House of Cards & Other Shakespearean Retellings

Act 1 Scene 1

Two households, both alike in dignity. In Fair Verona we lay our scene...

"Tae watch yourself!" Benvolio shouts as the two dodge fists. This was a common occurrence in Verona. Slander of one's sister or mother, an insult to their manhood, or a quip about low intelligence and boom! A fight will break out. It doesn't take much. For generations the Capulets of Verona have hated the other noble family, the Montagues. And by proxy, Taehyung of the Montague family is supposed to despise the Capulets. Taehyung will always back his family in a fight, there was no way he could not, yet the flash of brown hair in Capulet colors has him thoroughly distracted. Benvolio backs Taehyung, keeping his distracted ass safe as the blond boy tries to regroup his thoughts.

Why does he have to be there? Why can't he be safe? Why must he be Capulet...?

These thoughts wisp and twirl through his mind while the street fight continues and somehow Taehyung ends up beside Tybalt. The Montague-hating man instantly takes a swing at him, yet the fist never connects. Another Capulet stumbles into Tybalt, throwing the man off balance almost immediately, which turns the tides of the fight in seconds. Taehyung looks up at the man who stumbled, biting back a happy grin when he sees the brunette boy is okay. There are no bruises marring his handsome face, no blood running down his chiseled cheeks or from his thin, yet perfect, lips. The man flashes him a quick smile and a wink before turning his back on Taehyung and continuing to fight elsewhere. Taehyung will have to thank his childhood friend later on. That's right. Jungkook—a Capulet—is Taehyung's best friend. Has been for years when they met in the woods and before he was indoctrinated into the whole Evil Capulet mentality that poisons all the others.

A blow of a sharp whistle breaks up the fight. It is the constable and his guards, all coming to round up the violent fighters. Benvolio, Mercutio, and Tybalt all continue to fight while Taehyung, Jungkook, and many of the others scram. They aren't so vehemently against the other family that they are willing to get caught for them. Taehyung separates from the other Montagues, running into the woods to a secret spot. A spot away from all of the family bullshit of the Capulets and Montagues. He comes out of the bushes and stops in front of a beautiful lake, the crystal water shimmering in the summer sun. Taehyung goes to the shore and washes his hands off, cleaning away flakes and smears of blood that got on his fists. As the cool water trickles over his fingers, Taehyung reminisces on easier times. Days when he didn't have to worry about street fights over a stupid last name. He smiles when he remembers how he met Jungkook, how simple and sweet life was back then. He lays down on the sandy shore, letting the warm sun fall over him as he peacefully closes his eyes and waits...

...

"Taehyung. You see that group there?" Lady Montague whispers in Taehyung's ear, the young boy new to the family. His parents lived in Florence, but when they passed away Taehyung moved in with his aunt and uncle of the Montague household in Verona. Taehyung looks to where the woman points, her long fingers decorated in pretty rings and lace gloves that distract him for a moment. Then he looks at the group of people, all decorated in different hues of blue and silver. One boy around Taehyung's age stands and talks to a woman carrying a small baby. That baby cried during all of church. Taehyung could hear it from his seat across the old stony chapel and even over Father Laurence's speech. The boy has dark brown hair and piercing green eyes, yet his smile is sweet and his laughter jovial.

"Do you see them, Taehyung?"

"Yes, Auntie," Taehyung murmurs, his gaze never leaving the boy. He's captivated by his smile, and curious about his personality. He wants to get to know him. He wants to be his friend. More than anything else, he wants to be that boy's friend.

"Stay away from them, Taehyung. Those are Capulets. I know you're young. I know you won't understand, but that family is vile. They are greedy, dirty, creatures. Stay away from that family," she sneers, yet Taehyung just looks up at her in confusion.