well another chapter yay! after this chapter we shall finally get to see the "all I ask of you" scene with Maka and kid :D I'm excited to begin writing that. I really hope I'm doing these two fandoms justice :P (although it is hard to capture the musical element while writing this) enjoy!
In the early morning Stein arrived wearing a dark red coat with stitches on it and dark white cloves, he also carried a white cane which he twirled as he entered the Opera house to see people cleaning the floors.
"Mystery after gala night, It says, "Mystery of soprano's flight! Mystified all the papers say, we are mystified we suspect foul play!" Stein allowed two workers in dark red uniforms to take his coat and top hat as he began to walk away from the door entrance and over to the grand staircase.
"Bad news on soprano scene. first Kim, now Maka! Still, at least the seats get sold… Gossip's worth its weight in gold..." He laughed as he began to hop joyfully up the stairs.
"What a way to run a business! Spare me these unending trials! Half your cast disappears, but the crowd still cheers! Opera! To hell with Gluck and Handel Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hint!" Stein sighed as he began to take off his gloves and walked towards a big hallway full of decorations and gold trimmings.
"Damnable!" Justin said approaching Stein with a note in his hand.
"Justin, please don't shout..." Stein said rolling his eyes as he draped his arm over Justin's shoulder. He lit a cigar and began to talk to Justin again.
"It's publicity! And the take is vast! Free publicity!" Stein said smiling as he waved his free arm around.
"But we have no cast..." Justin mumbled.
"Justin, have you seen the queue? Oh, it seems you've got one too…" Stein said with an irritated voice as he noticed the letter in Justin's hand which held a dark red skull shaped stamp.
Justin sighed and began to read the letter. "Dear Justin, what a charming gala! Maka was in the world's sublime! We were hardly bereft when Kim left - On that note the diva is a disaster! Must you cast her when she's seasons past her prime!"
Stein them rolled his eyes and quickly took out a letter from inside his stitching's.
"Dear Stein, just a brief reminder my salary has not been paid. Send it care of the ghost, by return of post P.T.O. "He looked at Justin with irritation in his voice and continued to read.
"No-one likes a debtor, so it's better if my orders are obeyed!"
"Who would have the gall to send this?! Someone with a puerile brain! These are both signed "O.G."…Who the hell is he?! Opera ghost! It's nothing short of shocking, he's mucking our position! In addition he wants money what a funny aberration to expect a large retainer! Nothing plainer -he is clearly quite insane!" They both said at the same time quite annoyed with the letters they had received. They were interrupted in their anger when a voice was heard from below.
"Where is she?" They turned around and saw the Vicomte; Kid standing in the middle of the entrance room dressed a black cloak and wearing a white shirt with a black tie. His face held a worried expression as he waited for the response of the two owners.
"You mean Kim?" both men said as they looked at each other and then back at Kid.
"I mean Miss. Albarn -where is she?" Kid said rushing up the staircase to meet them.
"Well, how should we know?" Both men said again shrugging their shoulders.
"I want an answer! I take it that you sent me this note." He said holing up a small letter in his hands as he walked up the last flight of stairs.
"What's all this nonsense?!" Stein said running towards Kid.
"Of course not!" Justin said following after Stein.
"She's not with you, then?" Kid glared walking over to the two men.
"Monsieur, don't argue. Isn't this the letter you wrote?" Kid scowled as he handed the letter to Stein.
"What is it that we're meant to have wrote? I mean Written!" Stein mumbled shaking his head as he opened the small envelope. Justin looked over at the letter and read it aloud.
"Do not fear for Miss Albarn. The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again. "
"If you didn't write it, who did?!" Kid yelled glaring at the two men who only stood back a bit and held out their hands. They scratched their heads and shrugged as Kim burst through the front doors yelling.
"Where is he?!" She said walking into the main area wearing a big white dress with a big white scarf and hat to match. She had several people following close behind her. As she ran up the stairs to meet the three men.
"Ah, welcome back!" Stein said with a smirk and whiff of his cigar.
"Your precious patron -where is he?" Kim demanded meeting all three of them in the middle of the stairs.
"What is it now?" Kid mumbled under his breath as he rolled his eyes at the diva before him.
"I have your letter a letter which I rather resent!" She huffed and crossed her arms as Kid sighed and took it from her.
"And did you send it?" Stein and Justin asked coming towards him.
"Of course not!" Kid said defensively.
"What's going on?!" Stein said rolling his eyes.
"You dare to tell me, that this is not the letter you sent?!" Kim said coming closer.
"And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?" Kid scowled as he proceeded to open the letter Kim had handed to him. He then read it slowly for everyone around to hear.
"Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Maka Albarn will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune, should you attempt to take her place." Kid frowned at the letter and looked back up at Kim who was now scowling.
Both of the owners looked at each other with looks of frustration.
"Far too many notes for my taste and most of them about Maka! All we've heard since we came is Miss Albarn's name!" They then pulled Kim away from her group and walked towards the entrance of the theater. Just as they were getting close to the stairs a voice was heard behind them.
"Miss Albarn has returned." Everyone turned around and saw Madam Marie holding her dark cane and a note in one hand. She wore a long black dress and was accompanied by Tsubaki who wore a short ballerina dress and shoes.
"Where is she now?" Justin said coming forward with Stein close behind.
"I thought it best that she was alone... " Marie said looking at the two men sternly.
"She needed rest!" Tsubaki said interrupting her mother.
"May I see her?" Kid said stepping forward.
"No, monsieur, she will see no-one." Marie insisted.
"Will she sing?!" Kim and Ox asked loudly.
"Here, I have a note..." Marie responded holding out yet another small envelope.
