Mirror of the Past
Chapter 9:
When they woke up in the morning, they shared a rather intimate breakfast, feeding one another slowly, licking and nipping at each others fingers. They laughed and teased while they cleaned up dishes and they got ready to go out. Nezumi was pulling on his jacket, unable to stop reaching out to caress Sion. It didn't matter how, but he just always wanted to touch the other man. "I'm sorry our date has me working, but its just the morning show. Besides, you kept saying you wanted to see me in action. I couldn't see anything better than this."
Sion smiled, moving toward the other boy and kissing him softly. "This makes a wonderful way to start a date, Nezumi. Sure, we won't be enjoying the theater together, but I'll get to see you doing what you are so good at. So that makes me a very happy boyfriend."
Nezumi paused, before he caught himself from ruining what would be coming later this evening. "You're too easy to please, idiot," he remarked, his voice teasing, loving.
Sion laughed, moving to hug the other man. "Mm, but I'm your idiot and you love me all the same, right?" he remarked back, his lips curved into a loving smirk.
Nezumi was once more caught off guard, his eyes growing a little wide. But at the same time, he did like the sound of his laugh and the happiness in his eyes. There was nothing else he could ever like better than this man at this moment, except if he continued to be happy as he was now. Which he knew there were many ways to make sure of that. One of them would come tonight. The rest, through out the rest of the day. "I suppose I do at that."
Sion lightly bumped into him. "You suppose?" he asked, watching the other with his wide, honest red eyes.
"All right, I know I do. Now lets get going or your going to make me late to the production."
Sion smiled and put his arm through his, dragging him out the door. "Then by all means, lets go." They walked, arm in arm, along the streets to the theater, enjoying one another's company.
They separated at the main hall. Nezumi left a soft kiss on Sion's cheek before heading backstage to get ready. Sion smiled softly, even as his lips began to slowly return back to a neutral look. For a second, Sion felt a sense of panic wash over himself. What if… the only time he would be able to show when he was happy was when he was beside Nezumi? Would he never be able to show his emotions on his own?
He moved to the balcony seat that had been reserved for him and he settled in to watch the first full performance of Nezumi on stage that he'd ever been given. Picking up his program, he traced a finger over the embossed title, smiling slightly as he realized what play Nezumi was in. Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. One of the best comedies the man had ever written. It would certainly give Nezumi a chance to show his skill as a male actor and as a female actress. As he thought it over, he recalled just what the story was about.
The leading character, Viola, is shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria during the opening scenes. She loses contact with her twin brother, Sebastian, whom she believes to be dead. Masquerading as a young page under the name Cesario, she enters the service of Duke Orsino through the help of the sea captain who rescues her. Orsino has convinced himself that he is in love with the bereaved Lady Olivia, whose father and brother have recently died, and who will have nothing to do with any suitors, the Duke included. Orsino decides to use "Cesario" as an intermediary to tell Olivia about his love for her. Olivia, believing Viola to be a man, falls in love with this handsome and eloquent messenger. Viola, in turn, has fallen in love with the Duke, who also believes Viola is a man, and who regards her as his confidant.
Much of the play is taken up with the comic subplot, in which several characters conspire to make Olivia's pompous head steward, Malvolio, believe that his lady Olivia wishes to marry him. It involves Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby Belch; another would-be suitor, a silly squire named Sir Andrew Aguecheek; her servants Maria and Fabian; and her father's favorite fool, Feste. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew get drunk and disturb the peace of their lady's house by continuously singing catches late into the night at the top of their voices, prompting Malvolio to chastise them. This provokes Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Maria to plan revenge on Malvolio.
The riotous company convince Malvolio that Olivia is secretly in love with him through a love letter written by Maria in Olivia's hand asking Malvolio to wear yellow stockings cross-gartered, to be rude to the rest of the servants, and to smile constantly in the presence of Olivia. Malvolio finds the letter and reacts in surprised delight. He starts acting out the contents of the letter to show Olivia his positive response. Olivia, saddened by Viola's attitude towards her, asks for her chief steward, and is shocked by a Malvolio who has seemingly lost his mind. She leaves him to the contrivances of his tormentors.
