Drabble #138: Hungry

[redwolf]

...we had a nice response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 137, with entries by redwolf.

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

Hungry

Hungry is a state of physical discomfort or a desire for food (or other things), indicating a need for nourishment. Tell us all about it. Labyfic-style, of course.

Given our entries from recent months, let's continue with the suggested limit 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
$your_beautiful_drabble

I'll be running weekly challenges in the space around jalenstrix's monthly challenges.

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. Authors generally write for love.)

Comments

Flashdance

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

Sarah leaned back in her seat, feet up on the balustrade and a bowl in her lap. She closed her eyes as she savoured the combination of flavours and textures in her rocky road ice cream. The gelatissimo had created their own variant and Sarah was now ruined for anyone else’s take on the recipe.

She had been eagerly awaiting Jareth’s return from Above with the promised treat and had made a credible goblin impression when she grabbed the container and scuttled off to enjoy it away from anyone who would dare ask her to share. The fact that Jareth had his own preferred flavour in hand didn’t register at all.

Sarah opened her eyes at the amused chuckle from beside her. “Do you need me to leave you both alone, my love?” Jareth laughed outright as Sarah responded by growling at him and curling around her ice cream like a dragon guarding its treasure. With her eyes narrowed to slits as she glared at him, Sarah opened her mouth to respond, when a loud electrical snap distracted her.

A roar of excitement sounded from the courtyard below. “That was a big one. Are you sure they aren’t hurting each other?”

The goblins had managed to procure a roll of artificial grass. They had neatly laid it atop the paved courtyard and were happily shuffling across the surface before using the nearest warm body to discharge. The game appeared to be a competition to see who could get the best result and the best discharges, according to the cheering, were the ones that produced a loud sound and an accompanying spark.

“They’ll be fine,” Jareth dismissed her concern with a gentle smile as he returned his attention to his own bowl of ice cream.

“Where did they even manage to find Astroturf?” It had looked to be in unused condition before the game had commenced, so Sarah guessed it had been a new roll and that there wasn’t a sporting field Above that was suddenly looking a little bare.

“There’s a chance it might have been wished away.”

Sarah had seen more than enough home improvement programming in the past to know that the scenario of a disgruntled spouse cursing the surprise repurposing of their lounge room into a putting green was definitely not outside the realms of possibility.

“Or they stole it.” Jareth shrugged. “I’ll question them in the morning and deal with the situation accordingly.”

Sarah snorted at the thought of a tradesman trying to figure out why his brand new roll of artificial grass was now adorned with goblin detritus and chicken feathers. She was wondering just how the discussion with the suppliers would go when she found herself lost for words as her train of thought was derailed at the vision before her. Jareth was slowly licking ice cream residue from his spoon and Sarah was having a moment of indecision over whether to finish her dessert or to find another use for Jareth’s talented tongue.