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#erique claudin
madreemeritus · 6 months
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piedalchemist · 2 months
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Yet in his eyes
All the sadness of the world
Those pleading eyes
That both threaten and adore
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free-for-all-fics · 8 months
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Phantom of the Opera (1943 Film) Prompts! Pls tag me if you’re inspired by any of these ideas and I’d love to read it! 🎭🧡
1. Erique Claudin was madly in love with you in his younger years. He was a very handsome and eccentric man with a great talent for music. You soon became lovers and later told Erique you were with child as soon as the doctor confirmed it. Not wishing your baby to be a bastard and raised out of wedlock, you and Erique made plans to marry as soon as possible, before your stomach could possibly give you away. You later bore a beautiful daughter, Christine. Erique had composed a song for you during your courtship and later added a part for Christine after her birth. When she was little, Erique would play the violin while you’d rock her to sleep and sing an old lullaby that you both knew from Provence.
Unfortunately, you died when Christine was still very young, devastating Erique. He didn’t know what to do without you. You were dead and he was clueless when it came to raising a girl all by himself. Due to his demanding job in the Opera House Orchestra and your untimely death, he didn’t have the proper means to take care of Christine, who was only a baby or toddler at the time. He couldn’t raise her himself, so he either sent her to live with your family or put her up for adoption. Either way, he made sure she went to a good home. Whether it was your maiden name or her adoptive family’s name, she took the name DuBois and never knew of Erique’s true connection to her.
As she grew up, she resembled you more and more each day. Erique never found another love after you. Twenty years of you being gone, and he wished every day you were still with him. When Christine began her singing career as a chorus girl in the Opera, he put his entire fortune towards her education, anonymously funding her singing lessons. She was blessed with the gift of her mother’s voice and every time Erique heard her sing, he heard you. After he’s dismissed from the Orchestra due to his hand injury, he has to withdraw his support from Mademoiselle DuBois only for a little while, just until he can secure another position. But a series of tragic events lead to him committing murder and his face being burned by acid. A man who’s suffered so much loss would do practically anything for the love of his daughter, even kidnap her and try to force her to stay with him in his home in the underground sewers forever. Christine is the last vestige of you, his darling wife, and he can’t bear to lose her.
He tells Christine that he’s her father and he loves her. She’ll now sing all she wants, but only for him. He keeps a portrait of you in his lair and tells Christine all about her dearly departed mother as he reminisces on his much happier memories of being an aspiring musician. He was young and didn’t have much money or commercial success yet, a starving artist. But what little money he had would always be spent on a ticket to the theatre, just to see you. He was in love with you from the moment he first saw you on stage, so his earnings were well spent in his eyes. He could live without food or a roof over his head, but he couldn’t live without you.
“She was in a repertory company. the same actors and actresses doing different plays, a different play every night. First time I saw her, she was a singer who had a broken heart, a lot of sad songs. Had everybody in the theatre crying, whole ocean of tears.”
“I don't think I'd like that.”
“Yes, you would. Everybody did. Next night, she was a dancer. Whirling around the stage, sparkles in her hair, lighter than thistledown. Took my breath away just to watch her.”
“Dressed like that?”
“Yes, child. Artist didn't paint her as pretty as she was.”
“Did you see all her plays?”
“Every one of them. Not just once. The theatre was my courting place. I sat right in the middle of the front row every night, where she could see me. After, I went backstage. Was four days before she even said hello.”
“Oh. Then what?”
“Then it was the wonder, the glory, sunshine, and lightning all at the same time. After we learned we were expecting you, I came to the Paris Opera House to join the Orchestra. With my salary, I built us a house. I then went back and asked her to be my wife. When she said yes, I was so happy I was dumbstruck for an hour.”
“Why did she go away?”
“It's none of your business why.”
“I'm sorry.”
“She tried to retire and stay home to focus her energy on raising you, but there was nothing here but the house...No theatre, no people...no company except for the birds singing. As much as she loved you, she wasn't used to it. I didn’t get home from the Opera House until late in the night. She got the lonesomes so bad she couldn't stand it. Uh...she went away for a little...back on the stage again.”
“In Paris?”
“Ohh...other places. Mostly Paris. Uh, standing around here talking, the spiders will be gaining on me. Be cobwebs in here thicker than before. Come, sit. Listen while I play for you. Did you know I wrote this song?”
“No.”
“I did. That’s why I wanted to teach it to you, but it was not to be. These aren’t just notes, there’s something hidden in the music. These notes here, they represent you. They find their way into every song I play. This phrase…this is your mother.”
“Are you in the song?”
“Somewhere, but it’s not important. You and your mama are all I can hear when I sit down to play.”
2. Erique becomes creepily obsessed with you, a young woman who works in the Opera House and reminds him of Christine’s mother. He may or may not have been able to marry Christine’s mother, but he loved her greatly all the same. He tragically lost her either through her death or her falling out of love with him, and has since never been able to get over her. You encountered him a few times in the foyer, on the stage, or outside the Opera, but that’s all. You were so busy with your daily work that you didn’t have much time to acknowledge him beyond a polite hello in passing. Erique was deeply offended and driven into taking further action with you after being criticized by Signor Ferretti for his love of you. He believed that Ferretti spoke out of turn and dared to insult not just him, but you as well.
“Claudin, if you don’t mind me saying so, you’re a fool. A man of your age might secure a young girl like her if he happened to be the director of an opera company, but a poor violinist…”
How dare he doubt your love or the piano concerto he wrote for you! He may be a man of forty-eight years and past his prime, but you never treated him differently from other men just because of your significant age gap. You smiled at him in passing, happily accepted all of his courting gifts which he spent a fraction of his fortune on, etc. It was Signor Ferretti who was the fool for failing to see how deeply he loved you and how you loved him in return! Unbeknownst to Erique, you mistakenly thought his anonymous gifts were from another potential suitor, a handsome man who was closer to your age. You’ve never thought of Erique in such a way, but he’s too delusional in his fantasies of you to realize this. He secretly has a marble bust made in your likeness that he keeps in his room so he may gaze upon your lovely face while he’s composing. But soon the marble bust isn’t enough. He needs to have the real thing.
