Opening night.

In the Theatre of Nosgoth, opening nights are very important, for if the play flops at the opening, then there isn't much hope for it no matter which way the coin flips. Night had fallen in Nosgoth, so both vampires and humans could enjoy this gala that was about to happen. Everyone was dressed in the best, the brightest were out, yada so on and so forth, (you people know what I am getting at) as tickets were handed into the holders and people took their seat. Divided neatly into the three sections were the humans/Sarafan to the far right, the Ancients in the middle and keeping the peace, while the vampires occupied the far left.

Needless to say, tension was high and it looked like all three races were on the brink of destroying each other if the play didn't start very soon. A Dumahin vampire tossed a few pieces of his popcorn in the direction of the Sarafan and they retaliate with ice cream. The Ancients remain in the middle, calmly waiting for the play to begin and holding up umbrellas so they don't get hit with the deadly missiles. It does take a long time to wash ice cream out of their wings.

Director: All right people, ten minutes until the first act. Hurry up darlings; we do not have all night. Malek, fix your hat and sword; Janos you look wonderful. Umah, Umah, you must calm down. Take a swig of this. (Hands over a small bottle of brandy and Umah drinks from it)

Raziel: Look at all the people. (Peeks through the curtain in his 15th century puffy white shirt and green leggings, along with the small hat with the feather. He sports a night bruise on his left cheek that make-up can barely conceal) I never thought it would be like this.

Vorador: I know my lines, I know my lines, I know my lines. (Looks at the audience) Oh god, I hope I don't screw up! If I do, I'll never live it down.

(Dumah is over in one corner with Turel, both passing a bottle between them. Melchiah, ahem, Lady Capulet, comes up to the pair in a very tight dress and white powdered wig)

Melchiah: What are you doing?

Turel: Drinking a bit, just to bring up the courage. Every actor does it just before they go onstage. I can't give you any since you're still too young. Good costume.

Melchiah: You might forget your lines if you drink too much and we can't have that, Prince Escalus.

Turel: The Prince refuses to listen to the Lady and he can have a drinking problem if he wants.

Dumah: Yeah, get outta here…FAG!

Melchiah: That's it, I'm telling Kain! (Runs off crying with his make-up ruined. He runs quickly past Ariel, who is wearing a simple blue dress with a low-cut front, as was the style at the time)

Ariel: Oh dear, now Melchiah is upset. And he actually looked quite good in that outfit! Director, a moment of your time! (Waves the woman over) Does Juliet really have to wear this dress; maybe something a little higher is in order.

Director: I am not changing anything. Besides, you look good in that dress. Are you afraid of catching some flies with the honey that's always about you? (Inhales deeply then puffs the smoke out in rings)

Ariel: No, it's just-

Director: Stop complaining! Hey, watch the backdrop! We can't have the Montague household being destroyed already, which comes later. Aha, here comes Romeo. (Waves to Kain who has just walked out of the dressing room. Dressed in blue leggings with the knee-high boots, puffy shirt and a blue vest, Kain's hair is brushed back and tied into a loose tail. The thing that scares Ariel about the get-up is that he actually makes it look good)

Kain: Well Ariel, are you impressed or what?

Ariel: I truly couldn't care less. And if you get too close to me when the scene even calls for it, then I will stab you with something, even if I haven't figured out what yet! (Floats off)

Kain: She likes me. Well Zephon (turns to the 'nurse' and looks him over) don't get too comfortable in that dress.

Zephon: I can't be. The brassier is too tight, the cinches about the waist make me was to faint and these heels (shows his shoes) I will kill the ass that made them if I do find him. I feel sorry for women who wear dresses!

Kain: Yeah, whatever. (Peeks through the curtain as well) All these people come to see my debut on the stage.

Zephon: You've certainly had all of this inflate your ego.

Kain: Quiet. I am, after all, the main character and you are just a lowly nurse.

Zephon: Yeah, a nurse who hugs 'Juliet' when she starts to sob out her problems to me. Haha, guess who's laughing now? (Runs away as Kain makes a lunge for him and hides behind Rahab, dressed in a priest's robes)

Rahab: This feels very familiar in some way…very familiar indeed. I cannot place my claw on it, but I am sure I will get it eventually. (Goes into deep thought)

Director: THREE MINUTES!!!! If anyone has to use the washroom, go now or hold your peace until your bladder bursts! Oh hell, where is she?

Stagehand: Who?

Director: The narrator. She could be here on time, you know, even after I give her this important job that she swore she wouldn't forget for the whole world.

(The authoress, Anamae, comes bursting through the door at said moment and rushes up to the director)

Anamae: Here, ma'am. (Looks out of breath) Damn straight that I am, I had to run over half the city and Sanctuary before I got here. I thought you meant the western theatre; interesting story that happened to me there once-

Director: Do you have your sheet?

Anamae: Yeah! I memorized the words and everything, for I will not let you-

Director: Yeah, yeah good stuff, girl. Hurry up and put on this costume. (Shoves a green robe at Anamae and walks away, now puffing on two smokes. The authoress puts it on, but looks at all the actors. Anamae's eyes grow wide, and she runs after the chain-smoking director)

Anamae: Ma'am, I think we might have a problem!

Director: THIRTY SECONDS!! What is it?

Anamae: Turel, Dumah and Umah look drunk! See? (Points at the three quickly, who are stumbling around and looking none to healthy)

Director: Oh shit…well, just go out there and begin and I'll try to sober them up!

(Anamae gulps as she moves out onstage. Immediately everyone falls silent and looks expectantly at her; then she realizes that perhaps she shouldn't have been the narrator as she has a fear of public speaking. Looking into the crowd, Anamae sees Mobieus in the very front, centre row. He gives her a wave and a wink; the authoress shudders. Being hit on by a very old man who manipulated people for the hell of it made her sick; in fact she wanted to attack the Guardian of Time. But the play must go on)

Anamae: (Spotlight comes onto her) Tonight is the Nosgoth Theatre's first ever presentation of 'Romeo and Juliet' by Shakespeare, a tale of tragic love. We ask that you sit back, relax, and enjoy the show while refraining from killing your mortal enemies. (Clears throat to begin)

'Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Anamae: And now, we take you to Verona, where a dispute has begun over the most trivial of matters. (Crowd claps as the curtains rise)