accidental video ● fifth reflection

[straying]

[The video clicks on to a very familiar apartment. Yet it seems that the person who turned on the SFC on accident is rather disoriented. As she fumbles with it, the video becomes clear. Saya's apartment, the living room area to be exact. The SFC is set on the table and it catches just a glimpse of an odd sight. Why the hell is Matthew laying on top of Saya on her couch? She's not quite sure either.

And so she can't refuse reflexes, emitting a sound most likened to a squeak and then roughly kicking him off of her. As he falls on the floor with an 'Ow', she wakes up a bit and tilts her head down to look at him. Her hand is removed from the SFC but the camera still manages to catch the rest of the conversation.]

Oh. So I got last and first hit. I'm satisfied.

[Then he lurches to his feet--or tries to. Instead, he ends up slumping to the floor again, wincing.] That isn't fair.

Sure it is. You gave me an opening both times. You need to work on your hand-to-hand combat skills. [She stretches and attempts to sit up as well but fails, flopping back onto the couch.]

[He huffs, propping his chin on his hand.] Catching me by surprise doesn't mean I have to work on my hand-to-hand combat. [He notices something that she doesn't and grins.] Hey Saya, toss me your SFC?

[She complies, carelessly tossing it to him and the camera is jostled as she does so.] Don't go throwing it at an enemy like you did with yours. [a pause] ... we'll probably have to go looking for it now.

[He catches it.] It was a better use for the thing at the time. [He pauses, glancing into it and tilting his head.] Oh, so it is recording. Hello, Vatheon. Looks like the theory is true.

[She sputters incoherently off-camera. There's some ruffling as she slips off the couch and reaches for it.] H-Hey! Hand that over! This isn't how I wanted to make my return!

[He laughs at her.] Well, it's too late for that. Anyway, I'm using it. [He sticks his tongue out at her.]

[There's some grumbling and she has no qualms invading personal space in order to get it back at this point. Attempts to snatch the SFC are go, but she tries to get a message across at the same time.] Ignore this guy, you can discuss the more serious matters with him later. For now- [a moment of hesitation] Well, I'm back. Or maybe we're back, I should say. Sorry if you worried, let's talk later!

[He gives a cheeky grin and cuts off the feed with a click!]

[OOC: JOINT POST IS GO. We'll be hitting you with combos marked with [1/?] so don't worry about comment order.]

Comments

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

Not always. Nobody worried before now. I wouldn't be around long enough for them to notice when I'm gone.

[And even if she brought the subject upon herself, she wants it to go away. They don't need to be so serious after they died. Really!]

Well, nevermind that. You holding up okay? That was the second time for me, but...

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He arches an eyebrow at the subject change, but lets it go. And grins.]

I've never been better.

[It's an outrageous lie, since neither of them can stand up. But it's just ridiculous enough.]

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She laughs at that, but she makes no effort to get up. Gave up on that for now.]

Oh, good. I was afraid there would be some psychological trauma I'd have to deal with.

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[...he's had enough of that to last him a lifetime, that's for sure. But all he does is grin.]

Not this time, sorry, Saya. I wonder if we were eaten, though.

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She shivers, appalled at the thought.]

Oh, ugh! I can at least know for sure that didn't happen my first time. The second time was really bad in comparison.

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't seem too bothered.]

Well, it wasn't pleasant, I'll give you that.

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I bet.

[She's silent for a while, contemplating something.]

... so, what do I owe you for being the cause of your first death?

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[That does take him by surprise, long enough that he looks somewhat serious.]

Nothing at all. It was my choice, not yours.

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[This back-to-back position is comfortable and convenient. She leans back a bit more as a sort of nudge.]

Oh come on. I don't like obscure debts, and I'm gonna keep feeling kinda guilty until I make it up to you with something.

[She laughs a little, trying to make the best of a serious discussion but... her expression sobers up quickly enough. How nice that he can't see it.]

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He tilts his head forward, away from their back to back situation, to hide a bit of a tired smile.]

Live life in your own way, right? Whether it affects other people or not, it is still filled with your own choices, and the consequences are your own as well.

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[... well gee, thanks fore reiterating her own personal mantra. That gets a genuine laugh out of her. Stupid Matthew. She hates how understanding he is sometimes.]

But the consequences of my actions were your death. I can't just forget that.

[She hums thoughtfully and tries to think of a way to make it up for him, but she can't do anything major. Not if she's to acknowledge how he doesn't think of anything much.]

How about I give you some of that information you like so much? It'll be pretty much useless to anyone else, but it's something.

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[You're welcome. The truth is...he does live by that as well, for the most part. And he arches an eyebrow.]

Well, if you're so set on giving me information, I won't say no.

