#((and oh i KNOW the whole time they're apart emily is thinking of randall; wanting to be with him more than anything!))

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/713656790864232449/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

Gingerly, Randall took the mask from her, briefly taking a moment to look at it himself, seemingly briefly lost in thought. 

He both hated and loved his mask, this remaining thread connecting his past to his present: He’d had it for as long as he could remember, his one means of hiding his face from those around him (and he knew they would prefer it that way; the carnies were never shy about telling him to cover it up, were he to ever try and remove it around them). It also made for a more dramatic reveal in the eyes of the ringmaster, always declaring with a flourish, “I give you...the Devil’s Child!” before wrenching the mask away from his face, so that the people could get their money’s worth...

He looked the mask over in his thin, bony hands again, almost seeming to briefly toy with the notion of putting it back on: It was so odd not to wear it around someone...almost as odd as having someone tell him that they actually wished to see his face-his true face, no matter how hideous and horrifying it was...

Though the temptation was strong, Randall resisted the urge to put it back in its proper place, instead opting to prop it up beside the libretto-his stomach tightened as he did, jumping as he looked back up at the un-frightened Emily, smiling angelically at him, a smile he managed to return (albeit a little fainter) as he took a deep breath to calm himself. 

He had nothing to fear. Not with her. Never with her.

#((both of us; collectively: GET ON WITH IT!)) #((this scene would be SUCH a solid setup to a first kiss in ANY other story...but they have to wait six months before they get to that!)) #((but like you said better late than never! they'll get their kiss eventually and it will be SO cathartic as a result!)) #((and oh i KNOW the whole time they're apart emily is thinking of randall; wanting to be with him more than anything!)) #((she's longing for him; he's probably *really* having to restrain himself from lashing out at thaddeus in any way)) #((lest he further alienate emily; and he'll probably have to restrain himself from doing so much as trying to reach out to her)) #((after rehearsals to let her know what he thought; he's still very loyally attending all of them! he just can't give her feedback)) #((and tell her how wonderfully he thinks she's doing; which i think will just be another blow to them both in a lot ways!)) #((she's used to turning to him for feedback and he's used to giving it to her...and for a while that's just not an option!)) #((they're gonna miss hanging out after rehearsals in the attic; having dinner together; talking as they walk around the passageways)) #((spending time on the rooftop...it's gonna be a VERY lonely six months for them; full of pining after one another)) #((but at least it'll make their inevitable reunion all the sweeter!)) #outofhatboxes #beatingheart-bride #V:Phantasm of the Mansion