Welcome to Gaia! ::

Raoul's voice fell on deaf ears as he called out for her. Her eyes transfixed on her Angel, her head building with thoughts as she lifted her hand to take his. She felt her heartbeat quicken, it trying to burst through her chest as she stepped forward as she took his hand. She breathed calmly, however, her breathing was not ragged from the excitement. She took controlled and deep breaths as she now stood, hand in hand with her Angel. She stared into his eyes, watching him quietly.

((I remember, very well. -Grin-))

She began singing as he lead her, her eyes watching him and she smiled as she started the song her mind was conducting, their strange duet. "In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came. That voice which calls to me and speaks my name.. and do I dream again, for now I find the Phantom of the Opera is there-- inside my mind." She looked around her for a moment at the damp passageway.

~Monsieur Reyer ~

The director followed Firmin's lead, wondering at his own surprise that one of the new managers was so quick to ask him about the "inner workings" of the Opera Populaire. Reyer had a feeling that knew very well where Monsieur Firmin was leadiing up to.

"Inner workings can always be treacherous waters to navigate, especially when one is new," Reyer said carefully, after blinking in surprise at what Monsieur Firmin had said. "And I can quite understand your concern; the Opera Populaire has always been unpredictable. Alas, for those of us with a love for normality, it is a tradition for life about here to be so."

How Monsieur Reyer would have loved to discuss the Opera Ghost with this man. Monsieur Firmin seemed to be in his full capacities at the moment, amid the gaiety and celebration following the successful gala.

But after decades of working under this roof, the director knew that if he valued his job, he would keep his mouth shut. He wasn't certain about his life, but had a feeling that that, too, would be on the line should he attempt to assist the managers in any way other than the Opera Ghost instructed the staff to do.

So it was with a hopeless sigh that he cast his eyes about the room, searching for a way to change the subject without appearing to. "Speaking of unpredictable, I must warn you of La Carlotta, though no doubt you already understand her nature. Our leading soprano of five seasons is quite skilled at getting what she wants. She will not be pleased to have had a chorus girl- especially a brilliant one- take over for her." He kept his voice low, attempting to keep the stagehands from hearing. For, as much as he admitted to Monsieur Firmin and himself that Christine had a gift, he did not want the girl to start growing an ego too large for her to hold.

~Monsieur Reyer~

The director almost allowed a sigh of relief to escape his lips, but managed to suppress it. Monsieur Firmin had thankfully turned his attention to other matters.

And privately, he agreed with the manager. Where was Mademoiselle Daae? He hadn't seen her since her performance; surely she would be out here, amidst the celebrations with her friends? Certainly, she was a shy one, but knowing some of the young lady's friends, Reyer knew that she could be drawn out of her shell with only a minimal amount of coaxing.

Monsieur Reyer returned the smile that Firmin had sent his way, then sensing that perhaps the manager had no interest in a man who had no intention of giving anything away, subtly moved back from him. "Forgive me, Monsieur, for keeping you from your patrons on such a night of triumph for you. Perhaps I may have the pleasure of speaking with you again?"

With a polite nod, he started to make his way through the crowds.

Madame Giry had slipped away shortly after Erik told her to do so. She'd just gotten down the hall to enter the side of the theatre when the young patron had gone toward Christine's room. She was sure he'd be upset when the door would be found locked, but it didn't matter. Erik did what Erik wanted. In a sense he was like a spoiled child. Only, instead of a little boy who wanted candy or a new toy, he was a grown man pining for a woman who thought him the Angel of Music.
Antoinette moved slowly through the theatre down into another hall that led to the costume room and farther down the stairs to the ballet dormitories. She could hear the after party going on backstage and almost wished she could go back there and down an entire bottle of brandy on her own. However she supressed the uncharacteristic urge if only for her daughter's sake. If that girl saw her Mother drinking it would upset her. Meg was still young and impressionable.
"Have all the girls turned in their costumes?" She asked one of the costume wenches who was currently trying to sew a button back on Piangi's costume. The man had popped a button again. Really, he needed to lose some of that weight. She could not imagine how the man got around with such a large figure.
"Everyone but Christine." The snaggle-toothed woman replied tartly, biting with one of her few teeth at the thread she'd been using on the needle. "Normally that girl's the first to turn her costume in." Antoinette nodded. Although, she couldn't say anything of what Mademoiselle Daae was doing now. All she knew was she was with Erik. And with him, anything could happen.
"She was tired. Nearly fainted onstage, you know." Antoinette replied calmly as she turned to leave. "I'll get her costume from her room in the morning and have it down here as soon as I get it."
"Thank you, Mother Giry. We'll need to re-size the bust anyhow when La Carlotta comes back. The woman is oddly shaped. Then again, so is that Piangi. All Italians do is eat." Antoinette left the woman to her ranting, climbing the stairs slowly to reach the ballet dorms.

((Ah, I see..))

Eyes wandered everywhere, she truly was the curious type. She looked back to him as he began singing. Truly mesmerized, she watched him still in awe and wonder, a slight smile apparent. "Those who have seen your face draw back in fear, I am the mask you wear.." She continued, again her eyes wandering. This place was truly different than any she encountered.

Her eyes traced over the walls, back to him, to the walls, in front of them both, and then finally stopped looking around and stared at him for the time being.

((-Looks at Elven Foxx and divepounces-))

(We will use the original last verse. I'm going to agree with you on that. -Looks at the clock- Have to take my medicine in 4 hours -Quiver-)

Entranced with their song, her voice rose with his as they sang together, "Your spirit and my voice in one combined, The Phantom of the Opera is there-- Inside my mind." Looking at him still, she felt her heartbeat pick up in its beating, it threatening to burst through her chest at any given moment.

((Now you got me into doing the lyrics apart from the dialogue and writing.))

"Were both in you.."

She paused before singing with him again, again looking around her. A smile formed on her lips as she allowed her eyes to wander. All that mattered was this strange new world she was in and her Angel, right now. It was strangely beautiful, really.

"And in this labyrinth where night is blind, the Phantom of the Opera is here-- inside my mind.."

((Geh.. I think I need to continue writing in my journal and add a chapter to my phanphic to get rid of most of my writers block))