Following his first act of murder and tragic disfigurement from the acid, he begins his reign of terror as the Phantom. He steals the master key to the Opera House and, with that key in his possession, he can open 2,500 doors! To say nothing of thousands of closets and cabinets. He can hide everywhere, the entire police force couldn’t find him here. He unlocks your door and sneaks into your bedroom while you sleep. You’re in such a deep slumber that you barely stir while he strokes your cheek, moves your hair out of your face, and presses his nose against your skin to inhale the sweet scent of your perfume. Oh, his love! His wife! He leaves you with a brisk kiss and disappears back into the sewers. He has such big plans for you! Wonderful plans!
You start to notice a man’s shadow following you, but it always disappears before anyone else can see him. You start to hear a man’s voice speaking through the walls. From what he says, he sounds lovesick and it creeps you out. You try to warn others but no one else believes you except Vercheres. You develop insomnia and deep feelings of paranoia because of your fear and anxiety. When an opportune moment presents itself, Erique kidnaps you and takes you to his underground lair in the sewers, drugging you to ensure your cooperation. While you’re asleep, he puts a wedding ring on your finger and a matching one on his own. His young bride is a vision! So very beautiful, so very lovely!
“You’ll stay here with me, my wife, won’t you? It’s been so lonely without you but you’ve returned to me at last, haven’t you? We’ll be together forever. Now you’ll sing for me, and I’ll play. It’s beautiful down there. Beautiful. Come now, my darling one.”
“There's a piano in the Opera foyer. Let's go there. You play, and I'll sing for you.”
“But you don't understand. We can't go back there ever. It was I who made the chandelier fall. I for you, my love. But I warned them. I told them there'd be death and destruction if they didn't let you sing. Come. See? Didn't I tell you it was beautiful? You didn't know we had a lake all to ourselves, did you? They've poisoned your mind against me. That's why you're afraid. Look at our lake, dearest. You'll love it here when you get used to the dark. And you'll love the dark, too. It's friendly and peaceful. It brings rest and relief from pain. It's right under the Opera. The music comes down in the darkness, distills it, cleanses it of the suffering that made it. And it's all beauty. And life here is like a resurrection.”
He forces you to play along with his deluded fantasies, often believing you’re his lost love and calling you by her name. You’ve tried to tell him you weren’t her, and sometimes it works. In his moments of lucidity, he calls you by your real name. Those hours or days are much more bearable for you. Other times, however, his behavior is unpredictable and trying to break him out of his fantasies has yielded disastrous results that have frightened you terribly. You’ve had to tread very carefully not to set him off because his personality can flip at any moment. Claudin as the Phantom talks in an extremely gentle, husbandly manner to you and almost never raises his voice to anyone, which makes him even more chilling with the murders he commits.
“Is that any way to talk to the father of your children?”
“Children? What do you mean children? We have only one child.”
“No, my darling. We have many children.”
“My god, what have you done? Tell me, what have you done?!”
“Would you like to see our daughter? Would you like to see our Christine? Would you?”
“Yes!”
“My darling daughter, your mother has returned to us. Come, give her a kiss.” He’s kidnapped at least three children; a boy, a girl, and an infant. The girl resembles Christine when she was a child. Same colored hair hanging in ringlets, same eye color, same porcelain pale skin and red cheeks. He’s trying to recreate the family he wanted but could never have before Christine’s mother either left him or died. Oh, God.
3. Unbeknownst to either of you, you’re Christine DuBois’ twin sister and are both daughters of Erique Claudin. You were separated at birth after your father put you both up for adoption. Your mother was dead or otherwise gone, and Erique was clueless when it came to raising two girls. While Christine is an aspiring singer and sings in the chorus, you’re an aspiring ballerina and dance in the ensemble. Despite your respective talents, neither of you are given much opportunity to shine. You’re both kept to the background and overshadowed by the prima donna and prima ballerina. You both encounter Erique a few times in the foyer or on the stage or outside the Opera. He showed concern for Christine when he noticed she wasn’t on stage during the Act Three curtain call and asked if she was sick. Similarly, he does the same with you when he notices you’re missing from the stage. Why weren’t you there? Forgive him, but he’s been here so long that you - everybody and everything connected with the Opera is so much a part of his life. You weren’t ill, were you? You’re not in any trouble? Oh, it’s impertinent of him, he knows, but uh…
When Erique suffers an injury to his left hand that prevents him from the use of his fingers and negatively impacts his performance, he’s dismissed from the Paris Opera Orchestra. He no longer has the means to anonymously support either of you. Claudin has secretly spent all his fortune on yours and Christine's education, and he has no money left to go towards his forced retirement. He has to withdraw his financial support from both of you only for a little while, just until he can secure another position. But Signor Ferretti refuses to tutor Christine any further without proper compensation and your ballet instructor is the same. Why should either of them assume Claudin’s burden after he spent all his money on the two of you? The girls mean nothing to them.
But your careers mean more to Claudin than anything else. Neither you nor Christine can afford the lessons on your own. A month’s salary wouldn’t be enough to pay for one of your lessons. Desperate to provide for his darling daughters, he hopes to have his piano concerto published and receive a substantial advance for it. But a misunderstanding leads to Erique committing his first murder and getting his face burned by acid. This sets off a series of unfortunate events that turns him into the Opera Ghost. A man would do practically anything for the love of his daughters, even murder anyone who would get in the way of their careers.
He later tampers with Biancarolli's drink to make her fall asleep and unable to sing. Christine, her understudy, has to take her place on stage. Erique also sabotages the current prima ballerina by putting glass in her ballet shoes or otherwise breaking her feet/legs by creating a terrible accident on stage so that she cannot dance and you have to take her place. He’ll help both of you reach your full potential and you’ll become a great and famous ballerina, as Christine will become a great and famous singer. Biancarolli, who suspects that Garron and Christine are responsible for drugging her, orders Raoul to arrest them. The prima ballerina suspects you of causing her injury and orders your arrest as well. But Raoul says he cannot because there’s no evidence. Biancarolli and the prima ballerina both say they’ll forget the affair only if both you and Christine are replaced as understudies and your performances are not mentioned in the papers.
