A majestic opera house built by earth elementals ages ago. It is a crystalline palace built in spires around a central amphitheater, very much like the arena, actually. All manner of freaks frequent this place, drawn by the beautiful costumes, elaborate scenery, exquisite singing, and ridiculous plotlines.

---

Inverse Time
Dothaven
The Exalted Plane
The Unsung Plane
The Celestial Plane
Infinity

---

"Hmm..." Felina ponders this aloud as they approach the opera house. "I don't know that I've ever seen an ice sculpture. Isn't that an awfully temporary medium?"

"Yes, Nightshade, but most things are," Tel-tiono notes, smiling at her. "It's merely a matter of degree. Everything is to be appreciated in some way for what it is...for its nature, not by the measure of another nature."

Felina smiles at him, and looks up at the opera hall. "Well, this qualifies. Pretty."

"So much more so now that you are reflected within its facets," Emshei calmly says, moving towards the door without waiting for a response. Tickets change hands between himself and the reptillian ticket-taker, and the way is opened for them. "I have a box seat for five up the grand staircase and to the right. Just go inside the violet curtain when you get into that hallway, and have a seat."

"Sounds fancy." Felina grins a little, and helps her father on the stairs with truly undivided attention.

Tel-tiono smiles softly at this, and lets her, not using the magical aids he would usually employ.

The opera house is still mostly empty, as they'd arrived in good time, and there is no one to stop them from making easy entrance into their VIP box. Actually, Tel-tiono has had this box for some time, though whether he knew it is a matter of some conjecture. 

Behind the purple curtain, the other couple has already arrived. Drianis rises to greet Felina, as does his dutiful daughter, whose hair and eyes still shine black as coal.

"Felina Deyono... an operetta?" Drianis smirks just a bit. "I would not have thought."

Felina grins sheepishly. "Well, it would have been rude of me to refuse...and besides, it should be interesting. Hello to both of you...how are you feeling, Mi'ehna?"

Tel-tiono just bows his head to them politely with a quiet smile, not going out of his way to interrupt his daughter. His "daughter." The truth can't help but be a little obvious with Drianis and Mi'ehna here...though whether they know that is anyone's guess. Probably not, actually.

Mi'ehna gazes a soft, mellow gaze at Felina, and holds up her hands. They begin to move, not in a casting pattern, but in something that is quite clearly language.

Drianis's boisterous spirit droops just a bit at this. "Her voice has not yet returned," he answers for her. "But she has been able to walk, and lift her new sword, and carry things... she will be back to normal soon."

She signs again. I felt well enough to squeeze my butt into this svelte little dress. Unlike Felina's, Mi'ehna's dress is quite... clingy. Snug... almost whorish, but saved from such by a long sash.

Felina grins. Both being telepathic makes it easier. "Well, it looks lovely on you."

Mi'ehna laughs in the chambers of her mind, looking meaningfully at Felina. She wants to say 'thank you' but... she hasn't the words. Not really. One thank you would end up covering so much, and she is not ready to do that just yet.

Emshei looks Mi'ehna up and down once, and, though interested in a purely predatory fashion, puts her out of his mind. He pulls back the curtain between the theater and the box, allowing a bit of light to pour in.

"Have a seat, my lady, master Wizard. The show will start before long. Oops is opening with a song, and then there will be a play," he explains, sitting down nearest the wall, and leaving a seat for Felina and her father. He hopes she will sit next to him. But he doubts it.

"That sounds lovely." Felina smiles. She doesn't quite have the heart to disappoint him, though, and once they're finally situated, she's sitting between him and her father. Slightly closer to her father, though. She'd be lying if she said she didn't like sitting beside...Kaies...but she thinks she has her head on straight enough to keep from getting entwined the the charade.

Emshei just beams. He looks down to the stage, returning Mi'ehna's coy smile and avoiding Drianis's warning look. That is one honey pot he does not want to try and shake. Besides, he only has eyes for Mara... dammit. Felina. 

Once the theater fills up a bit, and introductions are made, Oops can be seen coming onto the wide, still curtained stage. Her dress is... huge, and loaded with frippery... it looks three times too big. She bows and smiles, though, and waves at the Ono box.

