*Excited*
Sarah: >.> I'm not. I traveled (through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered) to this place for a bit of peace and quiet, and look how wrong I'll be.

Jareth: *grins* Don't be so put out, precious. I'll only be around forever... not long at all~

Sarah: Well, I won't. Why must it be ruined by your... *Narrows her eyes at him a bit* Sneaky tricks and pestering?

Jareth: *tsks her softly* Me? Belittled to "sneaky tricks"? How your words pierce me, Sarah. I imagine something more along the lines of preening, prowling... divulging to illusions and general mischief~ More eloquent than pestering.

Sarah: I don't have to be eloquent if I don't wish to be, your highness. Though I will agree that all those other words also apply.

Jareth: *smirks at her self-righteousness* Ahh, but mere trickery is bestowed by goblins, my dear. And while I am their king, I have the standards for myself raised higher than that. I assure you... *leans in to whisper softly* I am capable of so much more~

Sarah: *Tenses and eyes widen a bit, but straightens her shoulders* I've yet to see any proof of that.

Jareth: Ahhh, yes. We mustn't forget your high expectations, precious. *conjures a crystal and twirls it slowly in his paws before levitating it just above his grasp and holding it out temptingly* Perhaps there'll come a time when my efforts will be less in vain. Your adulthood does grant less restrictions than before~

Sarah: *Gives him a genuinely wary look* Considering some of the things that occurred on our last encounter, I'm not sure I want to know what restrictions my becoming an adult has taken away...

Jareth: *purrs in amusement and gives her a pointed grin* Come now, you make it sound as if it were all bad. Then again, you were too absorbed with your heroine acts to truly enjoy having me fulfill your dreams to the point of exhaustion, weren't you~? *lowers his paw, the crystal levitating before Sarah with faint images of the Labyrinth shimmering across it's surface*

Sarah: *Attention focuses on the crystal* I only had a short time to fix a mistake... *Gently touches the crystal with one paw*

Jareth: *watches as the crystal glows in reaction to Sarah's touch and the images shifts until it shows her former self overcoming the challenges of the Labyrinth* Would you rather have not made the mistake at all?

Sarah: *Frowns at the image, preferring to see the Labyrinth itself rather than her in all her adolescent foolishness* ... No. I think someone once said the past makes us who we are today. I think I'm a better person for all my mistakes.

Jareth: Oh how you've changed since you've first entered the Labyrinth... and likewise for the Labyrinth's inhabitants. *pauses at his choice of words before reclining regally* Tell me Sarah, do you still revel in your childhood fantasies from time to time, or have you outgrown all those silly fairytales? *the crystal grows dark at his words before it nestles itself into Sarah's palm and resurfaces with what she desires to see, as it was intended to do*

Sarah: *Smiles a bit as she cradles the crystal, watching the inhabitants of the goblin city with amusement* Oh, it's nice to fantasize about one thing or another every once in a while, be it over things one simply doesn't have in ones' life or an old memory. *Gaze flicks up to him and gives him a slightly pointed look* But that's all fantasies are, and sooner rather than later one has to return to reality. Fairytales... are for pups. *Glances back down into the crystal, tilting her head slightly at it in thought* But, I don't think you ever grow out of fantasizing.

Jareth: *eyes narrow in thought and ears flick back nonchalantly* Reality? Not all fairytales are make-believe, Sarah. You of all people should know that. *watches her with intent, mismatched eyes as she returns her gaze to the crystal* There are some things that you can't grow out of...

Sarah: *Smirks at him in a teasing manner* Like immortal, other-worldly stalkers?

Jareth: *raises an elegant brow, expecting something more harsh like 'baby-stealing, self-absorbed, make-up abusive faerie prats', but keeps this notion to himself and takes Sarah's teasing remark to good heart* Perhaps... Or charming mortal girls with repressed inner princesses. It's different for everyone, really~

Sarah: *Snorts* There's no more princesses he- *Blinks as the rest of his statement sinks in and then her eyes widen a bit*

Jareth: *tilts his head to the side and grins coyly* Are you sure about that? *takes a step closer and gives her a look of consideration* Because it seems to me that you are at a loss of words, precious.

Sarah: *Blinks some more before frowning a bit* Quite sure. Just normal Sarah now.

Jareth: Oh really? Throughout all those dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, all that's become of you is just an average girl? *sighs and shakes his head* Such a pity... But I have reason to think otherwise.

Sarah: *Adjusts her wings at her back* I never said I was average. I said I was normal. Not a princess or anything special like that. That doesn't mean I'm an average female.

Jareth: *chuckles wryly* Ah, then tell me, Sarah-dearest. What is the difference between average and normal in your terms then~?

Sarah: *Thinks about how to phrase it, staring into the crystal as she thinks* Normal is what you do. Normal creatures live and hunt and have families. Extraordinary can be too much sometimes. But to be average is to be like everyone else completely, personality included. *Laughs once in the back of her throat* I may not be a repressed princess, but I don't consider my personality to be that of your average female, either. *Smirks a bit at him* After all, I'm brave enough to stand toe-to-toe with the Goblin King himself. I wonder how many other females out there would be willing to do so, knowing who you are and what you're capable of.


