Searchin' for Answers (OPEN)

[anastasia]

Glancing at the Manor for a brief - very brief - moment before returning her eyes to lock upon the approaching stranger. His manner of dress was formal yet awkward. She almost smirked at his appearance.

Doing her best to control her beloved gelding even though it was prancing a couple times, stepped back and tossed it's head then twisted around twice as the strange gentleman approached. Nervous slightly as she sat there rather well grounded in the saddle finally bending the horse's head to her foot to get it to obey.
Stunned and it showed upon her face as sh blinked a couple times. Her mouth opened slightly. It was obvious she was question how this strange masked man knew Billie. Well, then she quirked her face. Realizing that Billie was here obviously and most likely spoke to this man.
"Damn," she blurbbed out in disappointment and began to scan the area. Well, a half-hour ago that meant she most definitely would not spot him. Her disappointment deepened and sighs. "Yes, it was Billie who I was lookin' for," she replied with a rather disappointed but lovely and gentle voice.
Trying hard not to be overly amused, but... she was. A smirk spread upon her lips as she looked at him and the horse stomped it's hind leg a couple times and swished it's tail to be rid of flies or some pesky bug. "A little early for the costume, isn't it?" Pausing a moment, then raising a hand, palm out and looking as though she was stunned, "Not that it's bad. It's a very good Phantom of the Opera costume. My compliments. But... Halloween's a month away." Raising her brows as she looked at him.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik stayed a bit of a distance from the horse but close enough to speak to the woman. He stood there, observing her.She was nice looking with a pretty face, beautiful eyes and exquisite hair. The rest of her...left practically nothing to the imagination. Erik tried not to be rude by looking too closely at her.

Erik gentured toward the horse. "Did you wish to put your gelding in the stable for a bit?" He would rather talk to her if she dismounted. The horse seemed too nervous.

"You've missed Monsieur Cristoferson if that's whom you were seeking..." So this was the lady who was Billie's employee. The one who seemingly told him what to do. Or so it sounded from Billie's lips. She replied that it was indeed Billie she had been looking for.

Then she gave Erik a very good look. She stared at him. And she looked like she was amused. He frowned. What was there about him that amused her? That annoyed him.

"Costume?" What are you talking about, young woman? This is my normal dress. A bit formal, considering what other people wear..." he glanced at her pointedly, "but I like it."

When she said Phantom of the Opera, Erik paled. How on earth could she know that he had been the Opera Ghost for some years at the Opéra Populaire?

[anastasia]

She noticed he was watching her and she sat tall in the saddle, filling herself with confidence and intimidation. If this guy was thinking about overpowering her, he better think again.
Raising her brows while keeping her eyes upon him. He wanted her to dismount and put her horse into the stable? She was very uneasy about this suggestion and the look upon her face showed her distrust.

"Yes, I was definitely looking for Billie," her voice hinted she was annoyed slightly.

"Oh," and she looked a little like a mix of apologetic and dramatic, "and you look nice, too. Fantastic. Absolutely charming." Her face squinted with a smile and a strange 'thumbs up'. Trying so hard not to sound amused and sarcastic. It was hard enough for her to receive a compliment let alone give one.

But his next reaction made her brows raise. Now she was quite amused.
She did not dismount, not yet at least. Remaining there in the saddle, ready to dart off at a dead gallop if need be. Well, at least he wasn't barking at her for Trespassing. Lord, she hated when that happened. Worse.. when they shot at her! How was she suppose to know she was trespassing on properties when there were no signs nor fences?!?
"Why?" she added. Granted, most likely this will throw him off, but she wanted to know why he wanted her to put her horse in the stable, and she looked over to the stables. "Why do you want me to dismount?" she asked with a critical and hesitant tone in her medium depth, lovely voice.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik remembered that strange but oddly accurate musical play he had seen in the village, the one that had protrayed his life for a period of time quite perfectly, almost if someone had been spying on him and written down everything he said and did. Perhaps this woman had seen that. And perhaps she thought that he was simply wearing a costume from that play. Many people in his day dressed formally. The only difference was the mask. Unfortunately.

He wonderred what she was thinking. She seemed reluctant to dismount. He was only trying to be hospitable. Perhaps she was afraid of him. "There is no need to be afraid, Mademoiselle. I am not planning to lay a hand on you."

She confirmed that she was indeed looking for Billie. She sounded annoyed. Then she went into a set of compliments on his clothing. That only annoyed him further for he knew she was not sincere and only toying with him. If only she knew how...inappropriate she looked to him. And yet, strangely alluring...

"When she asked him why he wanted her to dismount, he replied," Young woman, I was simply trying to be polite. I couldn't care less if you dismount or if you sit on your damned gelding for the next bloody week. I was going to invite you for tea."

