A Second Meeting (Erik Lavalais)

[Emma Ravenhearst]

Emma was bored. This was, of course, nothing new, considering how long she had been stuck in this infernal manor, but she still struggled with it. There was only so much that she could do to keep herself occupied. Possibilities had opened up to her, however, since she had been granted her body back.

That was something she had never really expected to happen. She had never expected the Devil to be as giving as he was, to grant both she and Charles their bodies back. The cost, of course, was dreadful, but Emma was not as caring as she had once been. After 117 years stuck in this place, she felt she deserved some happiness, even if it had to come at the sake of others. It plagued her internally to know the grief that she might be causing others, but she wouldn't allow herself to fully confront those feelings. Not anymore.

And especially not today. On this day, she had managed to finally find a closet that was full of Victorian garb, rather than the horrid modern clothing she had been reduced to wearing as of late, and she was now comfortably dressed in clothing she was more accustomed to. Her waist was cinched, her hair was tied up, and she was wearing a modest blue dress, nothing too formal. She looked rather more healthy than she had in a long time and she had a light air about her as she wondered through the halls of the manor.

It occurred to her suddenly that she hadn't eaten in a few days. As she wasn't really alive, she didn't need to eat as much as everyone else did, though she still enjoyed the activity. Consequently, she set a course for the kitchen and arrived presently, pushing open the door and heading for the pantry to see what she might find to eat.

[Erik Lavalais]

Erik rifled through the pantry shelves, looking for something that looked appetizing to eat. He didn't feel in the mood for the poultry that currently stocked his own pantry, and wine wouldn't be enough to satisfy his hunger. He had finished with his shopping for his Secret Santa recipient, and had already dropped off the package in his room. It had been his first visit to the village, and it was rather queer. The horseless carriages were these strange looking metal contraptions, and they seemed to be powered by something that was a little more out of his league when it came to mechanics...He'd have to fix that soon. The roads were made differently as well, covered in what looked like tar but didn't have the same basic consistencies....He shook his head and went back to looking for food.

He certainly hoped that the recipient would enjoy what he'd bought. He had had to go through a lot of trouble at the store to find it, and had been forced to talk amicably with a girl who'd guessed his name. When he cocked his head in surprise and said yes, she'd been all smiles and laughter. All of the villagers seemed that way, when he'd talked with them. It was strange, how he was already known in a place where he'd never lived...Strange...

Perhaps it was all part of this strange plot with the Manor. He still wondered now and then why he was here, and when he would ever return to Persia to regale the probably-angry Shah with his tale. It troubled Erik, sometimes, to think that perhaps the Shah had already lost his patience and put a price on his head. He already had trouble sleeping at night, what with his nightmares and pains from age and strain.

Erik smiled a little, having found something that at last looked as though it was edible. There was, what seemed to be at least, a new tin of brie on the shelf. Pinking up a baguette from a breadbasket, he opened the tin and went back out into the kitchen.

[Emma Ravenhearst]

Emma noticed that there was someone else in the kitchen and immediately took it upon herself to play the hostess. In the short time she had had a body, she had decided she would be a proper lady of the house and take care of everyone in it. Charles would like that, at least, even if it meant talking to men more than he would normally like. She watched the man as he pulled some food from the pantry and waited until he turned around to move into his line of vision. "Hello, sir...I hope you're finding everything to your satisfaction?"

She gave a large smile and a little curtsey, one that indicated she was ahead of him in rank, but was not above extending curtesy. As she rose from the curtsey, she looked the man over. Another masked man, she noticed. She couldn't tell if she had met him before or not, because of the mask, but that was no reason not to be kind. She wanted to be seen as a kind mistress of the manor by everyone in it. "Emma Ravenhearst...Mistress of the manor."

She certainly was much more courageous than she had been when she was a ghost. Her eyes were sparkling brown with interest in the man, her smile was genuine, and her skin, though pale, was glowing with apparent health. There was still a certain unearthly quality about her- she didn't blink quite as often as was normal and her movements seemed to leave a bit of herself behind...

[Erik Lavalais]

Erik turned to look at this 'Emma Ravenhearst'. The name sounded frightfully familiar, but he couldn't place why....Until he laid eyes on the woman. Surely...but...he'd seen her face before! She'd been a ghost! Erik skittered to a halt, dropping the tin of brie on the floor.

"Oh! Goodness, I'm sorry, that was clumsy of me..." Erik spoke fast, nervously. "It's just...I didn't expect to meet you...in person...like...this." He leaned down and picked the canister up again, taking a deep breath and exhaling. This certainly wasn't what he expected at all. He'd thought that she was a spectre, nothing more. Perhaps even a fever dream...nothing like this though. He didn't think that he'd be meeting her in the flesh!

[Emma Ravenhearst]

For a moment, Emma was terribly confused, confused enough that she did not even move to help him pick up the tin. But something in the way he moved, or perhaps it was his hands, tipped her off to his identity. Her eyes widened, and she stared, wondering how she could have ever mistaken him for someone else, "Monsieur Lavalais...I didn't expect to meet you either."

Her tone was calm, but her smile was unmistakable. A friend! She had found a friend! And certainly, she looked much better than when he had seen her last. The beauty that had been only hinted at previously had returned in full force and only intensified when she smiled. Her smile was rare but magical, lighting up her whole face for just a moment, allowing a glimpse at the vivacious creature she must have been in her life. "I suppose you must be rather confused...I...made a bit of a deal. I have had my body returned to me."

She didn't want to say any more than that. She could practically feel Charles watching her from another room and knew that he would not be pleased if she revealed all their secrets.

[Erik Lavalais]

"Well...I must say, Mademoiselle Ravenhearst, that you look very well. Life...life suits you." Erik walked over to the woman, extending his free hand and grinning. "It's been quite a while, I must say...I still owe you a duet."

Once all the formalities were over, he set the bread and brie down, then set to work finding a knife. "Would you like a piece? I only needed a little something to hold me over until I go back down to my house for dinner."

He cut a slice of bread and offered it to her, wondering if she actually ate now...