#dhd mask

[niuniente]

*raises hand* I know that the death-heads can only remove their mask once a year and can only be seen by family or spouses, but what makes the mask stay on for so long?

Oh no, there's no time line for how long they need to keep the mask on. When Pearl sees Grimm for the first time without his mask, she notes to herself that Grimm renewed his mask 3 months ago for their wedding day.

The mask can be renewed as often as the Death-Head themselves like. Even weekly, if they wish (and I imagine can afford it - the paint has to be pretty expensive and I don't think the organization provides their employees with more than a certain amount of face paint and soaps per year - if at all).

I imagine the mask would stay pretty well on for 3 months or so, needing a little touch ups during that time.

[niuniente]

Question. It's a rule that DHs have to wear black and white skull paint. Is there a rule that they can't wear other face paint/makeup (colors or otherwise) as long as it's not on the skull? Also, if they have extra features (like two sets of eyes or something), does the skull need to encompass all of them, or just the main pair, assuming the eyes are laid out in a way where some of the eyes would be outside the shape of the skull paint? (I'm mulling over some ideas for... something)

The skull paint is their (only) work attire and it must fit the work outfit code; black and white, and always the same skull shape. Each faction has their own guidelines how to paint the mask. You may differ little a bit from it if the mask is otherwise recognizable. Examples as this unnamed lady from North, who has drawn an extra line on her chin, and Joon's messy East style.

You can also see from these that North requires Death-Heads to paint their eyebrows while East doesn't (if the eyebrows exist close to the eyes and can keep the mask shape good).

As it has to be a human skull shape, then two eyes painted are required. I don't think there are many monster race with multiple eyes (that would be an extreme mutation, and such an extreme mutation ending up to be a Death-Head is a small chance only) so it's really not an issue in the canon world.

For fandom Death-Heads, the world is free!

Please see @dhdfaq for mask information.

[niuniente]

Random stupid question, does the "only family members are allowed to see DHs without their face paint" include like, family by marriage? Because I had the mental image of a DH (bonus if they're a guy) wanting to get married without their face paint, so they wear a thick black veil (and the guests and officiant are all family to one side or the other) so once they say their vows and the marriage is official, the DH takes their veil off.

(This may or may not have to do with me being sleep deprived so my brain goes weird places)

Side note, I know you've said that DHs can wear whatever clothes the want, but I feel like there's an unwritten rule that you must be goth/punk/grunge/ect to join and it's great (I imagine black leather is probably useful in that line of work. Hides bloodstains and it works as light armor). Though I'm curious if there's any "DHs that don't look like DHs" out there. Like a bubblegum pop/Barbie girl/that girl from the "what is a Bimbo" videos is the first thing to come to mind, but also like a frat bro/gym rat or whatever would be interesting. I know there's actually a lot of overlap between goths and Barbie Girls on the grounds of "my desire to commit to this look outweighs all the weird looks I get" so I feel like one of them might fit right in lol

Interesting question about the marriage! All public events - as a wedding is such if we think about a marriage with catering, priest, band etc. - require that Death-Heads wear a mask. They're not allowed to go out without their masks. Only exception are the HQ office workers like Pearl and Kahamet's elite mask-free Death-Heads.

As taking the mask off and repainting it takes time, I imagine it's easier for the Death-Head getting married to show their married partner their face the next time they need to redo the paint.

Of course, the couple doesn't have to be married. Miranda is painting Joon's mask, so as they live together, I think it's considered good enough of a reason for Joon to be seen without his mask by Miranda. They did break the law with Alrick, as Miranda saw him without his mask.

As for Lou-Lou, I'm not sure would she be allowed to see Alrick without a mask. Possibly, as they've grown up together but if he was to officially remove his mask in front of Lou-Lou, I think Alrick would need to send a request for that to Rena. If Rena approves, the mask can go for Lou-Lou and if not, the mask stays on. (Of course, nothing's stopping Alrick doing the same he did with Miranda and just show himself or his photo Miranda took to Lou-Lou).

Death-Heads can dress however they want, including bubble-gum barbie style. I just draw that kind of fashion which comes naturally from me, and dark colors are good for black and white comic. Also, I don't want to draw too complicated outfits either, as drawing them takes so, so, so much time. Also, while the colors are black in the comic, it doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t be something else when colored :3

But there are no other rules except that masks need to be painted to match the faction guidelines (exception is Dio who wears North's paint despite being in East), and that the masks stay on.