Disclaimer: Don't own POTO (tear)…
Wow! (dances in happy circles) Reviews make me happy! Sorry it's been longer than usual between my updates but I've been very sick lately.
Christy Day: You know, that is an excellent question. I had thought about that when I started that chapter but it completely slipped my mind as I wrote it. Ah, well.
Wait…"Wandering Child" is on…must listen…(dies) I love that song…it breaks my heart every time.
Star Sheep: I'm sooo glad that you like the comedy. I was anxious about writing it.
whatanoddgirl: Thank you for the explanation. Every time they mentioned domino I'm thinking either pizza or game pieces.
Solecito: I love Poe's work. Yeah, I thought it was about time for some major chaos to break out. I hope I continue for a while…who knows really?
ella: I actually have no idea what Fingerprints in Time" is. Is it a fanfiction or a published story?
easternelvenlady: (shudders at thought of a mary sue) Frankly, I find it a little embarrassing to write in a mary sue style so I'm glad you've found this phic to be otherwise.
Childofthewilderness: I'm so glad I got to bless you on a bad day! I know how that feels. (makes face at Elvis) I'll I can say is, "I am so sorry."
xxXGoddessXofXdeadXloveXxx: Sorry I didn't respond earlier but I think the tail end of your address got cut off in the review. I'd love to be your beta, I actually have experience as a copy editor. But just so you know, it'd probably be best for you to have one or two other betas, just in case I'm not always able to respond quickly. I think my email address is in my profile (goes to check profile) Never mind, I lied. Here it is: yellowbrickrd "at" earthlink "dot" net.
enigmatic mystery: Hands over fop, hog-tied.
Aurora: Yeah, I gave that costume to Anna as a special tribute to one of my own characters from an original fiction. Hey, I gave out my email address two review responses above so if you want to send me those pictures I'd love it!
Silent Masquerade: Oh, please let me know when you post your phic!
phantomsangelofmusic: Edgar Allen Poe is a genius! GENIUS I TELL YOU! I figured using costumes inspired by his stuff would match Red Death. The Raven was obvious. Annabelle Lee was a little more difficult but I thought it might be along the lines of something you'd find in a haunted mansion. Pretty but spooky.
Tian Sirki: (hugs reviewer 103 and 104) You make me happy! I'm so glad you like it. I'm pondering your suggestion about possibly gift-dropping Gerard in Anna and Brooke's laps. It would definitely create conflict, but that's what fiction is all about isn't it?
So, since you are my readership we shall PUT IT TO A VOTE! Shall Gerry Phantom make a guest appearance some time during this phic? And if he should then what should happen?
Sarita: I have no idea what I'm going to do with them. It was inevitable that one of the girls would develop a closer relationship with Erik but I thought it would be unfair to leave the other isolated until I remember Raoul (might as well put him to good use). I don't want to fall into the mary sue trap though, so it'll probably just remain suggestive at this point.
Mrs. Tom Riddle: Question, what do you think of Ralph Fiennes being cast as Voldemort?
Songwind: Yes, I'm saving the idea inspired by you for a rainy day that will be descending upon my little phic peoples sometime soon.
Simply Elymas: So cool! "The Raven" is my favorite!
Okay, so I just finished Kay's book and I have to admit that I didn't like it all that much. I know, I know, how could I say that? The ending just falls so flat. Besides that, I really don't like the whole Erik+ChristineLove Child thing. It's so empty and devoid of any true value. So what she could give him her virginity (while he's dying? o.0) when she wouldn't allow him six months of normal living as husband and wife? But anyways.
Okay, I am totally taking artistic license here with the village of Perros. Here we go.
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ADVENTURES IN PERROS
"I AM BORED!" Brooke wailed. She threw her sketchpad across the room. "There's nothing to do!"
"I know, I'm going crazy shut up in this batcave," Anna said, throwing her notebook at the wall.
Erik had no idea what that meant but he did know that bad things happened when the girls got bored. And it usually involved Christine.
"How about a game of Chinese checkers?" he suggested.
