ARIA OF SEASONS by Flutura
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ROLES
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Flutura
Tall and lissome of figure, Flutura Shevat is attired in a shimmering evening gown of midnight blue, its close-fitting shape lending emphasis to the voluptuous curvature of her silhouette. This lucidian female appears artfully constructed of wine-hued amethyst, translucent and gleaming in the presence of the stage lights. Reminiscent of elbow-length opera gloves, the depth of hue of her crystal subtly grows more vivid towards her extremities, imbued with the rich violet and lush mulberry of dusk's firmament. A long slit down the side of the gown reveals the same gradation in hue at her lower extremities, resembling long stockings in appearance. Ornate silvery beading at the sweetheart bodice of the gown is echoed in the argent-lustred jewels ornamenting the crystalline flow of her hair, which captures the light in its opalescent strands as it cascades to the small of her back in gentle waves. At odds with the sensuality of her figure is the blank, unchanging expression of her finely sculpted countenance, which boasts high cheekbones, a slender nose, and a sensuous though unsmiling mouth. Cool, glassy eyes of glacial green reflect her surroundings in their depths, glimmering with pale, imperfect inclusions akin to flecks of platinum.

Irillia
Presenting an image of elegant simplicity, this tall, slightly built cloud trill is conservatively clad in a sky-blue satin blouse and a long, sweeping skirt of silver silk. Tailored to accentuate her slender frame, the blouse exactly matches the cloudless, crystalline hue of her eyes, while accentuating the translucent pallor of her complexion. The floor-length skirt's argent lustre echoes her immaculately groomed cloud-grey wings and spun-silver head feathers, swept demurely back with a pair of diamond-studded hairpins. Though she carries herself with a rigid, formal posture, her finely-chiselled features are softened by the faint smile curving her lips and the look of tender pride in her eyes as her gaze flickers occasionally from the music to her daughter in the centre of the stage.

STAGE
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greystage
An austere grey marble floor sweeps over the vast entirety of the opera stage, faint veins of violet and silver traversing the smooth, polished surface. Wispy and faint, pale mist drifts across the marble stone, the droplets refracting finespun beams of prismatic light that bestow the setting with a dreamlike atmosphere. At the rear of the wide stage, sheer gossamer of shimmering silver has been draped in vertical tapestry-like layers, presenting a variegated backdrop of argent shades. At the very centre of the setting, a large sphere of multifaceted crystal is held aloft by an intricate framework of steel.

PROPS
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lyre
Cradled gently but securely in Flutura's grasp is a striated crystal lyre, its shapely form constructed from jewels of serene amethyst, fiery ruby, and dawn-pink beryl. Tuning pegs carved from the same pink beryl are attached to slender strings, glinting in the abundant light of the stage. Carved into the crystalline crossbar, intricate engravings of twisting fractal designs wind over the instrument, opaque in comparison to the translucent gemstone surrounding them.

piano
This grand piano has been constructed from darkest ebony, its grain barely visible beneath the coating of varnish that grants the wood a sleek, polished appearance. Opaque and clouded with swirling inclusions of silvery motes, crystal composes the longer white piano keys, whereas caliginous onyx has been used to craft the raised, shorter black keys. The lid is propped fully open, revealing the piano's multitude of gleaming inner strings as it directs the instrument's majestic sound towards the audience.

crystal
A crystal rests in the centre of the stage, nearly a perfect sphere due to the sheer number of facets traversing its surface. Holding the crystal suspended above the floor, a delicate steel framework extends from a flat panel lying on the ground, which emits numerous pinpoint beams of coloured light. The lights, which shine straight upward through the crystal, flicker and shimmer on and off in predetermined sequences throughout the performance. Transmitted, refracted, diffracted, and dispersed by the crystal's multifarious facets, the beams of light are thus able to project shimmering, three-dimensional holographic images in mid-air.

