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Post by christineowivia on Jul 22, 2012 14:19:04 GMT -5
"I would certainly love that, monsieur," she replied, trying to speak the little to no French she knew with her Swedish accent, "I would love to sing again. And no, it doesn't have to be at midnight, I'm sure my voice is exactly the same all day long."
"I did suspect that some of the ghosts in here are responsible of this, and I have notice that thing you say about time. You see, I appeared here after my death, a few years ago, and the manor has changed a lot during that time. And it has changed abnormally. For example, the room I have been staying in went from being an old, dirty room to a perfectly decorated Victorian Era room, to the same old room in a matter of days, maybe only hours. That's what confuses me the most."
"I could speak to the other specters and ask them, myself. Maybe they will consider me as equal and tell me about their... plans, you could say. I will do that whenever I see any of them, specially that one ghost... Charles is his name. He seems to know everything about this place. As soon as I find something out, I will make sure to let you know, mister Lenoir."
"I think you are an interesting person as well, mister Lenoir. I really enjoy talking to you. I thank you for your compliments and for the interest you're showing, not many people have. They all tend to run away from me, mostly when they hear my story, what I've been through in my life. That happened to me even when I was alive, so I'm quite used to it. But thank you, for being the exception."
"About Raoul, now that I think of it, I'm not really sure whether I want him to come here. He might not even know I passed and... could be a shock. To see me... /dead/. I don't wish that for him."
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Jul 24, 2012 22:41:55 GMT -5
"I am quite pleased that you would grace us with your voice. I am sure it is lovely. And anytime, please, sing anytime you wish. And if it is a reasonable hour, I should be happy to hear you also." He laughed. "That could mean any time, really. I often can't sleep and go walking about the manor as if I were an incomrporeal spectre myself."
Erik liked this ghost. She was friendly and not up to anything, at least he didn't think so. She seemed to be in the dark as much as Erik was about the ghosts' motives and plans for the mansion residents.
He smiled. "Are you volunteering to spy on the spectres for me? Please, don't get yourself into trouble. I expect that they shouldn't know that we've spoken, then."
"You also have noticed the time anomalies, then. When I first spoke of it to some of manor residents, they thought me stark raving mad. But I know what I saw and experienced. I am fortunate to finally find someone who understands this."
Then Olivia mentioned Charles. "Yes I have heard his name bantered about the place. I would like to hear about him, who he is and what is his role in all of this."
When Olivia mentioned that often people were put off by her background, he nodded. "I understand. People have often been put off by me....everything about me, I suppose." Erik didn't mention the thing that put them off was his face. And in some cases that was true. But more often it was his manner, his arrogance and expecting to have his way in everything. He was rather unaware of that. He smiled again at her. "You are a very delightful person. I am quite flattered by the fact that you find me interesting to talk to. I hope that I shall see you quite often..." He smiled. I do not say this about many of the other ghosts."
When she spoke of her Raoul, Erik said, " I expecct that there is nothing we can do one way or another whether a person appears or not. At least until we discover their secret..." Erik smiled and glanced at the ghost, happy to have found an ally and someone who finally believed his stories of the odd happenings at the mansion.
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Post by christineowivia on Jul 27, 2012 7:14:35 GMT -5
"I have trouble sleeping, too, so don't be surprised if you hear singing in the middle of the night," Olivia said, "I'll make sure to check for incorporeal-spectre-looking figures then." For a moment, Olivia stopped to think that it was nice to have someone to talk to. Lenoir had been really friendly and nice and she was glad.
"I don't have anything to do, so I would gladly spy on the others for you. I don't think I'll get in trouble, but yes, they shouldn't know. At least, they shouldn't know what we talked about. All of the spectres here talk to the living people, and many might be planning something. It'd probably be best to keep it secret."
"I've noticed, yes, don't worry, you're not going crazy, mister Lenoir," she reassured him with a slight smile.
"I don't know much about this Charles ghost... our meeting wasn't the best one and he was very... mysterious," Olivia then paused for a moment. "Don't you... think he might have something to do with all of this?"
