InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Just like ER."

Erik (i_haunt) wrote in we_coexist,
@ 2013-06-14 21:11:00

Entry tags:

christine daae, erik, zz:status complete

Haven (Christine)
The visit with Enigma, and everything that had transpired afterward, left Erik rawer than he'd expected to be -- and far later in returning to his wife that night. She'd been waiting up for him, he was sure, by the way she'd fallen asleep in their bed. Clearly, she'd been sitting up. The book lying face up in her lap suggested she'd been reading to try to keep herself awake.

He moved soundlessly to the side of the bed and plucked that book from her lap. As soundlessly, he laid the thing on the nightstand beside her, then moved away to change out of his suit and to shower in their expansive bathroom.

When he returned to her again, hair still damp, he found her bright eyes waiting for him. And though it was good... quite good... to see her, he could not smile.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

i_haunt
2013-06-18 03:26 am UTC (link)

Christine's smile shone through her words. Though he could not both look at her face and also hold her close, he knew well the expression she wore. It was one he loved to see, even more so when he knew he was the cause of it. The gardens were not of his orchestration; in that, he played but a minor role. But the next thing...

"I have completed a new ballet," he said quietly over her curls. "It will play after the season opener."

He hadn't yet talked with Christine about the ballet. To her, it was fresh news. He wondered if she had any desire in dancing, now that her voice was well known.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_captivate
2013-06-18 07:13 am UTC (link)

Christine happily stayed in her position with her head over his chest until he said that. He had not mentioned a ballet and, often, he would mention if he is working on something. Why had he not mentioned it this time? She lifted her head ever so slightly so she could stay against him but be able to look down at him.

"You did not say," she replied, though not as an accusation. She did not sound hurt by it. No, she just felt curious as to why he had not mentioned something so incredible to her.

"What is the idea behind it?" she asked, eyes bright as she eagerly waited to hear more about the masterpiece it clearly would be.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_haunt
2013-06-19 01:59 am UTC (link)

"I did not say," he agreed, tenderly brushing the backs of his fingers against her face. She looked angelic in the dim light. "It happened very quickly." Two weeks was 'very quickly' and once he'd begun, he knew he wouldn't stop until it was completed. His assistant had sent Christine word not to expect him back until his composition was completed, but Erik hadn't told Mike Deal what he was working on, either. It was no surprise that Christine hadn't known.

"A mood piece," he answered. "It's called La Mer, a long variation on Debussy's suite of movements by the same name. I re-scored the harps and some of the winds for piano. The ballet mistress is working through the choreography now. It will be a full ballet. I am interested in seeing what the public will think of it."

His hand had lazily drifted to the curls hiding at the back of her neck. He fingered them lightly, his touch as graceful as he gave to any instrument. It seemed instinctual for him to touch her this way; he did it often.

"Hannibal accepted the piano piece and is working through it now. I've invited him to dinner and to play afterward. Would you care to set up our menu, my wife, and work through it with our cooks? Dinner will be Friday, if you are amenable."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_captivate
2013-06-19 06:59 am UTC (link)

Her eyes stayed on him expectantly as she waited to hear more about it. So that must have been what he had been doing during the two weeks she did not see him for. She had known it was a new composition but she had always assumed an opera of some kind. To hear it had been a ballet instead was rather interesting. And she still knew that it would be incredible even if it is or is not viewed as such by others. She couldn't quite imagine people not liking his work though. Everything he writes is amazing.

"I am sure they will adore it," she replied with confidence. She had no doubt in his ability to captivate an audience with any composition.

The brief mention of Hannibal had her glancing away ever so slightly. He is a good man, she knew that. And she knew he had taken good care of her husband. And yet she couldn't help that little flutter of jealousy that emerged when the man is mentioned given how hard Erik had worked in the past to give his friend a composition. But she pushed it aside and gave him a smile.

"It would be my pleasure."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_haunt
2013-06-20 03:10 am UTC (link)

Even in the dim light, Erik saw the flicker of change pass across his wife's expression. It disappeared as soon as it manifested, but it still troubled the composer. He sat up in bed and studied her.

"Tell me what is on your mind, Ange," he said gently. Whatever it was, it marred her happiness. It must be addressed.

The youth of his wife was still pronounced, and such youth came out in many small ways. He found it endearing. But he also knew that such things, while seemingly minute to his eyes, never were for her. He would not understand unless he asked, and he very much wished to understand.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_captivate
2013-06-20 06:58 am UTC (link)

As he sat up she had to pull away ever so slightly so he would be able to do so without having her right there against him. She wondered slightly what it was but his question made it clear. He had noticed the look after all. It shouldn't be such a surprise. He knew her well enough to know when something appeared to be bothering her.

"You write a lot for him," she replied simply.

But she could not continue. It would probably be obvious enough to him what she thought about that. She didn't mind him writing, not at all, but childishly she felt a little jealous that her husband wrote more for another than her.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_haunt
2013-06-23 03:04 am UTC (link)

"Hannibal has a singular talent," Erik said, but it did nothing to soften the emotion in her eyes. He considered his little dove in a breath of silence, then shook his head. "But I give far more of myself to you," he assured her, "Than I ever placed in any composition."

His music drove him, his music snapped at his heels, his music burned and demanded and keened inside him -- but Christine brushed through all that noise with the very sound of her voice. Did she know that he was her slave? She had to. Everything she wanted, everything she even hinted at, he gave her. He actively sought out those things she loved, and he had changed himself so that she could wear him every day and be comfortable.

There were no dark moods around her. Not just because she drove them away from him. He also hid them away, kept them far away from his diva, refused to let them touch her. Touch. He'd learned to endure physical touch -- in fact, craved hers, now. He'd learned to give it in all the ways she enjoyed. He learned that she wanted his hands on her as often as possible, even if it was to guide her through a door or down a street. She was a miracle and his mistress all at the same time.

And she'd worried about Hannibal.

His hand dipped tenderly into the dark waves he so adored, the mass of coils that had become something of an obsession. "Love," he whispered. And because words would not convey the depth of feeling in his chest, he cradled the back of her head and led her up, up until he could taste the tender bow of her mouth, the fullness of her bottom lip. How could anyone take so much of him without destroying him in the process? But she'd given him a strength and a faith he'd long ago thought he'd lost. He loved.

And she loved him in return. Despite himself.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

i_captivate
2013-06-24 10:48 pm UTC (link)

Christine knew, deep down, how silly it is of her to feel like this. Especially after he admitted to that. Though she still had her doubts given how much he put into each of his compositions but surely he put more into what they shared? Or even an equal amount. She sighed ever so softly and glanced away partly out of embarrassment for thinking such a thing but also partly because she did sometimes worry. She worried that she would never be enough for him. Never be everything he needs.

However that hand in her hair had her eyes once more on his and that one word said more than any composition could say. She knew that love had been difficult for him to accept. She could vividly remember his reaction to her first admission of love. But now he seemed far more comfortable with that and it warmed her heart. But she had no chance to respond vocally and had to resort to physically a she kissed him back. They had seemed to perfect this. Though perhaps every kiss felt right because the marriage felt right. Either way it did not matter. His kiss would always be enough to make her feel like she is melting and flying all at once.

Christine felt more than happy to continue the kiss for as long as possible. Her own hand came to rest ever so softly on his stomach as she continued the kiss with everything she had. She would not pull away until it was absolutely necessary and that did not seem like it would happen any time soon.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	i_haunt 2013-06-25 02:21 am UTC (link)
	Eventually, he did stop kissing her. But that was hours later. (Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -