#polaroids series

[rose-margaritas]

Part 12: Verdun

And last but certainly not least, we have Verdun by @keepcalmandbrewtea (aka Doc)! Although this is technically another post-canon piece, the WWI setting was just too compelling not to include in the animatic. Truthfully, this fic is one of my comfort reads. There’s just something so poignant about reading Erik’s growth here, the way he took his old Opera Ghost identity and becomes a “ghost” who helps villagers trapped in war zones, and later Le Fantôme, searching for and retrieving lost soldiers from the front lines. That journey makes his reunion with Christine all the more meaningful, because both of them have changed in the other’s absence. When they meet again, they do so as equals, free from the power imbalances that defined their relationship in canon.

One element I especially loved was the original character Colonel Blanchet, which is also why I’ve reread his conversations with Erik so many times. I’ve always been drawn to the idea of Erik having someone he feels genuinely comfortable around— someone he can talk to openly, someone willing to tell him the hard truths. Blanchet is exactly that and more. His easygoing yet unyielding personality makes him incredibly likable, and I found myself constantly anticipating his presence throughout the story.

Another reason I chose this WWI AU is, admittedly, because I really wanted to draw Erik in uniform 🤭 This version of Erik is especially unique, and Doc was a huge help with references and detailed descriptions. Beyond that, it was genuinely fun to research WWI— especially since I had recently been so close to where many of these events took place while I was in Europe. I do regret not attempting to draw Blanchet in the frames where Erik is sitting in his tent, but what’s done is done (unless… 👀)

Overall, Verdun is a wonderful exploration of Erik’s character set against an intriguing and emotionally rich backdrop. I hope it brings you comfort the way it did for me (though I’ll admit my definition of “comfort” can be a little unconventional…)

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[honeybeeespeaks]

When you kissed my lips, with my mouth so full of questions. My worried mind, that you quiet...

• Polaroids •

A Frankie “Catfish” Morales x OC Story

Summary: Six college friends reunite ten years later for one last weekend at the lake house they spent every summer at before it gets torn down. Conflicts arise as old wounds are opened within the group and feelings begin to return for old college sweethearts Leah and Frankie as the weekend goes on.

[saracentral-blog]

Owen Farrell

“The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do” - Walter Bagehot

(Polaroids Series)

[rose-margaritas]

Part 11: Unsung

So excited to finally talk about Unsung, the irrefutable best phic in the entire phandom, by @wheel-of-fish! I honestly went back and forth on whether to include this one in the AUs animatic since it’s technically a post-canon fic, but the voice-loss concept was simply impossible to resist. In case you somehow still haven’t read it, the story begins post-musical, with Christine and Erik reuniting eight months later, except this time, Christine is mute. From there, the fic follows their travels across Europe as Erik is hunted by an unknown, malevolent force that looms constantly in the background.

What keeps drawing me back to this story— beyond the places they travel— is the way Erik and Christine interact under the weight of her lost voice. Erik learns and teaches Christine sign language, comes to understand her thoughts through her expressions, and communicates with her in ways that feel deeply intimate and intentional. At the same time, his relationship with Christine shows his capacity to connect with others and to grow beyond his usual disregard for human life, which Christine works to convey to him throughout the story. We also see Christine come into her own— becoming stronger, more self-aware, and more assured as the story unfolds. Their individual growth builds toward an ending that feels powerful and deeply satisfying, no matter how many times you reread it.

While sketching the Polaroids and frames for Unsung, I may have done a bit of “field research” by spending two days in Florence while studying abroad lol. I didn’t have time to climb the dome like Erik and Christine did, but being surrounded by Italy’s history and art made the creative process feel effortless. It really is a place that breathes beauty and story (I miss it dearly).

All in all, this is quite literally one of the best phics of all time— and last I heard, there’s an epilogue in the works 👀 So honestly, what better time than now to read it?

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[rose-margaritas]

Part 5: Volée

Volée is my absolute favorite fic in the phandom, period. The author, @veroniqueclaire, describes it best: “Think of this as Down Once More: the extended, modern-day, jet set remix.” It’s easy to see why this fic is one of the most popular and celebrated modern AUs in the phandom. The writing style, the emotional depth, the slow-burn tension between Erik and Christine— I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read it in one sitting.

Veroniqueclaire flawlessly translates the characters we know and love into a modern setting without stripping away what makes them them. This Erik is knowledgeable and outwardly composed, almost wise, yet every so often you glimpse the rough edges of his past and his quiet disconnect from the world around him. This Christine is grieving and lost, but her inner strength simmers just beneath the surface, revealing itself in the moments when she stands her ground against Erik. Watching both of them grow— together and individually— is utterly magnetic, and the ending feels deeply earned and fulfilling every single time.

This story has had a profound personal impact on me, and it still does. It helped me discover my passion and clarify my career path. It gave me the courage to study abroad. It pushed me to grow not just creatively, but as a person. This fic means an incredible amount to me, and I know it has had similarly lasting effects on so many others in the phandom.

