The Phantom of the Opera: A Beauty and a Beast (Guile and Melody)

[Guile]

Christine's hug was all it took to reassure Erik that she didn't find him completely disturbing. Still, the poor girl looked completely different - shocked beyond belief by what she had seen. It upset Erik that Christine was so bothered, he hated to see her like this. And it was all thanks to that disgusting display he had shut away for a reason. He felt that is was disrespectful to Christine to just have it sitting around, but he hadn't been able to rid himself of it. So, he had shut it away. Hesitantly, Erik followed Christine out from behind the curtains and over to the food. Before she could get to it, Erik poured some of it into a bowl for her and himself. He took the bowls and set them on the table before holding out a chair for Christine - one facing away from the wardrobe. Once she had settled herself, Erik sat across from her and tried to eat, but could not. His mind was racing with thoughts of that replica of Christine. It made him sick to think how it had effected the real Christine. He could not be in peace anymore with it here. "Wait here, Christine, please. I will be back." Erik looked ashamed as he stood and made his way to the wardrobe. Opening it up, he found it hard to look at the replica anymore, but forced himself to do so. He removed the dress from it - an action that bothered him greatly because it looked so much like Christine. The dress he sat on the bed for a moment, the mannequin he pulled out of the wardrobe and carried it with him outside. He was gone for all of maybe two minutes, and when he came back he came back empty handed - the replica of Christine gone from the premises. Putting the dress carefully back in the wardrobe, Erik resumed his seat across from Christine at the table and began to eat - his face red and unable to meet her gaze.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine sat down and waited, as she was told. Part of her wanted to make an attempt to stop Erik. He was happy with where the dress was and, she had to admit, the work that someone put into making the mannequin look like herself was truly impressive. "Erik, I thank you for this, truly. I believe that you forgot about it and it was an accident." She smiled and took his hand. "I should not have been snooping. I invaded the privacy of your home." She also resumed eating, now smiling with the slightest blush tinting her cheeks.

 

[Guile]

Erik was so grateful that Christine had broken the silence - it was starting to kill him. And the way she took his hand made him smile. It was a warm touch that made him feel that Christine had truly forgiven him. "You did no such thing, Christine. I told you before that my home was yours and I stick to that. You are welcome here any time...welcome to feel at home here. I should have gotten rid of it long ago." Erik looked up and saw her smile, which he thanked God for. He knew he had made the right choice in getting rid of that mannequin - it made her happy, and in turn, made him happy. "Thank you for believing me. I would not lie to you." Erik smiled warmly at her before continuing to eat with their hands still connected. He couldn't bring himself to separate them - he didn't wish to.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Neither did Christine. While it was harder for her to scoop up her soup with her free hand occupied, Miss Daae didn't remove herself from Erik's grasp. "I must admit, whoever made the duplicate did a fine job of it. Every detail was correct. And it's for that reason that I say that you shouldn't completely rid yourself of it, especially while I'm gone." Christine reached over the table and kissed him warmly on the cheek. "Don't worry. I'll be alright." She got up and went to search for the piece of art herself. "Now, where would he put it?"

 

[Guile]

Erik wanted to protest to bringing it back, but the kiss that Christine placed on his cheek made his mind go numb and he forgot what he was going to say. When she stood, Erik did the same, following her around the place as she searched for the object. "Christine, it is very kind of you to be thinking of me, but truly I don't need it. In all honestly, it's so very realistic that it unnerves me sometimes." He chuckled slightly and placed his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to stop her search. "I worked hard on making it an exact copy, but it was simply something I put myself up to when I had far too much free time on my hands. I tried to occupy my time with a project and, because I felt so alone when you were gone from me, I decided to make it." His face went red again and he chuckled nervously. "However, I must admit that I prefer the real Christine to some silly replica."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine stopped when Erik's hand grabbed her shoulder and she was spun around. "Oh, but you spent so much time and worked so hard to make it, Erik." She looked saddened. "At least tell me that you didn't throw it away and that it isn't ruined because of how silly I was being." She laid against him again, taking in his scent. "Please, don't ruin your work because of me, even though you have me now."

