I was reading a story by Stefanie Bean which led me to her profile, which led me to this story and back to YOUR profile, where I read that you're finally going to finish your stories! I can't tell you how delighted I am--I've been waiting forever to find out what happens in Song of the Nightingales, and now perhaps my wish will be granted. It annoyed me that you took down a perfectly wonderful love/sex scene with the intention of lengthening it, and then dropped the whole project. Talk about frustrating!

I hope you'll "dust off" all your WIPs, as you say, and bring us more of your wonderful tales.

Zeeksmom

Good work. You write a very good Daroga. I can't wait to read more of your work.

Interesting. This seems as though it could be more than a one shot, should you wish to take it in that direction.

Phantom Jedi

Excellent story! I particularly liked the breezy way the Daroga explained how and why he found Erik and how Erik came into his own in the Persian court. You summarized it in a five sentences that made it all clearer than any other author has been able to master. Very well done!

~ML

Wow, what a poignant, emotionally true story. You capture both Erik and the Persian perfectly, and it's so heartbreaking to see how Erik is deceiving himself, and how what he has done is affecting him both on the conscious and the subconscious levels. I love the reference to the smell of death on his hands being imagined, and the contrast with his unwashed clothing -- and I particularly like that you do not overstate your case but let the reader see it all for themselves. Instant favourite!

I'm always interested in "How Erik got that way" stories. This is a chilling little insight into part of what might have tipped him over the edge. I see a slight Lady Macbeth allusion, where he can't wash the blood off of his hands, as much as he'd like. The idea also that his "smell of death" is some kind of manifestation of the state of his soul is especially interesting. The old legends of the saints had them smelling like roses, at least some of the time. Perhaps Christine later can smell his soul, even for a moment in the corridor. I also like the element of Erik coming to think of himself as more than human. It reminded me of the old Greek saying, "Whom Zeus wishes to destroy, he first drives mad." Poor Erik ... the Persian's love just can't seem to save him.

Wow, that was really good, and sad too.

Hello!
This is brilliant!
Poor, poor Erik, he is so lucky that he has Nadir to help him out.
You have obviously read Susan Kay's Phantom. I bought the book like three months ago from and it finally arrived on monday. (Everything takes ages to get to the country i'm from: South Africa- seriously I'm not lying- I live in the BIG city part though) I have now spent the entire weekend reading it!
Anyway, If you like Erik, come and take a peek at my fanfic(you can find it on my bio)
May the Angel of music be with you!

That's delightfully Leroux!Erik. Also a bit Lady Macbeth, which makes me no end of happy because the two characters have always seemed allied, in the back of my mind.

Simply splendiferous, Ghostie! I love the two paragraphs in the middle where Nadir describes Erik, and Erik's comparison of killing to being a god. And this line: "Poor creature. Poor, miserable creature." is up there with my phavorite Leroux lines now. :)

I liked this story.It's great to see stories with the Persian in them since he is essentially Erik's only friend. That seems a bit unnerving how Erik thought he was a god.Good job.

Hello, 'tis loupe.

Ghost--Ah think Ah loff you. Erik is so wondefully crazy and Leroux-y, and the poor Daroga is just stuck in the middle. A very plausible verson of Erik's first assassination. I'm sure he wasn't born a murderer, contrary to popular opinion. He just has morality issues. Nicely written, and faithful to that wonderful thing called canon. I give you the MDLF seal of approval and a space on my favourites list.

Ah, for the batshit insanity of IC Leroux!Erik. Well done. I favorite you! Haha!

Oh, Ghostie! I like it! Very unique- I've never actually put too much thought into what made Erik obsessed with death, and this works very well. I especially liked the part about his hands smelling like death. Great story, Ghostie!