The Academy of S.I.D.E.

No. 35: Much Ado About A Lot Of Things

"All RIGHT, people!" Larry shouted, walking back and forth through the aisles. "It is OPENING NIGHT! I need ALL of you to get your stuff situated before we meet in the break room for our circle-up!"

"Yes, sir!" various actors and crew members called.

"Actors! How we looking?"

Roman looked around, adjusting his coat. "Well, last I checked, Ivy and Beckett were making out in one of the dressing rooms, but other than that, we should be good."

Larry groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "'Cast Ivy Rhodes and Beckett Marks as Morticia and Gomez,' I said last year. 'It'll be fun. Maybe it'll get those two to finally confess to each other.' Now I gotta deal with them Frenching in the dressing rooms. Worst decision of my life."

"You cast them as Beatrice and Benedick this time around," Janus reminded him. "You shouldn't be complaining."

"Oooooh, don't start with me, Dr. Jekyll," Larry said, waggling a finger at him. "You and your boyfriend have made my life a living hell ever since you two got together."

Janus shrugged. "Your loss."

Larry let out a sigh. "Run crew, how we doing?"

"We're good!" someone called from backstage.

"Sound?"

"Everyone's got their mic on and working," Logan called from the light booth. "We should be fine."

"Costu---no, wait, all of the actors are wearing their costumes, never mind." Larry checked his clipboard. "Lights?"

"Uh, I think we're okay," Virgil called. "Elliot? How we looking?"

"Lauren's here, you're here, and Kai is not doing spots today, so we're fine," Elliot responded.

"Okay, good, we're all situated," Larry announced. "Everyone, get your butts out of the auditorium and into the break room! We gotta get out of here before the audience starts to arrive!"

Virgil grabbed his backpack and climbed out of the light booth, rushing down the aisle steps to meet Roman. "You ready for this?"

"In the words of my brother's idol---born ready, baby," Roman answered, grinning. "Don Pedro's a very fun role, and I do enjoy playing the matchmaker."

Virgil smirked. "Not to mention, you look very nice in that costume. Nicer than when you were playing Plum, and that's saying something."

Roman gasped. "Did you just admit to thinking that I'm sexy onstage?"

"Didn't know that was something I had to admit." Virgil fixed Roman's collar. "I'd give you a good-luck kiss, but I don't want to smudge your makeup."

"Oh, that's a shame," Roman said. "I was hoping for---"

Virgil took one of Roman's hands and kissed it, grinning at his flustered expression. "So I'm settling for the next best thing."

Roman chuckled slightly. "You're out-romancing me and you're not even trying."

"Last time I checked, I didn't need to." Virgil patted Roman on the shoulder. "C'mon, let's go to the break room. I don't wanna miss this little tradition that you told me about."

........

"All right, everyone here?" Larry asked. "We got any strays?"

"I did a headcount," Patton assured him. "Everyone's here."

"Great. Everyone, circle up. Link hands."

Virgil got into the massive circle that started to form, taking Roman's left hand. Patton squeezed in on Virgil's left, giving him an encouraging smile.