Now everything is caught up with everything, to be sure. Got a new job at SeaWorld, my station is near the Dolphin Nursery, get to hear about baby dolphins (calves) and see them be dicks to humans to make their mama proud, love every second of it.

Read, review, hate, love, exist
^_^


2016, Wadleigh School of Performing Arts

It is opening night for the school's production of Chicago, and Lorne is Billy Flynn, life is good. His great love, Meg Giry could not be there, which sucks, but she promised to catch the following night, that is something. Erik, boo, and RC came to support him. He is having a calming moment which is rudely interrupted by Erik, who grabs him by the front of his shirt and presses him roughly into the wall.

"Where did you get that outfit." He is deadly calm, and his eyes are burning hellfire. Lorne grabs at Erik's arms and tries to free himself, Erik lifts him off the ground.

"Mother let him have access to your closet," RC joins the fray, he is not concerned for his friend, he is bored, he knows his father will not actually hurt Lorne, Meg will get pouty, and Erik little's black heart breaks when she pouts because of him, or, in general.

Lorne nods, but Erik does not relent. Lorne looks away, he cannot keep his cool with those hateful eyes.

"Where. Did. You. Get. That. Jacket." Erik uses his free hand to tap it, the shimmery suit jacket that completes the ensemble.

"Does it matter?" RC's never seen his father get so ornery over a jacket or something this inane.

"The laundry room," Lorne wheezes. Erik growls like a demon and releases him.

"We don't have a laundry room," RC blinks, he looks at his father in confusion.

"From the mannequin on display?" Erik snarls through clenched teeth, Lorne nods and moves away. RC understands his father's ire.

"The Bob Fosse Museum?" RC whispers, Erik nods, Lorne remains confused.

"Mother will kill you if anything happens to that," Erik grabs and shows off the jacket, it is missing a button and is ripped in the corner. RC's blood turns cold.

"You can fix that right, Papa? One of your many, many, many talents," RC's voice fades away, Erik's hands twitch, he shakes his head.

"Your Mother is best at that," Erik sighs.

"Sorry, what's happening?" Lorne feels out of sorts and small.

"That room is off limits to you and you fucking," RC steps in and pushes his father back.

"That was a museum dedicated to Mother's favorite human, she spent years collecting those items and to keep them preserved. She will die when she sees this," RC gestures to the damage.

"She's not here, so," Lorne breaks off when Meg Giry jumps into view, holding a wrapped package.

"So, I did get to come after all! I caught like the last five minutes, but still! Tomorrow, all in, hey, who did your costume? Love sparkles." Meg points at the jacket, Lorne's eyes are wide, and he feels awkward.

"And pressies!" She hands him the gift; he accepts it with shaking hands. Meg reads the room wrong; she turns to Erik and slaps his arm.

"He's not one of your students! He is a teenager who has no interest in being a tennabaum, the proper approach is, you did good, kiddo." She rolls her eyes and turns to Lorne. She smiles and then takes in the suit jacket, it sings familiarity.

"That looks a lot like the costume from," Erik grabs Meg's hips and lifts her up roughly and kisses her through his mask, he spins around and pushes, presses her into the wall, RC motions for Lorne to follow him and they flee.

Erik's philosophy: When it doubt, fuck it out.

When you know, all other logical approaches have failed.


2018

"One of the grandkids wants to work for me. I don't like it." Charles throws his cig behind him and finishes his scotch.

"Because you'd have to pay them?" Nadir has no family left and is just a little bit envious about that.

Charles and Jules have lots of grand family members and have kept in touch. Some are greedy and only want money, which is most of Jules's line spare his current favorite granddaughter, Jem. Charles's people have always been cool and just want to work with him, and they also think he's a wizard, so there is that.

"This one, Louise, is a sociopath, and I am pretty sure she thinks she can manipulate me and kill me, which I respect, but I don't want that near my team. The idea of shutting down another mutiny is enticing, not gonna lie." Charles lights another cig and shakes his empty glass to the bartender.

"Is it the body disposal?" Jules asks, he can relate to those woes, Charles nods. Nadir drinks more beer, sometimes, he does not know how these are among his closest most personal friends, nay, family.

"When I first met the two of you, you both were hard against murder." Nadir misses those days, now it's just him, Meg, and Christine. Charles has corrupted sweet Raoul, and sometimes his problems also just happen to disappear.

"It's not murder, it's protecting business assets and your employees and your family." Raoul says, Charles nods and pats his best friend on the back.

