Lucien Faure
Chorus Girl/Boy
Children be seen and not heard? Don't make me laugh.
Posts: 43
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Post by Lucien Faure on Sept 21, 2008 7:57:18 GMT -5
Just when Lucien thought they were leaving the spectacular opera house, Armand had pulled him in a completely different direction, towards the main theatre. The doors were open so fresh air could be let in for the few people who were currently working in there. Lucien couldn't believe how the theatre looked.
The red velvet seats shined in the light, the golden statues looking down upon him like gilded gods and finally the large stage that dominated the other end of the theatre, right above where the orchestra pit was. This was the general direction his uncle had been taking him in, which made Lucien wonder why.
As he uncle scrambled to play few awkward chords, he asked Lucien to sing them. Sing? Was that the reason he brought him here, the sing? Lucien was at first a little confused to what his uncle's intentions were, but he had listened to the chords played and began to sing them.
His voice was soft, high because he was still a child, a boy soprano that would call him, probably, but it seemed to just make everything pause for Lucien and all that existed was the notes. Lucien ended the scale that Armand had attempted to play and looked at him. He had sang mildly well for someone who was four years old, maybe even for someone with more experience.
"Why did you have me sing that, uncle? Not that I minded, but why?"
Lucien nearly kicked himself for using such polite wording, but kindness would get him into Romeo et Juliette and it would all be worth it then. But Lucien forgot these thoughts and waited for Armand's explanation.
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Post by Armand Faure on Sept 21, 2008 15:25:55 GMT -5
Armand stared stunned at Lucien. Why, he could be a very successful choirboy--actually, very successful on the stage, too. He was quite young, but then... a smile crept onto the inspector's features, one of pride and satisfaction. He stared at the young boy appreciatively as if seeing him for the first time. He had often been so caught up in disciplining him that he had not paused to realise the blooming potential of the boy. He was going to be handsome, was very obviously very clever, and was musically adept. It was no surprise, for his mother had been an exemplary vocalist and Louis hadn't been so bad, himself.
"My boy, you are a talent." He said simply, and reached forward to pat Lucien affectionate on the shoulder. "I am very proud of you. You take after your parents in that. Do you like music? Singing?"
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Lucien Faure
Chorus Girl/Boy
Children be seen and not heard? Don't make me laugh.
Posts: 43
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Post by Lucien Faure on Sept 21, 2008 15:52:08 GMT -5
Lucien looked at his uncle with a look of indifference, even though he seemed a bit shy about singing in public, even if there was just a few people in the theatre. As he sang they had looked over in a stunned silence, but Lucien wouldn't pay mind to them. Then he saw the look on Armand's face, a look that he made when he was examining something, usually seen when he was contemplating a case of the police.
His uncle complimented him on his singing, saying he had talent. Lucien didn't know whether or not to take it seriously, after all his uncle wasn't that musically connected. Then again, neither did most of the people who threw themselves at the opera singers. Lucien had visited his father once and heard the old prima donna Carlotta sing and she was horrid! But people liked her for some reason. Lucien knew that he might have an once of talent in him, but was enough to be considered good?
"Do I like music?" Lucien asked quietly, to himself, without adding a questioning tone. "Yes I do uncle. Singing is a nice activity for me, it makes me able to reveal myself."
What was he saying? He was telling a secret out loud and to, of all people, his uncle. But maybe if he did reveal his love for music and song, maybe he would benefit. In a dog eat dog world a man (even if he was a child) had to do whatever he could to receive as many benefits as possible. It liberates him from living a dull and provincial life.
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Post by Armand Faure on Sept 21, 2008 17:08:06 GMT -5
The room was hushed but for Lucien's quiet child's voice and the distant whispers of the ladies in the back row. Armand leaned his elbow against the piano nonchalantly, still eyeing Lucien curiously. The keys made a discordant noise that he ignored, his eyes seeming filmed over as he withdrew into his thoughts, gazing into the middle distance as he pondered. After several moments Armand's concentration returned with full force back onto Lucien. He stared him in the eyes, his expression no-nonsense.
