Chapter 7 Question Time with Erik

or

Brandy and I Have Some More Catfights, and You All Get Pretty Damn Tired of My Special Effects While Erik Answers More of Your Questions.

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Brandy, Kalyn, and I watched as the collected Phan-Girls all came back from their euphoria.

I turned to Brandy, "Think they enjoyed that?"

"Not at all," she answered sarcastically.

I hit her and clambered onto the counter-top, once again taking the microphone. "Oooh, I have a microphone." I looked at the surrounding guests and struck a pose. "Ok… so. If you empty the bed of your pick-up truck by driving backwards really fast and slamming on the brakes… you might be a red-neck."

Pauses to wait for applause… none are forth-coming "Aaaaaaaand, who didn't see that one coming?"

"Anyway, on with the interviews. When we left last time, we had just gotten through Ronin and Ella's first questions and Erik," I motioned to the Phantom, still sitting and composing on my phone, "had just sung us a beautiful song."

Pauses and this time gets applause (although I deeply suspect that I got that merely because Erik sang for you glares)

"Alright, this time we shall continue around the circle. It would appear that Venus is up."

The serene Phan looked at me and nodded her head before turning to Erik. "For my first question, I would like to know… Erik, why Christine? I mean, honestly, I know a lot of girls that look a lot like her or better than her...and girls who sing better as well. So why? Was it because you're her Angel of Music?"

Erik set my phone aside and looked at the dark-haired Phan, thinking before he answered. "I was in love with Christine long before I became her Angel of Music. When she arrived at the Opera, I saw a sad, young girl. Watching her over the years, I watched her blossom into a flowering young womanhood; yet she never lost her innocent melancholy. I sensed a soul compatible with my own. Besides," Erik smiled, "we cannot chose where our hearts will love." He kept eye contact with Venus for a moment before picking my phone back up and went back to his composition.

Brandy climbed onto the counter next to me and (after a bit of a struggle) took the microphone from me. "Very nice answer… very romantic." (A/N: I hope?) "Next up is Kat."

The blonde climbed up next to Brandy and took the microphone. Muffling it, she knocked Brandy's and my head together. "For the record, I am not a prep, and I prefer the name Sol, if you don't mind." (A/N: Better… not totally a prep, just kinda looks like one.) "Don't let Songé get ahold of this again."

Sol jumped down from the counter. She nudged herself in close to Erik on the couches we had set up. Ella wouldn't move easily, so Sol glared at her a moment.

The hyper Phan backed down and scooted over on the bench.

Sol, now settled, looked up at Erik. "Being a fellow lover of nooks, crannies, trapdoors, secret passage ways, etc, I would like to know of any interesting places you have discovered and if you would like to show me around the numerous cellars of our beloved Paris Opera."

Erik looked at the commanding Phan a moment before answering. "I know of many 'interesting places' in the Opera. There is the underground lake, the many passages that can take you anywhere within the Opera house, and many more secret rooms besides. I would be honored to show you a few choice places in the Opera, should you ever pay a visit to my home."

Sol's eyes got wide; she gasped, then threw her arms around Erik's neck. "ThankyouThankyouThankyou. I am gonna come visit, for sure. I would love to. ThankyouThankyouThankyou."

Brandy went to grab the girl off Erik, but Kalyn and I grabbed her arms and held her back. She dragged us along a few feet, leaving furrows in the floor.

I looked at Kalyn over Brandy's shoulder. "I got her. Get the rope."

A few interesting moments and many curses later, Kalyn and I had rope tied around Brandy's arms and torso, with the two ends reaching up to one of the fans on the ceiling.

I jumped back onto the counter.

Then I jumped back down and walked over to Brandy, "Gimme that!" I snatched the microphone from her hand and walked back to the counter, flipping on the fan as I passed the switch.

Once again, standing on the counter, I looked out over our audience. "Ok, well, it's Megan's turn now." I nodded my head at the journalist/skater Phan.

She nodded back. Turning to Erik, she asked in all seriousness, "Can you protect me from Brandy?"

All through the laughter and applause, Megan kept her serious gaze on Erik.

After some "serious" deliberation, he returned her gaze and answered simply, "Of course, what kind of hero would I be if I didn't?"

Megan smiled and nodded her appreciation.

I continued laughing a moment before shaking my head and turning to see Brandy's reaction.

She was struggling and spinning, trying even harder to escape from her bonds, anger burned in her eyes, when we could see them.

