Sarah looked to the clock in curiosity as it chimed. She rarely saw Jareth anymore, not that it mattered but she was finding herself rather lonely. Contrary to what one would think Hoggle was a busy dwarf and Ludo was presently in some sort of hibernation and Didymus was off on some familial quest.
She rarely saw him with the exception of meals, and while being alone would normally not bother her, being completely alone was, well lonely. She enjoyed privacy but being alienated from civilization was not something she enjoyed. The fact that she hadn't ate since breakfast the day before was something else to think about. She was hungry, and there was no way she could eat unless Jareth was eating with her.
Finding the kitchens she soon began making a meal for two. It would serve as brunch and she would get him to eat it one way or the other. Fried potatoes, scrambled eggs and bacon, by far not the most elaborate thing she had cooked. But she liked it. After making some orange juice she found a platter and loaded it down with her food and pitcher. Keeping her balance she made way for his office, she still remembered the first time he had brought her there. It had been the first time he kissed her, the first time someone had ever used force on her like that.
Finding the door she opened it without knocking. Not looking at him as she barged in she placed the platter over his paperwork. "You need to eat; now I am hungry, and we haven't had any food since yesterday at breakfast. And since I'm not on a hunger strike, we are going to eat."
"Sarah I have work-."
"That will still be there when you're done. Now I cooked this and if I have to feed you like a baby I will, you look worse than me." It was true, his face was pinched and she knew he wasn't getting enough sleep. She was refusing to acknowledge that the emotion she was having for him was worry, because if she was worrying over him, that would mean she cared. It was too complicated to figure out why she worried about him, he still frightened her from time to time, why would she care about him she didn't even like him? No, she had long ago decided that examining emotions was too complicated and was best left to the quacks that called themselves professionals. She just let her emotions come and go, her passions were her outlet and she was afraid something would happen if she tried to examine them too closely, or at all.
"You cooked this?" She smiled at his surprised face. Taking that as a yes she put food on a plate and handed it to him, giving him a cup of orange juice she nearly laughed at his confused face. Sipping a glass of her own she spoke.
"Its not poisoned I promise, now eat."
She had never done anything like this. Sure she had barged in on him at various times, most recently on the gradual disappearance of her previous wardrobe, but never had she come to bring him something. Sure she could have been doing this for herself, but the flash of concern in her eyes and tone made him think otherwise. Sarah, like him, did what she did for a reason; though their source of reasons may be different they still matched that way. She had loaded a fork with the potatoes and was watching him. She couldn't take a bite until he did; he was beginning to rethink that ultimatum. Tasting her creation he found he rather enjoyed it, the drink she had given him tasted of oranges, and she was inhaling her meal at a speed that would rival his goblins.
"Not going for the hunger strike I see."
"This is different from them. One I didn't have my anger to block my hunger, and I haven't worked out this much since I took lessons."
"Lesson?"
"Dance, Mick got me into it when we were just kids. I can't say that I've ever regretted it." He watched her smile at memories he knew nothing of. He remembered the dream of her performing as a child, she had loved the stage, a place where she could pretend and anything could happen.
"And your ability to draw?" She chewed her food and looked to him as she swallowed.
"I can't really explain that, I just can. Its never been something I had to work at, I think that's why I love ballet. It's not as easy as it looks, and toe shoes bring it to a whole new level." He narrowed his eyes at the mention of those.
"They hurt you to wear them. Why do you persist on damaging your feet?" She lifted one foot to examine it, he noted the blisters and worn skin.
"Hazard of the job, but I love dancing Goblin King." He watched her eyes close as she tried to explain to him something she held dear. He wasn't going to stop her; this had to be the first time she had ever opened up to him of her free will. "I'm…free. Nothing hurts anymore. It's a challenge and so easy at the same time." He understood, dancing to her was like magic to him. It was something he could do that was both challenging and rewarding at the same time. But he didn't hurt himself by merely keeping his skills to par.
"I dislike, it hurts you." She looked to him sharply with a flicker of fear in her eyes.
"Don't make me stop, Jareth you took me away from everything. I know Karen wished me away but I!" She stood and started pacing looking to him with stress. "Dance got me through my mother leaving and it's been an escape from Karen. You can't make me stop it you can't!"
She was terrified. Terrified that he would take something away from her, horrified that he had the power to stop her from doing something she loved. Moving to his feet he took her trembling form into his arms, the thought had crossed his mind but with her reaction he couldn't bring himself to order it. Dancing relaxed her, as his toying with the Labyrinth did him. It was one of the few familiar comforts she still had, he couldn't take that from her, not for the reason he had.
It also did not escape him that she had used his name. She only ever used it when her temper rose to its highest or she was emotional about something. Proving to him that she was desperate to keep her hobby. "Sarah." Gently he brushed aside some of her hair from her face. "I will not forbid you from your craft." She stopped trying to tear out of his hold at his words. But her eyes still held the unique fear and he hands he only now noticed, were trembling.
"Promise?" In that moment he felt joy, she trusted his word. Of course she knew he toyed with his words, but he knew she could play that game. She had played with his orders before. Taking them literally instead of how he had intended them to be taken.
"As long as you do not damage yourself." She raised a brow at that.
"Your opinion of damage, and mine vary on this subject. To you the little scrapes and crunched toes is it. To me its pulling a tendon or something else." He could see that there would be no changing her mind on this, somehow he knew he would devastate her if he forbade her from using the shoes.
"I will think it over my little mortal." Releasing her he allowed her to step back, without a word she left. Forgetting the delicious meal she had brought to share with him. When she changed that night she found her worn toe-shoes looking brand new.
Well, that took me a while. Don't quite know where it all came from but I have some stuff planned some of it funny and some of it not. But I promise this, there shouldn't be too many more big fights (Meaning I don't have any planned but don't hold your breath.) Anywho tell me what y'all think.
~BUM~