and drown the absurdity of life in a glass of red wine

[faking]

Who: Alois Trancy and, like, whoever... has birthday wishes or wants cake. Seriously, I wouldn't blame you if you just came for the cake. (Basically, house members and anyone he's told, COME TO MY BIRTHDAY.)
When: Throughout the day on November fifth! If you have a specific time in mind, you can note as much - before 'festivities,' during, or after, any time of day.
Where: Big Pimpin' Party House (aka Ciel's posh mansion, gotta love that demon masonry) -- specify a room if you like! HE'S EVERYWHERE AND NOWHERE, a fancy gust of wind through your chilly heart.
Summary: He's seventeen now and it's very Exciting. Also wine.
Warnings: Alois... Trancy.........

As Alois wanders, he's carrying a wine bottle with him.

Not because - look, have a little faith in him. He isn't chugging straight from it or anything, he's not so much a lush; really, the bottle's symbolic, because now no one can rightfully tell him he can't. Abolishing rules is one of his favorite things (second only to challenging them regardless of their legitimacy), so it's impossible to keep him from parading his new found freedom at least a little bit.

But, yes, he will be progressively more ... full of alcohol as the day goes on. He's coherent, for sure, and isn't stumbling all over himself, but by the time afternoon rolls around, his cheeks will be warm and he'll just grow merrier. What a nice birthday...

Seriously though, he wants presents.

Comments

[faking]

I guess. Well, if you don't talk about yourself, no one else can. Not for real, anyway. And that's something. [Though if his tone is any indication, he doesn't seem to mourn this. (Actually, it's quite good. Secrets are very precious things to have, and selves are the best things to bury.) He steeples his fingers in a gesture of concentration.] That's a lavish title, and a really pretty one, but Oswald isn't bad. It can mean a divine power or something, did you know that? Well, it's your name, maybe you do. I remember that from rummaging through name books. You know, once upon a time.

[He tilts his head.]

You don't have doubts about yourself, do you, my lord Oswald?

[iudex]

[then he supposes no one will talk about him, though the thing with his name does catch his attention, ah. he's never been one to turn his eyes away unless manually moved or. sulking. and neither of those have happened, so, while he thinks about nothing but self loathing he watches and wonders. what does he want - if it's information he seeks, he should've gotten enough to quench his thirst without having to come to oswald himself.

oswald is too big a flame to go near and expect to get away from without a burn. the distortions around him are far stronger than the ones around the other baskervilles.

vaguely he wonders if alois knows that.] It's a title to be held with pride— the ones who were 'Glen Baskerville' before me told me so... still tell me so. [although he's. as dry as ever, he's thinking: why hold that title with pride when the thing you have to do to get it is nothing but despair?

(still, a metronome in the back of his mind breaking the white noise—)

does he have doubts? yes. everyone has some doubt somewhere deep down, and oswald is no exception. again he dodges the question to point another back:]

...doesn't everyone have some sort of doubt about themselves?

[faking]

Very stupid people don't, [Alois says helpfully, lifting his chin.] Have doubts, I mean. Oh, I didn't suppose you were very stupid, but it's good to check. Anyway, aren't titles a lot of work? So I guess it's expected that a person would be proud of theirs—

[Though he's an earl, so he should know better, and catches this. He waves his hand in front of his face.]

I didn't grow up a part of my father's estate, so maybe it's different if you're not properly born into it or groomed for it, I don't know, if that's how it was for you.

[Well, so, what is it about him? What is it about Oswald that's such a candle while Jack's the moth? That's what Alois wants to figure out - the core of things, and how hot the core is and why - and it's something he has to see for himself. Jack wouldn't be able to do it justice. Alois already knows how love will stick to one's words and make them weigh differently on the scales of personal judgement.]

Or maybe, [he continues, tilting his head all the way back to look at the ceiling,] it's hard to be proud because sometimes, holding on to something means you don't have the chance to wash your hands.

[A beat. He looks back to Oswald, head canted to the left.]

Or maybe you're just kind of dispassionate? I couldn't be sure. [Or maybe, or maybe, or maybe. Again, this ends with a smile— this time, it's one that says, 'Oh, don't take me seriously.' There's some cheek to it, too.]