When you see a gorgeous woman dressed in a strapless black dress made entirely out of feathers hovering a good three feet above the sidewalk, with gorgeous black wings stretching out five feet to either side of her, what you think is going to depend on where you are. If you're in Vegas, you'll think she's advertisement for a pretty kick-ass magic show or maybe some kind of magic/risque dance act. If you're in New York, you'll think she's a model. If you're in Goodwin, Iowa, you'll probably think she's an angel of the Lord, or maybe one of those Goth teenagers trying to pull off a prank. If you're in Roswell, you may have an open mind about what she is or you may think she's an alien. If you see her in Chicago or Minneapolis or Boston or some other reasonably sized city, you may wonder what she is and assume she's some kind of city phenomenon, like an art car or a parade of naked painted people. The real fun comes when every assumption becomes right.


Inspiration: The cover art of Apocalyptica's 7th Symphony
Story potential: High.
Notes: Could go many ways. All at once.

Angel eggs can only hatch in the ruins of a civilization so destroyed that bare handfuls of survivors remain, waging constant war between the groups. That is when an angel can be born, because that is when an angel can feed and grow and learn and protect and do all the things an angel is supposed to do. Places like the DMZ, Somalia, and Croatia. You wonder why we don't see angels every day in an established, industrial society? Well, you might. It's not something to wish for, at least not if they are young angels. Mature angels that have shepherded a society back from the brink of collapse might travel to the cities, though as I understand it the differing quality of people's desires may drive them right back--or turn them bad, if they stick around too long. Not always, but sometimes. That's right, I'm blaming consumer culture for fallen angels. A hatched angel is an amazing sight, all downy wings and glistening skin and ravenous hunger for the needs of others and the glory when they satisfy their belief. The angels of the Mayan people after the collapse must have been a wonder to behold. Now, sometimes, an egg will hatch two angels. A double-yolk.


Inspiration: "Before High Heaven" - Daniel Merriam
Story potential: Medium
Notes: I don't think the tone is right here. Anyway. Could be an interesting story, I suppose, but does not immediately speak to me.

I wish I had an angel, he thought, as he stared up at the carved wooden faces peering benevolently down at the congregation. He looked sideways at his mom, where she sat in gray-haired, black-clothed dignity. Instead of a nagging harridan. He sighed. He knew as well as any that the only angels available in this town were the kind you rented for the night and watched your wallet around. The next evening, he took himself to angel street and picked the cleanest looking one of the lot. She had big eyes and white teeth and seemed clean enough, but when she stretched to take off her shirt, he saw needle pinpricks all along her back. "Whoa--

Inspiration: "Wish I Had An Angel" by Nightwish
Story Potential: Low
Notes: Meh. Been done.

The cloudy breath hung on the air, like the man if man he was who breathed it. She stared up at him from her comfortable pile of rags and cardboard boxes. It was her nest, and she'd always felt safe in it before, especially with a bottle of something to keep her warm. She'd never expected, not even in her most fevered delirium, to be descended upon by what was surely an angel. Or maybe an alien. Rob always said that there were aliens out there, and that they only came to visit those who they knew nobody would believe. "Are you an angel?" she asked, figuring that an alien shouldn't be insulted by being called an angel, but an angel might be irritated by being called an alien. "No," he said, "but I am your salvation. Come with me." He held out his hand. She didn't want to take it. For a minute, she wondered if maybe it was all wires and chicken feathers--

Inspiration: "Hunter's Kiss" by Rasputina
Story Potential: I don't know! I can't decide!
Notes: This story idea confuses me. It's definitely different from what I've been writing, and I find it interesting, but I've got no idea what it would be. Also, I'm entirely sure he's not an angel of the Biblical type.