'Tropolis Snapshots by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
#1: Night, Cold, and Rain
Dela Craw fancied himself a connoisseur of the outré and the grotesque. He’d planned another of his Sullies. Linda had been there, showing off the effects of her newest gene-spice. But something had gone wrong, some quantum-level insertion-error, and so hairs, like a multitude of eyeless lashes, coated her body like some species of patch-work fungus. Something named Dewdrop was there as well, midway between her male to female transition. “Oh," s/he’d said to Linda. "The hair isn’t intentional? Oh…but it’s lovely.” Her voice wasn’t quite right: proof that body and mind maintained divergent ideas concerning an identity that encompassed them both. S/he’d had trouble with another of Dela’s chosen guests, a neo-corporeal metasensualist (male? female?) who seemed inordinately interested stroking her earlobes with the bowl of an ornate, antique spoon.
“It’s all the way from Earth,” the metasensualist crooned. “Doesn’t it feel…good?"
Now, crossing Plaza 330, and moving parallel to the river, he considered the fading rain and the reflection of cheap sodium-vapor light, like gold: like a dream, forever beyond his reach. The towers of Westend cast diamond-light into the blackness. The lights induced dreams, or so common wisdom maintained, and maybe it was a dream that impelled Channer to walk on bare feet until ascending 20 floors to the apartment he shared with Hal.
And like some phantom assassin from a Casper Kasperson novel--The Downturned Mouth maybe, or Affairs of a Dubious State—Hal Ash picked out careful steps beside Channer. He paused on occasion to whisper cunning seductions into Channer’s ear, punctuating each with the naughtiest sensual provocations lips and tongue could manage. He smelled of expensive pheromone-interactive cologne. Something offworld. Something rare.
“Be a doll,” Dela had said to Channer, “bring your boyfriend to all of my sullies.”
But Hal only went in order to keep such meetings within Channer’s tolerance. And now, as Dela’s latest sully continued without them, Channer walked—feeling an amatory spark ignited just south of his navel—with Ash at his side, whispering…and smelling like a promise best fulfilled in closed-door privacy.
They reached the broad sweep of Proton-Port Drive, and Hal leaned close and caressed the crest of Channer’s ear with the tip of his tongue. Goosebumps raged along the flanks of his neck.
In his best, deadpan impersonation of the lurid metasensualist, his spoon, and Dewdrop’s annoyance, Ash whispered: “Doesn’t it feel good?”
****
This is actually a picture taken in downtown Chicago, last April, I think. I was in one of those "Culture-shock-is-so-boring" moods, and so I went out to...well...to do what I'd done in Prague before my original camera died.
The idea for 'Tropolis Snapshots came to me as I was looking at the image. That particular city interests me, and there's something about Channer and Ash, and about Dewdrop, who may appear later.
Hopefully everyone has had a great weekend and thank you for all of your previous comments and reactions to my other works.
Comments (29)
gorgeous picture!!!
Awesome perspective! You truly captured the night.
excellent shot
Wonderful photo.
Wonderful capture!
Do you think Chicago is ready for the west coast invasion??? Dela Craw, Channer, Dewdrop--are THEY ready??? I can't wait to see the 'Tropolis---which by the way is not only a great title, it's an awesome foto--are the streets REALLY gold??!! And a "metasensualist"---what a word!!
What a joy to read this, Chip! I laughed till I cried at some of those images in your story: I feel I know some of your people, especially Dewdrop. And 'sully', brilliant! The pic's great too!
Excellent shot!
so they are paved with gold! Exquisite geometries in this composition, in opposition or in concert, the illumination and the darkness---towering columns circling the squares and goodness!--perfectly on cue, a taxi... always wonderful and amazing prose
great nice scene, full of city life and reflections.
Dear friend; Excellent photo, your story is a journey ... super fantastic! Congratulations this great work!!!! Hugs. Orlando
Very good color photo!
The photo is lovely; I love the golden light on the wetness. And the story is wonderful! I do want to see much more of this!
great night shot i myself cant seem to get them looking right. as always 100%
Excellent work all the way around! LOL! LOVE your characters!! That night shot is perfect, with the glistening, glittering pavement. Fantastic!
fabulous capture
It looks golden, as if one would become gilded just walking on it.Fascinating characters, too. CC
Love your work!
Gorgeous illumination. It would seem that little goes on here after dark that can't be seen for blocks in all directions. Fabulous work.
Great work. The lighting and wet pavement are just perfect.
Good ol' Chi-town at night. When the skyscrapers come alive in their own right with the help of modern illumination.
Brilliant!!!The gold and the dark...so special this is! Annnd happy to read you:-))))Thank you!
Great shot. I like the golden color from the lights and the shining wet pavement.
Great discription of Dewdrop and her difficulties within herself and with the fellow guest. Great lead up to the last line too. Beautiful night photo.
Fantastic shot....
Awesome photo and story. Great work. Waiting for more
Love the story. Dela Craw? There's something oddly familiar about that name, and several of the other characters as well. VERY funny stuff! Great story, as usual...strangely insightful. The image is wonderful; but since it's so obviously Chicago, complete with Marina City in the foreground, I'm having a hard time envisioning the mythical planet of the story, still a great shot, and a great story.
Excellent photo!
All those "yellow" are marvellous (excuse my poor english!). A great mood. 5++++.