Drabble #124: Plan B

[jalenstrix]

...we had a bit livelier response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 123, with entries by redwolf and me (your intrepid drabble proposer jalenstrix), and comments by us both as well. Once again, special labyfic love to redwolf for adding entries and comments for many previous drabble prompts. Huzzah!





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

Plan B

What happened to Plan A? Who's coming up with Plan B and under what circumstances? What happens if Plan B falls through? 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 Monday of next month (March 6).

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

Alternative

[redwolf]

Word count: 500
Drabble:

Sarah huffed out a breath in frustration and wondered if she should have taken Jareth up on his offer.

They’d walked out beyond the densely packed buildings of the goblin city to where the structures were larger and more well spaced. Some, like the tanneries and dyers, were on the outskirts due to their less than pleasant odours. Others like potteries, glassmakers, brickmakers, smiths and foundries, due to the heat of their ovens, kilns and forges.

Jareth and Rook had business to conduct with the metalworkers and they had been more than happy for her company, but after a brief glance at the hard packed dirt floor and wall of roiling heat that washed over her, she had passed on their invite in favour of a visit to a pottery studio.

Looking at the neatly concertinaed folds of the clay on the wheel in front of her, Sarah mused that at least this time she had managed to get the start of a cylindrical shape formed before it had gotten away from her. She side eyed the series of elegant vases that Bishop had crafted and set aside to dry while she was creating clay origami or redistributing the substance around the studio.

“You make this look so easy.” Sarah shook her head in wonder as Bishop cut another identical vase from his wheel.

“This is the work of long practice.” Bishop brought another tray of vases over to the bench beside Sarah. He cleaned her wheel off and centred one of them for her. “These have been bisque fired and dipped in white glaze.” He pointed Sarah towards a bench with a large number of sealed containers. “Those are coloured glazes, enjoy yourself.”

Sarah selected her supplies and settled down to paint neat rings around each vase. By the time she was finished, she was shocked to discover that hours had passed. “That was unexpectedly meditative.” She looked over all the vases she’d decorated, frowning at the indistinct pastel colours and hoped they would turn out as she’d envisioned. Each of the containers had a small glazed disc attached to indicate the fired colour, but the glazes when applied mostly looked like muted pastels, many bearing no resemblance to their final colours.

Sarah carefully made sure that all the containers were resealed and her tools had been thoroughly cleaned. “What happens now?” While she'd been working, Bishop had completed another two trays of vases.

“Once my work has dried, it will be bisque fired, but yours will be done in a separate firing.” Bishop set the last tray of his work on a drying rack. “I don’t know which firing will happen first, that that’s up to the pottery. The big kiln is where they fire all the building materials. The smaller kiln is for household items and work like this. The timing will probably be based on what they can fill the kiln with first.”

Sarah looked over her work again. “I can’t wait to see the results.”

[jalenstrix]

Word count: 500

I watched calmly as Jareth fiddled with switches and buttons only he could see. Feanor occasionally offered a tool his toddler sensibilities deemed potentially helpful, including a pixie-sized wrench, the spigot from the goblins’ latest barrel of ale, and a glitter glue pen.

The triplets cooed in the corner, tumbling into a happy baby pile and oblivious to the creeping doom that was slithering towards them.

I stomped on said doom and it backed away. “No luck yet?”

“That accursed thing is around here somewhere. The codex was quite clear.”

“Mmhmm.” I swatted at a shadow tendril that was cozying up to the babies, and Feanor banged it with the glitter glue pen. It hissed and recoiled. “Getting the shield back to functional sooner rather than later would be nice.”

The glare I got for that remark could have stripped flesh from bone with its ferocity. Fortunately, both I and Feanor were immune and let it waft right past us into a smoky clawed hand that was burrowing up from the ground. The hand shuddered under the impact and dissipated.

I looked at Feanor. “Your father’s still got it, kiddo. Now all we need to do is infuriate him enough so he can glare at all the little nasties trying to worm their way in here.”

I could actually feel Jareth grind his teeth.

“I’m not sure silent grinding has the same firepower, though.”

A choked growl echoed through the room. Jareth lifted his head up and closed his eyes. “I can’t find it.”

I laid a hand on his shoulder, rubbing at a colossal knot of stress. “It’s alright, honey.”

“You’re remarkably calm about this.”

“Michael from ShieldCare will be arriving tomorrow morning.”

“ShieldCare?”

“They come highly recommended for all magical fortification woes.”

He blinked slowly. “When did you make this appointment?”

“Earlier today. I thought several days of concerted effort from us both was enough. Time to call a professional.”

“One might say we are professionals.”

“One might. But not professional enough for this ancient thing and we need it working.”

He snorted disdainfully. “I can’t believe the imbeciles who constructed it. I won’t tell you how many pieces are unattached, missing, or otherwise botched.”

“Indeed, please don’t. I’m sure Michael has seen plenty of shield half-assedness in his time.”

“I pray it’s so.” He flicked a brewing dark miasma of malice back into oblivion. “In the meantime, I’ll take first watch in penance for my failure.”

“So generous.”

“I live to serve.”

“You’ll do anything to get out of doing bathtime, won’t you?”

“Entirely possible. Ah, look! Another little nasty.” He blew ice on the thing until it froze in place.

“Showoff.”

“That’s how you like me, no? You best be on your way with all the little ones while I protect us.”

“Mmhmm. Michael help us all.”

“Tomorrow, Sarah love.”

I started collecting babies. “See you on the flip side.”

He blew me a kiss while smashing a spider-like monstrosity that had just appeared. “Ta-ta, darling.”