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

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

...Hope doesn't change anything, either. It's just...hope.

[But he says nothing about the revenge bit, because...he wonders sometimes. But he can't convince himself that it isn't necessary. If Jaffar were there, he would probably attack him then and there.]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

That's what you want?

[...and he falls silent.

Was that what Leila wanted of him, at the end?]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She laughs a little and nods confidently.]

Of course! He's still young, it's stupid if he'll let me weigh him down for teh rest of his life, which I hope is long and healthy. My death isn't his burden to bear.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[...He doesn't respond, simply leaning his head back and sighing quietly.

He doesn't want to talk about this. But where this is normally where he would jump ship...he can't. Not like this. He's stuck.

So he is silent.]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She glances over to him and again, she's confronted with a set of choices. Keep pressing and see what happens, or back off and figure he'll admit it on his own later.

... it doesn't take her that long at all to decide.]

Well, there's your info. My first death, the whole story and the necessary background details needed for it to make sense.

Remember my death isn't your burden to bear either and you're not allowed to kill anyone for my sake ever. [A pause and then she laughs.]

Not that I think you care enough for that, but covering all my bases.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He shakes off the melancholy and forces a grin, even if she can't see it. It can be heard, right? Best to be as exact with the facade as possible.]

I'll keep that in mind and leave the revenge to Naoya.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[And so the whining begins. Let's bring things back to 'normal'.]

Don't remind me. He seemed so angry. I'm scared of what's waiting for me when I call him back.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Probably a further lecture, while he tries to cover up the fact that he cared about your death. That would be my guess.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

Right. Caring. What a pain.

[She sighs, but doesn't deny that she thinks the same, though she wouldn't put it quite so bluntly.

... and she notices something.]

You know, you make for a nice cushion and all, but I don't think I'm interested in taking a nap in this position.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Well, feel free to stand up, dance around some, and find yourself a bed to sleep on.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

I know where my bed is, thanks. You should lend me a hand so I can at least get up and fetch you a pillow and a blanket. The couch is yours again.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

This is going to be interesting. Can you stand?

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

No, but if I have the energy to hit you a few times, I figure it's at least worth a shot to try at something more prodcutive.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head, grinning still.]

Well, here goes nothing, then.

[And, with the aid of the couch, he pulls himself up to a standing position. He stands for a few seconds, and then collapses back onto the couch with a 'phew', sitting.]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She laughs at that, wondering just why they're so tired. It's quite... irritating. And then she figures that if she's to get things done in the short time that she apparently has to stand, she'll need support.

... good thing her apartment isn't that big and has something to hold onto at regular intervals. Using the couch as leverage, she's off! ... and clinging to just about everything to keep herself from falling over. It's sheer force of will that she will not look clumsy in front of Matthew. :| MORE MOCKERY DO NOT WANT. She's still heard as she enters another part of the apartment.]

Let's never do this again.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

[He just sits, leaning forward, arms supported on his thighs.]

It isn't worth the aftermath.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[The sounds of doors opening and closing and eveeeentually she's stumbling back, still holding onto tables and what-not for support before she finally makes it back to the couch and flops next to him. Except this time around, she has a familiar blanket and a pillow set, nonchalantly tossing it to him.]

Not at all.

[Leaning back into the cushy couch with a sigh.]

... I'll move to my room eventually. That took way too much effort.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He just grins, placing pillow and blanket to one side and returning to his original, seated position.]

I wonder if we are this drained for a reason. Not a punishment, but a consequence of some action.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

I wasn't like this when I arrived. [She pauses and thinks. Oh. Wait. Naoya cured that, didn't he?]

... no, that might be wrong. Hmm... maybe.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't say without more information anyway. But it all leads back to the Church and that coral.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

... you were joking about going back, right? At least, until we figure out what's happening with the surveillance system in this place.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He flicks a quick, amused look at her.]

Of course. I'm not suicidal.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

Double-checking. Recent actions haven't shown you to care much about your life.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[...]

Dying hadn't been part of the plan.

[Rescuing her had been. He had failed that much, at least. Fitting, really.]