Improbable Island Message of the Day (MoTD)

Graffiti Winners
Fully synched Sessine – 2013-12-20 23:55:31 [Permalink]
Graffiti is a folk art that's been around since writing was invented. Before, if you count cave art. Where there's a wall and a way to leave a mark on it, people will scribble.

Anonymous authorship is of the essence, with graffiti. In keeping with that spirit, I am not going to name the contest winners here. You know who you are -- and so do I; I have already given out the prizes. For a secret peek into Sessine's Notebook, though, go to the Trains Deck page and check out the downloadable files, down near the bottom of the page. I've added a new PDF -- it's free, no purchase needed.

~ ♠ ~ ♣ ~ ♦ ~ ♥ ~ ★ ~

The station winners, first. A prize of 50 Quills goes to each of these entries:

In AceHigh on Elias's back porch, beside the NO CASH FARE sign, a note: Probably best not to give a joker cash fare anyway. Least not in flipping range. Maybe a cash-a-pult?

In Cyber City 404, a pickaxe has etched the words: HOW DO I GET THIS STONE TO NEWHOME NOW?

In Kittania, someone sprayed a simple claim: My sleeping spot.

In NewHome's station, which now serves as shelter for homeless rookies... scratched into a wooden wall, a sad protest:
Taken from our homes,
we fight an unknown war for the pleasure of others.
Here we rest our weary bones.

In New Pittsburgh, a speech bubble, still wet, stretches out on the wall by one of the coffins. Knock knock, it reads. The second line: Knock knock. The third, its letters small and wobbly: will somebody please let me out?

In Pleasantville, there was a poem (what else?):
I wait, patiently, for the trains
Like happiness, a gangrenous limb, or a gasp of breath without pain like a thousand paper cuts across my lungs
They do not return.

In fetid Squat Hole, someone scribbled the traditional railway announcement: Mind the Gap. Also, in the same hand: Or those little buggers will steal it.

Improbable Central was a tough call. I'm declaring this one a three-way tie:

- Across one of the posters is the tagline But the Weathervane Players never had another season! Still stuck with the standard four. I'm still waiting for Sprinter.

- Tick Tock, the trains have stopped, and all the playing cards are lost. Players upset, Caveman's regret, those with four cards ever in debt.

- Please allow me to introduce myself, I am a Watcher of time and space; been around for a long long year, seen Rookies come and Seasons change. And I was 'round when the Network quit, cut its losses, sent the plane. I made sure She caught it, saw it split reality right in twain. Pleased to meet you! I hope you've guessed my name! But what's changin you, s'not nature, just my game! Woo Woo, Woo Woo

~ ♠ ~ ♣ ~ ♦ ~ ♥ ~ ★ ~

Finally... the grand prize of 500 Quills goes to the word-artist known only as ~D for a series of impressive limericks, one per outpost.

There once were a chap from Acehigh -
decided t'walk through the sky.
He went far too far,
straight into a star -
a small poof o' smoke n' "Bye bye" !

THERE ONCE WAS A ROBOT NAMED LANE.
HE WAS HIT BY AN ONCOMING TRAIN.
THOSE WHO OVERHEARD
SAID HIS VERY LAST WORDS
WERE: "WHY WAS I PROGRAMMED TO FEEL PAIN?!"

CAUTION: STAY BACK 1 METER FROM YELLOW LINE AT ALL TIMES

There once were a mate from Central,
whose budget horse were just a rental,
he'd take him each day,
and nightly he'd pay.
The late fees were drivin' him mental.

(Buy, don't rent.)

There once were a kittymorph named Chip,
who loved Tiger Balm with catnip.
One day he were found
in th'lake nearly drowned -
forgot t'leave Miu-Miu a tip!

There once were a mate from NewHome,
who brought an Improbable Brew home -
He filled up his cup,
drank it all up,
now he's vomiting Red White and Blue foam!

There once were a mate from NP,
decided to learn how to ski,
not a bad plan
fer a mate with no hands...
but also no feet, eyes, or knees?!

There once were a mutant from Pleasantville,
on his bald head sat one single pheasant quill.
In efforts to hide it,
accidentally tie-dyed it,
and now it's more effervescent still!

There once were a mate from Squat Hole,
who always missed th'bowl.
More often than not,
when he sat on th'pot,
he'd aim everywhere but the hole!

~ ♠ ~ ♣ ~ ♦ ~ ♥ ~ ★ ~

Thanks to everyone who participated. Your contributions will live on in the PDF for as long as the souvenir Trains Deck is for sale!

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