Character

Anyone who is a dancer knows how difficult the industry can be. When you're not pushing yourself to the absolute limit trying to better your craft, you're constantly looked down upon for your appearance, your caste, your mannerisms, and everything in between. Lyriss wanted to be a dancer, so he kept his mouth shut. It worked; with some luck and perseverance, Lyriss got scouted to a company where things improved marginally- slurs were kept to specific times of day and areas of the studio. Although he hated the company culture, Lyriss wanted to stay a dancer, so he kept his mouth shut. It worked; more 'problematic' company members were replaced with fresh faces, and Lyriss found himself alive to dance another day.

A lot of time was spent just waiting. As long as he kept his head down and craft sharp, eventually the director would turn his attention towards Lyriss, and he could have his big break into the industry. Alas, it wasn't so simple. Lyriss had been forgone yet again for another cooler-toned dancer, but the soloist was out sick and the only one who could do the number was Lyriss. Only a shade off, he donned the outfit and performed flawlessly. Apparently, that was all he needed to do to win over his company director, and soon Lyriss was showered in praise and opportunities to showcase his work. With some stubbornness and a lot more hard work, Lyriss cut himself free from his toxic company and is now performing his own works as an independent artist trying to slowly gather his own company.

Abilities

PRIMA DONN-NOT: One would expect Lyriss, like most people, to have an overinflated sense of ego or importance after being launched into the kind of fame he now has. Instead, Lyriss admits that he prefers the quiet of being unknown, but always remains grateful to the crazy-high number of people who enjoy watching him perform. Lyriss has always stayed humble to his origins and never takes anything for granted- everything could all go up in smoke in an instant. Still, Lyriss wears a smile on his face and moves onwards regardless. It's practically impossible to cancel the man because he's just too goddamn wholesome.

HANGING BY A THREAD: Lyriss' main performance skill, aerial silks, is a hardly-practiced, highly dangerous art that Lyriss has been working on since he was able to climb the damn thing. The art involves twisting oneself around a scarf suspended in air, and then using the knots created to drop, twirl, and generally have fun freaking the audience out. He's mostly self-taught since teachers are in short supply, but has been amassing essential tips, tricks, and knowledge from performers his entire life. Lyriss is also classically trained in various other types of dance, too, like swing, tap, ballet, and even some elements and props of rhythmic gymnastics.

Notes

• Lyriss isn't actually all that cold despite his stage outfits, due to the fact that the adrenaline and movement keeps him warm.
• Whenever his lusus (a Hercules beetle) gets particularly bored, it starts trying to flip everything in its line of sight over.
• Lyriss doesn't design any of his stages or costumes; he just does the choreography, and sometimes he's not even allowed that.
• His favorite performance was when he got to dance in front of 5 heiresses.
• Lyriss can't dance in high heels, even though he's tried countless times. He says it's his biggest weakness.

Relationships

Iphnea Sabira [ Dancing Queen DIVA ]

Lyriss is absolutely shocked that Iphnea even knows who he is. When she first approached him in his dressing room after a show one day, Lyriss thought he was about to pass out, and when she offered to collab, he actually did. He quickly recovered, said yes, and the rest is history (in the making).

Darius Raqisa [ 'Midblood Menagerie' Madlad ]

As a fellow midblood dancer, Lyriss and Darius often find themselves commiserating together after being told for the umpteenth time that their work isn't good enough for the highbloods' standards. One of these days, one of them is going to snap and the other is sure to follow suit...