|
Act II
May 15, 2010 15:58:56 GMT -5
Post by Tiger on May 15, 2010 15:58:56 GMT -5
Kiku caught a glimpse of Arthur emerging and immediately leaned over the balcony, keeping his balance with his arms spread and hands resting on the railing. "What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night so stumblest on my counsel?" he asked, almost certain of the answer he would receive. Who else would be talking to him from the shrubbery at night?
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 16:10:13 GMT -5
Post by Jimmeh on May 15, 2010 16:10:13 GMT -5
The answer was obvious, yet so painful, he thought. For a moment, he wished childishly that he could become someone else--so perhaps he could not just stand there below Kiku, but speak to him properly, and not have to worry about the looming thing that would inevitably become a deadly secret soon. "By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am," he began, thinking carefully over each word and therefore slowing down his speech slightly, "My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, because it is an enemy to thee; had I it written, I would tear the word." [/color][/size]
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 16:16:57 GMT -5
Post by Tiger on May 15, 2010 16:16:57 GMT -5
"My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound." A fist clenched around Kiku's stomach as the dim realization from the recesses of his mind played itself out. "Art thou not England and a Montague?" Somehow, he hoped for a negative reply even though he was certain that he would not get one. It stemmed from that innate refusal to accept bad news when an alternative always existed or, rather, seemed to exist.
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 16:24:21 GMT -5
Post by Jimmeh on May 15, 2010 16:24:21 GMT -5
"Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike," Arthur responded, searching briefly through the shadows to make direct eye contact with him. He clenched his teeth nervously, part of him fearing that the oaths he longed to proclaim would only last a night. It seemed like his luck always ran that way. Yet somehow he knew that nothing could possibly be wrong with the truth, as truth always won, according to what he had been taught since he was young.
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 18:01:22 GMT -5
Post by Tiger on May 15, 2010 18:01:22 GMT -5
Kiku frowned, but in a halfhearted, somehow delicate way. "How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? The orchard walls are high and hard to climb"--at this point his voice dropped to pianissimo, just above a whisper--"and the place death, considering who thou art, if any of my kinsmen find thee here." He looked nervous, sounded nervous, and certainly felt nervous; it was unusual for him to be so far on edge.
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 21:35:42 GMT -5
Post by Jimmeh on May 15, 2010 21:35:42 GMT -5
"With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls; for stony limits cannot hold love out." Arthur paused for a long moment, feeling his pulse double at the notion of his own words--he never thought he would ever hear such passion in his voice. "And..." He stopped for just a second, knowing he would break down stuttering if he did not do otherwise, "And what love can do that dares love attempt; therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me." Though his words implied that he was not afraid, he was sure even Kiku knew he was lying. Everything was at risk now.
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 21:53:50 GMT -5
Post by Tiger on May 15, 2010 21:53:50 GMT -5
"If they do see thee, they will murder thee!" exclaimed Kiku in desperation. By now his nervousness was becoming more pronounced. He glanced over both shoulders with his teeth clenched; his limbs trembled and he felt just a bit lightheaded. To steady himself he gripped the railing tighter and the world seemed to solidify under his feet.
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 22:12:55 GMT -5
Post by Jimmeh on May 15, 2010 22:12:55 GMT -5
"Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords." His tone was comforting in its own way, but not in the way that a lover, someone who had just been stricken by the mixed feelings of hatred and poisonous desire would speak--it was more reassuring than anything else, as if to agree that his fate was inevitable. "Look thou but sweet, and I am proof against their enmity." [/color][/size]
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 22:22:41 GMT -5
Post by Tiger on May 15, 2010 22:22:41 GMT -5
"I would not for the world they saw thee here," Kiku retorted weakly, shaking his head. At this point true terror had set in. These predictions of death were not just forecasts of doom for drama's sake, but real threats to them both, especially Arthur. To think that the Capulets would let such a blatant act of trespass pass lightly would be to think that a lion would let a wounded zebra get by because the zebra really didn't want to be eaten.
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 22:27:39 GMT -5
Post by Jimmeh on May 15, 2010 22:27:39 GMT -5
Arthur took a deep breath before beginning. "I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight; and but thou love me, let them find me here." He paused, thinking over what he had stated, and wondering if what he had implied was correct. If it was even close to the truth, he thought, his life would be complete, or at least complete enough. "My life were better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting of thy love."
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 22:38:47 GMT -5
Post by Tiger on May 15, 2010 22:38:47 GMT -5
He exhaled slowly and braced his feet against the floor as protection from some unknown force. These assurances were beginning to work on him. Maybe Arthur really did know what he was doing and maybe this was not the most dangerous thing he could be doing right now. "By whose direction found'st thou out this place?" asked Kiku, becoming less nervous and more curious.
|
|
|
Act II
May 15, 2010 22:44:42 GMT -5
Post by Jimmeh on May 15, 2010 22:44:42 GMT -5
"By love, who first did prompt me to inquire; he lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes." Though Arthur was speaking metaphorically, his words could not possibly be more honest--possibly the most honest thing he had said in a while, since that same evening when less words were necessary. "I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far as that vast shore wash'd with the farthest sea, I would adventure for such merchandise." [/color] [/size]
|
|
|
Act II
May 16, 2010 13:11:19 GMT -5
Post by Tiger on May 16, 2010 13:11:19 GMT -5
"Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face, else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek," he said, speaking truthfully--he had begun to go a bit red. "For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight, fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny what I have spoke--but farewell compliment! Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'ay,' and I will take thy word, yet if thou swear'st, thou mayst prove false at lovers' perjuries, then say, Jove laughs. O gentle England, if thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully! Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won, I'll frown and be perverse an' say thee nay, so thou wilt woo, but else, not for the world." With a sigh, he paused to take a breath and think his next words over. "In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, and therefore thou mayst think my 'havior light, but trust me, gentleman, I'll prove I'll prove more true than those that have more cunning to be strange. I should have been more strange, I must confess, but that thou overheard'st, 'ere I was 'ware my true love's passion; therefore pardon me and not impute this yielding to light love, which the dark night hath so discovered."
|
|
|
Act II
May 16, 2010 13:20:12 GMT -5
Post by Jimmeh on May 16, 2010 13:20:12 GMT -5
Arthur trotted up so he was directly below the balcony--he extended his arm outwards, but he knew he would never be able to reach him without rising up on the balls of his feet, and even then, it was to no avail. His hand flew to his heart, and his next words moved from his lips without any thought to them. "By yonder blessed moon I swear, that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops...!"
|
|
|
Act II
May 16, 2010 14:14:41 GMT -5
Post by Tiger on May 16, 2010 14:14:41 GMT -5
"O, swear not by the moon!" wailed Kiku, leaning forward and extending his arm down, knowing that he too would fail to cover the distance. He repeated his plea, more softly but not a bit less serious: "Not by the moon, the inconstant moon that monthly changes in her circled orb, lest that thy love prove likewise variable."
|
|