This one will be much more difficult because some of these questions just. Don't. work with Erik. Or are obvious because: Cannon...
1. Who was the first person this character fell in love with?
Probably a character in a book he read...
2. What brings tears to this character's eyes? Do they cry when sad? When angry? When in pain?
Erik cries all the damn time, but only alone if possible. Sad, yes, Angry, less often. In pain? Always.
3. Has this character had any past lovers? Who, if anyone in particular, and what happened?
Synopsis of Phantom of the Opera: Erik stalks a very young singer named Christine (who is probably a touch crazy herself) and convinces her that he is the Angel of Music. He gives her singing lessons and Paris goes ga-ga over her. Eventually he kidnaps her to his underground lair beneath the opera house. Shit gets awkward and then weird. Eventually he lets her go back to the surface world but she returns from time to time. In the meantime, her childhood sweetheart (who is way out of her league) is falling for her hardcore, but its okay because he'll be going on an Arctic expedition soon. Unfortunately, Erik starts to lose his shit just about the time that sweetheart decides maybe he won't leave Paris after all. Christine is caught in the middle, and decides that its too dangerous for her to stay there anymore. But Erik is totally stalking her ass, and he discovers that she plans to escape. He abducts her very dramatically, in the middle of the performance of Faust. Neither of them get any sleep for the next couple of days while he threatens to blow up the whole opera house unless she marries him. Foppy sweetheart and Exotic Ethnic Dude try to save the day and instead get themselves nearly killed. Christine saves everyone by promising to marry Erik, but after she consents, Erik loses his grip and lets everyone go and live happily ever after without him.
4. Sexual orientation? And, regardless of own orientation, thoughts on sexual orientation in general?
I know a lot of people have Erik and the Daroga be lovers, but I just can't make my brain go there. Sex is such a complicated subject for Erik to begin with, its difficult for me to formulate a clear-cut answer about the idea of sexuality at all. Not that he doesn't have one, I just think it might not look very human from the outside vantage point. Erik is so sexual and passionate and has had to live in an incredible isolation for so long that I kind of feel like the normal ways we talk about sex just aren't going to be fruitful here. He doesn't care how other people get their rocks off. He knows that they do, and he knows how they do, but for the most part he just doesn't care.
5. Favorite beverage?
Burgundy
6. Physical abnormalities? (Both visible and not, including injuries, disabilities, long-term illnesses, food-intolerances, etc.)
It would actually be kind of great to just have an Erik face here going... "you're kidding right?"
Something not enough people have thought about, (and some of those who have have, have thought wrong) his sense of smell and taste might be a little affected, not because of a missing olfactory gland (because its just the cartilage that is missing) but because he constantly has to deal with sinus infections. Shit is getting trapped in his sinuses all day and all night. Plus he lives on a subterranean lake? WTF Erik.
7. How far did they get in formal education?
There was never any formal education. For ease of whatever we HAVE definitely decided that he has managed some kind of honorary doctorate by now. It just makes sense.
8. What is their favorite book genre?
Poetry or nonfiction.
9. What is their biggest regret?
fucking up the whole Christine thing. Maybe if He'd been just a teensy bit less insane, they would have bought a place out in the country and lived in solitude in the summers. Who knows.
10. Who do they see as their best friend? Their worst enemy?
The Daroga was probably his only friend for some time. Maybe Madame Giry, depending. Worst enemy? Usually someone in power who isn't running things as they ought.
11. Are they in love right now? Is it unrequited, or are their feelings returned?
He's....... taking a break after Christine
12. Is anyone in love with them? Do they know this, and is it requited?
I'm......... gonna go with no.
13. Given a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and nothing to do, what would happen?
Blueprints for a maze or house
14. Turn-ons? Turn-offs?
Ons: Soft voices, viols, lonesome sounds. Shadows or dappled light, the moon, the stars. Silks, furs. Riddles and poems. Music in general.
Offs: Shrill noises, banal speech. Things that could be good but they're awful because of a couple of things that are wrong. Synthetics.
15. What does their bedroom look like?
he has currently eschewed the coffin, but is seriously reconsidering it as he prefers to sleep where he feels secure on all sides. He still likes the heavy drapery for blocking out any light and for sound muffling-- he needs to have the option to yell and scream and not be heard
16. Do they wear any makeup or fashion accessories on a regular basis?
Erik has a lot of experience with cosmetics, both from his background in the circus and in trying various putties to build his face up. Nowadays he probably just follows whatever dermatologist advice he's been given
17. How do they prefer to dress?
Elegant
18. If they were to have children, what kind of a parent would they be?
Terrified.
