Adina Gillespie
Some things belong on paper, others in life. It?s a blessed fool who can?t tell the difference.
Maid of the manor
Posts: 320
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Post by Adina Gillespie on Oct 1, 2012 22:16:34 GMT -5
Adina flinched ever so slightly… She looked up to see that Erik had pulled her closer towards him. She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder. Just that small act, that gesture of kindness towards her made her feel as if she were safe at least, that nothing at all could frighten or scare her anymore. She still wondered, however, about his mask. It looks very beautifully crafted and she wanted to touch it. She lifted her hand, almost unconsciously reaching up to touch his mask but she hesitated and let her hand fall gently upon his shoulder. She blushed a little and looked down at their feet as their shoes crunched through the dead leaves beneath them.
"Well," She paused and thought a moment. There were so many musical pieces she had wanted to hear. She knew very well how to read music and now she tried to visualize a piece, just one. She had come across a strange compact disc with the music from a particularly stranger video. She did not like the picture film but the song was simply beautiful. She knew it was the one she had to hear Erik play. "Perchance… You have heard of Henry Purcell's work? Particularly the one entitled 'Funeral March for Queen Mary'?"
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 2, 2012 19:56:25 GMT -5
Erik enjoyed his arm about Adina, that is until, she made a strange gesture toward his mask. He thought she was going to try to pull it off or perhaps she just meant to touch it, but he instinctively put his hand up to the mask protectively. She dropped her hand to his shoulder then, harmlessly. Erik's eyes took on a fleeting moment of fear, for anyone ripping off h is mask was a traumatic situation for Erik. Not that he hadn't taken it off for people if he was sure they would understand. But that had been few and far between and it was only tolerable when done in Erik's own time, not suddenly. He turned his head slightly and blinked. She undoubtedly meant nothing by the small gesture, and yet...
Erik took a deep breath then and composed himself then turned back to Adina waith a smile as if he hadn't noticed her gesture.In answer to his question about what she would like to hear him play, she said whe would like to hear Henry Purcell's Funeral March for Queen Mary. Erik brightened considerably. "I love baroque music, my dear. The piece is certainly a bit melancholy, but I can certainly arrange a piano rendition of it, even though it would be better with brass. And we should have a four part choir to do it justice, however I shall sing the melody line for you."
Upon entering the mansion, they walked the several long halls to the Opera House. Erik held the door open for Adina. He was so looking forward to singing for her.
Erik led the way to the orchestra pit and took his place at the piano. After checking, with a few chords, to make sure it was in tune, he smiled with satisfaction and began the long piece. He sang the original English words from the Book of Common Prayer as Purcell had written them.
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Adina Gillespie
Some things belong on paper, others in life. It?s a blessed fool who can?t tell the difference.
Maid of the manor
Posts: 320
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Post by Adina Gillespie on Oct 3, 2012 12:46:21 GMT -5
Adina quickly withdrew her hand from his mask before placing it on his shoulder. She felt something tug at her, a strange curiosity but she brushed it aside when she saw Erik put his hand up to his mask. She came out of her trance-like state and looked back towards he ground, a light blush crossing her cheeks. She inwardly curse herself for acting like a fool to even think of looking underneath his mask. Did she not remember about the cat? How curiosity had killed it? She did not look back up at him as they walked, only focusing on the ground before her and the warmth of his hand around her arm.
The young woman saw an instant brightening, almost a glow, as Erik smiled at her. It was a kind and gentle smile, not the leering, sadistic kind she had often seen from her father. She felt her heart nearly burn in her chest when he expressed his love of baroque music. She, too, had found baroque to her liking when she had visited the library. She had come across old, dusty record albums by Johann Back, Handel, and Vivaldi. She knew that the music came from within the composers' souls and she had often caught herself dancing to the melody as it filled her every senses. But then Erik added something else… He would sing for her? Oh, this was surely a dream! Someone would actually sing for her and perform upon the piano as well?
