#V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/655682162852577280/lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

Heading back to Christine with a smile on his face, Randall replied warmly, “Dorian has given you the go-ahead, if you wish to perform. I-I don’t know if there’s a-a song you have in mind, b-but if you’d like to look at the music some of our other spirits have, you’re welcome to.” Spooks like the Organist and the Graveyard Band had all sorts of music in their collections, and perhaps there was something there that would interest Christine for her potential performance.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/656233977876758528/theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“Think nothing of it!” Dorian replied with a little wave of his hand, saying, “My home is your home, so long as you’re within these walls! Gracey Manor is always open to any and all wayward spirits!”

Randall smiled at this-although he’d heard this speech a number of times, it never failed to bring a small smile to his lips, seeing how open Dorian was to anyone looking for somewhere to stay, so readily opening his door for anyone and everyone in need of a place to land, be it temporarily or permanently. 

He smiled to Christine at this-she’d really found the best place to stay, and he hoped that she would happy in the Haunted Mansion, for as long as she chose to stay.

#((this seems like a good place to stop but if you want to continue let me know!)) #outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/656098312754282496/lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“O-Oh, there’s no need to apologize, my dear,” Randall assured her understandingly, having listened to this impromptu speech, briefly forgetting all about the show going on in favor of hearing her out. “And I...I think that you’re right to feel this way-you want to find him, and get the closure you deserve, and you do deserve it, Miss Daae, I believe. I don’t know the entire story behind you and Erik, as it is none of my business, but I still believe you deserve to put all of this to bed.

That being said,” he continued, pausing to take a sip of water. “I, uh...I get the feeling that you’ve been burning the candle at both ends, so to speak, and that...you’re tired, understandably, and you deserve to rest.” He didn’t know how long she’d been searching for Erik, but he had a feeling that it had been a very, very long time, too long, perhaps.

“I suppose, if you really wanted my thoughts,” he finished, rubbing his bony chin. “I...I would say to rest-for now. To take some time to yourself, however much you need, before you resume your journey.” That way, she could perhaps find a little happiness, a chance to relax, while not making her feel as though her previous search was all for naught. He had a feeling Erik wouldn’t disappear off the face of the Earth if she took a little time to herself-he hadn’t done so in the time she’d searched for him, after all, and he doubted this would be any different.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/655968363764465664/lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

For much of the evening, other spirits went up on the little makeshift stage to perform for one another as well: Some sang as well, some did sleight-of-hand card tricks, and some still (like the three Hitchhikers) told jokes and did a little vaudevillian comedy. One of the highlights of the evening was when the Tightrope Girl, Ally O’Malley, showed off her pet alligator’s aptitude for tricks like following commands and jumping through hoops, all for treats.

Randall sat back with Christine as this all went on, enjoying the show-he hoped she was too; he’d noticed that she seemed to be in much higher spirits (ha!) after her performance, and he was happy to see it. He knew she had to still be struggling, given her search for her Phantom, but it was still nice to see her catch something of a break, to be able to cut loose and have a little fun with the others.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/655826190490370048/lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

The residents of the house had all fallen silent when Christine took to the stage, the anticipation in the air for this concert she was about to give. That anticipation was broke when the piano began to play, and Christine began to sing: Any nervousness that she felt, any shakiness in her voice completely flew over the heads of her audience, as they were all lost in the inherent loveliness of her voice.

From his seat in the audience, Randall was smiling warmly, undead heart swelling at the beauty of her voice: It reminded him of those honeymoon days with his wife, those days spent in the theater watching films and enjoying shows, and although it made his chest ache, wishing Emily was here with him, he was still able to enjoy the show, moved by Christine’s singing.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/655554239820677120/lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“W-Well, thank you very kindly, M-Miss Daae,” Randall smiled, flattered by her kind words: True, they didn’t know each other terrifically well, but he had a little feeling that the two of them were something of birds of a feather, and he was very glad to have met her here today, at Gracey Manor.

“Will I, uh, get a chance to hear you sing during your stay?” he asked her, half-joking and half-serious when he said this-he wasn’t sure if she was open to that, but if so, he would be there to hear her.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/655124186368524288/lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“Really?” Randall asked curiously: In some regards, it seemed like he and Christine had a similar upbringing, having been raised by a single parent (she hadn’t mentioned her mother, and so he quietly assumed she was gone) on a tight budget. He couldn’t imagine being on the road with such a budget, however, performing to scrape together whatever money they could.

“Sounds to me like he sort of...gave you your love of music,” he smiled: Between being raised by a violinist and told stories of angels who brought glory to musicians, it did not surprise Randall in the least that she sought to sing. He wondered quietly if he’d ever get a chance to hear her do so while she stayed at Gracey Manor.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/655014785885290496/lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“I was a haberdasher,” he smiled to her, doffing his hat to show her his handiwork-his top hat was oftentimes the example he showed to those curious about his mortal career, largely because he was still so proud of how he’d made it, even centuries later. 