"I understand the feeling, believe me," she nodded when he told her that people had been put off by him, too. "I hope that we shall see each other often, too, and I'm flattered you consider me a delightful person and that you separate me from the rest of the ghosts," once again, Olivia smiled gently. "Nothing against them, but it's nice."
"And we shall work on that!" Olivia replied rather happily when Lenoir looked at her and smiled. "Their secret will be revealed, it's only a matter of time."
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Jul 27, 2012 22:15:52 GMT -5
Even though Olivia's life had ended sadly, she seemed one of the happier ghosts in the mansion. When she said she would spy for him on the other residents, he smiled. "Yes of course, I would not say where I received any information from. In fact it may not b e wise to reveal any information you may bring me, unless it is under the most dire of circumstances." Erik paused. "And it is true that the spectres speak to the living. I have myself met quite a few, as I mentioned. And as to Charles, I don't know. Perhaps he is the instigator of all of this. I have not met him as of yet."
"I've always wanted to be like everyone else. But that could never be. However, I have been accepted by a few, which surprises me, having had many disparage me in my earlier life. Now here, it is different. I have not had to use my persona of the "Opera Ghost" for there are many masked men here. For what reason they wear the mask, I know not. But I suspect it is the same as my own." Feeling umcomfortable that he may have said too much, Erik stopped speaking.
"You know, I have a yen to hear you sing tonight, if you'd care to. Would you at least like to see the opera house? Or have you been there before? I would like to show you my plans for the place."
"Well my dearest Olivia, it is delightful to have you as a friend. Would you walk beside me as we make our way back to the mansion?"
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Post by christineowivia on Jul 28, 2012 17:16:21 GMT -5
Olivia nodded, "And I'll be as secretive as possible about my intentions in order to find out something useful to tell you," she said. "I have met him, briefly, he looked... strange. But in an "I'm up to something" way, if that makes sense."
Erik then said that he wanted to be like everyone else and Olivia smiled softly for a moment, thinking about how much she had wanted to be like everyone else, as well. But when he stopped speaking, she decided not to question him further and place an spectral hand on his shoulder, "If I learnt something in my life, that is that everyone is unique and precious for a reason. Reason that is not the same for everyone. My father, that... lovely man..." Olivia said with a lot of sarcasm in her voice. "He did teach me something one night he was sober. I was crying because I wanted to look like my favorite doll; she was gorgeous. My father came into my room and he told me that I didn't have to look like her to be beautiful for beauty was inside. In my heart. That's the only nice thing I remember him telling me. But the point is, mister Lenoir, that you don't have to be like everyone else, because your heart is unique."
"Tonight?" she repeated. "Oh, I would love to. And I'd love to see the Opera House as well! I didn't know that this place had one, but I'm sure is beautiful," she said, nodding excitedly. "I would love to hear your plans."
Olivia smiled softly again and nodded one more time. "It is delightful to have you as a friends as well. Let's go back inside, yes, I'd love to walk with you."
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Aug 6, 2012 19:10:34 GMT -5
Olivia was very sweet and had a gentle and nurturing way about her. She was accepting of Erik and he appreciated that. She placed a spectral hand on his shoulders and he didn't feel the cold he had with many of the other ghosts. There was someting warm about her personality. She spoke of the one thing her father had told her that she remembered and took to heart, that everyone is beautiful inside. Erik smiled at her. It was sweet of her to want to make him fell loved and he did in her presence. But he himself was not a lovely person. He had committed murder, more than once. He had kidnapped, blackmailed, stolen, frightened innocent people on purpose and lied. He was not a good person. But he said nothing of this to her.
"I can never be like everyone else, Olivia. I have a secret, an ugly secret that I keep covered with this mask, for those who see it are frightened and disgusted beyone all reason. My mother hated me for my face. I will never be like others. But perhaps here, that is of less consequence. Because of the proliferation of masked, deformed men, and some women too, who live here, I have been accepted here..."
Erik smiled when Olivia said she would love to see the opera house...perhaps she would sing for him. He brightened. "Then come, it would be a wonderful treat!" Erik led the way back into the mansion.
