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justsomerandomfanfic · 1 year

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Roses Are Red - Erik Destler (The Phantom) X Female Reader

Title: Roses Are Red

Erik Destler (The Phantom) X Female Reader

Additional Characters: Christine, Madame Giry (Mentioned), Meg (Mentioned), Reader's father (Mentioned)

Requested

WC: 1,628

Warnings: The reader has a father, the reader wears a dress, insecurities, and slight family angst, and that's about it

The beautiful fabric felt heavy in your hands. The soft cotton and lace in such unique designs, it was your best work yet. You had spent months on this dress, working long hours after everyone was asleep to complete it before Christine's big night. You'd always been good with a needle and thread but you hadn't ever made an extravagant gown before. Stopping at Christine's dressing room door, you stared down at the dress. Christine was so lucky, getting to do what she had dreamed of doing since she was little, getting to be a star. You only wished that one day you could be like her.

Stepping into Christine's dressing room, you were immediately greeted by the rising singer. She quickly turned around, eyes widening as a gasp left her lips. "Is that it?" She asked, breathlessly.

"Is that the dress?" She repeated as you handed it over to her.

Christine took in a deep breath before taking it in her arms. "Yes!" She cried out happily. "It's perfect!"

You smiled. "I'm glad you like it."

She ran her hands along the material, running them across the delicate lace and soft fabric. "This is so beautiful! I've never seen anything like it."

You smiled sheepishly, "Well, it is a one-of-a-kind dress. Made for you." You joked lightly and Christine nodded with a huge smile.

"You are amazing, Y/N." She said, brushing her hand against your cotton sleeve. "Thank you."

"No problem." You replied with a nervous chuckle.

You helped with the corset and strings as she brushed down the many layers of the dress's skirt. You both worked in silence, enjoying each other's company while getting ready for the biggest performance of her life. When you finished with the last bit of laces, you stepped back to look at the final product. It was beautiful on her, and you were glad you finished it in time.

After finishing up her hair and make-up, Christine was ushered out of the dressing room and backstage. You stood in her dressing room for a moment, sighing as you clasped your hands and bowed your head. You would usually stand on the side of the stage, watching most of the show, and you knew it would be the right thing to do; supporting your friend. But, at that moment, you wanted to be alone.

Heading up the stairs to the dancer's shared bedroom, you headed to the back of the room, where a wooden door stood. Grabbing your key from your skirt pocket, you unlocked the door and headed inside, climbing a smaller set of stairs before arriving at your small room. This was your special place. A place where you could go to feel safe and relaxed. You carefully shut the second door behind you and locked it with the key, before sliding the bolt closed. Lighting a candle and hanging up the lamp, you walked over to your desk and grabbed your violin.

Picking it up, you ran your fingers against the ebony wood and sighed once more. It was your father who also was a violinist like Christine's father. He was long gone by now, leaving you alone to care for my Meg's mother, Madame Giry. While Christine now had a grand room to sleep in, and Meg slept in the room with the other dancers, you had your small room. And that is all you could ever hope for. Closing your eyes, you began to play softly, humming along with the melody. As you continued playing, you noticed your fingers were beginning to ache, but you didn't stop or slow down. You continued to play your deathly beautiful tune, feeling the song flow through your body.

