#shipchal

[chris--daae]

Relationship Challenge - E/C

From what canon? Eh, most of them in one way or another. A special love for the ones in which Erik is not a psycho.

What kind of relationship? (otp, brotp, family bond, rivalry/enemies, etc) Otp and brotp, "linked souls".

What I like in it: So. Soooo. Like many people here, I shipped them a lot when watching the 2004 movie for the first time as a kid, then revisited the story as an adult and realized they are not really a fairytale cute couple. Well, when it comes to the original story and most adaptations, shipping them as a romantic couple feels just very wrong to me, if we are following the canon. It's still a very fascinating relationship. Christine fears Erik but does not hate him, she wants to escape from him but at the same time she does not want to leave him to suffer alone. Erik seems to project all his ideals of love, that are not much based on reality as he never experienced it himself, on her and makes all these plans, all these fantasies, but at first he is also content in only spending some time with her once in a while, certainly not considering himself deserving of her. Their relationship brought something good for both for a while, but it was based on lies and deceit from the start. Then come the threats, the kidnapping, the emotional blackmail, the actual blackmail, and all the stuff. But Christine does forgive Erik in the end, and well I don't really need to say how beautiful and meaningful the ending is as we all know it very well. ALW shows this relationship in a much less creepy way, which makes it much more attractive for me, while still keeping the core of it. It still includes threats and blackmail, it is still based on lies, but Christine is more torn between her choices. And the power Erik has over Christine seems to be much less based on pity too. It is still not healthy in any way but it's fascinating anyway. Then there's Y/K, in which this is my actual otp and I don't even care. Their relationship is much more healthy, and not based on lies (only a few secrets) and Christine actually sings a whole song about loving Erik and. I am still mad about the ending, okay. The same applies to 1990, but in there Christine's feelings for Erik are purely platonic, and the kind of love he was looking for could also not necessarily be romantic, and once again, I am mad. On the opposite end, we have 1989 and Erik's unhealthy obsession with Christine. While it's much simpler than the original, I also find this interesting in its own way. The whole "linked souls" things is special is one of my favorite concepts. 1943 is also fascinating, starting as a harmless crush of an older man for a younger woman, escalating to an obsession as he loses everything and goes to insanity. Not something I would ever ship in a romantic way, but interesting. Nothing in 1962 and 1983 caught much my attention, and LND and Kay also don't add anything interesting to this. Then we had the what-ifs. What if Erik was a better person, what if Christine loved him back, what if they met in a different way. A lot of fanfiction explores these in a lot of interesting ways. I must admit that I like this pairing more in fanworks than in canon. And in AU territory, I really like imagining many different possibilities of relationships for these two. I would like to read more about them as friends, in special. In general, I think they have the potential to bring out the best in each other, and though this happens very rarely in canon, I still enjoy imagining it.

Headcanons:

- Canon compliant

(ALW) Christine always wonders what would have happen if she had stayed. She never finds out what happened to Erik, but she knows he wasn't captured what gives her the biggest relief.

(Y/K) If there's one regret Christine has in life, it's her reaction to seeing Erik's face. She never forgives herself for it.

(2004) Erik kept watching over Christine from afar, never daring to approach her or her family again. Well, he may have interfered one or twice for her children, but never revealing himself.

(1943) Whenever she hears someone refering to Erique as a killer or a madman, Christine interferes and tell them they should remember him as the kind man and talented violinist he once was.

- Domestic

Christine is very messy and disorganized with her things, which makes Erik very annoyed.

They adopt cats. A lot of them.

Erik has never been one to remember dates well, but he always remember every single one that has to do with Christine and gives her the biggest surprises every year.

- AU(s)

Platonic soulmates. They are platonic soulmates.

assorted headcanons x x x x x

a tag for them

Fics I wrote about it:

For Now - E/C ending AU

Por Enquanto - For Now in Portuguese

I’ll give you a massage - fluff

Forever - 1989 post ending (not romantic)

Gymnophoria - Pre unmasking

In sleep he sang to me... - April Fools’ spin off to New Life

Deepest Urges - Seduction scene of Don Juan Triumphant

Would you like some tea? - Platonic 

tag Prologue Chapter One

Fics I recommend about it:

Long:

Devil’s Little Face - Family fic. Ongoing.

