Limitation
"Face it, Erik," Mel taunts, "that cat's got you beat." Ayesha, Erik's amazing and loyal kitty, is currently walking along the organ keys for the tenth time in twenty minutes. Nothing Erik does stops her. Mel thinks she's in a rebellious mood, for she usually follows Erik's instruction to the letter. Today, however, she's using her impressive intelligence against him, getting out of any room he tries to lock her in or making so much noise that he can't compose in the off chance that she couldn't get out.
"This feline has not gotten the best of me," Erik grumbles in distaste. Of course he loves the cat, but she can be a true pain sometimes. Like now. You'd think she'd know when he wasn't in the mood. Then again, he rarely was. She's probably just bored and wants attention, but he's got a song in his head that won't give him a moment's rest. If he doesn't get it out soon, he'll go mad, he's sure.
"The one thing that stops you, the one thing that stops the almighty Phantom," Mel announces, gloating and loving this cat more by the second, "is an irate cat. I should go tell the managers of their new strategy to get rid of you. Fill the opera house with cats! It's brilliant! Genio-"
"Enough!" Erik hisses, annoyed. Ayesha draws attention to her again by stepping on a combination of keys that sound utterly horrendous together. Erik winces loudly before scooping the cat up and taking her over to the lake. "Once more – just once – and you'll be in there," Erik says Ayesha, pointing to the water. I swear the cat gives a little nod and he sets her down, returning to his organ.
Not two minutes later, Ayesha jumps up onto the keys and right in front of a very agitated Erik. Erik growls and Ayesha looks at him in what I perceive to be defiance. She then jumps off the organ and bolts for a passageway that only she can fit through. Mel snickers behind my hand and glances at Erik for a reaction. He smashes his fists on his, not wanting to hurt his organ by banging on it instead.
"Your one limitation. I suppose it could be worse," Mel says teasingly. He turns to scowl at her before returning to his organ.
"Limitation," she barely hears him mutter in disgust.