Word of the Day Challenge

[Daeva]

Today's Word of the Day is....

malinger
verb muh-LING-gur

Definition

1:  to pretend or exaggerate incapacity or illness (as to avoid duty or work)


Weekly Theme
Horror

Did You Know?
Do you know someone who always seems to develop an ailment when there's work to be done? Someone who merits an Academy Award for his or her superb simulation of symptoms? Then you know a malingerer. The verb malinger comes from the French word malingre, meaning "sickly," and one who malingers feigns illness. In its earliest uses in the early 19th century, malinger usually referred to a soldier or sailor pretending to be sick or insane to shirk duty. Later, psychologists began using malingering as a clinical term to describe the feigning of illness in avoidance of a duty or for personal gain. Today, malinger is used in just about any context in which someone fakes sickness or injury to get out of an undesirable task.

[The Green One]

A boy and a girl headed for the bedrooms, a long corridor on the second floor with seven doors, opening to left and right. They walked side by side until they reached the first room. The door was closed. Both turned to their left to watch it for a moment, noticing trails of sky blue paint. A boy's room, perhaps? Covering the door and frame was some kind of oozing mold. Dark green and black, velvety bubbles dragged down the surface in a sluggish manner, breaking in a million spores if they encountered any roughness on the surface of the wood.

"Open the door." The girl said in a whisper.

"No way." He shook his head almost frantically.

"Are you afraid?" She chuckled, and with a roll of her eyes moved forward to wrap her fingers around the knob.

"No- No..." He stammered. "I'm... Allergic to that crap." He malingered. "Don't touch it." The boy was afraid. Whatever was on the other side of that door, had to be seriously messed up to have all that mold covering the exit.

She didn't listen to him and opened the door, looking at her hand closely after she let go of the knob, her fingers were sticky and riddled with the black-greenish stuff. The girl grimaced in disgust and cleaned her hand on the side of her jeans before glancing up to take a first look at the room.

Before their eyes could adjust to the dark of the room, a stench of death curled around them with the air pushed through a broken window. Both teens covered their mouths and noses quickly, pointing their phones into the room to see what was inside. They saw an old canopy bed, wooden toys scattered across the floor, a rocking chair. Their eyes didn't go anywhere else when they saw the chair and the source of the mold taking over the room, that now slowly crept through the corridor.

None of them dared to step inside. Blinking, they turned to look at each other. She gulped, her hands trembling. He held a whimper of terror behind his hand. Resting on the wrecked rocking chair, there was something that seemed to be alive, breathing with a low wheezing sound. It looked like a slug, a giant slug curled up on the seat from which the mold dripped down to the floor as if it was that thing's sweat.

tallied! -Brit

[Lovely Complex]

Sebastian did not feel like going into work today because his boss was an absolute tyrant, who really did nothing but tear people down every chance he had got. Sebastian did not know if he could keep up with his cheerful attitude as he worked in a place or for a company that he has grown to love. Missing work was something that he rarely did though but today seemed like a really good day to miss it and use some of his sick time that he had. Of course, he did have to play the part if he was going to call in, which he needed to start on soon or else, it'd be too late for him to do so.

He had grabbed his cellular device that was on his kitchen table and hit the contact labeled 'Work'. Miss Shirley answered the phone in her normal pleasant greeting tone and phrase as Sebastian wished someone else had answered. He wouldn't have disliked it as much lying to anyone else but to lie to Miss Shirley was something else. Well, there was a first time for everything, right? Before he had managed to get his little fib together, he had taken a breath and cleared his throat a little bit. "I'm sorry, Miss Shirley but could you tell Mr. John that I will not be able to make it in today? I seem to have caught the bug that's going around."

Miss Shirley understood since there has been a bug going around and almost everyone was catching it. But unlike the others, his symptoms were a bit malingered as he mentioned his symptoms to her. He had also mentioned to Miss Shirley to plug in some sick time for him and she gladly accepted the request to do so as he thanked her. Their conversation ended and he exhaled a sigh of relief after he had hung up the phone, sitting it back onto the table. Now, the ultimate question that he had to ask himself was, what in the world was he going to do all day? Well, he has been managing to clean up the attic so that was one item to place on his task list. Just needed to figure out what else to do but guesses he can make that up as he went on about his day.

