The Birthday Ball [THNMY]

[labyrinthking]

The day dawned bright and early--a surprise in itself, to the Labyrinth's residents. The goblin king spurred his subjects into unaccustomed activity, bewildering his land's other residents with banners and streamers being hung in every hall

Comments

[vicioussweetie]

There are no fluffy princess gowns involved in the arrival of the guest of honor. She would like this to be made clear. Neither are there huge piles of hair barely contained by otherwise pointless wisps of metal. She isn't a little girl playing princess: she's a grown woman, and isn't playing at being anything

[labyrinthking]

The floor clears around Jareth when Ali arrives, as he favors her with his warmest smile and extends a hand in welcome and invitation. "Ali, my dear," he purrs when she draws near, "you are simply breathtaking. I hope you'll find something in this evening to bring you even a hundredth of the pleasure simply seeing you has given me."

[vicioussweetie]

Ali pauses in the doorway for a moment, taking in the view (and what a view it is!). Some of the illustrious guests she recognizes, but not all; none of them get more than a passing glance, however, because Jareth is waiting. But he isn't waiting long before her hand is in his, fingers lacing with fingers. "Thank you. It would not have been borne," she murmurs, "for my appearance to put such splendors as yours to shame."

[labyrinthking]

"You couldn't if you tried," he replies, bowing over her hand to kiss the back. "It's I, who've been striving not to shame your splendor. May I have the pleasure of this dance?"