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.

Entreri wanted to run after Jarlaxle, but he was determined to resolve the issue with Jarian on his own.

"That is hardly a spell to remove the outfit," Entreri said, glaring hell itself at Jarian.

Jarian flippantly shrugged. "It is a spell. Perhaps it is one that you have not come across yet in your travels."

"I highly doubt that," Entreri said folding his arms. He recalled Jarian's whispered words.

To remove the spell, the spell caster must remove the objects that are responsible for the spell.

"You are not removing my clothing," Entreri said.

"But I must," Jarian said walking over to him, "unless you wish to wear that same outfit until your dying day. My outfits are very durable and in all honesty I want to see you in more of my outfits."

Entreri paused. I'd have to wear this outfit for the rest of my life. . .in public! By the abyss I hate the drow, especially this one.

"If I agree to this-"

"When," Jarian said replacing the first word.

"If I agree to this, you are to remove the outfit under my terms," Entreri said. His warning tone would make even the most dreadful of drow give him space.

"I will!" Jarian skipped into the air and clapped enthusiastically. Tazolg squeaked happily on the other side of the room and flew in a somersault, causing Entreri to look back and forth between the two of them.

Entreri cleared his throat, causing Tazolg to float in mid-somersault and squeak in confusion. Jarian smiled and waited for instructions. "Okay, first, remove this hat from my head."

"But it's such a stunning col-"

"Jarian," Entreri said interrupting him, "hat, off, now!"

Jarian fanned his face with his hand. "Will you say those words when I have to remove your pants?" The image of Entreri screaming, 'pants, off, now!' got him rather excited.

"NO!"

"Damn," Jarian said with a sigh. He walked over and removed the hat, placing it gently onto a table at his side. "What's next my most beloved assassin?"

"The boots," Entreri said. He surmised that in order to maintain his sanity he should get the easy things out of the way.

Jarian complied and admirably restrained himself when he knelt down before Entreri. Sitting swiftly in a chair and folding his hands in his lap, Entreri crossed his legs and presented the first boot and then the second to Jarian.

With a smirk, "and next?"

"You're enjoying this too much."

"There's no such thing as too much," Jarian said trailing off with an even slyer smirk.

Entreri stiffened and took a breath, "Okay, the shirt is ne-"

Before Entreri could finish the sentenceJarian was behind Entreri's chair and wrapping his arms about the assassin to unlace the shirt. Entreri stood up quickly, narrowly missing Jarian's chin. "Not like that!"

Jarian put a hand on his hip. "Then how do you like it? Would you prefer the back or the stomach?"

Entreri paused for a long moment and chose his words carefully. "You will remove the shirt from the front."

"All right!" So, he likes to be in control. . .I can arrange that.

Jarian slowly and meticulously unlaced the shirt, taking his time to glance at Entreri's chiseled chest. As he removed the shirt he gasped as Entreri's muscles flexed in rhythm to his quickened breathing. Every time he saw the assassin's bare skin, a shiver snaked up his spine and caused a tingle down below. Entreri's breathing quickened a little more, causing Jarian to smile, and reach out his hand.

Entreri's hand swiftly caught Jarian's wrist. "No touching."

"But-"

"NO."

Jarian sighed and allowed his eyes to drink up Entreri's bare chest and quench his thirst for desire. His eyes slowly drifted south . . .to Entreri's pants, recalling the filmy, slightly see-through underwear that lie beneath.

Entreri took a breath, "the belt."

Jarian's fingers fluttered in anticipation and he slowly approached Entreri, standing uncomfortably close.

"More distance."

Jarian took a baby step back and reached down, narrowly missing a certain something. He savored Entreri's shudder and proceeded to ever so slowly unclasp the belt at the golden buckle. As soon as the belt was removed Entreri took a giant step back and attempted to compose his thoughts.

"Well. . ."

With a shift Entreri wrestled with his inner thoughts. This cannot be happening. The damn drow is practically salivating. He paused in his thoughts. Wait. . .if he was able to take off the spell by just removing a garment, then there's no need for removing them all!

"That's enough," Entreri said backing away a little more.

"Ah ah ah, Artemis," Jarian said advancing with his hands outstretched, "we still have your pants to contend with."

"No, we don't. I do."

Now it was Jarian's turn to pause. "What do you mean?"

"To remove the spell you said that you have to remove the objects responsible. However, I noticed when I tried to remove my shirt that every other garment corresponded in constriction. Thus, if you remove but one garment, all the others correspond," Entreri said, victory in his corner.

"Are you so sure?"

Entreri tested his pants, by pulling on them at the waist. They didn't constrict and he smiled very slightly, before hiding it with a glare at Jarian who was too busy staring in awe.

"What?"

"You smiled."

"No I didn't," Entreri said with a shake of his head.

"Oh yes you did," Jarian said in a singsong voice. "My outfit made you smile."

"If there was any smile, it would be one of bloody vengeance. One that a demon has once it gluts its prey, after finding out that something tried to exercise deceit," Entreri said darkly.

Jarian sighed. "Why did I have to choose an intelligent assassin?"

"I'm going to my chamber," Entreri said walking by him. "I expect privacy."

Watching him leave Jarian sighed even deeper. "Good looking and intelligent. . .I'll have to step up my game."

As Entreri walked back to his chamber, Jarlaxle conveniently walked by and raised an eyebrow. "I see that you and Jarian are getting along famously."

"Jarlaxle, I hate you."

Tossing Entreri a cloak, "No, you really don't."

Entreri caught the cloak and threw it about his shoulders. "Thanks, but I still hate you." He walked down the corridor.

Jarlaxle folded his arms and chuckled, "the last thing we need is a certain part of your anatomy to get cold."

Entreri grimaced as he walked the other way and he called back, "I heard that." Nevertheless he pulled the cloak about himself tighter and continued his walk as Jarlaxle chuckled at the other end of the hallway.

Author's Note:bows head in apology: So sorry for the time it took on an update. School has been insane and I'm at a loss as to where my winter break fled too. But after finishing a paper, Jarian tied me to computer desk and forced me to write. I was rescued by Jarlaxle. . .but we won't get into that.

Anyway, as always thank you for the reviews. They are my lifeblood and I LOVE the comments. Welcome to new reviewers and shout outs to the regulars. If I end up doing a swift update (hey you never know), I think I'll have a lovely reviewer mailbag. :wink:

:hands out Valentines, candy, and flowers to the reviewers:

:Jarian walks over to her: "What are those?"

"Valentine's Day cards, it's almost here."

"Valentine's day?"

:authoress shifts and explains:

...:several minutes later:...

"Artemis is my Valentine!" :runs in search of Entreri shouting: "Artemis come out! I need to pierce you with my Cupid's arrow!"

:Jarlaxle walks in giving the authoress an amused look:

"You know that's not what I meant. . ." :authoress shifts slightly:

"Entreri is really going to kill you now."

:authoress shifts even more: "Maybe he can be bribed with chocolate?"

:Jarlaxle starts to chuckle: "Well, I suppose Jarian would be dark chocolate with a creamy filling."

"Gah! Jarlaxle! If Entreri hears us, we're BOTH doomed!"

:Entreri listens in his hiding place and moves them both up in his 'To Kill' list: