It's Peaceful in the Graveyard (Maria)

[maria]

Coming to the stable and striding inside to look about, seeking out the black gelding that took her and Lenoir into town. Stepping away from Castagne's side with a smile once she spotted the horse. With an apple in hand, extending it towards the muzzle of the horse as she strode up to it. The big black beast gladly and eagerly took it. Chopping it with delight and extended it's head closer to her in hopes to sniff out more on her.

After giving the big black another apple she walked away from it seeking Castagne. Finding him with another horse. "I never knew there were horses here," She strode up to stand opposite of the horse's head and facing him as she caressed the horse briefly.

[Erik Castagne]

Erik was calmed by petting the horse. Animals could feel it whether you liked them or not. He picked up a curry brush that was on a shelf in the stable and began to gently curry the horse. He almost forgot that Maria was there. He looked up, then, and saw her. "Mademoiselle does not mind Erik curring the horse?"

Brushing the horse almost took away Erik's apprehension and he thought perhaps he might explore the layout of the land some night when all was quiet and there was a moon shining brightly, maybe even tonight. Then perhaps he would discover how far the property went in all directions and the best way to escape.

Erik looked over at Maria. It was difficult for him to convey facial emotions, considering his whole face was covered. There were only his eyes. "So...Erik understands that Mademoiselle has left the confines of the mansion grounds at least one time?" Erik was hopeful. Then he wondered, if she had left, why would she come back? Unless she enjoyed it here...

[maria]

Quite the sight to see - a masked man who was brushing out a horse. Perhaps there was some bit of serenity in performing such a simple task. Her odd exotic eyes watched his hand before looking at him. "Not at all," she simply replied.

Diverting her eyes away from his as they came to focus upon her. Looking at the horse. "That's right. I've left the Estate and was in the Village with Mister Lenoir." Finally regaining a bit of a bold streak and returned her exotic sights to Castagne. Curious to know what he's getting at.
"I suppose it's possible to leave this place. But... where would anyone go? It's not the world we all once knew, Mister Erik."

[Erik Castagne]

Erik stopped currying the horse and looked at Maria, again noticing her two different coloured eyes. "Erik wishes to go home...to Paris. It is strange here. Many people. " He listened as she explained that she had been to the village with a Mister Lenoir. He wondered why she had come back here if she could leave the Estate. Perhaps there was a chance...

He also wondered why she said it was not the world we all knew. That was very cryptic. He stared at her before saying, "Not the world we know? Please explain to Erik..." Then he went back to currying the horse, looking away from her. Erik was not being rude, he was simply very uncomfortable. He was not use to speaking with anyone and even though he had questions in his mind about this place and about how to leave it, it was hard for him to verbalize them. He would rather find out for himself. He determined to walk to the village sometime himself, or perhaps take one of the horses, if it could be returned to the mansion. However, what did bother him was the question he did verbalize...how was it a world that they did not know? How was that possible? He frowned beneath his mask and moved to the other side of the horse to continue currying.

[maria]

IN a manner of speaking she sympathized with his desire to go home. That left her speechless as her face seemed frozen with somber realization. They were stuck here and unable to return to the world they knew. A different time/era not just a different place. Words found no way to her mouth nor her mind.

Watching the strangely masked man as he continued to groom the horse. Face still frozen in that look but now uncertainty spread upon her face as she looked over the horse then down while petting the neck of the horse. How could she explain what she had seen?
"Even if you could return to Paris," she paused a moment as she lifted her eyes to watch the horse, "where would you go? It's not the Paris you are from. What year do you believe this is, Mister Erik?" Shifting her eyes to look at him awaiting his answer.

[Erik Castagne]

Maria asked Erik what year he thought it was. "Is it not the year 1890?" he asked, wondering what year she thought it was. He was silent then as he brushed the horse's long mane and then put down the brush. He glanced at her, only his dark eyes visible under the mask, glinting yellow occasionally as they caught the light of the dim lamps. Erik looked at her strangely. He said slowly, "Erik...understands that...we are not living in the year we came from? The place has not only changed, but the year also?"

Erik stood there, looking puzzled and forlorn, his shoulders slumped a bit. He was a genius when it came to music and composing, architecture and many other skills, but he was having a hard time putting his mind around a concept he had actually read about, but never thought could be real. It was very exciting in theory, but if this was reality, then he really couldn't understand it.

Erik pulled his cape about him, he was not cold from the atmosphere, but cold with these strange new thoughts. Then, with a start he thought about his lair. The one here was exact to the smallest detail. How could that be? "Madamoiselle, Erik has found his home here. But ... a replica of what Erik had built in Paris...how...?" Erik was confused and somewhat upset that he had been told he may not be able to get back to Paris.

"Erik must be going home." He smiled slightly under the mask at what he had just said. He meant the home that was here....the place called lair by the unthinking crowds of people who deemed him some sort of monster. "Erik means this place..." he gestured toward the mansion.

Suddenly he wondered if she would like to see it. He was normally very solitary and no one had seen it save the Persian and Christine. Even Madame Giry had not been to his lair though she was his courier. But no one before had ever been so kind and unafraid of him as this woman. Although she had seemed afraid at the beginning, she acted unafraid now. Would it be all right to ask her? Erik didn't know. He actually started to perspire as he gathered his courage to ask. "Would the Madamoiselle care to see the dwelling place of Erik?"

[maria]

How could she break it to him carefully that they were in a different time, a different place. "It's the year.... 2012," she said with a rather soft somber tone. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a little paper and unraveled it. Glancing at it a moment then held it out for him to have a look. Highlighted with her thumbnail was the actual date from a couple days ago when she and Lenoir went into the village. The year was indeed 2012. Her face watched his masked face and eyes for any reaction. Whatever he was thinking he was clearly disturbed.

When he invited her to his home she nearly blushed. Again, another man she clearly just met had invited her to his home. This must be a common thing with masked men. She slightly smirked and glanced down. "It's highly irregular for a woman to visit a man's home when they just met." Folding the little paper back up to return it to her pocket. She was debating this now though. Should she?
"I'll at least walk with you back towards your home, Mr Erik," she said with a little delight in her voice. Wanting to be as friendly as she could. "If I don't tonight. I would like to another day. Perhaps dinner?" Now that was a concept! A woman inviting a man to dinner, or even the evening dinner at the Manor that she had caught wind of that happening and was determined to at least join the others who were having evening supper.

[Erik Castagne]

Maria held out a paper to Erik that stated the date from a few days past. He looked at it. "So, it's true," he said in a voice barely audible. At least he still had his lair, although there was still the mystery of how that came to be here. And yet, the future, it could be exciting. There would be many things to learn. Perhaps the library would hold books detailing new inventions and ideas. That thought cheered him slightly. But then he thought of Christine...where was she? Was she here? Was she lost in time?

When he invited her to his home, Maria blushed and some emotiion crossed her face. Erik wasn't sure what she was thinking but it had clearly been the wrong thing to say. He sighed. He would never get this correct. At one time, when he had stayed in Persia, he had become somewhat more comfortable with people. But since living in Paris, underground, he had become so awkward and unused to people again. He would be better off not saying anything.

"Erik regrets..." he said, hoping she had not taken offense. Then she seemingly invited herself to dinner. That was not what he had in mind at all. That would be too much. He could never eat with anyone. He could not take off his mask in front of anyone. Certainly not. He was hideous. His death's head frightened everyone who had ever seen it and it embarrassed him terribly to even think about anyone seeing it.

"Erik cannot have dinner with you or anyone, Mademoiselle. Erik regrets that also, very much. But it is not possible."

[maria]

Nodding as she put the receipt back into the pocket of her denims. With mild curiosity she watched Castagne through his changing body language. It was difficult to see a face hidden by a mask. But the man's eyes did show more than a face or even a body would portray. Relaxing a bit as she understood he would do nothing to harm her even in that invitation to his home.
"Perhaps.... " she began, fidgeting slightly as she looked down at her hands, then looked up at him, "I will take you up on that offer another day though. Tomorrow perhaps?" She gave him as pleasant a smile as possible.

Baffled beyond understanding after he declined dinner. Even the communal dinner that was now being held every night in the dining room. He'll refuse that? These masked men were indeed so incredibly strange and her bewilderment reflected so well upon her face. "I've given you the invitation to join us all for evening dinner. You are always welcome to join us." She did her best to offer a gentle smile.

[Erik Castagne]

Erik noticed how disappointed she seemed when he declined dinner. He could never do that. He had never even had dinner with Christine. He expected that she would be frightened out of her mind if she saw his horrible face.And the thought of being with so many people just made him start to shake a bit. When he was younger and in Persia, he had not thought much of it. He had eaten with other people at table, even the Shah himself. But it was different then. He had built many edifices for the Shah and the man was not put off by Erik's looks. But everyone else was, so when he ate at table with anyone else, Erik wore a black silk mask that tied at the top and bottom of the mask. He would untie the bottom ties and eat behind the mask. He wondered if he'd have the courage to do that here.

