Raoul ended up spending the entire day and sleeping over in his office. He woke up to the sweet godly smell of coffee. A fresh steaming cup waits for him. He enjoys his cup, sits back. Perhaps it will be a good day. Surprise coffee, no hangover, Carlotta situation handled. He just has to have a pesky meeting with Moncharmin and Firmin, see what production he and Reyer can agree on for the next month, and see what demands Erik has, if anything new.

Moncharmin and Firmin enter and Raoul smiles and just waits for it. Bank details, accounting, reviews they should be aware of, some gossip on the competition of the other theaters

"We would like to discuss your role." Moncharmin says.

"My role?" Raoul asks. He had not expected that.

"We feel that you should take a step back. We brought you on as our financer, not as another manager."

Raoul digests this. Raoul loves the players and the Opera house. Sure, there are things that cause him great stress, he hasn't been able to see his family or have much of a social life, but he has very little regrets. Though, taking a step back could be a good thing. Maybe Moncharmin and Firmin will use this as a learning experience and smarten up.

"If you feel that I have overstepped my bounds, then certainly I understand. I shall, as you say, take a step back."

"Thank you for understanding."

Raoul nods and continue to casually drink his coffee. Moncharmin and Firmin stare at him. Raoul gets their hint.

"You mean, now."

They nod.

"Ah."

Raoul gathers his things and leaves the office.

"I thought Carlotta wasn't allowed to have a part for this production." Jess says.

"Carlotta is our star."

"She's also a fucking bitch and vandal." Jess snaps.

"My good woman,"

"Where is Raoul? Does he know you're doing this?" The other players mumble and ask the same thing.

"Raoul is not your manager, I am, Firmin is."

"Fuck that, where is our real manager?"

"As I have said, Raoul is not your manager and we agreed for him to take a step back and keep to his role of financer."

"I quit."

Jess walks away.

"You have a contract!"

"Not with you!" She calls out as she fades from view. Several others share the same sentiment and join Jess.

"You all have contracts! This is unacceptable!"

He is ignored.

"I don't want to be the dance captain, I sing now." Sorelli says, her patience nonexistent. She taps her foot and does not bother to look at either of the men.

"You are a dancer, it is in your—"

"Reyer and Raoul said I could sing. Meg is the dance captain."

"Meg is too young, too immature. She lacks the—"

"Then give her the experience by keeping her as the dance captain."

"Sorelli we do not want you to waste your talents. You are a dancer, not a vocalist."

"I quit."

As Sorelli storms off and shoots them rude gestures and swears them out in Italian, Reyer passes her.

"Reyer, we may have some minor setbacks."

"Do we?" He hands them a piece of paper.

"What's this?" Firmin asks.

"My official resignation."

He walks away

Moncharmin and Firmin walk into the office to find Meg spinning around on the swivel chair.

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh! Hello. Um. What?"

"Do you need something?" Firmin asks.

"Do I need something." She repeats awkwardly like she is waiting for an assist.

"Is this about your position being revoked?"

"No? It's Friday and I'm here so, just waiting for the door to be unlocked. Raoul lets me wait."

"What door? Meg, if you're not needed here and you're done for the day, go home."

"Yes, right home. Mm-hm." She nods.

"Leave now, please."

"Uh huh, leaving now!" She picks up two suitcases and leaves the office.

"What are we going to do? Everyone is quitting." Firmin exhales. He goes over to the mini and pours himself a drink.

"They cannot leave the Opera, not legally. They are all still under contract."

"Does that really matter? They can still refuse to show up, while we take action and wait for the settlement."

"It won't last. They will want the money and these are creative people; they'll die without their "art." Just wait it out. They'll come back tomorrow and if not then, within a week."

Firmin prays that the other man is right as he drinks his whiskey.

Turns out Moncharmin is very much not correct, more of the players quit each day, including all of the orchestra, they've received several threatening notes from that damn "O.G" character, and to matters much worse, there have been two accidental deaths, which Moncharmin and Firmin were found at fault by the investigators for lack of upkeep of the chandeliers and the master of the flyers hung himself.