Both Biancarolli and the prima ballerina are later murdered, along with their maids. They’ve been strangled to death by the Phantom to make room for the unsuspecting Christine and you to take their places. He later kidnaps both of you and takes you down to his lair in the sewer tunnels, revealing that he’s your long-lost father and you’re sisters. Words cannot express how sorry he is for disappearing from your lives and not being able to watch you grow up. If he could’ve raised his daughters himself, he would’ve kept you both in a heartbeat. But he didn’t have the means to raise two girls alone, and needed to give both you and Christine your best chance. So with a heavy heart, he gave you both up to be adopted by other families when you were only a few months old. Now reunited, he wants all three of you to be together forever. A happy family, as you should be.
“You’ll stay here with me, my children, won’t you? It’s been so lonely without my girls but you’ve both come to me at last, haven’t you? Now, Christine, you’ll sing for me. Y/n, you’ll dance for me. I’ll play. We’ll be together forever. It’s beautiful down there. Beautiful. Come now, my little ones. There, you’re not frightened now, are you? You know I’ll not harm either of you, don’t you? How could I harm you? I’ve always helped you. Haven’t I?”
“Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes, you’ve always helped us.”
“Of course I have. Biancarolli knows. The former prima ballerina knows. She wouldn’t let you sing. She wouldn’t let you dance. They didn’t know how much I love you. Now they know. But it doesn’t matter now. Nothing matters except us. Now you’ll sing and dance all you want, but only for me. You will, won’t you, my darling daughters?”
“Of course…Father.”
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4. You were born into a wealthy and well-connected family. Your father took the family on a tour in Europe where you were introduced to an English-born Parisian hostess, with whom you bonded. She was a stimulating hostess who didn’t care for her appearance, and while her ideas didn’t always agree with those of her guests, she was incapable of boring anyone. Her behavior was exasperating and eccentric and she had little respect for upper-class women, whom she regarded generally as inconsequential. She generally rejected female company and spent her time with male intellectuals. She made an exception, however, in the case of your family and you in particular. She demonstrated that women could be equal to men, an idea that you hadn’t learnt from your mother.
You were respectful of your family's opposition to you working as a nurse, only announcing your decision to enter the field. Despite the anger and distress of your mother and sister, you rejected the expected role for a woman of your status to become a wife and mother. You worked hard to educate yourself in the art and science of nursing, in the face of opposition from your family and the restrictive social code for affluent young women. After being confronted by two potential suitors who demanded you choose between them, you chose neither and pursued your nursing career unhindered by marriage prospects. You’re now working at the Opera House, as a literal theatre nurse. You take care of the performers and other staff in cases of fainting spells, accidents, sickness, or injury. Unlike your predecessor, you’re young, beautiful, and sweet-natured.
You met Erique Claudin and knew him only as a violinist in the orchestra. You encountered him a few times in the foyer or on the stage or outside the opera, but that’s all. He seemed eccentric but harmless. But over time, you found yourself wanting to take care of him. You’d notice how he’d keep odd hours and would hardly eat anything. Why doesn’t he get himself something to eat before the opera instead of keeping himself up all hours? You notice he has the same soup night after night, week after week. The Opera House staff gossip, falsely believing that his overdue debts is caused by him being a miser, and they complain about it.
“What that man does with his money is none of our business. If he wants to hoard it and starve to death, that’s his affair. But we hear he hasn’t paid his landlord for six weeks, and that’s as long as they’re going to wait before they toss him out onto the street.”
“What if he hasn’t any money? Maybe if they’ll be patient only just a little longer…”
“He hasn’t any money? After working for the Paris Opera all these years? What nonsense! What does he expect to do with his money? Bury it with him? If he does, they’ll dig him up and steal it. If he thinks he’s going to add a few francs to his fortune at the expense of others, he’s very much mistaken.”
An artistic genius he may be, but he wasn’t well-learned in the arts of the kitchen. He didn't do much more than toast cheese over bread and add a slice of already cooked meat to it since he couldn’t afford much else. So you cook him better, more savory meals using whatever’s leftover in the restaurant and still fresh enough. There was a roast chicken in the pantry and a previously made broth you found on the stove, so you made do with what you had. You made him another soup, but one that was full of cooked meat and vegetables. Sitting beside it on a plate was a chicken sandwich. You were unsure if he even drank tea, but still made him a cup with sugar cubes and cream on the side in case he wanted to add either.
Erik devoured the whole thing in seconds. Quickly setting the bowl of soup aside, he picked up the sandwich and savored the taste of the chicken, bread and mustard as it all came together inside his mouth. When that was finished, he happily over-sugared his tea and drank it down, feeling contently full for the first time in years. You worried he’d get a stomach ache and make himself sick from eating so fast, but you’re glad he enjoyed it. It seems he doesn’t eat a great deal, and that worries you. He should be eating and sleeping well since he works so hard. He’s very grateful to you.
“You’ve been very kind, you’ve been very patient. You’ll be rewarded for it, I promise you! Now please leave me alone.”
After Erique suffers an injury to the fingers of his left hand, he can only play simple melodies perfectly. He goes to you for help and you examine him. While you may or may not be able to determine the cause, you offer to provide physical therapy sessions, free of charge. You know he can’t afford medicine, but maybe this’ll help him a great deal. Perhaps his injury is only temporary, perhaps it’ll get better, but the aim of the Paris Opera is perfection. It’s with a heavy heart that the managers have Erique dismissed from the Orchestra. He’s been with the Opera a long time - twenty years. You wish you could do more to help him. You’re happy to care for him and he’s happy to play music for you in return, to show you his progress following your physical therapy sessions. He never sought more than a casual acquaintance with you but you become friends and, despite your significant age gap, you fall in love.
But then he commits murder and acid is thrown in his face, driving him to go into hiding in the labyrinthine sewers of the Opera House and begin his reign of terror as the Phantom. In his desperation to protect you and repay you for your kindness and time spent devoted to helping him convalesce, Erique would do anything for you, even murder. He’s so desperate for love and friendship that he may even kidnap you. Fortune had smiled upon him the night that you came to the Opera House, and he had savored every moment he had shared with you. You were his loyal caregiver and companion, when so many others had cast him aside. You had cooked for him, talked to him, and even laughed with him whenever he managed to gather the courage to tease you about something. You even allowed him to snuggle close to you as you read - never before had he enjoyed reading so much as he did with you. How could he possibly let someone come and take that away from him now? His darling daughter, Christine, will never care for him in his old age, but maybe you can. In your years working as a nurse, you’ve probably seen lots of gruesome and grisly injuries such as gunshot wounds, infections, amputations, etc., so he hopes you wouldn’t faint or reject him upon seeing his disfigured face. Even if nothing can be done for the acid burns he’s suffered, he still dreams of spending the rest of his life with you by his side.
5. You succesfully bring to the present time Erique Claudin, a violinist from the 19th century, with a homemade time machine. In the split seconds between when Raoul fired his gun and the underground sewers were collapsing, you saved Erique’s life by sending him here before he could be crushed to death from the falling rocks. The underground tunnels are caved in, and nobody would ever try to move all that rubble to recover Erique’s body. He was presumed dead and Christine was rescued. In his time, only his mask and violin were left behind. You try your best to hide and protect him from exposure while he’s given a second chance at life. He may choose a different name or alias to go by. Modern medicine, technology, and makeup may help him either fix his face or acquire a mask that almost seamlessly blends into his skin more, covering his acid scars and giving off the illusion of a perfect face. His unique talent, behavior, and personality puts him in the spotlight, making it only a matter of time until he’s discovered and what you’ve done comes to light. Annoyed by the current primo uomo of the modern day Paris Opera House, a group of stagehands plot to scare him away and give his position to the young understudy with a shared identity - the Phantom of the Opera. Oh no.
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mothreign · 2 months
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head empty. only erique claudin. guys i need him so bad. gnawing at the bars of my enclosure!!!!! doing backflips!!!!!!!!!! sobbing and throwing up🥺🥺🥺🥺 acid phantom supremacy🫶🏻
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persnicketypomelo · 11 months
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hi! i know you write for phantom of the opera but would you write for the 1943 movie? if you have seen in/are willing to write for it, would you mind if i requested some hcs? if not, that’s totally fine, i just thought i’d ask lol
have a good day! :)
Sure thing! It seems a little tacky and funny in a distinctly 1940s way lol. It's the funniest thing...and definitely a product of its time. When I was doing research for this ask, I was watching some scenes and quotes, and one of the characters literally said "give me a lift, would ya?". That made me laugh a bit.
Also I'm relying on plot summaries and YouTube clips, so I'll try my best, but it may not be entirely accurate.
spoilers, murder, obsession
1943 Yandere Phantom of the Opera Headcanons
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Erique Claudin is an older experienced man with years of violin experience in the Paris Opera House
In spite of being a man past his prime years, he develops a growing attraction with you, a new singer, youthful with a glimmering innocence in your eyes
He is a romantic, and a man blinded by the whims of his heart
It doesn't take long before he falls head over heels with you, and once he hears the clarity of your signing voice, he dives headfirst into infatuation
At first he is restrained in his courting--offering to pay for your vocal lessons, lending an ear to your problems, devising plans to advance your talent and career in his personal time
However, after noticing the overt interest of your colleagues in you, he feels the need to be more aggressive and forthcoming in his wooing
It doesn't help either, that money troubles lead him down a path that will forever change him...
After an altercation with a publisher and his assistant, he flees with a burning face and guilty of murder
This is the tipping point that ultimately catapults Erique into obsession
Wanted, scarred, and jealous, he skulks the Paris sewers
He has lost everything: his music, his job, his love in one bad day, and he is determined to get revenge on those who wronged him
Now, you're the only light left in his life, and he will devote everything to you
With only his own thoughts to keep him company, his mind becomes twisted--his delusions becoming his reality
His intense desire for a romance with you leads him to believe that you must also love him in return
In fact, you must also want to spend your life with him, dedicating your voice and heart only to him for eternity
Erique is broken, and only finds solace in his fantasies...the only way he can function is by believing his thoughts of your mutual attraction
Slowly, he devises a plan to enact his personal revenge, and also save you from the vile people around you
He sneaks to the rafters of the opera house, murdering anyone that stands in his way, and hacks off the chandelier in the middle of a performance
Amidst the chaos the shattered chandelier causes, he kidnaps you, and with an iron grip, drags you underground to his makeshift home
If you struggle or protest against being kidnapped, he will only insist that your sweet and innocent mind has been poisoned by the filth around you--that your coworkers have turned you against him
Erique will force you to comply with his fantasy of you...and if you fight too much against his bidding, he will lash out in rage and tighten the chains on your freedom
Therefore, until you can find a means of escape, perhaps it's better to live out his scenario of house for your own safety
After all, he is a man whose mind is so distorted by his own imagination, that he can no longer distinguish between his desires and reality
He lost everything, and as such, he will do anything to maintain even a phantasm of a fairytale ending with you
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stolenrocket218 · 3 months
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Beware the Phantom of the Opera...
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hi, it's me again. I present to you: my first proper art piece of 2024! this one features Erique Claudin, the 1943 Phantom played by Claude Rains! Because he's one of my favorite Phantoms or something, idk
I left 2023 and entered 2024 with a HEAVY PotO fixation, so now my followers and mutuals have to put up with it. I would apologize, but I'm not sorry
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luigisvampirebae · 1 year
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I see no difference
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Time to add to the ever-growing list of things I’m noticing in the background of 1943′s Phantom of the Opera.
So, there’s the scene in Claudin’s apartment after he’s been fired from the opera.  His landlady comes in and demands money, and when she leaves, he grabs his music and heads to the piano.
On the way to the piano, he looks over towards the dresser...at first, I thought he was looking in the mirror, but NO.
