I ignored the insult as the student stormed out of my office. It wasn’t the first time a handsome young man had tried to seduce me to gain a few more percentage points on his final grade.
“Why did you let him say such things?” The blades in that voice could have sliced an ice block in two.
I shrugged at the Goblin King who had materialized in my office guest chair, regally crossing one pointed Fluevog boot over the other. He was easy on the eyes, and no mistake—twenty-something boys didn’t stand a chance. Also, it was entirely possible said Goblin King had been there invisibly watching my student’s semi-suave seduction attempt, which meant I had to do some damage control pronto. “It doesn’t bother me that some hapless twenty-year-old lets off steam by muttering imprecations.”
“Mmmm, imprecations. Fancy. You are irritated after all. Would you like me to rain a plague upon his head?”
I smiled despite myself. “Thanks, but no.”
“Are you sure? It would give me great pleasure. And I could be quite subtle, I promise.”
I arched an eyebrow.
He rubbed his hands together, grinning like a fiend. “Something appropriate for the season...like always being just a touch cold, no matter what he does. You wouldn’t believe how fast that can drive someone around the bend. The damage is insidious and primarily psychological.”
I leaned my chin on my hand. “Permanent psychological damage for one nasty comment? Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme?”
“He needs to learn not to insult people. It’s an important life lesson. I’d be doing the clout a favor, really.”
“Mmmhmm. And this wouldn’t have anything to do with you seeking jealous Faerie vengeance upon a witless human boy who insulted your girlfriend.”
“As I said, an important life lesson.” He arched his hands into readiness, waggling his fingers. “So, shall I?”
“Maybe just for a week.”
“A year.”
“Two weeks.”
“A month. Come, Sarah, he impugned your kindness, which is one of my favorite qualities. That’s worth at least a month of retribution.”
I laughed softly. “I love you, you over-protective Faerie nut.”
“Happily, I’m your over-protective Faerie nut, and I brought you such a nice hot drink to warm those perpetually cold hands of yours.” He whisked a steaming latte out from some pocket of reality and set it neatly in front of me before resuming his spell-casting position. “So, a month?”
“A month. And Jareth?”
He paused mid-flick. “Yes?”
“I can think of some better ways to warm my cold hands.”
His smile was a thing of velvet promise as each tapered finger finished executing a set of precise gestures. “So can I. We should probably close your office door first.”
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ninetydegrees
no subject
2018-12-29 02:07 (UTC)Drabble:
“Frigid bitch!”
I ignored the insult as the student stormed out of my office. It wasn’t the first time a handsome young man had tried to seduce me to gain a few more percentage points on his final grade.
“Why did you let him say such things?” The blades in that voice could have sliced an ice block in two.
I shrugged at the Goblin King who had materialized in my office guest chair, regally crossing one pointed Fluevog boot over the other. He was easy on the eyes, and no mistake—twenty-something boys didn’t stand a chance. Also, it was entirely possible said Goblin King had been there invisibly watching my student’s semi-suave seduction attempt, which meant I had to do some damage control pronto. “It doesn’t bother me that some hapless twenty-year-old lets off steam by muttering imprecations.”
“Mmmm, imprecations. Fancy. You are irritated after all. Would you like me to rain a plague upon his head?”
I smiled despite myself. “Thanks, but no.”
“Are you sure? It would give me great pleasure. And I could be quite subtle, I promise.”
I arched an eyebrow.
He rubbed his hands together, grinning like a fiend. “Something appropriate for the season...like always being just a touch cold, no matter what he does. You wouldn’t believe how fast that can drive someone around the bend. The damage is insidious and primarily psychological.”
I leaned my chin on my hand. “Permanent psychological damage for one nasty comment? Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme?”
“He needs to learn not to insult people. It’s an important life lesson. I’d be doing the clout a favor, really.”
“Mmmhmm. And this wouldn’t have anything to do with you seeking jealous Faerie vengeance upon a witless human boy who insulted your girlfriend.”
“As I said, an important life lesson.” He arched his hands into readiness, waggling his fingers. “So, shall I?”
“Maybe just for a week.”
“A year.”
“Two weeks.”
“A month. Come, Sarah, he impugned your kindness, which is one of my favorite qualities. That’s worth at least a month of retribution.”
I laughed softly. “I love you, you over-protective Faerie nut.”
“Happily, I’m your over-protective Faerie nut, and I brought you such a nice hot drink to warm those perpetually cold hands of yours.” He whisked a steaming latte out from some pocket of reality and set it neatly in front of me before resuming his spell-casting position. “So, a month?”
“A month. And Jareth?”
He paused mid-flick. “Yes?”
“I can think of some better ways to warm my cold hands.”
His smile was a thing of velvet promise as each tapered finger finished executing a set of precise gestures. “So can I. We should probably close your office door first.”
“Good idea.”