Disclaimer: No changes, except that from here on, except for some scenes in
one chapter, the story will hold to the A.L.W. play timeline. Many thanks
to the following site for having the sequence of the play: Heather
Conzett's Phantom of the Opera Homepage page has a good deal more on it, so do check it out.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 4- - Opening Night and Dressing Room Encounters
Finally the night had arrived: the gala. T'Maeve stood in the shadows of the curtains as Christine sang the lead part. The circumstances that landed Christine the lead happened as they did in the musical. T'Maeve still laughed at Carlotta's reaction to the falling piece of scenery which chased her away. **Good riddance,** was her only thought.
The look on Christine's face when Meg pushed her to the front was priceless, and Maeve couldn't help but feel for the very nervous girl. Yet, now as Christine sang, Maeve could not see a bit of nervousness in the young diva-to-be.
Maeve scanned the crowd, looking for any signs of Erik. What she did find made her groan. Raoul, in the managers box, smiling. He looked surprised to see the grown woman, who he remembered as the girl who lost her scarf so many years before. **Here comes trouble. It's all down hill from here, if the events from the musical occur.** She shook her head, and looked back at Christine, who was taking her final bows. The rest of the cast ran out, and Maeve let herself get swept up in the rush of it all for a moment. It was fun, to perform like this, but it was tempered with a nagging feeling that this night was far from over.
As the curtains fell for the last time, Maeve dashed to her dressing room to get the make-up off. She felt she was being smothered by it. She heard Christine and Meg talking about the 'Angel of Music,' and sighed again. **If you only knew. But you Christine, you will know soon. And the hope he has will fall apart when you see his face, and cannot get past it in any way.** Maeve finished getting dressed, and sat to listen to Raoul talking to the managers about Christine, saying how good she was and his history with her. Then he was knocking on her door, telling her she was wonderful and all that. Maeve leaned back against her chair in front of her mirror and shook her head. "Silly girl. You have no idea what chaos you are about to unleash. I may be a bit melodramatic, but still, it will be chaos to Erik, and to Raoul, and to the Opera house."
Maeve was so preoccupied by listening to the going-ons next door, Erik's voice in the dark shocked her; she had not sensed him in the room at all.
"How do you know my name!?" * * * * * * * * * * * Erik moved like a cat towards Christine's room after the performance. But a nagging curiosity about Maeve made him stop outside her mirror for a moment. **Maybe I'll learn a bit more about her, before I reveal myself to my Christine,** was what he told himself, as he stood behind her mirror. He watched as the girl sat down and looked at the mirror, and shook her head. Erik could hear a bit of what was going on outside Maeve's door, and knew the managers were talking with a young man about Christine. This was obviously why Maeve was looking rather irate and shaking her head. Erik had to agree, the managers were an annoying bunch. But what the girl said next shook him to the core.
"Silly girl. You have no idea what chaos you are about to unleash. I may be a bit melodramatic, but still, it will be chaos to Erik, and to Raoul, and to the Opera house"
**She knows my name?! How can she know that? No one knows my name!!** Erik stood there, fists clenched in anger, and feeling threatened. Part of him wanted to run, get away from this. But another part reminded him that he wanted to know all he could about this girl. He decided to find out just how much this girl really knew.
"How do you know my name!?" * * * * * * * * *
Maeve raised her head, and looked around for Erik. She realized that he was behind the mirror, and he was mad. Very mad. **Oh, wonderful. You just dug yourself a wonderful grave. Well, at least you've finally 'met' him. May as well be bold.** She looked right at the mirror, and made her face and voice as calm as she could.
"I know your name, sir, due to your history. If you want to discuss it further, you are welcome to step into my dressing room from behind the mirror. I will even turn my back, if that will make you feel more comfortable." **Smooth Maeve, very smooth.**
Erik blinked, shocked by her forwardness. No one ever talked to him like this,. besides Nadir, his old friend. He pondered her words, his rational side telling him to leave and get out of a possible dangerous situation. But his curiosity over this girl got the better of him yet again, and he stepped closer to the mirror. "I will not enter, but I will talk. How do you know who I am? And what do you mean by history?"
Maeve smiled slightly, and settled into her chair. "The history part will take a rather long time to explain, but allow me to say I understand you, and what you have gone through. I also know how it feels to be shunned for what you are. You have the 'excuse' as it were of a look about your face. While mine is blood. And there is nothing I can do to hide that, or change it." Her eyes took on a very hard, pain-filled look as she remembered all the things she experienced. She knew this look in her eyes would most likely prove her truthfulness to Erik, suspecting he had a similar look in his eyes every day. It was a look that she saw in her own mirror enough times in a day.
Being the mirror was one-way, Maeve couldn't see Erik draw back at her words, but as he looked into her eyes, he was taken aback even more by the look in them. **It's the same look as,.me. Why would someone like her carry that look? What does she mean by blood? Is she like the Gypsy's I spent time with, being excluded because she's not full-blooded something, whatever that may be? I have never seen ears like hers before. Are they part of her exclusion?** Erik thought over her words, and realized this conversation was only bringing up more questions then answers. "You, my dear, confuse me. What do you mean?"
