How We've Changed (Mr Y)

[ladybarbossa]

The days were warm enough and yet fall was in the air. Back to her daily routine of early mornings in the Garden and the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon in the kitchen, with some time to spare for relaxing with needlework or even better yet, now she was back to Gustave's daily tutoring. Music was always the boy's strong points, but music was not everything as Christine had come to learn. She hoped that Gustave was more attentive as a boy to other studies such as mathematics, the sciences, other arts, and social graces. With no professional Tutor to teach the boy, it was up to her. She did not mind at all, it was an opportunity for her to catch up with her son those months they missed.

Humming a warm song in the morning sunlight as she attended the roses, mums and other vegetation. The Garden was looking much better now, even after her disappearance. The Garden was 90% better than when she first found it back in the spring.

Smiling and humming as she continued to work with the flowers and vegetation, realizing how much she has changed since she came here. Also how much she has changed since her youth at the Opera House. Back when she believed the Lenoir was the Angel of Music. She smirked at the past memories, even if they were bad, they were still good. She was no longer that girl, but a grown woman.
That thought diverted to Lenoir how much he's changed since when she knew him. They were so personal now, he was so human and a true delight to be around. And yet... there was those old feelings that would never go away. No matter how much her Husband wanted them to.
My, how people change.

[Mister Y]

Erik had finally managed to find his way outside. That made him take a little comfort in the fact that that Lenoir man was wrong. He COULD leave the Manor, obviously, since he was outside. Walking along the garden path, he let his mind wander. He'd found a way out. Now, to find a way back to New York...that would be tricky. A way back to Christine...

His routine had been COMPLETELY interrupted by this. He wasn't used to this place. With all it's "modern" fixtures and different amenities, it was indeed as he'd first suspected: a gilded cage. It was meant to hold many people at one time, and it seemed to fluctuate to fit a new amount of members every minute he stood in its halls. He'd find himself turning corners he knew he'd turned before to find new corridors and new rooms.

But now that he'd found a way outside, perhaps he could escape the confusion of that place...that ever changing hall of mirrors...it reminded him of a few of the fun houses and show tents in his park, Phantasma. He had to admit to himself, he missed his park. The lights, the sounds of people enjoying themselves, the smell of New York food and the feeling of wonderful awestruck bliss that emanated from the crowd...He missed it all...

But he missed her most of all. And he had to get back...

[ladybarbossa]

Christine wiped away a little sweat from her cheek and lip then brow as the morning sun was more than just a gentle casting glow. A warm spell spread over the land after a little cold snap that nearly killed the plants. Luckily, it didn't freeze so this couldn't very well be an Indian Summer. But it did make her think a little more about the herbs at least and some of the roses.
Standing and moving pots, filling them with good dirt she found in the greenhouse that someone had fixed up - she will have to find out who and thank them. Digging up one herb plant at a time and putting them into each individual pot. Ensuring and praying they will survive. Especially her coveted thyme and rosemary.

Once the herbs were in pots and set aside to take indoors later or to the green house at least, she dealt with the empty area before moving onto the roses. The precious roses that Charles mentioned once belonged to his beloved. She'd not met her and did not believe the woman was ever around. She continued to care for the roses and other vegetation. Working at each to ensure that they would survive the upcoming winter. She didn't know how cruel the winters could be at all and was not going to take that chance.
Knelt off a pathway at the base of a fine rose bush, she covered the roots with more dirt as somehow something was removing some of the dirt. Then put down some mulch of sorts to at least make the area look nice. Granted this should be work for a Gardener, but she had not seen one around and this at least kept her busy. She did wonder where Gustave had gotten off to. Thinking perhaps the boy was joining her this morning to attend to the garden. Perhaps he was with Edouard or exploring the Manor. Maybe seeing the horses. So long as Gustave did not wander off or down into the tunnels. She nearly stopped at the mere thought of Gustave lost in the vast network of tunnels under the Manor.
She will have to stop soon. The sun was rising higher and will soon be midday. It was nearly time to go into the kitchen and do her daily routine there. As she worked towards finishing up with the roses, knelt at the bases of the bushes, she hummed and sang more to herself.

[Mister Y]

Erik turned. He'd heard singing...a familiar voice. Setting off at a quick pace, he followed the sound until he saw it. The fair skin, the delicate features, the brown curls that haunted his dreams...

"C-Christine?" Erik nearly smacked himself for his lack of courage when he spoke. His voice was timid and shaky. God, he was nervous....but...why was she here? What would she be doing here, of all places? How strange....

He hoped that perhaps she'd forgive him for what he did ten years ago...He'd hardly thought about that. How would she react to seeing him after a decade of no contact? After he'd left her...he didn't want to leave her, no, but her reputation depended upon his decision...All those years ago, he'd had to think of her future. He'd had to make a decision, to let her keep her good reputation and live a normal life. He couldn't have provided for her then, but now...Now it was a different story.

