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alois scholz (unmasked) || 25/25 || human rug in the entrance

Crawling up the stairs was not his idea of a good time. In fact, crawling up the stairs felt like the most atrocious idea he drummed up since moving away from home, but any other location would be suspected for his hiding before this one. The stairs spiraled up for ages, and he exhausted muscles beyond their limit in carrying his battered body upward. Frequently he spared a glance back downward, or paused for a listen, yet no one accompanied him in such a stangant place. He continued his climb despite bruised palms and beaten knees and up up up he went toward salvation. Or so he hoped.

When he reached the final steps to the place, he pulled himself into the room itself and sprawled across the floor for a short rest. Breath fogged the blackened tiles in the place. He heard voices. Others were here, now - others that weren’t the fakes fighting friends down below. But who?

A lift of his head confirmed Tits McGee and the Drunkard speaking as some perversion of Beauty and the Beast. Drunkard looked like he had a few too many, for he cried now, and Alois found this a wanting display. Tears looked ill for wear on someone of his size. Was he one of them? No — he doubted it. Maskless just the same, he was in danger with Alois. And Rabbit —

„Hey a*****e,“ Alois croaked from the floor. He reached hand down into the pocket of robe and withdrew one of two cigarettes. „You forgot ze lighter. Or am I supposed to light it off Hot Daddy’s a**?“ He huffed, and his hand came to rest on the cold, cold tile.

Nope, too tired to move.

Chain-Smoking Rabbit Vaughn: 25/25, it's time for our first round of who wants to sit on hux the most

He didn't look down. Rabbit would know that voice anywhere now, having heard it whine and complain and spew defiance for months now. He pulled a hand back into his sleeve and retrieved a lighter from its depths, tossing it in Alois's general direction without glancing back.

"I came to apologize," he continued in that same quiet, halting monotone, eye on Hux's profile now. "For what he was doing. Did you see?" He'd been disgusted then, angry that some beast was using his body to do things he wouldn't even consider, but he was considering them now, and he wanted... Rabbit inched closer. "I'm sorry." He kept going, stumbling the last few feet and dropping to his knees at Hux's side. He narrowed his eye at Juniper. "Stay there."

alois scholz (unmasked) || 25/25 || not wanting to sit on hux

“You’re a ******** godsend, Rabbit, even if you haf’ a stick up your a** sometimes.“ Alois caught the lighter (thankfully; he knew from experience that the bastards cracked whenever you needed them most). With a cigarette pressed between lips, he lit up and savored the long-awaited draw of nicotine into his system. Languid relief soothed some of the residual pain and chased away the shakes that threatened fine movement. After first ensuring that Rabbit was still paying attention, he spun the lighter across the floor to peg him in the leg. „Danke sehr,“ he finished in a swath of smoke.

„Ze window sounds perfect.“ Alois pressed both palms to floor as he struggled to his feet. His pained knees remained evident in the haphazard, mannequin manner that he shuffled across the floor. Pausing at the window, he tapped against the glass with worn fingernails. „I did piss someone off, actually - ze Spinel Lady, Melany. No masks mean danger - mean murder perhaps, and you know who’s lacking one of zose precious masks?“ His gaze shot to Rabbit sharply. „Ze Burning Man. I asked her if zat qualified him for tonight’s murder, and she didn’t take kindly to my questions. She had my hand broken, but a girl intervened and healed it somehow.“ Splaying the previously broken hand against the light, as if it would somehow allow him to x-ray the bones, he flexed each finger. Nothing popped, nothing cracked, nothing broke.

„So sorry to intrude on your party up here. Don’t worry, zough - if zey come up zis way, I’ll be sure to take the window back down. I don’t care much for ze stairs anymore.“

The hand not flatted against the window stole the cigarette for his lips, and out left another waft of smoke.

alois scholz (masked) || 25/25 || oh no no no, wretched one

Alois executed a far more graceful entrance, with petal-encrusted heels carrying the man up the stairs with deft precision. Soon a mask emerged, feathered and black and stark against his rich reds and golds, and up emerged a perfect copy of the initial intruder. Hands folded together promised far more grace and poise than his other, lesser self, and he approached with smile deep and candid. He promised no hurt to others, for his gaze lingered not on any one of them. Perhaps a glance was cast in Rabbit’s direction, insultingly dismissive, but nothing more.

No, for his quarry stood with back turned for now.

Languidly the other Alois approached, and a delicate pair of gloved fingers reached out to seize the cancer stick from grasp. The unmasked man half-turned at the missing cigarette, but a hand was seized and against the top of the wrist was thrust a brand in ash and agony. The unmasked man yelped while the masked one smiled.

„Consider it a promise,“ he returned mildly. The cigarette parted from skin. „Father will not be humiliated so, Alois. You know better. He expects better. I. Expect. Better. You will remain here for now, among your…“ He paused, and swept the lot of them away with the flick of a wrist. „Tawdry friends. Bennet, brother, I expect you to keep a close eye on him with me. There will be one other to apply the lash, for you’ve wronged two parties tonight. Verstehst du mich?“ He asked, cigarette still poised near wefts of jet-black hair.