The Angel of Persia - A what-if type. Completed.

Seeing is Believing - A what-if type. Completed.

A Gypsy Caravan - A what-if type. Completed.

One-shots:

Creatures of Quirks - Married fic.

Twice Blessed, Pearl Anniversary, Peace in the Night - Family fic 

An Icy Grip - Hurt/comfort

A Touch of Comfort - Hurt/comfort

A Strange Bliss - Hurt/comfort

The Branded Heart - Modern AU hurt/comfort

Backstage - High school AU

His Other Half - Hurt/comfort

Vanity - Humourous fluff

Safeguard to Paradise - Hurt/comfort

Burn - Alternate ending type AU

The Talking Teacup - Fluff

among the stones - Post canon

Of Angels and Of Love - Fluff

A Walk in the Bois - Fluff

The Paint on his Skin - Fluff

Gifts and Wrappings - Actually a 4-shot. Fluff.

1990:

The Hidden Man

Denouement

There are many other good ones but I am sleepy and too lazy to search for all

[chris--daae]

Relationship Challenge - E/R

From what canon? LOVE NEVER DIES. Also ALW, Y/K, 1990, and if you try hard maybe Kay.

What kind of relationship? (otp, brotp, family bond, rivalry/enemies, etc) Rivalry, of course, but also otp and brotp sometimes.

What I like in it: It started as a joke. After watching LND, I thought it was funny to think of these two raising Gustave together. But I started thinking too much. The thing grew on its own. LND is a mess and what it does with the characters is a mess, so I don't think anything is impossible. So, considering a scenario in which both would care about what is better for Gustave, I think they would eventually set their differences aside for his sake. From there it could be a simple "I can take your presence once in a while" to, in a crazier scenario, a very complex romantic relationship. I do like reading fanfics that are about the two of them only and put them in an AU where they first met in another way and stuff. I don't care much if it makes sense with canon or not (it's AU for a reason), as long as some basic personality traits are kept. In the original story, one of the things that I like the most are the contrasting paralells between them. For example, Raoul is a respected and admired member of society, but he really didn't have to do anything for it, he was born for it. Erik is condemned from the start to live in darkness for his birth conditions despite his talent and creations, that could be admirable. When it comes to Christine also, they seem opposite, and one's strengths are the other's weakness. I like the idea of forgiveness, and I don't think it impossible between them. I think it's actually hinted in the endings of 1990 and 2004 (or maybe I am just seeing too much but whatever, let me dream). I would like to see a situation in which they have to work together for a common goal. At the same time, some authors portray really well all the rivalry and hatred between them, and this is one of my guilty pleasures. A very unbalanced and unhealthy relationship. Aaaand last but not least, I happen to have some modern au fluffness in mind too. Well, mostly a part of a E/C/R au but yeah. As long as they have their basic personality traits, I am open to any possibility.

Headcanons:

- Canon compliant

(LND) Like I said before, the two raise Gustave together.

(LND) Gustave activelly tries to get them to do things together. Sometimes the results are a disaster.

Raoul is not immune to Erik's voice. It actually affects him more than he would like anyone to know.

Erik also admires Raoul aesthetically more than he would like anyone to know.

(2004) They never met again after Raoul and Christine leave, but by the time of the final scene Raoul has already forgiven Erik long ago.

- Domestic

(LND) Raoul prefers that Erik is mask less at home. Erik prefer not to be mask less near Raoul.

They tried to cook together once. They almost burned the house down.

Both have a secret pleasure in watching the other sleep. None of them ever mentions it.

They bicker all the time. Well, it's mostly Erik being himself and Raoul complaining.

