(Now)
'Transit now arriving from…' the overhead speaker droned for all to hear as the train entered the station. The doors opened and people entered and exited the machine in their nightly journeys home or elsewhere in dull monotony.
Among them walked a man who looked like he has escaped from some gothic party or perhaps a member of some death metal band making his way home. His manner was quiet, yet he was not rude when one of the passengers had asked him if they were indeed on the right train to where they were going. He slipped out of the stream of people leaving the transit and made his way to the station lockers. A quick glance to make sure he was not being watched and he unzipped the small backpack he was carrying.
Three framed plates approximately 12 by 12 inches square wrapped in cloth were slipped into the waiting locker. He fed the lock the required money and removed the key and moved on to the restrooms. Inside one of the stalls, he removed one of his boots and slipped the key inside an inner pocket made inside the boot and replaced it on his foot.
He exited the restroom and made his way to the platform. A glance at the wall clock told him he was on schedule. It would take him an hour to reach his destination on foot before his little 'accident' here, but now it would be far easier to reach his goal. He had an appointment to keep, but first he had a visit to make. He headed across the street and slipped down into the sewers.
***
Silently the grate lifted as Jareth peered about. He was not sure why this section of the city had been blocked off. The stillness in this area was almost serene with a major hint of spooky dashed in. But this is where the message said to come. His 'client' was a secretive one at best and demanded privacy in his dealings, so this was a no brainer.
Personally, he despised the 'Fat Man' as he had come to silently call him. The guy reminded him of the character Syndney Greenstreet played opposite Bogart in Casablanca who owned the Blue Parrot Café. A slimy ******** at best, but without the fez on his head. He had a name of course-or at least one he gave out to his clients and employees, but Archer doubted Molari was his real name. No one thrived in the circles he walked in by being careless with such things as their identity. Molari dealt in merchandise of a more esoteric nature and sometimes he contacted people such as Archer of authentication purposes and the project the Fat Man had contracted him to do sat within his back pack now. Translation was easy, but verifying the items were the real deal and not just a fancy copy took skills.
(Then)
"Sometimes I am sorry I introduced you to Molari," the older man sighed as he watched his disciple labor over an ancient scroll the man had paid to have authenticated.
"He pays," Jareth shrugged. "Besides, we gather some nice information for our own archives from these jobs."
"Slime is slime. And I do not care how much is gained from dealing with it. Dealing with people like Molari eventually taints one if they are not careful. He banks on your honesty and your apparent greed yet fails to realize his very presence in people's lives eventually turns those individuals into elements he has no use for."
"Well that's why I hang with you, old man," Jareth looked up at the Sorcerer and winked. The man who would in time be the last human mentor into the mystic mysteries he would have. "You keep me straight." He adored the man named Woodward and sometimes thought of him as the father he never knew growing up.
"Just be careful of him, Jareth."
"He needs a fez,"
(Now)
He approached the abandoned building carefully. Molari never traveled unprotected and he could feel the humans hiding in the shadows. He had to be careful now. As much as he would have enjoyed ripping the heads off the hired muscle, he had his own head to worry about. Petty rage could be seen and the bounty on his head had already become problematic for his dealings so there was no sense taking a chance over the Fat Man's trained apes.
"Stop," a voice barked as Jareth took the last steps to the door. Two very large men emerged and began to frisk him. One inspected the contents of his back pack and finally nodded to the other. One of the men entered the building and he could hear him bellow (even without enhanced hearing) "He's clean, Mr Molari. Boy don't even have the sense to carry a weapon!"
The other guard encouraged Jareth to enter the building now. A corner of it had been transformed into a very clean spot with a table and chairs. Molari sat behind the table like some sultan holding court. He had to give the Fat Man that much. He could make any chair look like a throne when he sat down and began to conduct business.
"Show some respect, Michael," Molari's oily voice was barely a whisper in the silence. "Mister Archer is himself a weapon if he chooses to use his skills in such a manner, but I know Woodward has trained him in constraint and respect for such magicks. But constraint only holds as long as respect is shown in return." He looked at Jareth with eyes that reminded him of the rats he sometimes snacked on in the sewers below. "Jareth, my boy. Please have a seat. We have business to discuss."
Jareth nodded as he tried not to picture a bright red fez sitting on top of the Fat Man's head.
(to be continued)
The ties that bind
-
Jareth Archer
- Registered User
- Posts: 38
- Joined: 26 Apr 2011, 18:17
The ties that bind
I am no one
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
-
Jareth Archer
- Registered User
- Posts: 38
- Joined: 26 Apr 2011, 18:17
Re: The ties that bind
"And how have you been lately, Jareth?" Molari looked at him as if he was some kind of confection he was eager to pop into his mouth and chew up.
"Not too bad," he admitted. "I appreciate the prompt reply when I let you know this was finally finished."
"An unusual route for you to get me a message, I must admit," the Fat Man sighed. "Your cell has been out of service for weeks now and while I appreciate the marvel of electronic mail, it is so unlike you to contact me that way."
"I have been a little behind recently," he apologized.
"But you have finished it?"
"Yes I have," Jareth began to pull several items from his bag.
"Excellent, Jareth. Unlike some I have employed in the past, you do not fail me." Molari's eyes shined brightly at the revelation. He watched Jareth unwrap the bundle he removed and smiled as three 12 by 12 plates were laid out on the table in front of him. Each plate was clear glass that held a single page of a very old manuscript in place to allow one a clear view of both sides.
"I had to open one to complete the authentication process," Jareth apologized.
"That was understood and expected," Molari waved away his words. "But now, the real issue here. Are they real or not?"
(Then)
"They are real," he handed the daggers back to Tisha without a second look.
"How can you tell?" the young mystic looked them over closely.
"Is all in the runes," he explained to Woodward's newest apprentice.
"They look legit to me," she replied.
"Yes they do, but the difference is how they were carved in. The method used to make the writing is as tell tale as the writing itself. See?" he began to point out a few details under the large magnifier he had set up for this.
"Oh sweet!" she beamed.
(Now)
Jareth held the notebook of his findings tightly in his hands.
"Well?" Molari demanded. "My client paid a amazing amount of money for these, plus more to me to see if he had gotten his money's worth. After I deducted my fees and made all the arrangements, what was left was offered to you."
"I know, but,"
"But what?"
"You haven't even given me my retainer fee yet."
"Oh that," Molari smiled. "Well, when you took this job you understood there would be a bit of a delay in that."
"Yes, and the check should have cleared in my account by now."
"That was true under our original contract," the Fat Man pulled a document from a file and laid it in front of Archer. It was an iron clad arrangement that allowed neither to have a loop hole to screw the other. "But things have changed, haven't they Jareth?"
"What do you mean?"
"The contracts have always stated quite clearly that the agreement is unbreakable, even unto death. But death does not really apply to you now, does it?"
"Just say it, Molari." Archer was getting bored with this cat and mouse game quickly. Molari reached over and turned the laptop he had sitting beside him so Archer could see the screen. It was a website he had been checking rather regularly as of late.
"Why would a living man be on a bounty hunter's list?" he asked Jaereth.
"I stick my nose into things I have no business doing?" he offered. "How did you hack into their system like that? I have been trying for days."
"Another present from your own pocket." Molari showed him a thumbdrive. "That little would-be mystic is quite the computer wizard. You supplied me a copy of this to assist me in some of my ventures if you recall right."
(Then)
"How long is this gonna take?" he watched Tisha work the keyboard frantically.
"Patience, big bro," she gritted her teeth as she worked her way through the encryption walls. A few more key taps and she hit the ENTER key and smiled as the firewalls opened up and allowed them to see what they had been searching for.
"I am impressed," he admitted.
"You keep teaching me the hexing and I will show you how to cyber-hex," she laughed.
(Now)
"So what? You got into their net and found my name. What of it?"
"Oh, there is more. Another bit of your own handiwork against you, Jareth." Molari pulled a small necklace out of his well tailored shirt. "Recognize this? An amulet to let the wearer know when something beyond the norm is about? It has been going crazy since I came into this city and now," he pushed the thing toward Archer and the necromancer saw it glow an angry shade of red. "You are driving it crazy as well."
(to be continued)
"Not too bad," he admitted. "I appreciate the prompt reply when I let you know this was finally finished."
"An unusual route for you to get me a message, I must admit," the Fat Man sighed. "Your cell has been out of service for weeks now and while I appreciate the marvel of electronic mail, it is so unlike you to contact me that way."
"I have been a little behind recently," he apologized.
"But you have finished it?"
"Yes I have," Jareth began to pull several items from his bag.
"Excellent, Jareth. Unlike some I have employed in the past, you do not fail me." Molari's eyes shined brightly at the revelation. He watched Jareth unwrap the bundle he removed and smiled as three 12 by 12 plates were laid out on the table in front of him. Each plate was clear glass that held a single page of a very old manuscript in place to allow one a clear view of both sides.
"I had to open one to complete the authentication process," Jareth apologized.
"That was understood and expected," Molari waved away his words. "But now, the real issue here. Are they real or not?"
(Then)
"They are real," he handed the daggers back to Tisha without a second look.
"How can you tell?" the young mystic looked them over closely.
"Is all in the runes," he explained to Woodward's newest apprentice.
"They look legit to me," she replied.
