Is that music in my imagination?(Carriere)

[Erik Carriere]

Erik listened to Monsieur Lenoir speak about refurbishing the opera house. He must indeed find out where it was, though from the sounds of it, if it needed refurbishing then it probably wasn't in great shape. He spoke about being willing to take on a partner and Erik did like the sound of that. After all, he did make many, if not, all of the choices and demands at his opera house. Well, at least before Gerard was replaced.

He then listened when Lenoir answered his question on the differences of their domains. It still interested him how someone could know so much about his home and be able to recreate it in such detail. Why, the dust on a few objects is even nearly the same. Everything would make much more seance if it were a dream but some how he knew that this wasn't, he had very real dreams before but never so real as this felt. This felt as though it were everyday life and he had never dreamed about days upon days and even sleeping and eating in them. It was just too real.

"I would very much enjoy in helping." He said. Really, Erik would love to help in the opera house here. Sure, he wouldn't be controlling everything as he had been in his opera house. But to still be able to help in the opera was well enough for him. And even more so that he knew that this opera house would be in good hands. Since Monsieur Lenoir seemed to be the head of this project, no doubt the performances would be good as he was sure that he too knew true quality and that the beauty of music was far beyond the beauty of faces, especially when it comes to the operas. Also, because Erik had managed his opera house for quite some time, no doubt he would be at least slightly useful.

"Perhaps I might be considered as a possibility of becoming a partner? Before I came here, I had managed my opera house for quite a good many years. And if not, well, I could still help refurbish and be able to provide a good deal of props to the performances." He spoke clearly. And although no one would probably call it, Erik's opera house, he still made many of the choices there and had Gerard fire the people who weren't doing their jobs well enough and so on. Erik then had walked to the dark edge of his lagoon. This seemed to be the same entrance that would have been connected to the stage of the opera house. He wondered if on the other side, he would be able to open the door that Gerard would come through when visiting him. Erik walked to the wooden walk way that had his gondola floating next to it.

The gondola was also in exact detail. It too had once been a prop, for a ballet that had been set in Egypt. There had been two made of it, so the replica that had been put in storage was not missed and Erik had taken it down to his domain to use it to get across. Of course, getting it down was slightly troublesome as he was twelve and the gondola was quite heavy for him, but it had been worth, using it instead of the wooden raft he had made himself before the gondola. And unfortunately, that raft was soon after destroyed shortly after getting the gondola from a small... tantrum. Though it had been too long to remember why he had gone into the tantrum, it probably wasn't important anyways. Erik picked up his staff that he would use to push the gondola across the water and then stepped onto the slightly wobbly gondola with ease. "Actually, I wouldn't quite so much mind showing you around. Though, the rest of it is on the other side so we will have to take a trip on my gondola if you don't mind." Though, he very much doubted that Lenoir really would mind.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik smiled when Carrière said he would be happy to help with the refurbishing and he also asked if he could be a partner. Erik didn't hear any of the arrogance in his voice that he had heard from Érik and he expected that they would get along well. "I would be most happy to have your help, Monsieur Carrière. I expect your experience in running an opera house will be invaluable. And I would be glad to take you on as a partner. As long...as I have the final say.... "

"And my assistant Meg will be quite willing to help us out with many things. She has a lot of good experience. I have put her in charge of advertising and I am sure she will be able to do procurement as well. Once we start the shows, she has some ... interesting ideas. She has experience with being a performer and good organizational skills. So she will be a great help to us."

"I am so delighted to take you on as a partner, Carrière... may I call you Carrière? You may call me Lenoir, as we are partners, why not be less formal? "

Carrière walked to the edge of the lagoon. He seemed impressed and probably surprised as to how exact everything was. Erik spied the gondola. "Your gondola is quite lovely, Carrière, I have one too, although it's quite different."

