[ The sudden snap of a deer mask being plastered to her face startles her, tied much too tightly against the back of her skull and against her will. Please don't touch me, she wants to say, but the words stay caught in her throat before it closes up again when she realizes people are staring.

Claudette does not like to be the center of any sort of attention; it makes her want to crawl out of her skin, leave the carcass there to be devoured by vultures so she can never be perceived again. Except she, among a few others, stand out like sore thumbs in contrast to the other partygoers dressed in darker garb. The iridescent milkmaid fits her like a glove and the corset is making her feel more claustrophobic than being in a room full of people. She scans the room, sees only a sea of masks and she fully expects a throwing axe to be thrown at her head, but it never comes and the paranoia refuses to leave her anyway. ]

This isn't real. [ She makes no effort to be graceful at her exit attempt, frantic now that she can't see a single generator light flashing anywhere. Maybe she bumps into you, or steps on your feet, or brings you down with her when trips and falls. ] Sorry! I'm so sorry. I shouldn't be here. I need to go–

[ –home. She is beginning to think that it might be a little messed up that her idea of home is a campfire where she waits to die. Somehow, this doesn't feel all that different. ]

[ Later that night, Claudette finds herself dancing with a drink in each hand somewhere in the Great Hall. She's in uncharacteristically good spirits only after someone pulled her in and gave her said goblets. She hasn't had a proper drink in what feels like an eternity. Many eternities, even, and she didn't even have to watch Steve or Laurie die for it. She doesn't realize that she's stepping on your feet, or maybe that she's spilled some wine on your fancy garments because she's too busy actually having a great time (derogatory).

She does snap out of whatever euphoric state she was in when she stumbles into the Banquet Hall however, looking (appropriately) like a deer in the headlights when she sees people in their birthday suits being used as human platters, and others as furniture. Her stomach drops and she's grabbing the nearest pot or bowl or urn to throw up into. Unfortunately, she empties the contents of her stomach right next to you. ]

This is... Shouldn't we free them? Why are they just lying there?

[ Whether someone decides to free these poor people splayed out across various surfaces in all their glory or not, Claudette's final stop (and last straw) is at the Velvet Parlor. She's lured in by the incessant moaning – okay, so she's curious – and even if she knows what to expect, she's still gobsmacked by the sight.

Surely, she can slip past these sweaty bodies to grab a pillow or two, right???? ]

a. [ There is no such thing as fight or flight for Claudette; there is simply just flight as far as options go. Fear was ingrained in her during her time in the Fog, knows that when her heart finally drops into the deepest part of her stomach that it's time to book it. She's not new to this, although this only reaffirms the fact that the universe seems to think she was bred only to be slaughtered over and over and over.

So, she runs.

It's all she knows after all, because she will run for as long as she can and as far as her legs will take her. She might even end up hiding in the pantry, or someone's wardrobe. ]

b. [ Or the Undercroft after she's been caught. Claudette is still alive, but she wishes so badly that she wasn't. Where is the Entity to take her? What's taking the Entity so long? At least there was someone to put her out of her misery.

She feels only the sharp pains of a dislocated shoulder from bracing herself for the fall and that of a broken ankle for that terrible landing. She winces, whimpering when she finally stands to lean against the cold stone wall to search for the exit whether it's a hatch or a gate. Or a generator. Something. Anything so she can wake up from this nightmare. Bring her back. ]

( or lmk if you want to do something specific i am ez and flexible. i'd love to do any of the respite prompts tbh!! feel free to PM me or at ironlass! )