"Speaking of family, where is E? So many people here for him to prey upon," Nadir looks around.

"Rezy graduates today or something," Jules says. Nadir, Raoul, and Charles stop drinking.

"Weren't we supposed to go to that?" Charles's insides deflate.

"They're throwing at party at the kiddo's favorite restaurant Bea." Raoul, Charles, Jules, and Nadir leave their stools, gather their jackets and get sorted fast.

"That's what Christine was talking about!" Raoul cries out.

"If Meg pouts, I will die!" Charlies shaking hands make it difficult for him to light up another cig.

"I'll take a pouting Meg over a pouty Erik, Allah, I am going to have spend the entire night holding his hand. Yes, Erik I still love you, no Erik, we did not have a party without you, no Erik, we do not have a secret phone thread," Nadir pulls at his face and groans.

"Why is our lord of demons so damn clingy? Where's the anti social sociopath incapable of human emotions and connections?"

"Your dreams," the others sigh collectively as they get into the car that has pulled up for them.


Nadir beelines it to Erik, because as predicted, Erik is closed off, shut down, and distant. Nadir begins his consoling efforts with a beer and an apologetic smile.

"I got my nights mixed up."

Meg is not pouty, she's been having fun with sampling all the alcohol and embarrassing her son in front of his schoolmates. It's a good night for a mom.

"Do you have anymore pictures?"

RC steps up to his mother and fights her for her phone, she pokes under his arms, a weak spot, he cries out laughter and grabs his armpit, while Meg moves away victorious.

"Yes, I do!" She cackles, RC shouts protests but is drown up by his schoolmates happiness and cheers.


September 2000,

Their doctor has ordered mandatory bed rest for Meg for the remainder of her pregnancy, which is easier said than done. Meg is not the type to remain still, when Erik started to chain her to the bed, to keep her in bed, she followed the doctor's orders, and Erik eventually stopped the chains, some of, most of it, was for his amusements and need of victimizing someone.

To be clear, Erik is not a member of the bondage scene or related niches, he has his chains, to control, to torture, he has absolute malicious and cruel intentions. He had a rough childhood.

Meg is on mandatory bedrest because she is a high risk pregnancy and the last time, she was pregnant, when she reached five months, Sorelli happened and she lost the baby traumatically. Erik was still quite monstrous and cruel towards Meg, and considered Sorelli's actions loyalty and was rewarded.

Erik is not the same, and he feels sick and becomes sick when he remembers how he treated her. Meg's response: "You weren't ready, it was selfish to force you in that situation, you acted on your need for a kind self preservation, I cannot fault you for that,"

Meg is a Goddess, and how her light hasn't burned out yet is a testament to her strength, which she constantly denies having, she is incorruptible.

Sorelli is around, Erik has been avoiding her because this time, he does want the child rearing experience with his mate, and he will not let anything, including himself, take that away from him and his mate.

He's been staying close to Meg, but tonight he's going to indulge in some fun and scratch some itches that are gnawing at him.


"I wasn't going to do this, but this happened. Designed and built a client a workspace, strictly off the books, and got this as payment." Charles shows off his off the books payment, a suitcase full of pure, uncut heroin. Nadir's cop senses are screaming, he is shaking. He needs to walk away. Jules, Raoul and Erik pounce and make mad grabs.

"I fucking love New York!" Jules cries out in exultation.

"None of this is okay!" Nadir is pulling at his hair, the others ignore him.

"I know, it's fucking great!"


"Baby girls are the best when it comes to diapers, it's the boys that are pieces of shit," Charles says, Jules and Charles are offering their fatherly advice to Erik, who did not solicit for it.

"You gotta hold down that penis, you will get pissed on and in your mouth. Two daughters and one son, learned fast with the son, only happened twice," Charles smiles proud like, Jules moans.

"I have five boys, and they always made a point to nail me. Annette thought it was funny."

"Do something about the penis, got it." Erik's legs start to shake and his fingers tap against thighs.

"Hospitals today are so good. I'm honestly surprised that Louise survived. At least today, everyone practices hand washing." Charles and Jules are oblivious to Erik's agitation and anxiety.

"Annette almost died delivering our youngest. She lost a lot of blood. She was in the hospital for almost a month, but that won't happen with Meg," Jules sighs happily.

"My wife died," Nadir whispers, he still remembers. He held onto her until the bitter end. The light left her eyes, it was like all the stars went with her. Erik's tapping incases and he starts to hum a song.