"I certainly don't mind a trip on your gondola. I use mine daily. It keeps the curious away and even though it's a bit of a bother, I enjoy the little ride every day...it's relaxing. That is unless I am in a hurry to be somewhere. But that must be taken slowly. One cannot get somewhere quickly in a boat." This brought to mind the night the opera company put on his own opera, Don Juan Triumphant... After Christine had pulled away his mask and hairpiece, exposing his face publically, to everyone, he had been so furious he had pulled her over one of the trap doors and swirled his cloak,and they disappeared from the stage. Through the trapdoor they went down to the level of the hanging bridges. He had pulled her along, telling her the consequences of what she'd done; she crying and upset.... When they reached the lake, he had pushed her roughly into the gondola and furiously pushed the boat across the water to his lair. This was not one of his leisurely trips. Erik had been so angry he almost couldn't see. He couldn't think of anything but his anger...." Erik shook his head to get the thought of that bad night out of his head.

He smiled and entered the boat as Carrière bade him to...

[Erik Carriere]

Erik looked at Lenoir for a moment. He actually would take him on as a partner. This was very good news to hear indeed. Even though Lenoir had made it clear that he wanted the final say in things, really it didn't bother Erik at all. He was just happy that he got to continue working with the opera. Unlike in his opera house when Gerard was replaced and all he could do was send notes and try to rid of Carlotta and her husband. Oh and of course give his lessons to Christine. Erik listened as the other masked man continued to speak.

Erik nodded as Lenoir spoke. To get someone to take charge in advertising was splendid. It was one of the many important factors of having a successful performance. At his opera house, there was almost never a performance that hadn't been a full house. Though, that was also due to timing and the reputation of the opera house. And from the sound of their much needed to be repaired stage and auditorium, it might be slightly more difficult to get people to come. It probably hasn't had a reputation to speak of in years. So advertising will be much needed. And to have some ideas would be nice... he indeed wondered what they were to make them... interesting. All the same, it did indeed sound like Meg would be very helpful.

Erik nodded. He didn't mind being called Carriere at all. "That's fine with me. I am very glad and happy that you gave me the chance to be your partner." He said pleasantly and with all honesty. Really, he was extremely happy that he got to work in the opera so much again. As Erik stood in his gondola, he was silent for a moment, almost feeling like he was home again. Erik then looked back at Lenoir as he complimented his gondola. "Thank you." He said quietly and let the other masked man continue on. He nodded to what Lenoir said. This was true. He remembered when he once was very angry and he had taken the route in the opera house that led him to this side of his lake. He was pushing the boat forward like mad and only ended up tipping it over before he got to the shore. That was not a happy day. Erik kept the gondola steady as Lenoir got into the gondola.

Erik pushed the gondola off and as he did so, he started to think back some more on some of his boat trips. He remembered there was the one time that he had been on the other side of his lagoon and had gotten into his gondola and and pushed it off and when he was in the middle of going around a bend. He laid the poll down on the boat and then laid down on his back and looked up at the ceiling... pretending that he was on an actual lake with the sounds of chirping crickets and fireflies all around him. He also pretended that above him was the sky, and he was looking at all the billions and billions of stars. There was only one problem, he didn't know what fireflies looked like. He had read about them... but he could only imagine what they looked like. Though of course, there was the drawings of them but Erik imagined them just as small lights, calmly floating about him. Either way, it had been a beautiful time. It was times like those that he enjoyed living down here.... but it also was why he didn't like living here.

Erik blinked. They were nearly to shore. He pushed it a few times and lined it up to the dock, holding onto it for Lenoir to get off then getting off the boat himself. Erik laid the poll down and walked a little ways and looked around. Everything was once again, as it would have been in his home. There was the other way to get into his domain which Gerard had came through at every chance he got. There was the stairway and a nice room. He didn't go in there too terribly often, though it was one of his favorite rooms, nice water view and such. He remembered always thinking that if he were to bring Christine down to his domain... that would be her room. Surely she would like it, or at least he hoped so. He wondered if his Dreamery was here, if so, that would have been the most amazing thing he would have seen here by far. It was truly one of the most enchanted spots in his domain. If someone had really replicated his home in exact detail, perhaps there was a good chance that all his masks and clothing were here... and his flute! Oh would someone really have even put in the detail of his flute? Erik certainly hoped so. Erik smiled and turned to Lenoir. "Welcome to my humble abode.."

