♡ - 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

Mags always looks out for Will

[knavishness]

Will sighed and thought about all the trouble that seemed to follow him since Alice's re-arrival in his life. Yes, he full put this Draub world nonsense on Alice's shoulders since Will was very certain that if he hadn't gone off to fulfill some obligation to her, he'd be back in Storybrook.

"It's worth it to me." Even with all that thinking he's trying not to think of her. "Maybe most is stronger than I am, but I can't live with that nonsense inside. I meant what I said when I told you emotions make you weak, and I don't think this is a place anyone can afford to be weak."

he tries!

[bythewaves]

Almost sharp "You are stronger than you think, Will Scarlet. Would a weak man have tried to fight that serpent, even though he did not know his comrades? Would a weak man have tried to comfort me in my madness?"

Quieter. "I wonder about that, but if you are content I will not press. And there may be many forms of weakness eh?"

"That is powerful magic she wielded." He adds, thinking Dark. "Is she like you?"

[knavishness]

"First off, that was more about me not wanting to be eaten by a giant worm and second, helping you was, again, helping me. We probably wouldn't have done as well if you were off in your madness." Will will never accept that he's anything but selfish and Maglor's comments about him being strong makes him feel more than a little uncomfortable.

"Sure, but I find most can be avoided if folks weren't so hung up on their emotions."

Mention of the Queen being a genie makes Will laugh. No, she'd never be something so passive as a genie. "That's the Queen of Hearts and what she does is more dangerous than a bit of wishing."

[bythewaves]

"Perhaps - and yet you did not have to do either of those things Will." Maglor reminds him. "You could have fled from the worm, after all. And you would have managed - we would have managed - we were out of the forest by then, and a sword arm does not take much to wield." But he'll leave it at that.

"Queen of Hearts?" A small curl of his lip and another raised eyebrow. "A fitting name, it seems. Your world is a dangerous one in general, it seems."

[knavishness]

Maglor's words were still too close to complimenting for Will to be comfortable with, but he figured that if he simply acted as though Mags had said nothing, then this conversation could be saved. Luckily the elf seemed to think the same or at least was being kind enough to drop the whole "good man" talk.

Will did offer a grin at Mags' comment on the Queen. "Oh, I don't know, Wonderland ain't so dangerous if you stay under the radar." Something Will wasn't very good at doing, especially traveling with Alice. "And, word is the Queen lost her head, or finally just got tired of the whole royalty shtick."

Mags will believe until his dying day that Will is a better man than him *FIGHT ME*

[bythewaves]

"Hm, something you are good at Will Scarlet." A small crooked grin, but Will does get one in return. "With that sort of power and a lack of care in its use, tis no wonder someone eventually had enough of her, or she of herself."

A shrug "Royalty is seldom... as easy a burden as many make it." He says, who was once High King.

[knavishness]

"Don't think it was the power she tired of." No, not that sort. If anything Will was betting that she had to leave because of her "student" which was a whole other part of his past with Her that he really didn't want to think about.

He still had to give Mags another grin. "It ain't the responsibility most think 'bout when they're reaching for them royal seats." Jewels. Another source of his problems.

[bythewaves]

"Sadly, very few with that sort of power do." Maglor nods, and snorts. "Those who wish for it are welcome to it. I had enough of ruling a long time ago - the crown is a heavy weight indeed. Although I mark you are thinking of a different sort of reaching Will."

That grin bodes all sorts of mischief.

[knavishness]

"Did you? I mean, it wouldn't be too much to call you King Mags." Will's smile doesn't fall. The others might think that without a heart Will is only half a human, someone unable to enjoy life or the world around him. They were only partially right; friendship was still something he could enjoy.

"Maybe even wish you up a crown. A big fancy thing that's too heavy to wear comfortably."

[bythewaves]

A small answering mischievous grin - there are few who can draw smiles out of him recently, but Will remains one of them.

"High King, if you must use the title" He corrects prissily then shakes his head. "Nay - I left titles and lordship behind me long ago and do not wish to ever take them up again, e'en were it within my ability to do so."

And he snorts softly. "If it were too heavy to wear, one would wonder what it's point was - apart from to look attractive to thieves."

[knavishness]

"Now there's a sight I can understand." Yes a set of crown jewels had gotten him into most the trouble he's in now, but his inner thief could still appreciated something large and shiny.

"Course that don't mean I wouldn't find it enjoyable to see a High King."

[bythewaves]

An amused snort "Well if dispossessed exiles count than you now have." Congratulations?

"But I did not lie when I said I would not take it up again. The crown and its burdens may stay with those who desire them, and they are welcome to it!"