Thank you for bearing with me, there are now several more chapters ready to go, this being the first. I hope you enjoy.
I do not own anything by Gaston Leroux, Andrew Lloyd Webber or Susan Kay. Everything else is my own work.
The Sketchy Just Married Sign.The finale of Faust had been a roaring success and with the end of its run came the end of the opera season, and with it the end of Nadir's second bachelorhood.
The day after the close of season, saw Meg, Christine, and Delphine dashing to the early morning final fitting of their dresses, and Erik and Jean located at Nadir's apartment, staring in disbelief at the garments they were going to be wearing as Best man and first Groomsman.
"I say what are these?" Jean asked looking at the assorted garments laid before him with his name pinned on them.
"These are Persian men's formal wear." Erik grumbled, "I do not mind the Shalvar and Jameh, I loathe the bright caftan with the gold thread embroidery and the slippers." He added.
"Urm, do you mind?" Nadir retorted, "Darius did all the embroidery himself!" he added as he added a green Sarband to the pile that made up Erik's outfit.
"Oh Come off it!" Erik moaned, "Can I not at least wear black!"
"I want my groomsmen to represent me!" and I am Persian, and Persians like bright manly colours!" Nadir pointed out.
Jean sniggered at that point. With a declaration of "Of course you would find this funny!" Erik rolled his eyes so hard, it looked like he might sprain them.
ooo
Despite the fracas at Nadir's, the ladies were enjoying a peaceful hot chocolate and pastry after their fittings. The finished gowns were to be delivered to the lake house by Darius in a couple of hours, ready for the wedding.
"I bet you anything that Erik is moaning that he cannot wear black today and trying to wind Nadir up!" Christine said taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
Meg finished a mouthful of her Palmier, "Did Nadir not say that the grooms men were wearing formal Persian wear, I think that Jean will most like be tripping over those long toed slippers that Erik said go with the Persian men's' clothing!" she retorted with a giggle.
"Thankfully Nadir said he used to have a similar problem with the papush slippers as they are called." Delphine replied, "So they are all wearing modern smoking slippers that Darius has hand embroidered, instead." She added before taking a bite of her eclair and chewing thoughtfully before swallowing it with a sip of tea. "That reminds me!" Delphine then exclaimed, "Did you both know that Raoul refused to be a groomsman?" she asked.
Christine looked up from her drink, "No, why would Raoul refuse an honour like that?" she asked.
"Persian men's formal attire is not fashionable!" Meg retorted, brushing loose flakes of pastry from her bodice.
"Pardon?" Christine exclaimed looking directly at Meg.
"Jean told me!" Meg replied, "Raoul reused point blank to be a grooms man because the outfit was not fashionable!" Meg continued, "Nadir was hurt but Erik was furious, that Nadir had been slighted when it was Nadir that offered the olive branch of friendship to Raoul long before Erik and Jean could even stand the sight of him." Meg finished taking another bite of her messy pastry.
"Trust me," Delphine interjected, "Nadir was more than hurt, and Erik knew that better than anyone," she added, as Meg sniggered.
"Yup, according to Jean, that is why with Erik's insistence Raoul hastily agreed to do anything else he could to help!" Meg added, "It was either help out another way or discover…."
"Please do not tell me that Erik threatened Raoul with the Punjab lasso again!" Christine interrupted.
"No!" Delphine and Meg replied simultaneously, "Erik threatened to strip Raoul naked, shave him bald and tie him up outside the front of the opera house again!"
"Nadir even agreed to let Erik do it!" Delphine continued, as Meg started laughing.
Christine sighed, and placed her hand to her forehead, "Every day it seems there are more and more reasons to be thankful that I chose Erik!" she declared as Meg and Delphine nodded in agreement.
ooo
As the ladies finished their conversation at the café: Back in the Rue de Rivoli, Jean noticed that Erik had vanished. A quick search found him downstairs conversing with Raoul's Valet Louis at Nadir's front door.
"I have handed the sign to Thomas." Louis told Erik as Jean wandered up to the two men at the door.
