So here it finally is, the first chapter of my long overdue fic for phoenixmagic1. I hope you enjoy it so far! This is an AU fic that puts the characters of The Mentalist into The Phantom of the Opera. It's my very first really AU fic, so we'll see how this turns out.
Oh, and I know a lot of you out there dislike Hightower (I personally love her), so I think those of you who do, will like who I casted her as, hehe.
And as promised, I will reveal the cause of what happened in Shed Your Armor at the bottom of this page. It'll be in italics, so if you haven't read it, or prefer the unknown, you don't have to read it.
I do not own The Mentalist or The Phantom of the Opera. I just own debts, but at least I'm paying one of them off right now!
Ch. 1: Think of Me
Virgil Minelli and Samuel Bosco walked into their newly purchased theater. It was a large building that was ornately decorated with the finest sculptures and decorations available and extravagant paintings adorning the walls. No one would have guessed that the place had been started by traveling performers. The city that bordered between California and Nevada was a popular area for traveling performers of all kinds, attracting hundreds of customers. A permanent establishment was built by the former manager, a wise business decision. However, the stress of maintaining the theater, pleasing and preparing the performers and the unseen force who claimed this place as his own proved to be too much. The first reasonable bid won the ownership, while the previous manager won a cozy retirement.
Stepping behind stage, the scenery drastically changed from fine collectable art to grungy americana nic-naks that had been picked up by many of the performers and stage crew (most of whom spent their time traveling the country). People of all sizes, shapes, and color were busily changing outfits, fixing broken stage equipment, and practicing lines, singing and dancing. The smell of alcohol and recreational drugs lingered in the air, yet no one spared a passing thought through the hustle and bustle.
Minelli and Bosco made their way to the main stage, staggering out of the way of practicing dancers to watch the progress of the newest play set up for the upcoming week. It was the first play being held under their management, so tension was riding high on everyone.
The performance slowed while the diva, Molly Hightower, slowly made her way up to sing. However, the moment she opened her mouth, one of the theatrical decorations hanging above plummeted to the stage, missing Hightower by mere inches. It did, however, pin her dress to the stage.
"What in the hell just happened?" Minelli demanded.
Still looking upward, the head dance teacher, Sophie Miller, spoke just barely above a whisper.
"The Phantom."
"The who?!"
Hightower's dress loudly ripped from underneath the heavy decoration. Her brows furrowed in frustration.
"I've had enough of this! Whenever something like this happens, it happens to me! I quit!"
And with that, Hightower stormed out of the building, not even bothering to take off the dress that belonged to the theater. Minelli and Bosco pleaded and begged her to reconsider, following her until she walked out the front doors.
"We're going to have to cancel the show." Minelli announced solemnly to his co-manager and all the performers who'd followed (including the furious tailor who made the dress Hightower stomped off in).
"We can't cancel, we're completely booked! Everyone will be furious!" Bosco argued.
"Our star just left! We've only got a few days until the play is supposed to open."
"Uh, sirs?" A timid, red-headed dancer stepped forward, holding the hand of a short brunette. "My friend, Teresa is also a soprano, perhaps she could take the spot?"
Everyone's attention turned to the petite brunette. Minelli spoke up in as gentle of a voice as he could manage at the moment.
"Well, young lady, let's hear it."
With a shy confidence, Teresa sang the song Hightower was just about to perform, hitting each note perfectly. Everyone within earshot stopped all movement to watch and listen with full attention.
Five days later, there was no question who would be playing the lead. The audience watched in awe as Teresa sang. One person in the audience was particularly captivated. Wayne Rigsby watched Teresa with astonishment and a hint of familiarity of this beautiful woman. By the end of the song, he realized that this woman was none other than Teresa Lisbon. The little girl he often played with when his family would vacation to San Francisco. And he knew that he had to speak to her after the play.
The reason everything was topsey tervey for Lisbon in Shed Your Armor was because of the Benadryl she took. Benadryl can cause some pretty severe reactions (though that's not very common). Benadryl is a 1st generation antihistamine, which is a type of deliriant. The side effects of Benadryl (That Lisbon experienced): Drowsiness/Fatigue, Dizziness, Coordination problems, Sensitivity to the sun/light (photophobia), Dry mouth, or throat, Restlessness, excitation, nervousness, or irritability, A spinning sensation (vertigo), Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting, Confusion, Blurred vision or double vision, Loss of balance, especially if accompanied by ringing of the ears (tinnitus) or hearing loss, and of course Hallucinations or delirium(According to http://allergies. ).