Chapter Text
A pale white flower, shimmering as if in the spotlight of a stage, it's delicate petals fell off its bud and swam in the air before fluttering and coming alive as a swan's feathers. It was a white swan, in the eye of Therese's mind and then in a flash, it was the faded wall of her apartment. The wall came first and then came the sound of honking on the streets and people bustling about their homes. Slowly Therese sat up, slightly dazed from her sleep, and patted around her bed for her phone. She could feel the dull vibration of it running through the fabric of her comforter. Her hand finally landed on a hard lump and she jumped to get the call before it got cut.
"Hello?" Therese immediately regretted not seeing who was calling before picking up.
"Ahh, Therese. Finally." She recognized the voice and it sent a shot through her spine.
"Mr. Harkevy. I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting your call." She heard a low chuckle on the other end of the call.
"Well, I wasn't expecting to call either. But today is full of surprises I guess." Therese was getting more and more perplexed by the second.
"I am sorry, I am not sure I follow." The chuckle followed again.
"Miss Belivet, you got picked up as the assistant stage designer for the upcoming showings of Swan Lake."
At that, Therese's mouth fell open. She was now wide-awake and attentive, wishing Harkevy had repeated himself so she could properly react.
"Hello? Are you still there, Therese?"
"Shit – Yes, Yes I am here. Oh, my god, I can't believe this is happening! Are they sure?" Therese spoke a bit too quickly and a bit too sporadically but it was understandable.
"Of course, they are sure! My recommendations are always given priority. Come to the studio at 8, I'll text you the address." Therese swore her heart would give out any moment.
"Yes, of course. Thank you, Mr. Harkevy."
The line cut off and Therese felt like she was soaring. This was the job she was working for since the day she got into stage designing. Maybe not for Swan Lake but to design a set for a ballet was her goal and she couldn't believe she was about to achieve it. Therese quickly dialed two calls, telling Dannie and Phil about her new placement. Dannie and Phil were friends made through Richard but even after Therese and he had broken up, they remained close. Phil was in the business, they worked on a broadway that had him as supporting role and had grown quite fond of each other. Therese was never one for huge crowds and was happy keeping just the both of them close. It was 8:00 in the morning and the three of them, in celebration of Therese, had already made plans for drinks.
Therese quickly finished her chores with new found energy and in high spirits then headed out to meet Dannie and Phil at an old bar near her apartment by 5:00. Leaves crunched under her feet and the chill cut into her delicate cheeks, she shoved her hands into her jacket pockets and bundled it closer around her frame. Despite the cold she felt warm, it was the bubbling excitement within her. She knew the premise of Swan Lake, a prince meets a queen who had been cursed by an evil sorcerer to turn into a swan by day and only turn back into herself at night, in front of a lake filled with her mother's tears. The curse could only be broken if one who has never loved before swears to love the queen, the prince quickly falls in love and swears by her but before he can proclaim his love to break the curse, he is tricked into marrying the sorcerer's daughter after which the swan queen is heartbroken and she decides to kill herself. It was the beauty in tragedy that captured the audience and her mind gave a blank as to how she would help embody it in a set. The volcanic excitement of a new and hopeful project started to turn into anxious tar that now slowed her step and almost stopped her heart. Therese was suddenly aware of the amount of responsibility on her shoulders, going into this under recommendation meant she had to prove herself worthy, she had to get everything right for this was the biggest production she had gotten into.
She reached the bar and heaved the heavy door open with her body. Music and warm air washed over her and she looked across a the bar to spot Dannie and Phil, who were already one beer in and they eagerly waved her over, her anxiety melted at the sight of her friends. Worry will be for another time, right now they celebrate.
"There's the big shot! What's your poison ms assistant stage designer?" Phil enthusiastically patted the seat beside him.
"Drinking before lunch time is a dangerous game you play. I'll just have a soda." Therese knew exactly what even a single beer did to her and decided against it.
"What's a celebration without inebriation?" Dannie spoke before taking a sip of his beer.
"Amen, Dannie boy!" Phil raised his beer to Dannie and Therese laughed fully at her friends' shenanigans.
The next few hours went by with good company. The warmth and comfort of the dark, oak wood furnished bar made Therese almost not want to leave. But she would have to face the music sometime soon and she would rather not be late when Harkevy had personally invited her. Reluctantly, she said her goodbyes to Dannie and Phil and walked out into the cold to hail a taxi. She replayed their best of lucks and well wishes in her head like a mantra, hoping to soothe her nerves. Now she felt shoddy, incompetent, she felt as if Harkevy would see her and immediately change his mind. She drove her nails into her palms, the taxi ride felt more and more agonizing with each passing street sign. It was only 7:20 and she were 15 minutes away and yet she still felt like she would be late and somehow miss the time entirely. It didn't feel like the same day anymore and she kept checking the date to make sure it was today that Harkevy had called her. The building began to appear to her right, an old building that had been repurposed and given an art deco renovation. She slid the taxi driver some money and took her change back with shaking hands that threatened to drop it at any time.
