A Chill in the Air

[vicioussweetie]

The past month, in Ali's opinion, had been glorious. The turn of summer into fall was a mostly gentle and fulfilling time, and many things came to harvest. The children settled into school with fewer difficulties, a sign they were finally beginning to acclimate, while the farms and orchards they visited on weekends bustled with the business of

Comments

[labyrinthking]

The thing about the Labyrinth is, little gestures--even those one doesn't entirely mean--are often taken at some value. A hasty wish, a spiteful jibe, even a moment's hope of reconciliation. As her hand trails down the door, it swings slowly inward with a creak.

There, beyond, stands the man she probably did not come to see.

[vicioussweetie]

Six years of fighting have honed both her combat reflexes and her paranoia, so when the door opens she whirls back, expecting... well, something more violent then what she finds. Her face flushes, then pales, and whatever was halfway in her hand vanishes back up her sleeve. After swallowing hard, Ali tries to smile. "Jareth."

[labyrinthking]

"Ali," he greets her quietly, keeping quite still. "I have something for you."

[vicioussweetie]

Setting off that particular response in her a second time, and so soon, isn't very nice!

"Something nice, I hope," she whispers. She makes no move toward him, or away--she's going to let him go first.