Disclaimer: None of the authors involved in this story claim ownership of Labyrinth or any of the characters originally found within.

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Danika's Introduction and Explanation: FaeMail: Behind the Scenes is meant to be sort of a companion to Fwd: Fwd: FaeMail, but it is in no way necessary to the reading of F:F:FM itself. Basically, Marti and I do a lot of planning for scenes in F:F:FM through emails at work (we are so going to get canned for it, one of these days). The more Jareth and Sarah spend time together in the story, the more planning these scenes require. Unfortunately, some of the things we write will never actually be seen in F:F:FM, because the characters only write about what they think is important or appropriate to write about.

So, without further ado, we bring you those behind the scenes moments. What really happened, if you will.

Now a note about the writing itself. As I mentioned, these scenes are written in tandem. One of us will write a paragraph or two and shoot it off to the other, who will build upon it and respond. As you will see, the perspective will bounce back and forth between Jareth and Sarah quite regularly. Some of these start of from the very beginning being written in the form of a story. Some, such as this first scene, begin with Marti and I simply bouncing ideas back and forth and then grow into something more. Often they leave off in odd places as we have to abandon them at the end of the workday (or to, you know, actually work). There will be little editing done, other than to clean up typos and whatnot.

Please do not complain… I don't mean to sound rude, but we are only posting these as a bit of a treat, to allow you to see the workings behind F:F:FM. As I said, they are completely unnecessary in the actual reading of the story, so if you do not like the formatting or the jagged endings, then by all means, do not read them.

I will not make any promises about how often FM:BtS will be updated. We do have a few scenes in the vaults that I am preparing to update, and quite a bit more that will show up as the story itself progresses, but these are written out of necessity (and obsession), not to actually progress the story. If you like them, let us know and we will keep posting. If not, then we will continue on with F:F:FM as is, and leave these between ourselves.

Also, keep an eye open for FaeMail: Outtakes, coming soon… if Marti can ever get me the transcripts.

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Planning the Friday night lesson before Toby's birthday. This one managed to get into both Outtakes AND BtS. Talk about your schizophrenic conversations.

Danika: So... Should anything interesting happen tonight?

Marti: Dunno. Do you have any thoughts?

Danika: Well, they may have some time alone before Toby figures out his bracelet.

Marti: What do you have in mind?

Danika: I had thought he might teach her a little bit about how exactly she's creating those portals.

Marti: Hmm. Good thinking.

Danika: And... I don't have a clue what else.

Marti: I think working properly with her portals and possible telling her a bit more about Shield Magic (that really interests her) if he can, will take up the time. Then he can tease her about her GK statue.

Danika: He won't be able to tell her much about Shield Magic, but he will let her know that he has asked an Enchantress he knows who is Second Circle Order if she might be willing to give her lessons, too. He doesn't mention that he's talking about his mother. He's kind of afraid it would freak her out.

Marti: She'll be excited to hear that, but will be a little worried about getting lessons from anyone else (not knowing that it's his Mumsie) and she'll hesitantly ask who it is. She only knows a few names of people Underground, but she'd still like to know who she might be dealing with.

Danika: Jareth will look uncomfortable and point out that he hasn't heard back from her yet, so nothing is set in stone, but... it's... his mother.

Marti: Sarah's worried look will fade to one of surprise before she breaks out in a genuine smile. With a light laugh, Sarah assures him that, if his Mumsie would be willing to teach her, she'd be more than willing to be her student.

Jareth's discomfort does not seem eased. He mutters, "That's because you haven't met her yet."

Sarah leans forward, turns her head to the side and flashes him a bright, hopeful grin, "Does that mean I get to meet your mother soon? She sounds like fun…"

Jareth sighs, "Perhaps. As I said, she has not agreed to instruct you, yet. She is enjoying her retirement and rather stingy with her time. I do not think she would object, but..."

Sarah nods, understanding, then frowns. "But…?"

Jareth waves a hand vaguely and refuses to meet her eyes. "Mumsie sometimes gets... odd notions. I am certain that it will not affect your instruction."