"Yes they do, but the difference is how they were carved in. The method used to make the writing is as tell tale as the writing itself. See?" he began to point out a few details under the large magnifier he had set up for this.
"Oh sweet!" she beamed.
(Now)
Jareth held the notebook of his findings tightly in his hands.
"Well?" Molari demanded. "My client paid a amazing amount of money for these, plus more to me to see if he had gotten his money's worth. After I deducted my fees and made all the arrangements, what was left was offered to you."
"I know, but,"
"But what?"
"You haven't even given me my retainer fee yet."
"Oh that," Molari smiled. "Well, when you took this job you understood there would be a bit of a delay in that."
"Yes, and the check should have cleared in my account by now."
"That was true under our original contract," the Fat Man pulled a document from a file and laid it in front of Archer. It was an iron clad arrangement that allowed neither to have a loop hole to screw the other. "But things have changed, haven't they Jareth?"
"What do you mean?"
"The contracts have always stated quite clearly that the agreement is unbreakable, even unto death. But death does not really apply to you now, does it?"
"Just say it, Molari." Archer was getting bored with this cat and mouse game quickly. Molari reached over and turned the laptop he had sitting beside him so Archer could see the screen. It was a website he had been checking rather regularly as of late.
"Why would a living man be on a bounty hunter's list?" he asked Jaereth.
"I stick my nose into things I have no business doing?" he offered. "How did you hack into their system like that? I have been trying for days."
"Another present from your own pocket." Molari showed him a thumbdrive. "That little would-be mystic is quite the computer wizard. You supplied me a copy of this to assist me in some of my ventures if you recall right."
(Then)
"How long is this gonna take?" he watched Tisha work the keyboard frantically.
"Patience, big bro," she gritted her teeth as she worked her way through the encryption walls. A few more key taps and she hit the ENTER key and smiled as the firewalls opened up and allowed them to see what they had been searching for.
"I am impressed," he admitted.
"You keep teaching me the hexing and I will show you how to cyber-hex," she laughed.
(Now)
"So what? You got into their net and found my name. What of it?"
"Oh, there is more. Another bit of your own handiwork against you, Jareth." Molari pulled a small necklace out of his well tailored shirt. "Recognize this? An amulet to let the wearer know when something beyond the norm is about? It has been going crazy since I came into this city and now," he pushed the thing toward Archer and the necromancer saw it glow an angry shade of red. "You are driving it crazy as well."
(to be continued)
I am no one
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
-
Jareth Archer
- Registered User
- Posts: 38
- Joined: 26 Apr 2011, 18:17
Re: The ties that bind
"So, you managed to get yourself turned into one of them," Molari laughed softly. "You can thank Woodward for putting out the little alert that vampires were not quite the legend we all assumed they were and that they had returned. Woodward, your little teen mystic and you came here to check out something but only the old man and the kid returned. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the rest."
"So what does this have to do with my matter of being paid?" he shouted.
"You voided your contract. Unto death it says and I still stand behind that. There is nothing in the lawyers quibble about undead vampires being paid."
"Oh **** this," Archer began to rise but was pushed back down into the chair by Molari's trained gorillas. "Oh come on," he protested. "We going to do this the easy way or are you going to be a dick about all of this?"
Safety's snapped as Archer felt two gun barrels against his temples. "So, the penis path it is then," he frowned.
"Over 3000 dollars for you if your bounty is claimed," Molari laughed.
"Oh please! You deal in millions at a time and you gonna waste your time over that chump change?"
"I would be doing society a favor and be removing a perpetual pest from its side," he laughed back for a moment before waving his two guards to step away from Archer. "But you are right. As amusing as it would be to see you still speaking with two holes in your head, it is hardly worth the effort. Sooner or later one of your own new kinder will do the job for me. So now I will relive you of the burden of my property and you will hand over the facts about them and then, if you are lucky, you can leave until next time."
"Next time?" Jareth could not believe he was hearing this. "You honestly think I will work for free for you?"
"I will count on it," Molari smiled again.
"Why don't you just drag me out into the sunshine, cause that is all you will get from me ever again."
"Why Jareth, I am shocked." Molari refused to back down. "There is more ways to convince an intelligent necromancer such as yourself of offering services in exchange for protection."
"Protection? I don't need any!"
"Not you, of course. You are vampire, but some others close to you are not. Quite human, I'm afraid."
"You…" Archer hissed.
"Does Woodward know exactly what happened to you?" The Fat Man was in his element now and was pushing buttons with delight as he hammered home the points that made him sure he was in control. "I think it would kill that old man to know what one of his most promising disciples has turned into. And that prodigal mystic who followed you both around like a puppy? What was her name again?"
"Tisha," Jareth sighed.
"Oh yes, that’s right. Anyone other than Woodward and I would think the man had pedophilic tendencies when he first took her in as a student. I saw all three of you together too many times not to notice how doe-eyed she got when she was with you. Did she hope to grow up and be Mrs Archer one day? Well I imagine she still could."
(Then)
"Wow!" Tisha watched as Jareth managed to reanimate the corpse of the dog and make it yield to his commands.
"Very good, Jareth," Woodward nodded in approval. "Your persistence is paying off. Now, Tisha? As I taught you."
Jareth directed the dog to move towards the young girl. She took a stance and wove her own spell quickly. The dog zombie shuddered and slid back several feet as if an invisible hammer suddenly hit it hard.
"Excellent," the Sorcerer nodded his approval. "A month ago you could hardly move a rat a couple inches away from you. Good work both of you, take a break."
Jareth put the zombie back town and watched Tisha approach him with a bottle of water. "Thirsty work?" he chuckled as he took the bottle and drank.
"We are going to be so bad!" the (then) 11 year old beamed with pride. "You set em up and I will knock them down!"
"Damn straight, little sis. That's what family does."
"You got it, big bro," the pair bumped knuckles.
(Now)
"Such a pity," Molari smiled.
Something snapped inside of Archer as he made the connections. He moved before he could think about it. His fist went directly into the face of the first hired muscle. The head snapped back so quickly in a gush of blood that Jareth had already turned to confront the second man. He ducked a blow he should not have been able to and hammered the man several times in the gut until he heard something crack inside the big man.
He spun to face the first man again, some inner instinct of years spent in the streets kicking in, but instead of an attack he watched the man standing there swaying with his head sitting at an odd angle. He fell over onto the floor and failed to move again. He glanced at the second man and saw him on his knees with blood pouring out of his mouth while he clutched his chest in pain. Eventually he fell to the floor as well and stayed still.
Archer was shocked. He could hold his own in a street fight before, but against two trained goons his odds would be limited. But this? He looked at his blood slick fists in amazement and then looked at Molari and smiled fully-revealing his fangs.
"This is the BOMB! Yeah, BABY!" he shouted as he felt the power racing through him.
"Jareth," Molari cautioned him as he looked about-nervous for the first time during their little meeting. "I would calm down if I were you. You just added several thousand dollars to your bounty with that trick."
"Who saw it?" he sneered. "Do you even understand how that works? You hack into a network, read a page or two and think you know everything?" he began to advance now. "A alert is generated when humans see you in action and that works in the streets or the mall or even in the bars and such, but this is the quarantine zone, you stupid fat ****! Who the hell saw me do anything but YOU?!? You picked this place, not me. So damn scared someone would see you when being seen might have been the one thing to save your *** right now!"
"Jareth…" Molari repeated, but Archer could already hear the fear creeping into his voice.
(to be continued)
"So what does this have to do with my matter of being paid?" he shouted.
"You voided your contract. Unto death it says and I still stand behind that. There is nothing in the lawyers quibble about undead vampires being paid."
"Oh **** this," Archer began to rise but was pushed back down into the chair by Molari's trained gorillas. "Oh come on," he protested. "We going to do this the easy way or are you going to be a dick about all of this?"
Safety's snapped as Archer felt two gun barrels against his temples. "So, the penis path it is then," he frowned.
"Over 3000 dollars for you if your bounty is claimed," Molari laughed.
"Oh please! You deal in millions at a time and you gonna waste your time over that chump change?"
"I would be doing society a favor and be removing a perpetual pest from its side," he laughed back for a moment before waving his two guards to step away from Archer. "But you are right. As amusing as it would be to see you still speaking with two holes in your head, it is hardly worth the effort. Sooner or later one of your own new kinder will do the job for me. So now I will relive you of the burden of my property and you will hand over the facts about them and then, if you are lucky, you can leave until next time."
"Next time?" Jareth could not believe he was hearing this. "You honestly think I will work for free for you?"
"I will count on it," Molari smiled again.
"Why don't you just drag me out into the sunshine, cause that is all you will get from me ever again."
"Why Jareth, I am shocked." Molari refused to back down. "There is more ways to convince an intelligent necromancer such as yourself of offering services in exchange for protection."
"Protection? I don't need any!"
"Not you, of course. You are vampire, but some others close to you are not. Quite human, I'm afraid."
"You…" Archer hissed.
"Does Woodward know exactly what happened to you?" The Fat Man was in his element now and was pushing buttons with delight as he hammered home the points that made him sure he was in control. "I think it would kill that old man to know what one of his most promising disciples has turned into. And that prodigal mystic who followed you both around like a puppy? What was her name again?"