Storyteller Regular
tallied! -Brit

[Daeva]

Today's Word of the Day is....

behest
noun bih-HEST

Definition

1:  an authoritative order : command

2: an urgent prompting


Weekly Theme
Horror

Did You Know?
Today's word first appeared in Old English and was formed from the prefix be- and the verb hātan ("to command" or "to promise"). While behest was originally used only in the sense of "promise," it acquired the additional sense of "command" among speakers of Middle English. Among contemporary English speakers, behest is no longer used in the sense of "promise" but rather denotes an authoritative or urgent request or command. Old English hātan also gave English the now-archaic words hest (meaning "command") and hight ("being called or named").

[The Green One]

The other two boys explored around the kitchen and dining area, camera on hand, one of them lead the way, repeating himself none of the stories he'd heard about the house were real. He told himself time after time that all those tales were just that, tales, that there was no Lovecraftian... Thing, after the place's bad reputation. The boy threading behind the newbie filmmaker was sure though, that there was indeed, something utterly malign withing the old building.

One of them opened a drawer and from it erupted a fountain of cockroaches and other too-many-legged things that quickly sprawled across every surface of the kitchen and the young men's hands and arms, feet, and legs. They creamed, forgetting their pretended courage. The camera dropped to the floor while both struggled to get rid of the insects crawling on their skin and beneath their clothes. They whined and cursed and held barely any dignity to stop desperate tears from flooding their eyes.

When they were still fighting the vermin off, they froze as a voice sent a shiver down their spines.

GET OUT!

The guttural growl echoed through the entire house. They felt it inside their chests and gulped, trembling where they stood.

OUT!

The boys moved in unison, bumping into each other before scrambling outside the house through the back door, obeying the supernatural behest before they lost their chance of escaping.

tallied! -Brit

[Lovely Complex]

The fanfare of the king sounded off just as he had entered inside of the throne room. He had sat down onto his throne and faced his people as the criminal was brought to him by two guards and thrown down to the floor. His piercing stare burned through the criminal's soul as he turned to his advisor, who spoke. "My lord, he was seen stealing jewels out of Lord Richard's home." The king nodded his head toward his advisor then waved his hand toward him, not really needing to hear any more. The criminal was not even pleading his case, not that it would've worked in his favor against the king, but he still could've tried.

The king stood up to announced the criminal's punishment, which wasn't exactly gruesome at all but it could've been if he really wanted it to be. His punishment was to be thrown in the dungeon where he would live out the rest of his days with little to no food or water. Of course, it should've been a beheading but that would've been too quick and he wanted him to suffer for his crime a bit.

"Take him away and throw him in the dungeon!" He had behested with the flick of his hand then went to sit back down, resting his hands into his lap. "So, next order of business, gentlemen?" He had asked among them, smirking a bit as people muttered displeasing remarks about the punishment and felt that it wasn't enough. They weren't going to question the king though. They'd be fools if they did so.

Storyteller Regular
tallied! -Brit

[Daeva]

Today's Word of the Day is....

venal
adjective VEE-nul

Definition

1:  capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration; purchasable; especially : open to corrupt influence and especially bribery : mercenary

2: originating in, characterized by, or associated with corrupt bribery


Weekly Theme
Horror

Did You Know?
If you are given the choice between acts that are venal and those that are venial, go for the venial. Although the two words look and sound alike, they have very different meanings and histories. Venal demonstrates the adage that anything can be had if the price is high enough and the morals are low enough. That word originated with the Latin venum, which simply referred to something that was sold or for sale. Some of those transactions must have been rather shady because by the mid-1600s, venal had gained the sense of corruption it carries today. Venial sins, on the other hand, are pardonable, the kind that show that everyone makes mistakes sometimes. That forgiving term descends from venia, Latin for "favor," "indulgence," or "pardon."

