The cape was cold at first, as it had been sitting out like everything else in the cave, but quickly warmed her back up. She kept it wrapped tightly around her, eyes fluttering closed as her nose buried into the collar. It smelled overwhelmingly like his bed, like him. Her gardenia scented perfume that had been gifted to her by Monsieur Firmin was clinging stubbornly to her hair, mixing with his masculine scent in such a way that made her insides melt. Christine opened her eyes with a small smile that was hidden by the collar. Part of her hoped that this scent would remain with her if only to allow her a reminder that this was not a dream when she went back above.
He returned with a pair of slippers and she delicately inched her feet inside them. They fit well enough and had much the same effect as his cape. She peered at him over the collar, allowing it to sink below her chin as he looked across the lake. "Thank you, Master." Her toes curled and relaxed as they warmed. She nearly didn't hear him when he spoke again, and she certainly wished that she didn't. Maybe the two men were fools compared to her genius Angel, but even fools would have noticed her absence.
"Already?" She sighed, knowing that no matter how much she whined, he was right. It was time to return to the world above. Her hand slid into his larger one and she stepped closer to him. She gave one more look to the cavern. Cold and uninviting as it was, she felt freer down her than she ever had up there. Nodding firmly, she turned back to him and pulled her shoulders back with a decisiveness she'd never had as a child. "Yes, Master. I will follow where you lead me." Christine smiled at him, waiting patiently and obediently for him to lead her back to the light and away from this dream world he'd stolen her away to.
...and of nothing.
Dantes_river
That's good smile Did you want to do the next scene with the notes? I don't think either of them is actually present, but Erik's notes are and I'm okay with playing whoever you want me to. If not, I'm happy to just skip to the Il Muto scene and have him scare Christine into running to Raoul.
Posted: Fri May 08, 2020 3:23 am
| Erik, the Phantom of the Opera |
"Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.xxx Silently the senses abandon their defenses..."
xxxxxGiving the girl a slight nod at her following his directions, he inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. Good girl. Erik’s giving in to allowing her to meet him hadn’t given her a swelled head in thinking he’d give in to her pleas.
xxxxx”I’m afraid so,” he frowned slightly only to nod once more and lead her back onto the boat. Unlike the trip here, it felt as if the trip back went too fast. Even the flight of stairs leading back to the mirror just slipped by and it was definitely depressing. At least he was able to mask the opening of the mirror through turning slightly to check on the girl’s condition in climbing the damp steps. He’d rather she not know precisely how to return without breaking the mirror quite yet. Even then she’d probably be stuck between thinking this was a dream and not one once he’d left her.
xxxxxReleasing her hand once in her room, he brushed the back of the other gently against her cheek and retrieved his cape. She’d obey him. He couldn’t let paranoia win out, and these others were warned for the last time of the wrath he would bring down upon them if they didn’t follow his instructions. And now to be stern and strict yet gentle and kind to the girl. “You are to see no one except Madame Giry until practices start up. That’s all for now. You’ll hear from me again unless you disobey.” And with that said, he swept back into the foggy shadows within the mirror just to vanish once more behind it. He lingered briefly, a heavy weight in his chest, but there was still much to do. No time to dawdle.
••••••••••••••• Meanwhile... •••••••••••••••
xxxxxThere was no other way to be after both receiving such a note and seeing the headlines of the newspaper to be other than quickfooted. True, the latter was good for the theater in its own way, but the other needed to be addressed. It could be somewhat seen as amusing, but with the accidents and Madame Giry’s various mentions of an opera ghost...
xxxxxSighing briefly as he padded into the theater, Firmin began stripping off his coat with the aid of the men at the door.
xxxxx”’Mystery after gala night,’ it says, ‘Mystery of sopranos flight.’ ‘Mystified, all the papers say, ‘We are mystified. We suspect foul play!' Bad news on soprano scene. First Carlotta, and now Christine. Still, at least, the seats get sold. Gossip’s worth it’s weight in gold.” This said, he began making his way up to meet with Andre.
xxxxx”What a way to run a business. Spare me these unending trials. Half your cast disappears, but the crowd still cheers. Opera! To hell with Gluck and Handel. Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit,” he huffed before finishing the stairs just for Andre to pop up beside him in something of an agitated manner. Jesus Christ, he hadn’t expected such abruptness.
xxxxx”Damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable!”
xxxxx”Andre, please don’t shout,” Firmin interrupted with a brief wave to keep his voice down whilst glancing briefly at the cleaning ladies on the stairs. Stepping around to his other side, he gently pushed Andre to go further them from those that could over hear. “It’s publicity, and the take is vast. Free publicity!”
xxxxx”But we have no cast,” Andre interjected with another brief halt. Unfortunately, Firmin nudged him along once more.
xxxxx”Andre, have you seen the queue? Ah,” the man questioned lowly only to pause himself when he noticed the envelope in his coworker’s hand. Pointing to it, he raised a brow. “It seems you got one too.”
xxxxxNodding slightly, he raised it simply to read out to Firmin. ”’Dear Andre, what a charming gala. Christine was, in a word, sublime. We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left. On that note: The diva's a disaster! Must you cast her when she's seasons past her prime?’”
xxxxxRaising up his own, Firmin read his out to Andre. “Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder; my salary has not been paid. Send it care of the ghost by return of post. P.T.O.” After a brief tap to the back of his hand, he flipped it over it just to narrow his eyes. “No one likes a debter so it's better if my orders are obeyed."
xxxxxLowering it, the duo took in a deep breath and stepped nearer the overhead window. “Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a puerile brain. These are both signed O.G. Who the hell is he? Opera Ghost!”
xxxxx“It is nothing short of shocking.”
xxxxx”He is mocking our position.”
xxxxx“In addition he wants money.”
xxxxx”What a funny apparition.”
xxxxx“To expect a large retainer, nothing plainer. He is clearly quite insane.”
"Slowly, gently, night unfurls it's splendor. xxxGrasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garrish light of day, xxxturn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light and listen to the music of the night."
Mayah Playah
Can’t have Carlotta without calling her a Prima Donna. rofl You may be Raoul (still) alongside Carlotta & Piangi. Seeing as Meg & Madame Giry have short roles in it, I don’t mind covering them along with Firmin & Andre.