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik and Carrière stepped into the gondola and Carrière pushed off from the shore. As they started to move across the lake, Erik looked at the scenery flow by. Another amazing coincidence...so similar, and yet different. Carrière's domain was down below the opera house too, and yet not in the labyrinthian caves as Erik's home was. Tha lake seemed calm and serene, just as Erik's lake was, but it also often had mist rising from the surface giving a mystical quality to it. As they went further on Carrière's lake, Erik could see a house in the distance. Carrière's abode looked to be more of a normal home, a house.

"Your home is lovely, Carrière, Away from prying eyes, away from the world. Mine is like that too. I don't mind visitors if I know them personally, but I don't care to be seen in general. Strangely enough this mansion, having put me in the peculiar situation of being with many men who are similar to myself and many people who are similar to ones I knew when I was back in Paris, has made me speak more openly for I wish to find out more about everyone else, in the hopes that I could help find a way out of this place. And yet, I must say being here has its compensations. My home, safely tucked away in a place where those who I don't care to have spying on me are not able to find me." Erik realized, once he had said the last that it probably wouldn't make sense to Carrière and Erik really didn't want to elaborate. He was, of course, referring to the police pursuing him after the murder of Piangi.... although the mansion was a prison of sorts, it was also a refuge from the authorities. Erik smiled serenely. He wondered if Carrière had such problems.

The Erik spoke up again, "What types of productions do you think we should have performed, once we have the opera house ready? Opera of course would be my first priority. Ballet and perhaps some classic plays. Meg has some other ideas. It seems she performed some type of strange modern music and dance when she was in Coney Island...that's in America...She performed for me here on the opera house stage. While she has always had wonderful talent and is trained well in ballet by her mother, this moderinistic style...well, I don't feel it appropriate for our opera house. And yet, I don't want to deny Meg the chance to perform...What do you think, Carrière?"

As they pulled up to the house, Carrière laid down the long oar and tied the boat to the dock. Erik alit and waited for Carrière to step onto the shore. Then they walked toward his house and Carrière said graciously, Welcome to my humble abode. Erik nodded and followed the tall masked man.

[Erik Carriere]

Erik nodded in thanks to Lenoir when he had complemented his home. When he was a very small child, all of this place had been so bare and lifeless and dull. But as the years went and the more Erik collected, the more it had turned into his home, a realm almost fantasy like with a home that Gerard would tell him about from time to time. Some times, he really did enjoy being in his domain, strange as that sounded.

He liked it and he hated it at the same time. It was his cage, it was his constant reminder that he had to live away from people because of his face, he was deformed. And yet it was still his home, the only place he could have sanctuary other than in his box five. And Erik agreed with Lenoir, he liked that his domain was away from others, the occasional personal visitor, plus- it had to be that way for him. And when Lenoir had said 'tucked away in a place where those who I don't care to have spying on me are not able find me', he understood it in his own way- for his own situation.

Erik then glanced at Lenoir when he had asked him what productions should be performed. The first opera that popped into his head was Faust. He concentrated on the rest of what the other masked man said. His curiosity was slightly spiked when he said that Meg had ideas. But the more he said, the less his curiosity he had for her ideas. If they were not appropriate for their opera house, it should not be there, but he could see Lenoir's conflict since she was helping out and all. "Well since Meg is helping, I don't see it fit to deny her some part of the stage..." He mumbled a bit, thinking. "I think... on occasion, she should be able to preform what she wishes. Though most definitely we must have the operas and ballets and such more often."

