Introduction
Note: Years ago a good friend of mine started this story on another site. It was a raging success and so with her permission I am resurrecting the interactive story here.
Premise
We're all familiar with Sarah William's adventures in the underground. Now it's time to tell yours.
Currently I am offering three separate but related main plot lines set in three different settings. Game play will be a little different in each of them with the possibility of cross-over.
The Above: BOSTON
On the surface everything seems perfectly average in Boston and the realm of magic seems restricted to children's books, fantasy films and TV, and the occasional well orchestrated illusion made with smoke machines and mirrors. Sure, every now and again something weird seems to happen. Like that time you put your coffee cup down only to turn around and find it missing. Or the time you had to finally put great grandma Bessy in the nursing home because she kept insisting that little people were living the walls of her house and stealing her jewelery.
Maybe things are more subtle than that. Like the time your mom instinctively seemed to know every time somebody hurt your feelings even when you never said anything. Or the time your older sister Mary Jean was told by the kindly lady down the street that her unborn child would not only be a boy but also have blue eyes and a fondness for strawberry jelly...On EVERYTHING.
Lucky guesses, random chance, coincidence?
There's no such thing as ghouls and fairies, witches and sorcery. And there is certainly no such thing as real magic. Right?
Hardly.
(Those interested in playing in the setting of Boston will have characters that on the surface don't seem extraordinary. Maybe they don't believe in magic or maybe they do and no one else seems to agree. The truth of the matter is that while the Above World has certainly developed and told us not to believe in such things; magic does still exist in our world if you know how to see it and you pay really close attention.)
The Above: EUROPE
The Europe setting is similar to that of Boston but is told from the perspective of the magically inclined who know perfectly well that other worlds exist and the Above world still maintains some connection to the world of Fairy. Many of the characters in this setting were either born in the Underground and crossed over to live in our world or are individuals with indirect magical ties. Some know about magic but have never seen the Underground while others seem to live in both worlds easily...Or not so easily.
The Underground: The Labyrinth and Beyond
The idea here is that somehow someway you've landed yourself in the Labyrinth/Underground. Whether you started out in the Underground and are just trying to live your life or you somehow landed yourself there unwittingly for one reason or another...The point is your stuck dealing with the Labyrinth or another place in the Underground and it’s various oddities and people.
There will be an ever adapting major plot line running at all times as a guide.
You are undoubtedly destined to play some kind of part in the greater outcome of the Labyrinth's plight. Its up to you whose side you'll take or if you'll be taking sides at all. Whatever your character's investment or purpose for being in the underground, one thing is certain. Great adventures are to be had!
(This setting is the core of this RP. All events in the other setting will correspond to the events happening in the underground as they are all connected. Please inquire Via PM if you would like further information.)
Premise
We're all familiar with Sarah William's adventures in the underground. Now it's time to tell yours.
Currently I am offering three separate but related main plot lines set in three different settings. Game play will be a little different in each of them with the possibility of cross-over.
The Above: BOSTON
On the surface everything seems perfectly average in Boston and the realm of magic seems restricted to children's books, fantasy films and TV, and the occasional well orchestrated illusion made with smoke machines and mirrors. Sure, every now and again something weird seems to happen. Like that time you put your coffee cup down only to turn around and find it missing. Or the time you had to finally put great grandma Bessy in the nursing home because she kept insisting that little people were living the walls of her house and stealing her jewelery.
Maybe things are more subtle than that. Like the time your mom instinctively seemed to know every time somebody hurt your feelings even when you never said anything. Or the time your older sister Mary Jean was told by the kindly lady down the street that her unborn child would not only be a boy but also have blue eyes and a fondness for strawberry jelly...On EVERYTHING.
Lucky guesses, random chance, coincidence?
There's no such thing as ghouls and fairies, witches and sorcery. And there is certainly no such thing as real magic. Right?
Hardly.
(Those interested in playing in the setting of Boston will have characters that on the surface don't seem extraordinary. Maybe they don't believe in magic or maybe they do and no one else seems to agree. The truth of the matter is that while the Above World has certainly developed and told us not to believe in such things; magic does still exist in our world if you know how to see it and you pay really close attention.)
The Above: EUROPE
The Europe setting is similar to that of Boston but is told from the perspective of the magically inclined who know perfectly well that other worlds exist and the Above world still maintains some connection to the world of Fairy. Many of the characters in this setting were either born in the Underground and crossed over to live in our world or are individuals with indirect magical ties. Some know about magic but have never seen the Underground while others seem to live in both worlds easily...Or not so easily.
The Underground: The Labyrinth and Beyond
The idea here is that somehow someway you've landed yourself in the Labyrinth/Underground. Whether you started out in the Underground and are just trying to live your life or you somehow landed yourself there unwittingly for one reason or another...The point is your stuck dealing with the Labyrinth or another place in the Underground and it’s various oddities and people.
There will be an ever adapting major plot line running at all times as a guide.
You are undoubtedly destined to play some kind of part in the greater outcome of the Labyrinth's plight. Its up to you whose side you'll take or if you'll be taking sides at all. Whatever your character's investment or purpose for being in the underground, one thing is certain. Great adventures are to be had!
(This setting is the core of this RP. All events in the other setting will correspond to the events happening in the underground as they are all connected. Please inquire Via PM if you would like further information.)
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Setting
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Contrary to the common belief of anyone who wasn't an actual Denizen of the Labyrinth itself the chaos, so often associated with the Goblin City and the castle beyond it, was restricted to the busy goings on of managing life in the Underground. There were chickens to be slaughtered, kegs to be made for the purpose of storing beer and other foodstuffs, and laundry to be done. Goblins weren't exactly the cleanest creatures in the Underground but even the grimiest of the lot took an occasional monthly bath.
There were a lot of fallacies regarding the general nature of how a Goblin City was actually run. Like any other metropolis the goblin Denizens took pride in their various trades which consisted of, but weren't limited to, metal and leather crafting, the manufacturing of spirits, and the tending of both chickens and hogs. There was also a deep sense of culture within the city; although in all fairness you often had to be either a goblin or a child to appreciate ballads about farting and epic stories depicting conquests over who was going to eat the last sweet roll. Believe it or no Goblin culture was chalk full of rich and undoubtedly colorful history, fashions, music and social oddities of all sorts. One just had to live there to know it.
Then of course there was the castle itself; a magnificent sight to behold and a social utopia in its own right. The castle, when not being magically manipulated for the sake of defense, was vast and kept largely in working order. Most of the goblins that resided within its walls where a little bit more refined then their other brethren, a little more articulate as well if not always all together intelligent.
At the center of it all was Jareth. The Goblin King.
Regardless of what anyone actually thought about his personality Jareth made for an effective and efficient ruler. That was his job after all; ruling over the goblins and by association the very labyrinth itself. Jareth took pride in his position as well as his vast responsibilities. Maintaining a working Labyrinth along with governing a kingdom wasn't as easy as it might have seemed. There was always some part of the vast maze under construction as the stone pathways often had to be repaired or refashioned due to natural ware and tear.
Since nearly a quarter of the Labyrinth was made up of hedges, small lawns, and gardens; Gnomes had to be regularly brought in to reshape and manicure the green areas as goblins by nature weren't really inclined towards gardening. It took a lot of work to maintain a place that, for all logical intents and purposes, most intelligent beings would never willingly step a foot into. But in a way...That was the greater beauty of it all.
Yet for all that Jareth had accomplishing he was still just one mortal man. Oh yes. Jareth was quite mortal indeed, despite the rumors that were scattered throughout the Underground claiming otherwise. If he was somewhat magically endowed due to the nature of his position, his illusionist abilities were secondary to the man who actually possessed them.
At current the Goblin King was out of house.
Flying no doubt as he always did in the early morning before the sun had yet to fully rise off the horizon line. While Jareth's crystals were effective when monitoring one thing at a time, they lacked the ability to present the greater picture that was the Labyrinth as a whole. For that Jareth was much keener to observing things for himself from the sky. There was also the escape his morning flights allowed. Jareth did not leave the confines of the Labyrinth often as his presence was often in such high demand. His morning flights was often the only chance the Goblin King got to have a moment to him self and even then his trips were often cut short by the demands of his people.
Speaking of demands the throne room of the castle was still caught in the relative repose of the early morning hour, with the exception of a clucking chicken or two, when a chubby goblin in uniform came nosily clamoring through the high doors that lead into the throne room.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty!" Between the alarming sound of clanking goblin armor and the somewhat guttural voice of the goblin wearing it, it only took about five seconds to rouse the entire room into a squawking frenzy.
The goblin in question seemed to have been unaware that his master was not in the castle. That problem seemed to shortly alleviate itself however as no sooner did the goblin guard sputter the second call did the borrowed form of the barn owl appear through the window instantly transforming into Jareth.
"What!" The Goblin King said in a snarl visibly annoyed that his morning outing had been predictably cut short.
The goblin in question barely had enough time to flinch before Jareth had practically materialized on top of him with his fist bunched at the goblin's tunic where the armor hung low upon his chest.
It was a common mistake to assume that all goblins were dim-witted and ill spoken. Granted there were quite a few who couldn't have told you their left hand from their right but there were just as many more who were quite capable of articulating themselves; particularly so if they made a habit of interrupting the Goblin King during the morning hours.
While obviously not one of the brightest bulbs around the goblin guard at current was at least intelligible enough to speak quickly in the face of his master's annoyance.
"Eh...It's the Arid Flats, Sir! Several of the Eastern hedge paths have been burned to a crisp. At first we thought it were due to the Wild Bunch cavorting about but the damage seems to suggest the hedges were intentionally doused in oil and set aflame. It's the work of Ariadne and her like no doubt."
Resisting the sudden urge to smack the helmet right off the poor goblin's head Jareth settled for giving him a single violent shake before releasing him to retire to his horned throne; the Goblin Kings's teeth gnashing all the way.
"Why didn't anyone catch it sooner?" Jareth asked sharply swiping up his ridding crop from the chair as he flicked the end impatiently against the side of one black boot.
"It was done in the middle of the night Sir and the oil caused the damage to be almost instantaneous. By the time it was brought to anyone's attention it was already too late. The fire had already burnt out..." The goblin whimpered slightly before randomly shrieking out a cry and launching himself to the floor near Jareth's feet. "Please, You're Majesty! Don't throw me in the Bog of Eternal Stench! Have mercy!"
"Get off!" Jareth hissed kicking lightly though sharply enough at the goblin's helmet to get him to stop groveling. "I will deal with this matter myself. Inform the dwarf of the damage and tell the Lawn Gnomes to get started on the repairs. I'll just have to seal off that part of the Labyrinth until the proper adjustments can be made. In the meantime I want double patrols on all the main routes and another set at all the check points. And this time, no mistakes!" Jareth barked.
The goblin was quick to respond as he nodded to his orders and fled from the room. Seeing their master was in a bad mood many of the other goblins dispersed as well leaving Jareth to contemplate his options in relative solitude.
There were a lot of fallacies regarding the general nature of how a Goblin City was actually run. Like any other metropolis the goblin Denizens took pride in their various trades which consisted of, but weren't limited to, metal and leather crafting, the manufacturing of spirits, and the tending of both chickens and hogs. There was also a deep sense of culture within the city; although in all fairness you often had to be either a goblin or a child to appreciate ballads about farting and epic stories depicting conquests over who was going to eat the last sweet roll. Believe it or no Goblin culture was chalk full of rich and undoubtedly colorful history, fashions, music and social oddities of all sorts. One just had to live there to know it.
Then of course there was the castle itself; a magnificent sight to behold and a social utopia in its own right. The castle, when not being magically manipulated for the sake of defense, was vast and kept largely in working order. Most of the goblins that resided within its walls where a little bit more refined then their other brethren, a little more articulate as well if not always all together intelligent.
At the center of it all was Jareth. The Goblin King.
Regardless of what anyone actually thought about his personality Jareth made for an effective and efficient ruler. That was his job after all; ruling over the goblins and by association the very labyrinth itself. Jareth took pride in his position as well as his vast responsibilities. Maintaining a working Labyrinth along with governing a kingdom wasn't as easy as it might have seemed. There was always some part of the vast maze under construction as the stone pathways often had to be repaired or refashioned due to natural ware and tear.
Since nearly a quarter of the Labyrinth was made up of hedges, small lawns, and gardens; Gnomes had to be regularly brought in to reshape and manicure the green areas as goblins by nature weren't really inclined towards gardening. It took a lot of work to maintain a place that, for all logical intents and purposes, most intelligent beings would never willingly step a foot into. But in a way...That was the greater beauty of it all.
Yet for all that Jareth had accomplishing he was still just one mortal man. Oh yes. Jareth was quite mortal indeed, despite the rumors that were scattered throughout the Underground claiming otherwise. If he was somewhat magically endowed due to the nature of his position, his illusionist abilities were secondary to the man who actually possessed them.
At current the Goblin King was out of house.
Flying no doubt as he always did in the early morning before the sun had yet to fully rise off the horizon line. While Jareth's crystals were effective when monitoring one thing at a time, they lacked the ability to present the greater picture that was the Labyrinth as a whole. For that Jareth was much keener to observing things for himself from the sky. There was also the escape his morning flights allowed. Jareth did not leave the confines of the Labyrinth often as his presence was often in such high demand. His morning flights was often the only chance the Goblin King got to have a moment to him self and even then his trips were often cut short by the demands of his people.
Speaking of demands the throne room of the castle was still caught in the relative repose of the early morning hour, with the exception of a clucking chicken or two, when a chubby goblin in uniform came nosily clamoring through the high doors that lead into the throne room.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty!" Between the alarming sound of clanking goblin armor and the somewhat guttural voice of the goblin wearing it, it only took about five seconds to rouse the entire room into a squawking frenzy.
The goblin in question seemed to have been unaware that his master was not in the castle. That problem seemed to shortly alleviate itself however as no sooner did the goblin guard sputter the second call did the borrowed form of the barn owl appear through the window instantly transforming into Jareth.
"What!" The Goblin King said in a snarl visibly annoyed that his morning outing had been predictably cut short.
The goblin in question barely had enough time to flinch before Jareth had practically materialized on top of him with his fist bunched at the goblin's tunic where the armor hung low upon his chest.
It was a common mistake to assume that all goblins were dim-witted and ill spoken. Granted there were quite a few who couldn't have told you their left hand from their right but there were just as many more who were quite capable of articulating themselves; particularly so if they made a habit of interrupting the Goblin King during the morning hours.
While obviously not one of the brightest bulbs around the goblin guard at current was at least intelligible enough to speak quickly in the face of his master's annoyance.
"Eh...It's the Arid Flats, Sir! Several of the Eastern hedge paths have been burned to a crisp. At first we thought it were due to the Wild Bunch cavorting about but the damage seems to suggest the hedges were intentionally doused in oil and set aflame. It's the work of Ariadne and her like no doubt."
Resisting the sudden urge to smack the helmet right off the poor goblin's head Jareth settled for giving him a single violent shake before releasing him to retire to his horned throne; the Goblin Kings's teeth gnashing all the way.
"Why didn't anyone catch it sooner?" Jareth asked sharply swiping up his ridding crop from the chair as he flicked the end impatiently against the side of one black boot.
"It was done in the middle of the night Sir and the oil caused the damage to be almost instantaneous. By the time it was brought to anyone's attention it was already too late. The fire had already burnt out..." The goblin whimpered slightly before randomly shrieking out a cry and launching himself to the floor near Jareth's feet. "Please, You're Majesty! Don't throw me in the Bog of Eternal Stench! Have mercy!"
"Get off!" Jareth hissed kicking lightly though sharply enough at the goblin's helmet to get him to stop groveling. "I will deal with this matter myself. Inform the dwarf of the damage and tell the Lawn Gnomes to get started on the repairs. I'll just have to seal off that part of the Labyrinth until the proper adjustments can be made. In the meantime I want double patrols on all the main routes and another set at all the check points. And this time, no mistakes!" Jareth barked.
The goblin was quick to respond as he nodded to his orders and fled from the room. Seeing their master was in a bad mood many of the other goblins dispersed as well leaving Jareth to contemplate his options in relative solitude.
The setting changes from The Labyrinth Universe to BOSTON
Setting
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Cafe' Petite - Paris, France - 10:00 AM
"You and I can't see each other again that's all there is to it. I don't want to discuss it anymore." The man known as Alfonso said in conclusion to the topic he and Crispin had been quietly discussing as they sipped their espresso together. 'You'll see in time is for the best."
'No, Alfonse. I don't think I will. Sweeping our friendship aside is one thing. But we've been working nearly three years on this project. I've put every cent I've had into it and so have you. More than me in fact and for almost a decade longer. I can't believe you're abandoning me now when were so close to finding it." Crispin remarked tensely as he struggled to contain the depth of his conviction.
"You're right. I've put everything I have into this. But I must admit, I've been thinking for some time now, that perhaps the time has come to let go and forget about what might have been. For so many years I have been dreaming about a place I'm not even sure really exists. I find myself growing tired of trying to grasp at a vision that I can barely still imagine in my mind, let alone, touch. Even the smells have faded from my memory. It needs to stop now, Crispin. It needs to be allowed to fade along with me." Alfonso's explanation was practically a heartfelt plea.
Toby, Crispin was Alfonse personal name for him, could feel the longing behind his friend's words as well as an overwhelming sense of failure that was so disparaging to Toby that it tore him to the core and shattered him simultaneously. Alfonse was giving up on him, on what they had been working so hard to achieve together. This understanding both hurt and angered him for several reasons of which only a few Toby could properly name.
Worst yet Toby knew in the depths of his soul that if he turned and walked away from the man now then he would never see Alfonse again. the thought poisoned him and profoundly disturbed his usually jovial spirit.
"Listen to me my beloved friend. Go back home. See your family again. I have selfishly kept you from them and I find myself sorry for it. In time you will forget me. Probably sooner than either of use wishes to admit. You are still a very young man. You waste your youth on this and, unlike in that other place, here time is of the essence. Cherish it." Alfonse had reached over by this time to lightly wrap three of the fingers of his left hand around the small espresso cup that Toby was balancing in the palm of his right hand half way between them. The edge of Elfonse lower finger just barely grazing the padding of Toby's thumb.
The contact between them was so subtle and Toby's reaction so entirely innate that it was difficult to tell what was exactly passing between the men in that moment. Whatever it was, clearly it pained Toby greatly although the younger man showed a great strength of fortitude by not allowing his overwhelming emotions to get the better of him. particularly in such a plainly public place.
Alfonse had picked the cafe' on purpose knowing Toby couldn't and wouldn't openly defy him in such a setting. Toby privately hated him for it.
"I may very likely go home Alfonse. At this point you leave me little choice in the matter. But I want you to know right now that I'll never stop searching. I know there's something else, something more, out there. Although I don't need to see it again to know its real I still want to understand it. You might be able to give up on this, but I can't. I know you understand why." Toby said evenly through his clenched jaw and glazed wide eyed expression.
"Yes, Crispin. I understand all too well." Alfonse replied.
http://www.galleryofcelebrities.com/c/crispin10.jpg
"You and I can't see each other again that's all there is to it. I don't want to discuss it anymore." The man known as Alfonso said in conclusion to the topic he and Crispin had been quietly discussing as they sipped their espresso together. 'You'll see in time is for the best."
'No, Alfonse. I don't think I will. Sweeping our friendship aside is one thing. But we've been working nearly three years on this project. I've put every cent I've had into it and so have you. More than me in fact and for almost a decade longer. I can't believe you're abandoning me now when were so close to finding it." Crispin remarked tensely as he struggled to contain the depth of his conviction.
"You're right. I've put everything I have into this. But I must admit, I've been thinking for some time now, that perhaps the time has come to let go and forget about what might have been. For so many years I have been dreaming about a place I'm not even sure really exists. I find myself growing tired of trying to grasp at a vision that I can barely still imagine in my mind, let alone, touch. Even the smells have faded from my memory. It needs to stop now, Crispin. It needs to be allowed to fade along with me." Alfonso's explanation was practically a heartfelt plea.
