Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Jul 1, 2012 14:18:12 GMT -5
"Certainly, you would be able to do something to help me with the refurbishing, Miss Gianelli," said Erik, when she asked him what she could do to help. We will need many things done. Cleaning will be a large part of it. After those working on the rebuilding of the stage and the other wooden parts, there will be a lot of dust and mess that will need to be swept and mopped. Also all of the audience seats will need to be reupholstered and the wood cleaned and polished. The stage curtains will have to be remade and the curtains in the boxes. Remade, all of them. They are in shreds right now."
"You may choose whatever you wish to do here. I am providing funds for the supplies and someone will have to take a horse and wagon to the village to procure some of these items. If you would care to go with me, it would make a long trip instead a pleasant journey...It would be a most lovely day's outing..."
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maria
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That spitfire American!
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Post by maria on Jul 1, 2012 20:23:21 GMT -5
Listening to him as her eyes dashed between him and the Opera House several times and nodding occasionally. "Well, tell me what to do, I'm sure I can do it, Mister Lenoir. Even some men's tasks," she smirked at him. "I'm quite handing with the hammer."
She listened more and nodded as she turned her gaze back to him. "Of course." Agreeing to go with him into the Village. A little huff as she looked at herself, all dressed up," Though if you plan to do that now, I'm by no means dressed for the venture into town and I really don't have any other clothes to change into." Curious to know if he planned to do this now or later. If later, than what was he planning to do now?
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Jul 2, 2012 12:02:53 GMT -5
Erik smiled at Maria when she said she could do men's work. "Then I shall give you some tools and you may do what you will. Whatever you feel comfortable doing." He paused.
"I hadn't particularly planned to go into the village today, but really it is something that must be done soon. It would not be a bad time to go..." said Erik. "Hmmm, clothing. You may be able to borrow from one of the other ladies, or, an even better idea. I have some women's clothing in my living quarters."
Erik blushed perceptably after he said this. It sounded... well, strange. "What I mean to say, is, well, I had been planning a wedding and I had brought my bride quite a wardrobe. When the wedding was called off, I still kept the clothing, hoping perhaps that she would change her mind. If something fits you, you would be welcome to anything there. Except of course her wedding gown. Nothing has been worn..."
"Would you care to see my living quarters, Miss Gianelli?"
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maria
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That spitfire American!
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Post by maria on Jul 5, 2012 16:46:26 GMT -5
Pleased with his response which she smiled at and nodded, standing straighter and more brighter perhaps. "I can do just about anything you ask of me." Smiling back at him with a sparkle in her eyes at the thought of doing just as much as what a man could do. She was always determined to prove the other gender wrong that women could do anything, too.
"Well then," as she started, standing at his side, "When you are ready to go into town, let me know and I'll be more than glad to go with you." Nodding though at borrowing clothes. "Oh, I'm sure that I can borrow some until I can find some of my own."
She looked at him with raised brows, a bit stunned. Silent. Curious and bewildered. The more he spoke, the funnier and perverted the situation became. Entertaining to say the least. Now THAT... was awkward! Being invited to a man's quarters and she just met him! "That's being a bit forward isn't it Mister Lenoir?" She smirked back at him. "Why, it's no different than if I would ask you to come to my quarters. One thing often leads to another, Mister Lenoir. I'm not a foolish girl but a well minded woman!" Smiling back at him with her raised brows. What next would he ask of her? She was both terrified and curious.
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Erik Lenoir
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Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Jul 5, 2012 20:59:03 GMT -5
Erik liked Maria's feistiness and her willingness to take on anything. It would be intersting to see what she could do. I am grateful for all the help I can get, Miss Gianelli."
"I would be interested in going to town today, if you would accompany me." When Erik mentioned that several ideas for changing her clothing, she said probably she could borrow something from one of the women. The clothing he had bought for Christine, he was willing to allow anyone to use or have it if they needed it. And if Christine ever consented to marry him, he would simply find her something even better.
When he invited Maria to his quarters, for that's where the clothing was, she seemed stunned and bewildered at first. Then perhaps she found it amusing. She said she thought him a bit forward.
