Story: Meanwhile... Curtain Call

Four strangers walk down the carpeted halls of Aether Castle. They offer varying responses to the servants they pass: the big-headed Persian with darker fur nods in a friendly yet exuberant manner, while the tall, handsome Gallade winks and smirks, the quiet, shaggy-furred Mightyena bashfully smiles, and the graceful, lean Primarina frowns deep in thought. But as one group, they reach the entry doors to the throne room, and the Persian turns to the others with a clap of his carefully-manicured paws.
: Alright, attori, this is it -- the moment we have been waiting for! The regina herself has offered us the position of Aether’s official theatre company, and we shan't disappoint her. After all, I could not bear it if my -- I mean, our careers were to suffer due to our benefactor’s lack of faith, ohh, such a thing would be devastante!
: (posturing with an arm crossed over his chest) Yes yes, Lorenzo, I’m MORE than aware of the importance of this meeting, I do happen to have a brain in my skull. (shoots a side-eye at the Mightyena) I’m not the one you need to worrying about messing anything up.
: (stumbles briefly and then regains his footing, tucking his tail between his legs) U-Um, right. I will do my best too, sir.
: Heh, oh my, now THIS doesn’t bode well at all, now does it? I can’t imagine that your best is very impressive if you spend your time tripping over nothing.
: Stuff it, Rostam. (they sigh and roll their eyes) Don’t worry, Lorenzo, we all will be at our best… or do you doubt our abilities? I do hope that the double rehearsals aren’t a sign of a lack of faith.
: Not at all~! I merely… hasten to impart the uniqueness of the opportunity that has so luckily fallen into our laps. Twould be a travesty were it to go to waste. (narrows his eyes slyly) Besides, the pay will surely make up for the extra practice time, hrmm~?
: … Fair point.
: (opening the double doors and poking her head out) Oy, yer here, great! Com’in, th’ queen’s anxious t’ see ya!
Lorenzo winces at the panda’s rough speech but follows her into the throne room regardless, the other three close behind. Tara sits on the throne, eagerness clear on her face, and Maeve parks herself beside the queen as she addresses the newcomers.
: Welcome, all of you! Thank you for performing that wonderful play for the citizensss of Aether. They truly enjoyed it -- as did I -- and I look forward to seeing more of your talentsss. I trussst that you will accept the position of Aether’sss official theatre group?
: But of course, noblidonna~! Words, so fleeting and ephemeral, are not enough to express our gratitude for the illustrious opportunity of performing on your stage. (bowing deeply) It will be our greatest honor -- nay, privilege! -- to act for an audience of such grace and beauty as yourself!
: (under her breath) Layin’ it thick th’re, ya ov’r-stuff’d fish-eat’r.
: O-Oh, well, thank you, sssir… um, I never did learn your namesss.
: Then allow me to correct that! Mine name is Lorenzo, director and writer for this troupe of fine actors you see beside me. Attori, why don’t you introduce yourselves to her majesty?
: Greetings, milady! Rostam humbly makes your acquaintance with glorious triumph -- (confidently walks to the throne and offers a hand) -- and a kiss on the hand, if he may.
: Erm, you may, but I don’t have any hands for you to--
: You misunderstand, my queen--
: Rostam is offering HIS hand for you to grace with a kiss. To have your lips imprinted onto his skin would bring Rostam great joy and pleasure!
: (shoving Rostam away and shaking a fist at the taller ‘mon) An’ it’d giv’ ME pleasur’ ta sock ya in th’ mouth!
: … Dost thou wish to challenge me, tiny ursa? Such a battle will not--
: T-There’s no need for violence, Rostam doesn’t mean offense, truly! He’s just… passionate about his acting. He’s the lead role, you see, the “hero” in Sir Lorenzo’s plays.
: (turning with a furious glare to the wolf) That is right, knave, I am a hero, and see that you do not forget it!
: (under her breath to Maeve) Do you think sssomething wasss dropped on hisss head?
