So just to explain the different Erik origins as some people may not be familiar with every single version out there:
"Erik": Novel Erik, the original. "Fantome de l'Opera" by Gaston Leroux
"Merik": Andrew Lloyd Webber musical
"Kerik": "Phantom" by Susan Kay
"Lerik": Film, "Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney
"Jerik" Film Dario Argento version aka the one with the rats (1998) starring Julian Sands
"Destler" Film (1989) starring Robert Englund
"Gerik" Film (2004) starring Gerard Butler
"Winslow" Film "Phantom of the Paradise" (1974) starring William Finley
"Cherik" Film (1990) starring Charles Dance
Life in the Phantoms' household was developing. Their way of life and habits were very quickly established. As advised Erik was almost never seen by the other residence since the meeting and no one dared to break one of the rules of his ultimatum in disturbing him.
The mass of Meriks clung together, finding comradery with each other sharing similar quirks and getting along quite harmoniously-though Crawford found himself at one point breaking apart a bickering Panaro and Carpenter, the former having quite the temper. And there was some confusion between a few of them, as their floor was multicultural what with the Meriks Asian and European counterparts being present. The second floor alone was a full house
Destler, like Erik, kept to himself. He seemed to appear and reappear out of nowhere, rarely was he seen without his scarf and hat adorned. Of all the men in the house, he seemed to be the one that enjoyed going out most.
Cherik was hesitant at first to mingle with the others, however very quickly he found himself conversing more with the Meriks in the parlour. Warlow and Mauer were rather charming to talk to.
Kerik seemed to slunk around anywhere but seemed to find a way of sneaking away into the crowd of masked men. None of the of the other residents were sure how he did it, but he was the only one not in the Meriks inner circle that had a room on their floor.
Jerik refused to stay inside if it meant his rats weren't welcome and found himself blissfully wallowing in the dumpster out back…And that was that.
Lerik and Winslow spent most of their time in their rooms, composing. However the droning of organ music seem to clash against the electronic grinding note emanating from the latter's chambers.
And Gerik was often seen around, and unfortunately seeking out the wrong attention. The film adapted man should have known when o leave well enough alone when the Meriks would shoot him icy glares. Even Crawford, who was one of the very docile and resigned, scowled at Gerik.
And one day things took a rickety turn.
The men were seated in the parlour on the main floor. Most were upstairs-the Meriks succeeding in turning the second floor's parlour into a lair like setting as they all agreed they wanted-but a few enjoyed mingling on the main floor.
But the musical men's conversation died when Gerik sat down.
"We don't want you here," Panaro glared.
Gerik held up his black gloved hands defensively, "I just wanted to talk."
"We would rather not," Karimloo said coldly.
"Technically you shared a part in my adaptation"
"Hey! We don't bring that up!" The musical phantom exclaimed.
"It should be plainly obvious monsieur that you're not welcome here," Wilkonson said flatly.
The others agreed in unison.
"But I just-"
"YOU CAN'T SIT WITH US!" Panaro snapped.
Clearing his throat, Mauer spoke.
"That's your queue to get up before the situation gets worse," He said with warning.
Realising there was no hope in finding some common ground, Gerik sat elsewhere, avoiding their mismatch eyes.
But that night the situation did in fact get worse.
Gerik didn't realise what had hit him, quite literally. Groggily he woke up after being tossed unceremoniously on the floor.
"What's going on?" He asked, realising from the dark paint job, the massive portcullis, and several candelabras that he was on the second floor.
"You just don't seem to get the point." He heard a voice in the darkness.
And before he realised who was there or what was happening, Gerik was pulled from behind to his feet and something tossed around his neck. No need to be an unseen genius to know what that something was. Karimloo stepped back after wrapping the red lasso around Geriks neck, they knew Erik was right that it was impossible to kill another of the phantoms in the house.
But murder was not what they had in mind, the noose only being used to restrain him.
Stepping out of the shadows Gerik saw three familiar figures. Accompanying Karimloo were Panaro and Crawford, all of which sneered at him from beneath the brim of their fedoras.
"What's this all about?" Gerik croaked against the noose.
"You're still oblivious? I thought it was quite obvious." Crawford said, his mismatch eyes glaring back at Geriks green ones.
"I don't understand-"
"Of course you don't! Nothing you do makes sense!" Panaro snapped, "Why is it you're the first thing the public sees when they hear our name?!"
"I have a Tony and still you're the face that's on shelves," Crawford remarked distastefully.
"Never mind the fact that you still HAVE a face!" Karimloo barked, reaching out and swiping the mask off Gerik's face.
"Give me that!" Gerik reached but in vain.
"You treat that sunburn as if it were something like this!" Panaro argued, removing his own mask revealing a much more grotesque deformity.
"At least I don't look like I got peppermint smeared on half my face," Gerik jabbed back. This only fuelling Panaro's rage as Crawford and Karimloo held him back.
"Now the point of our little chat is this," The eldest phantom explained. "We would rather you stop seeking us ou on a regular basis. The fact that your shoddy adaptation is all people originally see for the last thirteen years is annoying to no end for us. Surely you understand our side of things. We've all worked hard to get to where we are, and yet are overshadowed by your film."
Gerik nodded, feeling some guilt that his words were true.
"Now as much as I wish we could leave it at that," He continued. "I'm afraid one last thing is necessary before cutting you loose."
As the Meriks removed their fedoras and cloaks, the blood drained from Gerik's face realising Panaro had a knife outstretched and Crawford wielding a blunt bat.
"I said you should have brought something," Panaro sighed as Karimloo was unarmed aside from balled fists.
"I don't need a weapon." Karimloo scowled.
"Is this necessary?" Gerik asked nervously.
"Sadly yes, our point will not look as though it was made unless you're roughed up a bit." Crawford explained. This being the last thing Gerik heard before his head made contact with the bat.
The following day the other Meriks seemed appeased seeing their film counterpart walk with a slight limp. The trios job of 'roughing him up' seemed to be convincing enough to appease the others.
Gerik fumbled trying to open the door, his arms still aching.
Suddenly a hand reached out and grabbed the door for him. He looked over confused.
At first he was startled by this new man. Like he and the Meriks this rather tall man wore a white half mask. But was dressed in a dark suit and black cravat, a long flowing coat overtop.
"You looked like you needed a hand," He explained kindly.
"Thank you," Gerik nodded, "Who are you?"
"My apologies, I'm Mr. Y. I arrived late you see so this is my first day here, pleasure to make your acquaintance monsieur."
So a few footnotes:
-As there are worldwide performances of Phantom still performed today, of course there are international Merik here too.
-Yes that was a quote from the movie "Mean Girls" that Panaro screams.
-Gerik's reference to Karimloo is a shoutout to the fact that while very briefly Ramin Karimloo played Gustauve Daee (Christine's deceased father) in the 2004 film several years before he would take up the mask himself.
-Crawford won a Tony award in 1988 for "Best Actor in a Musical" because of his performance in Phantom, the show having already gone to West End and Broadway by this point
-A joke poked at in the Phandom that the color choice in Hugh Panaro's deformity resembles peppermint tones and the rubber lip piece especially redder in his make up.