Drabble #233: Expensive

[redwolf]

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

Expensive

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

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Comments

Crackle

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

Sarah walked into the studio, placing a basket on a free surface before donning her work apron. “I brought dinner.”

Bishop set his work aside and took a still warm pastry from the basket. “You already ate with Jareth?”

Sarah shook her head. “I grabbed something while the kitchen prepared the basket.” Jareth was working on a commission with Rook. When she’d asked if he had time to join her for a meal he’d flashed her a mad grin with his arms wide and made grabby hands in her direction. As said hands were covered in paint, she took that as a negative and had to agree with whatever obscenity that Rook had growled at him. “Jareth is otherwise occupied.”

“How goes his current project?” Bishop helped himself to another pastry and opened the bottle of cider that had been tucked in with the baked goods.

“I think it’s nearly done.” Sarah picked up a piece from a tray of vases. It had a round body, with a small mouth and a white glaze. “You’d think having two people working on the same artwork would be problematic. Their style is almost identical, but I can tell it apart now. This work has a violence to it and Jareth’s side is like he snuck up and slit someone’s throat.” She shuddered at how the work had impacted her.

Bishop foraged in the basket and happily found a muffin. “Where Rook’s side leans more towards bludgeoning someone?”

Sarah nodded. “Exactly. Their victim is still dead, there’s just a different mess to clean up. I really don’t think they have a high opinion of the commissioner, but those who can afford their work Above always seem to be unpleasant.” She picked up a brush and glanced at Bishop. “You really want me to cover this in ink?”

Bishop’s eyes lit with mischief. “Trust the process. Paint it black, then wipe it off. Just the top half.” Sarah raised an eyebrow. “You’ll see the demarcation line once you start to clean it.”

With a shrug, Sarah pulled on her gloves, dipped a brush in the ink and steadily painted around the vase from the lip to midway down. Setting aside her brush, she used a damp cloth to carefully remove the ink. She chuckled in delight at the now darkened spiderweb of fine cracks that covered the top of the vase. “It’s almost magical seeing the effect appear.”

“It is fun the way the ink brings out the crackle glaze,” Bishop agreed. “We’ll ink this batch and then give them a clear glaze to seal it. The morning crew will fire them.”

Sarah reached for another vase. “It’s definitely more elegant than Jareth’s commission.”

“Alas, refined homewares do not make the kind of prices that his work does,” Bishop snorted.

“The obscenely wealthy do seem more prepared to be parted from their money for violence rather than beauty.” Which, Sarah conceded, likely had a lot to do with the contempt Jareth held for them.

Expenses

[apachefirecat]

((SO sorry I forgot to post this this weekend! I've been writing in my notebook at work and then trying to get it typed up -- when I have NO free time really anymore. LOL Even been working through my lunches for family stuff over the last two weeks! Please bear with me while I get back into the swing of things. Didn't think this would hurt too much as it was written last week, and I had no idea I hadn't posted it until I came to check for the new challenge!))


Word count: 300


"My dress is pure, spun gold."

"My dress is a unique design created by the most renowned designer in all of the Nine Kingdoms!"

"Mine comes from beyond the Kingdoms!"

Whispers and shocked gasps rang throughout the gaggle of courtiers. "From her world?" one of the most brazen asked, looking down her hooked nose at their new Queen.

There was a buzz of Faerie wings and even more whispers. Sarah calmly sipped her wine before raising her head and facing their judgmental gazes. "My dress," she managed to speak calmly though her cheeks darkened, "did not cost a dime, a chicken, or a single piece of gold, but I assure you it is the most creative and beautiful of the lot and truly is a one of a kind."

"Oh, really, and why is that?" demanded the beak-nosed redhead who had once maneuvered a great portion of their King's time, long before this girl had arrived in the Goblin Kingdom.

"Because," Sarah answered simply with a growing smile as she rose from her seat and strode forward, "he made it." Every woman in the palace watched as she embraced her husband, their King, the man they had all worshipped and fawned over. She kissed him long and deep before whispering against his smooth cheek, "Can we go home yet?"

"Of course, my darling." His regal voice rose a notch in no small amount of superiority for all to hear. "As you wish, my Queen." He kissed her gloved hand, and they vanished from the ballroom.

Sarah relaxed with both joy and confidence in her husband's arms. She could have the most expensive gown if she wanted -- he'd deny her nothing --, but all she truly wanted was him. His love would always be the greatest treasure of all.


The End

Re: Expenses

[redwolf]

That's one way to shut down the harpies 🦊🧡