Toby, Crispin was Alfonse personal name for him, could feel the longing behind his friend's words as well as an overwhelming sense of failure that was so disparaging to Toby that it tore him to the core and shattered him simultaneously. Alfonse was giving up on him, on what they had been working so hard to achieve together. This understanding both hurt and angered him for several reasons of which only a few Toby could properly name.
Worst yet Toby knew in the depths of his soul that if he turned and walked away from the man now then he would never see Alfonse again. the thought poisoned him and profoundly disturbed his usually jovial spirit.
"Listen to me my beloved friend. Go back home. See your family again. I have selfishly kept you from them and I find myself sorry for it. In time you will forget me. Probably sooner than either of use wishes to admit. You are still a very young man. You waste your youth on this and, unlike in that other place, here time is of the essence. Cherish it." Alfonse had reached over by this time to lightly wrap three of the fingers of his left hand around the small espresso cup that Toby was balancing in the palm of his right hand half way between them. The edge of Elfonse lower finger just barely grazing the padding of Toby's thumb.
The contact between them was so subtle and Toby's reaction so entirely innate that it was difficult to tell what was exactly passing between the men in that moment. Whatever it was, clearly it pained Toby greatly although the younger man showed a great strength of fortitude by not allowing his overwhelming emotions to get the better of him. particularly in such a plainly public place.
Alfonse had picked the cafe' on purpose knowing Toby couldn't and wouldn't openly defy him in such a setting. Toby privately hated him for it.
"I may very likely go home Alfonse. At this point you leave me little choice in the matter. But I want you to know right now that I'll never stop searching. I know there's something else, something more, out there. Although I don't need to see it again to know its real I still want to understand it. You might be able to give up on this, but I can't. I know you understand why." Toby said evenly through his clenched jaw and glazed wide eyed expression.
"Yes, Crispin. I understand all too well." Alfonse replied.
http://www.galleryofcelebrities.com/c/crispin10.jpg
Setting
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Sarah's Household - Boston - 4:30 PM
The woman formerly known as Sarah William before she'd married was currently sitting in her living room rather than being at work like she should have been. Considering Sarah both owned and operated Mirror on the Green it was her purgative to close the shop up early and come home if she wanted to and today was turning out to be one of those times. At the moment no one besides Sarah was home which had given her ample time to mull over the strange phone call she'd received during the morning from her favorite and only brother.
While Toby Williams commonly wrote to Sarah and her family at least once a month sending postcards and trinkets from where ever he happened to be at any given time, Sarah had started to become slightly concerned with the rapid decline in his actual phone calls and visits home. Sarah couldn't help but shake the uncomfortable feeling that something was going on with him and that Toby was purposely not telling her about it.
"I've already talked to mom and dad. Did you know they've been renting out the old house over on Claybourn?" Toby had asked half way through their phone conversation.
"Yeah. Malcolm and I have been keeping it up for them since they moved to Florida. Dad wanted to sell it but you're mom couldn't do it. You were conceived in that house after all. Up until recently there was this sweet old couple renting it until the husband had to transfer to an assisted living nursing facility. For awhile we had some college students living there but its empty right now." Sarah had confirmed over her work phone.
"I know. Mom told me. I bring it up because I'm moving back to Boston, Sarah. I was going to look for a place to stay but Mom offered to let me use the house until I found a teaching job in town." Toby had explained.
"Wow. I'm...Surprised. I guess I never imagined you'd com back here long term. You don't have to stay there. You know? We do still have the guest room in my house. The kids would love if you stayed for awhile and Malcolm and I would be happy to have you." Sarah had offered.
"I can't, Sar. I mean...I'd love to but I've still got some personal work to wrap up and the old house would be a better environment for me right now. Of course dinner is always an option. You know I can never turn down Malcolm's pasta and your desserts." Toby had tried to keep his voice light and airy over the phone but he couldn't completely mask his actual mood which was far from chipper.
"Tobs are you OK? You calling out of the blue and telling me you're moving back home feels weird to me. What's all this really about?" Sarah had asked.
"I can't explain things right now Sarah but I promise I'm all right. Things have just taken an unexpected turn that's all. I'll tell you about it when I get into town and have time to settle in." Toby had promised.
Beyond that their phone conversation had gone on normally with Sarah talking about he daughters and bring up her husband's latest antics. Sarah had hung up feeling good about everything but as they day wore on a flutter of worry began to develop and now that she was home Sarah was almost positive that something was going on. She just had to wait until Toby got back into town to confirm it.
The woman formerly known as Sarah William before she'd married was currently sitting in her living room rather than being at work like she should have been. Considering Sarah both owned and operated Mirror on the Green it was her purgative to close the shop up early and come home if she wanted to and today was turning out to be one of those times. At the moment no one besides Sarah was home which had given her ample time to mull over the strange phone call she'd received during the morning from her favorite and only brother.
While Toby Williams commonly wrote to Sarah and her family at least once a month sending postcards and trinkets from where ever he happened to be at any given time, Sarah had started to become slightly concerned with the rapid decline in his actual phone calls and visits home. Sarah couldn't help but shake the uncomfortable feeling that something was going on with him and that Toby was purposely not telling her about it.
"I've already talked to mom and dad. Did you know they've been renting out the old house over on Claybourn?" Toby had asked half way through their phone conversation.
"Yeah. Malcolm and I have been keeping it up for them since they moved to Florida. Dad wanted to sell it but you're mom couldn't do it. You were conceived in that house after all. Up until recently there was this sweet old couple renting it until the husband had to transfer to an assisted living nursing facility. For awhile we had some college students living there but its empty right now." Sarah had confirmed over her work phone.
"I know. Mom told me. I bring it up because I'm moving back to Boston, Sarah. I was going to look for a place to stay but Mom offered to let me use the house until I found a teaching job in town." Toby had explained.
"Wow. I'm...Surprised. I guess I never imagined you'd com back here long term. You don't have to stay there. You know? We do still have the guest room in my house. The kids would love if you stayed for awhile and Malcolm and I would be happy to have you." Sarah had offered.
"I can't, Sar. I mean...I'd love to but I've still got some personal work to wrap up and the old house would be a better environment for me right now. Of course dinner is always an option. You know I can never turn down Malcolm's pasta and your desserts." Toby had tried to keep his voice light and airy over the phone but he couldn't completely mask his actual mood which was far from chipper.
"Tobs are you OK? You calling out of the blue and telling me you're moving back home feels weird to me. What's all this really about?" Sarah had asked.
"I can't explain things right now Sarah but I promise I'm all right. Things have just taken an unexpected turn that's all. I'll tell you about it when I get into town and have time to settle in." Toby had promised.
Beyond that their phone conversation had gone on normally with Sarah talking about he daughters and bring up her husband's latest antics. Sarah had hung up feeling good about everything but as they day wore on a flutter of worry began to develop and now that she was home Sarah was almost positive that something was going on. She just had to wait until Toby got back into town to confirm it.
Setting
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Eva's Grandmother's House - Boston - 6:00 PM
Eva pulled her black 1967 Chevy Impala into the parking lot. She didn't turn it off right away, instead she sat back in her seat and stared at the place. She was not in anyway happy to be here, she wanted to be anywhere else. The hum of the engine flowed through her ears as her eyes scanned the old brick house, memories of birthdays and other celebrations. A soft smile spread on her lips as she remembered the day she got her acceptance letter for university.
~~ Years Earlier ~~
"Eva! It's here, your letter...come read it out loud to me!" Gran's voice boomed through the house. Eva was in her room when she heard her Gran, and wasted no time to complete the request that was yelled out. Skipping two steps at a time, Eva was soon in front of her Gran.
"Where is it? Oh, thank you." Eva said as she received the letter in her hands. With shaky movements, she lifted the paper out of the envelope. She quickly scanned the contents, then read the confirmation out loud. Happy yells soon followed from both women, and they hugged and cried together like fools. When they pulled away, both were wiping tears from their eyes. Eva could see the happiness in Gran's brown eyes, a mirror image of her own eyes, so much happiness...
~~ Present Time ~~
With a smile on her face, Eva turned off the car and stepped out. As she used one hand to tuck a few fallen strands of hair behind her ears, the other pocketed her keys. Her steps were a bit heavy, carrying some sadness in them, as she made her way to the front door of the house.
The house still smelled the same, like a field filled with lavenders. The scent sent tears to Eva's eyes, from the smell being so strong or the memories it brought, she couldn't tell. She figured since she was so emotional right now, anything that would spark memories would spark an emotion or reaction in the mind-
'Stop it Eva. We're not in school anymore.' She told herself, shaking her head as she tried to forget her scientific impulses.
With a sigh, Eva started up towards the attic. She figured she'd work her way top to bottom, starting with the attic. Ah, the attic...one place she wasn't allowed to venture into as a child. 'To dangerous.' Her Gran used to say, but now Gran wanted her to go in there.
Eva's wavy brown hair bounced slightly as she made her way to the top of the house. Her hand now rested on the cool metal of the handle, and then she pushed the door open. A cold gust of air hit Eva as she entered the room, sending a slight shiver down her arms and back. There wasn't much in the old attic, a few boxes and...and object covered by a large cloth. Eva could guess what it was by it's size, a mirror. Pulling back the sheet, she smiled. A simple, but beautiful, mirror stood before her. Another sigh escaped her lips as she went to touch the mirror.
"I wish I could go away. Be anywhere else." Eva murmured as her fingertips softly glided down the glass. With a snap of her wrist, she pulled away when a vibration hit her fingertips. Her eyes widened as her reflection seemed to fade, and another image appeared. Before she could make anything out, she turned on her heel and ran out of the attic and then to her old room.
"I'm going crazy, my mind has snapped from the pressure of..of..." Eva tried to make sense of what had happened, but she laid on her bed and fell asleep.
Eva pulled her black 1967 Chevy Impala into the parking lot. She didn't turn it off right away, instead she sat back in her seat and stared at the place. She was not in anyway happy to be here, she wanted to be anywhere else. The hum of the engine flowed through her ears as her eyes scanned the old brick house, memories of birthdays and other celebrations. A soft smile spread on her lips as she remembered the day she got her acceptance letter for university.
~~ Years Earlier ~~
"Eva! It's here, your letter...come read it out loud to me!" Gran's voice boomed through the house. Eva was in her room when she heard her Gran, and wasted no time to complete the request that was yelled out. Skipping two steps at a time, Eva was soon in front of her Gran.
"Where is it? Oh, thank you." Eva said as she received the letter in her hands. With shaky movements, she lifted the paper out of the envelope. She quickly scanned the contents, then read the confirmation out loud. Happy yells soon followed from both women, and they hugged and cried together like fools. When they pulled away, both were wiping tears from their eyes. Eva could see the happiness in Gran's brown eyes, a mirror image of her own eyes, so much happiness...
~~ Present Time ~~
With a smile on her face, Eva turned off the car and stepped out. As she used one hand to tuck a few fallen strands of hair behind her ears, the other pocketed her keys. Her steps were a bit heavy, carrying some sadness in them, as she made her way to the front door of the house.
The house still smelled the same, like a field filled with lavenders. The scent sent tears to Eva's eyes, from the smell being so strong or the memories it brought, she couldn't tell. She figured since she was so emotional right now, anything that would spark memories would spark an emotion or reaction in the mind-
'Stop it Eva. We're not in school anymore.' She told herself, shaking her head as she tried to forget her scientific impulses.
With a sigh, Eva started up towards the attic. She figured she'd work her way top to bottom, starting with the attic. Ah, the attic...one place she wasn't allowed to venture into as a child. 'To dangerous.' Her Gran used to say, but now Gran wanted her to go in there.
Eva's wavy brown hair bounced slightly as she made her way to the top of the house. Her hand now rested on the cool metal of the handle, and then she pushed the door open. A cold gust of air hit Eva as she entered the room, sending a slight shiver down her arms and back. There wasn't much in the old attic, a few boxes and...and object covered by a large cloth. Eva could guess what it was by it's size, a mirror. Pulling back the sheet, she smiled. A simple, but beautiful, mirror stood before her. Another sigh escaped her lips as she went to touch the mirror.
"I wish I could go away. Be anywhere else." Eva murmured as her fingertips softly glided down the glass. With a snap of her wrist, she pulled away when a vibration hit her fingertips. Her eyes widened as her reflection seemed to fade, and another image appeared. Before she could make anything out, she turned on her heel and ran out of the attic and then to her old room.
"I'm going crazy, my mind has snapped from the pressure of..of..." Eva tried to make sense of what had happened, but she laid on her bed and fell asleep.
The setting changes from BOSTON to The Labyrinth Universe
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Controlling the Labyrinth and its ever changing configuration was a bit like endlessly rearranging a complicated grouping of circuits on a circuit board. The castle being the spot where all the circuits inter connected. Part of Jareth’s job was to keep the various strands of magic flowing in a manner that allowed the Labyrinth to evenly distribute its magical properties. In other words Jareth made sure that everything in the kingdom worked as correctly and efficiently as possible.
If one part of the Labyrinth wasn’t up to par it was up to Jareth to reroute the flow of magic like a police officer rerouted the flow of traffic when an accident was clogging up the system. This constant rearranging required a certain level of concentration as well as the ability to think three dimensionally.
Now completely alone in his throne room Jareth set himself to the task of closing off the damaged portion of the labyrinth. In a way the process was a bit like solving a rubix’s cube. Only backwards. The idea was to further create the puzzle rather then solve it. Jareth was just in the middle of reconnecting the disjointed parts he was reorganizing when something pricked at the edge of his subconscious awareness.
“Damn these bloody distraction!” Someone had momentarily made a physical connection between the Labyrinth and the above. The disturbance was subtle. Like a drop of water falling into a small pool but it was distracting to Jareth nevertheless. Under other curcimstances Jareth would have been inclined to investigate the matter in order to ensure there wasn't any accidential crossover. Every now and then some unsuspecting person in the above ground would come into contact with an magical object that had been left around for one reason or another and end up landing themselve in places like the Labyrinth. Part of Jareht's job was to minimize those kinds of incidents but at the present moment he could not trouble to answer. With any luck the unfortunent soul would have enough sense to leave the object well enough alone, although Jareth wasn't about to hold his breath over it.
Jareth glowered darkly as he returned his attention back to his work although admittedly he was still mildly unfocused. What was Ariadne playing at? Jareth couldn't help but wonder. This wasn’t the first time she’d used her minions to deface a part of the Labyrinth but to what ends? Why now? Whatever the logic was behind her antics Ariadne was up to something and not knowing what that something was made the Goblin King very uncharacteristically nervious.
If one part of the Labyrinth wasn’t up to par it was up to Jareth to reroute the flow of magic like a police officer rerouted the flow of traffic when an accident was clogging up the system. This constant rearranging required a certain level of concentration as well as the ability to think three dimensionally.
Now completely alone in his throne room Jareth set himself to the task of closing off the damaged portion of the labyrinth. In a way the process was a bit like solving a rubix’s cube. Only backwards. The idea was to further create the puzzle rather then solve it. Jareth was just in the middle of reconnecting the disjointed parts he was reorganizing when something pricked at the edge of his subconscious awareness.
“Damn these bloody distraction!” Someone had momentarily made a physical connection between the Labyrinth and the above. The disturbance was subtle. Like a drop of water falling into a small pool but it was distracting to Jareth nevertheless. Under other curcimstances Jareth would have been inclined to investigate the matter in order to ensure there wasn't any accidential crossover. Every now and then some unsuspecting person in the above ground would come into contact with an magical object that had been left around for one reason or another and end up landing themselve in places like the Labyrinth. Part of Jareht's job was to minimize those kinds of incidents but at the present moment he could not trouble to answer. With any luck the unfortunent soul would have enough sense to leave the object well enough alone, although Jareth wasn't about to hold his breath over it.
Jareth glowered darkly as he returned his attention back to his work although admittedly he was still mildly unfocused. What was Ariadne playing at? Jareth couldn't help but wonder. This wasn’t the first time she’d used her minions to deface a part of the Labyrinth but to what ends? Why now? Whatever the logic was behind her antics Ariadne was up to something and not knowing what that something was made the Goblin King very uncharacteristically nervious.
The setting changes from The Labyrinth Universe to BOSTON
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The Old House - Boston - 7:00 PM
Toby Williams didn't actually tell Sarah when he was going to be in town mostly because he wasn't ready to see her yet. As his older sister, Sarah had an uncanny ability to know when Toby was lying to her. He also knew that if Sarah thought for even one second that something was wrong, she would want to know about it and she wouldn't give him a moments peace until she was satisfied. Toby needed some time to build up a convincing poker face. Or, at least, he wanted to wait a day or so before he announced himself as being back in the community.
Irene had already taken the liberty of sending her son a spare set of house keys. So when his plane got into the Boston terminal early in the afternoon, Toby was able to take a taxi straight to the old house without having to check in with Sarah first. He'd been careful to fudge his timeliness with his mother as well knowing that Irene would probably tell Sarah about it if he didn't call her first. Toby hadn't flown directly from France, he'd made a pit stop in Spain first to pick up some of his research there before he'd come back to the states. Unfortunately there was too much to bring home all in one sitting. He and Alfonse had covered too much ground to conveniently condense everything they'd been working on into one confined package. Of course that exactly what Toby planed to do with it now that he was back in Boston, but that was a separate task entirely.
As Toby sat in the taxi he removed a thick stack of fat envelopes from his jacket pocket and looked through them. There were at least a dozen addresses from all over central Europe. One for every town Toby had stayed while he collected data for Alfonse and followed up on leads. Each letter was from a trusted contact and friend of either Elfonse or himself. All of them included binding promises to send Toby their information by mail and arrangements to assist him in any other way he might come to need them. A few of them had even set cash. A friendly fund some of them had apparently taken up on Toby's behalf so that he could get on his feet and have a little something extra.
There was just enough for Toby to make a down payment on a very used car, pay six months worth of rent to upkeep the house, live off of a weeks worth of Chinese take out and pizza, and to get thoroughly sloshed with some night. The last contribution was undoubtedly from Judith. One of Alfonse distant and zany cousins.
While Toby knew all of it was right and necessary the prompt news from his contacts did little to cheer him and served as even more evidence supporting the time and preparation Alfonse had put into arranging his divorce from what had become their mutual cause. Apparently everyone else had been made aware of the older man's intentions long before Toby had been told and the truth of that considerably stung.
The taxi pulled into Toby's childhood home just around 7:00 PM.
Most of the family furniture in the house was gone but Irene promised that there was plenty of left overs tucked away in the basement and a few boxes worth of stuff up in the attic left over from before each of the kids had gone away to college. The rest of the house was more or less scarcely furnished. Comfortable enough. Although common logic advised against it, apparently one really could go home again.
After dumping most all his luggage in the living room to unpack for later, Toby threw the mail on the dinning room table from the inbox on the porch and proceeded to inspect the kitchen. Not surprisingly there wasn't anything in the fridge and just a few scattered remains could be found in the pantry, no doubt left over by the College kids that had last occupied the house.
Sighing Toby returned to the dining room to have a rest and glance through the junk mail that had been delivered. As he expected almost all of it was a sad excuse for murdering trees and the two envelops that were actually legitimate mail had been mis-delivered by the postman and belonged to one of the houses a little ways down the street. Shaking his head Toby pocketed the envelops and decided he had no other option but to return them on his way back from the little corner drugstore a few blocks away. While Toby could have at ordered out for dinner there were a few other essentials he wanted to pick up. Like toilet paper for one.
And anyway Toby figured the walk would do him some good.
Toby Williams didn't actually tell Sarah when he was going to be in town mostly because he wasn't ready to see her yet. As his older sister, Sarah had an uncanny ability to know when Toby was lying to her. He also knew that if Sarah thought for even one second that something was wrong, she would want to know about it and she wouldn't give him a moments peace until she was satisfied. Toby needed some time to build up a convincing poker face. Or, at least, he wanted to wait a day or so before he announced himself as being back in the community.