[Remec]

Date: 1/3/19 Word: rapporteur  Theme: fantasy


   They had gathered, seemingly at random intervals in equally random numbers, below the shadows of the great clock tower in the center of the old town square. Ffolk were, quite literally, tucked into any nook of the eaves of each and every window that looked out over the square from the workrooms below the actual clock face. Elves, goblins, grimlies, garrooks, and so many more—especially of the littlest fae, since they barely needed any space bigger than someone’s pocket or the brim of a particularly broad hat or shoulder guard.
   “Am I late?” a wheezing voice asked in a soft, but not really whispering, manner at just below and behind Jeremy’s arm. He half turned his head and brought more than just his peripheral vision to bare and smiled.
   “Probably, knowing you,” he said in an actual whisper to the Rabbit.
   Mildred shushed the both of them with a single dismissive sound learned from long centuries of hanging about in libraries. “Quiet, it’s starting…”
   They all joined the rest of the throng in giving their attention to the grey-haired man in silks of a deep midnight blue, shirt left untucked, but of a cut that made that choice appropriate. The Grand Rapporteur to the Seelie Court cleared his throat and leaned slightly forward over the podium that had been found to hold his notes and give him something to rest his hands on. “Tonight, I bring you old news,” he said, “News some of you may find, however, to be new to you. If not, please do not spoil things for the others.”
   “’In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit….’”

tallied! -Brit

[Miss Lilly]

Skulking around in back alleyways was not Lilly's idea of a good time, but recent circumstances left her little choice.  She had to avoid being caught in the gaze of anyone who might be in the employ of the witch, Sefosta, for the sorcerer had the ability to see through the eyes of others. Only those whom she controlled, however, but it seemed lately that she controlled half the city. And if Sefosta were to learn Lilly's whereabouts....well, that prospect didn't bear thinking about. 

Sefosta's powers had grown frightenly over the years.  Where once the two women were equals in the use of witchcraft, Sefosta's tendency towards dark magic made her equal parts powerful, ambitious, and in Lilly's estimation, insane.  In the past, Lilly had wept for the loss of her covern-sister, but Sefosta's determination to destroy her had quickly killed any kind feelings Lilly still had towards her.

What Lilly really needed was an aide.  A bodyguard.  A protector.  She knew she was unlikely to find someone completely trustworthy, however she would settle for someone venal.  She had cash at her disposal, and money could certainly buy loyalty.  Well, enough money could.  And Lilly was quietly confident that she would have enough.  Although if the mercenary knew what he was getting himself into.....

tallied! -Brit

[Britwitch]

Today's Word of the Day is....

syllogism
noun SIL-uh-jiz-um

Definition
1 : a deductive scheme of a formal argument consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion

2 : a subtle, specious, or crafty argument

3 : deductive reasoning

Weekly Theme
Horror


Did You Know?
For those trained in formal argument, the syllogism is a classical form of deduction, specifically an argument consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion. One example is the inference that "kindness is praiseworthy" from the premises "every virtue is praiseworthy" and "kindness is a virtue." Syllogism came to English through Anglo-French from Latin syllogismus, which in turn can be traced back to the Greek verb syllogizesthai, meaning "to infer." In Greek logizesthai means "to calculate" and derives from logos, meaning "word" or "reckoning." Syl- comes from syn-, meaning "with" or "together."

[Britwitch]

Today's Word of the Day is....

boycott
verb BOY-kaht

Definition
1 : to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (a person, a store, an organization, etc.) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions

Weekly Theme
Horror


Did You Know?
In the 1870s, Irish farmers faced an agricultural crisis that threatened to result in a repeat of the terrible famine and mass evictions of the 1840s. Anticipating financial ruin, they formed a Land League to campaign against the rent increases and evictions landlords were imposing as a result of the crisis. Retired British army captain Charles Boycott had the misfortune to be acting as an agent for an absentee landlord at the time, and when he tried to evict tenant farmers for refusing to pay their rent, he was ostracized by the League and community. His laborers and servants quit, and his crops began to rot. Boycott's fate was soon well known, and his name became a byword for that particular protest strategy.

