Fetch ((Alfred))

[Carlotta Corazon]

Carlotta sat at a white table clothed table in a Victorian themed room. Her head was in her hands as her brown curls of hair cascaded down her shoulders and back like a waterfall. She didn't know what do do with herself anymore. Her life was on the stage, not here. She had no audience which is what her world revolved around and now there was nothing.

Carlotta was in a simple light yellow dress that exposed her shoulders slightly. Outside it was light and sunny and everything was so bright and happy, except for Carlotta. She missed people. The closest person she had to talking was Christine and there was no way in the world she would do that unless she needed to. And of course the only other she would talk to was Franc but she needed a human being who would lend her their time to let her speak.

She missed her servants. Because they would do that all the time, they didn't even need to speak afterwards. But the most irritating thing for her was that even if she were to find someone to talk to... what would she say? Would Carlotta talk about how rude and evil that imposter who said she was Carlotta? Or maybe how she thought that there was a possibility that she was still asleep or was in some sort of dreadful coma or something of the like. Oh, what was she too do? To say? What on earth could possibly make her feel like something again when she had no one, even in the lightest of day?

[Alfred Worthington]

Alfred was on his way to the kitchen with some dishes he had brought from Master Raoul's suite and his own. There were no maids that Alfred had seen at the mansion yet, so he was not adverse to washing the dishes himself. His work had often become diverse, as when he became somewhat of tutor for Raoul Christophe as a child.

Certainly the dishes could be washed in the suites, but it was easier to wash them here and put them away immediately. He hummed a bit as he walked along the long halls. He had been glad to find Master Raoul was here in this strange place. It meant it was not strange anymore. And Alfred had his routine again, and he was happy to be serving the young Vicomte. And he was also looking forward to this evening, after everything was done, and he could relax and play his violin.

He entered the large wooden double doors which led to the beautiful green-themed Victorian dining room, and beyond it a swinging door to the kitchen. As he entered, he saw a woman sitting at the table. She was wearing a light yellow dress and she was young. She had lovely brown curls. But she seemed unhappy to Alfred.

Alfred was dressed in his formal clothing that he used when he was working. As he passed the woman to enter the kitchen, he nodded and smiled. "Good morning, Miss. A fine day we're having..." He spoke in English, for that was how he always conversed with the young Vicomte, whose English was perfect. Alfred had taught him from the time he was very young. He never gave another thought to the fact that the lady might not know English.

He went past her and prepared to wash the dishes. He took off his tail coat and rolled up his sleeves. There were very few and so he was done in a few minutes. He put the dried dishes away and put his coat back on. He came in to the dining room to find the lady still there.

"Is there any way I may be of service to you, Miss?"

[Carlotta Corazon]

Carlotta glanced up when a man entered the doors. She nodded slightly back to him when he greeted her in English. Fortunately she had spent several years in England so she could understand him. However, didn't completely see him or think about him at all, still wrapped up in her own world and mind. Even after he had come back out and has asked her if she needed anything, for a moment, she didn't even listen to him.

But then her eyes widened and she picked up her head and looked at him. For a moment she didn't know what to say, as well as not really wanting to speak. She then sighed and dropped her arms off the table to her side. "Hmm... I don't know..." Carlotta said honestly with a flowing Spanish accent. She looked down slightly, cursing herself for feeling so week and useless. She then glanced back at him with her large brown eyes. "Do you know what the best thing to do when you feel like you have nothing left?" She asked him.

It was strange... the only time she would ever even speak like this or ever ask for advice would be from Franc... which wasn't quite so helpful. And sure she had some good friends at the Opera House but she couldn't really tell them her good side, they would trample all over her. Everyone would, that was what her parents had taught her. But somehow, she had the feeling that she could speak what she wanted to around this stranger. What a strange feeling indeed for someone you have only seen for less than five minuets! Perhaps it was also a slight desperation that drove her. She had no one else. And the likelyhood of seeing him again was probably slim she imagined, unless he was the entire mansion's servant.

[Alfred Worthington]

The woman spoke with a lovely Spanish accent. Oddly, she seemed to wish to confide in Alfred. That was fine with him. It was common knowledge that servants often were confidants of their masters and could be relied upon to keep their peace about anything that was said to them in confidence. The odd thing about it was that she had only just now met Alfred. But he was ready to help in any situation and advice was one of the things at which he had experience.

