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Post by Erik Gunner on Sept 25, 2012 21:56:22 GMT -5
Gunner sat on the ground, his head down into his hands. Everything for the moment was dark and silent. But then suddenly came this cold breeze and the stench of horses. He could hear horses naying that the clopping of their hooves. But the strange thing was... he wasn't out by any horses. He rose his head off his hands and saw that he was somewhere different. "Where the hell am I?!" It looked like he was in some sort of stables, but not any he had been at before. His Pinto horse stood in front of him, staring at his human companion. "Okay Ghost, now where have ya take'n me?"
Erik Gunner picked himself off the ground and held onto the pinto's black mane. The morning sun peaked over the horizon over the unrecognizable landscape. He hopped onto his horse and kept Ghost still for a moment or two. "HEEYA!" He shouted and taped the back of his boots into Ghost's sides a bit, the horse naying then running up ahead. Very unfamiliar territory. He saw that he had come out of he stables to a large, looming manor of a sort that he didn't like all that well, looked like the abandoned type but could have some pretty loot which he would have to check for later. But for now, he had to figure out where he was.
As Gunner came riding through a forest area, he saw another horse and a man on it riding towards him. Gunner quickly got his horse out of the way and had Ghost stand behind a thicket of trees and tall bushes. Then once the man and his horse came up close, he got his gun out and cocked, ready to shoot if needed. He then rode out beside the man and held the gun up at the man. "Slow down there 'n get your hands up and look pretty there! Don't think of try'n any funny unless you'd like your brains scattered!" He shouted to the man and then had his horse stand in front of the other horse to block quick escape when the man's horse had slowed down. "Be smart 'n just give me what I want. Tell me where is this place..." There then was a devious glint in his eyes. "And hand over anything shiny you got and you can go your way."
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Raoul Edouard de Chagny
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
Posts: 365
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Post by Raoul Edouard de Chagny on Sept 25, 2012 22:35:34 GMT -5
Edouard de Chagny had awakened early and had a yearning to take a ride. Since discovering that somehow there were horses in the stables, odd becuse there had been none when he had first arrived, he had started to enjoy riding again. He had taken a fancy to a beautiful Palimino whom he had named Lacy, for no particular reason. She was gentle and a good runner too. And she was easy to ride.
Saddling Lacy should have been a stableman's job, but since there was no stableman in evidence, Edouard was forced to do it himself. He had learned to do a great many things for himself since coming to the mansion. Not that he was happy about it. He really felt it below his dignity and station in life, but there was no remedy for it and if he wanted to ride, he had to saddle Lacy himself. He patted her mane and got into the saddle.
Lacy seemed primed for a good run this morning and it would be exhilirating. Edouard headed toward the forest. Perhaps a trip to the village and back or through the woods. He would give the horse her head; she seemed to know her way about the place better than he did. Suddenly Edouard was aware of someone else on a horse, someone who had come upon the Vicomte quickly. Edouard was quite taken by surprise. He had not expected this...especially when he saw the other horseman had a gun, ready to shoot. He told Edouard to stop and put his hands up. He placed his own horse in front of Lacy to block her running.
Edouard complied. He frowned. "What is this...a robbery? And who are you?" The man told him to hand over his valuables. Edouard had some money on him, and his watch. He would gladly part with the money, but the watch had belonged to several generations of men in his family and he was loathe to part with it. "Here is all the money I have with me, Monsieur." He handed over quite a few French francs.
The man spoke English, but his accent was unfamiliar to Edouard. He was a bit hard for him to understand, although he understood the actions well enough. The gun spoke quite eloquently even if the man didn't.
"Who are you, Monsieur? And don't think you won't be caught. I have it on good authority that it's not easy to leave this place once you are here." When the man asked what this place was, Edouard said, "I have no idea what the mansion is called." Then he wondered if the man were going back to the house. Other residents could be in danger. He thought perhaps he could deflect the man's attention from the house. "Perhaps you might be interested in the village. There is plenty of money to be had there..."
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Post by Erik Gunner on Sept 25, 2012 23:05:20 GMT -5
Gunner gladly took the money, though he raised an eye brow at the French money and the obviously French man. Was good was this French money going to do him? Must have been some man who got lost somewhere and somehow ended up in the Arizona Territory or something of the sort. Gunner stuffed the money in his pocked but did not fail once to continue to keep his gun up and pointed.
Gunner then laughed a throaty laugh when the Frenchy said that he would be caught. This man obviously hasn't been around the western region of America much. When the man mentioned money in a village, plenty of money. "That be the right language and I thank ya for the info." He said, tipping his hat to him a bit. He then paused and thought for a moment. "Hey, do ya own that mansion? Live there maybe? Anyone of importance living there?" He asked with a slight smirk, not that it could be seen beneath his bandana mask.
