Luggage
space (for two) on a 1969 BSA A65 is limited to what’s left in the panniers
after necessary spares have been included, and anyway I don’t fancy submitting
my Chromebook to the vibration, so writing for me this coming week will be
strictly pen and paper. I’ve taken an early peek at the prompts, but this will
be my sole contribution for the week, therefore I’m hoping each of you will comment
with your usual enthusiasm and also nominate
your personal winner. New words will be scheduled on the 24th and
normal service will hopefully resume after the 28th.
As Antonia pointed out it was yet another very good
week of writing; triple entries from William and Patricia and especially good to read something of Zaiure’s again; her ‘Fog’ a very
close runner-up to Rosie’s ‘Another
Society Ball’ which Patricia rightly described as a ‘perfect gem’.
As ever, thank you all.
Words
for the coming week are: owl omission
rose
Entries by
midnight Thursday 23rd June, new
words and winners posted on Friday 24th
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.
Dithering [Threshold 119]
ReplyDeleteSilent as a hunting barn-owl Ravenscar slid in, anticipating I’d be on my back, paying forfeit to the Border-man. Was it wishful thinking, the tender care I thought I saw for me, tight-wrapped as a pale rosebud beneath sharp-thorned aggression assumed to effect my rescue?
If so, was it care I wanted? From him?
I’d had that when he delivered my child.
Had it, as a child, from Vetch.
Immaturity’s currency being what it is (however regrettable) – lust-units of desire – I found myself attempting to compare Ravenscar’s too-frequent omission – sometimes outright denial – with the newly-learnt – and surely compromised? – of Vetch.
Packed full of lovely phrasing! Loved 'silent as a hunting barn-owl Ravenscar slid in' and 'tight-wrapped as a pale rosebud beneath sharp-thorned aggression'.
DeleteI usually praise Sandra's last lines, those cliff hangers she devises, but here I love the opening line! Conjures images, so it does.
DeleteI love the phrase "Immaturity's currency...". that makes this piece for me.
DeleteImmaculate as always. So many lovely put-together phrases. One experiences such an intimacy in this serialization.
DeleteCongrats Rosie! And thanks for the mention. :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your travels!
Change of focus [184]
ReplyDeleteIt wasn’t straightforward.
Alan Horton adamant he’d merely catalogued, unwillingly, the deaths of six sex-workers.
‘If not you, then who?’ Pettinger’s stare baleful as a green-eyed owl.
‘D-don’t know –‘
Eyebrows rose in disbelief. ‘You didn’t recognise him?’
‘Wore a mask –‘
‘Age? Build? Accent? He force you to photograph? While he raped, maimed and throttled Annie and Beverley? Chardonnay? Dolly, Fanny and Gina?’
Pettinger dealt a gruesome photo for each.
Alan’s eyes gleamed: pride in their quality; relief, in thinking the omission of a seventh name indicated undiscovered.
Premature.
‘We found these too –‘
Melanie. All his own work.
Excellent scene of detective vs criminal. You've created a perfectly ghastly individual, incapable of concealing his pride. I also love the imagery of 'Pettinger's stare baleful as a green-eyed owl'.
Deleteabsolutely agree. I also love that the tone of the serial is so different from Ravenscar.
DeleteThe tension is exquisite in it's delivery in this piece.
DeleteSharp and snazzy and, as noted by Antonia, so very different from "Ravenscar." But I believe I've said before that these two tales could easily have been written by two difference authors.
DeleteCongratulations Rosie, and Zaiure two enjoyable reads
ReplyDeleteNicely done Rosie and Zaiure. Looks like we're on our own this week. However will we manage without our leader?
ReplyDeleteI found the key to her drinks cabinet ;) Dubbonnet and Warninks could that be a thing?
DeleteSneaky fellow! You also have access to the crystal goblets, right?
DeleteCripplegate Junction/Part 50-The Owl And The Pussycat
ReplyDeleteAs the gateway to the Asylum garden closed, Clive Bailey realized the Station Master had vanished. Whether by accidental or deliberate omission, Clive was now alone...or so he initially believed.