You slowly opened your eyes again, your chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. Setting down the violin, you dragged your heavy feet to your bed, falling down onto the scruffy quilts, you shut your eyes and fell asleep.

~~~

You didn't know how much time had passed, but you quickly opened your eyes and sat up in your bed when you heard footsteps at your door. One of the perks of being a light sleeper. You just hoped it wasn't that creepy man who wandered the dancer's room while they were away. Staring at the door, you waited, quietly, watching, only to furrow your eyebrows when a small letter slid under your door. Getting up, you walked over, picking up the letter. It was a soft creme color, with a dark red wax seal, imprinted with a skull. Ominous, yet beautiful. Unlatching your door, you quickly swung it open, only to find no one there. Narrowing your eyes, you hesitantly shut the door again, locking it, before sitting on your bed; the letter in your hands.

Sliding your finger under the envelope's seal, slowly breaking the wax and freeing the letter from it. Setting the envelope on your bed, you unfolded the letter, immediately impressed by the writer's handwriting.

"My dear, you played beautifully. Your talent is something that should be cherished, not hidden. I would love to hear more. - O.G."

Your eyes widened as you stared at those two simple letters. The Opera Ghost had written to you. Complimenting you, wanting to hear you play again. A thrill ran through your stomach. You hadn't expected someone like him to notice you, he was the one who indeed got Christine her role. Flipping the letter, you were surprised to find more writing.

"Meet me in Christine's dressing room."

Your eyes couldn't have widened anymore. Christine's dressing room? Why? Why would he want to meet there? What does he want? Shaking your head, you closed the letter and stood, tucking the letter back into its envelope. Whatever it was, you were too curious to not go. That was your one flaw, you were so intrigued by the Opera Ghost, not even Meg's ghost stories could change your views.

You hurried downstairs, making sure to lock your door behind you before heading downstairs. You paused outside Christine's dressing room, listening for voices, of which you heard none. Stepping inside, you froze. There was no one there. Was this a joke? You figured he would at least be waiting for you, but instead, it was completely empty. Slowly turning around, you found yourself face to face with the Opera Ghost. Hidden behind the large mirror, half of his face was covered with a white mask, cloaked in all black.

He raised his hand out towards you as the glass moved to the side. He held his hand out to you as his light blue eyes silently begged you to take it. Taking a step forward, you hesitantly reached for his outstretched hand. His gloved hand was cool and smooth as he pulled you closer, reaching around to pull you closer as well. You shivered as he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you close to himself. Looking down at you he whispered,

"Please don't be afraid, Y/N."

You couldn't look away from his eyes; the perfectly blue hues staring right back down at you. "You know my name?" You asked, voice soft, breathless even.

He chuckled, nodding his head. "I do."

"But why?" You questioned as he cupped your cheek.

His smile was blinding, piercing you with its beauty. "I have heard you play long before tonight. Almost every night you play to the ghosts of the opera house. And I've been watching you ever since then." His voice was so low, like silk against your skin.

"Why me? Why am I the one that you've shown your face to?" You asked, unable to look into his eyes, casting your gaze on his black shoes.

The Phantom gently cupped your chin, lifting your face to meet his eyes. "Because I can see you as clearly as if you were standing in front of me. I know how hard you have worked to get where you are today. From being left behind, to finding a place here. And I know you will continue to work hard. That is why I chose you."

You felt his warm breath against your neck as he spoke. "What do you mean?" You asked, tilting your head to the side slightly.

"I want you to audition for my next production." He said simply, "I want you to play my song. The one I wrote especially for you."

You blinked rapidly, trying to process what he'd just told you. "What?" You asked, unsure that you heard him correctly.

He pressed a kiss to your forehead, letting his lips linger there before he finally released you. "I'm sorry," he murmured, "I forgot myself. I'm going to take my leave, but please, think it over, my darling." He spoke, pressing a leather folder into your hands.

And, within a blink of an eye, he was gone. You stared into the dark hallway, before exiting the mirror passageway. The mirror slid behind you as you stared at the leather folder in your hands. Unclasping the leather clasp, you flipped it open, eyes scanning the notes on the lines. You began to hum along to the song as you slowly left Christine's dressing room, closing the door behind you.

Christine ran down the hall, holding the skirt of the dress in her hands. "Y/N! Did you hear- what's that?" She asked, noticing the leather folder in your hands.

You looked up at her and back down to the music sheets, closing it shut, "It's... Nothing... I have to go... Congratulations on your big night, Christine." You spoke hastily, before stumbling past her as she frowned, having recognized the leather folder in your hands. She was worried about you, and what the Phantom was planning.

