, black shoes. None of that chequered trousers nonsense ( Read more... )

Although not everyone knows this, Eileen does have a few biological cousins, courtesy of her biological uncles. Why does not everyone know this? Because the Eichelns haven't been an overly close family since Edgar's death. There was a bit of frowning on Argine's remarrying so 'quickly,' as on making Eileen an Ace. But you know what that doesn't ( Read more... )