Danse · Macabre;

This is here for the benefit of my current Princess Tutu characters. Those being:

- Professor Cat (looksforwife)
- Rue aka Princess Krähe (princess_crow)

What is this for?

♥ To contact me for something characterization wise you believe iffy and are afraid to tell me so over AIM (Larisa Thessaly) or email (thess.fan.of.hellsing@gmail) concerning any of these three characters alone. Anon or signed up. Comments are to be screened. I'll know and if you want a reply, I'll try to give you that (and unscreened if you want me to). OOCness, stagnant development, inconsistency, unfair info modding, probable godmodding, etc, etc. None of this are done in purpose, but I'm human and I can easily make stupid mistakes. Want to fix them up.

♥ Rl vored me and I'm unable to thread/be active/get you back for a plot! Too of that AIM is just being an ass too. So this will be a message center and heads up! Link me any important stuff I missed.

♥ Anyone who's interested to play Professor Cat (and KNOW the canon), dooooo ping me. I'm more than willing to have him in hands of another so I can avoid playercest. Rue's not for trade, sorry.

♥ Cookies?

[The feed flickers to show a medium sized hole in the ground of the Graveyard. The edge of the hem of a formerly pristine gown is stained by the dirt. Rue collapses, knees shaking weakly, with her disheveled black hair falling tangled with mud and grass while her other hand grips at her golden crown. She's still spitting out the the taste of death from her mouth, looking slightly alarmed as she turns to address the camera.

She just can't believe what close has that been like to be buried beneath the soil. How trapped she has been without any Prince rushing to her rescue, how she has to struggle to survive alone in the end. Because she has to return to Mytho who is waiting for his Princess in their real kingdom. Her. Rue is, however, proud, catching her breath, she asks with only a noticeable quiver.]

A-Ahiru... Fakir? Somebody?

(ooc; Action for whoever is around! Voice/Video to the others!).

Ack! It was supposed to last longer! Some magical box. Hmpf. I should have known there has to be a small print clause.

...Hello again, City.

[There's a 17-years old girl dressed in a puffy princess gown on the steps of the Opera Abandoned.]

The anonymity was lifted after midnight. ...That was the first time it happened. I suppose a change could be good. I predicted a plot twist.

Revealing curses yesterday as well. Was I right about the theme? Those affected couldn't hide their actions or inner thoughts of the moment. What would be next? Another of those curses we speak out our mind without thinking?

I want to tell my friends I am-

But enough of the City, I want to ask something maybe personal to some: What sort of fairy tales do you like the most? What is your favorite fable?

If you consider Tuesday curse, this one is less of a nuisance. Instead of stripping us of our privacy, we are fully unrecognizable. What is this month about? Falsehoods and truths? Identities? Hmpf. As if I care. I am just glad to know that we have left October behind.

Kaoru, Rosella, Doumeki, Jun. I--

...

What is that noise about? There had to be vandalism under the guise of anonymity.

( Private: Thoughts )

Yes, I did it. I stole the hearts. Surprising, isn't it?

[It seems to be a dark spot in the underground, only light shining is red, red glow of hearts, sometimes they flicker and take the appearance of the people they belong. She's not looking at the camera, she doesn't want to show her face, full in grief and shame. Her arms are still shaking.]

I didn't realize I kept these with me when I left them to Princess Tutu. I thought I had returned them all. Their owners or friends could retrieve them, I will return them. I know what is to be without a heart, too.

[She pauses.]

Why did I do it? Maybe because I was cursed, no, because part of me always wanted to do it, but I can always stop myself. The curse just took away my choice and my control. Because I wanted my friends, all my friends, understand and be close to me. I would have returned their hearts after I made them understand. [She chokes here, because she knows what that implied: taint them as she has been tainted, as she had tainted Mytho.] Then surely, I deluded myself, they would come with me to Mytho's kingdom. We could soothe our pain together, we would fight the darkness better if we were many, instead of two.

Because without my Prince, I can't continue.