Irene had already taken the liberty of sending her son a spare set of house keys. So when his plane got into the Boston terminal early in the afternoon, Toby was able to take a taxi straight to the old house without having to check in with Sarah first. He'd been careful to fudge his timeliness with his mother as well knowing that Irene would probably tell Sarah about it if he didn't call her first. Toby hadn't flown directly from France, he'd made a pit stop in Spain first to pick up some of his research there before he'd come back to the states. Unfortunately there was too much to bring home all in one sitting. He and Alfonse had covered too much ground to conveniently condense everything they'd been working on into one confined package. Of course that exactly what Toby planed to do with it now that he was back in Boston, but that was a separate task entirely.
As Toby sat in the taxi he removed a thick stack of fat envelopes from his jacket pocket and looked through them. There were at least a dozen addresses from all over central Europe. One for every town Toby had stayed while he collected data for Alfonse and followed up on leads. Each letter was from a trusted contact and friend of either Elfonse or himself. All of them included binding promises to send Toby their information by mail and arrangements to assist him in any other way he might come to need them. A few of them had even set cash. A friendly fund some of them had apparently taken up on Toby's behalf so that he could get on his feet and have a little something extra.
There was just enough for Toby to make a down payment on a very used car, pay six months worth of rent to upkeep the house, live off of a weeks worth of Chinese take out and pizza, and to get thoroughly sloshed with some night. The last contribution was undoubtedly from Judith. One of Alfonse distant and zany cousins.
While Toby knew all of it was right and necessary the prompt news from his contacts did little to cheer him and served as even more evidence supporting the time and preparation Alfonse had put into arranging his divorce from what had become their mutual cause. Apparently everyone else had been made aware of the older man's intentions long before Toby had been told and the truth of that considerably stung.
The taxi pulled into Toby's childhood home just around 7:00 PM.
Most of the family furniture in the house was gone but Irene promised that there was plenty of left overs tucked away in the basement and a few boxes worth of stuff up in the attic left over from before each of the kids had gone away to college. The rest of the house was more or less scarcely furnished. Comfortable enough. Although common logic advised against it, apparently one really could go home again.
After dumping most all his luggage in the living room to unpack for later, Toby threw the mail on the dinning room table from the inbox on the porch and proceeded to inspect the kitchen. Not surprisingly there wasn't anything in the fridge and just a few scattered remains could be found in the pantry, no doubt left over by the College kids that had last occupied the house.
Sighing Toby returned to the dining room to have a rest and glance through the junk mail that had been delivered. As he expected almost all of it was a sad excuse for murdering trees and the two envelops that were actually legitimate mail had been mis-delivered by the postman and belonged to one of the houses a little ways down the street. Shaking his head Toby pocketed the envelops and decided he had no other option but to return them on his way back from the little corner drugstore a few blocks away. While Toby could have at ordered out for dinner there were a few other essentials he wanted to pick up. Like toilet paper for one.
And anyway Toby figured the walk would do him some good.
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Gran's House - Boston - 7:10 PM
Eva woke up with a pounding headache, one that she didn't fully realize until she lifted her head from the pillow she had been sleeping on. With a groan of displeasure, she pulled herself up into a sitting position. After she stretched her neck, Eva pulled her hair out of it's ponytail...a rare happening. Slowly she stood up and made her way out of the room, momentarily forgetting about the strange events that happened in the attic. That moment of forgetfulness soon ended as she reached the end of the hallway, there were two directions she could take. One would lead her down at set of stairs and into the foyer, while the other led her up another set of stairs and into the attic. Eva stood there, debating with herself whether or she should try to go back up there.
"What happened?" She asked her self aloud. What she had experienced, seemed like a door or portal to somewhere else. That was the only explanation she could come up with. Well, other than she was crazy and needed to be sent to an asylum ASAP.
"If that led somewhere else, does that mean there are..other creatures there?....Wait...d-does that mean they could have been alerted to that mirror, door, whatever that was...being opened?" Eva paused for a moment, then thought back to what she saw. She closed her eyes and tried to replay that earlier scene in her head. She didn't try to make anything out before, but now she may as well try to remember what it was. She pushed her brain hard to remember, it looked like...a huge maze...with something in the middle. A house? Castle? Eva sighed and opened her eyes, then...
Eva giggled, then she laughed, hard. What she was saying and thinking was crazy, wasn't it? There were no such things as other worlds and other creatures and doorways that lead to a huge maze. Nonsense is what she thought it was. In fact, just to prove to herself she was seeing things, she would go back up there later. But for the moment, she needed some medication for her headache.
Eva closed another cabinet door. There were no meds in the house she could take, this meant a walk or drive was in store. Hadn't there been a small drugstore a few blocks away? Yes, she was certain that she had passed one on the way to the house. Nodding to herself, she grabbed her coat and stepped out the door.
Eva breathed in the fresh air, and decided she could walk. A couple blocks wouldn't kill her.
Eva woke up with a pounding headache, one that she didn't fully realize until she lifted her head from the pillow she had been sleeping on. With a groan of displeasure, she pulled herself up into a sitting position. After she stretched her neck, Eva pulled her hair out of it's ponytail...a rare happening. Slowly she stood up and made her way out of the room, momentarily forgetting about the strange events that happened in the attic. That moment of forgetfulness soon ended as she reached the end of the hallway, there were two directions she could take. One would lead her down at set of stairs and into the foyer, while the other led her up another set of stairs and into the attic. Eva stood there, debating with herself whether or she should try to go back up there.
"What happened?" She asked her self aloud. What she had experienced, seemed like a door or portal to somewhere else. That was the only explanation she could come up with. Well, other than she was crazy and needed to be sent to an asylum ASAP.
"If that led somewhere else, does that mean there are..other creatures there?....Wait...d-does that mean they could have been alerted to that mirror, door, whatever that was...being opened?" Eva paused for a moment, then thought back to what she saw. She closed her eyes and tried to replay that earlier scene in her head. She didn't try to make anything out before, but now she may as well try to remember what it was. She pushed her brain hard to remember, it looked like...a huge maze...with something in the middle. A house? Castle? Eva sighed and opened her eyes, then...
Eva giggled, then she laughed, hard. What she was saying and thinking was crazy, wasn't it? There were no such things as other worlds and other creatures and doorways that lead to a huge maze. Nonsense is what she thought it was. In fact, just to prove to herself she was seeing things, she would go back up there later. But for the moment, she needed some medication for her headache.
Eva closed another cabinet door. There were no meds in the house she could take, this meant a walk or drive was in store. Hadn't there been a small drugstore a few blocks away? Yes, she was certain that she had passed one on the way to the house. Nodding to herself, she grabbed her coat and stepped out the door.
Eva breathed in the fresh air, and decided she could walk. A couple blocks wouldn't kill her.
The setting changes from BOSTON to The Labyrinth Universe
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The Labyrinth - The Underground - Mid Afternoon
Time moved on in the Labyrinth setting it's Denizens into a steady pace. With part of the Labyrinth successfully closed off and most of the gossip about recent events already spread around the goblins returned to their usual revelries. While perfectly capable of working, Goblins by nature had short attention spans. Add the fact that there was almost always ample drink to be had and more then enough mud to throw, by this time of the day the Goblin City was usually ablaze with music, good natured skirmishes, and other foolishness.
Jareth was not at all in a good mood as the afternoon began to press on. Even with both the Gomes and the blasted Dwarf working on the damaged parts of the Labyrinth it would still take quite some time to re-cultivate what had been lost. Up until recently the interference of the Junk People had been minimal. Jareth had particularly given them the Arid Flats to roam and scavenge in as they pleased and, until the arrival of Ariadne, it was not in the nature of the Junk People to wander very far from their liars.
That seemed to be changing however. Now numerous Junk People had been spotted in various places they shouldn't have been throughout the Kingdom. What was odd about this despite the fact that the creatures did not like to travel far from their homes, was that many of the spottings had only implied one or two of the creatures at most.
Junk People migrated in loose packs of eight to twelve. It was almost unheard of to see any less of that number in one place. Yet that appeared to be exactly what was occurring. Why? Jareth contemplated this question darkly as he lounged the long way upon his throne. It was a rare thing that the Goblin King didn't absolutely know what was going on in his own Kingdom.
Just then Jareth heard the obvious clumsy sound of one of his goblins enter the throne room. Marching before the throne the goblin bowed ungraciously.
Jareth snapped up into a proper sitting position which made him likely seem intimidating enough to put the other goblins on notice that their Majesty was in the middle of conducting business.
"Report, General!" Jareth ordered sharply his eyes now fully alert and imposing.
"Sir!" The goblin General stood at attention and saluted. "The Gnomes have begun reconstruction of the hedge mazes they estimate that the re-growth will take more then a week and that the hedge enchantments will have to be reestablished after the repairs are made. We have taken into custody several Junk People in sectors 2, 5, and 9. However we can't say which, if any, were responsible for the damage and none of them seem cooperative to our questions."
The Goblin Paused as if waiting for some kind of reaction from Jareth but was disappointed when the Goblin King distractedly waved him on.
"Huh...There's also a portal that's been activated somewhere's near the Enchanted Forest, Sir. At least we thinks it be a portal of some kind. Whoever accessed it don't have the smell of magic on her. Oh and..and a..." The Goblin faltered now as if an inkling of fear had suddenly made it difficult to string a proper sentence together but quickly corrected him self when he saw Jareth begin to grow annoyed.
"The-Lady-Araidne-has-sent-a-formal-request-to-speak-with-you, m' Lord!" The goblin horridly muttered speaking so fast his words strung together. "She leaves word to meet her upon the neutral ground of the Great Bluff overlooking the kingdom. What are your orders Sir?"
"Let Hoghead deal with the snooper. No doubt its a human, probably a woman, who touched something she shouldn't have. It's probably something in the Enchanted Forrest which means its Muriel's problem and not mine." Jareth said with particular disdain. The Enchanted forrest butted up against the side of the Labyrinth and was the White Huntress's domain. Although Jareth didn't have a particular issue with the woman he did have an issue will Elves in general and prefered not to have anything to do with them if he could help it.
In more recent history Warring had broken out among the various factions and the Goblin King had extended his hand to them only to have it thrown back in his face on more than one ocassion. Elves were above Goblin Aid it seemed, preferring to stick with their own kind then accept relief from what the Elven Leaders perceived to be nothing more then a charlatan wizard clutching at the grubby strands of royal power even as their own existance was being quickly rubbed away. Goblins, while considered magical creatures, were about the lowest a person could be and when the Goblin King had stepped forward to offer his services the Elves had rebuked him and thrown the offer aside and Jareth had withdrawn from engagement with the fading race entirely.
Jareth's eyes narrowed when the goblin announced Ariadne's request.
"So the witch wishes an audience with me, does she? Cut one of her putrid little minions loose and send them packing with a message to their mistress informing the gracious Lady I will agree to take and audience with her as she wishes an hour before dusk. She is to come alone and unarmed as per the Treaty of the Three Sons Dictates. Then put a horde of patrols along the gate wall and prepare the Goblin City to go on high alert. I will not take any chances with compromising the security of the castle."
The goblin saluted his master bowed and quickly exited to carry out his orders leaving Jareth mildly disturbed within his throne chamber.
Time moved on in the Labyrinth setting it's Denizens into a steady pace. With part of the Labyrinth successfully closed off and most of the gossip about recent events already spread around the goblins returned to their usual revelries. While perfectly capable of working, Goblins by nature had short attention spans. Add the fact that there was almost always ample drink to be had and more then enough mud to throw, by this time of the day the Goblin City was usually ablaze with music, good natured skirmishes, and other foolishness.
Jareth was not at all in a good mood as the afternoon began to press on. Even with both the Gomes and the blasted Dwarf working on the damaged parts of the Labyrinth it would still take quite some time to re-cultivate what had been lost. Up until recently the interference of the Junk People had been minimal. Jareth had particularly given them the Arid Flats to roam and scavenge in as they pleased and, until the arrival of Ariadne, it was not in the nature of the Junk People to wander very far from their liars.
That seemed to be changing however. Now numerous Junk People had been spotted in various places they shouldn't have been throughout the Kingdom. What was odd about this despite the fact that the creatures did not like to travel far from their homes, was that many of the spottings had only implied one or two of the creatures at most.
Junk People migrated in loose packs of eight to twelve. It was almost unheard of to see any less of that number in one place. Yet that appeared to be exactly what was occurring. Why? Jareth contemplated this question darkly as he lounged the long way upon his throne. It was a rare thing that the Goblin King didn't absolutely know what was going on in his own Kingdom.
Just then Jareth heard the obvious clumsy sound of one of his goblins enter the throne room. Marching before the throne the goblin bowed ungraciously.
Jareth snapped up into a proper sitting position which made him likely seem intimidating enough to put the other goblins on notice that their Majesty was in the middle of conducting business.
"Report, General!" Jareth ordered sharply his eyes now fully alert and imposing.
"Sir!" The goblin General stood at attention and saluted. "The Gnomes have begun reconstruction of the hedge mazes they estimate that the re-growth will take more then a week and that the hedge enchantments will have to be reestablished after the repairs are made. We have taken into custody several Junk People in sectors 2, 5, and 9. However we can't say which, if any, were responsible for the damage and none of them seem cooperative to our questions."
The Goblin Paused as if waiting for some kind of reaction from Jareth but was disappointed when the Goblin King distractedly waved him on.
"Huh...There's also a portal that's been activated somewhere's near the Enchanted Forest, Sir. At least we thinks it be a portal of some kind. Whoever accessed it don't have the smell of magic on her. Oh and..and a..." The Goblin faltered now as if an inkling of fear had suddenly made it difficult to string a proper sentence together but quickly corrected him self when he saw Jareth begin to grow annoyed.
"The-Lady-Araidne-has-sent-a-formal-request-to-speak-with-you, m' Lord!" The goblin horridly muttered speaking so fast his words strung together. "She leaves word to meet her upon the neutral ground of the Great Bluff overlooking the kingdom. What are your orders Sir?"
"Let Hoghead deal with the snooper. No doubt its a human, probably a woman, who touched something she shouldn't have. It's probably something in the Enchanted Forrest which means its Muriel's problem and not mine." Jareth said with particular disdain. The Enchanted forrest butted up against the side of the Labyrinth and was the White Huntress's domain. Although Jareth didn't have a particular issue with the woman he did have an issue will Elves in general and prefered not to have anything to do with them if he could help it.
In more recent history Warring had broken out among the various factions and the Goblin King had extended his hand to them only to have it thrown back in his face on more than one ocassion. Elves were above Goblin Aid it seemed, preferring to stick with their own kind then accept relief from what the Elven Leaders perceived to be nothing more then a charlatan wizard clutching at the grubby strands of royal power even as their own existance was being quickly rubbed away. Goblins, while considered magical creatures, were about the lowest a person could be and when the Goblin King had stepped forward to offer his services the Elves had rebuked him and thrown the offer aside and Jareth had withdrawn from engagement with the fading race entirely.
Jareth's eyes narrowed when the goblin announced Ariadne's request.
"So the witch wishes an audience with me, does she? Cut one of her putrid little minions loose and send them packing with a message to their mistress informing the gracious Lady I will agree to take and audience with her as she wishes an hour before dusk. She is to come alone and unarmed as per the Treaty of the Three Sons Dictates. Then put a horde of patrols along the gate wall and prepare the Goblin City to go on high alert. I will not take any chances with compromising the security of the castle."
The goblin saluted his master bowed and quickly exited to carry out his orders leaving Jareth mildly disturbed within his throne chamber.
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The Lair of a Witch - Arid Flats - Mid Afternoon
On the surface the Arid Flats seemed desolate and barren. Though there was at least a hoard of Junk People traversing and scavenging upon its surface at any given time. The bulk of the make shift domain of the Junk People was largely underground and deceptively burrowed into the hearts of the larger accumulations of trash. The system of tunnels was not unlike that of a rabbit warren in structure however the individual dwelling of the Junk People were formulated much like rat nests. Each individual was responsible for his or her own lodgings and the Junk People in general were highly solitary creatures that often competed against their own kind for resources and space.
It was hard to say who or what the Junk People actually were. Some believed they were a particular kind of goblin. However if that had been true it was reasonable to assume that the bizarre creatures would have been far more inclined to follow that of the Goblin King like the other goblins within the kingdom. Others speculated that the Junk people were in fact a large grouping of dwarves that for one reason or another had befallen some terrible enchantment causing them to wander the Arid Flats aimlessly in pursuit of their precious ‘pretties' long since lost to them.
Dwarves were known for there almost obsessive compulsive need to collect things of value simply for the purpose of having them. Perhaps when it came to the Junk People of the Arid Flats something had gone horribly wrong someplace along the way. Regardless of one's opinions on the matter there was one thing that seemed to be agreed on when it came to the Junk people. The junk People were slaves to their own desires and that made them very troublesome to deal with.
Troublesome, that is, if you were the Goblin King. The very thought caused the Lady Araid to smile ever so slightly in her seat. Although not enough to disturb her carefully applied cosmetics, it was still enough to transform her rigidly stiff features into something that could have almost passed for lovely if her ice colored eyes hadn't ruined the warm effect.
It was under her personal direction that the fires had been set in the night. Ariad was sending a clear message to the Goblin King. It was a reminder that while he might have control of the greater domain that was the Labyrinth, she herself was not without some influence within its boundaries.
This was simply the beginning. If Jareth thought the dark witch to be anything less then he was the Goblin King was in for a rude awakening. Ariad had great plans in store. She was simply waiting for the correct opportunity to strike.
"Take your sweet time my dear Majesty. And I will take mine." Ariad spoke softly to no one in particular as she caught sight of her own reflection upon the silver plate that held what remained of her morning breakfast.
A strand of auburn hair had had somehow worked itself loose from its pin and Ariad's brows suddenly knitted as if the strand itself had committed some unforgivable act of defiance against her. Without so much as a flinch Ariad plucked the hair from its place and coldly allowed it to flutter from her self manicured finger tips as a sharp thoughtful gleam shone in the Lady's eyes.
"Find that putrid little goblin Fidget and tell him to prepare himself as we discussed. Oh, and bring that dwarf Jareth is so fond of ording about to me. I want to have a little chat." Ariadne ordered.
As if on cue the mass of junk directly to Ariad's left shifted as if it had a life of its own (and it did too) and slowly made it's progression from the large Junk Encrusted room.
On the surface the Arid Flats seemed desolate and barren. Though there was at least a hoard of Junk People traversing and scavenging upon its surface at any given time. The bulk of the make shift domain of the Junk People was largely underground and deceptively burrowed into the hearts of the larger accumulations of trash. The system of tunnels was not unlike that of a rabbit warren in structure however the individual dwelling of the Junk People were formulated much like rat nests. Each individual was responsible for his or her own lodgings and the Junk People in general were highly solitary creatures that often competed against their own kind for resources and space.
It was hard to say who or what the Junk People actually were. Some believed they were a particular kind of goblin. However if that had been true it was reasonable to assume that the bizarre creatures would have been far more inclined to follow that of the Goblin King like the other goblins within the kingdom. Others speculated that the Junk people were in fact a large grouping of dwarves that for one reason or another had befallen some terrible enchantment causing them to wander the Arid Flats aimlessly in pursuit of their precious ‘pretties' long since lost to them.
Dwarves were known for there almost obsessive compulsive need to collect things of value simply for the purpose of having them. Perhaps when it came to the Junk People of the Arid Flats something had gone horribly wrong someplace along the way. Regardless of one's opinions on the matter there was one thing that seemed to be agreed on when it came to the Junk people. The junk People were slaves to their own desires and that made them very troublesome to deal with.