"Tisha," Jareth sighed.
"Oh yes, that’s right. Anyone other than Woodward and I would think the man had pedophilic tendencies when he first took her in as a student. I saw all three of you together too many times not to notice how doe-eyed she got when she was with you. Did she hope to grow up and be Mrs Archer one day? Well I imagine she still could."
(Then)
"Wow!" Tisha watched as Jareth managed to reanimate the corpse of the dog and make it yield to his commands.
"Very good, Jareth," Woodward nodded in approval. "Your persistence is paying off. Now, Tisha? As I taught you."
Jareth directed the dog to move towards the young girl. She took a stance and wove her own spell quickly. The dog zombie shuddered and slid back several feet as if an invisible hammer suddenly hit it hard.
"Excellent," the Sorcerer nodded his approval. "A month ago you could hardly move a rat a couple inches away from you. Good work both of you, take a break."
Jareth put the zombie back town and watched Tisha approach him with a bottle of water. "Thirsty work?" he chuckled as he took the bottle and drank.
"We are going to be so bad!" the (then) 11 year old beamed with pride. "You set em up and I will knock them down!"
"Damn straight, little sis. That's what family does."
"You got it, big bro," the pair bumped knuckles.
(Now)
"Such a pity," Molari smiled.
Something snapped inside of Archer as he made the connections. He moved before he could think about it. His fist went directly into the face of the first hired muscle. The head snapped back so quickly in a gush of blood that Jareth had already turned to confront the second man. He ducked a blow he should not have been able to and hammered the man several times in the gut until he heard something crack inside the big man.
He spun to face the first man again, some inner instinct of years spent in the streets kicking in, but instead of an attack he watched the man standing there swaying with his head sitting at an odd angle. He fell over onto the floor and failed to move again. He glanced at the second man and saw him on his knees with blood pouring out of his mouth while he clutched his chest in pain. Eventually he fell to the floor as well and stayed still.
Archer was shocked. He could hold his own in a street fight before, but against two trained goons his odds would be limited. But this? He looked at his blood slick fists in amazement and then looked at Molari and smiled fully-revealing his fangs.
"This is the BOMB! Yeah, BABY!" he shouted as he felt the power racing through him.
"Jareth," Molari cautioned him as he looked about-nervous for the first time during their little meeting. "I would calm down if I were you. You just added several thousand dollars to your bounty with that trick."
"Who saw it?" he sneered. "Do you even understand how that works? You hack into a network, read a page or two and think you know everything?" he began to advance now. "A alert is generated when humans see you in action and that works in the streets or the mall or even in the bars and such, but this is the quarantine zone, you stupid fat ****! Who the hell saw me do anything but YOU?!? You picked this place, not me. So damn scared someone would see you when being seen might have been the one thing to save your *** right now!"
"Jareth…" Molari repeated, but Archer could already hear the fear creeping into his voice.
(to be continued)
I am no one
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
-
Jareth Archer
- Registered User
- Posts: 38
- Joined: 26 Apr 2011, 18:17
Re: The ties that bind
"SHUT UP!" he leapt over the table and grabbed the man by his lapels. An effortless push sent the man crashing into the wall. Molari slid down to his knees-so unused to any physical exertion or attacks. Jareth grabbed the three plates and smashed them over the man's head. The industrial strength glass breaking soundly across Molari's skull with a sharp cracking sound. He grabbed the man and forced him to look him in the eyes that were glowing feral in the dim lighting of the old building.
"THEY WERE FAKES!" he screamed at the whimpering fat man. "All you had to do was hand me my retainer and we would have parted friends. But no, not you! Always trying for something for nothing!"
"Jareth, I'm sorry," Molari begged as his hand pulled his checkbook from his pocket. Quickly he signed one of the checks and offered it to Archer. "Whatever you need. A blank check! Take it!"
He slapped away the slice of paper and drew closer to the man. "It's not about the money, round boy. Far from it. You sat there and threatened the closest thing I ever had to a family."
"Why do you still care? You are no longer human."
Archer looked at Molari with an emotion he never in a million years dreamed he would have towards the Fat Man. Pity. Becoming vampire to the point nothing you valued when you were alive does not just suddenly flies out the window. It was a process of time that eroded original values and he had not been one with the night for all that long. The majority of his priorities were still linked to his feelings now.
"Woodward was right. You are slime. If it doesn't involve ******* someone over, you are clueless." Jareth drew back his hand-ready to punch Molari till his brains busted out of his head.
"Jareth you can't kill me!" the Fat Man begged. "I will be missed!"
That gave Archer pause. He was right. No one would come looking for a pair of human torpedoes, but Molari was a different matter. Molari vanishing would cause a stir and if he left word where he was heading it would bring the search right to the city itself. Slowly, he let go of the man and sat back on his heels. Molari began to grope about the floor and grabbed the blank check and shoved it into Jareth's vest pocket.
"I knew…you could be…reasonable…my boy." The man tittered.
"I am not your boy,"
"I shall be going and none of this ever happened."
Jareth could already feel the layer of slime coating the man's words. He would say anything in order to get out of here alive and break his word as soon as he felt he had put enough distance between himself and Archer.
"And what about Woodward? And Tisha?"
"No harm to them at all," he agreed readily.
"Good, because I am going to make sure," Archer smiled. He had an imaginary Ace he could play if he did it right. The one thing no one truly knew (except maybe for Cobb) was the true extent of a vampire's powers.
"What do you mean?" Molari babbled as Jareth took the man's arm and raised it to his mouth and bit down on it hard. The man screamed like a child as the fangs pierced his skin. He pulled several times before letting go and turning to his backpack. He rummaged until he found one of the empty vials Woodward had given him to collect soil samples in if he found the Nexus. Something to do with seeing if the effect was leaving stay energy in the ground or something. Archer grabbed a shard of the broken glass and dug it into one of the puncture wounds, causing the man to scream again. He placed the vial next to the cut and encouraged the blood to flow into the vial.
"I have tasted you now," he began as he capped the vial and held it for Molari to see. "And now I have some of you here. If I ever hear of you messing with me and mine again, all I have to do is find what city you are in and show up. Take a whiff to remind me and follow my nose. I will find you like a bloodhound can find a raccoon and when I do we will continue from where we just stopped. But next time, I will not stop."
"I swear! I swear!"
Jareth reached into Molari's pocket and grabbed the thumbdrive. "I think this is mine," he said and then yanked the amulet from the man's neck. "Mine also." He stood up and dropped the items into his pack and then the laptop caught his eye. "It could come in handy," he thought as he closed it and added it to his bag. Just as he stood up, he could have sworn his head was shoved by something ethereal a split second before a bullet slammed into the wall he was facing. He turned and saw Molari pointing a gun at him with shaking hands.
With a gesture as he spoke a word of power, the gun was torn from the fat man's hands. "N'ghi, n'gha-y'hah!" he began to speak as the fingers he had pointed at Molari began to flare into points of seething violet flames.
"Jareth, NOOOOOO!"
"Ngah'ng AI'Y!" he shouted as he finished his spell. The flames jumped from his fingertips and seared deeply into the face of the Fat Man. The stench was horrid as the fire dug deeply into the flesh, leaving deep destroyed tracks of burnt meat in their wake. When it was finished, the left side of Molari's face was a burnt ruin, save for his eye. The man lay on the floor weeping in great pain-his will broken.
"Next time you bargain, and someone asks you what is up with your face? Tell them the truth. You bargained too hard. As I said. Next time, I do not stop!"
Without another word. Archer left the abandoned building and made his way back to the sewer entrance. He still had an appointment to keep and it was getting late.
(to be continued)
"THEY WERE FAKES!" he screamed at the whimpering fat man. "All you had to do was hand me my retainer and we would have parted friends. But no, not you! Always trying for something for nothing!"
"Jareth, I'm sorry," Molari begged as his hand pulled his checkbook from his pocket. Quickly he signed one of the checks and offered it to Archer. "Whatever you need. A blank check! Take it!"
He slapped away the slice of paper and drew closer to the man. "It's not about the money, round boy. Far from it. You sat there and threatened the closest thing I ever had to a family."
"Why do you still care? You are no longer human."
Archer looked at Molari with an emotion he never in a million years dreamed he would have towards the Fat Man. Pity. Becoming vampire to the point nothing you valued when you were alive does not just suddenly flies out the window. It was a process of time that eroded original values and he had not been one with the night for all that long. The majority of his priorities were still linked to his feelings now.
"Woodward was right. You are slime. If it doesn't involve ******* someone over, you are clueless." Jareth drew back his hand-ready to punch Molari till his brains busted out of his head.
"Jareth you can't kill me!" the Fat Man begged. "I will be missed!"
That gave Archer pause. He was right. No one would come looking for a pair of human torpedoes, but Molari was a different matter. Molari vanishing would cause a stir and if he left word where he was heading it would bring the search right to the city itself. Slowly, he let go of the man and sat back on his heels. Molari began to grope about the floor and grabbed the blank check and shoved it into Jareth's vest pocket.
"I knew…you could be…reasonable…my boy." The man tittered.
"I am not your boy,"
"I shall be going and none of this ever happened."
Jareth could already feel the layer of slime coating the man's words. He would say anything in order to get out of here alive and break his word as soon as he felt he had put enough distance between himself and Archer.
