Friday 20 May 2016

Bad spells of wine, good spills of words

Despite last week’s too-phonetic spelling there was still a wealth of good reading this week – do check out later minute entries by William and Rosie. Thank you all for contributing and those of you who took time to comment.

In order to persuade her to return with at leasr a second episode of Gostegodd, I’m awarding top place to Jk Davies, which also saves me having to choose between Antonia’s episode 147 of Infinity and Patricia’s  The Rook's Nookery, episode 45 of Cripplegate Junction.

Words for the coming week are:  awry, freelance, fulsome

Entries by midnight Thursday 26th May, new words and winners posted on Friday 27th

Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialized fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media best pleases you and, if you like, remind your friends that we are open to new and returning writers.

45 comments:

  1. Congratulations JK Davies, an excellent introduction, here's to many more.

    I hope to get an entry in a bit earlier this week, before folks swoop to promise my time to more mundane endeavours.

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    1. Thank you William :) Will definitely be trying for more mini-stories or character sketches out - it's really intriguing to see how people have created serials out of these unusual prompt words!

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  2. Many congratulations to JK (may I call you "JK" or do you prefer something different?). Very impressive debut, I must say. If this is a mere sampling of your work, then we are in for a treat.

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    1. Thanks Patricia :) Call me jk or Julia ;)
      Truth is, although I read a lot of SF&F, I don't really feel confortable writing it, so I'm hoping to get some feel for what does and doesn't work here... all feedback gratefully received!

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  3. Parallel progress [Threshold 114]

    Fulsome praise it was not. Just as well for it would have knocked my expectations badly awry.
    At least he had the wit to reassure, true or not: ‘I’d not intended leaving to you their mercy‘.
    We’d ridden parallel, separated by the river, as far as the next bridge, not unexpectedly manned by a freelance Border-man whose sixty plus years had served only to weather his physical attraction.
    Ravenscar’s attempts to negotiate a fee for me were trenchantly dismissed.
    ‘Woman crosses on my terms. I treat only with her.’
    Meekly, at his gestured behest, I entered his abode.
    And laughed.

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    1. I really like the idea of two people travelling on each river bank.

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    2. Delighted to discover that Ravenscar did not intend total abandonment -- if he is to be believed anyway. Wonder what those terms of crossing might be ... ahem! As always totally intriguing with a beautiful flow of actions.

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    3. can we believe anything Ravenscar comes out with? I think not and that makes this even more interesting.

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    4. Love the idea of a freelance border-man, as for Ravenscar I wonder at his next move

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  4. Gostegodd 002

    When shrouded by his navy cloak, it was hard to make out his eyes. Mark still wore the twilight uniform of the Penultimate Archwilydd, even though he was now a freelance financial inquisitor.
    He had reason to be wary of awry glances, he couldn’t expect fulsome applause as a gamekeeper turned poacher. His own gaze, nano-enhanced, irises of iridescent navy was curiously opaque.
    Certain types of travellers always wanted to crash his personal barriers, seeing silence as an affront,itching to work out his mystery. But a dangerous fool could challenge him, could unmask him as a fake Archwilydd…

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    1. A lesson in how to build an intriguing hero -so many phrases to love - 'twilight uniform', 'nano-enhanced' - don't you even think about stopping here!

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    2. In my opinion, an excellent example of what might be termed "High Fantasy." Mark is certainly an enigmatic character. So glad you decided to continue with this, jk. Hope you'll return every week with more gems from your imagination.

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    3. exciting to have such a new talent in the Challenge and this just gets better.

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    4. Agree with all of the above comments, having been on the other end of the internal Archwilydds yesterday the thought of financial inquisition to boot has made me shudder. A very inspired construction. :)

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  5. congrats, JK! wonderful way to start your career with the Challenge!
    The Captain came close again... he has some dangerous thoughts spinning at the moment, waiting to get them down on the screen and into the Challenge...

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  6. Kursaal (Episode Twenty One) -- "Hilda Jane Pickett"

    As freelance zealot, Hilda Jane Pickett's mission was to obliterate sin and corruption. Much had gone awry since the Kursaal's arrival. Despite Chief Constable Twittering's reassurances, Hilda determined to ferret out the truth.

    Her appointed escort was the diminutive Arbuthnot Jester. His fulsome flattery turned her head, as did the exotic lunch at Lottie's Larder (both of which she ate up with a spoon) and Arbuthnot's gift of an unclad alabaster faerie purchased at the Emporium of Enchantments set her spinster heart aflutter.

    Hilda did not return home until the following morning, by which time she was an enlightened woman.


    ---------------------------------------------------------
    To read the earlier installments (a suggestion only) which led to this point in the tale, please visit:
    http://www.novareinna.com/kursaal.html
    A link to return to "The Prediction" can be found on the site. Thank you.
    ---------------------------------------------------------

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    1. Ah, now, that's naughty, leaving it all to our imagination! And what names!!

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    2. The names are great fun! Who's head would not be turned by pale naked faeries?

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    3. perfect names, definitely saucy and not a word out of place. Brilliant!

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    4. A faultless piece. I love how your writing has weaved itself into my mind both conscious and subconscious, as I mentioned I've been with the auditors this week a Mr Ivan Kersall. Not spelt the same but made me smile when he introduced himself.

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  7. Change of focus [180]

    Something was awry.
    The under-fed, allegedly freelance photographer hadn’t deviated one iota from his several alibis despite intense and hostile (which, with fulsome sincerity, they’d deny) interrogation. Nor explained the torn-out crossword puzzles.
    Flat, laptop, dark-room all microscopically searched. Sperm and skin samples sent for DNA and identity parade a farce, thanks to his anonymous appearance.
    Pettinger, head in hands, despaired.
    DC Henry Moth suggested, ‘Press release? With photo?’
    ‘His face under headlines shouting KILLER? Even if he’s subsequently found innocent there’ll be those who’ll crucify him –‘
    DS Brickwood entered. Interrupted: ‘Sir, three guesses for whose step-nephew he is!’