"You seem very sad, Miss, if I may be so bold as to say it...I should introduce myself. I am Alfred Worthington, manservant to the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny." Alfred continued to stand, for he had not been invited to sit.

Her large brown eyes glanced at Alfred as she spoke. "You have nothing left? I shall assume, for the sake of argument, that you are speaking about being stranded at the mansion. I have only just come myself. Master Raoul is looking into finding a way to leave and I shall stay with him until he does indeed find a way."

"Master Raoul tells me that there is an Opera house here and that some of the men are planning a renovation and an opening of the place to hold operas and other productions. Are you a singer or dancer?" Christophe had told Alfred that most of the people brought into the mansion had some connection with music and so he thought it would be a good guess that she was a singer or dancer. Even Alfred himself, in addition to his connection to the Vicomte, was a violinist.

[Carlotta Corazon]

Carlotta nodded slightly in acknowledgement when he introduced himself. But then what caught her attention was the name Vicomte Raoul de Chagny. She remembered that the Comte often went to the Opera House and that for a night or something or other, he would be bringing his younger brother the Vicomte de Chagny. She wondered if the Vicomte had anything to do with Christine and the chandelier fall.

Carlotta then paid attention back to the manservant. What truly interested her was when he spoke of an Opera House here and if she was a singer or a dancer. Since he had to ask that last question, it was obvious that he probably hadn't heard of her before. "I am Carlotta Corazón. I am indeed a singer. In fact, a very popular opera singer of the Garnier Opera House." She said with a slight whiff of pride. She then lowered her head back down some as she realized that she was still depressed, still without anyone. Just Carlotta.

"It is not only being stranded at the mansion... but is being without my adoring audience. They are what gave me my happiness, my purpose. I saw my glamorous future in each person that took a seat in the Opera House. It was my world. And not only did it come crashing down with the fall of the chandelier but then I am whisked away here without knowing why or how. So you see Signor, I have nothing left. No hay futuro, no hay felicidad." She rambled on. And speaking was making her feel a little better, but not much. She still had none of her adoring audience. No one throwing roses at her feet. There was no one. What was the point of being the greatest opera singer if there was none who would listen?

[Alfred Worthington]

"I'm very sorry that you are feeling this way, Miss. I truly have it on good authority that there is a renovation of the Opera House going on and that there shall be auditions when it is finished. It will be a chance for many in the mansion with musical abilities to once more perform. Of course I have not as yet seen it. Master Raoul has been here much longer than I have and he has told me these things."

Alfred haated to admit that he had never heard the name Carlotta Corazón. Carlotta Guidicelli, yes. She was one of the singers at the opera. But not the Garnier. No, it was the Opéra Populaire. There was no Garnier in Paris. Perhaps she was speaking of Seville or another city. "I am very pleased to meet such a famous person," said Alfred, graciously, bowing a bit and smiling. Perhaps I would have the pleasure of hearing you upon the stage when the operas will be performed."

Alfred himself looked sad for just an instant. He was thinking of Juliette, his close friend from the little seaside village of Perros-Girec. He missed her when he came with Master Raoul to his chateau just outside of Paris. But even then, he could see her now and again and she often took the train to Paris and they enjoyed the Opera together. But now...Alfred didn't even know where this place was. Some said England, some France, some Eastern Europe...who knew for a certainty? When could he possibly see Juliette again?

"I am sure things will be better for you in time, Miss. If there is anything I can do to help you, please, even thought I work for the Vicomte, I am at your service."

[Carlotta Corazon]

Carlotta nodded slightly as the man spoke. She would not only get her chance to sing 'once more', but she shall steal away the stage and take her rightful place as the greatest diva! And once she got attention here, wherever here was, someone would retrieve her and take her back to Paris with Franc. She then smiled when he said that he was pleased to meet a famous person and the he would enjoy hearing her on the stage. "Ah, I promise, everyone will hear me on the stage." She said, smiling wider.

