untrueheart | Act 2

[After a confrontation with her (former? Were they ever?) friends, and several failed attempts to sway people to the side of the spirit of shadows, Rue ran away. There was no one to tell and, as far as she knew, no one to come looking, either. Even Twila abandoned her as she ran, south down the same path she’d taken into the village not three weeks before.

You see, the failures were hers. It was Rue that denied the influence of something that wanted her to turn others to her will. Its will. Nobody would know that she ran, of course, because she hid. In the same small forest dwelling that she first used, with its stock of unlikely to spoil food and its proximity to the lake and river. Running had no point if she just came crawling back again the next day, trying to appease…something, anything that would accept it.

Now, some days later, she is completely out of food and the slice from Mytho’s sword isn’t getting any better. It seems she has no choice but to return to the village proper and figure things out from there. The messages inside her journal indicated that they were working on some kind of solution for those still “possessed”; maybe they’ve found it by now.

The walk seems much longer in her current state, hot and tired and unsure of what she will find when she gets there. Rue remembers seeing and hearing about a clinic, and she thinks she should get there, but can’t seem to manage how. Or where, for that matter. When she reaches the village edge she wanders between the houses, keeping to what shadows exist.

Until she backs straight into someone, that is.]

[Later, after the escapades and the slinking around and, above all, discovering that a great deal of the village was “normal” again, she sits in the quiet alone and opens her book with intent for the first time, writing in shaky letters with her weaker hand.]

Is it always like this? Strange changes that turn everyone against each other? [A pause for anyone watching, but one that won't register later.] What did she want from us?

[[ooc: All avenues are, as usual, open. Which means! The 'someone' in the action bit isn't designated, it can be anybody. It can be more than one body but please only living (animate, you know) ones.]]

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[He hadn't been trying to wake her - just to see if she was awake. Even though that itself had a chance of waking her to begin with.]

Several hours.

[If it was hours, then at least it hadn't been something enormous like days. Rue lets her head fall into her hands, surprised that it hurts much less now to do so.

This isn't like her at all. It was the, the spirit's fault, showing up and ruining everything and making them fight. When she'd just started to get used to seeing him like this again!

Thoughts like these are easier than wondering why the light could cut her so badly, and why the darkness wanted to save her.]

[Mytho sits, watching blankly at her general state of being. And he tilts his head curiously. She doesn't seem to be resting anymore. Has she finished resting?]

[It's still hard to think. Something swims to the top of her awareness all the same.

At least he isn't a crow.]

What else do you know?

You were hurt.

And you had to be here sooner.

Sooner. Why?

You were hurt.

I know that. [She knows the other answers too.] Mytho...please listen to me. What did D- Tutu say to you after...we fought?

[DTutu. Is that the way her name is supposed to be said?]

She... she did not want me to hurt you any more.

And she... [He squints, focusing, frowning. It hurts a little to focus on such memories, when he wasn't living another's emotions.] she told me what I should be feeling is sadness and confusion.

But you don't, do you? Not...the way you did a little while ago.

Right now, I don't feel anything.

At that time... I felt. I felt... the spirit's feelings.

So did I. But I meant...I meant when we were at home.

At home.

[He repeats uncertainly.]

At that time...?

Do you have...any feelings like that? [When she reaches for his hand, it's a weak grasp and she gets his sleeve instead.] Any pieces of your heart at all?

[The tug on his sleeve - normally it would be to guide him somewhere, but she's still stationary. Could if it be... his hand she wants instead?

He lifts his hand to hold onto his wrist, while looking at her.]

No.

I don't.

Do- do you want them?

I don't know.

Right now... I don't feel any strong inclination for it at all. [But he also doesn't feel anything at all of course.]

But I can remember... wanting them.

[Whether she wants it to happen or not, her head is going to land on something - his shoulder or the pillow again.]

If they were here, would you want them back once more?

[He does move slightly to try to catch her on his shoulder.]

I don't know.

When I had them... I wanted them all.

I... I trusted in... in Tutu...

[Of course he did.

Even though it is probably some long-practiced reflex by now, his move to catch her still makes her feel...like there might be something. That he really ought to have what he wanted after all.

Except for the part where he would become- that. The Prince of Crows.

Her head is whirling internally again. Who said the heart shards would even be here? What if he just stayed like this? But if they were...

If they were, she would have to do everything she could to keep his love from him. Even though it would mean she could never receive it.]

I want to go home.

[And he puts his other arm around her, closing his eyes.]

Okay.

[If you say so, Rue. Bring us home.]

[The silence in the next minute is almost solid.]

Will they let me? Or am I meant to stay here?

[As much as she wants to spend the rest of her day in a willing embrace of Mytho's.]

I don't know.

Can you... go home?

What do you mean? Home to...to the Academy? No, we're trapped here.

Home to where you want to be.

Oh.

I didn't know that you were trapped here.

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