Closing a Deal ( Raoul Edouard )

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

"Christophe, don't you see...her love is true...and my Christine too...I had almost forgotten...the sacrifice they both made for us...they would have stayed with that or ...those...I should say...bloody ugly bastards, just to save our lives. It was incredible, astounding that anyone would have such love as that. The Christines were willing to stay a livetime with that...thing." Edouard paused a moment, and tears filled his eyes as he thought of what Emilie had done for him. ...and then it struck him...the Phantom had let them go.... her love had apparently touched him too. Perhaps he did have a heart...perhaps. Maybe he had learned something from that. But why then was Lenoir continually after Emilie then? He had let Emilie and himself leave the lair unscathed, at least physically.... seemingly knowing they would marry. So why did he continually go after Edouard's wife? The man was likely insane. That was the only explanation.

Edouard spoke up, "He's probably insane. I don't know how we can stop him, really." Edouard nodded when Christophe said he would watch his temper around Lenoir. "He is manipulative and can take advantage of any weakness, Christophe, remember that."

"And you shall have to speak with your Christine when she arrives and tell her to avoid him at all costs. I ...*he paused" I am sure she shall arrive. I am quite sure of it....*he paused again. "And I expect he does have the skills to confuse her. Perhaps he can drive her insane though. I have often thought that perhaps Emilie is slightly daft since that night in the lair. Although, at times she is the sanest of persons."

"I don't know. I think surveillance would break down. Did you ever notice how he can come and go at will? How he can hide in the shadows and remain unseen, but know everything you say and do. He goes in and out without being seen. ...projecting his voice so that no one knows where he is? He plays the role of a phantom extraordinarily well."

Edouard looked thoughtful. "Perhaps I shall speak with him sometime... and see if he is a reasonable man. I will be able to find out then if he really is insane. If not, perhaps I can tell him the consequences of continuing to see my wife."

"As to your entrepreneurship, that's all very well, but please think of something more practical than a vineyard. I am sure there are many more suitable positions for a nobleman. Never forget that, Christophe. You are of noble blood."

[Raoul Christophe de Chagny]

( OOC: I seriously forgot about this thread. Sorry! x.x. )

Raoul was silent as Edouard marveled over the sacrifice that both his wife and Christine had been willing to make for them. The cynical part of his mind wanted to say that she may have done it simply because she wanted to spend a lifetime with that fiend, but he didn’t voice his thoughts, especially when the man grew teary-eyed. Deep down he knew that Edouard was probably right. He waited a good long while before venturing to ask, “But…why? Why does she claim that she must have both of us—both of you…I don’t know anymore.” He gave up on trying to keep their identities straight.

“You’re damned right that he’s insane. I believe that the only feasible way to stop him is to commit him to an insane asylum.” he replied. “I shan’t forget it—but you underestimate me, Edouard. If it is to be war between he and I, so be it. I’ll be ready and I will not lose. To show weakness is to let yourself be defeated, and I will not be defeated by scum of his caliber.”

“Do you think so?” Well, if and when she did arrive their reunion would be…interesting to say the least. Part of him longed to see her again and the other part dreaded it, knowing that everything she had apparently said to him was a lie. “I must get to her first, before he has the chance to further pollute her mind.”

“But he’s no match for modern technology. We could install video cameras—they produce moving pictures on a screen called a television—and have them keep watch over him. And the cameras would be hidden—he would have no idea where they are.” Raoul shook his head when the older man said that he might try to talk to him. “The time for negotiating has long passed I’m afraid.”

“Like what? People don’t give a hang about whose family we belong to here, Edouard. I haven’t any money, nor do I have a penny to my name. How am I supposed to get her to marry me if I haven’t any of those things?” he demanded, distraught.

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

"Frankly, Christophe, I don't know tha answer to the question of why Emilie persists in saying she must have both Lenoir and myself. I expect as I said before that he did something to her..." Edouard thought a moment. "Let me deal with my own situation, Christophe; I shall speak with the fiend and see if we can come to an understanding. Unless, as you say, he is quite insane, in which case, all is lost. But it doesn't concern you. However, I think..."here Edouard paused again and gazed at Christophe with a knowing look. "I think that the situation could help you if, and hopefully when, your Christine appears. If she has any thoughts of taking up with Lenoir, tell him how he has pursued my wife...and it's not just her. I have not only heard about him carrying on with some of the other women of the mansion, but I have actually seen it a few times."

