Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
|
Post by Erik Lenoir on May 28, 2012 14:05:40 GMT -5
As Maria followed Erik, she said, Kidnapping your unconscious victims only to take them and leave them in the darkness of the underground is rather a poor was to invite people here. Erik was glad she couldn't see his face at that moment, for he paled considerably. Not that he had left anyone in the underground darkness to fend for themselves, but the kidnapping part...it rather came too close for comfort...
In answer to her query about who is the Master of the House, Erik replied, "I haven't as yet discovered that. I came here in much the same way you did, in complete darkness. I was however, able to find my way out, by chance finding an oil lamp, the same one I was holding when I discovered you. I then found a door which led to the library. There is no Master of the House that I have yet spoken to, and I have met a great many people...and some others."
Erik watched Maria's reactions to the beautiful dining room and the large kitchen. He was surprised to see the fresh fruit on the table, which had not been there yesterday. "Help yourself to anything you wish, Miss Gianelli. It belongs to all of us. And now that you shall be staying with us, it is yours also."
"Yes, a glass of wine would be refreshing," said Erik when Maria offered him one. "But I do think that you should eat something. "He went to the large refrigerator, which he deemed an ice box... and found a large kettle of soup. It seemed there was a different type of soup, freshly made, in the ice box every day. Erik liked that, for soup was nourishing and not heavy. In general, Erik did not eat much. He put the kettle on the stove and turned the burner on so that the flame was low. He found a wooden spoon and stirred it.
"There is bread in the pantry, Miss Gianelli, and dishes in the cupboards if you would care to set the table. I will join you in a bit of soup."
He paused. "And one more thing, not all the rooms in this place are as lovely and clean as these two rooms. There are indeed quite a few that are in horrendous disrepair..."
|
|
maria
Full Member
That spitfire American!
Posts: 114
|
Post by maria on May 28, 2012 14:37:21 GMT -5
Others lived here then, she thought. Sounds as though she and this masked man were not alone. She'll have to meet the others and looked forward to it.
Setting the moscato bottle down and taking another strawberry, her eyes shifted to look at him. A bit of curiosity to see him digging through the rather large and strange ice box. Her eyes looked over the ice box with bewilderment then over the kitchen. Yes, it was a different looking place. Nothing what she was used to. Returning her eyes to him as he pulled out a pot to put upon the stove. Raising her brows, finishing off the strawberry with a smirk. "I've not had a man cook for me before." Continuing to smile at such the irony of it. In a soft vertical wipe of her hands then took a drink of the moscato.
Moving to the pantry for the bread. Seeing a good selection of breads. She'd not seen so much food in her life! Taking out a long white french baguette to bring it back over to the island in the center of the kitchen. A soft snicker at the thought it almost felt like formal dining. Obtaining the dishes and taking them to be set upon the table. Then returning to the Kitchen island to steal another strawberry.
Nodding upward once, "I see. Is there someone working on restoring this old place?" taking a bite of the strawberry and watched him. It was indeed strange to see the elegantly dressed masked man stand before the stove cooking. She couldn't help but smile and tried to restrain a snicker but failed.
|
|
Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
|
Post by Erik Lenoir on May 28, 2012 20:18:26 GMT -5
"Male cooks abound in France, my dear," said Erik. "They are usually the better cooks in the great restaurants and hotesl, if you do not mind my commentary. As for me, of course it's not my profession. I do it simply because I live alone. I generally choose simple food, as it interests me only for the reason that I feel the need to keep body and soul together. Perhaps I shall have the pleasure of you cooking for me sometime?"
Erik could tell she was hungry, for Maria kept snatching pieces of fruit and eating them with gusto. He heard her snicker lightly in his direction, and he turned with a smile, "What do you find so amusing, Miss Gianelli?"