The next 15 minutes were spent researching whatever she could about the ballet and the production house so she didn't seem as lost as she felt when Harkevy did arrive. She realized that she had no idea about what he had in store for her; maybe he would just give her a tour of the studio or ask about her plans, which obviously she had none of. Therese's panic started to rise further reaching the point where she started to feel hopeless about the whole job entirely. A black sedan pulled up in front of her and out came Harkevy. Ivor Harkevy, stage designer extraordinaire turned producer and the man Therese owed her career to, he was patient with her and her extravagant ideas. He had told her multiple times he saw true talent in her but Therese brushed him off every time. She thought if she had true talent, she wouldn't feel so lost right now.
"Hello, Therese. I hope you weren't waiting too long." Therese felt taken aback by his blasé tone as if she had expected him to be angry immediately.
"Not at all. I just came by in fact." A white lie, she had spent 20 minutes ripping her own hair out but it mattered to no one but her.
"Well, I shouldn't make you wait then. Come along, I have to introduce you to the team." Therese froze. She thought of a million different scenarios and this was the most obvious but it hadn't occurred to her. She felt calmer even though the thought of meeting people and presenting herself to them still ground her nerves into a paste.
They made their way in through the front doors that opened into a hall. There were statues and potted plants that adorned the place and a reception desk in the middle of it all, the lighting wasn't bright but it wasn't dim. The hall echoed with the sound of piano and the painful sounding landing of feet on wooden flooring. Therese watched Harkevy wave to who she assumed was the receptionist, she recognized him immediately and she lead them both down the hall to their right. There, Therese saw hundreds of dedicated dancers, with their lithe bodies, mechanically repeating the same moves in unison. It was mesmerizing, like watching gears turn in machines or watching chocolate getting wrapped in factories. She watched the man conducting notice them and make his way over with a warm smile and his arms open in welcome.
"Tony! So good to see you. Here, meet Ms. Therese Belivet. Your assistant stage designer." Therese was suddenly pushed forward by a hand on her back and Tony took her hand and planted a kiss to it's back.
"It is so good to have young talent like you on board our production." Tony gave her a winning smile; something wouldn't be a rare occurrence, Therese wagered.
"Okay! Let's go meet the rest of the team."
And that was that. Therese found herself swept away into a sea of new faces and new names to associate them with. It was pleasant but it happened all too quickly for her. She found herself breathless and eager to find some quiet, to have all of this register in her mind. She stopped listening after the seventh person had given her an introduction and wanted to get away as soon as the opportunity would present itself. She looked to see Harkevy busy with whatever interesting conversation Tony and a few others had held him in.
"Excuse me, I just need to use the washroom." Therese excused herself politely and took the first exit she found. The entire place seemed like a maze, turning in familiar halls made her feel like she was going in circles. She roamed the place till she spotted an open studio and ran towards it, hoping to find someone to guide her. She peered into the doorway and was immediately taken aback by what she saw.
A woman with her back turned to Therese. The lights made her outline glow and it cast shadows on her back in such a delicate way that every muscle that moved, every bone that followed revealed itself in a beautiful dance of light and dark. Therese found herself mesmerized by the woman, who danced without music but it seemed as though her body was playing the notes. She was the instrument and the one who danced to its sound. The woman spun on her toes effortlessly, as if it was the easiest thing to do and she flew through the room like snow on the first snowfall. Soon she turned around and came to a halt to hold a pose. Therese then saw her face, dim and slightly hidden in the shadows but Therese was still awestruck. Her face was just as beautiful as her craft and just like her craft, it held a beauty only time could develop. She must've been around thirty-two. Her eyes were closed, brows knitted in a delicate expression, her cheekbones sharp and chin proud. Her lips parted slightly to catch her breath; Therese lingered on them. In the shadows behind the cracked door, Therese felt breathless; her head swam with every move of the woman's toned body.
Her phone buzzed and she stifled a yelp before moving back into the hall and checking whom it was.
Where are you? We need to leave soon.
It was Harkevy. Therese silently cursed herself, she would have to explain that she is lost but somehow she didn't want to move from where she stood. She wanted to stay frozen there watching this woman- this vision- in front of her till her eyes grew tired. She looked back into the studio and the woman was gone and it was as if she never existed as if she was a mere mirage born out of Therese's nerves and confusion.
All the way from the studio to her home, Therese thought of her, who was she? And would Therese see her again? After she finished up dinner, Therese decided to bury herself into research. The lore behind the ballet, the sets, the costumes, the history and the composition. Everything and anything she could get her hands on were opened in millions of unorganized tabs. She skimmed through most of it then started to listen to the composition. The introduction to the ballet flowed through her headphones, it was dramatic and slow, and she closed her eyes to picture the set she would make for it. She imagined that woman, the woman dancing to the music on her set, with precision and control but also with passion and fluidity. She thought of the dream she had had last night and how it seemed more relevant than just a passing thought. Therese felt like she would meet this elusive creature again.