Sarah muses over the meanings of his words (SO not coming close to the truth, in her mind) and shrugs. "Well, I would be perfectly willing to work with her. She's sounds like, from what you've told me, a wonderful woman…"

"There's not much of a choice," he says, "There is not currently anyone in the Underground of the Third Circle in Order and most of those of the Second Circle have buried themselves in a healing facility and would not be willing to instruct you without taking you on as a full apprentice." He gives her an odd look, "Like your sister..."

Sarah nods, understanding. "Yes, she tells me about her studies, and how much she loves them. They are her entire life… I figured she was in a… well, it sounded like a boarding school, off-hand." She takes a minute before giving him a sly grin, "Are you sure the only reason you hesitate is because your Mumsie has 'odd notions'? Or are you just worried that we might get along and start swapping stories on you?"

Jareth fidgets, "I think the two are related."

Sarah snickers, somewhat puzzled (though unconcerned about it), and, seating herself on the couch, wonders out loud, "D'you think Toby will figure out his bracelet tonight?"

Jareth pauses, tilting his head a little, his eyes losing focus. "Yes..." he says, "He should. He is almost there now..."

Sarah watches him intently, "Good… if he didn't, soon, the poor kid would have a thunderstorm break out in the entire upstairs of the house."

Jareth smirks, "I have been monitoring the magic levels in his room. If he neared anything really destructive... again... I would intervene." He focuses on her, "I've noticed the levels of magic in your apartment fluctuating, too. Practicing?"

Sarah smiles, biting her lip, and looks down, "Ah, didn't realize you'd be paying that close attention. I've been trying a few things… mainly my portals. They're not turning out quite right now… and I wasn't really aware that I was creating them before, so I don't know how to safely do them now. I barely managed, the other night. And, when I'm not doing them I'm…" she hesitates, looking awkward.

He throws himself into his favorite chair, facing the couch (D: they're Underground, right?), hooking his leg over the arm. "You're...?"

(M: Sure… kinda forgot that part earlier, but yes, they're Underground.)

Sarah presses her lips together in a firm line and taps the toes of her shoes together for a few moments. "Bug zapping." She shrugs, her eyes round and large.

Jareth arches a brow, watching her innocent act with amusement. "Bug... zapping."

She smiles innocently, "Last time Duncan ate a cockroach, I think it upset his stomach, so I told him he could hunt them, but not eat them, so when I find them…" she purses her lips and furrows her brows, "… I found one, recently, and it made me angry… and it ran from me and hid up where I couldn't see it, so… I thought I'd try focusing on it…" she shrugs, "I think I'm giving them a shock, because they'll fall and twitch for a while, and then I can get them with my broom. It's hard, though, because half the time I can't see them, and I have to feel them out… mentally…" she looks down, ashamed, "A silly waste, I know… probably shouldn't do it…"

Jareth frowns slightly and sits up in the chair to lean towards her. "What do they feel like, when you search for them mentally?"

She looks up at him then closes her eyes and furrows her brows. "They feel… simple… frantic…" she wrinkles her nose, "Dirty… even in my thoughts, they feel disgusting…" she pulls a gagging face, much like Toby does when Sarah touches Jareth.

His brows furrow and he nods. "Have you attempted this on anything else?"

She turns her head to the side, "Well, I use that to locate Duncan, when he's hiding… we…" she grins, "We make a game of it. Hide and seek. But, obviously, I don't zap him. I just… search for him."

Jareth glances at the little Mog Lion on her shoulder. "What does he feel like?"

Sarah smiles, closing her eyes again, "Small, spunky… full of love and devotion."

Jareth runs a hand through his hair and glances at the floor in thought. Finally, he looks back up at her and says, "How do I feel?"

Sarah looks surprised by his question, but thinks about it. "People seem more complex than small bugs or animals. And people are much larger, too. And… with you, at least, I haven't tried, but…" she grins before closing her eyes and reaching one hand out in front of her, as if feeling an invisible ribbon with her fingers, "You're strong…" she sounds surprised at this, "And… you're deep. There's so much… you're…" she laughs, "Inquisitive… I can most definitely feel that, but… the rest…" she opens her eyes and sighs, leaning back in her chair, "Too much. It would take me hours to name all of that, I think."

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Danika's Note: This is a fairly short one, for us. Most will be quite a bit longer. Please let us know what you think so that we can determine if we should keep posting them or not. Thanks!