#x female reader #x reader #fluff #slight angst #the phantom of the opera #the phantom of the opera 2004 #erik destler #erik destler x female reader #erik destler x reader #requested #requests #request

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early2000smovieimagines · 2 years

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Meeting and Courting Erik

(Not my gif)(Requested by anonymous)

- The worst thing about being a female musician is that; unless you have a lineage to ride the coattails of, you’re oftentimes not taken seriously. The orchestra is reserved for lithe men with bushy moustaches and three piece suits and little girls are lucky to be ballerinas or background actresses; if anything at all.

- But you always held onto the hope that you’d get your chance, and that hope payed off when the owner of the Opera Populaire stumbled across your playing and invited you out to the city of Paris so that you could work in his Orchestra.

- You were over the moon once you’d heard the news and had to pinch yourself in order to ensure that you weren’t dreaming. It all seemed too good to be true …and oh how true that statement would wind up being....

- Once you arrived at the theater, it took all of three minutes for you to realize that you weren’t going to be anything there besides a glorified maid. But, thinking you could at least study under the greats and have a foot in the door; no matter how painful, you decided to bite the bullet and stay.

- During the day, you ran around in circles like a chicken with it’s head cut off: meticulously tending to every wish and whim of the composer and his musical associates. But during the night, once all your chores were finished and forgotten, you were able to marvel at the beauty of the theater and practice your playing; whether in the pit or just in the privacy of the broom closet you called a bedroom.

- That was where Erik first came across you.

- About a month into your stay; once you’d finally managed to get settled in and form a routine in which you weren’t too exhausted to practice, you found yourself sat in one of the chairs in the orchestra pit, following along to the music you’d just about memorized from the sheer amount of times you’d listened to it being played.

- The music carried faintly throughout the entire theater until it reached the phantoms ears, drawing him closer and closer until he’d finally reached you; his heart skipping a beat once his eyes landed on your figure amongst the sea of velvet seats.

- Thus marked the beginning of his obsession; though it would still take a bit of time for him to make his physical approach....

- Though him not revealing himself to you didn’t mean that you didn't feel his presence nearby. You’d oftentimes see shadows or figures just out of view or feel the skin prickling sensation of someone's eyes on you while you went about your day; especially while you were alone.

- Those sorts things were easy to dismiss, feeling things was always easy to dismiss, …but tangible proof was another thing entirely. Your broken strings being replaced in the night or your instrument being perfectly tuned every morning was not nearly as easy to ignore. And with talk of the opera ghost buzzing all around you, you had a funny feeling that you knew exactly who was doing it....

- Teaching someone how to play an instrument requires a certain level of physicality so you won’t have to wait very long for “Erik” to show up in your life. He can’t guide you with only his voice, especially if he wants you to excel, so he introduces himself; though he doesn’t let you know who he is.

- There’s hundreds of eccentric faces in the opera house so while seeing him in the flesh is a bit jarring, you don’t immediately suspect that he’s the fabled phantom. He comes to you as a friend, a gentleman who compliments your playing yet offers you guidance, promising that you’ll “be great” if you’ll just allow him to be your teacher. …And you eagerly accept, trusting him blindly....

- At first, he coaches you with a delicate reserve: circling the room as he instructs you with his voice and restraining himself whenever he corrects you with his fingers. But after your manager walks in on your much more perfected playing; ignoring your attempts to tell him about your teacher who’s suddenly vanished and left you alone in the room you were practicing in, he becomes much more intimate with you; under the guise of needing to guide you more closely if you’re going to be in a real orchestra.

- Your practice sessions move to his lair where he takes you up in his arms and presses himself close to you, his hands moving across your body as he instructs you to “feel the music” and other innocent things turned seductive by his tone. Somedays, after the song ends and you realize the state you’re in, you grow embarrassed and detangle yourself from him, wanting to save face after realizing how improper all of it had been; your heart still racing as you make an excuse to leave....

- It isn’t long before the “opera ghost” begins to take a liking to you, writing letters to the owners of the theater and making demands about how they should be treating you.

