SCENE 15
INSERT APPROPRAITE 80S SONG REFERENCE HERE
Stretching lazily, Sarah spread out flat on her stomach. When she realized the opposite side of the bed was empty she half raised her self puzzled. "Jareth?" she called. She pushed her hair out of her face scanning the room. Had last night been a dream? Some cruel crystal hallucination? She took a deep breath. The smell of vanilla still hung in the air. She even spotted a few of the now extinguished candles about. No. He had been here and had said some truly wonderful things…and had done some truly wonderful things to her as well. 'Where is he?' she wondered to her self. She heard movement from the hallway. Maybe he was awake and directing breakfast. She smiled, found some clothes, and was out the door.
Last night clung about her mental state, especially their conversation while laying in the dark. Screw all of the possible complications- she was going to the Underground. She was in love with the Goblin King. "Good morning!" she called as she rounded the corner into the kitchen. She stumbled over feet: Brianna was just getting up from the table.
"Hey Miss. S," her friend replied. "How are you doing this morning?"
Sarah's eyes were scanning the room- no goblins, no king. Swallowing hard she attempted to ease the panic that threatened to burst out. "I'm-I'm fine. You?" It was something of an automated question.
"Meh. Will proved to be a bit boring last night."
"Sorry." Where in the world had everyone gotten off to? More importantly, where the fripp was Jareth?
Brianna shrugged. "Ah well it was a free meal. What are you up to this fine Saturday morning?"
Sarah shrugged. "I don't know."
Her roommate studied her face- her friend looked oddly puzzled. "Maybe you should get out or something. I saw you had gotten your old camera out. Maybe you should go take some photos."
"My camera?" Sure enough the camera that Meep had been running around with was on the table. Brianna handed it to her. If the camera was out then the goblins had to have been around recently. "That's not a bad idea," she assented quietly.
Brianna was washing her bowl out in the sink. "Well, I have to go in to the office today- big, ridiculous project to get finished. See you later! Sarah, are you going to be alright?" she then asked when her roommate just stood there, brow furrowed, staring at the camera.
"Yes, yes I'm fine." Brianna was gone.
Holding the camera she went back to her room. At least one goblin had to be about. Her house was their weekend getaway. She opened the closet. "Meep! Fash!" she called out. Pushing clothes and boxes aside she searched for them. "Come on- why can't one of you show up when I actually want you to? Blot! Squabble! Stench! Weech!" She moved to her bed and looked under neath. "Shriek! Dink!" Nothing. Blowing air out sharply through her nose she righted her self.
"Hi lady!"
She gasped. "Ah-ha!" And fell on her backside.
Dink sat perched on her bed smiling innocently. "What you looking for?"
She caught her breath. "One of you lot actually."
"Well here is one of us. What can I do for you?"
Sitting up properly she looked the goblin square in the eyes. "Do you know where his majesty has gotten off to?"
"Which majesty?"
"His majesty."
"You mean his royal highness?"
"Yes."
"King Jareth?"
"Yes, who else?"
"My lady, there are many royals in my world to consider."
There was a lapse of silence. Sarah was beginning to feel that perhaps her question was being avoided. "Well have you seen Jareth?" she asked exasperated.
The goblin paused, seeming to consider his response. "Yes," he answered. "I've seen a good deal of him."
She was trying hard to maintain an even temperament. This round about conversation was not helping her mood or the threatening panic. "Do you know where he is?"
"No." The conversation inevitably ended there.
Eventually the regulars did show up. Every last one of them denied knowing Jareth's where-abouts. For ther first time in a little over five years she seriously considered making an actual wish. It seemed a little foolish, but also very normal. She had just made a confession of love and unless she had been hallucinating he had also made one. 'Shoot- he initiated it!' In the kitchen she paced while Meep amused the group by taking more photographs. Should she wish her self to him then she could find out what had happened, settle her mid. "Miss," started Meep walking in. "It won't work." She held up the camera concern showing on her face.
She examined it. "It's out of film Meep."
"So…we can see the pictures now?"
"Well, I'd have to get them developed."
"Can you do the developing today Miss Sarah? Can you? Please!"
Despite her fretfulness Sarah was rather reluctant to leave the house. What if he came back? "I-I don't know."
"What's the fuss about?" asked Stench walking in dragging behind what suspiciously resembled her toilet brush.
"Please Miss Sarah! Lot's of good photos to be seen. Oh! There's our family shot, remember?"
She looked sullenly at the contraption.
"Stench we must convince her to do the developing to the film!"
"Oh yes lady you must!"
More goblins were now joining in with the request. All of them wanted her to perform the developing. "All right, all right calm down. You lot stay here, pick out another movie, and behave. I'll head down to the local corner drug store, pick up something for lunch, and get the film developed." She went back to her room for her flip flops. She popped the film out. "No wars, no reenactments, and no more pilfering my clothes ok?"
"Ok!" they all agreed. She was out the door.
Perhaps the errand would serve as a good distraction. Something was just terribly wrong. She knew it. Jareth may very well be a cocky, brash, egotistical, obsessive, tight pants wearing fairy king, but he had been sincere last night. She knew that in her heart. With the goblins still freely moving about she knew he could not very well be in any life threatening danger, but his absence, no mysterious absence was unsettling. She paid for the package of photos. "Interesting cosplay," remarked Billy the regular store clerk.
