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After Tonight: Episode 04
Last time on After Tonight...

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TAB It had been hours, but the police woman had finally gathered the tenants of the Quiet Oaks Luxury Apartments to discuss her findings. They huddled on the couches and chairs of the common room.
TAB Ash frowned as he watched the others. Almost all of them had someone there to support them. He hadn’t had anyone. At least not since the incident. He couldn’t call anyone from his past. They could lead his father to him and he didn’t have anyone worth that.
TAB He stared at the fresh stains on his smock, the unused pieces in the most magnificent puzzle. No matter where he went, he at least had her. He could never lose her.
TAB “Attention!” The police woman quieted the mutterings of the tenants. “I have collected you all here to explain the events that lead to this girl’s unfortunate death.” She held up a picture of Texas.
TAB Ash swallowed. That poor girl. She brought back so many unwanted memories. If only he could have saved her.
TAB “In a cup of coffee in her apartment, we discovered this.” The police woman held a plastic baggy up next to the picture. “It’s a very old ring made of pure lead. Worth millions of dollars.”
TAB Lead? Ash knew enough about lead paint to know what that meant. She was poisoned.
TAB “Who could afford such a ring?” Mr. Eichmann asked.
TAB The police woman turned to Klaus. He face didn’t change. “There are only two tenants I know of that could possibly afford this kind of antique as well as afford the upkeep and maintenance costs of a lead ring. This kind of ring simply can’t be cleaned by any normal person with any old cloth. It could damage anyone who held it too long.”
TAB Klaus smirked. Ash wondered if a man like that could kill anyone, but his mind flashed back to the newsletter. He had killed before.
TAB Sicilia turned to Klaus as if she was reading Ash’s mind. “Klaus?! He was a hitman!”
TAB The police woman placed the photograph and ring on the coffee table. “That’s exactly why it wasn’t him.”
TAB “What do you mean?!” Ash was shocked.
TAB “No self-respecting hitman would ever leave the proof of his hit in the coffee. That would give him away in an instant. No, this murderer wasn’t that smart. She even left this box,” she set a small ornate box next to the picture and the ring, “in her room. It’s made specially to carry lead items without harming the carrier.”
TAB Ash looked around the group. Everyone, except Klaus, was as visibly surprised as he was. He couldn’t imagine who had done it.
TAB “She?” Klaus raised an eyebrow.
TAB Ash counted the other tenants. Only one person was missing. Josephine Johnson.
TAB “Who did it? Who?!” Sicilia’s hands shook violently, her nerves seemingly getting the better of her.
TAB “Mrs. Johnson.” Ash’s voice was soft.
TAB The police woman turned to him. “Yes. It was a Mrs. Josephine Johnson from apartment 270.”
TAB “Where is she then?!” Sicilia looked around.
TAB “I’m afraid she has gotten away this time. She escaped while the apartments were under lock down. But don't worry. We have started a nationwide search. She won’t get too far.”
TAB “Why would she do something like that?” Ash questioned.
TAB “I’m not sure. Our best guess is that she is just deranged.”
TAB “That’s not right at all.” Klaus looked to his lawyer who nodded back. “She wanted the girl’s apartment.”
TAB “How do you know that?” The police woman placed her hands on her hips.
TAB “If she just wanted to kill the girl, she could have easily shot or even stabbed her with her own knife. But instead she poisoned her. She didn’t want to cause a mess. And she left the incredibly expensive and deadly ring in the cup. She obviously assumed she would be able to get to it before anyone knew what had happened. Maybe she planned on hiding the body and suggesting that Texas had simply run off. With a girl like that, we'd never know.”
TAB “But why?” Ash was amazed at how sure the man was.
TAB “Isn’t that obvious? She’s a woman who always got what she wanted.”
TAB “What did she want?”
TAB “The girl's apartment.”
TAB “Why?”
TAB Klaus smirked again. “It had a better view.”


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TAB The police were gone, the Quiet Oaks Luxury Apartments had fallen into silence. Ash paced back and forth at the bottom of the stairs, avoiding the spot where Texas had landed. He should have done something, anything. He should have saved her.
TAB No one deserved to die like that, like his—he stopped himself. It was an accident. No one could have saved him. It wasn’t his fault.
TAB Ash moved to a chair and sat. The lights flickered. He grabbed a magazine from the stack on the coffee tabled, flipping through a couple of pages. He couldn’t forget the girl. She was young. Pretty too. She shouldn’t have died.
TAB He turned another page and an envelope fell on to his lap. There wasn’t a name or addressee on it. He opened it and pulled out a letter, reading it to himself.


