Drabble #158: Jump

[redwolf]

...we had a nice response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 157, with entries by jalenstrix and redwolf and comments by jalenstrix, tojojo and redwolf.

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

Jump

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

Jump

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

Despite years of seeing goblins going about their lives, Sarah knew that the chaotic insanity of the castle horde had left its stamp on her. She reasoned that it would be much the same if you were to judge all humans if your first encounter was that of being cramped inside a clown car with them.

Sarah was still trying to parse the reality of seeing goblins politely queued up, essentially waiting on public transit. There was even a goblin keeping everything in order who was wearing what looked like a bus conductor uniform, if the many reruns she’d used as background noise throughout her university years were to be believed.

Leaning on the bridge parapet, Sarah turned from the spectacle to look at Jareth, smiling at the way the breeze swept his hair back with all the majesty of a shampoo commercial. She brushed her own hair out of her mouth and pulled it back to hold it in her fist.

“Tell me again why this is a thing.” Sarah winced at the high pitched shriek as a goblin flung himself out over the river.

Jareth stepped behind Sarah, gently removing her grip before starting to carefully braid it.

“The bridge suffered minor damage when a flash flood swept a large tree Into the pier. As the town is split by the river, there was a constant flow of traffic that needed to be maintained during the repairs.” Another shriek sounded from the queue.

“I do understand the necessity of keeping the lines of transport open, but I’m struggling to understand why that form of transport is a zip line and why it’s still in use years after the incident.”

Jareth snorted in amusement, wrapping his arms around her as he rested his chin on her shoulder. “Honestly, my love, it’s like you’ve never met a goblin. Why would they make use of a perfectly good bridge when they can hurtle across the river at high speed?”

Shaking her head, Sarah nuzzled his cheek before continuing her explanation. “I get that part, it’s just the orderliness of the process and what looks like safety equipment that’s throwing me.” Each goblin had a loop that hooked onto the zip line that they were securely attached to in a manner that would not allow for unscheduled detours midway through the journey.

“That was a compromise with the other, less foolhardy races who initially needed to use the service.”

Sarah had to concede that it was a typical Goblin Kingdom way of solving a problem and everyone she’d seen so far seemed to appreciate the service.

“Do you want to take a ride?” Jareth’s voice was a low whisper in her ear in the familiar tone that promised things that could not be fulfilled by joining the wait to throw herself across the river while attached to a cable.

“Very much.” Sarah melted into Jareth’s embrace, lifting his hand to kiss his palm. “But perhaps not in the middle of a bridge.”

Re: Jump

[tojojo]

I've had a busy week at work and finally got the time to read this - so worth the wait <3 I like how you make their world seem like an actual place, rather than just a fantasy labyrinth dreamed up by a child, though still very whimsy!

Re: Jump

[redwolf]

Thanks! 🦊🧡