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Antoinette watched them move on to another subject, and that being the problem about La Carlotta. The woman had no understudy, since she had never missed a performance, and no one could sing the part in Hannibal and get decent range. Unless...
Yes, she remembered quite clearly, about a month ago, hearing an odd song coming from the hall that seperated Christine's dressing room from the dormitories of the ballet girls. Christine had been given the dressing room out of Erik's request and without questions the wish had been granted. The old woman knew why Erik had her moved from the common rooms to a personal one. The mirror in the room slid like an Oriental door and the path was the most common way to get down into the fifth cellar where the 'Opera Ghost' resided. Anyhow, Madame Giry had quietly listened through the walls to hear who was singing so wonderfully. It was none other than Christine Daae, having a routine practise with her angel. The young girl didn't know it, but her angel was everything but.
Coming back to the present, Madame Giry again tried interrupting the two Managers as they bickered about refunds and how it would cost them their supportive patron and their jobs.
"Christine Daae," She interjected. "Christine Daae could sing it, messieurs. She has a wonderful tutor, and has been well-taught." Turning away from the men, Antoinette signalled to the young brunette to come up beside her. "Please listen to her voice, messieurs. She is perfect for the part of Alissa." But would she sing it? Antoinette had to ponder that. The girl was not very outgoing, and rather shy. If she could not sing for the managers, she would never become a Prima donna. And both she and Erik wished she would. The woman knew Christine needed something to live for and becoming the next La Carlotta (not literally!) was just the ticket. She knew she'd get a kind thanks from Erik for recommending the dancer to sing.

( HA HA I AM BACK! sorri i havent been on)

Meg wached as this was her first time hearing Christine sing for a long time. "I wonder how good she might have gotten" she thought and waited for her friend to start singing.

~ Monsieur Reyer ~

The director paused when Madame Giry brought up the thought of Christine Daae singing Carlotta's part.

Was the woman mad? Mademoiselle Daae had a lovely enough voice, to be sure- after all, Reyer had had routine testing with each chorus member to make sure they were learning their parts- but there'd never been any spirit there. Now granted, he hadn't called upon her to sing separately for the last three months...

And a tutor? What on earth was going on?

First Carlotta, then the Ghost, and now a chorus girl to sing La Carlotta's part? This was insane.

Oh yes, I am far, far too old for this.

Yet he remained, hoping against hope that maybe Mademoiselle Daae could put enough into her song to play the part successfully.

Please allow one thing to go right today..

(Just a bit of.. moding in here for like a moment so that she can begin singing ^^' We'll do rehearsal all the way through this point, wont' go to the gala until like.. we got a bit more of the rehearsal played out. I stated there would be twists, so go me. X.x;')

Christine walked forward as Monsieur Reyer began conducting, and she began singing, quietly at first, but then to the point that it was more audible, not that it wasn't before. "Think of me.. think of me fondly when we've said goodbye. Remember me once in a while please promise me you'll try, when you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free, if you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me."

She looked around for a moment, "We never said our love was evergreen or as unchanging as the sea, but if you can still remember, stop and think of me. Think of all the things we've shared and seen, don't think about the way things might have been. Think of me, think of me waking silent and resigned. Imagine me, trying to hard to put you from my mind. Recall those days, look back on all those times, think of the things we'll never do, there will never be a day when I won't think of you!"

After this there was a brief instrumental break, and Christine began again right at the next and last verse. "Flowers fade, the fruits of summer fade, they have their season so do we. But please promise me that sometimes you will think.." She did a bit of harmonizing on the of before singing it, "of me!"

Andre stared at her, "It seems to me we've got our Alissa, doesn't it Firmin?" Firmin nodded in agreement. "What is your verdict, Monsieur Reyer?"

(Additional scenes are awesome. Though do forgive me if I offend you, Jurori, but moding but just a little in the beginning. >< wink

((S'okay, MusicAngelChristine. Don't worry about it.))

~Monsieur Reyer ~

The man was stunned.

Never in his career had he heard of someone making so much progress in such a short time. Never had he heard someone go from being a competent singer to one who was... well, who was ready to be the next diva.