The return to the world above passed far too quickly. She kept silent, her displeasure at leaving the peace and calm of his sanctuary evident in every step she took. Despite this, she maintained the pace that he set, her hesitation at leaving his side buried deeply below her obedience. Christine kept her eyes on the ground out of despair and necessity. She nearly tripped a time or two, catching herself with only a scrunch of her nose as an expression. Although she hated to leave his side, the sooner she got out of these slippers, the more comfortable she would be. Her fingers gripped at the cape briefly at the reminder that he would be unseen to her once more. She desperately prayed that this wasn't all just a lovely dream with a tragic ending. She was too caught up in her thoughts to notice the mirror moving and stepped through absently.
The warmth of her room removed the remaining chill once and for all. However, the loss of the cape sent a shiver down her spine. Her eyes gazed longingly into his as he touched her cheek. She nodded at his instruction. "Yes, Master." Part of her wanted to ask if this included Meg and her other friends in the ballet, but she didn't want to further press the already somber mood. She bowed her head as he vanished from her sight. Christine felt his absence immediately. She exhaled slowly and raised her head to glance around the room in the hopes of catching his form once more. She knew it was useless. He was already gone. Christine nodded to herself firmly before moving towards the vanity where her change of clothes from the night before still sat, folded perfectly beside the flowers that the managers had sent over before her debut. Christine wasted no time, untying her robe and letting it fall to her feet. She set to work removing her corset and tossed it over a chair as she breathed truly deeply for the first time all night.
✸✸✸✸✸✸✸ Meanwhile... ✸✸✸✸✸✸✸
"Where is she?" boomed an interrupting voice. The Vicomte stormed into the theater, his hat in one hand and a letter in the other. His expression, dour and severe, left little to be imagined in regards to his presence. He shook his head at Firmin, stopping when he was nearly three feet away. "Miss Daae. Where is she?" He demanded, looking as if he were several seconds before stomping his foot. "I want an answer and Monsieur, don't argue with me." He held up the letter. "Isn't this the letter you wrote?" Raoul handed the men the letter, shaking his head as he waited for Andre to read it aloud.
"Do not fear for Miss Daae. The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again."
Raoul winced at the possessive tone of the writing. As if a silly letter would keep him from making up for that lost time! He gestured towards them, suddenly feeling a headache forming in the back of his head. "Well if you didn't write it, who did?" He asked, but he too, was interrupted, this time by a screeching female voice.
"Where is he?!" La Carlotta screamed as she and her husband marched into the theater. "Your precious patron, where is he?!" She glared at the Vicomte when he appeared in her line of vision. When she was close enough to him, she shoved a letter into his chest. "I have your letter. A letter which I rather resent!" Her Rs rolled effortlessly as she spat into his face.
Raoul took the letter and denied writing it, shaking his head.
"You didn't send it?" She asked mockingly.
Raoul resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Of course not!"
She pointed at the letter and frowned at him. "You dare to tell me that this is not the letter you sent?"
"And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?"
Raoul removed the note from the envelope, holding it up in the light as he read it aloud. "Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune should you attempt to take her place." He lowered the letter, staring forward as the gears in his head turned. What was happening here? Who was sending all of these notes? And where was Christine?
...and of nothing.
Dantes_river
You have a point lol I'll try not to ham it up too much for Carlotta but I can't make any promises
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 6:57 am
| Erik, the Phantom of the Opera |
"Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.xxx Silently the senses abandon their defenses..."
xxxxxIt hadn’t taken much effort seeing as she already knew of his existence, but Erik had left Madame Giry two notes. The first required her to be certain Christine see no one. The second, however, was to be opened amongst the others who would have gathered by now, especially Andre and Firmin.
••••••••••••••• ... •••••••••••••••
xxxxxTurning towards the booming voice of what could only be Raoul, the two men raised a brow at him.
xxxxx“You mean Carlotta?” Splendidly done, Andre! At the mention of Christine, Firmin’s eye twitched slightly. Of course he’d ask about her.
xxxxx”Well how should we know? We’re in the dark, sir!” It took no effort to say seeing as it was complete honesty. Upon having the letter thrust at the duo, they glanced at each other. It was then that Andre opened it and spoke the content aloud.
xxxxx”What’s all this nonsense? What is it we are said to have wrote - written?” Upon having the letter thrust at him, Andre opened the letter and read its content aloud. Then came Carlotta with Piangi storming in like a hurricane.
xxxxx”And did you write it?” And there it was, the Viscount denying the letter much like they had to Raoul. “What’s going on here?”
xxxxxSomeone was threatening even their main attraction! “Far too many notes for my taste, and most of them about Christine! All we’ve heard since we came is Miss Daae’s name.” Ah! Madame Giry along with that Meg girl?
xxxxx”Miss Daae has returned,” the elder woman informed with her hands held at waist level, both covering the letter. Before the men could interrupt, she shook her head. “I thought it best she was alone. She will see no one.”
xxxxx”She needed some rest,” the mousy girl chirped in interruption earning a sharp look from the corner of the elder woman’s eye.
xxxxx”Here. I have a note,” the Madame stated coolly as she held out the note to Andre and Firmin. The two snatched the note as soon as it was offered, and even as Firmin read it aloud, there was a heavy weight that came with every word.
xxxxx”Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature detailing how my theater is to be run. You have ignored my orders, but I shall give you one last chance. Christine Daae has returned to you, and I am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of Il Muto, you will therefore cast Carlotta as the page boy, and put Miss Daae in the role of Countess. The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal. The role of the page boy is silent which makes my casting, in a word, ideal. I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box 5 which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant. -O.G.”
xxxxxAndre and Firmin glanced at each other ever so briefly before raising their gaze towards Raoul, Carlotta, Piangi, Meg and Madame Giry. Oh how tense the air was with yet another threat being made, and one that linked up all of the notes in wording all the way to the handwriting itself. Who was sending these, and in such a short time?
"Slowly, gently, night unfurls it's splendor. xxxGrasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garrish light of day, xxxturn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light and listen to the music of the night."
