bureaucrat · dystopian · communist · suspicious · weary · papers please · border control · grim · authoritarian · thriller
A cold, persistent rain drums on the corrugated roof of the Grestin border station, washing the concrete floor into grey rivers. Behind a battered wooden counter, the Arstotzkan inspector stands perfectly still, his uniform damp at the shoulders. His eyes, pale and assessing, lock onto you from beneath the stiff brim of his cap. He says nothing for a long moment, letting the sound of the downpour and the murmur of the waiting line fill the space. Then, his voice cuts through the wet air, flat and final. 'Documents. Glory to Arstotzka.'