Disclaimer: The characters of Jarlaxle, Entreri, the Underdark, Faerûn,
the drow, and other aspects of Forgotten Realms are the creations of R.A.
Salvatore. I seek not to steal from his creation but only to humbly
expand. The character of Jarian however is my creation.
Faerie fire flickered as Jarlaxle walked down the corridor. His boots made no sound on the stone floor, a technique he enjoyed immensely. It allowed him an air of secrecy and part of him took pleasure in surprising those who did not expect him.
He was on his way to Entreri and hoped that he would see some measure of surprise on the assassin's stoic face. Jarian seemed close to gauging an actual reaction, but Jarlaxle was positive this most recent news would have Entreri in shock.
Approaching the washroom he took out a fragment of bone from his pocket. It was flat, smoothed into a circle, and barely fit into the center of his palm. Its pale ebony surface developed a sheen as Jarlaxle mumbled a spell. A serrated rectangle protruded from the circle and Jarlaxle approached the lock. It was good to be the leader. . .and it was good to have a skeleton key.
Entreri looked to the door as it swung open. His hand automatically went to his sabre and he held it at the ready. Thanking the gods that he was dressed, he readied himself for whatever would come through that door.
Jarlaxle coughed back a laugh when he saw Entreri. "A little jumpy today aren't we Entreri?"
"I'm not jumpy, I'm prepared," Entreri said as he lowered his sabre.
"Do you always play with your sword when you're in the washroom? Jarian would be so excited. . ."
Entreri gave Jarlaxle a death glare. "That is not funny."
Jarlaxle chuckled, as he placed his master key back into his pocket. "He's taken quite the liking to you."
"Please, don't even remind me." Entreri was reluctant to sheathe his sword, but did so anyway. Pausing for a moment he looked to Jarlaxle suspiciously, "what do you want?"
"What makes you think I want anything?"
"I've been in your hideout long enough to know that when you make an entrance into a washroom, which is already occupied, that something is on your mind." Folding his arms, "You've also been smirking and twirling the feather on your hat since you've entered the room."
Jarlaxle stopped twirling the feather about his finger. "You are quite perceptive my dear assassin."
"What do you want?"
"Well, since you insist . . .I just had the most interesting conversation with Jarian," Jarlaxle said. He could have sworn he saw Entreri twitch slightly. Continuing, "and I've made an arrangement with him."
"An arrangement?" Entreri did not like the sound of this.
"Yes, I told him that you would wear an outfit that he made for you."
Entreri stared at him. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Or has the bath oil gone to your ears?"
"You didn't consult with me about this. I'm not wearing what he makes for me. The outfits that I have suit me perfectly." He hid the horror he was feeling in his mind. His eyes looked at the brightly colored outfit that Jarlaxle was wearing and nearly crawled back into his head.
Jarlaxle looked to Entreri's dark attire, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "You will wear the outfit he makes for you."
"I refuse and there is nothing you can say otherwise that will make me change my mind," Entreri said with a hint of stubbornness in his voice.
"Oh really? Then I suppose you wouldn't mind Jarian following you everywhere, watching your every move, and maybe even slipping into your bed at night?"
Entreri froze. "You wouldn't. . ."
Jarlaxle grinned.
Entreri muttered, "You would."
"Now now, there's nothing to worry about. You do this little task and I'll make sure that you have a measure of privacy."
Taking a long moment to think and realizing that there was no way he could get out of the situation, Entreri sighed and said, "Fine. But you owe me for this Jarlaxle."
"I'll send some bed slaves over right away."
"That's not what I meant," Entreri said in an annoyed tone. "And I better not end up alone with him."
"Of course not." Jarlaxle pat him on the back. "I'm going to go tell Jarian the good news. He's been trying to listen in on our conversation. I wager the barrier of silence around us did the trick nicely."
Entreri watched him leave and sat down heavily in a chair. Taking a flask from his belt he drained its contents. He would need a lot of alcohol to get through the next few hours.
Closing the washroom door behind him, Jarlaxle turned to his right. He chuckled and muttered a trigger word for a spell.
Jarian's form appeared and it seemed as if he was hunched near a magical door, trying to listen in through a keyhole. Realizing his disguise was foiled, he yelped slightly and fell through the door, before Jarlaxle. "Why, greetings my most esteemed leader."
"Greetings," Jarlaxle said. He helped Jarian to his feet. "Did I interrupt something?"
"Of course not," Jarian said. "I was just redecorating my tailoring room and decided to test out a spell." He fidgeted a little and looked to Jarlaxle. "Well? What did he say?"
