If Wishes Were Fishes

Sarah and Jareth were rather proud of themselves for having survived the small ordeal at the school. Upon returning to their building, they patted themselves on the back and were about to call it a night, but then realized that both of them had the same pathetic Valentine's plans. Which involved mainly getting utterly plastered and eating obscene loads chocolate. So, putting their heads (and resources) together, the two scraped up three bottles, four boxes of chocolate, a Toblerone, and a partridge in a pear tree. Having collected these items, they occupied Sarah's couch, vowing not to move from there except maybe to go to the bathroom. The pair sprawled across it in such a way that their heads were up against one headrest, Sarah on the right and Jareth on the man had arranged his legs so that one was completely off the couch and the other trapped in the crevice between the cushions and the back of the couch. Sarah, on the other hand, had thrown one leg over the couch, and folded her right leg under her. This arrangement was not only anatomically probable, but also quite comfortable.

The TV played in the background, though neither of the two paid it any attention. Alcohol and candy were decidedly more interesting than a late night show. Every once in a while, their conversation would dwindle and they'd sit there in a moment of amicable silence.

"Why aren't you working today?" Sarah asked during one such moment.

"I wish I was, but the manager said not to come in today because they're doing full frontal nudity and there's a guy who will do it for cheeper than I would," Jareth shoved a chocolate in his mouth, "Asshole."

"All's fair in love and war," said Sarah, suddenly feeling philosophical after a couple of glasses, "And stripping, apparently."

"And that's just the way it is," said Jareth, sighing, "Except when it's not, and then you're fucked.."

"Literally?"

"I wish."

"You wish?"

"I haven't gotten laid since..."Jareth drunkenly raised a hand and waved it around, "Since..."

He took a moment to count something out on his fingers.

"...since I moved into this building!" he said triumphantly.

"Neither have I," said Sarah, staring suspiciously at her bottle, then taking a huge drink.

"Since you've moved into this building?"

"Since you've moved into this building."

"Would that have anything to do with my incredible sex appeal?"

"You wish!"

"I do."

Sarah snorted, almost spilling her bottle.

"You," she said, "You. Are a funny man."

Jareth sighed, lolling his head back.

"And you were supposed to be a one night stand."

Sarah put a hand over her heart.

"I'm shocked," she said flatly, "And flattered. Mostly shocked."

Jareth groaned and banged the back of his head on the armrest, "Pass the wine."

"Trade you for the chocolate."

"Deal."

Half sitting up, they managed to pass their respective items across the space between them.

"So does the one night stand thing work for you?" asked Sarah, squinting intently at the box of chocolates, trying to figure out which one was white chocolate. Probably, she decided, the white one.

"Oh, it works beautifully. I chat someone up, they take me home, we have a little sleep over, and I sneak out in the morning and call someone to pick me up. Usually, I threaten Hoggle. Or one of the goblins. My cousins, that is."

"Sounds about like what happened," said Sarah.

"Except with no sex. Or goblins. Or Hoggle."

"Well, Hoggle had some involvement in it."

"Oh, yes. He brought you to the club, didn't he? Whatever for?"

"Character study. And he probably thought I was sexually frustrated."

"Are you?"

"Probably. I've barely got space to breathe, let along do... whatever. Once we get closer to the performance date, it'll get even worse."

"Hmm. You seem to be home a lot, though."

"The theater's having some, ah, technical difficulties."

"As in?"

"The roof fell in. On our stage manager and some of the cast."

A pause.

"Sarah."

"Jareth."

"Are you shitting me."

"I wish."

"You wish?"

"Oh, yes. If wishes were fishes, I'd have a fucking aquarium."

Jareth broke out laughing, and the two faded into an amicable silence.

xxx

"You know," said Sarah a couple hours later, as they were falling asleep, chocolate and wine finished, "That was the best Valentines Day I've had in a while."

"Me too, love. Me too."

Author's Note:

Oh, wow, that took a while. Sorry. I'm probably going to have another chapter up this weekend, and it'll probably be just as short.