After the first hearts were taken, it was no longer about what Rue could have wanted, but what Princess Kraehe craved for. The hunger for hearts took over. That's why "I" kept thieving, out of control, targeting perfect strangers. They loved and "I" wanted that love for myself, I yearned for it.

I will only apologize to my friends and to Todd because I targeted him because he's a friend's friend, even if I'm not proud or innocent for the other crimes, because I don't feel guilty about the strangers attack. Do I feel bad for everything? I do. And, of course, you're all angered about this, so I am because I am sick and tired of being toyed this way. Go ahead, take your anger at me, I deserve it. I'm enraged too, at this City, at our writers and at myself for being so foolish and weak. You can hate me, who would blame you? I already hate myself.

But I don't want hearts. I just want... to not lose the people I love again.

I hope none of them were hurt while they lacked a heart. You had no idea what I was going to do, at least none of them-

You have no idea how unforgivable it would have been.

...

I'm sorry.

( Dark Magical Girl Cut )

If you consider yourself unlucky in love. Think again. It is pleasant to know that after everything you went through for the man you love, he returns your feelings, off we ride into our happy ever after in his kingdom. What a better ending than becoming Mytho's Princess? Then this City tears me from his arms, cages me away from him.

This City brings him from the past, heartless, and staring me with a blank look in his eyes as he repeats he loves me because I told him to. He leaves and my heart aches at his absence, even though it hurt worse to see him as a puppet directed by my strings.

There's the best part to come, indeed the plot thickens and how. My Prince returns to me, with his full heart and his love, he proposes and we marry because I would never deny him, then he leaves me months after that. He leaves and returns without memory of being here to propose marriage again, to celebrate another wedding, to depart in the same manner.

[Her voice turns sharper in her bitterness, she laughs to choke up the sobs.]

I lost the two wedding bands, the two engagement rings and the reminder how this place taunts and baits me with a happily ever after that won't come: how it rewinds and repeats again in a cycle that only fills me with an uncontrollable pain and anger. Maybe I do deserve it because someone like me couldn't have been the Prince's true love. It's just like my "Father" said, I was simply not born to love and be loved by anyone; I thought I had challenged that Fate.

Love hurts the most when your heart is tainted like mine, even joy and happiness are shadowed by despair. Hmpf. I loathe this month and this curse. I want to come back, but I don't want to leave my friends. Why I can't have both?

FML.

Is there somewhere else I can buy ice-cream? Hmpf. When I tried to purchase a scoop from those rude vendors in the Square, they asked me the most ridiculous prices. "The price we charge you for one is to eat ice-cream". I don't know if my sense of humor is lacking.

And another asked me a price I wouldn't pay even for this nuisance craving. This must be my "welcome back" curse.

Forget about my Prince for one day! Hah! I'll have the ice-cream and Mytho. They ignore that what I want, I take, by force if I must.

What...? [The video shows a dark landscape, the shadows of the trees vanish when illuminated with the starlight. Rue pauses, picking up the skirts of her white princess gown that makes a contraption to wear in a desolate wilderness. Her red eyes become frightened with every passing minute, hand closing over her chest.]

This isn't funny, Prince. Prince! You may come out, the joke is over! Did the blood...again?

[She shouts and demands, ignoring the growing suspicion she's no longer in the Kingdom. She puts her hands on her hips and stands proudly and on the tip of her light golden slippers.]

Hmpf. Who put a mountain in the middle royal forest? Your witchcraft is merely a nuisance. A true Princess isn't afraid of witches. You-

[The ticking.]

Y-You.

[Her eyes widen, lowering her face. The ticking meant only one thing.]

City?

(ooc; Audio/video/Action is ok /o/! Also this was before the curse? XD; And bedtiemz <3)

Just how much of that nuisance we should endure? Hmpf. I want every single mark, tracing or sticky paper put onto the furniture, walls, windows or doors from the Opera Abandoned removed by tomorrow. Scrub them for hours, I couldn't care less how long it takes you, but I want them out of my sight by the time of my morning ballet practice.

