"We have a huge problem," Philippe says, Reyer enters after him, his eyes on fire. Raoul spins around in his chair, drinking his coffee.
"I'll say! I'm the stage manager and ha, director of the production and I am not making cast changes." Reyer snaps. Philippe backhands the air.
"Raoul, tell this idiot that Sorelli is going to be the leading lady."
Raoul keeps silent and drinks his coffee, his eyes darting between the two men in front of him.
"Not changing the cast!" Reyer shouts. Philippe places his palms on the desk and leans forward into Raoul.
"As a patron, I get to have say in the production!"
Raoul chokes on his coffee.
"Since when have you been a patron?"
"Rally, tell him."
"Reyer's the director, and if he doesn't want to change the casting, not going to make an issue."
"Raoul, is that your final answer?" Philippe's eyes spark fire.
"Leave the arts to the artists." Raoul says trying to sound confidant and empowered.
"Are you certain of this decision?"
Raoul is not but he nods anyway.
"Mm hm. Okay. So, that's where we are then." Phillippe slaps his palms together and Raoul has a sick feeling he is heading for war. Philippe cackles before he leaves the office.
"I don't like where that's going." Raoul deadpans.
"Did he just cackle?" Reyer turns his head.
"Did sound like a cackle, didn't it?"
"Your brother has compromised your mobile device and has been sending me duplicitous and illicit messages under the guise of you."
Raoul looks up from the diary. Erik did his annoying wizard appearing magic.
"He's texting you as me?" Raoul blinks, Erik nods, he sighs annoyed. He hates when Raoul repeats what he says like a layman.
"I no longer find it jocular."
"I think he's annoyed with me. I'm sorry, I didn't think he'd mess with you." Raoul puts the diary in the drawer and locks it.
"I'm more perturbed about your lack of security with your devices." Erik frowns behind his mask. He tsks and clicks his tongue.
"He's upset I'm not forcing Reyer to cast Sorelli in the lead female role for the current production." Erik recoils at that, he clenches his fist and his jaw tightens, he bites back an angry retort.
"He disclosed his penchant for the former dancer, yes." Erik says through closed teeth, Raoul can feel heat from Erik's controlled irritation.
"I'm not changing the cast, you can relax." Raoul reassures him and smiles.
"I adjure that it remains this way." Erik warns, his voice cold steel. It sends sharp pain through Raoul's being. Raoul digs his nails into the arms of the fancy chair. He feels cold.
"Can Erik come out and play, Mr. Phantom?"
Erik slowly turns his masked head to Raoul, he moves forward, inches from Raoul face and touches his cheek, and with the devilish smile that Raoul cannot see puts this to him:
"Oh, Leto, if you were talking to that side of me, you'd be—"
Reyer bursts the door like a man at war.
"Raoul, this is getting beyond! He's now sending notes and writing messages like he's the fucking Phantom. Do. Something. Fix. This." Reyer spreads his arms wide, cutting the air vertically. His eyes are hellfire.
"Oh Philly, you GD idiot." Raoul shakes his head and grabs his head. He really regrets telling his brother about the O.G malarkey.
Reyer leans forward.
"I don't need two!" Reyer, jerks his thumb at Erik. He stands up straighter and storms out of the room, slamming the door.
"I'll have strong words with him," Raoul says miserably. Erik scratches Raoul under his chin.
"These are, I love you, but I can't do the thing you want me to do, pancakes." Raoul hands his brother a just made plate of chocolate and blueberry pancakes, his brother's favorite breakfast treat.
Raoul's mother made it for them on Sundays. He can hear his mother laughter as she scolds the two boys to get out of the kitchen and to wait like proper humans not raised among pigs.
"Why?" Philippe shoves a large bite into his moouthhole. Raoul shakes his head.
"Because if I change the cast O.G. gets involved and he will kill you and then me."
Philippe pokes his fork at Raoul.
"Aren't you dating the O.G?"
"Yes, but he separates our romance and business relationship and has made it clear, he will kill me, if I don't comply. Also, dick move on your end. Stop screwing with the cast, with Reyer. Sorelli has every opportunity to be cast as the female lead in the next production."
"Fine. Fine. Anyway, get your good suit on, we're going on a double date."
"Erik didn't say anything."
"Not with him. Sorelli and Christine. The only way I could get Sorelli to go out with me, is if Christine came along, and you are nonthreatening so, get your bells and whatever on."
"Christine? Really? I do like her, we get on." Raoul gets up and heads for his room. Philly continues to stuff his face.
Raoul checks himself out in front of the full lenged mirror. Black slacks, and a blue dress shirt, he takes out his phone, snaps a picture and sends. After a minute his phone dings.
