LGBT PROJECT FOR PRIDE MONTH 2019, AUDIO DRAMA: "Once Upon A Time With Me"
VioletLove for Terpsichore ("Terpsi") / "Prince Chaitan"
NAME PRONUNCIATION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SEQTjVxQTQ
"Terpsi" is pronounced as it looks, as does "Chaitan".
The protagonist of the story. A servant girl that is pretty low in the pecking order, Terpsi loves life but can't help but wonder what other opportunities can come her way despite her unsavory status as a peasant worker. She is kind, poetic, thoughtful, and artful, thought she can be doubtful of her own abilities at times and grapples with a sense of inferiority and loneliness. She falls hard and fast for Menaka and is willing to risk everything in order to save her from what would be a miserable marriage to Rotem.
Terpsichore is around the ages of 18 - 23, Caucasian, and rather androgynous in appearance, which helps her get away with her cover as a prince. She has a notable musical talent, as she lives up to her namesake of being named after the Greek muse of chorus and dance. (Singers are preferable, please provide a sample if you don't mind.)
"I hate to be the one that complains, but enough is enough. Helping people is one thing, sure, no problem, but I am not an old rug to be spat on. I want to move on, I want to move /up/, I want to see the world beyond these cold stone walls and the acquiescent village that is hush-hush about- (Looks around to make sure no one else is listening.) the utter /bullshit/ that our beloved rulers spew like overflowing ale. Give me hope, give me liberation, give me the world! I'll take the gifts life has to offer in the cities and the countrysides and cherish them, for my heart will flow with the warmth of the sun and the - and the - (She sneezes, quite forcibly, and propels herself backwards into a cabinet. A small vase nearly topples down, she yelps in alarm and swiftly catches it. She sheepishly puts it back, then looks up at the sky with her hands up.) Okay, you're clearly trying to tell me something, I'm done monologuing. Yeesh, so much for catching up on my delivery skills..." (Another pot falls and breaks over her head, leaving her with an annoyed "why does God hate me" look on her face.)
"My fair Menaka, I promise you with the perseverance of my soul that we can convince your parents and my own royal Majesties to allow us to be wed. ("How?") I live among actors, thieves, and seamstresses, and if I must say so myself, the three are quite an interesting combination of forces."
(Displaying as Prince Chaitan, putting on a false masculine voice.) "I present myself to His and Her Majesties of our visiting ally. I wish to provide my services and display my abilities in hopes I shall be granted the honor of courting the princess. Join me, dear Menaka. (Normally, in a whisper.) I'm going to wet myself. ("Just relax, you're doing great.") I have an anxiety problem, you can't just tell me to relax!"
