The girl at the cash smiled as they entered. "Hey! Didn't expect to see you back so soon."
She shrugged, "Yeah Tia, me neither, but thanks to my cat last night's supper ended up on the floor, so..."
Nodding towards Jareth Tia asked. "Two General Thai medium spicy?"
"Yes, please." Sarah began to dig in her purse.
Tia rang in her order but before Sarah could find her wallet Jareth intercepted, "Allow me, I did invite you after all."
He pulled a billfold out of his pocket and paid for their take-out, leaving a generous tip. Tia regarded Jareth approvingly and gave Sarah a meaningful look as she handed her the boxes. "Enjoy your evening."
Sarah blushed and mumbled "Um, thanks." as she accepted the boxes with one hand and took Jareth's extended hand with the other. As they walked to her car Sarah's curiosity got the better of her. "If you don't mind my asking, how did you get Aboveground currency?... It's not an illusion is it?"
He sighed. "Sarah, I understand that you have spent the better part of nine years believing me to be a villain. But... as your suitor, I would hardly be winning your favor if I were to cause you problems in your favorite restaurant. As to your first question, in every realm there are always establishments where one can exchange items of value for coin. This one was called Pawn Shop."
"Sorry, I shouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions." Sarah mused over his words and kept walking. Arriving at her car, Sarah unlocked the doors and noticed that the King of the Goblins was regarding her old blue sedan dubiously.
"This is your method of transportation?" He was eyeing the rust on the edge of her fender with distaste.
She frowned at him. "Considering the state of your throneroom, you have no right to judge. At least my car is clean! And I don't have the luxury of poufing around like you do"
"Have you already forgotten that you transported yourself in and out of the Labyrinth when you thought you were dreaming of the tunnels, and you transported yourself into my throneroom this morning." His smirk was smug.
She had forgotten about that. "I guess that all that hasn't really sunk in yet. I don't even understand how that was possible. So... until I have a better grasp on that, I prefer to drive at the moment, thanks."
"As you wish" he said, getting in the passenger seat.
Sarah got in the driver's seat and buckled the seat belt. As Sarah turned the ignition and the old car rattled to life, she glanced over and noted Jareth tense.
She smiled at his nervousness. "Have you never ridden in a car before?
He jumped slightly when another car honked nearby. "Motor vehicles are a relatively new invention. And as you have mentioned, I have other methods of transportation"
"Okay.. well...unless you're going to pouf yourself to my apartment, put your seat belt on." That earned her a glare but he obeyed and then he sat rigidly holding the door handle. As she pulled out of the parking spot, Jareth cringed at the loud rumbling noise coming from the back of the car.
Sarah gave an apologetic shrug. "Yeah, sorry about that, I need to change the muffler."
He looked at her incredulously. "Parts of your 'car' need replacing and you are still driving it?"
She let out a tired sigh. "Yes, I'm on a budget, it doesn't affect the safety and as long as I don't get pulled over I can wait and save my money to repair it."
Jareth didn't seem convinced as the muffler continued it's racket.
As Sarah drove, she thought of how he had said motor vehicles were recent. "So, is it a royal faux pas to ask how old you are?"
A small smirk played at Jareth's lips. "Would you like to guess?"
She tilted her head a little as the thought about that. "Well... you look like you're in your early thirties, you are a fairytale king and your regular look is a mix between renfaire and 80's rockstar, so I really don't know."
He raised an eyebrow. "If you are referring to my gravity defying hairstyle and glittery eye-makup, that was your doing."
Sarah almost veered into the other lane. "Are you serious!"
He smiled at her surprise. "Certainly. The style of one of the objects in your room, along with your love of big haired rock bands, contributed to my appearance when you first called on me."
Her eyebrows scrunched together. "But, how? You're the king, how could I have affected you?"
He paused, thoughtful, "Perhaps because I wanted to make a good impression."
She smirked. "So... how did you look before?"
His lips slid into a conspiratory grin. "I'll show you latter."
Sarah slowed and parked in front of the handsome aging brick building she called home. A small smile teased Jareth's lips, "I can see why you chose this place." The charming arched facade was surrounded with several tall trees giving it an air of sanctuary, contrasting its more gaudy neighbors.