TAB Dear Tenants of the Quiet Oaks Luxury Apartments,

TAB In light of the dramatic and traumatic events that have happened this morning I, the Quiet Oaks Luxury Apartments Concierge, invite you all to a memorial service for our late Quiet Oaks Luxury Apartments tenant Texas Candi Holiday to be held at 101 Street Plaza.
TAB The original event, a benefit supper and charity event for SiN (Strippers in Need), was an event Miss Holiday held very close to her heart and the event organizers and co-owners of SiN, one Mr. Arthur S. Hole and one Ms. Anita Jacksonoff, have amended their planned event to include the memorial service.
TAB This black tie event will also include a charity drive for SiN’s new branch CoSiN (Children of Strippers in Need). Please read below for a statement from SiN on this charity event.

TAB With sadness in my heart,
TAB Quiet Oaks Luxury Apartments Concierge
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TAB Strippers have big hearts. We all know that. On average a stripper will have fourteen children in her lifetime, just because she loves children. What does that mean for these wonderful ladies who deliver much needed services?
TAB Well, in these tough economic times it means we must come together to help and support these women and their children. At SiN’s very first CoSiN event, we welcome gifts and toys just for the children or money donations.
TAB Please come and celebrate the life of Texas Candi Holiday, one of our biggest supporters, while donating to a fantastic cause.



TAB Ash knew instantly that he and the others would go. How could they not? Texas was one of them.
TAB She deserved to be remembered.


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Current Episode...
An in depth look at the characters from this episode.

eIeventh day has been eliminated this round.
I will miss getting to know about Lucrecia and Chantal's relationship. Thanks for joining!




Aerovinity as Sicilia Burke


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I was really dead set against going to the event; I mean, for crying out loud, I seemed like a pretty strong candidate for who killed her! But, no harm in just going and keeping my mouth shut.

What could I bring for a gift? I had a pretty hefty sum of money from my papers raise, so I decided that would work well. I had more than enough money from running the Laketon Letter to supply this check and keep myself afloat. It was a small condolence for this large tragedy.

Now, what to wear for the event? Something black tie, but still reading as funeral. What if i cut the sleeves off this ugly a** mourning garment?

*snip snip*

Ah! -Squeals- It's perfect! But then there is this little thready part. I know! My mother gave me this ugly grandma shawl, it'll look just right!

*puts it on over*

Perfect! But my tattoo's... OH! Gloves and sheer stockings!

-Puts on gloves and stockings-

It's good; not invisible, but not totally in your face either! Now I think I'll just cinch in my waist, put on a good amount of height and make-up, accessorize and tousle my hair a little, and I'm out the door!

Oh boy, what a party; still had the fun of one, but it had a very dark overtone of "someone is being mourned over by us." All eyes were on me, the rumor already spreading that I was the one who killed Candy. I think that was her name? Something like that.

Anyways, I set the envelope on the already overflowing gift table, feeling all eyes on me; my roommates are nowhere to be seen, so it feels like I'm already in a sea of loneliness. Not until somebody asks me to dance, and we're soon, well, trying, to dance; why didn't I not cut off a good six inches from this dress? I'm seriously getting stepped on left and right. The guy is a great dancer, and I was honored to dance with him. We bowed and said farewell. Never saw him again.

Someone came up to me after I was just standing there, and I don't remember who it was; faces are hard for me as of late. "how is the party going for you?" He asks. Definitely male though. Oh right, I'm not really into men ever since that incident with Fernando.

"Oh, I'm doing allkay... Okay." Words escaped me like breaths *giggle* "I just kind of want to get out of here." A woman in her late thirties looked at me scornfully.

"Why? So you can kill another harmless girl? I hope you get everything back at you, you heartless little wench." And she turns away, a lot of people agreeing with her with nods and looks. Okay, I'm out of here, I say to myself, storming and nearly tripping twice on my heels and bustle. Lets just hope I don't seem to suspicionly... Oh gosh, the word is suspicious!

