All the World's a Stage

by YnitOcelot

... and all men and women are merely players.

"All the world's a stage/and all men and women are merely players."

It had been a long time since I last read those words. I twitch the book over and reread them. Must've been – what? '62? '63? Before I left school anyway. Poetic and powerful. Suddenly an image slithers into my mind, almost treacherous in its charm.

Doyle.

Raymond who-shows-his-thoughts-at-the-drop-of-a-hat Doyle.

Raymond who-needs-to-bleed-for-the-whole-world Doyle.

Raymond who-can-infiltrate-anywhere-and-come-out-alive Doyle.

He can change character before you can blink. He's our best undercover man for good reason.

It scares me because I don't know where the stage ends.

Sometimes I think it never does.