That Guy
Why are you sending me this?
Me
My outfit for tonight. Going on a date with Christine, Philly's taking Sorelli. She'll only go out if Christine goes. This is my, 'I Don't Care About This, But Get to Spend Time with My Friend,' outfit.
That Guy
You're spending the evening with Christine?
Me
Yeah, I like her. We're friends now. Why? Weird? I am kind of her boss, but she and the others seem keen on friendly friendships.
That Guy
Tread carefully, Leto.
Raoul frowns and pockets his phone. He's not sure if that was warning to be mindful of his behavior or something else.
"Rally Boo, let's go!" Philly calls from downstairs. Raoul checks himself out once more, he gives himself the double guns.
"This place is so fancy, I don't what fork to use to kill myself with. I don't think the waiter likes me." Christine drinks from her water. She ordered water because it's all she can afford.
Phillippe did have to choose one of the most elite and expensive places in the city to take the girls to. Raoul does intend to cover, or at least offer to cover Christine's check, she politely declined.
"I don't think he likes anyone. I swear he's going to kick that baby," Raoul nods to the table behind them.
"I can afford the bread." Christine says, she takes a roll from the basket. Sorelli places the basket in front of Christine. Philippe watches her, curious. He doesn't know how to act around poor people. Most of Raoul's friends are poor, so he's at ease.
"The bread is complimentary." Philippe says, he amused to a degree.
"It's hard." Sorelli picks up her roll and hits the table with it. She drops it.
"We'll get more," Philippe raises his hand to call for their waiter, Sorelli grabs it, puts it down on the table.
"I'm good."
"I love the album! It grew on me over the years. My older cousin would let me listen to her more uh, rock and modern music. Papa and I usually bonded over compositions he wrote and Disney." Christine and Raoul discovered they loved the same music.
"I love to sing Dead! All day. To myself." Raoul smiles. He can hear the band play the track inside his mind and he is very much fine with that.
"Did you get what you deserrrrreve. You gotta, you gotta, stretch out that word." Christine smiles, her eyes bright with mirth.
"The ending of your life!" Raoul shouts, he is shushed by the other patrons. Raoul blushes, Christine laughs into a napkin. Philly throws the dead roll at Raoul.
Christine taps Raoul's arm to get his attention, she has a fiendish smile and she leans over, Raoul moves closer, offering his ear.
"Wouldn't it be great if we were dead?"
"Ooh, dead!" Raoul sings back to her. Christine bounces in her seat. She goes back to poking at her salad.
"My boyfriend hates my modern music. I try to get him to listen, but he refuses." Christine shakes her head.
"I know the feeling. We could trade albums."
"I'd love that."
The evening is at its close and Raoul, ever the gentleman, walks his friend, his companion for the evening, Christine, to her door. She and him stand there for a minute.
"This was fun. I enjoyed hanging out with you." Christine means it.
"Same. It's nice getting to know each of you." Raoul says, he also means this.
They stand in silence again. Christine, turns, she unlocks the door, and turns back to Raoul.
"Uh, goodnight," she kisses his cheek before she goes inside. The door closes loudly and Raoul can hear the rush of the lock being sorted. He shakes it off and walks back to the car where his brother is waiting.
"What was that about?" Philly asks. Raoul touches his cheek, turns to the apartment.
"I don't know."
Meg screams. It's not a scream of horror, she's not in pain or panic, but it's the Oh My God, What, kind of scream you scream when you find out something juicy, juicy. Meg re-reads the text and bounces around.
"Stop that." Erik says, he's not looking up from his sketching. Meg squeals, she types rapidly.
"Ooh, Christine, you naughty!" Meg giggles. She's about to leave the room, when something pulls at her clothing, Erik has grabbed and bunched up the fabric of her shirt in his fist tightly.
"What was that? What happened. Why are you acting like a headless fowl?"
"Christine, my friend who is crazy, the one I tell you about," Erik gives her the, wrap this up now, gesture, "she kissed someone not her boyfriend! What." Meg is enjoying this new piece of gossip. Erik lets go, he stumbles backwards, like he's been struck in the chest by a powerful force.
"This is, so crazy." Meg pauses between words, she's very animated and hyper. She runs to her room laughing.
Erik grabs his head and he is quaking, trembling with rage. His thoughts are loud, jumbled together. He cannot separate the noise. Colors flash between the static, his body is hot like he's bathing in hellfire. He lowers himself to the floor, trying to breathe, to compose himself. A sot, delicate, minute laughter starts to rise from the noise, the void. Red marries the darkness and it's all he can see, can feel.
Erik has gone to sleep.
The Phantom is awake.
