Editing Dreams of a Fallen Crown:Characters:Almun FaShazzad (section)

== Years in Paradise ==
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''"My early years were joyous ones. My parents' secret became a secret of our outpost. My father taught me the strength of arms, my mother the value of art. Both showed me the value of pride and passion. Those carefree days with my family are the cheerful memories that brighten my most trying hours."''
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Behind the curtains, a young boy sat in a dimly lit room. The lamplight flickered across the patches of his brightly colored shirt as he tugged and scratched at his outfit. From around a box of costume gear, Tobar peeked in on the youngster.

"Well then, Al'mun, ready for your big scene?"

The boy wrinkled his nose as he scratched at his back. "I don't know, Tobar... this shirt is itchy."

Tobar chuckled as he approached the boy,"It's a sacrifice we make for the craft, my boy. To be someone else requires us to forego certain things that would befit us normally." Tobar took his meaty hand on the boys shoulder to pin him and his ceaseless fidgetting. With the other hand he opened a can of powders and poured a bit down Al'mun's shirt. "Just the same though, we can make the best of what we have."

Al'mun look up at Tobar. "Are mother and father here?"

"Of course! They've taken the front row! Do you really think they would miss your first performance?" Tobar mussed the boy's hair, leaving remnants of the powders mixed in.

"Good, I hope I do it right."

"Do it right? No no... " Tobar hoisted the boy up and turned him to face the old actor. "You can't think of it like that, Al'mun, or you'll never feel right out there. There is no 'right' to it. In that moment, you must ''be'' the character, and do as you feel the character would. Live that different life while you are out there, and think as they would think. Only then will your performance ring true to your audience. Do you understand?"

Al'mun furrowed his brow in thought. "I think so... Just be them?"

Tobar nodded solemnly. "That's it. Though, often looking the part will go far to being the part. Which is why I've brought you something..." Tobar pulled a box from the back of his sash and handed it to Al'mun. "It's a little present from the cast to help you on this big day."

Al'mun opened the box and lifted out a mask, adorned with pointed ears and a pointed and whiskered nose. "Oh, wow! Thank you, Tobar!" The boy hugged his friend.

"Shh... we're still backstage, Al'mun!" Tobar reminded his young student with a quiet chuckle. "And thank Crane, she's the one that makes the costumes here. I just added the finishing touches. Now, let's see how it looks." 

Al'mun tied the mask on and looked up to Tobar for approval. "Does it work?" The boy pushed the mask up a bit where it was beginning to slide off his nose.

"The spitting image," A quick tugged cinched the mask on tight enough to stay. Tobar peaked around the curtain and listened a moment. "Now, you're queue is almost up. Get out there, and remember what I said. Don't do it, ''be it.''"

Tobar rejoined Crane in the back of the audience. She turned to him, "So, is the scamp all set?"

"Yes, I think he'll do just fine."

From the stage, the actress costumed as a rabbit sobbed,"The farmer has taken all the plants from the garden. Surely we will all starve!"

"Fear not, my friends!" The young boy tumbled in with a flourished bow. "The farmer may be strong, but he shall never be as clever as the Fox!"

Crane leaned over to Tobar,"I don't remember that entrance in the rehearsals."

Tobar smiled,"In rehearsals we had Al'mun entering the stage. Here we have the Fox."

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''"Unfortunately, the world has a tragic way of invading upon perfection, and things are always prone to change..."''