Hi! So far there hasn't been any questions or anything but I wanted to clear up some things. Christine is depressed however, at the moment, she is filled with curiosity and (almost happiness) at the fact that her angel exists (much like in canonverse) and is clinging to him as a result as such and is afraid that he'll disappear in the blink of an eye.


Erik snapped his eyes open and narrowed them at the girl whose heart he could still hear beating furiously. She couldn't possibly recognize him.. He stepped forward and her breath caught in anticipation. He gripped onto Nadir's elbow and gave a hard look. His friend heard descriptions of Christine but wasn't aware that the girl in front of them was her. Nadir's eyes widened.

Truly, Erik? How did you find her so quickly? You didn't even look for her!

You know that thing they say about fate. It leads right to you.

I know you don't believe in that, Erik. So what are we- you going to do now?

We shouldn't come on strong.

He gave a curt nod and turned to Madame Giry who was still glaring at Meg, "Mind if we watch in on rehearsal?" She turned to him and nodded. "Of course not!" She gave Meg one last look before walking away briskly. Erik gave a curt bow to the girls, though it was mostly directed Meg before walking away, leaving Christine staring at his back. He could hear footsteps running after him.

"Are you sure it's alright to ignore her like that, Erik?" Nadir.

He spoke quietly, underneath his breath but loudly enough so Nadir could hear, "... She recognized me."

From the corner of his eyes he could see Nadir's eyes widen again, "What? But how could she? Humans don't see us when they think of us!"

"You don't think I know that?" his voice raised, agitated. He lowered his voice when he noticed Madame Giry's confusion. He nodded at her to tell her there was nothing wrong. "I felt pain again when she looked up after I spoke. She recognized me, Nadir. That shouldn't happen.. At least not unless.."

"Unless..?"

"Unless he's been letting her hear my voice while she thinks of her angel. I mean think about it-" He raised his arms as if to prove his point, "- How else would she believe in me all this time, unwaveringly? She's been hearing me for who knows how long. She knows that I exist. "

"Isn't that a good thing, Erik? You don't have to convince her that you're her angel."

Madame Giry turned around to face them and Nadir shot him a look that said this conversation wasn't done. They explored the stage and introduced themselves to the cast and crew before Erik had noticed that Christine and Meg were behind them the whole time. Nadir reacted before he could and had locked his arms with Meg's and walked away, talking about nonsense. Madame Giry had already walked away to reprimand a dancer for wasting time. Which left him with Christine. He had hoped he would be able to get settled into his new life before he confronted her but it seems as though God had other plans.

He held out his hand, surprising the both of them, "Shall we head up to the booth? It seems as though Mademoiselle Giry is occupied with Nadir's company.. " She nodded timidly and placed her hand in his, though she immediately recoiled at the feeling. She saw the look on his face and reached back to place her hand back but he quickly dropped his hand before she could. He felt a pang in his heart but refused to close his eyes to see what was wrong, "I believe Madame Giry said it was towards this direction." He avoided his gaze and walked towards the direction, pausing to see if she was following before continuing once he heard the clacking of her heels following him.

He paused near the door once he walked inside of the booth. It had been so long since he was in an opera again but to be in a booth that was just for him.. He was at home. It frightened him.

"Angel.." Christine's voice penetrated his thoughts, her hand had reached out to him hesitantly. He closed his eyes to calm his emotions before opening to look at her again, "What was your name again?"

She snapped out of whatever she was in deep thought of and curtseyed, "Forgive me, I've forgotten my manners. My name is Christine DaaƩ, angel.." Erik took her hand and placed a chaste kiss on her hand before letting it go so she couldn't complain. He turned his back to her, surveying the stage, "Destler. I'm not an angel-" he was only being slightly truthful. "My name is Erik Destler.."

She stepped forward and he turned around to see her eyes filled with certainty, "You are. You're my angel of my music. You've come to save me like I've always wanted." Her steps continued until she was so close that Erik debated jumping off the railing of the booth from nervousness.

Erik knew that their time periods would be different but surely it wouldn't be so different that it was socially acceptable for an uncommitted man and woman to be so close to one another- especially without a chaperone. His heart almost stopped when she had thrown her tiny frame at him, her face burying itself in the crook of his neck, his arms wrapping around her tightly so she wouldn't fall. She whispered something into his shoulder and he almost laughed from the weird sensation. He slowly set her down and attempted to pull her off of him to a no avail. He cursed under his breath before hesitantly speaking. His nose crinkled as her hair brushed against it.

"Mademoiselle DaaƩ, I must ask that you let go of me.. This cannot be proper.." He paused and when he felt her death grip loosen, he loosened his grip on her waist. Soon- too soon for his liking, he admitted- she was standing in front of him again, a beautiful pink hue covering her cheeks.

"Forgive me, Monsieur Erik.." She bowed her head down, embarrassed. Erik was almost thankful as he silently choked from the informality though he didn't particularly feel uncomfortable when it came to her so he didn't bother correcting her.