Felina smiles a little at this, amused, and waves back just the tiniest bit.

A heckler down below calls out 'you fuckin rock!' in the midst of the polite applause, to a mutual smack from two of his buddies. Oops covers her mouth, and as the house lights go down, she begins to sing. Beautifully, clearly, a songstress's voice if ever there was one.

What road, my lord, what ageless road,
will lead, my heart to thee?
The signs have gone, my way was wrong,
oh where shall I send my feet?

What time, my lord, what bless'ed time,
will be, for you, and me?
The clouds above, conceal my love,
the sun, I cannot see...

She continues on like that, singing a sad ballad of a narrating woman who has lost her heart to a highwayman. It is a moving piece, and within a verse Mi'ehna's head is bowed to hide the tears that flow so freely down her cheeks. Her father's arm wraps around her little shoulders, comforting her, but he is careful to hide his own emotion in the same instant.

Felina sighs softly. There's a little smile on her lips, until the song gets especially sad...it reminds her entirely too much of Kaies, especially with Emshei's signature right beside her. She's dry-eyed and largely expressionless...but finally leans on Tel-tiono, who sets a hand gently over her hair.

What rose, my lord, what rose for me,
what rose will lay at my breast,
When the earth regains its prodigal girl,
when I, am laid, to rest,

Will you come for me? my lord, my lord,
this tomb is mine and my own,
Soon you will see, I always will be,
The queen upon your throne

What lies, my lord, what lies for me,
when I stand at paradise gates?
What lies, my lord, what lies shall I tell,
to save your poor spirit from hell?

What god, my lord, what god is yours?
And which god shall I make my own?
I ache to know, where we shall go,
hand in hand, arm in arm, soul in soul.

As the applause rises, Mi'ehna's face is buried against the regal suit of her father, her silent sobs both pleasing and painful to him. He strokes her hair, whispering quiet things to her to soothe her poor heart.

Emshei produces a handkerchief from his pocket and flips it open, offering it to Felina. "My lady?" He can't tell if she weeps or not. He does, but that is a non-issue.

"I'm okay. Thank you." Felina's voice is on the soft side, but she manages a little smile at him. She's touched, actually...the song had been as beautiful as it was heartbreaking. But showing emotion is something that Felina's consciously tried to avoid for very nearly her entire life, and she can't just flip that switch off. Her expression, if a little subdued, is largely and unintentionally blank to hide her feelings, and her eyes are dry.

Emshei proceeds to dry his own slightly moist eyes as the house lights lower even further. Oops moves to center stage, milking the polite applause for a bit, before reaching up to the collar of her impossibly foofy dress and pulling hard upon it so that the bulk of it tears away. A much more functional outfit of pirate pants and sleeveless shirt is underneath, and as music picks up from behind the curtain Oops begins to dance around excitedly. The curtain spreads out, revealing a full drum set and stack of amplifiers behind. The rest of Oops's band takes the stage behind her to a roar of applause from the crowd.

Emshei grins. "I love when she does this."

Felina tilts her head. The only reason she recognizes any of that stuff is because of Gim's chosen profession...but still...in an opera? She's not sure, but seems to recall this being unusual. Stuffed shirts go to operas, not normal people who acknowledge mainstream music as rhythmic.

Tel-tiono's lips twitch at what logic had led her to that conclusion, but says nothing.

Ohhh...right. Progressive. All told, she's ready to cringe...this may not be the right place for someone with hyper-sensitive hearing.

Emshei coughs, holding up a small bag which he had hidden in his pocket. Inside is a pair of plus-sized Serinian fit earplugs... actually acquired from Oops herself, who needs them onstage.

"My Lady?"

Felina looks over, smiles quizzically at the bag. Once she sees what's inside, she looks back to him and grins. "Thank you, Emshei. You are a life saver." Almost kisses his cheek. Thinks the better of it, just squeezes his shoulder a moment. She wastes no more time in putting on the ear plugs.

The band is okay, but Oops is still the star. She sings like she was born for the microphone, plays to the crowd, taunts them, flirts with them, and headbangs to keep up with the gigantic males of her all-ogre band. It isn't bad, really, and thanks to Oops, some people probably find it incredible. Some not.

