OOC: Npcing Meg here!


Christine Daae, Meg Giry and Carlotta

BIC: Carlotta stood on the other side of the stage as she watched young Christine Daae sing Siebel's aria Faites les mes aveaux from Gounod's Faust. She still didn't understand how this child who had sounded like a screeching owl had gone to singing like a nightengale. She felt threatened by this young girl and was not afraid to show it.

Smirking she watched as one of her admirers in the company threw out some tiny pebbles onto the stage causing Christine to lose her balance and fall to the ground.

"Christine!" Meg Giry called from offstage before rushing to her friend.

"If you are going to be an opera singer you must be prepared for ANYTHING." Carlotta replied in her Spanish accent.

Meg looked up from the floor at Carlotta as she tried to reassure Christine. "I know that you are responsible for this somehow."

"Oh please child do not spare me with your...dramatics." Carlotta replied with a huff. "Thanks to your FRIEND we now have to rehearse even longer."

Meg looked back down at Christine who was trembling slightly. "Christine, are you all right?"

"I'm just a little shakey." Christine replied with a whisper.

"Discipline." Carlotta muttered.


Tag: The Phantom :)

OOC: This post, I'm filling in for The Persian and playing the Phantom

The Persian

Moving quietly to the wings of the stage, The Persian remained unnoticed, just another blip within the many dancers and actors on stage and behind. Watching the young girl as she sat on the stage steps, resting, he wondered if it was her...

As the diva, La Carlotta took to the stage once more, he lost interest and turned his back to her, exiting the back door and walking down the corridors, nearing the exit, and being thankful for it.

"Leaving so soon?" Came the ghostly whisper, unexpected and unwelcome. The Persian spun around on his heel, his eyes frantically darting in all directions, trying to put a name to the whisper.


"Whose there?" He demanded, knowing in his heart who it was, and that he did sound threatening in the least.

But nothing came from his question. Sure, that this time he was paranoid he began to walk and he did not exit the Opera Populaire untill he was certain he was alone.


Erik

"Damn you vile woman!" He screamed, plugging his ears with cotton wool and sticking his head underneath his satin sheets, praying La Carlotta would stop singing very soon, kicking his feet against his pillows like a tempermental child.

But, of course his prayers went unanswered, and her voice was carried down the corridors of The Phantoms home, plaugeing him of uneccacary torture;

"SHUT UP!" He screamed, getting out of bed, pulling the cotton out of his ears, and fetching the oar for his gondala, preparing himself for the journey to the Opera's stage. He would make certain this time Carlotta would not sing;

"Can't believe they pay me no heed. One day, I will most definately bring that chandelier down, around your head Carlotta. They will be in need of a new diva, will they not?" Erik muttered to himself, his evil thoughts of Carlotta dead helping to speed his rowing.

"Yes, I shall bring the chandelier down. Frogs were not meant to sing Carlotta, rather, they are made for some sort of delicacy, but not the one's you believe you are intitled to."

Moving swiftly through the correct corridors, he was soon in his usual box 5 - with a full view of Carlotta, and... her; Christine.
He gritted his teeth as he saw the young Madmoiselle on the floor, and Carlotta stood over her, sneering.
Unable to contain himself, he hid himself from prying eyes and bellowed at the Diva, his voice ricocheting off the walls;

"How many times have I told you the Opera is not made for frog's! If you would be so kind, perhaps you would help Ms.Daae to her feet?"

OOC: Npcing for Meg!

Christine Daae, Meg Giry and Carlotta

BIC: Christine sat with Meg as Carlotta started The Spinning Wheel Song

"Are you sure you're all right?" Meg asked.

Christine nodded. "I'm fine, Meg."

"I wish Carlotta would stop being so jealous of you. That's why she does these things you know."

"Oh don't be ridiculous, Meg."

Meg took Christine's hands. "Just you wait. One day Carlotta will be screaming her voice out there so much that she won't be able to perform. And when that happens you will get a chance to show them what Marguerite should really sound like."

It was at that moment during a musical interlude that a booming voice could be heard.

Carlotta looked up from sitting at her spinning wheel. "Who dares to interrupt my scene?" She asked defiantly.

One of the ballet girls on stage put her hands to her mouth. "It's the Phantom!"

Christine and Meg's heads turned toward the front.

Carlotta sat up from her stool. "FROG? Who are you calling FROG?"

The Phantom smiled at Carlotta's stupidity and blind dermination to thwart his plan of propelling Christine Daae into stardom. Every corner he turned with her, La Carlotta was there, sitting on her lily leaf, ready to use her poison tongue to spread lies about his Angel.

"I am calling a frog madam! You are a toad - and I will not allow you to sing in my Opera any longer!"

It was purposterous - and rather unfair he thought, that he should have to endure her awful shrill tunes, carrying down the passageways of the Opera, keeping Erik up all morning, as his sleeping pattern was different to that of one who lives with sunlight - he was nocturnal. It made it easier for him to watch over Christine when she slept, and he could go days, weeks without sleep.

