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

[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.]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

You didn't have a plan.

[Not an accusation, just covering the facts. Still, she doesn't seem upset, just... tired with a bit of confusion.]

Now I'm all for listening to instincts but you really should've done everything necessary to stay alive.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

I had a goal. It was nearly as good.

[He isn't about to enlighten her. Instead he simply closes his eyes, smiling slightly.]

I messed up. That's all there is to it.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

Your goal wasn't very well thought-out then.

[... for some reason, that irritates her. So smug when she's upset! How dare he-]

Yeah. You messed up in making the decision to go back.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[A pause, and then--]

Anyway, it's all in the past now. Why are you worrying about it still?

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

It was a week ago for everyone else, and maybe two hours ago for my memory. What are you talking about it's in the past?!

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

According to my definition of 'in the past', two hours ago and a week ago both fall into that category.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

Too early to write it off like that. At least give it a week and a half before it's not worth talking about.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Why dwell on it? It won't do either of us any good. We just need to learn from our mistakes and move on.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

But we still disagree on what your mistake was.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

You don't know that for certain. Don't jump to conclusions.

[Even if it is the right one.]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

My assumptions with you have a fair chance of being on target. [... and just now considering her words, she laughs.]

Don't know what it means that I can follow a thief's thought pattern, though.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Hmm...It means that you could be a decent thief, if you put your mind to it.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

Only decent?

[.... wait. That shouldn't be the focus, should it-]

Well, good thing I didn't choose that path.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Yes. Only decent. You're too soft-hearted to be a good one.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's the closest thing I'll ever get to a compliment. [She laughs.] Well, right back at you. Makes sense to me now, I guess.