Chain-Smoking Rabbit Vaughn: 25/25, the floor is his home now

The whine of disappointment that forced its way from his throat sounded more like a dog's than a man's, and in that moment he resembled a mutt too, crawling over to the fire on his hands and knees and curling up next to it when he was dismissed. He couldn't explain what he wanted, and when he tried to think about it for too long, he knew he really didn't want it at all.

"But I do," he whined through his mask into his sleeve as he rested his head on his arm. At the very least he was too hot, and he tried to rectify this by pawing at his golden collar with his free hand, finally prying it off and tossing it halfheartedly toward Juniper's feet.

The sounds of two Aloises arguing reached him easily enough once he stopped making noise and concentrated on breathing again, but it was only slightly more intriguing than the sound of one. Later when his head cleared he might recall the boy had paid him some form of minor compliment, but right now he was too fixated on his own toxic memories to care.

alois scholz (masked) || 25/25 || correcting alois

“That was a reminder, Alois. You are Father’s son, prodigal as you are. Do you remember burning yourself countless times from your clumsiness, from your paltry games? It is no different.“ A smile, thin and mirthless, lit upon his face fleetingly. „You will have orders. You will have work. I am certain the Spinel Lady will require a fine bottle of wine now, as will the rest of the guests. You caused quite a stir, remember. Afterward, some help in the kitchen is due. The fruit is going fast. I’m certain they’ll love your help.

You can earn your way back into the good graces of the Court. Or, well, as good as you’ve ever been with them. And…“ He handed the cigarette back to his lesser. „Madam, it is not your place to judge how a father treats his sons. Remember that you are a guest here. Enjoy the party for what it is, and mind your interjections.

„Now, our guests had a question, Alois. Answer it.“ The feathered one remained behind the unmasked Alois, no tention in shoulders or arms. He remained standing rather than lean against the so-close wall, and waited.

alois scholz (unmasked) || 25/25 || dealing with complicated feels

Alois found that there was one peculiarity to burning that set it apart from all other modes of pain and suffering - skin kept cooking even after meeting a hot cigarette. Despite hissing through teeth, gripping his arm and waving a fist around to attempt cooling the burn, it still pained him utterly. His wrist screamed with the damage done, and he subsequently forgot his knees and their incessant pains after Thorne dropped him to the floor unceremoniously. They didn’t matter now, and his world shrank to the size of a cigarette, its cherry pressed to skin. He bit back tears.

He wasn’t made to sustain so much pain, he decided. He was no masochist, and did not relish it. Others wore pain far more gracefully, more attractively than he.

Alois knew, however, that objecting and tossing rabid insults only earned more work thrust upon him. Someone would monitor him through the night, and he doubted they would do him the good justice of sending July. There would be no rest, no pause, no hiatus from mind-numbing tasks until he worked enough to appease those wronged - including his father. Alois huffed, teeth still grit, and bore the lecture silently. There would be later opportunities, perhaps, to retaliate against his tightassed double, but he would not chance more work upon himself now. Especially if Autumn was right - if he was no tithe after all. His father looked out for him despite transgressions, then.

When Alois calmed somewhat, still shaking wrist and wincing, he answered the question as commanded. The simple act left him bitter, the taste on his tongue acrid like ash. „Ze masks,“ he started, finding the words. „Zey’re important. Anyone wearing a mask is ineligible to get murdered. Anyone not wearing a mask…“ He continued, pointing to Hux, then Rabbit, then himself, „is a potential target for tonight’s entertainment. But,“ he spared a glance to the feathered one, „ze Burning Man won’t let a human die tonight. Ze only problem wis’ zat is, ze last member of ze committee isn’t chosen. I assume zat means zere’s a panel of people to decide ze murder. He may not get his way.

„Someone else said he’s interested in one wis’ human ancestry. I guess zat means ze deer triplets were once human. I don’t know. Perhaps ze hearsay is all lies. But I know what I heard from him, and I doubt he would lie about it.“

He sighed, and crossed the room at a slight hobble to pause near Hux. He held out his hand - a soundless request for the wine. His wrist burned terribly, and for a fleeting second, he considered pouring some out onto the injury. Almost immediately he recoiled at the thought of the alcohol content. „So we might as well drink, since some of us are more safe zan ze rest.“ His gaze passed first from Jun, then to Rabbit. He knew not Hux’s status with his patron, but he guessed it was well as she wasn’t actively having him hurt. He knew nothing of Adoelle and her methods.

But the feathered one wasn’t entirely finished speaking - „A reminder,“ he started as sharp eyes looked to Hux, „that I am not beholden to Adoelle. She has my respect, much like the Spinel Lady, but not my hand. Another word from you and I’ll correct Bennett for your actions, and inform Adoelle of your social missteps. Bear that in mind before you speak to me further.“ Two nailed fingers pressed to his temple as he waited for another outburst.