Erik didn't think that this was a bad idea, since he had no idea what her... ideas were. However, if they were at all good, he didn't think it fit to deny her the stage. Anyone with any good talent shouldn't be shunned from the spotlight, that he learned greatly. He then thought for another moment. "And as for the opera's and ballets... I think for the ballets, we could start of with Coppelia. I think it would bring in a larger audience for all ages...." He then thought for a moment, he was going to suggest Faust for the operas but upon thinking of that, his minds snatched up a different subject as well. "I must ask that... when... or if... my Christine shows up..." He paused, knowing that Lenoir probably saw where this was going. "Could have the lead roll in some of the operas every once in a while.... I am sure you would like her voice very much and see it fit that she should have the lead..."

[Erik Lenoir]

"Have you considered, Carrière, that we are being held here against our wills? It is truly a good place, for I enjoy having my own quarters, just as I built them. A place dedicated to music, where I can compose and ...I was hoping to share it with my Christine. Perhaps that will again come to pass. She is here now and I must convince her that it is the best thing for her."

"And I agree completely that the bulk of our productions should be opera, ballet and concerts with music of the great masters. I am a composer, as I suspect many of the men named Erik are. I am one of the unknown great musical masters and of course my works would also be performed here, as would yours, should you wish them to be. I am assuming you compose..."

"Meg is another story. She is very talented, but her taste in music runs to the garish and well, you would have to hear it for yourself. It's rather indescribably. Have you ever heard of vaudeville? It is akin to that. And the only reason I am even considering it, is that it appears the people from the village are living in a different time than we are. Their music is apparently different than ours, although I have not heard any of it. And yes, since Meg is helping me, I must give her some time on the stage. And perhaps I could persuade her to go back to her ballet roots."

"Your Christine? I have never met her. Certainly I would consider any Christine for a lead role, as I am expecting all of them to have beautiful voices. I am planning for my own Christine to have a lead role if ever I can get her away from that meddlesome Christophe de Chagny.He has a vendetta against me for no reason." Of course de Chagny had his reasons for disliking Erik, and Erik knew it, but would never admit to it.

"We will of course be holding auditions and I was thinking of you and I perhaps being the judges. I am sure we would have quite the same opinions on this subject." Erik paused. "I have thought long and hard about this, but I have wanted to perform publically, ever since I was a child. I have wanted to sing, but with wearing a mask, it seems impossible. However, I plan to create a role in which my face would be unseen, behind a costume, a disguise if you will. A romantic role, I think..."

[Erik Carriere]

"I have considered that we are all being held here against our wills. I wish to understand why however. I mostly wonder what our... our captures get out of this and why they had put so much effort to make us comfortable in our stay here." Erik said back to Lenoir. Oh yes, since he first arrived here he wondered why he was here, him ad everyone else in the manor. What was it that their captures, assuming there was more then one since getting so many people in one place would be too hefty of a job for one person, what were they getting out of this?

Erik nodded a bit when the other masked man had said that they would preform the things that the both of them have composed. However, Erik didn't actually have anything that he composed. He made a few songs and such but never had he actually made a full length Opera or Operetta or Symphony, though he thought that it would be interesting and quite the time consuming challenge to try to complete such a wish. Erik nodded again when Lenoir mentioned Meg again. Though he wasn't sure if he quite agreed with him that he had to hear the music for himself. With the way Lenoir talked about it, he didn't want to hear it at all or else he might just forget the thing altogether.

"It probably would be better if you were able to persuade her to do ballet again. Hopefully Ballet isn't a dieing art in the village." He mumbled slightly. He decided not to ask what he meant by the village was living in a different time then they were. Things were complicated enough at the manor, he didn't feel like adding to the confusion by adding the village in. When Lenoir had said, Your Christine?, he actually thought he might just right out say no. But as luck would have it, he did not and in fact said that he would consider any Christine for a lead role. At that moment, he had no doubt what so ever that Christine would get to sing. Lenoir and himself seemed to have similar tastes so surely he would deem his Christine's voice extremely beautiful as he did however.... in any case, Christine was still only his.

