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Post by Alfred Worthington on Sept 9, 2012 20:28:39 GMT -5
Alfred awoke refreshed the following morning, which would be his first full day in the mansion. It took him a moment to remember he wasn't at home in the chateau, for his suite in the mansion looked exactly like the one at Master Raoul's chateau. In fact, he had to go to the door and look about to confirm that the previous day's encounter here hadn't been a dream.
One look in the corridor and he knew it was real. He had a hard time contemplating it, but it didn't disturb him very much, he was here and so was Master Raoul and all would be well. Except for...Juliette...his good friend and confidant Juliette....she had been far enough away when he had moved to just outside of Paris with de Chagny, but now where was she? It seems that people here at the mansion didn't even really know where they were...exactly. Alfred heard there was a village nearby too. He hoped to go there in the days following.
However, this morning he washed, shaved, dressed in his formal clothes and tidied his room. When everything looked perfect, he stepped outside in the hallway. He wished he knew where Master Raoul's suite was, for he felt he wanted to ready his clothes and bring his breakfast to him as he had done of old. He had been more than a butler, there were other roles he played too, such as valet.
In any case, he expected he would meet the young Vicomte soon enough today and he decided to do a bit of exploring by himself. He walked several corridors, then entered a room which, when a gas light was lit, proved to be quite an extensive library. There was a fireplace and many tall bookcases filled with books of many sorts and punctuated with portraits between them, portraits of people from days gone by, mostly solemn and gloomy expressions.
He pulled out a book in the section about history and ocean voyages. The book was called The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin. Alfred had never heard of the book or the author but it looked interesting. He read that it was the story of a voyage made by modern sailors to trace the legendaary voyage of the sixth century Irish monk Brendan who purported to have made a landing in America. The voyage was made in a currach, a hand made Irish skin boat and the company of men who set sail to find out if this voyage could have actually been undertaken in such a boat and with primitive implements. Then Alfred read that the voyage had been made in 1976 to 77. He frowned. That was impossible... He sat pondering how that could be when he heard footfalls outside the door.
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Christine Svenna Daaé
Twisted every way, what answer can I give?
Screw being ladylike; Imma Pageboy!
Posts: 230
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Post by Christine Svenna Daaé on Sept 12, 2012 16:49:48 GMT -5
It was still fairly early in the day when Christine set on out of her room to go about the manor. She didn't have to be at the aquarium until noon, so she had plenty of time to 'chill out' as she had heard said at work. She was dressed in a long purple sundress and silver earrings with her hair pinned up out of her face. The day's goal until 11:40? Chill out...
She had decided it might be nice to head down to the library to do a little bit of reading. It had been one of the favorite pastimes of hers and Raoul's when they were children. They would climb up into the attic with a little picnic basket full of sweets and sandwiches, and they would bring up a book with the and read to each other dark stories of the North.
Christine didn't notice anyone when she had first entered the library, but she was not alone. She went straight to one of the shelves and began browsing, following her hand with her eyes and waiting for it to rest upon something what sparked her interest to begin reading.
She skimmed over a few of the shelves, and then stopped, catching something out of the corner of her eye. There was a man, with white hair and large glasses, who looked rather familiar. She couldn't quite place where she'd seen him though and, before she had time to realize what she was doing, found herself staring at him in an almost gawkish manner. Who was he?.... “Excuse me? Monsieur? I'm sorry... Have we met? I get this funny feeling I've seen you somewhere before...”
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Post by Alfred Worthington on Sept 12, 2012 20:35:26 GMT -5
Alfred turned to look at the person to whom the dainty footfalls belonged. The person that entered the library was a lady....a young lady...a very young lady....probably in her late teens or early 20's. She had long cascading brown hair and light blue eyes. Medium height, she was slender, altogether a very attractive girl. She said nothing, so he just watched her a bit, glancing down at the book again, distracted. He would have said something, except he waited for her to speak first, as Alfred usually did with his betters. He closed the book and watched the lady. The long, purple sundress and silver earrings she was wearing were very becoming.
The lady was either ignoring him or hadn't seen him. Alfred couldn't quite decide which it was. When she spoke, Alfred smiled, his blue eyes crinkling in a friendly manner. He put down the mysteriouly dated book on the nearest table. She gave him an odd, but not unfriendly look and asked if they had ever met before. "I don't know if we've met before, Mademoiselle," he answered, his French coloured by a very British accent. "My name is Alfred Worthington, if that means anything to you. I am the Vicomte de Chagny's manservant. And whom do I have the pleasure of addressisng?"