"And what about Woodward? And Tisha?"
"No harm to them at all," he agreed readily.
"Good, because I am going to make sure," Archer smiled. He had an imaginary Ace he could play if he did it right. The one thing no one truly knew (except maybe for Cobb) was the true extent of a vampire's powers.
"What do you mean?" Molari babbled as Jareth took the man's arm and raised it to his mouth and bit down on it hard. The man screamed like a child as the fangs pierced his skin. He pulled several times before letting go and turning to his backpack. He rummaged until he found one of the empty vials Woodward had given him to collect soil samples in if he found the Nexus. Something to do with seeing if the effect was leaving stay energy in the ground or something. Archer grabbed a shard of the broken glass and dug it into one of the puncture wounds, causing the man to scream again. He placed the vial next to the cut and encouraged the blood to flow into the vial.
"I have tasted you now," he began as he capped the vial and held it for Molari to see. "And now I have some of you here. If I ever hear of you messing with me and mine again, all I have to do is find what city you are in and show up. Take a whiff to remind me and follow my nose. I will find you like a bloodhound can find a raccoon and when I do we will continue from where we just stopped. But next time, I will not stop."
"I swear! I swear!"
Jareth reached into Molari's pocket and grabbed the thumbdrive. "I think this is mine," he said and then yanked the amulet from the man's neck. "Mine also." He stood up and dropped the items into his pack and then the laptop caught his eye. "It could come in handy," he thought as he closed it and added it to his bag. Just as he stood up, he could have sworn his head was shoved by something ethereal a split second before a bullet slammed into the wall he was facing. He turned and saw Molari pointing a gun at him with shaking hands.
With a gesture as he spoke a word of power, the gun was torn from the fat man's hands. "N'ghi, n'gha-y'hah!" he began to speak as the fingers he had pointed at Molari began to flare into points of seething violet flames.
"Jareth, NOOOOOO!"
"Ngah'ng AI'Y!" he shouted as he finished his spell. The flames jumped from his fingertips and seared deeply into the face of the Fat Man. The stench was horrid as the fire dug deeply into the flesh, leaving deep destroyed tracks of burnt meat in their wake. When it was finished, the left side of Molari's face was a burnt ruin, save for his eye. The man lay on the floor weeping in great pain-his will broken.
"Next time you bargain, and someone asks you what is up with your face? Tell them the truth. You bargained too hard. As I said. Next time, I do not stop!"
Without another word. Archer left the abandoned building and made his way back to the sewer entrance. He still had an appointment to keep and it was getting late.
(to be continued)
I am no one
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
-
Jareth Archer
- Registered User
- Posts: 38
- Joined: 26 Apr 2011, 18:17
Re: The ties that bind
Habren looked at him curiously as he asked her if he could wash up and grab one of the shirts he had left here. She shrugged her consent and watched him as he cleaned away the remains of his encounter with Molari and his men. He saw her from the corner of his eye watching him and flushed a bit under her gaze. It had not been that long since she had turned him and the moment was still fresh in his memory. "Now there was a night to remember" he thought as he tried not to act self-conscious in front of her. A shiver still went down his back when he considered it. His shirt was bloodstained now, so he tossed it into his pack to be disposed of later along the way after using it to wipe away the stray blood from his vest, pants and boots. He combed out his hair and slipped the clean shirt into place and inspected himself for any other clues of the night's events. Finding none, he gave himself a quick blast of cologne and turned to leave but found his sire blocking the way.
"And where are you going looking oh so nice and clean and smelling sweet?" she asked.
"A business meeting," he smiled.
"Oh. So where had you come from then that you needed to clean up like this? A hard line negotiation? Jareth, you are not blending in. I have no desire to wonder if you will return from the Shadow Realms!"
"Habren, I swear, nothing I did tonight will affect the alerts in this city or the price on my head."
She considered for a moment and nodded softly. "Then be about your 'business meeting' then." She wasn't buying his story at all. Habren had no control over him but Archer knew she was genuinely concerned with the welfare of her children.
"I got you a present," he dug into his pack and pulled out one of the guns Molari's men was carrying. He left the other with the Fat Man on purpose-gods knew he would need something to get out of town alive with.
"Why thank you," she smiled as she turned the weapon in her hands.
"I will tell you all about it later, promise." He said as he exited her lair.
"That should be interesting," she replied while closing the door.
***
'Transit now arriving from…' the overhead speaker droned for all to hear as he entered the station. He checked his watch and saw he was there with 5 minutes to spare and relaxed a bit as he began to search the travelers for a familiar face. He found a spot on the benches and rested as he waited.
"Nine out of eleven," the man who sat down next to Archer sighed.
"Must be a good day," he turned and looked at the man in his (apparent) 50's that had joined him. "Woodward."
"Jareth," the man replied. "Hope I did not keep you waiting long."
"Just got here myself,"
"Ah, good. Do you have your cell phone on you by chance?"
"Somewhere," he opened a couple of the outer pockets till he found it. "Battery is dead and I lost the charger, though."
"That can be remedied," Woodward smiled. A man approached and the sorcerer handed the phone to him without a word. Jareth watched the man melt back into the commuter crowd. "Muscle bound magick bodyguards now?"
"In a place like this they are a necessity," the old man clarified.
"Problems with the locals?"
"Oh, nothing I could not handle. I went for a walk in the park near here to clear my mind after the trip. I felt something approaching me and I turned and saw a young vampire of the female variety attempting to pick my pocket. Cute little thing."
"And?" Jareth encouraged him to continue.
"I was two seconds away from vaporizing her when something caught my eye, so instead I simply wagged my finger at her, told her she was naughty and wished her a good night and walked away."
"So what caught your eye besides her cleavage?" he could not resist teasing the man.
"Something I had only seen on one other person in my experiences." Woodward reached over and lifted the amulet Archer always wore into his fingers and turned it. "A unique design that stands out. I assumed she was an associate of yours, so I held my temper."
"Thank you," He made a mental note to tease Missy about the old man in the park when he caught up to her later.
"Now, I assume you have something for me?" the old man stood up and Archer joined him.
"Yes, this way." He led his mentor towards the lockers. He noticed they were being shadowed by another of Woodward's bodyguards, but said nothing. They reached their goal and Jareth quickly got the key out and unlocked the door. "I compromised my principles for you on this I hope you realize."
"I regret putting you into such a dilemma, son. But from what you told me, what Molari had was too dangerous to be simply floating about like that."
"And I agreed," Jareth pulled out the bundle and opened it for Woodward to see the three plates. The real three plates Molari had originally given him to authenticate.
"Our people are already tracking down the supposed owner of the rest of this tome," the sorcerer explained while his bodyguard bagged the plates in a satchel. "Excellent forgery works if it fooled Molari. You found no evidence he had more of the pages?"
"If he did, he was not stupid enough to bring them here." Jareth handed the man a different notebook than the one he had written up for the Fat Man. "My findings."
"And I suppose you have a set of perfect copies of these pages among your own papers now?"
"Maybe." Jareth glanced at the ceiling and whistled, causing Woodward to laugh.
"I hope what you found in them helps you."
"Any chance I can see the rest of this if you recover it?"
"Maybe."
They left the lockers and walked back onto the concourse. Woodward handed Jareth an envelope. "Not the amount our round friend promised you, but it should help."
"Thanks," he slipped it into an inner pocket of his vest. He would relax when he got to a bank. He took the blank check and handed it to the man.
"What compelled him to give you this?" Woodward was surprised.
"Me,"
"Ah yes, I see. No need of such a gift?"
"It felt slimy." The necromancer finally answered.
"I agree." Woodward snapped his fingers and the check turned to ash in his fingers.
(to be continued)
"And where are you going looking oh so nice and clean and smelling sweet?" she asked.
"A business meeting," he smiled.
"Oh. So where had you come from then that you needed to clean up like this? A hard line negotiation? Jareth, you are not blending in. I have no desire to wonder if you will return from the Shadow Realms!"
"Habren, I swear, nothing I did tonight will affect the alerts in this city or the price on my head."
She considered for a moment and nodded softly. "Then be about your 'business meeting' then." She wasn't buying his story at all. Habren had no control over him but Archer knew she was genuinely concerned with the welfare of her children.
"I got you a present," he dug into his pack and pulled out one of the guns Molari's men was carrying. He left the other with the Fat Man on purpose-gods knew he would need something to get out of town alive with.
"Why thank you," she smiled as she turned the weapon in her hands.
"I will tell you all about it later, promise." He said as he exited her lair.
"That should be interesting," she replied while closing the door.
***
'Transit now arriving from…' the overhead speaker droned for all to hear as he entered the station. He checked his watch and saw he was there with 5 minutes to spare and relaxed a bit as he began to search the travelers for a familiar face. He found a spot on the benches and rested as he waited.
"Nine out of eleven," the man who sat down next to Archer sighed.
"Must be a good day," he turned and looked at the man in his (apparent) 50's that had joined him. "Woodward."
"Jareth," the man replied. "Hope I did not keep you waiting long."
"Just got here myself,"
"Ah, good. Do you have your cell phone on you by chance?"
"Somewhere," he opened a couple of the outer pockets till he found it. "Battery is dead and I lost the charger, though."
