Let's dance in style, lets dance for a while...

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

WHO: Mytho, Fakir, Rue.
WHERE: Dance Studio
WHEN: Monday Morning
WARNINGS: Uh.. that all depends on Rue :D
SUMMARY: After being gone for a week, Mytho is back in dance class as if he had never been gone.
FORMAT: Paragraph.



Mytho was early for dance class, as he always was, ready and practicing long before any other students showed. Lost within himself he stretched, arching back in a slow, practiced motion, seeming to almost be supported by something invisible before coming back up and gliding into the next move. He was utterly focused, unaware of anything but himself and the music silently playing in his mind.

Comments

[insourarmor.livejournal.com]

After receiving Mytho's letter, Fakir had spent the next couple days in a state of indecision. Was he relieved to have proof that Mytho was alive and safe, or annoyed and confused at the letter? And even several days after Duck had confessed to him, the event weighed heavy on his mind.

He'd woken very early and been unable to fall back asleep, badgered as he was by unpleasant thoughts. With little else to do so early in the morning, he had grabbed the little duffel bag holding his dance clothes and slunk off to the studio.

Once he'd changed, he crossed the hallway to the studio proper and opened the door, fully expecting to have the place to himself for at least the next hour. He could only stand stock still in the doorway when he saw Mytho there, safe and sound as though nothing had ever happened.

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

Rue was prone to coming in early for her own reasons, mostly because the unprofessional behavior of her fellow students bothered her. Today, though, she was a little less early than usual, and looking at her, one could see why. Her hair had only been hastily brushed and pulled into a bun, and her eyes were deep set with tiredness and trace signs of crying. But, as worn-down as she looked, she carried a certain energy with her as she strode into the studio, a grim sort of determination.

Seeing Mytho seemed to shatter this all at once, and she found herself backing away from him until she hit the wall.

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

If he was aware of either of them entering, Mytho made no sign, continuing to slowly move through his practice routine as if he were the only one in the room.

[insourarmor.livejournal.com]

Naturally, Fakir shot Rue a look of disgust when she slipped into the room, but her appearance and demeanor held and harsh words at bay. He wondered if, perhaps, she had gotten the same letter. It didn't matter.

"Mytho," he said, clearly and firmly, like a parent trying to draw a child's attention.

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

Rue took only a moment to regain her composure, shooting Fakir her own look, one that contained a little more than disgust. She seemed to be making a great effort to adjust her expression, carefully turning it into a mask of indifference.

"Hello, Prince," she said coldly.

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

"Not Prince. Mytho..." the boy corrected, continuing his practice in seeming slow motion.

[insourarmor.livejournal.com]

Well, that threw Fakir for a loop. He'd been telling Rue not to call Mytho 'prince,' for ages now, but Mytho had never corrected her.

"Not Prince?"

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

For a moment, a look of fury passed on Rue's face. But it vanished in an instant.

"You can't change what you are. I was born a princess, and you, a prince. Do you think you can escape from that?"

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

Mytho slowly shifted to be standing, an oddly serious expression on his face. "I was a prince in the story..." His voice was still soft and almost kind. "But this isn't my story... or yours." He rested a hand over his heart. "I'm not the person I was when left the story... or who I was when we came here... In this story, I'm just Mytho. Not a prince."

[insourarmor.livejournal.com]

"And that's why you aren't going back?" Fakir asked, resisting the urge to glower at Rue. Instead, he looked to Mytho, at that uncharacteristically intent expression.

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

Rue could do nothing to hide her anger now.

"And what will I be, then?" she said, a little desperation creeping into her voice. "What is a princess without a prince?"

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

Mytho nodded at Fakir's question before turning to blink at Rue. "A princess is a princess even without a prince..."

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

"Will I be without a prince, then?" she said bitterly.

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

Mytho gave a small nod. "I can't be one unless I get back all of my heart and return to the story.... Sorry..."

ZUUL?

[insourarmor.livejournal.com]

This was not turning out well. Fakir could tell that Rue was angry, but he could also tell that Mytho was unaware of this. He moved closer to Mytho, none too subtly placing himself in a position to separate the two of them should it come to that.

"But you said that you won't be returning," he said, the words carrying the intonation of a question. "If you aren't going back, then..."

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

"You'll never be my prince," Rue finished smoothly. "Is that what you meant?"

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

Mytho nodded at Fakir again. "I don't want to go back to the story and leave everyone behind... I don't want to be that prince... I want to be Mytho."

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

So, that was his answer. He wouldn't be the prince, he wouldn't be her prince. Even though she'd read the same thing in his letter, hearing it, spoken so assuredly, was even worse.

"I... I see," Rue said slowly. "Then I suppose is is time for me to become what I truly am as well."

Black feathers appeared and whirled around her body, and then settled, revealing Princess Kraehe standing in her place.

[insourarmor.livejournal.com]

Just as he'd intended to do, Fakir slid in front of Mytho, his posture steady and prepared for attack. Or at least as prepared as he could be without a sword to use as his defense.

"Stay away from him, Kraehe."

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

Mytho blinked at Kraehe in confusion. "...Rue...?"

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

"Don't call me that," she snapped. "My name is Princess Kraehe. It always has been, and it always will be."

[insourarmor.livejournal.com]

"Mytho, don't move unless I say," Fakir said, his eyes not leaving Kraehe for a moment. "And you. You either stop this or get out of here."

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

Mytho blinked again, confusion not abating. "You said you were Rue..." he said softly. "Just Rue..."

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

"I lied," Kraehe said, ignoring Fakir. "To make you happy. But I'm done with that now."

She waved her hand gracefully, and a fierce, feathery wind began to blow in Mytho's direction, nearly obscuring Kraehe from view.

KEYWORDS

[insourarmor.livejournal.com]

Without another word, Fakir made a mad dive for Mytho, hoping to rush him out of the room before Kraehe could spirit him away.

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

Mytho raised his arms to try and block the wind, stumbling back when Fakir knocked into him.

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

Moving as if she was a part of the wind itself, Kraehe appeared next to Mytho, grabbing onto his arm.

"Come with me," she said, an odd smile on her face.

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

Mytho looked up at her, eyes wide and almost fearful. "Rue..."

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

Her other arm came around him, as the wind picked up in speed.

"Come," she said. "I won't hurt you."

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

Mytho hesitated, unsure. "But...."

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

Her smile vanished, her grip on him tightening.

"I said, come." Her tone suggested that this was an order, not a request.

[lovemedangit.livejournal.com]

Mytho tensed slightly, fear raising. "I don't want to...!" he protested, trying to pull away.

[easyopentabs.livejournal.com]

"Don't look at me like that!"

She pulled Mytho to her chest, feathers whirling violently around her. In an instant, the both of them were gone.

[insourarmor.livejournal.com]

Suddenly, Fakir found himself totally alone in the studio, standing in the fading whirl of feathers.

"Damn it," he muttered, shuddering with rage before stalking out of the room. This was bad; Rue was angry, now, on top of being desperate. He had to find them, and tell the others what had happened.