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    1. How do you always manage to leave us hanging at the most explosive of moments? This was a most intriguing episode. I'm anxious to know more.

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    2. intriguing's the right word for this instalment! and as always, we have to wait for the next line of the story...

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  8. Pro Bono Publico

    She preferred "freelance commando" to "mercenary." Personal gain was not her goal. The inheritance from her grandmother was sufficient to keep the wolf from the door.

    In exchange for her services, she suggested that a fulsome basket of staples -- flour, butter and such -- be delivered to the aged. A symbolic gesture made in loving memory.

    When recruited to remedy that which had gone awry, she donned her traditional hooded red cape and loaded her AK47. She could always be relied upon to cleanse the area of any who preyed upon the defenseless, the weak and in particular, the elderly.

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    1. Clever as ever Patricia - love the combination of red cape and AK 47.

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    2. oh I like this! lovely twist on the fairy tale!

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    3. Love the twist on this old classic. I can't put into words the pure joy I had reading this.

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  9. Cripplegate Junction/Part 46-The Best Laid Plans

    Marmalade was a freelance feline. He fostered no allegiance to any human, save the one who had delivered him from peril the night of his birth. However, those who produced fulsome dishes of delectable dainties were permitted to scratch behind the regal ears and be favoured with an imperial purr.

    Recently, acquisition of such tasty tidbits had gone seriously awry due to the many annoying distractions: missing items, missing personages, unexpected anomalies. Marmalade was no longer Cripplegate's primary focus. This could not be tolerated.

    He went in search of his former protector who would assuredly put things to rights.


    --------------------------------------------------------
    To read the earlier installments (a suggestion only) which led to this point in the tale please visit:
    http://www.novareinna.com/cripplegate.html
    A link to return to "The Prediction" can be found on the site. Thank you.
    ---------------------------------------------------------

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    1. Brilliant opening sentence, and good to get more insight into the most important character of all at Cripplegate Junction.

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    2. And to think, it all started with a singular prompt word of "orange." LOL.

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    3. sounds more and more like the black and white creature that calls itself a cat currently battling for supremacy with the half Siamese chocolate and white creature that calls itself a cat... (rescue cats, don't you just love them? they come with pre-set ideas about the way life should be...) delightful episode.

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    4. I was never a cat person until a fanciful cat (we named stoffles short for Mrs Mistoffelees) came into our garden, and our lives. I love the character of Marmalade just as much.

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  10. The Adventures of Rosebud, Pirate Princess #26
    Jumbled History


    Why would ‘Cleopatra’, of all people, be the code-bringer? She hasn’t worked with any of them for years. I met her back in school and she was already a freelance, though she favored scimitars, then. She looks just like my grandmother’s partner when they founded the Agency.
    ---
    Wait a minute! That’s how she knew me already! I forgot time travel was standard in her (former) branch of the Agency. And Grandma Silbhe was the first Nightingale, named for the fulsome music that poured from her flute. I am just like her, except my flute playing always goes awry.

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    1. Interesting and innovative as ever. Nice use of the prompts, especially "freelance," which references the probable original use of the word. I was hoping to utilize it in such a fashion myself, but couldn't make it work for me.

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    2. Such a smooth use of the prompt words, and this a particularly rich episode, Rosie.

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    3. clever use of the prompts in this episode, liked it a lot.

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    4. Nicely done and the prompts slot into the piece without being obvious.

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  11. Infinity 148.
    Ah, such action! A freelancing pirate ship that thought it would tackle the Infinity. It did, to its cost. Its plans went well awry and I was much pleased because… as if it were planned, a fulsome female were on board and being Cap’n… I took her from the crew under their noses. I be sated for a while and can put all thoughts of Shipton to the very horizon. Conscience tells me my lady friend may well have taken solace in another’s arms and not wish to return to Blackbeard but it matters not. Right now life is good.

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    1. Recent hints about another facet of the Captain's appetites now made absolute. And he made his mind up fast enough to thwart his crew as well.

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    2. To echo a remark of "saucy" doings made earlier, this also fits into that pattern. Loved this one. Very reminiscent of Stephen Stills' classic "Love The One You're With." I'm not so sure that the Captain's lady friend will not be delighted to see him return. Excellent use of the prompts.

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    3. Particularly love the line "I be sated for a while and can put all thoughts of Shipton to the very horizon." Another fine episode.

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  12. In Defiance Of The Intemperate Tongue

    Cut loose from sobriety my tongue is a freelance traitor
    He courts me with a fulsome lie, then becomes my personal hater.
    Taking me down a notch, one glass at time
    I’m no longer in charge so can’t hide the wine.

    He tries to convince me there’s nothing awry,
    that a crapulent life is better than dry.
    Bereft of all of my eloquent uses
    I’ve fallen prey to my wicked abuses.

    Nothing can save me, I drowned like a sheep,
    then fall incoherent into a thundering sleep.
    Awaken next morning pain in my head
    each drunken moment’s recounted with dread.

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    1. Oh damn, and here sit I with my third glass of the evening! "a crapulent life is better than dry" Oh yes.

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    2. I think I may just have run "dry" myself of sufficient words to describe this offering. Absolutely exquisite and enviable (guess I managed to ferret out a few after all). Your poetry entries in this forum are such a lovely change from the prose and, as magnificent as the tales might be, these rhymes are most refreshing.

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