Drabble #64: New

[jalenstrix]

...we had a livelier response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 63, with entries by the wondrous wordrevolt, me (your intrepid drabble proposer jalenstrix), the fabulous ghislaine, and the terrific 3iggy. We were also more lively on the commenting love, with encouraging words by the terrific 3iggy, me, and the fabulous ghislaine.

Huzzah to my dear labyfic collective! I love you all!!



For this prompt, we continue with our one-word drabble roots, taking inspiration from the turning of the year:

New

What’s new? Or who? Why? Tell us all about it. You know you want to.




I continue to enjoy the 300 word limit, so let's continue with it for this month. 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 (Feb 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

Invective

[redwolf]

Word count: 500
Drabble:

Sarah stood beside Bishop as they watched a pair of guardians spar. She shook her head when he nodded towards the combatants and they left the training room together.

“When you came Underground did you have a sense of something missing?”

Bishop graced her with a Cheshire Cat grin. “When you beat the Labyrinth, was there a tall–” Sarah raised an eyebrow. “--dark and handsome stranger missing from your life.” She snorted at the question but shook her head. “There’s your answer, love. The connection seems to be part of the Labyrinth’s geas and it didn’t manifest until we were in the same place.”

That was a sound theory to Sarah’s mind, although she wondered if even Jareth understood the machinations of the Labyrinth. They walked throughout the castle and its grounds as Bishop pointed out the guardians who’d recently rotated from Above. While there was an undercurrent of safety from all of them, none of them held the same connection she had immediately felt with Bishop.

“I thought it might be Rook’s brother.” Bishop’s coat swirled around his legs as they walked through the gardens. “He bears the Labyrinth’s mark.” He tapped a finger under his left eye to indicate the partial heterochromia that all of the guardians bore. “But he’s both a little young to be called and he’s married.”

“Wouldn’t the Labyrinth call them both?” Sarah stopped to admire a bloom.

Bishop shrugged. “There’s no precedent, but it would be a poorly timed tactic to bring on someone who is both relatively young and who would have potentially contradictory priorities.”

“The Labyrinth does not strike me as an entity that would compromise people that way,” Sarah agreed.

They both started at a loud commotion coming from nearby and increased their pace to investigate. Sarah was surprised to see Rook sitting on a bench beside a woman she didn’t recognise. It was the woman who was waving her hands about wildly as she unleashed a torrent of invective. “Is that Italian?” Sarah whispered, smiling broadly as Bishop nodded. “I have no idea why, but that is surprisingly hot.”

Bishop’s laughter distracted the woman and halted her tirade. “You’re not the only one to think so.” A subtle nod towards the castle showed several other guardians watching the show. He strode forward and pulled the woman into a hug, before turning back to Sarah. “Allow me to introduce Angel, she’s Erich’s partner.”

“So you’re Jareth’s Queen.” Angel looked Sarah over and grinned broadly. “He always did have good taste.”

Sarah was surprised to hear a broad Brooklyn accent from the woman who had been swearing in fluent Italian. She was about Rook’s height, had long, wavy, dark hair and was dressed in yoga pants and a loose, wide necked tee that had slipped to expose a shoulder. Looking between Bishop and Angel, it felt as if a piece she hadn’t realised was missing had settled in her heart. “I think we’ll be getting to know each other quite well.”

Re: Invective

[ghislaine]

I love the characterizations and building of relationships! Even though it's a short scene, you brought the scene to life enough for me to be able to feel immersed in it.

Re: Invective

[redwolf]

Thanks! There's a bunch of these that are all loosely connected, but they're all over the place in the comment threads based on which prompt I feel like working with at the time 🦊🧡