Her smile then disappeared. Oh who would take her away from this place? It seemed so small and strange, nothing she had ever seen before. She then heard the perfect five words that always made her feel better. I am at your service. That was all that she needed to hear. She turned to look at him slightly and then smiled. "Oh please do sit down, I apologize for my very down mood this good day. But I have had no one to speak to and it gets so lonely. I certainly hope you don't mind giving up a bit of your time to listen to poor Carlotta's little sob story, would you? She asked him, battering her eyelashes slightly. It probably wasn't needed, but people usually had a less desire to deny her when she acts like such.

[Alfred Worthington]

Alfred sat down when bade to by Carlotta. A small smile played at the ends of his mouth. This young woman was quite amusing. He liked her, but by her manner, he decided she was probably used to getting her own way. He would of course do what he could for her, but he would not let her take over his duties for he was manservant to the Vicomte de Chagny and no one else. That is of course unless Master Raoul told him to do something for someone else. But it was at Alfred's discretion as long as she did not try to overwhelm him with her requests. Alfred suspected any servant assigned to her would be running day and night at her beck and call.

But still, he liked her. He wondered if she were a good singer. He had liked most of the singers at the Populaire. Carlotta Guidicelli had a good voice, but she was terribly dramatic and overacted. She used her voice in an unpleasant way sometimes. And yet, it didn't bother him. He wondered if this woman were similar to Guidicelli. It would be interesting to find out.

Carlotta asked if he would listen to her story and he nodded. "It would be a pleasure to listen to anything you have to say, Miss. And you can be assured, if you wish any of it to be a secret, it shall never pass my lips again."

[Carlotta Corazon]

Carlotta nodded once, greatly content with his response, then thought of her whole time here that had given her such misery. "Yes, if anyone else is to know I shall surely tell them." She said in slight rudeness though that was just Carlotta, she wasn't trying to be. "My first few minuets here I encountered a terrible person who claimed to be me." She started, her warm eyes suddenly becoming dark at the thought of the wretched woman.

"She claimed to be me! It was ridicules. She was a red haired, green eyed, horrible Italian. Now most Italians I have met before were wonderful most of the time but she was probably the worst ever, even nearly beating a person who... despises me greatly." Carlotta said, raising her hand to her mouth as to muffle a sob but no fake sob came and she ended up lowering her hand back down with a almost board sigh. "She was very unmannerly and even tried to physically harm me, of course I defended myself but she really was a nightmare."

Carlotta rested her elbow on the table and her chin resting on the palm of her raised hand and played a bit with her bronze dangling earrings. "I wont even get started on Christine Daae. Oh yes, you must have heard about her at least. By now, everyone probably only thinks of her and has left poor me in the dust. No, I wouldn't stand for that, the stage is mine you see, it is what keeps me happy. Anyways, I ran into Christine next, the Vicomte must have told you something about her, I heard after she had preformed and I returned that she had a good relationship with the Vicomte. I suppose she wasn't too pleasant, but she still horrible to me every time we meet. Oh yes, that precious little flower is quite cruel."

She sighed then sat up a little and put her hands down in her lap. "Luckily you were the next person I have met. La persona más agradable todavía! You are the most mannered person I have met so far. But oh! If I have had such a terrible start of 'living' here, I don't want to know how the rest of my stay here will be. Of course, it must only be a short stay... I don't think I could last long in a place with such people like the imposter I first met and Christine. It just wouldn't due! Me moriría si me quedaba en este lugar! Oh I know it sounds over dramatic but I cannot help it, as you could understand. I already have so many enemies here... all my friends are back in Paris, what am I to do with out them? Without my stage? Carlotta then made an exasperated sigh and put her head back into her hands.

[Alfred Worthington]

Alfred was interested in Carlotta's story, even though it seemed quite improbable. "You met a woman who claimed to be you? How is that possible?" But then Carlotta went on to describe the woman and she sounded suspiciously like Carlotta Guidicelli, the prima donna of the Opéra Populaire! "By any chance was she a bit on the ...large...side?" It certainly sounded like the unpleasant prima donna, although the fact that she could be unpleasant had only come to him through Master Raoul. He had not witnessed it personally. And she had been rude to this Carlotta..."It certainly is a coincidence that you both have the same first name, Miss Corazon... Quite strange..."