Adina curtsied and lightly glided down the aisle before taking her place in the front row of the theatre. She watched as Erik moved into the the orchestra pit and sat at the piano. It was a very beautiful piano too; a baby grand, constructed in pure black ebony with ivory keys and glossy finish. She had seen pianos before but the keys were switched colors from the time she had come from. They were white, not the dark black of the clavichords from her era. She looked at Erik and held her breath, anxious to hear the very music she had gratefully requested him to play…
When he played and sang… Oh, it was as if she were hearing the voice of angels singing to her. A strange, yet comforting warm feeling washed over her as she listened to Erik sing and perform on the piano. Tears welled up in her eyes once more; she had never heard such singing before. His voice was so stirring, as if she could hear the emotion with every word. She could barely keep from crying. This truly was the happiest day of her life.
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 5, 2012 20:19:09 GMT -5
Erik realized that his small spontaneous gesture had perhaps stopped Adina from touching his mask. It was possible that she had a glance of the fright in his eyes when her hand wandered too near the mask. But then she seemed as if she knew it was a forbidden action. She looked down at the ground, almost as if she were sorry and uncomfortable that she had even thought of such a thing.
He smiled at her. She hadn't done the deed and now he felt she was unlikely to do so in the future. When he put his arm about her, it was a gesture of forgiveness.
Then the music! As reality drifted away and there was nothing but the music, Erik poured his heart into the sound. Coming back to reality, he felt soothed and calm. He looked at Adina and knew from the look on her face that she was moved too. Then he turned back to the piano and started a song that no one had ever heard before, for it was spontaneous, a creative flow of energy from within himself, a composition made entirely for Adina. It lasted longer than most songs. It sounded within Erik as he wrote the music and words, and then it echoed again, so that it seemed to last a very long time. Again, he looked up as reality came back. He smiled.
"Adina, this opera house has lovely acoustics, don't you think? I felt like my voice and the piano could be heard in all parts of the place. However, I suppose we shall have to test that out, but it seems to have the same acoustics as the Populaire." He looked up at Box 5. "I wonder what it will sound like from my box..."
Then Erik remembered. He had projected his voice when he had first seen Christophe de Chagny who was standing just about where he and Adina were now. Erik had been in Box 5 and his voice had been impressive coming from the Box. That particular box had been built by Erik at the Populaire with the idea in mind that a person standing in a certain place in the box and projecting their voice could be heard all over the opera house. It would be impossible really for anyone to tell where the voice came from. Since it had worked so well with de Chagny; he was quite puzzled; Erik realized that the acoustics must be quite the same as the Populaire.
"Is there anything else you wish me to play, Adina? If you have no particular preference, I would like to play a bit of Bach and Vivaldi..."
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Adina Gillespie
Some things belong on paper, others in life. It?s a blessed fool who can?t tell the difference.
Maid of the manor
Posts: 320
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Post by Adina Gillespie on Oct 6, 2012 12:47:37 GMT -5
Adina lowered her hand and only thought of the music, how it would sound in the Opera. It was a very beautiful and breath-taking space. She had never been in a theatre like this. It smelled dusty, old like mothballs; the scent made her smile as she followed Erik to the front row of the seating area. She sat in anticipation, waiting to hear the music. The wait was so agonizing that she hoped he would start the piece before-…
Her thought was stopped halfway through when the music began. It warmed her heart, it fed her soul; everything so right. Just as the piece came to an end, there was-… More? It felt as if the masked gentleman was playing only for her; this strange yet impossibly beautiful composition felt, to Adina, as though it were coming straight from within him. Straight from his heart! She could feel her mind reel and her heart tremble from the pure emotion; she felt as though she might faint with utter ecstasy! Not only was the music moving her so, but his words… So heartfelt, so sincere, like no other song she had heard before. And it made her cry.
She cried from the beauty, she cried from the passion. Just as she felt she would collapse upon the floor in an emotionally satiated heap, she heard him address her. Her tear-stained and blood-shot eyes looked up at Erik then followed his gaze towards the box. It was quite high up, a near perfect position for such acoustics. "Y-Yes," She managed, her voice faltering just slightly as she started to recover from the emotional high she had felt.
The maid looked back to Erik when he asked her if there was anything else she wanted to hear him play. Then he mentioned Bach and Vivaldi. She had come across some of their pieces in the library records and fell in love with their compositions. She nodded and smiled. "That would be lovely," She said, now wiping her eyes and sitting up in her seat as she awaited the music with intense anticipation.
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 6, 2012 20:30:55 GMT -5
Erik didn't even notice that Adina had been weeping wiht the beauty of the music. He was so caught in it himself, that he saw her emotion, but not how deeply it had moved her.