"That can be remedied," Woodward smiled. A man approached and the sorcerer handed the phone to him without a word. Jareth watched the man melt back into the commuter crowd. "Muscle bound magick bodyguards now?"
"In a place like this they are a necessity," the old man clarified.
"Problems with the locals?"
"Oh, nothing I could not handle. I went for a walk in the park near here to clear my mind after the trip. I felt something approaching me and I turned and saw a young vampire of the female variety attempting to pick my pocket. Cute little thing."
"And?" Jareth encouraged him to continue.
"I was two seconds away from vaporizing her when something caught my eye, so instead I simply wagged my finger at her, told her she was naughty and wished her a good night and walked away."
"So what caught your eye besides her cleavage?" he could not resist teasing the man.
"Something I had only seen on one other person in my experiences." Woodward reached over and lifted the amulet Archer always wore into his fingers and turned it. "A unique design that stands out. I assumed she was an associate of yours, so I held my temper."
"Thank you," He made a mental note to tease Missy about the old man in the park when he caught up to her later.
"Now, I assume you have something for me?" the old man stood up and Archer joined him.
"Yes, this way." He led his mentor towards the lockers. He noticed they were being shadowed by another of Woodward's bodyguards, but said nothing. They reached their goal and Jareth quickly got the key out and unlocked the door. "I compromised my principles for you on this I hope you realize."
"I regret putting you into such a dilemma, son. But from what you told me, what Molari had was too dangerous to be simply floating about like that."
"And I agreed," Jareth pulled out the bundle and opened it for Woodward to see the three plates. The real three plates Molari had originally given him to authenticate.
"Our people are already tracking down the supposed owner of the rest of this tome," the sorcerer explained while his bodyguard bagged the plates in a satchel. "Excellent forgery works if it fooled Molari. You found no evidence he had more of the pages?"
"If he did, he was not stupid enough to bring them here." Jareth handed the man a different notebook than the one he had written up for the Fat Man. "My findings."
"And I suppose you have a set of perfect copies of these pages among your own papers now?"
"Maybe." Jareth glanced at the ceiling and whistled, causing Woodward to laugh.
"I hope what you found in them helps you."
"Any chance I can see the rest of this if you recover it?"
"Maybe."
They left the lockers and walked back onto the concourse. Woodward handed Jareth an envelope. "Not the amount our round friend promised you, but it should help."
"Thanks," he slipped it into an inner pocket of his vest. He would relax when he got to a bank. He took the blank check and handed it to the man.
"What compelled him to give you this?" Woodward was surprised.
"Me,"
"Ah yes, I see. No need of such a gift?"
"It felt slimy." The necromancer finally answered.
"I agree." Woodward snapped his fingers and the check turned to ash in his fingers.
(to be continued)
I am no one
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
-
Jareth Archer
- Registered User
- Posts: 38
- Joined: 26 Apr 2011, 18:17
Re: The ties that bind
"So I guess I can assume the worse now?" Jareth asked.
"The worst as in?"
"As in the fact none of the others are trust me very much now?"
"Jareth," Woodward stopped and rubbed his eyes a bit. "You told me in one of your letters how you felt destiny had its hand on you the night you decided to stay here when we left. Well, it must have had its hand over my mouth as well that night. I could think of 50 reasons why I should not have allowed you to stay, but I remained silent and gave you my blessings for it. Now what is done is done. Of course some of the others will be mistrustful of you as time goes on."
"Well, that will not be a surprise. Some are probably dancing in their rooms since the teacher's pet has been expelled kinda permanent like."
"I have something for you," the sorcerer handed his disciple a list of questions. "I want you to answer them all. Then follow the list down and re-answer them again in intervals of time. I will be curious to see how your views begin to change the longer you are like this."
"I had a similar moment with Molari earlier," Jareth admitted as he added the list to his pocket.
"Values change depending on the circumstances, my boy, but there is hope regardless."
"What do you mean?"
"The things that makes a person a person may become frayed, even strained to the point of breaking. But they never totally snap unless one helps them to do so personally. The world can saw away on such ties all it wants to, but only we hold the razor that will finish the job." Woodward pointed out the window at the moon hanging above the city. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"It's just a rock in space," Jareth shrugged. "Nothing but reflected light off a pile of dust. Mystically its importaint, but beyond that it is just a rock."
"That is the point. Beauty without substance. Life without conscious. Power without control. Grand but no depth. That is what happens when the ties that bind us all together are finally cut beyond repair. Now you? You have a bit of atmosphere left to you. A touch of life still within your spirit. Don't just let it all go poof into the darkness."
"It still doesn't help with trust." They continued to walk.
"Well I still trust you." Woodward stopped and looked his disciple in the eye. "You are still part of this pseudo-family I have made even if others in it have their doubts."
"Family," Jareth smiled for a moment. He grabbed Woodward and hugged him tightly. The sorcerer was surprised for a moment, but returned the gesture. To anyone who saw, it was two old friends who had not seen each other in years. When they finally pulled apart, Woodward was wiping his eyes.
"Our train will be leaving soon," he finally spoke up. "I cannot say when we will see each other again."
"I know, and it's fine." Jareth answered. "I knew what I was getting into and I accept that."
"Well, before we leave, you have other things to set into place," Woodward pointed to the benches where a young girl sat watching them patiently.
He approached her with a smile on his face. If he appeared to be gothic, she looked like a girl who had just left her Confirmation party, save for the floppy black beret on her head and the too large leather jacket she wore over her white dress. Sandy blonde hair spilling out from under her hat and crystal blue eyes watching him approach.
"Hey, Tisha,"
The girl jumped up from the bench and swung her backpack at him, hitting him soundly on the arm.
"Hey!" he cried out-more from shock than any pain the blow gave. The girl continued to swing at him with a savage look on her normally serene face. Several times she connected before dropping the pack and just staring at him with tears in her eyes. Tisha ran forward and wrapped herself around him, burring her face against him and began to cry loudly. He held her as well and let her ride out the storm of emotions flooding through her now.
"So not fair!" her muffled voice finally spoke.
His hand petted her back as she spoke. Fingers running over the satin stitch design on the back of the jacket that mirrored the design of his pentacle. He remembered wrapping her in this same coat when they were in England investigating a potential outbreak of Lycans. It was a bitterly cold night and despite her determination to be as tough as the rest of them, she could not stop chattering her teeth. Eleven years old and out in the middle of the night hunting monsters with a bunch of idiots. The hat was an afterthought. She was growing into it now a bit. The sleeves not quite hiding her hands as it did the first time she put it on. He had never asked for it back nor would he now.
She looked up at him with red eyes from crying. "I will vaporize the ******** who did this to you!" she shouted.
"Shhhhh!" he cautioned her to silence, but the girl raged with all the indignation a 15 year old can muster when she feels the world has gone against what she feels is right.
"I'll kill him! I'll kill them ALL!" she was screaming now. "Make them boil away in their own fats as I incinerate them! Send them back to that damn Nexus and make them wish they never got out!!!"
"Tisha, it was my choice!" Jareth lost his patience and shouted back. "I was offered this and I took it of my own free will, now will you be a bit more quiet?"
"What?" she cried out in total shock.
(to be continued)
"The worst as in?"
"As in the fact none of the others are trust me very much now?"
"Jareth," Woodward stopped and rubbed his eyes a bit. "You told me in one of your letters how you felt destiny had its hand on you the night you decided to stay here when we left. Well, it must have had its hand over my mouth as well that night. I could think of 50 reasons why I should not have allowed you to stay, but I remained silent and gave you my blessings for it. Now what is done is done. Of course some of the others will be mistrustful of you as time goes on."
"Well, that will not be a surprise. Some are probably dancing in their rooms since the teacher's pet has been expelled kinda permanent like."
"I have something for you," the sorcerer handed his disciple a list of questions. "I want you to answer them all. Then follow the list down and re-answer them again in intervals of time. I will be curious to see how your views begin to change the longer you are like this."
"I had a similar moment with Molari earlier," Jareth admitted as he added the list to his pocket.
"Values change depending on the circumstances, my boy, but there is hope regardless."
"What do you mean?"
"The things that makes a person a person may become frayed, even strained to the point of breaking. But they never totally snap unless one helps them to do so personally. The world can saw away on such ties all it wants to, but only we hold the razor that will finish the job." Woodward pointed out the window at the moon hanging above the city. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"It's just a rock in space," Jareth shrugged. "Nothing but reflected light off a pile of dust. Mystically its importaint, but beyond that it is just a rock."
"That is the point. Beauty without substance. Life without conscious. Power without control. Grand but no depth. That is what happens when the ties that bind us all together are finally cut beyond repair. Now you? You have a bit of atmosphere left to you. A touch of life still within your spirit. Don't just let it all go poof into the darkness."
"It still doesn't help with trust." They continued to walk.
"Well I still trust you." Woodward stopped and looked his disciple in the eye. "You are still part of this pseudo-family I have made even if others in it have their doubts."
"Family," Jareth smiled for a moment. He grabbed Woodward and hugged him tightly. The sorcerer was surprised for a moment, but returned the gesture. To anyone who saw, it was two old friends who had not seen each other in years. When they finally pulled apart, Woodward was wiping his eyes.
"Our train will be leaving soon," he finally spoke up. "I cannot say when we will see each other again."
