WIP Wednesdays -The Phantom of the Paradise (Patreon)

Welcome to WIP Wednesdays! Today we're changing it up a little with a WIP that is sort of a wish-fulfillment-fan-fic sort of deal. Many years ago after seeing Phantom of the Opera the movie (2004) and also Phantom of the Paradise (1974 film) I suddenly was inspired in my head to make the two come together. PotO and PotP's music would intertwine to a retelling of the story of The Paradise. For YEARS (like 15+ now) I have held this story in my head. I started to write it down this past summer (a few mutuals on tumblr were sharing their PotP fanfics it made me long for mine lol) but I haven't shared what I got down, with anyone.

Until now.

Here's a little of it. I've left in the notes to myself to come back later and change, etc. So enjoy the literal work in progress today <3

-Britt xoxo

Many people remember the opening of Angel of Music at The Paradise Theatre. The musical play itself was agreed by critics in the years following to be a wonderful piece of work; almost timeless and universally beloved for its raw look at humanity, love, jealousy, spirituality and revenge. But it was not the performance itself that drew upon people’s memories. It was the disaster that had happened live on stage just before the end of the show. Almost all of the accounts of it differed in some way. No one really seemed to know exactly what had happened that night. There was only one who truly knew all: the infamous and elusive ‘Phantom of the Paradise’. And as is any spectral figure, he would keep his secrets.

Daniel Swann entered The Paradise with a smile. Today was the first day of auditions and he couldn’t be more excited! The twenty five year old wished he’d have a part in them but for today, he had work to do and others were in charge of screening all candidates who came through the doors to audition. Once the groups of people were filtered out, the true casting process could begin.

He gripped his case tightly and made his way through.

It was beautiful to hear the voices of the singers practicing the sheet music they’d been given filling up the lobby with sound. It made him nervous and excited all at the same time. As he walked through the queue of people, one voice caught his attention and he found himself moving towards the voice instinctually like a moth drawn to flame. It was Lotte; his Lotte singing. Daniel could not believe it and had to see for himself who carried the voice he’d so often thought he could hear in his head.

The rest of the voices sang the words of the song but didn’t quite capture the melody. There was a dissonance in the hall but this voice which rang out the song perfectly was oh so clear to hear and he was getting closer. The airy tone, cadence, smoothness; it was all perfect for Lotte. It was the embodiment of everything he’d imagined.

There the person was: a brunette with her straight @_colour descr__ hair framing her pale oval face with a pointed chin, eyes locked intently on the sheet music in her small hand as her mouth opened to emit out the voice of an angel. An angel singing about an angel; the titular character of the play: “Angel of Music, Guide and Guardian, Grant to me your glory! Angel of Music hide no longer! Come to me strange Angel!”

Daniel shivered as she concluded the verse and suddenly she looked up and caught his eye. “Sorry,” he apologized, standing only mere feet away, “Keep going.”

The young woman blushed. She couldn’t be more than twenty four or twenty five.

“I’m really sorry,” Daniel apologized again, “Go ahead. Pretend I’m not here.”

She took a breath and looked back at the music, seeming to decide what to do. With another breath she looked up at him and opened her mouth to sing but failed and gazed back at her sheet, “Little Lotte...let her mind wander,” she sang unsteadily, “Little Lotte thought am I fonder of dolls-”

Daniel began to sing along with her and their voices came out in unison, “Or of goblins or shoes…” The woman’s voice faltered only a moment when she realized the young man was singing with her but she carried on with him, “or of riddles or frocks…”

“Or of chocolates,” Daniel added with a smile then gave a gentle indication for her to continue to the end.

“No what I love best Lotte said, Is when I’m asleep in my bed, And the Angel of Music sings songs in my head.”

“The Angel of Music sings songs in my head,” they concluded together.

“You sang like an angel tonight,” Daniel finished and smiled as the young woman looked up.

“That was...incredible. H-how’d you know it went like that?” the brunette asked in an airy voice.

“Because,” Daniel answered, “I wrote the music.”