"Well, Megan, I hope Erik lives up to his promise, because once Brandy gets out of there, she is so after you. Me too for that matter."

Megan shrugged slightly and glanced at Erik.

"Moving right along… I do believe Emily is left in this round. So, Emily, if you please."

Emily sat in thought for a moment before turning to Erik. "What is your favorite food?"

Erik looked at her in momentary shock.

(A/N: Kudos, you stumped Brandy, Erik, and I… three birds with one stone.)

"Well, Megan, I have never been much for the pleasures of the table. I live for my music and live off only that for weeks on end. When I do indulge I drink Russian tea and eat fruits and vegetables. I have to keep strength to terrorize my managers, don't I?" He smiled once again and turned back to the phone and his on-going composition.

"Well, you heard him, Phans, fruit and Russian tea." I looked around the circle. "Ok, did we get everyone on that round? Yes? Ok… on to dun dun dun Round Number Two!"

Lights flash and more flash pots go off… once again impressing no one.

One person clapped. I looked around the group and found the person before someone shushed her. "Sol!"

The preppy girl looked at me in shock. "What'd I do?"

"You are my new co-host." I looked at the still-fuming Brandy, "For a while anyway."

"Oh… ok." She popped off the couch and hopped up onto the counter beside me. I handed over the microphone. "Ok… I am gonna assume you aren't a total idiot and that you know what to do. Have fun."

Sol took the microphone from me and announced the next question. "Ok, well, we have Ronin the Dark up next. I'm sure she has some deep and philosophical question for our beloved Erik, so listen up. Ronin, if you would." Sol nodded.

Ronin looked darkly at Sol. "Well, moving on now. Erik, what are your views on creatures of the night, whom are misunderstood due to superstitions?"

"I believe that too many times the 'creatures of the night' are simply misunderstood because no one cares to ascertain the truth about them. I know this from my own experiences and can appreciate what they have to endure."

Ronin nodded, "Thank you Erik," and looked back at Sol. "Take it away, prep-girl."

Sol looked at Ronin, mildly angered. "Ok, people, let's get this straight, I am not a prep. Blonde hair and blue eyes does not make a prep. I can't help my genes."

It looked like Sol was about to throw the microphone at Ronin's head, so I grabbed it away from her and patted her back. "It's ok, Sol, no worries. We believe you, don't we, Phans?"

I looked to the audience for help, most of which nodded in agreement. Kalyn took Sol's arm and lead her to her seat.

"Ok, now on with the questions. I believe Ella is next."

Ella cocked her head and thought for a moment. Then, looking as if she would burst with restrained energy, she smiled at Erik. "Have you had stalking issues in the past, or did it just start with Christine? Why her? I am so much better! And, yes, I can sing too! I'll sing to you if you ask me! wink wink (Stalk me, please!)"

Erik backed away, more than a little nervous in the bouncy girl's presence. "I was never truly a stalker. I was protective. I merely wanted to make sure she was happy and that she was never hurt. Then that fop came along and ruined it all."

(A/N: You all knew it was coming… no Phanfic is complete without at leastsome lightRaoul-bashing. And it's all the better because it's Erik.)

Erik continued, "I never once watched her when it would have been inappropriate. I never harmed her. The only time I ever did anything that was close to a stalking manner was when I took her back with me to my home. I haven't treated anyone in such a manner since Christine, and I do not believe I will be anytime soon."

The group looked at Erik in wide-eyed suspicion.

"Ok, on wi-"

Something slammed into my body, knocking me off the countertop.

"What the hell is the big idea, tying me up? I outta hang you. I'm gonna kill you."

"Brandy… get off me. You know I can't die; I'm an immortal, just like you. We'd just fight for the rest of eternity… not the way I plan on spending it either. Now… GET… OFF!"

"Damn you. I'll kill you…"

"No… you won't." I slammed her body backwards into the floor and climbed onto the counter.

She came after me and I held out the microphone. "It's your turn to speak."

She snatched the mike away and climbed up next to me. "Alright… fine. Venus, your turn."

Venus looked at Erik a moment before dropping her calm demeanor and jumping into his lap. "Wanna be MY Angel of Music? I'm a singer too, you know...and I'm in need of singing services if I want to get to that note Christine did at the end of The Phantom of the Opera and sound phenomenal." She paused for a moment, thinking, "I promise not to rape you! That's Brandy's job...plus, Draco Malfoy is my love slave. Who can say no to that?" She finished this last with a wink at the surrounding Phan girls.