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Creativity: 6/10
Visuals: 5/10
Total: 11/20

The first thing that stands out is the color choice. So many shades of blue against the black. It just isn't working for me. The white stockings, the hat, and the shawl just aren't working for me. But if I ignore them, this is an interesting outfit. I do like how the story tried to explain every item choice as well.
I do think I'm missing a bit of the characters personality in this though. It doesn't fit when looked at with the older avatar.






0-DCB as Brian Eichmann


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"William Shakespeare wrote:

'But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st.'"

Texas may have been, well, eccentric to put it lightly, she was a friend of all. At least that's what Brian liked to think.

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Creativity: 5/10
Visuals: 8/10
Total: 13/20

There's just a bit too much in common with the first version of him. He's wearing the same jacket but in a different color, shoes with a very similar shape, and the same pants. I could forgive one repeating article of clothing (he doesn't look like a guy who'd have a ton of different pieces of clothing), but this is just skimming to close to that past avatar for me to overlook.
It's as interesting and well done as the original (which looking back on I enjoy more than I remembered). The choice in story is great as well.






la faux pas as Klaus Ranier Zeitung


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Creativity: 7/10
Visuals: 9/10
Total: 16/20

Feels like a formal Klaus. I wouldn't have minded a bit more mourning to him, but I think it fits his character well.
I do think he could use a hat or something on his head to give it some interesting (even just an earring).
Overall he's a success.






eIeventh day as Lucrecia Cruz


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"Texas... You will be missed..." CHANTAL said...

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Creativity: 4/10
Visuals: 4/10
Total: 8/20

I'm not sure I understand. Has Lucrecia decided to take over Chantal's persona fully? Or is this supposed to actually be Chantal?
Either way, I feel like this has lost your unique touches and item choices for something far more generic and uninteresting. I do like that you're playing a bit more with layering, but that just doesn't save this for me.
I feel like this lost what made Lurcrecia different (and what I liked about her).






SilverFalco as Ashley "Ash" Jardine


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Though he had had quite a sizable wardrobe when he was living at the family estate, Ash had left most of that behind when he fled from his past. Though he had enough money saved up to get by, he knew he had to live somewhat frugally from here on. But he did splurge on a couple of things, one being his apartment. After all one's home is where one spent the most time, and he considered it a sound investment in himself. His other investment was in a good suit; Ash knew the power and importance a nice suit could give a person from his time in the world of high society, and so he knew it would be necessary for any future job interviews and other such things. Clothes make the man, after all.

Texas' death had probably affected Ash the hardest out of any of the Quiet Oaks residents. Though he knew it wasn't technically a funeral, Ash just wasn't sure what else to wear to such an occasion. So, he figured he would be safe pulling out the suit he had bought when he had first staked out on his own. Even just putting it on to get ready to go, he could feel himself getting a bit choked up.

Once at the event, Ash just wandered around, lost in thought, silent tears falling occasionally. He hadn't talked much with Texas before her death, but he thought he remembered her saying she liked daisies. Of course if he had really thought about it, he might have realized that Texas probably wasn't one to appreciate flowers, let alone something as mundane as daisies. But that was neither her nor there in his mind at this point.

The teddy bear had been meant to be a gift for the event, but as his emotions started to get the better of him, all he seemed to do was hold on to that soft toy harder. He knew it was no good like this; clearly there was something seedy afoot, and it wouldn't do to show his fellow Quiet Oaks tenants any weaknesses. Then again, he thought, his Jardine mind going into calculating mode, perhaps putting on a show of weakness might be beneficial. Ash quickly scolded himself for thinking such things at this poor girl's memorial, but the Jardine in him wouldn't be persuaded from thinking such dark thoughts; and so Ash would spend most of the night, silent and conflicted.

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Creativity: 6/10
Visuals: 8/10
Total: 14/20

I really like how you used the teddy bear. Without it, this outfit would be incredibly boring. The choice in sneakers is great too.
I think what I can see of the outfit is still a bit boring, but his face, the flowers and the teddy bear offer enough interest to keep him interesting.







Judging Rubric
Creativity (how interesting the avatar and your take on the round is): x/10
Visuals (the character's character, style, and all around visual appeal): x/10
Total: xx/20
1 means awful, 5 means average, and 10 means I wouldn't change a thing





 
 
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