Ilyana took careful notes as the man began his presentation. The first five minutes were all bland platitudes, as cheap and hollow as his avatar. He introduced himself as Alan Babbage, a pseudonym so facile it was insulting. He continued to deflect the question of who his backers were, which made it all but certain that something about the deal was illegal. And while The City had risen by being a digital haven more secure than a chain of Cayman Islands stacked on top of Dubai, there would come a tipping point. She would have her records when it did.
The City: 041: Ilyana
November 24, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Midas Corp, The City, The Smiling Man Leave a comment
The City: 040: Gene
November 21, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Gene, Midas Corp, The City, The Smiling Man Leave a comment
Gene was the last member of the board to arrive. The retired entertainer was used to making people wait for him, so he was not particularly bothered by the ten pairs of glaring eyes staring daggers at him. He was even less interested in the man in the cheap avatar up front, the mysterious bag man for whoever had bought Sizemore out. Gene had headlined The City’s first live concert, a proof of concept that elevated it from nerd hangout to International hot spot. Let them stare and fight each other for scraps. His seat on the board was assured.
The City: 039: Linda
November 20, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Linda, Midas Corp, The City, The Smiling Man, Trey Leave a comment
Linda patted Trey’s arm in what she wanted to project as a grandmotherly way. Not that she’d have ever touched him in real life, but the gesture was for the cameras each of them had secreted about their persons as if it was. Linda considered herself the Grand Dame of the twelve member board, and she had chosen to play this acquisition soft, for now.
“I’m sure dear Augustus has a good reason for his absences, and our new associates have a good reason for remaining anonymous, for now.” The Smiling Man said nothing. The rest of them filed in.
The City: 036: Glenn
November 17, 2014
Free Fiction, The City 140 Characters, Drabble, Glenn, Midas Corp, The City, The Smiling Man Leave a comment
In Midas Corp’s 97th floor board room, Glenn went from chair to chair, placing the regalia of business just so. There was a folder, complete with simulated documents and a tablet detailing the sale between Sizemore and the new backers, a legal pad, and a selection of pens and pencils, even a cup of coffee. It was all strictly symbolic. The board would bring their own implements slaved to record and message. But The City’s kabuki of the physical world was of the utmost importance. And Interns had to play their part. The Smiling Man nodded, and Glenn exited discreetly.
The City: 013: Cleopatra
October 15, 2014
Free Fiction, The City, Writing 140 Characters, Cleopatra, Drabbles, Fiction, The Cheshires, The City, The Smiling Man, Writing Leave a comment
Cleopatra watched the commotion in the train station with interest. She liked these kinds of gatherings. All the people, the noise, the chaos. This was why she was in The City. Citizens and Daytrippers ignored her, and she preferred it that way. All the better to watch them in their rushing patterns. The City was a different beast to her, and she knew all it’s hidden passages. Maybe that is why only Cleopatra saw the man with the smile frozen on his lips. Then he turned and quite impossibly, vanished. The little calico cat did not understand, but only watched.
The City: 009: Sandra
October 9, 2014
The City, Writing 140 Characters, Drabble, Sandra, The City, The Smiling Man, Writing Leave a comment
The City’s lifeblood was the Metro. From the Underground to the L-Trains. Elites might be able to afford cars and drivers, but Citizens and and Daytrippers alike had to ride transit. They ran from every corner of The City. Sandra had taken one from her shoebox apartment to her Midas Corp Office every day. Until they unjustly fired her. But what could she do? Midas was a power unto themselves here. She was despondent. Until he appeared. He gave her the key and told her how to fight back. His smile was so understanding. Today, the trains would stop.
The City: 006: The Buyer
October 6, 2014
The City, Writing 140 Characters, Augustus, Drabble, Fiction, The City, The Smiling Man, Writing Leave a comment
Augustus watched the other man over their glasses. He was still smiling that damned Guy Fawkes grin. He’d never seen it falter, no matter how hard he negotiated. And he was just as good. A world champion poker player. And now the game was over. “So now that you’ve got my stake, what will you do with it?”
He set down his glass. “My backers think like you do. The City is an efficient way of concentrating capital. But I see it as so much more than that. There is so much potential here. I’m going to do wonderful things.”
The City: 002: Augustus
September 30, 2014
The City, Writing 140 Characters, Augustus, Drabble, Fiction, Midas Corp, The City, The Smiling Man 1 Comment
Augustus watched the sunrise from the floor-to-ceiling window of the 97th floor boardroom. They had worked through the night, but the contract was finished. Everyone but he and the client had gone home. He was the fifth-richest men in the world, and this sale would multiply his fortune. But could he really give up his control of Midas Corp? Could he leave The City behind? A rainbow parachute descended past him. A punky girl in black leather dangled from it. She met his eye and gave him the finger. He crossed back to the table and signed.
Hugh J. O'Donnell 