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1character2025-09-03 09:22 am
scifirenegade) wrote in 1character2025-09-03 09:22 am
Behind the Scenes or 50 Sentences of Erik (Erik the Great, The Last Performance)
Character: Erik the Great
Fandom: The Last Performance (1929)
Theme set: Gamma
Rating: Teen and up
Warnings: age difference, canonical major character death, drug mention, internalised biphobia, mentions of abuse, murder, violence
1. Snow
There is no place for him in the old country, it is better to leave before everything gets worse; so he packs him meagre belongings and flees, fast, boots crunching against the freshly fallen snow, into the unknown.
2. Child
The child is reserved, peculiar-looking, and emanates an unsettling aura that causes chills down one's spine; his piercing eyes brim with macabre curiosity, and one does not dare to look into them, lest one's free will is drained away into the abyss.
3. Brick
When the curtains part and he sees his beloved in a tender embrace with that boy, the boy who broke into his room one night and to whom he gave the opportunity of a lifetime because she, ever so sweet, asked him to, the realisation hit him like a brick.
4. Judgement
He maintains his composure while his hands get damper and damper inside the leather gloves, waiting for the verdict he knows will break her heart.
5. Powder
In one of his drawers, he hides a secret, something he bought in a Berlin trip; he never used it, but he keeps it around, just in case.
6. Grim
His life, he thinks it grim — he lives in a cramped, dirty room, and drags himself day in day out through twelve-hour shifts — and the variety show is certainly an improvement.
7. Trap
You can't trap him, he thinks, you can't trap him in such an awkward situation, just to hurt him, stake him through the heart and then mock him; you have to pay.
8. Star
The best part of becoming famous isn't the riches that showered him or the fervent adoration of countless fans, but the fact that he had better opportunities of turning her into a star in her own right.
9. Possession
First, Erik stares at Buffo, who stares at him in return — that's it, boy, let me inside —, then he whispers those magical words that bend everyone to do his own bidding; he fishes Buffo's soul out and soon he will not interfere with him any longer.
10. Bandage
As she wraps his wounded hand in the softest of bandages — as soft as she is — and the white is stained with red, his gaze lingers on the sword that caused all of his pain and he decides the trick shouldn't be performed for the time being.
11. Pearl
They are pearl earrings, like the one the girl on the painting wears; Julie had liked it when she saw it in some book, maybe she would love the gift.
12. Glass
He is overcome with woe, his heart broken, his plans for the future shattered; when he throws the vase to the wall and he collapses on the floor, he sees himself in the shards of glass.
13. Classified
An illusionist never shares his secrets, Erik especially, for no particular reason.
14. Buttons
He's getting ready for the show, waistcoat buttoned up, jacket put on; before he reaches for the gloves, he smells the little flower on the lapel for good luck.
15. Closet
Obviously, he likes women, it's so obvious; it's just Buffo — of all people — that's an exception, and maybe that boy Mark.
16. Ash
What a wonderful idea, to dye the sides of his hair the colour of ash, to look older, more mysterious; oh the atmosphere and enigma that would envelop the audience when he steps on stage!
17. Definition
To say he was the definition of a charlatan, how dare, how wrong they are; tonight, they would bear witness to the true power he held within his brain.
18. Staircase
It was a steady climb, from make-up artist to assistant and apprentice, and finally to The Great, performing in the most important music halls in Europe; soon, they would perform in America.
19. Nail
His first performance, his name big on the poster, and the curtains fall with applause; they had done well, he thought, and his jittery self moping his brow before the show, worrying the sweat would ruin his make-up, is but a far away memory soon to be substituted by triumph.
20. Prey
Her existence often slips from her parents' minds, but when it doesn't, they act less like the loving guardians they ought to be and more like bloodthirsty beasts, always ready to rip the poor girl apart; and he wants to whisk her away to a fairytale castle.
21. Backwards
It isn't backwards to perform the tricks of old, they're classics, and they were so for a reason; he laughed as he read the negative review.
22. Trouble
When the moment comes and he slits the throat of the boy who accompanied him since the beginning, his pulse beats out of control — he hides his nervousness well —, his thoughts fill with all the possible outcomes if his plan doesn't work.
23. Little
She's a summer breeze, light and warm and so small, he picks her up with ease; all the effort goes to making sure his knees do not collapse under the gigantic weight of his adoration.
24. Collar
All he needs from her is a collar, for he belongs to no one but her.
25. Circle
Life is a circle, a constant cycle of wins and losses; his last loss was also the worst of them all.
26. Hands
They are large, long, bony and powerful, just like him, yet everything he handles he does so with the utmost care, from his automaton to his dearest person in the whole world, lest them — so precious — crumble under his touch.
27. Freedom
Having his own act, with his own assistants, was like flying away from a cage.
28. Last
Before he loses consciousness forever, the last thought that crosses his mind was a wish, a wish for her to experience everlasting happiness.
29. Scab
There are times — many times — Buffo gives him the itch, turns to be a thorn in his foot, the annoying little fellow; if only he wasn't so useful.
30. Crown
Oh, his queen, when the day comes and she lets him fully enter into her life, he shall kneel before her and declare himself her humble servant.
