Author's notes: Mwahahahahahaha…. Anyway, L.T. sent me an email about the review, I won't post it here, but I'll reply to it soon, so if you're still reading this, expect a reply. And don't worry, I dislike OMG HES SO HOT GERIK IS MINE 4EVA fangirls as well... I´m just reposting the reply so I can delete that "chapter".
Lindseys Trachea (whatakick) - While I value the opinions of all reviewers, even the negative ones, yours caught my eye in such a fashion that I thought it deserved its own document for a proper reply. I don´t know if you´ll ever read this, considering your opinion of the story, but still, here it is, for all others to see.
I read some of your reviews to other stories, just to check if your language was similar to the one you used in the review I received. It was. You´re free to say what you want about the story - go ahead. Be ashamed, if you find it necessary. If you wish to truly know how I became a phan, here you go: three years ago, I received the Leroux book from my parents for my birthday. I read it, liked it immediately, and researched the internet for it for a while. I discovered the musical and loved it instantly, later on managed to read Susan Kay´s masterpiece. The ALW 2004 movie, no matter how good or bad it was, didn´t impress me as much as the whole story and while I like Gerard Butler in general, I am fully aware of the obvious fact that the role of the Phantom (or Erik, whatever you will) was not meant for him, for various reasons, the greatest being his lack of vocal training and also his physical appearance, which doesn´t even come close to the descriptions of Erik.
"Annoying phangirls", indeed. I really don´t comprehend the story. After all, who comprehends it better than you? Aren´t you Leroux reincarnated, by any chance? Or are you channeling Susan Kay´s thoughts? I´m not mentioning ALW, however, since he was the one who thought GB was right for the role.
About your analysis of that particular sentence - do you understand the meaning of the word "sarcasm"? I believe you should, since you claim to have read Kay. I can only speak for myself, but I never thought Christine stupid for chosing Raoul. However, this fanfic concerns the ALW 2004 movie, NOT the Leroux or Kay book, or the ALW stage musical, and that is the reason why the characters say and think these things. I mentioned it there - they were watching the movie, not reading the book.
Unfortunately, I have not seen the 1925 silent movie, but I have seen photos of Lon Chaney as Erik... and my thoughts on Erik remain the same. Not all people are as shallow as you think. Speaking of "stupid phangirls"... you yourself spell the word with a ph instead of a f. How do you feel now?
I trust you are intelligent enough to have noticed the category in which this story is? If not, never fear, I´ll enlighten you. "Humor", it´s called. You see, that means the story is intended to make people laugh, it´s not angst. And "fanfiction", do you know what that means? Stories written by fans, because they feel like writing something about a story they like.
You read the summary of the story, you knew what it was going to be about. But you still read it! That is either completely illogical or astonishingly stupid. And still you bother to review, just to flame the story.
You´re obsessed, my dear. You flame other people´s works simply because you believe the way you understand Phantom is the only true way to understand Phantom. Your review only made me feel sorry for you... but I don´t feel the need to flame your work. I have read it, liked bits, thought parts were alright and disliked other parts. But your silly attempt to insult me is most pitiful.
The story remains on this site, it will be continued, and you can insult it all you want... you´re only insulting yourself. People like you make me lose faith in the human race.
To summarize my ramble, make it a bit more vulgar and give you the reply you would expect a "stupid phangirl" to give you: go finish your own crap, idiotic bitch. You make me sick.
timounes-island – thank you very much! Here you go, read on!
krillball6 – Whoa... big-time praise! Thanks a lot!
sashik – I try, thanx
scorpion's muse – thank you!
mrs. Malfoy – (does the victory dance)
Sargneagelchen – it's okay! As long as you review, the length is inconsequent!
Willyrka – (gives you the Nobel Prize for Peace Between Phans)
Unseengenius – Here you go!
onelastchance– here it is!
BrokenFate– thanks so much, even though i don't try to make Erik cute... i try to make him IC. Read on!
raoulisafop – Here it is!
Phantom'sJediBandieGirl – it's okay, i just didn't have that much time
Kathy.L – thanks!
Enrinye – hehe, you shouldn't be complaining, Z. you are the only one who knew what was going to happen in the next chapter!
Nota Lone – I hate soap operas...well i laugh insanely when someone watches them, but otherwise... anyway, that´s how i came up with the title!
AngelOfMusic387 – no kiss... yet. Read on!
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Chapter 14 – Don Juan Interrupted
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Meg was staring.
She was fully aware of the fact and didn't care the least. She had enough trouble trying to stop herself from breathing with her mouth opened and tongue stuck out, like a dog that had just seen a particularly juicy piece of steak. Then the sight of Christine giving her the infamous death glare came into view, and she returned to reality somewhat. She had to behave... for now, at least. The last thing she wanted to do was jeopardize their schemes, but it was hard to be within six feet of le Fantôme de L´Opera, dressed as La Mort Rouge, and not want to squeal and tackle him.