Erik was taken aback. He looked abashed. "Miss Gianelli, I meant no harm: I don't wish to insult you. I...I...I just thought that since the clothing is in my quarters, it would be a good time to show you the place...and...you see, it would take me quite a bit of time to go there, retrieve the clothing and bring it back. It's a bit of a way... so naturally I thought...believe me, I meant nothing untoward..."
Erik was rather embarrassed. He had taken other women to his abode and for no untoward reason either. Simply what it was on the surface. A tour through his home. He certainly didn't know her well enough to even kiss her...although it wasn't a bad idea...maybe when he knew her better.
"Please accept my apology. I can retrieve a dress for you and you can retire to your suite to dress if you will wait for me..." Erik could feel his face reddening again. He was terribly embarrassed.
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maria
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Post by maria on Jul 6, 2012 16:23:19 GMT -5
His reaction was gentlemanly and even a bit amusing. She couldn't help but to sport just a tiny little smile of gratification for his over stepping the bounds. She was an unmarried woman and decided to stay that way nor was she about to fall for the wiles of men just to help her advance. And since this half-masked man was in charge of the Opera restoration, she was going to do her best to at least be... Professional. Though a little charm now and then wouldn't hurt.
Nodding as she accepted silently his apology. "Well, since we are going into town... I may as well buy some clothes there anyways. Would make sense." As she looked at herself. She couldn't wander about or do work dressed in a fancy dress. No doubt there would be something there for her to use. No need to trouble this man to race where ever his 'home' was and bring back clothing for her. She won't bother him with that at all.
"It's a nice offer, Mister Lenoir." She smiled at him. "When shall we leave?" Wanting to at least help to ease his embarrassing invite.
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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
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Jul 6, 2012 20:17:00 GMT -5
Erik wished that his half visible face wouldn't show his embarrassment in such an annoying way. His normally pale skin took on a flush when someone put him on the spot. He wasn't angry, he had just lost his dignity for a moment and he didn't like when that happened. He prided himself of being very polite and now he had said something that was perceived to be rude. Oh, Erik could be rude too, but that was something he did only on purpose and only to a specific end. But this was different. However Miss Gianelli was very kind and she seemed not put off by his social gaffe, accepting his apology graciously.
"I am planning to leave for the village at once, since it indeed would be an excellent idea to purchase some clothing in the village. However..." Erik paused wondering how to tell her that the clothing he had seen in the village was not very modest or appealing or beautiful at all. "Miss Gianelli...you should know that the fashions of the village are quite different. Most of the women wear tight fitting clothing, trousers or worse, short pants, shorter than boy's trousers. Many of both the men and women wear tight shirts with paintings and words written on them. It is most unusual. I would wonder if any of their shops would have anything suitable. However, if you wish to try....it is truly up to you...and the offer still stands for me to fetch you a suitable dress from my home."
"As to transportation, it is not far so we could walk, or we could take the horse and carriage instead to save a bit of time."
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maria
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Post by maria on Jul 7, 2012 15:12:10 GMT -5
Noticing how embarrassed and thrown off that she rejected his offer. She just thought it was too early to subject herself to the whims of a man. She was independent and strong-willed, but to allow a man to take her to his home? Even after just meeting him? No matter how kind he has been? She was leary of and not wishing to set herself up for a fall if it came to that. Most likely not, but one never could take their chances. A woman had to stand firm and alert or she'll end up where she doesn't want to be.
Nodding as she looked up from her frilly dress with another smile. "I'll take my chances, Mister Lenoir. But I will keep in mind what you said. Now that you have me curious. I would like to see what the latest fashion is." Granted what she thought of wasn't even coming close to the modern attire. "Perhaps another time, Mister Lenoir, I'll try the clothes that you have."
Thinking a bit more, "Isn't it a bit late to go into town?" As she glanced about, obviously there was no clock. "What time is it? It's always best to go early in the day." Turning back to him. "Walking will be a bit rough in these shoes and this dress. If you have a horse and carriage... by all means, let's use it! I'll be easier to bring back everything."