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Raoul Edouard de Chagny
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
Posts: 365
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Post by Raoul Edouard de Chagny on Sept 26, 2012 21:49:54 GMT -5
The man with the bandana over the bottom part of his face continued to hold Edouard at gunpoint. "May I put my arms down, Monsieur? It is getting a bit uncomfortable." The man started to ask about the mansion and who lived there.
"I certainly do not own that place." Edouard tried to choose his words carefully. "I do stay there, not because I want to, but because I have no choice." He thought that explanation fell rather flat. "I don't know the owner and I don't expect there is anyone of importance there." Edouard smiled inwardly. He wondered what the Eriks would say if they heard him say that no one of importance lived there. They all seemed to have inflated ideas about their importance! Edouard didn't mention that he was a Vicomte. That might impress this fellow in the wrong way.
Edouard frowned. Perhaps the fellow might answer a few questions. "And where are you from, Monsieur? I cannot quite place your speech..." Edouard watched the man as carefully as he could. Eyes could be revealing. "England, a lovely country, but I do miss Paris. I don't know when I shall see my lovely city again."
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Post by Erik Gunner on Oct 3, 2012 22:21:38 GMT -5
"Not yet." He growled slightly when the man asked to put his arms down. Really, keeping his arms up made the Frenchy look slightly ridicules, so he was going to make him keep it up for a bit more for his own amusement. When the man began to speak again and said that he did not own the place, he put his gun down slightly and leaned in, glaring slightly over the bandana.
One eyebrow rose when the Frenchy said that he had no choice in staying in the place. What did he mean by that? He said that no one of importance lived there and a smile beneath the bandana grinned devilishly. Then what in store he had for the big mansion, wouldn't Lu love it? The Frenchy asked where he was from and then said something about England that confused Gunner, not that he would admit it. He looked around for a quick moment. It was abnormally forest like, but there were a few places in the Arizona territory like that, he must still be in the Arizona territory.
"U.S. Arizona territory. 'N' what you mean England?" Erik grumbled slightly. He then looked about one more time then smirked, that might have been noticeable by the way his cheeks rose and made his eyes look slightly more squinty. "Well mister, looks to be yer lucky day. You can put yer arms down now, but I want you again, don't try noth'n unless you don't care to much f'r breath'n." He said then paused. "Now, we'll be tak'n a trip to that manor that you say has no importn't people. You'll be ride'n beside me and give me a little tour. I think it'll also be in yer best interest if ya show me any rooms that have any large quantities of valuables." He said in a delighted but also steely tone.
Gunner moved his white faced, black body Pinto horse away from blocking and didn't quite set his gun down. He rested his hands on the front of the saddle but continued to point the gun towards the man. He smiled and spoke in his usual gruffish voice. "Come along now, don't keep me waiting." He said as Ghost reared slightly and waited for the other horse to get going, the black and white horse already use to this sort of thing that his human companion did. Erik couldn't help but keep thinking of what a rich sort of place it looked and how happy Lu would be to be in it. Yes, he was going to get his quick little tour, evacuate all the little unimportant people from it, and take it for themselves. Maybe it could be a place Lu and him could live together. Sure, it wasn't a ranch, but they could do something with it, with the many valuables that they could get money with, they could make a few touch ups.
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Raoul Edouard de Chagny
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
Posts: 365
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Post by Raoul Edouard de Chagny on Oct 4, 2012 18:40:38 GMT -5
Edouard sighed. His arms were becoming tired and sore from holding them up. This man was infuriating! What else did he want? But he had a gun, so Edouard said nothing more about the subject. He supposed the man would try to hold up all the manor residents and take their money. If Edouard had had his pistol with him or a sword even, he could have defended himself.Well, it was too late now.
The man wearing the bandana was almost as bad as the Phantoms wearing their bloody masks. It was sometimes hard to tell their emotions. At least he could see this fellow's eyes. He seemed puzzled at Edouard's cryptic comment about not being able to leave. But he didn't explain. He expected that perhaps the man would become the mansion's next guest. He smiled inwardly. Then it would do no good to rob the residents. He'd have no where to go.
Then the fellow said he was from the Territory of Arizona in North America. "We're in England, Monsieur. Not Paris, not Arizona. England." The man looked as if he were smirking under that bandana. Finally he told Edouard he could put down his arms but that he would be giving him a tour of the mansion. Edouard rubbed his arms and picked up Lacy's reins again.
