Act 3

[untrueheart]

[Once upon a time, there was a girl who noticed that every single day, she had to track down her dearest love from wherever he happened to wander at the time. He could meander quite far if left to his own devices, which he was, more often than not, because establishing him a 'permanent' place to sleep at night? Had been overlooked.

That's not going to go on any longer. Rue leaves her room in the morning with some serious intent: first to find Mytho, then to convince him to get a room. His own room. ...Somewhere nearby. She has the perfect spot in mind. Of course, she has to find him first, a journey which takes her all over town and back again. Thinking of the only two things he's shown a real interest in doing, and with an eye out for anyone acting particularly odd and emotional, she'll stop a few people she happens to pass with a question:]

Have you seen a white-haired boy pass this way? Or perhaps he was dancing somewhere?

[Once all the hunt-and-find is over and done with (it is a long day), she might be forgiven for overlooking something upon her return to her own apartment. In truth, she doesn't get a good look until she starts to get ready for bed.

There on the living room chair is a pair of terrifyingly familiar black toe shoes.

That is all it takes to turn a frustrating but decent day into a rising nightmare; Rue screams once, turning to run out of her apartment and out of community building seven, as well. Distance, she wanted distance. If she could get far enough away they would not be real.

It is her particular brand of destiny that takes her on a collision course with at least one other person in her flight. Hopefully whoever they are can manage to stop her doing something foolish and irrational.

After all, it's just shoes.]

Comments

[Mytho]

[soheartless]

[I don't know where he is.]

[Mytho]

[untrueheart]

[Neither does she.

It's probably safe to assume that Mytho himself does not know where he is.

So first, Rue checks some obvious places, after not finding him in the plaza doing fountain dancing again. The restaurant, item shop, clothing store...she even tries the clinic on the off chance he picked that door today.]

[Mytho]

[soheartless]

[He is not at any of those places.]

[Mytho]

[untrueheart]

[It's going to be a long day, isn't it.

The bakery is next, and all the buildings around it. When she's outside, on a whim, she watches the rooftops she passes. He's been known to make foolish decisions about heights before, too.]

[Mytho]

[soheartless]

[She might miss him while he's looking up there instead of along the ground. But he's too busy being asleep under a nearby tree to correct her.]

( during the search? )

[inventings]

{ Addie stops and listens out of politeness at first. There's a hint of impatience when she's halted from her walk, having planned out her day to maximize her time to accomplish several things.

Then when the question is asked that is when she rethinks her priorities, having a pretty bad feeling she may know who she's speaking about. }

I am afraid, mademoiselle. I have not seen such a person yet. { A dancing white-haired boy would be an odd sight. Especially for a place like this, believe it or not. Just her opinion. } Would you like help in finding him? Two heads are better than one as some shall say.

It won't be my first time trying to look for someone to help another. { She'll like to think this will be successful this time however. Hopefully. }

(during the search!)

[untrueheart]

[Dear stranger, your walk could not possibly be as important as finding her errant heartless prince. At the offer of help, Rue frowns, casting about with just her eyes. The last time she joined forces with someone to look for him...

It would be better with help, though. It had to be. This woman couldn't possibly know all about the problems associated with Finding Mytho once he'd wandered away.]

I would...appreciate the assistance.

( excelleeent! )

[inventings]

{ Her clothes didn't shop themselves and neither did the groceries. But they could do? Wait since this is much more important. Only God knows what the heck he's doing right now. }

I'm always happy to help out anyone in trouble. { It's what she would do if she somehow ended up getting stuck with this persona she had to play out in any case. Now. Most people in this case would ask where the last time she saw her friend or if she had an idea where he would go if he slipped off somewhere.

But those would be her later questions. Addie wanted to be sure of one thing... } The white-haired boy that is your friend. He doesn't happen to go by the name of Mytho, does he?

[untrueheart]

[Fortunately, or perhaps not, Rue is not the one in trouble this time.]

Yes! Then you must have seen him. Tell me, where did he go?

