020 - Video

[capuletnomore]

[Juliet is sitting primly near her fire, and looking straight into the camera on the PCD. Today, she intends for it to capture her words.]Lady Alexia spoke yesterday of the library, and of books missing from its shelves. There is one such book missing that I would like to read, and thus I ask if anyone should have it in their home, that it be

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[video]

[godofcologne]

[He raises an eyebrow at her request, and for once sounds a little more serious than he normally is.]

Sure you want to know the ending, darling?

[video]

[capuletnomore]

[She squares her shoulders and nods.]

I wish to see if what he has written is similar to what I know of events. If there is more than coincidence in the use of my name in his play.

[godofcologne]

[Congratulations, Juliet, you've stumbled onto a little known fact: Thomas is in fact a bit of a romantic idiot. And as far as he's concerned someone should at least think they have a chance at a happy ending.]

Stop me when things stop sounding familiar.

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.

[capuletnomore]

[She listens, eyes growing wide as she takes in the words.]

That does indeed describe my Verona. And, the two houses - Capulet and Montague?

[godofcologne]

Two points, sweetheart.

[His expression is complicated, warring between his usual carelessness and genuine regret.]

Did you meet him at your family's masquerade?

[capuletnomore]

[She nods.]

I was supposed to dance with Count Paris instead, but Tybalt kept him away from me most of the evening. And then Romeo rescued me from an over-amorous dancer. He should not have been there in the first place.

[She takes another deep breath to steady herself. This, this will be the test of the play.]

And what does the play tell of my dearest cousin? How does Lord Shakespeare describe Tybalt's fate?

[godofcologne]

[There's a soft sigh and Thomas runs a hand through his hair. It's more a stall for time than a casual gesture, and when Thomas speaks again, it is in all seriousness.]

He dies, princess.

[capuletnomore]

[She nods, her expression not changing.]

Because he killed Mercutio. He died at the hand of Mercutio's closest friend.

[And now, she smiles ruefully.]

If he had discovered that when he was here, we might have had another fight. He might have kicked me out of the house again. But that secret, I was able to keep.

[godofcologne]

[He smiles too, sadly, and it is far far more sincere than anything he's done at Adstring before. He continues quietly, in a voice heavy with experience.]

Don't go spoiling the ending, princess. Belief in a happy ending isn't something you can get back.

[capuletnomore]

This place is my happy ending, Thomas. Adstringendum. I shall be happy here.

[More confirmation that the play might mirror her own life closely, though.]

[godofcologne]

[His smile deepens, and the sadness fades away to be replaced by the more practiced, cavalier amusement he usually wears. Juliet may be sincere, but he's more biased towards denial himself, and sees what he wants to see in her words.]

I hope so, darling. You of all people deserve it.

[capuletnomore]

That is most kind of you to say, Thomas.

[godofcologne]

[a laugh.] Not really but good luck with that play, Juliet.

[capuletnomore]

[She smiles in return.]

Thank you, Thomas.