"And then after he stabs me, I wake up," Raoul is sitting on his hands and does not want to look at anyone. The Therapist writes down something on the notebook.
"Are these recurring?" The Therapist is not looking at Raoul, which he appreciates.
"Only after he tried to kill me," Raoul rubs the back of his neck, Erik leans into him.
"You didn't tell me that," Erik says softly.
"It was hard to find the right segue, you know? Hey, here's the rent money, thanks for the coffee, please stop killing me in my dreams, hey, love the glitter on your mask," Raoul tries sound playful, he looks away when Erik gaze does not waver.
"You pay him rent?" The Therapist is taken aback slightly by this and looks to Erik, who nods.
"He owns the land that the Opera is on, so yeah." Raoul explains.
"You're allowed to talk to me," Erik reaches out to him.
"Have you told him that before, Erik? Look at him, he's distressed, anything you want to say?" The therapist waits.
"Our relationship is unusual and high intensity at moments, and I am me," he poses a little bit and Raoul laughs despite himself and Erik continues,
"I am rather fond of you and if ever feel that you have need of expressing yourself, it's fine." Erik leans back into the chair and exhales, as if spent.
"Raoul?" The therapist encourages,
"Thank you?"
"Do you mean that or are you asking?" Erik and the therapist both look at him.
"Yes"
Erik makes a strange intimidating sound and Raoul gets serious,
"I mean it, thank you," Raoul tries to smile.
"Erik, we talked about this, your demonic impression is most marvelous but do please refrain from such threats when you are in a place meant to heal and build trust. Do I need to bring out the taser again?" The Therapist looks directly into those fierce looking golden feline eyes without flinching or blinking.
Raoul is impressed. The Therapist can hold their own. Erik waves his hands, dismissing the issue.
"Good. Now, I believe there was something about your mask?" The Therapist looks at Erik, he nods and is about to speak, but Raoul cuts him off.
"The king Midas comment? It was in bad taste, but he started it!" Raoul is back on the playground. The Therapist and Erik turn to him and stare.
"Have you allowed Raoul to see your face?" Erik shakes his head; Raoul lowers down in the chair.
"What do you mean by that? That he started it?"
"My name! Like Beyoncé says, say my name!" Raoul sings the song quietly under his breath, the Therapist blinks a few times before addressing Erik.
"Erik, what does that mean to you?"
Erik is trying not to vibrate from the suppressed rage and irritation. Preventing mad cackling out of anger, is also taking a lot out of him.
"You know how I have sweet epithets for Antionette, I have one for him and he's reacting like a mad child. I feel like a parent that is about to abandon the toddler in the store, for release." Erik looks at his gloves, trying to find a calm.
"No! You took my name away from me! It's this weird bullshit dominating control power play. He's going to take my name, then my, I don't know, puppy" Raoul is out of breath and he hangs his head, trying to come together.
"Say his name," The Therapist looks at Erik.
"Raoul, you sound insane." Erik turns to face him.
"Perhaps there can be an agreement reached. Erik, try to incorporate the use of Raoul's given name now, while you use your sweet epithet you have for him."
Raoul and Erik nod.
"Yes, please."
"We only have a few more minutes left for today's session, so why don't you practice, Erik."
The Therapist sits back and watches him.
"Raoul," Erik reaches for his hand," if you call me a cat one more time, I will" The Therapist errs," I will be most aggrieved."
"We will build on that next time."
"So, that happened!" Raoul says brightly as they take a seat at the table at the restaurant, they are having brunch. They are in a private room in the back, apparently Erik has all the back rooms in the every restaurant on hold for his personal use.
"Yes," Erik wipes down the utensils with a handkerchief.
"Couple stuff is more complicated than I thought. I mean, I figured the worst argument would be over who does the dishes," Raoul is trying to keep everything light. Erik casts a quick glance at him, before placing the knife back onto the napkin on the table.
"Quite,"
Raoul, mishearing, shuts up. Erik, sighs.
"I didn't say, be silent, Le-Raoul. I said, "quite,"
Raoul's face changes colors and he laughs embarrassed, Erik nods and he picks up a menu.
"Can I see your face?" Raoul blurts out, he takes the glass of water and drinks to prevent further damages
"I don't want to expose myself in public, but if you are serious and," Erik trails off. This is a sensitive subject and to reveal himself is the most venerable thing he can do and he does not like to.