If you look on top of the dresser, you will see something covered with a dark green cloth.
IT IS THE BUST OF CHRISTINE THAT ANATOLE MADE AND CLAUDIN STOLE, WHICH WAS LATER FOUND BY RAOUL.
And the fact that he keeps it hidden just hurts my heart.
I cannot believe it has taken me this long to notice this.
Way to go, Universal for keeping up with the continuity. 
@hobbitmajora
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state-of-disorder · 1 year
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Live Commentary on The Phantom of the Opera (1943) Starring Claude Raines
The fact that Nelson Eddy has top billing over Claude Raines is inherently ominous
Ah the old acid trick.
Oh nice. The sewer water definitely won't infect those acid burns
Recently fired and disfigured violinist wanted for murder and then food and clothing start going missing from the opera house. Couldn't be related. Certainly not.
Nelson Eddy and Edgar Barrier are completely indistinguishable. They are the same mustachioed 40's white man. Why give her two normie suitors in the first place if you're going to style them exactly the same?
Oh so Carlotta's box of throat sprays was referencing this version! Nice.
I have to ask if Raoul's blue dress uniform from Masquerade was a direct reference to this version or if that's a French nobility thing that I'm just unaware of like the Windsor uniform?
This Carlotta character is bizarre. She's talked down from insisting on drugging charges with zip evidence because it would injure her as well if there was a scandal, and then her grand threat if they don't demote Christine is an even more outlandish and scandalous charge with even less evidence? And everyone's is just cowed by this????
Hey this mask is pretty great
Gotta admire a phantom who makes his threats in person
Oh he killed her. And her maid. So that's 3 on the body stack for this one.
Oh so he actually crazy here. OK.
Alright so if I was going to try and concisely sum up the problem with this version I would say that it's "off-center". The Phantom himself is treated like so much window dressing while the actual story is mostly centered around the mundane investigation. He's not really a character. He's not a musical prodigy even--he aped his "concerto" from a lullaby de Provence so its not even an original composition. There's absolutely no personal connection with the Phantom on Christine’s end, so the Unmasking might as well not be there at all for all the emotional impact it has-- it really feels perfunctory more than anything.
So Anatole and Raoul both got rejected so they're gonna go off and be Gay now, it's that right? Cute.
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aggclarke · 5 months
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All Phantoms discussing: "No, but I received a kiss from Christine" "I managed to defeat Raoul" "I did more things than you"
Erique Claudin And Erik from the 90s: I at least have hair
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madreemeritus · 6 months
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idk about you but i can't sympathize with POTO adaptations where Erik had a peaceful and normal life until omg acid melted his face and now he became spooky (like, that ruins the thing about him getting neglected and abandoned since birth), this is why i dislike the 1943 version and lost the interest to watch Phantom of the Paradise (no i never watched this version)
Hi!!
Well, i respect your point of view, but i personally sympathize a lot with both versions. Yes, original Leroux Erik and more faithful versions (like the silent movie and the musical) inspire a lot of sympathy for being damned and rejected since birth, but come on, Erique Claudin had his life completely ruined in the most humiliating way possible. He had his music stolen, he wasted his whole money to help a woman that didn't love him back and he got his face deformed after trying to defend his property. And, he already seemed pathetic and lonely before getting deformed, notice how anyone came to look for him or help him? Although he wasn't seen as monstrous before, he was also lonely, rejected and even vulnerable. The scene where he hides in the sewers and falls into the water with his face melting, it's so painful and sad to watch 😥
As you didn't watch Phantom of the Paradise, i won't spoil it but i also can't help but recomend you check on it. This version, in my view, is even more tragic. Because Winslow Leach also seemed lonely and neglected – as I said, no one came looking for him –, but worse, he was a poor, sweet innocent boy that wanted to show his music to the world. But, his music was stolen, he got physically, mentally and quimically abused throught the whole film and suffers a tragic and desperate love for a woman, a woman that also got victimized by the same villain that abused Winslow.
So, i think there are many ways to make Erik sympathetic and lovable. I agree that the original one will always be my favorite and the most tragic one, though ❤️
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piedalchemist · 1 year
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"You're going to be a great and famous singer. I'll help you."
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thealmightyemprex · 9 months
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So I want to do Villain spotlights,who should it be first
Villains are a fascination of mine and instead of doing reviews,I am considering doing spotlights of certain movie villains
Gonna let you guys choose which villain I highlight first
Rico from Little Ceasar-A queer coded gangster that popularized the gangster as a movie bad guy and launched Edward G Robinson to stardom
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Erique Claudin from Phantom of the Opera -A somewhat pitible villain ,a loose adaptation of Gaston LAroux literary villain
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Tony Wendice from Dial M for Murder -A personal fave of mine,an example of Alfred Hitchcocks refined gentleman villains
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@ariel-seagull-wings @the-blue-fairie @filmcityworld1 @angelixgutz @theancientvaleofsoulmaking @amalthea9 @themousefromfantasyland@autistic-prince-cinderella @marquisedemasque @scarletblumburtonofeastlondon @princesssarisa
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fanfic-she-wrote · 1 year
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🤒✊ for Erique Claudin if you can! You write so awesome!
Taking Care of You
Claudin x reader. Reader has a cold and Claudin takes care of them. No warning just fluff. Hope you like it!
🤒Needing to be looked after
✊Protecting (I wasn’t sure how to write this. He’s protecting the reader from germs 😆)
From this prompt list
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It had been a couple of days since you had shown up to practice at the Paris Opera House and Claudin was beginning to get worried. You weren’t the type to miss work. You loved playing the cello, so much in fact that it felt like it was a part of you. After rehearsals had finished for the day, he quickly packed up his things and decided to pay you a little visit.
Upon approaching your apartment he noticed all the lights were off, except one in where he supposed was your upstairs bedroom. Carefully, he knocked on the door. He stood there for a moment waiting anxiously, fiddling with the handle on his violin case. It took a couple minutes, but you did answer. Claudin stood there shocked. He had never seen you like this. Your hair was tied back in a messy bun, and you wore a long robe with a blanket draped over your shoulders. Your eyes were dark and tired. “My dear, Y/N, are you alright?” He asked reaching towards you. “I have a bit of a cold, Im afraid.” You answered, you nose sounding stuffy.
