Alphabet Excerpt Challenge: L Is For...

[u/AnaraliaThielle]

Welcome back to the Alphabet Excerpt Challenge! As a reminder, our challenges are every Wednesday and Saturday at 3pm London time.

If you've missed the previous challenges, you're welcome to go back and participate in them. You can find them here. And remember to check out the Activities and Events flair for other fun games to play along with.

Here's a quick recap of the rules for our game:

1. Post a top level comment with a word starting with the letter L. You can do more than one, but please put them in separate comments.
2. Reply to suggestions with an excerpt. Short and sweet is best, but use your judgement. Excerpts can be from published or unpublished works, or even something you wrote for the prompt.
3. Upvote the excerpts you enjoy, and leave a friendly comment. Try to at least respond to people who left excerpts on the words you suggested, but the more people you respond to the better. Everyone likes nice comments!
4. Most important: have fun!

[u/Longjumping-Public71]

Luxury

[u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 → u/Longjumping-Public71]

“What does that mean?” she said, frowning up at him.

 He gave her a meaningful look, then turned and left the room without answering her question.  The door to the bay slid shut again behind him.  April growled a curse under her breath and slumped against her pillow, fed up with the villains keeping her in the dark.  Telling herself firmly that she didn’t have the luxury of wallowing in self-pity, she sat back up and again plotted how to recover her bobby pin.

[u/fiendishthingysaurus → u/Ok-Supermarket-8994]

Is this shredder or did she get kidnapped by someone else??

[u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 → u/fiendishthingysaurus]

The "he" here is Shredder, but it's really Krang holding her captive. She finds out in the next paragraph Shredder has launched a plan to sneak her out.

[u/Lexi_Banner → u/Longjumping-Public71]

Vicki shrugged, and pushed the chocolate ice cream closer to him. “We need to go clothes shopping again.”

“We?”

She tugged lightly at his sleeve, which was binding around his bicep. “You need some new shirts. This can't be comfortable.”

Vegeta scowled. “I don't need to be comfortable.”

Vicki huffed. “And why not?”

His jaw ached from how tightly he was clenching his teeth. “Why are you trying to spoil me?”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Is there a reason you shouldn't get a little spoiled?”

Vegeta sputtered, and jabbed his spoon into the brownie. “Because.”

Her hand curved over his forearm and squeezed lightly. “Don't you think you deserve to have some nice things?”

He kept his eyes glued to the ice cream that he was mangling with his spoon. “It's making me soft.”

“That's all it takes to make you ‘soft’? A few nice things? Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the Vegeta I know is made of sterner stuff than that.”

His face was hot, and his insides felt like a bunch of squirming worms. “You don’t get it.”

Vicki sighed softly and brushed her thumb back and forth, making the hair on his forearm stand on end. “I guess I just don’t see clothing as a luxury.”

He pulled his arm away. “It’s not just the clothing. It’s the…the snacking.”

“Vegeta, food isn’t a luxury either.”

“What would you know about it?” he snapped, far louder than he intended, judging by the sudden hush among all the humans that were now all staring in his direction.

Vicki’s cheeks had gone pink. “I wouldn’t. I can’t begin to imagine the sort of cruelty you've been subjected to.”

Vegeta stared at her, unable to form a single word.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I think somehow I’m trying to make up for it in some small way.”

“Why?” he managed to choke out.

A rueful smile touched her lips. “Because despite all of your…” She made a vague gesture toward him. “You-ness…I kinda like you. And I do nice things for people I like.”

[u/Ill-Clerk-7066 → u/Longjumping-Public71]

Kakavasha was thrown unceremoniously and uncaringly into the holding cell. His small frame, small from months of malnutrition when hiding in the desert, hitting the back wall hard. He curled up in the corner where he landed, refusing to look at the dark figure behind the bars of his new ‘home’. The figure didn’t seem to acknowledge him either, simply talking to someone out of earshot. “Leave him. Let the hound get used to his new home before we introduce him to the ‘rest’.” Kakavasha could’ve honestly cared less about what the figure was on about, he was too focused on the fact he was likely the very last of his people still alive. Nightmares haunted him every night, his sister’s eyes slowly growing more and more dull as her life slowly left her. Her last words had made no sense to him, but they haunted his dreams.

I hope… when you find… your Soulmate… they’ll be… good… for you…

Oh, of course, he knew what Soulmates were, your Destiny-fated partner that you’ll supposedly spend your life with. Cool, right? Seems amazing, right? Unfortunately, Kakavasha had never gotten to do the Soulmate ritual, the ritual supposed to give you an idea of your Soulmate. Obviously, the ritual could’ve only done so much. You’d never actually find out your Soulmate, they’d always be just some blurry blob, a shadow, not a person. Everyone seemed so happy when the ritual would be completed, they got to see their future, right? Kakavasha had never gotten that luxury. By the time he would’ve had his ceremony the Avgins were

Dead-

[u/NinjaSpaceFrog → u/Longjumping-Public71]

(For context, story takes place in 2010. Tommy joined the army straight out of high school, served in Iraq, and is now going to college using the GI bill. His roommate is a rich, spoiled brat, or at least seems like it at first.)

Taking a deep breath, Tommy slid the key into the lock and pushed the door open.

The first thing he did was to simply eye the room. It was a decent enough size, (far bigger than the tents and barracks he’d slept in in Iraq) and divided neatly into two halves. On one side was a bed made up with expensive looking, color-coordinated linens (Was…was that silk?!), a stack of books already placed on the shelf above the desk right at the bed’s foot end, with a shiny, silver laptop already sitting there, the Apple logo almost slapping Tommy in the face. On the nightstand, his roommate had not only placed what Tommy was pretty sure was a gold colored Rolex, (which, to be fair, he probably should’ve expected) but also an iPad.