"I want us to grow and I think that would be the next step, I live with you now on a trial basis, so seeing your face is the next logical step. I mean, we've been intimate for months now and I still haven't seen any of your face, your eyes, but they're not covered."
"Trial basis," Erik says quietly in contempt, Raoul leans forward,
"Yeah?"
"We can do that, Le-" Erik is struggling,
"You can call me, Leto, just use my name too," Erik nods.
"Tonight," Erik says.
"You'll make sure it's this grand production of Erik!" Raoul jazz hands and smiles like an idiot.
"Yes,"
"Great."
"I would like to discuss something else. The management of my Opera house."
"Oh." Raoul does not like where this could be going.
"Your brother has no interest in fulfilling your role, when you are out. Nettles is not an option and I will sooner see Meri dead, before he is given any more responsibility."
Raoul has a very bad feeling about what is coming next.
"Jules and I have discussed this and he agrees that there needs to be another manager, outside of you. Moira, a former acquaintance and Richard Firmin are going to be sharing your manager duties,"
"I own a portion of the Opera house, were you going to include me in these discussions? I have a right to be involved." Raoul is trying to keep his temper, Meri didn't say anything about this, if this is the same Moira, and Raoul is liking Jules less and less.
Erik waves his hand.
"I own the land outright and Jules is the majority owner."
"There it is," Raoul mutters, he leans back in his chair and he glares off to the side. Erik leans forward.
"There, what is?"
"The complete lack of respect for me and the job I preform. I have a degree in business management and finance from Columbia! I know things! I have been taking care of the damn Opera House for almost a year, with no help and you don't make things easy! I still get calls from detectives about Lord Chauncey and I am staring to think you're involved with his disappearance,"
"Prove it." Erik teases and rests his chin on the palm of his hand.
"If you don't start respecting me, I'm hiding your masks and taking Meg to all of the raves!"
"You wouldn't," Erik says his voice a warning.
"Let's see, shall we? Ready to order?"
Erik nods.
"Nettles and Jules love the eggs benedict," Raoul calls the waiter over, who stands next to him, waiting for his order.
"Stuffed French toast. Make it super French. I want to taste the judgment." Raoul hands the menu over.
"Bloody Marry," Erik watches Raoul closely.
"You're adorable, Leto."
"Can you do me a favor? My sister's flight is delayed and I promised I'd pick her up," Reyer is cleaned up today. His hair has been cut, and his face clean shaven, he looks like a proper human person in his suit. Raoul double takes. Reyer was enjoying his "Josh Groban," hair and now it's cut and kept. Something is going on here.
"You sister is visiting? That's cool. You can leave for an hour or so, I guess. You can't fire yourself." Raoul chuckles.
"For the wedding, My wedding. The wedding that is this weekend."
"The wedding!" Raoul totally forgot his best friend was getting married that weekend.
"Yes," Reyer narrows his eyes, Raoul is not used to that and calms himself immediately.
"We are definitely doing something epic and amazing for your stag night!" Raoul forces laughter. He totally forgot to plan something.
"Jules and Erik have a whole thing they are doing."
"Ours is going to be so much more, on."
"I'm going to go pick my sister up now, you can go make your last minute plans." Reyer pats Raoul on the shoulder and turns.
"I totally have everything planned, you suck a duck!" Raoul says lamely, Reyer smiles, nods and walks away.
"I'm the worst best man ever,"
"Do you have a preference?"
Raoul is about to throw his stapler at Erik, he needs to stop appearing. Raoul shrugs.
"On what, exactly?"
"Champagne." Erik is setting up their usual lunch office picnic.
"I like Prosecco." Raoul rolls his eyes as Erik makes sounds of displeasure.
"Let's ignore that, I'll pick." Erik condescends and hands over utensils to Raoul.
"What's this about?" Raoul waits for Erik to finish, Erik does not like being interrupted, in actions or speaking.
"Tonight."
"Tonight." Raul racks his brain for what Erik could be on about.
"Our plans. You asked to see all of me."
"Yes! That, duh," Raoul slaps his face.
"You son of a whore," Reyer storms into the room and he throws a book at Raoul, who cries out in pain.
"Moira, Moira is my new boss? You think I wouldn't find out!?"
"Meri, I can—"
"Suck all the ducks, lick and eat all the rusted glass! I quit!"
Reyer storms off.