Okay, but POTO/Stucky AU
And just to clear up any (justified) worry over the level of stalker creepiness in the various versions (original book, Broadway musical, movie), weâre turning the creep factor of the Phantom WAY down.
(Unless a wild plot bunny attacks with Phantom!Pierce, Christine!Bucky, and Raoul!Steve. Which is always possible. Because in the book, the Phantom was THAT level of horrifying creep.)
Anyway. Iâm thinking of a rough lineup, ahappileeâ, but feel free to argue against me.
POTO Character - CA Character: reasoning
Paris Opera House - New York Opera: duh? (This could also be Broadway, as long as itâs set in New York.)
Erik the Phantom - post-ish Winter Soldier!Bucky: After growing up in eastern Europe and suffering horrible torture that left him with only one arm and more scars than can are visible, Bucky sees himself as crippled, horrific, unworthy. Heâs done so many terrible things, he canât be worthy of even laying eyes on Steve, who is so perfect and innocent and pure - people just havenât realized it yet. Still, he cares so deeply for Steve, heâs going to watch over Steve, protect him, and MAKE people realize his greatness.
Christine Daae - Steve Rogers: Steve starts out as a small, waif-ish boy in the chorus with an angelic face and voice but no stamina for major roles. He dreams of becoming a star, of elevating the art of opera from crude, multi-lingual jokes to something pure and moving - something that will touch menâs souls. He has heard the legend of the Phantom and the marvelous wonders he brought from eastern Europe (if that is where he originated, rather than from the ether or from hell, like some skittish performers insist), and Steve longs to gain his help in becoming the artist he knows he could be, were his body not holding him back.
Madame Giry - Natasha Romanoff: Ms. Romanoff is aware of some of the horrors to which the elusive phantom (whom she calls James) was subjected. She sympathizes with him, but acts as a check on some of his more vindictive plans. (He really doesnât like people looking down on Steve, okay? But that doesnât excuse his temper.) She is a mentor to Steve and serves as the go-between for the Phantom and the operaâs managers...beyond her day job as a secretary.
Meg Giry - Sam Wilson: Another member of the chorus, Sam cares about Steve and is worried when he notices that Steve is being targeted by the mysterious Phantom for reasons unknown. He doesnât share Steveâs belief that the Phantom only wishes to help Steve, especially when strange accidents start taking place within the opera house.
Carlotta the prima donna - Tony Stark: Tony gained his position partly through his natural talent for music and acting, but mostly through the sponsorship of his father, Howard Stark, who was a legendary (and very wealthy) performer. Before his death, Howard made an arrangement with the New York Opera House - as long as his son is the star, the NYOH can use money from an endowment he left behind. If they fire Tony, remove him as the headliner, or lose Tony to another opera/theater, then they lose the endowment. And itâs a big endowment. (Tonyâs death or willing retirement from performing is their only out.)
Vicount Raoul de Chagny - Peggy Carter: Lady Carter hails from London and was an enthusiastic supporter of Howard Stark. She travels to New York to see his son perform, but is taken by the young man in the chorus, whose kind eyes and innocent enthusiasm gain more of her sympathy than Tonyâs overdramatic flair.
Retiring manager(s) - Colonel Phillips: Mr. Phillips has had it with managing Stark Sr.âs overbearing ego and trying to corral his equally exasperating son. In any opera, there will be a certain level of drama outside the stage, but recent events have raised the tension to unbearable levels. Heâs glad to hand the business over to the new managers - and may God help them, because he certainly wonât.
New manager(s) - Fury and Coulson: Both men have experience as traveling actors/directors, but not on the level of the internationally famous NY Opera, and not with the level of inter-cast tension and hidden characters as this institution.
And because more drama and pain is always possible, Bucky may not be as free from his former masters as he thinks... After all, HYDRA does hate to lose such a valuable asset.














