Second Shard [Video/Action] Backdated to the 10th

[soheartless]

Once upon a time...

There was a prince who had lost his heart. Every day, he would roam the lands in search of it, longing for those feelings that he once possessed. His journey came to a stop when he found his heart in the clutches of a raven. "I'll return your heart to you under one condition," she said to him. "You must promise to love me and only me." The prince had no choice to accept. As he took his heart back and accepted the raven's hand, she became a beautiful princess.

But the prince's heart itself felt betrayed by this choice. He had never wanted to love a raven, regardless of her beauty. And his heart was left wondering if he could truly love anyone with his entire being...

[Video]

[At some point after regaining his first heart shard and coming to recognize it as devotion, he finds himself unsure of his next move. And he flickers on the journal feed with some uncertainty - it was difficult to operate. And he stares into the feed uncertainly before speaking.]

This feeling that I feel...

It's the feeling of devotion. I recognize it.

Tell me. When you feel this feeling... What sorts of things do you do with it? How do you express this devotion?

[Action]

[Afterwards, he wanders through the village, seemingly aimlessly. He spends some time loitering by the fountain and perhaps spontaneously does some ballet. But all the while, he's also seeking Rue, as well as Princess Tutu.]

Comments

[action]

[soheartless]

Okay.

[He raises her hands slightly - as some type of comfort.]

Do you have a choice?

[action]

[untrueheart]

I don't know anymore.

[Duck said the story had a happy ending. That she would save him and then he would, in turn, save Rue herself.

...But who would get to be happy after that?]

Not about loving you. I have no choice in that, nor do I want one.

[action]

[soheartless]

Oh.

Do you know if you feel... the emotion of devotion as well?

[action]

[untrueheart]

Of course I do. I want to be devoted to you as well.

[action]

[soheartless]

In that case...

Devotion is something we both feel.

[action]

[untrueheart]

That's right. [It's so easy to fall back into the pattern of dictating what Mytho does and thinks while he's with her. And look where that led the first time.]

[action]

[soheartless]

[He nods.]

What should I do...?

[action]

[untrueheart]

[A new thought extends itself from her heart into her head. It begins: what if?

What if this time, she helped him? What if he turned to her instead of Tutu because here, she has a chance of making things right? What if she spurns his feelings again and really does lose him as a result.

Well. That last one isn't so new.]

What else...do you want to do?

[action]

[soheartless]

I don't know.

I just want to please you.

[action]

[untrueheart]

That's what you always want to do, even when you want nothing. [Maybe, just maybe, there is enough affection in her voice to make up for the sharp edges and bitterness.]

[action]

[soheartless]

I do?

[action]

[untrueheart]

[Is he sure that wasn't the shard of asking too many questions instead?

Rue sighs. If she is meant to be different here, or to try to be (what good is trying if you know you will never succeed?) then she ought to answer him with the truth. No matter how deep it cuts her to bring it forth.]

That's... [Her throat closes around the words almost at once. To look at him...he would never know if she lied, not right now.]

That is what I tell you.

Re: [action]

[soheartless]

[There's certainly no desire for knowledge in his questions. Rather, just a refelexive confirmation for all that which he doesn't quite follow.]

I don't know if I understand.

[action]

[untrueheart]

I don't know if I understand either.

[Her hands tighten around whatever part of his they happen to hold.] I want to...help you.

[action]

[soheartless]

Okay.

You can help me.

And... to devote myself... I should help you.

[He says with a slight headtilt, as if seeking confirmation.]

[action]

[untrueheart]

There is nothing I need help with right now.

[If she insists it hard enough, it will come true. Isn't that how it works in stories?

Maybe for the heroes...]

But...thank you.

[action]

[soheartless]

[He just responds to that with a nod. If there's nothing she needs, he'll just... be there. And hold onto her hand.]

[action]

[untrueheart]

[A feeling of a different sort prompts her to study their joined hands with a frown.]

Mytho, when is the last time you ate anything?

[action]

[soheartless]

[He raises his head as if trying to remember.

But his silence itself speaks wonders.]

[action]

[untrueheart]

[That's what she thought. A nod, and she tugs on his hand.]

That's what we're going to do now.

[action]

[soheartless]

Okay.

[And he goes along with her motion quietly.]

[action]

[untrueheart]

[He's attracting unnecessary attention with all this dancing in the square anyway. This isn't the Academy.

Rue takes him to the restaurant, choosing a table for them that is cozy and out of the way and edging toward romantic.]

You have to remember to take care of yourself. [She knows his ability to do that will come back with his emotions, but who knows how many of those there are here? And she'll need to keep an eye out for one specific one.]

[action]

[soheartless]

[It's hard to tell the difference. But he sits himself down at the table, and he takes in her words before responding with quiet acknowledgement.]

Yes.

[action]

[untrueheart]

[Whether she likes it or not, there is no Fakir around to do things like this for him. To get in the way. Rue reaches across the table for his hand.]

[action]

[soheartless]

[Fakir's not here to guide him. Instead he has Rue, whom he currently feels nothing but devotion for.

He quietly, wordlessly takes his hand. He doesn't think at all about the reason they were brought here.]