Edouard tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair, then looked over at Christophe again. "For a fellow who used to hide himself away because of his face, he seems to have gotten over it rather quickly since he has arrived here. He seems rather like a..." Here Edouard laughed rather bitterly, remembering the bizarre opera that the Phantom had insisted the Opéra Populaire perform ... the one he had written called Don Juan Triumphant... "Apparently the fellow fancies himself as a Don Juan. And he's trying to act the part, deformed face notwithstanding. You could use that to show your Christine that she should not allow him to come near her."

Christophe mentioned an insane asylum. "Are you sure there is an insane asylum near here? And I expect if there were, and we tried to have him committed by a court of law, that the lot of us would also be committed, considering there is no way we could even prove how we arrived here...Perhaps back in Paris, if we ever are able to return."

"Christophe, I know that your first inclination is to lash out in anger, but I don't think the Phantom can be defeated by that.You give him a few bruises and he gets sympathy from every woman in this place. And you are looked upon as the evil fellow. Try a bit of guile instead. He may be insane, but he's not stupid."

"I thought when we first met, that you were my younger self, and indeed we do share many similarities. However, I no longer believe that. But because of the similarities, I think that you can look at Emilie's earlier self and perhaps see something of your Christine in her. She was a very naiive and guileless girl and easily taken in by a powerful and persuasive man like Lenoir. It may be too late for Emilie, but not for your Christine. As soon as you find her, you must warn her about Lenoir. "

"Are you sure he is no match for modern technology? I would not put it past him to discover all of its secrets. He is not only insane, but a genius. And an insane genius...well, that's a bit frightening. I think it's safer just to keep track of our Christines. And what might you accomplish by making photographs or moving pictures following him about? There is no judge here that could convict him. If there were, what would we do with him?"

"You can never rid yourself of your rightful name, Christophe. But even if it means nothing to you, why do you think that Christine would hesitate to marry you if you have no money? Is her only reason for loving you... your money? I certainly hope not. " Edouard felt a bit uncomfortable as he said that, for perhaps Emilie did have a reason for wanting to be with the Phantom...he was very rich, most of it from blackmail as he had learned from the play in the village, and even so, he had more francs than Edouard ever had even with his inheritance. And now, of course, his inheritance was gone. He had not a penny to his name either.

"I say, Christophe, if Christine really cares for you, she will love and marry you even if you are bereft of money, property and a noble name.."

[Raoul Christophe de Chagny]

Raoul nodded and held up his hand. “I’ll let you straighten that out. I only hope that—should he come after my Christine, she will realize that it is I who loved her for so many years, that I care so deeply for her that I would give my life for hers, and that I am willing to leave my family if necessary to be with her.” he replied, the latter half of his statement resentful. What did that bloody Phantom have that he didn’t? He was insane, a murderer—and if they were in France he would be a wanted man. Why…and how, could the woman he fell in love with love a criminal?

“All he wants to do is deceive her—to use his voice to seduce her. He doesn’t care for her happiness, her freedom, as I do.” Raoul answered when Edouard described Lenoir as a ‘Don Juan’. He reclined in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose before rubbing his temple briefly. “I will most certainly, Edouard. I’ll tell her everything. And if it—if it isn’t enough, so be it.” Why couldn’t she see that he was a far better man than that thing? He feigned nonchalance. “If she can’t see reason…I have my whole life ahead of me, don’t I?”

“Oh, there is—in the village. There’s a hospital and a jail, too, as I told you. But we’ll never be able to get him put away unless we’re able to legally prove that he’s insane…which at this point, we can’t. I’ll keep thinking, but for now that doesn’t seem like an option…unless all of us were to testify against him…but still we need some hard evidence.”

