Solaria opened the box to her brand new pointe shoes. The pure white and pure black shoes looked back at her from the nest of pale pink tissue paper. She stroked the silk reverently. She loved all of her performances but this one, Swan Lake, was always her favorite. It was the performance that elevated her from a humble ballerina from Earth to the brightest star in the galaxy. Solaria took the shoes out and carefully lined the toe box with the nanobot infused silicone which would cushion her toes and distribute her weight evenly. Even with the silicone, she wrapped her toes with surgical tape out of habit. It would shatter the illusion of a dainty swan if her slippers were stained with blood.
As prima ballerina, she had new slippers for every performance but new shoes had to be broken in every time. Using a hammer, she pounded the box of each shoe to break up the glue just so. Finally, she dipped the toes of the white shoes in chalk and the toes of the black slippers into charcoal to provide friction. Perfect. As etoile, it wouldn't do for her shoes to seem dingy under the bright lights. Or for her to slip and fall, she thought with amusement. She laced her white pointe slippers up her delicate ankles and called the wardrobe master in to dress her into the White Swan.
Nodding to the sujets and the coryphées. Solaria warmed up, too many dancers were injured from scanting their warm ups and Solaria was not risking her position by not limbering up correctly. The orchestra finished tuning and Monsier Serrat motioned at her. The velvet curtain rippled with movement from last minute preparation and on the other side, the murmur of the crowd was dampened. She got into position and lifted her arms, freezing into place. Then the spot light shone down. Solaria loved to dance. Loved it with the deepest depths of her soul. She loved the freedom the stage offered and the comforting routine the variations had. The harp began the glissando and pointing her toes, Solaria danced.
She looked over her shoulder for a piqué and took in Emperor's smug face. He was so pleased seeing his pretty ballerina coveted by all-like the silver deer of legend-but knowing that she was not to be touched by any save the one whose collar she wore so prettily. Ignoring the stab of displeasure, she glided offstage to change quickly into the Black Swan.
Joy, pure ecstasy erupted in her as she finished the excruciating 32 fouette-pirouettes from the Odile pas de deux variation so flawlessly along with the thunder of applause of the crowd. The crowd poured out their pleasure, their appreciation, their support and she returned it with joy, exuberance, passion. Sweat ran down her back from the effort to make everything appear magical. She posed and flicked her wrists at the exact moment the music ended, her timing was sublime. She smiled genuinely, adrenaline racing through her veins and met Vader's star struck eyes. The enchanted look on his face brought her a stronger rush than the applause ever did.
Finally she was dying, the last entreaty Odette gave to the audience. Gooseflesh rippled along her body as the music reached its climax. If she thought about, Solaria could find a lot of similarities she with Odette. The Emperor was the magician that cursed her to live as someone else and her curse was the removal of her freedom. She blanked her mind, all that existed in the moment was the ballet. She fluttered valiantly one last time with the arpeggios the piano played. Concluding the ballet, she positioned her legs and draped herself stunningly, arching her back. A masterpiece of position.
A storm of applause greeted her as she stood. Solaria held out her hand signal the other dancers to come and bow. She bowed again and again raising her partner's hand and bowing appreciatively amidst a rain of flowers. The Emperor sent her an immense bouquet of which she took a bloom and gave it to Prince Siegfried, the other etoile. Solaria smiled gratefully at the audience and allowed herself to be escorted off the stage.
Later, Solaria wondered how Vader's dinner was going. He looked like he was going to be sick after her gave her the rose. Solaria petted the flower fondly, remembering the way Vader entered her dressing room and handed her the flower. She was sitting alone at her vanity clad in a robe with her stage makeup toweled off reading the cards and letters of appreciation that greeted her when she entered the room. Expensive and rare flower arrangements were crammed into the room leaving almost no space for the jewelry boxes that were stacked dangerously high. Her dressing room looked like a greenhouse. Vader had knocked once and burst in, knowing that she never turned him away.
The young man paused and for a brief second, uncertainty flitted across his usually impassive face. His sapphire eyes took in the colorful flowers. As usual, he was dressed in dark colors with the only pop of color being the blue sash crossing from his right shoulder to his slim hip. On the other side, his light saber hung casually. His dark blond hair was curling rebelliously at the nape of his neck-the only part of his appearance that wasn't brutally tamed with militaristic zeal. With long strides he crossed the room. Solaria held her hand out to him and he brought her hand up to his lips for a perfunctory kiss. She shivered, feeling his lips against her skin. To her surprise, he reached into his jacket and brought out a rose.
Though beautiful, the single bloom seemed inadequate in comparison to the gorgeous blooms and jewelry surrounding her. Vader hesitated, the thought seemed to cross his mind as well. But the flower was from Vader, it meant so much more, he never ever gave her flowers after a performance. Solaria plucked the flower from his hand and brought it to her face to inhale its delicate scent.
"Are you going to the dinner with Padme now?" she asked. He nodded. Solaria reached up and Vader almost flinched but he stilled himself. She touched his face and tucked an errant curl of hair behind his ear.
"Be nice," she warned him and Vader looked at her askance. His lips turned up a tiny bit which she smiled back in response. "Good luck," she added as he took a step back. Inclining his head, Vader turned and left her alone again.
Suddenly she remembered her family. She missed her mother, father, and brothers. After a performance like this, her parents would have praised her and her brothers would rib her. It has been a long time since she had seen them but the way she had hid them had been working. The Emperor couldn't use them as leverage. She could only hope that they were doing well now. She'll see them again, Solaria promised, her tears blurring the rose into a red smear.