BRENTAAL IV - CORMOND
THE GALA
She hated it when Luca was right.
Why?
Because he was
always right. Angelique smiled even more brilliantly at Caulder Dune than she had before. It lit up her whole face in a very humanizing way and quickly betrayed her love for her art. Nothing swept her off her feet faster, nor, distracted her more easily from the topic at hand.
"I have performed there in the past, though I can't recall exactly when. It was several seasons ago. I've been contracted to the Galaxies Opera House on Coruscant since then."
"We performed Toskar, The Dragon of Mustafar, Undine, and a few other original works. I'm currently arguing with some of the art houses in the Tapani Sector over rights for a premiere to something I created on Coruscant. They both want it. Neither are willing to wait or share.", she murmured while dismissively waving her free hand in the air in regards to the opposing parties. Realizing that she was likely talking too much, at great length, she tapered off with a small flush to her cheeks that let her angle her body toward Luca a little more. Partially, hiding in him. Partially, an apology.
"If your men are used to it Mr. Dune, perhaps, they would prefer working for me. At least they'd have some entertainment."
The chorus girls were
very pretty, after all.
She was spared any potential conversational disgrace when the gentlemen began to launch back into politics. A gentle sigh left her, touched with relief. A party was a party but when politics got involved, she felt a little out of place. It almost made her feel like a small pet dressed up in clothes; they walked very stiffly, because, they just didn't feel like themselves anymore. It might have looked good—But a small canine would still rather be outside chasing squirrels.
So would Angelique, prefer to chase the next song.
She raised an eyebrow at the insinuation that both gentlemen had invested a mint with their guild and soft features tucked away the information. This was the venture that Luca wished for her to take part in. It made her curious that they contemplated loss. Did Luca even know how to lose? She considered it. Perhaps. Only, if he planned for it. Contingency, to make it work in his favor.
How could he spin this?
"Be nice, Luca…", she chided, fondly, though it was without any true discipline. It was more of an absent-minded purring hum than anything else.
Indulgent. As if she had said it many, many times before. With far different results.
"Poor Mr. Dune might faint if you start balancing the books out loud. Let the verdict come first. We can buy him dinner at least, then, break his heart afterward."
She then turned her focus back toward the splendid creature that stood just a few paces away. The compliments were generous, though, wholly unnecessary. The red-clad human could hardly be blamed. Angelique knew what she looked like if only because she'd had quite some time to perfect her skill at slipping into anything, even, a burlap sack, and turning it into fine art.
"Again, you are too kind. It is good to meet you Lady Brentioch…"
She wasn't sure what made her assume this woman was a noble. It was something about the way
Valessia Brentioch moved. The way she breathed. Angelique had lived in many times in which nobility flaunted their wealth with sheer impunity. To withhold from drenching themselves in jewels and fine fabrics meant that they were too poor to do so. Valessia Brentioch appeared to be many things.
Poor was
not one of them.
She was asked what piece was her favorite to sing and she tilted her head, thoughtfully, while trying to decide on an adequate response. Luca suddenly raised his glass for a toast and she found herself lifting a similar flute that a waiter passed her empty hand. She'd forgotten, to pick something up. To play the game.
"May the best and brightest, win.", Angelique responded, lightly, and soft enough that only close company would hear. It would be unclear whom she referred to.
When the cheers died down, she found that she had a suitable response for Lady Brentioch.
"I fell tragically for Euryanthe as a younger woman. It has my favorite piece, perhaps lyrically simplistic, but the story itself is a masterpiece of antiquity."
"Modern audiences never know what to do when a score speaks so bluntly of the age-old game of chase and capture. They forget the subtlety of it because the Holo-Net has succeeded in numbing and desensitizing viewers. They fail to recall that not every story has a gift-wrapped, pre-masticated ending fit for mass digestion. This opera acts on the assumption that there is always someone in a relationship who begins the hunt for the heart of another. The pursued must then decide whether or not she wishes to be caught, or, to be a long and difficult hunt."
"Euryanthe chose difficulty."
It was with a shred of pride that she described the situation between Euryanthe and her intended. Oh, such suffering her would-be lover endured. He died. She realized too late her mistakes and lived the rest of her days in mourning. Swearing herself to a ghost.
Such was
the Opera. Pathos, and drama.
Feeling that somewhere behind her head Luca's eyes were glazing over with disinterest she fondly leaned back against him to agree with his suggestion of visiting the Brentaal Opera. She took the arm that she held and wrapped it comfortably around her waist.
Better.
"I would like that, love. It's not often I get to watch anymore…Though I can be a monstrous critic."
Marcella Fiora
,
Isar
,
Tiresh Kobitana-Draellix
]