Troublesome, that is, if you were the Goblin King. The very thought caused the Lady Araid to smile ever so slightly in her seat. Although not enough to disturb her carefully applied cosmetics, it was still enough to transform her rigidly stiff features into something that could have almost passed for lovely if her ice colored eyes hadn't ruined the warm effect.
It was under her personal direction that the fires had been set in the night. Ariad was sending a clear message to the Goblin King. It was a reminder that while he might have control of the greater domain that was the Labyrinth, she herself was not without some influence within its boundaries.
This was simply the beginning. If Jareth thought the dark witch to be anything less then he was the Goblin King was in for a rude awakening. Ariad had great plans in store. She was simply waiting for the correct opportunity to strike.
"Take your sweet time my dear Majesty. And I will take mine." Ariad spoke softly to no one in particular as she caught sight of her own reflection upon the silver plate that held what remained of her morning breakfast.
A strand of auburn hair had had somehow worked itself loose from its pin and Ariad's brows suddenly knitted as if the strand itself had committed some unforgivable act of defiance against her. Without so much as a flinch Ariad plucked the hair from its place and coldly allowed it to flutter from her self manicured finger tips as a sharp thoughtful gleam shone in the Lady's eyes.
"Find that putrid little goblin Fidget and tell him to prepare himself as we discussed. Oh, and bring that dwarf Jareth is so fond of ording about to me. I want to have a little chat." Ariadne ordered.
As if on cue the mass of junk directly to Ariad's left shifted as if it had a life of its own (and it did too) and slowly made it's progression from the large Junk Encrusted room.
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The Outskirts of the Fire Marsh - The Labyrinth - A while before Dusk
Boy there was an awful lot of strange things happening today. Even for the Labyrinth the events in recent times seemed a little too much on the 'I Should Be Worried" side of things. It just seemed to the dwarf as he'd hurried about taking care of things that day that there'd been a major influx in strangers going on in the Underground lately. Like Ariadne the trouble Araidne was starting, not to mention the uncomfortable unrest happening throughout the Labyrinth and perhaps even the entire underground itself.
Nope Hoggle didn't like the looks of any of it. In fact he'd have to bring some of his conserns up to the Elder Council soon if things didn't improve. That also meant having a little talk with the Goblin King as well. Hoggle shuddered at the thought.
That was another thing. Jareth had been rather quiet recently. Normally his Majesty made a least a daily effort to insult Hoggle and boss the dwarf around. It was sort of like a ritual between them and as much as Hoggle hated it when Jareth decided to pay him an unepected visit, he'd become acustom to it as well. As things currently stood it had been weeks since the Goblin King had personally taken it upon himself to make Hoggle's life miserable.
Was Jareth somehow losing his touch?
Hoggle took his time going the senic way through the enchanted forest on his way back towards the Bog of Eternal Strench which made up the eastern way into the Labyrinth proper and the Goblin City. Most of the regular creatures were familar with him there and most were too wary of angering the White Huntress to bother him. Unlike Jareth, Hoggle had it in (so to speak) with Meriel, due to their mutual interests in maintaining the status quo of things around the Kingdom of course. Because of that friendship Hoggle could mostly walk un molested through the woods as long as he was mindful of where he steped.
As the dwarf neared the area where part of the Labyrinth wall bisected the forest Hoggle couldn't help the growing uncomfortable feeling building in his gut. As formally stated the Dwarf had an amazing sense of when trouble was afoot and as he glanced around Hoggle noticed the forest had gotten particularly quiet all of a sudden.
It was important to remeber that the enchanted forest was...more or less...Enchanted. If one wasn't careful about it, the forest had a way of doing things to the mind. It was said that people saw things there that were beyond explination even for the Underground. A fact that largly made the Enchanted Forest in these parts apealling to wizards and other magically inclined folk.
Was he being watched?
That was certianly the distict inpression the dwarf got as the wind began to blow in an unverving fashion. "Oie. Me thinks somethin unsavory be going on around here..." Hoggle was starting to get scared. He was a coward after all, and Hoggle suddenly found himself wishing he'd had the foresight to carry his blade with him. Not that the dwarf was particularly good at sword fighting, mind you. Still a wepon would have certianly made him feel more secure at a time like this.
Hoggle suddenly thought he saw something out of the corner of his eye but when he turned around to look there was nothing. Just then. Like a phantom in the night he could have sworn he heard his name called?
"Sarah?" The dwarf was instantly reminded of his good friend and a surge of fear shot through him as he stared into the woods. Torn between going back and reaching the saftey of the maze Hoggle quickly made up his mind.
"I'm coming, Sarah!"
Spinning a moment Hoggle prepared to charge back into the woods but got less then two feet when a worn make shift pitch fork came flying out from the top of the wall to land in front of him blocking his way.
"Not so fact dwarf man!" Cackled a voice from over head up on the wall. It was easy to determine by the shaking of junk that Hoggle was in the middle of an ambush by none other then a small group of JUNK PEOPLE!
Boy there was an awful lot of strange things happening today. Even for the Labyrinth the events in recent times seemed a little too much on the 'I Should Be Worried" side of things. It just seemed to the dwarf as he'd hurried about taking care of things that day that there'd been a major influx in strangers going on in the Underground lately. Like Ariadne the trouble Araidne was starting, not to mention the uncomfortable unrest happening throughout the Labyrinth and perhaps even the entire underground itself.
Nope Hoggle didn't like the looks of any of it. In fact he'd have to bring some of his conserns up to the Elder Council soon if things didn't improve. That also meant having a little talk with the Goblin King as well. Hoggle shuddered at the thought.
That was another thing. Jareth had been rather quiet recently. Normally his Majesty made a least a daily effort to insult Hoggle and boss the dwarf around. It was sort of like a ritual between them and as much as Hoggle hated it when Jareth decided to pay him an unepected visit, he'd become acustom to it as well. As things currently stood it had been weeks since the Goblin King had personally taken it upon himself to make Hoggle's life miserable.
Was Jareth somehow losing his touch?
Hoggle took his time going the senic way through the enchanted forest on his way back towards the Bog of Eternal Strench which made up the eastern way into the Labyrinth proper and the Goblin City. Most of the regular creatures were familar with him there and most were too wary of angering the White Huntress to bother him. Unlike Jareth, Hoggle had it in (so to speak) with Meriel, due to their mutual interests in maintaining the status quo of things around the Kingdom of course. Because of that friendship Hoggle could mostly walk un molested through the woods as long as he was mindful of where he steped.
As the dwarf neared the area where part of the Labyrinth wall bisected the forest Hoggle couldn't help the growing uncomfortable feeling building in his gut. As formally stated the Dwarf had an amazing sense of when trouble was afoot and as he glanced around Hoggle noticed the forest had gotten particularly quiet all of a sudden.
It was important to remeber that the enchanted forest was...more or less...Enchanted. If one wasn't careful about it, the forest had a way of doing things to the mind. It was said that people saw things there that were beyond explination even for the Underground. A fact that largly made the Enchanted Forest in these parts apealling to wizards and other magically inclined folk.
Was he being watched?
That was certianly the distict inpression the dwarf got as the wind began to blow in an unverving fashion. "Oie. Me thinks somethin unsavory be going on around here..." Hoggle was starting to get scared. He was a coward after all, and Hoggle suddenly found himself wishing he'd had the foresight to carry his blade with him. Not that the dwarf was particularly good at sword fighting, mind you. Still a wepon would have certianly made him feel more secure at a time like this.
Hoggle suddenly thought he saw something out of the corner of his eye but when he turned around to look there was nothing. Just then. Like a phantom in the night he could have sworn he heard his name called?
"Sarah?" The dwarf was instantly reminded of his good friend and a surge of fear shot through him as he stared into the woods. Torn between going back and reaching the saftey of the maze Hoggle quickly made up his mind.
"I'm coming, Sarah!"
Spinning a moment Hoggle prepared to charge back into the woods but got less then two feet when a worn make shift pitch fork came flying out from the top of the wall to land in front of him blocking his way.
"Not so fact dwarf man!" Cackled a voice from over head up on the wall. It was easy to determine by the shaking of junk that Hoggle was in the middle of an ambush by none other then a small group of JUNK PEOPLE!
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Near the High Outer Wall - The Labyrinth- A While Before Dusk
Sure enough it was Junk People all right. Four of them to be exact. When one considered that the creatures were four times their actual size due to the amount of rubbish they carried on their backs it was amazing they'd been able to sneak up on him unaware. However Junk People were experts at concealing themselves and because they usually moved quite slow, they could often times mask the sound of their various junk. Besides...it was obvious that the creatures had aproached via the path along the top of the wall. Hoggle himself had used the same avenue to save Sarah from the attentions of the Wild Bunch year ago.
Hoggle spun around to glare up at the wall his mouth agap as it was somewhat shocking to see two unsavory creatures such as them ambushing him at a time like this.
"Hmph. and what do you heaps of trash want? You know it aint very friendly like to be thrown things at people!" Hoggle was trying to distract the assailents long enough to figure out his best options. Due to their position on the wall it was useless to try and proceed that way and given the current nature of the woods it suddenly occured to Hoggle that there was no garentee Meriel was actually in residance today. As rare as it was for her to leave her domain even Meriel was known to have business in the Goblin City on ocassion. Damn.
That only left the Fire Marsh. If hoggle could make it through there maybe he could concievably get Sir Didymus' attention. Surely the Labyrinth Knight would make short work the the two Junk people despite his small stature. Besides Hoggle wanted a witness. Someone who could confirm that Junk people were actually attacking folk outside of the Arid Flats.
Feeling desperate and vastly out numbered the dwarf did the only thing he could think of. With the make-shift pitch fork being the only weapon of defense available to him Hoggle grabbed for it and pointed it up at his assailants.
"I don't be want'n any trouble with you lot...I don't know nothin about no one, and I ain't done nothin to any of you! So if ye are looking for something specific you might as well forget about it!" These were brave words considering how terrified Hoggle was right at this moment. Maybe he could still make a try for the Marshlands. As Hoggle slowly began to back off the swishing of the end of his pitch fork made contact with something behind him and again he heard the sound of shuffling pots and pans.
"Hey! Knock that off!" A familar voice said.
Spinning his head around Hoggle caught sight of a fifth Junl Person whom he actually recognized.
"Call your hunks o' junk off, Agnes. I ain't got any time for these kinds a games." The dwarf growled. Hoggle's fear was quickly dissolving into frustrated annoyance.
"Fraid I can't do that, Dearie. The LAdy Ariadne be wanting a word with you!" Agnes cackles as she turned around to face him.
suppose if I don't come along quietly your Lady friend..." Hoggle almost had the urge to cackle and snort at the polite term for what Ariadne was. "...has given ye the go ahead to do something despicable to me ta get her way. I don't be supposs'n that any of ye have a drip O a consciounce about that?"
It seemed to Hoggle that he wasn't going to have a lot of choice in the matter. If that witch Ariad wanted to talk to him then she would regardless of what he or anyone else said and did. What frightened the dwarf about Araidne was that he got the chilly feeling given half a chance she'd rather just snuff the poor dwarf out of existence once she was done with him rather than just take what she wanted and leave him be. As far as the acting powers in the Labyrinth went...Jareth might have been a cruel uncompassionate sort but he did draw the line at slaughtering people. The Goblin King had far more tactful, if still underhanded, ways of getting what he wanted and had little interest in getting blood on his hands. As for Ariadne, Hoggle was convinced that the witch would sooner destroy something that was of no use to her rather then keep it around to clutter up things.
"That's right, Dearie now come along or get something pokey thrown at you again. We wont miss this time." Agness threatened him.
Fine. Have it your way." The dwarf grunted in defeat as he threw up his hands. "But I'm leading the way! Understand?"
Ironically the dwarf was actually willing to lead the way back to the Arid Flats without even trying to misdirect them or escape. Besides if Hoggle was being forced to content with Ariadne he felt it was better to just get it over with. The question was what did she want with him?
Surely it had to be something about Jareth, no doubt. However that didn't actually narrow the posibilities down very far.
Sure enough it was Junk People all right. Four of them to be exact. When one considered that the creatures were four times their actual size due to the amount of rubbish they carried on their backs it was amazing they'd been able to sneak up on him unaware. However Junk People were experts at concealing themselves and because they usually moved quite slow, they could often times mask the sound of their various junk. Besides...it was obvious that the creatures had aproached via the path along the top of the wall. Hoggle himself had used the same avenue to save Sarah from the attentions of the Wild Bunch year ago.
Hoggle spun around to glare up at the wall his mouth agap as it was somewhat shocking to see two unsavory creatures such as them ambushing him at a time like this.
"Hmph. and what do you heaps of trash want? You know it aint very friendly like to be thrown things at people!" Hoggle was trying to distract the assailents long enough to figure out his best options. Due to their position on the wall it was useless to try and proceed that way and given the current nature of the woods it suddenly occured to Hoggle that there was no garentee Meriel was actually in residance today. As rare as it was for her to leave her domain even Meriel was known to have business in the Goblin City on ocassion. Damn.
That only left the Fire Marsh. If hoggle could make it through there maybe he could concievably get Sir Didymus' attention. Surely the Labyrinth Knight would make short work the the two Junk people despite his small stature. Besides Hoggle wanted a witness. Someone who could confirm that Junk people were actually attacking folk outside of the Arid Flats.
Feeling desperate and vastly out numbered the dwarf did the only thing he could think of. With the make-shift pitch fork being the only weapon of defense available to him Hoggle grabbed for it and pointed it up at his assailants.
"I don't be want'n any trouble with you lot...I don't know nothin about no one, and I ain't done nothin to any of you! So if ye are looking for something specific you might as well forget about it!" These were brave words considering how terrified Hoggle was right at this moment. Maybe he could still make a try for the Marshlands. As Hoggle slowly began to back off the swishing of the end of his pitch fork made contact with something behind him and again he heard the sound of shuffling pots and pans.
"Hey! Knock that off!" A familar voice said.
Spinning his head around Hoggle caught sight of a fifth Junl Person whom he actually recognized.
"Call your hunks o' junk off, Agnes. I ain't got any time for these kinds a games." The dwarf growled. Hoggle's fear was quickly dissolving into frustrated annoyance.
"Fraid I can't do that, Dearie. The LAdy Ariadne be wanting a word with you!" Agnes cackles as she turned around to face him.
suppose if I don't come along quietly your Lady friend..." Hoggle almost had the urge to cackle and snort at the polite term for what Ariadne was. "...has given ye the go ahead to do something despicable to me ta get her way. I don't be supposs'n that any of ye have a drip O a consciounce about that?"
It seemed to Hoggle that he wasn't going to have a lot of choice in the matter. If that witch Ariad wanted to talk to him then she would regardless of what he or anyone else said and did. What frightened the dwarf about Araidne was that he got the chilly feeling given half a chance she'd rather just snuff the poor dwarf out of existence once she was done with him rather than just take what she wanted and leave him be. As far as the acting powers in the Labyrinth went...Jareth might have been a cruel uncompassionate sort but he did draw the line at slaughtering people. The Goblin King had far more tactful, if still underhanded, ways of getting what he wanted and had little interest in getting blood on his hands. As for Ariadne, Hoggle was convinced that the witch would sooner destroy something that was of no use to her rather then keep it around to clutter up things.
"That's right, Dearie now come along or get something pokey thrown at you again. We wont miss this time." Agness threatened him.
Fine. Have it your way." The dwarf grunted in defeat as he threw up his hands. "But I'm leading the way! Understand?"
Ironically the dwarf was actually willing to lead the way back to the Arid Flats without even trying to misdirect them or escape. Besides if Hoggle was being forced to content with Ariadne he felt it was better to just get it over with. The question was what did she want with him?
Surely it had to be something about Jareth, no doubt. However that didn't actually narrow the posibilities down very far.
Setting
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The Witches Lair - Arid Flats- Some Time Before Dusk
Once left alone to her own devices Ariadne's nails tapped a staccato rhythm upon her throne as she considered the next stage of her great plan. The trick of her scheme did not lay so much in the taking the castle, although that was the greater ambition as time went on. The heart of her current plans was to effectively put the Goblin King out of commission long enough to utterly destroy any credibility he currently had as ruler of the Labyrinth. While Ariad was not above taking things by force she was well aware that sometimes the easiest way to get what one wanted was to play using the current rules at hand. Never mind that she intended to take gross advantage of the standing nature of the game. Winning by way of minor technicalities, after all, was still binding in the world of the Underground. Never mind if her tactics weren't exactly fair.
Ariadne's callous musings were interrupted later as her refined ear caught the sound of Junk People and scraping feet on dirt. My my. Was it nearly dusk already? Naturally Ariadne was quite aware of the limited time she had to extract the information she wanted from the dwarf but then again she only wanted to know one tiny little detail before their meeting with Jareth occurred. Any other nuggets of information Ariadne could squeeze out of the hog faced gritty little worm of a gentleman otherwise know as Hoggle...was icing on the proverbial cake.
"Ah, my pets. You've brought me my present, I see. Generally Junk people are so seldom reliable these days." The dark lady drawled.
"As for you my little man; how kind of you to grace use with your presence. Ariadne said as Hoggle was shuffled into her chamber blindfolded.
Now shall we get down to business?" Ariadne was all politeness and charm but it was obvious to anyone with even a smidgen of sense that a dangerous maniacal edge awaited just under the surface of her pleasant tone. The time was nearly at hand.
"Tell me, Hoggle is it?" Ariadne didn't bother to wait for the dwarf to confirm his name. "Just how does Jareth produce those lovely little crystals he enjoys playing with so much?" Naturally being well versed in magical applications Ariadne already had a competent understanding of what allowed Jareth his versatile use of crystals in his magical work. However there was a specific detail regarding how Jareth went about materializing the crystals themselves that interested the witch.
Ariad leaned forward in her chair and rested her chin on one crossed arm. For all appearances she looked tranquil but if one was paying particular attention they would have noticed the steady tapping of the Lady's foot at the base of the throne. This was a clear indication that if Hoggle wasn't careful to be forthright in his response the witch was liable to loose her patience with him.
So that be yer game ye horrible hag. Hoggle thought to himself darkly. If there was one thing the Dwarf hated it was false respect. At least when Jareth wanted something from him the Goblin King was true to his character about getting it. Being openly patronized by Jareth might have been annoying, even frightening at times, but it was honest. While Hoggle was quite aware just how careful he would have to tread at this moment he was just as skilled as Araidne was at feigning an accommodating persona.
"Cor. Is that what all this be about?" Hoggle waved his hand idly at her as he nerviously cackled.
"Well your Ladyship there weren't any cause te pull ol' me away for THAT bit O' information. But, huh, seeing as I'm here and all..." Hoggle was trying to figure out how he could offer forth a satisfactory answer without actually telling Ariadne anything that she could really use.
"As for Jareth, Ma'am. I don't think anyone rightfully knows how he does ANYTHING." Hoggle replied with a snort.
Ariadne teeth ground ever so slightly upon hearing the dwarfs response. She really hadn't wanted to resort to violence but then again the tried and true methodes we always the most practical at times like these. "I see."
The lady had moved back into full attention and was now sitting up a little too straight upon her throne. The better that Ariadne's posture was while seated, the less genial she was liable to be and at that very moment Ariadne looked poised enough to skin a cat alive with her teeth.
"Well..." The witch said testily. Her words were sharp and fast again which meant she was annoyed. "Obviously our friend here has no further information for us. My my, such a shame. I was so hoping he'd have more to say on the matter...but never a mind. You know my pets, I don't think I've ever told you of my fondness for plastic beads. It's so hard to find more modern materials in the Underground these day and I do so enjoy the lovely durability of plastic Jewelry particularly since it's so rare to find..."
A frightening smile apeared once again upon the Lady's lovely face.
Damn. Hoggle thought quickly as the urge to take a step back overwhelmed his flight over fight instincts. The dwarf audiably swollowed when he heard Ariadne mention plastic beads. Had she perhaps seen Sarah's bracelet upon his wrist? Even if she hadn't the mentioning of plastic was uncanny and the dwarf quickly put both hands behind his back as if to keep his most prized posession out of her reach. Hoggle would willingly go to hell before he let this witch get her claws on aything that had once belonged to Sarah.
