Free Heartsville 02 - Unscripted (Nico Jaye) by Heartsville

dress rehearsal the day before had been as much a reunion as an actual practice for the performers who made the trek over from Chicago for the performance.
    Halloween also meant he could dress up as part of the show.
    Once night had fallen, it was time for the adults of Heartsville to have some fun. Those who hadn’t gone into the city for their celebrations were welcome to come to the Oasis to indulge in a little humor and horror. He loved seeing his neighbors come in wearing their Halloween finery, whether it was a tame pair of devil’s horns or a fully sequined Columbia lookalike.
    Teddy welcomed them all.
    Or, rather, Dr. Frank-N-Furter did.
    It was outrageous and completely out of character, but Teddy threw himself into his night with the RHPS. He fluffed up his hair, which was naturally already dark and wavy, donned a fake pearl necklace, shimmied on his corset, garter belt, and satin undies, and rolled on black fishnets. The only thing he skipped was the eye makeup, which he’d learned the hard way was irritating to his eyes. With the rest of the costume intact, though, Teddy figured he was overwhelming enough already.
    Playing the character—or at least dressing it—was pure fun, and what had started as a comedic costume when he’d first come to the Oasis had become his Halloween signature nine years later. He greeted his patrons in costume, teasing out the virgins to the show, and loved to see their reactions.
    The butler’s platter had been switched out to offer various RHPS audience props for those who’d forgotten theirs. After checking it, Teddy asked Gia to refill the stack of glow sticks.
    She rolled her eyes at him but reached below the counter. “You look outrageous, you know,” she said, the affectionate look in her eyes belying her words.
    “You wish you had these legs,” Teddy shot back, arching a sassy brow at her.
    She laughed and moved around to line up the new glow sticks. “That’s more of you than I’ve ever wanted to see, big bro.”
    Teddy grinned. “It’s more of me than most people ever see.”
    “Speaking of which, how’s your… partner?” Gia’s deliberate pause was telling.
    Even more telling was Teddy’s blush.
    Gia’s eyes went wide. “Ohmigod. I knew he wasn’t just a business partner or whatever bullshit you tried to sell us!”
    Teddy tried to ignore his butterflies but felt them take flight anyway. “Carter said he might come tonight,” he said, dodging her question.
    “Uh-huh,” Gia said, brow arched. “If you have anything to do with it.”
    Teddy realized what he’d just said and flushed anew. “God, don’t give me that look!”
    Gia met his gaze and merely lifted her brows. She nodded toward the clock in the lobby. “Show’s about to start, bro.”
    Teddy realized the trickle of last-minute theatergoers had disappeared, and he glanced at the clock. He didn’t know if he was disappointed or relieved Carter wasn’t here yet.
    He wanted to see Carter, but… what would Carter say about this aspect of the Oasis? Would he support chaos and sequins as much as adaptations of Shakespeare?
    With a deep breath, Teddy turned to Gia. “I’m going in.”
    “Break a leg!”
     
    ***
     
    As he took the stage carefully in his high heels, Teddy flicked on his mic and looked out onto the crowd. A spotlight hit him, and he squinted before acclimating to the brightness.
    “Thank you all so much for coming to our annual Halloween event! The place to see and be seen, of course! Before we get this show on the road, I know we have some vi rrr gins in the house tonight!” Teddy rolled the “ r ” with vigor and cast a lascivious look around the room.
    There was hooting and hollering as some of the more boisterous audience members began pointing at their unsuspecting neighbors, who likely had been wondering why they had received red lipstick V s on their cheeks upon entering the Oasis.
    “Well, let’s get ‘em up here!”
    After around ten virgins made it to the