Being the avid Phantom of the Opera fan that I am, I have decided to write my first Christmas Phantom fic, and seeing as Carlotta is my favorite character, she shall be my "first victim"!
Disclaimer: I do not own most of these characters, just a few here and there that I have made up somewhere along the line, and you'll be able to pick those out easily. I do not own any of the songs in the story either, I just really really love them and find that often songs just fit in too well in my stories. Please read & review, I am always open to any ideas and suggestions. On with the story!
Carlotta sat in her dressing room in front of her large mirror brushing out her long curly auburn hair following one of the most successful opening nights of her career. The show had been Tosca, a role that she had dreamt of ever since she was a little girl. It was finally hers, and she had brought down the house and entranced the audience from the moment that she made her first entrance. She had received thirty-seven curtain calls – the largest number ever recorded in the history of the Paris Opera.
She had left the stage her eyes flooded with tears at the reception from her admirers, anxious to get to her dressing room and change for the fabulous opening night gala. Oh, how those wigs matted down her hair! She set down the brush and began to remove the heavy stage make-up before applying her every-day make-up. She was nearly finished when there was a knock at her door.
Probably another adoring fan, Carlotta thought to herself. Checking herself once again in the mirror, she addressed the visitor.
"Come in!" rang rich silvery soprano voice.
It was Ubaldo Piangi, the principal tenor of the Paris Opera. He had sung Mario opposite her Tosca and had also enjoyed a triumphant success. Ubaldo walked in with a bouquet of red roses.
"For you, Signora. You sang beautifully tonight, and it is a true honor to be working opposite you", he declared as he held the flowers out to her.
"Ubaldo!" she exclaimed, "They're beautiful! Grazie, mio caro, mille grazie!".
She took the flowers and thanked him with a kiss on the cheek. Ubaldo turned as red as the roses, but Carlotta did not see him blush; she was still gushing over her gift. He seemed to lose his voice for a moment but eventually found it.
"I was wondering, Signora, if you had an escort to this evening's gala... I, er, not that you wouldn't already have one, but in the event that you didn't, I was wondering if you, is to say, I was wondering if you would honor me once again this evening by allowing me to escort you…"
Carlotta smiled at the tenor. This was very unlike Ubaldo. What had gotten into him? Why was he stumbling so much over his words tonight, and why was he so nervous? They had attended opening night galas together for over two years now.
"Of course, Ubaldo. Just give me a minute to go and get my coat and put these in some water".
She turned and disappeared through a door in her dressing room and re-emerged three minutes later wearing a fabulous coat and carrying a crystal vase with the roses..
Ubaldo held out his arm and she graciously accepted it.
"My, aren't you charming tonight, Signor Piangi?"
Ubaldo smiled at the prima donna and said nothing as he escorted her out the door.