Disclaimer: I do not own PhofOp.
A Talk Between Friends
"Erik."
Erik turned from where he was standing by a desk covered with sketches of dancers in different positions, and watched the woman who entered.
"Madame Giry." He replied. Moving forward, he reached to grasp her hand before raising it to his lips in a soft kiss.
"I keep telling you to not call me Madame." M. Giry scolded at him as he let her hand drop, though her tone was fond.
"Ah, but to me, you will always be worthy of such a title." Erik explained, waving his hand to indicate the theatre backstage. "You are the chorographer director and also an extraordinary former ballerina who has travelled to many corners of the earth."
He then gestures towards the ring on M. Giry's finger with a raised eyebrow. "Besides, you are a French married woman are you not? Just being polite."
M. Giry replied by gently pinching his chin that the mask did not cover before backing off. She walked over to her desk and sat down in the chair, leaning her cane next to her.
"What are you doing here?"
Erik shrugged but his eyes took on a nervous tint. "Can I not just come visit a friend once in a while? Does there have to be a reason?"
Now it was her turn to raise an eyebrow. "But of course you can visit when you like. You certainly have not been doing so these past couple months. Been pretty busy I hear, training a certain actress from what I gathered. Meg's been a getting a little jealous lately."
M. Giry watched as Erik's neck and chin take on a pink shade before he turns away from her.
"Ah yes, I apologize for neglecting my lessons with young Meg. I'll be sure to guarantee I have time for her. Please tell her she has my apologies."
"I'll be sure to tell her." M. Giry responded. "Though from the way she has been acting as of late, you will probably have to do more than offer an apology to get back in her good graces."
Erik nodded at that, but remained silent. M. Giry could tell that he had come to her for a specific reason. She knew that while the two were only a few years apart and that Erik was brilliant in many ways, he was also very lacking in knowledge in other fields. Most of them having to do with proper social norms and emotions. Often M. Giry found herself in the advising role when such times occur and she tried to help as much as she could.
Now she just had to get him to talk about it which wasn't always easy. Luckily, she had a pretty good idea what the subject was already.
"Do not think I didn't notice you not saying anything about my mention of your recent activities. The reason for your visit…does it have something to do with it?"
Erik turned towards her a little more so that now she can see both his eyes, which were currently looking up at the ceiling as if hoping they would contain the answers he seek.
"Yes, it would seem so. But it is more than just my recent lessons with Miss Daae that are the problem…" he trailed off.
"Are you going to tell me or do I have to go get Meg to pry it out of you?"
That made him look back down with an unsure frown.
"Isn't little Meg in school at the moment?"
M. Giry nodded in confirmation. "Oh yes, but she would gladly miss school to see you, especially now. Plus, you know how much she loves asking questions when she thinks you're hiding something from her."
Erik looked thoughtful for a couple moments before chuckling. "Yes, I'll give you that."
"So are you going to tell me?" M. Giry pressed.
Erik held up his hands in surrender. "Yes, yes. Please do not release the fury of little Meg on me, I beg you."
He said this in a voice so serious, M. Giry let out a snort. She gestured to the seat in front of her desk.
"Come sit then. I have a feeling this might be a talk that requires sitting down."
Erik sighed in reply but sat down. He sat there for a few moments gathering his thoughts. M. Giry let him. Once he spoke, the words took her by surprise.
"I believe I am falling in love."
M. Giry blinked. Paused. Then blinked again.
To say that she was expecting that was a big lie. Sure she believed that what Erik wanted to talk about was about Miss Daae. At most she thought it would be about a fascination, possible a crush. Love? Erik has never expressed any interest like that except towards her and Meg, and that form of love was what one would feel with family. This was a whole other different subject.
She took a deep breath through her nose and let it out slowly. Erik wasn't looking at her, for which she was glad.
"What makes you think so?" she asked, maybe it was just a crush thought to be love.
Here Erik looks back up towards the ceiling and M. Giry is surprised to see awe in his eyes.
"She's so beautiful. I teach her what I can but to me she is already an angel incarnate. It is as if I am the sculptor of music but she is the breath of life that makes my art live!"
M. Giry stares at him for a few moments waiting for him to continue but when he doesn't she replies.
"And you don't think this is just a possible fascination on your part? Infatuation because of her voice?"
His eyes meet hers then with a glare.
"I am not that naïve Madame. If it was just her voice I was interested in I would know it and certainly would not be feeling what I feel." He looked away again and continued in a softer tone. "She is very kind. Gentle. She shows interest in me that almost no one has done. While I am sure she is kind by nature, I always feel a warmth in my chest just thinking about her or when she is around."
Erik shuffled in his seat a little bit before settling, staring down at his hands.