As for the Polaroid designs, I put a lot of thought into their signatures. I imagined Volée!Erik signing his name in a sharp, angular style, with a firm dot at the end—reflecting that he is, at his core, just Erik. Christine’s signature, on the other hand, would have a natural flow to it— soft, expressive, and faintly flourished, in a way that’s hard to define but unmistakably hers. If you’re wondering about the name on Christine’s boarding pass, it’s a random alias I chose since they’re traveling in disguise. I also wanted it to be a small nod to one of my favorite parts of the fic: their travels together. And yes, I couldn’t resist redrawing the beach scene. It’s wild to think it’s been over two years since I last drew it. So much has changed since then, yet this fic still means just as much to me.

I hope anyone who reads Volée has the same unforgettable experience that I did.

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[rose-margaritas]

Part 8: Red Death Riding

You guys have no idea how excited I am to finally talk about Red Death Riding by @wheel-of-fish. I’m usually not one for ongoing fics, but every update I saw floating across my feed pulled me in a little more, until I finally caved and started reading. And wow. That was an excellent decision.

Red Death Riding is a highwayman AU, and easily one of the most unique alternate universes I’ve read in a long time. The use of the Red Death costume is something you almost never see carried over into AUs, yet it works so well here. Highwayman Erik is roguish, dangerous, and SO GODDAMN ATTRACTIVE, with flashes of gentleness that you only catch from time to time. And this Christine is one hardened by life on the road, sharp-witted, and one of the few (or is it the only one? lol) Christines that would hurl a knife at Erik. Their clashes and banter are so fun to read, and when the enemies-to-lovers dynamic is layered with shared history and forced proximity, everything hits EVEN HARDER. The tension builds chapter by chapter, simply waiting for the perfect moment to snap. In addition, familiar names like Reyer, Meg, Sorelli, and Jammes all have meaningful roles within the camp, each character feeling fully realized through their interactions with Christine and one another. This is a story none of you would want to miss out on, I can promise you that.

When I was creating the Polaroids and frames for RDR, I was studying abroad, and I think the European setting unlocked a new kind of inspiration for me. These are some of my favorite frames I’ve ever made, and honestly, I’m very tempted to keep drawing more as the story unfolds (especially since other RDR enjoyers have already been nudging me for more art 🤭). If you’re not reading this fic yet, take this as your sign to JUST READ IT.

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[rose-margaritas]

Part 6: Bartender AU

With a snowstorm raging outside, there’s no better time for a bit of reflection.

Bartender AU was something born out of three random sketches I made in January of 2024. I was actually at a really dark and stressful place then, juggling college transfer applications, school I didn’t feel invested in, family separated in two countries, and becoming my younger brother’s temporary guardian, all at freshly eighteen. The three sketches were something I drew as a way of escape real life, something to remind me that there’s still art and beauty in the world, born of my own hands or otherwise.

People’s enthusiastic love and acceptance of this random AU was a surprise, and it gave me something to hold onto when things felt overwhelming. Now, 2 years later, things are much different and better in many ways, and I have no clue if I would’ve pulled through without this AU and all of you supporting me, from different corners of the world.

Not long after those sketches, I started imagining this AU as an actual story, with a real plot and bits and pieces inspired by the media I love (hence all the thirst traps and memes, lol). I finally have an overarching story I want to tell, and this year I hope to share more of it with you. Thank you for sticking with me— and I hope you’ll stay until the end and beyond <3

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[rose-margaritas]

Part 10: Sticky Notes and Serendipity

Hear ye, hear ye! The best Cherik fic in the entire universe is here!! Sticky Notes and Serendipity by my good friends @nerdywriter36 and @brendadaaedestler is a fantastic modern reimagining of the 1990 miniseries, and it recently passed 10,000 hits (YAYYYYY 💜🐓), a milestone that is completely deserved.

At its core, Sticky Notes explores the relationship between Erik and Christine as two strangers living across the hall from one another, whose lives intersect through a hilarious package mishap that sparks an ongoing conversation via sticky notes left on their apartment doors. What begins as a lighthearted, almost whimsical premise gradually unfolds into something far richer. The fic balances humor and softness with emotional complexity, using small, intimate moments to explore heavier themes such as parental loss, grief, and social anxiety. Emily and Chloe approach these topics with remarkable care and nuance, and it’s clear that a great deal of thought and research went into portraying them authentically.

This Christine is gentle, patient, and mindful of Erik’s social anxiety, but she is not without her own flaws and struggles. This added layer makes her kindness feel deeply human rather than effortless. Erik’s growth is equally compelling, as the story allows him to step out of his shell at a believable pace— forming connections, testing his limits, and learning to live alongside his anxiety rather than magically overcoming it. I think this is what makes Sticky Notes so memorable, its ability to sustain this emotional depth while remaining genuinely funny and warm throughout. And somehow, it is also the only instance where I don’t hate Gerard Carriere, which feels like a final testament to just how thoughtfully every character is handled (Gerard in the original miniseries, when I catch you—)

It was so fun to finally try my hands at drawing Cherik, and this experience has inspired me to draw more (I’ve got a few WIPs saved up 👀). Much love to Emily and Chloe for writing such a wonderful story as well. Your care for these characters really shines through, and I’m glad I am able to respond to that love through art 💕

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