#phantom's lair

Inspired by @behindthemirrorofmusic‘s post about the OG Erik’s cause of death (sorry if you didn’t want to be tagged!)

I have a personal headcanon for Cherik’s death at least, and that it was due to the gunshot but also dust inhalation.

Influenced by fan art I’ve seen of him unmasked, I believe that he lacks a nose, and thus a proper filtration system for dust particles. Long term effects of high concentration of dust inhalation over many years can cause reduced lung function, and contribute to disorders like chronic bronchitis and heart and lung disorders. And that’s with a normal nose. Imagine how fucked up his lungs are, even if you give him a nose, he’s in the catacombs, surrounded by old props, sets, and costumes, it’s a dust breeding ground down there! Or it’s so damp that no dust forms, hrmm. The website for the Paris Catacombs tour does say that it’s not recommended for “individuals with cardiac or respiratory insufficiency”, but that might be due to other reasons, not just dust or humidity.

ANYWAY,

After his fit of rage, sorrow, and destruction- kicking up all the dust whilst breaking the props he has around, we see Erik having great difficulty breathing, speaking like he’s on the verge of death, so I don’t really know what exactly he has going on. But to me at least, it definitely looks like either a lung or heart problem, jumping around then having such trouble breathing that you look like you’re dying. Or maybe he’s just asthmatic.

Either my memory is bad, or he is never actually injured in the series up until the final scene where he get’s shot, so a big hrm that my headcanon fills in as to what plagues this french man.

“He will catch you with his magical lasso...”

Favorite part of the Stage Version: 

So in Ethics Class, were studying about Jeremy Bentham or "Bentham" and every time my teacher says Bentham, I think Phantom instead lol <3