Erik moved on to Bach and Vivaldi and chose several longer pieces from each. He chose some that contained words and sang them in his tenor voice that had been called the voice of an angel. It could mesmerize some women on occasion, but he wasn't even thinking of that. He was again caught up in the music.Finally the piano pieces came to an end. "Would that I had thought to briing my violin, Adina, I would play something for you on that lovely instrument. But alas, it is down in my suite."
"Would you care to sing for me, Adina?" He asked, not knowing if she were too shy to do so. "I would join you if you wish..."
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Adina Gillespie
Some things belong on paper, others in life. It?s a blessed fool who can?t tell the difference.
Maid of the manor
Posts: 320
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Post by Adina Gillespie on Oct 7, 2012 9:30:39 GMT -5
Her hands shook as she lifted her fingertips towards her face to wipe away the tears. But it seemed as though the more she tried to dry her eyes the tears, the more the tears wanted to come. Her throat felt dry no matter how much she swallowed She felt her lower lip quiver slightly as she undid the cloth from her hair, using it to better dry her eyes and delicately dab at her nose. She sniffled slightly an exhaled as the emotion began to subside and she felt much calmer now.
Then came the beautiful pieces of the baroque masters. It was much more soothing than the funeral march. Erik's voice began to sing again. Oh, what a beautiful voice it was. It seemed to wrap her in a blanket of warmth, like that of angel wings. "N-No, monsieur. This is already far too much you have done for me. I-." Her voice broke slightly, forcing her to stop a moment to collect herself. She placed a hand to her chest, her now loosened hair framing her delicate face as she looked up at Erik from her seat. "Perhaps another time? I do so love the violin; such a beautiful instrument."
The maid's eyes widened and the blood drained from her face; just a little. "S-… Sing, monsieur?" She bit her lip but managed a smile. She was a little shy but if this gentleman wished her to sing, then she would. "Oui. It would be an honor to sing for you."
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 10, 2012 18:47:01 GMT -5
After Erik played the baroque pieces and asked Adina to sing for him, she seemed shy and reluctant, but did agree to do it. He expected that it was because she was a maid and had feelings of not being at the same level as he. But if Erik heard a lovely voice, he didn't care whose it was. They must sing! And he expected that she would have a lovely voice.
Erik smiled when she agreed to sing for him. He then, for the first time, noticed her eyes a bit wet and slightly red. He wondered why she had been crying, but did not question it at this point. He had mentioned earlier that he would love to play the violin and that his was in his suite, but suddenly, he spied the case of a violin atop a small table upon the stage, just behind the torn red stage curtains. He could see it from where he was seated at the piano. He stood up. "Adina, I wonder if there is a violin in that case, I shall have to find out. "
Erik mounted the steps to the stage and opened the violin case. There indeed was a violin in it, and although it looked old, it seemed in good shape. In fact, Erik could tell it had been played recently. He checked the strings and they seemed new. He brought it down off the stage with him and sat at the piano bench and tuned it, then fine tuned it. He made sure that the bow had enough rosiin on it. He looked at Adina and smiled. "Whatever you would care to sing, please begin and I shall accompany you."
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Adina Gillespie
Some things belong on paper, others in life. It?s a blessed fool who can?t tell the difference.
Maid of the manor
Posts: 320
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Post by Adina Gillespie on Oct 15, 2012 14:34:34 GMT -5
The maid looked at Erik as he looked at her strangely. It must have been that he had seen the tear stains on her face and she quickly wiped them away. "Forgive me, monsieur. I know not what has come over me. Perhaps the music has brought me to tears." But that was not true. It had been Erik's incredible voice that had moved her so. That velvety tenor lifted her spirit and seemed to restore something she had lost. It seemed to restore her faith.
Adina lifted her head and wondered what he was looking at, rising from her seat to follow him. She saw the violin case and smiled. She hoped there was a violin in it as she watched Erik smoothly walk- almost glide- to the stage. "Let us hope there is, monsieur." She smiled and moved closer, now standing in the orchestra pit with him. She stood beside him as he sat at the piano to open up the violin case.