"Restoration," said Erik thoughtfully. "There is so much to be done. I don't know who else is interested in restoration save for myself. When I came here and discovered the opera house in bad shape -- yes there is an opera house within these walls, odd as it may seem -- I , of course began to plan its restoration. Not that I can do it alone. I need help. I have recruited two people so far. Another I asked, but he was too arrogant to even be of any use and he seemed to want to do it his own way. I of course, will not stand for that sort of thing. He will do it my way, or indeed, I don't want his help." Even thought Erik was rather seething, thinking of the proud and arrogant Érik trying to tell him, Erik Lenoir, what to do, he tried to keep his voice soft and level. He did not need to involve this lady in the disputes caused by an arrogant snob.
"Many of the people who come here have ties to the opera or other music. Do you have such a tie?"
|
|
maria
Full Member
That spitfire American!
Posts: 114
|
Post by maria on May 29, 2012 1:27:53 GMT -5
He made a good point about male cooks in France. However she'd not seen a non-professional man cook. Even if it was simple basics or smaller. She huffed after taking a drink. "Hardly. I may be Italian but I'm not a good cook, Mister Lenoir," she smiled setting the glass down before eating another strawberry.
Smiling as she munched upon the strawberry. "The fact that a masked man in elegant attire is making soup for me." Still smiling and took another bite of the strawberry while watching him. "It's very amusing."
An opera inside this large place? This made her perk up a bit more. "I'd like to see this opera. Perhaps I can lend a hand." Finishing of the strawberry.
"I do sing." Intrigued that there were other here with ties to Opera.
|
|
Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
|
Post by Erik Lenoir on May 29, 2012 19:08:58 GMT -5
"You find it amusing that I am cooking?" Erik smiled. "So what should I do then, starve because there is not a woman about to feed me?" He laughed. "I rather think not. When one lives alone, one learns many skills..."
"So you are not a good cook. Very interesting. Do you employ someone to cook for you...I mean servants....or do you eat all of your meas outside of the home, prepared by someone else?"
"And yes, the opera house here is enclosed within the structure of the mansion. How it came to be, I know not. It is indeed a lovely dream to think of it fully restored and people once again on its stage, being used for the purpose for which it is meant." He paused and looked as if he was seeing something that was not there, perhaps having been seen in a dream, somewhere beyond conventional eyesight. "I, too, had aspirations for the stage...perhaps..." The he came out of his reverie. "Ah welll, one never knows what the future holds, does one, Miss Gianelli? " Erik paused again. "So you sing? Opera or something else? " Erik smiled. " I should be delighted to hear you if you would grace me with your voice some time...perhaps today? I will be showing you the opera house and perhaps you would sing upon its stage for me? On that rotting, unkempt hulk, you would be a beautiful rose among the thorns..."
|
|
maria
Full Member
That spitfire American!
Posts: 114
|
Post by maria on May 29, 2012 23:57:05 GMT -5
Smirking as she leaned against the island, "Men don't cook in America. If they do, they are Professionals for the rich and wealthy," she stated. Then snickered, "Well, I cook but it's very rudimentary in the least. I can't make a fine feast that my mother would make. She always said I was the black sheep of the family and lack the family blood to cook." Smirking again as she played with an apple.
"I'd very much like to see this Opera," as she watched him a moment before looking at the apple. Turning her gaze back to him. Still so odd seeing a masked man elegantly dressed standing at the stove. "Indeed. Yes, I sing. Opera in fact. And it would be my pleasure and honor, Mister Lenoir," smiling off in his direction. Strange but good looking. Though one should never base things off appearances.
|
|
Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
|
Post by Erik Lenoir on May 30, 2012 19:37:30 GMT -5
"You really are making fun of me, aren't you?" said Erik, a smile playing at the visible edge of his strange lips. He really wasn't offended, but thought it odd that she was so plain spoken. Then he remembered she was American. They didn't mince words, not even the women apparently.
"So you don't cook. Well, I suppose it's not a necessity for a woman to have such a skill. But for me, it is. I don't like to have anyone do things for me. I expect I can do quite anything if I set my mind to it," Erik said with a bit of arrogance. He paused. "They called you the black sheep of the family?" He laughed. His mother had called him far worse than that...