He watched from a gap in the curtains, awaiting Carlotta's sarcastic reply, wondering how many threats he'd have to make today to make her storm off the stage once more.

OOC: Npcing Meg!

Carlotta, Christine Daae, Madame Giry, Meg Giry

BIC: "What?" Carlotta asked as her voice rose in pitch and anger. "You dare call the great La Carlotta a TOAD?!" She stomped toward the edge of the stage. "I shall not stand here and be insulted!" She turned to the director. "YOU may forget about me singing until that....that MAN apologizes to me! Until that time I shall be in my dressing room!" She then turned and headed off stage.

"But...but Madame Carlotta!" The director called after her. "We still need to..." He sighed and then turned to those on stage. "Well, after our little...interlude I believe we shall take a brief rest." He then clapped his hands.

Meg turned to Christine. "Can you stand?"

"I think so." Christine replied as she slowly rose to her feet.

One the ballet girls came running to Meg. "Meg, we found another door!"

"Another door?" Christine asked with a puzzled look.

Meg nodded. "Joseph Buquet said there were other entrances that lead to below the opera house." She paused. "He said....that's where HE lives." She took Christine's hand. "Come on, Christine you know that we have been exploring this opera house forever. Let's go see what this door is."

Christine paused. "Well, we aren't exactly rehearsing right now so...I guess it would be all right." She followed Meg offstage.

Madame Giry watched as the ballet girls and Meg and Christine went backstage. Whenever they were together it was never anything good. She was about to follow when she was stopped by the conductor.

"Madame Giry I wondered if we might go through the ballet part to make certain our rhythms are correct?"

"Of...of course." Madame Giry replied.

************************************

Meg followed the ballet girls as they made their way down various stairs. It was becoming harder and harder to see due to the darkness. As they walked there was a sudden noise and she let go of Christine's hand.

Christine tried her best to keep up with Meg but lost her between the darkness and the maze of turns. "Meg?" She then stopped walking. "Meg!" She felt a chill run down her spine and rubbed her shoulders nervously. "Meg? Is...is that you?"

Feeling almost dissapointed that La Carlotta had given up without a fight, Erik turned to his left in box 5, ready to go back to sleep, but instead his sensitive hearing picked up a young woman informing another of one of his passages.

That blasted Boquet!

Still to his left, he bent down and lifted the trap door that lay silent in his box, descending down the steep stairs, and planning his route to frighten the little girls away from his passages.

He used his hearing and sense of touch to make his way to the giggling and whispers that came from ahead, seeing as the way was pitch black, and he did not want to alert them of his precense, by lighting a torch.

He smiled and laughed to himself when he heard someone, a young woman, call for help in the darkness. But, as he progressed and the calling grew louder, he realised who it was, and he slowed his pace, though breathing heavily. He could not let her see him - otherwise his cover as an angel would be blown.

Instead, thinking fast, he remained a good distance away from Christine, and using the degree of certain corners, projected his voice so it bounced of every wall, making it impossisble to judge where the original voice had came from;

"The exit, you will find, is to your right. Go now, and the rats will not have you as their supper"

OOC: Npcing Meg and Joseph Boquet!

Christine Daae, Madame Giry, Meg Giry, Joseph Boquet

BIC: Christine looked around the dark area with wide eyes as she heard the strange voice. "H..hello? Is...is somebody there?" She then gasped and let out a scream as she felt something grab her hand.

"This way." The voice replied before bringing a lantern to it's face.

"M...Monsuier Boquet?" Christine asked as she took in a relieved breath.

Boquet led her to the right toward the passageway that Erik had told her. "It is not wise to be warranding this area of the opera house alone, Mademoiselle."

"I...I was following my friend and we got separated." Christine replied.

Boquet huffed as he led them slowly up the stairs. "You mean you were venturing into areas of the opera house that are forbidden. Take some advice from me, mademoiselle. Do not let others convince you to come down here. I would hate to see something terrible happen to you."

"Thank...thank you, Monsuier Boquet."

Boquet leaned toward her slightly. "There are shadows here in the opera house, mademoiselle. And those shadows can envelop you if you are not careful." He watched as Christine shivered slightly and smiled. "Now, go to your friends."

Christine quickly moved away from Boquet and ran over to Meg.

"Christine, what happened? Where did you go?"

"I...I got separated somehow. But then I heard this...."

"Ballet dancers on stage at once!" Madame Giry yelled before stomping her cane.

"Will you be ok?" Meg asked.

Christine nodded. "Go ahead. The last thing you want to do is anger your mother." She then watched as Meg went to join the other ballet dancers.

As she stood against part of the set backstage, she began to wonder....what was that strange voice she had heard down below? Was it Joseph Boquet just trying to play a trick on her? Or was it something else?

