Prologue: Veronaville - Part One
In just three days Veronaville will change forever.
Content warning: Just to be safe, very slight references to adult themes.
Thursday, 2.50pm - 71 Bard Boulevard, East Veronaville
“About time!” Goneril Capp exclaimed at news of Oberon’s proposal.
Titania grinned, “we’re holding a small celebration this Friday, you’ll be there right?”
“Tomorrow’s Friday.”
“Oh yes, it is too,” she giggled.
Goneril, while she enjoyed Titania and Oberon’s parties, always felt Titania’s head was in the clouds, expecting everyone to be available at a moment’s notice, “It’s late notice Titania. I’m not sure if I can get someone to watch the kids. I don’t want to have to resort to using that agency.”
“No honey, bring them. It’ll be good for Bottom to have someone her own age to play with, and Ariel’s just so adorable,” Titania gushed.
Goneril personally found Bottom a little precocious, and made a note to tell Hal and Des to play nicely. It was her gushing over the youngest Capp that piqued her attention though,
“Titania is there a reason for the sudden engagement, any other announcements you’ll be making?”
She sighed longingly, “I’m afraid not. That would be so lovely though, I’d love to announce another addition or two to the family.”
Goneril looked around at her house, strewn with children’s clothing and toys. “I can leave one or two of mine with you if you like.” Titania laughed. “I’m utterly serious,” she continued, “speaking of little mongrels, do I dare inquire about the guest list?”
Titania frowned; she hated the rivalry between her friends. Even though she and Oberon had decided to celebrate with the Monty’s later, hoping by then that Puck and Mercutio would have sorted out their differences, they knew from experience that a cordial event with both Capps and Monty’s was not possible. “Goneril, please don’t,” she asked quietly.
“Sorry”, Goneril replied quickly, “I don’t want to upset you, it’s just, you know how it is.”
Yes, Titania thought sadly, she did. “We’ll be celebrating with them on another occasion.”
“Brilliant,” Goneril replied a little too enthusiastically, “well, we will see you tomorrow night then.”
“Take care Goneril,” Titania replied softly. As she hung up the phone she couldn’t help feeling melancholy about the whole situation. Even Titania and Oberon’s moment for for celebration couldn’t escape from the ongoing feud. She looked up to see that her fiancee, she smiled at the thought, had entered the room.
He took both her hands in his, “same old crap?” he asked.
She laughed and nodded. Oberon was more resigned to the nature of Veronaville’s families but was enamoured by Titania’s hope for a resolution. He was enamoured by Titania, period.
He pulled her close, “don’t let it upset you. This is about us, and our family.”
“I know, it’s just, so, pointless,” she sighed exasperated.
He smiled at her and drew out her arm, “dance with me?”
“Of course.”
They danced slowly for a few moments, silent, content in each other’s embrace. He could tell it was still on her mind though. “You do know there is one good thing that comes out of all this though,” he questioned her.
She raised her eyebrows, “and pray tell, what may that be.”
He grinned cheekily, “you get to hold two parties, love for everyone!”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. She pretended to be serious for a moment and countered, “I’m not sure there’s enough love to go around.”
He dipped her in his arms and smirked, wiggling his eyebrows, “Oh, believe me, there’s enough.”
She laughed at his corniness, but couldn’t resist, “promise?”
His promise was sealed with a kiss.
Thursday, 5:20pm - 1/7 Chorus Court, East Veronaville
“Oh that’s fabulous news,” Cornwall heard his wife say over the phone. He raised an eyebrow, in this family that could mean someone died. He heard her making agreeing noises and the occasional exclamation of “Yes, of course.” He’d been married to her long enough to know she wasn’t paying attention to a single word the other person was saying.
He rounded the corner and noticed his wife examining her fingernails. He briefly wondered when she’d become so distant. Probably the same time he had he conceded. They had just got so involved in their careers. The sad thing was he hadn’t even noticed until Regan’s brother Kent moved in. Suddenly their marriage was on display all the time, not just at family events or parties.
