He will NOT leave me alone!

[bloodsong1]

She looked at the Apartment Complex, put her hands on her hips and sighed. Back again. Was it him? Or was it her? She didn't know, but strangely enough, it didn't matter. Shrugging fatalistically, she walked to the tree and made herself comfortable, leaning against the trunk. It was a nice tree, solid and stable.

"You're back." She blinked up at the Goblin King's flat voice and shrugged again.

"I must want something."

"Do you even know what it is?" Now he mocked. She let her lips twist into a wry smirk.

"I want the comfort visiting with you brings me. Can we skip the story nonsense and just have a nice chat instead?"

"About what?" Ah, intrigued. Good.

"Ships and shoes and sealing wax? Cabbages and kings?" Wait, was she starting that question game?

"How doth the little crocodile improve his shining tail?" Crap. Questions AND Lewis Carroll quotes.

"Let's stick to one game at a time, shall we?"

"Is that what my Reluctant Writer wants?"

"What do I get when I win?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Don't you know?

"Don't you?" He was grinning at her. She rolled her eyes.

"Can my prize be your feather cloak?"

"Why would you want that old thing?"

"Do you still have it?"

"Would you like to see it?"

"Where is it?"

"Where else would it be?"

"Does Eric know how much you like this game?"

"Do you know he won't play with me?"

"Jareth! What are you doing?" Sarah Williams asked. The Goblin King jumped.

"Sarah!"

"HAH! I win!" Sarah Williams glanced between them.

"Wait, what are YOU doing here?"

"She's my Reluctant Writer."

"Who gets to wear your feather cloak!" She stood up and bowed to a befuddled Sarah. "Thank you, Miss Williams for your exquisite timing." Jareth muttered to himself and snapped his fingers. She smiled as the warm, heavy cloak settled around her shoulders. Rubbing her cheek against the feathers, she caught Jareth squirming slightly. Sarah Williams was looking at her strangely.

"Were you serious? About killing him if I don't love him?" Reluctant Writer stroked the feathers. Yes, Jareth was definitely squirming. Maybe she could goose him! She looked back at Sarah and shrugged.

"If you don't love him, you should put him out of his misery. Death is excellent for that. But, if you DO love him, or are working towards that," She looked Jareth in the eyes and slid her hand up the cloak. The royal heels left the ground. Score! She leered and he glared. "If you do have feelings for him, you should say so. Fey need their right words." She wrapped the cloak around her and nuzzled her face. A faint squeak came from His Royal Sparkliness.

"What are you doing?" Sarah Williams screeched. She looked up. The Goblin King looked most perturbed. And half aroused. Reluctant Writer leered, then slowly removed the cloak from her shoulders and draped it over Sarah Williams.

"I'm taking solace in a fairy tale," She whispered in Sarah's ear, watching the Goblin King as she slowly dragged her hands down the back of the cloak. Sure enough, the heels left the ground. She grinned, walked around Sarah and caught Jareth around the waist, burrowing her nose into his vest. Behind her Sarah Williams growled.

"Thank you," She whispered. Gloved hands slowly settled on her shoulders and patted. Thankfully, there was no rush of Power or she would have melted into goo.

"You're welcome," He whispered. She let go and turned to face a furious Sarah Williams.

"Here, you need to do this," She said, taking Sarah's hand and running it over the cloak.

"Um, wow. It's really soft," Sarah Williams said, surprised. Reluctant Writer smirked.

"Enjoy!" She walked away, turned and walked backward. Sarah was petting the cloak and the Goblin King was stumbling towards her, his feelings very obvious. She cackled and fell back into the darkness.


So I started this for comfort and end up tormenting His Nibs. Ah well. Serves him right.