“I made hats of all sorts in my living days,” Randall continued. “From boater hats to bonnets, I made them all back in my hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana.” He was the star employee of Minnie’s Haberdashery-even if Minnie never liked to acknowledge this fact.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/654865818050527232/theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“Well, let’s hope she screws up sooner rather than later,” Randall chuckled, raising his glass in a mock toast at this: He liked to hope that Constance’s popularity was beginning to wane with the mortals, and that she would eventually get the proverbial boot-a day which would no doubt lead to much rejoicing from the residents of the Mansion.

Feeling curious, Randall then glanced to Christine, asking, “What did you say you did for a living, Miss Daae?” He didn’t think she’d told him, but he was curious anyways-and it seemed like she’d put up with people like Constance before, and it made him wonder where.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/654738356310343680/lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“Ah, not everyone does,” Randall huffed, watching as a butler ascended the staircase leading to the attic, carrying a silver cloche. Not long after he did so, he returned-with the cloche on his head, and with food covering his clothing as he walked away with a remarkable amount of dignity to go wash up.

“Constance...” he muttered to himself, taking a sip of water before turning back to Christine, saying, “But again, th-they’re in the minority. Most of the spirits who’ve come here have come to stay, and even those that don’t come back to visit again and again.”

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/654433705353412608/theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“Of course!” he replied cheerfully, over the cacophony of the ballroom, as spirits began to file downstairs to take their places at the long tables, which was already prepped with plenty of plates, glasses, and silverware in anticipation of dinner.

“You can stay as long as you like,” Randall smiled, talking with her as they walked-no one would mind; after all, the unspoken motto of Gracey Manor was practically “the more, the merrier”. The more company they had, the happier the spirits were, it seemed-all were welcome in The Haunted Mansion, living or dead.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/654287337723969536/lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“It’d be sort of nice to find out why he keeps rushing around so fast,” Randall shrugged with a small smile. “Maybe he’s looking for a nice, new place to haunt?”

Erik seemed like the anti-social sort, not exactly keen on haunting side-by-side with half a dozen other spirits-that was alright, not every spirit was into haunting with others, some preferred to scare solo, so perhaps his continued flight from place to place was him trying to find a place to haunt by himself, one not already occupied by another spook. 

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/654169903796027392/theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“I suppose we are, aren’t we?” he sighed, giving her a wry smile before thanking her as he took the handkerchief, to dab away the tears threatening to spill over from his pale eyes. It was a horrible feeling, missing someone you loved dearly and not knowing where they could be, and he wouldn’t wish it on his worst enemy. Knowing that someone else was going through it too just broke his heart.

“I just hope things change for the better soon,” Randall finished, as he passed the handkerchief back to her with a small smile, one he hoped offered her a little comfort as well. “For the both of us.” He could only hope that she would find Erik, and that his Emily would come home to him, for both their sakes.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/653964296815099904/theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte

@lovely-lotte

“No, no,” he said quickly, shaking his head before replying, “I’m sorry, lass, I...didn’t mean to stare at you so long, I...I guess it’s just, well...you remind me a bit of Miss Melanie, actually-if you don’t mind me saying. There’s just...something about you that makes me think of her.”

Again, it came down not just to appearances, but just the very air Christine had about her, that sweet but sad atmosphere around her, giving Randall the impression that she knew what it was like to be heartbroken. Again, it made his heart go out to her, and he hoped he hadn’t discomforted her with either his staring or his comparison to Melanie.

#((sorry this is so late!)) #outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/653843517349707776/theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom

@lovely-lotte

“It’s not as big!” someone called, having overheard the conversation, as Randall replied, “Sort of. It used to be Monsieur Ravenswood’s house...when he was alive, that is. His daughter, Melanie, inherited after her old man bit it during an earthquake, but in death, he hung around, the old bastard, tormenting his poor girl long after she passed. He and all his rotten demonic pals, they’re always terrorizing poor Miss Melanie.”

He shook his head in shame at that-a woman as kind and sweet as her didn’t deserve to have such a monster for a father. He and the others at Gracey Manor tried to convince her to come stay with them, but she refused. She was still waiting for her groom.

#outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom

[theheadlessgroom]

https://lovely-lotte.tumblr.com/post/653698254246182912/theheadlessgroom-lovely-lotte-theheadlessgroom

@lovely-lotte

“Hmmm...” Randall hummed, stroking his bony chin: He did suppose there being only a handful of opera houses in the States narrowed things down a bit, but again, some opera houses (and other kinds of theaters, for that matter) were already haunted by other spirits, spirits who might not take kindly to an interloper encroaching on their territory. He supposed it was still possible he was on the move, and that whatever was happening in Tampa was the work of another ghost, but still...

Sighing softly, he looked to Christine sympathetically, saying, “I’m sorry, Miss Daae. I wish we had a way of...tracking him specifically, if we could find...I don’t know, any sort of calling card, any sort of sign of where he might go next!”

#((oh wow!! that's awesome honestly!!)) #((i've got a theater in the next town over but i've never heard of it being haunted-but hey every theater is supposed to have a ghost!)) #((so who knows!)) #outofhatboxes #lovely-lotte #V:The Wrong Phantom