"No!" Anna said, "You always win, even when you play against the computer." All at once, the girls were on their feet and anxiously pacing the room. Erik's heart sank as he saw a desperate, caged look creeping into their eyes. He offered more suggestions but the girls would have none of it. They suddenly paused in their nervous prowling, their heads tilted to one side listening to the music coming from the computer.
A long, long time ago,
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile…
"Oh!" they cried, slumping on to the sofa, holding each other's arms. With the song came a rushing tide of memories of their former life. They remembered the rolling greens hills of their home, the lush forests, vivid sunsets, and shy deer peering out from the shade. All at once they were terribly homesick.
"How long do you think it's been since we've seen a tree?" Anna asked her cousin.
"Do you count the ones in the prop department?"
"No."
"I miss home!" Brooke said, her voice broken and shaking. Erik fixed them with a startled look. He suddenly realized how pale they appeared. How could he have not seen it sooner? They were dwindling into the shadows, becoming phantoms themselves. He had buried the dread that they would one day long to see the sun again, but it resurfaced now with shocking clarity. A loud sniffle caught his attention and he saw the tears glittering down their sunken cheeks. Erik was on his feet.
"My dearest sisters! Don't cry like that! I can't bear it," he cried with a beautifully tragic note of angst in his voice. He held out his arms to them and they rushed into his embrace, clinging to him, soaking his best waistcoat with their tears.
"I knew you'd want to leave someday, " he said softly. "This is no life for young ladies like you."
Anna pulled away to look at Erik, "No, we don't want to leave, it's just that we miss the country."
Erik rubbed at his neck self-consciously. "Well, I don't want to see you unhappy…"
The girls regarded him expectantly.
"Well, I shall be stalking Christine to Perros for the summer holidays. It is pleasant country. If you'd like to…"
He never finished giving the invitation. The girls had dashed into the their bedroom to pack.
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They left the house by the lake a week later. The girls lamented the state of their wardrobe until Erik promised to let them shop to their hearts' content once they reached Perros. If only he knew what he'd be getting himself into. He left the house and Ayesha in the capable hands of his friend Nadir, who had conviently popped up out of nowhere.
The train ride from Paris was relatively uneventful. Erik spent the entire trip curled up in a corner, eyes darting hither and thither as though he expected someone to recognize him. The girls bounced excitedly in their seats. Erik could have compared their barely concealed zeal with hyperactive dogs on a car trip, if only he knew what hyperactive dogs on car trips were like. They stuck their heads out the window and toured the entire train with the porter.
At last they reached the depot just an hour's drive outside of Perros. A boy went to put their luggage on an awaiting carriage, but Erik protested.
"I'd much rather wait to drive into Perros under cover of darkness," he explained, keeping his head lowered beside the girls' ears.
"What! Oh, no, we must get to Perros before this evening or else we shall lose our rooms at the Seaside Inn," Anna said as she motioned for the boy to continue his activities.
"What rooms? How on earth did you get rooms at an inn you've never heard of before?" Erik said with disbelief.
Brooke pointed to the vague blue yonder above their heads, "The Authoress of course."
Erik cursed and shook an angry fist at the omnipotent being exercising control over this particular version of his life as the girls bundled him into the carriage.
"Now, Erik, we need to talk," Anna said as she settled herself beside him. "We have given this much thought and we believe there is a great chance for you to interact peaceably with society. You've simply been going about it the wrong way."
Erik bristled. "Don't you think I would have thought of everything by now?"
"Ah, but you didn't have us!" Brooke declared, her eyes twinkling. Erik only blinked and sat in stumped silence.
"And how do you suggest we go about this?" he ventured at last.
"Well," Brooke began, leaning forward confidentially; "This time out you have money and company on your side."
"Yes, yes?"
"Money fixes just about any problem. Everyone will forget about the mask when they see your fine clothes and…ahem, all the purchases that we will make at the shops."
"Rather pathetic isn't," Erik muttered.
"Yes, but whatever," Anna waved materialism aside, "As for company, people will be less suspicious and simply more curious when they see you with two flirtatious and—if I may say so—very good-looking young women holding on to your arms." Erik rolled his eyes.
