~CHAPTER 3~



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In the darkling of early evening, Lady Moustache informed Eric that they would be leaving without Mr. Capgras, who’s car had returned from the mechanic.

“Besides, I’d rather not wait for him. He wants to eat dinner and I’m afraid he’s an awfully slow eater. I swear he chews his food twice.” He said as he dabbed perfume on his neck and wrists.

It was his mother’s perfume; it’s one of the only thing he’s ever possessed of hers, his most prized possession. The perfume itself was rather old and running sparse. He only wished he knew what it was, but the bottle was glass and had no label. He used it only on the most important of occasions.

Eric started down the road. “Won't you be hungry, without supper?” Eric asked, looking through the rear view mirror far too often.
Lady Moustache placed his perfume back in it’s hiding spot and picked up his kohl, brown eyeshadow and signature *Merlot lipstick.

“Oh, I’m sure that Richie will be serving dinner at his.” Lady Moustache said, applying his eyeshadow with the help of his finger and a compact mirror. He glanced up.

“Keep your eyes on the road, darling.” he told his distracted driver, who kept watching him through the mirror.

He focused back on the road.

Getting close to halfway there, Lady Moustache had finished his eyes and started applying his lipstick, using his thumbs to create the popular **“bee-stung lip shape. Feeling an intense gaze on him, he looked up again to find Eric’s eyes on him once more.

“Is something distracting you Eric? You keep looking back here when your eyes should be on the road.” Lady Moustache spoke with a raised eyebrow.

It could’ve been the fact that he was looking to cheer himself up after that difficult interaction with his father, or maybe, it’s Maybelline… Whatever the reason, he really, really liked the sudden interest he was getting.

“Do you think… we could make a stop? Not a long one, just something quick…” Eric said, his french accent more prominent with his nervousness.

Lady Moustache didn’t answer just yet, he slowly finished applying his lipstick as Eric squirmed with anticipation. He finally answered.

“Let’s go to our usual spot, but we need to be hasty about it. I don’t want to be late to arrive early-” Eric turned left right as he finished this reply. They diverged off the main road and parked in a discreet location. With how excited Eric was, Lady Moustache knew that this wouldn’t take long at all.



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*Merlot: a red-brown colour, brick colour
**bee stung lips: popular heart-like lip shape from the 1920’s

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Lady Moustache reached the steps of King Richie’s Mansion with open arms, Lady Turncoat was already embracing her dear friend. They greeted each other with a kiss on each cheek. The late day sunset cast the mansion-front with an orange tincture. The view through the large leaded panel apertures was shrouded, and looked to be glowing orange as it mirrored the sunset. A murder of crows shrilled as they circled above. King Richie stood just in the door-way; while an awkward man tried to finish the conversation they were having. Lady Turncoat’s two friends giggled and ran over to join the reunited friends at the base of the steps.

“Oh how good it is to see you!” Lady Moustache sang.

“Well fuck! It’s been way too long!” The Chicagoan actress cheered.

Her and her two friends proceeded to smother him, hastily pulling him up the steps and through the door. Lady Turncoat just a few steps behind used the commotion to slide his tailcoat off of him, and continue to put it on.

“WHAT are you doing, woman?!” Lady Moustache spun around, hitting Anthony in the leg. This made him draw his knee in and contort his face. He didn’t sound hurt… yet, but the expression on his face would make any palpable person wince.

“I’ll be on my way, thank you for your time, Mr. Richie… MMNNH” Anthony said unheard by King Richie, or any of the others for that matter. He limped to his car and left feeling dismissed and...