"huh. right..." The dwarf said lightly shuffling his feat. "Yes. Well! If that be all I suposse I'll just be heading on home now...Lots O' work te do...Ye know how it is.." Hoogle chuckled nervously as he did infact take a step backwards towards the exit.
"Oh no no no. We couldn't possibly let you leave that quickly. Seize him, and since the dwarf is of no further use to me as he has already avidly claimed...Strip him of his pretties and detain him some place untill we can conclude our business with his Majesty."
Ariadne knew full well the dwarf had a reasonably good idea of what she wanted to know. If polite inquiery didn't work perhaps a little bit more hands on persausion was required to scare him into being a tad more forth coming.
Ariadne ticked her tongue as Hoggle was being dragged from the large room. "Such a shame..." It was clear that the dwarf was far too wise on Ariadne for her to effectively question him herself. Such was the price of having presence of being. She was however deeply certain that at the hands of minions the dwarf would be far more willing to speak candidly when he realized what the Junk People WOULD do to him rather then what he knew Araidne COULD do instead.
If necessary Ariadne supposed she could always have Fidget guess where the Goblin King was most vulnerable. The draw back there being that if the trecherious little goblin didn't know where to properly strike Jareth he could either kill him outright or risk the chance of Jareth retaliating. Both scenarios were HIGHLY undesirable. At this point it would be mostly impossible to strip Jareth of his Magical abilities, that however didn't mean he couldn't be maimed to the point of making those abilities VERY difficult to effectively operate.
At any rate, Ariadne was running out of time. Lucky for her, plans could always be adapted to fit her needs. Hopefully her minions would alleviate the problem for her by finding out what she needed to know. If not, she knew just the right man who could get the job done instead.
Once left alone to her own devices Ariadne's nails tapped a staccato rhythm upon her throne as she considered the next stage of her great plan. The trick of her scheme did not lay so much in the taking the castle, although that was the greater ambition as time went on. The heart of her current plans was to effectively put the Goblin King out of commission long enough to utterly destroy any credibility he currently had as ruler of the Labyrinth. While Ariad was not above taking things by force she was well aware that sometimes the easiest way to get what one wanted was to play using the current rules at hand. Never mind that she intended to take gross advantage of the standing nature of the game. Winning by way of minor technicalities, after all, was still binding in the world of the Underground. Never mind if her tactics weren't exactly fair.
Ariadne's callous musings were interrupted later as her refined ear caught the sound of Junk People and scraping feet on dirt. My my. Was it nearly dusk already? Naturally Ariadne was quite aware of the limited time she had to extract the information she wanted from the dwarf but then again she only wanted to know one tiny little detail before their meeting with Jareth occurred. Any other nuggets of information Ariadne could squeeze out of the hog faced gritty little worm of a gentleman otherwise know as Hoggle...was icing on the proverbial cake.
"Ah, my pets. You've brought me my present, I see. Generally Junk people are so seldom reliable these days." The dark lady drawled.
"As for you my little man; how kind of you to grace use with your presence. Ariadne said as Hoggle was shuffled into her chamber blindfolded.
Now shall we get down to business?" Ariadne was all politeness and charm but it was obvious to anyone with even a smidgen of sense that a dangerous maniacal edge awaited just under the surface of her pleasant tone. The time was nearly at hand.
"Tell me, Hoggle is it?" Ariadne didn't bother to wait for the dwarf to confirm his name. "Just how does Jareth produce those lovely little crystals he enjoys playing with so much?" Naturally being well versed in magical applications Ariadne already had a competent understanding of what allowed Jareth his versatile use of crystals in his magical work. However there was a specific detail regarding how Jareth went about materializing the crystals themselves that interested the witch.
Ariad leaned forward in her chair and rested her chin on one crossed arm. For all appearances she looked tranquil but if one was paying particular attention they would have noticed the steady tapping of the Lady's foot at the base of the throne. This was a clear indication that if Hoggle wasn't careful to be forthright in his response the witch was liable to loose her patience with him.
So that be yer game ye horrible hag. Hoggle thought to himself darkly. If there was one thing the Dwarf hated it was false respect. At least when Jareth wanted something from him the Goblin King was true to his character about getting it. Being openly patronized by Jareth might have been annoying, even frightening at times, but it was honest. While Hoggle was quite aware just how careful he would have to tread at this moment he was just as skilled as Araidne was at feigning an accommodating persona.
"Cor. Is that what all this be about?" Hoggle waved his hand idly at her as he nerviously cackled.
"Well your Ladyship there weren't any cause te pull ol' me away for THAT bit O' information. But, huh, seeing as I'm here and all..." Hoggle was trying to figure out how he could offer forth a satisfactory answer without actually telling Ariadne anything that she could really use.
"As for Jareth, Ma'am. I don't think anyone rightfully knows how he does ANYTHING." Hoggle replied with a snort.
Ariadne teeth ground ever so slightly upon hearing the dwarfs response. She really hadn't wanted to resort to violence but then again the tried and true methodes we always the most practical at times like these. "I see."
The lady had moved back into full attention and was now sitting up a little too straight upon her throne. The better that Ariadne's posture was while seated, the less genial she was liable to be and at that very moment Ariadne looked poised enough to skin a cat alive with her teeth.
"Well..." The witch said testily. Her words were sharp and fast again which meant she was annoyed. "Obviously our friend here has no further information for us. My my, such a shame. I was so hoping he'd have more to say on the matter...but never a mind. You know my pets, I don't think I've ever told you of my fondness for plastic beads. It's so hard to find more modern materials in the Underground these day and I do so enjoy the lovely durability of plastic Jewelry particularly since it's so rare to find..."
A frightening smile apeared once again upon the Lady's lovely face.
Damn. Hoggle thought quickly as the urge to take a step back overwhelmed his flight over fight instincts. The dwarf audiably swollowed when he heard Ariadne mention plastic beads. Had she perhaps seen Sarah's bracelet upon his wrist? Even if she hadn't the mentioning of plastic was uncanny and the dwarf quickly put both hands behind his back as if to keep his most prized posession out of her reach. Hoggle would willingly go to hell before he let this witch get her claws on aything that had once belonged to Sarah.
"huh. right..." The dwarf said lightly shuffling his feat. "Yes. Well! If that be all I suposse I'll just be heading on home now...Lots O' work te do...Ye know how it is.." Hoogle chuckled nervously as he did infact take a step backwards towards the exit.
"Oh no no no. We couldn't possibly let you leave that quickly. Seize him, and since the dwarf is of no further use to me as he has already avidly claimed...Strip him of his pretties and detain him some place untill we can conclude our business with his Majesty."
Ariadne knew full well the dwarf had a reasonably good idea of what she wanted to know. If polite inquiery didn't work perhaps a little bit more hands on persausion was required to scare him into being a tad more forth coming.
Ariadne ticked her tongue as Hoggle was being dragged from the large room. "Such a shame..." It was clear that the dwarf was far too wise on Ariadne for her to effectively question him herself. Such was the price of having presence of being. She was however deeply certain that at the hands of minions the dwarf would be far more willing to speak candidly when he realized what the Junk People WOULD do to him rather then what he knew Araidne COULD do instead.
If necessary Ariadne supposed she could always have Fidget guess where the Goblin King was most vulnerable. The draw back there being that if the trecherious little goblin didn't know where to properly strike Jareth he could either kill him outright or risk the chance of Jareth retaliating. Both scenarios were HIGHLY undesirable. At this point it would be mostly impossible to strip Jareth of his Magical abilities, that however didn't mean he couldn't be maimed to the point of making those abilities VERY difficult to effectively operate.
At any rate, Ariadne was running out of time. Lucky for her, plans could always be adapted to fit her needs. Hopefully her minions would alleviate the problem for her by finding out what she needed to know. If not, she knew just the right man who could get the job done instead.
The setting changes from The Labyrinth Universe to BOSTON
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The Corner Store - Boston - 7:35 PM
Not suprisingly walking to the corner store did a great deal to calm if not alleviate most of Toby's tension. In fact the entire little trip was entirely nastalgic given that he was literally walking through his old naiborhood for the first time since he'd left for college. Toby remembered how Sarah had shown him how to ride his first two wheeled bycicle down the street. Although both had quietly feigned ignorance about it when Clint, their father, had wanted to teach him again without knowing Sarah had already beat her father to it. Then there were the many Halloween's and Christmas gatherings every year when the entire block would get decked out and throw street parties.
The set up had been all so quaint that it might have been hard to imagine why Toby had been in such a hurry to get away from it. The truth was that staying in Boston had felt a little too comfortable to him. Toby was the type who always thirsted fo new challenges. Plus maybe he was just a little too sensitive for his own good. Being comfortable scared him and felt a little to much like being complacent. When it came to the Williams children almost everyone they'd ever mutually known had predicted that Toby would be the one to settle down while Sarah went away to persue adventures.
It just went to show how little most people knew about either of them.
Humming lightly to himself, Toby eventually reached the corner store and started idly picking through the isles like a man without any cares in the world. Shoping was always something he enjoyed doing no matter what it was for. The only thing that would have made the trip better was if the corner store sold wine which he would have loved to pair with the frozen pizzas he was buying. However the nearest liquor store was double the distance of the corner store and since he wasn't willing to walk that exstra distance Toby decided he would settle for some cranberry cocktail instead.
Not suprisingly walking to the corner store did a great deal to calm if not alleviate most of Toby's tension. In fact the entire little trip was entirely nastalgic given that he was literally walking through his old naiborhood for the first time since he'd left for college. Toby remembered how Sarah had shown him how to ride his first two wheeled bycicle down the street. Although both had quietly feigned ignorance about it when Clint, their father, had wanted to teach him again without knowing Sarah had already beat her father to it. Then there were the many Halloween's and Christmas gatherings every year when the entire block would get decked out and throw street parties.
The set up had been all so quaint that it might have been hard to imagine why Toby had been in such a hurry to get away from it. The truth was that staying in Boston had felt a little too comfortable to him. Toby was the type who always thirsted fo new challenges. Plus maybe he was just a little too sensitive for his own good. Being comfortable scared him and felt a little to much like being complacent. When it came to the Williams children almost everyone they'd ever mutually known had predicted that Toby would be the one to settle down while Sarah went away to persue adventures.
It just went to show how little most people knew about either of them.
Humming lightly to himself, Toby eventually reached the corner store and started idly picking through the isles like a man without any cares in the world. Shoping was always something he enjoyed doing no matter what it was for. The only thing that would have made the trip better was if the corner store sold wine which he would have loved to pair with the frozen pizzas he was buying. However the nearest liquor store was double the distance of the corner store and since he wasn't willing to walk that exstra distance Toby decided he would settle for some cranberry cocktail instead.
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Corner Store - Boston - 7:37
Eva’s walk was filled with only silence on her part. She nearly blocked out entirely all the passing cars, yells of children, and shouts from one neighbor to the other as she continued along the sidewalk. Her thoughts were swirling about that damned mirror. Could have been a dream, she did have a long drive from her apartment to Gran’s place and had been pretty tired.
As she was nearing the corner store, Eva noticed she had been playing with her old family ring. It was given to her by her Gran on her 13th birthday. The day where she woke up from a crash, only to hear that her parents didn’t survive but she did and would be able to leave soon. She shook her head and entered the store, blinking back a few tears.
Eva scanned the isles with her dark eyes, noting there weren’t many people shopping right now. She saw a few couples, a kid, and a man humming to himself. The man looked carefree, a state which Eva was currently envious of. A ringing coming from her pocket drew her state of mind back to reality. She quickly checked the ID...Rodney?
“Hello?” Eva sounded a bit uncertain, but was happy none the less to hear a voice she knew.
“Hello cupcake, how’s my docile little friend today?” Rodeny’s voice was still the same, rich and deep sounding. Eva could almost picture his smiling face, holding the phone to his ear.
“Well, I think I may be visiting an asylum soon for a permanent visit, you?”
“Whoa, what’s the matter Ev?” Rodeny’s voice went carefree to serious and worried in one second.
“Get this, I touched a mirror and saw another world...er...or something like that.” Eva lowered her voice and went to grab the pain medication, glancing around once to see if anyone heard her little outburst.
“....Well, I don’t know what to say...Except that you always were the crazy one. Doesn’t surprise me.” Then he started laughing. Eva smirked and turned to walk towards the cash register, that was the reaction she wanted, she needed to hear that she was crazy and what happened to her...didn’t really happen. But she was still worried, and wondering. She paid for her item and then left the store, continuing her currently idle chat with her old friend.
Gran's House- 7:50
The phone call ended just in time for her return to her Gran’s house. She raced up the porch steps, and calmly went inside the house. Eva placed her phone on a desk that was near the door, and headed towards the kitchen. She popped a pill, and leaned against the sink and closed her eyes. Then carefully, she took of her heavier jacket. She was wearing her longish business jacket with a white shirt underneath, and her favorite jeans and shoes. The black ankh necklace she was wearing was cold against her skin, but she ignored that as she headed towards the attic. She was surely crazy for trying it again, but there was a feeling she couldn't figure out. Excitement?
She stood in front of the mirror once again, and slowly she reached out her hand. Her heart was pounding as her fingertips grazed the cool glass for a second time that day, and then...nothing. Eva pulled back, slightly relieved but also...disappointed? Was anything different now? Great, now she really was crazy and now she really did wish-That was it. Her wish...She reached out to touch the glass again, “I wish I could go away. Be anywhere else." Eva's words were barely above a soft whisper. And then it happened again.
The mirror image of herself faded, and began to swirl with colour. Another image soon appeared, the one she had barely seen before. She hadn’t realized her hand was still against the mirror, when all of a sudden her hand slipped through, and made Eva stumble half-way into the mirror. One foot was still in the attic, as was one hand that was gripping tightly to the side of the mirror. With a breath, she stepped through entirely.
Eva’s walk was filled with only silence on her part. She nearly blocked out entirely all the passing cars, yells of children, and shouts from one neighbor to the other as she continued along the sidewalk. Her thoughts were swirling about that damned mirror. Could have been a dream, she did have a long drive from her apartment to Gran’s place and had been pretty tired.
As she was nearing the corner store, Eva noticed she had been playing with her old family ring. It was given to her by her Gran on her 13th birthday. The day where she woke up from a crash, only to hear that her parents didn’t survive but she did and would be able to leave soon. She shook her head and entered the store, blinking back a few tears.
Eva scanned the isles with her dark eyes, noting there weren’t many people shopping right now. She saw a few couples, a kid, and a man humming to himself. The man looked carefree, a state which Eva was currently envious of. A ringing coming from her pocket drew her state of mind back to reality. She quickly checked the ID...Rodney?
“Hello?” Eva sounded a bit uncertain, but was happy none the less to hear a voice she knew.
“Hello cupcake, how’s my docile little friend today?” Rodeny’s voice was still the same, rich and deep sounding. Eva could almost picture his smiling face, holding the phone to his ear.
“Well, I think I may be visiting an asylum soon for a permanent visit, you?”
“Whoa, what’s the matter Ev?” Rodeny’s voice went carefree to serious and worried in one second.
“Get this, I touched a mirror and saw another world...er...or something like that.” Eva lowered her voice and went to grab the pain medication, glancing around once to see if anyone heard her little outburst.
“....Well, I don’t know what to say...Except that you always were the crazy one. Doesn’t surprise me.” Then he started laughing. Eva smirked and turned to walk towards the cash register, that was the reaction she wanted, she needed to hear that she was crazy and what happened to her...didn’t really happen. But she was still worried, and wondering. She paid for her item and then left the store, continuing her currently idle chat with her old friend.
Gran's House- 7:50
The phone call ended just in time for her return to her Gran’s house. She raced up the porch steps, and calmly went inside the house. Eva placed her phone on a desk that was near the door, and headed towards the kitchen. She popped a pill, and leaned against the sink and closed her eyes. Then carefully, she took of her heavier jacket. She was wearing her longish business jacket with a white shirt underneath, and her favorite jeans and shoes. The black ankh necklace she was wearing was cold against her skin, but she ignored that as she headed towards the attic. She was surely crazy for trying it again, but there was a feeling she couldn't figure out. Excitement?
She stood in front of the mirror once again, and slowly she reached out her hand. Her heart was pounding as her fingertips grazed the cool glass for a second time that day, and then...nothing. Eva pulled back, slightly relieved but also...disappointed? Was anything different now? Great, now she really was crazy and now she really did wish-That was it. Her wish...She reached out to touch the glass again, “I wish I could go away. Be anywhere else." Eva's words were barely above a soft whisper. And then it happened again.
The mirror image of herself faded, and began to swirl with colour. Another image soon appeared, the one she had barely seen before. She hadn’t realized her hand was still against the mirror, when all of a sudden her hand slipped through, and made Eva stumble half-way into the mirror. One foot was still in the attic, as was one hand that was gripping tightly to the side of the mirror. With a breath, she stepped through entirely.
The setting changes from BOSTON to The Labyrinth Universe
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Near the entrance to the outer maze/Labyrinth entrance - Dusk
Eva nearly choked when she saw the view before her. A massive maze, and in the middle was a castle, sitting there like a prize for beating the maze, and behind her was a sort of forest. Her heart was pounding in her ears now, and she nearly turned back. But the beauty of where she landed kept her in place, and also the mental shock of stepping through a mirror. It seemed like one of her fantasy books she had loved as a child. She pulled her hair into a messy bun, with too many strands of hair falling around her face for her liking. But she did nothing about it, she was a bit distracted at the moment.
Eva slowly turned in a circle, admiring the views. Despite the beauty, and even if some places looked beat up it was still beautiful to her, the place had a heavy feeling of dread. Taking a deep breath, she took one step forward. The time, pratically dusk, was a bit unnerving. She didn't exactly love the idea of being out in the open during the night. But she didn't want to go into the forest either...so she would brave the open. Maybe she could find a place to hide or rest near the wall.
“Beautiful place. Wonder who lives here. Flesh eating cannibals perhaps?” Eva muttered sarcastically to herself, and sat down on a nearby rock. If anyone did live here, she was nearly certain they would have been alerted to her arrival. ‘Why have doors if they don’t carry a sort of doorbell? Or alarm system.’ Eva smirked at her own little saying, and then got slightly worried again. So, she stood up and debated for a moment where to walk...the forest or the maze like place? She guessed the maze would be ‘easier’. People couldn’t sneak up on her as easily out in the open, right? Eva started to take a few steps forwards.
She didn't want to go back, not right away. Her curiosty always got the better of her and this time was no different. Eva just hoped she hadn't pissed anyone off by coming here, and grimaced at the thought that she did.
Eva nearly choked when she saw the view before her. A massive maze, and in the middle was a castle, sitting there like a prize for beating the maze, and behind her was a sort of forest. Her heart was pounding in her ears now, and she nearly turned back. But the beauty of where she landed kept her in place, and also the mental shock of stepping through a mirror. It seemed like one of her fantasy books she had loved as a child. She pulled her hair into a messy bun, with too many strands of hair falling around her face for her liking. But she did nothing about it, she was a bit distracted at the moment.
Eva slowly turned in a circle, admiring the views. Despite the beauty, and even if some places looked beat up it was still beautiful to her, the place had a heavy feeling of dread. Taking a deep breath, she took one step forward. The time, pratically dusk, was a bit unnerving. She didn't exactly love the idea of being out in the open during the night. But she didn't want to go into the forest either...so she would brave the open. Maybe she could find a place to hide or rest near the wall.
“Beautiful place. Wonder who lives here. Flesh eating cannibals perhaps?” Eva muttered sarcastically to herself, and sat down on a nearby rock. If anyone did live here, she was nearly certain they would have been alerted to her arrival. ‘Why have doors if they don’t carry a sort of doorbell? Or alarm system.’ Eva smirked at her own little saying, and then got slightly worried again. So, she stood up and debated for a moment where to walk...the forest or the maze like place? She guessed the maze would be ‘easier’. People couldn’t sneak up on her as easily out in the open, right? Eva started to take a few steps forwards.