"You do not much enjoy living with me, do you?" He asked, keeping the tinge of sadness that accompanied the revelation from his voice. It was one thing to have it said amidst the heat of an argument, but another matter entirely to endure it when they were actually being civil to each other. No excuses could be made for the truth this time.
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Lucien Faure
Chorus Girl/Boy
Children be seen and not heard? Don't make me laugh.
Posts: 43
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Post by Lucien Faure on Sept 21, 2008 18:05:37 GMT -5
Lucien heard his uncle honestly ask if he didn't like living with him. The boy thought about how to respond, not knowing how to. Well he should be honest, though he was rarely honest, but his uncle had been through enough torture for that day, so why not be? Plus there was an opera on the line and Lucien didn't want to wreck that chance.
"Armand, uncle," said Lucien looking at him in the eyes. "It's not that I hate living with you. It's just that you don't have the slightest clue on how to raise a child, at least for now you don't and it's understandable. Plus you have me, who has only been raised by his parents in a short life. I can't accept anyone as a guardian or parent yet, meaning that I'll drive you mad with my antics that have you running around Paris. So I guess I can say that living with you is not the best choice right now."
Lucien had said this all very well, especially for a four year old. How he learned to speak like that was unknown to him, it was just a talent he was given at birth. But no matter how he could word it, Lucien meant everything he said, as he did with anything else. But the sudden directness of the question shocked.
"Uncle, why do you wish to know? What reason do you have?"
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Post by Armand Faure on Sept 22, 2008 21:25:50 GMT -5
Armand's jaw tightened and his lips set into a firm line, but he didn't let his expression change considerably. After a few moments of awkward silence he nodded quickly and glanced away, fidgeting and running his hand through his hair nervously. He was a bit ashamed to be thinking what he was now thinking, but couldn't help but think that it might be best for both of them. Fights and frustration aside, he did love his nephew, and even enjoyed his company when they could manage to be civil to each other. Suddenly, the prospect of... well, living alone, seemed very unpleasant. He had never managed it before, always either having his twin or Lucien.
"I would like to present two alternative options for you. I can hire a nanny, ideally one with some musical talent, or we can make arrangements for you to live and train here at the Opera," he turned his eyes back to Lucien, his expression strained. "It is entirely up to you."
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Lucien Faure
Chorus Girl/Boy
Children be seen and not heard? Don't make me laugh.
Posts: 43
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Post by Lucien Faure on Sept 23, 2008 14:54:03 GMT -5
Lucien hated nannies. That was the most definite thing about him that anyone could figure out about him. The option of a nanny, even with musical abilities was out of the question and he would not bring himself to deal with a nanny. After all, if he wouldn't listen to his uncle, why would he listen to a complete stranger.
Then there was the other option. To come and live and train at the Opera Populaire. Lucien couldn't believe that his uncle would offer him this. His thoughts were mixed, for one, the Opera was a spectacular place filled with beauty and his talent could flourish. Who knew, maybe by the time he was old enough he could be the leading man! But on the other hand, he would never see his uncle. He wasn't Lucien's favorite person in the world, but he reminded him so much of his father. Would his parents look down at him and be ashamed that he left family for the Opera?
Lucien blinked a few times and looked around the theatre. He knew what he had to do to truly be happy. "Uncle, I wish to live and train here at the Opera. It would be a dream to be here and have such a magnificent home. Plus I'd get paid for the operas I'd appear in. It wouldn't be much, but maybe then I can learn how to be on my own."
The young child looked into his uncle's eyes with a gentler and more tame look. "I hope you understand why I must do this."
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Post by Armand Faure on Sept 23, 2008 22:51:57 GMT -5
Armand felt a jab to the heart but still, somehow, managed to understand. Music was nice, but it wasn't something he was extraordinarily good at or appreciated as much as his brother had. It was in Lucien's blood to be musical, it seemed; just as it was in his blood to be a little hellion. You couldn't always win with genetics, it seemed. Armand nodded slowly and looked away.
