♡ - Heart of the Matter || Open to Both Courts

[knavishness]

Video of A Memory

It's a rather peaceful scene that appears in the locket. Woods filled with the sounds of nature and mushrooms that might make you grow or perhaps shrink. In the middle of these woods sits Will, waiting and clearly worrying over something that is beyond his control. This is a Will who still has his heart and still feels as deeply as anyone can who has found true love. A rustle of leaves and his excitement shows, only for his smile to fall as he sees who appears: The Queen of Hearts.

"Will Scarlet I presume?"

Their interaction doesn't last long, but her words have rebroken a heart that had nearly mended at the idea of being reunited with his love. Whatever hope he had was taken from him and the pain that he feels is simply too much. The idea comes to him in a flash. The Queen of Hearts alone has the ability to fix what she broke and so he asks:

"I know what you do. I know what you do to people's hearts; I want you to do that to me."

It's a request born of pain and desperation. Now heartless, Will is off to become the man he is in this world.

{ooc: video of memory}

Comments

voice

[knavishness]

[He doesn't answer for a long time. There's no embarrassment or even shame at having something so intimate revealed to this new world, but that doesn't mean he immediately wants to talk about what was shown.

When Will finally replies his voice is calm and he holds the attitude of one who doesn't care that his secret is no longer so secret]

Poor? I'll have you know that this leather jacket cost a pretty penny.

[Did he mention he was a thief?]

Don't go worryin' about me; got my own Alice in enough trouble. And on that note, love is nothing but a weakness and that's on a good day.

voice

[digophelia]

You are of Wonderland and I am still permitted to look after you.

[ How she says it denotes that it is in both a protective manner as much as it is destructive. The red realm has yet to run out of its weirdos, apparently. ]

I don't care if you are not the knave I knew before. Love gives one strength and meaning.

[knavishness]

[He hears that tone and he'd be offended if he didn't agree that Wonderland was full of weird and probably did need looking after]

Yeah, I'm afraid you're a bit late for being my hero. 'bout 27 years give or take a few.

[There aren't too many calendars in the Enchanted Forest]

Really? Seems like love gives folks nothin' but a lot of trouble. Trouble with queens, sorcerers, genies, oh yeah, and doctors. Most trouble I had 'til me Alice showed up was a few wanted posters.

[digophelia]

I particularly don't care how many years have passed. I have defended Wonderland, well beyond falling in the rabbit hole.

[ She doesn't care, she will do it whether he likes it or not. That much is clear. While her relationship with the red queen has always been strange, she will not allow the red queen to die out, not completely. Especially now, since she had been the one to rejuvenate Alice's memory. ]

And so has grief, anger, and greed. Emotions are emotions. If I were to say to you that none of those did not come without trouble, I would be a fool. It's better to feel and not become a complete doll, knave.

[knavishness]

Don't really feel those either.

[Except for Lizard, but even those feelings of grief were short lived without a heart]

Also don't think I'm all that doll-like. Plenty of folk get on just fine as they are, heart or no heart. Not that any of this matters since I'm here and my heart...ain't.

[digophelia]

Well, why not? Why doesn't it matter?

[knavishness]

Why does it? Why's everyone seem to think that this makes me some sort of non-person?

[digophelia]

Because you have lost part of yourself and that is very sad.

[knavishness]

Still got me mind, and some would say that's even more important.

[digophelia]

Is it? How can you be so certain of that?

[knavishness]

Look Alice, I know who I am, an' no matter what the Queen took out, I'm still me, only better.

[digophelia]

Then why not go back? Do you fear it?

[knavishness]

Don't fear much of anything anymore, an' don't see any reason to go back.

Don't you like me as I am?

[digophelia]

I am not sure; I pity you, in some way.

[knavishness]

Pity? I think I'm a bit insulted.

[digophelia]

Well, I simply don't care! You deserve better than that. Or any of this.

[knavishness]

You seem to think you know me, when you really don't. I'm fairly certain that I know what's best for me and whatever situation I had back home was just fine.

[digophelia]

No, I do not know you, but that does not mean I cannot hope for something better. Your safety matters to me more than anyone else, truth be told. There is not another person from Wonderland here.

[knavishness]

Didn't you say your Knave lost his head? [Will was horrible about remembering details when he didn't care to] No offence, but with that sorta track record...

[It's not really fair of him to ignore her; she's obviously lonely, but so are a lot of people in this world. Besides, it almost felt like he was betraying his Alice which was a very confusing feeling when you didn't have a heart to sort things out]

Look, I'm not a fellow worth caring for, not really. There's lots a folk who you should look out for in this place. Folk who deserve it.

[digophelia]

Oh, no, he didn't lose his head, he nearly did! The queen of hearts would often order the execution of others for absurd reasons, but the king would later pardon them. I cannot say the same for the white king and queen and the rest of their realm. Queensland remains intact.

[ What's left of it, anyway. All the more reason why Will Scarlet is much of an importance as much as anyone. ]

Yes, a lot of good that's done for me so far, really. Can't even talk sense into some, let alone smack it into them.

[knavishness]

Lucky for them the King still had his own head then. [Everyone in Wonderland knew that the King of Hearts didn't keep his too long once the Queen really took power]

Don't got no White King or Queen in my Wonderland. Probably be just as stuck up as the rest we got.

As for the rest of the folk there and here, while a good smack don't hurt none, mostly you just gotta let people come to their own minds.

[digophelia]

That is not easier said than done when they may have no minds to begin with.

I would not count on that. If anything, Mr. Maglor is very much like the white king.

[knavishness]

You mean your White King is over invested in the well-being of everyone 'e meets?

[digophelia]

Well... yes. He was.

[knavishness]

Was? I'm beginning to think you're better off here than Wonderland, although given the current situation in my Wonderland, I'm thinking everyone is better off here.