[inventings]

{ Realizing her mistake, Addie shakes her head quickly and clarifies herself. }

Oh no, my dear! I did not see him today but he is also a friend of mine. { This must be the girl he was speaking about before. He is very lucky to have her if she is this worried for him and vice versa. } Perhaps we can look around... The flower shop? Perhaps he is attempting to look for a present to show his devotion? He seemed very concerned about wanting to do that when I last spoke to him.

A collision course, you say?

[therewerefifty]

[If Makie hadn't been feeling so lost in her own thoughts of dread today, she might have just sidestepped. Instead, she turns a corner onto the street and is nearly bowled over by the sudden weight barrelling into her. It's all she can do to pull the shamisen out of harm's way first.]

wham bam look out ma'am

[untrueheart]

[Rue is slight enough not to cause much physical harm to anyone she runs into; she, on the other hand, bounce-stumbles away and catches herself against a wall, out of touch with her balance in favor of fear.]

[therewerefifty]

[It doesn't take much after the initial surprise for Makie to realise this girl is terrified. Her voice is a little tight-- she can feel another coughing fit coming on. But for now--]

Miss? Is someone chasing you?

[untrueheart]

[Someone is asking her a question. Probably the person she just slammed into. But Rue can barely process it, she can't think past getting away from that room and those-

A detached calm takes over, temporarily.]

No. I was in a hurry. [Laced with hints of 'you should get out of my way', too. Inside her head, Rue flinches. That sting always happened too fast for her to take it back.]

[therewerefifty]

[Makie's own expression schools into blankness at the tone. Though she does cast another look in the direction Rue comes from, she shakes her head slightly, stepping aside with a light cough.]

My apologies for keeping you, then. [It's ritualised courtesy, not exactly sincere. But if the girl needs no help, then Makie will let her go. It's preferable, anyway.]

action;

[ducked]

[ When Rue is out looking for Mytho, Duck bumps into her - quite literally. ]

Oh, s-sorry, I wasn't - Rue! Are you looking for Mytho?

[ ...She didn't know any other white-haired boys, did she? ]

action;

[untrueheart]

Yes. I am. Have you seen him?

[It seems forever since the last time this happened.]

action;

[ducked]

Not today...but I could help you look for him!

[ Everything was better with company, right? ]

action;

[untrueheart]

I've looked in so many places already, I hardly know where else to go.

[Rue looks up, then away.] He...he has been afraid of me.

action;

[ducked]

Afraid? [ The statement startles her, but she quickly understands why. She had returned the fear shard to Mytho, and Rue...

She's not that person anymore. But Mytho, with his fear and devotion only...how could he know that? ]

...I'm sorry, Rue. This is my fault.

[calmbeforethe]

[ Ororo found herself on a late night walk, this evening. Distracted as she was by recent events, she hadn't seen Rue coming, even with how the younger girl was just running off and making more noise than was usual for a quiet, rainy night.

Ororo stumbles back as Rue crashes into her, but thankfully manages to keep them both from stumbling into the puddles around them - at the expense of holding onto her umbrella, which clatters to the ground in her surprise.

It's the last of her worries, however, when she sees how distraught the girl is. Ororo's hands come to rest on her arms, steadying her. ]

Oh-! Are you alright?

[untrueheart]

[Rain. Was it raining when she left the building? Rue doesn't know, and the hands on her arms keep her from continuing to run. Hard, scared eyes look up at the strange woman's face.]

Let me go!

sorry miss vil orz

[calmbeforethe]

[ It's hard miss the fright in her eyes, and all that does is make Ororo hold onto the girl resolutely. ]

Please, calm down. Is something the matter? Are you in trouble? [ Ororo glances up, wondering if someone was chasing the poor girl. ]

[untrueheart]

[Nothing is chasing her. In fact no one else seems to be around at all. Rue struggles a bit more before giving in against the hands holding her.]

What do you want with me?

[calmbeforethe]

Nothing, other than for you to calm down. [ Once Rue settles, Ororo lets go of her carefully. She stays cautiously close, not wanting the girl to suddenly take off again. ] I only want to help, if you will let me. It's not safe, running off in this weather.