Spellbound (Trifecta Week 65)

We’re discussing the list of my shortcomings; this will last considerably longer than reeling off my attributes, which didn’t take much time to exhaust, and the real purpose of which was to serve as an entrée for this part of the assessment.

When I married a warlock, I imagined that life would be exciting, entertaining, and occasionally precarious.  I didn’t expect to have to match his consuming passion for magic, any more than I’d anticipated having monthly evaluations of my nascent skills.

riptheskull / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

We begin with my execrable performance in the field of evanesco skills, as evidenced by the wasps’ nest in the attic and the anthill at the bottom of the garden – all still thriving in situ as we speak.

The people at the next table are patently eavesdropping on our conversation, and he adeptly performs a quick muffliato.  Their expressions turn to bafflement, then disappointment.  They switch their attention to another couple.

This is what I aspire to… speedy utilitarian spell-casting in a dismissive manner, instead of my modus operandi – lots of preparation, tremulous quivering and false starts, culminating usually in disaster.

Now he turns to address my forbidden use of engorgio which he’d uncovered by dexterous use of prior incantato on my wand.  It’s not clear whether it’s attempting to improve my upper vital statistics that’s annoyed him, or the failure to clean my wand after spelling.

On the other hand, he’s overlooked my expert application of reducio, which is a shame really, as he’s often responded negatively to the perennial ‘does my ass look big in this’ question.  That’s good, I may need this one later – profiteroles are on the menu.

I’m bored now, so I stare at him, and allow my widened eyes to fill with tears.

“Stoppit” he hisses, his stern mouth relaxing into a smile.

“Stop what?”  Eyes even wider, lips pouted.

“Using your enchantment spell again,” he mutters, before grabbing my hand and hustling me back to our apartment.

Job done.

**0**

This week’s challenge at Trifecta was to use one word, as follows:

 EXHAUST (transitive verb)
1a : to consume entirely : use up <exhausted our funds in a week>
b : to tire extremely or completely <exhausted by overwork>
c : to deprive of a valuable quality or constituent <exhaust a photographic developer>
2a : to draw off or let out completely
b : to empty by drawing off the contents; specifically : to create a vacuum in
3a : to consider or discuss (a subject) thoroughly or completely  

  b : to try out the whole number of <exhausted all the possibilities>

Please remember:

• Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.

• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.

• The word itself needs to be included in your response.

• You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above.

• Only one entry per writer.
• Trifecta is open to everyone.  Please join us.