Golden Days

Chapter 01: Stolen Moments

A screen appears and there is the following scenario: A tumultuous street on a hot night in 1925. It's outside the Royale Theater, where it just happened the premiere of an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, debuting none other than the great heartthrob of his time: Arthur James Kirkland.

A zoom in the image shows the face of Arthur Kirkland, our protagonist. He has a jovial and cheerful face and is waving to his fans outside the movie theater. Arthur Kirkland is a twenty-one-year-old beta. A single look already reveals he has all the beauty features ideal for his time: a mix of traces of omega and alpha, with large shoulders and some muscles, but also a slender body and some curves.

Many omegas in the crowd shout out his name, trying to get his attention. He's a sex symbol, after all, and he's particularly well-dressed that day with a tailored brown suit and a nice hat. Little did alphas and other betas among his fans know that they too would have a chance with this handsome actor. Arthur Kirkland swings both... actually, all the ways. He just wants to have fun.

A journalist approaches Arthur as he walks on the red carpet, just about to get into his car.

"I just saw your movie and let me tell you! I'm sure it will be another great success! You're a perfect Romeo! There's no doubt about it!"

"Why, thank you very much. You are too kind," Arthur smiles politely.

"Am I detecting a British accent?" the journalist asks in surprise. Arthur's accent is always a surprise to his audience since the movies he works on don't require him to use his voice. Over time, it has become tedious to always explain how he came to move from England to America to every new journalist who met him, and now he just avoids the subject.

"I must go now. Do you have any questions about the movie?" he asks, looking impatiently at his pocket watch.

"Yes, I do!" she says, taking a notepad out of her pocket and beginning to write on it. "What do you have to say about the movie that everyone is talking about? You know, 'A singer at the piano. '"

Oh yeah. "A singer at the piano". That movie that had actors talking on it. Big bloody deal.

Arthur's agent had asked him not to speak on the subject. The movie was a huge hit. Possibly, more of those 'talkies' would be produced and maybe eventually Arthur would have to be part of them. Therefore, it isn't the greatest idea for him to say what he really thinks about this kind of film.

Still, he can subtly let his opinion on the general subject recorded, alright?

"Oh, pardon me. I don't know more about the movie other than the fact that, well, actors speak in it. For some reason, this seems to be the only aspect that has caught everyone's attention about it," Arthur smiles sardonically. He's pulling his limits and he's aware of it. However, he can't resist taking the opportunity to vent a bit about his disdain for how enchanted the audiences were with something so silly. "If you want my honest opinion, I think ..."

Before Arthur says something that would destroy his chances of getting a job in the next few years, he is interrupted by the voice of a child shouting his name and the mother of the child in question quarreling with him and telling him to behave.

Arthur always tries to be particularly kind to children, even though he is rather clumsy with them. He had had a very difficult childhood and the few adult figures who paid attention and respect to him had a great positive impact on his life. Remembering them, he always makes an effort to be considerate of his younger fans.

Leaving the journalist aside, he approaches the boy and his mother. He has bright, curious eyes and is holding tightly to the safety fence that separates him from the red carpet as if he would break it with his hands if he could.