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Jul 8, 2012 17:01:09 GMT -5
Erik smiled as he felt the flush leave his face. "The fashions were quite a shock to me. I am not sure that I would care to live in this strange era." Erik bowed slightly toward Maria. "And anytime you wish, you may come and take a look at the clothing. I have quite a selection."
Erik pulled out his pocket watch when she asked what time it was. "It's 11 o'clock in the morning, ... we have plenty of time. I believe it is a bright day outside, my dear, for the sun was streaming through the windows when I passed them earlier to come to the wine cellar where I met you. If we take the carriage, it will be much quicker. And very true, we will not have to carry everything. "
"At home I always walked everywhere, so I always thnk of that as my mode of transportation. However, since there is a carriage, it shall be much better to put it ot good use. Come then, Miss Gianelli, the stable is through the garden and behind the mansion."
Erik led the way from the opera house through the corridors and down a set of stairs to the door which led outside into the garden. The roses smelled lovely as they passed by, each colour with it's own beautiful scent.
The stable and carriage house held only a few horses and two carriages. Erik attached the harness and collar to a beautiful black horse, then offered a hand to Maria to mount the carriage. Then he climbed up himself and they started their trip to the village.
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maria
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Post by maria on Jul 9, 2012 13:48:46 GMT -5
A slight snicker of amusement from his statement though she was a bit baffled. This Era? The Fashions of this Era was shocking?!? Now she couldn't help but to stare at him in curiosity of his way of thinking. "There's always a certain level of what is shocking fashion to some people." Then turned her eyes away wanting to take the shoes of already as they were starting to hurt. Of all things, she had to be stuck with an over-the-top dress and shoes that were not meant to be walked in. "Some day, Mister Lenoir. Thank you though for the offer." She tried her best to be kind enough. Odd man that he was.
Nodding as he looked at his pocket watch and mentioned the time, at least he had a way to keeping time. Smart man. "Then we do have time to make a trip into town," she smiled. She'd nearly forgotten her little mishap of an arrival here. Now she began to wonder if it was him who brought her here or not. If so, why so nice? But then again, lots of men were nice to her and wanted something in return. Suddenly, she was a little more cautious. Simply listening to him talk about walking everywhere. No doubt since Europe was barely the size of the United States. Paris was nearly the size of New York and that city was vast and huge!
So there was a carriage house, she thought. Walking with Lenoir from the Manor through the lovely gardens which she liked. Though the shoes were killing her by the time they reached the carriage house. Watching him with interest and wanting so much to help as he found a horse and harnessed it, hitching it to the carriage. "I'm impressed, Mister Lenoir. For a man who walks everywhere, you act as though you drive often." Smirking and no doubt being a smart arse about it. But she was being who she was. Taking his hand, "Thank you," she said graciously and climbed up into the carriage slowly and carefully. The dress was not something one could easily ride a carriage in. Feeling rather overdressed for this. She'll be so glad to be rid of it in town.
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Jul 17, 2012 20:34:14 GMT -5
Maria seemed to have a hard time with the voluminous dress. And her feet seemed to hurt too. Erik helped her into the carriage and then they were off. It was a lovely ride, first leaving the gardens and then into the woods. Erik kept his way by knowing where the sun was and what time it was.
"So Miss Gianelli, if you would care to, I would be happy to buy lunch for the two of us. There is one very nice restaurant in town. ... and a few others that are not so nice. Strangely enough, they do take my francs, although I understand the currency here is called a Euro. I have a few of them that I took in change."
Erik saw her fidgeting with her shoes. He smiled. "You may take them off while we are travelling, my dear. I don't mind."
The trip through the woods was a long one and he remembered walking this far with Christophe de Chagny. It was not a pleasant journey for de Chagny was not a pleasant fellow. They had come to blows even before reaching the village. A night in gaol for both of them and then watching a strange play about their lives at the local school had upset Erik greatly. And then there was that strange book in the library by Gaston Leroux. Erik must find out more about the man. According to the book, he seemed to know quite a lot about Erik, and even more about some of the other Eriks ...it was strange...