“May I come in?” He asked in a soft, gentle voice.
“I don’t want you to catch it.” You answered, stepping back. He was your best friend…although you wished he was more. He was the last person you’d want to get sick.
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me. You need some looking after.” Claudin insisted. Too tired to argue, you let him in. “Let’s get you to bed. I’ll make you some soup.” He said, taking you by the arm and guiding you up the stairs.
“I appreciate it, Enrique.” You told him as you entered your bedroom, where he helped you into your bed and tucked you in.
“I owe you one.” You added.
“Think nothing of it. Just get some rest. I’ll be right back.” Claudin replied, waving it off. All that he wanted was you to feel better, even if it meant he would get sick too. He loved you and hated seeing you this way. Although, he would not tell you. He didn’t want to risk losing you. He was never much lucky in love so why should this be any different?
You watched him as he left the room and disappeared into the hall. He was always so sweet to you. Why you didn’t know? Maybe that was just his way. He was also sweet to Christine, you noticed…which for some reason made you feel a little jealous. Something you weren’t proud of, but it couldn’t be helped.
A few minutes later he returned a bowl of soup in hand. “Here you are.” He said, sitting down on the side of your bed. You noticed he had taken off his coat and jacket.
“Thanks again.” You spoke, your voice cracking.
“Anytime.”
After finishing the soup, you began to feel sleepy and started to drift off. “Get some rest. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.” He assured you as he got up.
“Enrique?” You called, grabbing his arm gently.
“Yes?”
“I love you.” You were so sleepy and dazed from your cold that you hadn’t realized what you said. Claudin’s heart skipped a beat. Did you mean it? He wondered. No, you couldn’t. You had a cold and didn’t know any better. Still he liked hearing it, especially from you. He watched as you slowly closed your eyes and drifted off to sleep. He leaned down and placed quick kiss on your forehead.
“I love you too.”
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Meeting and Courting Erique Claudin 
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(Not my gif)(Requested by anonymous)
(He was a bit difficult to write for but I hope I did him justice! Sorry if the meeting portion is somewhat disappointing but I thought it was a nice way to end it.)
- Being a backstage tailor for a world renowned opera house oftentimes left you feeling slightly insignificant. When you spend your days doing small tasks for big people who sell out seats and who find themselves published in newspapers every other morning, it’s easy to feel as though you’re somewhat see-through; a machine or an object that no one thinks twice about rather than an actual person who lives an actual life. 
- It’s the reason why you’re so surprised when you suddenly find yourself on the receiving end of a secret admirer; especially one who appears to be particularly elegant and effortlessly refined: a perfect gentleman instead of a leering creep....
- The whole ordeal began with a bouquet of flowers: an expensive looking vase that sat atop your messy, button and thread covered desk; filled with long stemmed roses and dainty sprouts of babies breath. The only thing accompanying it was a small note which informed you that they were given to you by someone who had developed a longing for you; instead of a thank you from your bosses or a presumed case of “wrong room”. 
- Immediately, your mind went to the multitude of stage hands that were employed at the opera house: the only group of individuals who’d realistically admire you as opposed to the numerous dazzling starlets that quite literally danced circles around you. And though you were flattered, you couldn’t think of a single one of them that you’d want the flowers to be from.
- Besides, an observation of them during your work day left you none the wiser, leading to you forgetting about the situation entirely; only remembering once you were sat directly in front of the slowly wilting bouquet. 
- Though your admirers identity remained a secret, his attempts to woo you never ceased and the longer your one sided correspondence went on, the more he seemed to notice and learn about you. 
- If you came to work with a book, the sequel was sitting on your desk the next week. If the chain on your necklace broke, a shining new one was in your coat pocket the next day. Soon, inciting actions became irrelevant and your weekly gifts seemed to be naturally tuned to your tastes; as though he knew what you liked or needed like the back of his hand. 
- The gifts were a subtle reminder that you were noticed: a glimpse into the lives of the stars around you and a taste of what was probably all too common for them. Any loneliness you felt was quelled by the existence of this kind stranger and a part of you began to feel as though it didn’t even matter who it was, you’d love them all the same once they’d revealed themselves to you. 
- And as the collection of letters and gifts mounted, you began to suspect the person responsible....
- Enrique Claudin was never someone who you worked very closely with: most orchestra members only needed a quick seam fix or a new button on one of their coats; if anything at all, so it was really no surprise that the two of you rarely interacted.
- But along came the day when he did need your help and with it came a healthy bout of suspicion....
- For a large portion of your interaction, you were completely distracted by the task at hand; busying yourself with sewing a tear in his sleeve. But once you’d asked a question and received no answer, you’d glanced up and found him gazing at you with a dazed expression on his face.
- A repeat of your question; and your eyes meeting his, snapped him out of his trance and you’d offered him a small smile as you finished; watching him excuse himself shyly and deciding that you’ve either earned yourself another admirer or found the man that you’d been looking for. 
- The only problem with that being that he disappeared no more than a few weeks later; accusations of murder hot on his missing heels....
- But the gifts never stopped and though you wanted to believe that they were from somebody who hadn’t dropped off the face of the earth due to crimes of the highest and most threatening degree, you couldn’t shake the unnerving feeling that your admirer might have also been a murderer and that he’d managed to evade the police all while being holed up in the same area that you were all but trapped in. 
- And yet, you never mention it to the police. 
- At times you’ll reason with yourself that it’s just because there’s so little evidence that you don’t want to feel silly by mentioning it, but you know that that’s not entirely true. You don’t have a logical reason as to why you hide it, you just do: thumbing the most recent card in your pocket as they walk away from your interrogation. 
- Maybe you should have said something, who knows? 
- What you do know is that a few months later, you’re alone in one of the wings of the theater, finishing your work in the darkening room you’ve made into your office as one of the many productions rages on on the other side of the opera. 
