DRACO & LYRA
ENGLISH VERSION
&
By GAVARRE BENJAMIN
This work has been published for free and open dissemination, although all intellectual property rights are reserved. Public use of this work requires permission from the author and for permission contact bengavarre@gmail.com or gavarreunam@gmail.com (Reg. Prop. Int. Expte. Inbox)
Characters:
DRACO: Second in line to the throne of Lamda. Elegant, melancholic, with subtle dragon features.
LYRA: From Garósina, recently separated from a Duke. Elegant, weary, with subtle chimera features.
UJIO: A functionary from the Ministry of Transgressional Affairs. Sinister, but corruptible.
Act 1: The Resting Area
Setting: An opulent resting garden on the planet LAMDA. Crystalline flora glitters under the light of three suns. Floating marble benches. PRINCE DRACO is seated. PRINCESS LYRA enters. They recognize each other.
DRACO: Princess Lyra? How... unexpected. I thought you’d be in Garósina, enjoying your ducal duties.
LYRA: (With an ironic smile) Prince Draco. The ducal duties have ended. The Duke and I... have dissolved the alliance.
DRACO: (Lets out a bitter laugh) My brother gets the crown of Lamda, I get the sunstroke. A fair cosmic trade, I suppose.
LYRA: At least you have a kingdom not to rule. I lost mine in the bargain. (She sits on the bench, at a respectful but conspiratorial distance). But you know what? It’s liberating.
DRACO: And I am no longer "the understudy." (He looks at her, for the first time, with real interest). We are just... Draco and Lyra. Starting life over.
LYRA: (Sensing the connection). I like the sound of that. (She moves a little closer, looking him up and down with appreciation). You know, Prince... I always admired your bearing, but now... I notice your struts are... exceptionally toned. They look sculpted by the artisans of the Astro-Couture circuit.
DRACO: (Stands, flattered, striking a subtle model’s pose). It’s the zero-gravity regimen, my dear. And I must say... (He leans in, his voice a low draconic growl). ...your gonad-trinkets are... pure nebular symmetry. Dazzling.
LYRA: (Standing, her chimera features heightening with emotion). Why... why did we never speak like this at court?
DRACO: Because we were too busy being... appropriate. (A rhythmic, sensual music swells from the garden crystals). Do you hear that?
LYRA: The Tangonimbo. The forbidden dance of Garósina.
DRACO: It’s only forbidden if you don’t know how to dance it. (He offers his hand). Do you dare show all these slobbering aristocrats what true nobility looks like?
(Murmurs of disapproval are heard from other aristocrats off-stage. Lyra shoots them a defiant look).
LYRA: I dare.
(They begin to dance the Tangonimbo. It is fierce, elegant, and absurdly physical. They brush, they spin, he shows off his scales, she her jeweled tentacles. The dance gets faster, hotter).
DRACO: (Panting, as he lifts her). Incredible! Your technique is...!
LYRA: (Twisting around him). Yours is... primitive! Magnificent! I feel... I feel we could attempt... the Bed-Breaker 34987!
DRACO: Here! Now! I am ready for coupling protocol 34987!
(Draco dips her in a dramatic finale, their faces millimeters apart, passion at its peak, about to merge into one. The music stops abruptly).
UJÍO: (Shrill voice) HALT!
(UJÍO enters, marching, a data-pad in his hand).
Act 2: The Transgression and the Seduction (of UJÍO)
UJÍO: Prince of Lamda! Princess of Garósina! You are committing a flagrant violation of the Cosmic Separation Protocol! And executing a Level 5 Lust-Dance in a public area!
DRACO: (Straightening up, annoyed). I’m sorry, and you are?
UJÍO: I am UJÍO, Supervisor for the MINISTRY of Transgressional Affairs! You cannot associate! Lamda and Garósina! Your lineages together! It would cause a catastrophic anomaly!
LYRA: An anomaly? (Looks at Draco, amused). Feeling anomalous, dear?
DRACO: A bit. My scales are tingling.
UJÍO: Enough mockery! I have registered the unauthorized transfer of seductive glances and the illegal contact of tentacles and orbits! You will be taken immediately to the re-education hall!
(Draco and Lyra exchange a conspiratorial look).
DRACO: Re-education? How... tedious. UJÍO, you look tense.
LYRA: Very tense. (She slinks over to UJÍO, her voice seductive). Have you ever considered... relaxing? Trying, perhaps... the Intergalactic Threesome 2.0?
UJÍO: (Visibly nervous). Relaxation is for the weak! An Inter... galactic... Threesome...?