- AU(s)

(modern) Their friendship starts because Raoul won't leave Erik alone, always inviting him to do things and being clingy. Erik finds it very annoying at first, but he starts missing Raoul when he is not around.

assorted headcanons: x x

a tag for them

Fics I wrote about it: Date x x x - so far, the only concrete product of the LND idea that started all untitled - a small thing about their rivalry

Lot 665 x - 2004 movie fic

Not a fic, but I wrote a little about the LND thing that started this madness

Fics I recommend about it:

Upon A Starless Sea - One of my favorites. It’s on the darker side. (Really, it’s very heavy, don’t read if you are sensitive to certain topics. But it’s very good.)

My First, My Only - AU. A little creepy, but canon level of creepy.

A Suitable Arrangement - AU. Unfortunately it’s abandoned, but what’s there is very good.

You came back... - Soulmate AU. Very sweet.

[chris--daae]

Relationship Challenge - Pharoga

From what canon? All that include the Persian

What kind of relationship? (otp, brotp, family bond, rivalry/enemies, etc) Brotp, otp and family bond even

What I like in it: This is one of my favorite relationships in the whole extended universe of poto. Their affection for each other is very clear. They care, even if they would rather not say it out loud. The Persian believes Erik is someone who deserves a chance even after the terrible crimes he committed in the past. No one would throw away everything to watch over someone they didn't care. On the other hand, the Persian seems to be Erik's only friend, and is the one he goes to when he has nothing left. This care and affection can be interpreted as a deep friendship, as something close to a family love (as far as we know they don't have anyone else) or even as romantic love. I personally believe that in the original book the Persian has romantic feelings for Erik, that he never acted for. But it warms my heart to see them together and happy. The 1991 musical with David Staller shows them having a archenemies relationship and I can appreciate this too. There's also the idea that they could have had a complicated relationship in the past (suggested by @confessionsofanoperaghost) which I like a lot. Also, this is the coolest ship name of all the fandom.

Really the daroga’s crush for Erik is one of the few things I am sure of in this world

Headcanons:

- Canon compliant

The Persian has romantic feelings for Erik, but for a long time he did not understand them. When he finally did, it was too late, and he thinks it's hopeless and wrong, so he never confessed them to anyone.

If Erik knew there is a big chance half of the suffering that everyone went through wouldn't have happened.

(Now I need to write this)

- Domestic

Erik does all the chores because the Persian has too low standarts.

There's something special in calling each other by the name, and they only do it in special situations.

They don't say "I love you" often in words, rather in other ways: "Did you eat?", "How was your day?", "Do you need help?", covering the other when he's asleep...

They actually shared a home a few times in the past and almost drove each other crazy.

- AU(s)

(modern) The Persian has an aesthetic instagram account and Erik loves making fun of him for it.

"You have low standarts" is something Erik says very often and even when he's refering to something else, he is also refering to their relationship.

assorted headcanons: x x x

a tag for them

Fics I wrote about it:

Tarantism

Sphallolalia

Fics I recommend about it:

The Daroga’s Diary

untitled (I think)

Vigil

Erik and Nadir

untitled

Death and the Lovers - angst alert!

Renewal of An Old Acquaintance

Beloved

Sleep

In His Eyes

Flashes of a Lifetime Together

[chris--daae]

Relationship Challenge - Carlotta/Piangi

From what canon? ALW and 2004.

What kind of relationship? (otp, brotp, family bond, rivalry/enemies, etc) OTP. Brotp also works I guess.

What I like in it: They are very supportive of each other. Carlotta decides to leave the production right before opening night, Piangi follows her without thinking twice. In Prima Donna, it shows how much Piangi spoils Carlotta and it's beautiful. In the rehearsal of Don Juan, it shows that Carlotta is also ready to defend Piangi fiercily. I like to think that this is how they built their careers, one helping the other. (In my opinion, Carlotta's painful scream after finding Piangi's body in the 2004 movie is one of the most heartbreaking moments. E/C who?)

Headcanons:

- Canon compliant

In private, they call each other by endearing nicknames.