Maeve took a breath, but was stopped as Raoul started in asking Christine to dinner. Maeve sighed, and looked back at the mirror. "Your lessons have helped Christine. I've overheard several. But you may want to continue with your checking in on her, which is where I assume you are off to. Sounds like the Viscount de Chagny is trying to drag her off to dinner." Maeve shook her head. "But I realize that I have confused you greatly. If you wish to continue this conversation later, leave me a message telling so, and we shall talk further. Does that sound fair?"
Erik blinked, again taken aback by this girl's forwardness. But, it was a rather refreshing change. Much like talking with Nadir. He pondered her words, and nodded, surprising himself in accepting her offer. "Your offer has merit. Thank you, mademoiselle. I shall leave a letter on your dressing room table when I have the opportunity to talk with you again. It was,.. a very interesting talk while it lasted." Saying this, part of him wanted to talk longer with this mysterious girl. But thoughts of his Christine straying too far, when he planned to take her to his home, spurred him to get to her room quickly.
Maeve nodded. "Thank you, sir. I shall look forward to talking with you again. Just know, where you wish to talk again is up to you. But I will vouch for the safety and privacy of my flat, if you wish to consider. And I hope I am not being too forward by suggesting it." **Too forward?! Good Gods, girl! This is the 1880's, not the 24th century!** But what was said was said, and she held her breath to see the outcome.
Erik almost laughed. **Rather forward indeed** But he held the mirth in check. "It is not too forward, and I thank you for the suggestion. I know where your home is, and it is suitable, if the need arises." **Arises? What kind of a word is that?! She'll think you plan to seduce her.** But that fear was unfounded, as Maeve laughed.
"Interesting choice of words. No offence, sir. I shall talk with you later. And I hope you enjoyed the evenings performance."
Erik did laugh at this, and nodded to himself. "I did. Now, I shall be on my way." He hurried off to Christine's room, his mind a jumble. **What have you gotten yourself into now? What are you in store for?**
If he only knew what would happen in the next 24 hours,. * * * * * * * *
Maeve shook, her nerves shot by his voice and his aura. **OK, you didn't faint, you didn't throw yourself at him, but the books and musical have nothing on his voice or his very essence! What have you gotten yourself into?** She smiled as she collected her things, and headed home.
She knew that the next 24 hours were to be exciting at the least. And she wondered if she would play counselor before the week was out. * * * * * * * * * *
OK, this chapter was quick, but I have homework to do. More excitement on its way in Chapter 5- - Fallout Below the Opera and Counseling Sessions
Chapter 4- - Opening Night and Dressing Room Encounters
Finally the night had arrived: the gala. T'Maeve stood in the shadows of the curtains as Christine sang the lead part. The circumstances that landed Christine the lead happened as they did in the musical. T'Maeve still laughed at Carlotta's reaction to the falling piece of scenery which chased her away. **Good riddance,** was her only thought.
The look on Christine's face when Meg pushed her to the front was priceless, and Maeve couldn't help but feel for the very nervous girl. Yet, now as Christine sang, Maeve could not see a bit of nervousness in the young diva-to-be.
Maeve scanned the crowd, looking for any signs of Erik. What she did find made her groan. Raoul, in the managers box, smiling. He looked surprised to see the grown woman, who he remembered as the girl who lost her scarf so many years before. **Here comes trouble. It's all down hill from here, if the events from the musical occur.** She shook her head, and looked back at Christine, who was taking her final bows. The rest of the cast ran out, and Maeve let herself get swept up in the rush of it all for a moment. It was fun, to perform like this, but it was tempered with a nagging feeling that this night was far from over.
As the curtains fell for the last time, Maeve dashed to her dressing room to get the make-up off. She felt she was being smothered by it. She heard Christine and Meg talking about the 'Angel of Music,' and sighed again. **If you only knew. But you Christine, you will know soon. And the hope he has will fall apart when you see his face, and cannot get past it in any way.** Maeve finished getting dressed, and sat to listen to Raoul talking to the managers about Christine, saying how good she was and his history with her. Then he was knocking on her door, telling her she was wonderful and all that. Maeve leaned back against her chair in front of her mirror and shook her head. "Silly girl. You have no idea what chaos you are about to unleash. I may be a bit melodramatic, but still, it will be chaos to Erik, and to Raoul, and to the Opera house."
Maeve was so preoccupied by listening to the going-ons next door, Erik's voice in the dark shocked her; she had not sensed him in the room at all.
"How do you know my name!?" * * * * * * * * * * * Erik moved like a cat towards Christine's room after the performance. But a nagging curiosity about Maeve made him stop outside her mirror for a moment. **Maybe I'll learn a bit more about her, before I reveal myself to my Christine,** was what he told himself, as he stood behind her mirror. He watched as the girl sat down and looked at the mirror, and shook her head. Erik could hear a bit of what was going on outside Maeve's door, and knew the managers were talking with a young man about Christine. This was obviously why Maeve was looking rather irate and shaking her head. Erik had to agree, the managers were an annoying bunch. But what the girl said next shook him to the core.
