Renaissance du Fantôme ~ IC ~

[julia]

Let us begin our story where story after story is told. A place where the arts have been displayed by generations of actors and musicians, and have been enjoyed by all who enter. The theater, is where we begin our story. There are many folks here as we start, seeing actors, actresses, musicians, and the crew scrambling to get things into place, memorize lines and actions.

This place looks brand new, and really, it is. Years ago, this place was burned by a man whom was previously thought to be only a myth. In a desperate and love stricken rage, he cut the chandelier from the ceiling, causing the stage, seats, and eventually the whole theater to be alive with hot, engulfing flames that destroyed the theater. People who lived in the area and had memories of the theater then made a huge effort to rebuild and restore the building to its previous glory.

Now, as the first show is getting prepared for a full house, no one could have predicted that the man who lived in the theater to return, expecting what he had always been provided. He wanted his box left alone, wanted his pay, and wanted to see the theater used as it should. Each of the actors in the play, as well as crew, musicians, and the managers received the same letter on their desks and vanities.

Welcome,
It is a pleasure to find you find you here, having watched the restoration
after the fire destroyed it. You do seem to have a love of the arts, just as I
do. It has been years since I've been in this building, and I do hope
that I won't need to resort to my old, gruesome ways. That would be a
shame, no? The theater is yours to use, so long as my requests are kept in
mind and followed.

Sincerely,
...........The Phantom

With that, the Phantom of the Opera would watch to see whom would listen to him. He had the blood of men on his hands, and he didn't want fresh stains. Sitting in the rafters above the stage, Erik, the phantom, watched the pandemonium take place.

[Major Ursa]

“Sacha? Miss Sacha?” An older woman called out to her, so Sacha Lachance set down the stack of books and smiled warmly at her. She was in her usual reserved garb, though if one cared to pay enough attention to detail, they would have noticed her hair tied up into a neater, tighter bun.

“Yes, can I help you Madame Bellamy?”

Madame Bellamy, smiled back, though she usually avoided doing so since it tightened up the skin of her face…making her middle-age wrinkles show, “I heard you have a new romance novel in? Can I…?”

Sacha mentally face palmed, but of course! Madame Bellamy loved to read the library’s collection of romance novels, and even took the time to borrow some of the more…haaah…risqué novels as well. The librarian herself didn’t have such tastes, but that was irrelevant at the moment. Looking over another pile of books, she gave the woman a sheepish look, “I’ll see if I can find it, but I really must be going soon to the theatre—”

“Again? How can you afford a living as a librarian and theatre patron…oh, I see…” The woman sudden had a strange smile on her face.

“See? What do you see?” Sacha continued to paw through her once neat piles of books, creating disarray on the table.

“You must have a lover, surely he pays so you can see so many performances.”

“I’m just lucky to have some money coming in…” The librarian’s eyebrows shot up on her face, but she continued to search through the pile till…“Ah ha! Here it is.” The book was underneath another. She handed over the book and quickly began to help the older woman out of the building as she locked up, ignoring some more commentary. Seeing Sacha Lachance’s blatant disinterest, Madame Bellamy left with her new library book. Pushing a hand in her pocket, Sacha pulled out a die she had pocketed the other night and smiled knowingly, “Lucky? Luck has nothing and everything to do with it.”

[ladybella]

Luc walked with a spring in his step this morning as he took the steps to the opera house two at a time. It was early to be there, but he couldn't wait anymore. He hummed a light tune through his lips as he walked, opening the door for himself and again stood in the foray staring at the beautiful opera house that he was co-managing. Before he became too lost in thought, Luc shook himself and headed for his office nodding politely at the cleaning women as he passed them. He could hear some of the crew getting ready for the production tonight, the busy atmosphere adding to the excitement of the already too excited young manager.
Luc let himself into his office and shrugged off his coat, hanging it by the door and walked around to sit in his office chair. His eyes landed on a small envelope, one that he hadn't remembered leaving on his desk before departing the previous night. He stared at it curiously for a minute then, deciding it was probably a note from the other manager or a thank you from someone for something he was unaware he had done he picked it up and pulled out the note inside to read it.

Welcome,
It is a pleasure to find you find you here, having watched the restoration after the fire destroyed it. You do seem to have a love of the arts, just as I do. It has been years since I've been in this building, and I do hope that I won't need to resort to my old, gruesome ways. That would be a shame, no? The theater is yours to use, so long as my requests are kept in mind and followed.
Sincerely,
...........The Phantom

Luc leaned back against his chair, staring at his door. He looked back down to the note, noting the perfect calligraphy and subtle but not too subtle threats in the very diplomatic way. He drummed his fingers on the wooden top of his desk and then suddenly stood up, the note in hand and headed to the theater where he walked up the stairs and let himself into box five and sat down, looking at the empty stage. He rested his elbow on the railing and his chin in his hand, lost in thought.


Valerie had been awake since before the sun, sitting in her tiny living room with her instrument going over spots that she wasn't comfortable with in tonights composition. She swayed with the music, loosing herself and found that she was no longer looking at the notes, instead she found herself staring at the name of the piece with rapt attention, as if the entire piece was written in the smooth black lettering. With a flourish she played the last note, her finger moving slowly to create the vibrato sound that hung in the air for a few moments. Valerie sat back in her chair, looking down at her deep red cello, the only instrument she ever owned. Her fingers instinctively found the small carving in the scroll of the instrument and she traced it a few times before she stood, put away her cello and grabbed her music. She quickly put her performance dress; a pair of black pants and a black shirt accompanied with black shoes, into a bag and threw it over her shoulder. She grabbed her purse and headed out the door to get something to eat before heading to a small rehearsal before the show.