|
Post by Sir Percy on Jul 14, 2006 22:24:07 GMT -5
"Your rendition is exquiste, madam," Sir Percy said quietly. "Then it is true...about the Daae girl, and the monster who lives in the belly of the beast?"
He stepped quickly in front of her, and completely into the soft light provided by one of the gas lamps.
"The monster," he said softly, "who is no monster at all? The monster, who may in fact, be a man?"
His voice dropped to a near whisper, as if he feared he ought not to disturb the very air with his words.
"Madam...what if I were to tell you that the Opera Ghost is one to whom my fullest sympathies go out, one whom my entire being would desire to protect?"
Speaking earnestly, quickly, but with deliberation, he said, "Would the weapon you so cunningly possess be in danger, or would the Ghost allow me passage?"
"There are men, Madam Giry, and then there are ghosts. And somehow, I do not think your Opera Ghost is either."
|
|
|
Post by Vianne Giry on Jul 14, 2006 22:35:10 GMT -5
*Madame Giry felt herself on the verge of sudden tears and turned her face away from the light.* "He is like no-one, Monsieur." *Steadying herself once more, she continued.* "The favour you ask, Monsieur, would require more permission than I have power to give, and I would not dare go to those whose whim and word could topple Paris and bring this house to its knees." *She gazed stoically at the gentleman, her unshed tears shining in her eyes.* "I would beg that you do not ask such a question of me, Monsieur. Even what I could do, I will not. There have been too many accidents..." *She turned abruptly as her words died away and went on, leading the way to the offices of the managers, where she hoped to find the patron.* "If you do not mind me asking, Monsieur, what business would a gentleman such as yourself have with the patron of the opera? He is a means of backing support and something of a figurehead in the noble circles which we, merely in his employ, may only aspire to; but as such, he may not hold as much sway within the opera as you may think. Things will only happen in the opera if he--" *she caught herself quickly,* "if we, the workers, wish it to happen."
|
|
|
Post by Sir Percy on Jul 14, 2006 22:44:00 GMT -5
Sir Percy heard the anguish in her voice and gently caught her round to face him.
"Madam," he said softly, "I beg your forgiveness for any sorrow I have caused you. I would not ask you to break any vows you have made, nor would I cause you any additional pain or humility. I shall aquire a way myself, and place you out of harm's context, I swear."
"As for my business with the Vicomte," he continued more calmly, "it is merely a wish to see if Raoul de Chagny has grown according to his ambitions, though I can already see that the visit may be unneccessary. I had hoped--" and here his voice was cut off, as suddenly as if he had torn out his voice box.
After a brief pause he continued.
"No matter, m'selle. From what you have carefully not said, I see it would be fruitless to persue the matter I had originally intended to propose to the Vicomte."
"But madam," he said quickly, "I beg you, do not think that you are in any danger whilst you are with me. I swear, you are as safe here by my side as if the Scarlet Pimpernel protected you."
"The Scarlet Pimpernel," he added with an ironic smile, "or, the Opera Ghost."
|
|
|
Post by Vianne Giry on Jul 14, 2006 23:02:30 GMT -5
*Madame Giry swallowed her fear, yet it was difficult when such a quick-witted yet intense and mysterious man was so near. She shook off her uneasiness and smiled gently.* "They do have a great deal in common, aside from one important facet." *She turned her eyes upon the gentleman.* "The Scarlet Pimpernel seeks to set others free, while the Opera Ghost would fetter us all for to share in his hellish torment. And yet I fear--I know--the Ghost will always come back to haunt. The Pimpernel is merely a man. Concrete. Unchangable. Fallible flesh. A ghost, being less, can be so much more." *She stepped back as they stood at the open door to the Managerial Offices and nodded to the rooms beyond.* "Your way, Monsieur. I trust the patron will not keep you waiting long." *She offered a small curtsey and turned to leave, her mind still reeling slightly at the ressurection of so much of the past in her memories.*
|
|
|
Post by Sir Percy on Jul 14, 2006 23:12:16 GMT -5
Percy stood very close to her, an ungentlemanly manner, and did not let his eyes leave her face.
"Madam," he said quietly, "I think that you will find that the Scarlet Pimpernel and your Opera Ghost are far more alike than you realize. The Ghost too, was a man once, and the Scarlet Pimpernel..."
Trembling, he stepped closer.
"The Scarlet Pimpernel is a mask, and behind that mask is an idea. Ideas cannot be rendered to shreds. They have no flesh, no bone, nothing to tear apart and grind into the earth from which all men come."
"The true difference between the two is that the Opera Ghost is what the Scarlet Pimpernel must become, while the Scarlet Pimpernel is what the Opera Ghost was, in the beginning, I think."
As she turned to leave, he gently placed a hand on her arm.
"Faith, madam, know this. Your secret is safe with me, and your Ghost guarded."
Very gently, he picked up her hand, and bowed over it.
"I bid you adieu, madam, and ask you for nothing more than your discretion."
