Following the delivery of the enchanted harp, Heart had found it difficult to sleep that night. With a memory pulled back up, she struggled to get away from it and the fears that went along with it. She then began pouring through the events that had followed, the ones involving the same soul nearly lost that night. That's what the harp had triggered with just one note put into the air, and now Heart found herself beginning to wonder why it had been that easy. So when morning found her, she was barely aware of it as her thoughts raced on.
As the morning came, there was a rapid tapping on the door. Not the gentle and precise ones she had grown accustomed to from Geoffrey, less concise and sporadic.
Heart jumped up from the grasp of her thoughts and hurried to the door. Her t-shirt had twisted itself around a bit, making her more disheveled than usual as she looked out, "Is everything okay?"
As she opened the door, she didn't see anyone at first... until she looked down, Samantha standing before her in one of her witch outfits. With a great big smile, her tail swished behind her. "Good morning Ms. Flashblade! It's time for breakfast!"
"Did you sleep well?!"
Heart had put a hand to her chest, containing the near heart attack she had just had. Finding a smile, she replied, "Good morning, kiddo. Breakfast? Let me get changed first? I know your auntie prefers kept appearances." She then slipped back into her room for a few moments, before reemerging in black leggings and a teal off shoulder top.
"How's this Sammy?" She was hiding her lack of sleep as best as she could.
"It looks nice!" She exclaimed, a gleeful tone in her voice. She began to rush down the hall... before coming to a stop, turning back around to the duck. "Come on! It's special this morning!"
Heart hurried after the kitten with curiosity tugging her along. When they reached the doors of the dining room, she quickly caught Samantha by her paw and smiled, "Let's fix up your skirts so she doesn't know we were running, okay?"
Heart gave a playful wink while she adjusted the fabric of Sammy's dress, and then smoothed out her own shirt.
She gave a nod, and readjusted her skirt Heart helped her. When they were ready, Sammy opened the door, revealing the dining room. Sitting at her usual spot, Lucille gave the two a warm smile. "Well, good morning there! Ah was worried Samantha got distracted on the way to ya room, though Ah should know better, since today we have the... privilege of having breakfast prepared by her, with the aid of Anton of course."
Heart gave a smile to Sammy upon hearing this, "That's very impressive kiddo."
She took her seat, hoping her efforts were masking her fatigue. "So this is why you were so excited?"
She gave a quick nod, hurrying to her seat. Geoffrey, who was standing by, went to lift the lid off of their plates... revealing some rather misshapen, partially burnt pancakes with rainbow sprinkles melted into a mess on them. Lucille, forcing a smile herself, looked at them. "Why, they look just lovely deary!"
Heart, who had survived many culinary attempts by her older twin, gave the kitten a very proud smile, "They certainly do. I love the different shapes of your pancakes, and the colors are so pleasant to look at." She was genuine in her statements as her plate was prepared.
The kitten smiled ear to ear, proud of her accomplishment, before she began to dig in. As she ate, Lucille would look up at the duck, and gave a curious look. "Everything okay deary? It seems like ya didn't get a good night's rest."
Heart looked to the feline with unease trying to wash over her. With a sigh, she asked, "Is it that obvious?" She had been trying to play it off as though she'd slept fine, but had apparently failed in this endeavor.
Lucille have a little wave. "Oh, Ah just have an eye for detail hun."
"Oh no! Did you have a nightmare?! Mr. Warts protects me from bad dreams." The witchen added in, before shoving a glob burn on the outside and still a little runny on the inside pancake into her mouth.
"Not exactly..." Heart attempted a laugh, "You need to sleep to have nightmares."
She then thought of how to address this, but found it difficult as thoughts swam in her head.
"That...item we brought home, it must have struck a cord...no pun intended," she tried to shrug it off, along with the image of the memory it had summoned. Glancing at her wrist, she realized she hadn't heard much from him since they were in Scotland.
The elder of the two cats gave a nod, and sighed, "Terribly sorry about that hun... Ah do apologize for dredging up any painful memories."
The kitten, picking up a portion of the pancake, gave it a look. "Maybe I should've cooked these longer..."
