It had been about a week since he’d gotten his ass literally handed to him by 1, leaving him broken and beaten and alone to recover his wounds. His mask, and his jester suit and hat had been given many scratches, cuts, scrapes and tears thanks to his fight. It had left him powerless, and he had gone into hiding to recover.
Few had come to see him as he rested, which in some aspects was nice, even if he wouldn’t ever admit it to anyone, he enjoyed the few’s company he did receive. It made him feel loved, cared for, that those few just came to check on him.
Today however, once he had recovered significantly, he lifted himself only for his permagrinning mask to break and fall to the floor. It had finally crumbled do to the cracks running all throughout it, but he didn’t fret. No. While he had slept, to recover, 1 had come and put a box beside his head, a present just for him, and today he had finally seen it. He places the box onto his spidery lap, his front legs crossed elegantly as they always were, and finally lifted the lid.
To his surprise, he sees a smooth and elegantly crafted mask, pure white, with black accents above and to either side of the eyes, then purple blush where the cheeks were. He would have been lying if he said that single act didn’t tug at his heartstrings, he even felt himself begin to tear up, though he no longer had tear ducts to cry from. It was sweet of 1 to give this to him, so he grabs it to place it on. Though he could do that just yet, his clothes were torn, so he set to work. It took him three extra days to make a brand new suit top and hat, from curtains and other fabrics he had found of all things, and now he finally had a chance to put it on.
He donned the suit jacket, a deep elegant purple to match the purple shade of the mask’s cheeks, a ruffly tie to tie it all together, buttoning up the suit, then his hat. Same purple, with a pattern of black diamonds running along the jester hat tails, ending in golden bells. The hat was long but he didn’t mind. Then he stands in front of a makeshift mirror, for the few finishing touches.
He grabs the mask, the one 1 had made him and he gently leans his head back, pressing it against his face, getting a desired click to tell him it was in. His head lowers to gaze at it into the mirror, moving his head from side to side, inspecting it. He had two eyes now, and they shined an eerie violet light, and he blinks. He blinked! He began testing the mask’s features. He gave his reflection a smile, then it twisted to a look of disgust, then he widened his eyes to throw his brand new face back into a smile, then he laughs out loud. A genuine laugh, one he’d never done before.
His face falls back into a genuine smile now, touching his new face as he stares at it in the mirror, then his eyes go to a flower just sitting in a water filled cup. A poppy flower. He gingerly takes it into his spindly hand, being ever so careful as he did this next bit.
Gently, or as gently as he could with his needly hands, he loops the poppy flower onto his left lapel, fastening it nicely on his chest, the bright red flower complementing his purple and black suit nicely. Then he finally clips the bag he had always carried onto his waist, and admired himself in he mirror, then suddenly broke down to happily sob at how good he looked.
After what seemed like a boy he stops, smiles at the mirror, then finally leaves his hiding spot in search of others. Scuttling off as his many mechanical spidery legs carried him off. He felt happy, way more confident. And he smiles yet again, thinking one final thing to himself.
Thank you 1, much appreciated.
