Drabble #155: Relax

[redwolf]

...we had a nice response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 154, with entries by redwolf.

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

Relax

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.

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Comments

Relax

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

After a day of wrangling minor bureaucrats, Sarah felt the tension melt away as the heat of water loosened her muscles. Jareth had missed dinner and only made his presence known when he slipped into the tub behind Sarah.

Sarah laid her head back on his shoulder, catching Jareth’s look of concentration as he worked on her arm, his fingers stroked along the length of the limb in a gentle massage. “Can I assume the goldfish hunt was successful?”

Jareth huffed in amusement. “The koi have been relocated to Ada’s residence.”

Sarah’s thought processes were somewhat sluggish as Jareth’s ministrations continuously derailed her train of thought. “You just zapped them there?”

“I did not zap them anywhere.” He dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “We consulted the Labyrinth to find their current location and then we had to ask if they would be willing to move to a new pond.”

Frowning as she slowly puzzled through the explanation, Sarah was still missing part of the picture. “How did you move them?”

“Several koi agreed to the arrangement, but they asked for a scenic trip. I created individual bubbles for each fish and we escorted the floating balls of water to their new pond.”

Sarah pulled back to look at Jareth. “That sounds bizarre.” Although recalling the goldfish in a plastic bag her brother had brought home from a fair, it was close enough to the way they would be transported Above.

“It was a little more adventurous than expected when we passed through the city and the goblins started to take note.”

“Oh dear.”

“Quite.” Jareth carefully worked his thumbs into her bicep.

“But you managed to get them where they needed to go?” Sarah groaned, her toes curling at Jareth’s skill.

“Yes. They wanted to see more of their surroundings, but I think they may have gotten a little too close to hungry goblins for their liking and were more than happy to settle into their new pond.”

Sarah could see that being a stressful event as a fish. “Why were you moving them at all?”

“Ada thought that they would be a nice addition to Naimh’s pond.”

“She wanted ornamental fish?”

“No, I don’t think they would have agreed to relocate if that was the reason. She promised them all the fairies they could eat.”

Sarah covered her mouth with her free hand as she barked out a startled laugh. “Koi eat fairies?”

“They regard them as a delicacy. They were already leaping out of their new home to snatch the little pests from the air as I left.”

Sarah had not considered the use of koi as pest control, but if it worked she imagined that Naimh would be pleased at a fairy free garden. She relaxed back against Jareth, feeling the hard evidence that he wasn’t quite as boneless as she was at the moment and made an executive decision.

“I think it’s time for us to relocate to a more conducive environment too, my love.”