Drabble #164: Slow

[redwolf]

...we had a nice response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 163, with an entry by redwolf and comments by tojojo and redwolf.

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

Slow

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

Insolence

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

Sarah had naively assumed that moving Underground would mean an end to some of the more toxic elements of life Above. While she encountered few examples of those behaviours in the Goblin Kingdom, likely due to both the nature of the kingdom as a refuge for all races and her position as Goblin Queen. The same could not be said of dealing with other kingdoms.

Jareth had wondered why the meetings with one particularly obnoxious ambassador were dragging out and had not been pleased to learn of the man’s derogatory racist and misogynistic language that had spared nobody, including Sarah.

The ambassador seemed so detached from reality that he assumed his gender and species gave him an imaginary advantage in negotiations when he should have been kissing the boots of the Goblin monarchs. Sarah, rather than taking personal offence, was viewing him as an interesting example of entitlement and pondered how long it would take him to realise that mansplaining and gaslighting was not helping his cause.

Although, on hearing there were bets being placed on how long it would take her to bog the man, she did have to concede that the subtle approach was failing. Jareth, of course, agreed with this assessment and offered to assist in speeding things along to a satisfactory conclusion.

After sitting through an hour of the ambassador’s monologue, that was impressive only in the way that he had managed to insult every species in the room, including those in his own contingent, while completely avoiding the topic at hand, Sarah signalled one of her advisors to arrange for refreshments. When Jareth stepped into the room not one of his team warned the ambassador that he was making a career ending error of judgement.

“Where is that filthy goblin with my tea?” The ambassador roared with a spray of spittle. Jareth scuffed a heel on the floor behind the man, which prompted a huff of, “It’s about bloody time.”

The look on his face when he turned to rebuke what he thought was a servant and saw a not terribly pleased Goblin King was likely to become legend amongst his staff. Sarah was fairly certain she saw all of his hopes and dreams vanish with the blood that drained from his face.

“This is how you speak to my subjects, to your own staff, to the Goblin Queen?” Jareth’s voice was barely above a whisper and his expression was as sharp as a blade. “You will return to your kingdom and I expect you to contemplate the error of your ways. If I even get a hint of a rumour that you speak of anyone in this manner again, I shall be delighted to inform your King that all trade has been suspended between our kingdoms and exactly who is to blame.”

Sarah shivered in delight at watching Jareth in action and she was quite happy to admit that he was correct that some people really did need a more direct means of instruction.

Re: Insolence

[tojojo]

This fic somehow humanizes the labyrinth and the Goblin Kingdom in a way I haven't really considered before--it's really interesting!

Re: Insolence

[redwolf]

If you're going to have to deal with other kingdoms it's unlikely to be all smooth sailing. thanks for reading! 🦊🧡