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Post by christineowivia on Aug 7, 2012 19:26:17 GMT -5
If there was something Olivia liked to do, that was making people feel they were worth. Her reasoning was pretty simple, no one had done that with her. No one had told her that she was capable of anything she wanted to do and no one made her feel beautiful. No one but her brother and Raoul, maybe Meg, too. "Everyone has their secrets," Olivia replied, a hint of mysteriousness in her voice and a growing smile on her face.
"I'm very glad you have been accepted here," she added after a pause. "But please, mister Lenoir, I know we have only met a today, but I hope you can count me as a friend and know -as well as remember- that if any time you need someone, I'm here."
Smiling, she followed him inside, excited to see this Opera House he had mentioned and be onstage again. Oh, how wonderful would that be! How much she missed singing! But suddenly, a fear crept through her mind. What if he didn't like her singing?
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Aug 8, 2012 20:28:47 GMT -5
Erik was quite taken with this pretty ghost. He wished that she were not dead. He would certainly have liked to take her in his arms gently and kiss her. But he put those thoughts out of his mind. She was only a ghost. He sighed. It was too bad.
He smiled though, when she said she wanted to count him as a friend. "And I as well, wish you to count me as a friend. So, to that end, please call me Erik...as my close friends do." He smiled. "Not that I have many of them, but more than before I came here. Coming here has been a good thing and a bad thing. Meeting you has been one of the good things."
Erik opened the door which led from the garden into the mansion. He held it open for the spectre, which he realized he probably didn't have to do, considering she most likely was able to walk through walls, but he did it anyway to be polite.
Erik walked silently down several hallways and then up a beautiful marble staircase. It led to a wooden double door, carved beautifully. He opened it and said. It's only been cleaned a little...the cobwebs and dust are gone. We have yet to refurbish the seats and curtains and replace the rotted wood. But it has great potential, do you not thinks so? Please, be my guest upon our humble stage." Erik gestured dramatically toward the stage, which was framed by tattered velvet curtains...
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Post by christineowivia on Aug 8, 2012 21:15:33 GMT -5
No one had ever been so... nice to Olivia. Again, Raoul, but that had only lasted a few minutes and he had probably forgotten about her. It didn't matter anymore, she was in a different place and she was dead. No one would ever be interested in her again. Well, to love and be loved in return had lasted long enough. "Erik..." she muttered and smiled. "Thank you for your lovely company..." Olivia added, looking over at him as they walked. "I have always wanted a friend, a real friend, someone to love and care about. The ones I had were temporal, but considering that we're probably stuck in this place, I have a feeling that this is going to last long. And by the way, Meg -the only friend I can mention, actually- liked to call me Livy, too, and I like it, so feel free to use it," she offered, then giggled nervously. She wasn't used to having any friends and she was more of a loner, so she sometimes didn't know what to say or how to react. It was something she'd have to get used to... "If that makes any sense... I'm afraid I can get pretty... awkward at times." As soon as they entered the house again, Olivia placed her spectral feet on the floor and walked instead of floating. Maybe Erik would be more comfortable if she looked a little bit more... human. Many used to be quite shocked when they saw her floating around the place... Olivia was in awe when they entered the Opera House. Her almost grey eyes roamed the breathtaking room and her whole self brightened. Almost like a child in Christmas, she literally ran up the stage and twirled around, feeling happier than she had felt in a long time. "Erik... this is... amazing! I can't believe the mansion has its own theatre!" After a few minutes of walking around and exploring everything, she proceeded to sing, just like she used to, trying to focus on the song and only the song. ((She's singing this :3 ))
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Aug 12, 2012 14:06:56 GMT -5
Erik was thrilled to b e liked by someone so beautiful and with such a sweet personality, even if she were only a ghost. He had hoped to be loved when he had met his Christine, but she was afraid of him and unless he had her under his spell, she would not even consider being with him. That alone had made him more depressed than he had ever been in his life. But now, he was making friends and perhaps one of the ladies would not think him too ugly to love.
Olivia asked Erik to call her Livy. "Livy...a very pretty name. Yes, I shall call you that." Erik smiled again. "Has your friend Meg appeared? There are several Megs here...but I know none of them well. One of them seems to think she knows me quite well, but alas, I do not remember her...only as one of the corps de ballet and nothing more..."