Erik listened as the other masked man spoke.. later adding on that he wanted to perform publicly. He nodded a bit. This place would be the perfect chance to do just that. Perhaps it was then one of the best times to create an opera... one that would wear a mask and so would let Erik play the role. Oh he liked this idea very much... getting to sing with his Christine on the stage, in front of people, oh what a world of wonders that would be! Perhaps he should start making one as soon as possible! Everything him suddenly yearned to hear Christine's voice, that voice of angel's, carved to perfection in every detail, how he pleaded for Christine's presence once again. "Lenoir, I do so like your idea very much. And as much as I love the original operas and such... perhaps it is about time that I create one. I like your idea of creating a character in which you could play as him... I would very much like to make such a character..." He paused. "I suppose it is safe to assume that most of the Eriks were wish to sing with their Christines..."

[Erik Lenoir]

"I have not as yet sorted out this conundrum concerning the reason we were taken here. Who would indeed want the lot of us? I suppose we are supposed to accomplish someting, but if they have not told us what it is, how can we possibly accomplish it? Yet as I said, my place is pleasant and to my liking. I should like to discover who it is who has brought us here and why...and also how. I have not yet spoken with any persons here who know anything about it. However, there are rumours...that there are others here who may have a h and in it." Eirk was of course referring to the ghosts and he wanted to find out if Carrière had met any of them. "Have you met any strange beings here, outside of the people such as ourselves, connected with music and opera?"

"And indeed, what pleasure could our captors take in confining us? There is no logical reason of which I can think, that anyone would want us here."

"Meg, dear little Meg," said Erik when the subject of Madame Giry's daughter was brought up. "In addition to her odd music, she seems to think there is some history between her and me. I am not sure what she is referring to, and you do know that some of us have memory deficits, for if we were taken at a point before other events occurred, others who knew us may know what happened after that point. It appears that Meg has known me for some time after my memory stopped." He looked at Carrière and smiled. "Of course none of that makes any sense, but is there anything here that makes logical sense?"

"As to Meg's ballet, I suspect that she will be amenable. I expect she will do whatever I ask her. Although, I am curious as to whether her vaudeville would go over at all. I would like to get a feel for the villagers and if this is something that they would care for."

"I am anxious to meet your Christine, Carrière, Is she here?" Erik paused. "And there is much to be done as far as composing. I have only parts of an opera which I have begun to write since arrived here. I have one from before which is complete. I do wonder how we might be able to do any work on the Opera House though. Not many are willing to work and I cannot do it all alone, much as I might wish to do so..."

[Erik Carriere]

Erik nodded as he listened to Lenoir as he spoke about their seemingly kidnap. But then something that truly caught his attention was when he had said that there were rumors, something to be curious of for sure. Lenoir then asked him a question that he wasn't completely expecting, had he met any strange beings at the manor, outside of the people, connected with music and opera. Erik stared at Lenoir for a moment, not with the expression like 'you're mad', but more of a look of 'what on earth are you talking about?'. "Strange beings? Other than ourselves?" He chuckled momentarily and shook his head, not to look like that he was laughing at Lenoir but more trying to fill in time of how he could further respond. "Unfortunately, I do not think I have met any of these beings that you speak of. The only two people I have spoken with before you were a little blonde Christine Daae and an older Vicomte."

Erik then listened to the other masked man silently once more as he spoke of the Meg girl. He then said that Erik knew that some had memory deficits, taken at a point before other events occurred. Really, he didn't understand, which is what Lenoir set in stone when he himself said that none of it made sense and that nothing here seemed to make any sense. On that, he completely agreed with. "Truthfully, I didn't know that some of us seemed to have... memory deficits. Though I suppose that I would be finding that out quite soon enough if I were to run into someone that I knew. Unlike the people who seem very... similar to the people I really know. Such as the Christines." He said a bit quietly. He didn't really care to know, he just wished that someone he knew would come.... though preferably Christine and Gerard.