[Lovely Complex]

They exited the court after saying their I do's to each other. Hand in hand as they walked, their friends along with selected others applauded them throughout the whole entire journey. They wished that their families could be there, supporting them every step of the way but unfortunately, they were not. Instead, the parents of each newlywed were down the street, boycotting about their love. It was something that broke and torn both of them up inside but today, they were going to own the day and not let anyone rain on their parade.

They rode down the road in their "Just Married" vehicle down the road, stopping to see their parents along with some friends backing them up. The mothers stopped what they were doing and stared at their sons, who stood there with pride and lifted their hands up in the sky. The mothers looked at each other before their eyes danced back upon their sons, who were getting back inside of the vehicle that was now driving off.

Whether their mothers liked it or not, they were married and moving onto bigger and better things without them. It sucks, yes but the men do not need that sort of negativity within their newfound lives with each other.

Storyteller Regular
tallied! -Brit

[Miss Lilly]

A heavy sigh escaped Shonelle's lips.  It had been a long week.  Hell, it'd been a long month!  She'd been working tirelessly in an effort to bring the waring factions of the province together for a summit in the hopes of bringing an end to the conflict that was tearing them all apart.

Every group had their own agenda, though, and they were all jostling for increased power and influence within the region.  It was going to be a long, hard road to get any sort of accord, but at least they had all agreed to send a representative.  Or so she had thought.  Word had just come through that the Shadow Realm, for reasons unknown, were now going to boycott the meeting.  Without all the factions represented, peace would be impossible.

Shonelle rubbed her temples.  She couldn't think of a single thing that she could offer the Shadow Realm as further incentive to attend.  But she had to come up with something.

The week had just gotten longer....

tallied! -Brit

[Britwitch]

Today's Word of the Day is....

clement
adjective KLEM-unt

Definition
1 : inclined to be merciful : lenient

2 : not severe : mild


Weekly Theme
Romance


Did You Know?
Defendants in court cases probably don't spend much time worrying about inclement weather. They're too busy hoping to meet a clement judge so they will be granted clemency. They should hope they don't meet an inclement judge! Clement, inclement, and clemency all derive from the Latin clemens, which means "mild" or "calm." All three terms can refer to an individual's degree of mercy or to the relative pleasantness of the weather.

[The Green One]

Why, my clement lover
Do you still stand by my side?

Why, do you still care for my venal heart?

I give nothing but pain
I bring nothing but sorrow

Why, do you boycott my farewell
With sweet words and tears?

I feel nothing but shame
I have nothing but fears

Why, do you still cling to my shape
And ask me to stay, ask me to love you?

There are no feelings in me
I know I'll do nothing but hurt you

tallied! -Brit

[MrAlanNH]

Word of the Day: Jan 12 - clement
Theme: romance

Having forgotten that most basic of her duties, preparing her master's morning coffee, the brunette demurely knelt before him and reported her dereliction; dark eyes pleading for lenience.  He stood silently in front of her for a long moment.  Lovingly, he brushed her hair behind her ear with his hand as his fingers ran lightly along her cheek.  Being in a clement mood, he addressed her misbehavior.  "You shall receive only ten spanks as punishment, my love."



Storyteller Cafe regular
tallied! -Brit

[Lovely Complex]

The eyes of lovers met as they stood in Central Park, hand in hand and their smiles matched with each other. A soft laugh came from the female counterpart as the male snickered at her laugh. This was something out of a movie scene, one that they never would forget as the both of them made things official. After a whole five months together, it was finally official between them. Not only their relationship but the love and happiness that came with it. The air around them was clement and that really just added icing on top of this now special moment between them. They soon shared a gentle kiss then walked gently hand in hand around the park.

Storyteller Regular
tallied! -Brit

[Miss Lilly]

Sitting behind her desk, Ashlyn contemplated the prisoner standing before her.  He was of average height, and of average build. In fact, he was pretty much average all over.  Except for his eyes.  They were piercingly blue, and despite what she knew of his criminal record, they appeared to radiate kindness.

"Leave us," she demanded of the guard.  Obediently he turned and left the office, closing the door behind him.  Watkins, hands still bound, stared at her questioningly.  He had no idea why he had been summonsed.  To his knowledge he had been a model prisoner, and he couldn't imagine what he may have done to warrant his presence in the Warden's office.

