DRACO &
LYRA
ENGLISH VERSION
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.)