31. Time
Winding the clockwork, the parrot flaps its wings and the music box inside bestows upon the chamber a simple melody, alongside memories of a time which can never be restored; everything stops.
32. Rice
He likes rice as a side dish sometimes, as long as it's not too unsavoury.
33. Worn
The first tuxedo he wears after leaving his country has been worn by who-knows-how-many-people, the trousers even fail to cover his ankles, that's how short it is; he can't wait to have one tailored specifically for him.
34. Paint
It's all about the eyes, to find the best way to make them stand out, and heavy, dark eyeshadow is perfect for that.
35. Ache
Sprawled on the floor, his body cold, he cannot stop the sobbing, ugly, so ugly — it echoes back —, and he clutches at his chest, desperate, tries to tear himself apart, so his aching heart can leap out.
36. Cherry
He likes ice cream for dessert, always, he never says no, and he likes it when it comes with a little cherry on top, it brightens his day.
37. Library
One more book added to the personal library he's still rebuilding; had he been any younger and more foolish, he could almost see himself waxing poetry about the powers held within those new-old tomes.
38. Win
America — the last frontier and the beginning of a new life.
39. Loss
Saint Petersburg — the last time he saw his mother and the beginning of his descent.
40. Fold
Each member of the audience folds themselves under the shadow of his palm; they have no idea he's the one getting folded over behind the curtain.
41. Music
It's odd, how the strings and the percussion and the brass and the woodwinds all come together when the four of them are on stage.
42. Bell
The body that once dominated the stage burns, the funeral toll cannot be heard.
43. Sleep
The night comes, and he practices, reads, dances, writes, bounces on the bed until his body cannot handle it any more; he continues his endeavours in his dreams.
44. Contact
"I can get you a better gig, chap," and the man hands him a card, "for you and your friends."
45. Electricity
A jolt of electricity moves through him, and he's ready.
46. Milk
He likes milk, sometimes, when he's sure he'll be able to sleep instead of doing whatever strikes his fancy.
47. Wild
He was under the impression that the beard gave him an enigmatic air of charm, but she finds it absolutely ridiculous, that he looks like someone who had been living in the depths of a forest for a decade; she's absolutely right.
48. Expectation
To have a white marriage, a big one, worthy of a fairytale, and their honeymoon would be in America, of course; they would continue working, which means they would continue travelling, but it was a dream to have a house of their own — and that included the boys.
49. Mechanism
The lifeless and mutilated metal body of his esteemed parrot lays before him, the cogs and the gears confuse him, and he's like a child again, distraught and on the verge of tears.
50. Finale
It was his most unorthodox performance, and his most dramatic finale.
Fandom: The Last Performance (1929)
Theme set: Gamma
Rating: Teen and up
Warnings: age difference, canonical major character death, drug mention, internalised biphobia, mentions of abuse, murder, violence
1. Snow
There is no place for him in the old country, it is better to leave before everything gets worse; so he packs him meagre belongings and flees, fast, boots crunching against the freshly fallen snow, into the unknown.
2. Child
The child is reserved, peculiar-looking, and emanates an unsettling aura that causes chills down one's spine; his piercing eyes brim with macabre curiosity, and one does not dare to look into them, lest one's free will is drained away into the abyss.
3. Brick
When the curtains part and he sees his beloved in a tender embrace with that boy, the boy who broke into his room one night and to whom he gave the opportunity of a lifetime because she, ever so sweet, asked him to, the realisation hit him like a brick.
4. Judgement
He maintains his composure while his hands get damper and damper inside the leather gloves, waiting for the verdict he knows will break her heart.
5. Powder
In one of his drawers, he hides a secret, something he bought in a Berlin trip; he never used it, but he keeps it around, just in case.
6. Grim
His life, he thinks it grim — he lives in a cramped, dirty room, and drags himself day in day out through twelve-hour shifts — and the variety show is certainly an improvement.
7. Trap
You can't trap him, he thinks, you can't trap him in such an awkward situation, just to hurt him, stake him through the heart and then mock him; you have to pay.
8. Star
The best part of becoming famous isn't the riches that showered him or the fervent adoration of countless fans, but the fact that he had better opportunities of turning her into a star in her own right.
9. Possession
First, Erik stares at Buffo, who stares at him in return — that's it, boy, let me inside —, then he whispers those magical words that bend everyone to do his own bidding; he fishes Buffo's soul out and soon he will not interfere with him any longer.
10. Bandage
As she wraps his wounded hand in the softest of bandages — as soft as she is — and the white is stained with red, his gaze lingers on the sword that caused all of his pain and he decides the trick shouldn't be performed for the time being.
11. Pearl
They are pearl earrings, like the one the girl on the painting wears; Julie had liked it when she saw it in some book, maybe she would love the gift.
12. Glass
He is overcome with woe, his heart broken, his plans for the future shattered; when he throws the vase to the wall and he collapses on the floor, he sees himself in the shards of glass.
13. Classified
An illusionist never shares his secrets, Erik especially, for no particular reason.