- You’re just about to blow your candles out and leave when you hear a knock at your door, turning to see one of the performers in your doorway who bows and states that he’s been sent to get you so that you could fix up a small accident on one of the dresses. 
- Obediently and naively, you follow him, allowing him to take your arm and lead you to where you’re meant to go but as he begins to pull you away from where you assume you’re supposed to be, you begin to feel uneasy. 
- He answers none of your questions and as you come across an unfamiliar door, your anxiety rises and you begin to stammer, threatening to scream before you open your mouth and shout for help, your cries drowned out by the opera before his hand stifles the sound.
- Soon enough, you’re being dragged through the maze of tunnels and staircases that make up the Paris sewer system, the mans grip on you never breaking; even as you struggle against him. He rambles on about how he won’t harm you, that he’ll watch over you and that you’ll be safe, and though his voice is gentle and kind, you can’t help but be frightened; especially when he begins to speak about you staying down there with him. 
- You panic even more then, your heart racing as your fate begins to dawn on you, your head swimming until you hear him say a very particular phrase. It shakes the fog from your brain immediately and you search your mind for where you’ve heard it before, suddenly realizing that it was in one of the letters written to you by your secret admirer.
- Instinctively, your heels plant themselves into the ground, the action stopping the two of you in your spots as you gaze at him in a different kind of shock than before. 
“You’re him. …The man from the letters.” You say, no other words able to come out as the two of you lock eyes. 
He doesn’t seem the least bit surprised by your sudden statement while he replies. “Well of course I am. Who else would I be?”
“Who are you.” You ask but his answer isn’t nearly as instantaneous as before. 
- He seems to mull over the decision before relenting, softly admitting to you that he is Enrique as you take in the revelation, listening carefully to his words, his voice suddenly sounding familiar. He explains himself rather clearly then, his previously delusional rambles morphing into confessions of love, shyly recounting the lovestruck actions that took place right under your nose. 
- And though you know just how dangerous he can be, you have the sudden impression that he wouldn’t be able to hurt a fly, and right now you are a fly: a fly caught in a spiders web, unsure of how to feel and blind to what may or could be coming. 
- Wordlessly, you allow him to move you once again, following him as he leads you further, glancing back at you every now and again as though he doesn’t want to take his eyes off of you; for seemingly various reasons. 
- You aren’t sure why you do it; perhaps because you know there’s no winning right then and there or because you want to see what this is going to lead to, but you do it all the same and soon enough, he’s leading you into a quaint room, furnished with old tables and chairs and instruments. In the back of the room there’s a sewing machine and stacks of fabric and thread and it hits you now more than ever that he’s been waiting for you for quite some time. 
- He assures you somewhat nervously that this new home of yours isn’t finished as he sits you down at the table next to the piano but you aren’t really listening. 
“I can’t stay here.” You say in a bit of a daze, so overwhelmed that you’re feeling lightheaded. 
“Don’t be silly, of course you can.” He replies, busying himself with tidying up things you don’t care to really pay attention to. 
“No ...no I have my work, and my-”
“You don’t have to worry about work anymore. And there’s the machine in the corner for anything you want to create for yourself.” He assures you kindly, as though this situation is much more normal than it actually is. 
“But I hardly even know you.”
“You know me,” he insists. “I’ve always been with you, watching you, taking care of you. Haven’t I taken care of you? I love you and I will for the rest of my life, and once you open your heart to me, once you give me a chance, I’m sure that you’ll love me too. You just have to remember me, the me you knew before they poisoned you against me.”
You’re silent until he speaks again. “Will you do that for me?”
- You’re quiet for a long moment before you finally come to your decision. 
“I can try.”
- Enrique isn’t terribly big on public displays of affection: he’s much too meek and finds a lot of it too improper; especially if you like to believe that you got together before he became the phantom. He prefers behaving in a way that isn’t expressly romantic, so most of the people around you will either know that you’re together from word of mouth or from the affection that you choose to give him. 
- As I said before: you’re responsible for most of the affection in your relationship; though he does tend to touch you more whenever the two of you are alone together. His love language definitely revolves around gift giving, acts of service, and declarations of love; when he can find the right words, more than it does physical affection so don’t be worried if/when he keeps his distance. 
- Interlocked elbows. If it wasn’t obvious from what I’ve said already: Enrique enjoys acting like a perfect gentlemen; though it arguably just comes naturally to him, so he’ll typically escort you around with your arms crossed over each others; usually before he takes both your hands in his to say a gentle and somewhat prolonged goodbye. 
- Kissing him on the cheek. He can’t help but smile or melt whenever you do so; it’s an easy way to brighten his mood and take his mind off of whatever may be bothering him. 
- Soft, pure kisses. 
- He mainly calls you by your given name but on occasion, he might choose to call you darling, dear, or dearest one instead. He’s oftentimes pretty old fashioned and respectful with his pet names so don’t expect anything too modern or childish; though he doesn’t protest to you calling him those sorts of things. 
- Sorry to disappoint but Enrique seems like the type of fellow to sleep in a different bed than his significant other. Although, considering the fact that you probably don’t have enough space for two separate beds, he’ll most likely settle for sharing one; if you insist that it doesn't make you uncomfortable. You’ll typically either cuddle him yourself or; at least, nestle into the space beside him while he lays on his back, his hands folded over his stomach/chest. 
- The two of you will definitely have to work on his trust issues and his willingness to let you leave his lair but all of the struggle you go through will make things better in the long run. You can’t stay cooped up down there forever and it’s much healthier for you both to know that you’re down there by choice, not by force.
- Spending almost all your time together. You’re the one person he really converses with and longs to have in his life and he grows lonely without the constant comfort of your presence. He needs you near; oftentimes for no real reason at all, so get used to him cause you’re not gonna get rid of him any time soon.
- Him randomly coming to check on you just because he wanted to see and/or sit with you.
- Sneaking him down things that he might need or enjoy; especially when suspicions are high. He always thanks you earnestly, though he might insist that you shouldn’t have risked putting yourself in harms way just to get him a gift. 