Erik snarled as he saw Boquet escort Christine from the cellars of the Opera. He was nothing but a rat, wanting to envelop the women, it was not the shadows that took advantage of young ballet dancers. Clenching his fists, he made towards the light of the wings of the stage, climbing the trap door and belnding into the dark stage curtains. He caught a glimpse of the handyman, Boquet, and made his way towards the man, following him as he made his way above the stage.

Walking across certain platforms, and climbing up and down ropes, Boquet soon knew he was being pursued - and sped his pace up, looking behind to Erik and gasping. The music of the ballet seemed to cater for his mood, speeding up as he enclosed Boquet, making it impossible for the man to move from The Phantom's grasp.

Leaping on top of him, Erik brought his left gloved hand to his throat, and the right moving into his blazer, pulling out the freshly roped Punjab lassoe and forcing it around the mans neck, tugging it tighter and tighter around his throat, a small grin playing on Erik's lip as he did so.

"Your only mistake was having eyes to gawp, and hands to grop, Monsieour," Erik whispered into Boquets ear, who was trying to beat his hands off, clasping for the last few moments of life, prolonging his unevitable death.

Satisfied the lassoe was secure, he tied the end to the platforms wooden floor and heaved Boquet to his feet and shoved him off the end of the platform, and leant over the banister as he saw the ballet dancers shriek from fright and disguist as the deceased perverse man was hanged, from the platform he spent his life on.

OOC: Npcing Meg again!

Christine Daae, Madame Giry and Meg Giry

Christine watched and smiled from the wings as her friend Meg Giry gracefully moved across the stage. She truly did envy that Meg could dance ballet for it was something she could never personally do. Her talent lay in singing and not in dance. But despite those differences, she and Meg were best friends and never thought anything of it.

But suddenly the peacefulness and beauty of the ballet was broken as something dropped down from the ceiling. Screams erupted from the dancers as they struggled to get away from the body that was dangling from the platform.

"The Phantom!" One of the ballet girls shrieked.

Meg ran over to Christine and they held each other tightly.

Madame Giry walked closer to where the body lay dangling. "It's Joseph Boquet."

Christine swallowed remembering how he had just helped her escape from the cellars of the opera house. "No." She whispered.

Monsuier Reyer, the conductor tried to establish order. "All...all right everyone just calm down." He turned to Madame Giry. "Madame, go find the managers and...and everyone else head back to your dressing rooms and do not come out until it is safe. Make certain that no one is left alone and stay together!"

Madame Giry gestured to the girls. "You heard what Monsier Reyer said. Now go. Quickly now!"

The ballet girls hurried quickly away from the stage and to their dressing rooms.

Meg led Christine toward the dressing room area as well and went into Christine's dressing room. "Poor Joseph Boquet. Mother did warn that anyone who spoke about the opera ghost would..." She put her hand to her mouth realizing she had just said something herself.

"Meg, do you truly believe that an opera ghost did this?"

"Who else? It's obvious that we got too close to his..." Meg then noticed Christine's facial expression. "Christine, what is it?"

Christine stood in front of her dressing table. "When I was lost down in the cellars....I heard a strange voice telling me how to get out. When I saw Monsuier Boquet appear out of the darkness I just assumed that it was him." She paused. "He helped me out of the cellars Meg and now he's...."

"Christine, you should lie down for you look terribly pale." She helped Christine to a couch. "Now just rest. I'm here and no one is going to hurt you." She patted her friend's hand reassuringly.

Erik, leaving the above stage, moved the dormitories, walking to Christine's room, praying nobody would be in there with her also. He sighed, a sigh of depression as he heard hushed talking from the other side of the oak door. Her best companion, Megan Giry, he was certain it was her. She seemed an annoying ferret to Erik, but seeing as she was the daughter of Madame Giry - he would have to hold his tongue, and keep his hand away from his Punjab Lassoe.

Moving to the right, he entered a spare room, tapping away at the bricks and walking along yet another hidden passage, one that would lead to Christine's dressing room. Not in front of her mirror, no, but towards the heating system along that corridor alone.

After a few minutes, he faced the heating box - simple enough to break he thought, laughing deeply to himself. He took his shoe off, and beat the metal box, that held the coals, and breaking the tubes that spiralled off from the box. Ten minutes or so, and the corridors ballet dancers would be screaming for the men to fix the system - and blonde as Megan was, she would not be able to resist gossip - by that time his little Christine might be asleep.

OOC: More NPCs!

Christine Daae, Meg Giry and Jammes

BIC: Meg watched as Christine's eyes started to grow heavy. She was glad that her friend was slowly succumbing to her weariness. She knew that Christine had been through a lot due to Carlotta's hatred toward her. And the fact that Carlotta had bribed some of the stage hands to cause trouble for Christine didn't help either. If only what happened to Joseph Boquet would happen to La Carlotta...well maybe not kill her just...

Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a ruckus outside in the hallway. She rose from Christine's side and headed to the door, opening it. She spied one of the ballerinas. "Jammes? What is it?"

