Imaginary Erik continues to be a gem.

"There was so much happening that the ghost and the threat of death would have to wait in line after all his other problems."

This line is brilliant.

Imaginary Erik is the best.

Ugh...the feels

This is a good chapter. Don't worry. :)

This moment is nicely captured.

This is one of my favorites of those I've read. Back for a reread!

Loved this fic, a very entertaining read.

This is one of the best Phantom fics I've ever read. Imaginary Erik is peak sassy Erik and most of their mental dialogue has this brilliant snap and wit to it. I literally laughed out loud a bunch of times. Regular Erik is sassy, too. He's intimidating when he needs to be, but also has some Leroux style awkwardness. It does an awesome job of not falling into Phanfic tropes and nothing about it was predictable. Well done!

omg I still love this fic no matter how many times I reread it it's still my all time fave D'8 yu are the best and I love you!

Happy Fanfic Writer Appreciation Day!

Literally so much drugging. Christine's definitely going to get addicted to opium. And Philippe's like, "Brother you cause me all the problems will you please stop running off by yourself and getting kidnapped I am worried about your wellbeing."

I know where this is going. Oh geez, I hate those managers! And Erik and Raoul are both morons!

I absolutely LOVE this story! It took a long time to finish, but I loved every second! One of the best stories I've read in a long time. You are an EXCEPTIONAL writer!

This was beautiful, a page turner in its way. Good day to you.

Oh, I think they cut it off. Or maybe I did something wrong/was too stupid to properly copy and paste. I'm sorry! I'll just repost the rest.

It's really sad, but I really loved Raoul sitting by the window waiting for Erik, and I especially loved Philippe being so protective of him and also kind of that he he got angry with Erik for hurting Raoul like this. And imaginary-Erik trying to cheer him up was kind of really sweet and funny too.

I really, really loved that last line, of Raoul saying how he's no longer a child and how Erik won't have to protect him from monsters anymore, and imaginary-Erik replying that he just might want to do that. That was really great, and I especially loved it as a (so far) final line from imaginary-Erik because it feels a little bit like he's giving Raoul a reassurance that he will always have someone to protect him from monsters (or Mme Girys, whatever comes first I guess). Which is just the sweetest and for my overinterpreting self all sorts of meaningful.

I kind of like that Philippe actually punched Erik. (although I didn't really think I'd ever say that.) I know he doesn't really deserve it, but ...it just feels appropriate I guess looking at it from Philippe's POV. And it also serves as a pretty smooth send-off from him for this story.

And I actually really liked that Erik accepted it. I really love too that he actually went through this fight and inner turmoil before returning to them. It feels kind of right too that he didn't just immediately follow them. I really like that he went back once again to the Opera House and that it was there where he finally made up his mind about returning to Raoul.

Ooh I just... the ending is awesome. I love Erik trying really hard not to get too close to Raoul, and I love, love, love Raoul being Raoul and refusing him this very civilized way of reconciling and jumping onto him. And Erik then being unable to hold himself back. It's the sweetest thing ever. Ever.

Now. ….I don't know what to say now. I kind of wish this story was never ending. I ...usually I don't tend to be so sad about last chapters* (unless they are sad of course, but this one really isn't. It's kind of one of the happiest ever, because, besides Reluctantly Willing, it might just be the only long E/R fic I've ever read which had an ending, and this one is fluffier and ...happy-ending-ish-er than the one for Reluctantly Willing.), but for some reason, I'm really super sad that this is over. I think it's because it has so many great characters that I will miss.

I really loved all of the characters I think. From Philippe to imaginary-Erik to the managers and Carlotta. Also the special guest appearance by the butler.
I think I'll especially miss imaginary-Erik, I think that's really one of the main reasons why I'm so sad about the end of this story. He's just the best imaginary character ever. He had all the best sides of Erik plus the great side that would have come out if he actually would have had Raoul for so long.

And I really adore this backstory, it's such a great idea and I ...just really love it. I think the idea of Raoul and Erik having had each other as children/adolescents (just at all, any time more than what we get is wonderful) is the best thing ever. It makes you feel like Erik's life wasn't all that bad and also like Raoul was less ...Idk, lonely. I mean, I don't know if he was a lonely child but I always found it kind of ...noticable that he doesn't seem to have a lot of close friends and I think that's one of the reasons why I ship them so much because they really seem to be so much for each other, not just lovers but also best friends/companions/confidents etc. So yeah. I just love the idea of them having each other more than usually I think.

So, trying to finish this without blathering all too much more. I really want to thank you for this story, it's really wonderful and I love everything about it. And I'm really, really sorry for my reviews being the way they are and turning out the way they do no matter how hard I try. But I guess that... if I can only convey that I really love this story and that I'm really, really thankful that you wrote it and shared it, then that's the most important thing.

I'm so sorry for taking so long to review this, please forgive.

Thank you so, so much for this story!

*I just loathe reviewing them because I always feel like if there's one review that shouldn't be completely messed up and stupid, then it's the one for the last chapter. But then I write two phrases and already hate my review, but no matter how hard and often I try, it just doesn't get better. And I feel really bad about that, and am very sorry for it. Like... the Raoul kind of I'm sorry.