What with leprechauns,
axes, rainbow farts and a neatly-solved case of murder, along with always-good-to-receive
confidence-building comments I declare the week’s entries a triumph and recognise
I need to further strive for similarly inspirational trios of prompt words, so how about : bribe bucket vein
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. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine.
Thresholds new [34]
ReplyDeleteDisposed to argue, Acker again opened his mouth. I suspected he felt a need to live up to the violent blood circulating through his veins, simultaneously lacking desire (or talent) to sue for peace. Whereas Gulch had the desire in bucket-loads; just lacked ability to teach it to his twin. Raven, needless to say, was skilled at both. He knew physical force more likely effective with Acker; eschewed short-term softly softly-spoken bribery a judgement fully validated when Acker, challenged with mere confrontation, backed down (while making it clear he’d not do so forever.)
Raven knows how to deal these two, so should be able to reach a compromise without too much bloodshed, although i am hoping for at least a bloodied nose for Acker .
DeleteThe Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 283
ReplyDeleteSarg barreled through the group and flew at the surprised civilian with claws drawn.
Holding him fast she trailed a vein in his neck, but did not draw blood, ‘I meant wot a said, you fool. If you go out there now yuh kin bet a burrow to a bucket o’ grubs they’ll tear yuh apart; an’ not afore they torture yuh.
No bribing or pleading will get yuh outta that! An’ make no mistake, I’ll kill yuh myself, rather than let yuh endanger everyone by revealing our position.
Understand?
The ‘Dillo’s eyes bulged as he panted and nodded.
Brilliant use of prompt words Terrie, and and vivid dialogue.
DeleteThis entry makes it unmistakably clear that you don't mess with Sarge,
DeleteDECISION TIME
ReplyDeleteThe cash sat heavily in my pocket, as though informing me it didn’t belong there. It was bribe money, – a payoff – admittedly a particularly iniquitous way of making money.
The more I thought about it, the more I believed I shouldn’t have taken it.
Could I become a murderer?
Sure, I disliked my target, but is that reason enough to kick his bucket?
After days of studying a vacillating vein of thought, I’ve decided.
I won’t kill him. Instead I’ll kill his wife, who is also my mistress and the person bribing me.
She’s the evil one here, isn’t she?
Clever use of the prompt words have created an intriguing entry with lots of scope to expand it . A brilliant twist in the tale too.
ReplyDeleteYou have a way of telling tales that twist our expectations.
ReplyDeleteEnemy of my Enemy
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather once told me that to bribe a vampire all you needed to do was open a vein and fill up a bucket with your blood.
I never thought I would have any practical use for that little nugget of wisdom, but there I was, scalpel in hand, wooden bucket between my knees, measuring my timing so it would still be warm at midnight. As the seconds ticked by, I watched the lid of the coffin with growing trepidation. Would the Prince of Darkness be willing to form an alliance against a common foe?
I'm anxious to know how the vampire will react. Quite novel, David!
ReplyDelete