Wow. I didn't think I would get such a big response to my story. Yay! People really like Leila. I guess I'll have to put more of her in : ) hee hee hee.
We're getting really close to the ending, so Ill give you a brief outline of what's going to come. First, after this chapter, there will be ONE MORE intermission. After that comes Act 5, with only one scene. That one scene will be divided into three parts: Part 1 is backstage, Part 2 is the actual play, then part 3 is the after-play chaos. There will also be a short epilogue at the very end. So, we're looking about 5 more chapters' people. Start buying tickets! ;)
Main Characters:
Orsino - Heath
Olivia - Lyn
Sebastian - Hector
Viola - Nino
Antonio - Eliwood
Maria - Rebecca
Valentine - Wil
Curio - Rath
Toby - Sain
Andrew - Erk
Malvolio - Jaffar
Feste - Matthew
Fabian – Kent
Extras:
Captain: Guy
Attendants: Serra, Priscilla
Servant: Florina
Officers: Lowen, Karla
Priest: Ninian
Friday morning was a blur. Hector sat with his head resting on the seat in front of him, trying to catch up on the sleep he'd missed the night before.
"ALRIGHT PEOPLE, RUN THROUGH THAT SCENE AGAIN!" Ms. Spencer yelled, and the people onstage groaned. Hector did too. Seriously, the ultimate evil of the universe could NOT be worse than this. He was wrong, of course, but he didn't know that.
Lyn reclined next to him, stifling a yawn. Everyone involved in the play – backstage, lighting, musicians Hector didn't know they had, grade 12's, grade 11's – it was a mass of people and mistakes, and too tired people tripping over each other.
Hector and Nino were onstage, talking to each other, and Nino said a key part, where a spotlight was supposed to shine on her. It come on briefly, flared too bright – making Nino yell – and then died. There was a loud thud from backstage, and a mass of yelling. Ms. Spencer did NOT look happy as she stalked backstage.
"What is going on?" she demanded, glaring at Farina and Lucius, the two lighting people.
"He started it!" Farina said, pointing at Lucius. Ms. Spencer glared.
"What were you two DOING?"
"Lucius said we had to press THIS button," Farina pointed to a panel with thirteen billion buttons on it, "And I said it was THIS one."
"I was right, and she wasn't, but she wouldn't stop pushing the button!" Lucius wailed. "And then I BROKE A NAIL!" Ms. Spencer stared at him, then hung her head.
"I give up," she looked at the ceiling. "You two, work together, or I'll put someone else on lighting. Lucius, STOP CRYING! Farina, pick up that board, we've got work to do!" Ms. Spencer snapped, then walked back onstage to be greeted by the fiasco that had erupted there. Heath had gone to see if Nino was alright from the lighting malfunction, Jaffar had intervene and the two of them were now staring down, Hector, Lyn, Eliwood and Ninian looked on the verge of sleep, Erk was being terrorized by Serra – like normal – and Matthew was chatting it up with Isadora and some other girl that didn't go to their school.
"People!" She yelled. The general noise level died down, a little at least. Her eye twitched. "PEOPLE!" She screamed. THAT got their attention. Of course, the fact that she screamed into a bullhorn helped a bit. Several pairs of wide eyes stared up at her, until Erk – and Serra – fell to the floor with a thump that got everyone's attention. Ms. Spencer sighed. This was going to be a looooooong dress rehearsal.
The break the class got for "lunch" didn't come until almost 1:30 in the afternoon. Some people – the one's who didn't do anything – ran around, yelling and screaming and generally getting into trouble. Hector sat at the table with his friends, trying to concentrate on food. It was hard with almost all of his friends – exceptions of Florina, Matthew, Leila – who didn't really count – and Ninian – falling asleep around him. Lyn, in fact, WAS asleep, leaning on his arm and making it very hard for him to eat anything.
"Um... Lyn? Hey – Lyn. LYN!" he yelled. That woke her - and several more people who'd been sleeping nearby. "I can't really can't eat with you leaning on my arm," he said. She might've said something – it sounded more like a growl – but let it go, putting her head down on the table. Hector sighed. He hoped he be able to get some before midnight, or something close to that. His brother was going to kill him if he was any later.
