…and totally unintentionally, last week’s prompt words – cousin, splinter youth – could be said to have summarised my fourteenth summer; memories of which David’s ‘A fairy tale’ similarly evoked and thereby won him top place for this week’s challenge, a mere nose ahead of Jim’s ‘Payback ‘ Thank you for participation and comments.
Words for the coming week: clip consensus teeth
Entries by midnight Thursday15th , new words and winners Friday 16th
Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine
[Threshold 439]
ReplyDeleteBut Raven had been playacting since we met. Within hours of our meeting he’d played both murderer and midwife. Over months of adventure, viewed me as sacrifice, brood mare and bed-mate, much of which had been consensual, once he’d realised attempts to clip my wings unlikely to bring success, and I that he’d cut his teeth on conflict and cared little for my approval.
Even now I was unable to measure how much – or how little – he approved of me and seemed permanently compelled to test it. To destruction? Probably unwise.
'Threshold' has grown to almost 50,000 words. Was a lot more rollicking in the early days and occasionally becomes mired. Thank you for your indulgence in allowing me to continue with it.
Delete50,000 words is a substantial body of work!! and always produced to the fienst level - congrats, Sandra!
DeleteChange of focus [517]
ReplyDeleteThe pathologist’s report gave details of the tool most likely used to dismember Pettinger’s cousin. ‘Industrial circular saw. Well-worn teeth. Look for a busy abattoir.’ Ever-efficient, she provided a typed list of those deemed worthy of investigation and by consensus they drew up a list of the top three. Pettinger thanked her then headed back to the station , where he found DC Ruth Rawlinson waiting to show him a time-ordered piecing together of attention-worthy clips from numerous CCTV cameras, the whole of which provided blurry but incontestable evidence.
Riot in Cell Block Number Nine
ReplyDeleteIt was Rawlinson that started the riot. That guy has no restraint. The general consensus is that a clip around the ear will suffice as a reprimand. Those pointy ears that Goblins have are pretty sensitive. But Rawlinson went too far. This prisoner takes an extra breakfast. Rawlinson lamps him one in the teeth. Bad move. Goblins are pretty vain. Always grinning at themselves in the mirror. Now this one is spitting blood and shredding Rawlinson's face with his claws. An insult to one is an insult to all. The others join in. Pandemonium ensues.
I wasn't expecting goblins! Trust Rawlinson gets his just desserts
Deletekeep away from Goblins, this just proves how nasty they can be! ...Staying away is one thing, making sure their reputation stays intact is another, stand by for b!ood and guts1 Nice little tale, David
DeleteQuarry pursued
ReplyDeleteShe’d not fooled herself, pretending she hadn’t noticed him. Hesitated at the doorway to the pub, not sure she’d pass for sixteen, switched on spurious confidence and entered. His noticing her, his smile; his stepping away from the group at the bar – classmates, none as good-looking as him – she counted victory. His grinned, ‘Consensus is you come and join us,’ battle almost won.
Later, alone in the empty dark of someone’s garden shed, half-dressed, hurting, hairclip between her teeth, wishing it were knife, she understood ‘consensus’ didn’t mean ‘sensible’, nor did it necessarily apply to everybody.
REVOLTING
ReplyDeleteEvery word of Faeryland Guild-Masters was absolute.
If they said it, it became law.
Lately, though, mutterings of unrest, plus the general consensus among unhappy lower guild-members, confirmed Grandmaster Scarlatine had lost his marbles.
After all it was somewhat unreasonable to expect newly pulled teeth or year-old toenail clippings as legal tender for payment of all good, while warm Pisspot-ale, laced with fresh gathered bat-crap, snotdripping toast, or fairy ‘dump’ cake was not the food-fare choice of the masses.
Complaints mounted daily.
‘He’s got to go,’ muttered Undermaster Klug; however, as often happens, things did not go as he planned.
whoops just spotted an error in my offering too. 'Good' in the fourth line should read 'goods.'
DeleteA convincing visit to a faeryland somewhat different to what I grew up with, Terrie.
DeleteTHE PERFECT WOMAN
ReplyDeleteThe consensus among me, myself and I is that you are the most beautiful woman on earth.
Your hair unclipped, a lovely amber tide spilling in waves upon your shoulders. Your eyes, beautiful green orbs sparkling like diamonds beneath your brows. Your smile, a beacon of perfect white teeth offering comfort and compassion. Your skin, flawless - so smooth and soft and warm. The entirety of you, so sexy and sensuous. Your love for me, so deep and enduring.
Or so I believed, until you betrayed me.
I wonder if I should bury your head with the rest of you.
I've resubmitted my entry, which now includes "clip." I neglected this prompt in my initial entry.
ReplyDeleteI'm part inclined to think you should take some blame for being so gullible to outward appearances ...
Delete