"It's the opera ghost!" Jammes replied. "He's trying to freeze us out!"

"What?"

"Come on, let's go see what's happening!" Jammes replied excitedly. "Carlotta should be screaming her head off at any second!"

Meg looked back at Christine whose eyes were completely closed. "Well...I guess Christine will be ok here by herself for a few minutes." She turned back to Jammes. "Let's go!" She then followed her, closing the door behind her and leaving Christine alone.

Erik moving himself to the front of Christine's reversed mirror, he positioned himself in a comfortable position, and waiting at least ten minutes before he acted, just to make sure Megan Giry would not disturb him. The door to her dressing room, already locked, candles blown out - Erik had thought of everything. Stepping lightly on the mechanism that would spin the mirror, he would wait for the oppurtune moment to reverse it, hoping to take Christine to his lair. He felt it was time, that he had waited enough years for Christine to see him. It had to end now, before anybody sped in and stole her from him, right under his masked nose. He called softly to her;

"Christine...Christine" His voice just a light whisper of a tune.

Christine Daae

Christine stirred and slowly opened her eyes upon hearing a voice. "Meg?" As she rose, she noticed that her dressing room was enveloped in complete darkness. Fear started to grip her as she sat on the edge of the couch. "Meg?" She whispered again into the darkness. "Where are you?"

Rising from the couch, she walked over to the dressing room door and found it mysteriously locked. She tried to turn the handle again only to find it stuck in place. Now she was starting to become more frightened. "Meg!" She called through the door as she continued to pull on the handle desperately.

Erik hovered by the mirror, unsure of what to do next. It was never often he doubted his actions, but then again - he had never cared about something so precious as Christine. Should he call to her again, she would know for certain he was not a figmant of her imagination. Hopefully she would relax, but she had had a busy day - and it could prove to be an unwise decision to present himself to her. He rested his hands on the mirror, leaning against, still making sure he didn't lean against the mechanism of the opening of the mirror.

Only doing what he did best - Erik sang. Knowing that Christine loved her romance, he sang from Romeo and Juliet, in hope to soften her, or at least to stop screaming for her companion.

Christine Daae

OOC: NPCing Meg!

BIC: "Meg!" Christine cried as she started to pound on the door furiously. She then heard a distant singing voice and her pounding slowly ceased. She instantly recognized it as the madrigal from Romeo et Juliette and slowly turned away from the door. And she also recognized the singing voice of Romeo as well.

My angel?

She closed her eyes and took in breaths as she listened to the angelic voice.

From down the hallway, Meg had eventually heard the cries of her best friend and ran back toward her dressing room. "Christine!" After what had just happened to Joseph Boquet she was afraid that the same thing might happen to Christine. She finally reached the door and knocked. "Christine?"

As the madrigal continued, Christine opened her eyes and began to sing, answering her Romeo.

Calmez vos craintes!
A ces étreintes
Du pèlerin prosterné
Les saintes même,
Pourvue qu'il aime
Ont d'avance pardonné;

Meg heard the singing and stopped. "Christine?" She then tried to open the door but found it locked. "Christine, open the door!"

Christine continued to sing as she slowly raised her arms into the air, her soprano voice filling the room. She then turned and started to walk toward the mirror as if she were in a trance.

A mixture of both panic and ecstacy shot through Erik's frame, rendering him useless in developing his plan. Christine, the little darling, was not even aware her friend wanted to get into the dressing room, but Erik was well aware of the danger that could unfold, should Christine leave with him now.

Almost in tears, he tried to fight himself from singing to her once more. He had seen men, strong men, addicted to substances, powder and liquid that could enter your body and transform you into a monster - incapable of anything and everything. This must be what it felt like, to fight something that was so wrong, yet felt so right. He knew it was wrong, terribly wrong for him to think of Christine in this manner - he was meant to adore her with fathers eyes, not a lovers. Yet, here he was, singing romantic notes, his body one with hers.

Clenching his fists, so his palms bled freely, Erik ceased his singing, and went to bite his lip, shutting his eyes and breathing heavily. He backed away from the mirror, as Christine stood in front of it, singing, wanting to see him. But, Erik would not allow it.

He backed away slowly, and finally turned around, his back to The Angel of Beauty, leaving her room of peace and light, grace - and return to his hole of darkness to take comfort in.

Christine Daae and Meg Giry

OOC: More Npcing of Meg!

Christine did not hear the sounds of her paniced friend behind her nor did she hear her poundings on the door. No, all she heard was the lyrical tenor voice of her angel as he beckoned to her. It was as if they truly were Romeo and Juliet meeting each other for the first time. But instead of them touching hands, they were touching souls to one another.

As she continued to sing, she placed her hand on the mirror, it's coldness sending electricity through her. And then as suddenly as it had begun....the singing stopped. She still remained in front of the mirror with a blank expression.