19. Do they have any daily rituals?
If every day isn't built of rituals, life becomes a long, winding dream. He keeps a specified schedule.
20. Addictions or bad habits?
the occasional happy pill. Not sure which one yet, although an opium derivative might make sense.
21. Hobbies?
Humans. Languages. Medicine/biology. Palmistry and horoscopes.
22. Religion, and how religious are they (if at all)?
Erik was raised in a mostly Abrahamic culture in one way or another, but hasn't really taken on the mantle of any religion. Mostly, he's in for the music.
23. Most cherished possession?
Violin that he grew up playing
24. How does this person express love?
Mostly by stalking...
25. Superstitions?
Hell yes. But they would be personal superstitions, rather than run-of-the mill black cats or whistling backstage or some nonsense.
26. Are they more analytical or more emotional in their decision-making?
Emotional. But he likes to think he's analytical because he's so smart.
27. Do they exercise, and if so, what so they do? How often?
He's got to. Climbing. Every night to spy on people or to get to some roof for fresh air.
28. What are their eating habits, and what's a sample daily menu of what they might eat in a day?
Erik isn't a great cook and never learned good table manners. he hasn't necessarily had ready access to good ingredients on a regular basis, either, so his meals are simple and probably over-sauced and over-seasoned. Also, you know. Sinus infections.... :-P
29. Are there any activities that they enjoy, but consider a waste of time?
Its hard for me to imagine Erik wasting his time. Like, this guy could turn candy crush saga into a complex practice engine.... So, I'm going with no.
30. Would you say that they have a superiority-complex? Inferiority complex? Neither?
Superiority
31. Is this person afraid of dying? Why or why not?
He's starting to wonder if he even can die. No, I can't say he's afraid. Erik has lived so close to death for so long its lost its horror
32. Is there anyone they admire? Who, and why?
Artists like (Vincent vanGogh or Antonio Gesualdo) who allowed their art to take priority over their sanity. Ascetics and some of the saints.
33. How would they choose to make a living (regardless of actual careers)?
Composer
34. How long would they last without human contact?
Decades
35. Do they want children? If they have children already, do they want any more?
Terror
36. Do they excel in any particular fields of study?
Some organic chemistry, lots of physics and engineering. Music, language
37. Is there anyone they miss or wish to reconcile with? Is there something they desperately want to ask?
If reconciliation were possible with Christine I think he'd die just thinking about it. What would he ask....? I don't know if he really has anything to ask her, actually.
38. If they had to, which of the five main senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, touch) would they give up?
As I said, smell and taste are already hindered a little
39. Do they have any soft spots?
Women, admittedly. (mommy issues)
40. Who would they want to have their last meal with?
All things considered, probably still Christine. Maybe Daroga.
41. What do they look for in a lover?
Erik never *looks*.... Love absolutely arrests Erik and takes him by surprise. He is forever a victim to his own passions, like a teenager. He is attracted to those that are both strange and kind.
42. Thoughts on privacy? (Are they a private person, or are they prone to "TMI"?)
omg so private. And a little paranoid. He covers all of his tracks and wonders why no one else does...
43. Above everything else, what is their worst fear?
Not being in control of a situation
44. What was their childhood like? Did they have a good childhood, or was it more traumatic?
TWAUMA
45. Do they express their thoughts through words or through actions?
Actions. He's kinda bad with words at the best of times.
46. What do they think of themselves?
Simultaneously righteous in thought and wrong in the world.
47. Do they keep any pets, and what is their favorite animal?
He once stole the Paris Opera's best horse. That was fun.
48. Who were their parents, or who raised them?
um, apparently the only thing he remembers of his mother was that she gave him his first mask.
49. Do others listen to them, and how do they react when disobeyed?
I think that one of the reasons that Erik has consistently adopted a stalker personality is because he has serious trouble being taken seriously. If something is really special about the voice that is speaking... whether in encrypted notes or disembodied singing or subtly reminding you that he knows everything there is to know about you.
50. If this person were to get into a fist fight, what would their fighting style be like?
Punjab lasso comes to mind. A lot of dodging and retreating to shadows, waiting to pounce.