Disclaimer: I don't own POTO... sigh

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I was in a corset.

I was in a corset, and my boobs were popping up.

My dress was different shades of green. It ranged from the lightest green, to blue green like the ocean, and dark green like moss on the bottom of the forest floor. I had found it back in the closet I had appeared in. Thankfully I hadn't cried on or wrinkled this one.

I had found a mask too, how convenient! It was lighter than my lightest green on my dress; it was almost white, and lined with pearls. It covered my eyes and nose and I felt extra sneaky and pretty.

As I was slipping my mask on, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Sheridan! How did we get here!" Said Mary, running up, still in her PJs and her hair plastered to her face by drool. I stood there looking at her with disbelief.

"I don't know Mary, but it looks like we're going to be here for awhile. They're having the masquerade out there, so let's join the party, and show them how to work it like its 1999!" I said while striking a pose that was not very 19th century.

We rummaged through another closet and found Mary a midnight blue gown trimmed in white lace and a corset. She wasn't too crazy about the corset or boob poppage, but I convinced her that everyone else would be dressed like that and if she wasn't she would give away our secret.

"Alright fine," she said reluctantly, as I tied up the back of her dress and pulled her hair back into a messy bun. That would have to do for now. But she needed a mask, so she rummaged through a trunk and found a navy one with white lace trimming, almost matching her dress perfectly.

We both walked slowly, well she walked slowly. She wasn't too sure about all of this, but I had seen him. I had seen Erik, and I was ready to get there. I was walking as fast as the corset would let me without passing out from not being able to breathe in full breaths.

And I saw everyone dressed in the same white, black, and cream. But them.

There in the corner behind a pillar, canoodling was Christine the mean and her foppish lover Raoul.

"Sheridan, calm down!" Said Mary, as she grabbed my arm to keep me from launching myself down the stairs towards them. She knew how badly I wanted to rip Christine's brown curls from her scalp; she knew how I would love to gouge out Raoul's eyes. I was just awesome like that, and dedicated to Erik.

"I'm fine Mary, I'm fine now." I said as I regained my calm and smoothed my long blonde hair back. Thank goodness no one could see how red my cheeks had gotten underneath my mask. I regained my confidence behind my mask and began walking down the stairs.

I looked behind me and Mary had stopped to talk to some young scene shifter who had taken interest. I had to remind her later not to get to excited; she had to play hard to get in these times, unless she wanted to get called a common whore. I giggled to myself. Mary, a whore… I almost laughed out loud and had to keep my slow, graceful decent down the stairs.

Making it down the steps was only the first part. I wasn't used to corsets and long dresses with about a million layers, so I kept tripping all over myself. I had to end up holding onto the railing so I didn't plummet to my death and break my neck.

I noticed a few men looking at me, so that only made me try to walk with even more grace.

Flaunt it girl, just flaunt it.

I found who I was looking for. Raoul and Christine were just on the other side of the pillar in the corner of the main hall. But sneaking around in a big poofy dress isn't the easiest thing ever.

I finally got up behind them when they were saying something that sounded like, "…A secret engagement look, your future bride!"

OH GAG ME PLEASE!

When Raoul wasn't looking I undid his sword thingy, and it came crashing down on the floor, almost dragging his pants down with it. I giggled and dashed behind the pillar before he could see it was tricky little me who had done it.

They seemed to not care, so I went off to find a dance partner. I didn't know how to dance like they were dancing… everything looked so choreographed, but I grabbed a guy and started dancing anyway.

After dancing for a few beats, I noticed we were slowly getting closer and closer to Christine and Raoul. And a very devious plan popped into my head. As we got closer and closer I wasn't looking at my partner, I was watching Christine, and her dress.

She started spinning with Raoul…

GAG!

And then I heard a satisfying rip of fabric, and I knew that my shoe had stepped on its target. There was a gloriously large rip in the train of her tickle me pink dress. I started laughing uncontrollably and my partner gave me a look like "what the hell did you just do?" I told him that I needed to visit the little girl's room, and I only got a look of "WTF".

That was glorious, I knew all the phangirls out there were would be clapping for me, but they still seemed content.

"It's only a small rip my dear, I will have it paid for when we return to the mansion tonight!" And he kissed her hand… EW!

I gotta do something, something that will make one of them flip out something that will make them really upset!

I turned back around to Raoul and snuck behind him and pulled the ribbon out of his hair!

I began laughing like a crazy person, and ran through the many people with fan's screeching the last chorus of "Masquerade". I didn't notice where I was going and I felt myself collide with someone running up the stairs.

Not again…not again, why me?

I kept my head down, but when the silence grew unbearable, I raised my head to the glorious figure that was Erik, dressed as the red death.

His plumed hat made him look even more menacing, and his long cape that swept around him like the darkness he lived in made him radiate sensuality and malice.

He looked into my eyes and screamed "STUPID GIRL! WHY DO YOU INSIST ON KNOCKING ME OVER WHENEVER WE MEET!"

I did the only thing I knew to do in his presence thus far, was to scuttle on my hands and knees to get out his way as fast as possible. I wasn't scared of him, I was just afraid of his actions when he got a little too angry.

He did his whole opera rant, even getting into it with Christine, but she didn't come to him. He saw the ring but didn't react; he just went over his little trap door and was consumed in flames.

Being the curious little girl that I am, I attempted to look in his trapdoor, but lost my balance and began falling into darkness.