Mademoiselle Daae seemed to glow with an inner light when she sang, with a spark he hadn't seen there before. Someone- this mysterious tutor of hers?- had managed to wake some part of her that a person needed in order to sing like this.

Reyer lowered his arms, sagging against his music stand in relief. The gala was saved. There were enough chorus girls; one taking the lead for tonight would not be too big a problem.

When the managers looked to him for his decision concerning Mademoiselle Daae, he immediately nodded. "She will do quite well for tonight, I think," he agreed. "But if this is to be the case, someone needs to get started on that dress. Mademoiselle Daae, I suggest you go to those in charge of costuming right away. We can't have a lead singer if the lead singer isn't dressed properly, can we?" And here Monsieur Reyer gave a small smile and a nod of his head.

"Now, if you don't mind," he added sharply to the managers. "I have rehearsal to give."

With that, he began to bark orders at the orchestra. There was far too much work to do, and very little time in which to do it.

"You really think so? I thank you for your compliments, Desiree" Christine asked and stated to Desiree and smiled, she had gotten the part, or so it seemed by the way Monsieur Reyer was acting, and the managers, also. She shook her head, a small smile still visible on her lips. "I'll go to the people in charge of costumes, see what they can do." She turned around, "I'll be back soon, I promise." She stated before making her way to the costume room where she had begun to be fitted to the dress she would wear at the gala that night, and her hair style, and much more than that. When she was singing, she was more singing for her Angel, her voice was more directed to him than anyone else in the theatre.

Firmin nodded to Monsieur Reyer, "Then we shall leave to go see what other happenings are occuring." And with this, they turned and looked around backstage, seeing some of what was essential and looked at the stagehands who were hurriedly doing their jobs. A full house, yes. Thats what we'll have. With Christine Daae singing the lead, yes! we will! Firmin thought semi-excitedly, he hadn't shown much of his excitement outwardly, but he was pleased to know that they wouldn't have to place refunds for a full house.

((ACK!!! You can't call him Erik yet MusicAngelChristine! At this point you only know him as the Angel of Music.))

She stayed silent as the managers continued vocalizing their doubts about Christine's capability to fill the shoes of La Carlotta, and even Monsieur Reyer looked like he had some doubts about it. It was understood that La Carlotta had been here for three seasons, and she was a favorite amongst the Opera-goers, and even the production was new and so no one had thought of giving her an understudy lest she show up sick. After all, no one needed a Diva onstage sneezing her make-up off. And Carlotta without any... well let's just say in some odd way her face rivalled Erik's.
When Desiree came up behind her to whisper her own little glory about suggestion Christine should sing, the woman almost groaned aloud in aggrivation. This girl had been trying to get herself in the first row ever since the production started. Didn't anyone know Madame Giry was not to be persuaded? Even Meg had to work hard to get where she was!
"I suggest you count your blessings, or you won't have any." She whispered back to the girl, giving her cane a nice tap to the floor. Really, if everyone kept aggrivating her, she'd just as soon tell Monsieur Reyer to cut out the ballet scenes and improvise with whatever they could find that woulds amuse the audience. "Now off with you."
Just as she said that, Christine had quietly begun to sing the aria. Her voice was pure in tone and sound, but there was a waver in the first verse as if she was entirely unsure that she could sing. But, as the song went on, her voice became louder and more confident and soon she was singing like a true Prima Donna. Antoinette gave a small smile toward the girl as she finished, and once again put on her quiet demeanor. Looking to the managers expectantly, she saw they were agreeing that they had found their new Alissa. And while this was a victory for Christine, it most likely only take place tonight. Carlotta would hear of her replacement from one of her fans, and storm back in the next day looking to tear some heads off. She sighed in aggrivation upon thinking that. The woman needed to get a life once in a while.
Turning and patting Christine's shoulder, she told the girl, "You did wonderful Christine. He has taught you well." and gave the girl a kind nod before turning around to the dancers who were still offstage from Carlotta's one-person soap opera. "Alright! There is nothing more to be seen! Get back to work, mam'selles, or none of you will have work!"