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Christine Svenna Daaé
Twisted every way, what answer can I give?
Screw being ladylike; Imma Pageboy!
Posts: 230
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Post by Christine Svenna Daaé on Sept 13, 2012 19:17:56 GMT -5
((Sorry it's so short .-.))
Christine's eyes lit up almost instantly when the man stated that he has the manservant of the Vicomte de Chagny. “Oh my goodness! I remember now: Mr. Worthington! It's been so long! How are you?”Upon realizing whom it was, she promptly walked up and held her arms open as if to greet him with a hug.
“Oh, you probably don't remember me... It's Christine. Christine Daaé. Raoul and I used to play together when we were children. I most certainly didn't expect to see you of all people in this place. It's been what now? About seven or eight years?”
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Post by Alfred Worthington on Sept 15, 2012 19:16:09 GMT -5
The young lady looked familiar but Alfred really couldn't place her. Then she introduced herself.
"Miss Christine? Little Christine? Miss Daaé, it is indeed a pleasure to see you. Why you are all grown already.... It just doesn't seem that long ago you were just a little girl..." Alfred smiled with pleasure at the memory of the children playing a the seaside. "And I am just fine. Well, as fine as one can be after finding out that he is in a strange place with no idea how he got here...That does sound odd, doesn't it?"
When Christine held out her arms to him, Alfred embraced her gently. "Yes, it must be seven or eight years. I am not sure exactly. And it's Alfred, Miss Daaé, just Alfred. Do you wish to be called Miss Daaé or Miss Christine?"
Alfred smiled again at the sight of seeing her again. "I assume you know that Master Raoul is here...He told me he would be staying quite a while. You have met him, correct? I perhaps am speaking out of turn, but I always wondered if the two of you would meet again. You were such good childhood friends."
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Christine Svenna Daaé
Twisted every way, what answer can I give?
Screw being ladylike; Imma Pageboy!
Posts: 230
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Post by Christine Svenna Daaé on Sept 17, 2012 2:35:50 GMT -5
Christine beamed when the man spoke, delighted that he remembered her. “Oh, believe me, Alfred, I know exactly what you mean. It's perhaps not as strange as you may think. The last ting I can remember before I came here was taking a bow onstage when the chandelier suddenly came plunging toward me before I whited out, and then poof! I was here. Weird, isn't it? I was lucky enough that Raoul found me here when I woke up, or I surely would have gone absolutely out of my mind bonkers! Well... no, I take that back. It wasn't here, precisely that he found me, but in the opera house... Have you been there?” she wondered out loud, not really expecting an answer either way.
“Oh! Please, just call me Christine,” she said with a light chuckle when he asked her what she preferred to be called. “Titles seem so formal, and I'm not at work, so there's really no reason for it, especially not among old friends.”
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Post by Alfred Worthington on Sept 18, 2012 18:29:16 GMT -5
Alfred smiled when she called him an "old friend." Considering he hadn't seen her since she was a youngster, he was surpprised at her familiarity. She must have made a connection with him back then. It was very nice that she felt that way. "Christine, that is very nice that you remembed me. I hope that Master Raoul and you are getting along well. I really always thought that the two of you belonged together. But of course you were so young. So much can happen in a few years."
Then he frowned. "You say the chandelier came crashing down upon you? I hadn't heard about that.. How strange. I would have thought that Master Raoul would have mentioned it to me. It must have been horribly frightening. You are fortunate you were not hurt. Whatever could have caused such a thing to happen?"
"And then you woke up in the opera house." Alfred looked pensive. "No, I haven't been there. I really didn't know there was an opera house attached to the place. Master Raoul has been quuite busy and I have my work cut out for me with his laundry and the various other things I do for him. Of course there are no formal parties planned yet. But I would not be surprised if something may come up in the future."
"You know, I very much like living here. Although I do have an old friend I miss from Paris. Perhaps I shall find a way to contact her at some time in the future. I have only been here a few days, you know and it will undoubtedly take me a while to see the whole place." Alfred smiled again and offered to take her hands in a gesture of friendship. "I am very glad you are here. Master Raoul I am sure, must be happy too."
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Christine Svenna Daaé
Twisted every way, what answer can I give?
Screw being ladylike; Imma Pageboy!
