Welcome to Gaia! ::

((You two were great! Fuoko makes a wonderful and intelligent Raoul. I had a hunch that you would be good for the part, and it seems to have paid off.))


Most nights Erik arrived in the middle of the first act, but tonight he had decided to arrive early so that he may see what fool had decided to occupy his private box. He had heard most of the exchange between the Vicomte and Antoinette. When the man had begun speaking in a lower voice he'd had to press his ear against the wall to catch everything that he said. Perhaps it would have been better if he had not listened to that portion of the conversation.

Immediately he stuffed his fist into his mouth to keep from screaming out in rage. What did that frilly little aristocrat know about anything? He'd never been put in a cage like some filthy animal and displayed as a freak. He'd never had people condemn him as a monster and even try to kill him simply because of the way his face looked. Those laws of society that he spoke so highly of had never applied to him when it would have been to his benefit, so why should they apply to him any more when they would only be to his detriment? I didn't ask to be born looking like this! he mentally screamed as those familiar faces frozen in fear began appearing in his mind.

Usually they would send him into one of his dark depressions, but now as he saw them he was only further infuriated. They all thought he was a monster just because God had decided that it would be a great joke to give him a face like Hel's ((that's not a misspelling)). If you wish to condemn me, Monsieur, then allow me to first show you how much of a monster I can truly be.

With a new plot slowly forming in his mind, Erik departed from the column to find a new place from which he could watch the performance. If he was going to make his point to the managers he needed to do it tonight. Restoring his influence over the opera house had to come before any personal vendetta. He needed to reclaim his power over the management if he ever hoped to get anything achieved for Christine or for himself.

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((Yes, we love teh Raoul. Just not as much as Erik. XD))

Antoinette felt frustrated and the feeling of being watched was not helping. Apparently Erik was around somewhere. Like a Mother who always knew where their child was in the house, she could tell when Erik moved past in the shadows or crouched nearby in the darkness. She wouldn't look for him though. She supposed he was stomping off, mumbling under his breath curses to the managers and their idiocy for ignoring the rules he had set long before them.

She heard Raoul's last words to her and it only made her more wary of the young man at that very moment. "But to what kind of end is still what we have yet to configure, Monsieur Le Vicomte." She responded darkly, drawing the curtain so that she may not see his face for the rest of the hours he would sit in there. The boy had no idea what he was getting himself into, fooling about with Christine even in innocence. Sometimes Erik was worse than Hell itself.

When the curtains were tightly drawn so that no one would disturb the Viscount, Antoinette stepped away to see if any of the other boxkeepers needed help with fetching drinks or extra furniture for their pompous occupants for the night. Occasionally they ended up with a rude fellow and his lady of the evening in either Box 1 or 3. They were the cheapest of the box seats since they didn't have all that great a view and were often sold last minute to a desperate couple. You see, most aristocrasy did not come to the Opera Garnier to see opera. They came to be seen going to the opera and that alone rose your status in the high society.

Antoinette helped serve brandy for a few minutes before deciding maybe her own little guest might like a sip of the amber intoxication. Going up the steps she heard a very familiar voice that made her steps quicken. Peeking into Box 5 was her little Marguerite* in her maid's costume. What on earth was she doing away from the stage? Did she not know she was needed once the curtain went up?

Grasping the tiny blonde girl's shoulder, Antoinette pulled her away before peeking her own head to give a quick apology to the Viscount for such a disturbance. When that was done she turned back to her daughter, as stern look making its way into her already frowning face.

"What have I told you about leaving the stage when a performance is nigh?" She smoothed a few ruffled strands of hair before sighing tiredly. "My little Meg, what is it that you need? There must a reason why you are away from the stage."

(( *Marguerite: I've heard some people use that as Meg's full name))

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Staying very deliberately in the darkest areas of the catwalks away from all of the stagehands and scene-shifters, Erik stared down at the stage below him with an unreadable expression on the visible portion of his face. It was impossible to tell what thoughts might be raging within his mind as he stared at the only barely controlled chaos occuring behind the curtains. Slowly a wicked smirk twisted his malformed lips as his eyes fell upon La Carlotta. "Sing, Prima Donna, once more..." he sang quietly in a mocking voice as he swayed back and forth on his heels, "but only once."

Lifting his gaze from the stage, his eyes swept over the nearby area. His abnormally good vision saw just as clearly in the extremely dim light surrounding him as anyone else saw in broad daylight. There was nobody nearby, but he shrank further into the shadows just to make certain that he was not discovered by anyone. The last thing he needed was for someone to spot him and begin causing a fuss. He was especially careful to keep an eye on Buquet's position. As ugly as his head was, Erik was rather fond of keeping it on his shoulders.

All he needed to do was keep his position hidden until he found the proper moment to take his revenge upon the arrogant and conceited woman. She and the fool managers would learn that in this opera house his word was law. His demands would be met whether they wanted to do as he said or not. "La Carlotta shall stand as an example to all who try to defy me. That includes you as well, Monsieur le Vicomte."

Meg nodded. She went off to her dressing room. She saw some thing that night though. It had scared her. It made her envy Christine.

I saw a man.....................

She reaplied the make up and went to see if Carlotta was ready.

Meg, thinking Carlotta was nice deep down inside, complimented her.

" You look very glamourous Signora. I love your make up Signora Carlotta"

She curtsied and left trying to find Christine.