「тεα αη∂ тяιcкs」

           ‘ If she is harmed – be it mentally OR physically –                I promise, you will feel it tenfold. Now, go.‘ 

🌹 She knew what he wanted to know and she knew it was fruitless trying to play dumb. At this point, it was clear she wasn’t going to make it to her front steps without a little confrontation. “What does it matter? If you’re after what I think, any of them will do. Although I hate to tell you this but- the powers are only passed to women.” Silver eyes burned into his mask, her gaze focused. She was ready, should he try anything. The woman had a remarkable semblance- speed and scattering. “I suggest you be on your way.”

       “ You MISTAKE my intention, this isn’t for ME. ”

          Mad Masque raised a gloved hand, fingers opening           away from its palm, only to again close shut. Tightly.           It would seem there was little reason to continue this           dance around the bushes. Straight to the point with           the two of them, they were to be, right?

       “ This is for someone else. Not that you’ll find           out WHO any time soon. Not without your           kindly cooperation that is!”

           ‘ THINK, if she dies, who will get the power?                Not you, that is for certain. I want her brought                  and unharmed. Need I repeat myself? ‘

            ‘ I am not opposed to doing what needs to be done.                   I will fetch her myself if necessary. Remember our               agreement, my dear. I provide for you, but you must comply. ‘

🌹   “I must actually I have small children who need    my attention.”

Summer would insist, her boot scuffing in the dirt as he motioned, stopping her from continuing. He purposely was an obstacle, wasn’t he?

“Pardon? Four?”  Summer was quite good at acting genuine when she needed to protect herself. Especially when it came to her identity. Such sensitive information  couldn’t be tossed around lightly. 

      Ah, so, little ones had she--? Most unfortunate he       dared to think it. What especially with what usually       FOLLOWED women like her. Not that Masque was       about to bring pity from his pockets. He had all but.

        “ Now, now, let’s not tempt a man of refinement to            playing SEARCH and DESTROY. I’m hardly a            newcomer to the game at its core. ”

      His tone hollow, but his threat very real. If she would       continue to be this stagnant then he’d simply have to       up the ante. Anything to irk a fracture on that mask of       her own designs. All masks had their cracks after all--

            ‘ I am not willing to play with Fate in this matter.                   if she is brought to me harmed – ‘

@mascued

            ‘ I said, do NOT touch her. she is mine. do you                    have a death wish, my dear gentleman? ‘

🌹 Summer stared at him, her hesitance clear. As he spoke, concern flashed across her face. Clearly, he wasn’t here by chance. He’d come here with a purpose.   “I’d rather just be on my way.” Her friendly tone dropped, unwilling to play games with this stranger. She was giving him a chance to back down. “Good day.”

          “ Please oh please! We needn’t be so hasty. ”

         His hands shifting out from behind his back, Masque          continues to sound as he had. Yet, despite that, it is          increasingly more apparent that he means LESS than          well. A dry chuckle leaving him, arms raising from his          sides however slowly, the pace a deprived one.

“Aw, gee, buddy. You got me all excited and my ‘feathers’ in a ruffle at the idea of publicly humiliating myself.”

The sarcasm was probably the only constant in this entire conversation. What did this man want? Information? He wouldn’t get any, and besides, it’s not like any threat to Vale didn’t already know the worst of it as it is. Things were looking really, well pun extremely not intended, grim for Remnant as of late.

“So what is it you want? I’m a busy man.”

             “ Why, good ‘ol curiosity of course! ”

             While Qrow maintained a constant sarcasm, Masque could              only match it through an endless being jovial. Strange as it              all was, taking time and effort to speak to him only NOW as              the city of Vale and its neighboring Beacon stood ruined.

           ‘ wonderful news. any news on our                    lovely little spark? I do miss her so. ‘

🌹 Summer hesitated disclosing any information. True, she lived near here… but she didn’t have to tell  him that.

“I am… headed home. To my husband.”  “I suppose this is a great place to get some fresh air and clear your head… I can’t imagine it being very effective with that mask of yours.”

      “ Oh you only know the HALF of it! This mask          keeps IN the MAD and OUT the BAD. ”

         He didn’t really pry much into her personal details.          Things like her home, who her husband was, all of          that? Insignificant. The opposite of that how--          --ever? Who she was. WHAT she was.

Here we go: another one of these situations. Qrow sometimes made so many enemies by allying himself with Ozpin, he didn’t know who liked him and who wanted to see his head on a pike. And regardless of his position as a man who collects ‘intelligence’, he still often found himself at a disadvantage when it came to introductions.

“Great. Another freak with a villain shtick.”

Qrow’s words were muttered, but he didn’t really care if the man heard him or not.

“Tell you what? I’ll humor you. You take off the mask… and I’ll not only caw, but hop on the nearest table and flap my ‘wings’.” With a bit more ‘liquid courage’, he’d do it, too.

        “ QUITE the tempting offer, my fair bird. However,            I’m feeling a tad timid this day, so you may keep a            caw and wings both properly concealed. ”

        Humming with delight, the masked stranger stood his         most straight. Never has he had the fortune to meet         the beaked Branwen in the flesh. Merely the passing of         small & smaller utterances and mentions had he heard.         That, of course, had changed with the PRESENT.

🌹 “…That is one way to look at things.” 

As predicted, she was quite wary of this encounter, the entire thing seeming fairly random and… 

                              Creepy.

“What brings you here, sir? This is an unusual spot to cross paths with someone. The forest is mostly  empty.”

         “ I could very nearly ask the same to you, miss. ”

         The masked stranger stands his ground, and he stands          it tall. His gloved hands behind his back, head tilted on          so faintly a crook. The shell of porcelain he wore over          his face kept concealed any and all expression he held.

         Beneath his porcelain shelled mask, MASQUE cracked         a smirk. The fellow agent of madness left to their sleep         as the master of madness resumed his maintenance. It         was long since overdue for him to maintain the both of         Horrible Hansel AND Glorious Gretel.

         “ Sleep well, little one. Tomorrow is yet            another MADDENING hell of a day. ”