Ben Wright - Queex

@queex

I write stuff. Been doing bioinformatics since they called it statistical genetics. He/him or they/them. Avatar & banner: @felflowne

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Ben Wright - Queex@queex· 20d

For #BookQW, a ship arrives at the busy port of Grand Billon. Read the full story in these pages: wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...

“They say,” Eilert was standing at Garnas’s shoulder, as he had been since they came up on deck, “that you used to be able to walk from one end of the docks to the other, ship to ship, never setting foot on land. Grand Billon is considered the jewel of the Hepatizon coast.”

His keen eyes picked out a space and he whistled a short series of notes. The lookout, high up in the rigging, appeared to understand and looked to the same part of the docks. He repeated the whistle, confirming Eilert’s discovery.

“What changed?” Garnas asked.

Eilert shrugged.

“Business decisions. Currents in the interstice. Change will always come.”

The Shaved Link was one of the smallest ships there. She passed a galleon sitting low in the water, a junk-rigged schooner almost lost in a haze of incense smoke, and a squat, iron-clad frigate bristling with gun ports.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· 21d

The same image, but done up as a clickbait youtube thumbnail. A red border, with the figure with the slicy device matted over it, a pointy arrow, and the glowy text caption "CASTRATION REALLY HURTS??"

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· 27d

For #BookQW, the word is 'change', and Essendra is given a moment to reflect on how rapidly her world is evolving. You can read the full story so far here: www.patreon.com/Queex/posts/...

The final leg of the journey took them through orchards that surrounded their destination: the town Vellanixhal. Essendra rode on the driver’s seat. She wanted to look forward for a CHANGE. It was strange to think that, only a handful of generations ago, cultivated land that wasn’t protected by walls was unheard of.

The wagons rounded the last corner and broke out of the trees, putting the outskirts of the town before them. These were the old farms. Pride and prudence kept the walls around them maintained. What had once been humble working smallholdings were now the manor houses of the rich and influential. There were gardens, a thing for which there hadn’t even been a word a hundred years ago.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Jul 1

If wrestling is fake then explain THIS

A capybara caught midway through a seemingly gravity-defying leap from a close-cut grass bank into a wide, brown river. The high-rises of a city are on the far horizon. A small caption had been added near the animal's head that reads: 'Hup".

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Jul 1

For #BookQW, let's drink in the haunting beauty of industrial decay. wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...

The damp path yielded onto cracked and stained concrete. Untold decades of weathering had exposed steel reinforcing rods, which in turn had corroded to almost nothing. The river edge of the concrete was in fragments and held together only by those few rods remaining. Gantries that had once been suspended over the river lay immersed in it like languid arms from a lazy boat. Ahead of Garnas a massive structure towered, wreathed in vines. The holes of old windows had been forced wider by tree-trunks twisting through them; or perhaps the great trees, hundreds of feet tall, were wearing the remains of the building like stiff clothes.

Factory One.

The war might have been going the jungle’s way, but it was not without losses. Substances more noxious than mere iron and concrete still lay in sumps, gutters and leaking barrels. More than half the trees Garnas could see were already dead. One of the oldest had collapsed, taking several floors with it. The factory had many more wings and many more floors, still standing defiantly, and the battle would be raging long after Garnas died.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Jun 30

An edit for all the alchemists out there

The same Holy Trinity diagram pastiche, only this time Soul is annotated with Cancer (the alchemical process of Solution), Juice is annotated with Scorpio (Separation), and Tea is annotated with Pisces (Projection).

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Jun 24

For #BookQW, a caravan is being tailed by monsters! Read the full story so far here: www.patreon.com/collection/1...

When the caravan leader finally allowed them all to stop and prepare for rest, the sun was high in the sky.

Vennan had chosen a nicely defensible position. The land ahead was slashed by a deep, rocky canyon. A heavy and broad stone bridge crossed the gap. This side of the bridge began from a sharp overhang that jutted out into the canyon. Monsters attacking from the other side would be easily spotted and limited to fighting two or three abreast. That meant Vennan only had to worry about a serious attack from behind. With the guards and heavy spell support from Jehhan’ni, he was quietly confident that any assault would be driven off. The guards themselves were taking few chances – they had driven sharpened stakes into the ground in a rough quarter circle and were readying their pavises.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Jun 17

For #BookQW the word is 'never'. Eilert has returned to his home, and with a home like this no wonder he travels... You can get hold of the novella a number ways: wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...

I wasn’t ready.

The lie I told myself was that I was laying the groundwork for what I needed to do, but it rang hollow, even to me. The plain fact was that I was scared.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Jun 10

For #BookQW the word is 'group' and Garnas is giving life-saving advice to his comrades when they're stranded in the desert. The full story is in the novella duo available here: wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...

“Take sips, and only when you absolutely have to. It’s better to reach safety joking about how much water we still had left than die with safety in sight because we wasted it. The sooner you restrict your intake, the sooner your body will adjust. Don’t worry too much about food. We’ll die of thirst before hunger becomes a real problem.”

