phantomwolfwhisper: *Erik wielded his serrated knife and the accompanying narrow for with the same ease that came to him during swordplay. The cafe had done well with the preparations, and he smiled appreciatively as the tender meat and powerful spices pervaded his senses. he glanced over at Ril, being careful to keep the small platter containing their dessert covered by a corner of the tablecloth.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She pulled her gloves off and began to tear at the meat with her fingers until she caught sight of the utensils in his hands.* "Heh.." *Ril wiped her hands on the cloth napkin and picked up the fork and knife.* "I'm afraid my table manners aren't quite good enough for polite company. They used to be better but... well I've spent so much time alone lately." *She shrugged and nibbled on a small piece of meat.* "Hmmm good."

phantomwolfwhisper: *Erik smiled gently, remembering himself in his younger years.* "Eat however you're comfortable, Ril. It's not like anyone's watching." *And it was true. The waiter had unobtrusively faded into the shadows, and they were the only customers on this dark night.* "If you're worried about offending ME, gods forbid, let me inform you that there was a time I didn't know there were such implements as silverware, and the lack of them seems much more natural than the having of them." *To prove his point, he laid his own silverware aside and took a bite straight from the meat on his dish.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She laughed quietly and laid the utensils down, once more picking up bits of meat and potato with her slender fingers.* "I ate with Anneliese last night, but not much... Besides, this is rather good. The flavor reminds me of home." *Ril smiled and swiped a bit of gravy from her face with the back of her hand. It was true, she was comfortable with him. In any one else’s company, she would have sat up straight and done her best to act ladylike. But with Erik... Well, he was different, that’s all. She sipped at the wine, enjoying the tastes that flooded her palate.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *Erik licked his fingers, glad the tension in the air had dissipated. When they had both eaten as much of their meals as they could manage, he looked at her mischievously. "Would you like un cardeux truffle au chocolat?"

elizabeth_hefty: "I'm not sure Erik.. what exactly is it? That grin on your face is giving me second thoughts." *She grinned too, her dark eyes sparkling.* "My French isn't as good as I'd like it to be, and food is too hard to translate in the language... But... well I suppose so. I don't think you'd poison me. I trust you."

phantomwolfwhisper: *Erik was touched by this small gesture of faith. He hadn't meant to give Ril reason to distrust him... He should have realized there was a limit to sensible teasing. And even so, with her past.... * "It's delicious, is what it is. Here, try." With that, he deftly slid the tray from beneath the tablecloth with an artist's flourish, giving the effect of making the desserts appear from thin air.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She smiled and sniffed the air. There was a light scent, but still quite rich. The small objects on the platter were round shaped and a deep brown color. Ril grinned at him and took the 'chocolat' nearest to her. After weighing it carefully in her hand she held it up.* "Bon appetites." *She took a sizeable bite and her dark eyes closed in pleasure.* "Mmm.. It is delicious.." *Ril laughed quietly and studied what was left of it.* "It tastes like a kiss.."

phantomwolfwhisper: "Hadn't thought of it that way," *Erik murmured, taking a small bite of his own truffle and then another. He loved dark chocolate, but had no great tolerance for sweets, so this was a rare treat.* "I'll take your word for it, I suppose."

elizabeth_hefty: "Well.. I suppose it is saying a bit much about an inanimate object. But still." *She smiled and finished the rest. Sighing, Ril laid down her napkin and pulled her gloves back on.* "Thank you, Erik. I'm quite enjoying myself tonight."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He smiled* "Which is exactly what any host loves to hear his guest say. Allow me a moment..." *He politely excused himself an slipped a small box of something to the waiter, who bowed and said something very formal in French.* "A unique form of payment," *he explained to Ril upon returning.* "Most people desire something more than the simple currency of the country. Provide it for them, and they will give you above and beyond what others receive. In Krist's case, hard mint-flavored candies are his wife's favorite treat, and make his home a more peaceful place to live." *He extended his arm to her.* "And where to now? There is night yet in the sky."

elizabeth_hefty: *Ril took his arm, not bothering to put her gloves back on. It was dark enough that no one would notice. She smiled and walked close to him.* "I'm well acquainted with the system. I use it myself quite often... There are so many things to trade." *She sighed and looked at the night sky, tracing the paths of the stars as they danced.* "The river. I want to see it." *A shiver ran up her spine.*

phantomwolfwhisper: "The Seine." *Erik considered. Much of it was polluted by commercial fishing companies, their boats piled high with fish refuse and clogging the waterways. Even the bridges were a morass of filthy humanity. He thought hard, reviewing the lesser-used portions of the river, and the little-known trails to get there. He nodded briefly and set out towards the Rue Marquis, guiding her along by her arm. It was not unpleasant to have another living being, female, touching him in this easy, companionable manner. He smiled again, this time in faint and sincere suprise, coupled with satisfaction. Perhaps he was not so much an inexcusable monster as he believed... Perhaps...*

