Those of you who've been wondering about Hiead's characterization will find their concerns settled here. ^_~

Same warnings that applied to all the previous parts, and most of my fics, also apply to this part! Everybody belongs to Bunny-sensei, except for the people who suck, who are mine. Unless you think Hiead sucks. In which case, he's hers too, and she's welcome to him.

THE THEATRE
where it's another world
by Kay Willow

While you pretend
Not to notice
All the years we've been here --
We're... the bums
You step over
As you leave the Theatre!

"Milord Cocteau!"

Erts paused in the hallway, and for just a moment allowed his triumph to fill him. Here was Gner, chasing after the man who had made him look a fool; and here was the messenger of the beggarfolk, with Gner's gold in his pocket. The only stain on this glorious moment was that the money had been won honestly in a game, and Erts would far rather have tricked him out of it.

Turning, he could see the livid expression that had replaced Gner's typical frightfully cold neutrality. "Milord Cocteau," the man repeated, and this time the condescending venom of 'milord' was audible enough to be distinguished: there was no respect in that honorific. "I wanted to warn you that you're in over your head."

"Pardon?" Erts said, feigning politeness. "I believe that I'm doing fairly well for myself, considering that I am new to the gambling arena. How have I become in over my head? I do not think that I am addicted to the amusement, nor am I losing any massive amount of my family's money; it seems to me that this..."

"What family?" Hiead sneered. The question hit Erts like a blow, and Gner pressed his advantage ruthlessly. "What family, tell me? What money?"

It took a heartbeat to recover his equilibrium to the point where he could act convincingly, but he rallied as best he could. "Whatever do you mean by that, Milord Gner? You clearly know my family name -- and my story is surely all around the court. You have only to ask anyone, and you may well get more about my family than is likely true!" For a moment, he was relieved that his protest sounded perfectly natural, unblemished by stammering or uncertainty.

"You must think me a fool," Hiead said darkly, taking another step forward. "Everything that comes out of your mouth is untrue, including the lies about your nonexistent family."

He knows.> It was impossible, and the worst thing that could possibly have happened. Erts couldn't imagine how his secret had been leaked, how Gner had learned; frantically thinking of a way to excuse the damage, he barely noticed the lord taking another step closer.

When Erts did not reply, Hiead continued. "I know what you are, and I know all about your little games. I know that you've been cuckolding the whole court, playing them all like an orchestra, and snatching their purses with the help of your revolting little mud-loving associates."

Erts forced his heartbeat to slow, composing whatever lies or bribes were necessary, but he didn't have time to do more than open his mouth before Gner grabbed him by the collar. A fraction of a second passed in a blur as Hiead hauled him around, lifting the slight young man clear off his feet in the process, and slammed him into the wall. Erts hit his head with a sickening crack against the wooden paneling. The various colors of the world inverted, and pain swam before his eyes; Hiead's face, that hateful sneer, came into focus just as the arm at his neck began pressing forward, cutting off his air supply.

"You can play whatever games you want with the court," Gner hissed. "I don't care WHAT happens to those stupid bastards. But when you start messing with ME, you're going in far too deep. You're out of your league here, sewer swine, do you understand?"

Nauseating pain was all that Erts understood -- nauseating pain and blinding hatred.

Gner released him without warning, and the only thing Erts could do was topple over. It took all his willpower to keep himself from dropping limply; he caught himself on his hands and knees and remained there, coughing helplessly, while Gner stood over him.

"If you cross into my territory ever again, I'll kill you," Hiead vowed coldly, and then walked away.

The next thing Erts knew, he was in his own bed at Lotte's, and Azuma was arguing with a chimney-sweeper about how much she was owed for getting Erts back where he belonged. Upon seeing him awake, both turned to him.

"Erts! What the fuck happened to you?" Azuma sputtered, nearly drowning out Greta's hopeful, "Are you alright there, laddie? Old Greta was worried."

"You aren't fooling anyone, Greta," Erts managed to rasp out, but nodded towards where they'd placed his hidden coin belt. "Take a crown for your troubles."

Azuma scowled at this commandeering of beggarfolk gold, but didn't object as the filthy woman scurried over to rummage for a gold coin. "Tell me what happened right now, or I'll pull you off this mission," he insisted.

"Hiead Gner." Erts sighed. "I won money from him gambling, and he attacked me. He's much stronger than I am... but I am NOT giving up," he added immediately, with as much passion as he could muster, just in case Azuma was thinking that his will had weakened. "I want to milk the son of a bitch for every copper he's worth."

"So why not getcherself a bodyguard?" Greta asked, habit making her hold the coin up to the light and check the finish. "Fancy lordling like your worship oughta have one."

She snickered, but Azuma grinned.

Next chapter, another character enters the scene... >D Guess who, guess who?

--Kay