Drabble #185: Divided

[redwolf]

...we had a nice response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 184, with entries by apachefirecat and redwolf and comments by apachefirecat and redwolf

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

Divided

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

Harmony

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

Sarah had been looking for Jareth when the dulcet tones of goblin singing rebounded off the walls as she approached the throne room. It was definitely not a sound that she typically associated with goblins and it gave her a moment’s pause.

A while back she’d been listening to some music that Toby had recommended and Jareth had told her that the strange effect on the vocals was achieved using a technique called autotune. While once a novelty, it was currently in vogue on a lot of Above music and once you heard it, you couldn’t unhear it.

It was definitely improving the caterwauling that usually passed for goblin singing, although the lyrics were still very chicken centric, so veered towards drunken country laments.

When Sarah peeked around the doorway, she watched as a small goblin holding a brightly coloured plastic microphone furiously turned a handle on a box cobbled onto the device. It looked like someone had attached a hand crank from a camping radio to a child’s karaoke toy.

Once the goblin was satisfied the toy was powered up, it passed it off to another goblin who mashed the buttons before launching into another song about the joys of chicken ownership, but the microphone’s pitch settings had artificially deepened its voice to make it sound like a dirge.

Sitting on the steps in front of the throne, Sarah could see Jareth and Rook leaning on each other, tears streaming down their faces, as they convulsed in laughter.

Easing back into the hallway Sarah conjured a crystal and called Bishop.

“Was it today that Jareth had that meeting with the elves about the wood ceremony?”

Bishop’s smooth tones provided an interesting contrast to the electronically altered goblin serenade. “Yes, he did. I’ve heard that it went on far longer than it should have. No one was bogged, but I believe it may have been a close call.” Sarah winced in sympathy. “Should I assume the basso chicken lament I can hear is your husband releasing tension rather than throttling someone?”

“He’s introduced the goblins to a karaoke toy and, while he may find it hilarious, I think I need to be somewhere well out of earshot.” Sarah grimaced as the next goblin to sing opted for an effect that sounded like it had inhaled helium. She really did appreciate Jareth letting off steam with Rook. Bishop had told her how frustrating it was as a guardian to not be permitted to beat sense into people who disrespected Sarah in meetings.

Bishop’s voice dropped into a conspiratorial tone. “I hear that the pastry chef is working on new recipes and may be looking for volunteers to help work out the kinks.”

Sarah was moving before Bishop had finished speaking. Jareth was welcome to indulge in goblin recitals, but Sarah would rather watch paint dry. It certainly didn’t hurt that the castle’s spectacular pastry chef ensured that anyone helping got to sample the test recipes. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

Jareth's Secret

[apachefirecat]

Word Count: 500




Sarah leans back against a tree. It has been an unusually busy Winter, and although the weather has not touched her -- her husband never allows it to get too cold in the Labyrinth, let alone in their castle home --, it has nonetheless seemed like an especially harsh season. At last, however, the dark, busy times seem to be lifting, and they have actually been able to stay and recline in their own kingdom this budding, Spring day.

Sarah has always enjoyed Spring, when everything comes back to lush, green life, but she finds herself especially excited for this season. She is clearly not the only one as even Jareth has been a jovial mood today, zipping and zooming through the bright, blue sky in his owl form. If she were to ask, he would, of course, claim to be spying on the neighboring kingdoms where they have spent so much of their time as of late, so she simply does not ask. She reclines instead and watches her friends, her makeshift family, as they play. It is not every day, after all, that their King deigns to join them in such a jovial mood, or that all the Labyrinth's assorted beings are to be found frolicking together.

"Hmm," Sarah muses, watching the various groups.

Beside her, Sir Didymus' ears immediately perk to attention. "What is it, milady?"

"I was just thinking," she admits, wondering why the thought never crossed her mind before. "The Labyrinth's subjects seem mostly divided between Goblins and Fieries, and the occasional Fairy creature." It was in watching the younger Goblins playing with Ludo and how differently he acts with them tugging on his coarse fur than when they were all but attacked by the Fieries that the thought occurred to her. "There is no one else like Ludo here."

"Or you," she adds, glancing down questioningly to the Knight.

There is a fondness in Sir Didymus' answering smile, and a twinkle in his eyes. "That," he says in a hushed voice, as though sharing a secret with her, "is because his Liege seems to take in all kinds of strays."

"He took you in?" Sarah asks, head tilting quizzically.

"You could say that."

"Yes, indeed, you could. You could also say that he saved me and the Missus from certain death when he was a lad."

Sarah glances at Worm and the missus, where they nuzzle together on her shoulder. "Did he?"

"He's not such a monster after all, dearie," Missus Worm adds.

"Oh no, I know that," Sarah assures with a bright smile, but she had not known that her husband could be such a soft touch.

She's practically glowing when he lands and shifts back to human form. "What?" he asks, grinning, at the way she's watching him.

"Nothing." She moves to him and kisses him softly. "It's just a fine day, is all."

"Yes. Yes, it is," he agrees, wrapping his strong arms around her, pulling her close, and kissing her more deeply.



The End

Re: Jareth's Secret

[redwolf]

This is really sweet! 🦊🧡