A/N: Great reception you guys, thank you so much! I fell all warm and fuzzy now! XD
You know what I just realized? Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of my story Secrets. Wow. . .
Okay, I'm skipping a scene. It's barely a page long, and sort of useless. Sort of. Basically Leonato hears that the Prince is in love with Hero and decides to tell her so she is prepared.
Also, it might be good to know that Conrade and Borachio will stay the same. I mean come on, those names rock! Good? Good. Back to the story!
Act 1, Scene 3
Avaric sat under a small apple tree near the Yellow Brick Road, staring silently at the horizon with his dark blue eyes. He did not even bother to take notice as Conrade, a slender and refined man with a hint of a mustache, approached him.
"What a good year, my friend," Conrade said, sitting down next to him. "Why are you sad, then?" Avaric merely glanced at him before replying:
"The things that cause my sadness are without limit. Therefore my sadness is without limit."
"Listen to reason, Avaric, really you should-"
"And after I have sat and listened to reason, what's my prize?" Avaric asked, annoyed.
"If not an end to your suffering, then at least you'll have the means to endure it patiently," Conrade replied evenly.
"I'm amazed that you—being such a moody man yourself—are moralizing about my so-called deadly condition. I can't hide what I am. I'm worse off than that green-skinned creature they call Elphaba," he hissed "I'll be sad when I have reason to be sad and won't smile at anybody's jokes. I'll eat when I'm hungry and won't wait until it's convenient. I'll sleep when I'm tired and won't rouse myself for anything. I'll laugh when I'm happy and won't flatter and fawn over anyone."
"Sure, but don't do it at full volume until there's no danger in it. Not long ago you challenged and opposed your brother, and it is only very recently that he has forgiven you. You need to act carefully if you're going to stay in his good graces. You have to wait for the appropriate time to let loose," Conrade cautioned his friend. Avaric simply snorted.
"I couldn't care less about being in the good graces of the ever-holy Manek. Though I am not a flattering, righteous man, at least you can say that I am honest about being a villain. My brother trusts me now? Yeah—as much as a master trusts the dog he muzzles or the peasant he "frees" by chaining a big block around the man's foot. If my mouth were unrestrained, I'd bite. If I were free, I'd do what I pleased." Conrade watched on in silence "Until that happens, let me be who I am and don't try to change me."
"Can't you somehow use your dissatisfaction to your own advantage?" Conrade asked.
"I do it all the time!" Avaric replied. A rustling was heard in the cornfield. "Who's there?" he called. A burly man with a wiry beard revealed himself with a smile. "What news, Borachio?"
Borachio grinned mischievously. "I just came from a great feast where Governor Thropp is entertaining the Prince, your brother. I can give you information about an intended marriage." Avaric raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Will this give me an opportunity to make some mischief? Who is this fool who wants all the fuss of marriage?"
"You're brother's lap-dog." Avaric had to smile at this.
"Who, the pretty little munchkin Boq?" he asked.
"That's the one," Borachio agreed, nodding his head and sitting down beside his friend.
"He's too fancy for my liking. And who is the unfortunate girl who has caught his eye? Tell me it is not that green thing Frexspar calls his niece."
"No, Master, but it is Miss Nessarose, the only daughter and heir of Governor Thropp."
"The cripple!" Avaric chuckled, shaking his head. "How did you find this out?"
"As I was walking about the house searching for Milla, the beautiful lady who cares for Miss Nessarose, the Prince and Boq entered. They were in the middle of a serious conversation. I quickly hid behind a tapestry and heard them agree that the Prince would court Nessarose tonight at the dance and, once he won her consent to marry, would give her to Boq." Immediately, Avaric stood, his mind formulating a plan.
"Come, let's go to the dance. This just may cheer me up. Boq, the tiny upstart, was responsible for keeping me from gaining power over my brother. If there's any way I can spoil his life, I'll be overjoyed." Borachio and Conrade laughed. "You'll both help me, right?"
"To the death!" Conrade and Borachio cried jovially. Avaric grinned.
"Let's go to this great feast. They'll be even happier now that my mood has lightened, the dumb cheerful munchkins." He winked. "It's too bad the cook doesn't think like me; she would have poisoned them all if she did. Should we go check out the scene?"
"Lead the way, sir!" Borachio said, and together, the three set off down the Yellow Brick Road.