 

[Guile]

Erik was surprised by the saddened look in her eyes, but was overly happy when she laid against him. He couldn't help placing his hand on her head and lightly stroking her soft curls. "You weren't being silly, Christine. I do not blame you for reacting in such a way. What a shock it must have been to open that wardrobe and see an exact copy of yourself looking back!" His voice was soft, comforting, as he looked down at her the best he could and smiled. "I would have done the same thing if I had been in your position." Erik promised her, placing a hesitant kiss on her forehead. "It isn't ruined, Christine. I've just taken it out, away from here. I didn't want you coming across it again and, honestly, I didn't want to see it again." Erik confessed to her why he didn't want to see it. "It will just remind me of that horrible sinking feeling I had in my heart when I saw your reaction. You...you looked as if you thought I had gone mad. It hurt to see you so upset. I don't want to think of you looking like that again because of something I did."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine looked up at him again, smiling. "Well, that's good. I would truly hate to see it ruined." She walked him back inside their home. God! Their home! The sound of that sentence felt so good inside Christine's head. "You look like you need rest, my friend. Perhaps you should lie down." She led him to his bed. "And, I'll just tidy up. I won't leave until you wake. I swear." She started picking up the mess around his little hideaway.

 

[Guile]

Erik obediently let Christine lead him to the bed, but he refused to do as she said. "Oh, no." He shook his head, smiling, when he saw her trying to clean up the mess around the house. "I won't lay here and sleep while you clean up my mess. When I said that my home is yours, I did not mean that it was yours to clean." Erik chuckled, took the few objects that were in her hands from her, and placed them on the table. He took her hands in his and led her to the bed instead. "You will rest, if you wish. But you won't clean my mess up. That, I will do." Then, he got red in the face and clarified things for her. "I won't...I mean...I don't sleep all the time. I will be up tonight...uh, working on my music - quietly, of course. I wont need the bed." God, he felt like a fool with all this stammering and stuttering. What he was trying to tell her was that she could sleep in peace and he would not attempt to sleep in the same bed with her, as he felt it was not proper despite the fact that they had already been intimate. Erik still felt as though he should not lay next to her.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine felt strange. "But, it's the woman's job to clean the home, is it not?" She asked him, sitting with her calves under her, on her knees. "Really, I don't mind cleaning, Erik. I can't stand being bedridden before my time." She disobediently got out of the bed and helped him clean. "Please, I insist that you take a break from everything that you've done for me today, my dear." She started washing their bowls.

 

[Guile]

Erik turned her way when she brought up the idea of 'a woman's job.' "Nonsense, Christine. I have never believed in such a sexist view on the roles men and women play in a home." He still continued to clean, but was soon joined by Christine. "Well, I wish you would just rest, but I don't want you to feel bedridden when you don't need to be." Erik watched as she began cleaning their bowls, but did not stop her from doing so. "Oh, alright. You may help me. But I will not sit down and rest until you do. So, if you're so fixed on having me rest, I suppose you'll just have to do the same." Erik grinned and continued to clean up the mess around his home, sticking to his words.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine was going to argue the fact that she still believed in a man's role and a woman's role in the world, but, upon seeing Erik's face, she smiled and helped him. "You should work on your art while I do this, then. It would be lovely to listen to you as I work." Putting the dishes away, she started lighting the candles that had gone out, then took some apples from the counter and left him. "Pardon me, but we're forgetting my beautiful Cesar." She grinned and traveled toward the animal, who waited not far away.

 

[Guile]

Erik was going to refuse her request and keep working with her, but decided against it. "Well...alright, I suppose." He smiled as his fingers practically started twitching at the anticipation of playing, especially for her. He noticed her take the apples off the counter and head towards Cesar. "Be my guest, Christine." And he waved her on with a smile. "Just, do remember that he is quite the stubborn animal." He laughed, then warned her, be careful." Erik trusted Cesar, but would Cesar trust Christine? That was the question that Erik hoped had a positive answer to as he sat down at his piano. He started to play over what he had written so far, making sure everything sounded right. Every few measures he would look up and check to make sure Christine was alright.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine held out her hand, smiling at the horse without showing her teeth, a threat to most animals. "Easy, boy. It's me." The horse started shifting his weight on his hooves. "Easy...easy...good boy." Christine held out the apple. "I have something for you, boy. Remember...Christine." she pat his snout, almost trembling, then feeling warmth under her fingers as the apple disappeared. "That's it! Good boy!" She picked up another.

