Music of the Night: The Phantom of the Opera Returns (Guile & Melody)

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine shook her head. "Oh, the smell's there, believe me." She smelled herself and found, to her dismay, that the scent was now on her. "Alistair, come here." She told her son. The little boy was confused, but did as he was told and hugged his mother, who sighed. "Yes, he has it too." She walked him toward the path that led to the city to flag down another trolley. "The first thing you'll do when we return is bathe, both of you." Christine demanded. "That smell is getting to me."

 

[Guile]

Erik huffed like a child and crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't recall you being my mother, Christine." He chuckled as he followed her and Alistair down the path. "And what of you?" Erik asked her, grinning evilly, as if he had intentionally let his scent rub off on her. "You're covered in it too! At least, that's what the disappointed look on your face told me." Still, there was no sense in arguing, for Christine didn't look like she would be easily swayed on this matter. "Alright, I suppose Ali and I could both use a bath, but I still stand by the fact that I believe there is nothing wrong with the way we smell." Erik grinned and held in a chuckle at Christine's persistence.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine ignored him. "Just keep walking and pretend that we don't know him." Christine told the entire family as they flagged a trolley down and got in. "To the Opera Populair, please." Christine told the driver, and he was off before Erik could get the chance to catch up. This was all a funny little teasing game for Christine again, considering she hadn't been able to do one in a while. "Bye-bye, Daddy!" Lilly waved from the back seat, actually getting so far forward that she fell from the back. The hooves of the horses were so loud that the driver didn't hear Christine command him to stop. Lilly sat there, in the road, crying and running after her family. "Mama! Mama, please come back!"

 

[Guile]

Erik's smile quickly faded when he realized that Christine was ignoring him. No, they were all ignoring him! Why, how dare she! His smirk came back, but he quickly understood that she had no intention of letting him ride home with them either. "Christine!" Erik shouted after her warningly as he ran to catch up, but it was no use. The driver was already taking them away. He had just begun to slow to a walk, for it would do no use to run the whole way home, when he saw Lilly fall out the back. Horrified that she had been hurt, Erik took off running again, attempting to get to her. She had gotten up, which relieved Erik because he now knew she was in good enough shape to stand, and was running. Still, he was quick enough to catch up to the poor child who was sobbing. "Lilly! Lilly, sweetheart, are you hurt?" Erik slowed to a stop and scooped her up into his arms, catching her mid-run. "Darling, it's alright. Daddy will take you home." He whispered softly to her, placing a comforting kiss on her forehead as he started the walk home.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Lilly watched the carriage disappear over the hill. "Daddy! Daddy, I fell out! I wanted to say bye bye to you and I fell out!" She clung to him. "Mommy didn't hear me fall, neither did anyone else." Truthfully, the family was trying to get the carriage to stop. Andrew actually took hold of the reins and stopped the horses himself. "My sister fell out!" He managed.to tell the man, who was dumbstruck. "I'm so sorry! I didn't hear you!" He was breathless. Luckily, everyone was safe. That's all that mattered. Alistair was visibly shaken. "I can't see her!" He was always with Lilly. That was his twin! "I gotta find her!" He jumped down and took off the way they came.

 

[Guile]

Erik knew how frightened the poor child must have been, and he held her tightly to him. "It's alright, Lilly, I know what happened. You're alright, I'm here now. I'm going to take you home." He was having a hard time forcing his body to not shake out of fear. His little girl could have been horribly hurt! Just the thought of all the things that could have happened to her made Erik's heart go into a panicked state, but he forced himself to stay calm. She was alright. "Alistair? Alistair!" As they walked, Erik had caught a glimpse of someone running towards them. Once the figure got closer he realized that it was his son, looking rather shaken. "It's alright, Ali. Lilly's alright." He called as the boy came running. Erik was rather confused at first, as to how his son had gotten back here. After all, Lilly had said that no one had heard her fall.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The boy saw two distant figures and hurried with baited breath toward them. "Lilly!" He spotted the curly hair of his sister wrapped in their father's arms. "You idiot!" Ali growled at her. "You weren't supposed to lean out of the cart!" Lilly rolled her eyes. "Why don't ya take your music and stuff it!" She argued back. Sticking her tongue out at her twin, she heard Christine's relieved cries when they approached the cart. "Give her to me, Erik, please!" Christine yanked her daughter away.

 

[Guile]

Erik grinned, glad that the two of them were arguing. At least that means Lilly is not hurt after all, if she has strength enough to argue with her brother. "Enough, children. Lilly, you're brother is right. You shouldn't lean out of carts, my dear. But, Ali, there is no reason to pester her about it. She won't do it again, am I right, Lilly?" He gave his daughter a look that said she had better not, before smiling at her. It was then that they approached the cart and Christine took Lilly from Erik. "She's alright, Christine. She was well enough to argue with her brother on the way back. Aren't I right, Lilly?" He chuckled, smiling softly, still attempting to slow his heart rate down. "She gave me a fright though, watching her fall off the back." Erik admitted.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Lilly sighed. "Why would I do that again if it hurt the first time?" She had minor cuts and bruises, but nothing more. "That would be stupid of me." "It was stupid of you to do it the first time." Catherine told her with the very same look of relief as she saw that the child was just fine. "Can we just go home?" Christine asked the whole group as they piled inside. "But, I don't think there is enough room for all of us." Christine tried to restart her tease. "Oh well, Erik." They all piled in now.

