Um. . . I think I'll let the story talk. Two themes: Rudie Can't Fail by The Clash for the first half, then If Looks Could Kill by Heart. Have fun!
Ladymage Samiko ;)
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To the Victor Go the Spoils
Part 15 ~ Fae Don't Make Good Pets
The morning passed more or less as Sarah had planned. Her friendly companion was nearly bored to tears listening to the teachers, since, as he told her, he had learned all of this stuff a long time ago. He wouldn't say exactly how long. And there wasn't anything he could do, because Sarah had ordered him to behave himself. So he draped himself along the tiny school chairs, oddly managing to look comfortable at the same time, and, as far as Sarah could tell, simply blanked out.
The highlight of the morning had been the class right before lunch: math. Since Jareth was a visitor, each teacher had asked him to stand up and introduce himself, etc. Sarah told him to do it. For three classes running, he gave the same story he had told the Williams: he was a foreigner, staying with a friend, family owned a large estate, blah, blah, blah. In math, he had apparently gotten bored with the process. And Sarah hadn't said that he couldn't change the story.
"Good morning, my name is Jareth," he told the half-asleep students. "I used to be a Goblin King and I lived in this place called the Underground. However, one day I made the mistake of granting Sarah's wish. She visited my home and defeated me, so now she is the Goblin Queen and I am her humble servant, which is why I'm standing here being bored out of my mind, because otherwise I would simply turn all of you into goblins and go home to a nice goblet of spiced wine. Anyway, it is a pleasure to meet you all." With an elaborate bow, he stalked back to his seat next to Sarah, ignoring the smiles and laughter.
Sarah was about to tell him off when her math teacher hissed in her ear, "Miss Williams, be so kind as to remind your guest that this is math, not drama. He seems to have your flair, but this is not the appropriate place." He continued up the row and began the day's lesson. Sarah, meanwhile, was getting a kick out of everyone's reaction and the sulking king beside her.
At lunch, Sarah showed Jareth around the cafeteria, picking out food for both of them. She wasn't mean enough to experiment on him with the "food" they served, so she showed him what things were safe to eat. Or should be, anyway. Did Fae have food allergies?
"Let's see... Over there's the cheerleader/jock area. Would you like to meet our football team?" Sarah asked innocently. "You seemed to be very popular with the blondes."
He gave her a thin-lipped smile. "Oddly enough, I don't feel like persuing the acquaintance. Would you like to spend some more time getting to know the Fireys?"
"Not a chance in Hell, Jareth," Sarah grinned.
"On the contrary," he replied. "There are quite a few chances in Hell."
"For what, self-immolation?"
"Among other things," he purred next to her ear. Sarah gave him a look. She didn't know much, but that sounded rather like a proposition!
"Uh, anyway, this is where we sit." She pointed to a small table that already held three people.
"We?" he questioned.
"You didn't think I spent all my time by myself, did you? I just don't invite anyone home."
"Ah." He left it at that, making Sarah wonder what was going on in that twisty brain of his. How much had he watched her, anyway? She gave a mental shrug--he was too complicated to really waste much time trying to figure him out. Walking over to the table she waved to everyone.
"Hi, guys!"
A chorus of voices answered her. Matt was already there. He could have been the exemplar of the WASPs, except that his gold hair grew past his shoulders and large glasses obscured his ice blue eyes. Next to him was Lily, a tiny girl with true black skin and wide, dark eyes that always gave her a look of surprise. Across from them was Alan, a brunet who was just as tall and leggy as Jareth was, but with the usual awkwardness. His green eyes studied the stranger dubiously.
Sarah introduced them all as she and Jareth slid in next to Alan. "So, Sarah, what's the story?" Matt asked her.
"Yeah," Lily piped up. "Matt told us about this morning. What'd he do?"
"Jareth?" Sarah asked. "Mind if I tell them?"
His eyebrows raised in surprise. "Does it matter if I do?" he asked. "You're the boss."
"You know it does," Sarah replied, somewhat annoyed.
"Then by all means."
Sarah filled her friends in on the entire Labyrinth adventure, finishing with Jareth telling her she had become his overlord.
"Ooh, nice going, Sarah!" Lily cheered. "Being his overlord's something I wouldn't mind doing. Can I borrow him sometime?"
Sarah nearly choked on her french fry. "What?" she spluttered.
"Come on, girl! You can't be telling me you haven't noticed what a hot hunk of man you've gotten!"
"Uh..." Sarah blushed. "I--uh..."
"Yes, Sarah?" Jareth placed his chin in his hand. "Do tell. Am I a 'hot hunk of man?'"
"Oh!" Lily's eyes grew rounder, matching her mouth. "I'm awfully sorry if I offended you, Jareth!"
"No offense taken," he assured her. "But I would like to hear Sarah's opinion on the subject."
Sarah glared at her friend, becoming redder every second.
"Hey, minna!" came a voice.
"Saved by the bell," Alan muttered before a figure came into view.
She was short, but built more solidly than the slight girls that populated the school, which gave her more of a presence. She personified the old saying,"as dark as a Spaniard," with olive skin and hair as dark as Sarah's own. Grinning, she plunked her tray down on the table and took the last seat next to Matt.
"A newcomer. Welcome, traveler. I'm Cecilia," she said.
