#v;middle

[theangxlinhell]

Alice grasps Mr.Y's hand with both of her scarred ones. "Mr.Y..." She started with worry and sincerity in her voice, but she gave up trying to convince him to get some rest. "What you've been writing... It really isn't that bad. But... I'd like to hear what you've been working on sometime." A little smile spread on her face, she'd really become close to Mr.Y during her time at Phantasma.

He gave the girl a soft smile. Over the pastyears, this girl had been the only one he showed any kindness to. She was the only one he did not take his anger and sadness out on. “It is not any good, I’m afraid. I havenot written anything of worth for nearly a decade. Not since...before I came here.”

[theangxlinhell]

"Mr.Y" Alice frowned. "That's not healthy, at all. You need to sleep." She told him with a look of concern. "What are you even working on, anyway?"

“It  is  how  I’ve spent a majority ofmy life, and I am still fine,” he said,brushing   her   words   off   with   adismissive   wave  of  his  hand.  “I am  attempting  to  write more than this...musical   blasphemy  I  havebeen producing.” 

[theangxlinhell]

"Well, busy mostly. With the next performance coming up soon it's been non-stop. A stagehand's work is never done, after all." She said with a half smile. She took a closer look at Erik and sighed. "Mr.Y, you look exhausted. Have you been staying up all night composing again?" Alice interrogated.

“And yet you shame me for staying in my office.With  work to do or not, I prefer to stay out of the crowd  when  a  show  is being prepared for,” he said with a small smile. It faded, however, whenshe  spoke  again.  “I have been trying. Though I have had little success.”

[theangxlinhell]

"Just pulling your leg..." She said with a smirk. Alice (known as Ally or simply Al by her coworkers) is quite mature for a girl of fourteen, but what would you think would happen if you were forced to grow so quickly? Although she refuses to talk about the scars covering her hands. "So, how is my favorite masked employer today?" She asked, resting her arm around his shoulder.

“I know,” he said with a small, goodnatured   smile. Though  he still was not a happy man, having Alice therefor   all   those  years  had  certainly dulled the pain of the longing he stillhad for Christine.

             “I am happy to have a moment of peace.             And    you,    Alice?    How    are    you?”

[theangxlinhell]

(8 years later, 9 years since Mr. Y came to New York) Alice had integrated herself well into Phantasma, she had made herself on good terms with every society, the dancers, the freaks and especially those who worked back stage with her. Though she's still close with the man you bought her here. When she saw Mr.Y out of his office (for once) a playful smile appeared on the 14 year old's face. "Mr.Y? Out of his office? Stop the presses..."

Upon  seeing  the girl and hearing her jestingwords, a  smile  formed  on the visible half ofthe Phantom’s lips. His face had grown evenmore   worn   in  the  past  eight  years,  faint wrinkles  beginning to form, making the manlook more skeletal than ever.

         “It  is  heard  of,” Erik replied in the same light          tone. “We have become quite popular here, as          you know. It requires me to be very busy.”

[theangxlinhell]

Alice tilted her head, she wasn't too sure what that meant, but she wanted to make him feel better. "I'm sure you do, everyone can!" She knelt him down and kissed his cheek again. "Goodnight, Mr.Y..." ((Can I time jump in the next one??))

“I do not believe so, but perhaps we shallsee,”  he  said,  his  voice soft, lacking itsusual chill. “Goodnight, Alice.”

[theangxlinhell]

Alice nodded, a little smile on her face. "Yes, Mr.Y. I promise to follow every rule." Mostly because Mr.Y deserves it after all he's done for her. "I... I love you, Mr.Y..." Se said meekly, that's something she had never said, she's not sure what it really means though. She's assuming it's good.

“I know you will, child. You have a spot  here,  now, for as long as you need  one,”  he said, a gentle smileon  his half covered lips. No matterhow   cruel  he  was  to  others,  he always had a soft spot for sufferingchildren. 

       Love...That  was  not  a  word  he heard       often,  and  never  one he heard directed      at  himself.  He felt a joy blooming in his      chest  that he had not felt in many years.       Still,  he  could  not  return the sentiment        to the girl. “I fear I am no longer capable       of love myself, my dear Alice.”

[theangxlinhell]

"Y-You can tell me them now if you want, I don't want to break any rules on accident..." She told him, she didn't sleep much anyway.

“If you do not know, I will not punishyou  for  it,  but  if you wish, I will tell you  now,”  he said before letting outa breath.

                         “There  are  many  people  here, some less                          kind  than you. Allow them their space, and                          do  not  cause trouble with them. If they ask                          you  for  something,  it  is  easier  to  do  so.                           You may eat with either them or me, but we                          all  eat  breakfast at nine o’clock and dinner                           at six. You will be expected to get your own                          lunch,  however.  Behave,  and there will be                           no  troubles,  misbehave,  and  you  will  be                           punished  according  to  what  it  is  you did.                          Most importantly, do not speak of me to the                    others.”