Pressing the tiny scrap of paper which bore the small, scarlet flower, into her soft hand, he turned and walked through the doorway, leaving her behind.
|
|
|
Post by Vianne Giry on Jul 14, 2006 23:21:28 GMT -5
*Madame Giry allowed herself to shudder once the strange man had left. Unease of some kind yet pricked the back of her neck and she had but a moment to cast a bare glance at the paper in her palm, which she slipped into the locket upon the back of her gold pocketwatch before she slipped it back into the pocket upon her bodice as she heard a voice calling along the corridor.* "Maman? Maman? Are you not coming to dinner?" Her daughter, Meg, came into view at the end of the hall. Looking quickly at the still-open doorway whence the gentleman had so recently retreated within, she passed it towards her daughter with a quick, firm step. "I'm coming, Marguerite," *she said in low tones as she continued down the hall and disappeared down the stairway.*
|
|
|
Post by Sir Percy on Jul 14, 2006 23:25:23 GMT -5
((uh...not sure what to do now...shall we stumble across each other again, or leave it til later?))
|
|
|
Post by Vianne Giry on Jul 14, 2006 23:33:15 GMT -5
((If you've got other things to do, now would be a good time to leave it, if you like. But I'm in bed with a sore throat, achey head, stomach gone kaput and laptop and I don't work 'till four in the afternoon tomorrow, and it's only 9.30 here so I've got time if you like. I've also got a cheap old anthology of British Detective Stories here, so I don't want you to feel like I'm guilting you into staying if you have other things to do or if you want to play another character for a while. Jack Sparrow's on vacation, I think, at least until the bloodlust lust dies down a little. Like, maybe in the next decade or two. *eyeroll* Or he'll just keep getting hotter until he explodes and we all die from the hotness. Like the sun, eventually destroying Earth with its mad solar power! So, obviously, I'm at loose ends here, so I'm game if you're game.))
|
|
|
Post by Sir Percy on Jul 14, 2006 23:38:11 GMT -5
((*giggles* Okay. It's 12:30 my time, and I think I'm going to leave it for tonight. This is an excellent stopping point, anyway. You read British Detective Stories, and I'll read The Scarlet Pimpernel (for practice, of course *winks*). And sometimes, I almost think it a pity that Demiselle is so disciplined when there's hot men like Captain Jack Sparrow running around. Ah, well. Sir Percy shall see Mme. Giry again...he's quite intrigued. And God, I LOVE writing him. He's so much fun and so easy to write.
BTW...you write magnificently. I wanted to weep at some of your sentences, they were so beautifully crafted. I'll be on for a bit longer, and then I'm off. Do feel better though!))
|
|
|
Post by Vianne Giry on Jul 14, 2006 23:42:48 GMT -5
((I'm drinking plenty of tea and taking disgusting-tasting pills. Should be closer to form after a good night's sleep. Sir Percy is delightful to banter with, even on serious matters--he definitely keeps one on their toes! I'm still not sure what it is he wants with the Opera Ghost. But safe to say, Mme. Giry is worried for both. Although I was getting a bit tired of always typing Madame Giry in full. I'm starting to think I ought to give her a first name, despite swearing I wouldn't do such a badficcy thing. Yargh. Maybe I'll choose a French name I like. She sure as heck isn't going to be any form of Marie or Antoinette, as per the usual badfic choices. Perhaps I'll name her Jaqueline, after my friend. *beetles off to google French names.*))
|
|
|
Post by Sir Percy on Jul 14, 2006 23:50:28 GMT -5
((Jaqueline would be pretty. I'm not sure why people name her Antoinette...I actually thought that was her name before I read Leroux. It isn't mentioned in Kay either. And hey, you could always abbreviate Madame to Mme. Hell of a lot shorter, and what are they going to do? Accuse you of inconsistency? It's Sueineverse.
I'm glad you like Percy. I'm shocked at how easy he is to write...but he's always been my hero, from the very first time I saw the movie when I was five. (He's also probably the reason I fall in love with tall, blonde men with aristocratic good looks. Freud's working overtime in my brain.) In any case...what he wants with Erik is for you to find out. And you shall, shortly. He sees a companion in Giry, and he likes that. (The fact that she looks entirely too much like Margot is notwithstanding, at the moment.) And Mme. Giry may do well to fear for them both. But don't be frightened. Percy would never compromise or humilate Erik.
In any case, I'm off to bed. If you want we can arrange to meet again somewhere tommrrow, at whatever time works for you. Just add three hours to your time in the note, otherwise I'll be all confuzzled. If you've got an idea or something, just drop Sir Percy a note (PM me) and he'll get back to you as soon as he drags St. Just out of whatever brothel he's holed up in. Impudent boy. Demmed excitable puppy, what? Sink me!))
|
|
|
Post by Vianne Giry on Jul 15, 2006 0:03:34 GMT -5
((Har. I'm going to have to start slipping "sink me!" into my everyday speech. Now, I know I had a pretty copy of The Scarlet Pimpernel around here somewhere...*tears apart bookshelf* And after doing some searching and paying no attention to historical context, I think I'm going to name Mme. Giry Vianne--after the heroine in Chocolat because this has got me thinking about Johnny Depp, now...grr. Mmm. Grr. Mmm.))
|
|
|
Post by Sir Percy on Jul 15, 2006 0:07:37 GMT -5
((Ooooh. I love that name. VERY pretty. All right. I really am off to bed this time. Hopefully I'll see you on tommrrow. And Johnny? Very lovely! Odd's fish, m'dear, a splendid specimen. Zounds!
Night!))
|
|
|
Post by Vianne Giry on Jul 15, 2006 0:17:38 GMT -5
((You should talk. Sir Percy's a certified hottie! Even in his fop getup. *waits until you're gone to kiss the steps and bannister Sir Percy exited upon...or something*
Also? Your icon? Is following me with its eyes. It's like the Mona Lisa. Slightly creepy. Only hotter.))
|
|
|
Post by Demiselle on Jul 15, 2006 10:21:37 GMT -5
((He is hot, isn't he? And...OMG! *shrieks* I love that scene. It's actually my favorite scene in that book. It just makes you want to WEEP...it's so heart wrought. And yes, he follows you with his eyes...because he's OBSESSED with you. In a totally non-stalkery type way. More of a dashing, heroic, noble way. And it IS like the Mona Lisa. Only hotter. The Mona Lisa isn't hot.))
|
|