PERFORMANCE
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Long, romantic curtains of diaphanous silver gossamer ripple silently, concealing the acting area of the opulent stage at the fore of the auditorium. Several of the individually translucent drapes are layered before and behind one another to render the whole almost completely opaque. Only the faint, fluttering shadows of darker silver indicate the presence of movement upon the stage.

One by one, the veils of argent gossamer are drawn back gracefully, gradually revealing the feminine silhouettes of a pair of performers onstage: an amethyst-hued lucidian and a grey-winged trill. They stand in separate pools of light, illuminating their features and ensembles. Both possessed of the same elegant poise, the lucidian is attired in a shimmering evening gown of midnight blue, whereas the trill is clad in a lovely sky-blue satin blouse and silver floor-length skirt.

Flutura precisely executes an elegant bow, one arm graciously extended to the audience. Rising again, she adjusts the position of a lyre which rests on the curve of her hip; the instrument's striated ruby and amethyst hues are starkly apparent against the deep midnight blue of her gown. The lucidian lifts her head to focus her glacial green eyes upon the audience.

In a crystalline monotone, Flutura says, "I am Flutura Shevat, and I will be performing an original composition, 'Aria of Seasons.' Accompanying me with her aeromantic orchestration on the piano is the distinguished Marquessa Irillia Shevat."

Irillia curtseys demurely, before withdrawing with a swish of skirts to stand beside the piano. In one hand she holds a slender crystalline staff, its length tapering to a fine point.

The lights focused upon the grey-feathered trill smoothly expand to illuminate the grand piano upon the stage as well. The gleaming, undeniably opulent instrument is constructed of dark, glossy ebony, with keys composed of atramentous onyx and cloudy white crystal.

Flutura wordlessly focuses on the lyre supported upon her hip, its slender spires of crystal glinting alluringly as she shifts to place her free hand upon the strings.

Flutura tenderly grazes the lyre's translucent strings with the tips of her amethystine fingers once, evoking a soft, sweet-sounding scale of descending, shivering notes. She begins to hum a slow, soothing melody, softly echoing and resonant, as though heard from the other end of a long crystal corridor.

The crystal sphere in the centre of the stage begins to glow with a brilliant white incandescence, and within seconds, a steady fall of wintry snowflakes begins to drift through the air, evanescing as it reaches the edges of the stage, and seeming never to touch the two women.

Softly, Flutura sings, "I hear a voice within the frozen gales..."

Irillia lifts her arms in an easterly direction, drawing in invisible currents of air with a graceful pulling motion in a coalescence of clear, swirling mists.

In silvery, crystalline tones, Flutura sings, "A song that lingers through the starless nights."

Irillia sweeps her right arm towards the piano. The misty wind currents whirl through the air to the piano, depressing the crystal and onyx keys to weave a soft, harmonious accompaniment to Flutura's singing, akin to the soothing sounds of a lullaby.

Serenely, Flutura sings, "Her verses thread the sky with silvered lights..."

Flutura's soprano voice entwines with the melody of the lyre, the chiming notes underlying her fluid vocalisation in dreamy, tinkling strains.

In a gently chiming voice, Flutura sings, " And part the windswept clouds like misty veils."

Irillia delicately waves her crystal staff back and forth before the piano, the gesture mesmerisingly slow and rhythmic. Lower-pitched harmonies are drawn forth in mellow broken chords, synchronised in a drowsy adagio tempo with the movements of her hand.

Her voice falling into a melancholy minor key, Flutura sings, "Her gentle voice alone leaves me undone..."

Flutura's voice fluctuates slightly in a resonant vibrato, the tone reminiscent of the passionate quaver of mourning as it continues to follow the dream-like tune of a lullaby. Her figure briefly shimmers through dim amber before returning to its natural amethyst state.

Flutura cuts off her sustained note, leaving only its memory floating in the air as the lyre's chords shift to a sweeter key.

A wistful undercurrent to her voice, Flutura sings, "But nightly zephyrs carry her perfume..."

Irillia evokes a rich, complex series of harmonious chords from the grand piano, the notes smoothly transitioning into their neighbours with light whimsy.