Piangi is more offended by the notes Carlotta receives than herself. After reading one of them, he is very willing to challange the Phantom to a duel and make him swallow his words.

After the ending, when the Phantom disappears, Carlotta keeps insisting that they keep searching, calling the police many times if she has a slightly suspicion that he is around. When incidents stop happening, the managers and most of the other works of the opera are satisfied enough, but Carlotta not. She needs to see him arrested, paying for his crimes, to have some closure. Unfortunately, she never gets it.

- Domestic

Piangi often gives Carlotta massages.

I am not sure if this is canon or not but I think of them as married.

- AU(s)

PIANGI DOESN'T DIE. Any explanation is fine, I just want him to live.

(modern) They are that annoying couple who posts selfies together everyday.

a tag for them

Fics I wrote about it: If I do not forget myself x x x

Fics I recommend about it: I haven't read any with them as main

[chris--daae]

Relationship Challenge

For every relationship in this fandom I like in some way, answer:

From what canon?

What kind of relationship? (otp, brotp, family bond, rivalry/enemies, etc)

What I like in it:

Headcanons:

- Canon compliant

- Domestic

- AU(s)

Fics I wrote about it:

Fics I recommend about it:

[chris--daae]

Relationship Challenge - R/C

From what canon? Most of them, if not all that I saw.

What kind of relationship? (otp, brotp, family bond, rivalry/enemies, etc) OTP. They're soulmates and you cannot convice me otherwise

What I like in it: Everything. Okay, the detailed version... Raoul is a pure and sweet guy who just wants what is best for Christine. Christine is a pure girl who got trapped into a big mess but just wants to be happy. Because they met as kids, I think they have an understand of each other that other people don't have. Raoul knew Christine's father and the stories she grew up with, knew her before sorrow and grief took her. Christine gets to see Raoul beyond what he has to show to society. Raoul was willing to give up on his work and fight against his family to be with Christine from the start, and later he risked his own life for her. Similarly, Christine was also willing to sacrifice her own happiness for him. I think they both get out of the story very damaged but in a way they also got to experience this together and I believe that together they can recover. "All I Ask of You" is one of my favorite songs ever and I think it shows well how they can bring out the best in each other. In the movies, Raoul (whatever they call him) is always there to help Christine (with varying degrees of success) and they always give me this vibe of a pure and sweet love. I find it interesting the different ways it can be portrayed and that one gifset with all of them is one of my weakness in life. I also enjoy them as a platonic ship, and fanfics that pair one or both of them with someone else get extra points with me if they keep them as friends.

Headcanons:

- Canon compliant

(book/ALW) After leaving Paris, they were happy ever after helped each other fight the pain and traumas. They are on the same boat, having to leave a whole life behind, but they manage to build a new life together.

They visit the place where they first met often.

(1989 movie) After the events of the movie, Christine gets in a dark phase. It's during it that she meets Richard again (well, his reincarnation) and he helps her out of it. She eventually tells him the whole story, and as impossible as it sounds, he believes it.

- Domestic

Raoul can only cook one dish, strawberry cake. Everytime he wants to do something special for Christine and includes food in it, it's straberry cake. She finds it adorable.

They are a very passionate couple, keeping the flame lit even after many years together. They also like surprising each other with small gifts, cards, etc.

They share the chores equally.

- AU(s)

Anything that has to do with them being soulmates has my love.

(modern) Raoul doesn't have the smallest understanding of anything relating to music, but when he first meets Christine he pretends he does to try to impress her. It doesn't work as he plans, but she finds it sweet that he went this far to approach her. After they get together, he watches her every performance, and enjoys it a lot.

Raoul tries giving Christine some expensive gifts, but she refuses them. He realizes she prefer simple things.

assorted headcanons: x x x x my tag for them and another

Fics I wrote about it: tag Do you hate me, too? x x x - Focused on the "two damaged people" side. I just want to see you smile... x x x - Shameless fluff To Hell and Back x x x - I have a lot of feelings okay

Fics I recommend about it: Surprisingly, I've only read one of them. Note