Danse · Macabre;

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?

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.

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.

[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.

Mn~ Fakir~ The City has been so generous to supply me with the missing moments of your life, my uselessly shy brother. You haven't told me half of this happened, neither did you, Ahiru. I'm disappointed. Look what I found this morning:

There are better ways to declare yourself to a lady. Must your sister teach you basic manners?

( NOT IC CUT )

A warning notice to all the poor artists who decided to adorn our majestic Opera Abandoned with their eyesore messages. Dare to do it again and I will find you and make you paint it exactly as it was using your tongues as brushes. Fakir could make himself useful for a chance in writing this. Hmpf. There is a lack of respect in this City when the medium citizen behaves like an uncultured savage.

( Private//Cursed )

(ooc; the link is OOC. SHOWER BRB).

What a stupid day to celebrate and it's graced by a curse. Hmpf. Typical City nuisance to play with our affections and change them to the most ridiculous whims. Mn~ Thinking over it again, at least I'm not the only one who had the date of love ruined this year.

Ahiru, come here, I need to see your Sleeping Beauty routine. I expect you to not be cursed, Fakir, because you must come as well.

As for the other eager lovers of the Opera Abandoned, keep your hands off each other for today. You'll thank me tomorrow.

( ]Private[ )

Hmpf. There are still savages barbarians in the City crowd. I hope I don't mind any damage to my clothes once I finish to wash them. Ack. Why did you have to sweat so much? Just because you were wearing my tutu doesn't make you a prima donna, I take you looked silly when you practiced ballet inside it.

There's so much fuss about men wearing female clothing but not so much about us getting male garbs? The Earl said the former case is far worse, though I don't think there should be a difference colored by his masculine perspective. Girls who appreciate their maidenly charms aren't thrilled to get sweaty and filthy manly tatters.

At least I successfully avoided my Prince yesterday. He couldn't see me like that. I'm clean and properly dressed now, Mytho, you can come out. We have to practice the basics together.

(ooc; Never bothered with those tributes. She forgot Mytho is gone. OSNAP. Link IC).

( Darkness there, nothing more [Introspective log] )

Hmpf. Here I am: alive, healthy and uninjured. You can stop making a fuss about me now you have forced me to relinquish my privacy.

Oh. And the less you ask about you-know-what, the less likely I would disappear again.

[Clicks]

--ards? Guards! Where are you? This has stopped being funny! Come out! We must look for my Prince! There must be an entrance to that wretched City somewhere! I refuse to surrender. My husband needs my presence and I... Hurts need his.

[Rushing steps on the grass, clicking on the dried leaves]

What is with this forest... Mn... It doesn't look like the woods that surround our castle. Where is everyone? Hmpf. There is mud everywhere. Stupid nuisance.

[Silence, a few minutes after, a worried murmur and a gasp]

I am truly on my own?

[Inhales deeply, clears throat]

Does anybody hear me?!

(ooc; Without the ticking, she doesn't recognize the City. SHIN clued her in. Audio for journal. ETA: Neko, Rue wants to surprise Mytho.).

Why are people "dancing" again? Hmpf. I assumed the curses would leave that to the real artists or the truly talented after that contest last month. If anybody even thinks to take a bite of my Prince or myself, I will gracefully shove my ballet slipper in your mouths.

Biting? What a stupid idea... What is this curse about? Promoting unsanitary habits once more?

I admit I enjoyed myself during this Halloween, even though Mytho and I were cursed to become our costumes (once again -- I thank Hikaru and Kaoru for them). That was an alternative romantic meeting we have. Regardless of the circumstances, I fell in love with him again and so did he. I know.. This sure tells how strong our bond runs. I didn't eat a lot of candy, bad for my teeth and my dancing silhouette. I heard poor Kaoru was haunted by framing ghosts, what an insulting brand of slander. Are you better?

The holiday was an entertaining distraction and it ended. The ballet classes would renew their normal course after today, Ahiru and Fakir must already show progress in Sleeping Beauty for the sake of the corps. Or I am wrong, mn?

Filtered away from Fakir;

Fakir didn't only forget about Ahiru, but also about Rosette. Who else slipped from his memory since his return?

( Private: Cursed )

Since Fakir has returned to us to be our Best Man, my Prince and I have no reason to postpone the ceremony. Our union would be the Thirteen of this month. The day we met for first time years ago. No other date would be more perfect to come together. My "birthday" is just two days after our meeting. That was the date "Rue" was born as far as I am concerned now and ever. Hmpf. I'll finally turn seventeen. With any luck, the curses would be minor nuisances and not as cruel as last year ones.

It would be a combination between civic marriage and a traditional wedding. There would be bridesmaids, rings and other while Mytho and I sign the papers. Speaking of the paper work, is there a prior requisite we should take with us?

After we are husband and wife, there would be a small reception for all our personal friends at the Opera Abandoned.

Where are my bridesmaids? Hmpf. They should be practicing in their high heels! Have you finished their clothes, Kaoru? Let me see them when you do.

We'll have flower requests for your store, Doumeki.

I can't believe we finally come together. This is the happy ending I wanted, I have no doubts when I feel so overjoyed! I love him. He loves me. It's time for the darkness to lose to the light.

Except there is another problem now...

What a nuisance. Just when I thought everything was going well after Mr. Cat did that trade.

Private to Fakir, Cursed;

You don't remember Ahiru? Fakir! What's wrong with you? Why are you acting like a complete moron? Do you like to see her in tears?

(ooc; Ahiru = Maid of Honor. Bridesmaids = Sarah, Rosette. And I don't remember if Raven as well XD; *lame* Up to you Raven mun!).

...Is there some kind of moronic curse today? Because I was heading to the stage for the Cóppelia rehearsals at the end of straight corridor and somehow I ended up walking all the way to the beach. There is sand in my ballet slippers and that is fairly annoying. Hmpf.

So what if I got a little distracted thinking about the upcoming performance and how handsome Mytho is and how perfect our wedding should be and how beautiful my gown must be. Then I laughed when I pictured Rosette and Ahiru wearing high heels I wouldn't get so lost.

The sand is being a nuisance, but the moon looks.

Oh Oh, come here, Prince. Would you like to join me for a moonlit stroll in the shoreline? What I am asking? Of course you do.

(ooc; Victim of Crowley's ploys. Comment Log to whoever is in the beach/Mytho(?), journal to others).