“I don’t understand how they can sympathize with that hell-spawned demon.” he responded coldly. “I gave that monster everything it deserved. And I would have hit him harder if I could have without killing him, myself. Just the thought of him and my Christine…” If he were locked away, then there would be no question that Christine would choose him. Just the fact that he had to compete with a thing like that for her affections was enough to make his fists clench and unclench with rage. But he remembered what Edouard had said and kept his mouth shut, choosing instead to glare at a hole in the wall.

His blue eyes turned upon the older man when he refuted his claim that Lenoir was no match for modern technology. “Perhaps he is a genius, monsieur, but that was in our own time. Can he really adapt to the future? So much has changed since the time that we lived in…” Too much. He didn’t like having to work, he didn’t like the fact that his name meant nothing, and he hated the fact that he was stuck here with his worst enemy. This was hell.

“I don’t even know if she loves me in the first place.” Raoul answered quietly. “What may have happened in Paris may never come to pass here. The last thing I remember was coming to her dressing room, while Lenoir remembers us being engaged and her volunteering to stay with him to save my life six months later. What if she doesn’t remember me at all? What if all she said on the roof was simply her begging for my protection?” His last words did nothing to console him. “But I don’t know if she loves me!” he protested in exasperation.

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

Edouard felt sorry for his younger counterpart. Christophe had so many doubts about Svenna's love...he almost seemed bitter. Edouard leaned forward in his chair, toward the other man. "I still believe Emilie loves me, still she is drawn toward the Phantom even now. I don't know what it is he does to her to make it so, but...I have, on occasion, felt a bit of sympathy for the fellow. He's so ugly and unappealing, he has to actually mesmerize a woman to make her love him. He frightened Emilie badly in the beginning, but I think she felt a modicum of sympathy toward him. He has probably had a hard life and he is most likely insane. However, of course that does not excuse his actions ... nor does it excuse Charistine's. I suppose she could be after him for his money, but it seems that it's he that's pursuing her and money...well, I don't know that she was ever one to care about money over love. I don't know. I may be completely wrong. It's difficult to think that one may not know his own wife, and yet, I think that I am correct. "

"I do wish that everyone could just live in peace here, for as long as we are forced to stay here.... I am grateful that Gustave has arrived. I was so dreadfully concerned about him."

"Christophe, don't give up on Christine. Never give up on her. And don't read hidden meanings into every glance, action or word of hers. If she is anything like Emilie, I know that she loves you. I think Emilie just gave into Lenoir because he pursued her so much. Perhaps I should talk to him and let him know in no uncertain terms that he is to stay away from her. And if I speak firmly with my wife again...perhaps it will do some good this time..." Edouard ended the sentence on an uncertain note.

"I keep telling you, Christophe...you have a legal mind. With some schooling in the law, you could probably use it to put Lenoir away. Although," here Edouard laughed, "I would lay you 10 to one odds that he would never serve out much of his sentence in prison even if convicted. However, with you as Crown Prosecutor...as we are in England, I shall use that term...there would be a much better chance of convicting the bastard and keeping him in prison or at least committing him."

Edouard saw Christophe clench and unclench his fists. "You become far too enraged for your own good, Christophe. You will never defeat Lenoir by anger. Insane or not, he is a logical thinker and I don't think he necessarily really enjoys fighting. Certainly you told me you knocked him out when you were in the village, but what did that accomplish? He received all the sympathy, according to the story. You made him look like the wronged one, an older man beaten up by a young, strong upstart...You don't do yourself a favour, Christophe, believe me. I understand you really did throw the first punch. He didn't even hit you back until later... I don't know, but I suspect he enjoyed you looking like the bad fellow in that incident."

"I don't see why Lenoir or any of us couldn't adapt to modern technology. If I could learn to work some of those kitchen implements, I, Raoul Edouard de Chagny, who never spent any time at all in a kitchen, certainly Lenoir could figure it out. He has the reputation of being a genius. And again, I am not defending him. I am simply telling you not to underestimate your enemy."