- As the owners resist, your competition is sabotaged until they have no choice but to favor you, pushing you to stardom as you try your best to hide the black ribbon tied rose that’s found its way into your instrument case; the beating of your own heart drowning out the hushed “phantom” filled whispers that surround you.

- Perhaps this is unnecessary to add in but there are definitely moments prior to you getting into a relationship with Erik that the opera ghost humiliates a man who’s dared to flirt with you; calling him a pervert and other things of the sort through one of his infamous notes.

- There’s also probably a moment where his mask gets caught in your hair and is pulled from his face, causing him to lurch away from you as if he was burned. You’ll move to see what’s wrong and he’ll yell at you to stay where you are, prompting you to stiffen and whip your head back to the other side of the room; swiftly apologizing and feeling as though you’ve somehow done something terribly improper.

- He’ll snatch his mask back and quickly place it back onto his face before he turns to look at you again; seeing that you’ve obeyed his command and continued to stay still. His heart will swell at how respectful you are and he’ll quietly tell you that you can turn back around; apologizing himself as he swallows down his jumbled nerves.

- Regardless of these moments, Erik confesses his feelings to you during the night of your first shows final performance.

- You don’t see him until late in the evening when you arrive at his lair: expecting to celebrate or at least be met with a bit of praise from your teacher. But that isn’t the case and you grow worried at his quiet demeanor and seemingly distracted mannerisms before you ask what’s wrong and get your answer.

- He sits you down while he clutches something in his hand, telling you that before you begin again, he must ask you “this”. He extends his hand and shows you a diamond ring, his voice trembling faintly as he looks you in your eyes and asks if you’ll “be his”.

- His proposal isn’t unexpected but it does surprise you. You’re aware of the romance between you but you hadn’t expected something so soon so you’re left to fumble for the right thing to say. Finally, you blink back your joyful tears and tell him “I’m yours”, smiling up at him while he processes what you’ve said.

- For the first time since you’ve met him, you see him truly smile, his eyes misting as he slips the ring onto your finger. He gazes down at your newly bejeweled hand before placing his own gloved one on your cheek, leaning down to connect your lips in a delicate and loving kiss.

- And thus begins your fate, an eternity of him before your eyes....

- Public displays of affection; for obvious reasons, aren’t very common in your relationship but if they were, he’d be prone to acting like a perfect gentleman: being polite but purposeful in his touches and mimicking the mannerisms of a man from high society. Jealousy may make him a bit touchier but your unwavering adoration would typically placate him; your obvious favoritism filling him with a smug sense of pleasure.

- He oftentimes moves to hold your hand whenever you’re together; whether he’s leading you somewhere or just sitting down with you, but his touch is so delicate that you oftentimes feel the lingering sensation of his grasp even after he’s removed himself from you.

- Gentle caresses. He treats you as if you’re vapor: in constant danger of fading away, should he touch you too quickly or too brashly.

- Hugging you from behind is one of his favorite things to do; his hands stroking across your body as his face nuzzles into your hair. It doesn’t matter what the circumstance of his touch is, he’ll always find a reason to press himself against you.

- Sometimes his kisses are rough: domineering and searing with passion; oftentimes from a bout of jealousy or far too much time spent away from each other. But other times they’re gentle and sweet: his movements featherlight and filled with a joyful sort of love that he reserves only for you.

- Erik loves pet names; both giving and receiving. He loves the intimacy that they provide: knowing that he’s the only one calling you those things and that you love him enough to want to call him something so tender. Expect a lot of theater or art references and things like “my angel” or “my darling”; they’re his favorite terms of endearment.

- It takes a while for Erik to grow accustomed to having you; though it’s in a positive and content sort of way. He cherishes the time he spends with you; as if it isn’t going to last, which is why he has a habit of watching you sleep; marveling at your beauty like you’re a priceless work of art.

- Looking at you; in general, is a pretty common habit of his. He finally has the chance to study your features up close and he’s not going to waste a second of it. No matter how long you’ve been together, he never gets tired of seeing your face.

- But, when he isn’t sitting up on his elbow and gazing at you, he’s cradling you in his arms: your face in his chest, his arm under your neck and his hand holding your hip/waist.

- Touch starved is the only way to describe him. Any affection you give him is received with the melting of his body and the fluttering of his eyes. He relaxes instantly at your touch and aches to have it whenever you’re near.

- It’s why you should place his head in your lap, cushioning him with the frills of your dress and the plump flesh of your thighs as your hand strokes lovingly through his hair. It’s the least he deserves.