She didn't want to go back, not right away. Her curiosty always got the better of her and this time was no different. Eva just hoped she hadn't pissed anyone off by coming here, and grimaced at the thought that she did.
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Right around the time Eva had popped into the undergroud Ariadne was tensely waiting for news. New from Jareth and news from her minions about the information she believed the dwarf had stored away and his ugly little head regarding the Goblin King. Ariadne would not stand for resistance. As for those who did resist the dark lady...Well now they eventually had a change of mind if not a change of heart sooner or later. Of that, Ariadne made sure of.
"Well about time!" Ariadne remarked sharply although she managed to keep her tone relatively even when she heard the sound of scurrying in the tunnel way that was to light footed to be a junk person. "Mm. Fidgit. You've come at last. I suppose you've come from the castle, which means that our lovely little illusion has been achieved. Has it not?"
Ariad was referring to the fires. It was important that Jareth believe the hedges had been set ablaze by the Junk people and not one of his own goblins. Ah yes. Wonderful, Fidget. Generally ariadne did not have a high regard for goblins but the one known as Fidget was exceptionally intellegent and sharp. Had Ariadne been capable of any other emotions besides calculating indifference, hedonistic pride, and wrathful scorn; she might have developed a true, if limited, affection for the deceitful little creature in the same way that a woman developed a fleeting affection for fresh roses in spite of their thorns.
Still they were not the same sort of creatures. Fidget was still a goblin and one with a link directly to the Labyrinth. This
meant that if the goblin wanted to he could travel between the worlds freely. Ariadne, being apparently human-like in some kind of respect looked the part but couldn't travel between the worlds much to her disaticfaction.
While the feat was not completely uncommon in the undercround especially among humans, the ability was usually exceptionally limited. Jareth, for example, could cross worlds as well but his abilities were tied into the collective power of the goblins and thus he could not linger in the world of the Above beyond the restraints of what had called the Goblin King to leave the reclusive confines of his kingdom. Someday Ariadne would travel to that other place known as the Above, but not before she finished her business with the Underground.
Her first task was to gain complete control over the Goblin Kingdom. And that made Jareth enemy number one.
"What do you think, Fidget? Has his royal mightiness bothered to accept our humble request? Or do you suppose our little bond fire met with an ill reception..." Ariadne's voice had taken on a languid, though melodically rhythmic tone. Not unlike that of a viola, as the lady leaned forward to rest her elbow upon her knee and her chin idly in one long fingered hand.
As usual Ariadne was leaning away from the goblin as if he was mildly contagious. Fidget just ignored her physical response to him.
"He bloody well better take some notice. It is his job after all." The goblin spit off rather sharply. "Yuck! Would you look at me? Sut everywhere. I'll never understand how you can live among all this rubbish!"
After the goblin finished complaining he did confrim Jareth's intentions. Listing off Jareth's many stipulations about their impending meeting on the bluff.
"Excellent." Ariad's ice colored pupils seemed to burn brighter as her eyes widened in knowledge able anticipation.
"Naturally Fidget, we needn't play by his Majesties rules. When the time comes to meet his Gobliness I want you there but out of sight. The point of this exercise is to draw the Goblin King away from the castle and keep him there. Your fellow goblins might out number us but in general they are stupid useless little creatures and easy enough to over come." Ariad mused seeming to ignore the fact that fidget was a goblin himself.
Now that they were alone in the junk encrusted chamber Ariadne did something that was often unheard of at any other time. She rose from her make shift throne of twisted metal and broken trinkets to pace. Now given that Ariadne was particularly tall and that for someone such as herself the chamber was not that wide. It only took Ariad a few good steps in her long stride to walk from one end of the room to the other. Thus she deliberately slowed her movements when standing in the chamber to give the added illusion of exacting feminine grace.
"We must be precise in our actions from this point forth. As goblin King Jareth has the benefit of the binding magical laws of the Labyrinth to protect him. Thus we must seek to use this advantage against him if we are to succeed in gaining control over the greater Goblin Kingdom." By this time Ariad had already walked to the end of the chamber and back to turn and pace away from it again. Even though her pace was gracious the swift and cutting pace of her voice revealed tense calculating energy.
"No doubt Jareth will hold to the stipulating requirements of the treaty of the Three Sons, he is foolishly honorable in that regard...Which means that I cannot willfully harm him while upon the neutral ground of the Great Bluff." Ariadne suddenly stopped where she stood half way across the chamber with her back to Fidgets face and did a half turn, coiling her torso and neck to consider the goblin without completely turning around.
"There is, of course, a loop hole to the binding magic of the treaty..." Ariad's features took on a gleefully sinister edge as her eyes narrowed.
"The treaty of the Three Sons was forged under the assumption that both parties were actively aware of each other's enemies and allies. This is why the treaty stipulates that the representative parties come alone and why I can not willfully harm his Lordship myself." Ariad absentmindedly formed a fist with her hands but quickly loosened them lest her nails draw blood within her palms.
"The treaty fails however to specifically provide protection against outside acts of treachery committed by a third objective party, as long as the third party is NOT considered to be a personal threat in the eyes of the original assembled representatives." A genuine smile actually appeared on Ariadne lips as she stared at the goblin.
"This is why I have taken upon myself to call in a special favor." Although Ariadne herself could not lay a hand directly to harm the Goblin King out side his precious domain...One Alabaster Sweets could.
Provided, of course, that Jareth didn't actually realize that Alabaster was a threat to him untill AFTER to the man struck him down.
Ariadne smiled cooly to herself.Everything was almost in place. Not only did she have Fidget to asct as her personal spy in the castle, but now Alabaster Sweets had come to the Labyrinth and provided her with a perfect excuse to really hurt the Goblin King where it counted the most. Now she just needed to know where that "place" was.
"Well about time!" Ariadne remarked sharply although she managed to keep her tone relatively even when she heard the sound of scurrying in the tunnel way that was to light footed to be a junk person. "Mm. Fidgit. You've come at last. I suppose you've come from the castle, which means that our lovely little illusion has been achieved. Has it not?"
Ariad was referring to the fires. It was important that Jareth believe the hedges had been set ablaze by the Junk people and not one of his own goblins. Ah yes. Wonderful, Fidget. Generally ariadne did not have a high regard for goblins but the one known as Fidget was exceptionally intellegent and sharp. Had Ariadne been capable of any other emotions besides calculating indifference, hedonistic pride, and wrathful scorn; she might have developed a true, if limited, affection for the deceitful little creature in the same way that a woman developed a fleeting affection for fresh roses in spite of their thorns.
Still they were not the same sort of creatures. Fidget was still a goblin and one with a link directly to the Labyrinth. This
meant that if the goblin wanted to he could travel between the worlds freely. Ariadne, being apparently human-like in some kind of respect looked the part but couldn't travel between the worlds much to her disaticfaction.
While the feat was not completely uncommon in the undercround especially among humans, the ability was usually exceptionally limited. Jareth, for example, could cross worlds as well but his abilities were tied into the collective power of the goblins and thus he could not linger in the world of the Above beyond the restraints of what had called the Goblin King to leave the reclusive confines of his kingdom. Someday Ariadne would travel to that other place known as the Above, but not before she finished her business with the Underground.
Her first task was to gain complete control over the Goblin Kingdom. And that made Jareth enemy number one.
"What do you think, Fidget? Has his royal mightiness bothered to accept our humble request? Or do you suppose our little bond fire met with an ill reception..." Ariadne's voice had taken on a languid, though melodically rhythmic tone. Not unlike that of a viola, as the lady leaned forward to rest her elbow upon her knee and her chin idly in one long fingered hand.
As usual Ariadne was leaning away from the goblin as if he was mildly contagious. Fidget just ignored her physical response to him.
"He bloody well better take some notice. It is his job after all." The goblin spit off rather sharply. "Yuck! Would you look at me? Sut everywhere. I'll never understand how you can live among all this rubbish!"
After the goblin finished complaining he did confrim Jareth's intentions. Listing off Jareth's many stipulations about their impending meeting on the bluff.
"Excellent." Ariad's ice colored pupils seemed to burn brighter as her eyes widened in knowledge able anticipation.
"Naturally Fidget, we needn't play by his Majesties rules. When the time comes to meet his Gobliness I want you there but out of sight. The point of this exercise is to draw the Goblin King away from the castle and keep him there. Your fellow goblins might out number us but in general they are stupid useless little creatures and easy enough to over come." Ariad mused seeming to ignore the fact that fidget was a goblin himself.
Now that they were alone in the junk encrusted chamber Ariadne did something that was often unheard of at any other time. She rose from her make shift throne of twisted metal and broken trinkets to pace. Now given that Ariadne was particularly tall and that for someone such as herself the chamber was not that wide. It only took Ariad a few good steps in her long stride to walk from one end of the room to the other. Thus she deliberately slowed her movements when standing in the chamber to give the added illusion of exacting feminine grace.
"We must be precise in our actions from this point forth. As goblin King Jareth has the benefit of the binding magical laws of the Labyrinth to protect him. Thus we must seek to use this advantage against him if we are to succeed in gaining control over the greater Goblin Kingdom." By this time Ariad had already walked to the end of the chamber and back to turn and pace away from it again. Even though her pace was gracious the swift and cutting pace of her voice revealed tense calculating energy.
"No doubt Jareth will hold to the stipulating requirements of the treaty of the Three Sons, he is foolishly honorable in that regard...Which means that I cannot willfully harm him while upon the neutral ground of the Great Bluff." Ariadne suddenly stopped where she stood half way across the chamber with her back to Fidgets face and did a half turn, coiling her torso and neck to consider the goblin without completely turning around.
"There is, of course, a loop hole to the binding magic of the treaty..." Ariad's features took on a gleefully sinister edge as her eyes narrowed.
"The treaty of the Three Sons was forged under the assumption that both parties were actively aware of each other's enemies and allies. This is why the treaty stipulates that the representative parties come alone and why I can not willfully harm his Lordship myself." Ariad absentmindedly formed a fist with her hands but quickly loosened them lest her nails draw blood within her palms.
"The treaty fails however to specifically provide protection against outside acts of treachery committed by a third objective party, as long as the third party is NOT considered to be a personal threat in the eyes of the original assembled representatives." A genuine smile actually appeared on Ariadne lips as she stared at the goblin.
"This is why I have taken upon myself to call in a special favor." Although Ariadne herself could not lay a hand directly to harm the Goblin King out side his precious domain...One Alabaster Sweets could.
Provided, of course, that Jareth didn't actually realize that Alabaster was a threat to him untill AFTER to the man struck him down.
Ariadne smiled cooly to herself.Everything was almost in place. Not only did she have Fidget to asct as her personal spy in the castle, but now Alabaster Sweets had come to the Labyrinth and provided her with a perfect excuse to really hurt the Goblin King where it counted the most. Now she just needed to know where that "place" was.
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Meanwhile in another part of the tunnels that made up the Arid Flats Hoggle had been thrown into a reather uncomfortable pen and was systematically being tortured for the amusement of the Junk People who were finding cruel delight inthrowing rotten produce at him and, poking him with sharpened sticks, and humilating him any way the could mamage without actually doing any serious long term damage. As Ariadne had ordered the Dwarf had been stripped of most of his belongings, a fact that was devistating in and of itself.
"Talk! Dwarf Talk!" They chanted.
"Arrrrgh! All right! All right!" Hoggle shouted miserably finally exausted, humiated, and terribly afraid.
A hush came over the assembly.
"Not that it be any O' your business or nuthin buts maybe I do know a thing er two about His Majesty. But...So what? It ain't as if it's going to help ye any...Cor. You lot are acting as if y'are intending to take over the castle. Well I tell you one thing to that end...Getting rid O Jareth won't help you achieve what ye really want yer damned mistress really wants despite the satisfaction I suspect she intend te get out of besting His Majesty. As soon as that she-devil Ariadne gets her claws on the Labyrinth's power you can bet all your and my life'll be over. Course if Jareth gets himself out of this my life'll be over anyway assuming I say anything." Hoggle muttered the last part more to himself.
"What you be wanting from me anyways? How does that witch in there THINK Jareth does his tricks? O wave of the hand and presto! Simple as that. I'm just O dwarf. I dunno how it works...The important thing is that it does!" The dwarf spat.
This answer left quite afew Junk People cackling. "Here that everyone? He doesn't know."
"He doesn't know?"
"Yeah right, he doesn't know!"
"Let's show em what we's know..."
Hoggle watched in horror as one of the Junk People plucked Sarah William's bracelet out of the pile of the dwarfs belongings with the end of a pitchfork and dangled it over the fire pit across from hiim. Within seconds the thin elestic strand stringing the beads together burned and snaped effectively destroying Sarah's bracelet right before his very eyes as many of the beads scattered across the ground away from the fire while it wa thrown.
"You all really are a right cruel bunch of bastards..." Hoggle muttered sullenly in low tone.
Hoggle snorted in abject disgust. "Anyone with eyes can tell which hand His majesty prefers. If ye watch him enough ye learn that most of his bite come from his right side. Likes I already said a wave O' the hand and presto."
"Go ahead take the whole lot of the rest of it. No matter what I tell ya, ye'll probly pick through it all anyways..." At this the dwarf sighed and plopped himself down on the ground, It appeared the Hoggle had finally had quite enough of the whole ordeal. "You want te hurt Jareth it's as simple as hiting em in the right place...Assume'n ye can even get close enough te do that."
"I ain'ts got it in me te tell you nothing else. Besides I'm willing te bet Is already said enough as it is. Jareth'll have me throat for sure assume'n ye and that witch don't save em the trouble." The dwarf snorted again as he crossed his arms and grumbled to himself.
"Mark my words, I knows His Majesty better then anyone in this here Labyrinth and maybes anywhere else. Ye kick Jareth when he's down and you'll be liable to lose alot more then ye bargained for if he ever gets himself back up. They're aint no such thing as a free shot round here. But I an't gunna say no more. Do what ye might to me..." To this end the dwarf was resolved as refused to say anymore nor even look at the others as silence and saticfaction over took them all.
Ariadne's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as one of her minions relayed the information provided to him by the now detained and miserable Hoggle a few minutes later. That being said the dark Lady's expression remained unchanged making it impossible to tell if she was actually pleased or not.
Ariadne's eyes narrowed even further as her hands clenched into tight fists once more before she automatically released them and stood. "Come we must haste! I want to arrive on the bluff first. It would be...most unbecoming...to be late to our own party. We must make with our plans immediately! The time is at hand. Ha ha!"
Ariad clapped her hands together sharply and as if on cue a tall (or taller then the average for a junk person) came forth. There was an almost Chinese look about the creature's features and it was indeed wearing a trash can lid for a hat adding to the effect. The junk persons height and shine to his junk indicated the creature had more status then most of the rest and the various bottles and colorful jars was a clear indication that the creatures chief obsession was magically related.
"Go and prepare yourself Fidget, fore this is your time more than my own. It would not do to have that fool Jareth catch us unaware." The junk person bowed to Ariadne and offered her forth one of his many potions for her to take from him.
"Oh and Fidget...One more little detail before you go." Ariadne paused as a wicked smile curled upon her lips. "If by chance Alabaster happens to fail in our endeavor upon the bluff with our dear Goblin King...I can simply not be responsible should Jareth decide to kill you and Alabaster out of retaliation. While Jareth does not have the taste for blood that I do so admire in a being such as he and myself, he is not above striking his enemies down in vicious...vicious...manners." At that statement Ariad dismissed him so that Fidget could get into proper position out of sight upon the bluff before either of them arrived.
It was hard to say if Ariadne's perspective of Jareth was accurate. But even if the Goblin King proved to be not quite the unsavory character the Lady painted him as, there could be no doubt that the definition of vicious DID greatly apply to her own twisted grasping nature.
"Talk! Dwarf Talk!" They chanted.
"Arrrrgh! All right! All right!" Hoggle shouted miserably finally exausted, humiated, and terribly afraid.
A hush came over the assembly.
"Not that it be any O' your business or nuthin buts maybe I do know a thing er two about His Majesty. But...So what? It ain't as if it's going to help ye any...Cor. You lot are acting as if y'are intending to take over the castle. Well I tell you one thing to that end...Getting rid O Jareth won't help you achieve what ye really want yer damned mistress really wants despite the satisfaction I suspect she intend te get out of besting His Majesty. As soon as that she-devil Ariadne gets her claws on the Labyrinth's power you can bet all your and my life'll be over. Course if Jareth gets himself out of this my life'll be over anyway assuming I say anything." Hoggle muttered the last part more to himself.
"What you be wanting from me anyways? How does that witch in there THINK Jareth does his tricks? O wave of the hand and presto! Simple as that. I'm just O dwarf. I dunno how it works...The important thing is that it does!" The dwarf spat.
This answer left quite afew Junk People cackling. "Here that everyone? He doesn't know."
"He doesn't know?"
"Yeah right, he doesn't know!"
"Let's show em what we's know..."
Hoggle watched in horror as one of the Junk People plucked Sarah William's bracelet out of the pile of the dwarfs belongings with the end of a pitchfork and dangled it over the fire pit across from hiim. Within seconds the thin elestic strand stringing the beads together burned and snaped effectively destroying Sarah's bracelet right before his very eyes as many of the beads scattered across the ground away from the fire while it wa thrown.
"You all really are a right cruel bunch of bastards..." Hoggle muttered sullenly in low tone.
Hoggle snorted in abject disgust. "Anyone with eyes can tell which hand His majesty prefers. If ye watch him enough ye learn that most of his bite come from his right side. Likes I already said a wave O' the hand and presto."
"Go ahead take the whole lot of the rest of it. No matter what I tell ya, ye'll probly pick through it all anyways..." At this the dwarf sighed and plopped himself down on the ground, It appeared the Hoggle had finally had quite enough of the whole ordeal. "You want te hurt Jareth it's as simple as hiting em in the right place...Assume'n ye can even get close enough te do that."
"I ain'ts got it in me te tell you nothing else. Besides I'm willing te bet Is already said enough as it is. Jareth'll have me throat for sure assume'n ye and that witch don't save em the trouble." The dwarf snorted again as he crossed his arms and grumbled to himself.
"Mark my words, I knows His Majesty better then anyone in this here Labyrinth and maybes anywhere else. Ye kick Jareth when he's down and you'll be liable to lose alot more then ye bargained for if he ever gets himself back up. They're aint no such thing as a free shot round here. But I an't gunna say no more. Do what ye might to me..." To this end the dwarf was resolved as refused to say anymore nor even look at the others as silence and saticfaction over took them all.
Ariadne's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as one of her minions relayed the information provided to him by the now detained and miserable Hoggle a few minutes later. That being said the dark Lady's expression remained unchanged making it impossible to tell if she was actually pleased or not.
Ariadne's eyes narrowed even further as her hands clenched into tight fists once more before she automatically released them and stood. "Come we must haste! I want to arrive on the bluff first. It would be...most unbecoming...to be late to our own party. We must make with our plans immediately! The time is at hand. Ha ha!"
Ariad clapped her hands together sharply and as if on cue a tall (or taller then the average for a junk person) came forth. There was an almost Chinese look about the creature's features and it was indeed wearing a trash can lid for a hat adding to the effect. The junk persons height and shine to his junk indicated the creature had more status then most of the rest and the various bottles and colorful jars was a clear indication that the creatures chief obsession was magically related.
"Go and prepare yourself Fidget, fore this is your time more than my own. It would not do to have that fool Jareth catch us unaware." The junk person bowed to Ariadne and offered her forth one of his many potions for her to take from him.