"Let me see it! Please!" The group yelled as they all came forward. Stein grabbed the paper from a smiling Marie and began to read.
"Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance...Maka Albarn has returned to you, and I am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of "Il Muto",you will therefore cast Kim as the Pageboy, and put Miss. Albarn in the role of Countess."
Stein looked at the people reading over his shoulder and continued to read along.
"The role which Miss. Albarn plays calls for charm and appeal. The role of the Pageboy is silent - which makes my casting, in a word, ideal. I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. "I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G." Stein finished as he rolled his eyes.
"Maka! It's all a ploy to help Maka! Whatever next...?" Kim yelled angrily
"I know who sent this the Vicomte - her lover!" Kim said scowling at Kid.
"Indeed? Can you believe this?" Kid said sarcastically.
"Signora!" Stein and Justin called after Kim as she walked away.
Kim stormed into her dressing room and started ordering servants to put away her clothes and take everything out.
"You are our star! And always will be!" Justin and Stein said barging in on the room.
"The man is mad! We don't take orders! Miss Albarn will be playing the Pageboy the silent role..." Stein sighed as he looked at Kim.
"Kim will be playing the lead!" Stein and Justin cried as Kim turned to face them.
"It's useless trying to appease me! You're only saying this to please me!" Kim said walking the back stage opera house with the two managers following closely behind trying to convince her to stay. Everyone was laughing at Kim and smiling and shouting as they were finally glad to be rid of her.
"Who scorn his word, beware to those..." Marie said looking straight ahead at the crowd in front of her.
"You have reviled me!" Kim yelled pushing past the practicing ballerinas
"The angel sees, the angel knows..." Marie mumbled as she started to walk faster.
"You have rebuked me!" Kim screamed
"Signora, pardon us...?" Justin and Stein yelled to the diva walking away.
"You have replaced me!" She yelled turning around to whip her scarf at them.
They all continued down the front stairs following the pink haired girl as she moved faster and faster down each step.
"What new surprises lie in store?!" Everyone sang behind Kim who began to open the front doors of the opera house. There were many admirers standing outside fighting to see who had opened the doors. Many of them held roses and other various flowers in their hands. They all crowded Kim as she smiled and waved and fixed her hair.
Then one man at the front finally spoke up." Would you please give this to Miss Albarn? Miss Albarn!" He yelled as the doors were shut on him. Kim held her hand and looked towards the ground silently until Stein and Justin appeared on her sides.
"Your public needs you! We need you, too!" They said
"Would you not rather have your precious little ingénue?" Kim mumbled
"Signora, no! The world wants you!" They smiled as they took her arms and led her away from the doors.
Prima Donna
"Prima donna first lady of the stage!" Justin and Stein sand as Kim was in a large dressing room being pampered by servants. A large vase of flowers was brought in as Kim powdered her face.
"Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!"
"Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?" Stein and Justin sang as they handed Kim various gifts which she scowled at and waved her hand for them to move away. They rolled their eyes and went to grab more things for the prima donna of the opera house.
"Think of how they all adore you! Prima donna, enchant us once again!"
"Think of your muse... And of the queues round the theatre!" Justin and Stein sang happily.
"Can you deny us the triumph in store?" Stein sand handing Kim a fluffy new scarf as she smiled and snatched it out of his hands and held it up around her.
"Sing, prima donna, once more!" Justin said handing Kim a box of jewelry which she smiled and took out of his hands.
Meanwhile Kid stood in the place where Maka had once prayed to her father and glanced around worriedly.
"Maka spoke of an angel..." He sang softly
"Prima donna, your song shall live again!" Kim sang as a bright pink corset was laced around her and her face was painted white while her hair was done up in a long bun to cover with a white powdered wig.
"Think of your public!" Stein and Justin sang as they joyfully fixed the corset on Kim's back.
Kim turned around and waved her arms gracefully and continued to sing "You took a snub, but there's a public who needs you!"
"She has heard the voice of the angel of music..." Marie sang quietly as she grabbed Tsubaki's and Maka's costumes off small stands behind the stage.
"Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel! Think of their cry of undying support! We get our opera she gets her limelight! Leading ladies are a trial! Stein, Justin and Kim sang all together.
"Prima donna, your song shall never die!" Kim sang while being carried on a small bed by Stin, Justin and others who carried the back.
"You'll sing again, and to unending ovation!"
"Orders! Warnings! Lunatic demands!" Kid sang walking fast through the back corridors of the dormitories.
"Tears... oaths... lunatic demands are regular occurrences!"
"Think how you'll shine in that final encore!" Kim sang smiling
"Surely there'll be further scenes worse than this!" Stein and Justin mumbled losing a grip on the bed Kim was laying on struggling to keep it moving.
"Think, before these demands are rejected!" Kid sang walking up the staircase with a frown upon his face.
"Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl, who's gone and slept with the patron?" Justin and Stein sang as Kim was getting the long dress put on her from above. She held her arms up smiling as the beautiful bright pink dress stopped at her waist.
"Kid and the soubrette, entwined in love's duet!"
"Although he may deny, he must have been with her! You'd never get away with all this in a play, but if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue it's just the sort of story audiences adore, in fact a perfect opera!" Justin and Stein sang meanwhile Kim finished getting ready.
In the back parts of the opera Maka walked sadly wearing a small maid costume and her long light brown hair was held in a ponytail. Behind Marie and Tsubaki who sang along with Stein and Justin.
"Prima donna the world is at your feet! A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated! Light up the stage with that age old rapport!" Everyone sang as they waited behind the front stage for the show to start. Meanwhile the stage crew lighted up the stage and prepared the seats for the audience. "Sing, prima donna, once more!" The red curtains then came down as the audience patiently waited for the opera to begin….
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! review!