Love lives on
The lights dimmed on Coney Island as the last show of the day drew to an end. The audience disappeared in their hundreds into the darkness and the attraction grew silent. Some characters moved in the darkness but they soon too disappeared. The night was peaceful for a young man like Gustave who sat quietly embracing the silence. Gustave looked around searching for his inspiration until he gazed at the lonely moon in the sky.
"Always my inspiration" he sighed sounding bored. At this he jumped up and slowly walked down the pier to return home, he hummed to himself as he did this.
Gustave arrived back at Phantasma and snuck inside trying to be unheard or seen.
"And what time do you call this?" a voice called in the darkness. Gustave sighed and turned to meet the gaze of his mother Christine who stood staring at him with one eyebrow raised. Gustave turned to leave.
"Look at me young man" she scolded. Gustave turned back to face her.
"I wanted to be somewhere quiet" he said simply trying not to meet her gaze.
"Well we could see what your father thinks about it then?" she continued. Gustave sighed again not wanting to start an argument.
"No, I'm sorry" he whispered. Christine smiled at his apology.
"Thank you, you can go now but don't make a habit of it. I'm a very light sleeper" she laughed. Gustave nodded and disappeared down a corridor and into his room. Once in there he lit an oil lamp and sat down in front of his piano and stared at the blank sheet music.
"I can't find inspiration for new songs" he sighed turning to look out of his window into the night. "There must be something" he pondered turning to look around his room. He then picked up his quill and started to try and write a score, but all too soon he had screwed it up and thrown it to the floor.
The next morning Gustave awoke still sat at his piano, he yawned and stretched and slowly sat up in his chair and blinked in the sunlight that beamed down onto him. He stood up and made his way out of his room and down to backstage. Backstage was extremely busy and Gustave found himself in the way so he climbed up onto the rail to observe the morning rush. He quickly spotted Christine wandering around looking for him so he ducked backwards and climbed up the rail even higher. A voice scolded him from behind.
"Escaping responsibilities again?" it hissed. Gustave laughed as he noticed his childhood friend Amelia climbing onto the rail effortlessly. She had red fiery hair and green eyes that seemed to stare into your soul. Gustave looked down to the stage and saw Christine almost giving up in her pursuit and disappearing to find him off stage. Gustave turned back to Amelia who had joined him in watching Christine.
"Well now that your day is freed up what you are going to do with it?" she mused whilst swinging on the rail, being a gymnast she was fearless but her lack of care for her own safety still worried Gustave.
"I'm not sure maybe I'll check in on the new tourists visiting the island" he said nearly gasping at her recklessness. Amelia stopped and nodded.
"You know that does sound like fun" she said. "I never get anytime to do something fun" she continued nodding at the idea of rebellion.
"But don't they need you working up here? I mean there is a show in two hours" Gustave asked. Amelia shrugged.
"I need a break" she said shrugging. Gustave laughed.
"Okay but we have to be careful my mother and father practically have a bounty on my head so we will have to sneak out of one of the back entrances" he smiled. Amelia nodded. Gustave grabbed Amelia's hand and together they both snuck out of the theatre. Once free to do as they pleased Gustave and Amelia ran down to the docks and perched themselves on a fence and watched as the tourists stepped off the boat.
"Wow all these people are here to spend their money, wish I could be that frivolous" she laughed watching a particularly wealthy man stepping off the ship proudly. Gustave nodded.
"Well at least my father can take their money" he laughed. Gustave smiled to himself as he amused himself watching the people collect their belongings, he enjoyed the cool salty air that surrounded him but he still found no inspiration for a heart felt song which disappointed him. Amelia laughed loudly at some of the people stepping off the boat; Gustave shook his head acknowledging she didn't get out very often. Gustave sat with Amelia for a while and watched as tourists came and left. He enjoyed studying how Phantasma had changed some for the better and how they had had their minds opened at the wonders of his fathers work. After a few hours Gustave grew bored and jumped off the fence.
"Perhaps we should be getting back, I dread to think how angry everyone is that we are missing" he said. Amelia looked down at him.
"What? Are you serious? This is the best fun I've had in a long time! I'm not going back yet" she said. Gustave nodded and leant against the fence.
"You aren't afraid of your mother then?" he asked with a smile looking up at Amelia whose eyes had widened with the thought.
"Perhaps we should be getting back then" she said jumping down looking nervous until another ship met her gaze. "But after this ship, it appears to be the last one of the day" she laughed climbing back onto the fence and pointing. Gustave sighed and too climbed back onto the fence and watched. The ship docked and people began to step off it. Gustave sighed to himself as he watched the same stereotypes step off from the rich drunkard to the snooty rich woman until something caught his eye. Off the ship stepped a young woman with angelic blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, she wore a long white dress and white gloves. She was the thing of utter beauty. Gustave gulped and felt instantly drawn to her. He jumped off the fence and ignoring the shouts of Amelia he seemed to drift towards her until he was close to the baggage handlers. The woman stepped of the ship and slowly looked around at Phantasma; her eyes glittered with curiosity at the sights that she saw. Gustave walked over to her and choked out some words.