"I have made all the arrangements including the posing stand I borrowed from a photographer and Aristide graciously allowing us to borrow the carriage and horses for the happy couple. Oh! you can release and collect the sign holder from just outside Paris as instructed, when the newlyweds make their first overnight stop." Erik replied, with a grin.
"Very good Monsieur Erik. Au revoir" Louis replied before doffing his hat and taking his leave.
Erik was just closing the front door when he bumped into Jean, "May I enquire what was that all about?" Jean asked.
"Just sorting out the final details of Raoul's part in helping the happy couple!" Erik answered with an evil smirk.
Jean took in the evil smirk on Erik's face, made more ominous because of Erik's mask, "You know what, I will wait to be surprised!" Jean added as Erik shut the front door.
"Good answer!" Erik responded as both men made their way back upstairs.
ooo
The ladies during all this had made their way back to the lake house and were waiting patiently for Darius to deliver their gowns, when Meg noticed a strange looking tube made of woven yarn on the side table by the couch.
What is this?" she asked holding up the blue coloured tube.
"That is a Chinese finger trap!" Christine replied as she brought a tray of tea into the sitting room. "Erik sat down last night and made nine of those from my knitting yarn!" she added as she poured tea for everyone and handed the cups around.
"Nine?" Meg asked, "Where are the other eight?"
"Erik has them, and I have no idea why!" Christine answered as she picked up her own cup of tea and sat beside Meg, who was now staring at the tube of woven yarn intently.
"How can this trap fingers?" Meg enquired.
Delphine grinned as Christine put her cup and saucer down and faced her friend. "Simple." Christine replied, "hold one end of the tube and insert one finger of your other hand into the open end of the tube as far as it will go." Christine instructed.
Meg complied and then looked puzzled. "then release the tube and repeat the process with the other end." Christine finished watching Meg follow her instructions.
"This is silly!" Meg stated with a giggle, "All I have to do is pull my fingers out." She retorted as she went to do just that and gasped as the woven tube stretched out and tightened on her fingers, effectively trapping her, "Oh!".
"See!" Christine smirked as she picked up her tea and took a sip, "Your fingers are now trapped, and the tube will only get tighter the more you pull." She pointed out as Meg started to struggle.
"Er help?" Meg yelped as Delphine sniggered and Christine smirked.
Christine took pity on Meg who was getting a little panicked that she could not get free. A few moments later and some instruction from Christine and Meg was released from the wretched tube which she hastily dropped back on the side table. "I pity whoever Erik is planning to use more than one of those on!". Meg declared as she gratefully accepted a fresh cup of tea from Christine.
ooo
As Meg was released from the trap, over in the de Chagny Town house Meredith was not in a good mood and Raoul was yet again the cause of it.
"Seriously, how could you be so disrespectful of your own friend!" she grumbled as she finished pinning a brooch to the lace jabot of the gown she was wearing to the wedding.
"I was not disrespectful!" Raoul whined in reply, "Nadir was fine about it, it was Erik that was upset!" he added, as he was placing his diamond cravat pin.
"And you are certain Nadir was not upset because?" Meredith interrogated him.
"Look, though I said that I have great respect for Nadir and his patience and assistance in finding the friends I now have, but that as a Vicomte, I could not be seen wearing such strange clothing, he seemed fine and responded with, 'Very well if that is how you feel.' It was Erik that growled about me being disrespectful!" Raoul explained warily. "I did agree to help in any other way I could!" he added.
"Yes only because Erik pretty much gave you no other option!" Meredith pointed out, checking her attire in the large mirror.
"Oh he gave me another option." Raoul mumbled.
"Yes, I recall you telling me, he threatened that if you did not atone for your disrespect he was planning to strip you naked, shave you bald and tie you to a lamp post in the Place de Opera again, this time during the middle of the day." Meredith pointed out. "You should have swallowed your cyclopean pride and accepted the honour of supporting Nadir during his wedding, since he is the only reason you have friends!" Meredith snapped as she spun on her heel and left Raoul in their bed chamber alone.
ooo
Back at Nadir's apartment Erik was pouring a small glass of Arak for each of the groom's party when Darius trotted through the front door.