He looked around, noting who nodded immediately and who appeared reluctant. He could feel his skin tingling where the sun beat down on it.

“We should rest during the day. The nights are going to be colder than you think, but if we keep moving we should stay warm enough. Do not wander off alone, not for anything. If you lose sight of the group you may never find it again. You can’t trust your sense of direction.”

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Jun 3

(alt text continues over a picture of a guinea pig wearing a crown, to offset The Horrors)

I grew up under Section 28. In my secondary school of 1,200 pupils, not one single student was out as LGBTQ+. Not one. We know that the repression of LGBTQ+ people kills them. That was the effect of bigotry enshrined in law, and it carried a toll of human lives. I had school friends who could only embrace who they were far later in life than they should have beenable to. While some have thrived, there is no way way to make up for that lost time. Others did not make it. Killed by legislation. Section 28 remains one of the darkest and most shameful parts of British history, and it sickens me to see it is at risk of playing out again — and it is playing out again.

I do not respect anyone who supports these monstrous proposals, neither do I respect anyone with mealy-mouthed excuses as to why they won't oppose them.

Will you stand for what is right?

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Jun 3

You should do this, too, even if your MP has already joined the EDM, to make it clear where public opinion lies. I hope @calummillerld.bsky.social does the right thing.

Dear Calum Miller MP,

I'm writing to you about the urgent need to disapprove the EHRC's abominable proposed guidance. Please support Nadia Whittome's motion (EDM 240).

As someone with trans and otherwise LGBTQ+ family members, it seems that every week brings a new, horrifying erosion of rights that should never have been in question. To watch hard-fought justice be rolled back, against not only simple human dignity but the wishes of the general public at large, is harrowing. What the EHRC proposes goes even further, stripping away de facto rights that trans people have always enjoyed in Britain.

The inescapable iniquity of the guidance can be seen in the differences between trans men and trans women: trans women are 'not woman enough' and must be forced to accept the risk of men's toilets; trans men are 'not men enough' for the gents but are also banned from the ladies. This is nonsense. Exactly the kind of nonsense you get when you begin with prejudice and work backwards from there.

These proposals have been roundly condemned as both unscientific and unworkable by many national and international bodies with considerably more expertise than the (frankly unqualified) appointees of the EHRC, and that alone is sufficient reason to reject them. From the meritless Cass report, to the tainted ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, to this guidance, we are witnessing a co-ordinated effort by a privileged cadre of bigots to remove trans people from public life. Conscience demands that this be opposed, at any cost.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Jun 3

For #BookQW, a mysterious figure is seeking a position at the local Adventurers' Guild... The full story is full to read, starting here: www.patreon.com/posts/weapon...

“You’ve come from the Northern Safe Zone?”

The man’s features betrayed the fact and he saw no reason to deny it.

“I’ve not been home for some time, but yes. I’ve brought copies of several seminal texts,” he explained, opening up his bag to demonstrate. “I intend to translate them and leave copies here. It’s a long task and I need money to live on.”

He sighed.

“At first I sought a patron, but that didn’t work out.”

That’s baited the hook, he thought. It should be plausible. After all; it’s true. Please don’t ask for further details about the failed patronage, though, I so dislike needing to lie.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 29

I just don't know how to process this.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 27

For #BookQW Eilert, Shirin and Garnas are attempting to book passage on a ship. Buy the novella here: wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...

She disappeared into a back room and stayed there just long enough for Garnas to grow bored, cross the marble tiled floor and sit on a hard wooden bench. Her smile was appreciably more genuine when she returned.

“I’ve been authorised to give you a carriage fee waiver for medical reasons. The fee was eight thalers per ticket, so your new total is fifty-seven thalers.”

Eilert couldn’t disguise his disappointment. He turned to the others.

“It was worth a try. I guess it’s only a week until―”

“No.”

Shirin stepped forwards.

“We agreed you need to get treated as soon as possible,” she said. “It’s not just the week waiting here, it’s the extra week of journey time. We can afford two tickets. Use them for you and Garnas. If I can’t rustle up another fourteen thalers by tomorrow morning, then I’ll join you when I’m able to.”

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 23

A fake Star Trek The Next Generation title card.
The Enterprise-D floats in front of planet. Overlaid text reads "The Gang Violates The Prime Directive"

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 20

For #BookQW, Essendra and Ursa demonstrate one way to deal with condescending, annoying men. Read the start of the story at www.patreon.com/posts/weapon...

“I don’t believe I’ve seen either of you two here before,” he began, smarming like thick oil. “If you need the care of a safe pair of hands—”
“We’re good, thanks,” Essendra said, looking away.
“I’m just trying to look out for you, you know. Getting established can be hard if you don’t know the right people.” There was a mocking tone to his words.
He tried to slide into one of the free chairs but Ursa gently tripped him as he tried to sit. He fell on his rear and banged his head on the chair on the way down. Essendra leaned over to him.
“Are you okay?! Do you need any help getting up?!” she shouted in his face.
“What? Stop shouting!”
“I thought you must be hard of hearing, because you didn’t seem to hear what I said before.”