Jareth: So would I be considered normal compared to every other exquisitely dressed, musically pronounced, and enchanting king? *taps his chin in thought before coming to a conclusion and offering Sarah a teasing grin* Ah wait, there aren't any. And considering the motley display of characters that wish their younger relatives away, you'd be surprised. *snorts incredulously at thought of the berserk things that people have wished away and reasons for doing so* Granted, you are, if anything, unique. I fail to believe that every normal mortal has been gifted with certain powers and has an "immortal, other-worldly stalker", as you so kindly put it. *smirks and purrs softly in amusement*

Sarah: *Rolls her eyes a bit as he goes on and on then looks curious* "Certain powers"? What do you mean by that?

Jareth: *unfurls his mottled wings briefly to stretch them before giving her a curious look* How quick you are to forget, Sarah. Do you not remember those words from that little red book you used to cherish? Of how the Goblin King gave the girl, who was practically a slave to her baby brother, certain powers...?

Sarah: *Makes a thoughtful face and dramatically taps her chin with the paw not holding the crystal* I do remember that... But I don't recall what these powers were.

Jareth: Is that so? *smiles coyly before he moves closer and gently tips her chin up* Do the words "I wish" ring a bell~?

Sarah: *Eyes narrow a bit at him* And how many other "I wish"es have you granted? You said yourself there were plenty of those who wished things away to you.

Jareth: *gives her an indignant look* Must you take a pro and turn it into a con? *sighs dramatically and flicks his wrist* Your gift reaches beyond the mere extent of wishing things away, my dear. Along the lines of summoning the Goblin King and wishing for favors of a more serious intent...

Sarah: *Takes a minute to reply, looking just a little dazed at the closeness* Huh, well isn't it a pity then that I don't think I'll really have a need for these powers. I left home to be independent and summoning you doesn't quite seem to fall into that category.

Jareth: *flicks a strand a silver-blonde hair from his face bemusedly* One would only assume as much. Given, you weren't as reluctant to summon Hogswart and your other mirror companions after that faithful parade through the goblin city... or have you abandoned them since then as well? *tips his head to the side out of habit before giving her an expectant look*

Sarah: *Narrows her eyes and her wings puff up slightly* They're my friends, Goblin King. And of course I haven't abandoned them. You don't do that to your friends.

Jareth: No, of course not. *frowns and promptly pressed his wings to his back before reclining back a bit* Yet you didn't seem to have a problem leaving everything else in the Labyrinth behind...

Sarah: Everything el- *Suddenly looks uncomfortable* It... wasn't like we were friends, Jareth...

Jareth: *blinks and his features soften breifly as she addresses him by his name, but notices his momentary change in mood and attempts to recompose himself* Oh bravo, Sarah. Thank you for coming to the realization. *laces his voice with false ennui and folds his arms over his chest* You may have just been concerned about pertaining to your friendship with that hodge-podge group of characters that you collected on your travels... but some of us only have belief to live off of.

Sarah: *Frowns* And what's that supposed to mean?

Jareth: *scoffs and turns away* How would you possibly know? *sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose* When every mortal grows up, sometimes they loose something from their childhood beliefs... And when their belief in their old dreams die, so do the dreams themselves... *stops there, hesitant to go into depth of what would happen to him should certain people cease to believe in him*

Sarah: *Raises an eyebrow* I never said... *Sighs and sets the crystal down next to her so that she can better cross her arms* I don't fancy myself some oppressed heroine or anything like that anymore. That's all, really. I know of and believe in the things out there that aren't what most creatures consider normal. *Flicks her hair over her shoulder* All that changed was my view of myself, not everyone else. *Smirks a bit, trying to relighten the mood* And if I remember correctly, you were quite the villain. Are you trying to change my beliefs, Goblin King?

Jareth: *lips pursed, he remains quiet as she speaks, only grinning slightly at her last remark* Oh yes, how wrong it would be of me to make you think I was anything but the baby-snatching, peach-drugging, villainous king that idolized as your antagonist. Do forgive me, wont you~?

Sarah: *Turns her head a bit as if her attention is caught by something, then looks at him out of the corners of her eyes* How else would you have me see you, then?

Jareth: *sighs wistfully* I'm surprised you'd take my preferences into consideration at all. Not that it would matter, seeing as alignments are based purely on opinion, and your opinion isn't something for me to decide. No power over you, tra-la-la. *gives a flick of his wrist with a brisk nod of his head, as though the matter were a trivial debate* Although... *glances away and taps his lips, as if taking something into consideration* ..."gracious king" or "benevolent lord" are a couple of options that wouldn't hurt~ *smirks teasingly*

Sarah: *Smiles in an honestly amused fashion* Ah, ever painting yourself as the kind, selfless monarch. You would have been better off asking me to see you as a bird. *Reaches her paw out to lightly flick at the feathers on one of his wings* At least with that you're part of the way there.

