Raoul is dressed for a Night at the Opera. If he dresses well, looks well, makes the effort, then it stands to reason, that he will feel well. Raoul de Chagny is going to have a good time out this evening. Americans love nobility, it makes them feel special, so a casual throw of his title bait, and he got some fish and those fish had tickets to several events and Raoul chose theatre for tonight's fun.
They gave him two tickets, Christine would have been his preference, but they are not there yet, and Christine has avoided him since That Night, their last kiss.
Raoul checks himself out in the mirror one last time. He feels good, a bit. He nods at himself In approval and heads out the door.
Meg Giry cleans up well. She has her long blonde hair done up in an elegant side braid. She has a black stain headband, and pale pink feather earrings that dangle. Her lips are painted red, and she is wearing just enough eye makeup for her emerald eyes to pop.
She is wearing an off-white lace cocktail dress that shows off her powerful dancer legs.
Raoul loses his breath when he sees her.
"Ready to go amongst them?" Raoul offers his arm. Meg accepts.
"Will there be food? I had to stop eating for two days to fit into this dress, and I am dying." Meg bobs her head as she speaks, Raoul is impressed that her hair remains kept.
"Not a dinner, but they will have vittles."
"Love it." Meg sings, extending the word 'love,' for several seconds.
Fleck, Squelch, and Gangle watch as Meg and Raoul leave the property. Fleck slaps her face in exasperation and mild shock.
"Maybe we were too subtle." Squlech offers, shaking his head.
"I thought he wanted his wife back." Gangle sighs.
"This is not going to end well." Fleck exhales and prays for her friend.
Raoul is in his element. He is back being among the proper social circles, the elite. He just finished a satisfying conversation.
Meg saunters over, biting her knuckles, her affect is of a naughty child. She looks over at the gentleman Raoul had recently acquainted himself with.
"Ooooh, he don't like you, Rally Lulu." Meg sighs, her eyes wide with mischief. Raoul looks over at the man and then back to Meg.
"What are you talking about? Our conversation was pleasant." Raoul frowns.
Meg holds up her hand, turns it and studies her fingers and nails casually.
"When you don't care for the person you are talking to, you do this," Meg casts Raoul a quick glance before she studies her fingernails and twists her hand a few times.
"Means, that the person, isn't worth your time, that they are a peasant to your god." Meg says this all while cleaning her fingernails.
"It's basically saying that you should be on your knees, vying, begging, worshiping you, for the attention, which is precious, and you, peasant, don't deserve it." Meg turns to face Raoul, big fake smile on her face.
"It means all that?" Raoul asks in disbelief. Meg nods. Raoul is impressed her neck doesn't snap from the speed.
"I'm a Seer. No one watches me, so I watch everyone. You learn a lot that way." Meg smiles, she looks around the room, grabs Raoul's arm and pulls him with her towards a corner.
"Those two," Meg whispers," totally doing it. They came with different people."
"Don't be lewd." Raoul chides. He wants to be at a higher level. That is why he came here.
"They're the ones doing it, I can't help not being blind." Meg says. Raoul looks over at the couple in question, and he leans into Meg.
"They are dangerously close to one and another, aren't they?"
"Mm hm." Meg grabs a flute of champagne as a server passes by. Raoul frowns, he wants a drink, but Meg is on guard and has already slapped him for a not so sneaky drink attempt.
Meg kicks off her shoes and wastes no time climbing into the fountain and dancing, playing, splashing in it. Raoul cannot believe this is his companion.
"This is childish." He says. He can hear and feel the ire and judgment of the others. Meg splashes Raoul.
"It's a body of water, what else am I going to do?"
"You are an adult!" His arms are at his sides. Meg leans towards him.
"An adult that knows how to live and have fun. Be sad or join the fun and live a little." Meg holds out her.
Raoul hesitates. This is stupid. People are watching. He is an adult. A grown man, nay a gentleman from a line of nobility. He has responsibilities. It matters what he does and how he behaves.
So why does he want this? He holds her hand, and she pulls him up, the weight is too much and she and him land on their knees/butt. Meg laughs madly and splashes Raoul's face. After his initial shock, he allows himself to enjoy it.
He splashes back. He does not hear or see the others. They simply do not exist.
"Teach me how to live," Raoul is breathless and the weight of the world shifts on his shoulders.
It's late when they return. Meg and Raoul are still damp and high on life. They bid each other goodnight and wander off in separate directions.
Raoul is about to head to the male dorm he has been crashing at, but he stops. He feels brave, he walks in the direction of the suite that Christine is staying in.
He breathes in brave, confidant air and knocks.
"What are you doing?"
Meg ignores him and drops her purse by the door. She goes to the closet, grabs her night dress, Erik grabs her and pulls her back.
"Marguerite," He says in an overly sweet delicate, waring sort of Siren Song way.
"Trying to change into my night dress."
Erik is far from amused, grabs onto her chin and his nails dig into her skin. She winces from the pain but remains silent. His eyes are burning.
"Once more, answer carefully."
"I spent the evening with my friend, why? What is it to you? This has nothing to do with my performance. Raoul needs a friend, that's what this is."
He takes notice of her damp dress.
"You're wet, why."
"We had some fun fountain times."
He releases her. Meg goes to the bathroom, once she's finished changing, she comes out.
"You let him into your room." Erik says, watching her every movement.
"You let Christine into your bed. You do not get to be jealous. You have the girl you want. Raoul is just my friend. You won, just leave us alone so we can live and move on."
"Move on? With him?"
"Or anyone! Just fuck off!" Meg screams before she can stop herself. He backhands her.
"It seems you still don't know your place."
Meg has had it. She looks into his eyes and decks him. He is too stunned to do anything at first. Meg stands there and waits. He touches his masked face, mask still on, those fasteners work wonders.
He stares at her, he's never been more attracted to her and starts forward, she prepares for his counterstrike but, instead he grabs her by the waist and spins her and she ends up being dipped in a strange dance of movement.
Meg grabs his mask and tears it off.
"Hello," she's breathless.
"Can we talk?"
Christine stands at the door. Raoul waits, he wants in so badly, but he waits. He let's her have control. Christine moves aside and Raoul walks in, the door closes softly behind.