"Rooms full of valuables, Monsieur? And I suppose you think we have little elves who spin gold out of straw too, he said referring to a German fairy tale he had related to Gustave when the boy was much younger. I hardly think so." He did consider telling him about Lenoir whom he knew was very wealthy. He could take this fellow down to the Phantom's lair and let him take what he wanted. Although Edouard didn't know where Lenoir kept his money and valuables. And then again, the Phantom could be in his lair and probably would attack both of them. And he didn't want to get on Lenoir's bad side again. It was bad enough they fought over Emilie. He decided not to say anything about that.
"And if you think I have amassed a great fortune just becuae I have a few fine clothes left, you would be wong, Monsieur. I unfortunately lost the family fortune by a terrible happenstance and now evcen my wife has to cook and do our laundry. We have no servants any more. So I expact that you will not find anyone of importance with any real wealth." Edouard paused and looked directly at the man again. "But of course I would be willing to give you a tour. There's really nothing to see. The door to the mansion is there on the corner, where the garden begins."
"We can tie the horses outside and when you are satisfied that there is nothing of value in the mansion, you will probably just want to ride your pinto away from here and I shall put Lacy back in the stable."
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Post by Erik Gunner on Oct 13, 2012 10:59:15 GMT -5
The man seemed a bit crazy, thinking they were in England. That wasn't at all possible since he had never been out of the states, much less the western states. Gunner glared slightly when the Frenchy spoke of little elves who spin gold our of straw, if he was trying to be at all funny - it wasn't. He then went on to speak of a little sob story of no money and that they actually had to do things for themselves.
"What you expect me ta shed a tear?" He asked, rolling his eyes slightly. "Now 'bout the tour, that all I needed to hear." He said then rose an eyebrow when the Frenchy said that when he was satisfied, he will 'probably just want to ride his pinto away from here'. Was that a sort of threat? "Now mister, don't you be getting any sort of ideas like that. Who knows, maybe I won't leave at all. And if that be the case, it'll be you ride'n your horse 'way from here. You got that? Now, stop wasting precious time and get going on that tour business." He said raising his gun slightly to show that he could still shoot at any moment if the man decided to rebel at all... and for a bit of show off for his gun.
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Raoul Edouard de Chagny
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
Posts: 365
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Post by Raoul Edouard de Chagny on Oct 14, 2012 19:08:20 GMT -5
Edouard shook his head and rolled his eyes. This fellow would have to be shown directly what the mansion was all about. "Would you do me the great favour of telling me what your name is? I expect you wish to find a place to stay tonight and your name will help me greatly in finding it."
Edouard thought that it would be a grand idea to help the fellow find his dormitory suite and then lock him in some way. Then he frowned. Perhaps the man didn't belong here? Then what? But no, he decided that because the man had shown up here, he must be one of the people sucked into the mansion by the ghosts. Why else would he be here? Only the people from the village could leave...and even some of them weren't able to leave. The fellow thought he was still in America. At that thought, Edouard smirked. Of course. He must be the latest victim of the crazy ghosts who pulled in so many people and wouldn't let them leave.
Edouard rode Lacy over to the rail that the manor residents often used for a hitching post for their horses. He dismounted and then walked to the door of the mansion that led from the gardens. He waited for the man to dismount. When he arrived at the door, Edouard went through and held the door behind him for the man. "Perhaps you may want to take off your bandana. It makes you look like a highwayman or a robber. We don't want to startle the residents, do we? Especially the women..." Edouard smiled.
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Post by Erik Gunner on Oct 22, 2012 0:11:58 GMT -5
"I don't find that giv'n my ame would be a great favor." Gunner mumbled some under the bandana. He thought for a moment, he could give his last name... but what if the Frenchy told someone who knew his family? He didn't want to further disgrace his family... and everyone already knew his as the Phantom Bandit. He smiled. "You could just call me Erik Bandit."
Gunner watched carefully as the French man got off his horse and started to lead towards the gardens. He wanted to make sure the man didn't try anything, he didn't want to make any false moves, especially if his guy wasn't 'completely on his saddle' or in other words, bat-shit crazy. Once satisfied that the man wasn't going to try anything for the moment, he quickly dismounted Ghost and gave a nice pat on the back of the Pinto and finally put his gun away, though not without uncocking it first and doing fancy little flips with it before putting it back in it's holster and fallowing the man.
