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

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.]

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

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

Okay.

[And he goes along with her motion quietly.]

[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.]

[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.

[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.]

[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.]

[She probably has to order his food for him too, when the server comes. It isn't as though she minds.]

[He certainly doesn't mind either. He just looks up at whoever takes their order with a face that's blank, but closer to contentment then confusion. He gives a few slight nods as Rue makes the order - she must know what he should eat. And then he focuses on looking into her eyes.]

[It takes her by surprise when he does that. The look in them is still so empty, but there is a longing there that she forgot she missed, over a few weeks. The sinister darkness (or worse, the lurid shine of a crow's eyes) is gone.]

[Gone? Gone. Hidden. Buried.]

[Not currently visible in his face, which is what she has to settle for. She just doesn't know it yet.]

You're so quiet.

Yes.

[He confirms. But he looks unsure about it. Does this mean she requires a less quiet devotion?]

Are you thinking anything, Mytho?

I think that I am.

Will you tell me what it is then?

[He goes on slowly, drawing his thoughts up like pails from a well.]

I've been thinking about devotion, and you. And... whether I'm more quiet or less quiet than I should be... towards you.

What? No, you are exactly as you should be toward me. Whoever the Mytho you are is...that's enough.

Okay.

[It's almost like a smile on his face.]

As long as I... fulfill this devotion, Rue.

It's hard to answer that for you. I don't think I know how.

I don't know, either.

I guess you...

[Well, what would Duck say? She seemed to have all the answers for this whole business.]

I guess you should do what you feel like doing.

Okay.

Rue, I feel like...

[He squints for a moment in thought.]

Devotion.

[This was going to be difficult.]

I know.

Okay.

I'll do that.

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

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