DRACO: (Positioning himself on UJÍO’s other side). Chimera Fire. Dragon Ice. And... whatever you are. Can you imagine the... balance...?
LYRA: (Brushing his arm with the tip of a jeweled tentacle). ...just to stabilize the cosmic anomaly, of course.
UJÍO: (He trembles. His eyes flash with a feverish light). It’s... it’s... a somatizing apoplexy! Interpolated! Bisected! NO!
(Ujío realizes what he’s done. He falls to his knees, horrified).
UJÍO: I’ve violated my own protocol! I’ve committed an act of unregulated ecstasy! They’ll discontinue me! They’ll throw me in the purulent garbage of Andromeda 4! NO! Please! Your Highnesses! Take this! (He pulls a shining metal sphere from his robes). An Infinite Poly-Quantum Translation Sphere! Go! Just go! Deny my apoplexy!
Act 3: The Sphere and the Interruptions
Setting: The interior of the Poly-Quantum Sphere. It is luxurious and minimalist. Nebulae swirl past the viewports. Draco and Lyra enter, laughing, and seal the hatch.
DRACO: (Catching his breath). Well... we were interrupted at the best part of the Tangonimbo.
LYRA: They won’t interrupt us again. (She approaches him, the passion from Act 1 returning in full force). We have... unfinished business.
DRACO: (Takes her by the waist. His voice is deep). Very unfinished business. (He inhales her scent). Your aroma... reminds me of the salt mines of Ganymede... maddening!
LYRA: (She whispers in his ear in the Languedoc tongue, which sounds very much like French). Mon dragon magnifique, tes écailles sont comme... le feu des étoiles... je veux...
DRACO: (He shudders with a growl). Ah! Don't speak Languedoc! Please!
LYRA: Pourquoi pas, mon amour?
DRACO: Because it makes my eristhra... quiver! I'm not responsible for my actions!
LYRA: Alors, je ne parlerai pas. J'agirai...
(Lyra pushes him against the console. They are about to kiss, to resume what UJÍO interrupted, when... BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! UJÍO’s face appears on the main screen, disheveled and euphoric).
DRACO: (Furious). UJÍO! We are in the middle of... a navigational protocol!
UJÍO: Forget navigation! That "apoplexy" was... a revelation! Mega-orgasmic! I can't live without you! I’m an expert in massage! I want to formally propose... (he holds up a holographic form) ... a "mono-aguedic triad"!
(Draco and Lyra stare, incredulous).
LYRA: (Regaining her composure).UJÍO, really, it’s... flattering. But I'm afraid we must decline.
DRACO: Don’t be upset! And don't call us again! (He cuts the communication).
(The screen goes blank. Draco and Lyra look at each other. They laugh. The tension breaks. They look at each other again, this time calmly).
DRACO: You know? Maybe the Bed-Breaker 34987 is... too much. Too much paperwork.
LYRA: (Smiling). And the Tentacular Orchids sound like a lot of work. What if... we just go... there? (She points to a swirling nebula).
DRACO: The Prosopopoeia Cum Magna Nebula?
LYRA: Where no one knows us as "the understudy" or "the Duke's ex-wife."
DRACO: (Smiling). Where we can just be Draco and Lyra.
(Draco hits a control. The sphere jumps to hyperspace in a flourish of music composed by the whispering crystals themselves).
Epilogue: The Parallelepiped
Setting: A floating balcony in the Prosopopoeia Nebula. The sky is a vortex of violet and green. Draco and Lyra stand, looking out at the cosmos, finally alone. The crystal music is soft.
LYRA: (Sighs, content). Silence. Peace. Not an UJÍO in sight.
DRACO: Do you think he’s still looking?
LYRA: Probably. But this nebula interferes with all trackers. He's filing forms of frustration right now.
DRACO: (Hugs her from behind). Good. (He kisses her neck). Two interruptions... That’s a record, even for my old court.
LYRA: (Turning to face him). Well... they do say the third time’s the charm.
DRACO: No Tangonimbos or Lamda protocols?
LYRA: No Bed-Breakers or forms. Just... us. And that stellar geometry I’ve heard so much about... the "stellar parallelepiped."
DRACO: (Smiles, his dragon eyes glittering). Show me that geometry, my princess.
(Draco takes her in his arms. The crystal music swells, becoming more rhythmic and passionate. The balcony lights dim. The nebula's vibrant, colorful smoke rolls in, swirling at their feet, rising to envelop them. We see their silhouettes merge, lift slightly off the ground, spinning slowly in an impossible formation that defies physics. The music hits a cosmic crescendo).
(Blackout.)
FIN