"Then we shall go to the opera house straight away, as soon as we have eaten. It is an amazing room...it must have been grand...and it shall be grand again!" He smiled when she said that she would sing. He was pleased. Things were coming together for the opera house, slowly, but none the less, there would be an opera house of great beauty once Erik was through with the refurbishing, a place where any person of voice or talent would be proud to perform for an audience."
"Miss Gianelli, it appears that the soup is hot..." He found a soup ladle and spooned out some soup for them both. He poured the tea and pulled out the chair at the table for her. "Mademoiselle..." he said, with a grand gesture of his hand toward the chair.
|
|
maria
Full Member
That spitfire American!
Posts: 114
|
Post by maria on May 31, 2012 16:00:45 GMT -5
Fondling the apple between her fingers. Tempted to bite into it but refrained for if she ate the apple, she'd not have room for the soup that Lenoir was warming. Setting the apple back down upon the others in the basket, her eyes followed it then turned back up to look at him with a rather soft stunned look that melted away into a smirk.
The smirk faded to a more serious like face, "My parents are Italian and my mother is more than disappointed that I simply am not as good a cook as she. She taught me well enough, I just simply... can't cook as well as she." Pausing and shrugged, "I do know how to make a few things. Guspacho being one of them. Just enough to get me by. But I'm not great cook." A brief strained smirk.
Taking another strawberry for their were irresistible to her, and looked at him. Must have been? she thought. A bit bewildered. The further he spoke she nodded, "a bit worn down and in need of repairs?" finishing with the strawberry. Smiling again at the prospect of singing there. "I look forward to singing for you, Mister Lenoir."
A curt nod in response to the soup ready. His offering of the chair made her feel a bit special granted she didn't wish to be treated like a Mistress but a woman in control of her own fate really. Taking the seat, "thank you," and awaited to see what it was that Lenoir had prepared. She'd not gained this sort of strange service before. Perhaps it was something new here. Either way, she was not to argue. No longer was she in the dark and cold, she was enjoying a warm soup that hopefully will keep at bay a Cold. Taking the spoon to dip it into the soup then tried it. To her delight, she liked it. "Very good. What is it?"
|
|
Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
|
Post by Erik Lenoir on May 31, 2012 19:16:52 GMT -5
"It is Soupe aux Chataignes," Erik replied. Chestnut soup, from the Aquitaine area of France, where many chestnuts grow. It also contains leeks, turnips, carrots, fresh cream and butter. It is very good, but peeling the chestnuts is the difficult part. I wonder if one of our hosts is from the Aquitaine area," Erik mused.
"Yes, gazpacho is an interesting soup, eaten cold. I have had it on occasion and enjoyed it very much.
Erik sipped at the soup. Whoever their myssterious absent cook was had done a marvellous job with the soup; it was very good.
"This is indeed a strange house, Miss Gianelli. Many of the rooms are beautiful and new and clean, and others, like the opera house are in deep disrepair and in desperate need of refurbishing. And then there is another strange quirk of the house. It often changes from one to the other...what I mean is that, there is one room in particular that has the peculiar habit of changing from lovely, clean and perfect, to ugly, dilapidated and in desperate need of repair. And all within the space of a few minutes or hours. Sometimes it changes back. I can't explain it really. And if you wish to think me insane, I would not disparage you...at least until you have experienced the phenomenon yourself." Erik paused. "The opera house has never changed..it is still as dilapidated as the day I came. But I mean to fix that. I will show you when we are finished here." Erik finished his tea. "Would you care for anyting else?" he asked pleasantly.
|
|
maria
Full Member
That spitfire American!
Posts: 114
|
Post by maria on Jun 1, 2012 13:39:48 GMT -5
Devouring the soup at a steady graceful pace. After all, not good to look like you're starved in the company of another. Even though she was starving. The strawberries helped to satisfy her appetite, too. "It's a very good soup. My compliments to the chef," and smiled at him before taking another spoon full.
"Well, since Gaspacho 's about the only thing I can make really well, I'll have to make it for you someday." Again a smirk before a spoon full.
Listening intently to Lenoir as he spoke about the Manor. He face took on a rather innocent bewildered curiosity or innocent surprise. A typical trademark of hers. She could disarm any one with that look. "Sounds like a Fun House."