Mayah Playah
Carlotta does that all on her own. wink Shortening the Notes/Prima Donna is best though seeing as it’s long and wishy-washy in who is saying what... Eh. Just blend ‘em all in together at this point since that’s where the song goes from here on. We’ll be here forever if we don’t shorthand and blend it.
The diva rolled her eyes as Madame Giry appeared alongside her mousy daughter. Of course, Daae, that little toad! She, of course, reappear just as they were arguing over her. She felt her arm grabbed by Piangi when yet another note was revealed. She and her lover stepped forward, reaching for it. "Will she sing? Will she sing?!" They asked before the note was handed to Firmin.
The small crowd stood in silence as he read to them, listening intently. Raoul, who had needed to restrain himself on the news that Christine had returned, crossed his arms in distaste. When he'd agreed to finance this venture, he had never imagined a Phantom would come with it. Christine was safe, however. That was all that mattered. He mouthed her name, a bittersweet smile on his lips. Carlotta's shriek pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Christine!" She crumpled her note in her fist in her anger. "It's all a ploy to help Christine! I know who sent this!" She charged towards Raoul, venom in her eyes as she harshly poked his chest. "The Victomte, her ilover!"
He scoffed. "Indeed. Can you believe this?"
Carlotta threw the note at his face and signaled for Piangi and her attendants to follow her through the theater to collect the last of her things. As if she'd let that... that... that amateur near any of her precious belongings! "Oh traditori! Oh mentatori!" She fell onto a chaise, her hand to her forehead in a dramatic fashion. The men bustled around her, attempting to feed her anything they could to convince her to stay, including the lead role.
She placed her hand on her lover's arm and stood. "It's useless trying to appease me! You're only saying this to please me!" She and her lover began to walk away, her free hand clutching at her chest. "Signor, e vero? Non! Non, non voglio udire! Lasciatemi morire, oh padre mio! Dio! You have rebuked me!" She spun suddenly and stomped a foot closer to the men following her. "You have replaced me!" She grabbed a pillow and threw it aimlessly towards the men. "Abbandonata! Deseredata!"
Outside of the room, stagehands and actors began to venture towards the screeching in confusion and, for those who recognized La Carlotta's high Cs, unmitigated delight.
She paused in her rantings as she came face to face with a poster of herself. Carlotta raised a hand to touch the frame, her lower lip trembling as her tantrum began to subside. "Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue?" She waited a moment before finally turning back to the managers.
...and of nothing.
Dantes_river
Alright, got it. I'll try to speed it up without messing up the flow too much, but I can't promise much. I'm super out of practice writing after that two-year break sweatdrop
Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 5:59 am
| Erik, the Phantom of the Opera |
"Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.xxx Silently the senses abandon their defenses..."
xxxxx••••••••••••••• ... •••••••••••••••
xxxxxAnd there it was. Carlotta’s most sublime fit in all their time together. These divas and the insane demands from both them and some phantom. Nope! She was now attempting to leave. That simply couldn’t happen. People adored the foreign tongues with their many accents. Unfortunately enough, the duo seemed only able to flit around the foreign woman attempting to keep her from leaving.
xxxxx”Signora, this is a joke. It changes nothing. Signora, you are our star and always will be. Signora, we don’t take orders.”
xxxxxMaybe they weren’t saying the words well enough to keep her here. “Miss Daae will be playing the pageboy, the silent role. Carlotta will be playing the lead.” Ugh. She just had to keep up the dramatic act.
xxxxx”Who scorn his words beware to those. The angel sees, the angel knows,” Madame Giry attempted to warn the others only to be drowned out by the loud diva and the owners trying to appease her. Even the Viscount was distracted by his own talk about Christine. The fools the lot of them. At least she tried she supposed. It wasn’t as if... She’d rather not finish that thought. “This hour will bring your darkest fears. The angel knows, the angel hears.”
xxxxxWhat new surprises lie in store for the Opera Populaire?
xxxxx”Your public needs you,” Firmin stated much like a fact as if to capture her attention.
xxxxx”We need you too.” They definitely had to fluff up the diva’s appeal to the world. It was then she questioned if they’d rather have Christine, both waving dismissively.
xxxxx”Signora, no! The world wants you. Prima Donna, first lady of the stage. Your devotees are on their knees to implore you. Can you bow out when they’re shouting your name? Think of how they all adore you. Prima Donna, enchant us once again. Think of your muse, and of the queues ‘round the theater. Can you deny us the triumphs in store? Sing, Prima Donna, once more,” the duo hummed with a low bow before her. Soon enough, they had turned Carlotta away from the exit and began making her opt for staying instead.
"Slowly, gently, night unfurls it's splendor. xxxGrasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garrish light of day, xxxturn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light and listen to the music of the night."
Mayah Playah
That is so very true... And now Carlotta’s being fluffed up as the diva she is.
She allowed the men to tug her further into the theater, a reluctant smile on her face. Carlotta knew they only flattered her deeply in an attempt to keep her. Yet her ache for fame and recognition far outweighed her pride and she nodded slowly.
"Prima Donna, your song shall live again!" She handed her muff to her attendant, letting herself be lead through the theater. "You took a snub, but there's a public that needs you. Think of their cry of undying support! Follow where the limelight leads you." Her hand gestured for her attendants to begin returning her things to her dressing room. Her maid removed her hat as she lounged once again on the chaise and whistled for a stagehand to bring the Il Muto dress out of the costume rooms for Carlotta to be fitted into.
Meanwhile, Raoul was walking through the theater, desperate to find Christine. He held in his hand his note, followed closely by his valet, and giving him instructions as they walked. "Orders! Warnings! Lunatic demands!" He opened the door to the manager's office and slammed it shut. "For her sake, I must see these demands are rejected." He sat at the desk, pen to paper as he began writing out his own list of demands for the managers to protect Christine in this new event, but there was little he could do other than insist that they kept an eye on the situation.