 

[Guile]

Erik watched everyone fuss over Lilly before beginning to pile back into the cart. He went to get in, but was stopped by Christine's words. "Christine..." He drew out her name in a growl, glaring at her. Still, he was having trouble hiding that blasted smirk. "There is enough room. If not, then you had better make room, or when I get back to the Opera House, so help me..." Erik didn't finish his threat. He let it hang in the air, hoping that would be enough to convince her to let him in.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine made the twins and William sit on the floor, the safest place for them, while she held Johnny. "No, I'm sorry. There isn't enough room. Really you should blame yourself since all of these people have a common denominator, you." She waved the man on and the horses started picking up speed. "Tootles, my love." She knew that the man she married would find a way to get her back later. "I love you!" She threw her head back as they traveled forward. "Such a lovely lunch." She commented when they had stopped and gone inside through the back entrance, making sure to lock up after they were all in.

 

[Guile]

Erik glared at Christine menacingly, but did not say another word. Before he knew it, they were taking off down the road, Christine yelling out her words of love as they left him behind. He gave her a sarcastic smile, not knowing if she caught it of not. "And I love you, my lovely wife." Erik grumbled, sighing, as he began his hike back home. There was no way he was taking a trolley, not by himself. He did not trust people. In fact, he felt quite vulnerable out here without his family. Without them around, Erik felt once again, cast out from the world, rejected because of his face. He felt hated again and, with each person he passed, Erik grew more and more weary that someone might attempt to attack him. "Christine...what have you done to me?" Erik whispered to himself, keeping his gaze on the ground in front of him as his heart raced in anxiety.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Once down below, they were greeted by the family pet with lavishing kisses. Lilly was set down in a chair and bandaged up by her brother in law. "There, no harm done." Andrew smiled at her. "Just try not to get knocked out of the cart again." Christine waited with baited breath, feeling so very much like her old self again. "Where to hide this time?" She wondered. "I know!" She knew that this idea was her craziest yet. She probably wouldn't be able to top it. "I'll see you all later." She went above to, not her dressing room, not even to Meg's, but Carlotta's! She hid inside the enormous closet.

 

[Guile]

Erik walked home as quick as he could, getting only a few sarcastic comments about his mask as he went. With each howl of laughter from numerous drunken men, Erik grew more and more enraged. His face reddened and he had to bite his tongue to keep from yelling back at them. By the time he got back to the Opera House and got inside, he was shaking out of fear, his heart was pounding, his tongue was bleeding slightly, and his palms ached from digging his nails into his skin. Even when he got below he was no better. In fact, the poor man looked as though he had been through an ordeal, though nothing serious had happened to him. Even his voice quivered a little bit. "Wh-where..." He cleared his throat and tried again, slightly embarrassed. "Where is Christine?" Erik asked Andrew, Catherine, anybody that could possibly know the answer. He wasn't concerned, he was still trying to calm himself. He wouldn't have even asked to know where she was right away, if she hadn't been the reason for his frightened state.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

All they were able to tell him was that she went above. They weren't told where. But, there was one being that knew exactly how to find her. In fact, he whined and whimpered until he was acknowledged with Christine's scarf in his mouth. The dog barked twice to get his master's attention. "I think Jasper knows." Lilly smiled as she watched. "He's trying ta say it." She laughed.

 

[Guile]

Erik looked down at the dog, his brow raised in confusion. He noticed Christine's scarf in his mouth and knelt down in front of him. "So, you know where Christine is, do you?" He chuckled, and shook his head, disappointed. "It would be far easier if you could talk, don't you think?" Then, Erik stood and tried something. "Can you lead me to Christine, Jasper? Hmm? Sniff her out for me?" He questioned, hoping the dog would understand him vaguely.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Jasper barked and dropped the scarf at Erik's feet before running off toward the exit. "Wow, well, I know why he's so crazy now." Andrew laughed. "He's been messed up since birth apparently. He misses Christine." Catherine sighed. "Well, we're alone now." She grinned and led him off to a quiet place. Alistair and Lilly were left unsupervised with the babies. Carlotta, who always seemed to be showing off, wasn't in her room yet. Christine was hidden among her dresses and things, much more hidden than in Meg's closet. The only problem was that she wasn't alone in the room. Carlotta's poodle was watching her with a growl.

