SPD – Much Ado About Nothing
Act 1, Part 3: Plans Abound
Later that evening after dinner, Birdie was going over the preparations for the party in his study. There was a knock at the door and Silverbackcame in. He too was a former general of SPD but had since retired and he was also Birdie's brother. "Hello dear brother," Birdie greeted grandly. "Where is that son of yours? Did he arrange the music like I asked?"
The gorilla-like man sat down in a chair in front of Birdie's desk, "He doing it as we speak. But I actually came here to give you some news."
"Good or bad?"
"Well I think it is," Silverback shrugged. "I was walking through the garden when I over Anubis and Captain Landors discussing the young man's love for Sydney." He paused briefly to let that statement sink in before continuing, "That's not all, he is going to tell tonight at the party and if she agrees then he will come to you to ask for her hand."
"You're sure of this?" Birdie checked.
"My hearing is as good as ever brother, if you want I can sing to prove it…"
"No, no, I don't intend sacrifice mine," Birdie stopped. "Let's not get our hopes up too high but Sydney should know about this. I'm rather busy at the moment, could you speak to her Silver? It was you who overheard them after all?"
"From war messages to love letters, I'll consider it a high honour," Silverback said and the two laughed.
Meanwhile elsewhere in the house, Icthior and his cohort Benaag walked the halls, in a much less merry mood than the others. Benaag remarked, "Honestly Icthior, what are you so miserable about?"
"When what makes you miserable is out of your control then your misery is likewise out of your control," Icthior replied cryptically.
Benaag huffed, "If that's the case, perhaps you should listen to reason rather than your misery."
Icthior shot back with a snarky tone, "I've listened to reason as well, you could say I held my council and like any governmental body, it failed me. I'm still miserable so what do I get for it?"
"If it didn't end your suffering, it might at least help you understand so you can put it up with more patiently," Benaag insisted.
"Truly amazing," Icthior remarked. "The man known to be more miserable than me preaching patience and reason. Listen here Benaag, I am what I am. If I have a reason to be sad, I will be and no one's jokes can change that. I eat when I'm hungry and sleep when I'm tired. Therefore I'll be happy when I say the reason is good enough."
"Fine, fair enough," Benaag allowed. "But if it may, reason would like to sit in council a little longer and remind you that you ought to keep a better hold on yourself until the time is right. You defected Icthior," he said bluntly. "You openly swore allegiance to Grumm and challenged your brother but didn't defeat him. Grumm fired you when you couldn't get the job done so now you're back here again. It's taken forever for Anubis to forgive you all the while being an outcast from both sides. There is a time and place for everything and now is not it. You only just got back to into Anubis's good books."
"And I'd rather be a typo than the footnote that I am," Icthior growled. "I don't mind being shunned by all but to put on this show and fool people into thinking I am good and loveable is sickening. I am a lot of things Benaag but a liar is not one of them. I am honest in my hatred of SPD and preference for the Troobian Empire. My brother trusts me? HA! You think so don't you? Oh he trusts me like a muzzled dog or a chained enemy. I'm of no danger whilst in custody but cannot be allowed to be free. If I was a free man, I would do as I wanted but I'm not and I can't so just leave me alone."
"Surely you can make use your unhappiness to your advantage?"
"I use it all the time, it's the only thing I have left." Just then Broodwing appeared and greeted the two of them genially.
"What are you doing here? The party will begin soon, wouldn't you like to freshen up?" the sarcasm in his voice was such that they didn't answer and he kept talking, "Anyway I am just coming back from a rather important conversation with Anubis's brother coincidentally involving your brother Icthior. We may well be celebrating an engagement soon."
This intrigued Icthior, perhaps there may be some mischief for me yet, "What's this? Who's getting married? Surely not my brother? Isinia may have few words to say about this," he made reference to Anubis's wife. "I certainly wouldn't mind the change." The two never got along.
"Oh no," Broodwing chuckled. "Your brother is merely complicit in the matter, it's actually his right-hand man."
"I see, the fabulous Jack," Icthior rolled his yes.
"One and the same," Broodwing confirmed.
"And good man at that," Icthior added with saccharine sweetness. "So tell me, who has the honour of being his intended?"
"Why the lovely Sydney of course, who else would be so worthy of such a man?" Broodwing snorted.
"She is a lively one isn't she? So Silverback told you all of this did he?"
"Yes, ran into him upstairs, he was coming from speaking to Sydney about this little plan for tonight. Apparantly Anubis is going to go to Sydney and court her on Jack's behalf. If she is agreeable than our dear commander will approach Birdie for his daughter's hand."
For the first time since he'd arrive, Icthior laughed full and loud, "See what I mean about having a reason to be happy Benaag, this is one indeed. Come along gentleman, we have a party to attend and some merry to make, at the expense of dear Jack that is. He was the reason I couldn't defeat my brother for myself or Grumm and I swear if I can ruin his life like he did mine, I'll be happy for the rest of my days. I can count on you both, right?"
"At your service sir," the other mock-saluted.
"Then let us go and survey the scene, we need to plan," they all left for the party.
A/N: Hey guys, sorry this update took so very long. It takes a lot more time to do these than my other stories because I constantly need to check Shakespeare's translation and try to make the story more current and fit into the SPD universe. Thank you all for your patience and I will put a rush on the next chapter for before Christmas, pinky promise. ENJOY! R&R PLZ!
