Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who nor Phantom of the Opera in any way.
A/N: Hi guys! Yes, I'm alive. Sorry, its been so long since I've updated. I've been really busy this semester and haven't had much time to write. This year has been very stressful for me so I haven't really been in the right mindset to write. But, the semester is coming to an end and I've finally found the time to write a quick chapter! This chapter is rather short, but trust me there much more to come! Thank you guys! XOXO :)
I've also started drawing my characters so if you guys want to check that out I've left the link below. :)
Playlist: /theshadowphantom102/the-artist-and-the-doctor
Claire's Outfit: claires_outfit_chapter_28/set?id=131365823
Concept Art for Characters: gallery/51810387/The-Artist-and-the-Doctor
"Doctor, how many times do I have to tell you to sit still?" I groaned in annoyance.
"Do you know how hard it is to sit still?" He whined as he once again moved his position.
"You're the one who insisted that I draw you." I argued.
The Doctor pouted before settling into a more comfortable position. Thankfully he managed to stay still long enough for me get a decent drawing of him.
"Here." I turned my sketchbook around to show off my drawing.
The Doctor's mouth dropped as he took my sketchbook from me. "This is really good!" He gasped. "It looks just like me!"
I blushed deeply as he continued to fawn over my drawing. "It would've been better if you sat still."
"Nonsense, it's perfect." He smiled. "My turn!" Before I could protest the Doctor snagged the pencil out of my hand and flipped to a new page. "Now stay still." He said in a slightly lower octave, making my heart flutter slightly.
I watched him intently as he concentrated on his drawing. The crinkles in his forehead were set deeper than usual and his tongue poked out slightly from between his lips. I had to refrain myself from kissing him right then and there. Suddenly a loud ringing rang throughout the TARDIS breaking me out of my dreamy stupor.
"Doctor aren't you going to get that?" I asked gesturing towards the phone.
He shook his head as he continued to draw.
With a roll of my eyes, I stood up from my seat on the steps to go answer the phone.
"You're supposed to stay still!" He argued from his seat on the swing.
"You moved way more than I am, trust me." I threw him a wink as I turned my back on a now pouting Doctor. "Hello?" I answered into the phone.
"Yes, hello. Is the Doctor there?" A very proper, British, female accent asked over the phone.
I waved the phone at the Doctor through the glass flooring. "Phone."
He waved it off, still concentrating on his drawing. "Busy!"
I glared at the Doctor before turning back to the phone. "Can I take a message?" I asked.
There was a brief chatter on the other line of hushed voices talking to one another: two female, one male. The girl I was originally talking to spoke back into the receiver. "Yes, just make sure he's quick about it. Tell 'em that we're at the Opera Populaire in Paris, France, 1870. It's at utmost importance that he gets here as soon as possible."
"Wait, did you say the Paris Opera House?" I asked in disbelief, glancing down at the Doctor, who was listening in curiously.
"Yes, miss, I did. There's a ghost haunting the place and we need the Doctor." She answered firmly.
"No way, the Phantom of the Opera!" I gasped excitedly into the phone.
The Doctor's head perked up immediately as he ran up the stairs to the console.
"Yes, boy!" A harsh male voice shouted into the phone, nearly making me jump out of my skin. "There's an Opera Ghost and we need to annihilate it!"
"He's a she!" The woman corrected him.
"Both of you please remain proper. You're scaring the poor girl." A new female voice scolded the two. "I'm so sorry about that. Please, tell the Doctor that we need him." With that she hung up abruptly.
"Who was that?" The Doctor asked getting the TARDIS ready to take off.
"I'm not sure. It was sort of jumbled. Definitely two females with very proper British accents and the other one male, very harsh and rude, I must say. They need you at the Opera Populaire in Paris, France 1870." I answered. "They mentioned something about the Phantom of the Opera."
"Oh! Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax! I was wondering when they'd turn up again." The Doctor smiled excitedly as he plugged in the coordinates.
"How did they call you? Phones weren't invented yet?" I asked curiously.
"Madame Vastra has her ways. Lots of alien technology like communicators and teleports. Stuff like that." The Doctor shrugged pulling on a lever that made a loud dinging noise.
"It can't really be the Phantom of the Opera though? That's just a myth, right? I read the book, seen all the movies and the musical. It's just a love slash horror story, depending on which version you liked the most."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Claire. Ever heard of the Loch Ness Monster?" He asked after sending us into flight.