✸✸✸✸✸✸✸ Sometime later... ✸✸✸✸✸✸✸
Carlotta ran her hands down the front of the dress, hair tall and swaying as she turned to face the managers and her lover with a sickly sweet smile on her face. "Prima donna, your song shall never die. You'll sing again and to unending ovation. Think how you'll shine in that final encore! Sing, Prima Donna, once more!" She waved her hand towards the men, her maid rushing forward and handing them yet another paper of her necessary needs in order to perform, although what she necessarily needed with a new diamond necklace and matching earrings was unclear. However, La Carlotta wasn't in the way of explaining herself.
The source of all of this mess sat in the collective dressing room where all the other ballet girls prepared for performances. Her hands were behind her head, twisting her hair back into a thick French braid and tying it off with a piece of ribbon. Exhaling slowly, she glanced upwards. "Master, I followed your every instruction and yet I return here once more." She shook her head, struggling to remain hopeful that he would do right by her. La Carlotta had mistreated her this whole while and nothing was done to retaliate or protect her. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed quietly for several seconds before a hand appeared on her shoulder. Christine looked up to find Meg's apologetic expression. They shared a silent conversation before Christine nodded and stood. It was time to return to the stage. They walked slowly, ignoring all of the eyes on her, including those of the lecherous stagehand Joseph Buquet, and stood somberly amongst the whole of the theater population.
"Light up the stage with that age old rapport! Sing, Prima Donna, once more!"
...and of nothing.
Dantes_river
Her character arc always made me a little bit bothered. I mean, yeah she's a horrid diva. However, she's still a person with a job that she excels at and that's all she's trying to do.
Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 12:38 am
| Erik, the Phantom of the Opera |
"Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.xxx Silently the senses abandon their defenses..."
xxxxxIt worked! Carlotta was staying, her motions to her aides and maids speaking volumes in and of itself. They just had to keep up the act to keep her there. Even if it was odd demands, the duo would do it simply to keep her. When not keeping up with her demands, Andre and Firmin spoke amidst themselves of their suspicions about Christine having slept with the Viscount.
xxxxxCarlotta would be pleased with the managers giving in to her every need. Even the matching diamond necklace and earrings! Il Muto would play out superbly if they kept her happy, and there was no ghost that’d keep them from playing this out as it should be.
xxxxxMadame Giry, as always, watched over the theater and those within. She handled quite a bit for one woman, caring for the girls in the ballet to costumes. As things played out, she was certain Christine was perhaps a little upset at the angel having remained silent throughout all of this drama. With Meg at her side, she merely led the girl to the stage after a brief ushering gesture. She probably should have said something to brush her sorrows away, but that would go against his wishes too.
xxxxx”Light up the stage with that age old rapport. Sing, Prima Donna, once more!” The whole theater population had to take a deep breath before the end, but they managed. And after a brief clap of the hands from the managers, people ran off to get into their proper places. It was showtime!
xxxxxErik, however, was in a foul mood at his instructions being ignored. Really? After all he’d done for the Opera Populaire, they would ignore him now? He couldn’t even bring himself to express how much care he’d placed in the girl, the mere mention of the consequences that would come with the decisions made by the managers, without fearing he’d explode into a fit of rage. No. Even the little circus monkey music box he had in his dark little home couldn’t make him feel any better.
xxxxxMight as well finish up the last details of that. He just had to remind himself of a single simple word: accident. The phantom caused accidents to occur in order to maintain jurisdiction of his theater. Remaining hidden within the shadows, he carefully took to mixing up a very specific concoction of a temporary means for La Carlotta’s little spritzer. He just had to wait for that maid to set it down nearer the stage and clear the area a bit so he could mix it in. So much to do, so little time, and he’d be unable to sit in Box Five the entire time. He supposed he’d have to scare them from near the chandelier as he made them see that he was so very real.
"Slowly, gently, night unfurls it's splendor. xxxGrasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garrish light of day, xxxturn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light and listen to the music of the night."
Mayah Playah
That is also very true. She just made me cringe so I never cared for her.
Raoul and his valet entered the theater and began the climb towards their private box. He stumbled across the managers and nodded politely before holding up his hand to stop any attempt at conversation. "Gentlemen, if you would care to take your seats? I shall be sitting in Box Five, as there are no other seats available." He laughed and waved once more, glancing over to his valet who had a very worried look on his face. "Renbock, there's nothing to worry about. The spectre has no way of entering the theater without us knowing. Now remove that expression. We have an opera to enjoy." He waited for the door to their box to open and stepped inside just as the orchestra began to strike up and three painted performers came out from behind the curtain to sing about the wickedness of the lady of the house.
The curtain opened fully to reveal the heavily made-up La Carlotta, lounging on a chaise and examining the "youth" nearby. Despite her jealousy in regards to Christine, she acted decently well through it and almost looked pleased. She reached out a hand to delicately caress Christine's shoulder and ran her hand over the low ponytail of thick blonde curls. "Serafimo, your disguise is perfect!" She yanked her hand away at the sound of a knock. "Why, who can this be?"
"Gentle wife, admit your loving husband!" croaked the old man as he hunched over and stepped slowly inside. "My love! I am called to England on affairs of state and must leave you with your new maid." He wheezed a perverse laugh and looked over to Christine, who was now bent over and waggling her behind as she dusted beneath the chaise lounge. Christine fought back a mad blush of shame and stood upright with her fists on her hips. "Though I would happily take the maid with me!"
Carlotta scrunched her nose in distaste and held up her fan to her mouth. "The old fool is leaving!" She stood to meet the man's outstretched hand and sang her goodbyes as he did.
He bowed once more, then turned to shuffle out of the near area. He stopped near the false door and faced the audience to reveal his plan as Carlotta turned to Christine once more.
"Serafimo, away with this pretense! You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence." She moved her hands upwards so Christine could grab her waist and covered their faces with her fan as they pretended to kiss, using her foot to kick away the skirt that the blonde had torn away. Christine leaned back and grinned widely with her fists once more on her hips. "Poor fool, he makes me laugh! Time I tried to get a better, better half!" She chirped a laugh, letting Christine spin her. "Poor fool, he doesn't know! If he knew the truth he'd never ever go!"
...and of nothing.
Dantes_river
Yeeeeah, that shrill high C of hers always did kinda rub me the wrong way sweatdrop I forgot, are we ever going to have Christine find out Erik's name?
