Dullahan Library

Wasn't there always those last second fiddles you had to make, when going anywhere? Always. There was always the little hold ups that made you unable to be early. That, or fate was conspiring against him, as usual. James sighed as he looked himself in the mirror. He wanted to look professional, even though he knew it would go to waste when he transformed into Axilious.

Sighing once, and shaking his head, he grabbed the brush one last time and ran it as quickly as he could through his short hair, making sure not to leave a single knot before walking to his apartment's door. Nothing left for him to do but lock up, and hope to hell that he got something interesting to do as a Masked Task.

After all, he had one of the most special masks, even if he was the most average normally. Ugh. How he hated reminding himself of that. Shaking his head, he clicked the lock shut behind him, leaving his apartment darkened for the evening. If they were actually doing something tonight, he wouldn't be back for a while.

Checking his wrist-watch/communicator, he confirmed both that he'd be on time, and that there were no last minute changes of plan sent by Liesel. SHE was special. She didn't even have a mask. Frigging King too. The both of them were standouts without the masks, where he was only in there because he had the mask. He felt bitter just contemplating it. Everyone had luck but him.

Shrugging that back off, he made his way across the city, pausing here, waiting on traffic there, but the estimated time was just about the same. As he now stood metres away from the side entrance down into the underground carpark, he took refuge behind the conveniently placed greenery that was the start of the Library gardens.

'There's a man, deep within' The mask appeared. It was glorious. Unique. Brilliant. It was the side he wished he could fade into every day. 'Who feareth not the deadly sin.' As the mask touched his face, ecstasy crossed his features for a moment, before the plain brown hair flushed a brilliant blond, and the clothes shifted into the almost outlandish costume of Axilious.

'Ohho, mission me, mission my. Where else do we go to die? Hahaha.' Laughing to himself, he stepped, flourishingly, out of the cover, and strode confidently into the exit down to the underground carpark. 'There is no place like home.' Is all that the flamboyant Jack says upon entry, smirking around at the already arrived, before attempting to seek out the figure of Liesel, who was probably smoking somewhere around here.

Cedric Valsche- Location Unknown

"Oh, Cedric..."

"Not yet, my queen, for the night is still young."

"Oh, Cedric!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Some time later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cedric put on the last of his clothing as he shut the door to his current mistress's apartment, a rather expensive trenchcoat that disguised his body features. He walked down the hallway, carrying a small duffel bag. His hair was slightly untidy, the only indication that he'd been having a most interesting night- he had brought an entire new change of clothing to help disguise his activities, not to mention hiding behind a pair of shades and a wide-brimmed hat just in case.

Oh! What time is it? Stopping for a moment, he checked his watch. Oh dear, it would seem that I'm terribly late for my meeting.... He picked up the pace as he headed out to where his personal chauffeur was waiting. Quickly getting into the car, he gave him directions and sat back for the ride.

Dullahan Library Underground Car Park

"Sir, we have arrived."

Without another word, Cedric left the comfort of his rather expensive-looking car and stepped out into the parking lot. He wore a mask, a pure white one to match his pure white suit.

"Have no fear, we can start now, for I have arrived! I do hope you'll all forgive me for my lateness, as I was attending to rather......delicate matters."

Liesel Moringmer; Dullahan Library Underground Car Park

A set of footsteps.

And then another.

Her usual smile was on her face before she knew it – oh, it was anything but pleasant. Those familiar with a Moringmer knew that, like any beast, teeth were never a friendly sign. The grin grew wider at Cedric’s… explanation, which went unacknowledged as slowly approached the newly arrived pair.

“Well, well, look who’s finally here!” she exclaimed, stepping up to the deck the Joker had left scattered on the ground. Crouching down, she flicked her finger and flipped the cards over one by one. “The King,” flip, “and the Ace,” flip. The King of Hearts and Ace of Spades were clear against the concrete. She blew the dust away, sighing through gritted teeth, before straightening.

Damn it, she really needed that smoke right about then or she was going to throttle someone.

“And it’s only half-past late.” It was her own words that sent Liesel past the ‘pleasant’ stage of her rage. Grin dying into a grimace, the woman closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. “Damn it, when there is a set time, there is a fucking reason! No message, no warning… you might have been caught in traffic or you might have been caught by Itex. How the hell am I supposed to know?” Her glare was turned to the king, who had been her fellow ‘strategist’ for quite some time now. “And I think you of all people know just how impossible any mission is with even one damn missing link… so where is that goddamn royal pain…”

Of course, Liesel meant the Queen… but she’d deal with that one later.

Now, the woman could have easily gone on her tirade for the next week and a half, but fortunately for the present pair, there was no time for that. She’d have to make it brief. “We’re out of time, so change of plans.” ‘Again…’. “There’s been a tip off that a certain warehouse by the river, a short ways off the pier, has something valuable to Itex. I don’t think I have to say that what’s valuable to Itex is valuable to us, hm?” Right, and she had the delivery to make… how to go about doing this... Liesel pondered a solution as her hand drifted to the package in her pocket. “Crow. You’ll head over first. I’ll send over her majesty when she arrives.” To the King, she signaled for him to be quiet and wait. “But be on your guard. I can’t assure the… reliability of this source. At least, not yet.”

She waited until the Ace was gone before addressing Cedric. “Now, don’t say a word, this is Torrings’ decision, not mine. You’re not going to be sticking around with me anymore,” she sighed, closing her eyes, looking almost weary… almost. Not quite. Liesel was a woman who needed no rest. “So, apparently you’re not needed here,” she stated slowly, circling around, trying to find the best way to approach the topic. In the end, she chose the only way she knew how: the direct approach. “You’re needed out on the field.”

She only gave the younger man a glance, a cursory gauge of reaction, before pulling the box from her pocket. “And we both know that’s pretty damn well impossible without a mask,” she continued. “And frankly, I don’t know what Torrings is thinking, as per damn usual, and in all honesty I think he’s acting like a goddamn fool…” Rambling. She needed to get to the point. With another sigh, she thrust the slender box towards the King and recited the proper phrase: “But I don’t have a choice. As Liesel Moringmer, proxy for Arthur Torrings, I gift this mask to you.”

With that said, there was no turning back. What the hell was Torrings thinking. She never knew. Never. “In case you haven’t put two and two together, that’s the moron’s mask. His. It’s complete, but it’s not originally yours, so the personality will be overwhelming. Before you head on to help out Crow at the warehouse, give it a test run. I’ve gifted the mask, so you should be able to sense it – can you hear the words ringing in your head?”

Well, Liesel was going off second-hand information, but she hoped that her understanding of the masks was accurate enough to let the King transform.