can't stop this music traveling 'round

DETAILED PERSONALITY: Althea is warm and bright, but not necessarily friendly. She embraced her life in the courts and is comfortable within groups, holding no opposition to attracting - or taking the attention of - a crowd. A multitude of acquaintances are known to her, but she is only known well to a few, and prefers to keep it that way. Her devotion is her dance, and her love is for music, with the stories she is able to tell through it.

Althea cares greatly for the living creatures in the world, though she is often quiet about this admiration. She is fascinated by things that breathe and exist, the different ways they fit into their own facets, then entwine with others. When she was younger, she chose to keep small pets to care for, an indulgence her mother never prohibited her from. Now in adulthood, it is not uncommon to find her with a small creature in her company. The arrangement may not be a permanent one, but she will do what she is able to ensure no harm comes to the innocent, living things.

In spoken communication she is frequently quiet, though not necessarily unapproachable. Althea is serene, as if listening to the music of her own mind, and yet she is completely observant. She takes first impressions quite seriously, and does not give her trust without hesitation. It may prove to be a valuable tool once earned, or perhaps there is nothing to be gained from holding her confidence. The distinction is one which will be left up to those whom she allows herself to let into her life.
THEME SONG: Ellie Goulding - 'Lights'

HISTORY: Born to a Lord and Lady of the Seelie Fey, Althea grew up in the surroundings of the court. From a young age she adored music and was artistically inclined, either humming a tune while she walked or trading in the idea of simply walking for a few twirls into a dance. Her parents indulged her, for where was the harm to be found in a girl who loved to dance? As she grew up, it wasn't uncommon to find Althea standing on the feet of older men in the court to dance (away from the eyes of the higher ranking nobility), and a few rumors circulated that she might have actually taught some of them a step or two.

When Althea's mother left the court unexpectedly (and consequently her family), it struck a devastating blow to the young girl. There was nothing but speculation to surround her mother's departure, and while her father had been a good, kind soul he descended into a darker state of mind with the absence of his wife. Left with no comprehension of her mother's absence or the support of her father's comfort, Althea fell to become far more quiet than she had been before. Her dance and music became her comfort for several years' time. When her father discovered how introverted she had become, he attempted to reach out to her, to draw Althea back into the more vibrant settings of the court. He was met with a silent reception; not stony, but wholly dispassionate, and eventually the girl was left to her own devices.

Adulthood provided the means to leave the Fae court, and Althea did this without announcement or ordeal. Undoubtedly, something pivoted her into the direction of departure but if asked she will decline to discuss it. She left behind her family and position in court in favor of building a life of her own. With no money to her name and only her talent for resource, Althea began auditioning for roles, both small and large, in any sort of venue or production company she could find. The opportunities typically nested in the seedier corners of cities, but eventually Althea found her way to the Cove. There she was able to audition for and land the role of a principle dancer in a performing company, where the producer was surprised by her raw degree of talent. It was here that she chose to build her life.
FAMILY: None known.
EDUCATION: Ballet and contemporary dance.
OCCUPATION: Dancer
HOME: A comfortable, four room flat on a building's upper level in the Cove.
WHY THEY ARE LIVING IN THE COVE: Althea has come to the Cove for the purpose of beginning her own life. She will not say more or less than this if asked, but there is the great desire to be away from her family and anything that reminds her of where she grew up.

EXAMPLE: It wasn't that the performance hadn't gone well, but rather that it had. There was a seamless transition between one movement and the next, courtesy of the skill in the orchestra and not so much as a hair had fallen out of place on a company dancer's head. Nothing could be argued upon by the choreographer, up until the injury of the principle female dancer. A small, minute detail that could serve to pose a problem, considering the understudy was (to pardon the humor) under-prepared to step in.

Two of the male company performers had attempted to carry Althea to the dressing rooms, but she had been adamant on making it there by herself. In her wake she left a murmur of concerned whispers and rising calls of her name, along with the sporadic tuning of a harp's strings or piano's keys. No question existed as to whether or not the show could go on without her, the understudy would simply have to do. It would take the entire seventy-two hours prior to opening curtain to get her prepared, and at least a half dozen costume fittings, but it could be done. Would be done, as there was no alternative. One misstep (quite literally) was never acceptable as an end to an entire production. The show could, would, and always found a way to go on.

Althea tucked her teeth against her lower lip, the door clicked to a close behind her. There was no point in concealing the strike of pain that rattled her nerves while in the presence of the rest of the company, but she had done so to the best of her ability. Weakness was commonplace, and for that reason she didn't want anything to do with it.

Her right ankle was puffing slightly, a warning of the swelling that was to come in the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours, and there would be little to no possibility of walking comfortably by the time the eighteen hour mark was reached. Althea would require an ankle brace and elevation, and no strenuous activity for at least a week while the sprain had time to heal. It was a common rule of the profession, that risk was high when pushing one's body to limits that might not have meant to exist. She would miss opening week but would be able to resume performances by the second week's beginning. The understudy would have a brief but shining moment in the spotlight, then retire to her position in the company until the next opportunity - rather, injury - drew itself into existence.

All of this would hold true, except that it wasn't what Althea wanted to see happen.

Her leg was elevated at her own direction, against the arm of the worn, tweed couch, high enough for the reach of her outstretched hand. Where her fingertips touched her nerves flared in irritation, but now her face held steady. It would be over soon, because she had fine tuned the talents which had been her birthright. More than once she'd found occasion to help another with an ailment, and now it was her own turn.

Althea's fingers brightened at the tips, a small and white-gold spark of light touching against the angered skin at her ankle. The glow blossomed, reaching a warm path across and to the injury beneath. She couldn't see it with her eyes open, but by now it was something she could envision, her own strength running across her ailing ankle, passing a bright caress and mending what had been broken. It had worked on the alley cat who had been at death's edge (courtesy of a car without regard to where it was going) and the child whose arm had been broken in an unfortunate tumble from a tree, so it would certainly work on an ankle. A sprained ankle which might not have been of great consequence to many others, but was the difference between happiness and agony for her. Where there was no means for her to dance, there was little cause for Althea to smile.

Moments later, Althea drew herself to stand. Both of her feet were planted firmly to the floor beneath, the previously injured ankle brought to roll and stretch carefully at her own direction. It might be as good as new, but there was no reason to be reckless. She would feel the fatigue from the exertion in a few hours' time, when it caught up with her, but for now she was fine.

Two soft knocks sounded at the closed door.

"Yes?"

"Althea, the costume for the Swan Queen -"

"- Is already here."

"Savannah needs to see where -"

"It would be a complicated production with two Swan Queens on stage, would it not?"

The door did open now, revealing the costume designer's surprised face.

"Your ankle -"

"Is fine." And, as if for good measure, Althea rose to place her full weight on her right foot.

Two startled moments passed, then three.

"Are you -"

"Ready? Yes, I am. We open in three days. If I am not ready now, then I never will be. Is the orchestra ready?"

"I -"

"Then if you will excuse me, I need to rehearse."