A Footstool

By

E. S. Young

A Brief Introduction

After months of studying what could be called the art of writing a Mary Sue, months of extensive research, months of prepping my grammar, months of proofreading…I have returned to the this fandom with what are hopefully new and improved skills, as well as a completely Leroux-based story. There simply aren't enough of them out there, and I for one adore M. Leroux's Erik. He was the original, after all, and saying that Gerard Butler is "OMGz! waaaaaaaay betr than h1m!11one! Leroo is rong!1one" is highly unjust. If you prefer the 2004 movie instead of the original novel, then fine. That's your opinion and I will not try to change it –what gung-ho Voltaire fan would? However, saying that it was a terrible book, that the movie is superior, that Gerik is the one and only Phantom, and that I and others are wrong for thinking otherwise is just plain rude, not to mention irritating. I like Butler, I really do, but only as an actor and definitely not as the Phantom, hence why I will hereby refer to him as 'Gerik' and nothing else. As a note, if you would care to have my full opinion of the 2004 movie, then visit the following web site:

http/www(dot)greatestjournal(dot)com/users/crazycharlie/4232(dot)html

Now, as a warning to those who have not read Leroux…ahah…you are in for a surprise. His Erik is quite unlike any adaptation you have ever seen, unless you've watched the silent film made in 1925 staring Lon Chaney (good for you if you have, by the way). He is not like sexy Gerik in the least, not in personality, and certainly not in physical appearance. That's all I will say on that matter. Also, and this is for those who have and haven't read the book, I am tweaking my normal writing style a bit and am attempting the journalistic, somewhat poetic form of writing that is Leroux. That's not to say that I'm trying to write exactly like him, because the writing of the 1800s rarely goes over well with the modern day reader, as I have learned in my AP Literature class. However, I will try to keep the dialogue true to the Victorian era, since anachronisms of any kind irk me to no end unless they're intentional for humorous reasons.

That said, as you may have guessed from the summary, I am basing this off of a quote from the book, several, in fact, but mainly one of Mme. Giry's: "Well, I brought the footstool. Of course, it wasn't for himself he wanted it, but for his lady! But I never heard her nor saw her."

Along with another: "Some evenings, I find flowers in the box, a rose that must have been dropped from his lady's bodice…for he brings a lady with him sometimes; one day, they left a fan behind them."

Also, in the epilogue, I believe, Leroux mentions that there was enough room for not one, but two people in the column in Box Five where Erik is believed to have watched the operas.

My question is who was this mysterious lady? Some might think it was the wax dummy of Christine, but remember, dear readers, that this is Leroux and Wax!Christine was all ALW's idea, I believe. So, did the ghost's lady truly exist? Did the ghost really have a lady friend aside from his beloved Christine, or did he make her up? If so, then why? He may have done it simply to confuse everyone, however… weren't they confused enough already? Perhaps Mme. Giry said this to toy with the managers? Or maybe Gaston Leroux simply threw it into his novel, knowing that it would sprout an abundant number of plot bunnies? Or maybe it was an idea that Leroux didn't bother to develop. However, I doubt this.

Clearly, I have taken this idea and run with it. Know that I would never have done so if I did not think it somewhat original, after all, I believe I've only read one story that focus on the same topic. Then again, this fandom contains so much…insanity, I suppose one could call it, as of late, I tend to be a little biased and only read stories by authors I know. So, for all I know, this plot could be thoroughly played-out. However, before I go into a rant about Mary Sues that will progress into the issues I have with the new movie that will ultimately lead to a complaint about women's liberation and then a rant about the sexist geometry teacher that I had in tenth grade… I will stop and leave you with the story.

♪ ♪ ♪

Notes

…new and improved skills – I'm just curious to know how, exactly, something can be both new and improved? If it's new, then there has never been anything before it. However, if it's an improvement, then it must have been something before it. So, which is it? This has nothing to do with the story, by the way. It's only to make you think, and if I've managed to do that, then I've at least achieved one of my writing goals. It may hurt at first, but for the most part, thinking is good!

Those who have not read Leroux – by the way, what are you doing reading this story? Turn off your computer this minute, go to your local book store, and buy a copy of Leroux's book. Now. And if you're broke or on a budget or simply cheap, then you can find an online copy of the novel easily. I know for a fact that TheFreeLibrary(dot)com has the complete work available for reading.

And one more thing before I leave you to the story: I have no idea how fast or slow updates will be, I'm afraid. I will try to keep them regular, but, as I have taken to writing every chapter by hand before typing them up, it may be a while before you see anything new. If a month goes by without an update, however, I will take the fic down and revert back to my original plan. It's the best I can do without a beta reader, gang.