"Every time I am with her, I feel like I'm at my most clumsiness. Trying to do everything perfect yet everything goes wrong. That is how I feel anyway, I do not think it is a thing she notices. If she does, she certainly has the politeness not to say anything."
He paused again with pondering frown. "I will also admit to feeling jealous when I know she's with another or talks about another. Not my proudest moments but they are there. So Madame, what is your opinion?"
"You surely seem to be falling if that's what you mean." M. Giry answered but looks at him closely. While his eyes seems almost relieved to have his thoughts confirmed his body language was distressed.
"While I do not think the age gap is too concerning it is still something to think about. However, I'm guessing there is a bigger problem than that between you two?" She prodded.
Erik nodded, his jaw tightening, displaying his troubled thoughts.
"While I am also not too worried about age, she is still my student, unofficial as it may be. And even past the obstacle it would be with my sexuality there is still…" he trailed off there. M. Giry tapped her desk with her finger.
"What could possibly be more difficult then figuring out how you being asexual would fit into the relationship?"
He regarded at her with exasperation. "Other than putting forth the effort to get together in the first place? My face?—"
M. Giry slammed her fist on her desk once, causing Erik to jump. "Anyone who wouldn't love you just because of your face doesn't deserve your love in the first place!" she hissed.
Erik's eyes softened at her words, the silent thank you in his eyes allowed her to calm down faster but it still took a few moments. Really, every time Erik is hard on himself because of his face gets M. Giry frustrated beyond belief that such a wonderful man was born with such a setback that is only a negative because society makes it so.
He waited until she had calmed before continuing.
"Try the fact that she has a partner already."
"Ahh…" M. Giry paused, not being able to respond to that at first. "Yes, I suppose that would be quite the complication."
Erik rolled his eyes, but then slumped in the chair appearing dejected.
"Have you met this partner?"
"Yes," he replied bitterly. "And from what I have been able to tell, he is most suitable for her. They are very sweet together, to the point where it almost repulses me."
M. Giry's heart clenches at that. Here was her longtime friend, finally feeling something for another that he has never felt previously, and before he could even try to go after it, the chance is ripped away from him. The world can be unjust a lot of times. She stands and makes her way around the desk, and when she gets to Erik's side she places her hand on his shoulder.
"Do you have to see them together often?"
"More and more the past month. Ever since we first met, he's been showing up to almost every lesson. Sometimes even the meetings Miss Daae and I share outside the sessions." He let out a heavy sigh and rested his head on her arm. "What's more, is that I cannot hate this boy at all."
That made M. Giry confused. "I wouldn't say all people hate the ones that are with the ones they love, but why not at all? It is most understandable to feel negative about them."
"Because the insolent boy is also brilliant, in a different way of course, but still. While I find him terribly annoying most times, he also has charm. Makes sense. Miss Daae would not possibly be with anyone who was not worthy of her."
M. Giry squeezed his shoulder. "And you think that this boy could be worthy of her?"
Erik pursed his lips, thinking. "Yes. I do not like admitting it, but yes."
M. Giry pondered what he said for a moment but spoke her thoughts aloud soon after.
"Do you think…with all his visits, that maybe the boy is feeling threatened by you? He comes to make sure that you won't have the ability to make the slightest flirtation towards Miss Daae?"
Erik snorted. "I very much doubt that. The boy does not interfere with the lessons, I would have kicked him out otherwise. No, for the most part he sits and listens. Certainly he makes comments here and there but nothing aggressive or suggesting that he sees me as a threat. For the outside meetings, he undoubtedly talks more but seems openly interested whenever I say something as well as Miss Daae."
M. Giry squeezes his shoulder once more in sorrow. "My dear friend, I am sorry."
Erik moves his head up and grabs the hand on his shoulder, giving the fingers a soft peck, as if she was the one in need of comfort. "My dear Madame, there is nothing to be sorry over. I am happy to spend what time I am able with Miss Daae, and to a lesser extent, even the boy who has her heart. Knowing I cannot be with her, I will be satisfied teaching what I can, that way, she will at least always remembers me. Perhaps as a strange man, but she'll think it fondly."
They were there in silence for a few minutes. After M. Giry thought it was long enough she patted Erik's head to get his attention. When he looked up at her, she had a small smirk on her lips.
"Now since that I have your attention and you obviously do not have anything pressing to do later, you will be coming to spend dinner in my home. On the way, you can think of something to apologize to Meg with."
Erik's eyes widen with sudden panic.
M. Giry has been introduced! And you got a little taste of what Meg character is like. I really enjoy the idea of Erik and M. Giry being good friends. If there is a friend OTP, this is mine! Next chapter will be the POV of Raoul.
Reviews are loved and make me happy! Thank you for reading!