In a soft, steady cascade of notes, Flutura sings, "In fragrant pirouettes across the room..."

Flutura expressionlessly draws forth a playful instrumental aria from the strings of her lyre, breezing through an invigorating and dynamic sequence of higher, staccato notes.

Gently, Flutura sings, "From distant vales beneath the rising sun."

Cream-white petals tinged with the faintest traces of pink take the place of the winter snow, fluttering gaily through the air, as though borne upon lively zephyrs.

Melodiously, Flutura sings, "As winter ends and spring's young skylarks soar..."

Irillia sends the misty winds spiralling across the keys of the piano, with soft, lilting trills of notes soaring higher and higher like birds.

Each swelling note intensely vivid, Flutura sings, "The world is soft, alive with moss and rain."

Flutura coaxes forth from her lyre a delicate series of ascending arpeggios, her nimble fingers plucking the separate notes of the chords in rapid succession.

Peals of chiming echoing in her voice, Flutura sings, "The sundials' shadows chase the hours in vain..."

Irillia sweeps her hand deliberately towards the piano, and the balmy currents of wind invoke a warm, mellifluous timbre from the keys. The music swells gradually, each sweep of notes vibrant and lingering in the air.

Her voice ringing like delicate crystal bells, Flutura sings, "Until the season she returns once more."

Slowly, the illusory petals fade in favour of gentle sunbeams that dapple the opera stage with dancing motes and pools of liquid gold.

Her soprano voice rising in a whimsical scale of notes, Flutura sings, "The wild plum blossoms, branches, every leaf..."

Flutura's voice soars high with a windy undercurrent, resolving in lighter-toned crystal vibrations.

Liltingly, delicately, Flutura sings, "Unravel slowly with the mountain's sighs."

Irillia summons more breezes forth, these much cooler in comparison, weighting down the keys with a heavier touch. Flowing forth from the grand piano, deeper and richer notes intertwine with the lighter sounds of the lyre, the mingling tones lilting with the caprice of the wind through the trees.

In lushly harmonious tones, Flutura sings, "The summer moonlight weaves old lullabies..."

Flutura grazes the strings gently, back and forth, occasionally plucking at the strings to conjure a silvery, solemn echo of the melody with every word she sings.

Her voice dying away into a wistful softness, Flutura sings, "Made bittersweet by absence -- nameless grief."

With a last scintillating sparkle, the dancing motes of aurulent light transform into colourful falling leaves swirling in a small cyclone about the two women. The leaves are at first imbued with all the fiery hues of the sunset firmament, passionate and vibrant, though they fade into duller, muted hues as the music goes on.

Once again adopting a sombre minor key, Flutura sings, "The songs fray into whispers with my tears..."

Irillia makes mincing flicks in the air with her staff, tremulous piano chords softly measuring out a wistful reprise of the dreamlike lullaby motif at the beginning.

Lachrymose, Flutura sings, "As autumn floods the trees with sunset hue."

Flutura rests her hand against the strings of the lyre, dampening the lingering traces of their sound. Only her voice, set against the gentle accompaniment of the piano, resonates through the air with an evocative, crystalline clarity.

In a slower, softer tempo, Flutura sings, "Sometimes I dream that she can hear me too..."

Irillia conducts the last notes of the piano in a stately lento, her staff gracefully sweeping through the air to match the tempo of Flutura's singing. Plinking lightly like an antique music box winding down, a calm lullaby in the highest octave is evoked from the piano's keys.

With a haunting resonance that lingers in the air, Flutura sings, "And love me even after all these years."

Irillia lowers her staff as the final sustained notes fade into a weighty silence, and the illusory autumn leaves quietly evanesce into the aether.

As the crystal holographic sphere dims to a muted glow, Flutura and Irillia lightly step forward in unison. Flutura sketches a graceful bow, extending her hand to the audience as she inclines her head, and Irillia dips in an elegant curtsey.

END