Heart addressed the kitten first, "They are better than my brother's kiddo." She smiled and took a bite of her breakfast to prove this.
After swallowing that bite, she looked to Lucille, "There are some things I would like to talk to you about if that's okay? If you have some time after breakfast?"
"Of course dear, though Ah do need to tend to a few things not long after."
With that, they soon finished their breakfast and Sammy went off with Geoffrey for her lessons, and Lucille brought Heart to the parlor. With it just the two of them, the heavy framed feline looked towards Heart, "Now, deary, whatever is the matter?"
Heart thought carefully on how to answer, "Madame...that harp...why tempt it's magic and you did? It feels a bit odd someone of your grace and knowledge would slip like that?"
While this had been bothering her...the brief memory tugged at her harshly, "I didn't need to be reminded of that night...and now I can't get it out of my head."
Letting out a sigh, the feline went to a plush chair, and reclined into it. Holding up her head with a hand, she pondered a moment. "Hun... Ah wouldn't put ya in any real danger, but for what happened last night, Ah am truly sorry... however, I did know the extent of the instruments powers, and how to use it with causing minimal harm. Ah've noticed how Fang has been treating ya, Fitz, and his disrespect towards me gave me an opportunity to remind to mind his manners."
"I see..." Heart commented, but was still clearly troubled with the answer, and something else she couldn't put into words.
"Minimal harm is still harm though...and can linger no matter how many times I remind myself that the night it brought up, didn't..." she trailed off, unsure of how to word what she wanted to.
"The only time I remember bring as scared, was when my brothers and I heard about the accident that took our parents...in fact, you would think that would have come to mind when you played that note...but something else did instead...I'm sorry, this probably doesn't make much sense..." she was and wasn't tired at the same time.
Taking a deep breath, the cat nodded, looking to the side. "... it opened up some old wounds for mahself, deary... honestly, Ah do regret doing that... so, ya do have mah apologizes for any harm Ah brought.."
Heart gave a sigh, and took a seat near Lucille's, "I appreciate that...I just want to get it out of my head..." she put her tired head in her hands, trying to ignore the odd sensation that had begun in her chest since the night prior.
She paused for a moment, a slight smile crossing her face. "Well... perhaps there's something that may help distract ya... at least for an hour or so... tell me, have ya seen 'The Young and the Featherless?'"
Heart raised a brow while lightly exclaiming, "That just sounds painful!" She tilted her head curiously, "What is it?"
"Oh! It is the most enthrall television program about the lives of the socially affluent and their sordid love lives! Ya must simply have to watch! Don't worry, Ah've seen every episode, so Ah can explain any details that are needed."
Heart would follow Lucille's gaze to the television as it was turned on. Vague curiosity tugged at her as the program began. She tried to follow along with Lucille's integral information, but found herself lost instead. "There's little loyalty between some of these couples? Or am I just too new to this sort of thing?"
"Oh, trust me deary, these individuals' relationships are rather.. complex shall Ah say? Doesn't help that nearly every other character has an evil twin, doppleganger, or clone..." She replied, trying to explain things to the duck.
Heart's head swam in a different way now, "These sound like twists that would be in a sci-fi series?"
She was trying to understand the appeal of the show, but found herself floundering as lovers turned on others, proclaimed their emotions only to hurt them, and so forth.
"Are they all like this?" Heart asked.
"Oh, not quite deary. This this one, 'The Shield of the Heart', focused on courtly love during the middle ages, with knights swearing an oath of romance to the ladies of their lords... oh... between ya and me, such stuff makes mah heart flutter."
"That sounds a little better?" Heart replied while trying to follow the one being shown to her.
"So you're into the knight in shining armor sort of deal?" She inquired, a bit teasingly, but light hearted in tone.
Giving a playful dismissive way, Lucille let out a chuckle. "Ah suppose ya could say Ah have mah preferences... now... how about ya dear? What kind would ya say ya have the taste for?"
Heart blinked in flustered confusion, "Taste?"
She tried to think of how to answer, or whether she could at all. It started to become clear that she had grown up with two brothers that didn't really talk to her about this sort of thing like a sister might. "I'm not really sure...?" The show was still playing as she tried to answer.
