Drabble #121: Options

[jalenstrix]

...we had a nice response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 120, with entries by redwolf and me (your intrepid drabble proposer jalenstrix), and commenting love by us both as well. Hurrah! And again special labyfic love to redwolf for adding entries and comments for many previous drabble prompts. They're faaaabulous!





For this prompt, we continue with our one-word/phrase drabble roots:

Options

What are the options? Or is something optional? For whom? Tell us all about it. Labyfic-style, of course.




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 (December 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.)

Comments

Opportunity

[redwolf]

Word count: 500
Drabble:

Sarah had stepped away from the family gathering while everyone was in a post meal stupor to seek a private moment to call home. She was sitting in the window seat of what used to be her childhood room, looking out onto the yard where the children were using Gan as a climbing frame and impromptu diving platform. They’d found his size intimidating for all of three seconds before recruiting him a new playmate.

His partner for their trip Above, Eero, was stationed outside the door. Sarah grinned as she heard him politely dismiss the shrill tones of a distant cousin demanding entry. Sarah almost wished she could have seen the attempt as the silly woman tried to shove aside the guardsman. She chuckled to herself at the dramatic huff and empty threat as the woman retreated.

As far as the extended family knew, Sarah had married and moved to England, but the presence of her guards and their insistence on calling her Lady Sarah, had some members seeing dollar signs. She shuddered to think of the reaction if they knew she was a queen.

She wondered who the gold digger planned to complain to, as her immediate family would shut her down quickly and if she tried to get physical, she’d be quickly escorted from the premises.

When Sarah had informed her family that Jareth wouldn’t be able to make the trip, but she would instead be accompanied by a of pair of bodyguards, her stepmother just asked about their food preferences. So as not to inconvenience her family, Sarah had offered Irene the option of either allowing Sarah to cater the event or the use of a credit card to pay for all the groceries. When she’d opted for the card, Sarah had requested Irene purchase gifts for the children on her behalf, but had been surprised by her stepmother’s personal request.

Irene had always been involved with various committees and charities, so when Sarah heard the details, she not only readily agreed, but made suggestions to expand on the request. This was why a local domestic violence charity had several anonymous donations that would provide the bulk of the goods the group would need for the next several months.

While Sarah had no issues about the money, she had been impressed at the manner in which it had been spent. Irene had used her networking skills to quietly discover exactly what items the charity required and then sourced them at the best prices, often bypassing stores and to go directly to manufacturers and wholesalers. Having access to a limitless line of credit did not mean she wasn’t going to drive a hard bargain with suppliers. Even more impressive was that she had pulled everything together on top of her preparation to host a large gathering of their extended family, all while keeping her involvement anonymous.

Sarah had a plan in mind, but she wanted to run it past Jareth to see if he thought it would work.

Re: Opportunity

[jalenstrix]

Well done, Irene!

Re: Opportunity

[redwolf]

I'd like to think she had skills other than wicked stepmother 🦊🧡

[jalenstrix]

Word count: 330
Drabble:

“What kind of choice is that?” Jareth’s mother frowned deeply.

I stifled a sigh. “The one we currently have, as best as I can tell.”

“These options are unacceptable. I demand others.”

I gritted my teeth. “It’s nice to want things, but reality doesn’t always oblige.”

“It does when we’re in my realm.”

“Well, we’re not in your realm now, are we? We’re in some little hellhole of an interdimensional reality that doesn’t appear to be much of a ‘shortcut’, and whose fault is that?”

“You little harridan! How dare you blame—“

Jareth finally cut in. “Mother, please be civil to my wife.”

I smirked at her over Jareth’s shoulder, and she looked daggers back at me.

Jareth glanced meaningfully at me. “Sarah love, please don’t antagonize my mother.”

I bared my teeth in a semblance of a smile. “She’s so easily antagonized.”

“I am when I’m surrounded by imbeciles!”

“Mother-“

“Excepting you and the grandchildren, of course, Jareth dear.”

I rolled my eyes. “And now that you’ve got that out of your system, can we go back to our current predicament? That demon spider thing is bearing down on us. Fight or flee?”

Jareth narrowed his eyes at it. “Flee.”

I nodded. “Agreed.”

His mother crossed her arms. “I am an empress. We do not flee.”

“So we get devoured by interdimensional demon spiders, along with our long-suffering family?”

Her expression should have stopped an interdimensional demon spider in its tracks. Alas, it didn’t.

I gave Jareth a pointed look. “Discretion?”

He nodded. “The better form of valor.”

“I’ll manage the children.” I snaked my hands quickly through Feanor’s hand and the handlebar of the triplets’ stroller, and started preparing my mind for a very fast interdimensional leap.

He blew me a kiss and grabbed his mother’s arm. “We’re going, mother.”

Her voice rang out in stentorian tones. “Unhand me—“

I smiled to myself as I winked out of existence with all the children in tow. Good luck, honey.

[redwolf]

You'd think the grandchildren being at risk would have some sway, but grandmother does seem to be a tad unreasonable. Poor Jareth, getting stuck in the middle 🦊🧡

[jalenstrix]

Let's just say she's got her priorities in a different order. ;)