They have no stage manager and they have been locked out their office for several days now.

So, they swallowed some of their pride are currently outside Raoul's the front door of Raoul's stately home.

Raoul is very much not sober. He is wearing his lounge clothes, his yummy sushi PJ's and a blue robe. He is happily day drinking and not so happily losing chess to a ghost.

"I find it very disturbing that you know where I live." He moves his knight, and immediately regrets that decision.

"Check."

The doorbell rings.

"I didn't order pizza."

He walks to the door with Erik at his heels, just to make sure he does not fall. He steadies him as Raoul tilts a bit too much to the left before he opens the door.

Moncharmin and Firmin are outside.

"Ah, guests! What do you want? How's the Opera. Offering door to door tickets? No room at the inn." Raoul closes the door. He opens it a few seconds later.

"Well?" He motions for them to come, they do hesitantly.

"What can I do you for. What can I do for you?"

"We may have been, rash in asking you to step back." Raoul takes a step back. Erik holds him in place with one hand.

"I've had schnapps." He giggles before he forces himself into slight composure.

"We're very proud, dear." Erik says. Moncharmin and Firmin are extremely uncomfortable by this masked stranger's presence.

Raoul leans in towards Moncharmin and Firmin, like he wants to disclose a secret.

"I don't know how he found my house." He whispers. He leans backwards, Erik catches him with grace and without effort or strain.

"You invited my little Marguerite to your home. I did not know you then. I had to protect her honor."

"I invited the entire company for a dinner to show appreciation and to celebrate with them a thus far successful season, I did not invite her over for some eyes wide shut nonsense!" He crosses him arms like a stubborn teenager fighting with their uncool and totally overreacting parent.

Erik simply pats Raoul's cheek.

"Why am I suddenly sober? What mad sorcery is this?" Raoul glares at Erik

"You're of no use to me inebriated." Masked lips "kiss" Raoul's cheek.

"Who is Marguerite?" Moncharmin and Firmin ask.

"Marguerite, Marguerite!" Raoul snaps. He waves his hands wildly.

"She is?"

"Why are you here How did you find my home?"

"We know where you live because you've invited us over before?" Firmin says, questioning his friend's sanity.

"Ah. Yes. I have."

"They lost control" Erik sings. It's smooth like velvet and it is pleasant to the ears and senses. Firmin and Moncharmin find themselves leaning towards the Mask Man, wanting to know him, hear more from him. It takes them a moment to recover.

"Control?"

"The Opera."

"Ah."

"We, may have been rash."

"Perhaps you do have certain capabilities that we do not have."

"Yes."

A beat.

"What's that?" He looks to Erik.

"They want you back." Erik translates.

"If I'm sober," Raoul says to Erik," what is that?" He points to something in the corner.

"Ah, Side effects. Don't worry about that." Erik runs his fingers through Raoul's hair.

"Should we come back, Raoul? When you're alone and in a better state?"

"My estate is fine. I have it cleaned daily. I'll go back."

"Not so fast, little darling. There are of course conditions." Erik wags his finger.

"I want to be a manager. You stay with the books and away from everything else and Carlotta-"

"Dies." Erik is hopeful.

"Is not allowed to audition for the next production." Raoul says to Erik.

"Fine, fine. We'll take it."

"Good! There we are then!" Raoul spins around only to fall onto face down.

"I could have caught him." Erik says lightly.

Moncharmin and Firmin make a hasty retreat.

Reyer and Raoul enter the Opera the next morning. Raoul is sporting shades.

"Rough night?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Hm. These lights should be brighter."

"They're fine."

"Say, how about we head over and check in with the orchestra."

Raoul rubs his temples. This is going to be a long day.

"Say, are you hungry? How about we get some eggs," Reyer continues to prattle as the two men continue their trek to his office.

"I hate you so much," Raoul says as he opens the door and lets the other man in.

This is where Raoul is meant to be.