Erik nodded some when Lenoir said that Meg would probably go back to ballet at his request. It would be a relief if she did, hopefully the villagers still had enough culture to still enjoy opera and ballets. Erik then glanced down when he had asked if Erik's Christine was here. To his knowledge... she was not here. Erik then nodded when Lenoir said that there was much to do in composing. He would imagine it would be. Lenoir then spoke about how they would work on the Opera House with so little people willing to work and doing it independently would take to long. "My Christine has not come to the manor as far as I know... and has any of the other Erik's offered to help? With us all being connected to Opera, I would be very surprised to find that none of the Eriks would want to take part in restoring the Opera House into what probably was a very grand and glorious Opera House."

[Erik Lenoir]

"I see," said Erik quietly. "So you really have only met a few people here?" He looked at Carrère cryptically. "I have met a few who are somewhat incorporeal...." He paused. "And I would hazard a guess to say that I am every bit as sane as you are..."

"As to the memory deficits, let me explain it this way, with an example. Very shortly after I had come to the mansion, I found the opera house and walked up to Box 5. It was just as I had left it in Paris, although very much dilapidated. From Box 5, I saw a man who resembled Raoul Christophe de Chagny, the man who had stolen Christine from me. I watched him and I was very sure. I threw my voice across the opera house from a special place in box 5 which allows my voice to resonate nicely all over the large room and onto the stage. I called him by name. But oddly, he didn't recognize my voice! He had seen me several times in person and heard me many times. I finally confronted him by coming down. I told him who I was and he still didn't recognize me, for he said he had been going to Christine's dressing room when he came here. He hadn't even had a chance to speak ot Christine after not having seen her for many years."

"I was astounded. Af first I didn't believe him, but later, I started to understand that he really didn't know me. It was too bad, for he might not have been angry with me if I had not told him what went before. I remembered everything that happened for at least a year after de Chagny did. If only I had known not to reveal so much, we might h ave become friends..." Then Erik laughed. "Not likely though..."

Erik slapped Carrière's shoulder, not roughly, but as men do in friendship. "Carrière, outside of several of the ladies, you are the only friend I have here...I hope I can call you friend...You treat me well and are not arrogant with me, as most of the other Eriks are and the Raouls are even worse. I truly appreciate that." Erik held out his hand to shake Carrière's and smiled.

[Erik Carriere]

Erik nodded a bit when Lenoir asked if he really only met a few people here. Yes, it was semi difficult for him to run into people, though it wasn't that much of a surprise to him because it was such a large place which could either make the chances greater or lesser of running into others. He nodded once again when Lenoir said that he had met a few who where... incorporeal... and yet he was as sane as Erik was. "Incorporeal you say? Well, I can definitely say that I have not met anyone like such." Though truth be told, he was slightly excited to see such a thing. Though he never anticipated that such a thing truly existed.

Erik then listened interestedly as the other masked man spoke about the memory deficits. His story was quite intriguing. A man who Lenoir recognized and yet the man did not recognize him back, strange indeed. And what was interesting too was that Lenoir also had his own box, Box five. Perhaps that was the first place Erik could fix up, if the curtains were torn, he had plenty that could replace it and so on. He had many items to help out that could replace most things in the opera house should it need replacing. Erik also thought about what would happen if Christine were to come here... or Gerard... would they have this memory deficit as Lenoir's de Chagny has? What if Christine came.... and she remembered nothing of him and their lessons? It could quite possibly break him.

