The beautiful aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled his senses and lulled him out of sleep. Raoul sniffs and he is warm and stupid. He reaches out to the space next to him.

Erik said he would have to leave early in the morning and that they would not have breakfast together, he had too much to do today and he assured him that they would have the evening together instead.

Raoul pats the space, just to be sure, to know for himself, that he indeed, is alone. Perhaps Erik came back and brewed coffee? Raoul loves coffee, the scent of coffee, and art pieces that feature coffee.

In any case, Raoul gets the strength to leave bed, slips on the slippers and makes his way down the steps and to the kitchen where the wonderous coffee perfume is wafting.

"I'd offer you breakfast, but you didn't make any." Says a playful but peevish voice. Raoul blinks and runs towards the owner of the voice.

"Philly!" He hugs his elder brother, who allows for the gesture and delicately pats Raoul's back.

"You freak of nature; you didn't say you were coming back!" Raoul takes a step back. Philippe has not shaved for days, his hair is unruly and needs a good cutting.

"I know. Surprise," Philippe spreads his arms. He's holding a cup, Raoul's favorite blue cup, and leans back into the counter.

"Are you staying?"

"This is my house, Rally Lulu." Philippe drinks from the cup and stares unblinking into his younger brother's eyes. Raoul must look away, the gaze is too intense, too personal.

"I mean, do you intend to stay in New York, brother." Raoul opens a cabinet and finds his second favorite cup, a green Reptar shaped cup.

"For a time. Tell me, is that Sorelli single? The dancer, the hot firey redhead?" Phillippe really likes that Sorelli.

"I don't know. I don't keeps tabs on who my players date or if they are." Raoul pours a cup, but Phillippe takes it from him.

"I need to know. It's a matter of life or death." He holds the cup up high and Raoul hops in vain for it. After a minute of this game, Phillippe lowers the cup and Raoul takes it back, spilling some coffee onto his shirt. He sticks his tongue out at his brother.

"Life and death?" Raoul shakes his head.

"My sex life."

"Ask her tonight, she's in the production." Raoul shrugs. Philippe sighs and he straightens up.

"There is another reason I came back so early Rally Lulu, cousin Lissie is concerned about you. You have not been responding to her letters. And I thought, something terrible must have befallen my sweet, little, baby brother, for he surely would not ignore his cousin." Raoul's face changes colors, and he squeaks. It is true, he has neglected to write to his cousin, but he has good reason for it.

"Philly, you've read her letters. They are too much." Raoul says lamely. He is a little boy, who cannot be assed to write thank you cards to everyone who sent him a gift for his birthday.

"I have and I also write back. It is what's proper, brother. Mother would have your backside for this." Philippe drinks his coffee, staring his brother down with the high road.

"She writes about everything, everything. From how cold it is when she holds the sheets against her skin, to how soft the slippers are, and the great release it is when she goes to the bathroom. It is painful, her letters are exhausting. It takes a day to just respond appropriately. If I just write, "I'm good, thanks," she will send a novel back about how it made her sad I don't feel I can confide in her. I don't have much to say at any rate." Raoul waves his hand dismissively and tries to get lost in the sweet, sweet coffee.

"You don't have much to say?" Phillippe says. Raoul feels his heart drop.

"I don't feel that much has changed?" Raoul says, trying to sound in control of his emotions.

"Mmhm."

"You're the world traveler. I'm looking forward to your tales." Raoul says, trying to keep subject away from him.

"It was a bust. Sorelli is in the production tonight? Does that mean I get tickets?" Phillippe's eye's light up, Raoul nods.

"I always have a few tickets held." It pays to be the manager/part owner of an opera.

"One of those fancy boxes right?" Phillippe hates being with the rabble. Raoul pauses.

"I'll get back to you on that."


Raoul feels super fantastic and is on the top of the world as he shows off the Opera Populaire to his older brother. Phillippe did his best to keep his boredom off his face and indulged his brother. The tour concludes in Raoul's office.

Raoul finds a fresh note on his desk, with the simple response of," Of course," in that familiar red ink.

"Box five is available. We'll watch from there tonight." Raoul says.

"Box five is said to be haunted, I'm excited." Phillippe practically drools.

"Not haunted. The subscriber is very territorial. They gave us permission to use their box since the house is sold out." Raoul puts the note away.

"Oh, boo. I wanted to meet a ghost." Philippe pouts and takes the seat across from Raoul's desk. Reyer knocks on the door before he enters.

"Raoul, I- "Philippe snaps his fingers and jumps to his feet. He points at Reyer.