"The gowns are delivered; I collected that sign from Thomas as you requested Master Erik and placed it near the rue scribe gate as instructed along with the charcoals and sketching pad." Darius announced as he headed into the kitchen.
"Sign, charcoal and sketch pad?" Nadir asked cautiously, Jean looked on, as that evil smirk appeared on Erik's face again
Nadir and Jean looked at each other and then at the grin on Erik's face, "We do not want to know!" they both chorused.
ooo
The ladies were in Christine's dressing room in the lake house and just had finished changing; both Christine and Meg were admiring the stunningly demure reception dress in cream satin that Delphine now wore and the matching broad brimmed hat that sat on the vanity table ready to adorn the bride to be.
"You put a princess to shame." Meg sighed.
"That is breath takingly elegant!" Christine remarked.
"Thank you!" Delphine replied slowly turning to admire her own reflection in the mirror. "I just wanted this one day to be a lady for once rather than just me." She added with a sweet smile.
"You are always a lady." Christine pointed out as she adjusted the sleeves on her own lilac version of Delphine's gown.
"Only a lady would have chosen such elegant gowns for herself and her matrons of honour!" Meg gushed grinning at her own lilac gown as there was a knock at the front door.
"Could you get that please Meg?" Christine asked as she grabbed a couple of hat pins and went to help Delphine with her hat.
ooo
Back at Nadir's all three men were dressed ready for the ceremony, Nadir was striking in red, white and gold, Jean was chuffed with his orange and gold and Erik was unimpressed with the burgundy gold and emerald green attire he now wore.
The former Phantom was just checking he had everything required as a best man when Nadir interrupted him, "A dagger, one Punjab lasso and did I just hear you say bribe money as well?" Nadir questioned.
"Yes, I am making sure I have everything a best man could require to ensure that no harm befalls his friend and bride on their special day. Erik replied calmly as he once again checked the position of his lasso in the voluminous left sleeve of his Kaftan.
"Um are you not forgetting something extremely important?" Nadir questioned as Jean listened on.
"Let me see?" Erik thought out loud, "bribe money for the Mairie if the notaire is not happy with the paperwork, lasso in case you get cold feet, dagger to protect the ladies…. You are right I have forgotten something!" Erik declared brightly "My… er finger warmers!"
"Finger warmers?" Nadir repeated suspiciously, "They look like Erik made Chinese finger traps to me!" Nadir declared as he watched Erik take the eight woven tubes of yarn out of the inside pocket of his swallow tailed coat and locate them somewhere on his person. "Anything else you might have forgotten?" Nadir asked dangerously.
"Oh! I know!" Jean piped up, as Erik checked his list again and stood apparently deep in thought rubbing his chin with his hand.
"Seriously I know!" Jean repeated now almost jumping up and down.
"At least my grooms man has figured it out!" Nadir yelled in exasperation, "What has Erik forgotten?" he asked a very excitable Jean, who then smirked then winked at Erik.
"Boutonnieres! We have forgotten our boutonnieres.!" Jean answered eagerly as Erik sniggered.
Nadir's face instantly went several shades of puce with Frustration "WEDDING RINGS! WEDDING RINGS! WEDDING RINGS!" he shouted his voice going up an octave each time he repeated himself before he then stopped shouting and just glared.
"Now our esteemed groom has gotten his wedding day nerves out of his system." Erik smoothly interjected as Nadir started to silently fume. "I can prove I have the one ring he gave me!" Erik continued as with a flourish the ring Nadir bought for Delphine magically appeared in Erik's hand. "I do not have your ring as you never gave it to me!" Erik added as Nadir immediately began panicking and frantically started checking his own pockets.
"Oh! Here it is." Nadir declared as he spotted the ring sitting on the sideboard grabbed it and handed it to Erik.