Meg gasped as the dressing room door suddenly mysteriously opened by itself. But then she immediately ran over to Christine who was still standing in front of the mirror. "Christine?" Getting no response, she touched her hands which were ice cold. "Christine, can you hear me?"

Christine blinked her eyes and her clouded mind cleared. "Meg?" She then felt a dizziness overcome her and slumped to the floor unconscious.

"Christine!" Meg cried as she bent down to her side. "Christine, please wake up!" She turned her head toward the door. "Help! Someone please come quickly!"

Collette Andre

Collette, hearing the shouts for help, dropped her bags in the hallway and ran towards the voice shouting. Grabbing a blanket, she placed it around Christine, hoping it would warm the unconcious girl up. "Is there anything I can do to help?" She asked the other girl, knowing that the blanket probably wasn't going to be enough to wake Christine up.

I hope someone else comes, like the ballet mistress, Madame Giry. Collette thought. "What caused her to be like this?" Collette gestured to the unconcious girl. "Was she not feeling well?"

Erik, upon hearing the annoying twittering of the ballet dancers, spun on his heel once more, and returned to behind the mirror. His head twitched, in a defiant gesture, unwilling to believe Christine had fainted. A young woman had draped a blanket around her frail shoulders, in hope to warm her up, ridding her of the ghostly complexion that had bewitched her into unconsiousness.

There was very little he could do now, what with one more woman being present in the room. Should it have just been Megan, he would have ordered her out, and taken care of Christine himself. But, it was impossible that both of them would leave. Instead he ran to the heating box again, using his keen sight to repair the damage he had caused previously. With the heating working once more, Christine would regain consiousness more quickly.

Returning to the mirror, he crouched and waited, watching as they fussed over his Angel. All he wanted was to walk to her, acting as the noble lover, sweeping her into his warm, gentle loving arms, and holding her, giving up his body heat just for her. Why, he would commit genecide just to see a twitch of a smile on her beautiful face. But instead, those two ballet dancers looked over her, Erik just a shadow in the Opera House.

Meg Giry, Madame Giry, Christine Daae

OOC: Npcing Meg for now! And I'm splitting these two scenes up as it will be easier posting wise :D

BIC: Meg looked back at the strange girl before her. "I...I don't know what made her like this but...her hands are ice cold. I merely left her for a few minutes. And then I heard this mysterious voice from outside the door and..."

"That is quite enough." Madame Giry replied as she stood in the doorway. She had heard Meg's cries for help and immediately come backstage. She moved over to Christine and touched her forehead. "Where did you find her?" Not getting an answer she glared at Meg. "I said where did you find her? Do you not have ears to hear with?"

Meg was surprised at her mother's stern voice. "I...I found her standing in front of the mirror. But...before that the dressing room door was locked and I couldn't..."

"You do not need to say anymore." Madame Giry replied as she picked up Christine and set her unconscious body on the couch. "She shall be fine now. Now go back with the others and assure them that the cries they heard were not of importance."

"But...."

Madame Giry once again glared at Meg. "I said go....AT ONCE. Madamoiselle Daae shall be quite safe in my care."

Meg sighed. "Yes, mother."

"Good and take this young lady with you. After I attend to this matter with Madamoislle Daae, I shall attend to her. And Meg....be careful of what you say. The last thing we would wish is for another event such as what occurred to Monsuier Boquet."

"Yes, mother." Meg replied before leading Collette out of the dressing room.

As soon as the young girls had left, Madame Giry glanced around the dressing room. Leaving Christine's side, she walked over to the candles that had blown out and preceeded to light them. She then walked over to the mirror and shivered as a cold chill swept through her. "You're here.....aren't you?" She whispered.

Erik stood, leaning his head against the mirror, and reached into his coat, beginning to fiddle with his pocket watch. Madame Giry, the dear lady, never missed a trick, never overlooked a shadow.

"I am always here, always in the Opera, always by her side." He spoke softly, his voice seductive enough to make sure that Madame Giry would not be angry with him. It was her, afterall, that ensured he maintaned his regular box, and his 20,000 franks, which he was still to recieve.

He was always by Christine's side, Madame Giry knew this as well as Christine, he would never leave, never, untill his dying day. And Erik had no reason to die without confessing his love to his Angel.

We would never leave.

Jammes

OOC: Npcing Jammes here to keep things moving! Jubilee you can post as Meg whenever you need to!

BIC: Meg still found it strange how she and Collette had been hurried out of Christine's dressing room. What a great first impression for this poor new girl in the opera house. She was just about to say something to her, when Jammes came running down the hall.

"It's him!" Jammes cried. "I saw him!"

"Saw who?" One of the other ballet dancers asked.

"The opera ghost!" Jammes replied. "I saw him backstage! He had eyes of fire just like Joseph Boquet said!"

All the other ballet dancers gasped.

Jammes then glanced at the strange girl next to Meg. "Who are you?"

