I watched calmly as Jareth fiddled with switches and buttons only he could see. Feanor occasionally offered a tool his toddler sensibilities deemed potentially helpful, including a pixie-sized wrench, the spigot from the goblins’ latest barrel of ale, and a glitter glue pen.
The triplets cooed in the corner, tumbling into a happy baby pile and oblivious to the creeping doom that was slithering towards them.
I stomped on said doom and it backed away. “No luck yet?”
“That accursed thing is around here somewhere. The codex was quite clear.”
“Mmhmm.” I swatted at a shadow tendril that was cozying up to the babies, and Feanor banged it with the glitter glue pen. It hissed and recoiled. “Getting the shield back to functional sooner rather than later would be nice.”
The glare I got for that remark could have stripped flesh from bone with its ferocity. Fortunately, both I and Feanor were immune and let it waft right past us into a smoky clawed hand that was burrowing up from the ground. The hand shuddered under the impact and dissipated.
I looked at Feanor. “Your father’s still got it, kiddo. Now all we need to do is infuriate him enough so he can glare at all the little nasties trying to worm their way in here.”
I could actually feel Jareth grind his teeth.
“I’m not sure silent grinding has the same firepower, though.”
A choked growl echoed through the room. Jareth lifted his head up and closed his eyes. “I can’t find it.”
I laid a hand on his shoulder, rubbing at a colossal knot of stress. “It’s alright, honey.”
“You’re remarkably calm about this.”
“Michael from ShieldCare will be arriving tomorrow morning.”
“ShieldCare?”
“They come highly recommended for all magical fortification woes.”
He blinked slowly. “When did you make this appointment?”
“Earlier today. I thought several days of concerted effort from us both was enough. Time to call a professional.”
“One might say we are professionals.”
“One might. But not professional enough for this ancient thing and we need it working.”
He snorted disdainfully. “I can’t believe the imbeciles who constructed it. I won’t tell you how many pieces are unattached, missing, or otherwise botched.”
“Indeed, please don’t. I’m sure Michael has seen plenty of shield half-assedness in his time.”
“I pray it’s so.” He flicked a brewing dark miasma of malice back into oblivion. “In the meantime, I’ll take first watch in penance for my failure.”
“So generous.”
“I live to serve.”
“You’ll do anything to get out of doing bathtime, won’t you?”
“Entirely possible. Ah, look! Another little nasty.” He blew ice on the thing until it froze in place.
“Showoff.”
“That’s how you like me, no? You best be on your way with all the little ones while I protect us.”
“Mmhmm. Michael help us all.”
“Tomorrow, Sarah love.”
I started collecting babies. “See you on the flip side.”
He blew me a kiss while smashing a spider-like monstrosity that had just appeared. “Ta-ta, darling.”
no subject
I watched calmly as Jareth fiddled with switches and buttons only he could see. Feanor occasionally offered a tool his toddler sensibilities deemed potentially helpful, including a pixie-sized wrench, the spigot from the goblins’ latest barrel of ale, and a glitter glue pen.
The triplets cooed in the corner, tumbling into a happy baby pile and oblivious to the creeping doom that was slithering towards them.
I stomped on said doom and it backed away. “No luck yet?”
“That accursed thing is around here somewhere. The codex was quite clear.”
“Mmhmm.” I swatted at a shadow tendril that was cozying up to the babies, and Feanor banged it with the glitter glue pen. It hissed and recoiled. “Getting the shield back to functional sooner rather than later would be nice.”
The glare I got for that remark could have stripped flesh from bone with its ferocity. Fortunately, both I and Feanor were immune and let it waft right past us into a smoky clawed hand that was burrowing up from the ground. The hand shuddered under the impact and dissipated.
I looked at Feanor. “Your father’s still got it, kiddo. Now all we need to do is infuriate him enough so he can glare at all the little nasties trying to worm their way in here.”
I could actually feel Jareth grind his teeth.
“I’m not sure silent grinding has the same firepower, though.”
A choked growl echoed through the room. Jareth lifted his head up and closed his eyes. “I can’t find it.”
I laid a hand on his shoulder, rubbing at a colossal knot of stress. “It’s alright, honey.”
“You’re remarkably calm about this.”
“Michael from ShieldCare will be arriving tomorrow morning.”
“ShieldCare?”
“They come highly recommended for all magical fortification woes.”
He blinked slowly. “When did you make this appointment?”
“Earlier today. I thought several days of concerted effort from us both was enough. Time to call a professional.”
“One might say we are professionals.”
“One might. But not professional enough for this ancient thing and we need it working.”
He snorted disdainfully. “I can’t believe the imbeciles who constructed it. I won’t tell you how many pieces are unattached, missing, or otherwise botched.”
“Indeed, please don’t. I’m sure Michael has seen plenty of shield half-assedness in his time.”
“I pray it’s so.” He flicked a brewing dark miasma of malice back into oblivion. “In the meantime, I’ll take first watch in penance for my failure.”
“So generous.”
“I live to serve.”
“You’ll do anything to get out of doing bathtime, won’t you?”
“Entirely possible. Ah, look! Another little nasty.” He blew ice on the thing until it froze in place.
“Showoff.”
“That’s how you like me, no? You best be on your way with all the little ones while I protect us.”
“Mmhmm. Michael help us all.”
“Tomorrow, Sarah love.”
I started collecting babies. “See you on the flip side.”
He blew me a kiss while smashing a spider-like monstrosity that had just appeared. “Ta-ta, darling.”