I should have spoken before about the curse before that one, it made me remember a story, about red shoes. A girl that stops being obedient and prides herself from her beauty and dancing is punished by making her art her curse until she's humiliated by her shortcomings. Her prize? To die. Beware of the dancing, red shoes. That story disturbs me. Is that supposed to be a happy ending? Nobody warns about the black shoes. The shoes of thorns and obedience that makes you fearful and eat away your self-esteem until there is nothing left but a cowering pitiful shadow of yourself. Those are more dangerous. Never dance with black shoes.

...Mn... Not everything is irritating this time and keeping in the story vein... I'm slightly proud that you outwitted Snow White and didn't eat my apples that day. What if you did? Why some of you were about to take my offer? I would have messed everything again!

]Fakir and Ahiru[

Have you seen him again? Drosselmeyer? You are spending so much time without me. I am supposed to be happy for them.

]Private[

Another friend has deserted me. But I tell myself that Kaoru is happier with his brother.

When would be our turn, Prince? The truth is that I don't want to face you without... my rings... What a bad Princess I can be, enduring curses that make me want to curse my friends with our taint, Mytho. I am nothing but shameful.

Wasn't today one feverish summer day? Mn~ To all my dear friends from Opera Abandoned and those who stay outside, I brought something that would alleviate the heat:

Most assuredly fresh and delicious from the market. Eat freely~ Tutu Ahiru and useless knight Fakir, specially you two, you have practiced so much this morning. You can take as much as you want. They are my treat.

]Nekozawa[

Do you truly worship the darkness? Because the darkness demands her tribute and has little patience. If you don't as I say, you will be out of favor. Rejected by light and darkness, what would you do?

( ]Private[ )

(ooc; Rue doesn't really hate Nekozawa, she finds him annoying, so she sees him as ally/minion instead of friend. ( Don't eat the apples! )).

[Rue had taken a minute from her practice after a sleepless night, sitting and listening to Camille Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre as she closes her eyes, only for a moment, at one of the Opera Abandoned spacious studios.]

Black feathers...

[She murmurs as she recoils from her seat]

Ahiru? Fakir... Don't be useless laying just there. No, this isn't happening. This isn't happening.

My... [shallow breaths] Prince? My Prince! T-There's a hole in your chest. What did yo- [horrified gasp]My hands! What did I do?! I... Father, no, I'm not a raven, you aren't my Father. You are a LIAR!

[Her breaths steadies after she wakes, agitated, black feathers swirling around her pale face. She straightens, unamused, turning off the music]

This nuisance. Hmpf. I hate these curses and this City. Won't those writers think themselves clever for this trite torture? Stop shaking. Don't give them that pleasure. One cannot relax for a single minute.

Hmpf. Let's not talk about it. Ahiru has spoken enough on behalf of everyone else. She speaks so much in such little span of time. And I can't remember what happened.

What else can we do? Ladies. I must go shopping for new leotards. I don't know what I did with all my dancing clothing and my engagement and wedding rings... Where did I place them!, thus I need a new one. Rosella? Ahiru? Miss Akiha? Hiyori? Miss Kara?

I would appreciate your advice too, Kaoru. You have a respectable eye for good feminine fashion.

]Ahiru + Fakir[

What can we do? Wait again, Fakir? He'll take us down one by one! If you won't write, teach me how to do it. One of us needs to end this satire. Hmpf. I will show him a tragic ending.

I lost my rings. He deserves nothing but eternal torment.

]Private[

I'm scared, Prince. I can't fight this without you. He ate my heart while he took away my memories and my rings. The rings you gave me as proof of our love. Without them, I feel naked and vulnerable. It hurts, Mytho. I only want to dance with you again.

I won't let that insane old bat ruin our happily ever after. Nothing will stand between us, because I... I will make sure the obstacle meets a messy end.

(ooc; Still thinks Dross was behind it NOTHING will convince her otherwise, despite the evidence Dross' covering up to her. ALL private entries are public. Ditto with strikeouts. Also, consider this placeholder for four wall this Saturday too :D)

Father wasn't a liar this time. How clever of him to make me lower my guard like that. It feels different to have your heart devoured from losing it. It still hurts... Mn~ That doesn't really matter anymore.