With that, and a swish of his cloak, he turned and started the trek across the gardens to the mansion.

[anastasia]

Cocking a brow and barely narrowing her eyes at the same time as the gelding stomped his hind leg again then swished it's tail. "Mm-hmm," sounding more than skeptical. Did he really take her for a fool? Did he really think she was that naive and stupid? HA! Lord, he had another thing coming!

Turning her head away and laughed as her horse shifted, "See... now... THAT... is funny," She was sarcastically amused and if she the saddle was a Western saddle instead of an English saddle, she's he resting her arms upon the horn. But instead, she made a very weak pointing gesture towards him before she returned her eyes back to him. "Tea." she practically rolled her eyes. "No. Really. What's the real reason you want me to dismount? Hmm?" as she gazed hard upon the man standing there.

Raising her brows as he swished that cape dramatically and marched back towards that grand Manor. What a flare for the dramatics, she thought. Her big black reacted to his swishing cape as it did a rather pathetic levade and took two steps forwards and to the side.
His dramatic behavior simply stunned her and yet it just pissed her off. "FINE!" she barked back at him. She got all she needed to know. Billie was here but had left. So, what was the point of her remaining at this place? The reason was because this man intrigued her. Well, slightly. Glancing at the Manor, this whole place intrigued her.

"Why are you dressed like the Phantom of the Opera?" she asked aloud, kinda calling out to him. Finally, she caved - swinging her right leg around then slipping the left foot out of the stirrup, dropping down in a dismount that she's done thousands of times. It was a little rough from a 17 hand horse but it never phased her.
Taking the reins and leading her black gelding, she somewhat started to follow him. Damn her curiosity!

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik wouldn't give her the satisfaction of showing any emotion. Outside of arrogance. He just gazed at her arrogantly.He really hated being made fun of or being thought a fool. But he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of knowing what he thought.

He turned to walk back to the manor. A small smiled played about the visible end of his lips. She was interesting. She rather fascinated him. But he wasn't going to say any more. If she wanted tea or talk, she could follow him into the manor. If not, she could bloody well ride away. He was beginning to see what Billie meant...

He suspected she was curious and might follow him. If not, what the hell. It didn't really matter. Although, he rather hoped she would follow. She seemed fascinating and he didn't really know any women from the present era, except Roselin and she was a teen, almost still a child.

When she called out after him, Why are you dressed like the Phantom of the Opera?, the smile melted from his face and he froze in his tracks. He didn't say a word, but frowned. He turned and saw her dismount the horse and then lead the gelding toward the manor. He turned and kept on walking until he was near the place where one could tie a horse near the door to the mansion.

His voice was non committal as he said, "If you'd care to, you may tie the horse here." He pointed to the place. "And should you still care for that cup of tea, the offer still stands. Or perhaps coffee.... Americans like coffee, I've learned." He held the door open to see if she would enter. "Perhaps a bit of conversation..."

[anastasia]

Damn him! Damn that man! Almost as furious as Cornwallis in "The Patriot" when Tavington disobeyed orders and charged blindly into battle to spur a devastating loss. In this case, what would be lost? Well that was hard to say! But she was rather irritated that he did not answer her. Irritated and incredibly curious. Especially when he twisted around to look at her rather unamused and beyond annoyed. If she wasn't so annoyed as well, she would have smirked. But this was really getting onto her nerves.
Oh, damn him!

Following the strangely caped man with her horse in tow, making a throaty huff-noise and a look that was so very distrusting. "Not likely," she muttered under her breath.
Stopping and diverting her eyes from Lenoir, they darted over to the stables and gazed at them. "Fine," she replied with an annoyed tone to her lovely voice. "I'll put my horse into the stables... and join you... for tea." But she sounded rather snotty and sarcastic about it. Not that she really wanted to, but it came out that way. Now she was getting upset with herself that she was falling for the whiles of this costumed stranger. With a slight pinched grin of mild annoyance as she looked at him, the door open and holding it for her. Well, there was no way she was going to leave the horse out here.

Turning around and leading the horse to the stables, putting the big black gelding in a stall. Some hay and water, removing the tack and setting it aside... everything was set. Glancing about at the other horses in the stables, especially the colorful Vanner and the stunning Friesian. This shocked her.
After maybe several minutes, she marched her way back towards the Manor, back to where she left him by the door. As she walked the form-fitting riding attire accentuated her movements and left nothing to the imagination - or so it would seem. Removing her riding gloves and then her helmet, shaking out her hair and smoothing it out as she strode up to him with haughty confidence. "Alright," A little bit of a wry tone as she motioned to him then let her hand and arm slap casually against her leg. But after a moment's hesitation, she strode through the door he held open for her. A little anxious about being so close to a crazy man in costume.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik stood holding the door until he realized that the young woman was going to put her horse in the stable as Erik had suggested in the first place. He let the door go and then sat down on the stone bench in front of the manor, his arm out, on top of the back of the bench. He watched her. Good heavens, she was alluring. And then there was that other side of her. The bitchy side that made him want to slap her. Sarcastic and snotty and arrogant. Reminded Erik a bit of himself. He smirked. He may like her after all. But he wasn't going to let on to her, no, definitely not.