Posted: Wed May 13, 2020 2:22 am
| Erik, the Phantom of the Opera |
"Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.xxx Silently the senses abandon their defenses..."
xxxxxToo easy. The slightly heavyset woman hurriedly set down the little glass spritzer and floated nearer the stage so if La Carlotta snapped her fingers, she could jump into action. Erik gingerly picked the bottle up and pulled it closer. It took a few seconds to remove the lid, but once he had, he made sure to pour in his little concoction without so much as a drip to be heard.
xxxxxHaving replaced the lid and reset the bottle into place without making it slosh in any noticeable manner, he then took to his usual walks amongst the shadows. It was when he noticed he had originally started his way to Box Five that his irritation returned to his consciousness with a vengeance and he redirected himself upstairs. Stupid little newbies ruining his theater this way! It was his and they were simply the face for the public to see. How hard was it to follow simple instructions? He practically drew them a picture!
xxxxxStepping out of complete shadow and into the glittering lights from the chandelier did precisely what Erik knew it would: temporarily blinded him and made him cringe simultaneously. Too much time in the darkness had apparently turned him into a vampire. True, he had tons of candles, but candlelight was so very different from this.
xxxxxBlinking away the dots in his vision, he peered down over the edge to see how the play was going. La Carlotta and Piangi were twirling a few times upon the stage at this point making him roll his eyes. What were they, peacocks? Leaning slightly against the rail, his gaze watched as the story progressed a bit. The more he listened, however, the more he felt like cringing.
xxxxxLa Carlotta was good, no doubt, and if she’d been humble and obedient like Christine, he wouldn’t mind helping her bring it out. Unfortunately, she was far too self-involved and needy for that to happen. Her acting was indeed like that of a peacock, and rather depressing in his eyes too. It was time for this to end before he opted to leap down onto the stage just to strangle her, and Christine shouldn’t have to suffer this nightmare much longer.
xxxxxStanding upright once more, he briefly straightened out his jacket while taking in a deep breath. He did want to interrupt the wail of that banshee and those other performers after all, and what better way to interrupt than make his voice boom whilst openly expressing just how pissed he was. ”Did I not instruct that Box Five was to be left empty?”
"Slowly, gently, night unfurls it's splendor. xxxGrasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garrish light of day, xxxturn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light and listen to the music of the night."
Mayah Playah
I don’t think we ever actually said if or when. Maybe during the gap between the Past the Point Of No Return & Raoul coming to “save” Christine Erik could be seething in silent rage & she asks to attempt settling his anger? Or maybe when Erik’s supposed to have shooed them away, to forget everything about him, & Christine gives him her (gaudy) engagement ring?
The entire theater shook at his harsh question, the chandelier quivering precariously above the audience members who stared up and glanced around to find the source of the angry voice. It echoed all around them and made it too difficult to point out which direction it actually came from, but Raoul stood nonetheless. He didn't know where the creature was, but he knew who it was. He gestured to the managers and to his valet who handed him his gloves as the Vicomte waited for the Phantom to speak again. He needed to be ready to sprint to Christine's side should things move in a threatening direction.
On the stage, Christine stepped back and reached behind her for Meg's arm as if she were preparing to sink to the floor beneath them. "It's him," she breathed as Meg cried out that the Phantom of the Opera was their attacker. "I know it. It's him." Her lips pressed tightly together in worry. He sounded more enraged than she'd ever heard, presumably because of the actions of the managers.
Her wrist was tightly grasped by Carlotta, who dragged her back to the center stage. She dug her nails into Christine's skin and glared openly at her before releasing her. "Your part is silent, little toad." She opened her fan and waved it towards the conductor, a false smile quickly appearing on her face. It faded as his strong tone echoed throughout the theater once more. She tensed and swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in the back of her throat and gestured for her attendant to come towards her. The maid rushed onto the stage, hesitantly pausing only once as the audience stared at her. She raised an ornate glass bottle to La Carlotta's open mouth and sprayed twice. "Why- why you spray on my chin every time?" She waited for two more sprays, trilled a collection of a few notes, then nodded and waved the woman away.
Her smile returned and she batted her eyes at the conductor. "Maestro, de capo, per favore." She wiggled her head from side to side to bring herself back to her part and away from the threatening tone of the so-called Phantom fo the Opera. "Serafimo, away with this pre... tense." The audience laughed as she reached to toss away Christine's tearaway skirt, forgetting momentarily that it was already off and away. Carlotta grit her teeth in frustration. "You cannot speak, but kiss me in my-
CROAK!"
Her hand shook in front of her chest as the shock registered in her eyes. The music continued cheerfully, her gaze darting back and forth. "Poor fool, he makes me laugh. Hahahahaha!" Carlotta sang cautiously and much less confidently before. She was afraid that if she lent any more weight to her tone, that she would make the sound once more. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to matter. She began the mocking laughter once again. "Ha! -
CROAK!
Ha! -
CROAK!"
She screamed and croaked as she ran offstage, the audience laughing at her public humiliation.
Christine, silent throughout all of this, lowered her head in thought when Carlotta finally ran away. She knew this was his doing. The Angel already didn't care for La Carlotta and while she didn't care for the woman either, this was too much. Even as retaliation for taking the part that he had instructed for her to take, it was too much. She looked up and searched the ceiling for his figure, eyes narrowed in focus. In fact, she was focusing on looking for him so intently that she barely noticed her name being said and her arm being grabbed and pulled towards the front of the stage.
...and of nothing.
Dantes_river
I like the former, plus it can add more drama to the big moment where she kisses him and says his name. Okay, let's do that.
Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 6:50 am
| Erik, the Phantom of the Opera |
"Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.xxx Silently the senses abandon their defenses..."
xxxxxUnfortunately enough, Carlotta had a voice that could be heard from a mile away when upset making his eye twitch. Her poor dog was probably in pain most of the time because of her shrill voice when things didn’t go her way. This ended up with him giving a soft snort and muttering, “A toad, Madame? Perhaps it is you who are the toad.”
xxxxxGlancing out from the corner of his eye with a low snicker at the foreign woman’s sudden croaking when she tried to pick back up on the performance, he slid back through the doors enshrouded in shadow and onto the dark catwalks where a certain gentleman lurked. Buquet. He’d never really cared for the man, but his mannerisms were just unacceptable by any means. What had started out as the man searching for the owner of the voice that had interrupted the performance soon turned into a lecherous gaze down upon the girls below. Of course he’d be trying to get peeks at things that only needed to be shared between married lovers. The young girls were being stalked by the worst kind of predator to exist: man!
xxxxxEven from where he stood, irritation at the man’s perversion rising to dissipate what mild amusement he got from La Carlotta’s minor mishap, he could hear the managers speaking of starting back up in a set amount of time with Christine playing as the Countess. The audience would be entertained, of course, by the ballet from Act Three. Of course he’d have to deal with more obstacles than was necessary for him to enjoy anything. Such was the life of a phantom angel of music from the fiery pits of Hell.
xxxxxIt was then that Buquet saw him, or more like felt him he supposed. He was pretty positive people felt his presence before ever actually seeing him. Madame Giry had mentioned it on a note to him in what was supposed to be an empty room after all. Seeing that the man was now attempting to flee, Erik used one of his many skills from hiding in the dark and traversing it for so long to stop him. Ugh. The very thought of him having that as a skill just made him feel like a rat.
xxxxxWhat should have been a simple task ended up taking far too long, and was much messier than he’d intended it to be. It’d started off like a game of cat and mouse, but eventually Erik had cut him off and took him down onto the boards of the catwalk by taking his feet out from under him. At having Buquet nearly kick him in the face, his foot merely clipping his jaw, it was as if the red curtains below had turned into a film over Erik’s vision. He got in a few good punches to the man’s face before he wrapped a loose rope around his neck and tightened it to the point even his hands were numb.
xxxxxAfter a slightly audible crunch at the man’s neck snapping, his anger had settled back down into irritation and he noted he’d been holding his breath throughout the final struggle. There’d been too many negative emotions for the day, and rage was the one that seemed to be winning today. At least Christine wouldn’t see this side of him since he’d been avoiding making contact with her since learning of the rebellious decisions of the Viscount and the managers. It would only scare her knowing how far he’d go to protect her, and this pervert wasn’t going to prey upon her, nor anyone else, anymore. She should be at least a little more relieved that he’d made contact in a way through the rose in her dressing room.
xxxxxHe felt himself freeze when his brief moment of blowing a stray hair out of his face exposed Christine’s presence to him just as he was about to shove Buquet’s body off the catwalk and over the stage with his foot. Well damn. Trying to do a good deed of protecting people and you apparently start looking like some kind of murderous psycho.
xxxxx“Christine...”
xxxxxThe very thought of looking like some kind of mass murderer along with the horror on Christine’s face felt like someone had just stabbed him in the chest with a rusty, jagged blade. And there went Buquet’s body over the stage with his slight shifting motion towards the blonde, the shrieks of terror along with the sharp tug of the rope making him bend and shift his attention briefly towards the deceased man only made this moment so much worse for him.
xxxxxIt wasn’t supposed to be like this! Why now?! Why did she come here and have to see him like this? She wasn’t supposed to be here of all places.
"Slowly, gently, night unfurls it's splendor. xxxGrasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garrish light of day, xxxturn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light and listen to the music of the night."
Mayah Playah
It’s decided then! smile Quick and to the point, but now Buquet’s dead and in a violent way. And some people go into the violent rage when they get hit in the face, and with Erik’s wanting to remain hidden behind a mask, I figured he’d enter that kind of rage to make said death violent and somewhat messy which would allow Christine to have time to come across the scuffle and see just how violent Erik can be.
Christine could hardly feel the floor beneath her feet as she was rushed from the stage to the leading lady's dressing room. She gasped when laced into the tight corset and absently wondered aloud when they'd had the time to fit one to her size, hushed by Madame Giry who then brought her attention to the single rose on the vanity. Her fingers delicately brushed over the petals briefly before she picked it up and turned abruptly. This was all his doing. She knew that it was. While she was happy to have the leading role once again that she'd worked so hard for, this wasn't how she'd wanted. La Carlotta was a peacock, sure, but not deserving of the humiliation that she'd suffered. She needed to find him and talk to him. Maybe she didn't have the strength to scold him, yet she knew she would find enough to raise doubts as to his methods. Christine opened her mouth to ask where he was, then closed it. Giry wouldn't know. She needed to find him for herself.
With her cloak covering her half-finished costume, Christine rushed out of the room with the rose in her hand. She heard someone calling her name, but did not turn to find who it was and continued speeding through the backstage. The music of the ballet swelled on the stage and the wood vibrated with the ballerina's steps and jumps. A hand grabbed for her wrist and spun her to face them.
"Christine!" wheezed Raoul, holding tightly to her and bending slightly at the waist as he struggled to catch his breath. "I've been- Jesus- I've been calling for you." He coughed into his other fist and cleared his throat as he stood upright. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
She was about to reply when she heard a nearby dancer gasp to her companion of the shadows on the catwalk. Christine raised her head to look above, her eyes catching the forms of two men. She turned back to Raoul and wrenched her wrist from his grip. "I'm so sorry, Raoul. I promise I will explain later!" She raced towards the steps that would take her up to the catwalk. Christine climbed as quickly as she could, her chest heavy with a tension she wasn't certain she knew the origin of.
Standing at the edge of the catwalk, she now could see exactly who the two shadows were. One was her Master, tall and imposing, and the other was Joseph Buquet. Neither had noticed her yet, too enthralled in their efforts to evade or capture the other. She took several steps forward and gathered the courage to step in, but it was too late. The Phantom had won and taken Buquet's life as his prize. Christine's eye's watered at the loss of life, as wretched as it had been, and tears dripped down her cheeks as the loving and caring image of her Angel was torn to shreds. Her heart stopped when he finally realized that she was there.
She winced as he said her name, her teary gaze fitted firmly on him. "What have you done?" She asked, voice shaky and filled with a fear that she had never felt in his presence before. Christine jumped when the body fell, taking a step back.