Jarlaxle smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Jarian huffed and latched onto Jarlaxle's arm. "Please tell me, I'm dying to know. Bed slaves can only sate my excitement for so long. . .stop teasing me."
"He said he would wear an outfit that you made for him," Jarlaxle finally said after regaining his composure.
"Oh splendid!" Jarian hugged Jarlaxle's arm mumbling 'thank you' in a variety of Underdark languages. "I shall retrieve my measuring utensils straight away."
Jarlaxle watched him run off and shook his head in amusement. "Another interesting day for Bregan D'aerthe."
Author's Note:
::Entreri hiccups in a corner and the authoress takes the flask away from him::
Another day another chapter, and in the next one we'll see what kind of outfit Jarian comes up with for Entreri, of course. . .that means he has to be measured. . .
::Entreri tries to get the flask back::
Thanks go out to all the reviewers:
Nightmaiden02: I think every chapter will have to be "poor poor Entreri". She's the one who coined the phrase, lol.
Euphorbic: Thank you ever so kindly for the lovely pictures. . .they gave much inspiration. ::winks::
SilverWolf7: We'll just have to see how far Jarian can get with Jarlaxle's watchful eyes, lol. As for Jarlaxle's thoughts, I think he just enjoys having fun with Entreri (provided Jarian doesn't get too obsessive with him).
Becky: Of course I'm insane. True crazy people think other people are crazy, therefore if I admit I'm crazy I'm on another level entirely. ::laughs evilly::
Elm and some reader: ::grins::
Sylvan: Entreri's expression was so vivid in my mind, if I was a better artist I'd try to draw it, lol.
Ari Linsar: Glad you enjoy it, I look forward to reviews. ::wink wink nudge nudge. . .violent shove::
Em Starcatcher: Glad I could be of service in the laughter department and I love the phrase "deliciously flamboyant."
Tiggermyk: You rock! I love your reaction (what I was going for).
ChichiX: "Jarian is a fangirl reincarnated into a male drow's body." I can't agree with you more, that's the perfect analogy. That got me giggling.
Ace: Thanks for your comment. I love Jarian (erm. . .just not in that way, lol). As for your suggestion it is interesting. I'll have to put some thought into it, if I do decide to do it you'll be the first to know. ::wink::
Gaelfling: Why thank you kindly for your nice review.
Spider: Thanks for actually reading the story. Glad you like. ::grins::
Thanks once again and as always. Please review! ::Jarian pokes around the review button looking for Entreri, while Entreri casually conceals himself behind Jarlaxle::
Faerie fire flickered as Jarlaxle walked down the corridor. His boots made no sound on the stone floor, a technique he enjoyed immensely. It allowed him an air of secrecy and part of him took pleasure in surprising those who did not expect him.
He was on his way to Entreri and hoped that he would see some measure of surprise on the assassin's stoic face. Jarian seemed close to gauging an actual reaction, but Jarlaxle was positive this most recent news would have Entreri in shock.
Approaching the washroom he took out a fragment of bone from his pocket. It was flat, smoothed into a circle, and barely fit into the center of his palm. Its pale ebony surface developed a sheen as Jarlaxle mumbled a spell. A serrated rectangle protruded from the circle and Jarlaxle approached the lock. It was good to be the leader. . .and it was good to have a skeleton key.
Entreri looked to the door as it swung open. His hand automatically went to his sabre and he held it at the ready. Thanking the gods that he was dressed, he readied himself for whatever would come through that door.
Jarlaxle coughed back a laugh when he saw Entreri. "A little jumpy today aren't we Entreri?"
"I'm not jumpy, I'm prepared," Entreri said as he lowered his sabre.
"Do you always play with your sword when you're in the washroom? Jarian would be so excited. . ."
Entreri gave Jarlaxle a death glare. "That is not funny."
Jarlaxle chuckled, as he placed his master key back into his pocket. "He's taken quite the liking to you."
"Please, don't even remind me." Entreri was reluctant to sheathe his sword, but did so anyway. Pausing for a moment he looked to Jarlaxle suspiciously, "what do you want?"
"What makes you think I want anything?"
"I've been in your hideout long enough to know that when you make an entrance into a washroom, which is already occupied, that something is on your mind." Folding his arms, "You've also been smirking and twirling the feather on your hat since you've entered the room."
Jarlaxle stopped twirling the feather about his finger. "You are quite perceptive my dear assassin."
"What do you want?"
"Well, since you insist . . .I just had the most interesting conversation with Jarian," Jarlaxle said. He could have sworn he saw Entreri twitch slightly. Continuing, "and I've made an arrangement with him."
"An arrangement?" Entreri did not like the sound of this.
"Yes, I told him that you would wear an outfit that he made for you."
