THE WHITE SWAN,

Hope is the thing with feathers -

[feathurs]

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To be alive: not just the carcass — but the spark. That's crudely put, but... if we're not supposed to dance, why all this music?

Rules -

selective and mutuals only blog. dnf/dni if you’re a minor and/or racist, homophobic, transphobic, etc etc. i do not write smut. probably spotty activity.

Tags -

ic writing.

memes/prompts.

musings.

visage.

aesthetics.

Verses -

Fantasy/Fairytale Verse: They say don't go into the woods. Girls have been disappearing, stolen away in the night. They say beware the birds. The large owl sitting high on the tree branches, eyes all-seeing, talons sharp. The swans sitting on the lake, feathers white and beautiful, basking in the midday sun. They say don't trust what you see. At night there are no birds, just a sorcerer on his perch, practising the words to his curses, and maidens dancing under the moonlight, waiting to be found. They say true love can cure even the darkest of magics.

Modern Verse (Magical): They ask what happened to Odette Chaidee? Young and bright and full of talent, Odette makes principal dancer at age twenty. A week after her debut performance, her name on the programme is replaced with Odile's, company director Rothbart's daughter. They ask where is Odette now? The right question to ask is what, what is Odette now? Ask the previous principal dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet. Ask the swans by the lake in the woods nearby.

Modern Verse (No Magic): They whisper what a shame. Odette Chaidee was a sensation, a breakout, a dancer unlike any other. Two years after she makes principal dancer, she takes a dramatic fall on stage and does not get back up. They whisper not another one. Because Odette is not special; not the first, and not the last. Rothbart likes to break his dancers, likes to use his daughter against them, likes to laugh as yet another dancer limps out the doors. They whisper what a relief. Odette's doctors tell her she can dance again once she recovers, but never again will she be able to dance for the Paris Opera Ballet.

[feathurs]

sometimes i wonder what’s going on in that head of yours .

There's a chill in the air, a breeze that picks up strands of Odette's hair to play with like it's bored, a wind that tickles the skin of her cheeks. Everything is a blur except for Shams, who stands out too sharp against the scenery. If she was still for long enough, she could be mistaken for something carved out of stone. It's strange, how Odette feels safe amongst those sharp edges—almost comfortable.

“Why, nothing at all!” Odette speaks as though answering a question, even though she hadn't been asked one. “That's why it's a good thing you're here. I've yet to have a single useful thought, but you, oh, your thoughts must be lovely. Smart and twisted in detail, no doubt.”

There's a playful curl to Odette's lips, a lightness in her eyes that always seems to be at odds with everything else. “I'd love to hear them.”

[feathurs]

i was raised to be charming , not sincere .

There's a peculiar smell in the air. Perfumes clashing, fighting to cover up the scent of sweat and exertion; something earthy, something that reeks of soil and bark and shadow that follows Odette wherever she goes.

Nour is composed despite it all, somehow always managing to look mismatched against her surroundings in a way that implies she's above it, rather than outside of it.

Odette grins, wiping some of the sweat off her brow. “Sincerity can be learned,” she says, “if you're determined enough.” And no one could ever accuse Nour of being undetermined.

Then again, “I don't think being sincere is a necessity.” Nour shines perfectly fine without it. Odette finds her company enjoyable enough as is. The other dancers think her strange for it, but being understood isn't really a necessity either. “I'll be sincere enough for the both of us. Should anybody find you lacking—you can just direct them to me instead.”

[feathurs]

I’ve heard it in the chillest land and on the strangest sea — yet — never in extremity, it asked a crumb of me. [Odette, written by Day.]

[ohisms]

↪     𝑖𝑡'𝑠 ᵗʰᵉ 𝔩𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝑴𝑰𝑫𝑵𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 .   (  a  collection  of  sentence  starters  from  disney’s  2014  film  into the woods .   adjust  phrasing  as  necessary .)

the king is giving a festival !

i wish the walls were full of gold ,  i wish a lot of things .

sometimes i wonder what’s going on in that head of yours .

what are you doing ?  stop your pretending .

are you certain of your way ?

the way is clear ,  the light is good .

the woods are just trees ,  the trees are just wood .

are you really wearing that ?

it’s not what i wish ,  it’s what you wish .

i could’ve turned him into stone .  or a dog .  or a chair .

a small price to pay for what you stole from me .

well ,  that’s another story .  nevermind ,  anyway .

sorry ,  i’m still not mollified .

how could you do that ?

your father was no father ,  so why should you be ?

we’re starving ,  [ name ] !  don’t you understand that ?

we have to live ,  i don’t care how .

look what i found .  here ,  take this .

no ,  i can do this on my own .

it may be all in vain ,  you know .

i have no fear ,  nor no one should .

careful not to lose the way .

what’s your rush ?  you’re missing all the flowers .

look what you’re ignoring .

why do you think i asked you to do it in the first place ?

get me what i need  …  get me what i need !

you’d look pretty foolish .

i’d rather a wolf than you any day !

you shouldn’t be here ,  it’s not safe in these woods .