"Yes... even if the two of you had become friends... it might have not lasted long since he probably would have found out anyways from other sources." He said, though he didn't quite know what these other sources could be... except for perhaps the older Vicomte de Chagny. However, there could be a possibility that Lenoir's Raoul would still have been friends with Lenoir after finding out... but he had a feeling that it was probably unlikely. Erik smiled a bit when Lenoir slapped his shoulder a bit and told him that he was the only friend he had here. He told him that he wasn't arrogant like the others and that he treated him well. He liked the sound of this... a friend. The only friend he really had for all of his life was Gerard. To have a friend... other than Gerard... was something definitely very knew and welcomed. He wondered if he would be able to make more friends at the manor... perhaps with other Eriks who were as pleasant as Lenoir if there were any.

Gladly, Erik shook Lenoir's hand confidently. "It would be an honor to be your friend." Erik said with a smile. It sounded slightly silly to say it but he thought it appropriate. Not to bad for making his first friend. Erik smiled, now, he said that he would show Lenoir around a bit, he would stay true to his word. And to think of where to go first.... there wasn't much that he figured would be to interesting to scope out. However, there was one enchanted place in his domain that he figured would be a good place to show off. And perhaps he could get Lenoir's opinion on it, he had worked on it for many years, nearly all his life. And it would be a good place he though, to show his new friend. "Now, I promised to show you my domain a bit and that is what I intend on doing." He said cheerfully. "Now, my domain is not all very interesting. However, there is one place here that I figure you might enjoy. If you wouldn't mind following me, I shall now show you to my Dreamery." Erik said gleefully and started to walk towards the way to his room that led to his Dreamery. This looked like the start too a beautiful friendship.

[Erik Lenoir]

Carriére said he hadn't met any incorporeal entities yet, but seemed excited to think that there may be some in the mansion. "Most of them are quite nice, yet there is at least one that you might wish to stay away from. I believe her name is Josephine and she is a villain, a very evil ghost.

However, on the bright side, there are many interesting residents of the manor ... I myself have not met them all. And I understand that you may be a solitary person, as most of the Eriks are. I have become a bit more talkative since coming here. I am quite surprised in the change, however, when one meets perople face to face, one has to speak. I used to be rather faceless back in Paris at the Opera House. I had to be; in order to create a bit of mystery and frankly, fear. Face to face, well, the mystique has gone. And there are so many of us." Erik laughed. I mean the Eriks..."

"I doubt that de Chagny would ever have been friends with me even if he had not known the past that we shared together. He and I have clashing personalities. He is very aggressive and won't talk logically. We had an intersting journey to the village together." Erik laughed. "It didn't seem funny at the time, but looking back on it...we actually had a fist fight. He bloodied my nose and it dripped on my shirt. I became angry and asked him to buy me a new shirt. I gave him money and he went back to the village and bought a shirt...of all things...of a pink colour. Of course I knew he did it on purpose. I then hit him and we had quite a fistfight. Our little fight was broken up by the police and we ended up in gaol!" He laughed again. "

"By the way, an odd thing happened when we were bailed out of gaol. We went ot a local play at a school. It was a musical...and strangest of all it was based on my life..." Here Erik grew very solemn and frowned. "Christine Svenna and Raoul Christophe were also in the musical production and everyone seemed to know what happened in our lives. I was shocked to say the least."

"As to the Eriks I've met, you of course, the one with no last name, Érik...he is rather arrogant and we ...had a dispute...then there is Erik Lavalais. A rather good fellow, I would say. Verwy protective of his daughter, a good trait. Erik Destler...don't go near him. The man is mad. I had a terrible fight with him. He wanted to kill me. I haven't as yet met any of the others. "

Erik felt good that Carriére said he would be his friend. Erik had not really had any male friends, ever, and few female friends until he came to the mansion. In a sense, it was a whole new life for him, and he was actually becoming accustomed to living in the mansion.

Then Carriére said he would show erik to his "Dreamery." Erik was interested. "Lead the way, Carriére!" said Erik. "It sounds fascinating!"