Erik carefully lifted her off his lap and carried her back to her seat. Kneeling down in front of her, he looked into her dark, brown eyes. "I won't be your Angel of Music, he is a lie. I will be your tutor if you would promise your unending devotion to your art. And thank you for promising not to rape me; I am uncertain who this Draco Malfoy is, but he is lucky to have you." Standing Erik walked back to his seat.

Brandy looked at Venus with a mixture of malice and, possibly friendship, in her eyes. "Well, lucky girl. She gets her music lessons… but I still get Erik. OW!"

I smacked Brandy in the back of the head. "Get on with it… and remember, you promised not to hurt anyone."

"Fine…fine; next we have Sol. The girl who merely looks like a prep, but really isn't, I swear."

Sol looked a little flustered, but remained calm. "I don't have an exact question I was just wondering if you had any maybe… well… do you, er… do you have any, well, obsessions?"

Erik looked blankly at Sol, "Do you mean obsessions as in how I love my music or something entirely different?"

Sol looked a little odd. "More like odd obsessions. Like, erm, more like, well, fetishes, sorta thing." Her voice had trailed off into something barely above a whisper.

"No, not that I can say. I have no fetishes, as you would call them."

"Oh, ok…" Sol blushed, but soon recovered her composure.

Brandy (who was trying desperately to hide some feathers) and I looked at each other in shock.

"Well," I said, "since we're getting a bit more comfortable together, let's go on. Megan, I do believe it's your turn now."

Megan didn't even hesitate. "I'd like to know a bit about you, Erik... Maybe some stuff about how you became the Phantom in detail, how the traps were built, etc. I like traps. "

"I became the Phantom through rumor; by simply being there. In my early days, I was not so adept at slinking through the shadows, and many people saw me, but never caught me. Soon, I grew to know the Opera House and became more able to slip away. As for my traps, I learned through texts and experimentation to make ingenious pit-falls to trip up any who might attempt to come after me, either to disprove the rumors or to hunt me down. I tried my hand and found I had a natural ability with building; so Iput it to work for myself."

When Erik was finished I spoke up. "Ok, now, kiddies, don't try that at home."

Brandy slapped my head and stole the mike. "Shut up, stupid. Ok, now it's Emily's turn."

"Wait!" I said, "I just have to know. It is SAI you're in, right?"

"Yeah?"

"YAY! I am so your sister! The choir thing is so forgiven." (A/N: I hope it's alright that I worked that in there…)

"Sweet!" Emily waited a moment, "Can I go on?"

"Sure."

Turning back to Erik, she started again. "What did you think of Emmy Rossum's portrayal of Christine in the new movie?"

"Aside from being a brunette and not a blonde; she was impeccable. She sang beautifully, and portrayed Christine very well."

(A/N: Sorry to anyone not agreement with me. I believe she did a wonderful job, except for leaving Erik at the end. I didn't like that part; but what can I do, Leroux writes his way and I write mine.)

Emily nodded, satisfied with the answer.

I looked at Brandy. "Hey, Brandy, I have been hogging the mike; so, in the name of being a good friend, I am letting you take the whole next round. Here you go." I held out the mike.

Brandy and Kalyn both looked at me. In unison, "Are you feeling alright?"

"Perfectly fine. I just don't want to be an attention hog, so take over. Here." I proffered the mike again.

Brandy took it a little suspiciously. "Ok, thanks Songé."

I took a seat on the back of the counter and let Brandy have the limelight.

Shooting me a frightened glance over her shoulder, she started. "Ok, for the final and least anticipated round in Question Time with Erik. We shall begin once more with Ronin."

As Ronin started her question with Erik, I slipped off the counter and out the door quietly.

I slipped away into the dark night.

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Ok, all… that's it… The End.

We are finished here.

Thank you all for reading. It has been fun.

Or not… I know you would kill me without finishing anything.

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I have a few surprises left for you. If I can think up some more fun stuff I will post to you… but I think from here on out will be the storyline.

I thought maybe that would be a good place to let off for now.

I'm already working on the next chapter, so expect it fairly soon. It will be wrap up for the interviews and maybe some Phantom-y fun.

Who wants to see Erik get drunk?

I know I do… Brandy does too…

Not that we are promising anything.

Good night all…

Wait, the redneck joke belongs to Jeff Foxworthy or Bill Engvall, one of them. I just love it cause I would do it…

Ok, done now…

Please R+R… I like seeing feed-back.

Thankees to all of you.