Posts: 230
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Post by Christine Svenna Daaé on Sept 20, 2012 4:28:01 GMT -5
((gaaah! Sorry this took so long. I got distracted by a movie))
Christine couldn't help a little grin at Alfred's words. “He promised me he'd always be there... actually, he was the one who rescued me from the chandelier... I think. The whole situation is still a bit of a blur to me, I'm afraid... We've had our disagreements, but yes, we're quite happy to see each other here. Honestly, if Raoul hadn't found m when I first arrived, I don't think that I could have come to understand this place so quickly. Everything is so different here...”
“As to what caused the chandelier to fall.... it was a accident,” she said, with some hesitation. There was little doubt as to who had caused the thing to fall, but Christine was convinced that the guilty party had not meant to harm her in doing so... Of course, she'd refrained from mentioning that to Raoul, knowing that he would have a fit hearing her speak like that. “But please... can you promise me that you will not tell Raoul what I told you about the matter? He has his own opinions about what happened that night and... well.... You know how he is sometimes when he gets something set in his head...”
“I could show you the opera house, if you like. Unfortunately though, I think it may be quite difficult – likely impossible at all – for you to contact your friend fro here. I don't know much Raoul told you about this place, but we're a long way from the Paris that we know, I'm afraid...”
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Post by Alfred Worthington on Sept 20, 2012 20:05:04 GMT -5
"He rescued you from the chandelier? And said he would always be there for you? That is very much like Master Raoul. If he said that, certainly he will never break his promise. I know him well and I can assure you of that."
Christine told him that the chandelier falling was an accident. "I see. What a strange accident. One would think that things like that could not happen with proper maintenance of the place. Well, I am thankful that you were not hurt."
Alfred smiled again at Svenna. "And of course I shall not tell Master Raoul. I can certainly keep a secret. Anything told to me shall never pass my lips again. Master Raoul is indeed a bit opinionated, I know that. I would never do anything to influence hhis opinion on something about which he feels strongly." Then Alfred looked at Svenna with an eyebrow raised. "Of coursew there could be times I may break that rule, if it were for a very good reason. Feel free to speak to me any time, dear Christine, for any reason..."
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Christine Svenna Daaé
Twisted every way, what answer can I give?
Screw being ladylike; Imma Pageboy!
Posts: 230
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Post by Christine Svenna Daaé on Sept 29, 2012 2:59:07 GMT -5
Christine smiled warmly and nodded her head when Alfred said that it did sound very much like 'Master' Raoul to do and to say such things. “Oh, I know, Alfred. I certainly do not think that he will break those promises, but... When we met again... in the opera house... a few of the things he said to me were a bit... well... strange. It's... difficult to explain, really... It wasn't so much that they were strange things to say, so much as they were.... strange for Raoul.”
She gave a little sigh and shook her head, attempting to dismiss it, and offering another smile as she did so. “Yes, I am not entirely sure what happened with the chandelier that evening – I've heard mixed opinions of the matter – but the important thing is that the chandelier didn't harm anyone...” Or at least no one whom she was aware of. The last thing she recalled before awaking in the dusty opera house at the manor was the massive light fixture hurling toward her...
“Thank for agreeing to keep all of this a secret, by the way. I completely understand breaking it if someones safety were at stake, but I assure you, I am in no danger. Raoul would beg to think otherwise, which is part of the reason I'd prefer he didn't find out.... He worries too much about me sometimes it seems...”
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Post by Alfred Worthington on Sept 29, 2012 14:24:57 GMT -5
"If there is ever anything you wish to convey to Master Raoul without saying it yourself, I should be quite happy to mention it to him. Surreptitiously, if that's what it takes." Alfred smiled again. He really hoped the two of them, Svenna and his master, would marry. They were made for each other and he would do everything he could to expedite that.
Perhaps I can find out how Raoul really feels about Svenna....Alfred thought.
"I have not heard much of the rumours which fly about places like the Paris Opera, Miss Christine, for I have attended the opera only. Master Raoul did not discuss any other things with me. I had of course heawrd rumours, considering there were inklings in the newspapers and people talk of course. Is there any truth to the rumour that the Opéra Populaire is haunted? I, of course, do not believe in ghosts, however, perhaps it is caused by something or someone else. Have you heard such rumours?"
Alfred touched her arm in a friendly, but respectful gesture. "I hope you realize that you not only have one protector, namely Master Raoul, but also myself. I shall look out for you as if you were a member of his family, which..." here Alfred smiled and hoped she would not take offense, "which I sincerely hope you shall become in good time...."
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Christine Svenna Daaé
Twisted every way, what answer can I give?
Screw being ladylike; Imma Pageboy!