"Silly girl. You have no idea what chaos you are about to unleash. I may be a bit melodramatic, but still, it will be chaos to Erik, and to Raoul, and to the Opera house"
**She knows my name?! How can she know that? No one knows my name!!** Erik stood there, fists clenched in anger, and feeling threatened. Part of him wanted to run, get away from this. But another part reminded him that he wanted to know all he could about this girl. He decided to find out just how much this girl really knew.
"How do you know my name!?" * * * * * * * * *
Maeve raised her head, and looked around for Erik. She realized that he was behind the mirror, and he was mad. Very mad. **Oh, wonderful. You just dug yourself a wonderful grave. Well, at least you've finally 'met' him. May as well be bold.** She looked right at the mirror, and made her face and voice as calm as she could.
"I know your name, sir, due to your history. If you want to discuss it further, you are welcome to step into my dressing room from behind the mirror. I will even turn my back, if that will make you feel more comfortable." **Smooth Maeve, very smooth.**
Erik blinked, shocked by her forwardness. No one ever talked to him like this,. besides Nadir, his old friend. He pondered her words, his rational side telling him to leave and get out of a possible dangerous situation. But his curiosity over this girl got the better of him yet again, and he stepped closer to the mirror. "I will not enter, but I will talk. How do you know who I am? And what do you mean by history?"
Maeve smiled slightly, and settled into her chair. "The history part will take a rather long time to explain, but allow me to say I understand you, and what you have gone through. I also know how it feels to be shunned for what you are. You have the 'excuse' as it were of a look about your face. While mine is blood. And there is nothing I can do to hide that, or change it." Her eyes took on a very hard, pain-filled look as she remembered all the things she experienced. She knew this look in her eyes would most likely prove her truthfulness to Erik, suspecting he had a similar look in his eyes every day. It was a look that she saw in her own mirror enough times in a day.
Being the mirror was one-way, Maeve couldn't see Erik draw back at her words, but as he looked into her eyes, he was taken aback even more by the look in them. **It's the same look as,.me. Why would someone like her carry that look? What does she mean by blood? Is she like the Gypsy's I spent time with, being excluded because she's not full-blooded something, whatever that may be? I have never seen ears like hers before. Are they part of her exclusion?** Erik thought over her words, and realized this conversation was only bringing up more questions then answers. "You, my dear, confuse me. What do you mean?"
Maeve took a breath, but was stopped as Raoul started in asking Christine to dinner. Maeve sighed, and looked back at the mirror. "Your lessons have helped Christine. I've overheard several. But you may want to continue with your checking in on her, which is where I assume you are off to. Sounds like the Viscount de Chagny is trying to drag her off to dinner." Maeve shook her head. "But I realize that I have confused you greatly. If you wish to continue this conversation later, leave me a message telling so, and we shall talk further. Does that sound fair?"
Erik blinked, again taken aback by this girl's forwardness. But, it was a rather refreshing change. Much like talking with Nadir. He pondered her words, and nodded, surprising himself in accepting her offer. "Your offer has merit. Thank you, mademoiselle. I shall leave a letter on your dressing room table when I have the opportunity to talk with you again. It was,.. a very interesting talk while it lasted." Saying this, part of him wanted to talk longer with this mysterious girl. But thoughts of his Christine straying too far, when he planned to take her to his home, spurred him to get to her room quickly.
Maeve nodded. "Thank you, sir. I shall look forward to talking with you again. Just know, where you wish to talk again is up to you. But I will vouch for the safety and privacy of my flat, if you wish to consider. And I hope I am not being too forward by suggesting it." **Too forward?! Good Gods, girl! This is the 1880's, not the 24th century!** But what was said was said, and she held her breath to see the outcome.
Erik almost laughed. **Rather forward indeed** But he held the mirth in check. "It is not too forward, and I thank you for the suggestion. I know where your home is, and it is suitable, if the need arises." **Arises? What kind of a word is that?! She'll think you plan to seduce her.** But that fear was unfounded, as Maeve laughed.
"Interesting choice of words. No offence, sir. I shall talk with you later. And I hope you enjoyed the evenings performance."
Erik did laugh at this, and nodded to himself. "I did. Now, I shall be on my way." He hurried off to Christine's room, his mind a jumble. **What have you gotten yourself into now? What are you in store for?**
If he only knew what would happen in the next 24 hours,. * * * * * * * *
Maeve shook, her nerves shot by his voice and his aura. **OK, you didn't faint, you didn't throw yourself at him, but the books and musical have nothing on his voice or his very essence! What have you gotten yourself into?** She smiled as she collected her things, and headed home.
She knew that the next 24 hours were to be exciting at the least. And she wondered if she would play counselor before the week was out. * * * * * * * * * *
OK, this chapter was quick, but I have homework to do. More excitement on its way in Chapter 5- - Fallout Below the Opera and Counseling Sessions