Tiny scrabbling paws drew his attention to the floor where, amid a swirl of dust, decaying leaves and brittle rose petals, a mischief of mice scampered along the passage closely pursued by a Tawny Owl.
There was a "tu-whit tu-whoo," fluttering of wings, crunching of bones and finally, a satiated purr.
In the distance, Clive heard the exasperated denunciation accompanied by a tinkle of teaspoons.
"Insufferable moggie!"
--------------------------------------------------------
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.
---------------------------------------------------------
I always love the atmosphere of your pieces, and the vividness of this scene did not disappoint, transporting me with imagery and sounds.
DeleteI have two moggies, must admit sometimes they are 'insufferable moggies' so that line resonated with me! Very nice instalment, full of dusty images. Great.
DeleteMarmalade! Not an Owl you naughty puss. I love it
DeleteKursaal (Episode Twenty Five) -- "Georgie-Boy Endicott"
ReplyDeleteGeorgie-Boy Endicott was the Kursaal's jack-of-all-trades. Awake before the sun rose above the horizon, Georgie-Boy stood ready to undertake whatever task be assigned that day. No omissions. No exclusions. No job too small. None too large.
Every inch of Georgie-Boy's skin sported a tattoo. His palms were most impressive. Facing outward, thumbs together, they formed an owl butterfly so authentic that the wings appeared to shimmer in preparation for flight.
"An illusion," assured Georgie-Boy.
Same could be said for the barbed wire motif encircling his throat. It often seemed to pierce the flesh producing deceptive sparklets of rich red blood.
---------------------------------------------------------
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.
---------------------------------------------------------
Tattoos fascinate me, and I especially love the creativity when they are presented in stories. George-Boy is a very intriguing character, and I love the hinted magic sprinkled in.
DeleteGeorge-Boy Endicott sounds a fascinating character, I'd like to see him explored further, as I bet he has many a tale to tell.
Deleteagree with William, he does have tales to tell. This is such an intriguing set of characters being offered to us week by week. How do you do it?
DeleteThorn
ReplyDeletePressing fingertips to tattooed temples, Olivare glared at the broad-shouldered woman looking repentant on the other side of the bar. By Lara’s omission of a particular golden owl being sighted the evening before, Arshad had slipped quietly into the city without Olivare’s notice. Plans she’d made, with regard to the Fallen Rose Prince, were now completely useless.
Goosebumps prickled her arms a mere moment before the man himself slipped inside the tavern. His fierce gilt eyes found hers, burning hotter than the Hellborne Sun.
Olivare’s eyes narrowed. She had not outrun nine Tavashanar to be dragged back to court.
oh yes. and where is this going now? Olivare is a good well drawn character, depicted in very few words. I love 'fierce gilt eyes'.
DeleteReally loving this, a developing series per chance?
DeleteThank you! Does feel like the start of something for sure. :)
Delete"Hellborne Sun." How delightful is that? I do hope you follow through with the statement that this is "the start of something."
DeleteConviction
ReplyDeleteShannon's huge owl-like eyes peered through spectacles that should have been rose-tinted, for such was her perception of the world. She was among the faithful. A devout believer. And when called upon to relinquish all her possessions, did so gladly, omitting nothing.
Thus, when instructed by the prophet to drink the lethal elixir, Shannon was one of the first to obey. Willingly, joyfully and without question.
this is unbearably sad. I just finished reading the latest Stephen King which features suicide, mass suicide at that, and then I found this and realised how authentic you've made it - they were that easily besotted and led.
DeleteThis is heart pounding sorrowful tragedy. You tell it with such care and dignity. I've been reviewing recently the tragedy that was the JonesTown massacre in Guyana this brought that to mind. very tastefully written.
DeleteTragic and honest. Perfect pick for the title.
DeleteI never truly realized what a tough job Sandra has in choosing a winner every week. I'm having trouble just whittling down from within this week's entries and not everyone has shown up yet!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I once had the pleasure of minding the prediction when Lily Childs ran the prediction. It as most stressful.
