The Underground

Dedric's jaw clenched at the mention of Lord Darkness. He shot an icy glare at the mocking Goblin King. Surely Jareth knew the truth of Astraea's curse seeing how close he was to Mab and how he had dealings with Marten. The man wore a grotesque grin that sent an uneasy chill down his spine, but Dedric refused to back down from such a contemptuous fiend. He drew himself up mustering what powers of Light he possessed. A soft, faint golden aura haloed his body. Back home he could make himself radiate like the sun, but here he could only manage a dim glow.

"Yes, I'm well aware of the kind of people you serve and I certainly know how far the populace of your people extend," he retorted frostily.

"I also understand how the rule of law works in our world. Mab has worked to ensure the stability and safety of all people of the Underground far before you or I were even dreamt of. If you live to serve even those outside your kingdom, you might want to take a look outside your walls sometime. A strange sense of unease ripples through all the realms. Fantasia is still reeling from its near decimation, the Empyrean has lost untold thousands to plague, and yes the curse of the Darkness still holds Astraea. Twice I've kept my people from the brink of a civil war.

"I may not always agree with the Faerie Queen, but her judgments have always been in the interests of the Underground. I know she has done good for my brother."

Dedric paused, absently scratching his beard in thought.

"Speaking of my brother, I would like to express my hopes that whatever business you had with him in the past has reached a conclusion. If you know of my world's history, then surely you can understand my discomfort of seeing a goblin king so near his side. You speak of the people you serve extending beyond your walls, well the people I command extend beyond mine."


Dedric had eyes and ears throughout a large portion of the Underground with the exception of the lofty Empyrean, the Goblin City, and a few other corners. He tugged on his gloves and smoothed a wrinkle in his coat.

"I know the sort of business you conduct and how it draws poor, desperate people like my brother. But it's never without a price, is it? You know Marten is to face Mab's judgment again soon. His conduct and behavior have improved tremendously over the years. I truly believe he is a changed man.
And I know he has a past with you."

He swallowed, straightened his shoulders, and bit back some of his pride.

"So I want to ask you, what sort of payment would you require to be done with Marten? I'd like to settle his end of it once and for all so that he may reenter his position with a clean slate."

(Double post)

Jareth felt satisfied when Dedric showed some spunk and gathered his power to better assert himself against Jareth. It was a pity how little the man really knew about some things. Mab specifically. Most of the people at the ball didn't know the Faerie Queen the way Jareth did. Mab liked to put on an air of all knowing placid sophistication but the truth was she only acted that way because her former impulsiveness had already caused her to lose control over one world and he knew that she wouldn't risk loosing her power in this one so quickly. People in the underground treated Mab as if she was the one and only creature of importance. When in reality her sphere of control was quite limited.

But never mind. Mab would show her true colors eventually. And he had more important things on his mind.

At the mentioning of Marten, Jareth actually moved back from Dedric and out of his personal space. "My business with your brother is done. Whatever arraignment we had, Marten managed to terminate on his own accord long ago. Contrary to what you might think, I have no power over him in the manner you're imagining and haven't for some time. In fact, when you both go from this place I intend to fully forget either of you ever graced my door. Is that sufficient to appease you?"

For once all malice, sarcasm, and ingenuousness had left Jareth's tone, indicating he was speaking honestly and without ulterior motivations.

Dedric arched a brow. He had not expected an answer so straightforward and so pleasing to his ears. He too motioned backwards to give the Goblin King back his space. He tried to keep on a formal, sober air, but he couldn't hide the grin that was playing across his mouth.

"Ah. Perhaps that explains the little bout of depression he went through a few years back. My brother is certainly the finest self-saboteur I've met. I can't say I'm surprised."

He felt weeks of tension positively melt from his shoulders. His face brightened and his voice regained it's cheerier tune.

"That sounds like an absolute capital plan, Your Majesty."

He studied Jareth one more time. Usually, Dedric could get a sense of a person in an instant, but Jareth was a little more of an enigma. His moods seemed to shift from severity to gentleness in an instant. Still...he thought he could peg him down in one regard.

"To aid those stubborn brain cells, I'll have a servant deliver a bottle of Craespar wine from my own reserve. It hails from one of our smallest provinces high in the North. It's bit more dry and robust than the sweeter nectars Astraea is known for. Has a pleasant, sort of gingery aftertaste. "

Jareth seemed to share his affinity for some of the finer things in life.

"But I'm afraid I have some other matters to attend to. It's been a pleasure."

He said the last word with an element of surprise. He took a deep, respectful bow.

"Your Highness"