Erik Gunner walked through the opened door, only giving an acknowledging glance at the Frenchy. The man then advised him to take off his bandana and that it would startle the women. He decided to take it lightly and laugh some. "Shit, I don't think my bandana's going to come off that easily. And besides, you've got 'et all wrong. The women find both outlaws and bandanas quite the charming little add on. So stick yer nose back into your own business and just get this little show on the road, yeah? Now start the tour, where to first?" Gunner said, a hand on the butt of one of his guns as if a little reminder. He smiled and then rested back his hands at his sides, where they were always ready to grab a gun and take action.
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Raoul Edouard de Chagny
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
Posts: 365
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Post by Raoul Edouard de Chagny on Oct 28, 2012 22:40:56 GMT -5
Edoard was becoming annoyed with this fellow. He called himself Erik Bandit. Of course he was a bandit, but Erik? Interesting. Was he a Phantom? He didn't know there were any Phantoms pulled in here who were not of the opera versions. Perhaps the fellow had something to do with music. But he was American? The ghosts had found an interesting one this time. Hopefully not as dangerous as he appeared. Certainly annoying.
Edouard walked ahead of the bandit, which he expectted was probably not a good idea. But he didn't think he would shoot him in the back. Unless he was stark raving, crazy mad. In that case he would probably shoot him no matter what Edouard would do. And he refused to take off his bandana. Edouard wondered why. If the fellow was a Phantom...was that the reason why?
Edouard opened the door and he and the stranger entered. He thought he would show him a few rooms along the way and then the dormitories. He hoped against hope that there was a room for the fellow....and that he could lock the door. Otherwise, well, he wasn't sure how dangerous this fellow was...
He led the stranger down several halls, then showed him the library. Not much that he could steal in there. Unless he liked to read a lot. "The library, Monsieur Bandit," Edouard said as he opened the door and lit one of the gas lights on the wall. "Not much here but books. Steal a few if you wish..."
Then he went in the direction of the dormitories. But he suddenly realized something. He had heard the Phantoms say that they each had a large suite in another area. What could he do? He remembered there were some suites at the end of the hall with no names on them yet. He could lure the man in and lock the door till he could figure out what to do with him.
"Follow me please, there are some empty suites down this way, You may be interested in looking at them." Edouard waited until the man was almost there, then he unlocked the door with the key which each unoccupied suite had in the outside keyhole. "Go right in, Monsieur, " said Edouard. As soon as the American bandit had entered the room, Edouard locked the door and pocketed the key.
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Post by Erik Gunner on Oct 28, 2012 23:11:44 GMT -5
Erik rolled his eyes some when the Frenchy said that he could steal a few books if he wished. This guy was really annoying him. The only things that caught his eyes were the dates on the books as he quickly glanced at them. 1990? 2004? Those stupid printing presses, did they have to get everything wrong? It was bad enough when they got the news papers wrong but books too? He snorted slightly.
Gunner then fallowed the man, only slightly interested. So far, he hadn't seen much of anything. But when he did see anything of interest, whether it have been a sliver picture pin or a piece of random jewelery laying about, he would stealthily put it in a pocket -saving it for a time when he could sell it. The Frenchy then told him he could go in. He didn't like the tone of sneering sort of mannerism in his voice, but whatever.
Gunner then spun around when the door closed behind him and locked. He went to open it and found it was locked. Erik growled loudly. "Damn it! You have until the count of three to open this door before I hunt you down and blow your brains out!" He paused for a moment to here if the man would comply. "One!" Silence. "Two!" Silence. He got both of his guns out and cocked them. "Three!" Erik let fire onto the door knob and then kicked it repeatedly till the door swung open wildly and Gunner jumped out and pointed both of his guns at the retreating man. "Stay right where you are or you'll be dead before you take another breath!"
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Post by Christine Lucinda Dallas on Nov 4, 2012 19:47:55 GMT -5
Lu had only been at the mansion for a few days. She had learned that it was difficult to get away from it. So she decided to explore a bit to find out what she could. She still missed Gunner so much. She must get back to him, no matter what. Perhaps there was someone here who could tell her how to get back. Or...on the other hand, if said person did not wish to tell her how to do so, she always had a little persuasion up her sleeve...
Lu saw a door open and wandered inside. It was a library and she saw that someone had lit some of the gas lamps on the wall. She looked at some of the book titles. Lu could read, but not very well. She had been taught by her mother as a child, but really had not been interested in reading since then and it took her a long time to get through a book. So she generally left them alone. She wandered around the large room and looked at the portraits of stern looking people. She stuck her tongue out at one very stern looking man's portrait. She laughed and looked around some more. There were carved tables, some of which had drawers in them. She opened the drawers, but found nothing of worth in them. Lu wandered out again into the hallway.