DeleteBeen a raw emotional week, we are on the eve of our referendum and there has been such vileness about. It only seemed right to remember Jo Cox cut down for her loving humanitarian beliefs.
ReplyDeleteOnly Love Can Triumph
A white rose for Yorkshire, seems fitting in it’s tribute,
for one with such pure motives, and corresponding high repute.
For you there were no omissions, all were equal in your view.
Humanity stands in decency and will morn the lose of you.
It does not take Owl like wisdom to understand the reality of the truth,
that this hatred has gone too far, and your murder is the proof.
What happened to mutual understanding, that differences together can abide.
If any good can come from this it must be the turning of this tide.
nominating this as my favourite entry of the week. I share the emotions and thoughts expressed here, the loss of someone so vital, so energetic, so committed to her cause is a tragedy in itself, not taking into account the family left to mourn. Thank you, William, for encapsulating all the thoughts of the UK into one beautiful poem.
DeleteBeautifully written with a powerful message. I'll add my nomination alongside Antonia.
DeleteHeartfelt tribute to a lady who will be much missed and like so many, taken from us far too soon. And to add to the sentiment, put perfectly in rhyme. I'll throw my resounding nomination on this one for a winner also.
DeleteLittle Martyn 1665 - Part 3
ReplyDeleteElsa woke to the old mans last breath escaping like the sound of a damaged owl. His body no longer hot, but cold and muculent. The reason for the omission of passion from this tryst now apparent in his dead xanthic eyes.
Quickly she dressed and grabbed the sack of London dresses in order to compensate herself richly now this mutual arrangement had concluded. Itching a small bite that had erupted like an angry rose on her neck she slipped into the early dawn. Across the lane a shutter creaked. Her secret now, the bargaining property of Old Ma Sagworth!
like this, love the word muculent. You do find words I don't know and it makes it interesting and intriguing. I love the bite that was like an 'angry rose', that's one hell of a vision.
DeleteI agree with Antonia, love to be introduced to new words! Definitely wrinkled my nose a bit at 'muculent' :) and 'angry rose' was my favorite phrase as well.
DeleteDelightfully unsavory atmosphere. The "sound of a damaged owl" was an inspired use of the prompt word, as was "angry rose." Dusty and decadent, yes indeed!
DeleteInfinity 152.
ReplyDeleteBeen searching my brain for the meaning of an owl swooping over Infinity, can’t be good, owls be harbingers, right?. I watched as it rose up, over the topsail, out toward the island we just passed. I wondered if that omission, not calling in at that port, was a bad thing. I have to be careful; I have to find out what this thing wants to eat. Feed it the wrong thing and I could waste a crew member for naught.
Does that sound harsh? That’s what being a captain’s all about. Tough decisions. They don’t come tougher than that.
A clearly visual picture you have painted with your words and a glimpse into the troubled world of leadership without legal boundaries. Very enjoyable
DeleteLove the use of the owl and reference to a harbinger. Definitely set the atmosphere for this piece.
DeleteThis strikes me as an overture to something which is probably going to hit us right between the eyes very soon. Incredible piece of writing. (Still amazed at how many installments of "Infinity" have now been written!)
DeleteThank you from Rosebud and I!
ReplyDeleteThe Adventures of Rosebud, Pirate Princess #30
Light and Dark, Day and Knight
Owls are intriguing creatures. They are invisible to day-dwellers, an omission in their guidebooks and tourist adventures. Roses are a popular sight, in gardens, by roads, and in special parks. They are a favorite of the day tourists.
By night the opposite is true. Owls are the favorite and roses are omitted, for all the parks, gardens, and the like, close at dusk. Is it any wonder, then, that the shields of night-dwellers feature owls of all species while day heralds highlight the rose above all other symbols?
Very nice. The day/night contrast was a delight. As always, an intriguing and interesting read.
Deletedeep thoughts here which are intriguing, to say the least.
DeleteI I can't make a choice you're all winners in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteOK, let's give Sandra loads of reading when she gets back...
ReplyDelete