Author's Note: What follows is (or will be, when complete) a series of 100 Phantom of the Opera drabbles, written for the LiveJournal Fanfiction100 Challenge and archived here at beginning July 2006. The gist of the challenge is: write 100 fics, each one inspired by a set prompt. The prompt will be noted at the beginning of each fic.

For this challenge I had to choose specific characters from a specific incarnation of Phantom to write about, and so I chose Erik and Christine from the novel Phantom by Susan Kay. I prefer this adaptation to all others because of the depth of backstory Kay has given to Erik, and because of the believability of his relationship with Christine. I am also very fond of Kay's original character Nadir Khan, Daroga of Mazanderan, and he will probably make frequent appearances in my fics.

As to why I've decided to write about Erik and Christine ... what, that's not entirely obvious?

In general, my fics will take place in an alternate Kay universe, in which Erik did not die at the conclusion of the novel and Christine never married Raoul.

I will try not to let too much Andrew Lloyd Webber slip into these fics, though my preferred fic style does blend Kay, Webber and Leroux. ("Gaston Leroux gave Erik life. Susan Kay gave him a soul. ALW gave him a voice. Do you see why I can't choose?" - from the amazing Wikipedia article about the novel)

I have also decided to do all my fics for this challenge in strict drabble form, 100 words precisely. I like the way this form forces you to select words carefully, and the almost-poetic results it produces. Due to the length of each fic, and to work within format, I will be archiving all 100 as one fic, each in a separate "chapter."

Comments/ criticism/ general foolishness in response to any/ all of my fics is welcome. If you are an LJ user, you can also follow my progress there - the community is called fanfic100.

Heather

Title: Beginnings
Fandom: Phantom of the Opera (Kay)
Characters: Christine/ Erik
Prompt: Beginnings
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Author's Notes: The aftermath of a different decision. (AU)

It is a strange new world this morning, and so only fitting they should take their flight as dawn's pink has just begun to flood the streets of Paris.

Erik is beginning to remember the touch of fresh air on his bare cheek.

Christine is beginning to learn that Erik's cold fingers warm quickly when they hold her own small hand.

They are both dimly aware that this is folly - who could have dreamed this journey? What kind of life will they lead?

And yet - even these fears have some intoxicating newness as they step out into the intensifying light.