"I know, and it's fine." Jareth answered. "I knew what I was getting into and I accept that."
"Well, before we leave, you have other things to set into place," Woodward pointed to the benches where a young girl sat watching them patiently.
He approached her with a smile on his face. If he appeared to be gothic, she looked like a girl who had just left her Confirmation party, save for the floppy black beret on her head and the too large leather jacket she wore over her white dress. Sandy blonde hair spilling out from under her hat and crystal blue eyes watching him approach.
"Hey, Tisha,"
The girl jumped up from the bench and swung her backpack at him, hitting him soundly on the arm.
"Hey!" he cried out-more from shock than any pain the blow gave. The girl continued to swing at him with a savage look on her normally serene face. Several times she connected before dropping the pack and just staring at him with tears in her eyes. Tisha ran forward and wrapped herself around him, burring her face against him and began to cry loudly. He held her as well and let her ride out the storm of emotions flooding through her now.
"So not fair!" her muffled voice finally spoke.
His hand petted her back as she spoke. Fingers running over the satin stitch design on the back of the jacket that mirrored the design of his pentacle. He remembered wrapping her in this same coat when they were in England investigating a potential outbreak of Lycans. It was a bitterly cold night and despite her determination to be as tough as the rest of them, she could not stop chattering her teeth. Eleven years old and out in the middle of the night hunting monsters with a bunch of idiots. The hat was an afterthought. She was growing into it now a bit. The sleeves not quite hiding her hands as it did the first time she put it on. He had never asked for it back nor would he now.
She looked up at him with red eyes from crying. "I will vaporize the ******** who did this to you!" she shouted.
"Shhhhh!" he cautioned her to silence, but the girl raged with all the indignation a 15 year old can muster when she feels the world has gone against what she feels is right.
"I'll kill him! I'll kill them ALL!" she was screaming now. "Make them boil away in their own fats as I incinerate them! Send them back to that damn Nexus and make them wish they never got out!!!"
"Tisha, it was my choice!" Jareth lost his patience and shouted back. "I was offered this and I took it of my own free will, now will you be a bit more quiet?"
"What?" she cried out in total shock.
(to be continued)
I am no one
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
-
Jareth Archer
- Registered User
- Posts: 38
- Joined: 26 Apr 2011, 18:17
Re: The ties that bind
He could see everything come crashing down in her eyes as his words hit home. She deflated and stepped back to flop on to the bench and buried her face in her hands and wailed. Jareth sat beside her and put his arm around her shoulder. Tisha tried to shake him off a couple of times, but finally allowed herself to be comforted.
"Why Jareth?" she whined.
He began to explain. Well, he tried anyway. A bunch of details were left out on purpose as he explained the deal he had made to move into this unique state of being and why. He told her of his own fledglings and some of the things he had learned since he had been turned. Tisha listened in silence as he spoke.
"Was she pretty?" the girl finally spoke up.
"Who?"
"The one that changed you."
"She was…most alluring, yes." He finally answered.
"Blood sucking hoochie is more like it," Tisha pouted.
"Tisha, I can't changed what has happened…"
"But I can and I will!" Tisha sat up ramrod straight. "I have already begun exploring everything Woodward has on the subject and if there is a magick for this I will find it and use it on you."
"Great," he smiled while inside he panicked a bit. He could see her wasting her entire life searching for something that possibly did not exist. She had a bull-headed quality to her that was very hard to turn from her chosen paths at the best of times. "But you have a more important matter to do now. You need to make sure Woodward stays safe."
"Wrong, WE were supposed to keep him safe,"
(then)
"I have an interesting present for you," Woodward laughed, much to the pain of Jareth's head. Last night he celebrated his 23rd birthday in typical fashion and his head was reminding him of the event. "Follow me,"
He followed his mentor into a room were a child sat playing with blocks. The fact the child was playing with blocks was not so surprising, but the part where she was moving them without actually touching them was the unique bit of the entire scene.
"Jareth Archer; meet Patricia Jones or Tisha as she likes to be called. She is joining my little commune today as an apprentice mystic.
"Hi," she smiled brightly.
"Hello," Archer crouched down and shook her hand. "Welcome to Woodward's Magical Monkey Farm."
The girl giggled.
"Don't let her appearance or size fool you, Jareth. She has the talent. Just needs the right direction and training to bring it out fully."
"Well, you are the master at spotting such things," he admitted. He could recall Woodward walking up to him in the middle of a gothic gathering and saying things about him only a handful even knew was true. This place had been his 'home' for the last six years after that. "You say she has it, it must be so."
"I am glad you approve. And since you know my habit of partnering apprentices with more skilled students it should not be a surprise that you and Miss Jones will be training together."
"Excuse me?" he balked, but Woodward was already leaving the room.
"Just a second," he said to Tisha before giving chase. In the hall he caught up to his mentor. "Oh, hell no!" he hissed.
"And why not? Is she too young or not old and curvy enough?" Woodward asked.
"I am not a babysitter!"
"And who said I am asking you to be? I am asking you to help mentor her. You know there is more to this than just teaching one their potentials but to help them understand what such power means in their hands. And despite all the Hail, Satanus trappings you insist on dressing in, I know you are a decent person at heart or I never would have taken you in. You can help guide her upwards and not to the left or right or to your own private desires or purposes like I would suspect some of the others would be tempted to do. I do not expect you to take her out for ice cream or play hop scotch with her, but I need you to be a friend to her. A big brother to help point the way for her. Will you do this for me, Jareth?"
"23 years old and my life is ruined," he moaned as he rubbed his aching head. Woodward grabbed Jareth's head and a flash of energy passed thru the young necromancer's skull, causing him to cry out in pain. A second later the pain as well as the pain and discomfort of last night's binge party was gone. "Old man, I HATE when you do that!"
"And I hate when you come to me in such a state as well. I will ask you again, will you help me guide her?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he sighed. "Just don't expect me to take her to the next Ozzy concert with me."
(Now)
"Remember my silly ramblings?" she asked him. "We were going to become the assistant headmasters of his school and keep him safe and out of trouble."
"I remember," It seemed years ago when he sat up with her one night beside the fire while the others slept. They had come to that area to check for evidence of Shoggoths and she was too excited to go to sleep. With a child's insight, she already had the future planned out.
"It's hard to consider doing a job alone that needed 2 people to do it,"
"You won't be alone for long."
"It won't be you." She said flatly.
"Who says I am off the team totally? If he has to come back here, let me know and I will be watching and protecting just a whisper away."
"Speaking of," Tisha pulled a small bag from her pack and handed it to Jareth. Inside was his cell phone, a pair of extra batteries a charger, and a comp link. "We are picking up the tab for the service."
"Thanks," he turned the phone on and scanned the list of contacts.
"Your original list is on a bit of paper in the bag," she explained. "I just put the main ones back in when I was done programming it."
He smirked as he saw she had entered herself to the top of the list.
"You can keep in touch with us now. I would not use it freely within this city tho. I saw the hacker traffic when I hacked into their networks here."
"Well then, what do you suggest for this?" He showed her Molari's laptop inside his bag. Tisha took it and brought it out of sleep mode and checked a few details. She retrieved a disc from her bag and began installing a couple items. "Just some home made security for you," she hummed. She was in her second element now. The outer realms and cyberspace were her playgrounds and she could work magick in both with ease.
"There," she handed him back the comp. "Tell me you have the power cord for that." He indicated that he had grabbed the cord as well and the pair fell silent again for a short while.
"So you don't want me to find a cure?" she eyed him.
"I didn't say that. I just don't want to see you be consumed by the idea."
"What if I want to do it anyways?"
"Then do it, but remember you have more important things to worry about as well, such as Woodward."
She grew silent again. She was not making this easy at all.
"Outbound train leaving for…" the intercom droned now, encouraging some of the people in the benches to stand up and begin to pull their luggage behind them."…Now boarding at Track 2."
"That's us," Tisha sighed as she stood up slowly.
"I'll walk with you," Jareth offered.
"Damn right you will," she huffed.
(to be concluded)
"Why Jareth?" she whined.
He began to explain. Well, he tried anyway. A bunch of details were left out on purpose as he explained the deal he had made to move into this unique state of being and why. He told her of his own fledglings and some of the things he had learned since he had been turned. Tisha listened in silence as he spoke.
"Was she pretty?" the girl finally spoke up.
"Who?"
"The one that changed you."
"She was…most alluring, yes." He finally answered.
"Blood sucking hoochie is more like it," Tisha pouted.
"Tisha, I can't changed what has happened…"
"But I can and I will!" Tisha sat up ramrod straight. "I have already begun exploring everything Woodward has on the subject and if there is a magick for this I will find it and use it on you."
"Great," he smiled while inside he panicked a bit. He could see her wasting her entire life searching for something that possibly did not exist. She had a bull-headed quality to her that was very hard to turn from her chosen paths at the best of times. "But you have a more important matter to do now. You need to make sure Woodward stays safe."
"Wrong, WE were supposed to keep him safe,"
(then)
"I have an interesting present for you," Woodward laughed, much to the pain of Jareth's head. Last night he celebrated his 23rd birthday in typical fashion and his head was reminding him of the event. "Follow me,"
He followed his mentor into a room were a child sat playing with blocks. The fact the child was playing with blocks was not so surprising, but the part where she was moving them without actually touching them was the unique bit of the entire scene.