Mi'ehna is smiling now, though still nestled against her father's side. Drianis, for his part, only allows his toe to tap to keep rhythm. This is okay.

Felina thinks it's...quirky. But then, she's not really a music person, much less a heavy music person. Still, she's heard worse. Much worse. Much. Worse. In any case, though, Oops really is very good.

Finally the band gives their bows, and Oops tosses her gimmick dress to the crowd. She blows several kisses to them, and of course, as she walks offstage, trips on a mic cord and has to be carried out by her drummer. Most of the gathered think it is part of the act, and cheer her until the curtain has long since closed.

"The play isn't really an opera," Emshei notes, looking down at his program. "It does have a song or two. I will wager that Oops will sing in the supporting role, assuming that she can see straight come act two." He glances at the other Serinian, warm all over. "We have a few minutes intermission while the stage crew moves all that stuff."

"Why don't they just hire a transfiguration wizard to do that? There must be a few around here." Felina looks over to Emshei.

Drianis glances over at her. "Some people like to work. It gives them purpose, Felina."

"Besides, intermissions are an old tradition, and most audience members enjoy the sanctioned opportunity to move around and rest their attentions." Tel-tiono smiles at her

"Eh-heh...right. I really need to get away from things combat-related more..." Felina smiles sheepishly.

Mi'ehna signs to her, as usual accompanying the signs with telepathy.

It is not your fault. Maybe you need to relax a little? That pretty man sitting next to you may be a nice diversion for you. A wise man once told me.... she grins. My first warrior mentor, Tyland, actually... told me that when battle gets to be too much, when you have trained too hard and feel wound up, just go and get some strange ass.

Felina snickers at that, a little, aloud. Duly noted and filed away for future use. It's a little complicated with Emshei, though...long story.

Mi'ehna ceases her signing, but not her speaking. Emshei over there can read sign language.

Yeah? He certainly seems interested in you. And sweet. And all... muscly.

"Mi'ehna," Drianis glances down to his daughter, giving her head a gentle peck, "are you plotting again?"

She signs, grinning at him. Just trying to get Felina laid, father.

Emshei very nearly spits out the water he had just started to sip.

Felina almost has the same reaction...and she hadn't even been drinking anything. "Mi'ehna...!" Her face could not get any redder. Her father just grins and looks straight ahead, watching the people on the stage. Felina glances up to him. "Thanks for the back up, by the way." It's fully joking.

"That seems to be Miss Mi'ehna's job, Nightshade."

Felina coughs. "Father!"

Mi'ehna laughs in her mind, her mouth opening a bit, but still no sound coming out. She gives her newly black hair a swish and looks forward, sitting prim and pretty.

Drianis thumps her on the shoulder, but does smile a broad, earthy sort of smile.

Emshei can't even look at Felina. Or stand up. Damned unwelcome thoughts brought on by awkward statements.

Down below, the crews are mostly finished. The scenery is an interesting setup, consisting of a few faux stairways and a bunch of holographic projectors which reset at the end of each scene. It functions well, surprisingly.

Felina smirks a little, eyes fixed on the stage. "Don't worry about it, Emshei. I blame Mi'ehna. But no, don't get your hopes up." Her grin's teasing.

Emshei returns that teasing grin, and focuses on the stage. As soon as enough blood returns to his brain that he can see, it's all good.

The first act begins in relative silence. The actors and actresses take the stage and begin, slowly, to weave the tale of which Oops sang earlier. The highwayman a dashing, dark haired fellow in an opera mask, the narrator a prim and proper, live-for-service type woman of blonde hair and deep, enchanting blue eyes.

Mi'ehna is soon clinging to her father again, displaying just how screwed up her emotions remain to this day.

It's a good play, it really is. Felina has trouble getting into it, though...it's a good story when she finally manages to work through the knowledge that these are actors, and she enjoys it after that.

Oops comes out as predicted, but the edges of a bandage can be seen beneath her done up hair. She, as the woman who challenged the narrator for the highwayman's attention, does a beautiful job of singing her feelings, how heartbroken she is to have been passed over for another. She does a fine job, never tripping or misspeaking once.

"She is good," Emshei notes, "very believable."