"May I take your bag miss?" he asked nervously. Slowly she turned to meet his eyes and Gustave almost felt himself being blasted back by her beauty. He smiled nervously as she smiled at him showing her glistening white teeth.
"Of course" she said musically. Gustave stood still too amazed to move. He then shook his head and snapped back into action and took her bag obediently. Gustave gestured to the pier and she smiled and walked in front of him and Gustave followed. Amelia ran up to Gustave.
"What are you doing?" she asked. "We aren't allowed to interfere with customers" she hissed looking a round nervously at the other tourists.
"She's different" Gustave said dreamily still following her. Amelia sighed nervously but still followed Gustave.
"where is it you are staying miss?" Gustave asked still nervous. The woman turned.
"In your best hotel, my father is paying" she laughed pointing at a wealthy man who had three people carrying his cases. Gustave nodded.
"Then you will want to check into The Masquerade, it is our best hotel" he smiled. The woman nodded.
"And what may I say your name is when I recommend your excellent hospitality?" she asked. Gustave gulped.
"Gustave, my lady" he said quietly. The woman nodded.
"I am Louise" she said with a smile holding out her hand. Gustave took her hand and shook it. This made Louise giggle. Gustave's face went red and he turned away to conceal it.
"This way to the hotel then" he said walking towards the park. Louise smiled and followed.
They arrived in the hotel and Gustave put down Louise's bag and smiled at her.
"this is The Masquerade" he said showing her around the grand hall. Amelia stood rigid with anger seeing that Gustave was becoming smitten. She went and tapped Gustave on the back.
"Excuse me miss, but may I just borrow Gustave for a moment?" she asked politely pulling Gustave to one side. When she was sure they were out of earshot she began to scold Gustave.
"What is this? You know this isn't allowed and I've seen the way you look at her" she hissed with anger. Gustave shrugged
"I don't know what you're talking about" he said simply. Amelia almost growled at him.
"Don't play this game, I've known you since you were 10 years old" she said strictly jabbing him in the chest with her finger.
"I'm only being helpful" he whispered afraid Louise could hear him. Amelia sighed.
"as long as that's all it is" she said softer than before. "come on we'd better go" she said. Gustave nodded and turned back to Louise who stood in the centre of the hall looking exceptionally beautiful like a painting. He walked up to her and tapped her gently.
"I must go now, but I hope you enjoy your stay at Phantasma and if I can make your stay more exciting then please don't hesitate to let me know" he said smiling nervously. Louise smiled and nodded.
"Thank you very much Gustave" she said. Gustave smiled and inhaled savouring the smell of her sweet perfume. Amelia pulled Gustave away and they left the hotel and returned back to the living quarters for the workers. Gustave walked slowly feeling uplifted by the idea of Louise; at this Amelia rolled her eyes. Suddenly something grabbed his collar and pulled him back. Gustave looked to his side and met the glare of Christine again.
"This is becoming a bit of a habit" Gustave mused to himself. Christine tried to hold back her anger.
"And where have you been all day? We have a show to put on and it is a FAMILY business" she scolded. Gustave used to this smiled and sighed.
"I've been finding my inspiration" he sighed softly.
2. Sweet inspiration
Christine almost dragged Gustave through the crowd of performers and tourists to the backstage. Gustave would usually protest but his mind was elsewhere. Amelia followed and quickly climbed back up onto the rail and waved a goodbye at Gustave. Christine pulled Gustave up some stairs and opened a dark door and sat Gustave down on a chaiselongue. She then stood to the side of Gustave.
"So he's been found then?" A voice from the darkness asked. Gustave sighed knowing he was in trouble now.
"I'm sorry" he began. Out of the darkness a man walked, one side of his face was covered with a white mask and he wore a black tailcoat, it was his father Erik.
"You have a job to do like everyone, but you choose to disappear without a word to anyone?" the man asked. Gustave looked to Christine for support but she stared at Erik.
"Father I'm sorry" Gustave interrupted looking at the floor. Erik sighed and looked at Christine who looked at him sympathetically. Erik softened his voice.
"Gustave a circus works as a team and everyone has a role to play and when the individual is missing it is not complete" he said. Gustave nodded.
"I understand but I just want to explore and do my own thing sometimes" he pleaded tired of hearing the same lecture. Erik nodded.
"I understand but we need you while there are so many tourists, your mother needs to perform and she can't do that if she is chasing after you can she? She's our main attraction!" he continued. Gustave nodded.
"May I go?" he asked. Erik sighed in defeat and nodded. Gustave stood up quickly and left and went back to his room. Erik walked over to Christine and held her hand.
"I'll speak with him in the morning" Christine whispered holding Erik closer and leaning her head on his shoulder. Erik smiled and kissed her forehead, he began to hum something and he too rested his head against Christine's.