- Speaking of the frills of your dress: he occasionally dresses you up the same way you would a doll, placing you in glamorous gowns and gently styling your hair. Once he’s done, your reflection gazes back at you in the form of an angel and his a man of god; ready to pray at your alter and worship you for as long as he lives.

“You spoil me.”

“There’s no such thing.”

- He does everything in his power to ensure that you’re happy and provided for, and that oftentimes means that his monthly allowance is; at least partially, spent on gifts. You can try to insist that he doesn’t have to buy you things but the most effective thing you can do is combat his buying with buying of your very own.

- Purchase him books to occupy himself with or food for the two of you to share and the expense he spends on you will feel at least somewhat repaid. And you’ll get to see his somewhat surprised yet fond smile whenever you hand them to him.

- But, regardless of everything else he gives you, his music is his greatest gift of all and his sharing of it should not be underemphasized. His work is very personal to him so you being allowed to hear and see it proves just how much he trusts you and loves you. In giving you his music, he gives you his heart so treat it with the utmost care and respect.

- Having him sing for you and being urged to sing for him as well. You don’t even have to be a good singer: he’ll either coach you himself or bask in the earnestness of your clumsy vocals; enjoying how sweet and intimate they sound.

- Considering the fact that the entire beginning of your relationship revolved around you playing an instrument, one could imagine that he’d occasionally ask you to play: whether it’s just to listen to you perform or if it’s him enlisting your help while trying to come up with the different instrumental portions of a new musical.

- He’s; obviously, more of an organ man himself, and you’ll oftentimes get the chance to listen to him play: though he’ll sometimes play in order to let off a little steam so try and gauge whether he’s hitting those keys a little too hard. You might need to give him a hug or implore him to vent to you.

- But, if you’re not someone who’s musically inclined, you’d still have a seat beside him in box 5 and the ability to appreciate his art through the theater troupes impressive performance of it.

- It wouldn’t take you long to pick up on little pieces of theater lingo and the first time he heard you nonchalantly show your knowledge, he couldn’t help but smile. He thought it was adorable; regardless of whether or not you actually knew precisely what you were talking about.

- Marveling at his miniatures and the other creations he has hidden away in his lair.

- Exploring the ins and outs of his domain, oftentimes; if not always, with him as your attentive guide.

- You always feel as though you’re in a dream when you’re with him and it’s one that you pray you’ll never wake up from. It’s wonderful and overwhelming all at the same time and there’s not a single thing inside it that you’d ever wish to change.

- Though he’ll always have a flair for the dramatics, he’ll also begin to let his guard down and act more like himself the longer you’re together. He’ll feel less of a need to appear over the top and mysterious in order to draw you in and make you love him; allowing you to see the real him.

- Although, even when he’s dropped his act, he’ll still find it difficult to let you see him without his mask. He’ll hurriedly cover his face whenever it manages to come off and he’ll insist that he’s a monster and that you won’t want to see him no matter how much you try to assure him that you’ll still love him: so you just try your best to be patient and wait until he’s comfortable enough to show you himself.

- Comforting him and letting him know that there’s nothing he can do that would ever make you abandon him. Sometimes he’ll dream that you’ve left him for good and you’ll wake to find him pacing or clutching you as close to him as possible, and you’ll just give him a quiet “I love you” to ease his nerves and let him know how much you care.

- There’s going to be a lot of working through trauma but he’s definitely someone who’s worth it. He’s not a perfect person but he’s willing to get better in order to make you happy and that’s all that really matters.

- Quiet companionship. He likes being in the same room as you even when he’s busy with his own work so you’ll oftentimes find your own thing to do while you stay down there with him.

- Sitting in forgotten corners and up in the rafters with him: watching as the sun sets or the people around you go about their day.

- Dancing together. You’ve probably taken him to a masquerade ball and it’s a memory he holds very close to his heart.

- Imagining him cooped up in the theater day in and day out tends to upset you so you try your best to sneak him out from time to time; even if it’s just for a measly little picnic in the cemetery or forest.

- Him appearing out of nowhere because he knows all the little ways to get in and out of the rooms you’re in without being caught. You’ve grown so accustomed to his sudden invasions that you’re probably one of the easiest individuals to kidnap; considering the fact that you merely sigh contentedly every time someone touches you whenever you think you’re alone.

- Always sensing that he’s near, even when you can’t see him. He’s almost always watching you and it’s sort of comforting in a way: knowing that you’re not alone; even when you’re as nervous or scared as can be.