Erik decided to ask Maria about Leroux. "Miss Gianelli, have you ever heard of a writer named Gaston Leroud?"
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maria
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Post by maria on Jul 18, 2012 11:48:41 GMT -5
She was rather impress with how he handed the horses and the carriage. Reached down she rubbed her feet. Granted it was by means graceful but at this point, comfort outweighed propriety! Be ridding of those shoes for the moment, letting the air engulf and encompass those aching feet. Lord, who was the idiot that left her with just that dress and those shoes? They needed to be punched!
Looking over at him as she rubbed the heel of her left foot. "Thank you. It's kind of you to do that," Smiling at Lenoir. Thinking a little more of what he said. Nodding and trying not to seem uninterested at least. Nothing's worth than being ignored.
Shaking her head as she sat up to let the air massage her feet. So far it seemed to be helping. "No, can't say I have." Pausing as she looked at him. "Why do you ask?"
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Erik Lenoir
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Hide your face so the world will never find you...
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Jul 19, 2012 20:39:07 GMT -5
The horse kept up a steady and pleasant pace as they moved toward the village. Erik smiled as Maria took off h er shoes and rubbed her feet. Some woman would never be seen doing anything like that in front of someone they didn't know. Maria was different. Maybe because she was American. He liked that. Not as restrained as some of the French women, he felt she was wont to say what she thought.
"You haven't heard of the writer Gaston Leroux? Well I had not either until I picked up that strange book in the library. He wrote a book called Le Fantôme de l'Opéra orThe Phantom of the Opera in English. That in itself is most unusual, for I know someone who deemed himself a Phantom. But the oddest thing about it is that the book states that it was published in 1911. That's some years in the future..."
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maria
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Post by maria on Jul 21, 2012 23:04:20 GMT -5
Relaxing to an extent as she sat on the seat of the carriage but not too relaxed that she was slouching. This was rather a nice moment just observing the scenery and a carriage ride with someone. It had been a long time since she really had an opportunity to just sit back and enjoy something.
Turning her head back to Lenoir, shaking, "No, can't say I have, Mister Lenoir. I'm sure I would have known that name if I heard it." Barely having an opportunity to look away from him before her exotic eyes returned to him rather baffled and curious then smirking, "Every Opera has a ghost." She amused herself with the stories she's heard about each opera. "There's not one Opera House in Europe I haven't heard about that is not haunted." Smirking still. Oh, those silly stories.
Furrowing her brow as she looked back at him. "Future?!?" what did he mean future? "Surely you must be mistaken. 1911 was a few years ago!" Considering, she still believed that it was 1917.
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Jul 22, 2012 12:37:48 GMT -5
Erik was quite enjoying the carriage ride. It had been quite some time since he had ridden in a carriage. Most of the time he had walked everywhere, and considering he did not want to be seen and only known as the Opera Ghost, when he had on occasion left his labyrinth, it would be for the dark streets of Paris at night. And he always kept to the shadows. That is why at first, he was a bit uncomfortable in the sunlight, but he had started to grow more at ease in the daylight.
And Erik was more comfortable face to face with people since the mansion residents saw each other daily and none of them seemed upset with the masked residents of the place.
When Erik mentioned the Leroux book, it seemed that Maria had not heard of it. "He wrote the book in French, perhaps it was never translated to English." Then she said that every opera house has a ghost. He smiled, thinking she was probably correct. He would not have said so six months ago, but since meeting the other Eriks, there was no question about it. "Perhaps you could tell me about some of the hauntings you have heard about. I should be quite intersted to hear."
When Maria asked what he meant about 1911 being in the future, Erik said, "The year is 1882, so naturally 1911 will be in the future. We have not as yet encountered the turn of the century." Then he reconsidered. "Although the people in the village tend to think that we are even further in the future. And their clothes and accouterments, vehicles and so on, are quite futuristic. So I don't know. I shall want to hear your opinion though, Miss Gianelli, upon seeing them."
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