Entreri stared at him. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Or has the bath oil gone to your ears?"
"You didn't consult with me about this. I'm not wearing what he makes for me. The outfits that I have suit me perfectly." He hid the horror he was feeling in his mind. His eyes looked at the brightly colored outfit that Jarlaxle was wearing and nearly crawled back into his head.
Jarlaxle looked to Entreri's dark attire, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "You will wear the outfit he makes for you."
"I refuse and there is nothing you can say otherwise that will make me change my mind," Entreri said with a hint of stubbornness in his voice.
"Oh really? Then I suppose you wouldn't mind Jarian following you everywhere, watching your every move, and maybe even slipping into your bed at night?"
Entreri froze. "You wouldn't. . ."
Jarlaxle grinned.
Entreri muttered, "You would."
"Now now, there's nothing to worry about. You do this little task and I'll make sure that you have a measure of privacy."
Taking a long moment to think and realizing that there was no way he could get out of the situation, Entreri sighed and said, "Fine. But you owe me for this Jarlaxle."
"I'll send some bed slaves over right away."
"That's not what I meant," Entreri said in an annoyed tone. "And I better not end up alone with him."
"Of course not." Jarlaxle pat him on the back. "I'm going to go tell Jarian the good news. He's been trying to listen in on our conversation. I wager the barrier of silence around us did the trick nicely."
Entreri watched him leave and sat down heavily in a chair. Taking a flask from his belt he drained its contents. He would need a lot of alcohol to get through the next few hours.
Closing the washroom door behind him, Jarlaxle turned to his right. He chuckled and muttered a trigger word for a spell.
Jarian's form appeared and it seemed as if he was hunched near a magical door, trying to listen in through a keyhole. Realizing his disguise was foiled, he yelped slightly and fell through the door, before Jarlaxle. "Why, greetings my most esteemed leader."
"Greetings," Jarlaxle said. He helped Jarian to his feet. "Did I interrupt something?"
"Of course not," Jarian said. "I was just redecorating my tailoring room and decided to test out a spell." He fidgeted a little and looked to Jarlaxle. "Well? What did he say?"
Jarlaxle smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Jarian huffed and latched onto Jarlaxle's arm. "Please tell me, I'm dying to know. Bed slaves can only sate my excitement for so long. . .stop teasing me."
"He said he would wear an outfit that you made for him," Jarlaxle finally said after regaining his composure.
"Oh splendid!" Jarian hugged Jarlaxle's arm mumbling 'thank you' in a variety of Underdark languages. "I shall retrieve my measuring utensils straight away."
Jarlaxle watched him run off and shook his head in amusement. "Another interesting day for Bregan D'aerthe."
Author's Note:
::Entreri hiccups in a corner and the authoress takes the flask away from him::
Another day another chapter, and in the next one we'll see what kind of outfit Jarian comes up with for Entreri, of course. . .that means he has to be measured. . .
::Entreri tries to get the flask back::
Thanks go out to all the reviewers:
Nightmaiden02: I think every chapter will have to be "poor poor Entreri". She's the one who coined the phrase, lol.
Euphorbic: Thank you ever so kindly for the lovely pictures. . .they gave much inspiration. ::winks::
SilverWolf7: We'll just have to see how far Jarian can get with Jarlaxle's watchful eyes, lol. As for Jarlaxle's thoughts, I think he just enjoys having fun with Entreri (provided Jarian doesn't get too obsessive with him).
Becky: Of course I'm insane. True crazy people think other people are crazy, therefore if I admit I'm crazy I'm on another level entirely. ::laughs evilly::
Elm and some reader: ::grins::
Sylvan: Entreri's expression was so vivid in my mind, if I was a better artist I'd try to draw it, lol.
Ari Linsar: Glad you enjoy it, I look forward to reviews. ::wink wink nudge nudge. . .violent shove::
Em Starcatcher: Glad I could be of service in the laughter department and I love the phrase "deliciously flamboyant."
Tiggermyk: You rock! I love your reaction (what I was going for).
ChichiX: "Jarian is a fangirl reincarnated into a male drow's body." I can't agree with you more, that's the perfect analogy. That got me giggling.
Ace: Thanks for your comment. I love Jarian (erm. . .just not in that way, lol). As for your suggestion it is interesting. I'll have to put some thought into it, if I do decide to do it you'll be the first to know. ::wink::
Gaelfling: Why thank you kindly for your nice review.
Spider: Thanks for actually reading the story. Glad you like. ::grins::
Thanks once again and as always. Please review! ::Jarian pokes around the review button looking for Entreri, while Entreri casually conceals himself behind Jarlaxle::