"Ok, class!" Ms. Spencer yelled. "Back to the gym!" There were several groans, but everyone got up and moved obediently back to the gym.
They were in the middle of going over Act Five when the gym doors opened and a class of elementary students filed in, laughing and jabbing fingers, staring at the room around them – and taking seats in the front row. Ms. Spencer called all the cast together backstage and had an impromptu pow-wow.
"We're going to have a dress rehearsal," she told them, "for the grade 6 students. Think of this as you're final run-through, alright?" she looked around. "It's also to get you used to performing for someone other than your peers. Any questions?"
Florina raised her trembling hand. "D-d-d-do we ha-have to?"
"Yes," Ms. Spencer sighed. We have too. Now, look alive – we'll do this, run once more through some trouble spots, and then you can GO HOME!" There was some cheering from that, and everyone ran to their posts.
There were some minor interruptions during their dress rehearsal. Farina and Lucius got into another fight over lighting, Raven ended up smashing the second alarm clock and they had to substitute it with cymbal – stolen from the arts room by Matthew. Florina almost fainted when she had her three seconds onstage, and Rath had to drag her off. Sain and Rebecca got too close together during one of their scenes, and Sain kissed her. She slapped him, and there were several giggles from the audience. Near the end, things were going great. It was in Act 4, Scene 2 – with Jaffar "locked" in his cell, that one of the lights came on, almost blinding Matthew.
"Fo – HEEEY!" He yelled covering his eyes. "What's the idea?"
"CUT!" Ms. Spencer yelled, then stalked to the lighting section to see what was going on. She came back out muttering and shaking her head, followed by a moony-eyed Lucius, who told them that it was Farina and Kent in the back, and that Lucius had interrupted them, making Kent lean against the light switch. He didn't tell them exactly what Kent and Farina'd been doing, but there were a few giggles and sly glances thrown Kent and Farina's way, but finally things got back on schedule.
Finally, Scene 2 came to a close, and it was Act 3. Hector was a little nervous, and Lyn looked a little red – not that she would look at him – and Ninian was dancing around, very happy to FINALLY be wearing a priests dress. It had took them forever to get her hair hidden under the hat, and there was no way she'd ever pass as a boy, but all in all the effect wasn't bad. She got one – and probably more – kisses of "good luck" from Eliwood, then it was their turn. Without turning a hair, Hector walked out onto the stage.
"This is the air; that is the glorious sun;" he said, looking around as if in wonder for the little children in the audience – not that they knew ANYTHING of what was going on. "This pearl she gave me, I do feel 't and see 't; and though 't is wonder that enwraps me thus, yet 't is not madness. Where 's Antonio, then?" He wondered, looking up and looking around, as if searching for someone. "I could not find him at the Elephant: Yet there he was; and there I found this credit, that he did range the town to seek me out. His counsel now might do me golden service; For though my soul disputes well with my sense, That this may be some error, but no madness, Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune So far exceed all instance, all discourse, That I am ready to distrust mine eyes And wrangle with my reason, that persuades me To any other trust but that I am mad, Or else the lady 's mad; yet if 't were so, She could not sway her house, command her followers, Take and give back affairs and their dispatch With such a smooth, discreet, and stable bearing As I perceive she does. There 's something in 't that is deceivable. But here," he looked offstage and smiled at Lyn, who he could just see offstage. "The lady comes."
"Blame not this haste of mine," she said, as if apologizing. "If you mean well, now go with me and with this holy man," she gestured at Ninian, and Hector struggled to stop a grin. "Holy Man"? NINIAN? Pppheh. "Into the chantry by. There, before him, And underneath that consecrated roof, Plight me the full assurance of your faith; that my most jealous and too doubtful soul May live at peace. He shall conceal it Whiles you are willing it shall come to note, what time we will our celebration keep According to my birth. What do you say?" Well now, Hector still tried not to grin. Lyn asking him to marry her. Hmm... that had possibilities.