Ashlyn stood.

"You're probably wondering why you're here," she began, correctly interpreting the look on his face.  Watkins nodded almost imperceptibly.  Ashlyn slowly walked out from behind her desk.

"As you can imagine, a position like mine is very demanding, and leaves little time for a personal life."  Her voice emanated power.  This was clearly not a woman to be messed with.  "However, I am still a woman, and have certain.....needs."  She circled behind him, her eyes assessing the physique hidden beneath his prison greens.

She stopped in front of the prisoner, locking eyes with him.  Her steely gaze dared him to look away.  He stood silently, determined not to drop his eyes.

"I've been looking over your records."  Ashlyn flicked her eyes towards her desk, where a relatively thin manila folder lay. She continued.  "You've managed to keep your nose clean since joining us - a rare achievement.  Therefore, I've chosen you to fill a very particular position. One that, should you perform well, will come with rewards, and perhaps even clemency." 

A small smile played around the warden's crimson lips as she thought of the things she would have him do to her. 

tallied! -Brit

[Frustrated Feminist]

"You can't do this." 

Her tone was strident, the voice of a woman who exists in a world where there are rules, boundaries and things like common decency.  He didn't even bother to fill the silence, just drank in her keen intellect searching for options and coming up... empty.  Again and again.  And then there it was, the moment she began to comprehend just what he might be capable of, her eyes widening in a mute plea for clemency.

She was going to be disappointed.

[Britwitch]

Today's Word of the Day is....

mea culpa
noun may-uh-KOOL-puh

Definition
1 : a formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error


Weekly Theme
Romance


Did You Know?
Mea culpa, which means "through my fault" in Latin, comes from a prayer of confession in the Catholic Church. Said by itself, it's an exclamation of apology or remorse that is used to mean "It was my fault" or "I apologize." Mea culpa is also a noun, however. A newspaper might issue a mea culpa for printing inaccurate information, or a politician might give a speech making mea culpas for past wrongdoings. Mea culpa is one of many English terms that derive from the Latin culpa, meaning "guilt." Some other examples are culpable ("meriting condemnation or blame especially as wrong or harmful"), culprit ("one guilty of a crime or a fault"), and exculpate ("to clear from alleged fault or guilt").

[MrAlanNH]

 Word of the day: Jan 14 - mea culpa
Theme - romance

Jeff nervously entered the office building carrying an excessively sized bouquet of roses and the special box. Over and over, he rehearsed his speech in his head as he wove through the maze of cubicles.

Hidden around the corner from his destination, he gulped and before he could change his mind,  quickly turned the corner and in the cubicle entrance dropped to one knee.  In one hand he held up the flowers and the engagement ring box in the other.

"Janet, you mean everything to me.  You are beautiful beyond words.  Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

The woman in the chair turned around to face him, "Hun, if I was Janet and wasn't already married, I might take you up on that."

Red faced and flustered, Jeff backed out of the cubicle, muttering  embarrassed mea culpas.



Storyteller Cafe regular
tallied! -Brit

[Lilias]

‘Understand, I would rather have nothing to do with your agency. It is at Lord Bowers’ explicit behest that you are here, and that alone.’

Sarah bit back a sigh. Of course, Sir Malcolm Lofthouse would insist on making his disapproval amply clear, especially since it was entirely powerless; his superior’s orders were clear. It was no secret that Sir Malcolm disapproved of the very existence of the Arcanum. To him, they were all a bunch of malingering good-for-nothings with nothing to show for their funding. Granted, he had only been in contact with them after that disastrous singularity affair had decimated the department; some were still too damaged to return to the field, but the scars of arcane warfare were not visible to one whose belief only extended to ‘a somewhat open mind, if he said so himself’.

Sarah was not about to waste time attempting to disabuse him. ‘Duly noted,’ she replied crisply. ‘If that will be all, I would rather not let his lordship wait.’