"Emshei, she is not acting." Drainis shakes his head, still stroking MI'ehna's hair with a massive hand. "She has known this pain before."

Felina nods a bit, eyes softening.

The play runs on, until at last the narrating character is revealed to be terminally ill. After her passing the highwayman laments her loss in song, a haunting requiem that has a tremendous power behind it. He removes his mask mid-verse, setting the ceramic thing upon the gravestone. As it ends, and the highwayman walks away, Oops' character slips out of the shadows and kneels before the grave of the narrator, her tears too real to be put on. She does not say or sing a word, only reaches out with a trembling hand, and takes up the highwayman's mask, sliding it over her weeping eyes as the curtain draws to a close.

Felina's quite impressed and smiles a bit a few seconds after the curtain goes down. Hm. Interesting. She'd really believed in the characters while the play was going...no wonder people enjoy this stuff. She applauds along with everyone else, but doesn't quite pick up on the concept that everyone else isn't just standing to leave until her father nudges her mentally about the standing ovation. She's quick to join, feeling a little out of place again. Still, it had been lovely.

Emshei applauds very carefully, due to his claws of course, but he is of course far more interested in that little smile on Felina's face.

"After we get out of here," Emshei says, mostly to Felina, but to the others as well, "I am having a few friends at my tower for supper and perhaps a game of cards. You are all invited, of course."

Mi'ehna signs excitedly at that. I would love to! Father, can we? 

Drianis nods. He's a bit unsettled by her behavior, honestly... Mi'ehna had never been an 'under the wing' daughter even when they had known each other before. He chalks it up to the long separation, but of course he is thrilled to play daddy.

"I would love to, thank you." Felina smiles at Emshei. It's really quite nice to be just interacting with normal people, hopefully friends before long...she supposes she can thank Mara for being able to function even as well as she does in this situation. Thanks, Mara-kuru.

Tel-tiono's quietly beaming at her social assuredness...it's positively heartwarming, considering where she had been when they had parted. She seems to be finally accepting herself as sentient on a deep level. It takes a long time to truly reconcile oneself with being a construct, it really does. "I have a project that I would like to work on, if no one would be too affronted, but thank you for the kind offer, Master Emshei."

Felina's a little disappointed, but she'd expected it, and it's been an exquisite evening, really. There's hardly a time in her life she's felt more special than tonight, dressed up and on her father's also finely-clad arm. She smiles, and nods. She knows he's leaving her alone with Emshei, to whatever end.

"Not a problem, master wizard," Emshei answers, thrilled, but not showing it. Felina probably knows, though. "What time shall we have your angel back by?"

Drianis tosses a paper cup at him, smacks him squarely in the head. 

Ooh, good shot father!

Felina half giggles and half snickers at that. "Thanks, Drianis."

The oversized-penguin, as Mi'ehna had addressed him earlier, just smiles a great, goofy smile. It is really amazing how much he has loosened up as well, since getting Mi'ehna back.

The crowd below is beginning to file out. It hadn't been a terribly long show, but it was a very good one. With the curtain calls taken care of, it is time for people to go back to their homes, bars, or wherever.

Emshei gently touches Felina's shoulder as he rises.

"You may keep the earplugs. For if we return."

Mi'ehna looks up to her father, and signs something quickly.

He really has it for her. I did not think they knew each other so well.

"Oh...thanks for reminding me." Felina grins a little, and takes them out as she rises. "That explains why you're all whispering. Thank you, though, I'll bear that in mine." She helps her father to his feet in that meek little way that doesn't ask or expect any recognition or gratitude in return. She just loves him.

"We will meet you at your house, Emshei," Drianis informs them as he helps his daughter up. "I would like to change out of this frippery, and Mi'ehna is practically kicking me for a pair of pants."

Emshei nods in perfect understanding. "Sure. Felina," he steps out behind them, walks around until he is in the lead, "just follow me, and I will show to my tower. Master Wizard can stop off on the way, if he wants."

"Okay. Sounds good." Felina, predictably, is at her father's arm, and Tel-tiono's quietly content just to be. He just nods once with that little smile of his.

Emshei leads them out, then, back to the streets of The Celestial Plane.