"I 'll follow this good man, and go with you; and, having sworn truth, ever will be true," he said, bowing to her to hide his smile. Some of the grade 6's must have caught it, however, because some of them were giggling and pointing.
"Then lead the way, good father," Lyn said to Ninian, "And heavens so shine that they may fairly note this act of mine!" Hector took Lyn's arm and they walked off, following Ninian backstage.
"Good job Ninian!" Eliwood greeted them enthusiastically backstage, kissing Ninian. Hector rolled his eyes. Ninian hadn't even SAID anything – she'd just stood there. However, whatever Eliwood wanted. He wasn't going to say anything. "Oh – and to you too, guys." Well, at least Eliwood remember he had friends in this world. Although maybe not for much longer.
The rest of the play passed more or less smoothly. The final scene –the ONLY scene in Act 5 – was VERY long, to annoying to most people. They wanted shorter scenes, so they could pack up and go home. The only major hitch in Act 5 was the school bell ringing to let everyone out, then it was back to the play. A couple of times the lighting flickered brighter or dimmed, but it was kept to a minimum, so no one really noticed it. Too much, anyway. Hector moved aside as Ms. Spencer began almost frothing at the mouth at the antics of the lighting people – whatever the heck they were doing. Hector didn't really want to find out. He had his hunches, but didn't really want to find out.
After Act 5 finished, an all the little kids were sent on their way, they got down to business again. It took all of them two hours to go over various rough spots – Florina's in particular – but eventually it was done, and everyone could go home.
It was getting dark when Hector left the school building. With the setting sun, long shadows and nearly empty parking lot, the school grounds looked like something of a wild western town, where a bunch of toughs were getting ready for a showdown. He grinned to himself. That wasn't likely to happen, but it was nice to imagine it might.
He watched the various couples go by, friends and "close" friends heading to their cars or carpooling. Raven, Lucius, Heath and Priscilla were first. There was some argument over something until Guy came running out, asking to get a ride. Hector snickered as he watched them go – Raven driving with Lucius in the front seat being girly, Heath, Guy, and Priscilla in the back seat, wedged fairly tightly together.
Next to go were Karla and her brother Karel, and were met with an impromptu drag race out of the parking lot with Legault (the one driving), Isadora, Matthew and his girl Leila. It was a close race – by close, it meant Legault almost flipped the car – but it looked to Hector that Karla and her brother won, simply from their head start.
Wil, Rath, Rebecca and Lowen all piled into one car, none of them looking happy that it was Lowen driving. Hector laughed to see Rath clinging to his seat, Wil wild-eyed and Rebecca covering her own eyes as Lowen swerved out of the lot.
Eliwood and Ninian waved goodbye as they left, not stopping to chat. Apparently in a hurry to get somewhere, Hector reasoned. Lyn came out behind him, but they waited to one side to see everyone else leave.
They were joined by Kent and Farina for a while, and they all laughed – with the exception of Kent – as Serra walked by dragging Erk along. He didn't look very happy, but followed her anyway. The group was interrupted by Dart peeling into the parking lot. Hector noticed that there seemed to be a bit of an argument as the three of them left school grounds.
"Well, I think that's almost everyone," Hector noted. "Shall we go?"
"Sure. I should get home soon anyway. My grandfather gets nervous when I'm not home on time," Lyn smiled and they started off for his car.
"Wait!" an uncharacteristically loud voice yelled at them. They both turned to see a bright red Florina running towards them. "Um, um," she looked nervous – not that that was anything new. "D-do, um, do you t-t-think you co-could give me a d-drive?" she stammered. "Um, my sister's are..." she trailed off.
"Sure Florina!" Lyn said cheerfully, giving Hector a death glare. "We'd be happy to take you home. RIGHT?"
"Sure, I don't mind," Hector shrugged. "Let's go."
"Th-thank you!" Florina said, casting a nervous glance over her shoulder. It wasn't long before the three of them left the parking lot behind.
"Honestly, Sain! Hands off!" Fiora kept her nose in the air as she and Sain left the school.
