The Academy of S.I.D.E.

No. 26: Delusional Vomit Territory

As November began to draw to a close, Virgil started getting more and more comfortable at the Academy. He got bumped up to freshman level in History and all of his math classes---the former because he'd been visiting the Library with either Logan, Patton, or Janus at every opportunity, and the latter because he'd always had a knack for math---and stage crew at the Academy was ten times more fun than it had been at his old school. And that was saying something.

The play wasn't until January, so there was still a lot of work to do. Janus had taken to wearing a black cape to rehearsals, which was apparently something that he actually owned, and not a leftover from the costume department. Virgil was pretty disappointed in himself for actually being surprised at that revelation.

"Y'know, Don John's costume isn't gonna have a cape," Virgil commented as Janus did his fifteenth dramatic cape swish. "You probably shouldn't get too invested."

"Our production is set in the nineteenth century, so there'll be a long coat," Janus reminded him, examining his gloved fingernails. "And I simply have to keep up the villain aesthetic for rehearsals. I can't do that without an article of the proper clothing."

"Uh, says the guy who dresses like a James Bond villain 24/7."

"No, no, no, those are my casual clothes," he corrected. "I need to reach maximum class---or as much class as I'm able to achieve at the moment---for this role. He is a prince, after all."

"Yeah, a prince who thought it'd be a good laugh to break up a perfectly happy couple just for the hell of it," Virgil muttered, taking a sip of his iced tea.

"His last relationship ended quite badly. He can't stand to see others in love because of that."

Virgil paused. "Where in the play does that say that?"

"It doesn't. That's my headcanon."

"Lemme guess, you're also headcanoning that he and Borachio are mutually pining for each other, right?"

"My dear, dear, Virgil, I don't always work me and Remus's relationship into the performance," Janus sighed, waving a hand around. "If I did, it would be quite hard to get anything done."

"Except Remus," Virgil said.

"My god, your mind's filthy."

"Remind me, who exactly is your boyfriend again?"

"Let's steer away from the subject and ignore the fact that you actually have a point," Janus decided, sitting down on the edge of the stage. "How are things with Roman?"

Virgil gave him a confused look. "They're... they're fine? I dunno what you're asking---"

"Oh for heaven's sake, Virgil," Janus snapped. "The guy asked you to the Winter Ball, and you expect me to believe that nothing's changed between the two of you?"

"Yeah, he asked me to the ball as friends."

He raised an eyebrow. "'As friends,' hmm? And the two of you have been dancing in Etiquette class 'as friends,' I gather?"

"Yes."

Janus paused, looking upwards, then smirked. "My taste buds say otherwise."

Virgil recoiled. "You taste lies? That's how you detect them?"

"They don't taste that good, I can tell you," Janus continued, twirling a stray lock of hair around a gloved finger. "And the taste doesn't come if the person actually believes the lie they're telling, or if they're telling a story that's clearly meant to be fiction. But you were definitely lying when you claimed that you and Roman were just friends." He leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. "So. Spill."