Disclaimer: Just think of it! If we owned the Phantom of the Opera, then author #1 will own Gerik... eeks… now there's a disturbing thought…

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Part XI

From: prettypirouettes(at)operapopulaire. com
To: castncrew(at)operapopulaire. com
Subject: ACK!

Dear all,

Since I was unfortunately unable to perform in the last Opera (totally worth it, though), I lent out a pair of Pointe shoes to someone. I really, really, really, really, desperately need them back. I don't know to who, I don't know when, and I don't know what it looks like (it might be a powdery blue, or a lime green, but yeah, you get the drift).

So, ahem, if you find anything that doesn't belong to you, give it to me!

Thanks bunches,
La Sorelli

"Coupé, coupé. jeté, jeté, assemble!"

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From: frenchlady(at)operapopulaire. com
To: castncrew(at)operapopulaire. com
Subject: Read only if you're a ballerina:

Hey all, I forgot the e-mail address for just the ballet folks, so this'll have to do.

First, Sori, dearie, it's "to whom," not "to who." If you want, I have a grammar book in my office you may borrow sometime.

Okay, crew!

Tomorrow's the day of our next obligatory dance concert trip. You should bring a writing utensil, and something to write on, and your wits about you. After the performance, I expect you all to write a response paper, describing how the performance changed you and your views on life. They are to be at least 50 lines, 12 pt font, Times New Roman, and are to be e-mailed to me by no later than a week after tomorrow.

Mme. Giry

"Don't just do it, dance it!"

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From: duckducknoose(at)operapopulaire. com
To: castncrew(at)operapopulaire. com; prettyinpink(at)dechagny. net; bigbrotha(at)dechagny. net
Subject: Check this out!

Look everyone! I got myself a new e-mail address! The former one I now use for my business dealings, so send your rug requests that-a-way!

Oh, and Antoinette, darling, don't be so harsh on the poor girl. I'm sure "to who" is an acceptable colloquialism.

Yours,
Teh Nadir

PS. All rumours about my butt have been severely exaggerated. Pray, stop gawking, all of you!

"There's a reason I'm not called 'Apex'"

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From: prettyinpink(at)dechagny. net
To: undergroundlunatic(at)operapopulaire. com
Subject: My Broken Heart

Oh, Monsieur le Phantôme, what a cruel joke you played on me! I fear my very heart and soul shall never be the same again. I know we had a real connection. Couldn't you feel it, when we were hax0ring teh ub-1337 mainframe together?

As a token of my deep affection, please read this poem, which comes from the bottom of my love-torn heart:

There once was a dashing male Phantom
Who sometimes held ladies for ransom
They screamed and they kicked
Which hurt poor Erik
But stopped when they saw he was handsome

Luvvies from,
Raoul

"I feel pretty, oh so pretty!"

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From: blondeballetrat(at)operapopulaire. com
To: frenchlady(at)operapopulaire. com
Subject: Ballet Journal

Mum - I mean, Mme Giry, Teacher, Ma'am -

Here is my latest ballet journal entry, all neatly typed up! Better late than never, right? You're not taking off points for me turning it in two weeks late, are you?

I have been working super-hard on my pirouettes lately, and I am really optimistic that it shows! At first I was having trouble with spotting-you know, I kept wobbling all over, and that falling incident last Thursday need never be repeated to anyone ever again. But now I think I really have the hang of it, thanks to my exercises in the spinny chair in Andre and Firmin's office. Please don't tell them about that.

I luv luv luv my new tutu, especially the sparkly bits! It makes all the practice worthwhile to be able to wear a pretty outfit like that and be all shiny on stage!

"Well, I will continue to be cheery and hard-working in class, as ever!

Luv,
Meg

"Cute and blonde since 1854!"

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From: prettyinpink(at)dechagny. net
To: undergroundlunatic(at)operapopulaire. com
Subject: More Rhymes'o'Devotion

'Wik,

After I went five minutes without finding a response to my love limerick, I realized that it must have been lost or redirected somehow. I knew that if it had gotten to your mailbox, you would have instantly felt the bond of soulmate-ship which ties us together calling you hither to read it.

Therefore, here is another poem which I hope you will enjoy.

Dark form in Box 5—
Announcement of his presence—
My heart, it flutters.

These haikus are so addictive! I simply had to include another.

Malicious virus
Invading my CPU—
Token of his love.

Kisses—mwah!
Raouly

"I feel pretty, oh so pretty!"