Juniper Wilcox | 25/25 | Probably doing something stupid

"Guest or not, I don't like seeing others get hurt. It's not right, as a host, to upset your guests." She countered back to the masked Alois, her voice tight with frustration and anger. Who the hell did this guy think he was? She didn't give two shits who told him to carry out the punishment. It wasn't right.

It seemed that poor unmasked Alois was a well trained puppy at this point though and Juniper felt pity rise in her. What the hell has this place done to these people? Her question about the masks though was answered and she found it...interesting. So much was resting on these gaudy, annoying things?

Her thoughts were interrupted though when she felt herself lifted up and gently placed back into the chair. She smiled at his words, glad that he seemed to be perking up some. "I'll be waiting." She threw back at him as he moved to take care of the masked Alois. She watched with curiosity, now that Hux's ire wasn't on her, and sipped at her bottle of alcohol as if watching a show.

Her eyes drifted back tot he Unmasked Alois and her brows furrowed a bit. The poor guy.

Without really thinking about it she hopped up from the chair and walked over to him. She stood there, studying him for a moment. Blue eyes gazed out from her constellation mask as she contemplated what she wanted to do. If what this Alois had said was true, than her decision would have no repercussions on her part and hopefully, just hopefully, it would maybe make a difference for him.

Giving him a smile, she reached up to pluck the mask from her face. She felt relief when the damn thing was finally removed but she didn't hesitate as she slipped in onto Alois. "There. If what you said was true then I don't have anything to really worry about and maybe this will help you in the end." She shrugged. "I hate to see a grown man look at worn out and dejected as you seem." She let her hand rest on his cheek as a comforting gesture before pulling away.

She turned her attention back to Hux who was doing his damn best to remove the masked Alois from the room. Tired and worn out he might be, but Hux still had a fire in him that was rejecting this...well...whatever this life and party was doing to some of these people.

alois scholz (masked) || 25/25 || wheeeeeee

Alois braced for the forseeable confrontation as Hux rose out of his chair. As a giant of a man, he dominated the room in terms of sheer strength, but Alois feared not a straight match. He smirked in the stance that Hux adopted, prepared himself, and -

His body moved backwards of its own will, as if he was being dragged - no, pushed - toward the exit. Clawing for purchase on the nearby walls offered no solution. Instead, he was simply out of sight.

That was that.

„Your interruption means nothing,“ he growled at the door. Shortly thereafter he disappeared down the stairs.

[Alois exit]

alois scholz (unmasked) || 25/25 || oh hey a mask wait this totally clashes

Before Alois found much time to respond to the girl now offering her his mask (Tits McGee, he found, might be dumber than he thought), his double vanished from the room in a very remarkable, very graceless departure. In fact, Alois swore he spotted nail marks across one side of the wall where he tried to forestall said departure. Impressed, Alois spared a nod toward Hux. „Sanks. Zat’s one less problem.“

He took the mask without objection, considered the front of it (which he found terribly distasteful, but he cared little for appearances now), and donned it without complaint. It conformed to his face perfectly and even allowed for the bone skull protruding from his head. Even the spider found it amenable, for he felt the creature descend through his hair and behind the mask where it tickled its way across his cheek. He resisted the urge to slap the mask as hard as he could. „Two sings,“ he replied to her tits. Each numeric announcement was punctuated by a rising finger. „One, you mostly don’t haf’ anysing to worry about. Remember when I said ze last member of ze committee isn’t decided yet? Someone might find your dress a little offensif’, say ze Spinel Lady, and decide you haf’ to go. Who knows who you could’f pissed off by existing here? Second, for as worn-out and dejected as I might look, I’m not running in ze pity olympics.

„I worry, however. Ezra, ze Burning Man, or Vater as he might be to me, is important in zis consideration. He wears no mask, you see, and it’s not just because he’s on fire. I helped wis’ heaping fire retardant all over zat stool. If zey decide to conspire against him, or outvote him, zen we’re left wis’ one less ally. Most, I daresay all, ze guests here are human, yes? By his wishes zat invalidates all from ze murder tonight. But what if somesing were to befall him? Zat is part of ze reason why I confronted Melany.“

Chain-Smoking Rabbit Vaughn: 25/25, doesn't want to talk about it

To be honest, the chair kind of stunk up close. That's what you got when a giant man in a dress drank and cried in the same spot for hours on end. But it was nice, like a warm, velvety hug. It helped. The misplaced urgency Rabbit felt began to fade, but he didn't move even so. When he spoke, his voice sounded like it was being dragged from someplace very deep.

"I'm just... sorry. For downstairs. For up here. Whatever." He sighed again, tucking his knees closer to his chest, his eyes still closed.

"What happened?" He could only hear one accented voice now, but he knew which sulky German it belonged to. "Did someone kill Evil Alois?" He chuckled on an exhale, and when he breathed in again, Rabbit snorted.