i was just trying to help .

we have one chance .  don’t you see that ?

i’m not sure i’m cut out to be a father .

if you can’t do this for yourself ,  can’t you at least do it for me ?

don’t you look lovely today ,  my dear ?

i brought your favorite .

i can’t believe i just did that .

wait a minute ,  i never thanked you .

i’m sorry .  i should’ve known better .

i had been so careful ,  i never had cared .

he made me feel excited ,  well  …  excited and scared .

they will not protect you the way they should .

nice is different than good .

isn’t it nice to know a lot  …  and a little bit not ?

oh ,  get your head out of the clouds !

i just need to catch  my breath .

aren’t you the lucky one ?

please don’t let them know that i’m here .

i’ve never lied to royalty before .

it’s not quite what i expected .

you’re free to do whatever pleases you .

steal what you can and run !

you’re back again ,  only different than before .

i never even reached home .

who cares ?  get it back .

get away from me with that ,  you fool .

i shouldn’t have yelled .

i will make things right ,  and we can carry on with our lives .

will you go ?  please .  go .

when the one thing you want  …  is the only thing out of your reach .

the woods can be a dangerous place .

i thought you were returning home !

do you mean you’re going to let me stay with you ?

perhaps it will take two of us to have this child .

i thought one was enough ,  it’s not true .  it takes two of us .

when the journey was tough ,  it took two of us .

at home i’d fear we’d stay the same forever .

what did i clearly say ?   what were you not to do ?

what have i been to you ?  what would you have me be ?

i embarrass you .  you are ashamed of me .

don’t you know what’s out there in the world ?

someone has to shield you from the world .  stay with me .

who out there could love you more than i ?

the world is dark and wild .

stay a child while you can be a child .

i gave you protection ,  and yet you disobeyed me .

where you’re going ,  no one will ever see you again .

whichever you pick ,  do it quick .

it’s fun to deceive when you know you can leave ,  but you have to be wary .

at home ,  they don’t care .  i’m better off there ,  where there’s nothing to choose so there’s nothing to lose .

wait ,  please !   i haven’t much time .

that makes no sense !

what is that you have in your hand ?!

i would recognize these beautiful eyes anywhere .

is that you ?  i’m blind ,  i can’t see .

you could’ve been killed !

i was just thinking of the greater good .

i don’t have the constitution .

as long as i can be no help ,  i’m going to hide .

i don’t know where they think they’re going .

this is who i truly am ,  my dear .

why did you run off ?

i will not come with you .

you leave me no choice .

i shouldn’t complain .

i’m not allowed to leave the palace unescorted .

if you’d like ,  you can come with me .

i shall not forget you ,  and how alive you’ve made me feel .

you’re hurting me !

stop ,  stop !  i said stop !

this is all my fault .

remorse will get you nowhere .

when you’re dead ,  you’re dead !

this is no time to be soft - hearted !

you’re responsible ,  you’re the one to blame .  it’s your fault !

you’re all liars and thieves .

you’ll just do what you do .

it doesn’t matter if we’re together or apart .

i’m sorry ,  i did a foolish thing .

i didn’t realize ,  i was being careless .  selfish .

you stole and got caught and did what you do !

i hated myself .  i ran away from my guilt and shame .

aren’t you making the same mistake ?

be better than me .

i knew you wouldn’t give up .

that doesn’t matter ,  now .

first ,  we’ll need a weapon .

i did not recognize you ,  what are you doing here ?

maybe i’m not your only love .

if you love me ,  why did you stray ?

i thought that if you were mine ,  i would never wish for more .

i was raised to be charming ,  not sincere .

i think you should go .

i’m glad you’re here to help me .

you are not alone .  no one is alone .

you’ll do nothing of the kind .

what he did was wrong .  he should be punished .

it’s not as easy as that .

who can say what’s true ?

believe me ,  no one is alone .

people make mistakes .  fathers ,  mothers ,  people make mistakes .

you decide what’s right .  you decide what’s good .

just remember ,  someone is on your side .  someone else is not .

i miss her ,  too .

how can i go about being a father when i had no father to show me ?

sometimes people leave you  …  do not let it grieve you ,  no one leaves for good .

things will be alright now .

[soracities]

“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world….” 

Mercedes McCambridge, The Quality of Mercy  |  George Saunders, ‘Escape from Spiderhead’  |  A young couple dance the night away in the dilapidated lobby of a hotel. 1994. Cuba. Havana , ph. Peter Ginter  |  Leonard Cohen, ‘Dance Me to the End of Love’  |  Bill Moyers, intro to Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth  |  Charles Schultz, ‘Peanuts’ 1958  |  Adonis, ‘Beginnings of the Body, Ends of the Sea’ (tr. Khaled Mattawa)  |  Ilya Kaminsky, ‘In Praise of Laughter’  |  Slow dance, gay nightclub, Moscow, USSR, 1983. Ph. Gueorgui Pinkhassov  |  Leonard Cohen, ‘Dance Me to the End of Love’