[ladybarbossa]

The tempo of the song kept her working at a decent pace. Finally as she finished with the one rose bush and moved to the other to finish attending it. This was the last really for the day. She smiled and hummed, pleased with her accomplishment for the day out in the gardens.
Hearing footsteps then a voice that sounded like her name was called. When she finally looked, he was a bit difficult to see since the sun was bright. But the figure looked familiar. She smiled as she knelt at the roses, "Lenoir," she replied loud enough for him to hear. "Good morning." Though the morning was nearly mid-day, she would still greet him as usual. But little did she realize that the man was not who she thought it was!

Brushing the dirt a little, then wiping away sweat upon her lip, she glanced over at Lenoir again a moment then stood, brushing herself off and removed the garden gloves to set them down. Looking at the roses and her handiwork with a pleased visage.
She turned to face him with a smile, ready to greet Lenoir since it had been several days since she last spoke to him. Surely they had a lot to catch up with. But as the sun shifted a little, and so did she, she came to realize, after taking a couple steps towards the man, he was NOT Lenoir! Well, not the Lenoir whom she'd come to know here at the Manor. Not the Lenoir who was her Angel from many years ago. This man... looked much like him.. but .. different!
She stopped and froze. That smile disappearing. The confusion played upon her face for but a moment until she finally saw within her mind's eye a distant memory of a man... on a balcony...in the same attire...
It was Him!
She stepped back almost weak in the knees. Placing a hand upon her chest. Oh, no! No no no! Lenoir had mentioned this from since the first day she came here! The confusion this place created. Even the knowledge of her younger self whom she had not met yet but had met the younger version of her Husband and then Lenoir. Now.... now He was here! The other version of Lenoir.
She nearly went into a swoon and covered her mouth. What ever was she to do?!? This was almost too much for her to bear. It flooded her now.. that moment... of the strange musical toy... all alone in the drawing room... then he appeared on the balcony... she had fainted...
She felt as though she could faint once again. Oh, God! Oh, Lord! What would Lenoir think? What would Edouard do?!?

[Mister Y]

Oh dear, she looked faint...Erik stepped forward, hand outstretched. Then he thought. What if that only made it worse? He drew his hand back, wringing his hands nervously. "H-h-hello, Christine...It's been a while..."

He looked at his shoes. He didn't want to see the look on her face. No doubt she'd be upset at him, surprised at his presence, or worse...perhaps she was still angry from the occurrences of ten years ago...Oh dear....oh dear...He wouldn't be able to bear it if she was upset with him for that. He went through so much hell every time that he thought about it. He would've stayed there with her if he'd known that he'd have all of his fortune. But how could he have known?! How could he have figured out ten years ago that he'd be one of the richest men in America while he'd been skulking in warehouses and countrysides, waiting for a way out of France?

[ladybarbossa]

Gasping with a hand upon her chest in hopes to still her pounding heart and null her rabid mind. The only way that could possibly help was her wild pacing about moving away from him before she moved back towards the roses, muttering the whole time. Holding her heart and her head, swearing she could faint at any given time once again but her strength held out. What a storm of emotions that washed over her like a biblical flood!

Twisting towards him, facing and glaring at him with such a degrading yet forlorn confusion. Her arms at her sides and hands curled into fists when her mouth opened but there were no words that slipped from those lips. There was nothing she could say or do. All that she had stated had been laid upon Lenoir and she had come to terms. Or so she thought. She had grown much since coming here, just as much as she'd grown since the last ten years since she'd seen her Angel. Now she was utterly confused! There was now two Angels! She felt so utterly conflicted and it showed so thick upon her visage.

After a moment though all she could do was march up to him then slap him hard across the side of his face. After the act was done she couldn't believe what she'd done! She silently scolded herself as she looked so confused, tiny shakes of her head as she backed slowly away and removed her eyes from his image with erratic gasps.

Without a word she twirled around swiftly and marched away back into the house, throwing the door open yet unsure where she would go. Her duties held her to the kitchen yet she could no longer focus and felt she needed to isolate herself.
Stumbling as she caught herself against an elegant hall table, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she gasped and sobbed. This was too much for her as she did not expect this at all. She truly believed he would never show and that Lenoir would only be the one she would know and be near. This was too much for her. Too much! She froze, hunched over the hall table, head hung with palms planted upon the tabletop, as she tried to push this all away and yet deal with it. Deal with him!
She had to. Eventually though. She had to face him and e sure that even He would not end up to be at the brunt end of Raoul Edouard's malice just as Lenoir had been. What next?
Oh, God! What now?! Her gut and womb twisted with the knowledge that she held so secret, that only Lenoir knew. She told Lenoir the first time they met. Lord, that was so hard! If He learned then what would happen?!? Will matters become worse? Would he be more determined that Lenoir to possess her? Her legs nearly gave out at what her mind could never seem to let her be in silence. There was never going to be peace! Not for her!