Sir Malcolm scowled, but nodded to the security guard who waited by the door to the private wing. Sarah turned to follow the guard swiftly, to hide a little smile of satisfaction. Riling up Sir Malcolm was always rewarding, and Lord Bowers had said something about having a lead for her. Work was about to get exciting again.

tallied! -Brit

[Britwitch]

Today's Word of the Day is....

liaison
noun LEE-uh-zahn

Definition
1 : a binding or thickening agent used in cooking

2 a : a close bond or connection : interrelationship

b : an illicit sexual relationship : affair

3 a : communication for establishing and maintaining mutual understanding and cooperation (as between parts of an armed force)

b : a person who establishes and maintains communication for mutual understanding and cooperation

4 : the pronunciation of an otherwise absent consonant sound at the end of the first of two consecutive words the second of which begins with a vowel sound and follows without pause


Weekly Theme
Romance


Did You Know?
If you took French in school, you might remember that liaison is the term for the phenomenon that causes a silent consonant at the end of one word to sound like it begins the next word when that word begins with a vowel, so that a phrase like beaux arts sounds like \boh zahr\. We can thank French for the origin of the term, as well. Liaison derives from the Middle French lier, meaning "to bind or tie," and is related to our word liable. Our various English senses of liaison apply it to all kinds of bonds—from people who work to connect different groups to the kind of relationship sometimes entered into by two people who are attracted to one another.

[MrAlanNH]

Word of the day: Jan 15 - liason
Theme: romance

As she chose cornstarch as the liason for her sauce Jenny thought about the dinner she was preparing for Major Reynolds and his wife.  When Jenny had been chosen to be her company's liason with the Army base's quartmaster she'd had no idea it would lead to such a torrid liason between them.  Over the dinner she was preparing, she hoped she could convince the major's pretty wife to upgrade the arrangement to a menage a trois.



Storyteller Cafe regular
tallied! -Brit

[Lilias]

Lord Bowers was waiting in his study, standing before one of the front windows, hands clasped behind his back. So he had seen her arrive, thought Sarah, and probably knew, down to the minute, how long she had been delayed by Sir Malcolm in the front hall.

He turned to face her as soon as the guard closed the door behind her. ‘Thank you for making it here so swiftly, Agent Bailey,’ he said. His tone was warm, although he wasn’t smiling. ‘Please take a seat and help yourself to some refreshment.’ He gestured towards the loaded tea trolley by the side of the main desk. ‘We’re likely to be here awhile.’

Don’t mind if I do, thought Sarah, pouring herself a cup of tea and loading a plate with smoked salmon sandwiches, sausage roll bites and brandy snaps. She had met the Arcanum’s government liaison twice before, both times at official functions. She knew he was in his forties, but his face was still smooth and if there was any grey in his blond hair and beard, it was impossible to spot. The image he projected in public fit his background exactly (Harrow, SAS, MI5), but Sarah suspected there was more about him that the press had no clue about--something that made him just right as the official contact between the Arcanum and the mundane world. Up close and personal, that impression intensified, and Sarah wondered if she was about to find out exactly what it was all about.

‘I initially contacted Sister Marie Chantal, but she could not take time away. She recommended you as a stand-in, and I trust her judgment implicitly,’ he started, sitting down with his own plate. They were both fond of sausage rolls, observed Sarah, though he seemed to prefer tuna and cucumber to salmon.

‘Sister Marie Chantal hardly goes out any more,’ she offered. ‘It is too taxing to her health, these days.’ He nodded.

‘I will arrange for clearance for you to come and go as necessary. I hope Sir Malcolm didn’t give you too hard a time downstairs.’

So he had noticed. ‘All part of the job. As long as he doesn’t name names and places to the Daily Express, it’s no big deal.’

He did crack a smile at that. ‘He won’t. Sir Malcolm is many objectionable things, but indiscreet is not one of them. Neither is venal. He’s simply devoid of imagination and vision. Speculation beyond the most basic syllogisms eludes him.’

‘His life must be filled with wonders,’ said Sarah dryly, then mentally kicked herself. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…’

Lord Bowers waved it off. ‘Never mind. Ignorance can be bliss--just not all the time.’

tallied! -Brit