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

[Saiyan Princess]

"Mister Y! Thank God it's you!" The boy was indeed frantic, out of his mind. "My dad! He thinks Mother wasn't faithful! That's crazy, I know, but he doesn't understand!" Gustav hugged Erik's neck. "Mister Y, he's so upset and angry right now! Mum's in trouble!" The boy was crying. "I don't want her to get hurt again, you have to help her!" He was now eye level with the man. "Please, help my mother. You were her friend, weren't you?"

 

[Guile]

As soon as Gustav's words reached Erik's ears, he was furious - with himself and with Raoul. I knew it! I never should have let her try to comfort me. God, what have I done? "It's alright, Gustav." He did his best to remain calm for the child's sake, and to comfort him. Erik knew that going off and facing Raoul could be the end of him, for surely he would remember him immediately. Still, Erik would not even think about turning his back on Christine now. He was no coward. "I will go to her. I will help her, Gustav. She will be alright, I promise you, but you must stay here." No child should see what was bound to happen when he showed up. "Gustav, please, find Meg. Find Miss Giry and stay with her. I will stop this, I swear to you." Without waiting around to make sure Gustav did as he was asked, Erik took off sprinting in the direction of the de Chagney home. Oh, God, this is all my fault...If he lays a hand on her, I will kill him! He was growing more furious, and more frightened, the closer her drew to their home. It seemed to take him forever, though it was only a matter of minutes, before he was bursting in through their front door and running up the stairs to the bedroom. Unable to hold back his growing fury, Erik didn't just open the bedroom door, he kicked it in. It didn't come off the hinges, but it was enough to leave the wooden object hanging crooked. "Get your hands off of her!" He screamed at the Vicomte before running over and grabbing the man by the shoulders, attempting to throw him off of Christine.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Raoul turned around. To kill him isn't very fair. It wouldn't be a fair fight, with Raoul as intoxicated as he was. "Get off!" Raoul threw Erik off and forced him to the ground. "Get out of my house!" He growled. Christine got up. Raoul turned on his heel, saw her, but allowed her to go. "We're finished here." He told her as he dressed and went to bed. Christine flew past Erik and down the stairs to sleep on the couch tonight. "Thank you for coming, Erik." She smiled at her friend as she laid down and tried to sleep.

 

[Guile]

Erik grunted as he hit the ground, looking up to glare at the man. He did not fight back, but waited to see what Raoul would do about Christine attempting to leave. Erik was relieved that he allowed her to go, and therefore, did not push the fight any further. Instead, he stood and followed Christine downstairs. He got down and saw her already settled on the couch to sleep and his guilt came back to him. "Don't thank me, Christine, this is all my fault. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let you...I was selfish today." Erik admitted his guilt softly, so that the Vicomte could not overhear. Then, he remembered the child. "Christine, Gustav is with Meg. I shall send him home as soon as I get back to Phantasma." Erik looked over his shoulder, back towards the stairs where the Vicomte would be resting above, before turning back to her. "That is, if you think it is safe for him to come back so soon after...well, what just happened." He didn't trust Raoul. No man that would hurt his wife was fit to have her, or a child, in his presence. Yet, Christine was the man's wife. He would trust her judgment, even if he disagreed. "Will you be alright?" He asked after a pause of hesitation. There was a hint of concern in his eyes. Surely she had been frightened by this sudden outburst from her husband.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"I'll be alright. I can promise you that, Erik." Christine turned over to smile at him. "These rages don't last forever. When he's interrupted, he stops." Christine told him, also whispering. "Don't worry about Gustav, Raoul has never laid a hand on him. He'll be safe." Christine knew that for a fact. Raoul would never hurt a child. Christine wouldn't allow it. Raoul knew that. "It's safe for him to come back."