"Of course," he said, strongly, so that he would not waver in his decision. "Though I will require that you practice your letters to write to me every week... and when I come here on duty I would like to see you. Remember, also, that if you make enough trouble they will turn you away." Once he had run out of warnings he sighed, and then moved on. "Will the presense of Lady Jondrette be a problem? You understand that the association must not continue, but her parents are very influential patrons here and she is bound to visit. As an intern here you may also be invited to the Masquerade Ball that the Marquis and his wife will be putting on a week from now. If you wish to attend, I... think that I could afford a costume and would escort you there, if you so wished." He said the last part grudgingly, embarassed to suddenly be so obliging. He almost felt like he had to make it up to Lucien--and to his parents, may they rest in peace--that he was useless with children and even worse with children with such disasterous propensities.
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Lucien Faure
Chorus Girl/Boy
Children be seen and not heard? Don't make me laugh.
Posts: 43
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Post by Lucien Faure on Sept 24, 2008 16:47:10 GMT -5
Taking in a breath, Lucien realized that this all was really happening and he would be living at the Opera. He knew most of his letters, only having trouble with a few, both he would be able to write simple letters to his uncle one a week. Plus, he would have to see his uncle when he was on duty there, which was fine since he wouldn't be butting in that much.
"I will write Uncle, I can promise you that, I only need to practice a few more letters and I'll have the whole alphabet memorized. Once a week I'll sent the letters out and I'll see you when you're on duty. That is if I'm not at rehearsals or whatever business that may concern me," Lucien had explained this all with an understanding and calm tone. "I will behave here, you won't be hearing of my antics."
Lucien realized that he was giving up a part of himself to be at the Opera, but it would be worth it, hopefully. He knew that he could cause little stirs, but he wouldn't cause any major troubles for the Opera. Maybe a childish prank on a stagehand once in a while, but he could always get away with it.
"Lady Jondrette will not be an issue, uncle. I won't approach her unless she speaks to me, which is unlikely. I understand the power her parents have and will not try to ruin her reputation. But their masquerade party does seem like something that would be enjoyable. It would be kind of you to purchase a mask and costume for me and possibly take me there."
Lucien looked at Armand with a bit more kindness than he had before. Sure it may have been because Lucien was getting something he wanted, but still the kindness was there. "Uncle, when will I be coming to live here?"
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Post by Armand Faure on Sept 24, 2008 20:01:16 GMT -5
Armand managed a small smile, satisfied. Lucien seemed genuinely excited, or at least as excited as a young boy could be after giving up much of his freedom. Perhaps this is what Lucien needed. Something to hold on to, something to lose. He nodded slowly, a bit happy with himself for the first time in a very long time. It was hard decision, but seemed like the right one. He realised with a great deal of surprise that he would miss Lucien's antics, just a little. Life would be very boring without him. Perhaps the trouble-maker in him, the part that yearned for a good laugh and a bit of suspense, had not died with Louis. Maybe he just experienced it now from Louis' point of view.
Cruel joke, brother! Armand called silently to the heavens, his eyes cast upward with just a bit of chagrin. He barely caught his nephew's question, but could guess what it had been. "You will have to audition for the choral instructor, and her opinion will go to the managers. I have no doubt that she will find you more than adequate," He said, and stood, his head turning from place to place and searching the shadows for a particular blonde head. He had made many rounds of the place, done checks on the history of every staff member with a traceable past, and thus knew that Formorian Carlisle could usually be found bustling in, out and about the auditorium even when her charges had ceased to be concerned with their music.
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Lucien Faure
Chorus Girl/Boy
Children be seen and not heard? Don't make me laugh.
Posts: 43
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Post by Lucien Faure on Sept 24, 2008 21:48:23 GMT -5
Of course Lucien's mind was rushing, but it was from excitement of a chance at a new life. What he wouldn't give for a new life to start over with and become what he wanted to be. He knew that he would have to audition with the choral instructor to get in, of course, they just didn't take random people off the street. Lucien hoped that she would be impressed with his voice, that she would see the potential in his voice.
