Tybalt, you ratcatcher! Will you walk?
Oct. 30th, 2014 02:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowandsnark [OOC: All dialog and events herein come from the short story Rat-Catcher which is from the anthology A Fantasy Medley 2.]
June, 1666. London, England.
"I do love the way they stage the duels here," Rand commented to me as we perched up in the rafters of the theater the Duke Company used for their productions.
I sat cross-legged and scowled at him. "You've seen this show a dozen times!"
"Closer to a dozen dozens, more likely, and yet I never tire of it," he said, glancing away from the actors long enough to grin at me. "Can't you relax for one evening, and enjoy a little entertainment?"
"No, I can't, and neither should you," I replied, and folded my arms. "Father wants you."
"So he sent you to retrieve me?" Rand scoffed. "Did he consider, for a moment, that I might refuse to come?"
"He did, yes."
"And?"
"And if I fail to retrieve you, I'm to be put to work minding the kittens for a week's time, to teach me obedience," I replied with a baleful scowl. "I won't mind kittens for you, Rand. You're coming with me, whether you like it or not."
"Am I, then?" Rand asked, raising an eyebrow. "Will you fight me in order to bring me home? Much as I love you, darling Jill, I doubt you'd come out the winner in that particular contest."
"I won't fight you."
"Then what?"
"I'll sit here and cry through your precious performance if you refuse to come. And tomorrow night, when my time in the nursery ends, I'll do the same. And the night after that, until such time as you apologize to me." I replied and smiled sweetly. "You can save us both a great deal of time and suffering if you simply come with me now."
Rand cast a longing look towards the actors. Mercutio was preparing to die, and in the process was layering curses down on both waring houses. "Are you sure father can't wait?"
"Come on!"
June, 1666. London, England.
"I do love the way they stage the duels here," Rand commented to me as we perched up in the rafters of the theater the Duke Company used for their productions.
I sat cross-legged and scowled at him. "You've seen this show a dozen times!"
"Closer to a dozen dozens, more likely, and yet I never tire of it," he said, glancing away from the actors long enough to grin at me. "Can't you relax for one evening, and enjoy a little entertainment?"
"No, I can't, and neither should you," I replied, and folded my arms. "Father wants you."
"So he sent you to retrieve me?" Rand scoffed. "Did he consider, for a moment, that I might refuse to come?"
"He did, yes."
"And?"
"And if I fail to retrieve you, I'm to be put to work minding the kittens for a week's time, to teach me obedience," I replied with a baleful scowl. "I won't mind kittens for you, Rand. You're coming with me, whether you like it or not."
"Am I, then?" Rand asked, raising an eyebrow. "Will you fight me in order to bring me home? Much as I love you, darling Jill, I doubt you'd come out the winner in that particular contest."
"I won't fight you."
"Then what?"
"I'll sit here and cry through your precious performance if you refuse to come. And tomorrow night, when my time in the nursery ends, I'll do the same. And the night after that, until such time as you apologize to me." I replied and smiled sweetly. "You can save us both a great deal of time and suffering if you simply come with me now."
Rand cast a longing look towards the actors. Mercutio was preparing to die, and in the process was layering curses down on both waring houses. "Are you sure father can't wait?"
"Come on!"
no subject
Date: 2014-10-30 10:48 pm (UTC)"You were bid to be present when the sun went down," the King of Fogbound Cats hissed into my ear. "The sun has been down for some time. How do you answer this?"
I coughed, endeavoring to look piteous. It wasn't as difficult as it might have been; the lack of oxygen was beginning to make my lungs ache. The King dropped me in disgust.
"I was otherwise engaged," I said, rubbing me throat and making no effort to rise. I knew that to do so too quickly would result in my being slapped down again. "I apologize for my delinquency. To what do I owe the honor of this summons?"
The King glared. I looked innocently back, the very picture of the faithful Prince awaiting the word of his King. It was a look I had had occasion to cultivate since I desired neither challenge nor exile.
I had once had two brothers. Fellow Princes. But they were not so good at playing the fool.
"You are to go to the Divided Courts," the King spat, finally. "An envoy has been requested for the latest of their assemblies. To show respect, I must send a member of the family. To show scorn, I am sending them you."
"Your faith in me will not go unrewarded, Father!" I caroled, bounding to my feet with as much vigor as I could muster. My throat ached, but I would not show weakness; not here, not with the King watching my every more. "When shall I depart?"
The King's smile was terrible to behold. "That is why I summoned you at sunset, my dear boy. They expect you at any moment. You will have to travel the shadows--and you will have to do so on your own."