: (in a hushed reply) Lik’ wha’? His gian’ ego?
Lorenzo’s eyes widen at the alarmed faces of the ladies. The big-headed cat hurriedly pulls Rostam away, patting the taller ‘mon’s back and laughing as light-heartedly as he can muster.
: Oh dear, oh dear, what AM I do to with you, Rostam?
: Forgive him, noblidonna, Rostam takes his acting so seriously, so appassionatamente, that he sometimes takes his role off-stage! He means no offense, that I assure you--
: (glaring at Rostam sharply) Right, my boy?
: …
: Ah, yes, my apologies, milady. I was so taken back by your beauty that I thought myself to be back in my role as knight, ready to humbly serve if only to receive a glance from those astounding eyes~! (sweeping an arm in front of his chest in a bow) It shall not happen again, this I swear.
: (breathing a sigh of relief) It isss alright, no harm done. (turning to the Mightyena) And you are?
: Ohanzee, ma’am. I am the, ah, “villain” in the plays.
: Truly? You mussst be a great actor for I sssee no villainousss qualitiesss in you.
: Ah, but that is what shows his merit as an actor, for what you see now is not what you see on stage -- and what is seen on stage will give you little reason to wonder if he is truly acting or not. Fierce, wild, powerful, Ohanzee is the villain to match any hero, and the captor to shock any damsel!
: … That must be my cue. (inclining their head fluidly) I am Ligeia.
: Hmm, that term soundsss familiar… Isss that not a creature of Artiphron mythology?
: You are not mistaken, Queen Tara. Ligeia is my stage name, as I play the “damsel” role in Lorenzo’s productions.
: Well, I w’uldn’t be mistakin’ ya for a warrior wit’ a getup lik’ th’t.
: I cannot deny that my girlish dress has much to do with my job description, but it is not nearly as demeaning as you might think playing the hapless victim.
: Ligeia is correct, regina. In fact, a new play that I have penned -- one that I intend to have premiered in your kingdom, if you would allow it -- stars Ligeia as an enchantress possessing immense magic, able to sing ballads that can destroy the world with a single shout, or conjure up hope with the slightest of whispers. Ohanzee shall attempt to take that power for himself, covetous and cunning in his designs, and Rostam will gallantly go to rescue the enchantress and perhaps, should he fight valiantly enough, win her heart.
: What a charming sstory~
: Sure, if ya lov’ sappy clichés.
: Oh husssh, Maeve, jussst becaussse you don’t like romanccce.
: Regardlesss, I am sssure the citizensss will love the play. Do you need anything provided to you for future performancesss, suppliesss, volunteersss?
: Neither! We have brought all the equipment that we shall require for this and any other dramas in the future -- and besides, what good is a play if it cannot capture the imagination and stir the soul with only the barest of stages? No such performance would ever come from my quill, that I assure you!
: As for volunteers, we have three other members of our troupe that you have not met who provide the skills needed to ensure these performances run smoothly. Our guard and stagehand is Chadi, and a kinder and sweeter Machoke you shall never know in this or any other life; Suleta, our choreographer and special effects expert, is an Oricorio, as spritely and talented as any of my other employees; and our latest recruit, Monifa, is another stagehand, from that lush jungle of Kalka, and it shows in the way she moves about the backstage as if she were swinging on vines.
: All we need is a permanent place to perform -- p-please.
: Of courssse, that’sss what our theatre isss for~ Maeve will ssshow you to your quartersss in the Aether capital.
: Right thi’ way, gentlem’n.
: Lead on, small bear! I shall commit this path to heart so I can lead the others to their new homes!
: We’re here too, badir.
: (talking over Ligeia’s murmured complaints) T-Thank you, your highness, for your hospitality.
: Yes, yes, grazie, to both your handmaiden and yourself, Queen Tara. (offering a showy bow, with both paws spread out wide) We shall put on performances the likes of which you have never seen before, nor ever again!
: I am sssure you will.
Category:Meanwhiles
Category:Arc 2
Category:Aether