Jareth: *wing ruffles itself slightly in response to the flick* Bird of prey. *quirks his brow and gives her a predatory grin* Royalty, a title to uphold nonetheless, does not perceive force through a songbird, my dear. And I am a force to be reckoned with. *smirks and vanishes from view, the scenery melting away to a backdrop of night* From your own personal experience... *his voice echoes before he appears right beside Sarah, dressed in his midnight blue coat* ...wouldn't you agree~?

Sarah: *Gasps at the change in scenery, having never gotten used to that and suddenly finds herself alone but for his voice* Jare- *Stops when he reappears and shivers a bit* Where... Have you taken me this time?

Jareth: Still in the same woods, only later in the day. However this area isn't quite simple to reach by... standard means. *looks around thoughtfully* Seems to be a bit too early for the moon to be in the sky yet... Let's see if we can fix that. *draws a small, clockwise circle in the air, as if turning the hands on an invisible clock, until shafts of moonlight spills into the glade, revealing them to be on a small island in the middle of a creek, with a few small waterfall-like streams feeding into the current. At the center of the island is an ancient oak with gnarled roots and a small door with goblins carved around it at the base*

Looks like this, only with the tree on the island and no windows on the surrounding trees.
...This is becoming more detailed than planned. xD;; But now you know what his Oasis abode looks like for future reference ;3

Sarah: *Makes a small awed face and sighs* I have to admit, you do have good taste in scenery, Jareth... Except that bog. If I didn't know it was a punishment, I honestly would wonder what you were thinking on that.

Jareth: *beams slightly at the compliment before grinning slyly in amusement at her next remark* Goblins, along with several other of the Labyrinth's inhabitants, are very simple creatures, and thus do not take an elaborate means of torture to threat. Besides, we needed something more original than a pit of fire. *chuckles wryly* Alas, I am without the bog here. I shall have to improvise. Not in this glade, of course. *admires the area too much to muck it up with swampland*

Sarah: *Shakes her head* There're no goblins that need punishing here, your Majesty. You should probably leave the rest of this place alone, lest you upset other inhabitants. I've heard there are some rather... interesting ones that have taken up residence here. Right up your alley, I suppose.

Jareth: *snorts at the thought of how accurately his minions can track him down in another realm when he's trying to avoid them and their nonsensical ramblings about the welfare of their chickens, yet how they never seem to notice him when he's slumped in his throne back at the castle* You'd be surprised... And I assure you, I don't have the intentions of remolding this reserve. Not that the thought of sending those that have gone astray into a maddening array of twists and turns isn't enticing in it's own right. *purrs deviously at the thought and then looks at her curiously for a moment, wondering who else could pertain to his area of fanatical realms before grimacing slightly in thought* Oh gods, don't tell me the prats from Oz are here as well.

Sarah: *Shrugs* I'm not sure. I heard about a confusing pink cat and something about a couple of incarnates, but nothing more than that. *Steps away from him to look around a bit more, eyes full of wonder, wondering what it would be like to live in a place like this*

Jareth: *frowns in thought, only with a faint idea of who Sarah is referring to, but shakes the notion from his head and instead watches Sarah from the corner of his vision, summoning the crystal that had previously been beside her to his paw with a flick of his wrist* Amazing how pure a place can be when sheltered from the mortal eye... *Until now.*

Sarah: *Tenses slightly and glances over her shoulder at him* Have I tainted it, then?

Jareth: *traces his gaze over the crystal in is paws as if watching something in its depths before turning his head to look over at Sarah's wary inquiry* Of course you haven't, my dear. Would I have brought you here if I'd known you would? *smirks softly before rising to his paws, first dropping the crystal and watching as it rolls away and disappears behind the door before walking over to a gnarled root and stroking it carefully* Most mortals have destructive intentions and have long since mutilated several places like this, which is why we rarely allow them access to these areas... or what's left of them. *glances over to Sarah, thinking how scarce it is to bring one here on a personal whim*

Sarah: For all I know you brought me here to show off, no matter what the consequences. *Tilts her head* Still, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were putting your trust in me, Goblin King. I am still mortal, after all. And you may recall I also tend to have my destructive moments.

Jareth: Yes, we mustn't forget your knack of destroying kingdoms, precious. *gives her a half amused look before he dissolves and reappears perched regally on a branch* I see you still take things for granted, my dear. For all you know, I could've brought you here on a whimsy. It could have easily been somewhere else.

Sarah: *Frowns up at him* I guess some things don't change after all. *Turns away from him and crosses her arms* I would like to go home, now, Goblin King.

Jareth: *stares at her for a moment with calculating, mismatched eyes* As you wish... *snaps his fingers and the glade falls away, replaced by the entrance of Sarah's den, where it is still the dead of night, but Jareth isn't there*

Sarah: *Huffs a bit then heads into her dark, empty den to try and get some sleep*