"Cecilia's our local witch," Alan commented.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" Cecilia asked, irritated. "I'm a sorceress, not a witch. You don't see me fiddling with herbs and rituals now, do you?"
"How do we know you don't have a secret store somewhere?"
"Because you've seen my house. There isn't room to hide a dust bunny, let alone a workshop."
"Okay, pax! Pax!" cried Lily. She turned to Jareth. "They'll keep this up for the entire period if nobody stops them. Celi, this is Sarah's new vassal, Jareth."
"Vassal? Que haces, Sarah? What have you been up to?" She extended her hand to the man. "Mucho gusto."
"Stop showing off, Celi. Always the Spanish." Alan complained.
"What do you expect? Swahili?" She faced Jareth again, who noticed that her eyes were a friendly coffee brown. "My mother's side is Mexican; it tends to pop up now and again. I'll try again: Nice to meet you." Jareth took her hand this time, surprised when she jerked it out of his grip.
"Madre dos santos," she whispered, eyes wide. With surprise, Jareth saw they had turned emerald green. "Who are you?"
"What's wrong, Celi?" Matt asked, concerned. The girl seemed to shake herself and regain her composure, but her eyes remained green.
"Sorry to freak like that, but your magical power is frighteningly strong, stronger than any human's should be. Now that I look, Sarah, your powers are even stronger now. Has he increased your powers somehow?"
"What?" Sarah was dumbfounded. Though they teased Celi about being a witch, none of them really believed she had power. To see her react like this was--unnerving. "Cecilia, you can see magic?"
"Of course. I know you guys don't take me seriously, but I do have magic. You do, too, Sarah. Now more than ever."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you've had magic ever since I met you. But you don't use it, so I couldn't really tell how strong you are. Of course, some days I think you have and it shows up better. So either you've done some serious casting recently or our friend here has been giving you power. So which is it?"
"I really did have magic," Sarah whispered.
"I told you," Jareth said smugly.
"Hey," Cecilia cut in, annoyed. "My original question still stands, gringo."
"I am Fae," Jareth replied haughtily. The others filled the girl in while Sarah tried to come to grips with her magic once again.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded suddenly. "Celi, why didn't you tell me?"
"Because," the other girl answered calmly, "either you knew or you didn't. I don't know how to work Earth magic; I can draw some power from the Earth, but I work mostly with my own power like Jareth here. I wouldn't have been able to help and I don't know anyone who could teach you. True Earth magic is rare. Telling you would have served no purpose." She sighed. "A lot of times it's easier not knowing.
"Anyway--" She was cut off by someone lumbering up to the table.
"So, witch, who's this? Another fairy for your little group?" A tall brunet sneered at them. Cecilia's face became disdainful, but Jareth noticed the flash of green in her now brown eyes. The others wore angry or grim expressions. Alan tensed next to him. Jareth himself was puzzled.
"Is this lout unusually perceptive, or am I missing something?" he asked Sarah in a low voice.
"Fairy is another word for homosexual," she hissed back. It didn't explain much.
"Why does he want to know?" he asked innocently. "Is he interested? I have to admit, men don't interest me and he's not a particularly prepossessing specimen."
Lily heard him and started giggling. The corners of Cecilia's mouth twitched. Matt grinned. Sarah covered her face with her hand, her shoulders shaking. Alan answered quietly, "Grant is implying that you are not a 'real' man."
"Really?" Jareth was extremely amused. "How quaint."
Suddenly, Grant was beside him, his face twisted. "Is there something you wanted to say to me, fag?" he asked Alan, who merely looked at him. "And you shut up, you black bitch. No one laughs at me."
Jareth could tell from the way Sarah was shaking that she was angry and that this boy had gone beyond the pale. Before Grant could blink, Jareth was out of his chair, his hand wrapped around the boy's neck, lifting him off the floor.
"That was not very intelligent, Grant. Where I come from, we maintain a proper respect for ladies."
"That ain't a lady," Grant wheezed. "That," he pointed to Cecilia, "ain't one either."
Jareth lifted him higher. "Then you must be blind, boy. I see three ladies sitting at that table that you owe an apology to, and I'm afraid I must insist upon it." He smiled calmly. Grant watched him, horrified.
"I--I apologize," he choked out.
"That is much better," Jareth continued, sounding for all the world like he was carrying on a conversation at a garden party. "In the future, you will maintain a level of linguistic acceptablity. Do you understand?" The boy shook his head, no longer able to speak.
"Watch your language," the man snapped. "Is that clear enough?" Grant nodded and, satisfied, Jareth dropped him to the floor. "It is always so distressing to deal with morons," he commented, resuming his seat at the table. "Now what were we discussing?"
The discussion was interrupted again by the bell ringing. The crowd immediately ran and the six stood to return their trays. Grant hauled himself up from the floor, gasping. "I'll get you for this, you bastard," he panted. "I'll get all of you."
"Some people never know when to quit, even less than you, Sarah," Jareth commented. "May I?"
He hadn't had any fun for a while, Sarah thought. So why not? "Knock yourself out," she told him.
Two seconds later, Grant found himself in an oubliette set underneath the Bog of Eternal Stench. He rapidly discovered the walls weren't watertight.