"Jareth Archer; meet Patricia Jones or Tisha as she likes to be called. She is joining my little commune today as an apprentice mystic.
"Hi," she smiled brightly.
"Hello," Archer crouched down and shook her hand. "Welcome to Woodward's Magical Monkey Farm."
The girl giggled.
"Don't let her appearance or size fool you, Jareth. She has the talent. Just needs the right direction and training to bring it out fully."
"Well, you are the master at spotting such things," he admitted. He could recall Woodward walking up to him in the middle of a gothic gathering and saying things about him only a handful even knew was true. This place had been his 'home' for the last six years after that. "You say she has it, it must be so."
"I am glad you approve. And since you know my habit of partnering apprentices with more skilled students it should not be a surprise that you and Miss Jones will be training together."
"Excuse me?" he balked, but Woodward was already leaving the room.
"Just a second," he said to Tisha before giving chase. In the hall he caught up to his mentor. "Oh, hell no!" he hissed.
"And why not? Is she too young or not old and curvy enough?" Woodward asked.
"I am not a babysitter!"
"And who said I am asking you to be? I am asking you to help mentor her. You know there is more to this than just teaching one their potentials but to help them understand what such power means in their hands. And despite all the Hail, Satanus trappings you insist on dressing in, I know you are a decent person at heart or I never would have taken you in. You can help guide her upwards and not to the left or right or to your own private desires or purposes like I would suspect some of the others would be tempted to do. I do not expect you to take her out for ice cream or play hop scotch with her, but I need you to be a friend to her. A big brother to help point the way for her. Will you do this for me, Jareth?"
"23 years old and my life is ruined," he moaned as he rubbed his aching head. Woodward grabbed Jareth's head and a flash of energy passed thru the young necromancer's skull, causing him to cry out in pain. A second later the pain as well as the pain and discomfort of last night's binge party was gone. "Old man, I HATE when you do that!"
"And I hate when you come to me in such a state as well. I will ask you again, will you help me guide her?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he sighed. "Just don't expect me to take her to the next Ozzy concert with me."
(Now)
"Remember my silly ramblings?" she asked him. "We were going to become the assistant headmasters of his school and keep him safe and out of trouble."
"I remember," It seemed years ago when he sat up with her one night beside the fire while the others slept. They had come to that area to check for evidence of Shoggoths and she was too excited to go to sleep. With a child's insight, she already had the future planned out.
"It's hard to consider doing a job alone that needed 2 people to do it,"
"You won't be alone for long."
"It won't be you." She said flatly.
"Who says I am off the team totally? If he has to come back here, let me know and I will be watching and protecting just a whisper away."
"Speaking of," Tisha pulled a small bag from her pack and handed it to Jareth. Inside was his cell phone, a pair of extra batteries a charger, and a comp link. "We are picking up the tab for the service."
"Thanks," he turned the phone on and scanned the list of contacts.
"Your original list is on a bit of paper in the bag," she explained. "I just put the main ones back in when I was done programming it."
He smirked as he saw she had entered herself to the top of the list.
"You can keep in touch with us now. I would not use it freely within this city tho. I saw the hacker traffic when I hacked into their networks here."
"Well then, what do you suggest for this?" He showed her Molari's laptop inside his bag. Tisha took it and brought it out of sleep mode and checked a few details. She retrieved a disc from her bag and began installing a couple items. "Just some home made security for you," she hummed. She was in her second element now. The outer realms and cyberspace were her playgrounds and she could work magick in both with ease.
"There," she handed him back the comp. "Tell me you have the power cord for that." He indicated that he had grabbed the cord as well and the pair fell silent again for a short while.
"So you don't want me to find a cure?" she eyed him.
"I didn't say that. I just don't want to see you be consumed by the idea."
"What if I want to do it anyways?"
"Then do it, but remember you have more important things to worry about as well, such as Woodward."
She grew silent again. She was not making this easy at all.
"Outbound train leaving for…" the intercom droned now, encouraging some of the people in the benches to stand up and begin to pull their luggage behind them."…Now boarding at Track 2."
"That's us," Tisha sighed as she stood up slowly.
"I'll walk with you," Jareth offered.
"Damn right you will," she huffed.
(to be concluded)
I am no one
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
-
Jareth Archer
- Registered User
- Posts: 38
- Joined: 26 Apr 2011, 18:17
Re: The ties that bind
"Hang on," he paused in their walk and opened a hiding place on his bag. He had already casted one for Missy and this was to be for Mirage, but she could wait a couple days longer. The one he fashioned before was set in gold, but this one was done in titanium. The silver appearance highlighting the red crystal perfectly. He held it out and Tisha's eyes grew wide.
"No way!" her frown finally cracked into a smile. She turned and pulled up her hair as he draped it around her neck.
"And if anyone has anything smart to say when you get back, you are still my little sis and I will come kick some asses if they get out of line." He bent down as she turned back around and kissed her cheek.
"Jareth?" she asked as her eyes darted back and forth. "Can I see em?" He looked as well to be sure no one was looking and then smiled wide so his fangs could be seen. Gently she touched one of them. "Gnarly!"
"I'm glad you approve," he said, but before he could stand back upright she grabbed his ears and planted a clumsy kiss directly on his lips. He let her for a moment and finally pulled free of her grip. "It's just an amulet. Doesn't mean we are engaged or anything."
"Says you," she snipped, and then got nervous. "So, was it bad?"
"Your technique could use some work," he admitted.
"Too bad you won't be around to practice on." She began to walk again. Jareth kept pace with her as they approached where Woodward waited patiently for her. "See ya around, big bro," she smiled.
"Always, Little Sis" he replied.
"Jareth? Would…would you come for me some night?"
He considered the question quickly. A sound NO! would simply set her off again. "I can't answer that," he lied. "I have just barely begun to figure this out myself without dragging you into something like this."
The answer seemed to satisfy her. A quick hug and she ran past Woodward for the open door of the train. Woodward watched her board the train and turned to face his pupil.
"A lie in a good cause," he said with a straight face. "When I paired you two up I had not considered she would be swallowed by a crush on you eventually."
"Me either," he agreed. "She is hard not to like."
"Oh, I agree. Demanding, arrogant at times, bull headed and yet can work her skills like someone years older than her. But she never torments her fellow students. Always encouraging them and helping them out. Sounds like a former student of mine. I wonder where she got those qualities from or who taught them to her?"
"If I think of someone who fits that description I will let you know." Jareth laughed.
"Last boarding call," the speakers droned. "Outbound train leaving for…"
"This is nothing like the way I envisioned we would say goodbye one day, son," Woodward sniffed once.
"It's not goodbye," Jareth countered.
"No, it's not," the older man sighed as he hugged his disciple for a moment. "9 out of 11, Jareth,"
"9 out of 11," he replied. One of Woodward's favorite catch phrases. "If by noon, 9 out of 11 things have gone right, you can consider it a good day" was it in its entirety.
Woodward slipped free and turned to enter the train. Jareth watched as he made his way down the isle He took a seat next to Tisha, who was already watching him and crying again. He waved to them both just as a group of travelers passed between them. A second later when they had passed, he was gone.
***
He knelt on the rooftop of the station and watched the train lumber out of the station on its path out of the city. To his left, one of the local trains was turning to enter the complex. He stayed there till the red rear light winking in the darkness faded to nothing, and then lay down out of sight from the street below and took in the view above.
"What a night," he groaned. The whole thing could have gone better than it had. He knew Woodward would be understanding about it all, but Tisha was a problem waiting to happen. He could see her walking out in front of the Necropolis and trying to do exactly what she threatened. The girl had passion and heart, but still trapped in that teen aged 'I can do anything!' nonsense all had lived thru before. She would get herself killed one day if she was not careful, or heeded the advice of one she could trust. That had been his job and now she was alone. Molari had probably found a hole to hide in until daylight. Another wild card in the mix for sure. He could only hope his bluff was enough to make the Fat Man a bit cautious with any retribution he might aim at his original 'family'. Besides, it would take some time to heal from the damage he did to his face.
He was changing already. His reactions to Molari was proof of that. Using his skills in such an aggressive manner had gone beyond anything Woodward had ever taught him, but if the Fat Man would not have been missed he had no doubt he would have reduced him to ash without a second thought.
And for a brief moment, had not Tisha looked so…delicious despite her young years?
It came with the condition and he had accepted that when Habren made her offer, but when confronted with the parts of his past he had admired the most it had shocked him. He would have died for either one of them if required before. Would he still?
His mental silence disturbed him deeply.
The ties that bind are what Woodward had implied. Only when one accepts totally they have moved away from humanity is when they finally break. Until then a part of him was still bound to the past. He still could not imagine life without them as part of it, but new ties were forming now as well. The time he spent with Habren, trading secrets of the higher arts. She was now his mentor, tho he did not see her as a lover or necessarily a mother in the literal sense, but he enjoyed how they sat together like two children eagerly ready to explore the next episode of their favorite television show when they began to explore the magicks. He taught her, she taught him, both were happy. He did care for her and he doubted it was any residual effect of her alluring charms. He imagined she could be a total ***** when properly provoked, but the time they had shared so far was enjoyable to a fault.
