(ADEN leads TRANNS, SHAWN, VALERO, and a reluctant LUCIEN out of a meeting.  He then turns around to face them.)

ADEN
Very well.  It’s time for us to decide who will write our declaration to the royal family.

TRANNS
Mr. Aden, I say you should write it
To your legal mind and brilliance we defer

ADEN
Is that so? Well, if I'm the one to do it
They'll run their quill pens through it
I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that’s true

TRANNS
Yes, I know

ADEN
So I say you should write it Harkin, yes you

(ADEN passes the quill to TRANNS.)

TRANNS
Hell, no!

ADEN
Yes, you, Tranns Harkin, you

TRANNS
But,

ADEN
You,

TRANNS
But,

ADEN
You,

TRANNS
But, Mr. Aden, but, Mr. Aden
The things I write are only verses of humanity
I won't put politics on paper; it's insanity
So I refuse to use the pen while in Shaldani

OTHERS
Shaldani, Shaldani, refuse to use the pen!

(ADEN passes the quill to SHAWN.)

ADEN
Mr. Winter, I say you should write it
You are never controversial as it were

SHAWN
That is true

ADEN
Whereas if I'm the one to do it
They'll run their quill pens through it
I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that, sir

SHAWN
Yes, I do

ADEN
So I say you should write it, Winter, yes you

SHAWN
Good heavens, no!

ADEN
Yes you, Shawn Winter, you

SHAWN
But,

ADEN
You,

SHAWN
But,

ADEN
You,

SHAWN
But, Mr. Aden, but, Mr. Aden
I cannot write with any style or proper etiquette
I don't know a participle from a predicate
I am just a simple merchant who chose to commit

OTHERS
Commit, commit, a simple merchant he…

(ADEN passes the quill to VALERO.)

ADEN
Mr. Canino, maybe you should write it
You have many friends and you're a diplomat

TRANNS
Oh, that word!

ADEN
Whereas if I'm the one to do it
They'll run their quill pens through it

OTHERS
He's obnoxious and disliked; did you know that?

VALERO
I hadn't heard

ADEN
So I say you should write it, Valero, yes you

VALERO
Not me, Aden!

ADEN
Yes you, Valero Canino, you

VALERO
But,

ADEN
You,

VALERO
But,

ADEN
You,

VALERO
But, Mr. Aden, dear Mr. Aden
I've been presented with a new wife by the great Divine
So I am going home to celebrate and drink some wine
With my dearest wife Amorette who suits me just fine.

OTHERS
Fine, fine, Valero’s going to drink some wine!

(ADEN passes the quill to LUCIEN.)

ADEN
Mr. Argeneau…

LUCIEN
Mr. Aden, leave me alone!

ADEN
Mr. Argeneau, you’re more well-traveled than anyone here.  Including me.

LUCIEN
I beg you, I haven’t been alone with Tranns in three days. 

ADEN
The choice is yours.  Will you be a patriot or a lover?

LUCIEN
A lover.

ADEN
No!

LUCIEN
I burn!

ADEN
So do I.

TRANNS
You?

SHAWN
Aden?

VALERO
Who’d have thought it?

ADEN
Mr. Argeneau, dear Mr. Argeneau
I'm only twenty four; I still have my virility
And I can romp through Aefie’s Grove with great agility
But life is more than sexual combustibility

OTHERS
Combustibility, combustibility, combustibili...

ADEN
Quiet!
You’ll write it.

LUCIEN
Who will make me?

ADEN
I.

LUCIEN
You?

ADEN
Yes.

(LUCIEN walks over to ADEN, towering over him somewhat.)

LUCIEN
How?

ADEN
By physical force if necessary.  It’s your duty damn it.  It’s your duty.

LUCIEN
Mr. Aden, damn you Mr. Aden
You're obnoxious and disliked; that cannot be denied.
Once again you stand between me and my lover side.
Oh, Mr. Aden, you are driving me to homicide!

OTHERS
Homicide, homicide, we may see murder yet!