Rouge L'Opera
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters belong to Gaston leRoux, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Baz Lurhman.
My first attempt at a crossover, and I hope that you enjoy it. It is a crossover between Moulin Rouge! and The Phantom of the Opera, because both those musicals are absolutely fabulous. Please read it and review. Good and bad criticisms are very much welcome, and if you see any ways in which to improve my story I would very much like to hear them. It will be told from several points of view, and I do my best to mark the changes clearly.
Oh, and I realize that the events in Moulin Rouge! would have taken place quite a while after those in The Phantom of the Opera, so for the sake of my story, please pretend that the Moulin Rouge! stuff happened before the Phantom of the Opera stuff.
This story is told from the views of Christian, Christine, Meg, Raoul, and Erik. It was really difficult to write from Christian's point of view, but I think that I did alright.
You may notice that I portray Raoul as somewhat of a Fop. That is because I watched PotO again, and the final scene in the lair drives me mad! The only reasons I dislike the poor boy are 1) his sick sideburns, 2) during Think of Me when he prances down the stairs, and 3) the one line he sings in the final scene in the lair "for my sake". When he sings those words, I just totally kill myself laughing for no apparent reason.
Please Read and Review!
Christian
After Satine's death I was left in a miserable rut. Nothing could bring me joy, and my dreams of love were destroyed. Satine was my whole world, and as quickly as she came, she left me.
I left the Moulin Rouge in search of something more. Perhaps I could even learn to love again, but I very much doubt it. I decided to seek out an old friend of my parents, Madame Giry. She lived at the Opera Populaire in the heart of Paris. Several days ago I received a reply from her to a letter I sent.
Dear Christian:
It would be lovely if you came to visit Meg and me again. It has been years since we saw you or your parents last, and seeing an old friend would be wonderful. I will arrange a room for you in the opera house, and you may stay for as long as needed. I am very sorry about Satine, and hope that perhaps your visit here will help to dull the pain.
Sincerely,
Madame Giry
I arrived at the Opera Populaire on a pleasant, sunny morning. I opened the doors and stood in awe at the magnificence of the entryway, and grand staircase. I did not know where to find Madame Giry, so I set my bags and typewriter down and waited for someone to come along. It wasn't long before Meg appeared on the stairs.
"Christian!" she exclaimed, running down the steps to me. I hadn't seen her in years, and she had certainly grown up. She was no longer the timid little blonde girl with big teeth. In fact, she was quite pretty now, with the same golden hair, but her face had filled out, and she looked almost like an angel. Of course, she could never be as beautiful as Satine, the Sparkling Diamond.
She ran over and gave me a huge hug. Apparently, she was no longer shy. "Hello Meg," I greeted her.
"Come with me, I'll show you to your room. Mama is busy with business and is out for the day. She'll come find you later." Meg picked up one of my bags, and led me down several halls to my room. It was a simple room, but much nicer than the one I resided in at the Moulin Rouge. A large bed stood in one corner, and there was a small sofa and overstuffed chair in another. A large mirror stood against one wall, which made the room appear quite large.
"Thank you Meg," I said, giving her a small smile. It was of course forced; since Satine's death none of my smiles were real.
"No problem Christian," she was about to leave, but turned back at the last second to ask, "Would you like to come watch rehearsal? It's one of the final rehearsals so everyone will be in costume, you might like it."
I was about to refuse, but then realized that I had nothing better to do. "I'd like that very much."
Meg led me to the massive and ornately decorated auditorium. I took a seat near the rear, and watched as the rehearsal began. They were performing the opera Hannibal. I had never been subjected to opera growing up, and certainly not at the Moulin Rouge. This was a new experience for me, and I rather enjoyed this more evolved style of music and dance.
Shortly after the rehearsal began, three men appeared on stage and everyone fell silent. Apparently, the Opera Populaire had just been sold to two new men named André and Firmin. They were introduced, and then they brought out the new patron of the opera. He was a young man, about my age and a Vicomte. He departed right away, and the rehearsals went on.
The soprano, La Carlotta, was very full of herself and threatened to leave the performance. I wish she had, for her voice reminded me of the screeching of a violin. The managers convinced her to stay, and asked her to perform the aria, Think of Me. If someone else had sung it, it would have been a lovely song, but she was butchering it.
I pictured Satine singing it. She would have been the greatest actress to grace the stages of Paris, and perhaps the world. She was not an opera singer, but would still manage to land the leads in every performance. Her perfect voice would bewitch all who listened, and hold everyone under a trance. Everyone would fall in love with her, but only I would have her love in return.
I shook myself out of this day dream when a loud crash echoed through the room and a large backdrop dropped down on to Carlotta. Everyone panicked and rushed about the stage trying to calm down the hysterical diva. I smirked evilly at her misfortune and thought that it served her right. It was probably the foul strains of her unholy voice that caused it to fall. I heard the ballet girls ranting about some 'opera ghost', and then Madame Giry appeared with a note.
The note detailed how the theatre was to be run, and I thought that this OG fellow was brilliant. He was most likely just some random man hiding out in the Opera, scaring people to get money. I wish I had thought of it, though, I could never bring myself to frighten the girls. Despite having lost all faith in women and love, I would never harm anyone.
I didn't pay attention for a while, and when I focused my eyes back on the stage I saw that a girl around Meg's age was preparing to sing. I supposed that she was to take La Carlotta's place, since it appeared that the diva would not be returning.
The girl began to sing the same aria, and had the sweetest voice. I stared at her, and lost myself in her song. I found myself dreaming of being with Satine on the stage, sharing our song with the world. Too soon I was awoken by reality. Madame Giry shook my shoulder, and asked me to join her and Meg for dinner.