ｓｉｎｆｕｌ ✘ plague flox tryout piece [no posting]

[CeruleanRush]

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u s e r n a m e ✘ CeruleanRush

n a m e ✘ Canaan

r e a s o n ✘ The name simply means "humble"... in what language,
he doesn't know! His parents wished for him to be a very humble
Floc, and picked a name to suit that simple wish. However, things
don't always work out as planned...


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His voice had never sounded so vile, yet it always had. It was all he could remember; days of a dagger-sharp tongue that hissed at all those who wished to come near. He prided himself on such a cold, cold tone laced with a vile poison that seeped in through those natural defenses you thought you had. Yes, his words could break any Floc out there; it didn't matter how spectacular your self confidence was, he would break it down. He would. He had to. Because he was better than you.
And he would do whatever it took for you to recognize that.
The mask was on all the time now. It was as if it was as much of a part of his face as his eyes or nose; the mask did not come off. Ever. No questions asked. He had grown used to that cold, cold voice of his creeping out from under the mask like a haunted melody that had been played many times before. Yet, each time, there was a different spin. A different style. His voice flickered from evil tone to evil tone like a firefly, but the change didn't bother him. He loved it. Loved watching the impact of how organizing 26 symbols in different patterns could bring tears to their eyes, shock fear onto their faces. It was beautiful.
So very, very beautiful.
This was why he had found himself in the center of town by the edge of a fountain. Through the eyes of the mask, everything had grown fuzzy. That was peculiar; he remembered seeing everything clearly when he had first received it. Now, it seemed that only certain things stood out to him. These certain things... they didn't seem right. But he loved them. Almost as much as his own gorgeous voice.
One paw stepped up on the edge of the fountain, feeling for a place where he could safely rest it. Several blurry heads turned towards him; for all this time, he had been a shadow. Right here, he was to make himself noticed. His other paw stepped up beside it, and finally, he was standing tall and proud on the short ledge of the fountain, looking down at those who milled about below him. By now, most had noticed him. Their faces were crystal clear: amazement. At him. He felt a surge of pride at their notice.
So, he opened his mouth to speak.
And while they couldn't see it, it was if they felt it, that knife of words held at their throat.
But then he stopped
and remembered

the two masks that had been broken

long before any of this

and how

nothing would ever be perfect

ever

again

...in the distance, something caught his eye.
Near the shop. The shop.

Canaan stepped down from his place of power on top of the fountain ledge, and wove his way through watchful eyes towards it.

It has been one year.

[geotalon]

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u s e r n a m e ✘ .Talon

n a m e ✘ Eros

r e a s o n ✘ He is named after the god of lust, showing his inner
self and the path laid out ahead... though what he doesn't know
is his name is both a warning and a blessing... Can he overcome
his need for power? Can he shake free the chains?


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A month had passed and he had a harder time taking the mask off. Glancing out of the window, Eros leaned against the wall and breathed heavily through the plague mask. The world to him was in chaos and the hue of the air had grown greenish gray. He swore he smelled something - or someone - burning in the distance. Just a simple move made his body shoot in pain as he tore away from the window.

He stumbled, falling to the floor of the building with a wheezing gasp. His back shot in pain and his chest felt heavy and trying to push himself up, felt the desire to end the pain. Why was he so weak right now? When he pulled himself to a sitting position he was able to look around at his apartment and felt sad. The sight was pathetic, dirt and grime all over the place made it very clear he wasn't wealthy - he was poor and living means by means.

He needed help - wanted to do anything to stop the pain, to stop the world from being abandoned, but to him there was no one out there to help. No one helpful, at least. There were a few other foxes out there, but the mass of them were idiots. Eros groaned as his muscles throbbed in pain, thinking of something to do. There had to be some way to get this pain to stop. The idea of being a leader made sense and the more he thought about it, the more it became apparent on his choices.

Being a dictator he'd be able to have people do things for him since getting medical help was impossible. He'd just order them to get him items and craft things. The power wasn't overwhelming to him - it was needed. Though he wasn't truly in pain, it was all in his head, he felt that was his only option and he would stop at nothing to gain followers. Finding his feet he was able to stand, glancing at the ground. His path was clear to him. He needed to become an emperor. With that thought he fumbled out of the apartment.

It has been one month.

[Alva.]

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u s e r n a m e ✘ AlvaChum

n a m e ✘ Benevolence

r e a s o n ✘ He is named for something he was once like,
something that is considered good and generous.
But what if what they thought he was destined to be at birth
changed because of something, well... sinful?


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This is a very strange feeling... it's different.
But it's okay. I can see the world for what it really is.
Within the short time I've had it, since I found it in that old shop, thick with weeds and rotting wood, things seem so much clearer!
I remember I was on my way to church with a bundle of sweets to give to everyone, but a slip in the mud lead me to the shop....

Cold... Very cold. The rain was relentless, I was scared, lost, and the shop offered some shelter from the impeding storm. And then... and then I saw it. That glittering, golden glow from the farthest corner in the room. It felt so warm.... there were other masks lying around, two others to be exact, but this one was so warm. So very, very warm...

Now? Now I can see what the world is really like. Filthy, stupid, greedy creatures slumping around, claiming everything for their own. Taking more than they need, more then they'll ever need... disgusting. This mask, this wonderful, beautiful mask has shown me everything this world is made of. The apocalypse is upon us, it has been for decades, as its inhabitants will destroy themselves. I've discovered this all in a very short time, I and I alone know the truth behind this world, what this so-called "Reality" has been hiding from us. This mask I wield will never be removed. It's shown me so, so much... despite hating the sinners that surround me, I can't help but feel the temptation of the very same sin creeping up my spine. It all started with that hooked, glowing mask, that incredible, wretched, wonderful mask.

