A lone male figure walked the dale following the path of a shallow stream. His presence seemed to call nature to him: birds flew near; rabbits crouched in the grass undisturbed as he passed. Sun light clung to him, radiating a soft glow.
He felt the air shiver.
The vibrations made him halt his steps. Curiously his eyes seemed to examine the atmosphere, the air that surrounded him. The shiver passed through again. He inhaled. He smelt the fresh grass, the pure water, the rich earth. There it was. He noted the distinct scent from one of his kindred. Gathering his robs about him he disappeared from the dale.
He moved through space following the scent. When he became visible again he found himself in a drooping cherry tree orchard. It was a part of the Goblin Realm. The soft petals of deep pink rained around him. The vibrations seemed to come from an epicenter among the trees. He searched the orchard. Not a soul was about. Coming to a soft cool patch of earth the scents grew strong: cherry, fae, and… human. What happened here? He thought to himself scanning the spot. What foolishness is this? Once more he disappeared this time to seek out the Goblin King's castle.
Meep, shoulder deep in a makeup bag, felt a presence arrive at the castle. Without being summoned she went to find her king.
Sarah had him in a place called a mall, more specifically a department store. She was picking up Penelope's birthday present for the party that night. While she paid for the new outfit he found himself completely distracted by the nonchalant way in which women's under garments were on display. A whole section of the store, unshielded, uncensored was set up. Part of him wondered at the complete lack of discretion while another mentally noted all of the garments that Sarah would be a vision in. Having spotted an emerald green nightie he wandered away from the cashier's counter. The nightie felt like silk.
He was admiring it when he felt the air shiver. Someone had arrived at his castle, his home.
Sarah having paid for the outfit for her friend found him standing some what rigid with an emerald green nightie pinched between his fingers. She smirked. "Must be quite the day dream," she teased approaching him. "It is lovely."
"Yes." He sounded very far away. His tone carried something like apprehension.
She touched his arm. "Jareth, what is it? Has there been a summoning?"
He blinked. "No. No nothing like that." Smiling his eyes focused on her. "It's probably nothing, don't worry."
"Alright."
"Come on- we have a party to get ready for." They left the mall.
Marco's was the most accommodating dance club/restaurant. On one side it provided tables and a complete kitchen for food and drink. The other offered a live DJ to move you across a spacious dance floor. A bar separated the two rooms.
Mrs. Valdez had a table reserved to hold gifts and personal belongings. She now sat at the table pensively waiting for the few close friends to arrive before her daughter. Aside from Sarah and her shadow Senor King there was two other girls Marley Skywalker and Jane Anderson who both had known the Valdez family for years and had taken their first communions with Penelope; then there was Adon Lotus a young man in his mid-twenties who interned at a law firm and whose father had been a close personal friend of the late Senor Valdez. Waiting Senora Valdez played with the two milagros she intended to give to Sarah tonight.
She watched them walk into the club. Sarah moved with a light step unaware of the dynamic force moving beside her. The man looked as if at a moments notice he could lapse into genuine laughter or self-ignite into a burning blaze with ease. She shifted uneasily in her seat feeling her skin itch. Seeking comfort she held onto the silver cross around her neck. "Mi querida!" She stood and hugged her. "Senor King." Politely she offered her hand. The man inclined his upper body towards her, briefly squeezing her fingers. He smiled at her, warm and genuine. She felt her heart beat faster. With a sense of relief she was glad to find Marley and Jane arriving.
Jareth put an arm about Sarah's waist, his hand resting on her hip. He heard the loud music in the next room over; the chatter of friends greeting each other. He could see other couples in the room or singles on the prowl. But he could also see and hear Senora Valdez's body. She was a beauty- exotic and lush. When she looked at him he got the strange sensation that she was gazing right through him. When she touched him he saw her reactions to his inherit powers. No amount of glamour or pixie dust could fool this woman. He wondered about her. Sarah nudged him gently. She turned her face towards his ear whispering something about looking distracted. "Sorry," he murmured back apologetically.
He wondered how well Senora Valdez would react if he asked her to dance later in the evening.
Penelope was flabbergasted to say the least. Joseph had picked her up, convinced her that they were flying solo, only to have quite the shock to see her closest friends greeting her. In a rush Sarah, Marley, Jane, and Mrs. V were on her dragging her to the dance floor. The DJ was spinning U2's "Desire." The two men watched from the edge of the floor fascinated with the moving bodies. "We've got a birthday party here tonight," announced the DJ over the music. "Give it up for Penelope and her entourage! She's twenty-one today folks! Fully legal! Here she comes now sayin' Mony Mony!" Billy Idol's voice began to fill the room with his tune "Mony Mony." Penelope raised her hands, meeting with Sarah's, and the two shouted with approval.
Jareth leaned back on a bar stool. He saw Sarah's aura glowing bright- alive with energy and femininity. She looked amazing. She had chosen tight, dark jeans that hugged her legs and hips. Her shirt shifted as she swayed giving peeps of her stomach. He watched as Senora Valdez joined her daughter and her, all three women moving with out a care to the beat. The older woman's aura took on a similar color to Sarah's. He watched fascinated. "Simply gorgeous isn't she?" Joseph asked.
He had nearly forgotten about the man. "Yes." Though he hardly knew which woman he was referring to.
"There'll be no getting her off the dance floor now that she's out there. I best go mingle if I want a chance." He watched as Joseph approached Penelope, awkwardly moving about. He snickered. The young woman didn't seem to mind though and moved away from her mother and friend to dance with him.
Across the room a man leaned against the wall. He was tall, well dressed, with a subtle smirk on his lips. Many a woman would have gladly danced with him. His stance though clearly indicated he was not interested in being approached. From where he stood he could see the group of women who danced together joyously celebrating their friend. He saw the young man gain the attention of one of them; his aura glowing with sexuality and earnestness. He could also very well see the young man who had remained at the bar. Across the room he gained the young man's attention and nodded towards him.
Jareth nodded in recognition.