It was a beautiful instrument, more beautiful than anything she had ever seen! Her eyes widened as she gazed down at the beautifully polished wood. Then Erik proceeded to warm up the bow and asked Adina to begin singing. She smiled and took a deep breath before starting:
"(Riche en amour et dépourvue d'un amant. Les pauvres dans l'espoir et rempli de désir. Plein de douleur et affamés de l'aide. Loin de miséricorde, assoiffé de récompense - je suis aucune de ces choses qui peut me donner joie parce que de l'amour, et dans la terreur de la mort. Depuis ma dame me hait et J'adore sa.)
Rich in love and lacking a lover. Poor in hope and filled with desire. Full of pain and starved of aid. Far from mercy, hungry for reward - I am none of those things which may give me joy Because of love, and in terror of death. Since my lady hates me and I adore her."
She stopped and panted softly, desperately trying to catch her breath. She had never sung with such passion before. She felt hear heart beating madly against her ribcage as her legs shook. She stepped back, leaning against the edge of the pit as she placed a hand to her chest. Her eyes met Erik's and wondered what he was thinking. Was she mad? Perhaps insane even? Oh, she hoped that such thoughts had not crossed his mind!
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 17, 2012 20:55:14 GMT -5
Overjoyed at finding such a lovely old instrument, Erik made it sing with passion as it accompanied lovely maid Adina. Her voice was beautiful and he closed his eyes to listen to her as he played. Such ecstacy, a beautiful voice singing a love song with rather a lot of passion and a wonderfully made violin tucked under his chin.
When they finished, Adina seemed somewhat out of breath. Erik laid down the violin and walked over to her, concerned. "Are you all right, Adina? Perhaps you should rest for a moment. Would you like a glass of water?"
Erik sat down beside the maid and offered to take her hand. "Your singing is very beautiful. I am sure that when the opera house is open we shall find a place for you, whether it be a part in an opera or a concert, but I assure you, if you wish to perform, certainly it shall be arranged. I shall see to it."
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Adina Gillespie
Some things belong on paper, others in life. It?s a blessed fool who can?t tell the difference.
Maid of the manor
Posts: 320
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Post by Adina Gillespie on Oct 20, 2012 8:21:31 GMT -5
The sound of the beautiful violin filled her head. She could barely hear her own voice as she sang with the accompaniment of the gorgeous instrument. She felt such emotions: joy, passion, she felt life renewed within her. She did not want to wait a second more on her past and live now. Here, in the manor once more.
She smiled and cleared her throat, shaking her head as she looked at Erik. "No, thank-you. I am alright, just not enough pauses to catch my breath between verses… Yes, perhaps I should rest for a moment." She looked down and brushed back a lock of her hair.
The maid was so overjoyed that she could not help but rush to Erik and take his hand, kissing it reverently. "Oh, merci, M. Lenoir! Merci!" She finally paused long enough to realize what she was doing. She pulled back and blushed a bit. "Forgive me. I fear I might have gotten a bit too, how you say, carried away."
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 23, 2012 23:32:09 GMT -5
Adina rushed to Erik and kissed his hand after he mentioned that he would find a place for her in the opera or other concert. She seemed excited and happy, but then perhaps a bit embarrassed by her impulsive behaviour. Erik smiled. "It's all right, Adina. I am not offended. Quite the opposite. I am most honoured that you would hold me in such esteem." In the manor, it seemed there were some people who were not afraid or Erik and who actually liked him. He was accepted among many of these people and he appreciated that. And here was sweet Adina kissing his hand as if he were a great dignitary. It did wonders for his self esteem.
"Adina, my dear, there is no reason to be embarrassed. I really do feel you have great potential with your voice. You mentioned being out of breath. I think you are correct that you are not breathing correctly. As you were singing, I thought it was perhaps nerves. But you must learn to relax. I could give you a set of breathing exercises to practice if you wish."
"Perhaps," a smiled played about the visible end of Erik's lips. "Perhaps I would have a song that you would sing for me then next time I see you...I think that it would be a song that would suit your voice very well. It is one I have written, but I have not as yet put it to paper. The next time I see you, I shall have it ready for you." Erik smiled and took her hand and on an impulse, pulled her toward himself in an embrace.
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Adina Gillespie
Some things belong on paper, others in life. It?s a blessed fool who can?t tell the difference.