Posts: 230
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Post by Christine Svenna Daaé on Oct 1, 2012 3:04:36 GMT -5
“Well,” she said, plopping down in one of the plush armchairs, “from what Raoul told me he knows of those rumors, I doubt he would tell you, to be quite honest. As to whether or not the Opera is haunted...” She paused for a moment, biting her lip. She recalled Erik having told her that he was not a ghost – which she had sort of figured out for herself the morning when she woke up after he had taken her through the mirror – but was unsure of how she should reply to Alfred. She took a moment to collect her thoughts before finishing her statement. “No. No, I do not believe so, Alfred.”
She gave a polite smile when he touched her arm and told told her that she had a protector in him as well, and then could not help but to blush a little when he completed his sentence. Which I sincerely hope you shall become in good time.... She bit her lips a little and stared down at the floor for a brief moment in thought before looking back up at him and returning eye contact. “We shall see, Alfred,” she said with a small shrug. “He has... hinted at it in the past, and should he ever ask, it would be something I would consider, but... now, I'm not so sure he's going to... His brother never seemed to care much for me anyway,” she said with a wave of her hand. “It's fine though. I'm quite content with the idea of the two of us remaining friends. Friends can be like family too, after all.”
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Post by Alfred Worthington on Oct 11, 2012 0:46:35 GMT -5
"I suppose it doesn't matter anymore if the Opéra Populaire is haunted or not," mused Alfred. "We are not there and until such time as we may return, there is decidedly no reason to even think about it." Alfred frowned a bit. Of course, he would be thinking about it and probably asking questions, since Alfred loved a mystery and would like to unravel this one. He had heard about the reports of a haunting some time ago when Master Raoul had first become involved as a patron of the Opera. He had no idea if de Chagny even had any idea about those strange stories of the haunting. Alfred had wished he could speak ot some of the singers or dancers to see if they had seen or heard anyting. But he never got a chance. He went to the opera, but not often and there was never any time to poke around. As he would have loved to do. But if he heard any inkling of a mystery here, he would be certain to look into, bidden or not.
"So you don't believe there was a haunting or at least something odd going on at the Populaire? It fascinated me at the time, just before I arrived here really, so it is fresh in my mind, but I never had the time to ask any questions." Alfred hoped she wouldn't think him too inquisitive.
Friends can be like family too, after all, said Svenna. "That's very sweet of you to say so, and so very true. Sometimes friends are truer than blood relatives. Or so I've heard."
Alfred's tone became confidential. "Would you like me to put in a good word for you with Master Raoul?" Of course Svenna didn't have to tell Alfred to be her advocate with Raoul, he would be that anyway. If it were in his power to see that these two young people would wed, it would happen.
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Christine Svenna Daaé
Twisted every way, what answer can I give?
Screw being ladylike; Imma Pageboy!
Posts: 230
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Post by Christine Svenna Daaé on Oct 13, 2012 2:31:09 GMT -5
Christine gave a simple nod in reply when Alfred said that it didn't really matter now as to whether or not the Opéra Populaire were haunted. “It doesn't matter either way now. There most certainly was something.... strange going on, but I'm not sure as to whether or not it was – is – truly haunted...”
She couldn't help a blush and a small chuckle that came when he asked her if she would like him to put in a good word with her to 'Master' Raoul. “Alfred, that really isn't necessary, but thank you. It would seem a bit odd, don't you think? Besides, Raoul and I see each other nearly every day here, whenever he's not too busy at work.”
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Post by Alfred Worthington on Oct 29, 2012 18:13:35 GMT -5
"I am truly delighted, Miss Christine, that Master Raoul and you are seeing each other daily. I had hoped that someting might come of your relationship." He paused when Svenna said that there was something strange going on, but she didn't think it was haunted."
"Oh?" asked Alfred. "I had heard stories, but not much of substance. What exactly was it that happened at the Opera House? Strange sounds or creakings? A bit of a cool mist now and then?" Actually Alfred was very curious, and he hoped Svenna would tell what she knew. Of course they were not at the Populaire any more, but still, it fascinated Alfred.
When Svenna mentioned that Raoul was busy at work, Alfred looked surprised. "Is that where he has been? Why Master Raoul never spoke a word of having a position in town. Whatever for? A nobleman such as himself has no need to work for a living..." Alfred was quite surprised.
"I suppose that is the reason he has not had much work for me. I am becoming rather bored, really." He shook his head and smiled. "A man servant without anything to do...not a very good situation. Would you by any chance, have anyting that I could do for you?" he said hopefully.
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