The black mask itself seemed to bring terror into the hearts of some people. He had carefully crafted the ceramic mask carefully to look like a kindly face. The calmness and serenity of the mask was that which he wished his real face could be like. But alas, he had been born a monster and it had secluded him for most of his life, save those years in Persia.

In answer to his own invitation, Maria said she might come tomorrow to his home. He nodded. "Erik would indeed be pleased." He could see that she was nervous, she was fidgeting with something. This was obviously not easy for her either. "Erik shall accompany the lady to the mansion if that is where shw is going..."

[maria]

Barely a nod, barely a smile, at least it was some form of acknowledgement of some form of friendship. Maybe? Or at least being acquainted with one another. The Manor was quite enormous with many residents already. One by one, she was getting to know those within the household.
"I look forward to it," And offered a weak smile.

"And yes. Please. I appreciate it, Mister Erik." she replied accepting his offer. Not fidgeting any longer nor was that smile weak but it was not bold either. She was relaxing a little bit more, pet the horse once more before stepping away from the Friesian and towards the entrance of the stables. Pondering what next?
"Have you explored much of the Manor yet?" She inquired.

[Erik Castagne]

In reply to Maria's question about exploring the nansion, Erik shook his head negatively. He wasn't sure he wanted to see more of it than he had already seen. But perhaps if this lady wished to show him, it probably wouldn't hurt. If Erik knew more about tha manor, he would be able to get from one place to the next more easily. Perhaps even without being seen.

Erik frowned behind the mask. He wondered if this old house, like many other mansions and indeed public buildings had secret passages. When he was actively building edifices, he had always built such passageways. At the Paris Opera House, it was how he moved freely and silently within the place. But of course he couldn't ask this woman. It would be a strange request. No, he would simply keep his eyes out for such passages. He knew how to find them, considering he had designed many himself. These thoughts made him more open to letting Maria give him a tour.

Erik, in the short time he had known Maria, had decided she was trustworthy. He would not let her too close, for fear of an unmasking. But he didn't think she would do that. Of course, he thought Christine would not do that either.

"Mademoiselle, then please show Erik the mansion." He nodded toward the house and gave a graceful gesture of his hands, which often did much of his talking for him. Erik knew his voice wwas pleasant and his singing could be bewitching, but yet, he used it sparingly.

[maria]

Walking with Castagne back to the Manor from the Stables as the horse seemed to not be disappointed by their departure. Glancing back at the horse then looked at Castagne with a slight smile before she faced forward as she walked.

Twisting partially to look at him with a slight smile. "I've yet to explore it myself. There are so many rooms according to Mister Lenoir." Pausing a moment having faced forward again, she kept walking. "Perhaps.... " Pausing, "we can explore it together." she looked over at Castagne with a warm smile.

Castagne was so gentle and sweet and shy in her mind at least. The mask did indeed make her a bit curious. So many men here, and her own Teacher, wore a mask. This bewildered her more, wondering why they wore masks. Someday, she'll find out.

[Erik Castagne]

As they walked back from the stables to the Manor, Erik looked at this woman with whom he was walking. She was pretty and had exotically mismatched eyes. He thought that unusual and lovely. And she was not only beautiful, but her manner was kind and thoughtful.

Maria mentioned that she had heard that the manor had many different rooms, according to a Mister Lenoir. Erik wondered who that was. Perhaps the owner of the place. "Does Lenoir own the mansion?" asked Castagne hesitantly. He did not like to speak too much. He felt there was more wisdom in listening, however, a question or two could not hurt. Maria suggested that they explore the mansion together. Erik wasn't sure if he wanted to explore. Perhaps it would be all right if it were only Maria and himself. He was beginning to feel a bit comfortable with her. And she did not upset him as some people did when they were in his presence. And he did need to know where things were, should he need to come out of his lair, which was inevitable, at least once in a while. Erik nodded. "Erik would be pleased."

[maria]

Walking alongside the masked gentleman. In a way he was just as gentle as Lenoir. Glancing at the ground, glancing up at the stars. It was quite a lovely evening even just to be outside for a moment.
"No," she smiled a little warmly not looking at him but at the ground. "No, he is not the Master of the Manor. Or so he tells me." Pausing a moment as she glanced at Castagne. "I'm not so sure he knows who is the owner of this estate."

Smiling at him once again, "Tomorrow perhaps? I have nothing else to do." Doing her best to be friendly and courteous towards another resident of the Manor. She wanted to explore and so did he. It only made sense to explore together if only to enjoy one another's company.