Maid of the manor
Posts: 320
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Post by Adina Gillespie on Oct 24, 2012 9:46:52 GMT -5
The maid from France wiped more tears from her eyes and looked upon Erik as if he were a god. She had never felt such emotions and passion in her heart. The feelings ebbed and flowed like the tide as she gazed into his eyes. Her hand moved up on his sleeve, the smooth silk calming beneath her fingers as her shoulders relaxed. "Please, monsieur, if there is anything I can do in return for such kindness you have shown towards me, do not hesitate to ask of me."
Adina leaned in a moment then paused. She drew back then quickly moved her head forward again and kissed Erik's visible cheek. A flush of pink cross her face as she looked way and brushed back a lock of hair. "I…. I would like that, Erik. It would be an honor to sing for you, even if only for lessons. Perhaps I am still having trouble taking deep breaths after-… After being bought back to life."
Then Erik took her hand in his and pulled her into a warm embrace… She did not flinch or pull away. Her fear was gone and she only leaned in closer, her head resting on his chest. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. He smelled good; musky but with a sweet mix of cologne. The young woman's heart fluttered softly in her chest as if it were a joyous canary. "Erik…" She whispered softly, slowly lifting up her head to look in his eyes.
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 25, 2012 19:39:08 GMT -5
Erik smiled when Adina kissed him on the cheek. He returned a kiss to the top of her head. Her hair smelled fragrant. He enjoyed it very much when someone held him in great esteem, after having been disparaged so many times in his life. Adina was touching him softly on his arm and it felt so very nice. Erik was not used to as much gentleness as he was being shown here in the mansion. Adina was very sweet and kind and gentle. She asked if there was anything she could do to repay him for his kindness. "I have already said that I would like very much for you to sew the curtains for Box 5. It will be special for me that every time I look upon them, I shall think of you."
"I expect that the materials shall be delivered for the renovation of the opera house very soon, and then, shortly after that, the people who will assess what has to be done. I shall work with them and then after that the workmen whom I have hired will start work. And the material will be there any time then for you to start on the curtains. I admonish you though, it is a very long and tedious job to be done by hand..."
Then Erik walked over to the audience seats. There was something that had been troubling him. "Come, Adina, sit on the seat next to me. I hope that you have no fear of me. But I must tell you a secret. And I have noticed that you are curious, as most people are, about my mask. I cherish you as a friend, but if I should show you what lies under the mask, I fear you would feel differently about me and perhaps disparage me as has happened before..." Erik felt that if he placed it before her this way, she would not be curious any more and he would not have to worry about an unmasking. However, she might demand that he unmask. That was the other side of the coin...
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Adina Gillespie
Some things belong on paper, others in life. It?s a blessed fool who can?t tell the difference.
Maid of the manor
Posts: 320
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Post by Adina Gillespie on Oct 26, 2012 8:02:03 GMT -5
Adina looked up at Erik when he kissed her head. She felt her heart leap again in her chest. He was being so kind towards her, it seemed so strange. Her once wounded soul was finally feeling mended as she looked into his eyes. Then she remembered. The curtains, of course! "Oh! Oui, monsieur]/i]. I must have forgotten for a moment." She blushed and looked at her feet before returning her gaze back up to him. "Oui, I will get to work on the curtains as soon as the materials arrive. It would be an honor to do that for you."
When Erik explained the caveat about hand sewing the curtains, it made her feel a twinge of something. Something she hadn't felt in a long time. But it was not the way he said it, but the words he had chosen: I admonished. you though… It reminded her of her father; he had used the very same word to keep her in line, especially when he had been at the bottle. She dared not say a word to Erik about her past, though perhaps it would have to be discussed one day. Not now but later.
The young woman followed Erik when he bade her sit with him in the audience seating. She looked up at him curiously, as if to understand why he was having her sit beside him in the audience…. Then a small flinch shook her little frame. He had noticed! Curses, he had noticed her staring, her looking, her trying to touch his mask! She looked away and blushed a bit more, her stomach now in knots. "Please, monsieur," She gently pleaded. "Forgive my curiosity. I do not believe that I would think differently of you." Here she gave a small gasp. "'Disparage'? Mon Dieu! I have seen more loathing and terror in my childhood that no one should ever have to behold. I have seen the horrors of the plague, smelled the burning pyres… I have even seen a greater horror than the plague itself." Here she looked up at Erik, she could feel the hot tears of her past already start to run down her face. She simply continued before he could ask what that greater horror might have been. "If you do not think I am ready, then I will not protest and ask you remove your mask."
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