❦ 01 [Voice]

[truthinmylies]

Rowan. Always a curious material, is it not?

[The voice, warm and rich, contains a hint of carefully-crafted amusement -- a strange reaction to waking in a strange land, perhaps, but Jareth is not one to be outwardly honest about his thoughts and feelings.]

If course, there is the fact that I don't remember having an appointment with anyone who favored it. Now, I may have forgotten with all of the excitement lately, but a simple reminder would have done just as well, don't you agree?

[There are a few soft noises: the sounds of someone standing, brushing himself off, and putting his clothing in order. Then there is the soft clink of what almost sounds like glass and another chuckle.]

That's much better. Now, it's time for you to come out of hiding, isn't it? I don't like to be kept waiting.


[ooc: probably should have noted this when I first posted, but tags are fitted around my work schedule, so apologies if they come at weird times or with long pauses between!]

Comments

[truthinmylies]

Has she now.

[It was statement more than question, Jareth's face reflecting his displeasure. For he was well-acquainted with the fickle nature of the queen's affections (though, to be fair, it was a case of kettle and pot, as he could just just as fickle -- not that he would admit it, of course!).]

Did she now? [His frown deepens; he thinks he knows where the Puck is going with this one.] And who, pray tell, is the lucky bachelor?

[His voice clearly shows that he already suspects the answer.]

[sidherioghnach.livejournal.com]

[The Puck leaps to his feet before leaning towards Jareth, conspiratorially. He makes a great show of looking around for eavesdroppers, brings his hand up to shield his lips...

For a moment, the air tightens, becoming more tense around the Temple...

And then Puck whispers, loud enough to carry:]

That's gossip, m'lord! You wouldn't be asking a Puck to gossip, would you?

[truthinmylies]

[Finally, finally Jareth anticipates getting an answer out of the Puck; he was a flighty creature, and hard to pin down. Life was truly naught but a game to him, and it was only thought great effort on his part that the King of the Goblins was able to keep his features neutrally schooled as he drew back.]

Ah, but I had hoped for information, my dear Puck. If all you have is gossip, well then... [He turned on a bit of the scorn usually aimed for the goblins.] ...I suppose I had best seek out another informant, hmm?

[sidherioghnach.livejournal.com]

[The Puck flips over, balancing himself on one hand. He peers up at Jareth with a smile and a wink.]

But m'lord, surely you've figured it out? A flighty queen fighting over mortals with a half-hearted guardian?

[truthinmylies]

Only half-hearted, you say?

[Jareth laughs, a sound both cruel and musical; it reflects, perhaps, the shifting natures within him, within the Puck, within many of the Fae -- and within their Queen. His amusement is great; he wonders if, perhaps, this little excursion from his plans will not be worth the entertainment.]

But whatever could have possibly happened to the other half, hmm?

[sidherioghnach.livejournal.com]

I'm only a Puck, oh Goblin King! How can I be expected to know such things?

[But there's a smile there, a wicked, knife's edge of a thing, and the Puck rights himself, twirling his hands like an acrobat expecting applause.]

I know as little as you, and speculate perhaps as much.

[truthinmylies]

Call it thinking aloud. You must admit, it's rather the interesting conundrum, isn't it?

[Jareth grants that applause in his own way, with an indulgent chuckle; quite the opposite of his previous laughter, it is a sound of the type shared with a co-conspirator, one that says 'we're in this together.' For they are, for now; he'll humor the Puck - it never ends well to annoy such a master trickster -- and hope that, for his trouble, a hint or two might be dropped his way, either now or in the future.]

My dear Puck, I think you know more than you let on, but I also think it your own prerogative. You've given me quite a bit to consider though, and I do thank you for generous insights. Pray tell, this place, this Demeleier -- what meaning has it to the Queen? Has she not other realms more fair and foul?

[sidherioghnach.livejournal.com]

Hm... what does it mean to her?

[He taps his chin thoughtfully.]

You know me, King Jareth; I've spirited away many a baby and left a changeling to look out with old eyes from a young face, and I've never once apologized for doing so, and I've never once answered to anyone for doing it.

[Something Jareth should know, and something Jareth should be able to relate to.]

My Queen is much the same.

Now, imagine someone started interfering with that.