Did Raoul really steal Christine from Erik?
Author's Notes: This was originally written as a reply to a post in a forum regarding Raoul "taking Christine away from the Phantom", being annoying, and offering her nothing...enjoy.

It’s been a debate in the Phandom for years now. We love it, we hate it, we cry over it…we do everything over it. They are the ships of Raoul/Christine and Erik/Christine. But why are ships a problem anyway? Why do we get so fired up over it? With the many interpretations of Phantom, we’ve been given many reasons to be confused over which to choose – Raoul or Erik – and there’s sufficient evidence for both. Why? Well, let’s see…

R/C is canon. That is just how it is and how it always has been. Leroux meant that to be the romantic relationship in his story and, as most of us know, Erik was not originally a hot 30-something sexy music god...though we'd like to think of him that way. *snigger* It just wasn't part of the story that Christine would choose him, especially because of his morbid tendencies and that he was pretty much the embodiment of death. (For those who haven't read Leroux, this is hard for me to explain without rambling...sorry.) Good voice? Sort of creepy good, but yeah. As hot as the movie Phantom? Absolutely not.

That said, in a lot of fanfiction, Raoul is depicted as a fop and a pansy (we have Patrick Wilson's flippy wig in the movie to blame for this) and Erik as the virile, seductive maestro who happens to have a twisted half of his face and a home underground. Let's set this straight; Raoul is not a fop or a pansy! Leroux!Raoul and even ALW!Raoul is the hero of the story, if not the favorite character (I mean, come on...everyone wants the title character to have some romance, not the annoying boyfriend). He risked his life for Christine, who he loves and who loves him in return.

As I said, Erik was clearly not the type Christine would actually marry in the Leroux version, and that is what was originally written so we have to have respect for that. With that being said, however, it is easy to see why with the ALW interpretation of Phantom she has some romantic leanings towards him. In his songs and in his mannerisms, Erik is portrayed as being very seducing with not only his voice but with his actions towards Christine; he truly loves her as a woman, not just as a voice. Because of this, it is also obvious why fanfiction authors appreciate the E/C pairing much more after the ALW and movie versions of Phantom; Raoul is just not portrayed as passionate while Erik is shown as a master of seduction (ie "Music of the Night" and "Point of No Return").

Part of this confusion is certainly Christine's own confusion in both movie, stage and book. If she'd fought Erik all along instead of being ambivalent, who would've thought that this would have been a problem? So it's not entirely an "Is Erik a sex god or a deranged lunatic?" or "Is Raoul the hero of a fop?" debate. The essential question is "Who does Christine choose?" and that is up to you as readers, writers and general Phantom fans.

As for me, I appreciate both pairings fully though I do read and write more E/C... it just suits my own tastes better. Unlike some avid E/C fans, however, I appreciate a good R/C fic and will happily write it if the muse hits me. After watching the movie, I'd like to think that the 6-foot-tall rock and roll god is a better kisser than the dude with the flippy wig (it was funny, okay?), but when it comes down to it, both have their strengths and weaknesses and I can understand ALW!Christine's, and even Leroux!Christine's, trouble with decision-making.

Long story short, I could find it in my heart to love both Erik and Raoul, right down to the flippy wig and the stench of death.

Love to all shippers, Jewelles

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