 

[Guile]

Erik took off after Jasper, grinning and laughing as he realized that he now had someone who could track Christine down whenever she ran off from him. All of his earlier fears from being outside alone were gone, replaced quickly with a childlike giddiness. "That's it, boy! Find Christine for me!" He was led rather quickly up the stair to the world above, the dog having to wait at the top for the slightly slower man. Then, they took off again, until Jasper finally stopped at someone's dressing room door. Erik immediately recognized whose room it was and looked down at Jasper, greatly disappointed. "She's not in there, Jasper. That is La Carlotta's room. No person in their right mind would go in there." Still, the dog did not move from where he was frantically sniffing the bottom of the door. Erik sighed, feeling as if he had lost his great tracker. But, seeing as he had no other option, Erik opened the door. "There, go and see. She is not in there." He persisted, glad that Carlotta was not in her room at the time. What a fright she would have, seeing the Phantom enter her very own chambers! The very thought made Erik laugh.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Jasper barked happily as he ran inside and, at first, started playing with the pretty poodle. Christine heard Jasper and sucked in each breath and took quickly and quietly as she waited for Erik to find her, but he couldn't without the dog. That was the key. Jasper wouldn't leave the poodle behind for some time, until he found things that occupied his attention in the closet. He tugged on several dresses and accessories. "Shoo, Jasper. Shoo!" Christine begged the pet. "Go away!"

 

[Guile]

Erik entered the room and groaned, for Jasper had occupied himself with the other dog in the room. "Damned dog." He muttered under his breath, sitting down helplessly on a chair. "You are useless. You know, the least you could do is earn your right to live under my roof." Erik was growing more and more impatient, but he drew the line when Jasper began to tug on the wardrobe in Carlotta's closet. "You fool! Quit playing and get back to searching for Christine! If you keep tugging on those dresses they will tear, and Carlotta will be furious." A wicked grin came to his lips. "On second thought...have fun." Erik laughed and waited for a few moments, hoping that the dog would resume his search for Christine. However, when Erik found his attempts futile, he stood and made his way to the closet - to Jasper more specifically - and attempted to pull him away. "Alright, enough of this. You are useless to me." He grumbled.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Jasper growled when Erik tried to take his new toy away. Even Carlotta's beast had had enough and nipped Erik's trousers. Christine tried so very hard not to laugh. So hard, in fact, that her chest started hurting. Oh fun. We now know that he has a way with all of God's creatures. Christine smiled to herself from her place on the floor in the closet, holding her chest. That's when Carlotta made her big debut. "What ees going on 'ere?!" She demanded.

 

[Guile]

Erik growled as soon as Carlotta's dog grabbed onto his trousers. "You filthy beast, release me!" He shouted, shaking his leg in a vain attempt to free himself from it's grasp. When he'd had enough of this, for the animal was going to ruin his good trousers, Erik reached down and pried it's jaws open and away from him. Before the pesky dog could try to grab a hold of him again, Erik picked it up and held it at arm's length, trying to keep it at bay. That's when Carlotta showed up and he grew even more annoyed. Wonderful! What could make this day better? "What's going on? I'll tell you what's going on!" His voice boomed at her. "Your damned rat is trying to destroy my trousers, that is what!" Erik was so fed up with these animals, and the thought of Carlotta, that he didn't even care that he was standing here, speaking to her in person. He wasn't afraid of this pathetic excuse for a singer. "It's almost as obnoxious as you are!" He growled, forcing the animal into it's owner's arms.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Let my doggy go!" Carlotta growled and took the dog from him. "You are pathetic!" She kissed her dog twice and left. "I want you out by ze time I git back!" Her accent was starting to annoy Christine, but she remained in the closet, clutching her chest as Jasper sniffed her out again. "Hush! Hush! Shoo!" Christine whispered to the dog. "Go!" She saw that Erik was really close. "Please don't see me." She mumbled.

 

[Guile]

"Ha!" Erik could only scoff at Carlotta as she huffed out of the room. "Damnable woman..." He growled, then looked down to see Jasper sniffing around again. "And you! This was your fault in the first place! All because you are a poor excuse for a tracker!" Erik bent down to pick the dog up, and that's when he heard a soft noise, a breath, from in the closet. Oh, he was so annoyed! He couldn't believe it! That damn woman has been here all along! Still, his mood was more of a playful one now that he had found out where Christine was. Without giving any warning, Erik leapt into the closet and wrapped his arms around her, letting out a loud cry of success as he tackled her to the ground. "You! How dare you run off and leave me on my own! Then you go and hide in Carlotta's room of all places! I should lock you away for the rest of your life for this! You are going to be severely punished for your behavior, my darling wife." He growled playfully.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine was preparing for her attack, but even so, it never came, well, it did, but not in a way that anyone would expect. Christine let out her own cry as she was brought from the ground to her husband's arms. "What do you mean? I told you that therewasn't enough room." She argued. "Please, have mercy on me." She played with him as well. "Don't be mad. I was just teasing, like I always do. You should be proud of Jasper, dear. There are so many perfumes in this room that I was sure that he wouldn't find me, but he did." She dared to kiss him. "Fine, punish me. Make me suffer." She teased. "I deserve it. Do the exact thing that you promised me that you would never do."