The tension between the two of them remained until once again, Raoul's hand wrapped around her arm. She looked to the Vicomte, then returned to stare into the Phantom's eyes as Raoul took in the sight of the rope and the man he'd struggled to believe in until now. He started to tug her away, raising his free hand towards Erik to create more space between them. He urged her to move, but Christine's feet wouldn't move. She sought answers in her Master's gaze, answers that would never come. Christine let out a sob and let the rose fall to the floor of the catwalk. "What have you done?!" she cried, drawing attention to their positions up where they were.
Raoul firmly grasped her other hand and yanked her towards him. "Christine! Come on!"
She glanced over her shoulder at Erik, her lower lip trembling, then nodded and followed him as he rushed her away and several stagehands began to climb up to the catwalk. Even as she and Raoul ran further and up steps to the roof of the Opera Populaire, she knew the Angel would get away from the stagehands and to safety. She hated herself for the relief that gave her.
Alone on the roof, Christine paced over the freshly fallen snow. Her slippers and fairly thin cloak did little to protect her from the cold, but she didn't feel it. Raoul shut the door and tried to calm her down, following her paces. "We can't go back there. His eyes will find me!" Raoul tried to reach for her hand, but she danced out of his reach. "Those eyes that burn..." She raised her hand to her cheek, heat rising at the memory of his eyes on her body. How could she still react to him like this, after seeing him murder someone? What was wrong with her? "I can't escape from him. I never will!"
Raoul went along with her until she was standing at the edge of the roof. She placed her hands on the railing and stared out into the endless night for several seconds before bowing her head. He placed a hand on hers. "There is no Phantom of the Opera." Raoul insisted.
She jerked her head up, turning her hand to grasp Raoul's. "I've been there! To his world of unending night. To a world where the daylight disappears into darkness. Raoul, I've seen him. Can I ever escape that sight?" She pulled at his hand, as though it would make him believe her. Her tears threatened to emerge once more at the memory of that beautiful night. She lowered her head and closed her eyes. "But his voice filled my spirit with a strange sweet sound. In that night, there was music in my mind." She lifted her gaze and turned back to the railing. "And through music, my soul began to soar, and I heard as I've never heard before."
"What you heard was a dream and nothing more," replied Raoul.
She gently removed her hand from his and stepped slowly towards a nearby angel statue. "Yet in his eyes, all the sadness in the world." Christine reached as if to touch it. "Those pleading eyes that both threaten and adore." She tilted her head when Raoul began saying her name again, then stiffened at another ghostly call. "What was that?" Was he...
The Victome came up close to Christine and wrapped his arms around her waist in a comforting embrace. "No more talk of darkness. Forget these wide-eyed fears. I'm here, nothing can harm you. My words will warm and calm you." He gently moved her to face him again, a kind smile on his handsome face. "Let me be your freedom. Let daylight dry your tears. I'm here, with you, beside you, to guard you and to guide you." He began to lean in for a kiss.
Christine leaned away, unsure of what she wanted from Raoul. Protection from this new danger, yes, but did she really want to be with him? He was a friend who loved her and she loved him very much in return, but her heart was already full of desire for someone else. She took a deep breath. Raoul was safe, she reminded herself. The Phantom was not. Her decision, although not entirely a certain one, was made.
"Say you need me with you now and always. Promise me that all you say is true." She placed her hands on his chest and pressed gently, but did not push him away. "That's all I ask of you."
He nodded and touched her cheek with the backs of his fingers lovingly. "Let me be your shelter. Let me be your light. You're safe, no one will find you. Your fears are far behind you." Taking both of her hands, he started to step backward. "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Let me lead you from your solitude! Say you need me with you here, beside you." He stopped, smiling softly at her. "Anywhere you go, let me go too. Christine, that's all I ask of you."
She let him move closer and wrap his arms around her, allowing herself to feel safe and secure in his familiarity. "Say you love me," she whispered.
"You know I do."
She smiled and let him lean in again. "Love me. That's all I ask of you." He kissed her soundly and although she didn't feel the same sparks as she did when Erik touched her, Christine let herself sink into his arms. She was safe. She knew she was. The kiss ended and she licked her lips. “I must go. They’ll wonder where I am.” She said awkwardly, starting to pull away but caught by his love-sick hold. “Come with me, Raoul?” She may as well. He wasn’t about to let her go anytime soon.
“Christine, I love you,” He replied dreamily as she tugged him back to the door to return to the stage. She laughed at his answer and shook her head as they went through the door. She wasn’t much of an expert in men, but even she wasn’t a stranger with the silliness of a man in love.
...and of nothing.
Dantes_river
Alright, I like it. Once you have him overhear Christine and Raoul, swear vengeance, and bring the chandelier down, we can timeskip to Act II.
Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 9:39 am
| Erik, the Phantom of the Opera |
"Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination.xxx Silently the senses abandon their defenses..."
xxxxx“Christine,” the shadows seemed to breathe out as Erik remained tucked into the shadow of the statue. Jesus Christ! He’d never felt this out of breath before, and even then, he couldn’t bring himself to step out into Raoul’s sight to confront him and explain what Christine had seen. By the time he’d finally found some kind of courage, not to mention air that wasn’t so labored, the duo were already heading back inside.
xxxxxStepping out from behind the statue and onto the freshly fallen snow on the rooftop, Erik took a moment to let everything settle in. Christine had run off to Raoul when she caught him killing Buquet. Well, just after he’d killed him, but that wasn’t really the point. Unfortunately enough, by the time he’d reached the rooftop, Christine was already telling the Viscount de Chagny of having been in his lair. And then they spoke of it. Love. Ah. So that’s what it was. That was what had changed.
xxxxx“I gave you my music, made your song take wing. And now, how you’ve repaid me, denied me and betrayed me. He was bound to love you when he heard you sing, Christine,” he hummed softly, sorrow laced into every word. Upon speaking her name, he raised the rose that’d been discarded to eye level just for a tear to streak down his face along with the ghost of their love song. After crushing the red bud only having just begun to bloom in his hand, his sorrow decided to mix with his hate and anger. Chunking it off of the rooftop, his hand swiping the tear away when he pulled it back, he turned on his heel to face the door. If that’s how they wanted to play, then let the games begin.
xxxxx“You will curse the day you did not do all that the phantom asked of you!” Let the whole world know that this phantom was not to be denied.
xxxxxMaking his way back down the dark corridors that he lived in, he had one last task for the opera house aside from traumatizing people with a perverse creature being murdered. They wanted a performance to bring down the house? Let the phantom of the opera give them a helping hand.
xxxxxBy the time he was done, the chandelier would have fallen and Erik would already be enroute to work on what was likely going to be his greatest work. It needed to be completed for those incompetent people and given some hands on instructions since they couldn’t piece two and two together.