She kept on walking in the direction she had originally taken, and it led her back to the dormitories. She meant to walk past them and to see what lay on the other side, but as she passed the men's dormitory main door, she heard shots. Frowning, she listened and heard voices...One of them sounded amazingly familiar. She carefully opened the main door and looked down the hallway with many doors on either side. Quite a way down, she saw two men facing each other.
Lu couldn't believe her eyes! From the back, the one closest to her looked amazingly like Gunner! Walking throught the door and into the hallway, she quietly walked closer to the two men. Suddenly the man furthest away, and facing her, caught sight of her. He was a short man with blond hair and blue eyes. He was dressed very well. He had no weapon. Gunner was holding a pistol on him. It was Edouard de Chagny, the man Lu had pick pocketed just a couple of nights ago at the strange gathering where they were putting to bed the man named Lenoir.
"Gunner," called Lu. "What's happening?" She drew her gun but winked at the short man and stood beside Gunner. "What's goin' on?" she said in a quieter voice to Gunner.
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Raoul Edouard de Chagny
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
You need the man you knew back here beside you?
Posts: 365
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Post by Raoul Edouard de Chagny on Nov 17, 2012 16:36:17 GMT -5
Edouard had his hands up and was hoping that the fellow wearing the kerchief would not decide to shoot him. It was hard to size him up because half his face was covered. Edouard had to concentrate on the eyes. So far he could not make out any emotion that would tell him what the fellow was going to do, save shoot if at all provoked. It had been a foolish thing to try to look up the fellow...
Then Edouard saw an amazing thing. A tall dark haired woman, dressed in the clothing of rhe American west came up behind the man holding the guns. He almost did a double take. It was the woman from the gathering a night or two before when he and Lenoir had been out on the town. A whole flock of the manor's residents had gathered in the bedroom to which they had brought Lenor. Most of them were there to gawk and laugh and some simply out of curiosity. Edouard had to be there, for Emilie was ministering to the Phantom, helping him to lay down in bed.
As Edouard had stood there watching the drama unfold, a woman with western type clothing had walked up to him and introduced herself. She seemed very pleasant and Edouard hoped to see her again sometime, as the on lookers were asked to leave soon after she arrived.
He was surprised though, when she knew Edouard's assailant. It made sense. They both were wearing clothing of the same era. Edouard wondered if she would remember him. How could she not? There weren't that many people in the mansion...well there were quite a few, but not enough that one would forget another's face. "Miss Dallas?" said Edouard. "This man is threatening me. Do you know him?"
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Post by Erik Gunner on Feb 9, 2013 11:18:25 GMT -5
Gunner then heard Lu's voice before he saw her and she asked him what was going on. With a slight snort, he was about to reply when the Frenchy butted in and said that Gunner was threatening him. And how did he know Lu?! "Now listen you! I'd keep that trap of yours shut 'n' let the grown ups talk, unless of course ya want me to blow a few new holes in yer face!" He snarled at the fancy man.
He then looked at Lu and spoke to her in a quite low tone. "How do you know him... and how the hell does he know you? He grumbled, he didn't like that she had antiquated herself with a man when he wasn't there.... especially when the same man just tried to lock him up! He then sighed and glanced at the Frenchy to make sure he wasn't trying to escape then spoke to Lu quietly again. "I just pulled the man over on his horse 'nd had 'im give me a little tour of the place when he decided to try 'n get smart 'nd locked me in the room which of course you I wouldn't take to kindly to." He said as if he had been the innocent victim, though of course if anyone knew Gunner, when he said that he pulled any one over, he wouldn't do it without taking something with some worth.
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Post by Christine Lucinda Dallas on Feb 17, 2013 23:29:45 GMT -5
"Pssst," said Lu., whispering. "You don't wanna kill this fella. He's a pushover. I pickpocketed him the other night. That's how he know me. Ain't nothin' goin' on what shouldn't be...me and that stuck up little French? I ain't thinkin' so..."
Lu batted her eyelashes a bit like she'd seen the "fancy" ladies do. She thought it made her mighty attractive. She stepped a bit in front of Gunner and spoke louder so the other man could hear. "Gunner, I met this fella t'other night when they was puttin' some drunk to bed. Everyone was in his room gawkin' at him. Was pretty funny, weren't it, Mister dee Shag-nee?" She directed her question to Edouard.
"Now," she said to Gunner, but so Edouard could hear her. ""You are gonna put that weapon away, Gunner and be civil to this gentleman, ain't ya now?" She elbowed him to make sure he heard her. "Now we're just gonna go about our business and leave Mister dee Shag-nee alone." He frowned at Gunner and turned around to face him. She was two inches away from his face. "Ain"t we?" she said. It was not really a question, more of a demand.
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