"Right, we have everything and everyone ready? We have a lovely lady and a fashion conscious Fop to meet at the Mairie, before the bridal party arrive." Erik stated as Darius; wearing his own Persian formal attire came into the sitting room and coughed politely.
"The brougham is outside and ready" Darius informed the others. As with a final check the grooms party made their way downstairs.
ooo
Back at the lake house Madame Giry in her finest black dress had just joined the brides party. "For the something borrowed!" she declared handing Delphine her pearl engagement ring. "It has brought three brides happiness so good for a fourth!" she added.
"Thank you, Annette." Delphine replied with a sweet smile as she carefully placed the ring on her right little finger.
"Ladies, the carriage should be here, it is time!" Madame Giry declared as she adjusted her bonnet and waited whilst the bridal party gathered their bouquets, and the ladies made their way to the Mairie's office.
ooo
The mid-morning wedding itself was a simple affair, the gathering, the vows and the signing of the register. With the licence procured the wedding party made their way back to the lake house where Darius had laid on a magnificent Persian feast, including…
"Erik step away from that jar this instant!" Christine demanded as she suddenly realised that the feast included Torshi seer, and Erik was making a bee line for it.
Everyone else stopped what they were doing to watch how this would play out.
"But Angel!" Erik whined, as his hand continued towards his ultimate treat.
"Boat for the night if you so much as lick one clove!" Christine stated implacably.
"Oh, silly me!" Erik stated trying to get out of trouble gracefully, "I meant to take a falafel." He said as he moved his hand to the plate next to the jar of pickled garlic, picked up one of the small treats and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Humm!" Christine responded, before she turned around to speak to the happy couple, who were standing sniggering as they watched the interaction between Erik and his beloved.
"I told you no good would come of your love of garlic!" Nadir remarked wagging his finger at Erik, before kissing his bride on the cheek and then giving his friend a smug grin, he headed towards the buffet table and proceeded to grab the jar that Erik had recently nearly had his hand on, and removed the lid.
"If you want a pleasant wedding night cease and desist in taking items from that jar!" Delphine's voice rang out loud and clear promptly followed by a roar of laughter from Erik, as Nadir pouted like a child, put the jar and lid back on the table and also grabbed a falafel which he also stuffed into his mouth and went to stand next to Erik.
"Welcome to the wonderful world of marriage in 1882!" Erik declared as he solemnly shook Nadir's hand.
"They think they are comedians!" Delphine remarked with a giggle to Christine as both ladies took a sip of their drinks.
"But they are our comedians!" Christine remarked with a smile.
"Talking of comedians, has anyone seen my husband?" Meredith remarked.
"He's with Jean preparing for his contribution to the wedding celebrations!" Meg answered all too innocently.
"In that case, I had better go and assist your husband in the preparations!" Erik declared a little too brightly as he excused himself and shot out of the front door.
"I think my darling Raoul is about to find he hates what Erik has planned for his contribution to the wedding!" Meredith stated with a snigger.
"Oh, I hope you are okay with whatever Erik has planned, he would not even tell me!" Christine said sounding concerned.
"Do not worry." Meredith replied, "Louis filled me in, and I am in full agreement. Alas my darling Raoul can be a bit of an idiot… I mean a bit of a typical French aristocrat at times, maybe this will be what he needs to realise that he needs to stop trying to be his title and just be himself." She added.
ooo
Outside on the Rue Scribe, the borrowed carriage and team sat under Pierre's control whilst an interesting furore was taking place at the back of the carriage.
"No! Take your jacket off slide it over the posing frame then slide yourself back into it!" Jean instructed a confused Raoul.
Raoul looked at the frame with barely disguised disgust. "I say are these things not used for those memento mori photographs the lower classes are so keen on?" he enquired, as Erik exited the rue scribe gate.
"No." Erik replied as he appraised the farce before him. "The dead do not move therefore do not need supports to hold them still, but living people fidget so need stands to hold them still during the photographic exposure." Erik informed the creeped out Vicomte.