They stood in silence before Christine noticed something behind him. She broke their gaze and ran over to the railing, beside him. He followed her gaze and found Meg in a leotard, Nadir standing on the side, examining her closely.

"Oh that Meg! She never told me that she was one of the dancers!" Her eyes twinkled with excitement. Erik chuckled softly and grasped her arm gently, "The ballet seems to be starting. Shall we sit down and watch together?" She nodded shyly and plopped down on the bench, smiling at him. He returned the smile hesitantly though it was only a tiny fraction before sitting next to her on the bench though he placed a considerable amount distance between them.

Somehow, without him noticing, the seats around had filled throughout the theater and the only spot that was even relatively close to being empty was box five, his box. Christine all about ignored him completely, if it weren't for her hand grasping at his whenever Meg had done a tantalizing move. He wasn't sure if he was relieved or annoyed about her lack of attention to him.

Christine was squirming in her seat which made a part of him scream about proper etiquette while the other laughed at her enthusiasm for her friend. She turned toward him at intermission and asked him what he had thought about the performance.

"Mademoiselle Giry was decent for her first ballet but I'm afraid that Madame Giry will be holding her mistake over her for a long while. It might not be obvious for first-timers but if you've come to many performances then you learn to pick up a dancer's mistake even if they manage to hide it rather well."

Christine's lips pursed into a frown as she contemplated over his answer. Erik stayed silent for the entire performance and clapped, stiffly, when it was needed. They blinked, adjusting their eyes when the lights came on. He stood up and held out his arm to her, letting her grasp it gently, leading her out of the booth.

They met up with Nadir and the Girys at the stage. Christine, who immediately ran towards Meg, pulled her friend in some kind of hopping frenzy. He headed over to Nadir, disguising his irritation with a tightlipped smile. He discreetly elbowed his friend in the stomach. hissing quietly, Some friend you are, leaving me in distress.

Nadir laughed, Were you in distress? My apologies, I just thought that the little mademoiselle would want some quality time with her angel of music. Erik swore there was a smile on Nadir's lips. Rolling his eyes, he walked toward Madame Giry who, like he predicted, was reprimanding Meg (and the other dancers) on their performance.

The two men walked towards the ladies and Nadir put his arm Madame Giry's shoulder, "Now, surely there is a better way to reprimand them." Erik nodded mutely to his friend, although he could've cared less as long as the dancing was better. Nadir grinned, and Erik paled as Nadir pulled back his arm and clapped his hands together excitably, "Since there isn't a show tonight, let us all go out and dine!" He winked at Meg. "Everyone needs to have some morale after all, Madame Giry. For how would our shows continue if our own cast isn't happy with their performances?" Madame Giry nodded though it was obvious to Erik that she didn't agree with his methods.

Nadir had taken them to a small Peruvian restaurant around the corner (Erik wondered how he even knew it was there.) It was quite hilarious seeing Madame Giry out of place, her back straight as it could be as she sat in the middle of all the thin dancers, practically squished.

Erik stifled a laugh at the disgruntled woman's position and instead led Christine to her seat beside Meg. He walked away, planning to sit next to Nadir, only to have Christine hold onto the bottom of his shirt. He stared down at her hand, wondering what to make of it. Was she a child to hold onto him like such? She was supposedly in her twenties. The girl pulled her hand back nervously, probably from looking at his face, "Angel? Are you not sitting with me?"

She just wants to sit next to her angel, Erik. Don't worry about it.

Erik nodded and the girl almost looked disappointed, only to light up again after he pulled out the seat next to her. She had put her hand on his arm the entire dinner, something that didn't go unnoticed to Meg.

Most of the dancers were drunk as the two men made sure they got home safely and by the time they were notified that the girls were safe, there was only the Girys and Christine left.

Christine, who was still by his side, smiled gently and held onto his arm as they walked towards the Girys and Nadir just in time to see Meg boldly kiss Nadir on the cheek. A move that made Madame Giry scowl.

Erik turned towards Christine and took her left hand, stiffly, to place a kiss on it, "Mademoiselle." She curtsied shyly looking down at the floor, her gaze directed to his face from beneath her eyelashes, "Monsieur.." With an awkward wave to the Girys (Meg had beamed back at him while Madame Giry simply gave a curt nod), Erik prepared to leave.

"Wait, Angel!" Christine ran after him.

Erik was still not used to the name, "Mademoiselle Daae, I must remind you that my name isn't Angel.."

Christine paused, and then smiled with a wink, "Of course.. It's Monsieur Destler-"

Monsieur Erik. Erik held back the odd need to correct her.

"-I must thank you and Monsieur Khan for bringing us out to eat. I may not be part of the production but Meg apparently is and I am happy if she is happy. Thank you, Angel." She pressed a slow kiss to his cheek, the cheek that would be scarred, before flouncing over to the Girys and leaving in the cab.

Nadir walked over to Erik and they walked in silence before Nadir broke it with a low whistle, "What a time to be alive.." An image of Christine, a smiling Christine flashed through his mind as he nodded silently, What a time indeed.