"Starship, hmm?" It looked like the tape player the Goblin King had swiped contained one of the Humans' recording devices for music – a 'tape,' he thought. Or more properly, a 'tape cassette.' Probably some kind of loud, raucous babble, the kind that seemed to be in style right now. What a waste of time.
Well, it served him right for not being pickier about who he liberated items from in the park - probably some kind of cosmic justice for his fascination with mortals. It was that fascination, that burning curiosity, that first prompted him to hang around the park where he first laid eyes on Sarah.
"Ah, Sarah… " He sighed for what seemed the millionth time as he slipped into a mini-daydream about how he would've liked their time in the Labyrinth to have passed. He was sure she thought his advice about life not being fair a simple goad meant only to provoke her.
The truth was that those statements were more a reminder for him about the difference between reality and fantasy, no matter what his personal feelings on the matter. A blaring car horn snapped him out of his reverie, back to his lonely present, and to the plastic and metal device in his hands.
He'd actually been trying to acquire one of these devices since seeing Sarah dance in her room, apparently listening to music on the device. Through the mirror, he thought she'd had some kind of small headband-like device that brought the music to her ears only – he thought it might be called 'earphones.'
This device didn't seem to have such an accoutrement, ridiculous as the name was – after all, it looked like no 'phone' he'd ever seen, and he liked to think he was pretty conversant with mortals and their toys after more than a millennia watching them.
No matter that the other Fae of his realm thought his hobby an oddity at best (or a sick obsession at worst) - it had brought Sarah into his life, and if he could just remain close to her, then just maybe he could win her back. Plus, it had seemed to bring her such joy; perhaps it would work for him.
But what of the device? Well, it seemed he would have to find a more private spot to enjoy the tape player. He could only imagine the looks he'd get, dancing to the music as Sarah had. That meant taking it back to the Labyrinth and his castle. But from past experience he knew electronics and the magics that ruled his Kingdom didn't play nicely; plus there was nowhere to 'plug it in'!
On closer examination he saw a compartment, and behind it, what he assumed were the 'batteries' he'd seen displayed in storefronts in Sarah's hometown. Problem solved! Other self-sustaining devices he'd brought home before seemed to fare well, until whatever voodoo, magic, electricity or whatever sustaining force left their batteries.
Well, it was worth a shot, he mused; and summoning a crystal ball, disappeared in a shower of glitter.