"But fair beauty – " Sain tried.
"I SAID HANDS OFF!" She yelled.
"Really, Sain, you should keep your hands to yourself," Ms. Spencer chided as she came out behind them and headed for her car. "Have a nice night you too, and play nice. Don't forget to be here at 11 tomorrow!"
"Yes Ms. Spencer," Fiora sighed, then slapped Sain. "I SAID HANDS OFF!" The two of them headed for the car, arguing all the way. At last their car pulled out, leaving the parking lot deserted except for the janitor's car, parked at the far end of the lot. Specks of light drifted through the steel doors' windows, casting long rectangles of light that merged with the now almost set sun. The loud noise of the door being pulled open and then slamming shut seemed very loud in the empty air, as if it were out of place.
"You took a long time."
"I know... I'm sorry. It's just that I can't reach the back of my costume, and everyone was gone when I got there, so there was no one to help me..."
Jaffar put one arm around Nino's shoulders. "I wasn't blaming you."
She huggled into him. "Thanks."
The janitor smiled as he paused in cleaning the window, watching to the odd-matched pair slowly make their way out of the lot, and make the journey home.
And so, another "Jaffar and Nino Moment" for whoever wanted it. I guess Leila was in the story again, even if she wasn't supposed to be. :) Hopefully this chapter will seem a little less rushed than the last one. Now! Review Responses!
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elven-girl10: Well, I'm glad you liked Leila's appearance. She seems very popular. I'd never really realized that. As for Ephidel, I'm working on it... but still. I really want to hook him up with someone, and I don't have any ideas, except for Limstella... who I've never looked on to be his sister. As for SONIA and SERRA? ::twitch:: can't say I've ever thought of THEM as pairings... ::twitch::
Oooh! YAY! PLUSHIES!! wheeeeeeeeeeee! ::runs around in circles::
xZero84x: o.O o.O wow. That was... long. And... random. ::Stares:: well, it was entertaining, at least! : ) heh heh heh "only TEA!"
flamefirefox: hahahah! Don't like Priscilla/Heath, huh? Well, regardless of who I put, I'd DEFINATELY not done with Legault. He'll be back. Juuuuust you wait! And Leila too. I'm gonna try and do something with her... so long as she doesn't get hit by a bus or something in the next four chapters.
Firelien: No, it doesn't seem out of place for them, doesn't it? Weird. Wish I could skip school like that. Oops, I forgot to give Matthew a detention... ah well, doesn't matter, we all love him too much to put him in dentention. Besides, he'd just escape. It began on a Thursday, I think, 'cause this chapter's Friday. I hate labs, and I hate lab REPORTS. That's why I'm an english student. :)
Bloody Mary: My there's a lot of fanatics out there, huh? I can't say I've ever seen so many people saying how much they like this couple, or DON'T like that couple... :) Ah, fanatics. What would we do without them? I hope you won't mind TOO much if I just stick little bits of Hector/Lyn & Nino/Jaffar in every so often. You wouldn't, right? Right. There will be more of them. I promise.
WildfireDreams: Another Leila fan. Wow. personally, I was happy when she died - that left Matthew open for me :P j/k. I was sad. I swear!
Erk: they why are you smiling?
Hitnwey: ... death affects me that way.
Erk: I think you were just happy Leila died.
Hitnwey: BE QUIET! ... eh-heh . ;;
For Nino and Jaffar, my friends and I have determined they're between 4 and 10 years apart. Since Jaffar doesn't have a fixed age... we think he's anywhere from 18-24. That's only a six-year range, not too bad. ::sweatdrop::
And you have siblings with the same name as the archer pair? oO wow... do they play FE too? That would be funny. I remember playing Pokémon and being totally surprised when one of the Leaders had the same name as me :)
More Leila and Matthew on the way. Just gimmie... three days, or so. Maybe longer, depending on schoolwork. Of course, we're coming up to the weekend, so I should be able to update soon.
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Now I have to go study for a test. Enjoy the newest chapter, and be on the watch for more LxM!