 

[Guile]

At first, Erik was upset. 'These rages?' This fool has done this before? It made him furious with the Vicomte all over again, but he kept that feeling inside. What could he do, after all? Christine had faith in Raoul and there was nothing that he could do to change that. So, Erik simply lowered his gaze to the ground in defeat, and nodded. Perhaps he still had doubts about whether or not the Vicomte would hurt Gustav, but there was nothing he could do. The child was Christine's as well, and he could not just refuse to let him come home. "Alright, Christine. I will send him home as soon as I return, I swear it to you." Smiling weakly, Erik hesitated before leaving. Without giving it too much though, he leaned down and placed a tender kiss to Christine's forehead. "I expect you to uphold that promise you made me ten years ago, even still. If you ever feel it necessary, come to me - for any reason." With that, Erik strode to the front door, opened it, then looked back at her from where he stood in the doorway. "Sleep well, Christine." He bid her goodnight, then left, shutting the door behind him softly. Erik made his way back to Phantasma quickly, but not as quickly as when he had left. He didn't want to leave Gustav worrying about the state of his mother for too long.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine blushed when Erik kissed her forehead so tenderly. "I've missed that so much about you, but this was your choice." She reminded him as she laid on the couch. Gustav was laughing and playing with his new friends at the time, trying to take his mind away from how his parents always fought. The employees were nice enough to involve him in some of their practices, letting him use the trap door when it was needed. "That was so much fun!" He came up above and laughed. "Let's go again!"

 

[Guile]

Christine's words echoed in his mind, tormenting him the entire way back to his park. My choice was for you to be happy with the man that I believed could provide it for you. Not for you to be hurt so deeply by the one you love every time he has an outburst when he's on a drunken spree. Still, he had to let it go as he approached the circus. There was nothing he could do abut it now. "Gustav!" Erik called out to the child happily, his hands in the pockets of his trousers, a half-forced smile on his lips. It was comforting to see the young boy playing so happily with his employees. "Gustav, your mother is just fine." He assured him, looking warmly down into his eyes. "It is safe for you to go home now."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"You mean it?" Gustav hugged the man when he saw that Erik was safe and especially when he heard about his mother. "Thank you so much for this!" He hugged him tighter before he walked off toward his home. "I just hope my mother is alright and that she still looks like the happy, beautiful person that she always was." Gustav opened the front door and found Christine fast asleep. "Hello, Mother." He smiled.

 

[Guile]

Erik smiled down at his son, surprised by his hug and unsure of how to react at first. "O-of course, Gustav. She is just fine, I made sure of it." He assured him before he felt the boy's small arms holding him tighter. At last, Erik timidly returned the embrace before releasing him and watching him go. Even after the child left, Erik could still feel his hug. It was so beautiful...he had never hugged his son before today.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Hello, my son." Christine smiled and held a single arm out to her son so that they could protect each other as they slept. "You're such a good boy, Gustav. Did you have fun at Phantasma?" She smoothed his hair down as she changed the subject. Gustav smiled as she did this. "Yes, ma'am." He did the same thing to her hair, causing Christine to smile for the first time in hours. "That's good. And I am assuming everyone was nice to you?" Again, the child gave a positive result.

 

[Guile]

After a while of just thinking about what had happened that day, Erik sighed and decided t help clean up for the night. The park had closed for the evening, just an hour before, and most everything as already done. He quickly dismissed his employees, allowing them to go spend the night how they wished, before retiring to his own room. Lost in thought, Erik was unable to sleep, so he lit a candle by his desk and began to work on his plans for Christine's performance. He already had the music written, of course, but he sat up thinking about and drawing out design plans for the backdrop of the stage. It had to be something utterly magnificent, something that would bring out her physical beauty as well as the beauty of her voice. Then again, simply the curtain would do just that, for she as beautiful anywhere. Erik sighed, for he once again was aching for her presence. She has done more than enough for you. You could ask no more of her. Not only has she agreed to sing for you, but today she went behind her husband and gave herself to you, once again. God, the guilt was still eating him from the inside out.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The next morning proceeded like normal. Christine woke to make Gustav's breakfast, but someone was already up and making it. Raoul decided to take over Christine's duties for a change. He locked away his alcohol and was setting the table while his family slept. "Christine, I can only beg for your forgiveness." Raoul begged her. Christine couldn't look at him, but nodded. "Thank you for dinner." She sat Gustav next to her, perhaps closer than normal.

