Drabble #75: Cold

[jalenstrix]

...we had a quieter response to the drabble prompt of Drabble 74, with entries by the fantastic 3iggy and me (your intrepid drabble proposer jalenstrix). 3iggy and I also represented the labyfic collective with commenting love — huzzah!



For this prompt, we continue with our one-word drabble roots, with a word inspired by current temperatures where I am:

Cold

Is this literal, emotional, metaphysical, all three, or something else entirely? Tell. Us. About it. Labyfic-style.



Given our entries from recent months, let's continue with the limit for this month 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
Drabble: $your_beautiful_drabble



I'll aim to get the next drabble challenge out on the first Friday of next month (Jan 4).

I'm also very happy to take suggestions if something in particular strikes your fancy -- comment on this post or PM me with your suggestions. 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.)

Comments

[3iggy]

Word Count: 497

The Visitor

It was four days before Christmas and there was a goblin on the doorstep. Sarah could hardly believe her eyes. It was so hideous as to be cute—well played Goblin King—she thought to herself as she crouched down to the little bugger’s level.

“And to what do I owe this pleasure?” Sarah asked the goblin.

“Hey lady,” it answered in the way characteristic of goblin-kind, “I haves a gift for you.” It clutched a square box in it’s little paws. It was wrapped with white paper and tied with a silver ribbon.

“My good goblin,” Sarah tried not to sound too frightened by the prospect, “I don’t accept gifts from goblin men. Didn’t he tell you that?”

“I ain’t a man,” the goblin growled and it was in fact wearing a rather dirty bow in its stringy hair. Two points to the Goblin King.

“That gift isn’t from you though is it?” Sarah eyed the package as if it might contain a nasty virus or some venomous snake.

“Nah, suppose not,” the she-goblin answered. “It’s from the Kingy.”

“The Kingy?” Sarah couldn’t help but giggle. Kingy just didn’t sound all that fearsome.

“I can’ts take it back. I can’ts go back unless you takes it,” she glanced at Sarah doubtfully.

“Would you like to come inside while I ponder this conundrum?” Sarah asked. The poor thing seemed so out of place on her front doorstep shin-deep in snow and with her ears turning blue. It was dreadfully cold out.

“Pound a drum?” The goblin’s eyes lite up gleefully.

“That’s not what I said,” Sarah opened the door wider so the goblin could totter on in.

It took Sarah only a moment to pass a mug of peppermint hot chocolate over to the little dear. Then she filled a plate full of sugar cookies and set it before the goblin as she examined the gift. It looked harmless enough, but things were never really what they seemed when it came to Labyrinthy things.

“What’s your name?” Sarah asked, taking a bite out of her own cookie.

“Bobbit,” the goblin answered with a spewing of crumbs.

“Well, Bobbit,” Sarah handed her a napkin, I’m afraid you might want to get comfortable. You may be my new roommate because there is no way in hell I’m accepting that gift.”

Bobbit glanced around with a tight little sigh. “It’s not exactly the bog now is it? So I suppose I can’ts complain.”

“That’s the right attitude,” Sarah grabbed her own mug and the plate of cookies and moved from the kitchen counter over to the loveseat and coffee table. “How do you feel about Christmas movies, Bobbit ole girl?”

“Is there singing?” Bobbit scrambled up onto the loveseat.

“Oh yes,” Sarah nodded gravely.

“I guess I likes them then,” Bobbit took a cookie in each little claw as Sarah wrapped her in a fuzzy pink blanket.

Funny enough, a little company was just what she’d been wanting for Christmas.

[jalenstrix]

Too adorable! I love this simple ad-hoc goblin girl. :)

[redwolf]

A new flatmate may not have been the Christmas gift Sarah was expecting, but it's anyone's guess if it's a better or worse prospect than what's in the box 🦊🧡