Drabble #166: Rock

[redwolf]

...we had a nice response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 165, with entries by jalenstrix and redwolf and comments by tojojo and redwolf.

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

Rock

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

Journey

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

Sarah was currently wondering about her life choices. What was supposed to be a quick visit Above to catch up with her family, went a tad sideways when her awareness of the time zone difference had been out of whack enough that what she had thought was a free weekend turned out to be anything but.

An extended family gathering was being held a couple of hours drive from her family's home. Sarah had tried to gracefully escape, but Irene had been desperate for a buffer and her father had all but insisted on Eero and Gan coming along to help in keeping his sanity intact. Sarah wasn’t even certain who the host of the event was or how they were related, but judging from her stepmother’s reticence, it was likely connected to one of her appalling cousins who had an unerringly precise ability to know which buttons to press to manipulate others.

Her trip had taken on the elements of a military manoeuvre, starting with an unexpected road trip thanks to the host demanding all the attendees pick up nominated supplies on the way. While she supposed she still could have ported herself, due to the host's demands and her growing entourage, she had Jareth procure a vehicle for the occasion.

Rook had been a last minute addition to the venture and Sarah had plans to deploy her to distract attendant offspring. A tactic that could have the guardian teaching small children the best methods of making explosives and assorted weapons from household objects, which was a gift that kept on giving, provided they weren’t your kids.

Jareth had insisted on a very plush SUV that was large enough to comfortably seat five passengers, two of whom were not small men, and Eero’s driving was not an issue. This was the first time she’d been trapped in a vehicle with both Jareth and Rook and she was not enjoying the experience.

Sarah was familiar enough with their differing musical talents, but she didn’t anticipate that they both loved to sing along to the radio. If it was just Jareth, she was sure it would have been an enjoyable experience, but Rook’s spectacularly bad singing voice killed any joy she could have derived. Her attempt to distract herself from the aural assault by texting Irene for details was doing little to lower her ire.

Magicking up a set of earplugs managed to mute the serenading to something slightly more bearable. Gritting her teeth, Sarah had the idle thought that if Irene had wanted to weaponise her against her terrible relatives, then it was difficult to imagine her selecting a better method.

While the upcoming gathering was likely to be uncomfortable for Irene and boring for her father, it would just be a nuisance for her. If she could provide the support her family needed, she was happy to help. Irene’s unfortunate relatives would not be expecting a thoroughly displeased Goblin Queen to view them as a potential for target practice.

Re: Journey

[tojojo]

The ending of this made me laugh. Also, I can only imagine how that sing-along might have sounded like, haha.

Re: Journey

[redwolf]

Having the difficult stepchild change from a tool to point out your relative's failings into a creature that could make you cease to exist with a thought, is probably not a scenario that a childhood bully could envision. As for the singing, it's relentless, enthusiastic, would actually be bearable if both parties could sing and they know the words to everything. You cannot escape it. 🦊🧡