Yes and you get there on time

Walk off the grass and down the street to the theater you note the change in light. On the grass there was nothing to block the sunset and the light that it provided. Between the buildings it was much darker. The whitewashed walls on either side of you not having any light reflect into the street left everything a dull grey.

Lucia was starting to fidget with her bag. If she was nervous that was the only indication. "Done anything like this before?" You ask hoping to distract and soothe her.

"Yeah a few times." She kept fidgeting for a moment before speaking again, "Just not at a theater like this before."

"What makes this one special?"

"My sponsor set it up. There are a bunch of of the cities Mistresses of Ceremonies. If I do well I could get work at every event from now until the end of the year."

"I've seen you perform and rehearse, you'll do amazing." You say making her smile.

"I'm still not sleeping with you." She was expressing her nerves more than trying to restart your teasing so you let that slide.

"Just breath deep." You say as Lucia pointed at a building.

"That's it, we can get inside round the back."

The building's front was lit with torches, the fire flicker, scattering light to illuminate the assembled audience waiting to enter. They were dressed in plain clothes, no extravagant colours or stylised patterns, mostly brown and black simple outfits, the sort of clothes worn by those who aren't nobles.

As Lucia leads you further down the street to an alley way you note the disparity of genders. Almost everyone you could see was a woman. The few males were hanging onto the arms of escorts, presumably their wives. You wondered if there were any rule about women and men attending theaters, if there were segregated gender or even banned for one gender performances or theaters.

Lucia pulls you down the alley and towards a door. She knock on it a few times and a slot opened up. "I'm here to preform. He's my assistant." She pointed at you. A pair of eyes on the other side of the door looked you over for a moment before the sound of bolt coming undone announce your approval to enter.

The door opened and the two of you hurried inside. "Room on the right to change." The gruff voice of the door's guard said pointing down a corridor.

Walking to the indicated room you looked at the buildings interior, the corridor was cramped and slightly curved. The wall on the inside of the curve was covered with plaster likely as sound proofing. Lucia didn't share your curiosity and when you looked for her you saw an impatient expression holding open a door.

You ducking inside and closed the door as she opened her bag and took out her motley coloured costume. She looked it over for a moment the looked at you. You got her meaning and turned around. The sound of changing only lasted for half a minute before she tapped your shoulder.

"I've got your costume as well." She had a massive grin on her face and was holding up a strip of cloth coloured the same as hers. You take and hold it up in both hands. It was a loincloth, actually it was a belt with a little extra fabric in the front.

You lowered it and looked at her expectant face. The mental image of you wearing that did somewhat tickle your newly discovered exhibitionist side and you considered putting it on.

"Wow you're actually thinking about it." Lucia said then broke down laughing. You glared at her embarrassed by the fact she was right. "Oh relax here." She reopened her bag and took out more motley clothing.

A vest and shorts that covered your mid thigh. It was better you had to give her that however, "I thought I was clear about the not performing with you."

"I know, I just had some spare fabric and figured some eye candy for the MC's couldn't hurt." She smiled sweetly at you. "Please for me?"

You shook your head. "You're lucky I like you." You say taking off your top and pants. Unlike you she didn't turn around to give you privacy, with your differing sexuality's you didn't make a comment, unlike you she wouldn't accidentally prev out while watching you. When you were done she took your uniform and stuffed it into her bag with her own. The clothes were actually really comfortable. It felt almost like a silk analogy on your skin and you wondered just how much this one time costume had costed her to make beyond having some spare fabric. "Did you sow all this yourself?"

"Dirty peasant remember." She said looking you up and down then lifted up the barely-loincloth. "If you really liked me you'd wear this." She was grinning at you so you grabbed the loincloth making her grin turn into a smirk.

"Don't like you that much." You say as you throw the loincloth into her bag.

She sighed in mock disappointment. "Well if I don't get any offers we both know who to blame."

"Just get on the fucking stage." You say shaking your head. She laughed and opened the door walking out with you behind. You feel a little worried about leaving your only uniform alone in a room but doubted anyone would steal it, beside Lucia had left hers and she didn't have your safety net of Princess and to be duchess to cover new uniforms.

Lucia walked further along the curve corridor until she saw a woman dressed in theatrical blue and green. She looked up at Lucia then at you. "I thought you were a sole Incantor?"

"I am he's –"

"Emotional support." You interrupt Lucia making both woman look at you with slightly confused expression.

"Is he going on stage?" The woman asked.

"No I'm –"

"Backstage." Lucia said for you.

"Fine don't get in our way. You're on in five minutes, the MC are in the right upper tier don't block yourself from their view." The woman said writing something onto her book then walking off calling after someone.

Lucia smiled at you then let out a nervous breath. She walked towards an gap in the wall a head of you and you joined her to see the stage and audience beyond it. It was bright out there but dark enough here no one could see you. "Busy." You aren't sure if it is but there are a lot of people out there. Below the stage are the people you saw outside but there weren't any seat for them. Above them two terraced floors containing boxes with people dressed in the sort of colour and styles you expected.

"Lucia." The voice was accompanied by a tall middle aged woman striding over to her. Her dress is short on both ends and a grating green. "Are you ready for your performance?" This must be Lucia's sponsor since she didn't look anything like Lucia. Her hair and eyes a dull brown her face unremarkable. Aside from the dress she was also wearing a lot of golden rings and necklace nestled somewhere you are actively trying not to look.

"Yes Mistress." Lucia said bowing slightly holding her eyes on the floor. "Thank you for the opportunity."

"I'm sure you'll be marvelous. Who is this?" The woman said looking over to you. She sounded sincere about her conviction of Lucia talents but when she noted you she had a very, singular eye and you didn't like it. "Do you have a partner now?"

"No Mistress he is just a friend." Lucia said sitting bowing slightly.

"Dressed like that." She said stepping closer to you. "And looking like this." She examined your face very critically then looked at Lucia.

"He's the son of a Duke attending the Academy with me." Lucia said quickly.

"A Duke's son?" The woman suddenly looks back at you and bows. "Apologies my Lord I didn't realise."

"It's fine I'm just her to support Lucia and watch her perform." You kinda would have preferred Lucia not spilling that particular lie of Anastasia's.

"Of course my Lord, you certainly can't watch from here, please allow me to escort you to the noble's box so you can get the best view." The woman says with a slimy smile. You look at Lucia but she doesn't say anything one way or the other so it's up to you.