As Lucille awaited an answer, a certain grey feathered mallard came on screen, taking a young woman into his arms and holding her tightly. Lucille nudged Heart. "Oh mah! Looks like we have a special guest today! That's Antonio, and he's Miguel's long lost penpal!"
Upon seeing him, Heart's eyes would shoot wide open. Her voice stammered, "...That's...?"
She quickly had to remind herself that he was an actor, and this was par for the course...So then why did this bother her as he drew in closer to the woman on screen? Why was she watching and holding her breath? Then he paused, and pulled away, "Sorry, but I can't do this..." he stepped back as the woman questioned his character, gripping his upper arms.
Heart watched closely to catch him wince from this, but it was too quick. "Are you...?" Hurt was her question she couldn't put into words.
He apologized again to the woman and began to slip away from her.
"...Duke...?" Heart questioned softly, unaware that she was blushing through her feathers.
"Ooooh... Ah see ya do have a type!~Or at least a crush~ Ya a fan of Duke L'Orange Ah see?"
"Well I. ..that is..." why was it so hard to answer this question? She began to think of her interactions with him, from when he'd first saved her in the alley, to encountering him afterwards, to the incident that had nearly taken his life, and then when he'd helped her with the order of the light. She thought of how excited she was to hear from him, and why she was doing all of this in the first place. Heart had told herself it was to help his cause...but that had only been a part of it.
Finally she attempted again, "Y-You could say that. He's a dear friend of mine at the very least." She hadn't looked away as long as he was on screen. The woman pulled on his arm, and he winced with a forced smile that came off as smooth to viewers. "I think he's hurt?"
"Oh certainly! Last time we saw him, his arm was caught under a fallen tree and he was left in the woods... Ah must say, it's a clever way to work around his... accident."
"No...I mean...he's actually hurt...at least it looks that way," she tried to remind herself he was a famous actor, but something just told her it wasn't that.
"The accident was a little under half a year ago...but he made a full recovery, other than losing his eye."
Duke told the woman how he simply couldn't be what she wanted, that his heart wasn't in it, and that he hadn't known what he wanted, and still didn't. Heart listened to every word of it. When she grabbed for him a third time, he slipped away to avoid her touching that same arm. Instead he offered one last apology, and a caring smile, before walking away.
"Hmm... Ah well, Ah have heard that he was in a sporting accident. Not too clear on the details... he does like to keep his life rather private... which Ah can appreciate." She gave a soft chuckle, gently nudging Heart.
Heart made visible effort not to show the jolt of fear she knew ran through her when hearing this.
"That he does," she agreed, "He is very sweet though, not to mention encouraging to say the least. He's helped me a lot through a few tight spots over the last few months, even after the incident..." she tried to lighten the topic a little, "Did you know that he does his own stunts? He told me it gives his manager a heart attack sometimes, but all those heroics aren't just for show." She was unaware of how excited she looked and sounded.
"My word! Now that would explain his injuries! That does show that he has quite abit of courage then... especially if he's taken the time to help a girl like ya in the meanwhile."
Heart knew she was blushing, but only now did she begin to realize just why she did when he came up. "He was very brave, and every other time he's..." she chose her words carefully, "helped me. Nor has he ever treated me like just another fan or fellow rising star. He's encouraged my singing, but..." she trailed off when she realized how flustered she was. "He's risked a lot in being around me too..."
The cat gave a nod, offering a chocolate to Heart before having one herself. "Hmmm... sounds like ya two are rather close now, huh?"
Heart gave a nod, but declined the chocolate as she felt her stomach fluttering at the moment. She managed to say, "I don't know if he sees it that way. I doubt his fans would be thrilled to hear anything like that from him...but..." she glanced at him as he stood alone on the screen, caught under a darkly lit rooftop set as he pondered over his previous farewell to the woman yelling after him, her voice carrying anger and hurt until it faded out.
"I wish I could help him..." she said before she could catch herself.
The feline leaned in, and patted Heart on the shoulder.