Madame Giry

Madame Giry knew that he was near. "You must be careful, Erik." She replied in a not so stern voice. "There are those in this opera house that would not understand your reasoning. You take a risk by letting others hear your voice in this dressing room with her. I can easily take care of my daughter but there are others I can not. They believe there is an opera ghost here and that is all they need know." She paused. "Are you....responsible for the death of Joseph Boquet? For I did see the punjab lasso around his neck."

The Persian

The Persian stopped at the front doors of the Opera, and strained his ears for the noises coming from the east.

"It's him!"

The Persian lowered his head, pinching the skin between his eyes. Why couldn't Erik just keep it down? Why did he have to stir things up in the Opera House? Taking his hand from the doorknob, he made his way down a corridor, following the noises of screaming, giggling girls.

He lightly touched a blonde girl on the shoulder, and offered a smile, and a nod to the door other girls were crowded around;

"What happened here?"

Inspector Ledoux

OOC: More NPC's here to keep things going and let Meg get a chance to post! :P

BIC: "What has happened here, monsuier is that there has been an unfortunate accident." Inspector Ledoux replied as he appeared to step from the shadows. "Or...some might say a murder depending on how you view it. Monsuier Boquet, the scene shifter was found hanging from what appears to be a rope. Naturally, it was quite upsetting to the young girls who were on stage when it happened. If I might be as much to inquire, monsuier as to who you are and what is your position in this opera house?"

Colette Andre

Turning to Meg, Collette finally got the chance to ask the question that was burning on her mind. "What or who caused her to faint? I've heard some of the others talking about a Phantom."

Collette was scared. Her first day here and she had witnessed an event that scared her very much. What was her father thinking?

Erik smiled, quickly sliding through the mirror while Madame Giry was not looking, knowing and almost hoping to startle her. With he back turned to him, her crept up, and whispered in her ear;

"I Madame? I did not push him. He fell."

Moving back and taking in the fond scent of Christine's dressing room, he chuckled, and walked about the room. No one knew how he appeared, and once he was done talking to someone he could call a companion, no one would know how he disappeared. And that's how Erik liked it.

It felt a bold step for Erik to be in Christine's room. He had never been here longer than ten seconds, enough to deliver the usual rose - but he had grown weary today, of looking through his two-way mirror, and having to watch the situation unfold around him, not being able to torment, to have his fun.

The Persian

The Persian turned around; a look of bewilderment and amusement crossed over on his face. He did not expect an inspector to arrive on the scene so quickly - this only confirming what a hold the Opera Populaire had on Paris.

"Moi?" He asked, an approaching hint of sarcasm creeping up in his voice.

"Why, I inspector, am here on a personal note. Here to visit a... dear companion." He smiled, shaking the inspectors hand firmly and winking.

Jammes, Meg Giry

OOC: More Npcing! We kind of need Meg's input here which is why I am NPCing her

BIC: "Phantom?" Jammes asked before Meg could answer. She looked around apprehensively. "They think that the phantom caused Christine to faint?"

The other ballet girls started to whisper amongst each other.

"I...I heard his voice inside the dressing room." Meg whispered.

Jammes turned to look at her. "You did?" She asked in an excited voice. "Well, tell us! Tell us what you heard!"

"Yes! Yes! Tell us!" The other ballet girls replied as they gathered around Meg.

"I...I was outside Christine's dressing room door when I heard a voice singing."

"He sings!" Jammes cried. "The phantom sings!"

"I...I tried to get the door open but it was locked." Meg continued. "And I heard Christine singing and...."

Jammes gasped. "She was singing with the phantom?"

"And then...the door suddenly opened and I found Christine standing in front of the mirror. I touched her hands and they were ice cold."

"He touched her!"Jammes cried. "Poor Christine!"

Meg looked at Collette. "Then Christine fainted and this young girl was there to help me." She could see Collette's apprehensive face. "Jammes, we should stop talking about this. Mademoiselle, I fear that you have walked into a strange world here. It is not our intent to frighten you. Can you tell us...are you here to help backstage? Or...or a cleaner perhaps?"

Jammes and the other ballet girls studied Collette closely as they waited for an answer.

OOC: Just a tidbit that Andre and Firmin have not taken over as managers yet. It will be forthcoming though! Then again if Collette were to tell the ballet girls it could be interesting gossip wise lol

Madame Giry

Madame Giry could feel her heart racing as heard the whisper in her ear. The dressing room was still partially dark and it did not help her fear whatsoever. She knew that he was in the room now. But she could not see him as he blended in with the shadows on the wall.

"Erik, I...I am not here to cause you anger. I know the reason that Joseph Buquet is dead. I have warned him about speaking of you but he would not listen. I understand your reasons Erik but others shall not. You must....try and remain in your secret place and not come into the opera house. And for your sake you must stay away from Christine."

Collette Andre

"Forgive me. My name is Collette Andre. I came here to audition to be in the ballet troop. I was looking for Madame Giry when I heard you scream." She looked around at the ballet girls staring at her and became even more nervous. She wondered if she should tell the girls about her uncle and his buisiness partner buying the Opera Populair.