Edouard shook his head at the younger Vicomte's words about Christine. "Christophe, don't worry about what if's...those are things that haven't happened yet and likely never will. Look to reality and deal with life one day at a time...there is no sense in worrying about what could happen. Certainly anything could happen... an earthquake, a flood, a fire...Christine could run off with the Phantom...but likely none of those things would happen." Edouard felt like he was talking like a philosopher or a teacher, and he had never been either of those. But his young counterpart needed a bit of advice and Edouard hoped he would take it as wisdom from someone just a bit older who had seen a bit more of life...

[Raoul Christophe de Chagny]

Raoul stayed quiet as Edouard expressed his faith that Emilie did love him, and that if Christine was anything like her than she would love him, too. Frankly that was what he was afraid of. Yes, he knew that the woman loved Edouard but even he admitted that she loved Lenoir as well. That wasn’t what he wanted, and that wasn’t what they agreed upon. If they were to be wed he wanted her whole heart, not part of it. Was that really so much to ask? He kept these thoughts to himself and simply nodded.

“I’m very happy that your family has managed to reunite, monsieur. Do pass on my congratulations to your wife.”

He glanced over at him sullenly when he urged him not to give up on Christine, that surely she must love him. Surely… Nothing seemed so sure again. Edouard warned him not to look for anything indicating that she didn’t in the looks she gave him and the words she said, but that was just it. That was what he was afraid of. He wasn’t thrilled at all about entrusting his heart to someone when it was very well possible that she might break it by pursuing another man—his rival, his worst enemy. How could she love a man who—as he admitted—tried to kill him. If she loved him then she would hate him for trying to take him away from her.

“You’re probably right about that.” Raoul agreed with a dry smile when the other nobleman suggested that Lenoir would probably manage to escape any prison cell he could lock him in. “It’s a pity they abolished the death penalty here. In our day I’d wager—if of course I had testimony and evidence that he murdered those two men—I could have had him hung.” he stated bitterly, sitting back in his chair. “Nevertheless it’s a career I’ve always considered, and I should like to earn my degree right away. I wouldn’t have had any hope of doing so if my credentials weren’t in my room when I arrived here. Whoever our host is clearly thought of everything. I’m going to be visiting the legal library soon—ideally I should like to set up my own practice in London. I’ve been tossing around the idea of relocating, you know. It’s a fine city, London—as good a place as any to start my work. What do you think?”

“I won’t, I won’t—but he shouldn’t underestimate me either. I’m not about to let him have her. Not on his life. Not for the world would I allow her to fall into his grasp. He’ll have my fury to deal with. I shall be his reckoning, I swear it.”

Raoul sighed and rubbed his temples before nodding. “I suppose, I suppose. Still right now my chief concern…is earning back the fortune I had in 1881. I’ll keep the insurance job—I need it to pay for classes. Besides it’s experience until I can get something at a bank. But admittedly I do need something better to do than playing piano in a parlor.” he added sourly.

[Raoul Edouard de Chagny]

//So sorry I didn't reply...somehow I kept missing this thread...//

Edouard leaned forward toward the younger Vicomte. "May I offer a very good reason why you should not give up on Christine Svenna? If you do, surely Lenoir will get his claws in her. As surely as he has gone after Emilie. He has stayed away from her lately, but I think perhaps it's only because Christine Svenna is here. I've mentioned that I admire his ingenuity and other things...he will find a way to steal Svenna away from you if you do not hold tightly to her. "

Edouard's voice quieted then, as if he were telling a secret. "You know he has a strange power over women. I don't know exactly how he does it, but it has to do with his voice. When he sings, he does something to women. He mesmerizes them. Emilie told me about it as we were fleeing from his lair in Paris. That's how he had lured her to his lair in the first place. If you don't take my advice and keep an eye on her, she will fall prey to Lenoir. I know it."

Edouard sat back in his chair and was quiet for a bit. "All your talk of a job. ...I don't know...is there something a nobleman can do that would befit his station? I really need the money and, fortunately, no one is lacking for a place to live here or food or even entertainments. But I fear this may not always be and perhaps you are correct, I should be doing something to recover my fortune. But what could I do that would be fitting? I am rather puzzled about that. Certainly nothing that involves hard physical labour. That would not be fitting. If I had a bit of money, I could afford to employ a maid for Emilie at least. She deserves at least that...And someone to watch Gustave..."