"Ah'm sure he'll be fine hun, and looks forward to the next time ya met up." As she said this, the episode ended on a cliff hanger, where Duke's character was walking off into the sunset.
Heart glanced at the comm on her wrist, wondering over this statement, as well as the possible truth regarding his injury. For the moment, she turned to Lucille and said, "I hope so...So, do you have anyone that catches your interest like in these shows you watch? Maybe Master Stryx?" she ventured in a tone clearly meant to be cheerful in nature.
She paused for a moment, before giving a laugh and waving the suggetion off. "Oh dear me! Hun, while he is a good friend and trusted servant, well... it would be improper for us to have have a relationship like that dear."
"Improper?" Heart asked. She wondered briefly if this concept was one to worry over as well, but quickly shook her head at it. She then added, "I'm not sure I understand why you say that? I know I was just teasing you anyway, but still?"
"Oh, well... he's mah servant, and Ah'm his employer. It would be unprofessional, and the balance of power in the relationship would be heavily towards mahself."
"I see?" Heart replied, though still a bit lost.
Then again, she was very unfamiliar with these sort of matters, and was only now starting to come to turns with her own realizations. For the moment though, she nodded and said, "I guess I see where you're coming from there. I would want to know if someone cared for me with or without status attached." Shortly after this, Heart would slip away to finally try and get a little rest.
That was the plan anyway, until a mail carrier came by with a letter for Heart. The name caught her attention immediately, "Duke?!" As she then tore open the envelope, at first concerned that he hadn't just messaged her.
Inside she would find an invitation of some sort that she began reading aloud to herself, before she quickly realized, "He wants me to go with him?!"
Clearly flustered and suddenly sliding into the room she knew Lucille would be watching her soap operas in, Heart looked to the feline gasping, "I need your help!"
Lucille gave a start at the sudden intrusion, before turning around to the duck. "What's the matter deary?! Did something happen with ya magic?"
Heart thought back a moment and rubbed the back of her neck a bit sheepishly, "Well...sorta actually... I was near a lamp, and the bulb sorta burst...but, that's not what I need help with...!" She then produced the recently unfolded parchment, showing the hand written invitation sent to her to a formal dinner.
Yet there was an odd panic found in Heart's blue eyes as she attempted, "it's all the way back in Anaheim, and I don't know anything about this sort of thing, and..." she started listing off a number of concerns with possibly being needed for a job from Lucille, or not knowing anything about styles that would fit for this sort of thing, and her magic going haywire and causing him trouble, etc. The girl could barely catch her breath between her outbursts of anxiety.
Turning the set off, the feline got up, walking over to Heart, and gave a smile. "It is a good thing ya came to me for help! Trust me mah dear, I can certainly aid ya in this endeavor! Now then..."
With that, she took a book from a shelf, and went to place it on Heart's head. "Do try to keep it balanced."
Heart looked to her very puzzled by this notion, "Is it tome to study for the next job?"
She tried to look at the cover before it was placed atop of her head. She stood perfectly still to try and keep it from falling, ending up catching it instead as it slid to the left.
"Not quite hun. We need to work on ya posture first. That is the initial thing most people will take in, even if they don't realize it. How ya carry yaself is crucial." Lucy instructed, placing one hand a hip while she gestured with the other for emphasis.
Heart did her best to follow these instructions, and the several that followed. Then at one point she asked, "So, is it a problem for me to go? I don't know if you have a job for us soon? What if my magic causes a problem?" This time she caught her breath before she spiraled further.
"As Ah said before hun, ya are free to go as ya please. Ah just keep a room here for ya convience. Just keep our little... expeditions a secret, okay shug?"
Heart gave a quiet nod, not daring to glance at the communicator on her wrist. She then pondered aloud, "I am curious of the secrecy of this, but then again with the order of the light running around, I don't really blame you either. They probably wouldn't see these adventures as helpful."
"Well, hun, Ah really don't think many would be thrilled with what we're doing, despite it being in their best interest. The arrogant and ignorant tend to be that way when somebody tries to help them."
"Or they try to shut it down," Heart replied while grasping at her own throat for emphasis. "I can't stand that they masquerade as heroes the way they do."