With the take-out in one hand, Jareth offered the other to Sarah and they walked together. Sarah picked up her mail and unlocked the outer door. They went up the narrow staircase up to the third floor. In front of her door Sarah suddenly felt very self-conscious, she was inviting an otherworldly king into her little ordinary apartment. She let them in, still holding his hand. "It's not much, but it's home."
Jareth looked around, taking in the well-worn furniture, well loved books cramming the bookcase, art nouveau print on the wall. "Charming, it suits you."
"Meow?" Tiger had gotten down from his perch on the couch and was rubbing contentedly against Jareth's leg.
"Sorry." Sarah shooed him away. "Come on Tiger, stop getting your fur all over our guest."
He smirked. "Your minion is certainly more agreeable to look at than mine."
She raised her eyebrows at him. "I wouldn't call a cat a minion. More like pampered sultan." She hurried to go fill the food bowl. Tiger saw where she was headed and promptly abandoned Jareth.
He glanced out the window. "It is a beautiful evening, is there a place where we can enjoy our meal out of doors?"
Sarah was just washing her hands. "Well, my balcony is practically non existent, but there are two chairs."
Smiling, he led the way. "Then, shall we?"
The balcony was indeed tiny, barely big enough for the two spindly chairs Sarah had put there. There was no room for a table, but Sarah had gotten a plank and brackets and had installed a little ledge just big enough to place a couple of glasses.
"I'll go get some glasses, what would you prefer, water or soda?" She was just about to head back inside when he lightly held out his arm to block her path. He formed a crystal.
She eyed it warily. "What is that?"
"A little something I've been saving." He set the crystal on the ledge, it burst and in its place an iridescent glass bottle appeared, along with two wine glasses. Sarah handed Jareth a box and a set of chopsticks and he poured their drinks.
Sarah held her glass up, inspecting its contents. She brought it up to her nose and then shot a sharp glare at Jareth. "Peach wine!"
He attempted an innocent expression, failing miserably. "Is there a problem?"
She put the glass back down. "Only that the last time I ingested something peach flavored from you I ended up in an enchanted ballroom dream."
Tilting his head he asked her. "Was it really so terrible?"
Sarah sighed, remembering. "It was beautiful, wonderful...and terrifying!"
He frowned at that. "Terrifying? How so?"
She fidgeted. "I was only 15 Jareth! In an unfamiliar place, lost in a crowd of masked strangers in grotesque masks leering at me!"
He played with the rim of his glass. "I did tell you that I did not supply the particulars of your dream, you did." He leaned closer, eyes fixed on hers. "I was simply a King, pulled into a beautiful dream to dance with the object of my desire only to have it shatter."
Sarah considered his words a moment but countered, waving her finger at him. "Not before playing your twisted game of peekaboo."
"Ah...but can you blame me for enjoying the chase?" The look he was giving her was making her stomach flip flop again.
She changed the subject. "We'd better eat before it gets cold." She broke apart her chopsticks and began to dig in. She tried to discretely watch how Jareth was doing with his chopsticks.
He observed how Sarah used them and tried to copy her, his first attempt resulting in dropping a small amount on the floor. Sarah muffled a snicker, he sent her a glare and tried again. He was a quick study and was soon as dexterous as if he had used them all his life. He soon polished off his meal, and dropped the chopsticks into the empty box. "This is very good. I shall have to try the very spicy." He put the box on the ledge, a finger lightly resting on the end of the protruding chopsticks. "You know my dear, I would almost suspect that you chose this meal hoping to see me fumble."
Sarah couldn't hide her guilty expression. "I'm sorry, I guess I thought that it would be funny to see you not look perfectly elegant for once." She formed a small smirk. "I should have remembered that you contact juggle."
"Not very charitable of you." He took a sip from his glass.
She nodded. "You're right, I'm sorry."
His eyes took on a predatory glint. "Perhaps a kiss to make amends?"
She smirked. "Blackmail is not very charitable either."
"Details." He whispered, pulling her to him.
He tasted of peach wine and she felt herself falling...
...
Authors note
Thank you to Guest 2019, Melisa-Sama, mae-E and Guest for the encouraging reviews.