- But him watching you also means that you can never hide something from him; even if it’s just an innocent surprise. He’ll pretend to be shocked for your sake but you’ll never actually manage to do so organically. At least he’ll always know when he needs to comfort you without you having to explain what happened.

- Him always being there for and taking care of you. He enjoys looking after you and making sure that you’re healthy and happy so expect him to do whatever he can to have you stay that way.

- Please give him praise. He’s used to insults and mockery and being known as a menace or a freak so compliments coming from you; the person he loves the most, will mean the world to him.

- You’re the only one who’s capable of calming him down with just a single word or touch. He’s a sucker for you and his anger fades the moment you go soft on him.

- This is arguably stupid but I think Erik deserves to have a pet cat and I think you should be the one to give it to him. They can keep him company whenever you’re not around and they can also help with the rat infestation: they’re a multipurpose friend!

- Madame Giry routing for your relationship to work out and doing everything in her power to help the two of you whenever it was necessary. She’s your biggest ally in the garish light of day.

- I feel like he would occasionally disappear for days at a time; particularly before the two of you started courting each other, and then suddenly speak to you from his usual hiding place; taking you by surprise. You’d ask who was there and he’d somewhat teasingly ask if you’ve forgotten your angel; bringing a smile to your face as he shows himself to you once more.

- It’s probably fairly obvious by now but Erik is definitely a possessive lover; especially since your relationship is so secretive and hidden away from the outside world. He relishes in you “belonging” to him but it’s only because he belongs to you just as much, if not more.

- He’ll oftentimes sabotage situations in order to keep you all to himself: though they’re oftentimes things you aren’t necessarily excited for or replaced with such a wonderful scenarios that you don’t even mind nor notice that you’ve missed them until it’s too late.

- Erik is, at his core, a very jealous person, but how he reacts to his jealousy will oftentimes depend on the situation at hand and how you behave in response to it. If you show no interest in the man, the phantom will react in a much more civilized manner: writing a pointed note or making an anonymous threat; focusing more on how annoying it must be for you to deal with as opposed to the way it makes him feel. But, if you appear to actually like the person, things won’t end nearly as neatly....

- It’s honestly best not to mention it whenever someone insults or otherwise makes you feel uncomfortable because; before you know it, your lover will have taken it to the extreme and dealt with the situation in an oftentimes less than desirable way.

- He’s willing to do everything in his power to ensure that you’re safe and killing someone in order to achieve that tranquility will not be out of the ordinary for him. Be sure to insist that you don’t want someone dead whenever something winds up happening to you; though I can’t guarantee that that clarification will stop him from at least imposing some sort of damage onto them.

- Erik has a bit of a temper so; even though he genuinely hates getting into arguments with you, fights still break out between you every now and again; usually prompted by some sort of outside force or his own insecurities. He has a tendency to snap whenever he’s upset so don’t be surprised if he lashes out at you: raising his voice and/or saying something cruel in the heat of the moment.

- You’ll resign yourself to giving him space; or storm out in your own fit of anger, and you’ll keep away from him for a while: going about your business like usual and ignoring how awful you feel.

- Typically, if you want to make up with him, you’ll have to seek him out yourself: journeying back into his domain and finding him in varying states of agony. He’ll be taken aback by your sudden appearance; thinking that you staying away from him meant that you hated him or that your pride was too strong. But his momentary surprise won’t stop him from almost immediately latching onto you and apologizing as he whispers about how he thought you’d left him forever; effectively breaking down any resolve you had left in you.

- Erik’s love for you drips from his every pore so even if he didn’t say the words everyday, you’d still know exactly how much he cared for you just from his actions alone.

- No matter how much time passes nor how long you’ve been apart, his love for you remains just as strong as it was the first time he saw you and he’ll prove that to you everyday that you spend together for the rest of your lives.

#phantom of the opera x reader #the phantom of the opera imagine #the phantom of the opera imagines #the phantom of the opera headcanons #the phantom of the opera headcanon #erik poto #phantom of the opera erik #erik imagine #erik headcanons #erik headcanon #erik imagines #phantom of the opera imagine #phantom of the opera headcanons #phantom of the opera headcanon #phantom of the opera imagines #the phantom of the opera 2004

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