"Oh and Fidget...One more little detail before you go." Ariadne paused as a wicked smile curled upon her lips. "If by chance Alabaster happens to fail in our endeavor upon the bluff with our dear Goblin King...I can simply not be responsible should Jareth decide to kill you and Alabaster out of retaliation. While Jareth does not have the taste for blood that I do so admire in a being such as he and myself, he is not above striking his enemies down in vicious...vicious...manners." At that statement Ariad dismissed him so that Fidget could get into proper position out of sight upon the bluff before either of them arrived.
It was hard to say if Ariadne's perspective of Jareth was accurate. But even if the Goblin King proved to be not quite the unsavory character the Lady painted him as, there could be no doubt that the definition of vicious DID greatly apply to her own twisted grasping nature.
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The Castle - The Labyrinth - The Approach of Dusk
As dusk quickly over took the underground Jareth stood bothered at his favorite window that over looked a majority of the Labyrinth's vast boundaries. Lord, the land could be beautiful sometimes...However the image of his domain brought no comfort to the Goblin King's soul at this particular moment. Something felt wrong to him. Something was causing the balancing scale of life to feel burdened too far in one direction. Yet what could be done about it if Jareth was not aware of the source of the problem? For a brief moment the Goblin King contemplated backing out of the arrangements he'd made with Ariadne to meet her on the bluffs? But then again what was said was said. Jareth couldn't just take the agreement back. It was his duty to allow Araidne to take audience with him now that the request had already been granted. Like it or not the sorceress was a part of the Labyrinth populace as well and if Jareth did not do as he promised and meet the Lady on the bluff there was sure to be hell to pay for it later. Well? What was he waiting for? There was no time like the present and the sooner Jareth got the deed over with the faster he could return to his solemn post.
To make matters even more complicated JAreth was almost sure someone had just popped themselves into the Labyrith from the Above. A woman no doubt. Usually Jareth was obligated to investigate but under the curcimstances he concluded that he needed to complete his business upon the bluff first.
"I am so tired." Jareth sighed and brought a gloved black hand to his face before he took the form of the barn owl moments later and made way towards the bluffs. Ironically it was the same place he had stood with Sarah William's several years before as they discussed the terms of her own bargain. Although the Goblin King did not like to acknowledge it there were times when he did wonder what had become if the mortal girl known to him as Sarah.
As dusk quickly over took the underground Jareth stood bothered at his favorite window that over looked a majority of the Labyrinth's vast boundaries. Lord, the land could be beautiful sometimes...However the image of his domain brought no comfort to the Goblin King's soul at this particular moment. Something felt wrong to him. Something was causing the balancing scale of life to feel burdened too far in one direction. Yet what could be done about it if Jareth was not aware of the source of the problem? For a brief moment the Goblin King contemplated backing out of the arrangements he'd made with Ariadne to meet her on the bluffs? But then again what was said was said. Jareth couldn't just take the agreement back. It was his duty to allow Araidne to take audience with him now that the request had already been granted. Like it or not the sorceress was a part of the Labyrinth populace as well and if Jareth did not do as he promised and meet the Lady on the bluff there was sure to be hell to pay for it later. Well? What was he waiting for? There was no time like the present and the sooner Jareth got the deed over with the faster he could return to his solemn post.
To make matters even more complicated JAreth was almost sure someone had just popped themselves into the Labyrith from the Above. A woman no doubt. Usually Jareth was obligated to investigate but under the curcimstances he concluded that he needed to complete his business upon the bluff first.
"I am so tired." Jareth sighed and brought a gloved black hand to his face before he took the form of the barn owl moments later and made way towards the bluffs. Ironically it was the same place he had stood with Sarah William's several years before as they discussed the terms of her own bargain. Although the Goblin King did not like to acknowledge it there were times when he did wonder what had become if the mortal girl known to him as Sarah.
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Entrance to the Labyrinth
Eva paced infront of two giant doors. She had tried nearly everything, but the things wouldn't open. Rolling her shoulders, she looked for a spot to sit and she decided anywhere would do. So there she sat, her back against the stone wall, her eyes watching the little pond infront of her.
*Giggles*
Eva's eyes snapped to her left, and her eyes widened. "What the hell!" She yelled quite loudly as she saw a very small...human with wings. Obviously it wasn't human, but it sure looked like one despite it's size. She stood up, stumbling slightly.
*Giggles*
Eva reached a hand out to touch the little thing, "OW! Stupid, flesh eating cannibal fairy!" She once again yelled, after getting bitten from the small creature. Shaking her head, she went and sat by a rock, facing the wall, and away from the fairies. Eva's eyes began to drop, sleepiness taking her over. With her last ounce of strength, she pulled her knees in close. Finally she fell into a very light sleep, meaning nearly anything could wake her, her hair fell around her face, giving her an almost fragile look. For now, she enjoyed the momentary silence that surrounded her.
Eva paced infront of two giant doors. She had tried nearly everything, but the things wouldn't open. Rolling her shoulders, she looked for a spot to sit and she decided anywhere would do. So there she sat, her back against the stone wall, her eyes watching the little pond infront of her.
*Giggles*
Eva's eyes snapped to her left, and her eyes widened. "What the hell!" She yelled quite loudly as she saw a very small...human with wings. Obviously it wasn't human, but it sure looked like one despite it's size. She stood up, stumbling slightly.
*Giggles*
Eva reached a hand out to touch the little thing, "OW! Stupid, flesh eating cannibal fairy!" She once again yelled, after getting bitten from the small creature. Shaking her head, she went and sat by a rock, facing the wall, and away from the fairies. Eva's eyes began to drop, sleepiness taking her over. With her last ounce of strength, she pulled her knees in close. Finally she fell into a very light sleep, meaning nearly anything could wake her, her hair fell around her face, giving her an almost fragile look. For now, she enjoyed the momentary silence that surrounded her.
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As Ariadne took her position a short time later upon the Bluff her apparent transformation was startling to anyone who was familiar with her more common hard and powerful appearance. The long straight auburn hair Ariadne normal sported had given way to a much more subdued blond color and fell in gentle waves rather than harsh straight lines down her back and along the sides of her face. Her features had also been wiped completely clean of any cosmetics and had a definite peaches and cream tone to it. But what was most startling of all about her change in appearance was the fact that her symbolic form fitting gold leaf Elizabethan dress had been replaced by a modest white gown that reached almost entirely to the ground and that graciously wrapped about the neck an shoulders.
The entire collective look made Ariadne look damn well virginal and a good fifteen years younger then she normally appeared. She even had a look of modest humility on her face which, to anyone who knew the Lady for what she really was, would have been utterly comical as she stood like a priestess of Delphi. Humble, beautiful, and enigmatic as she stood waiting upon the Great Bluff that over looked the Labyrinth and the distant castle beyond the Goblin City.
t seemed that Araidne and Jareth's encounter was indeed destined to drip with the sharp metallic taste of theatrical irony fore not but ten feet away a barn owl landed to perch itself on a rotting stump before transforming rather splendidly into a formidable looking Jareth. Like Aradne Jareth seemed to be dressed for business in full black armored garb that might have made him look strangely like a more lithe Darth Vader had it not been for the fact that has face was being obstructed a a matting of wild main like hair rather then a face mask.
Jareth did not look pleased to see the lady. In fact he looked damn near old and worn in comparison to her youthful and innocent facade. Twas amazing when one thought about it how the two powerful sorcerers mirrored each other upon the Bluff and suddenly for those who knew better it became glaringly clear in this moment that many thing were never what they seemed to be on the surface...Or were they? It was difficult to say.
"So shall we get this over with?" Jareth said with a slight grunt. "I would like to conclude this rendezvous before the setting of the second sun is complete if you would be so kind. Not that I believe for a wit that kindness is even in your present vocabulary Ariadne."
That was the Goblin King for you. Always the charming gentleman...If the gentleman in question was a venomous snake.
Ariadne simply nodded serenely at Jareth's request and seemed utterly inclined to ignore his hostility towards her. "Of course, my Lord. There should be no reason this meeting need last beyond the setting of the second sun I assure you. As for the business at hand...As you know when I came to your Kingdom, I came to lay claim on the behalf of my people. It is perilous the way the people of the Arid Flats are being treated..." Ariad actually managed to look distressed by her last statement.
My my. Aren't we dramatic. Jareth thought sharply to himself and he watched Ariadne with silted eyes while she characterized her proposal. "Might I reminded you that the Goblin Kingdom has always maintained peace with the creatures of the Junk Flats. They where here first after all."
Jareth shrugged at his point given that it was common knowledge that the Junk People were original to the labyrinth and the castle itself. "I have always maintained a tolerable relationship with them Lady. That is, until you appeared in my Kingdom. Why is that, I wonder."
"I am not here to argue scruples with you, You're Majesty. I openly admit that since my arrival the Junk People have become bolder in their explorations of their surroundings. You could not have possibly thought they would remain quietly where you had them forever? The population is growing Sir, and growth requires movement and the attainment of new resources. As I understand it your own people in the Goblin City are facing hardships relative to a growing lack of Iron Ore among other necessary things."
"Mm hm." Jareth's arms were crossed at this point an indication that he was quickly growing tired of the current dialogue. "As Goblin King I will not deny that in recent decades the demands of those who reside in the Labyrinth have intensified. However I guarantee you Lady the problems of my Kingdom are being dealt with accordingly. Now if you don't mind may we dispense with idle conversation about the state of the Kingdom and get straight to the point? What do you want with me Ariadne?"
Perfect. Ariande's plan was working just as she hoped. Jareth was correct it was time to get directly to the point. "I would like to offer your Majesty a possible boon."
Jareth eyed the witch a moment as he took in her response. What was she playing at? What where her real motives? Jareth didn't trust the blasted woman father then he could spit.
"I see. Well isn't that wonderfully diplomatic of you." Jareth rattled off with a tilt in his voice as a mirthless laugh followed his statement and his gauntlet-ed fists came to rest and his waist. "What does a creature such as yourself believe you could possibly offer me that would provide me any particular blessing?"
"It was not my intention to offend you, You're Majesty. I know you to be a man of quite impressive ability and I would not presume to suggest otherwise nor indicate that I am of any particular merit to your ambitions. However...You are the Goblin King and I am the Lady of the Arid Flats. Can you deny that pooling our resources would be most advantageous? I cannot pull back my people Sir and deny them the right to seek what is necessary to uphold their way of life. That being said if you would be willing to open trade with the boarding lands of the Underground you and I could provide for our peoples and strengthen the Kingdom in a way that would force all who stood before us to respect the Labyrinth and the Goblin Kingdom for the Monarchy that it is."
Jareth's brow raised as Ariadne prattled off her speech to its conclusion. Was she implying a veiled union between herself and him by way of joining forces? No. THAT certainly wasn't going to happen...Ever. Jareth didn't care what the conniving woman had done to her hair.
There was no proof that Ariande was anything more then a second rate witch out to make herself more important then she really had any right to be. While some might have said the same thing about Jareth the point of difference was that Jareth had gained his position as ruler of the Goblins and the Labyrinth's occupants via a lawful and recognized venue. Even his critics could not dispute that Jareth had every right to govern the Goblin Kingdom and act as custodian for the Labyrinth itself. The only thing that had allowed Jareth to protect the interests of his domain this long was his deft ability to keep the inner workings of the kingdom firmly shrouded in mystery and illusion. Jareth was not about to Jeopardize his life's work by making shady bargains with a woman who enslaved people in order to achieve her ends. Oh yes. Jareth was quite aware of Ariadne's methods of ruling the Junk People. The Goblin King was not without informants after all. While it was more or less true that certain resources in the kingdom were becoming scarce the goblin King was not fool enough to solicit aide from the other surrounding Lands.
"My, aren't we being generous. While your proposal is indeed attractive I'm sorry to say that I must effectively destroy your dreams of them ever becoming a reality. If the Junk People must scavenge let them do it out side the boarders of my kingdom and away from the rest of the populous. As I said, I have always tolerated the people of the Arid Flats in the past. However I will not allow their wondering or their habits to endanger my people and disrupt their security in the present." Jareth informed her. "If you cannot pull them back then mark my words Lady...I will push them back for you."
It took great effort for Ariadne to avoid openly sneering at Jareth. The man was utterly insufferable! Furthermore he was calling Ariadne's bluff; a feat which pricked at her pride. Then again what had she really expected? Jareth was just as jaded in some respects as she was in his dealing with people. Besides all of this was simply a facade meant to make the Sorceress seems as obliging as possible. It would be imperative that Ariadne be able to claim all that she had done was in the purest light.
"As you wish, You're Majesty." Ariadne bowed her head humbly. The game was almost up! In a matter of moments Jareth was about to get the shock of his life and Ariadne was glad of it. It was such a pity she could not afford to stay and watch the spectacle unfold in its nasty entirety. "Is there anything else you would like to discuss before I take me leave, my Lord?"
"There is the matter of the fires that erupted in the night. I can't prove beyond a doubt that you were directly responsible for that little display Ariadne. However I do strongly believe you are directly responsible..." Jareth straightened to his full height and pointed one long limb at the witch.
If he'd had his way Jareth might have produced a crystal to emphasize his point however that was currently against the rules of their meeting. "If I ever discover that you or one of your minions personally had a hand in damaging my kingdom or anyone in it I will hold you responsible Ariadne and I will not be gracious nor gentle in my handling. I warn you...Don't defy me!"
Ariad was retreating at this point.
Jareth's threat thrown to her back as she departed down the bluff and nearly out of sight with her hands clasped before her as she walked.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Ariadne remarked slyly to her self a slight smile crept onto her face.
Jareth's brows knitted together as an equally slight frown ebbed at the corners of his mouth. The meeting was not formally over until Ariad completely departed from his line of vision however the Goblin King prepared to take his own leave any way making the foolish under sight of turning his back to her in his desire to leave. It was dangerous in and around the Labyrinth to take anything for granted. Even a Goblin King was prone having an occasional lapse in good judgment.
No sooner had Jareth turned his back on the departing witch did Ariade suddenly stop and turn around to glare at the Goblin King as he prepared unsuspecting to transform into the barn owl. This was the moment the blasted woman had been waiting for and no doubt the opportunity that her hired man needed as well.
Ariadne gave one sharp nod casually pointing at Jareth from a distance as if to say to her hiding minion...Take him.
The entire collective look made Ariadne look damn well virginal and a good fifteen years younger then she normally appeared. She even had a look of modest humility on her face which, to anyone who knew the Lady for what she really was, would have been utterly comical as she stood like a priestess of Delphi. Humble, beautiful, and enigmatic as she stood waiting upon the Great Bluff that over looked the Labyrinth and the distant castle beyond the Goblin City.
t seemed that Araidne and Jareth's encounter was indeed destined to drip with the sharp metallic taste of theatrical irony fore not but ten feet away a barn owl landed to perch itself on a rotting stump before transforming rather splendidly into a formidable looking Jareth. Like Aradne Jareth seemed to be dressed for business in full black armored garb that might have made him look strangely like a more lithe Darth Vader had it not been for the fact that has face was being obstructed a a matting of wild main like hair rather then a face mask.
Jareth did not look pleased to see the lady. In fact he looked damn near old and worn in comparison to her youthful and innocent facade. Twas amazing when one thought about it how the two powerful sorcerers mirrored each other upon the Bluff and suddenly for those who knew better it became glaringly clear in this moment that many thing were never what they seemed to be on the surface...Or were they? It was difficult to say.
"So shall we get this over with?" Jareth said with a slight grunt. "I would like to conclude this rendezvous before the setting of the second sun is complete if you would be so kind. Not that I believe for a wit that kindness is even in your present vocabulary Ariadne."
That was the Goblin King for you. Always the charming gentleman...If the gentleman in question was a venomous snake.
Ariadne simply nodded serenely at Jareth's request and seemed utterly inclined to ignore his hostility towards her. "Of course, my Lord. There should be no reason this meeting need last beyond the setting of the second sun I assure you. As for the business at hand...As you know when I came to your Kingdom, I came to lay claim on the behalf of my people. It is perilous the way the people of the Arid Flats are being treated..." Ariad actually managed to look distressed by her last statement.
My my. Aren't we dramatic. Jareth thought sharply to himself and he watched Ariadne with silted eyes while she characterized her proposal. "Might I reminded you that the Goblin Kingdom has always maintained peace with the creatures of the Junk Flats. They where here first after all."
Jareth shrugged at his point given that it was common knowledge that the Junk People were original to the labyrinth and the castle itself. "I have always maintained a tolerable relationship with them Lady. That is, until you appeared in my Kingdom. Why is that, I wonder."
"I am not here to argue scruples with you, You're Majesty. I openly admit that since my arrival the Junk People have become bolder in their explorations of their surroundings. You could not have possibly thought they would remain quietly where you had them forever? The population is growing Sir, and growth requires movement and the attainment of new resources. As I understand it your own people in the Goblin City are facing hardships relative to a growing lack of Iron Ore among other necessary things."
"Mm hm." Jareth's arms were crossed at this point an indication that he was quickly growing tired of the current dialogue. "As Goblin King I will not deny that in recent decades the demands of those who reside in the Labyrinth have intensified. However I guarantee you Lady the problems of my Kingdom are being dealt with accordingly. Now if you don't mind may we dispense with idle conversation about the state of the Kingdom and get straight to the point? What do you want with me Ariadne?"
Perfect. Ariande's plan was working just as she hoped. Jareth was correct it was time to get directly to the point. "I would like to offer your Majesty a possible boon."
Jareth eyed the witch a moment as he took in her response. What was she playing at? What where her real motives? Jareth didn't trust the blasted woman father then he could spit.
"I see. Well isn't that wonderfully diplomatic of you." Jareth rattled off with a tilt in his voice as a mirthless laugh followed his statement and his gauntlet-ed fists came to rest and his waist. "What does a creature such as yourself believe you could possibly offer me that would provide me any particular blessing?"
"It was not my intention to offend you, You're Majesty. I know you to be a man of quite impressive ability and I would not presume to suggest otherwise nor indicate that I am of any particular merit to your ambitions. However...You are the Goblin King and I am the Lady of the Arid Flats. Can you deny that pooling our resources would be most advantageous? I cannot pull back my people Sir and deny them the right to seek what is necessary to uphold their way of life. That being said if you would be willing to open trade with the boarding lands of the Underground you and I could provide for our peoples and strengthen the Kingdom in a way that would force all who stood before us to respect the Labyrinth and the Goblin Kingdom for the Monarchy that it is."
Jareth's brow raised as Ariadne prattled off her speech to its conclusion. Was she implying a veiled union between herself and him by way of joining forces? No. THAT certainly wasn't going to happen...Ever. Jareth didn't care what the conniving woman had done to her hair.
There was no proof that Ariande was anything more then a second rate witch out to make herself more important then she really had any right to be. While some might have said the same thing about Jareth the point of difference was that Jareth had gained his position as ruler of the Goblins and the Labyrinth's occupants via a lawful and recognized venue. Even his critics could not dispute that Jareth had every right to govern the Goblin Kingdom and act as custodian for the Labyrinth itself. The only thing that had allowed Jareth to protect the interests of his domain this long was his deft ability to keep the inner workings of the kingdom firmly shrouded in mystery and illusion. Jareth was not about to Jeopardize his life's work by making shady bargains with a woman who enslaved people in order to achieve her ends. Oh yes. Jareth was quite aware of Ariadne's methods of ruling the Junk People. The Goblin King was not without informants after all. While it was more or less true that certain resources in the kingdom were becoming scarce the goblin King was not fool enough to solicit aide from the other surrounding Lands.
"My, aren't we being generous. While your proposal is indeed attractive I'm sorry to say that I must effectively destroy your dreams of them ever becoming a reality. If the Junk People must scavenge let them do it out side the boarders of my kingdom and away from the rest of the populous. As I said, I have always tolerated the people of the Arid Flats in the past. However I will not allow their wondering or their habits to endanger my people and disrupt their security in the present." Jareth informed her. "If you cannot pull them back then mark my words Lady...I will push them back for you."