Still, she was trying her best, not only because of the scheme – if she would have tackled him, he would have thought her insane, no question. And anyway, she remembered the answer to the question that had come to her mind: Gaston? Gaston who?
Christine bit her lip for a moment, glancing from Meg to Erik. This was a bad interruption – things were going too smoothly! And now… well, she would have time to kill Meg later on. Well, maybe not kill… maybe just torture her a teeny tiny bit. Maybe not that much of a tiny bit.
For now, she gritted her teeth, forced the angry expression and an evil death glare worthy of O.G. off her face, and proceeded to do the inevitable. "Um, Erik… this is Meg Giry, my best friend."
As if someone started time again, Erik shifted his gaze to Christine and apparently recognized her feeble attempt to save the situation somehow, and nodded slightly before returning his attention to Meg. "Your mother has helped me throughout the years, Mademoiselle." With more indifferent politeness than when he had done so with Christine, he took Meg´s hand, which she had automatically outstretched, now used to this kind of greeting, brought it to his lips, but barely even touched her.
Meg thought she was going to swoon, which was saying something, since she wasn't one to be easily turned into a psycho phangirl. Well, the phangirl part, anyway. Still, she became quite aware of the fact that her dress was low-cut enough to show off pretty much most of her cleavage, which was an advantage since Erik was slightly bowed, and a disadvantage, since Christine was looking at her like a queen would at the lowliest thief who attempted in vain to steal her crown right from her head.
"Meg… I don't think you have met Erik." She thought she might add "my teacher" to that sentence, but chose not to. After all, that embrace was far from teacher-student.
Meg regained the power of speech… somewhat. "I… it's a pleasure, Monsieur."
"I shall leave you to your debate. Christine… as usual, you know when and where." Erik noted, quickly returning his attention to Christine who (and Meg envied that) was completely relaxed and calm now and nodded with a genuine smile. "Mademoiselle." He nodded to Meg, then turned and almost seemed to vanish into thin air.
Christine exhaled slowly and, without looking at Meg, who was still staring in awe, she said in a dangerous whisper, not unlike the one she had spoken in to Raoul months ago, but a bit gentler, since this wasn't entirely Meg´s fault. "You're lucky he didn't Punjab you on the spot, Amy. It took me about five minutes to calm him and assure him that I didn't mean to leave. In case you didn't notice, he was in a foul mood tonight."
But Meg remained awed and gawping, turning her protuberant eyes to Christine. "You… you're calm!"
Christine looked at her and frowned. "Yes… and?"
"You…you can get used to seeing someone so hot all the time?" After what seemed ages to her, Christine laughed merrily, but Meg grinned and posed another question, to which she really wanted an answer. "And speaking of hotness… what were you guys doing here before I came, hmm?" she asked with a smirk.
Christine almost blushed, but she was used to this kind of behavior from Meg. "Well, if you wouldn't have poked your nose into the room, I could have perhaps gone further! But no, we weren't snogging or anything."
"Damn!" Christine laughed again.
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Fortunately for her, Christine wasn't required during "Notes", which was fine with her, or else she would have torn Carlotta's head off. The diva claimed that Christine didn't have the voice to play Aminta straight into her face, which resulted in Christine singing "No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy; no dreams within her heart but dreams of love!" straight into her face at the top of her voice… the managers actually applauded her and this time, they didn't stop even when Carlotta glared at them.
Meg, overjoyed, got a note herself, telling her that Christine had probably told her some things, but probably also that she was to keep things quiet, and that if she was really a friend, she would do so. No threat… yet. In return, it seemed, Meg got to be the Prima Ballerina of the show, which both annoyed and excited her, since she was playing a "gypsy courtesan", as the script said, but Meg didn't complain – she knew that she has a bigger part than Carlotta, thus she was satisfied.
Raoul, who most unfortunately survived, kept almost stalking Christine and both girls seriously thought they'd crack soon and kick him in the crotch if he wouldn't stop. Everyone seemed to either fear or respect Christine now far more than before, almost as if Erik was at her side at all times.
Madame Giry called Christine to her own rooms in the Opera one day, to discuss the obvious – Erik. After a lengthy conversation that involved Madame Giry telling Christine Erik's backstory, Christine filling Giry in about the events from her point of view and debates about Don Juan Triumphant, Christine left, reasonably pleased with herself, since Giry believed her and thanked her for giving Erik more than any other person had before. Cliché, but it was from the heart and sincere, so Christine was happy.
Meanwhile, Meg kept singing Don Juan loudly right behind Christine whenever someone passed them in the corridors, laughing when they were terrified.