Cornwall waited for his wife to finish on the phone, it would seem such an occasion was about to come up again. “Tomorrow night? Of course! Yes, we’ll be there. We wouldn’t dream of missing it,” Regan replied. Cornwall wasn’t sure which annoyed him more, the shrill falseness in her voice or that she had agreed for him without asking, again.
Later that evening as they watched TV, Cornwall asked his wife, “so what is it exactly that I’m doing tomorrow night?”
She turned to him, clearly annoyed at him for interrupting the finance report, “Titania and Oberon’s engagement party.”
“They’re not already married?”
She had already turned her attention back to the news.
“Are we still on for drinks tomorrow night,” Bianca Monty asked quietly over the phone.
“Of course,” Kent replied, he too keeping his voice down. The last thing he wanted his sister to know was that he was on the phone to a Monty.
“Apparently they’ve redone the roof top at P.U.R.E. It could be worth a look, or we can always check out The Hub.” Bianca asked.
“Let’s check out P.U.R.E. Meet you at ten?”
“Yeah. It’ll be nice to go out, just to, get away everything, you know.”
Kent could see his brother-in-law watching him intently out of the corner of his eyes, “yeah, I know what you mean. I should go, I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“See you then,” Bianca said softly before hanging up the phone.
Kent hung up the phone and turned to see both Cornwall and Regan now focused on the television. He figured he better sit down with them for a while, so as not to seem rude. As he sat down on the couch it didn’t escaped his notice that the couple weren’t sitting next together.
“Who’s the lucky guy,” Cornwall asked as Kent sat down.
“Cornwall,” Regan snapped.
Kent just laughed quietly, Cornwall could be surprisingly observant for someone who barley seemed to notice his own relationship was nonexistent. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he chuckled.
“Well, I have to live vicariously you know, even if you are a poofter. Nothing’s happening upstairs, let me tell you,” he drawled.
“Oh for the love of god Cornwall,” Regan snapped before storming upstairs.
“I wonder if I’m on the couch tonight?” Cornwall wondered out loud.
But Kent was too preoccupied wondering whether Bianca was as observant as Cornwall.
Thursday, 7:35pm - 111 Stratford Strip, West Veronaville
“Hey dad, ask Aunty Bianca what she’s doing tomorrow night,” Beatrice teased.
Benedick joined in, “Aunty Bianca, sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g.”
“Thank you, that’s quite enough,” Bianca scolded quietly, concentrating on her spaghetti.
“That’s great Bianca, anyone I know?” Antonio asked of his sister.
Bianca tried not to choke on her dinner, “uh, let’s just see how it goes, yeah.”
Antonio returned to his dinner. Sometimes, he told himself, he was just fine. Sitting at the dinner table with his children and his sister, he would try to feel that sense of family, of completeness, that had been ripped from him when he lost his wife.
Bianca noticed her brother’s melancholy, “Did you need me around? I can reschedule? I was planning on leaving around 9.30ish, but I can make it later, or I mean, I can always cancel.”
Antonio was pulled from his thoughts, “Huh? Nah, have a good time, me and the rug rats will be fine.” He felt bad as it was for how much he depended on his sister since Hero had died. In the early days he was so caught up in his grief he could barely function let alone give his children the care they needed. Now, he was just angry at what they, and he, had lost.
The kids had finished their dinner and asked to be excused. Bianca reminded them to put their plates in the dishwasher.
“We’re invited to Titania and Oberon’s on Sunday for lunch. They got engaged,” Bianca told her brother.
“I would have expected them to have a big party,” Antonio commented.
“Yeah, tomorrow they’re celebrating with the Capps,” she replied quietly. “I think it’s hard for them, you know,” she added quickly. “Trying to be friends with us and them. You can’t choose who you, um, make friends with. Sometimes you might just make friends and it has nothing to do with old family grievances you know.” She wasn’t asking about Titania and Oberon, she was asking about her plans with Kent Capp.
“The Capps are our enemies, nothing changes that,” Antonio said with finality. They finished their dinner in silence.