"But seriously, Erik, you must use your voice to your advantage and I don't mean to spook people out," Anna continued. "Really, please try to speak cordially to the other residents. A little friendliness might go a long way."
"Very well," Erik said with a sigh. "But I hope you do not expect me to be giddy."
"Of course not! Leave that part to us," Brooke chirped as she powdered her nose.
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The village of Perros was happily situated along the French coastline. The Seaside Inn, in particular, had a rather spectacular view of the English Channel. The Inn was comprised of a quaint group of buildings, charmingly decorated with pink trim along the eaves and flower boxes at the windows. A jolly, rotund couple ran it: Monsieur and Madame de Pouf. The former relished a good, stiff drink and a hearty song, while the latter was an incorrigible gossip. Therefore, they loved nothing more than to fill their Inn with noisy young Parisians determined to spend the summer in the most reckless and imprudent manner possible. Those who visited Perros because their doctors recommended a change of scenery stayed at the Le Snob Hotel at the other end of town. The visitors and the proprietors of Le Snob considered the hotel to be the pinnacle of good taste; everyone else considered it unspeakably vulgar and horrifyingly dull and ignored its presence.
The entire village thrived on the summer visitors. They took great pride in the fashionable status of their resort, catering to the very rich and the very foolish most shamelessly. But they also loved their wilderness and so they protested any attempts to build a train depot in the village itself. They said it would be too noisy and would taint the sweet sea air. Thus, the wild woods and groves that now greeted the hungry eyes of Anna and Brooke were preserved in all their glory.
The well-worn road wound its way through forests of birch and pine until at last the village came into view.
"Oh, Brooke!" Anna squealed. "It looks just like Disneyland!"
Erik would have asked what she meant by that but he was preoccupied with calming his nerves.
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Madam de Pouf and the other occupants of the Seaside Inn hardly knew what had hit them when the newly arrived carriage deposited a mysterious, masked man and two giggling, smartly dressed girls on her front stoop. Most of the people bustling about the front parlor cowered away from the man's intimidating presence, but Madam de Pouf's shrewd eyes had already taken in his fine dress and stately manner, thus surmising him to be a good deal more wealthy than her normal tenants. Moreover she liked the look of the young ladies who flanked him.
Erik made the landlady an elegant bow.
"Do you have a room here, monsieur?" she asked as she admired the craftsmanship of his watch chain.
"Yes, under the name of…err…" His eyes darted to Anna.
"Leroux. Under the name of Leroux," she answered easily. Madam de Pouf scanned her roster.
"Ah, yes here you are. Well, allow me to show you to your rooms. I daresay you'll want to take your supper upstairs?" she said as she corralled them upstairs.
"Why do you say that?" Erik said sharply. Madam de Pouf blinked confusedly and looked at the girls.
"I only supposed you to be tired from your journey, Monsieur Leroux. Of course if you'd rather dine down here—"
Brooke interrupted her with a charming laugh, "Oh, you mustn't mind our dear brother, Madam. He's always out of spirits after a long journey."
Erik trailed the women up the stairs, rolling his eyes, as the girls worked their magic, giggling and poking fun at their 'brother' with Madam de Pouf The landlady had grown sincerely attached to them all by the time she left them alone in their suite. Anna and Brooke looked supremely smug. It had been an undeniable triumph. Erik ignored them.
Their rooms were sweetly decorated, a little too sweet for the Phantom's taste, who fingered the elaborate doilies with distaste. Two bedrooms, each with its own bath, connected to opposite ends of the spacious sitting room. A large bay window in the northern wall of the main room opened to a balcony over-looking the courtyard and the main road that led down to the seashore.
Anna sighed with contentment, "When shall we go shopping?"
"Not till tomorrow," Erik said testily. "At least you two will go. I shall stay here."
Brooke sat beside him, "But, Erik, we need to have a man's opinion. Besides Christine won't arrive for another two days."
"How do you know?"
"Madam de Pouf told us so." Erik rolled his eyes as Anna removed his mask.
So they spent the remainder of the evening sitting about in their bathrobes, talking of many philosophical things, and making plans to have a piano brought up to the sitting room.