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 20

"She had the kind of walk that turned benches into men, and turned men into lamp-posts."

Sergeant Frank Drebin, Detective Lieutenant, Police Squad.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 13

Garnas is on his home turf, turf he's well-acquainted with. It's #BookQW and the word is 'wander'. Buy the novellas here: wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...

The packed earth path was known to turn to mud in the rain, and it ran steeply up onto the headland to the south. Treacherous in the extreme in wet conditions but taxing exercise in any weather. Garnas was the only one who used it these days. He’d hammered metal spikes into the ground alongside it, something to hold on to if he ever got caught in a downpour. He always came here alone, and was acutely aware of the danger should he become injured. This was a land that devoured the careless.

The wind whipped his coat around him as he walked. He set down his bucket and rod to tie it more tightly. He’d salvaged the thick waterproof fabric himself. It was stronger and warmer than garments woven from grey hemp. It marked him as someone who had been into the jungle in search of spoils―and one of the few with the right mix of bravery and caution to succeed. Something about this coast caught the imagination, instilled wild ideas of wandering into the unknown.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 10

Goblin the tortoise, who has climbed onto a wicker baster in the garden, in defiance of good sense and physics.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 7

Not sure about this remake, to be honest.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 7

Doctored panel from the comic version of Transformers: The Movie (1985).

Optimus Prime holding a gun and saying: "You who are without decorum now plead for it? I thought you were made of sterner stuff, Guy Kelly!"

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 6

For #BookQW, we open on a slow zoom into an unusual predicament... www.patreon.com/c/Queex/post...

Here there’s a camp. The fire hasn’t been lit, yet, but it’s been laid. Night comes early in the hills and it is as well to be ready. Dry wood is in short supply. There’s a bear lying down near the tents.
If you move from there towards the mountains, over a rocky ridge that’s covered with a thick layer of moss, there is another bare area. In this case, there’s no sign of human or geological intervention, just a circle of earth covered with vines. In the centre of this circle there is a single large flower. Its shape resembles a tulip bud, pointing upwards. Creamy orange petals, each over six feet long, form an overlapping pattern with only the narrowest of apertures at the top.
Sticking out of that aperture are two pairs of boots.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· May 3

Mrs. Doubtfire Team Six

Steven Seagal wearing his trademark black bandana, BUT ALSO a patterned fuchsia suit and a hot pink silk scarf. He looks like a Romani stereotype about to read your fortune in an 80s action film that has aged very poorly.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Apr 29

For #BookQW, a ship sailing unorthodox seas is arriving at port... wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...

He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to join in, but he knew to set his body against the ship’s rail—on the starboard side, the port side rail was still missing—and tense.

Something struck the prow of the ship like a giant’s fist, making every timber groan in protest. Even prepared as he was, Garnas nearly toppled forwards. He apologised as he pulled himself away from Shirin’s back.

Waves rolled against the hull as the ship broke free of the mist. With only a single judder it had left the interstice to rejoin a mundane sea. The vision in the marble had not done the port justice. Colours were in constant motion. Shouts carried all the way out to the ship; hawkers’ lures drowned out top-of-voice squabbles, pierced in turn by children’s excited shrieks.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Apr 27

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Apr 22

Eilert is being briefed on a very dangerous mission for this #BookQW. wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...

Reading between the lines, the council had probably intended to ‘volunteer’ someone from her chorus before I arrived. If the task was dangerous, better have it fall to one of Dieuwke’s ill-behaved whelps than someone who mattered. My arrival had given her an opportunity to punt it away again. The rest of the council believed it was getting one over on her this way, forcing her to choose between a former student and a current one; when in fact this outcome was exactly what she wanted. I don’t know if it spoke of her confidence in me, or her willingness to hang me out to dry.

“I understand,” I said, for her benefit more than the others. “Is this a good time to discuss the nature of this task?”

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Apr 15

For #BookQW, have a newspaper cutting. wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Apr 13

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Apr 8

This #BookQW, and Garnas is on his home turf. Dangerous turf, yes, but he's used to the dangers. The people he's trying to find are not. wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/nove...

Following the river was a mistake. It might mean you could move more quickly, but you had your back against a figurative wall. Even if you could fight off dangerous fauna, the noise and the blood would bring more animals―or worse. Following the river was a mistake, but it was a mistake Garnas guessed the missing explorers had made.

His hunch was confirmed by scraps of cloth on a resinbush. The plant was one of the few without vicious thorns, which made it look less dangerous to the naïve eye. Its leaves secreted a quick-setting adhesive that hardened to a bond with greater tensile strength than leather. If the wanderers had continued into that harmless-looking patch of bluish undergrowth, they would still be there now. As it was they had only left behind one blue sleeve. At least they hadn’t tried burning the leaves away. Their resin was a natural accelerant.

Ben Wright - Queex@queex· Mar 31

Something BIG is coming on the 3rd April... ...to Bandcamp...