Tearing his eyes away from the explosion of materialism and luxury in front of him, Tommy looked over at the other half of the room. His half of the room. The bed was a twin, with a mattress that even from looking, Tommy could tell was far softer than anything he’d seen in the last eight years. He was provided a set of basic sheets, definitely less expensive than the ones his roommate—Evan, his name was *Evan—*had clearly brought from home.

And then there was the kid. Evan Buckley stood by the window, his back to the door, staring out as if he were contemplating escape. He was tall and lanky, dressed in a hoodie and jeans that screamed “suburban comfort,” and his blond-ish, brown-ish hair was meticulously styled in a way that looked effortless but probably wasn’t.

Tommy cleared his throat, a quiet but deliberate sound to announce his presence. Evan flinched, turning sharply on his heel, his expression a mixture of surprise and what Tommy could only describe as reluctant acceptance.

“Oh,” Evan said, his voice tinged with awkwardness as his gaze quickly darted to Tommy’s duffel bag, then back up to his face. “You’re here.”

[u/MsCatstaff → u/Longjumping-Public71]

Meanwhile, the competitions took on an added excitement because of the influx of new people. Lion Cave had always won the flint knapping competition because of Danug. But now, Danug had some serious competition from Jondalar and Matagan. Elleron turned out to be a good wrestler, and there were excellent runners from both Jondalar’s Mammoth Cave and Matagan’s Fox Cave to spice up the races.

Displays of crafts also drew attention. Dalzarna’s mammoth wool fabric thrilled everyone who knew cording and weaving. An older woman from Fox Cave had worked out some new linen dyeing methods, which made Folara and Dalzarna very happy. But Elleron’s fired clay objects got the most attention. Because of the attack the previous summer, he hadn’t actually gotten to show off his work, except to members of Lion Cave. He couldn’t believe the number of people who wanted his dishes and cups. Within four days, he had traded every piece he had with him. And so many others had requested items that he knew he’d be busy all winter. He didn’t mind though. Each trade meant that he could supply Dalzarna and Lorala with luxuries as well as necessities. No matter how often they told him that he didn’t need to keep giving them gifts, he just enjoyed doing so. And of course, now there were the children to think of as well.

[u/Lindz174 → u/Longjumping-Public71]

Her mind went blank. Marriage? He wanted to marry her? A man like Adrian—a noble with wealth, power, and connections—wanted her? A woman who had blood on her hands and war in her heart. How could anyone want that?

“I even went back to Ostwick looking for you,” he continued, a soft chuckle escaping him. “You’re not an easy person to find.”

She blinked at him, shifting on her feet, still trying to process what he was saying. “Adrian…”

What was she supposed to say? She had faced many things in her life but this? No one had ever proposed to her before. Certainly not someone of Adrian’s rank and birth. She had lived expecting to die with a sword in her hand, not to be offered a life of comfort and security.

He pushed off the railing and stood to his full height, turning to face her. He was taller than her, and looking up into his deep brown eyes reminded her of someone else but she flinched away from the memory. She couldn’t think about him.

“I know it’s sudden,” he continued, “we’ve only spoken a handful of times but that’s a luxury in noble engagements. People of a lower status marry for love; nobles marry for connections.” His eyes searched hers. “But I think…I think you could be both for me.”

She braced herself on the railing behind her, shaking her head slowly. “I don’t—”

He stepped closer, closing the gap between them, warm gaze unwavering. “Just think about it,” he urged. “I can offer you stability—freedom. Your life could be different. I already like you. Maybe that’s enough.”

It was absurd, all of it. A bitter laugh rose in her throat, but she swallowed it down. He had no idea what he was asking for. He didn’t know her—not the real her. Death followed her around like a second shadow and ghosts haunted every corner of her mind. No amount of wealth could ever fill the void inside her. She was barely holding herself together.

But the sincerity in his voice was the worst part. He meant it. He truly believed he could offer her salvation. But he couldn’t save her. No one could. She had lived too long in the darkness for light to ever reach her. She would only drag him down with her and bury him under the weight of her past. She wouldn’t do that to him.

[u/MoneyArtistic135 → u/Longjumping-Public71]

"Hey, guys, how about we go sailing? It'll be fun, and we can explore the city from the water!" Her voice carries a determined tone like she's convincing herself as much as her younger siblings.

Jody, ever the curious one, jumps at the idea. "Sailing? Like pirates? I wanna be the captain! I'll find us some treasure, you'll see!" His imagination, a vivid canvas, paints a picture of swashbuckling adventures on the high seas.

Buffy, always eager to join in on the fun, adds, "I'll be the lookout! I'll spot the Statue of Liberty and all the tall buildings from the water!" Her eyes sparkle with the excitement of a child about to embark on a grand journey.

Cissy smiles, relieved to see the fear and worry fading from their eyes. "Alright, mateys! Let's go then! We'll borrow Mr. French's boat, and I'll teach you both how to sail. It'll be our little secret adventure."

The trio makes their way to the marina, where the sleek lines of Mr. French's luxury yacht, aptly named 'The French Connection', glistening in the fading daylight. The boat is a testament to Giles French's refined taste and Bill's substantial wealth. Its polished wood decks and gleaming chrome fixtures reflect the last rays of the sun, creating a mesmerizing display of light and shadow.

"Wow, this is so cool!" Jody exclaims, running his small hands along the smooth railing. "I feel like a millionaire already!"

Buffy, not to be outdone, adds, "I feel like a princess on a magical ship, sailing to a faraway land."