The Friday Fictioneers is a writing challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The task of the challenge is to write a story in 100 words or less. You can find all the Fictioneers’ stories when you click on the little frog. Reciprocation is the life of this challenge!
Stasis
King Magnum XIII sat on his throne and dreamt of summer. The green light from the glass dome gently warmed his face.
He was content. He knew that his subjects loved him. They gave him everything he wanted and more, he just had to ask. They were happy with their lives, and those who weren’t were soon silenced by their neighbours. Life was good, change unnecessary.
King Magnum didn’t notice that the window changed ist colour to red. It was a magical gauge for the state of the nation. The Jester wondered how long it would take until someone remembered.
(100 words)
Write already! 
When one becomes too complacent…
Well done!
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Indeed. Thank you Dale.
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🙂
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Even absolute monarchs have to guage the public mood
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They won’t like it if they don’t. Thank you.
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Sounds like it’s all about to kick off. No point the jester mentioning it though, no-one will listen.
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No one will listen, that’s true. Good enough for the ancestors, good enough for us and so on… Thank you!
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From stasis to precariousness, and he doesn’t have a clue!
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And when he wakes up, it’ll be too late. Than you!
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Oh, how easy it is for the ruler to drift away from his subjects. very like modern politics in many ways. Yep.
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Exactly! 🙂 I was a bit afraid that it was too in-your-face. Thank you.
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I don’t think the King recognizes “in your face.”
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No, he’s living in his own little world. Thank you.
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Mind the signs. Well told.
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Thank you Bill.
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the king would soon get a rude awakening. nothing lasts forever.
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Absolutely. Thank you.
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What a lot you squeeze into this story! The complacency of the king, neighbours ‘enforcing’ conformity, a ‘magical’ gauge of the public mood, the traditional jester to realise that matters are gravely wrong. Good work, Gabi!
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Thank you Penny. As usual, you’re very observant. 🙂
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There will be trouble ahead for this king,
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I think you’re right. Thank you!
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Oh dear. He’s definitely out of touch. What a waste of his wonderful resource for gauging the state of the nation. So much is covered in this story. Great choice of names, too – for the king, and for the story.
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Thank you for your kind words, Margaret. I’m glad you noticed the name and title, finding these sometimes takes me longer than writing the story. 🙂
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A touch of The Emperor’s New Clothes going on? Wait for the peasants to revolt, epic! Hail King Jester perhaps?
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If Jester plays his cards right, perhaps. Thank you.
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The king should take more notice of what goes on around him!
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He certainly should. Thank you.
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Red, in this case, would seem quite ominous. Wake up, King Magnum!
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Waking up is inconvenient. 🙂 Thank you Linda.
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Oooooo I can see where this one is heading. A great use of the dome colours here. To never change is to be lost. Nicely done
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Thank you kindly. 🙂
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Danger, King Magnum! Danger! It is dangerous to be complacent and take people for granted. Your takes are always so imaginative.
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I’m glad you think so. 🙂 Thank you!
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Dear Gabi,
I sense trouble on the horizon. I also found it creepy if someone wasn’t happy their neighbors took care of it. Big brother is definitely watching in this one. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Heh, that was my intent. I’m glad you liked it. Thank you Rochelle.
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So imaginative and clever, with the colour change a harbinger of doom, the jester’s passive reaction and the chilling line about the neighbours.
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I’m glad the neighbours line was clear. Thank you!
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King would not like the end of illusion.
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No he won’t like it. Thank you!
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I love that the jester is the only one who seems to remember the window is a gauge… and I’m curious why he doesn’t speak up to warn the King.
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Maybe the king doesn’t want to hear things… Thank you!
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Move (action) or (stagnation) die. The cyclicity of things says even the dying begins again. Good story, Gabi.
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I’m glad you liked it Lisa, thank you!
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You’re welcome.
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