Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Music Box

Origin
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer of the romantic period, whose works are among the most popular music in the classical repertoire.

Tchaikovsky's life was punctuated by personal crises, loneliness, depression. Contributory factors included his early separation from his mother for boarding schoolfollowed by his mother's early death, the short falling out with and eventual death of his close friend and colleague Nikolai Rubinstein (both of whom he composed songs for in their memories), and the collapse of the one enduring relationship of his adult life, which was his 13-year association with the wealthy widow Nadezhda von Meck who was his patron even though they never actually met each other. His homosexuality, which he kept private, has traditionally also been considered a major factor.

In the ballet The Nutcracker, based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King", a young girl receives a toy nutcracker as a Christmas gift, who she cares for after it is damaged. The nutcracker later comes to life, and the two fall in love.

Effects
When wound and played, this music box creates an artificial person to act as a dance partner for the winder. They possess perfect skill and form, and although unable to speak, have been known to silently emote. However, this construct fades away in a glittery cloud once the music box's song ends.

The form the constructed partner takes is always that of someone the user deeply cares or longs for; although not restricted to one specific form per user, it does most often take the form of the one the user cares for the most.

Appearances

 * It Takes Two