"Who or what is this Phantom? I have heard you talk about him, but have no idea who he is."

The Phantom

Erik's eyes flared, his nostrils doing the same as he took in deep and heavy breath's, clenching his fists again and curling his toes in his hard shoes. Women! So infuriating! No, Madame Giry did not want to anger Erik, but she did not want to please him either, both making Erik angry.

"It is not for my sake I seek her in the first place! Why? Why Madame - why should I live my life in the shadows forever? I am a man! A man!" He whispered, not shouting, the obvious reason being that people would hear him, but also because it had more of an effect on people - it seemed to frighten them more than if he were to shout.

"I just want to behave like one now. I want to have a wife, and child, going out on sundays, amusing both in the weekdays. I want to be a man." He added, fighting back the tears as he opened up to the lady.

Inspector Ledoux

"A dear companion?" Ledoux asked. "I see. Well I am afraid monsuier that you have come to the opera house at a bad time. It appears that a scene shifter was found hanging from a platform." He paused. "A Monsuier Buquet. Would you happen to know him, monsuier?"

Jammes

"You came here to audtion for the corps de ballet?" Jammes asked. "If you are to be a part of our group here then you must know." She glanced at the other ballet girls before carefully easing Collette into the girls' dressing room. "The phantom is the opera ghost who haunts the opera house. He wears a long black cloak and has a death's head. Oh and he has a personal box for watching the operas."

"And he gets paid 20,000 francs a month!" Another ballet girl added.

"And he can move through the opera house with no one seeing him!" Another girl replied. "He can hear through the walls!"

"Only Joseph Buquet has actually seen him and he is dead." Jammes replied. "We have seen his shadows but he has never hurt any of us. But...sometimes we find things missing. Joseph Buquet said that he lives somewhere below the opera house beyond the cellars."

"And...and he said that the phantom has no nose and has tight skin and looks like a human skull!" Another girl added.

"Sssh!" Jammes replied. "Remember what happened to Joseph Buquet after he spoke about the phantom."

All the ballet girls looked around the room nervously.

Madame Giry

Madame Giry could not believe what she was hearing. Was she hearing despair from the very same individual who had struck terror in the hearts of people in the Paris Opera over the years? And despair over the young girl, Christine Daae? Who was Christine Daae but a young, innocent girl who merely wished to sing? Why was she so special to him? But now after what she had just heard, she knew the answer....he was in love with her. Christine Daae was loved by the opera ghost.

"I know what you say and I understand. How it must pain you to see others living their lives and having what you want. You...have given Mademoiselle Daae a most exquisite gift in her singing. What do you think shall happen should you reveal yourself to her? Do you believe that she shall....just walk into your arms? She is an innocent girl who knows nothing of love. Do you wish to frighten her? Take her from this world Erik and they shall pursue you."

The Persian

What an inconvinience it was - to have this Inspector question him, and just as he was so close to preventing dear Erik from causing any more hassle to the ballet girls, who clearly were somehow enjoying this attention.

"I sir? Yes sir, that is who I was here to see. Dead? Impossible. I saw him outside the Opera just this instance-" The Persian lied, false horror written upon his face.

"-I lie to you not, Inspector, he is outside the Opera, right now! See for yourself, I will show you now! I only came inside to use the rest room, and I come in to these lies? Why, it's blasphemy!"

There - job done.

Erik

Erik, feeling both upset and threatened, wondered if it would benefit him to leave now - before he upset or possibly killed Madame Giry.

"Pursue me, Madame? How will they do that when they are dead?" He whispered furiously, meaning each word of his threat.

"I am dying from love Madame, she will soon be a murderer, and no one will be the wiser but you and I. Would it not be better she keeps me alive? And come live with me - so I may lavish her in everything she has ever dreamt of?" He asked, reamaining still in the shadows, keeping an ear out for anyone outside the door listening.

Inspector Ledoux

Ledoux studied The Persian carefully for a moment deducing as to whether he was sincere or not in his words. He decided at this time that he was.

"Well, I am terribly sorry to tell you monsuier but he is indeed dead. As we speak he is being placed onto a stretcher to be taken to the morgue. Should you wish to have proof you may go to the stage yourself." He paused. "So, I am to assume that you knew of Monsuier Buquet? Tell me, monsuier can you think of anyone who would wish harm upon him?"


Madame Giry

"And in turn she may the murderer of you." Madame Giry replied. "Do you not understand that should you choose to come from your place that you risk your life? Your obsession for her shall also be your undoing! You can not kill everyone in this opera house, Erik. And what should happen if Christine does not wish to stay with you? Would you keep her as your prisoner? You can not force someone to love you. She sees you as her teacher and nothing more."

The Persian

Feeling a twang of annoyance, The Persian bowed to the Inspector, sniffing, hoping to look like he was near to tears;

"I am sorry Inspector, but I must leave. I am sorry, Buquet was my one of my most deareast friends. This is some shock to me."