- Cooking for him. He doesn’t really know how to do it himself; at least not well, so it’s either you’re making him something or he’s stealing something from the opera houses dining area; it’s all up to your culinary skill set.
- Massaging his hands.
- Assisting him whenever he plays his music: getting him food when he’s in the middle of something important, playing the piano keys to help him get in tune, helping gather and put his sheet music in order, etc. It’s nice to return the favor since he takes care of you so much.
- Enrique is incredibly protective of his music so you should always consider it an honor whenever he does decide to share it with you. Very few people have the pleasure and believe me when I say: it is a pleasure.
- Constantly receiving fresh bouquets of flowers. He’ll usually gather them from the different opera actresses dressing rooms, since he knows very few of them will actually stop to notice that they’re missing. 
- Though he isn’t rich by any means, Enrique always does his best to provide and care for you, and if that meant giving you the shirt off his back, he would. He’d spoil you until he completely ran out and he’d consider your smile and happiness to be worth any hardship that might have come from it.
- Being patient with and offering him support. You try your best to let him know that you’re willing to stand by him until things are okay again and that you don’t mind that he’s in a tough spot “right now”, which is something he really appreciates.
- Reassuring him that you do truly love him. In his eyes, he’s just a disfigured old man and you’re a beautiful young woman with the whole world ahead of you; of course he’s going to feel a bit insecure from time to time. Just tell him that you only have eyes for him and refuse to let him believe otherwise and soon enough, he’ll feel a whole lot better.
- He always tries his best to be understanding with you as well and he’s oftentimes very successful, patiently brushing off any apologies with an “everyone has their off days” and trusting that you’ll learn to overcome whatever’s bothering you; or your initial distrust of him.
- The thing about Enrique is that he wants you to be happy; he really does, but he also deludes himself into thinking that you will be happy or that you already are happy, or that somebody has made you not like something and that he’ll just have to teach you to like and understand it’s importance again. It’s why he’ll occasionally make decisions for you without thinking twice about it, because you do agree with him, don’t you?
- Sometimes, he’s so sure of what he’s saying that you can’t help but begin to feel sure of it too. You at least know that he truly believes that you’ll be happy and/or okay which usually manages to help ease your nerves regardless of the situation at hand.
- I can imagine that he’d try to make your “new home” more comfortable and to your liking even before you decide to live with him so don’t be surprised if things suddenly begin to go missing and/or when you find them scattered around his lair.
- He’s very adamant about you doing what you love and enjoying yourself without the stress of trying to make it into work. If you have a hobby then he’ll indulge it happily, doing whatever he can to help you improve and make sure that you’re comfortable.
- He absolutely adores whenever you hum or softly sing around him; regardless of how talented you “technically” are.
- The first few nights you stayed with him down in his lair, he wordlessly played you a lullaby to help you sleep and ever since, whenever you’re stressed or can’t manage to rest, he’ll pick up his violin or sit down at his piano and play you that same little lullaby, watching happily as it helps calm you down.
- He’s arguably going to be at least somewhat older than you so you’ll oftentimes get to listen to stories about him from his youth or the hundred different plays that he’s helped put on: whether he’s telling you about the actors, the plots of the plays themselves, or describing the music he played to you.
- Him fussing and worrying over you whenever you seem even the slightest bit worse for wear. You have to be in perfect health or he’ll act as though you’re terminally ill.
- He notices immediately whenever somethings off so you never have to “inform him” that you’re upset. You’ll just have to sit there and be yourself and he’ll notice somethings changed about your character and ask if you’re alright.
- Keeping him in check. He’s a nice guy who was down on his luck and stretched too thin: he’s not a bad person and you make sure that he knows that and that he tries his best to be good again. And oftentimes he listens, though occasionally he will ignore you, thinking of you as a bleeding heart that is just too sensitive or innocent to understand how important something is.
- Candlelit evenings. As fond as he’s grown of the dark and as much as it’s beginning to grow on you, you’ve also got to; ya know, see, so get used to the orange glow and the heat that comes from the open flames.
- Occasionally changing things up and camping out in a different place overnight whenever the operas sewers get a little too monotonous. You’ve got hundreds of rooms to pick from so just say the words and he’ll find the key.
- Late night strolls.
- Sitting down with him and listening to the opera overhead.
- Playing little games like checkers or chess with him. It’s just something fun and relaxing to do while you try and pass the time in the gloom of his dark new home.
- Almost giving yourself away whenever someone brings up “the ghost of the opera”. You just can’t help but snort or begin to interject whenever they bring up his appearance, it sounds nothing like him!
- Due to the fact that you’ve effectively been kidnapped by him, you’re likely to remove his mask the first time you’re in his lair. And unlike the other phantoms, he remains somewhat calm, almost tearfully waiting for your reaction, hoping that it won’t be fear or disgust. 
- He’s always slightly possessive but it’s oftentimes not really noticeable. It’s just because he thinks of everything he puts effort into as being “sacred”; something that means a lot to him and that’s constantly in danger of being stolen away.
- Enrique is a lot less likely to kill because of jealousy; compared to some of the other phantoms, but he does have his limits. Regardless, he mainly just insists that you don’t do something or hides you away from the world whenever he deems it necessary; i.e. thinks there’s someone out there threatening your relationship. 
- Your safety is the one thing he is absolutely willing to kill for no matter the situation. He does not play around when it comes to your life and he’s highly protective of you. 
- It’s borderline impossible to argue with him: he just sits and sulks whenever he’s criticized or yelled at so you’re kind of forced to have an actual discussion with him whenever there’s a problem in your relationship. 
- Because of this, you typically work things out pretty quickly and you go back to being a happy couple in; at most, an hour. He’s very earnest with his apologies so it’s typically very easy to forgive him. 
- He tells you that he loves you very easily. It’s just a fact to him by now so why would he have a problem with saying it?
- Sorry honey, but you’re stuck with him for the rest of your life whether you like it or not. If someone wants to take you away from him, they'll have to rip you from his cold, dead hands. 
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