Ahiru. Take my leotards and tutus. They are yours. You are almost my size. I don't care about dancing.

(ooc; Shugu Chara! plot victim, timely to be confused).

Although Rosella spoke of marionettes and puppeteers, as tempting that allegory is, I wouldn't say it fits. In my opinion, characters in a story describes better what happened during the past supposed curses. Ink is subtler than strings attached to your limbs; we can always glimpse the threads glimmering at the light, we can see them and struggle against them, but what of something written in a book somewhere? Words that control our actions and feelings? How do we know to distinguish our reality from fiction? How do we know we are not following a plot from somebody's creation?

Hmpf and even if it's so awful to feel that way, some people prefer to consider Fate a natural part of their lives. I would never want to be one of them again.

But what has changed? Against the stereotype, I know not all witches are wicked, but it felt extraordinary cathartic to boot them out my home last week. They dared to claim to be my ballet tutors. What an outrage! I apologize for the unpleasant smell during that evening, I was... sincerely acting against my sensibilities, using a very barbaric artifact. I don't remember its name. May someone tell me? Maybe I should acquire it, heavy as that was, it was very helpful. I took a photograph before midnight:

]Scan[

]Fakir + Ahiru [

Is he here? Past days... They say it's a curse but after Monday, I don't believe it. I can't dismiss this feeling so easily. You believe me, don't you? You know something is wrong.

Prince, where are you? I am scared without you.

Edited: ]You better stay away from my friends and family! I am sure you thought yourself very clever to injure someone who has their back turned at you. Although my brother is a moron to give you the benefit of honor.[ If he would have taken up my offer to help him.

Frilly domestic clothes, Fakir? I'd thought you liked ducks be... [soft whistling snore] Honestly, where does that noise come from? I heard it last night too. Hmpf. I had seen green things crawling out from the underground trains and some suspicious lights in the sky today. What a nuisance. The City is louder than usual, at least this is not another invasion. The stewards were not an improvement from our puppeteer "deities".

I will let anyone know that as one of the judges of the swing contest, and unlike Blue, I have an eye sensitive for aesthetic care in dancing couples. So, be sure to-[This track begins to play.] What is it now?

]Private to Ahiru[

Ahiru, do you know anything about... witches?

(ooc; Turns up Suspiria is a B-movie to some. The Opera Abandoned is moar sinister today. She's doing the dumb cursedthing and wandering in the dark places ._.

Deleted provocation after chat with Fakir).

As Fakir promised, he didn't make such an useless Prince in this performance. Hmpf. I hope those who attended to this show were less disappointed by the lack of professionalism of the titular couple. If my Prince and I were here, we would have replaced those amateurs on spot!

As Miss Yuuki informed, Autor's portrait has appeared the Hall of the Missing. I saw it when I took Shin the other day. His friend, Goh, is also gone from the City. Doumeki, did you know? I know you and him were close friends.

Why I'm still here? Why? Everybody is leaving! What if I am left alone again? What if Ahiru and Fakir come back and I remain miserable on my own! I don't want to be alone!

Rosella spoke of a dancing contest that has caught my interest. Mn. There is so little that does these days.

(ooc; Bed!).

They are here... At least that dog is prowling around, begging for lemon cakes. Lemon cakes! The Earl's suspicions must be right...they have returned. What do they want this time? They demanded blood tributes and great sacrifice two years ago, holding our worlds as hostages. How could I forget the pain they put us all through, even our brave patron deities went in hiding and volunteered us as lambs for the slaughter.

Hah! [Long bitter laugh] How couldn't I notice? I am becoming as distracted as Ahiru. How clever you must all be. This is an anniversary? Would they demand the same every two years? Is this a ritual? Why they remain silent! What do you want from us? Speak!

Why can't they leave us alone? Isn't being trapped in a satire like this enough punishment? Prince...

(ooc; Brb Birthday Dinner out :) ).