Hmm, so this prompt means... you've been back to the chiropractor and you're not the same shape you were when you went, or you need to go to the chiropractor (but for the same reason)? Or... you've taken up Yoga at the community centre after work, and you're regretting it? :)
Bent out of shape "How far do you think we are from where we arrived?" Lord Derby and Samual had been left alone in the garden while the others went about their daily lives and Tomasz found someone for them to talk to. "About 30 kilometers, milord," said Samual promptly. Lord Derby raised an eyebrow, so he continued, "we were flying for a little over twenty minutes, milord, and from the wind I would say we were flying at around 60 kilometers per hour." "The Byakhee are fast, then." "Very, milord. I would say that they might be quite useful for short trips around London when we return home." Lord Derby allowed himself a small smile at the thought of the panic that would ensue if the Byakhee suddenly started acting as a taxi-service, even with adequate public warning. "Maybe, Samual," was all he said. "I haven't seen water, milord," said Samual after a moment's silence. "Even when we were flying: the land was dry and there weren't many plants. Almost no trees." "And trees need decent water supply. I had thought the same thing, but there must be water if these people have been here nearly four years." "These Poles," said Samual. "I don't think their nationality matters too much here," said Lord Derby. He smiled at Samual indignation. "There is no Britain, and there is no Polish Empire here in Carcosa. There are just people, and demons, and possibly the King in Yellow." "Enemies don't stop being enemies just because you're in a different country," said Samual. "The Lords Martial are quite firm that an enemy is an enemy no matter where or when or how you encounter them." "That kind of thinking certainly makes sure they stay enemies." Samual shook his head and scuffed his feet on the limestone. The fingers of his right hand played with the buttons on the cuff of his jacket. "A camel cannot change his humps, milord. With respect." "But there is no point in getting bent out of shape that that camel is not a horse," said Lord Derby. "And killing the camel for not being horse-like enough is like cutting off your hands because they cannot hold enough. The short-term gain is satisfaction, but in the long-term things have only got worse." "If the camel will throw you in mid-run and abandon you, milord, it's better to have killed it and walked." The two men gazed at each other, slightly tense, thinking about each other's words. "Ultimately," said Lord Derby slowly, "it depends on the camel. And, perhaps, our assessment of it." "Then perhaps," said Samual equally slowly, "it is useful if we assess the camel slightly differently." "Why all this talk of camels?" asked a heavily accented voice, and Tomasz came back into the garden through the trees with a young woman at his side.
He twisted my wrist further. “Where is your encampment?” I felt the burst of pain the center of my arm, radiating outward to my fingers and elbow. Instead of thinking about the pain, I turned my mind to my breathing, making sure to keep my inhales ad exhales even, especially as my teeth began to grind against each other and my jaw clenched shut. “Tell me!” Another twist. I felt the motion almost from a distance. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. It was just like when my parents had been killed. I had tried to stay calm and strong for Silvia, but inside I was a tempest made up of raging emotions. Like now, I would focus on my breathing instead of the pain I felt inside. “Not a very talkative Candrian, are we?” The tall blonde Renterran said. “Maybe you need a little more encouragement.” Inhale. Exhale. I saw him pull a dagger from his belt. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale… “What are you planning?” The tip of his dagger cut along my forearm. Exhale.
4 comments:
Hmm, so this prompt means... you've been back to the chiropractor and you're not the same shape you were when you went, or you need to go to the chiropractor (but for the same reason)? Or... you've taken up Yoga at the community centre after work, and you're regretting it? :)
Bent out of shape
"How far do you think we are from where we arrived?" Lord Derby and Samual had been left alone in the garden while the others went about their daily lives and Tomasz found someone for them to talk to.
"About 30 kilometers, milord," said Samual promptly. Lord Derby raised an eyebrow, so he continued, "we were flying for a little over twenty minutes, milord, and from the wind I would say we were flying at around 60 kilometers per hour."
"The Byakhee are fast, then."
"Very, milord. I would say that they might be quite useful for short trips around London when we return home."
Lord Derby allowed himself a small smile at the thought of the panic that would ensue if the Byakhee suddenly started acting as a taxi-service, even with adequate public warning. "Maybe, Samual," was all he said.
"I haven't seen water, milord," said Samual after a moment's silence. "Even when we were flying: the land was dry and there weren't many plants. Almost no trees."
"And trees need decent water supply. I had thought the same thing, but there must be water if these people have been here nearly four years."
"These Poles," said Samual.
"I don't think their nationality matters too much here," said Lord Derby. He smiled at Samual indignation. "There is no Britain, and there is no Polish Empire here in Carcosa. There are just people, and demons, and possibly the King in Yellow."
"Enemies don't stop being enemies just because you're in a different country," said Samual. "The Lords Martial are quite firm that an enemy is an enemy no matter where or when or how you encounter them."
"That kind of thinking certainly makes sure they stay enemies."
Samual shook his head and scuffed his feet on the limestone. The fingers of his right hand played with the buttons on the cuff of his jacket.
"A camel cannot change his humps, milord. With respect."
"But there is no point in getting bent out of shape that that camel is not a horse," said Lord Derby. "And killing the camel for not being horse-like enough is like cutting off your hands because they cannot hold enough. The short-term gain is satisfaction, but in the long-term things have only got worse."
"If the camel will throw you in mid-run and abandon you, milord, it's better to have killed it and walked."
The two men gazed at each other, slightly tense, thinking about each other's words.
"Ultimately," said Lord Derby slowly, "it depends on the camel. And, perhaps, our assessment of it."
"Then perhaps," said Samual equally slowly, "it is useful if we assess the camel slightly differently."
"Why all this talk of camels?" asked a heavily accented voice, and Tomasz came back into the garden through the trees with a young woman at his side.
But why get mad at me?
Each of you saw
Nothing --
There's nothing to prove it was me!
He twisted my wrist further. “Where is your encampment?”
I felt the burst of pain the center of my arm, radiating outward to my fingers and elbow. Instead of thinking about the pain, I turned my mind to my breathing, making sure to keep my inhales ad exhales even, especially as my teeth began to grind against each other and my jaw clenched shut.
“Tell me!” Another twist.
I felt the motion almost from a distance. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
It was just like when my parents had been killed. I had tried to stay calm and strong for Silvia, but inside I was a tempest made up of raging emotions. Like now, I would focus on my breathing instead of the pain I felt inside.
“Not a very talkative Candrian, are we?” The tall blonde Renterran said. “Maybe you need a little more encouragement.”
Inhale. Exhale. I saw him pull a dagger from his belt. Inhale. Exhale.
Inhale…
“What are you planning?” The tip of his dagger cut along my forearm.
Exhale.
Greg - ... inspired two prompts, apparently.
Really enjoyed the dialogue here. And the arrival of someone new always promises more intrigue to come!
Morganna - trying to decide which of my boys would be more likely to say this to me...
Am - woo, this is powerful stuff. Definitely had me caught up in the action. I do hope you find time and inspiration to continue this!
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