"As to feeling awkward, please do not feel that way around me. I have been a loner for most of my life. As I said, it is only recently that I have begun to even make any acquaintances with whom I can speak...Please say what you will." The only people Erik had a hard time getting along with were those who were arrogant and rude and pugnatious. Erik didn't like to fight physically if he could help it. He would rather fight with words, with which he could almost always win an argument.
Erik wasn't put off by anything about this lovely ghost. He noticed that she stopped floating and started to walk on the floor. It didn't bother Erik which way she preferred to move.
As they entered the Opera House, Olivia seemed in awe and she was so excited, she ran upon the stage and started dancing and twirling. Erik sat in the front of the theatre, in one of the audience seats to watch Olivia. "We are indeed fortunate to have such a place here, close at hand. And I am indeed fortunate to have a lovely lady to perform for me.
Then she began to sing. Erik closed his eyes to enjoy the music. Ethereal and sweet and perfect...her voice thrilled Erik. Every note was a joy to his ears. Her voice almost mesmerized him. He opened his eyes and was drawn by her voice to come up on the stage. He reached for her spectral hands which he could barely feel and danced with her, slowly, as befitted the music.
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Post by christineowivia on Aug 13, 2012 17:34:20 GMT -5
"I really like the nickname Meg gave me, sounds different. My mother never used my full name either, so whenever she did, I knew I was in trouble. My father... well, he never really called me by any of my names. I was only 'Child', 'Kid' or any other names I'm not going to repeat now," Olivia said, looking down for a moment. It wasn't a nice memory, not at all. "But he sometimes called me Christine, too. And my brother mainly called me 'Stine. It was because, when he was younger, it was very hard for him to pronounce," she explained, giggling softly. "Then I thought it was cute, and he got used to it, so he continued to call me 'Stine. But please, call me Livy. I think that will help, considering what you said about people having the same names here."
When Erik asked about Meg, Olivia shook her head. "I haven't seen /my/ Meg around here. But I met a young girl who said her name was Meg. So there's another one? I'm afraid I haven't seen her around, but I doubt it's my childhood friend." Olivia blushed, something not very common of her. "I always tend to get kind of awkward. It's a bad habit..." she muttered, smiling softly. God, what was /wrong/ with her? She never smiled! Or giggled, much less blushed! "But I'll try to control that," she nodded, looking up at him again.
Lost in the sight of the theatre, Olivia didn't hear Erik's compliment. She was far too happy in that place, on stage again, singing like she used to. She hadn't found a reason to sing since her death, but for some reason, she felt like letting everything out at once. Every feeling, every emotion. And that's what she did. She sang with everything she had, not noticing Erik had left his seat and moved on stage with her until he took her hands and started to dance with her.
Smiling, Olivia felt her hands changing. To the point where they were like they used to, like they were when she was alive. And she was holding onto Erik's hands, really holding onto them. Along with her hands, her whole body materialized, too. Color returned to her skin and her feet touched the ground again, making her steps resound a little bit. For a moment, she thought she felt her heartbeat, beating in perfect harmony with the music.
Dancing with Erik, she knew why it had happened. Olivia was happy and that had made her body materialize. Music was everything for her and that was the way of showing it. For a moment, she wondered if it was going to happen every time she felt genuinely happy and she hoped so. It probably wouldn't last long and she was going to turn into a ghost again, but it was nice to /feel/ again. To feel, if only for a moment, alive.
The song came to an end and Olivia smiled, looking up at Erik with a big smile on her face, finding only a few words to say in that moment. "I can feel your hands..."
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Aug 18, 2012 18:28:57 GMT -5
Dancing with a spectre was a most ethereal experience. It was almost as if he were under the spell of her voice, her music, the same as he himself had done to Christine. But Erik didn't care, it was lovely and he knew she was not an evil spectre, but a lovely ghost.
The girl had apparently had a very sad life, as he had had a sad life, although hers was very different. He felt a rapport with her and her music carried him off to planes of ecstacy that only special music could.