"No. No. This is enough for the moment. Thank you." finishing with her soup. Indeed the strawberries and the soup was just enough. Washed down with the tea. Tea. How funny. She never thought she'd drink tea. But, once she arrived in Europe, she didn't have much of a choice. Her favorite drink though was this new Coca-cola.
Placing her elbows on the table and folding her hands to rest her chin upon the intertwined fingers. Studying the appearance of her rescuer. He was a bit more elegant than her own Teacher. And with only half his covered, it was strange. "So, Mister Lenoir, or... should I say, Monsieur Lenoir..." smirking a moment before becoming serious. "Sorry for being so frank, but, why... only half a face mask?" A curious question indeed. It wasn't as though she'd not seen a man with a mask before, but she'd not seen one with half a mask and that reflected in her tone of voice.
|
|
Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
|
Post by Erik Lenoir on Jun 1, 2012 18:41:05 GMT -5
Erik could see that she was considerably famished by the way she ate the soup. She tried to cover it up and he would not embarrass her. He merely said, "Are you sure you would not care for more? There is other food in the ice box, Miss Gianelli." He sipped at his soup and watched her.
He smiled at her comment. "I shall certainly give the chef my compliments when I finally find out who he is..." He paused as she continued to speak. Then she smirked as she mentioned making soup for him. "I would be delighted for you to make me gazpacho..." He wondered if she was finding something in himself that she liked. That was interesting, if rather early.
Maria looked sweet and innocent, curious and slightly surprosed. Erik liked the look. "Fun House? Not very. It's a very strange and weird house, indeed."
He could feel her eyes probing his mask again and he felt uncomfortable. "Mister or Monsieur, it makes no difference, hichever you would care to call me..." Then of course the inevitable question about the mask...the half mask in particular. He decided to make her tell him...
"Madamoiselle, perhaps you should not ask why a half mask, but instead, why a mask at all? What are the reasons that you think a person might wear a mask?Tell me what you think. I am interested in your opinion." Erik really wasn't interested in her opinion, but he wanted to lay the subject to reat and hopefully, without giving her a straight answer.
|
|
maria
Full Member
That spitfire American!
Posts: 114
|
Post by maria on Jun 2, 2012 15:06:25 GMT -5
The soup was indeed good. She'd not had something that tasty in a while. Though light, it was filling. And best not to upset her stomach after such a traumatic moment below. "No, I'm fine. It was plenty. Thank you." And smiled at his gracious offer. "Who ever it is that cooks, is very good."
A slightly amused glanced tossed his way about the fun house. Then the response of how to address him. This was rather interesting. Though it was starting to drop in interest quickly.
That came to a halt quickly with further inquiries of the mask. This got her to thinking. A good thing considering she was inquisitive and the sort to enjoy puzzles. "One usually wears a mask to conceal their appearance, their identity. Often," as she glanced down to finger the spoon, "because they have something to hide." And that could be taken in more ways than one. Looking back up at him with those intense, curious exotic mix of eyes. "So why, if you wish to conceal yourself, do you only wear a half mask." To her it made absolutely no sense. Those eyes eager to pry from him... his thoughts. Why ever did he wear a mask so trivial. Made no sense at all.
|
|
Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
|
Post by Erik Lenoir on Jun 2, 2012 15:39:34 GMT -5
"The kitchen is always open, day and night, and always contains food of many different sorts. So feel free to come here at any time and help yourself." He smiled and sipped more of his tea, his eyes never leaving her face.
"To conceal one's identity..." Erik repeated after Maria's response to his query about why one would wear a mask. "I am hardly concealing my identity. You can clearly see half of my face and I have given you my name. The half mask? I am able to eat and drink without taking it off. Years ago, I used to wear a full face mask..." His voice trailed off. He was saying more than he wanted to. "It's only to conceal a small blemish on my right cheek that I've had since birth." He supposed she would think him vain, which he was. He didn't want to talk further about the mask, though, and hoped she would not be inquisitive and question him further.