14. Buttons
He's getting ready for the show, waistcoat buttoned up, jacket put on; before he reaches for the gloves, he smells the little flower on the lapel for good luck.
15. Closet
Obviously, he likes women, it's so obvious; it's just Buffo — of all people — that's an exception, and maybe that boy Mark.
16. Ash
What a wonderful idea, to dye the sides of his hair the colour of ash, to look older, more mysterious; oh the atmosphere and enigma that would envelop the audience when he steps on stage!
17. Definition
To say he was the definition of a charlatan, how dare, how wrong they are; tonight, they would bear witness to the true power he held within his brain.
18. Staircase
It was a steady climb, from make-up artist to assistant and apprentice, and finally to The Great, performing in the most important music halls in Europe; soon, they would perform in America.
19. Nail
His first performance, his name big on the poster, and the curtains fall with applause; they had done well, he thought, and his jittery self moping his brow before the show, worrying the sweat would ruin his make-up, is but a far away memory soon to be substituted by triumph.
20. Prey
Her existence often slips from her parents' minds, but when it doesn't, they act less like the loving guardians they ought to be and more like bloodthirsty beasts, always ready to rip the poor girl apart; and he wants to whisk her away to a fairytale castle.
21. Backwards
It isn't backwards to perform the tricks of old, they're classics, and they were so for a reason; he laughed as he read the negative review.
22. Trouble
When the moment comes and he slits the throat of the boy who accompanied him since the beginning, his pulse beats out of control — he hides his nervousness well —, his thoughts fill with all the possible outcomes if his plan doesn't work.
23. Little
She's a summer breeze, light and warm and so small, he picks her up with ease; all the effort goes to making sure his knees do not collapse under the gigantic weight of his adoration.
24. Collar
All he needs from her is a collar, for he belongs to no one but her.
25. Circle
Life is a circle, a constant cycle of wins and losses; his last loss was also the worst of them all.
26. Hands
They are large, long, bony and powerful, just like him, yet everything he handles he does so with the utmost care, from his automaton to his dearest person in the whole world, lest them — so precious — crumble under his touch.
27. Freedom
Having his own act, with his own assistants, was like flying away from a cage.
28. Last
Before he loses consciousness forever, the last thought that crosses his mind was a wish, a wish for her to experience everlasting happiness.
29. Scab
There are times — many times — Buffo gives him the itch, turns to be a thorn in his foot, the annoying little fellow; if only he wasn't so useful.
30. Crown
Oh, his queen, when the day comes and she lets him fully enter into her life, he shall kneel before her and declare himself her humble servant.
31. Time
Winding the clockwork, the parrot flaps its wings and the music box inside bestows upon the chamber a simple melody, alongside memories of a time which can never be restored; everything stops.
32. Rice
He likes rice as a side dish sometimes, as long as it's not too unsavoury.
33. Worn
The first tuxedo he wears after leaving his country has been worn by who-knows-how-many-people, the trousers even fail to cover his ankles, that's how short it is; he can't wait to have one tailored specifically for him.
34. Paint
It's all about the eyes, to find the best way to make them stand out, and heavy, dark eyeshadow is perfect for that.
35. Ache
Sprawled on the floor, his body cold, he cannot stop the sobbing, ugly, so ugly — it echoes back —, and he clutches at his chest, desperate, tries to tear himself apart, so his aching heart can leap out.
36. Cherry
He likes ice cream for dessert, always, he never says no, and he likes it when it comes with a little cherry on top, it brightens his day.
37. Library
One more book added to the personal library he's still rebuilding; had he been any younger and more foolish, he could almost see himself waxing poetry about the powers held within those new-old tomes.
38. Win
America — the last frontier and the beginning of a new life.
39. Loss
Saint Petersburg — the last time he saw his mother and the beginning of his descent.
40. Fold
Each member of the audience folds themselves under the shadow of his palm; they have no idea he's the one getting folded over behind the curtain.
41. Music
It's odd, how the strings and the percussion and the brass and the woodwinds all come together when the four of them are on stage.
42. Bell
The body that once dominated the stage burns, the funeral toll cannot be heard.
43. Sleep
The night comes, and he practices, reads, dances, writes, bounces on the bed until his body cannot handle it any more; he continues his endeavours in his dreams.
44. Contact
"I can get you a better gig, chap," and the man hands him a card, "for you and your friends."
45. Electricity
A jolt of electricity moves through him, and he's ready.
46. Milk
He likes milk, sometimes, when he's sure he'll be able to sleep instead of doing whatever strikes his fancy.
47. Wild
He was under the impression that the beard gave him an enigmatic air of charm, but she finds it absolutely ridiculous, that he looks like someone who had been living in the depths of a forest for a decade; she's absolutely right.
48. Expectation
To have a white marriage, a big one, worthy of a fairytale, and their honeymoon would be in America, of course; they would continue working, which means they would continue travelling, but it was a dream to have a house of their own — and that included the boys.
49. Mechanism
The lifeless and mutilated metal body of his esteemed parrot lays before him, the cogs and the gears confuse him, and he's like a child again, distraught and on the verge of tears.
50. Finale
It was his most unorthodox performance, and his most dramatic finale.
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