Stuuuupid finals. But now that the final fuss is over, I'm back on track and better than ever! Posting schedule resumes, with only that one week being troublesome. Go me! But it isn't until NEXT part -- the first chorus -- that you really know what's going on~~

THE THEATRE
where it's another world
by Kay Willow

Boys and girls
Come to roost
From northern parts
And Scottish towns--
Will we catch your eye?


"...and so I went up to him, and I said, 'Daddy, this polo horse will simply NEVER do. If you think I'd be happy to receive this ugly nag, holiday gift or not, then you clearly don't know your leisure sports!'"

Erts laughed politely along with the others, nursing his tea and hiding the sneer that he couldn't control. A carriage rolled past the café where the four "friends" were enjoying luncheon together; he followed it with his eyes and wished devoutly that he were on it, escaping from his "friends". Danka and Jessibelle were giggling as if Geoffrey's shallow, tasteless sentiment was the funniest thing they'd ever heard. Maybe it was: Geoffrey was rich and handsome.

"Cheers, Geoff," Erts said, keeping his tone light. "Why, I don't know WHAT I would've done if my father had tried to pull something like that on me. You should've tried to play on a hunting horse!"

Danka shrieked with laughter, and Geoffrey choked on his tea and had to clean himself up with a handkerchief before daring to respond. "Th-- That'd be priceless! Oh, heaven! I can just imagine the look on the old man's face!"

Erts smiled, modest. He liked making them laugh. They were much more vulnerable when they were enjoying themselves. It was difficult to be watching a close friend suspiciously while you laughed at their latest joke. Of course, he felt that their sense of humor was sorely lacking something... Like, I don't know, human decency?> ...but what they found funny, they found funny, and he was more than willing to cater to their tastes so long as it suited his purposes.

Somewhere in the distance, the bell-tower chimed with brilliant resonance, the perfect accompaniment to a dinner of gentlefriends. But suddenly Jessibelle jumped up. "Oh no," she exclaimed, "It's almost four! I have to get home; Papa's throwing my eighteenth birthday party tonight!"

Everyone duly congratulated her, and scolded her playfully for withholding such vital information as an upcoming birthday celebration. She blushed and fluttered and protested that her real birthday was two weeks hence, today was only the day her established daddy was using to have an event for HIS clique. She would be throwing one for HERS on the appropriate day, but the invitations hadn't gone out yet.

"Well, in honor of Jessie's make-believe birthday," Erts teased, "I'll treat everyone and take the bill!"

"Oh, Erts! You're such a sweetheart!" Darla exploded immediately, rocketing out of her seat and throwing her arms around his neck happily. Erts tolerated the embrace, patient.

Geoff, too, looked delighted. "Oh, nicely done, Erts," he said admiringly. "I do swear, meeting you at Hadrian's walk-about was the luckiest moment of my life!"

Or perhaps not quite so lucky as you think, dear Geoffrey.> Erts demurred, "I'm sure that's not so."

"Oh, it IS!" Darla seconded, her voice impassioned. She flounced prettily, and her ringleted curls bobbed adorably. "That Hadrian! The only good thing he ever did for us was introduce us to you, Erts. But he's really quite selfish, and so arrogant..."

"Yes, I agree," Jessie added her own opinion, nodding. "He should be more... more like YOU, Erts!"

Erts smirked to himself, and immediately schooled it into a more appropriate expression. These three dilettantes were the most prominent members of Hadrian's clique -- if he had them, then he had the rest as well. It would seem that he had indeed stolen poor Hadrian Farr's followers.

But he was not one to let a debt stand. It was thanks to Hadrian's good will that he had risen to this station in the first place, and he needed to repay the favor. "I rather like Hadrian," he murmured, counting coins for their bill and leaving a generous tip. "I think he's quite friendly. Perhaps a bit stingy, but there's nothing wrong with a little caution in one's monetary dealings."

"You say that," Darla teased, "but I remember when we first met you, and you were kind enough even to give money to those poor beggar folk on the side of the road. I've never seen such generosity!" Still, her condemnation had lightened somewhat, and Erts could already tell that Hadrian would not be expelled from his own clique.

Favor repaid.>

"This Wednesday," Geoff said suddenly. "I don't know if she mentioned it, but Nettie is having a gala to celebrate the opening of her mother's new dress shop. She asked me to invite you, Erts -- will you be free?"

"What time?" he asked, following the others out the door and into the evening-darkened streets. "I'm a bit busy that day, you see... A meeting with a friend of the family."

Jessibelle fretted, "We have to hurry -- perhaps taking a back road? Does anyone know a shortcut up the Hill?"

"Oh, yes," Erts interrupted, cutting off Geoffrey's reply. "I know the PERFECT way."

The way was indeed shorter. A fifteen minute walk shaved to five by quick ducking through the alleys and side-streets. But the noble entourage had neglected to think of what might happen to a noble entourage in alleys and side-streets, and so it was with a horrified sort of epiphany that they found themselves surrounded by a group of ragged men armed with boards and grinning darkly.

For a moment, even Erts was afraid. Perhaps, somewhere, something had gone wrong.

This song is really evil. It's not my fault. ^____^ Just you wait.

--Kay