Slight warning: the content is adult-ish, but nothing too explicit.

This humandeer super short story takes place in London, England in 1876. This would be years before their current ages, relatively speaking, so Fledermaus would be about 17 and Masque about 24. It explains a bit of my character's backgrounds, and shows just how evil Masque really is C:< Obviously, people back then spoke a bit differently, plus both of them are mainly German, so at the bottom I've compiled some footnotes because I know everyone loves reading textbook material. xD Sorry for the history and language lessons, but it'd be weird to read otherwise. xD

Also, the piece that Fledermaus is playing is called Träumerei (Dreaming) by R. Schumann, and you can listen to it here (it's quite lovely). Okay, I'm done being boring now. xD



Formal and beautiful, the piano’s chords resounded throughout the dimly lit parlor. The sonata’s gentle rhythm had cast the whole room, and its only occupant, into a state of calm tranquility. In the entrance hall, a Black Forest styled wooden clock distinguished by deer antler carvings matched the tempo with its steady and hushed ticks. The player himself was devoid of outward emotion, his head lowered in thought and watching his slight fingers gently play the aged ivory keys. His brown eyes were dull, as if from weariness. Morning sunlight streamed inwards through the faded front window and brought warmth where it settled to the right side of his body in an otherwise chilled room. Outside, people passed by in carriages and on foot. Curbside men escorted their ladies delicately by the arm, engaging in light conversation, and children played lightheartedly.

The piece continued placidly while in the foyer, the front door opened and closed with a clatter. The young man that had entered tracked snowy boot prints onto the hallway’s elm wood floorboards as he approached the source of the piano’s music, smirking in a way that suggested he was pleased with himself over some matter. He smelled strongly of gin, his clothes disheveled, and hair unkempt.
“Grüß dich, mein Bruder!"¹ He greeted in a mockingly playful tone as he entered the parlor. The silent player did not look up, but continued the piece as if the other man wasn’t standing there in the doorway. It was not unusual for his brother to leave for a night and return in the morning; his time was usually spent at a brothel or tavern. These freedoms came with every instance of their parents leaving for travel, which was more than often. And in these instances, the two brothers were left alone for weeks or months at a time under Masque’s disinterested supervision.

Undaunted by the lacking response, the blond stepped into the room and seated himself in an unseemly fashion upon the upholstered chair behind his brother, staring at the back of his head with a wide grin. “How’ve you been keeping?”
Again, the younger did not answer, recognizing Masque’s manner as nothing more than cynical.
“Verdammt², you’re a dismal one.” He muttered, gazing up to the low ceiling absently. After a few more moments of the quiet piano notes, the wicked smile returned to him as if he had suddenly remembered his intention.
“Bekanntlich³, as much as I loathe you, Fledermaus, I must say you have an impeccable taste in the ladies.” His words were muffled as he lit the cigarette in his mouth. The pianist still did not yield, but wore a puzzled look after his brother spoke. Masque unfastened the cravat⁴ around his neck as he continued,
“You pretend not to, but I know you’re interested- the one chit⁵ in particular. I know of your fixation with that rot haybag⁶.” The music suddenly ceased into nothing, ending on a delicate chord. The teenager was now frozen in place and staring straight ahead, his formerly dull eyes now narrowed with aggravation.

His brother was speaking of a young woman who Fledermaus had come to know recently. Heidi was the same age as him and a frequenter at the theater of which he worked as a stagehand. She had honest jade green eyes and gleaming scarlet hair, with a dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks. They had spoken but a few times, and she had been charming at the very least. From then on, they would exchange timid smiles upon sight of each other. Apparently, Masque had noticed.

The blond chuckled contentedly at his brother’s reaction to his comments and continued without hesitation.
“She’s a fine looker, alright; I’ll give you that much. But I ‘spose you know that.”
Irritated by the fact that Masque couldn’t ever leave his life alone, Fledermaus shook his head in a bothered manner and started playing the keys again. Masque had crossed his arms behind his head, relishing the behavior he got out of his brother.
“Shame, though. Her morals are a bit loose for a young lady; not so prim and proper. She’s a toffer at the ol’ academy ⁷ before you know it-”
“What are you on about?” Fledermaus finally interjected harshly, halting the music once again. He couldn’t stand to listen to that drivel about an astonishing girl like Heidi, and Masque was just leading him on with his unneeded cockney⁸ garbage.
“Oh, don’t you know? Cor⁹, I’d have thought it obvious. Einsehe¹⁰, your dear Frauline¹¹ and I, we came to know each other quite well at the music hall last night. Appealing girl, she is, more so than you’d think. Anyhow, she had me escort her back to her ken¹²-” At this, Fledermaus abruptly stood and turned to face Masque, “-and there’s a lot to learn when you dab it up with a dame¹³. In that way, I reckon I know more about her than you do; she did have the cheek to say I was the first to have her….”
“You’re a right cad¹⁴.” The teenager snapped at him, visibly upset with his fists clenched and trembling.
“Sod off, you can’t blame me for the pathetic excuse you are. Sie ist eine Hure¹⁵, anyway-”
“You’re lying.” Shaking his head in refusal, the dark haired teenager looked about ready to break into tears.
“Hardly,” Masque continued casually, “she was quite the adventuress¹⁶, so I have my own doubts concerning her profession. Odd type of demoiselle¹⁷ for you to fancy, I thought-”
Not wanting to stand and listen to another word, the teen angrily turned away and exited the room swiftly. Masque remained unmoved, nonchalantly blowing out a cloud of smoke and smiled contentedly as he heard the front door slam shut.

He of course had to solemnly explain to Eiche and Lilie Rineheart, their parents, weeks later that their dear youngest son had inexplicably left during one night without a rhyme nor reason. Masque was held remotely responsible for failing to properly look after his brother, but in the end, this punishment became far outweighed by the gain of detachment from him for the years to come.



Footnotes:

¹ - "Greetings, my brother!" (German)
² - "Blimey!" (German)
³ - "You know," (German)
⁴ - type of neck tie
⁵ - slang for a small or young woman (Victorian)
⁶ - "rot" is German for red (in this context, he's referring to her hair) and "haybag" is Victorian slang for a woman.
⁷ - "toffer" is slang for a prostitute, and "the academy" is a brothel (Victorian)
⁸ - the language that was spoken among lower class people; mostly slang terms
⁹ - shortened form of "Gorblimey", and exclamation similar to "Heavens!" (Victorian)
¹⁰ - "You see," (German)
¹¹ - a lady (German)
¹² - a house or lodging (Victorian)
¹³ - to have sex with (Victorian) :B
¹⁴ - son-of-a-bitch (Victorian)
¹⁵ - "She's a whore" (German)
¹⁶ - slang for a "wild" woman (Victorian)
¹⁷ - a lady (French)