His eyes wandered around the theatre, looking again at the beauty and grandeur. To think that it was just a pile of ashes last year, now it had grown into a beautiful and everlasting flame. If anything, Lucien wanted to be a part of it all, part of a cast that was talked about all over the city. Lucien knew that he could be what he wanted to be here and it would be his home.
Armand was still looking around for the choral instructor and Lucien wanted her to be found as soon as possible. He didn't typically get nervous about anything, he was just anxious and wanted to get it over with. If anything, he didn't want to just wait around staring at the ceiling. But as time went by, he peered over to the piano to see one of the compositions and read the notes.
As each second went by, Lucien thought each note and imagined how it sounded in his head...
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Post by Formorian Carlisle on Sept 25, 2008 2:51:17 GMT -5
Formorian was a vicious teacher and she gave no sympathy what so ever to the leading ladies. Carlotta had all but quit nearly a month ago when Formorian wouldn't back down from her lack of talent. Leaving the blonde haired instructor on the Italian Diva's bad side, from there it was to now turn Christine Daae into a more than worthy and examplimentory Juliette. However there was turning out to be a problem a very large problem.
Madame DeChagny was proving to be a less than explaimentory Juliette! Juliette had to be sung with a conviction of love for a man she should be in love with! True Formorian had to commend that the girl had an over all great agility with voice, getting the notes down correctly on two to three passings. Only to Formorian's greatest disappointment Christine couldn't sing with soul, with heart, with anything other than a very pretty voice. If that is what the ton wanted, the English Instructor was hard pressed not to give it to them. This was Opera, Opera was Desire, it was Passion it was...
A chorus girl hit the worst note she'd heard in a long time, followed by a scream as a stage hand took it upon himself wreck the entire session. Of course the petite blonde sputtered, protested, chased the man off the stage herself. A spell of quality work had been broken leaving Formorian wanting to go and demand that a private, sound-proof, dead-bolt lockable practice room be made for her. Knowing that was a demand beyond demands, who was she to boss around the managers for such things?
Her say however did make or break a persons standing in the Opera. Dismissing the girls with a mild chat with Christine who was becoming more haughty with her by the day. Carlisle watched the Viscountess leave with her back rigid. Juliette was going to be a disaster, she could feel it in her bones. Half defeated she fell back onto the bench, dismissing the leading male tenor as well. He was an amazing Romeo.
In her mind she marked all the problem areas for Christine. Glancing up only to find the Diva herself glaring daggers down at her. Formorian stood then as the two women snapped out the complexities of the Opera. Gounod was not as much a genius as Mozart or even Handel but he had set things in such a way that could be considered the first step of being a Wagnerian soprano. Thanking Wagner for those roles.
There was a greater difference between Formorian's voice and that of Christine DeChagny. The Viscountess was a Lyric Soprano, where as Formorian was a Lyric Coloratura having the ability to both be gentle, sweet, pleasing, and warm. With a quality of largeness, darkness that was greatly dictated between the five-octave jumps her agile voice was capable of doing. As they began to argue Formorian went to the Piano and played the bottom note of the riff she was having trouble with the Viscountess with all the answers.
"It's a run Madame! From a D3 to an B flat on the 6th Octave. Sustained for a total of ten counts before riffing down. You cannot do the run properly, and your range goes as far as an F6 where it barely strains!" Formorian said hotly.
"This is an outrage! How dare you critique my voice! You should be asha-" Formorian cut her off.
"It is my job to critique your voice and make sure you can perform the roles! Praise be this not the Magic Flute as you'd have to hit a 7th Octave." Like two women angry over more than an operatte piece.
The two dueled it out as two civil women would. Both of them vocally challenging one another on the riff both voices rose in perfection together, until one flew and topped a full octave above what was originally written. Formorian's tiny frame held that note, and crescendoed down to an angry, glaring Christine DeChagny. Who huffed and stormed off the stage for good this time.
Angry that THAT was what she was given to work with, Formorian huffed and began to put the pages of the Opera back in place in the fold. Shoving the scores into her little pack she stood her vocal cords tingling from the notes she just sung without warming up properly. She stopped when her path of escape from the stage to another room in the Populaire was blocked by a man.