 

[Guile]

Erik woke the next morning very much like he used to when he still wrote beautiful music pieces, hunched over his work, exhausted, and with an aching head. That didn't stop him from standing and getting himself cleaned up for the day. In fact, it probably pushed him to go and relax in the bath, something he normally didn't do. Still, it helped sooth his aching body - it was no fun spending all night bent over a desk - and helped him as he desperately tried to clear his head of the latter events of last night. When Erik had dressed for the day and come back out into his room he spent a few moments looking over his designs. Satisfied with them, he grabbed up the papers and went to find Madame Giry. He forgot all about eating, something that was quite regular for him, actually, as he rapped on her door. Erik hoped she was awake, for he needed someone to look over the designs and give him an honest opinion on them. "Madame? Madame, have you woken?" He called softly, a little too eager. It wasn't even the designs that he was worked up about, he was anxious simply because of the idea that this was for Christine's performance - Christine's performance! Erik never thought he would see her perform again, and now, she was going to sing a song that he had written for her, and in just a few weeks time.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Madame Giry turned over and sat up with a groan. She hadn't woken until Erik knocked on her door. "Yes, my dear. I'm awake." She tried not to wake Meg, who slept on the sofa across the room. "You have the designs? My, I haven't seen you this excited since Paris, my son." She opened the door. "That smile, this energy suits you well. Come, come." She beckoned him into the room. "Don't be so loud, though. Meg's sleeping." She pointed to the blonde beauty on the couch. "Let's see it, then." She brought a chair up to her desk and pointed at it. "Sit."

 

[Guile]

Erik immediately ceased his knocking when he heard his friend's voice. He waited patiently, though the man was practically shaking with excitement. When, at last, she opened the door, he greeted her with a wide, toothy grin which she complemented. Perhaps it was the heat of the summer, but his cheeks flushed and he felt quite self-conscious. Stepping into the room and looking around, the first thing he noticed was Meg sleeping on the couch. He had not seen her around very much, what with both of them being fairly busy, but she looked far more peaceful lying there, sleeping, than he remembered her normally being. "Of course, Madame." Erik spoke in a hushed voice, agreeing to stay quite so that Meg could rest, as he placed his designs upon the desk. When she motioned to the chair, he obeyed her command and sat, thanking her for bringing it to him. Still, his mind was elsewhere, drawn to the papers scattered on the desk. Hurriedly, probably because he was so excited, he explained his designs for the backdrop of the stage. It was a simple idea, yet quite extravagant to look at. The whole thing was a beautiful blue, with quite the array of peacock feathers, painted, of course, by one of the best artists in town. Erik wanted this to look beautiful and real, not cheap and fake. He never did like to do things the easy way. "Well?" He looked up into his friend's eyes, his own glimmering with hope. "What do you think?"

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"You're quite the mastermind." Madame Giry responded when she saw the backdrop. "It's beautiful. So, tell me, where will you find someone to help you?" She questioned him. "Would you like me to go out and pay the man beforehand or what?" She rested her knuckles against her lip. "It's completely and totally up to you." She didn't want to touch the design, for fear of ruining it. "Will you show this to Christine beforehand or are you keeping it a surprise? She'll want to find something to match the set anyway." Madame Giry just spit out one question after the next. "It is quite beautiful. It suites a man like you."