Pretending that Malvolio is insane, they lock him up in a dark cellar (a common "treatment" for the mentally ill), with a slit for light. Feste visits him to mock his "insanity", once disguised as a priest, and again as himself. At the end of the play Malvolio learns of their conspiracy and storms off promising revenge, but the Duke sends Fabian to pacify him.
Meanwhile Sebastian arrives on the scene, sowing confusion. Mistaking him for Viola, Olivia asks him to marry her, and they are secretly united. Finally, when the twins appear in the presence of both Olivia and the Duke, there is more wonder and awe at their similarity, at which point Viola reveals she is really a female and that Sebastian is her lost twin brother. The play ends in a declaration of marriage between the Duke and Viola, and it is learned that Toby has married Maria.
All in all it was a rather light-hearted comedy. One of several Shakespeare had done. For Sion, he thought it was the best to show off Nezumi's range and skill. He got a chance to play as a male and a female. Nezumi was the perfect actor for the job and he knew that what he was about to see would be something special. And he was right. From the second Nezumi walked out onto the stage, the entire audience was captured by the man. His skill was amazing. No one, not even those playing opposite of him seemed to be able to keep the crowds attention as he could. And there was a crowd as well. It was crazy how packed the small theater was. Sion's eyes never left Nezumi's form. Wither dressed as a boy or a female, he was amazingly beautiful. He seemed to shine brighter as the play continued. When they reached a certain part, instead of looking at Orsino, as Nezumi's character was supposed to do, those gray eyes looked straight up into the balcony and right at Shion as he spoke his lines.
After him I loveMore than I love these eyes, more than my life,More, by all mores, than e'er I shall love I do feign, you witnesses abovePunish my life for tainting of my love!
Those words spoke to Sion in ways that no other could. It was as if he was telling him that he loved him, leaning in to catch every word trip off the other's lips. Nezumi was amazing. Once those lines passed, he went right back to looking and acting with the others. Sion grinned. Only Nezumi would take the chance to break from what the script required to profess love to someone in the crowd and go right back into the act without even making it look like he'd shifted from his position.
After the play, Sion rushed backstage and right into Nezumi's arms before the other even had time to change. Nezumi didn't seem to mind, as he held the other man close to him. "Nezumi, you were amazing. You were stunning to watch on stage. It was impressive," Sion gushed, clinging to his lover with bright eyed wonder in his gaze.
Nezumi smirked, letting Sion go so he could look into his eyes. The love, respect, and admiration shining in his eyes made Nezumi's breath catch in this throat, even as he smiled at his lovers words. "That's what makes me them come, you know. That kind of skill on stage is like a drug to them."
"Its like a drug to me. I couldn't get enough of it and I see you every day," Sion admitted, his voice low, quiet.
Nezumi sighed, lightly bopping the boy on his nose. "Come now, Sion. Don't get addicted to the acting. You're supposed to get addicted to other things," Nezumi teased, lightly trailing a hand down the boys back, feeling a shiver run through him.
"Well, I'm addicted to that as well, but I really do love your acting," Sion remarked, kissing him softly. Nezumi returned it before stepping back.
"Let me go change and we can go to the next stop on our date."
Sion grinned and let him go. "Of course. Although I wonder if anything can top this," he murmured.
Nezumi smirked, one that Sion hadn't seen since they had been living back in the old West Block and winked at him. "You'll just have to wait a see, Sion. Just be patient and I'm more than sure you'll notice the whole day will just continue to get better and better. Trust me."
Sion thought about it, before he laughed, smiling warmly. "Sounds good. I'll wait for you right here."
Nezumi smiled and kissed him once more, before heading into the dressing room. All the while, the rest of the date playing out in his mind… and hoping it worked out as well as his mental scenario seemed to have plotted out.
AN: Sorry dears for taking so long. Apparently I needed a lot of time to rest up before the words would flow. Yet here's the first part of their date. I promise there is more to come. Thank you for sticking it out. You honor me for being so patient and willing to wait for the next part.
Summary for Twelfth Night came from Wikipedia. Its everyone's best friend for finding info. I figure it was something Sion would have remembered, smart boy that he is. The line was taking from Act V of Twelfth Night. Not the best around, but certainly an amazing line by Viola. One I thought fit the scene. Maybe I was wrong. Let me know what you all think. Reviews are welcome always. The more I get the faster I want to write. I hope to have the next part up by Thursday, if I get enough reviews in time. So by all means, post and let me know.
