Natm Shorts

Ahkalot: Art of Acting.

Summary: Lancelot x Ahkmenrah.

Theater!Au: Lancelot likes to volunteer at community plays, he thinks its fun and good experience.

Ahkmenrah is a scriptwriter working on a new play, a play that Lancelot just so happens to be volunteering for.

A/N: Text surrounded by // Represent radio calls \\

(:)

"The birds shall sing a new tune come moonrise!"

Ahkmenrah watched silently from the upper balcony of the theater as the cast once again began to play through the script.

"Wait and see! See and hear! Hear and listen!" The lead performer called to the imaginary crowd as he gracefully practiced his pace about the stage front.

"For upon this night! Blood shall seep from wounds of ages! Cries of loves long dead shall rise from their graves!"

Ahkmenrah had seen the actor before, quite a few times. Just about every single play Ahkmenrah had worked on in this particular theater, this guy would take some role or another, and from what Ahkmenrah had seen, he was an excellent actor, always on time and perfectly in tune with the theater.

The strange thing was... Ahkmenrah had never learned his name... The young script writer could recall each and every other member of the theatre house, except his...

The lead actor continued to parade about the stage, stalking along the platform as if he were a caged lion, his golden blond hair swaying in time with his curt footfalls.

Ahkmenrah timed his footfalls beneath his breath, and at exactly seventeen, the actor abruptly turned and, jabbing finger towards the opposite end of the stage, where the main antagonist would appear, began to spit his lines with the best imitation of fury Ahkmenrah had ever seen.

"And here! Here is the fiend!" The lead shouted, Ahkmenrah found himself smiling as Ivan waltzed out onto the stage, just as he would if the piece had been in production.

The two stood off against one another, had it been opening night, a sword fight would have come to play. However, as it was just a rehearsal, only lines were thrown.

"Such bastardly serpents do swell in chest, where a heart once did beat only rot and blood remain!" The lead spat loudly, even from a distance, Ahkmenrah could see the effort put into the emotion behind the lines.

It was awe aspiringly inspirational.

The scene ended with Ivan playfully forcing the lead actor into a headlock and ruffling the golden locks, rather of course, then 'stab' the hero with a laced dagger.

"Feast upon thy maiden's purity!" Ivan roared, "For angel's wings of white are to burn and blister black at dawns first light!"

With that, the stage lights flickered back to life as other members of the stage crew applauded. The two men smiled and shook hands, passing words that failed to reach Ahkmenrah's height.

// Ahk? \\ The familiar tone of his brother called lazily through the small radio Ahkmenrah had taken earlier that day, "Go ahead?" He hummed lightly, watching as the lead actor waltzed off to the changing rooms.

// I just finished the design for the poster if you want to take a look. \\

Ahkmenrah perked up at that, looking to the radio with a grin, "Great! Where are you?" He chirped.

His brother chuckled through the radio, // Where am I always? \\

Ahkmenrah huffed lightly, "The control room?"

// You got it. \\

Ahkmenrah slipped from is seat and all but skipped down the steps to the backrooms. Kahmunrah was usually the one to work on the advertisement aspect of theater, ever since Ahkmenrah began writing plays, Kahmunrah was right beside him, creating pamphlets or posters to get the word out.

And Ahkmenrah had to admit, his brother was one hell of an artist.

"Excuse me?"

Ahkmenrah skidded to a halt before turning to look over his shoulder, the lead actor stood there, just within the doorway leading to the changing rooms, "Are you lost?" He asked slowly.

Ahkmenrah arched a brow, "No?" He replied slowly, shuddering discreetly as he watched the actor's eyes roam over his body before finally reaching his own.

"Are you sure?" The lead actor hummed lightly as a small smile settled across his features, bringing a wave of warmth to Ahkmenrah's cheeks. "Because I have been working here for a very long time, and I don't believe we've met."

Ahkmenrah laughed nervously, "Ah... Yes, no, we haven't been properly introduced yet, no." He stammered. The lead actor nodded curtly, "So then, who are you? One of the backstage crewmen?"

Ahkmenrah shook his head quickly, "Uh, no I'm the-"

"There you are."

Ahkmenrah turned quickly to find Kahmunrah approaching, "I got bored and you were taking too long, so I came to find you." Ahkmenrah nodded slowly, "Sorry Kah, ran into once of the actors." The elder brother shrugged as he looked around Ahkmenrah, "I can see that."

Kahmunrah looked back to his younger brother, "Well, I've got the poster in my room, but I need your approval." Ahkmenrah smiled, "Yep, I'm ready to see it."

An exaggerated clearing of a throat caught the two brother's attentions as the lead actor stepped out into the hall, "I thought only the director could approve media advertisements?"

Kahmunrah rolled his eyes, "Yes Lance, only the director can sign off media advertisements." The elder brother slung his arm over Ahkmenrah's shoulders, "That's why I'm asking my brother to come have a look so he can sign it off."

The actor arched a brow, "Brother?" He queried, Ahkmenrah smiled shyly and waved, "Hello." He chirped before stepping away from Kahmunrah as he offered his hand.

"I'm Ahkmenrah, scriptwriter and play director." The actors jaw fell slack as he looked Ahkmenrah over once again, "You mean you wrote the play?" He finally asked, Ahkmenrah nodded, "I did."

The actor crossed his arms, "Why have I never seen you before?" He asked slowly, Ahkmenrah shrugged sheepishly as he retracted is hand, "I'm usually always here, just... You know, out of sight."

The actor pursed his lips before offering his own hand, "Lancelot." He stated firmly, Ahkmenrah smiled and took the hand, to his surprise however, Lancelot brought the hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of Ahkmenrah's knuckles.

Ahkmenrah could hear his brother gagging somewhere behind him, but all he could focus on was the charming smile Lancelot offered him once he released his hand.

"Well then Ahkmenrah, I do hope I'll be seeing much more of you in the future." The lead actor hummed lightly, the deep crimson that had already settled across Ahkmenrah's cheeks only seemed to darken as he stammered out a little, "Y-Yes!"

Lancelot chuckled before slipping off into the hallway.