 

[Guile]

Erik's cheeks flushed red again, and he couldn't hold back his smile as he sat before his friend with an air of pride about him. "Oh, thank you, Madame. I am so very glad that you think so. I wanted it to be beautiful, nothing less than extravagant." He thought of her questions. "I would be delighted if you would have him paid beforehand. We shan't have to worry about it later then, when it gets closer to the performance. And, I do believe I will show Christine. It would be nice to surprise her, but I think she would appreciate having the time to pick out a dress that suits the backdrop." He smiled, looking as if in a daze, just thinking about her possible reaction.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Very well, maestro." Madame Giry stood and walked toward her sleeping child. "Meg, dear. I will be right back. Stay here and out of trouble." Her orders given, Giry smiled back at Erik and fled the circus for the bright, sunny day outside. "We really should come out here more often." Giry ventured into town with a small bag of coins. The place she looked at was a beautiful building, tall, brick, with floral curtains. She walked inside to talk with the employees. "I need someone to paint a backdrop for the newest performance at the Opera Populair." Every occupant there thought her crazy. None had stepped foot inside the place since it opened. "I assure you that you'll be perfectly safe." She tried her hand at comforting the others, until they gave in at last. "We'll do it, Madame."

 

[Guile]

"Thank you kindly, my friend." Erik whispered, smiling, as he watched her leave, shutting the door behind her. Left alone, Erik glanced over at Meg's sleeping form. A few moments passed before he realized he had been staring at the soft rising and falling of her chest. Though it had been entirely innocent, he quickly looked away, his cheeks flushing once again. Never before had he felt more ashamed, and he had not meant anything by it. Clearing his throat softly out of nervousness, he suddenly began to feel the urge to leave. And yet, he couldn't - he didn't want to. He needed to stay behind and hear from Madame Giry what the others had said, if they would agree to paint his backdrop.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Meg turned over and smiled at Erik. "You are something different entirely." She sat up. "Tell me, what were your ideas for Christine's show? Is it just going to be her singing? Do our friends get a break?" She reached forward, grabbing a water pitcher and pouring herself a glass. "Or, did you want them to continue as normal?" She brought the cup to her lips with shaking hands. "It's your choice." Once empty, Meg set the cup down, leaving the room to dress in private.

 

[Guile]

Erik looked up at Meg, drawn out of his thoughts of embarrassment rather sharply by her voice. And yet, he still managed to smile at her. "Actually, I was hoping that you would open for her." He asked, just now feeling brave enough to meet her gaze. There was along pause of silence before he continued. "That is, of course, if you wish to. I was going to let the others off for that performance. I didn't want it to be a frightening one, like usual. I wanted the audience to focus on beautiful singing." He felt quite awkward as she left to dress in private, and he sat there, wringing his hands nervously. Why, after all these years, do I still feel uneasy around this woman? She has done nothing to me...not for a long time, anyway...to make me so nervous.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

When Meg returned, she looked as though she had been thinking of an appropriate response. "Well, if my manager commands it." She performed a perfect imitation of Carlotta, after which, she laughed. "Of course I'll do this for you, because you asked me to. I would be delighted to open up for Christine when the time comes." She accepted his offer with a bright smile. "Thank you so much." Meg said no more on the subject as her mother returned. "Wonderful news!" Madame Giry laughed happily. "We have our painters!" She kissed Erik's hand in greeting. "Congratulations, Monsieur."

 

[Guile]

Erik heard Meg's laugh and suddenly felt a bit more at ease. Not to mention, she had agreed to open the show, which was a blessing. "Oh, thank you, Meg! With you opening for Christine the show will be wonderful. A lot of the audience members enjoy your performances, or so I hear from your mother quite a lot." He grinned and then, as luck would have it, his friend returned bearing such great news. "Splendid, Madame, just splendid!" Erik was so delighted that he wrapped her in a hug. "Thank you for going to them. I feel that they would have put up a fuss if I had gone. Tell me, they didn't pester you too much, did they?" He laughed slightly, pulling away from her at last.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Madame Giry pat Erik on the back, not used to physical affection. "Oh, don't worry. Their questions meant nothing." She assured him. "Really, they were just.concerned about safety issues, that's all." Meg tilted her head. "Why?" "Because, my dear, they.don't understand humanity and God's creatures like we do." Her mother gave the answer. "Everyone will surely be nervous the very first time that they meet our family, but that doesn't mean that we can't change their minds about it." She pulled away from Erik. "That's a good boy." She smiled, as though still speaking to a little boy. "Just remember that you are the mastermind behind all of this."