She came back and he held the door open again. She seemed to be doing everything she could to emphanzise her body as she walked. Erik looked away. He didn't want to get involved with this modern woman...or did he? She was so rude and arrogant...what was he thinking?

"I'm taking you to the dining room for tea. Just so you know I'm not about to attack you in a closet or whatever you're thinking. Why did you call me the Phantom of the Opera? Have you seen the play in the village? The musical play? I was shocked when I saw it. It seems someone must have been spying on me...and the others involved." He wondered if he should have even said this much. Who knows what tales she would spread about the village of a crazy person living at the mansion. "Tell me, young woman, what do people in the village think about the mansion?"

[anastasia]

Looking around the massive Manor while he spoke. For once her face was not twisted with any form of negativity but more like a child-like state of wonder.
But only for an instant as she regained her self-control and maturity, returning her gaze to the costumed man. "Alright," she replied with no real bitterness or sarcasm, but was not pleasant at all either. It was wry and mellow but still a lovely voice.

Walking with him to where ever he was taking her, the Dining Room she recalled him saying was their destination. Glancing about again before her eyes shot about to gaze at him. Slightly furrowing her brow at his inquiry why she called him the Phantom. "You look like the character." Looks him up and down. "No. I did not see the play in the village," once again furrowing her brow wondering what he was talking about. After all, she just arrived. "But I do know about it." Still looking at him oddly with slightly furrowed brows. Who hasn't heard of it, she thought.

The new question did bring about a different look to her face, one that was less pinched and bewildered, less arrogant or annoyed. "Don't know," she barely shrugged as she turned to look in front of her, glancing about. "But the one person who gave me directions to this estate did tell me to stay away from it. It was bad news. An evil place."

[Erik Lenoir]

"They think the mansion is evil? Well, it's reputation is correct. This is an evil place. I don't get involved with that. I try to stay away from it. And I'm only here under duress. If there were a way for me to leave I would have, long ago. But, I suppose, it's not a bad place. I do like the suite they have provided me. It couldn't be more perfect."

Erik nodded toward a double door just up ahead. "The dining room." He held one of the huge wooden doors open for her. The dining room was one of his favourite rooms. Furnished with a green theme, it was cool and relaxing to sit here. The green marble fireplace lent warmth to the room while the long case clock's Wesstminster chimes kept track of the time. The long table was covered with a lace table cloth and seemed made for a large family. The furniture was all in shades of green as were the paintings hung on the wall. A spinet piano sat near the door to the kitchen and had family photographs framed on top of it. Whose family, Erik didn't know.

"The room has a bit of a chill. Would you mind if I built a fire?" Without waiting for her assent, he opened the damper to the fireplace and started a fire which soon had the room warm and toasty.

"Have a seat, my dear. What sort of tea would you care for...or coffee?"

[anastasia]

As he began to speak about the Manor being evil and with a reputation, she snickered slightly amused and glancing sideways at him thinking he was playing her with some silly joke. But the look upon the face - that was visible at least - said otherwise. He was not joking!
The smile disappeared and her brows furrowed with bewilderment and concern. This guy was looney toons. Trying to frighten her. Nope! It was NOT going to happen! She was a grown woman. Too old to believe in childish ghost stories.
"So," she began rather curious and gentle, and a touch of bewilderment. "Why stay here- or I mean, why not just... leave? Live somewhere else?" Pausing, baffled moreso, "If it's such a bad place, why do you like it?" She did not understand and didn't know if she would ever know or if she even wanted to know.

Turning her head to look at where he indicated, nodding then strode through the door he held open. Again, a bit of anxiety and didn't look at him but, "Thank you," as least was said for his chivalrous gesture.
Looking around the Dining Room with a curious eye, holding the helmet still between her arm and waist with the leather riding gloves in hand. The decor was rather nice and interesting. She didn't even notice the chill until he mentioned it. Her hand moved to the arm that pinned the helmet to her torso and rubbed it. "No. That's fine." She looked at him a moment, rubbing her arm and glanced about. Outside was nice, inside the Manor it was freezing! How strange.

She moved to the table and set her helmet upon one of the chairs she pulled out, then pulled out another chair. Turning her eyes to somewhat look at him. "Umm," she pondered. Not really much of a tea person. "Whatever tea you like. I don't care. I," she flashed a sheepish smile, "don't really drink tea. Nor do I drink coffee much. Maybe a Cappecino or frappecino or an Espresso or iced tea. Or a soda. Or wine."