 

[Guile]

Erik watched Christine, his heart racing for fear of what could happen to her at any moment. However, he let out a sigh of relief when Cesar took the first apple from her hand. Thank goodness. He seems to not mind her presence anymore... Thinking everything would be just fine, Erik resumed his playing. He did continue to look up every now and then, but focused more on his music. In fact, he let out a soft laugh that such a wild animal like Cesar could be calmed by Christine's presence. I suppose she has that effect on animals as well as people. Erik thought with a smile.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine gave Cesar his seventh apple and raised her hands in surrender. "I'm finished. No more, Cesar." She kissed his nose and walked back to Erik, leaving the animal alone again. "Fantastic news! He remembers me!" She hugged the man with such a tight embrace that it would have choked any man, but that wasn't what she was trying to do, so it never happened.

 

[Guile]

Erik was so lost in his music at this point that he didn't even notice Christine had come up behind him. He jumped a little when he felt her arms tight around him, but laughed as soon as he realized it was her. "Forgive me, I didn't hear you come back, Christine." Erik placed his hands on her arms and lightly ran his fingers over them with a smile, absentmindedly. "That's wonderful, Christine. I knew Cesar would remember you. After all, who could forget the beautiful Christine Daae?" With a chuckle Erik looked up at her the best he could and smiled warmly.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine blushed when Erik's fingers traveled up and down her skin. "Oh, I know. He was truly wonderful when I was little, then, a certain someone took him away from me and I never saw him again until now." She smiled and let go.of him. "But, don't worry. I don't mind. He's happy now." She kissed the top of his head.

 

[Guile]

Erik chuckled warmly, her smile making him just happy to be alive. "Well, you may see him whenever you like now, Christine. That is, of course, you remember to stop in and say hello to me." He grinned up at her, when she placed a kiss on the top of his head. And how beautiful it was! Simple, but beautiful. "I don't wish to be outdone by a horse, now." Erik laughed, before an idea came to his head. A sly smile came to his lips at this idea, and he moved over a little on the bench, motioning for Christine to sit down beside him. "I take it you heard me playing? I wanted to ask you what you thought of it."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine relished their embrace, and was happy to oblige when Erik had asked her to sit down next to him. "I'm certain that a horse couldn't outdo a man, but we shall see." She scooted closer, but left him enough room to actually play his piece. "And, another thing I'm certain of is that whatever you compose will be an angelic one."

 

[Guile]

Erik noticed her scoot closer to him, causing him to smile, though he did not call attention to it - he didn't want to embarrass her, though he would have loved to see her blush again. He had to admit, it was very appealing. "That is very kind of you, Christine. Though, you've not heard it yet in its entirety. Perhaps I am a wonderful singer and architect, but what if I proved to be a horrible composer?" Erik chuckled and smiled at her, meeting her gaze. "After all, no one can be perfect." He joked before setting his fingers on the keys, taking a deep breath, and began to play. Erik seemed to become lost in his music almost immediately. As his fingers flew over the keys, his eyes brightened with a burning intensity and the music rushed from the page, through his body, and out of the piano. It was a compelling sight to watch, for this man truly felt his music and became rather animated when he played.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Don't be daft. You are indeed a one in one million man, Erik." She was busy reading the piece before Erik ever started playing. "It already sounds beautiful and you haven't played a single note yet." She still read. "What do you call this work, dear?" She laid her head on his shoulder at once.

 

[Guile]

Erik was surprised to feel her head resting on his shoulder, though he couldn't have been more pleased by such a small action. "I thank you, Christine. It means the world to hear you say that. I could have this performed a thousand times over - be praised by millions of audience members - and still, only your praise would matter to me. After all...you were the inspiration, Christine." He smiled at his confession, knowing his words were true. "It is called Don Juan Triumphant."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Ah, the master at work." She blushed, the confession getting to her, but she had to raise her head to give him the proper movement that he needed. "I can only hope that, one day, it shall be performed on the stage directly above us. I would love to participate in such an extraordinary experience .

 

[Guile]

As he continued to play on, Erik was not unaware of Christine's words. He smiled, still not ceasing his playing, though he did let out a laugh. "Well, Christine, I must say that it is almost finished. I've got a few more bars to write at the end, then I would like to check over it once more. Once it is finished I wouldn't mind asking the managers to perform it." Then, he laughed again. "Participate? Christine, if you were a part of my Don Juan, you would be the lead! In fact, if I ever have it performed, I shall insist upon you playing the lead." Erik looked up from his music and smiled at her. Loosing himself in her eyes caused him to slow down what he was playing, then stop completely. He didn't even realize he had stopped, for the melody was still raging inside his mind as he looked at her.