"Let me guess, don't tell me, don't tell me. I want to see if I've got this right, based on the letters." He walks around Reyer, who is petrified. Philippe taps Reyer's shoulder and pulls at the material of his suit jacket, he leans in and moves his hands in a vogue motion.

"You're Meri." Philippe says. Reyer nods.

"I honestly half expected you to be a hamster." Raoul squeaks and Philippe smiles and goes back to the chair.

"A hamster?!" Reyer is horrified and grabs his heart. Raoul shakes his head.

"You're very delicate." Phillippe says. He picks up something from Raoul's desk and plays with it. Reyer turns to Raoul and mouths, 'hamster,' he is not amused and is about to faint.

"Meri, this is my brother." Raoul says.

"Uh huh. Hello."

"So, Meri, have a breakdown today?" Phillippe barks laughter, and Raoul throws something at him, he catches it, but only causes Phillippe to laugh louder and more intensely.

"Don't be rude." Raoul chastises.

"I'm kidding! I mean no harm." Phillippe puts up his hands.

"Have you met Erik?" Reyer asks without thinking and Raoul shakes his head and waves his arms. Phillippe looks at the two, confused and curious.

"No. Who is that?"

"Erik is," Reyer is not sure how to answer the question, he frowns at Raoul.

"Erik is our landlord. He's a bit of an eccentric." Raoul smiles awkwardly.

"Your landlord." Phillippe says slowly, he looks at Raoul, he tries to fish for more information, based on his brother's affect and behavior.

"Mmhm." Raoul says quickly and then sits down and picks up something randomly and tries to focus on it.

"Going to return to that topic later." Phillippe promises.


"What do you mean you didn't tell him!?" Reyer shouts. They are in the utility closet. Raoul is panicking. He hasn't told Philippe about his relationship with Erik and doesn't know how.

"I mean, I didn't tell him anything! Nothing about, you know, how we met, the twister night, the weird situation. Nothing!" Raoul wants to strangle Reyer and then himself.

"Are you afraid?" Reyer's only had negativity from his Great Aunt Angel about his sexuality, everyone else in the family has been supportive, so he can see why Raoul would be hesitant.

"I don't know! This is something serious, right?"

"It doesn't have to be." Reyer sighs. This is one of their serious conversations. Boring. He puts his adult hat on.

"What do I do?" Raoul grab his hair and resists pulling it out.

"Is Erik joining you tonight?"

"He didn't say, but nothing is going to stop him from just suddenly being there, it's his box." Raoul is miserable and he hates himself for it.

"Talk to him first. He needs to know that Phillippe doesn't know and you two need to discuss this, it's your relationship." Reyer says this in his stern voice.

"Do I have to talk to Erik? Could I not just send a text?" Reyer shakes his head.

"No. Talk to him. With your voice, in the same room, to his face, or, you know, mask."

"Mmm. I don't want to!" Raoul says like a pitiful child.

"Raoul."


Raoul hands Erik two bottle of wine and smiles. He feels his face burn and he tries to keep it up. Erik takes the wine and pours a glass; he waits in silence for Raoul to explain.

He does not.

"You're upset by something."

The smile isn't as bright, and the eyes are darker, in pain. Raoul still says nothing.

"You may speak."

Raoul still does not.

"What's wrong?"

Raoul hops. He exhales and he picks up the open bottle of wine and drinks from the bottle.

"My brother came back today." Raoul says, he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Erik knows this. He nods.

"And this is upsetting for what reason?" Erik takes the bottle from Raoul and sets it aside.

"He does not know." Raoul hits his palm with his other hand at each word. He laughs nervously.

"About us?"

Raoul's laughter rises and he nods.

"You're ashamed?"

That surprises Erik, he has never had a problem like that with any of his previous relationships. He thought this would be no different. He finds this to be in a word, disheartening.

"No!" Raoul grabs his lover's hand.

"I just don't know how to tell him. No one in our family has ever been in a homosexual relationship! I do not know how he would take this! I'm scared! I love him and he's all the family I've had for so long, I don't know what he'll think."

"Oh."

"I don't know what to do, that's why I'm here. Tell me what to do, you like doing that." Raoul laughs little and Erik doesn't. He kisses Raoul's hand with his china lips.

"I can't force you to come out. If you are not ready, you are not ready. I can be your very close friend, if that's what you need."

"This would be a lot easier if I let you stay that freaky dominating alpha." Raoul muses, Erik shakes his head.

"Same answer."

"Come tonight, I'll introduce you."


Erik does indeed come, he's waiting in the box when Philippe and Raoul arrive together.