And without another word, he took to the stage, hoping to find Buquet's body, praying that if he inspected the body, he could somehow prove that it was not Erik who had killed him, even though he had a horrible feeling that it was undoubtedly him.

Erik

"A teacher and nothing more..." He repeated, rubbing his chin, and dipping his head in denial. Well, he would just have to make Christine, and everyone for that fact, see that he was not just a teacher! Madame Giry was speaking the truth, he knew that deep within himself, but it did not stop his denial. That wretched denial.

"Madmoiselle Daae needs rest, keep her safe."

And with that, he dissapeared further into the shadows.

Inspector Ledoux and Police

Ledoux nodded. "Of course, monsuier. Thank you for your time. Good day." As he watched The Persian leave, he made a mental note of him. Something told him it would not be the last time he would see this man. And there was still some kind of strangeness about him that he could not place. He would have to remember to mention the appearance of this man to the managers later.

On the stage one of the policeman watched as The Persian bent down to Joseph Buquet's body on the stretcher. "I am sorry monsuier but no one is allowed near that body."


Madame Giry and Christine Daae

Madame Giry looked around the dressing room since it had gone quiet. "Erik?"

She then heard a low moaning from the couch where Christine lay.

Walking over to the couch, she saw Christine slowly open her eyes. "What...what happened?"

"I am afraid that you fainted, mademoiselle." Madame Giry replied as she knelt next to her and touched her forehead. "But it is all right, you are safe now. How are you feeling?"

"A...a little cold."

"Well, you shall warm up once you start moving around. After all, there is still a performance tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Of course." Madame Giry replied. "I shall let Monsuier Debienne and Poligny know that you are fine now. In the meantime, you stay here and rest. And make certain that you do not leave this room. Do you understand? You must not leave here."

Christine looked at her confused. "I....I understand, Madame Giry."

"Good." Madame Giry replied before slowly rising up with the help of her cane. She then turned and gave one last look at Christine before closing the door behind her. "Leave her be, Erik." She murmered. "Do not give in to temptation or it shall be your downfall."

Christine walked over to the fireplace that was in the corner and stood in front of it warming her hands. She slowly felt the warmth spread through her body, rejuvinating her.

The Persian

About to pull the sheet away, to look at the dead mans body, The Persian froze as he heard a stern voice behind him, footsteps soon approaching. He froze and cursed in his native Parisian language. Blast! Something cunning would need to be done, in order to relieve Erik of the crime - for now.

"I... Oh Monsieour!" He cried, gripping onto the man, and enbracing him into a hug, twisting him around so the officers back was to Buquet.

"He was such a good man! Such a kind, and caring man!" The Persian cried, keeping his eyes focused on the stretcher, reaching out and pulling the sheet from the body, still clinging onto the suprised officer.

"What am I to do without him!" He added, trying not to laugh through these ridiculous lies. Tugging at the punjab lassoe from the dead Buquet, only two things passed from his mind. Erik. And how long he could hold the officer in place. Finally loosening the lassoe and having a firm grip on it, he faked a gag, releasing the officer and bending down, making spluttering noises, secretly stashing the rope in his undergarments.

"I'm sorry - I do not know what came over me." He whispered, giving into a wicked smile.

Erik

Moving swiftly through the hidden corridors, Erik ignored Madame Giry exiting Christine's room, leaving her alone, tempting him into the room once more. But, she was right, Madame Giry was alway right, and Erik this time would pay heed to her words.

Making his way down the corridor to his left, he raised his hankerchief to his mouth, coughing as the strong scent of purfume invaded his senses. He was rather sure he was allergic to daffodils, just another reason that made roses all the more beautiful, like his dear Christine.

Of course he could smell purfume because he was approaching La Carlotta's room, just to drop in and give a friendly hello. Stepping into Carlotta's room, no one was in there, as he suspected, and he took this oppurtunity to throw that wretched purfume out of the window, not bothering to look out the window - what did he care if the bottle hit a passer by on the head? It got the job done.

Striding confidently to her dressing room table, he searched through the drawers, pulling out paper and a pen and made his usual threats, which Carlotta insisted on ignoring. This time, he was hoping she would pay him attention;

My dearest Diva,

Growing weary of your performances, as we all are, I am proposing that you retire as the Diva of the Opera, leaving Ms.Daae to triumph in well deserved glory. I shall be attending tonight's performance, and expect not to see you there, Madame Giry will tell the managers you are ill, and need not be disturbed from your dressing room. Ignore these commands, and I promise you will live to regret it.

Also, I have taken the liberty of ridding you of that horrid purfume - daffodils I believe, rather too strong for my taste, and most vile, I have to say it did not agree with me.

Have a pleasant evening,

O.G


Laughing and sealing the envolope, Erik threw the letter on her bed, and exited the room, leaving for the house on the lake - in aid to get ready for the show that evening.