It took great effort for Ariadne to avoid openly sneering at Jareth. The man was utterly insufferable! Furthermore he was calling Ariadne's bluff; a feat which pricked at her pride. Then again what had she really expected? Jareth was just as jaded in some respects as she was in his dealing with people. Besides all of this was simply a facade meant to make the Sorceress seems as obliging as possible. It would be imperative that Ariadne be able to claim all that she had done was in the purest light.
"As you wish, You're Majesty." Ariadne bowed her head humbly. The game was almost up! In a matter of moments Jareth was about to get the shock of his life and Ariadne was glad of it. It was such a pity she could not afford to stay and watch the spectacle unfold in its nasty entirety. "Is there anything else you would like to discuss before I take me leave, my Lord?"
"There is the matter of the fires that erupted in the night. I can't prove beyond a doubt that you were directly responsible for that little display Ariadne. However I do strongly believe you are directly responsible..." Jareth straightened to his full height and pointed one long limb at the witch.
If he'd had his way Jareth might have produced a crystal to emphasize his point however that was currently against the rules of their meeting. "If I ever discover that you or one of your minions personally had a hand in damaging my kingdom or anyone in it I will hold you responsible Ariadne and I will not be gracious nor gentle in my handling. I warn you...Don't defy me!"
Ariad was retreating at this point.
Jareth's threat thrown to her back as she departed down the bluff and nearly out of sight with her hands clasped before her as she walked.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Ariadne remarked slyly to her self a slight smile crept onto her face.
Jareth's brows knitted together as an equally slight frown ebbed at the corners of his mouth. The meeting was not formally over until Ariad completely departed from his line of vision however the Goblin King prepared to take his own leave any way making the foolish under sight of turning his back to her in his desire to leave. It was dangerous in and around the Labyrinth to take anything for granted. Even a Goblin King was prone having an occasional lapse in good judgment.
No sooner had Jareth turned his back on the departing witch did Ariade suddenly stop and turn around to glare at the Goblin King as he prepared unsuspecting to transform into the barn owl. This was the moment the blasted woman had been waiting for and no doubt the opportunity that her hired man needed as well.
Ariadne gave one sharp nod casually pointing at Jareth from a distance as if to say to her hiding minion...Take him.
Setting
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On cue just as Jareth was getting into the air a small rock came hurtling out of nowhere directly at him.
The rock in question hit its mark well striking the bird just as it had gotten a good hold in the air and the span of its wings had fully extended out to catch the available up draft that should have carried it high above the bluff. The small rock however had hit clean and well just as Jareth in the form of the owl had gotten about fifteen feet into the air. The rock struck the unsuspecting owl sharply at what could have possibly been interpreted as just above it's right elbow had the wing been a human arm effectively fracturing the bone upon impact if not breaking it outright.
The owl gave a startled shriek in the sky as the impact and the loss of its right wing instantly crippled it in the air causing the bird to do a sort of aerial somersault before dropping out of the sky at an almost alarming rate of speed into the hard ground blow. Ironically if the rock hadn't done its job the fall certainly had. It seemed that the only thing that had saved Jareth from snapping his neck upon meeting the ground was the fact that about half way down as the bird dropped whatever enchantment that had been holding Jareth in the birds form was broken causing the man instead of the bird to literally fall the rest of the way out of the sky. Jareth hit the ground hard and not on his good side which further compacted any injury he had already sustained despite the armor he wore. Jareth rolled twice due to landing at an incline before his battered body came to rest face down in the dirt.
At first glace some might have thought after witnessing this spectacle that Jareth had been killed. However upon closer inspection it appeared he'd just been knocked cold which was probably a blessing considering he would have likely been in a world of pain had the Goblin King been conscious just then.
As for Ariadne, the witch had departed just as the stone flew and, along with Jareth's assailant, was nowhere to be found.
The rock in question hit its mark well striking the bird just as it had gotten a good hold in the air and the span of its wings had fully extended out to catch the available up draft that should have carried it high above the bluff. The small rock however had hit clean and well just as Jareth in the form of the owl had gotten about fifteen feet into the air. The rock struck the unsuspecting owl sharply at what could have possibly been interpreted as just above it's right elbow had the wing been a human arm effectively fracturing the bone upon impact if not breaking it outright.
The owl gave a startled shriek in the sky as the impact and the loss of its right wing instantly crippled it in the air causing the bird to do a sort of aerial somersault before dropping out of the sky at an almost alarming rate of speed into the hard ground blow. Ironically if the rock hadn't done its job the fall certainly had. It seemed that the only thing that had saved Jareth from snapping his neck upon meeting the ground was the fact that about half way down as the bird dropped whatever enchantment that had been holding Jareth in the birds form was broken causing the man instead of the bird to literally fall the rest of the way out of the sky. Jareth hit the ground hard and not on his good side which further compacted any injury he had already sustained despite the armor he wore. Jareth rolled twice due to landing at an incline before his battered body came to rest face down in the dirt.
At first glace some might have thought after witnessing this spectacle that Jareth had been killed. However upon closer inspection it appeared he'd just been knocked cold which was probably a blessing considering he would have likely been in a world of pain had the Goblin King been conscious just then.
As for Ariadne, the witch had departed just as the stone flew and, along with Jareth's assailant, was nowhere to be found.
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Eva's eyes snapped open at the sound of voices. Ever so slowly, she peaked her head around the corner of the rock she had laid against. Eva held her breath as two people conversed, hoping she wouldn't be seen. Her face formed a look of confusion when she heard the words, 'Goblin' and 'Goblin King'.
'Ok..so no fleshing eating cannibals. Just fairies and goblins...great.' Eva thought to herself, as she pulled back. She wasn't going to keep her head out the entire time, that'd be a whole lot of stupidity on her part. Eva frowned as she listened to the conversation, things didn't seem right. As she poked her head out a second time, her mouth opened as she saw the man transform into an owl.
Her eyes caught movement, and just as she was going to yell a warning, the owl had been struck. She didn't notice the woman leave, just the transformation back to human the male made. Eva cringed as he hit the ground, not wanting to imagine the pain he'd be in if he was alive. He wasn't moving, and this made her worry slightly but she wasn't going to move while there was a chance that the woman and whoever threw the rock was still there. Eva sat rigid, and she closed her eyes. She noticed there was a slight breeze; it moved her hair slightly. When the silence continued, Eva moved from her spot to the dead looking man.
Eva kneeled down, and placed two fingers to his throat and looked for a pulse. She sighed out of relief when she found one, so he obviously wasn't dead. She turned him on his back, quietly saying 'sorry' a few times as if he was awake, and she was hurting him. Once the man had been placed on his back, she looked at his face.
"So, you're the Goblin King?" She said to herself, studying his features. Sighing she stood back up, and placed her arms under his, and moved him behind the rock she had been at earlier. Eva leaned him against it, and took his damaged arm carefully into her hands. She studied it for a moment, running her fingers down the arm to find where the breaks were. She groaned, he wasn't in any good condition but she didn't have anything with her to help. So, she would have to wait until the Goblin King woke up, and this gave her time to think about what she had gotten herself into. She placed his arm down carefully, and sat against the rock too. She was afraid to go, or try to go, anywhere else incase she met that woman. Eva ran a hand through her hair, and she sighed softly and glanced over at the Goblin King.
'Ok..so no fleshing eating cannibals. Just fairies and goblins...great.' Eva thought to herself, as she pulled back. She wasn't going to keep her head out the entire time, that'd be a whole lot of stupidity on her part. Eva frowned as she listened to the conversation, things didn't seem right. As she poked her head out a second time, her mouth opened as she saw the man transform into an owl.
Her eyes caught movement, and just as she was going to yell a warning, the owl had been struck. She didn't notice the woman leave, just the transformation back to human the male made. Eva cringed as he hit the ground, not wanting to imagine the pain he'd be in if he was alive. He wasn't moving, and this made her worry slightly but she wasn't going to move while there was a chance that the woman and whoever threw the rock was still there. Eva sat rigid, and she closed her eyes. She noticed there was a slight breeze; it moved her hair slightly. When the silence continued, Eva moved from her spot to the dead looking man.
Eva kneeled down, and placed two fingers to his throat and looked for a pulse. She sighed out of relief when she found one, so he obviously wasn't dead. She turned him on his back, quietly saying 'sorry' a few times as if he was awake, and she was hurting him. Once the man had been placed on his back, she looked at his face.
"So, you're the Goblin King?" She said to herself, studying his features. Sighing she stood back up, and placed her arms under his, and moved him behind the rock she had been at earlier. Eva leaned him against it, and took his damaged arm carefully into her hands. She studied it for a moment, running her fingers down the arm to find where the breaks were. She groaned, he wasn't in any good condition but she didn't have anything with her to help. So, she would have to wait until the Goblin King woke up, and this gave her time to think about what she had gotten herself into. She placed his arm down carefully, and sat against the rock too. She was afraid to go, or try to go, anywhere else incase she met that woman. Eva ran a hand through her hair, and she sighed softly and glanced over at the Goblin King.
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Jareth wasn't out very long. Perhaps less than twenty minutes. Long enough for Eva to drag him boldly to a place of cover and fret over him a little. Unfortunately the pain blossoming through the whole side of his body was enough to jar him awake as his eyes suddenly opened and he gasped for air and gave a rough cough away from Eva spitting some mucus-y blood into the dry long grass near by. Jareth couldn't breath. Or at least that's what it felt like from his propped up position. Logically though that was probably just a battered rib or two protesting. It took every ounce of self control he had not to allow shock and panic to overcome his common sense.
Still coughing Jareth turned his head sharply once he realized he wasn't alone only to find a young human looking woman sitting next to him with a frightened yet wholly determined kind of look on her face. Could it have been possible that this creature had somehow come upon him at the height of his distress and dragged him to the cover of the rock?
Even if she had, there wasn't any time to be grateful.
"You...You shouldn't be here. Wh-where ever you came from you need to go back...Now." Jareth ordered even id his tone wasn't as intimidating as it usually was.
Muffling a whimper through clenched teeth Jareth tried to move leaning forward slowly but quicker than he should have as he pulled off the armored glove of his good hand and tried to pry the clasps of his shoulder armor off. Besides the injury to his elbow from where the stone had made contact Jareth had also knocked his shoulder out of joint when he'd fallen. The pain was damn near blinding, not to mention he was probably in at least a little bit of shock.
Still coughing Jareth turned his head sharply once he realized he wasn't alone only to find a young human looking woman sitting next to him with a frightened yet wholly determined kind of look on her face. Could it have been possible that this creature had somehow come upon him at the height of his distress and dragged him to the cover of the rock?
Even if she had, there wasn't any time to be grateful.
"You...You shouldn't be here. Wh-where ever you came from you need to go back...Now." Jareth ordered even id his tone wasn't as intimidating as it usually was.
Muffling a whimper through clenched teeth Jareth tried to move leaning forward slowly but quicker than he should have as he pulled off the armored glove of his good hand and tried to pry the clasps of his shoulder armor off. Besides the injury to his elbow from where the stone had made contact Jareth had also knocked his shoulder out of joint when he'd fallen. The pain was damn near blinding, not to mention he was probably in at least a little bit of shock.
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Eva's eyes snapped to her side when she heard coughing. She sat forward slightly in worry, and sighed in relief when the man spoke. Shifting so that she was on her knees, she saw him move forward a bit too quickly. Eva ignored his comment about her for the moment as she leaned forwards towards him.
"Whoa, slow down!" Eva said as he moved, and she noticed him stumbling around with his armor. Reaching her hands up, she hesitantly pulled his unharmed hand away. She then moved her hands to unclasp the armor herself. As she pulled it away she said,
"Sorry, your Majesty. I'm not leaving just yet, with all do respect...you're a mess." And she added a small comment after she saw his arm out of joint. "And your arm? Needs to be pushed back in." She placed on hand against him, and she gave him a glance.
"Ready?" She didn't wait for a response as she pulled her hand back, and shoved it hard against his shoulder. Eva cringed at the sound of it being put back to place, and tried to drown out any sounds the Goblin King would make.
"Sorry about that..." Eva mumbled, sitting back slightly.
"Whoa, slow down!" Eva said as he moved, and she noticed him stumbling around with his armor. Reaching her hands up, she hesitantly pulled his unharmed hand away. She then moved her hands to unclasp the armor herself. As she pulled it away she said,
"Sorry, your Majesty. I'm not leaving just yet, with all do respect...you're a mess." And she added a small comment after she saw his arm out of joint. "And your arm? Needs to be pushed back in." She placed on hand against him, and she gave him a glance.
"Ready?" She didn't wait for a response as she pulled her hand back, and shoved it hard against his shoulder. Eva cringed at the sound of it being put back to place, and tried to drown out any sounds the Goblin King would make.
"Sorry about that..." Eva mumbled, sitting back slightly.
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"Good God that hurts!" Eva had rightly not given the Goblin King any time to protest before she launched herself into taking care of his immediate needs. Jareth scowled as his muscles tensed up but then relaxed once the joint was properly back in place. The sound was sickening but the act was necessary as Jareth was in no shape to force the joint into place himself.
"Since you're so inclined to be helpful, see if you can help me get this bloody armor the rest of the way off. I can barely breath as it is." Jareth requested.
The chest plate was a little trickier but between the both of them they managed to pry that off with minimal trauma. "Thank you."
"Come, now. We'd be wise to get within the Labyrinth's walls as soon as possible. It's getting dark, and its not safe upon the neutral ground of the bluff." This time Jareth was much more careful about getting up and managed to put aside his discomfort in favor or directing them to the closest entrance into the Labyrinth which happened to be a huge set of double doors that for all intents and purposes seemed to be sealed.
"Go on and knock. I've got something I need to do first. Its all right. I'll be but a moment." Jareth insisted as he leaned against one of the stone statues near the wall.
Jareth wanted to take a moment to himself without this stranger hovering all over him. Luckily while his ribs and arm might have been in bad shape, his legs worked mostly fine even if they were a bit wobbly from the adrenaline coursing through his veins. For one he needed to know just how much real damage had been done and for another Jareth wanted to do something about the blindingly sharp pain he was in.
Happily the one major advantage to being so near the outer wall was that there was no shortage of biting fairies floating around. Jareth had every intention of garbing a few of them and ripping their powdery little wings off. It was common knowledge in the Underground that the wings and dust of biting faeries could be crushed and used as a moderate to strong sedative. At the present moment Jareth had every intention of chewing on some of the wings to take the edge off his pain levels until he could get some proper medical attention.
"Since you're so inclined to be helpful, see if you can help me get this bloody armor the rest of the way off. I can barely breath as it is." Jareth requested.
The chest plate was a little trickier but between the both of them they managed to pry that off with minimal trauma. "Thank you."
"Come, now. We'd be wise to get within the Labyrinth's walls as soon as possible. It's getting dark, and its not safe upon the neutral ground of the bluff." This time Jareth was much more careful about getting up and managed to put aside his discomfort in favor or directing them to the closest entrance into the Labyrinth which happened to be a huge set of double doors that for all intents and purposes seemed to be sealed.
"Go on and knock. I've got something I need to do first. Its all right. I'll be but a moment." Jareth insisted as he leaned against one of the stone statues near the wall.
Jareth wanted to take a moment to himself without this stranger hovering all over him. Luckily while his ribs and arm might have been in bad shape, his legs worked mostly fine even if they were a bit wobbly from the adrenaline coursing through his veins. For one he needed to know just how much real damage had been done and for another Jareth wanted to do something about the blindingly sharp pain he was in.
Happily the one major advantage to being so near the outer wall was that there was no shortage of biting fairies floating around. Jareth had every intention of garbing a few of them and ripping their powdery little wings off. It was common knowledge in the Underground that the wings and dust of biting faeries could be crushed and used as a moderate to strong sedative. At the present moment Jareth had every intention of chewing on some of the wings to take the edge off his pain levels until he could get some proper medical attention.
- 79 posts here • Page 1 of 4 • 1, 2, 3, 4
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By creating Collectibles, you can reward your players with unique items that accentuate their character sheets.
Once an Item has been created, it can be spawned in the IC using /spawn Item Name (case-sensitive, as usual) — this can be followed with /take Item Name to retrieve the item into the current character's inventory.
Mobs
Give your Universe life by adding a Mob, which are auto-replenishing NPCs your players can interact with. Useful for some quick hack-and-slash fun!
Mobs can be automated spawns, like rats and bats, or full-on NPCs complete with conversation menus. Use them to enhance your player experience!
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View All » Add Character » 10 Characters to follow in this universe
Newest
Faen Diavolos
A man of opposites.
Crysta Ethden
The one who knows.
Eva Brooks
Isn't careful with what she wishes for.
Toby Williams
The half brother.
Alabaster Sweets
Evil with a top hat. (NPC)
Sarah
Sarah Ethden. The woman who was. (NPC)
Hoggle the Dwarf
Hoggle. Not to be confused with Hoghead or Hogwart. (NPC, Adoptable)
Tithe Razlyn
Servant
The Dark Sorceress Lady Ariadne
Lady Ariadne (NPC, Adoptable)
Jareth the Goblin King
Jareth the Goblin King
Trending
Jareth the Goblin King
Jareth the Goblin King
Sarah
Sarah Ethden. The woman who was. (NPC)
Eva Brooks
Isn't careful with what she wishes for.
Hoggle the Dwarf
Hoggle. Not to be confused with Hoghead or Hogwart. (NPC, Adoptable)
Faen Diavolos
A man of opposites.
Alabaster Sweets
Evil with a top hat. (NPC)
The Dark Sorceress Lady Ariadne
Lady Ariadne (NPC, Adoptable)
Crysta Ethden
The one who knows.
Toby Williams
The half brother.
Tithe Razlyn
Servant
Most Followed
Faen Diavolos
A man of opposites.
Tithe Razlyn
Servant
Eva Brooks
Isn't careful with what she wishes for.
Sarah
Sarah Ethden. The woman who was. (NPC)
Jareth the Goblin King
Jareth the Goblin King
Hoggle the Dwarf
Hoggle. Not to be confused with Hoghead or Hogwart. (NPC, Adoptable)
Alabaster Sweets
Evil with a top hat. (NPC)
Toby Williams
The half brother.
The Dark Sorceress Lady Ariadne
Lady Ariadne (NPC, Adoptable)
Crysta Ethden
The one who knows.
View All » Places
13 posts · 1 characters present · last post 2010-08-22 17:38:24 »
The Labyrinth Universe ↪ BOSTON Owner: RolePlayGateway
The "real" World
4 posts · 0 characters present · last post 2010-06-16 04:42:18 »
THE ENCHANTED FOREST Owner: RolePlayGateway
Enter the wilds.
1 posts · 2 characters present · last post 2010-06-13 05:37:26 »
THE ARID FLATS Owner: RolePlayGateway
I was looking for something. What was it?
0 posts · 1 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
THE STONE AND HEDGE MAZES Owner: RolePlayGateway
Enter the Maze.
0 posts · 2 characters present · last post 1970-01-01 00:00:00 »
THE BOG OF ETERNAL STENCH Owner: RolePlayGateway
Ew. Smell bad!
Fullscreen Chat » Create Topic » Labyrinth: Into the Underground and Beyond: Out of Character
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Abandoned Characters
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Abandoned Characters
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Archive Logs
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Family Lineages
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Family Lineages
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Posting and Updates
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Posting and Updates
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Current Scene and Thread Timelines
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Current Scene and Thread Timelines
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Places in The Underground
by CassilineVow on Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:09 pm
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Places in The Underground
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Legends and Potential Material
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Legends and Potential Material
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NPC List
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NPC List
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Races in the Underground (Incomplete)
by CassilineVow on Mon May 03, 2010 4:25 pm
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Races in the Underground (Incomplete)
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The KotL
by CassilineVow on Mon May 03, 2010 4:36 pm
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The KotL
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Before Applying Please Read: Rules
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Before Applying Please Read: Rules
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Before Applying Please Read: introduction
by CassilineVow on Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:41 pm
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Before Applying Please Read: introduction
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