Lucille gave a nod, and let out a sigh. "Ah've seen their type a great many times. Trust me dear, they'll be revealed sooner or later, and there will be a reckoning when that day comes."
Heart was silent at this at first, but then began to ponder aloud, "Madame Lucille...I've been meaning to ask you. How did you find out about me? Not many know about my magic since I haven't had it for very long. The only thing I can think of are the notes one of the order's leaders took while they had a hold of me. It was like he was looking for something..." she grasped at the sapphire heart she wore.
"Well, dear... A lady must have her secrets... let's just say Ah have a very extensive network of people who gather information for me. When ya been in this game as long as Ah have, it just naturally occurs." She answered plainly, before pouring a glass of wine for herself.
Heart grew nervous, but did her best to mask it. Carefully, almost idoly, she asked, "What do you know of the Brotherhood of the Blade? The order was looking for them? I don't really know why or anything."
"Oh... from what Ah understand, they're a band of mercenary thieves. Lead by a rather dashing figure who's identity remains a mystery. Ah actually caught one of them... ransomed him off for something they stole that belongs to me." She replied, looking into the crimson fluids in her glass.
Heart prayed that she wasn't blushing and giving him away by doing so. In fact, her desperate plea kept this from occurring.
"That would explain why the order wants them found," she said. She then ventured, "Wait, you had one of them here?"
"Oh yes! One of them caused issues for a job of some of mah past associates... and they captured him. Ah simply ransomed him for the curio Ah desired. Even got a chance to talk with their leader over it."
"Oh?" Heart asked, being sure to sound just generally curious, "What were they like? The leader and his friend?"
"Well, his friend was a blowhard and a fool. Rather amusing how big he thought he was... until he met me. Ooooh.. the way he whimpered and begged for release." A devious grin crossed the cat's mouth, revealing her sharp teeth. "However, the leader seemed to be the honorable sort, so after a bit of conversation, we came to an understanding."
Heart was genuinely intrigued by all of this, but knew very well of the two she was referring to. It was sadly ironic the lengths Duke went through to save the one who would betray him only months ago.
"Quite a difference from the order...their leader, was anything but like that," she brushed a hand over her scarred right cheek.
"Well... don't ya fret none, hun. Ah'll make sure those ruffians don't find ya here." A smirk crossed her face, before she let out a sigh. "Ah will make them regret what they did."
Heart gave a light smile, and then remembered what she was supposed to be doing. "So...I know this gives me outfits and such...but I think he wants me to come as me, without that aura that hides me?...if so, then I am not sure what to wear to this thing?"
With a smile, the matrony feline gave Heart a wink, "Well... Ah may have a few outfits Ah'm willing to part with... may have to have them hemmed in for ya, but, that shouldn't be too much of an issue."
"Are...are you sure?" Heart asked a but nervously, clearly not used to this sort of thing.
"I mean I guess it could be in place of my payment for the last job? Seeing how I'm staying here, I don't spend much in expenses?" It was clear that Heart was quite nervous, for a number of reasons.
Lucille waved it off, with a chuckle. "Heavens no sweetie. Ah already said Ah'm paying ya, so ya can't discourage me from doing so." Tapping her chin, the hefty woman considered for a moment. "Though... if ya don't want to accept it as a gift, perhaps ya can perform a little task for me..."
Heart turned to the Lucille rather inquisitively, "I wasn't meaning to be rude or anything, Madame; but what do you need me to do?"
"Well... as ya may know, Ah tend to retire during the day... and while Geoffrey enjoys tending to Samantha, he does need the day off now and then, so Ah was wondering if ya were willing to watch her one day while Ah get mah beauty sleep."
Heart gave a smile, "That sounds rather fun actually, I wouldn't mind."
"Excellent! Now then, Ah do need to get that shut eye Ah mentioned. Ya enjoy ya day hun, and Ah'll see ya at dinner tonight, and afterwards, Ah can show ya mah wardrobe!"
"Sleep well?" Heart replied, a tad bewildered, but relieved nonetheless at a few things. Though she was happiest to know that in a few days, she'd get to go home for a little while, and she would get to see him again.