"This is Erik," Raoul starts, Phillippe cuts him off, amused.

"The eccentric and you do not disappoint. I love this." Philippe gestures to Erik. He takes a seat and watches the elder man amused. Erik waves. Raoul exhales.

"Erik is um. We're kind of, um. Close."

"Okay, cool." Phillippe says. He spies the alcohol and begins to prepare a drink.

"Really close." Raoul says. He steps closer to Erik, Philippe nods.

"We're dating. Seriously dating. He's my boyfriend."

"Cool." Philippe turns to his brother, he nods. He offers his brother a bottle of beer, he takes it.

"Cool?" Raoul feels like he misheard or that his brother misheard.

"Yeah, cool. I do not care. Kinda figured you were gay."

"Really?"

"Isn't that why you joined the cult?" Phillippe pops the champagne.

"No!" Raoul stomps his foot.

"It's fine. Some of us apparently run away and join cults when we have an existential crisis."

"That's not why I left!"

"Why are you so upset right now." Phillippe leans past his brother and taps Erik for his attention.

"He get emotional with you too?"

"I'm not emotional"

"Meri makes it worse," Erik says. He rubs Raoul's back, who is pouting and shaking with fury, he takes a seat by Erik, crosses his arms and pouts.

"I am not emotional. I am in perfect control and calm." Raoul says through closed teeth. He glares at the space ahead.

"He's going to eat all of the pretzels and ice cream later." Philippe says with an all-knowing smile.

"I feel no shame in eating pretzels!"

"I didn't say to feel shame. I just know how you do. Make sure you have those mall pretzels in the freezer." Phillippe says to Erik, who nods.

"So, how'd you meet?"


Raoul regrets introducing Erik to his brother. They get along. They really get along. Raoul feels a strange jealously, like he's in a tennis match. In the corner, his older brother, the one who raised him, and then there's Erik.

Erik is a lot and means a lot. Raoul feels weird. Two of his most important people getting along should make him feel good, not weird, bitter, and jealous. Aren't they getting along for him?

Raoul tries to clear his insanity. It's good they seem to get along. After that night at the opera, Philippe and Erik exchanged numbers and they have been having outings together.

Philippe takes Erik out on the town and introduces him to the elite and English nobility and American's who feel like they are equal to nobility. Erik is a social creature despite his harsh opinions on humanity, and he gets to educate so called philistines on art and culture, and those plutocrats hang onto every word.

His ego is sated each time he goes out with Philippe, who's own ego gets satisfied.

It is exhausting. At the end of the evening they collapse, energy completed depleted.


Jules is preparing a fancy meal for two when Raoul enters as if he owns the place. It is true he has a spare key, but it wasn't meant to be, come in an out as you please, sir.

Meri doesn't arrive for another thirty minutes or so, and Jules is almost finished with the preparations. Raoul takes a seat at the table and starts to complain.

"That's terrible, Ralph. Why don't you call Erik and tell him yourself?" Jules checks the pot on the stove. Raoul shakes his head.

"He's too busy with him."

"Your brother, that you introduced him to. Isn't it good they are friendly?" Jules does not really care either way, he wants Raoul to leave before Meri gets home.

"It is. I guess." Raoul looks around. He picks up a glass and plays with it.

"It's my—our anniversary." Jules says.

"Oh, that's good. I think Meri said it was coming up." Raoul smiles. He puts down the glass and he does not pick up on the hint.

"I have the evening planned. Dinner and some other things." Jules says. He gestures to the stove. Raoul nods.

"He's lucky."

Jules pinches the bridge of his nose.

"I need more time to prepare. Alone. So when Meri comes home, it's ready."

"Do you need help?"

"I need you leave." Jules says, playing nice is over. Raoul blushes he walks out backwards and apologizes several times.


Raoul comes home to darkness. He walks to the living room and sits down. He has a drink in hand and he tries to forget about the world that he's feeling alone and neglected.

"Raoul? Why are you sitting in the dark, you loser?" Philippe turns on the light. He jumps over the sofa and lands next to his brother.

"What's up?"

Raoul says nothing.

"Did you eat all the pretzels?"

Raoul glares and his brother pinches his face, Raoul slaps at him.

"Pour me a drink, you rude American." Raoul glares, but he obliges. He hands his brother his glass and sits down. Phillippe rests his hand along the back of the sofa.

"I missed you, brother-son. It's good to be home."

And then Raoul realizes that all that he needed, that he wanted to hear. He leans his head against his brother, and instead of pushing him away, Phillippe adjust his body and makes it more comfortable for Raoul to rests against him.