At first Olivia's hands seemed ethhereal and unreal, but soon they became as real and fleshed out as his own and he squeezed them gently as they danced. He could feel the fabric of her dress where his hand touched her back. Her eyes were beautiful at this close distance and he kept his odd-coloured eyes on hers, watching them change in demeanour with every nuance of the music. Her face had colour and could it be? He felt her breath? Her shoes made a lovely sound on the wooden stage.
When the music ended, Erik touched her cheek gently with the tips of his fingers and smiled. She was an amazing spectre. He could fall in love with that voice...that incredible voice, different from his Christines, but just as dazzlingly beautiful...
Dancing together, to him she felt alive, really alive, no different from any other woman. He wondered how it could happen.
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Post by christineowivia on Aug 22, 2012 18:47:14 GMT -5
They danced for what seemed forever as she continued to sing and let her voice show everything inside her. Olivia didn’t remember the last time she had danced- the last time she had waltzed. It had happened only once, and she didn’t remember learning how to waltz at all. But, dancing with Erik, it was as if she had been doing it forever.
But her “human” form wasn’t going to last long and she knew it. Smiling up at Erik, she tilted her head slightly when he touched her cheek and let out a deep breath, something she hadn’t done in years. Everything in her was alive then and Olivia wondered how it was possible. Music... Happiness... It happened when she was genuinely happy. “It’s probably what music does to me...” Olivia muttered, blushing and actually making that soft redness show on her face. “Make me feel... alive.”
Olivia kept her eyes on his and her smile grew a little. “It’s... it’s so nice to feel... this way. Like, I can breathe again, I can feel again... And, I can be myself again. Thank you, Erik...” she told him, smiling up at him, before wrapping her arms around him and hugging him gently. A hug that, for once, felt real to her. “But I’m afraid that this... won’t last long, I’ll be the same ghost I was a few minutes ago.”
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Sept 26, 2012 20:36:30 GMT -5
The waltz with the ghostly Christine lasted only a short time. But Olivia's voice lingered in Erik's ears, it's lovely echo painting a picture in sound. As her human form faded, Erik took her hand and kissed it, but the hand seemed incorporeal as before. He bowed formally to her and smiled. They were still standing upon the stage.
"I have never danced with someone as light on her feet. Perhaps that is becouse of your present form, but it is a good thing, a lovely thing. When our plans start to gel once more, I should truly love you to sing and dance for us upon the stage. Will you be able to do it in front of an audience? Such talent as yours should not be wasted. Even if you have gone the way of death, it should not stop your beauty from being shared with the rest of us. You should not be confined to midnight singing upon an empty stage to a house full of dust and mice. Your voice must fall upon ears who can hear and appreciate its beauty."
"I am so sorry that you cannot stay corporeal for a longer time, but even though it be a fleeting moment, I do hope you will consider it." Erik paused. "Is there anything I can do for you? And...where do you stay? Are you always in certain places or do you fly about the place and become interested in the doings of the living? I do hope that your singing has brought you a measure of happiness. Would you do me the supreme favour of allowing me to play and sing for you?" There was a piano in the orchestra pit that had been tuned and refurbished. Erik indicated the piano and nodded toward it, then looked back at Olivia, waiting for her answer.
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Post by christineowivia on Sept 30, 2012 13:50:20 GMT -5
When she returned to her ghost form, she looked down at the floor and let out a soft sigh. It was nice while it lasted but of course, everything was gone again. Listening to Erik speak. she looked up again and forced a soft smile. "I'm sorry I'm back to... this..." she whispered , lowering her glance once more.
"I'd love to perform for the Manor residents, Mr. Lenoir. I would be truly honoured!" Olivia exclaimed, her smile becoming more evident. As Olivia wasn't used to compliments, her cheeks immediately blushed and had she been in her human form, that would have been pretty noticeable.
"Of course I'll consider it," she added, nodding her head. "I'm often in the garden, and if not in the little room that's down the Library's hallway. But now, I've completely fallen in love with this place, so if I'm not in the places I mentioned, you can probably find me here." When he asked her if he could play and sing for her, Olivia nodded. "Please, Mr. Lenoir. I would be delighted."
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