"Beats my regular underwear runs," she said and then shook her head. "Forget what I just said Billy. Have a nice day." She was gone before anything else mildly embarrassing could slip out.
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Jasper was indeed the first thing that he registered in his sight line. The court room was full of various fae- some about for business, others merely parading. King Oberon, in his long robes of greens and blues, was even there standing in the place of honor. He knew that they were all there, but his eyes were burrowing into Jasper's skull. His fists balled and his shoulders turned rigid. Jasper recognized his cousin's furry and was fairly certain that he was going to pummel him. With fair more control than he even knew he possessed Jareth took a knee in front of the High King. "I humble myself in thy presence most honorable High King Oberon," he said inclining his head.
Oberon glanced warily between the cousins. "Rise King Jareth and be found favorable in my sight."
"I sincerely hope so my lord." He stood. Taking a deep breath he waited. Sarah was up by this time. 'Ghads she's probably livid!'
Folding his hands before him Oberon began, "King Jareth you have been summoned here regarding such charges as would make you most unfavorable in my sight. You are aware of the code of conduct betwixt us and the mortal plain?"
Someone snickered in the gathered crowd. "Jareth and his mortal fascination!"
He nodded curtly despite the razz. "I am my lord."
Oberon gave the commentator a shrewd look that silenced him. "Of the specifics regarding courtship, I assume you are also aware of these."
"You assume correctly." He kept his eyes adverted from his cousin's face.
"Then explain to me King Jareth why is it that your cousin is here claiming that you are making offers to a mortal who you have thrice all ready done so with?"
He allowed a brief glare at his cousin. "The particular mortal is special."
"How special?"
"She is the mortal my lord."
"Which mortal?"
"The mortal."
Oberon looked incredulously at him. He sighed sharply. "The mortal who bested me five years ago."
The High King gaped and Jasper snickered. Oberon quickly recovered him self. "I was under the impression that this mortal declined all of your advances and asked to be returned home."
"She did," he said calmly.
Oberon approached him, looking intently at his face. "Explain your self Jareth! Every fae, whatever their birth right or position, has a limit of three chances with a mortal. If upon the third offer the mortal refuses the fae is to leave them be. Lord Jasper has intimated to me that you gave your three five years ago."
"No!" he exclaimed louder than he had intended his eyes meeting Oberon's. "No. Not so. I only offered myself twice."
Jasper scoffed. "So he says. Rather convenient that you have a standard offer you always make to your wishees, hey cousin?"
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Sitting in the car, torn between returning home to wait or using her power to wish her self away Sarah gripped the steering wheel. "What to do? What to do?" she muttered. Her disease had grown just since exiting the store. After the run through the drive through she had to park to calm her self. Something was very wrong. Absently she munched on a fry.
Turning she retrieved the photo pack. She flipped it open and was greeted with a rather awkward picture of her roommate. Sarah realized that the film that had been sitting in her camera was originally put in to celebrate Brianna's birthday. Two photos documented the event. Next was a photo of four goblins proudly holding their chop sticks with skewered food. She laughed out loud. Next was a candid shot of her and Jareth in the kitchen- their expressions were…involved, with each other. Next was the shot of her and Jasper on the couch. It was posed and awkward. His expression made her uneasy. And was Jareth glaring out of focus in the background? Flipping through she found the one Jareth had referred to as a "lovely family photo." All of the goblins were smiling enthusiastically. Again the two of them were complete absorbed in the other- intently gazing at the other.
On cue the radio began The Cure's "Pictures of You." She cocked an eye brow and worried her lip.
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The cool, controlled countenance he had been holding onto slipped. "I am bound to offer an out to every wishee," Jareth countered staring at his cousin. "It is my duty! And I will not have some envious, dramatic, spoiled, bad tempered, lower end royal challenge my right to Sarah Williams!"
"Your right? You have no right!"
Jareth turned his body threateningly. "I explained this all to you cousin you pompous-,"
"Jareth! Jasper!" cut in Oberon. "You will maintain a level of civility in my court."
Jareth turned near pleadingly to his High King. "Call for her my lord," he offered. "Call for this Sarah Williams and ask your self. I did my duty and then pursued only on two more occasions."
Jasper would not have it. "Call a mortal to the royal court?"
The bigoted remark set off a loud murmur throughout the crowd.
"Call for her!" insisted Jareth. "Call for her and learn from her own lips what happened five years ago!"
Oberon was ordering silence. He looked agitated.
Jasper complained, "Please my lord, you can review the scrolls. No need to call this mortal here."
"Silence!" The High King's voice resounded throughout the room. "You bickering children! I do have half a mind to call this Sarah Williams here."
Jareth's face went far away and his brow slightly furrowed. He could hear Jasper once again making his objections. His cousin was such a coward. Oh but his Sarah was more intuitive and brave then he had previously had given her credit for. "My lord!" he interjected. "She calls for me. She is wishing her self to be by my side. I am bound to respond, but I cannot give her passage to your court without your permission. You are a just High King and most honorable, allow this mortal to speak."
The tension was high, near intolerable.
"Sire, I am pleading with you," Jareth added meekly. "I have spent five years denying myself what I most desire. Do not snatch it away from me without knowing all of the facts."
Oberon took a deep breath. "I should hear all of the facts. Bring me this Sarah Williams!"