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4
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Shortly, Erik returned with an unbroken mask on his face, as though there had never been an accident in the first place. Jack stared at him in disbelief as he walked to the chair and took his seat in front of Jack once again.
"Your mask... how could you fix it so quickly?" He asked in bewilderment.
"I have quite a few of these made. I run into these sorts of problems myself every so often. There's a mold for when I run out."
"Ahhh, so you do make them yourself. That's interesting," Jack said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "That's very interesting."
Erik raised his brow at Jack.
"Erik, can you make me one of those masks? They're just so delightful. Then we could both wear them and be like... twins. That would be so entertaining!" Jack said, excitedly.
"Uhh... no," Erik said with much distaste for Jack. "But I know something that could be equally entertaining."
"And what would that be?" Jack asked, somewhat disappointed that he would not get to wear a mask.
"We could swap some stories. It will be fun."
"Oh, okay!" Jack said, liking the sound of the idea. "Tell me about that opera and why you're a Phantom."
"I will. But first you have to tell me a story. Tell me how you came upon finding my lair."
Jack sighed, displeased that he would have to wait to hear the Phantom's story. Nevertheless, he would tell his as Erik had asked. "Alright, I'll tell you," Jack agreed, leaning back in his chair and placing his feet up on the table. Erik glanced at him with dissatisfaction, but his feet did not move from their resting spot. He placed his arms stretched out behind his head and began, "Well, you see, I was off in the Caribbean a while back. There was this awful guy, I mean a real nasty bugger, and when I used to be the Captain of The Black Pearl-- that's a ship in case you don't know, I'm captain again now-- several years ago, he got my crew to hold a full-out mutiny on me. Left me on a godforsaken island and I was just lucky enough to be the genius that I am, that I got off of that there island. So this guy now was looking to become uncursed-- yeah, there was this whole curse that he and his crew had developed because they'd pillaged some cursed medallions-- and he needed to pay back all of the blood money so he was after this boy --nice kid, you should meet him sometime-- The boy fell in love with the governor's daughter who happened to be kidnapped by the awful guy because he thought that he needed her blood when it was really the boy's that he required. So the boy came to me to help rescue his love and we went after him and lifted the curse and killed the mean guy, rescued the girl and then she and the boy wanted to get married. Turned out that they would choose France for their wedding. I've always fancied the place so I came along. They sent me out to buy a bottle of wine for the reception, but I don't like wine, I fancy rum. While I was out to find some rum I lay me eyes upon this strange looking grate-covering in the ground. I heard this nice music and lifted it up to see what was inside... and well... I guess you know the rest of this one."
"Very enticing indeed, Mr. Sparrow," Erik said, nodding.
"Captain..." Jack muttered under his breath.
"This all seems so wild and adventurous! You're a ship captain, yes? Certainly more interesting than what's gone on in my life."
"Well... yes I am a ship captain. But I'm also a pirate."
"A pirate?" Erik asked, surprised.
"Yes..." Jack said, a bit confused. "You didn't know that I was a pirate?"
"No. I hadn't the slightest idea. I've never met a pirate before, let alone had one in my home. What's it like to be a pirate? It must be fascinating."
"Meh. It's got it's ups and downs. But you... you're a composer... you're an artist... you're a phantom! It's your turn now. Tell me this so-called 'long story'. I'm very interested in hearing it."
Erik looked at Jack steadily before beginning. Then he cleared his throat and started, "Well, it may not be as long as I had inquired. As it may be, not too long ago the only place I knew was of the great opera theater in France, the Opera Populaire. After a childhood filled with torment because of the cruel disfigurement of my face, I was secreted to the depths of the opera house and I learned to live alone and perfect my talents. I taught myself, amongst many things, to write, to read, to sing, to play and compose music and to create art. Then there was a girl. A beautiful, magnificent girl whom I loved very deeply. I had tutored her in singing and made her voice develop into something heavenly. But when I made my advancements towards her I learned that she did not love me back in the way I loved her and it made me furious, for not only did she not love me but she loved another man. I fought against this terrible situation in the only way I knew of: violence. I tried to make her change her mind, I sang with her and showed her my face, but it was not enough. She loved the other man and all I could think of doing was ending everything once and for all. I set the opera house aflame and tried to kill the man, but alas I could not bring myself to do so because before I could, my lovely angel delivered me a kiss from her heaven so warm and filled with beauty that I had to let her go to be happy. The opera house burned to a crisp and my home was lost so I had to move here. Sometimes I regret having carried out the actions which I had. I wish I could see my angel once again... but I don't think she'd want to see me."
When Erik finished telling his story, he looked back at Jack who had his mouth wide open. It certainly had been no match to his story. This one was better, by far. "Mate, you really loved this lassie. You have to see her again!"
"I can't. She is married now. She's probably forgotten all about me anyway."
"Forget you? I don't think I'd ever forget a fellow like you. And neither would she. You even said yourself before that no one ever forgets The Phantom of the Opera. You have to do something! You deserve to be with her."
Erik shook his head. "I don't know where she is."
"Ooh, I know! We can locate her together and bring her to be with you."
Erik glanced at Jack, a bit doubtful, though with the smallest sense that it could be a feasible plan. "Perhaps," Erik said, longing to hear Christine's voice again, to see her beautiful face, stroke her luscious hair, to... he realized he was becoming lost in his thoughts and quickly emerged himself before all he could think of was Christine and there could be nothing to bring him back. "I'll consider it."
"Atta boy," Jack said merrily, patting Erik on the shoulder. "Now, I guess storytime is over. So how about you teach me to sing? I've had no professional training ever, but I think I've got a strong foundation already. How does this sound?"
As he raised from his seat and began marching around the room, belting out 'A pirate's life for me', Erik placed his hands over his ears. Jack wasn't the best of company, but at least hewas some company.