"Meg is strong, she's an elite dancer, they are trained, nay, built to withstand extreme pain. Meg told me she performed Faust with a broken foot."

"She what?!

Charles nods, pride swelling for the love he keeps secret.

"She took a few weeks off for it to mostly heal, dancers cannot not dance."

"She stayed with me during that. I didn't know she was injured," Erik feels panic and shame set in. He didn't know, she never showed any signs of pain or discomfort.

"Telling you, strong woman."

"I insulted the ballet," Erik bends forward in shame.

"Because you're a prick, it's what you do."

"All the dancers are like that?"

Jules, Nadir, and Charles nod.

"Fuck,"

Jules wraps an arm around him and soothes him," it's okay Erik, she knows you're an asshole, and she loves you anyway, we all do," the others agree.


January 19, 2000

Words fall away. Meg is supposed to be strong, an elite dancer who apparently can perform flawlessly with broken feet. She should be annoying him with her giddy insatiable glee of being a mother finally.

She should be speaking nonsense, babble, and he should be in the corner, being aloof, pretending he does not care about any of this, when his face is breaking from his own joy.

He was pushed out of the room when the machines set off and the nurses and doctors started shouting orders and words and codes.

Her heart stopped. Not for a few seconds, but worked on her heart for two minutes, he counted, he felt her die.

She came back, and his world started again, but something is still wrong. Meg is in a coma, and they do not know or believe if she will wake up. Erik presses his palms against the glass, as he watches her.

This is what Hades must go through when Persephone has to leave for the sun, what Orpheus felt when Eurydice couldn't come home after all. The Doctor losing Rose, goddamnit, he doesn't have anyone to watch that with now.

Those monsters that "haunted," the house because they were separated, that episode made Meg cry so much, she held onto Erik," that's so true! I'd never be able to stop screaming if I lost you like that."

Someone has been vying for his attention, Erik looks at the doctor, he is nervous, what once would bring some semblance of joy, offers nothing, he is empty, hollow.

"I loath to bring this up, but she is listed as an organ donor," Erik does not let him finish that thought and he dies instantly, Erik brings his bloody gloved hand back to support him, as he leans forward and hangs his head.

"You promised forever," he is weak, he taps his mask, he is confused at first, but realization sets in, he is crying.


Four days later

"I'm kind of nervous about getting out, I mean, no food for four days? That's like the best cleanse and fast ever. I may need to make it a solid week, there is this dress I don't know if I can still fit into," Meg looks over at Erik, who is full on brood.

"Oh, come on! That's worth at least a titter or some chortles."

"You were in coma after your heart stopped for two minutes," Erik is surprised he can keep his voice even.

"Oh, I know what happened. You're sad, I interrupted the drug and Christine feast. Go on, get it out of your system, I'll drive myself home," Meg winks, and Erik makes a strange sound, Meg gets serious, her features soften, Erik is upset, truly.

"Get over it, I didn't die," Meg means for that to be comforting.

"You did die,"

"Mostly dead, maybe, but like they say in the classic tale, true love keeps you alive, or love never dies, or," Meg trails off, she actually cannot remember the exact quote and that's causing true fear and anxiety.

"I thought it was the end," Erik moves closer," they wanted to harvest your organs for donors on the lists," Erik speaks softly,

"My organs belong to my ghost!" Meg declares, Erik nods, he grabs on the rail attached to her bed for support.

"I don't think I'd like the afterlife, if it's bright as they say or paint. Even Persephone needs her shade." Meg grabs his hand and Erik looks over.

"I promised you forever, and you made it happen, so you're stuck with all of this! I'm not letting you go, our love is eternal," Meg beams.

"I believe I can endure you." Erik feigns great exasperation and capitulation.

"That's my guy!" Meg claps.

Erik leans over and he kisses her through his mask, he places both arms on either side of her, the nurse enters the room, it's time to feed their new baby,

"Oh, and we did that!" Meg giggles with glee as she pushes Erik away,


Notes:

Like to stress again, this Erik NOT a member of the bondage and those niches, those who are, do NOT want to harm their partner, and make sure they do not, Erik is vile predatory psychopath NOT the same thing. he likes medieval torture and you know, yeah. I go all evil and then slowly lessen it... called character arc.

and um, hello beautiful readers, what's up? made an instagram for my sloth, I named after Michael Crawford,

michaelcrawford_the_sloth_/