elizabeth_hefty: *Ril smiled and walked close to him, enjoying the quiet stroll under the stars. The night was cool, but not unbearably so. The thought of the river filled her with dread, but it was necessary. She had to know where it was when it came time to... to.. She shuddered some.* "I'm sorry.. My thoughts are morbid tonight. It has nothing to do with you Erik. I really did enjoy dinner."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He turned quickly to look at her, his mismatched eyes searching her face for further insight into what she had just said. He gave what he hoped was a comforting squeeze to her arm, and allowed her to see the concern in his gaze. The river.... Why this sudden decisiveness, this sudden morbid trill, this uncertainty to her voice? He stopped, and turned so that he faced her squarely, the moonlight reflecting softly off his mask.* "Ril, let me say it now. I absolutely forbid you to lose yourself to those waters. They've claimed many a life, and will claim many more, but I will have no part in it if you mean to do this thing. Regardless of what blood stains my hands, I will not count yours among those I will one day have to account for." His mouth was set in a firm line, a strange spark of life dancing behind his features. Ha, he thought to himself. So the demon has limits after all. Imagine, a creature with some vestigial atrophied outlines of a conscience. Fate has a sense of humor, it would seem. Leaving these ironic thoughts in the back of his mind, he continued to meet her gaze, unyielding.*

elizabeth_hefty: "Erik... I can't promise that.. I.." *His eyes seemed to bore into her soul, and if it had been anyone else, she would have reached up for a kiss just to distract him.* "Please, don't ask that of me. Lets walk somewhere else then. I don't want you to feel guilty for my death." *Her hand moved down to touch his, twining her fingers with his.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *Slightly disconcerted by this unfamiliar gesture of intimacy, Erik nodded and stepped to one side, subtly guiding so that they were no longer going towards the river. They walked in silence for a time, the sounds of sleeping Paris a faint music all its own. As they picked up an easy pace, he tilted his head towards her slightly.* "Why?" *It was almost a whisper.* "You have fought the battle for survival for so long... And in this private war of yours, you have come out in a superior position to your opponent, even when it was you who was dealt all the bad cards while he laughed and lounged in the easy places. Why give up now? Why throw away all you have worked so hard for, suffered so long to achieve? Why this infernal waste of will and strength and beauty?" *The words had slipped out without thinking, but Erik scarcely noticed, so intent was he upon this subject.* "There is a soul, a WILL there within you, Ril, that can defeat armies and demolish mountains. There is a fire that lasts beyond the constraints of time. There is a LIFE there within you, something so easily lost and forgotten... A heart that remains despite all the scars and heartbreaks... And you would throw it into the river without looking back. You would let HIM win, even were he dead at the time. Why? WHY?"

elizabeth_hefty: *She stopped suddenly and looked up at him.* "Erik.. If.. If I didn't know better I would say that you.. No. That’s impossible though." *Ril shook her head searching for an explanation.* "Because I have nothing left on this plane to live for. My love was stolen from me, I don't know where my people are anymore.. The one thing I do care about... Is far beyond my reach. Erik.. If you can show me something to stay for, then I will. I will live here in Paris and be your friend and visit you. But I think you will be hard pressed to find something.” *Her hand still held his, drawing comfort from his touch, surprised he didn't pull away.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *Frustration filled him. He stood, trembling slightly with the force of the demonish elixir of emotions raging through his veins, and for a moment he could think of nothing to say. Then he let out his breath in a sigh.* "Walk with me," *he said simply. He shook his head slightly at the night sky, as if denying the words of some unhearable voice.* "I am dead," *he explained in a weary tone that spoke of simple truth.* "True, the body lives on, but what is life but the zest of the soul? And once that is gone, it is only a matter of time before the body follows. My soul is dead, Ril. I cannot find the music anymore." *He paused to let her absorb this.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She wanted to jerk to a stop and make him look at her the way he had a moment ago.* "Erik I feel your soul, here next to mine... I know you can find the music again if you give it time." *Ril stopped and ran her hand up his arm to touch his shoulder.* "Erik.. I'm going to say it. Don't hate me for it all right? I love you. You are the reason that might keep me here.. I know that your heart belongs to Christine, but just that shows that you have a soul. That you care for me enough to not want me to kill myself shows your soul still lives. Don't say such things, Erik."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He smiled slightly at her, then looked away.* "I don't hate you for it, Ril. But hear me out. If you wish to know the cold, frightening core of it, then listen; the music IS my soul. Because it was so strong in me, the very blood of my veins, the beat of my breath, I was made caretaker of this temple to music I helped to build." *He gestured at the Opera House, now visible in the distance behind the rooftops.* "A dead guardian leads to the decay of all that this place means. Anyone with the burning zest for life can keep it alive, now that it knows itself. I have had a vision, a horrible vision... That within years, this palace of beauty will deteriorate into a husk dedicated to death and decay. I know that is what will happen if I alone remain... I meant to ask you, Ril, if you would take up that place. I know you argue that I am alive, but I know it is not so. It may be possible that the dead can come back to life before the body dies... And you are certainly incentive... But.. I am afraid. There it is, plain and simple. I am afraid to try to live again. And I fear not only for the safety of my Opera House, or its possible future guardian.... I do not want you to die, Ril, because I have faith in you. If you can win... If you can find the strength to live... It may be possible for a creature like myself to find some small drop of that same courage. Do you understand? I love you, Ril, for all that you are, but you are everything I am not. Everything good and worthy.... I've learned to worship such things from afar. I'm sorry."