I've decided I'm not going to give those treats away like I use to. They're all just greedy monsters with their grubby snouts taking everything they can claim for their own. I can... I can keep them for myself. I can stop the greed. End the apocolypse. Stop this... this madness.

This mask is everything to me now. It show me what is really going on under that thin sheet of lies. I will never take it off.

It's mine.

It has been one week.

[Downn]

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u s e r n a m e ✘ Downn

n a m e ✘ Xenos

r e a s o n ✘ The name has several meanings, including
'hospitality' & 'stranger' and is derived from Greek.
His parents gave him this name, not for it's meaning,
but for it's sound and the way it rolls from the tongue.


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It is fairly hard to remember the life I once had. Now, all I know is the hatred inside of me.
I always tried to be kind, if only to make others like me. I couldn’t stand thinking that someone out there might not. It was very hard to make me angry, though mostly for fear it would ruin my reputation. In all honesty, looking back on it, what I had was a boring life.
Until the mask.

The shop I found it in was old and fairly creepy, with strange trinkets for sale in it everywhere. I would never have gone in it, but I was anxious to get indoors as it was windy outside. Honestly, I don't remember much about the shop. Probably because I was too focused on that mask. There were four masks sitting there. The shopkeeper said something about there being five, but one was taken earlier by someone. . . He said more, but I don’t know. I wasn’t really listening. The mask on the end had caught my eye.

I never felt that way before. The way I felt when I looked at that mask. . . it was as though something inside me needed it. I was compelled to buy it. Like. . . like I might only be happy if I had it. It was pure white, with some red stains on it. I didn’t bother to consider what they might be from. I bought it without hesitation, but soon enough suspicion had begun to grow within me. Why was I so drawn to this mask?
I bought it from the shopkeeper with no hesitation.

Even though I had already bought it yesterday, a part of myself was begging me not to put it on.
So I stared at it, not even trying it. But as I looked at it, I began to feel intense emotion. Hatred, even. The anger inside was directed at everything, even myself. It was like, in those moments, it had consumed my life, eating it away like fire. I felt a strong urge to put on the mask.
However strange it felt, the anger didn’t fade. And I realized something.
I liked it.
So I put on the mask. . .
Because it didn’t matter anymore.

It has been one day.

[Vintage]

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u s e r n a m e ✘ Vintage♥

n a m e ✘ Covlet

r e a s o n ✘ Covlet is a spin-off on
the word, Covet, which means "to desire strongly."
Covlet always desired things she couldn't afford,
but this flaw eventually grew to be a deadly sin.


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Glistening rain crashed against the pavement, rolling down the street in wobbly lines. The water absolutely soaked my matted fur, and the rain streamed down my fur, dripping into the already wet cobble. Scurrying under the water breaker of one of the shops, I shook off my fur, watching the drops slide down different windows. But where to? I had already achieved my daily walk around the shops, staring at those expensive, luxurious items in which I could never afford. But with hours to spend, rather than in my bleak apartment, what else could I do?

Large, cracking noises awakened me from my contemplation, instincts kicked in, and I skittered out of there, skittering-well, more like sliding with the slippery ground-into a nearby alleyway. It seemed as though everyone had started getting angrier, all ready to shoot each other at a moment’s notice, all for some pathetic reason, sometimes it was greed for other things. Like, seriously? What was up with the world? Could we all just get along like those preschool shows dictate?

But anyways, shots fired were shots fired. Catching my breath, I attempted to silently tiptoe my way around the puddles, trying to escape the line of fire. I needed somewhere safer, somewhere I wouldn’t even be considered at risk, at least until the police arrived. I quickly skimmed and scanned for anything of use, and something of interest sparked my eyes.
A shop, almost hidden on the street.

Still fearing about those gunners, I cautiously moved forward, pushing the door open easily, where it almost opened by itself. Like a Horror Movie. Still, in horror movies, someone always lived, so I still could take my chances. Once in, the door slammed closed, thumping my tail. Still weird.

But the shop was weirder than any slamming doors. Unusual items decorated the place, with no price tags to be seen. Feathery lumps, wooden wands, black boomerangs, anything voodoo-y. It felt dark, like black magic, or like witchcraft, and we know what happened with the Salem Witches.

I slowly backed up, feeling safer with gunners, but then something brought my attention closer. Masks. Different colors and designs, odd, but… Intriguing. Of course, perhaps it wouldn't be a terrible feat to try one on, right? The grey one. It was the most eye-catching, with the lighter grey accents, and the strange infinity sign located in the middle.
Grabbing it, I slipped it on.

It has been one second.

[CeruleanRush]

Five masked flox gathered in front of a small shop. It had been a year since they had each obtained a mask. The masks that would build them up. The masks that would destroy them. It had been a long road to reach this day; two had fallen, but five still remained. They stood together as brothers, joined in this beginning of a new time.
To each other, everything was perfectly clear. They were once different. Too different, too unique. Now, the masks had united them. They were one. No more differences anywhere in sight. Together, they were

PRIDE
LUST
GREED
WRATH
ENVY
GLUTTONY
SLOTH

5 sins remained.
And their time had finally come.

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the road ends here, traveler! you've made it through the whole
backstory.

some notes on our tryout for you:
-the history is backwards, and written in the form of a story
-each Floc's mask was somewhat like the manifestation of
a sin; they were compelled to put it on, and when this was
done, it destroyed their personality and made it more the
sin than anything
-the masks bring out that sin to them; they can't seem to
really focus on anything else except for actions considered
to be those sins

✘


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