And his own fledglings, Missy and Mirage? Silently he laughed. If they ever made a home somewhere in the city, he would put that on the mailbox. Missy, Mirage, and Me. He had lied to Tisha and he was sure she knew it. He would not pull her into the night but he had done so to two he had hardly known without a second thought? To see Tisha with this sort of power at her disposal? The masquerade be damned, she would set herself up like some blood soaked queen and rule her subjects like a tyrant and that could be on a good day. No, not by his hand (or was it fangs?) and he would do all he could to save her from that. But a nagging feeling teased the back of his mind even now. "Not now, but once she has matured?
He shook his head and cursed out loud. He knew there would be change, but he had not counted on so soon and so rapid.
Yet the more he thought about what his former mentor said, the more it made sense. Old ties still holding while new ones were forming. He was the center of a unique web now, and as the old ones would finally sever due to time and perspective, new ones would take their place. His children were already filling some of the spaces quite well. Mirage and her adventures (tho truth be told, sometimes they were mis-adventures) were always a source of interest and amusement to him. And Missy? He couldn't deny it. She was special. Every night he was finding how truly special she actually was.
He finally stood up and brushed himself off. He walked to the edge of the roof and spied the one across the street. "Take the fire escape! his mind told him, but his instinct was running high now. After a quick look to be sure the streets were nearly dead, he backed up to the opposite site of the station and began to run. It was crazy, insane, and sure to cause a scene if he missed and landed in the street below, but he didn't care. He had to know. He sprang off the edge and found himself soaring across the gap with ease but with no clue how to land.
He dropped his back pack when he hit to avoid damaging the laptop as he rolled along and finally came to a stop. A quick check of himself found everything was still in place, and outside of a few scrapes he was fine. A sly grin crossed his face as he stood up to retrieve his belongings.
"I am gonna ride the HELL out of this *****!" he shouted in delight. He checked the next street and saw it held a few humans, so the sight of a man working his way down the fire escape was not such an oddity to see. His walk was unhurried, his stride calm as he stopped in the corner liquor store. 2 fifths and a pack of smokes purchased and a quick glance at the news and he was on his way again. Somewhere in the darkness his new ties were about. He suddenly needed to be surrounded by them-all of them. And if he squinted a touch, perhaps everything would appear normal again.
But then again, what was normal when it came to family?
(FIN)
"No way!" her frown finally cracked into a smile. She turned and pulled up her hair as he draped it around her neck.
"And if anyone has anything smart to say when you get back, you are still my little sis and I will come kick some asses if they get out of line." He bent down as she turned back around and kissed her cheek.
"Jareth?" she asked as her eyes darted back and forth. "Can I see em?" He looked as well to be sure no one was looking and then smiled wide so his fangs could be seen. Gently she touched one of them. "Gnarly!"
"I'm glad you approve," he said, but before he could stand back upright she grabbed his ears and planted a clumsy kiss directly on his lips. He let her for a moment and finally pulled free of her grip. "It's just an amulet. Doesn't mean we are engaged or anything."
"Says you," she snipped, and then got nervous. "So, was it bad?"
"Your technique could use some work," he admitted.
"Too bad you won't be around to practice on." She began to walk again. Jareth kept pace with her as they approached where Woodward waited patiently for her. "See ya around, big bro," she smiled.
"Always, Little Sis" he replied.
"Jareth? Would…would you come for me some night?"
He considered the question quickly. A sound NO! would simply set her off again. "I can't answer that," he lied. "I have just barely begun to figure this out myself without dragging you into something like this."
The answer seemed to satisfy her. A quick hug and she ran past Woodward for the open door of the train. Woodward watched her board the train and turned to face his pupil.
"A lie in a good cause," he said with a straight face. "When I paired you two up I had not considered she would be swallowed by a crush on you eventually."
"Me either," he agreed. "She is hard not to like."
"Oh, I agree. Demanding, arrogant at times, bull headed and yet can work her skills like someone years older than her. But she never torments her fellow students. Always encouraging them and helping them out. Sounds like a former student of mine. I wonder where she got those qualities from or who taught them to her?"
"If I think of someone who fits that description I will let you know." Jareth laughed.
"Last boarding call," the speakers droned. "Outbound train leaving for…"
"This is nothing like the way I envisioned we would say goodbye one day, son," Woodward sniffed once.
"It's not goodbye," Jareth countered.
"No, it's not," the older man sighed as he hugged his disciple for a moment. "9 out of 11, Jareth,"
"9 out of 11," he replied. One of Woodward's favorite catch phrases. "If by noon, 9 out of 11 things have gone right, you can consider it a good day" was it in its entirety.
Woodward slipped free and turned to enter the train. Jareth watched as he made his way down the isle He took a seat next to Tisha, who was already watching him and crying again. He waved to them both just as a group of travelers passed between them. A second later when they had passed, he was gone.
***
He knelt on the rooftop of the station and watched the train lumber out of the station on its path out of the city. To his left, one of the local trains was turning to enter the complex. He stayed there till the red rear light winking in the darkness faded to nothing, and then lay down out of sight from the street below and took in the view above.
"What a night," he groaned. The whole thing could have gone better than it had. He knew Woodward would be understanding about it all, but Tisha was a problem waiting to happen. He could see her walking out in front of the Necropolis and trying to do exactly what she threatened. The girl had passion and heart, but still trapped in that teen aged 'I can do anything!' nonsense all had lived thru before. She would get herself killed one day if she was not careful, or heeded the advice of one she could trust. That had been his job and now she was alone. Molari had probably found a hole to hide in until daylight. Another wild card in the mix for sure. He could only hope his bluff was enough to make the Fat Man a bit cautious with any retribution he might aim at his original 'family'. Besides, it would take some time to heal from the damage he did to his face.
He was changing already. His reactions to Molari was proof of that. Using his skills in such an aggressive manner had gone beyond anything Woodward had ever taught him, but if the Fat Man would not have been missed he had no doubt he would have reduced him to ash without a second thought.
And for a brief moment, had not Tisha looked so…delicious despite her young years?
It came with the condition and he had accepted that when Habren made her offer, but when confronted with the parts of his past he had admired the most it had shocked him. He would have died for either one of them if required before. Would he still?
His mental silence disturbed him deeply.
The ties that bind are what Woodward had implied. Only when one accepts totally they have moved away from humanity is when they finally break. Until then a part of him was still bound to the past. He still could not imagine life without them as part of it, but new ties were forming now as well. The time he spent with Habren, trading secrets of the higher arts. She was now his mentor, tho he did not see her as a lover or necessarily a mother in the literal sense, but he enjoyed how they sat together like two children eagerly ready to explore the next episode of their favorite television show when they began to explore the magicks. He taught her, she taught him, both were happy. He did care for her and he doubted it was any residual effect of her alluring charms. He imagined she could be a total ***** when properly provoked, but the time they had shared so far was enjoyable to a fault.
And his own fledglings, Missy and Mirage? Silently he laughed. If they ever made a home somewhere in the city, he would put that on the mailbox. Missy, Mirage, and Me. He had lied to Tisha and he was sure she knew it. He would not pull her into the night but he had done so to two he had hardly known without a second thought? To see Tisha with this sort of power at her disposal? The masquerade be damned, she would set herself up like some blood soaked queen and rule her subjects like a tyrant and that could be on a good day. No, not by his hand (or was it fangs?) and he would do all he could to save her from that. But a nagging feeling teased the back of his mind even now. "Not now, but once she has matured?
He shook his head and cursed out loud. He knew there would be change, but he had not counted on so soon and so rapid.
Yet the more he thought about what his former mentor said, the more it made sense. Old ties still holding while new ones were forming. He was the center of a unique web now, and as the old ones would finally sever due to time and perspective, new ones would take their place. His children were already filling some of the spaces quite well. Mirage and her adventures (tho truth be told, sometimes they were mis-adventures) were always a source of interest and amusement to him. And Missy? He couldn't deny it. She was special. Every night he was finding how truly special she actually was.
He finally stood up and brushed himself off. He walked to the edge of the roof and spied the one across the street. "Take the fire escape! his mind told him, but his instinct was running high now. After a quick look to be sure the streets were nearly dead, he backed up to the opposite site of the station and began to run. It was crazy, insane, and sure to cause a scene if he missed and landed in the street below, but he didn't care. He had to know. He sprang off the edge and found himself soaring across the gap with ease but with no clue how to land.
He dropped his back pack when he hit to avoid damaging the laptop as he rolled along and finally came to a stop. A quick check of himself found everything was still in place, and outside of a few scrapes he was fine. A sly grin crossed his face as he stood up to retrieve his belongings.
"I am gonna ride the HELL out of this *****!" he shouted in delight. He checked the next street and saw it held a few humans, so the sight of a man working his way down the fire escape was not such an oddity to see. His walk was unhurried, his stride calm as he stopped in the corner liquor store. 2 fifths and a pack of smokes purchased and a quick glance at the news and he was on his way again. Somewhere in the darkness his new ties were about. He suddenly needed to be surrounded by them-all of them. And if he squinted a touch, perhaps everything would appear normal again.
But then again, what was normal when it came to family?
(FIN)
I am no one
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.
What am I doing in the graveyard all night?
I don't have to tell you anything.