Finally she sat down at the table. "You still haven't answered my question." Leaning back in the chair slightly and crossed her legs, resting a forearm upon the able while the other arm draped over her abdomen. Those medium brown eyes locked upon him with curious intimidation, needing that answer.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik knew that the young woman thought that he was toying with her. He was not, but it was difficult to tell her the whole story without her thinking he was crazy. Of course she undoubtedly thought that anyway. "I did not come here of my own volition, I will have you knw. And I am not at liberty to leave. The mansion is an odd and bizarre place. There is undoubtedly eveil going on here. I have been involved in some of it, again not by my own volition. What I do like about the mansion is that I have my own suite, quite large and ...it's perfect actually. No one bothers me there. I can be alone if I wish. As I always was before I came her. The other thing that I like about the mansion actually quite surprises me. I have met some people here that I can converse freely with and some of them actually ... don't hate me. I rather had expected hatred from most." Erik looked a bit embarrassed as he said the last. He really didn't wish to share as much information with this woman as he had, but in order to answer her questions, and indeed, to justify himself, he needed to explain.

As they walked into the dining room, and Erik built a fire in the fireplace to take away the chill, he asked her what she'd like to drink. She seemed to favour some fancier types of coffee. "I know what cappuccino is and espresso, however I have never heard of frappuccino. Iced tea? I am sure that could be arranged. There is a well stocked liquor cabinet in the pantry. And soda? You would care for some carbinated water? Is that what you mean? With all these choices, I expect it would be a bit easier for me if you would choose just one."

He looked at her a bit impatiently as she sat down at the table and gave him a menu of choices. He wished she would make up her mind.

[anastasia]

She sat there at the Dining Table with those brown eyes locked upon him, unmoved and becoming annoyed. Still he had not answered her question of why he looked like the Phantom. The more this man rambled on and on about the Manor and the evils within it's walls, the more she believed him to be completely looney toons! Oh, yes, she thought, he dresses like this because he's not all there in the head! By no means was she keen about anything that had to do with Satan and the evils of Hell. Just as quickly as those thoughts of her little dabbles popped into mind, she purged them from her head immediately.

Yes, he was truly annoying. For a Host, he was severely lacking in Social Skills in Hospitality. She did her best to restrain a sigh as she sat there on the chair, legs still crossed and annoyed brown eyes watching him. "Alright. Very well," pausing as she flicked her fingernails a moment, looking at them, a moment's fidgeting before she stopped and looked up at him. "Wine. Moscato. If you have it." The sweet white wine would be welcome delight to this annoying meeting and her a tasty interlude to her ride. Perhaps put color back into her cheeks and warm her up.

"You are evading my question... Mister.... ?" Trailing off. She did not know his name! Hoping that perhaps he will divulge that bit of information. As well as why he pretends to be the Phantom.

[Erik Lenoir]

Now Erik had no idea why this young woman was irritated with him. Why he hadn't even insulted her for over ten minutes. He thought he was being quite then gentleman and the good host. Whatever was wrong with her? Finally she answered him that she would like Moscato wine. He nodded and went into the kitchen, finding a bottle of it easily in the liquor cabinet. He made tea for himself. It was ready in short order and he brought out a tea cup and saucer for himself and a glass filled with the wine his guest had requested.

She looked as if she wanted to ask a question, but she wouldn't bring it up. Erik didn't know what she wanted and she seemed to have something happening just under the surface. Her irritation shouldn't have been such a puzzlement to Erik, for he often became infuriated with people and they had no idea of the reason.

He was fascinated by her, and he hadn't even heard her name, either from Billie or from her own lips. "So what are you called, young woman, I expect you have a name."

"And it appears you are upset with me for some reason. Do you care to let me know what it is or would you like to continue stewing in your bitter juices?"

[anastasia]

Was he truly that daft? That shallow and absent-minded? Who was this joker?!? He was irritating the hell out of her now. No, wait... angering her.
Pursing her lips as she glared at him with a calculated look, taking the glass of wine that was offered. "thank you," she said with a severely wry tone. Almost breathing heavily as she tried her best to control her temper.

Raising a brow and looking at him as though she'd been slapped. Really?!? He didn't know why she was pissed? She asked the question. Kept inquiring and demanding he answer her. But he continued to evade it.
"You have to be joking," she grumbled. Nostrils flared and pursed her lips, rolled her eyes before glaring at him. Removing her fingers from the glass. "I have a name but I won't give it to you until you answer my goddamned question first!" she snapped mildly at him. "WHY are you dressed up as the Phantom?" Was it truly that hard to answer? Was he that messed up in the head? His hearing gone? Was he trying to piss her off?
No name until she learned who he was and why he was dressed as the Phantom. The lunatic!