He studied her odd coloured eyes again. They were beautiful and not as strange as his. They were different and yet complimented each other, and the colours blended in a very pleasing way. "Your eyes are very lovely, my dear. I have not met anyone else before who had heterochromia iridis before. It is quite charming on you..." How own eyes were so different from each other that they gave him a very strange, weird look which he found could be used to advantage when he wanted to mesmerize someone. It was his voice he used for that and his eyes...
He wondered who she really was. She spoke of a masked teacher and she was a singer...could she be a Christine? She had a different name...so ...he was puzzled. "Before you came here, where did you say you were? In Paris? Or somewhere else? I hope I am not being too inquisitive, Miss Gianelli, but I am questioning everyone, hoping to find an explanation for this place."
|
|
maria
Full Member
That spitfire American!
Posts: 114
|
Post by maria on Jun 2, 2012 21:16:34 GMT -5
Good to know about the kitchen and food. Though she'd feel a little more like a leech if she didn't at least contribute. Someday soon she will find something in which she can contribute to here at the Manor.
Looking at him slightly puzzled and curious. He made a good point about the half mask. Yes, one can see half his face while the other half was concealed. So, the half mask made no sense. It bewildered her beyond reason. A small blemish? That's some blemish, she thought. To cover half his face for a minor blemish? She didn't quite buy it as she looked at him with her exotic eyes that conveyed how she wasn't quite buying it.
Thrown off by the change of subject from his mask to her eyes. Blushing and glancing down with a sheepish smile. Some thought her odd, some thought it pretty. But this compliment made her blush all together. The compliment and admiration practically made her fidgety. "Thank you, Mister Lenoir," stated with a gracious tone but found it difficult to look at him because she was still blushing. Finally she looked up at him with those sparkling exotic eyes. Again, noticing he had different colored eyes, too. Bolder difference. And they were interesting. The blues in a contrast to one another. She did wonder. But how rare it was to see a person with different colored eyes. He'd made a very good impression upon her so far.
"I was in Vienna. At the Opera House there. I had recently auditioned for and got the Understudy to the Lead Role in Faust as Marguerite." Gazing back at him as he seemed curious about her just as she was curious about him. "I suppose it's fair. But only so long as I can ask a question about you, too." That playful smirk appeared as she gaze at him with a sort of curious dare.
|
|
Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
|
Post by Erik Lenoir on Jun 2, 2012 23:11:15 GMT -5
He was quite fascinated by her eyes. She made a lovely impression on Erik, but he hoped she would not ask more questions about the mask. If she did, he would simply say that even though the blemish was small, it was difficult to keep a smaller mask on one's face. He didn't think she really believed what he said about the mask, but none the less, if he could simply steer her away from asking more questions, then perhaps she would come to the point of familiarity, when she would not even think about the mask anymore, it would be commonplace.
Erik saw that Maria was pleased that he liked her eyes and thought them lovely. He truly did. He felt it was a slight connection between them, something no one else had with him. Not that many people had any connection at all with Erik. He usually did not go out of his way to meet them, however, he as not as reclusive as he was before coming to the manor. It had changed him, meeting other people and in a sense needing them, if only for informational purposes, had changed him. Maria's blush at the words about her eyes was very lovely and made Erik smile.
Erik hoped that he had made a good impression on Maria. For some reason, he was very much drawn to her and hoped they could be friends. Friends...that was a laugh! A year and a half ago, he never thought he would ever have a friend, nor did he want one. He had hidden himself away from prying eyes and with good reason. Now here he was, half admitting that there was a good reason he wore a mask and not really having a good explanation for the half mask. Well, if she didn't ask about it, everything would be all right.
Then Maria told him where she had been a singer...Opera house...role of Marguerite...but yet not a Christine, and in Vienna. Another strangeness. Another oddity. So much sameness, and yet difference. As there were many oddities among the people who appeared at the Manor.
And then Maria wanted to know if she could ask her own question. Erik was sure he could talk his way out of anything, if it was something he would rather not talk about, but.... "Yes, Miss Gianelli, you may ask what you will. I cannot guarantee my answer will be what you expect..."
|
|