Touch me not. For I am Red Death, stalking abroad!

Ask rules:

Please refrain from:

- asking overtly sexual things

- Proselytizing

- homophobia and other forms of bigotry

Please do consider:

- asking about Raoul

- asking about Christine

- asking about the au

Who am I

~@ask-erikdestler

Ah, my dear! How I've neglected you! Too right, perhaps some of these modern inventions I'm finding will help. So many tinctures and salves.

(OOC - atm I am really torn between book accurate Erik and ALW Erik in terms of face design so would love to hear your thoughts!! Idk I sometimes feel like ALW’s version isn’t always “severe” enough to need a mask? But then I think we all know Erik has other reasons for wearing the mask. Love your account btw!)

Ah, well my inquirer, I must tell you I don't know the name of my injuries myself. The mask, though it protects and disguises, is also a betrayer. It's rigging leaves marks, abrasions around my ear and jaw that then become irritated and require further attention. It is these that can become infected and cause me pain. The one on my jaw can be especially bothersome.

As for the more broader nature of my deformity itself, I do not know anything. Of what name a doctor would give it, nor how to help it. My own mother did not know and she made no attempt to get to know by any means. I suppose it does not matter. Naming it will not change it.

(OOC - ooo yes hmm.. I like the look of both, though I definitely think the standards for what made a face count as deformed at the time were far far higher than ours now, and in that case ALW's makes sense. Mine is like a mix of the two I guess? My Erik doesn't technically cover all of the things that mark him as deformed, such as his yellowed skin and sunken cheeks and eyes. But he does cover the more severe elements, which are mostly on his right side.

Here are some features my Erik has throughout my drawing him:

- Yellowed skin and yellowed/bloodshot eyes.

- Little to no hair, patchy, thin and dark. (my Erik is very young and his hair is not greying yet. He wears a wig along with his mask)

- No nose! Gone! Completely concave! I draw it with two holes but it's more likely just one little △ on his face.

- very gaunt skin forming several sunken pockets in his cheek. Fun to draw!

- receded or damaged lips on the right side, revealing teeth. Skull-like.

- both eyes sunken, right eye a little more severe.

- acne, friction burn, and blistering from mask straps, above and below his ear, and over his head.

As of only months ago, I did not have one. I have never liked food. The whole business seemed unpleasant: The removal of my mask to eat it, the harshness upon my right-hand teeth (the infection affects that side) Indeed for the larger majority of my life I have taken what I can get, swallowed, and been done with it.

But only a few days ago, Christine and I shared a small meal and she brought with her a curious fruit called a Pomegranate. It was a funny looking thing, all red-purple and leather-ish. She cut it open and we were greeted with white flesh and a honeycomb of scarlet and pinks. From there it was messy ordeal, but enjoyable inspite of- or even because of it!

Careful though. There are vampires here and they might covet your coffin.

Ah, thank you my friendly inquirer. I, in return, hope your stay is equally as pleasant and free of strifes and idle cares. This place can overwhelm the senses, I am swiftly coming to realize.

Ahhaha, Vampires. My fellow creatures of the night. The undead and thirsty. Those upon whom deaths heads quite like my own are fashioned, my brothers in the blackness of the crypt which makes my bed. I am fond of them, and not in the least bit worried. For although we are much alike in looks, I have a magical lasso -and a great many other weapons of wood, sliver, and of steel!

~Christine