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labyfic2020-09-04 11:10 am
jalenstrix) wrote in labyfic2020-09-04 11:10 am
Entry tags:
Drabble #96: Negotiation
...we had a quieter response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 95, with an entry by me (your intrepid drabble proposer
jalenstrix). For this prompt, we continue with our one-word/phrase drabble roots:
Negotiation
Who's negotiating what? What kind of (ahem) "concessions" are being made, and by whom? Or is this a snippet about someone finding their way along a treacherous path? Tell us all about it labyfic-style!
Given our entries from recent months, let's continue with the suggested limit for this month of 500 words. Though remember that shorter pieces are most definitely welcome!
Your entry should take the following format, posted as a comment on this entry:
Word count: # of words
Drabble: $your_beautiful_drabble
I'll aim to get the next drabble challenge out on the first Friday of next month (October 2).
I'm also very happy to take suggestions if something in particular strikes your fancy -- comment on this post or PM me with your suggestions. You can see our current collected suggestions here.
Remember: Feedback is LOVE. So do reply to your fellow labyficcers' drabbles if so inclined. (Though be careful of concrit unless specifically okayed by the author beforehand.)
no subject
Drabble:
Jareth’s face could have been chiseled from stone. “This is worse than the last round of the Unseelie Accords.”
“You exaggerate. You’re such a drama queen.”
His eyes spurred curls of frost to bloom on the windows. “You both utterly refuse to give ground on any point. At all.” The frost had now covered the windows and was creeping up the wall.
I ignored his Faerie theatrics. “That’s because your mother is absolutely unreasonable on all accounts.”
“Shockingly, she thinks the same of you. If I had known a simple overnight for Feanor at his Grandmother’s was going to turn into another Great War of Air and Darkness, I would never have brought it up.”
“You should have asked me first.”
He crossed his arms and leaned a shoulder against the frosted wall. “You’ve made note of that already. Several times. I’ll keep it in mind for the future. For now, what’s said is said.”
I snorted. “Don’t you have control of space and time? Can’t you just rewind things to before you made this ridiculous suggestion?”
“First, that only works in my realm, and my mother — as you know — resides conveniently outside it. Second, who do you think I learned that ability from? And third—ah, you were being facetious. Forgive me, I’m distracted by the absurd turn of events.” He paused, swiping a hand across his eyes. “What can be done? Mother will want an answer to her latest suggestion.”
“Stall her.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know — until Feanor’s a teenager and can safely handle the deathtraps she insists on surrounding him with.”
“Sarah.”
“Jareth.”
“Be serious.”
“You think I’m kidding?”
“Be reasonable, then.”
“I am. You may have survived your mother’s brand of parenting however many centuries ago, but times have changed.”
“He’s my son. He needs training.”
“He’s two, Jareth. Your mother sent him a poisonous spider for his birthday ‘to keep him on his toes’.”
“He did manage to stomp on it quite nicely.”
“Damned fool luck, and you know it. I shudder to think what she’ll foist on him in her domain. The answer to an overnight at Grandmother’s remains an emphatic no.”
“You do make my life so difficult.”
“Do you want me to tell her? You can stop being the intermediary.”
He closed his eyes briefly. “No, I’m fairly sure that would be even worse.”
“Only fairly sure? Perhaps I should try. Because damned if I’m going to let our son into her clutches unsupervised.”
He held up a hand. “I’ll deal with it.”
I stood up, patted his shoulder, and kissed the side of his jaw. “I’ll make it worth your while when you’re finished.”
“Small favors.”
“I’m sure these favors could be bigger.” I began kissing down his neck, inhaling his intoxicating scent of winter. “Use your imagination.”
He smiled and shooed me away. “Devil woman, leave me be.”
“Love you too, honey — good luck.”
no subject
no subject
Appreciate
Drabble:
Jareth was curled around Sarah, almost purring as she ran her fingers through his hair.
“You’ve finished writing up your research notes?” She dropped a kiss on his forehead. “Bishop told me you were arguing over semantics.”
“We eventually reached an agreement over the term describing me as skipping whilst under the influence,” Jareth huffed. “Rook informed me that if I didn’t agree she would insist on using frolic and gambol instead.”
Sarah snorted an inelegant laugh as she replied fondly. “I’m sorry, but you’re both idiots.”
“Undoubtedly.” Running a hand along her side to her shoulder and down her arm, Jareth captured her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You fought well today, my love.”
“It wasn’t much of a fight.” Sarah shrugged.
“I disagree. It was the best kind of fight.” He held Sarah tightly as she tried to pull away to look him in the eye. “You stopped a physically larger opponent who would not have fought fairly and you did it without getting hurt.”
“I wanted to punch him, but I wasn’t about to risk a broken hand, and my defensive magic is still a little overenthusiastic.”
“Clever girl.” Jareth pressed a kiss to her wrist. “Now tell me what is troubling you?”
“I’m concerned that neither being beaten by a woman nor arrested on drug and attempted rape charges will do anything to curb his behaviour.” She frowned as she recalled the derogatory language used by the young man and his companions. “I suspect that he will see everything as being someone else’s fault rather than being an outcome caused by his own actions.”
“That would be an accurate assessment based on what we witnessed,” Jareth agreed. “You wish to keep a closer eye on him to prevent future transgressions?”
“Of course, but somehow I think that appearing in full Goblin Queen regalia might not get my point across. I would like to stop him from reoffending rather than fuel his masturbatory fantasies.”
“I can see how that could be an issue. You do look utterly delicious when you’re on official business.” Jareth growled while happily ground his hardening length into her hip. “Now please tell me more of these masturbatory fantasies, preferably while you model your armour and allow me to indulge in full audience participation.”
“You are not helping.” Sarah groaned as Jareth’s clever hands made an admirable attempt at diverting her from her worries. “I’m trying to be serious.”
“Well,” Jareth drawled out the word as he ran a finger around a nipple. “You don’t have to be the one to keep an eye on him.” She made happy humming noises and went still in his arms. “Sarah?”
“Sorry, now I’m picturing you wearing your goblin armour.”
“Cheeky minx, but I didn't mean me either.”
“I could send the goblins instead?” Sarah grinned broadly at the possibilities of unleashing the goblin horde to monitor and correct the errant behaviour of the young men. “I can really do that?”
“You are the Goblin Queen.”
Re: Appreciate
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