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From: welovepublicity(at)operapopulaire. com
To: castncrew(at)operapopulaire. com; prettyinpink(at)dechagny. net; bigbrotha(at)dechagny. net
Subject: Disrespect of Personal Property

Ladies and gentlemen (and ghosts),

It has recently come to our attention that a great crime has been committed right under our very noses! Yes, our beloved office chair, fondly dubbed "Spinny McSpinners," has met a sad and tragic death at the hands of-who?

Yes, friends, this is a sad day, and the tragedy is only compounded by the fact that we don't even know who spun poor Spinny hard enough to break him! The poor defenseless chair… We didn't even get a chance to… say… goodbye… -sob-!

Firmin here, taking over for Andre. We are both very upset over this loss, and would greatly appreciate any confessions or tips which might lead us to the culprit.

Morosely, miserably, inconsolably yours,
Andie'n'Firmie

"I had a dream… such publicity! But it was a dream, and nothing more…"

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From: prettyinpink(at)dechagny. net
To: undergroundlunatic(at)operapopulaire. com
Subject: A better poem

My dearest, the delight of my soul, I realize that you perhaps are shocked by the lack of length of my previous poems. Although conciseness is a virtue, and silence is golden... However, I feel that perhaps a longer poem will show you the true depth of my affection.

Ere I saw you, I believed not in love. Mine
Ardor knows no bounds now, as I behold
Thine eyes, so beautifully golden, and shine…
Erik, oh, Erik, I love you so!

Lover, mine heart doth thou embrace
But, oh, art thou not also anticipating
Sweet love's duet? Art thou not waiting,
To feed our instincts most base?
Think, darling, of lovers' intertwining lace!

My dear, for fleeting always is true love,
I pray that you would my affections keep.
Your pure heart, like that of angels above,
I shall always, eternally, adore.
Shun me, and forever I shall gladly weep.
For, the one thing even I abhor,
Is cruelty of a lover, a cut ever so deep.

My mind, soul, and bodyare completelyyours,
Raoul

"I feel pretty, oh so pretty!"

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From: undergroundlunatic(at)operapopulaire. com
To: prettyinpink(at)dechagny. net
Subject: Flooded Inbox

Vicomte,

Your emails have flooded my inbox. Ego-boosting as your, ahem, creative poems are, I must ask you to cease and desist.

Or else.

From,
O.G.

PS. When did your poetry skills improve so?

PPS. I was not going to dignify your pathetic supplication by replying, but my curiosity got the best of me. Pray, where did you learn to rhyme like that? Would you care to show me a couple of pointers, so I can better serenade my pupil?

"The Phantom of the Opera is there… inside your mind!"

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From: prettyinpink(at)dechagny. net
To: undergroundlunatic(at)operapopulaire. com
Subject: Thank Goodness!

I was about to think you didn't care for me… but your timely e-mail has washed away all my fears.

"Your e-mails have flooded my inbox" is clearly code for "love for you fills my heart." I also adore the way you thank away my compliments so humbly, and in turn praise my creativity, which I previously had reservations about. Of course, now that you are aware of my affections, I no longer will have to write cryptic poems hinting at them, and we shall be able to discuss (and maybe act out? Just a thought…) our love-bond.

Oh, alright. There should be no secrets between lovers. I must confess, I bought that last poem off of eBay the other day. For 20 extra francs, they encoded a secret message for me! You should feel immensely special, for they were the 20 francs I was going to use to buy some more lavender-scented essential oils.

Oh.. – blushes – aww.. Ewik, you know I'm completely enamored with you… no need for such flattery!

Luv,
Raoulies

"I feel pretty, oh so pretty!"

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From: frozenexpression(at)operapopulaire. com
To: castncrew(at)operapopulaire. com; prettyinpink(at)dechagny. net; bigbrotha(at)dechagny. net
Subject: Be careful!

Mes amis,

I have been, for the past two days, taking general health classes at the local teashop. There are really serious issues that we are not aware of!

As I learn more about these, I will update you all on my findings. I do hope this will make our little opera house a healthier place to be!

Cheers,
Chrissie

"…angel of music…"

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Authors' Note: Sorry for the long wait.. and the apparent lack of quality.. We were going to make up a good excuse, but see.. we forgot to.. oops.. well, if you review, hopefully that'll guilt us into updating faster!

Oh, and special Gerik-kisses to whoever figures out the secret message in Raoul's poem! (that's a really nice prize, by the way; author #1 is the jealous type.)