[Erik Carriere]

Erik nodded in agreement with a slight chuckle, 'quite a few of us' might have been an understatement. He couldn't help but laugh with Lenoir after he spoke of his little adventure with the Vicomte. "A fist fight? Well, that must have been quite the sight to see I would imagine." How weird to think of an Erik to get into a fist fight... in public! Well, at least that would be strange for himself.

Erik then looked inquisitively when Lenoir said that he had seen a play at a school that was based on his life. Everyone know what happened in their lives? Would it be possible that someone had told a writer of their life? But that would be to strange since they had all arrived not quite long enough ago. And why would they make a musical of it? He listened interestedly as Lenoir spoke of the other Eriks he had met. A rather arrogant one, one with a daughter, and then one that was mad as a hatter from the sounds of it. He quite enjoyed thinking of how they were all alike and yet had so many differences that still made them all unique.

Erik smiled wide when Lenoir said to lead the way to his Dreamery. He did so with great eagerness, leading him through a small maze of stone walls, will they arrived to his room and went strait to a set of double doors that he pressed a small button with his foot on the ground a few feet from the doors that made the doors open automatically. He smiled, still rather proud of his little invention, then walked briskly through as Lenoir followed. Erik breathed in deeply then exhaled softly once stepping through to his world. He glanced around at the animals that made no noise, the trees that rattled with no breeze, the soft music that echoed through the deepest depths of a raging mind. Then lead on through, though at a more leisure pace, enjoying the walk through his Dreamery. "This world took me a great deal of time to create, and in the end, it was much worth it."

[Erik Lenoir]

Carrière seemed to be a genial sort. He laughed at the strange fist fight that Erik related to him and was interested in the different Eriks. Then he invited him to his Dreamery, the name of which inspired speculation.

The mention of the play, of course, was fascinating to Carrière , a strange happening that Erik could not understand himself. "I don't know how they could know about my life. It was embarrassing and frightening. Of course someone could have related the whole thing to whoever wrote the musical. But no one knew all the points of view. Whoever wrote it, seemed to know everything. Very frightening.."

Carrière led the way to his Dreamery through a complicated maze of stone walls and double doors which were automatic, when pushed with a small button. Erik was impressed. "Is this your invention? Quite the thing, I must say."

When Erik stepped inside with his companion, he wondered a the animals which were not real and the strange trees. It seemed an odd and unreal place. Ye there seemed to be a modicum of peace flowing through it. Erik was not critical of the man's choices, thought them odd, but then he himself lived in a series of what were really caves. So some might find that strange too.

It was a pleasant walk through the Dreamery and Erik suspected that it was the place Carrière loved the most, just as Erik loved his own home. Erik kept silence as the two walked through the silent place.

[Erik Carriere]

Erik nodded interested, at the very strange phenomena of someone knowing Lenoir's life and putting it into a musical. Now he had seen a few operas that were based on a person's life but they were usually twisted in some way or had big tweaks. Which is what made it even more strange, he spoke of it being directly on the spot. Of all of the events.

Erik smiled proudly at Lenoir being impressed with his invention of the automatic doors. "Yes, I don't see anyone having these anywhere until at least a few years later. Well.... at least until I came here." He chuckled slightly. As they entered the Dreamery, he searched his friend's face for approval. Unfortunately, he didn't quite know his feelings, but watched carefully if he were to show any signs of agreeableness of his work on his face.

As he lead his friend through the maze of trees and paths, he began to strike up conversation once again. "I remember I had started this project quite a while ago. I got the idea when I was seven, started to build it when I was ten, and took me many years to finish it. Though even now there are some renovations that are in order. Could you believe that this whole place started as just a world of stone and darkness? There was no life at all. It was large and empty.... so I decided to fill it. Fill it with a world that is my very own. My own little world you see right now. What do you think of it?" He asked, pausing occasionally to look to Lenoir.