Then the young singer went on to say that the other Carlotta had been unmanerly and had even tried to physically harm her. Alfred frowned. Guidicelli must be some character to do things like that! "I sympathise with you very much, Miss. I cannot believe she did such things. I do think I know who you are speaking about, though, Miss Corazon..."

Then Carlotta went on to speak of Christine Daaé. She said that Christine was quite cruel and horrible. "I cannot believe it of Miss Christine...," said Alfred, rather in shock. "Are we speaking about the same person?" He had begun to wonder if there were multiples of some of the people here. If there was more than one Carlotta, why not Christine? "Can you describe this Christine Daaé?" Christine must have said some terrible things, for Carlotta seemed very hurt. Although she could be making it all up. If so she was a marvelous actress and deserved to be on the stage!

[Carlotta Corazon]

"Yes! A woman who claimed to be me! La mujer ni siquiera se parece en nada a mí! The nerve." Carlotta scoffed, remembering the wicked, wicked woman. The manservant then asked if the woman was on the large side. She resisted saying anything majorly cruel and just nodded a yes.

"A coincidence?" She snorted. "If it were anything more, I would be highly distressed to have any sort of connections with the woman." She said with a lazy huff and placed her chin on the palm of her hand and her elbow on the table. "I would stay as far away from her as I possibly can. She is bad company and I dare say bad for anyone's reputation who would converse with her beyond her career, if she even truly has that."

"I could not imagine more than one Christine! Though, the one I know is on the shorter side, blonde hair and can usually be seen talking boastful about herself." She said, raking her hands through the bottom of her dark chocolate brown hair. She sighed, looking down at the table cloth. "I suppose Christine puts on quite the act of kindness and happiness off stage. But when in a personal one on one... usted podría imaginar un cocodrilo vicioso. Vicious like a crocodile. I never met anyone quite like the woman... except for that other... Carlotta. She's ten times worst." She grumbled.

[Alfred Worthington]

Alfred smiled at the diva. A pretty young lady, she had a fair amount of confidence in herself and she seemed to feel she was better than this other Carlotta, obviously the one he had heard on the stage.

"This Christine you know, she is blonde and small? I have not met such a lady, at least not yet. The Christine that I know is rather tall, dark haired and I must say, quite a lovely girl. Not a bad bone in her body. She is sweet, with a sense of humour and a brightness about her countenance that makes others happy, if I do say so myself. I first met her when she was a child and a companion of my charge at the time, Master Raoul Christophe de Chagny. Then, of late, I met her here in the Mansion. She and Master Raoul have renewed their friendship, which is quite to my liking. I think they are quite the couple made for each other. "

"As to the other Carlotta, I knew her, not personally, but when I used to attend the opera in Paris. She is not a bad singer or actress, the worst I can say of her is that her performances and her voice are sometimes a bit more flamboyant than what the role calls for. I have not met her personally, but should I come across her, I will certainly bear in mind your mention of her personality. However, I normally can get along with anyone. In my position of servant, that is a mandatory requirement."

Alfred smiled at Carlotta. "I can say in all truth though, that you are a lovely lady, and I would greatly enjoy hearing your voice upon the stage."

[Carlotta Corazon]

Carlotta listened as Alfred described the Christine he knew. Well, she definitely liked this other Christine more than she did her own, and even more so just because she knew that she did better than her Carlotta the one night.... sort of like how her Christine had to step in for her... and yet nothing like that. It was funny how any of that could have made any sense.

She frowned ever so slightly so. Just a little flamboyant for the role? With the way that... that woman acted towards her, she would expect that her acting on stage world be so incredibly unbearable! Whatever, perhaps she was exaggerating by a tiny little bit.... and only that much. And he was right, even if he were too stumble upon her, they might get along, though she would almost doubt it since that woman seemed to show no stopping point.

Carlotta smiled happily when the man servant had told her that she was a lovely lady and that he would even love to hear her on the stage! A familiar feeling bubbled in her, ah, it was the good feeling of praise. She missed that, even in the little time she had been here so far. But this was even better because Alfred was simply stating what he believed, not just trying to get her approval, which Carlotta actually appreciated. Because as much as she loved any old praise, that was normal, but to get true and believable praise was something to be happy about indeed. "Gracias, I do hope many will also be able to hear. I truly am grateful for what you have told me." She told the older man with an actual friendliness.