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

It's easier than playing twenty questions about the subject again.

[She sighs and tilts her head contemplatively.]

I mean, you seemed pretty curious about it before. About how I died the first time, that is.

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He considers this and what he knows about her.]

...It was that assassin, am I correct? The one this world would be better off without. And you were playing hero, and he got you while you were distracted.

How far off am I?

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

Ooh, you retain more from our conversations than I expected! Fitting for a spy, huh?

[She laughs and thinks of a response.]

You've got the gist of it, but there's a surprising amount of story to it. I wasn't... really playing hero. Not at first, at least. It was just a matter of staying alive. You'd be surprised that an assassin can come knocking at your door and launch a surprise attack.

[She hums and continues on, as if this is a normal recollection, not the story of her death.]

But I'm more capable than that, I hope you know. There was a little confrontation, I got his name and... the reasons for why he was after me. [Keeping her expression hidden from him, she becomes a bit more saddened at this point.] So it wasn't a random murder or anything, but it wasn't an assigned job either.

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He disregards the compliment and emphasis and focuses instead on the story.]

...So why was he after you?

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

He was angry at me.

[The short, vague answer comes naturally, but then she realizes that... it's probably not good enough.]

Because... I made progress with Train. He used to be so angry and definitely what you would expect of an assassin. But after three months, I got him to change a little. He started smiling and laughing and... [She laughs a little herself.]

I guess his... acquaintance wasn't happy with that, even if Train himself looked a lot happier.

Anyway, it turned into a bit of a chase. It's amazing that he was able to keep up with me and his weapon of choice was a sword. Cut up my yukata. [She frowns at that memory and as she recalls more of that night, she snickers a little.]

There were fireworks that night, by the way. I found it funny.

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

...Ironic, yes.

[He means the fireworks. And then, leaning back-to-back, he quietly begins to chuckle.]

So you made friends with an assassin, and his assassin buddy thought he was becoming too soft. So he killed you.

[His voice is a little bitter when he continues.]

Assassins aren't useful anymore when they can't kill in cold blood.

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She catches that and just hums a little in response. Story time's not over.]

Yeah. I guess, but some of them are happier when they don't have to kill at all.

But well... I managed to put up a good fight, but then these kids showed up. Silly children, wandering away from their families during a fireworks show! He took the opportunity to stab me then, and... I'll tell you, it hurt.

[She sighs and tries to wrap up the rest of the story as quickly as possible. It just gets pitiful from there on.]

He was going to hurt the kids, so I used the last of my strength and pulled the trigger one last time. [She raises her right hand and extends her pointer finger and mimics the shape of a gun.] Then with that last bang I shattered his sword. [She laughs.] The kids got away and I was resigned. He said something about cutting out my heart, I think.

[The last bit is muttered and she's silent for a while. The next part.... she's even more reluctant to tell it.]

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He disregards that first statement. Perhaps it's true, but...he doesn't want to believe it. It's so much easier to consider Leila's killer a monster.]

Such a hero, Saya.

[It's more a fond tone than anything, fond and a bit exasperated.]

...and? He clearly didn't get to cut out your heart. Did someone come and save the day?

[Action]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

... I wish you weren't right so much of the time.

[There's some more grumbling before she sighs and goes on.]

Train showed and punched him.

[Action]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

It comes with the job.

[...Ah.]

Good. It's a shame he didn't do more than just punch him.

[his tone is utterly flippant.]

[Action 1/2]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She grits her teeth and she's irritated enough at that statement that she whirls around and smacks him on the head. Not strong enough for it to hurt, but it's clear that she's upset.]

Stupid!

[She sits on her knees and crosses her arms, looking at him now and she's not at all happy.]

He was going to kill him, but that would've ruined all my hard work! So... [She sighs and and her expression settles on one of contemplativeness.] I stopped him. He was so ready to charge after him and hunt him down, but... that's so ridiculous.

[Action 2/2]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[... she's quiet for a while, simmering down a little. And then she sighs, turning her back to him again and then leaning back with him for support. Better to hide her expression now, she's not sure how she feels about the next part still.]

... I liked the way you put it earlier. Whether it affects people or not? They were my choices, and my consequences.

I had to explain that to him. I had to remind him that it was my choice to fight and the consequence was... the end of my life. But it's alright, it was a very fulfilled life. Met a lot of people, saw a lot of places, made up for lost time...

[A sigh and her story just about ends.]

Died with a friend at my side. I was ready to leave him anyway, he didn't need me anymore. I just hope he hasn't done anything stupid since... like trying to get revenge or anything silly like that.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He takes the hit, but doesn't look at all like his decision has been changed.]

Maybe some things make revenge necessary.