"So where is the camera?" Raoul asked looking around.
Erik sighed, "There is no camera, I am going to take sketches to turn into a painting as a wedding present for Nadir and Delphine, and since you cannot seem to stay still for one moment; I thought a posing stand would help keep you in place whilst I complete the sketches I need for the picture." Erik finished as he reached back into the gateway and picked up the charcoal and sketching paper.
"I am going to be immortalised in a painting?" Raoul asked, his whole demeanour changing rapidly.
"Quite." Erik replied, "But only if you can get over your vivid imagination and get into position!" he added.
The next few minutes saw Erik's patience tried to the very extreme, as he and Jean first had to thread Raoul's jacket onto the Posing frame that was secured to the luggage rack of the carriage, then help Raoul get back into his jacket whilst it was on the frame and get him seated on the luggage rack before handing him the sign which rightfully read 'My Best Friends are Just Married!'
"I say this frame is firmly locked into position and I am having trouble holding onto the sign!" Raoul declared.
"That is not a problem!" Erik replied brightly, I have a solution for that, Jean can you hold the sign one moment whilst I quickly sketch the Vicomte's fingers." Erik instructed.
A moment later Erik had the required sketches of Raoul's fingers, then he put down the sketching paper and tucked the charcoal behind his ear, as he then reached into his pocket in his Kaftan and produced eight tubes of woven yarn, and eight long thumb tacks.
Right Raoul, slip one of these finger warmers on each finger, push the tube as far as it will go whilst leaving each finger covered." Erik started instructing, "Then I shall use these tacks to attach the warmers to the sign and then the warmers take the strain of holding the sign and not your hands!" Erik declared as Jean sniggered, and Raoul grinned.
ooo
The celebrations were still going strong when Erik got back into the lake house.
Erik grabbed a glass of jasmine sherbet, before re-joining the celebrations, taking a Knife from off the table he gently tapped on his glass and called everyone's attention.
"Time marches on alas and very soon our happy couple must start their honeymoon." Erik announced, "Before that point can I ask everyone to step outside as I need your help with Christine and my wedding present." Erik finished as around him glasses were drained, and the friends started making their way out to the rue scribe.
ooo
Outside Jean was waiting to direct everyone straight to the side of the carriage, and into position. Erik followed bringing up the rear with his sketchbook in tow.
"Right if you would all like to stand in one position whilst I get some sketches for scale then I shall sketch peoples smiles and then thanks to everyone's help and understanding, the bride and groom will have a special commissioned oil painting of their wedding as a present to keep forever." Erik stated as he feverishly sketched away.
Christine noticed one of the friends was missing. "Erik where is Raoul?" she asked.
"He is sitting on the back of the carriage holding the 'Just Married' sign" Erik replied succinctly as he finished sketching Nadir and started on Delphine.
ooo
Secured to the back of the carriage by a posing stand and prevented from escaping due to eight finger traps tacked onto a large sign that reads 'My friends have Just Married'; with an apple placed in his mouth to muffle any cries for help, Raoul finally realised that trying to act like his title has only ever got to get him into trouble and that he really should just be himself, as Raoul the person, he really wanted to wear the outfit and support his friend but the persona of Vicomte (Raoul's public face) meant that he was convinced that he had to conform to what French society expected of him.
Now with much cheering coming from the front of the carriage; Raoul felt the sway as Nadir and Delphine climbed aboard and with the pattering sound of Rice bring thrown as well. Then the jolt as the horses started their journey to the Honeymoon destination.
'Oh, well!' thought Raoul, as he passed the rest of the wedding party as they waved and cheered at the departing carriage. 'I shall just be myself from now on, being the Vicomte de Chagny is just too much like hard work!'
ooo
The only one not aware of the Role Raoul was playing in the wedding, suddenly spotted her childhood friend attached to the 'just Married 'sign, as the back of the carriage went passed.
"Erik, what have you done to Raoul this time?" Christine groaned.
Why could her husband not just play nice with everyone?