I held on to the console for balance as everything started to shake violently. "Yes, of course I have."
"True!" He answered smugly. "Found her in a lake out in Scotland. She's not there anymore though. I brought her back to her home planet on Lochicharia. Good ole Nessy! Very beautiful creature and fun to ride, maybe I'll take you there at some point for a spin." Everything started to smoothen out as the TARDIS landed.
I shook my head at him. "The Phantom of the Opera…" I ran over to him and grabbed his hands. "This is so exciting!" I screeched happily.
The Doctor laughed at me before pressing a quick kiss to my lips. "Ready to meet the famous opera ghost?"
"Oh, yes." I giggled pulling him towards the TARDIS doors.
The Doctor opened the doors for me in a grand flourish. A loud gasp escaped my lips as I took in the main foyer of the famous Opera de Populaire. It was just how I imagined it to be, only grander. Marble floorings lead to a massive marble staircase that must have had a hundred steps on it. Leading up to a large French painting of a young man. The staircase then split off into two directions leading to other parts of the Opera House. The ceilings rose to hundreds of feet in the air with gorgeous frescoes decorating them. The art and architecture of just the foyer alone was enough to send me to heaven and back.
"It's gorgeous." I gasped, spinning around the room trying to take in everything at once.
The Doctor looked on at me a huge smile gracing those perfect lips of his as he watched me drink in the beauty surrounding us. I quickly bounded back over to him and placed a quick kiss to his lips.
"Best day ever!" I exclaimed excitedly before running off towards the staircase.
"Claire, wait up!" The Doctor called after me. "If you want to see the stage you're going the wrong way.
I quickly turned around allowing my loose dark brown curls to nearly whack me in the face. "Are you kidding me? We're not leaving until I see every last inch of this place."
"Ah perhaps you would like a tour then?" A man with greying hair offered as he approached us.
"Oh my God! That would be fantastic!" I practically squealed.
The man nodded happily as he shook hands with the Doctor and I. "Monsieur Lefevre former owner of Le Opera Populaire, and you are?"
The Doctor through him one of his cheeky grins as he produced his psychic paper. Monsieur Lefevre seemed impressed with whatever the Doctor was pretending to be this time and led us deeper into the opera house.
My mouth hung agape in awe as we walked through grand hallways decked out in marble floorings, burning glass chandeliers and lights, gorgeous paintings of landscapes and portraits of wealthy people. I nearly jumped out of my skin when the Doctor cupped his hand under my chin to close my mouth. I glared up at him as he smirked to himself. His arm snaked around my waist and pulled me closer to him as we followed Monsieur Lefevre through the halls. The former manager informed us about the history of the opera house as well as what operas they were currently working on to perform.
Honestly, I found myself zoning out al lot as I drank in all of the glorious artwork before me. I was too drawn to the delicate workings of the architecture, furniture and paintings that surrounded us.
Finally, he led us into the auditorium. The ceilings were at least a hundred feet tall with similar frescoes painted on them as in the foyer. The famous crystal chandelier hung beautifully over our heads, sparkling in all of its glory. I wanted to fall to my knees and cry at the sheer beauty of it.
I nearly fainted from excitement as I watched the cast rehearse for the night's opera. The singer's voices bounced beautifully off the walls of the room as the dancers floated about the stage in red, gold, and green.
"The rehearsals you see are underway for a new production, Hannibal." Monsieur Lefevre explained to us with a gesture of his arm. "Ladies and gentlemen!" He suddenly called out to the performers only to be ignored. "Ladies and gentlemen!" He tried again, but to no avail. He turned his attention to a woman dressed head to foot in black, a dark veil covering her face to the world. "Please Madame?" He asked her. The veiled figure gave him a curt nod before slamming her cane on the floor repeated. The room came to an abrupt silence as all eyes fell on her.
"Thank you." Monsieur Lefevre said before taking the floor. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please? As you know, for some weeks there have been rumors about my imminent retirement. I can now tell you that these are all true and it is now my pleasure to introduce you to the new owners of the Opera Populaire Monsieur Doctor and Mademoiselle Carlo!"
My eyes widened to the size of saucers as everyone clapped for us. Oh I am going to kill him once we get out of this mess.
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! I'll try to get the next one up within the next few weeks :)