Looking up at him, he was handsome and she gave him a small smile and a curtsy.
"Monsieur."
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Post by Armand Faure on Sept 25, 2008 21:54:35 GMT -5
Armand lifted his brows at the chorus instructor's harried appearance. Her usually neat and glorious golden hair was in a bit of dissaray, and she was breathing a bit heavily. The last echoes of a frighteningly high note reached his ears and then died off. He decided not to comment, but to move on immediately to the issue at hand. Gesturing at Lucien behind his back, he beckoned the boy over to his side. His back straightened a bit so that he stood at his full height, very official-looking, and he took her hand delicately in his gloved one, bowing over it to kiss the air above it cordially. Releasing her, he took one perfunctory step back before clearing his throat with what he hoped was a pleasant smile.
"Inspector Faure, Mademoiselle. It has come to my attention that my nephew is a singing talent, and he would like to earn an apprenticeship and training in the Opera Populaire, with room and board, of course." He nudged Lucien forward with a hand on his back. "I was wondering if you could help us to see this happen."
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Lucien Faure
Chorus Girl/Boy
Children be seen and not heard? Don't make me laugh.
Posts: 43
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Post by Lucien Faure on Sept 25, 2008 22:02:41 GMT -5
Lucien looked up at the woman that his uncle was talking to. She seemed tall, but that was mainly because he was short, so she might have been average size. She was also very pretty, and would be even prettier if she looked a little more put together. Must've been a long day here at the Opera.
His uncle had pushed him forward and described him as a singing talent. Lucien knew that he would be singing for this woman soon so he prepared himself mentally and physically. He went over how certain notes sounded when sang and he took in breaths to his diaphragm to help strengthen his voice.
To mentally prepare he thought of his parents. They had some musical ability and Lucien had loved to hear the songs they sang, his mother's piano playing... These had led to him being here, to standing in front of the choral instructor waiting for an audition. This was his path, he could feel it in his veins.
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Post by Formorian Carlisle on Sept 26, 2008 21:17:16 GMT -5
No sooner had she greeted the man before her with a simple word and a curtsy. Than he was taking her hand and leaning over it with complete and utter propriety. Kissing the air and Formorian gave him her attentions as she wasn't going to be passing by. Lightly adjusting the strap of her bag, the weight of the score dragging down on her shoulder. Her icy blue eyes looked down to the young boy who stood silently to the side, returning her gaze to the Monsieur who gave her the worst, fake smile she'd ever seen. It was an attempt so she beamed a smile back at him in return.
"Inspector Faure, Mademoiselle. It has come to my attention that my nephew is a singing talent, and he would like to earn an apprenticeship and training in the Opera Populaire, with room and board, of course." Monsieur Faure nudged the boy forward and Formorian gave the young boy a sweeter smile. "I was wondering if you could help us see this happen."
Formorian wasn't a mean woman, stubborn yes but she couldn't bear to see a frown take this sweet young man's face. At the same time she couldn't falsely give either hope until she heard and would have to fight for a child to be taken in. Young ingenues perhaps at the age of ten or so were the most taken as there was already an idea of what the voice would do once puberty hit, along with young girls. To take on a boy this young was a gamble in itself. Looking back to Faure her smile remained upon her features, her tone gentle as she spoke.
"Monsieur Faure. I would be delighted if your Nephew would sing for me, to better understand his range and where he is at vocally. If he proves to be such a talent I will have grounds to press for him to be allowed. Until that time comes," looking to Lucian she smiled down at him. "Would ye mind singing for me Sir? I'd much enjoy to hear."
Once they had agreed she shook her head of the stage.
"Not here it's by far too noisy. There is a practice room down the hall, please follow me." Leading them to the little practice room it was small and the door didn't shut right. Sitting down at the piano she rummaged around in the pocket of her bag. Pulled out a piece of charcoal, rummaged again and pulled out some blank pages. Setting them down beside her, she looked to Lucian.
"Can you read music my dear?"
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