•••••••••• Several Months Later... ••••••••••
xxxxxIt had been many a night since he’d even made his presence known to the surface world, and he was certain that even Madame Giry was worried about what the next accident would be in the theater after such a long silence since Buquet’s death and the collapse of the chandelier. Erik, however, was no longer going to focus on trivial things like accidents. It was time to get personal with the ones that thought they ran the theater. This upcoming masquerade was the perfect time to do so.
xxxxxWithin this time he’d been away, Erik had passed through shadow several times simply to keep up with the happenings, but the rest of the time was spent on his latest opera. Occasionally, after blowing out many candles, he’d even lay in his bed listening to the music box that had brought him comfort before he’d even met Christine as he rested. One couldn’t stay awake forever after all.
xxxxxNow that the masquerade was upon them, however, his finished opera was ready for the managers to begin preparing for as the next performance of the people.
********** Meanwhile... **********
xxxxxAndre and Firmin, both dressed to the tee for the masquerade, showed up to the door and greeted one another. The phantom seemed to have vanished from the opera house entirely, and they were content with the lack of his threatening presence. It could only be a joyous occasion now that he was no longer around making absurd demands. Time to put on a show, and an elegant one what with the new and improved chandelier from that last disaster.
"Slowly, gently, night unfurls it's splendor. xxxGrasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garrish light of day, xxxturn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light and listen to the music of the night."
Mayah Playah
I think, in order to keep the stage version of Christine’s not wanting to perform but keeping the film version of Why So Silent, I‘ll have Erik still send out the three final notes. The ones to Firmin and Andre about the cast and orchestra, and the one given to Madame Giry as the final warning/mention of there being worse things than a shattered chandelier. Carlotta and Piangi still having their tantrum of course. Your thoughts?
As the revelers danced and chattered excitedly about the party, a couple entered the ballroom. Christine, dressed in blues, pinks, and silver stars, smiled excitedly despite herself. She was nervous to be back in the theater after all these months. Her nights at Raoul's ancestral home were filled with nightmares of the man she'd once revered so deeply. She found herself standing at the edge of that catwalk and watching him as she murdered Buquet before turning and advancing towards her. It had taken Raoul himself rousing her to get her to stop shaking.
However, Christine had not yet told Raoul what occurred after the Phantom reached her in her dreams. She wasn't shaking from fear of him; she shook because of her desire for him. Despite all that she'd seen, Christine still felt very deeply for her master and thus was very conflicted. The chain around her neck burned as a reminder. She touched it gently, attempting to ground herself. It was a betrayal of everything he'd asked of her. Mabe this was a bad idea.
Seeing the doubt arise on Christine's face, Raoul excused them and pulled her aside. "Christine, what is it?" He asked, looking down at the necklace that she was still touching. In a sudden and uncharacteristically observant moment, he knew what this was all about. "He's been gone for months, Christine. He can't hurt you now."
She looked away, then decidedly forced a smile onto her face and lifted the ring between them. "Think of it, a secret engagement. Look, your future bride!" Christine tried to change the conversation with the wonderful news, but Raoul was wise to her ways and changed tactics.
"But why is it secret? What have we to hide?" he urged. "It's an engagement, not a crime." He raised a hand to touch her cheek and leaned in to kiss her. She turned her head away to further conceal their new identities as fiances. His chest tightened painfully. Christine had said yes to him when he proposed to her, yet she remained so distant. He told himself it was because of her trauma, that she was still filled with fear that the monster would find out and wreak further havoc on their lives, but she turned away from him even when they were safe and away from prying eyes. He loved Christine more than he knew what to do with, but did she feel the same?
She quieted his doubts with a sweet smile and a chaste kiss to his cheek. "Let's not argue." He repeated after her, nodding in defeat as she started to pull him towards the dance crowd. "You will understand in time." They settled into an easy waltz. Occasionally, they came across other dancing couples that they knew. This included Carlotta and Piangi, the managers and their wives, and even Meg and one of the ensemble dancers. She chatted with them before they whirled away. In her effort to distract Raoul, she forgot to tuck away the ring that dangled on her chain. It was a large and noticeable monstrosity of diamonds, silver, and gold. Raoul had proposed with it not long ago, claiming that it was a family heirloom and that life was too short for two people in love to not be married. It wasn't exactly the proposal of her dreams and the ring was definitely not the ring of her dreams, but she accepted nonetheless. Raoul wasn't the man she secretly wanted, but he was kind, loving, and had kept her safe all these months. He could take care of her for the rest of her life. If her father were alive, he'd be thrilled with the match. At least she could take comfort in that.
The crowd was more than she was used to after having spent months in mostly isolation at Raoul's home, but she was grateful for the loud noises and the multitude of people. They kept her from having to continue explaining herself to Raoul. She could never tell him the true extent of her feelings for the Phantom. He wouldn't understand. No one ever would. Even she didn't. These months of isolation had, however, allowed her to ascertain at least one definite truth about her feelings.
She loved him. God help her, she loved him. Although she did love Raoul, it was a much simpler one built off of her youthful crush from childhood. Her love for her master was much more complex and more adult than she'd ever expected love to be as a child. Caught up in her thoughts and buried deep in the crowd, Christine didn't notice a familiar presence in the ballroom.
...and of nothing.
Dantes_river
That sounds good to me. In the stage version, it takes place in the manager's office and she runs off at the end to visit her father's grave to try and find some guidance. I think we should add a little more to the graveyard scene to bring more turmoil to Christine and her attempts to choose between them, maybe even have him make her doubt her perception of his actions on the catwalk. Then just as she starts to let herself feel for him again, Raoul pops up and shenanigans ensue. Thoughts?
