video ● eleventh reflection

[straying]

[ FORWARD-DATED TO THE EVENING OF THE 23RD. (As tags will be slow for a while after.) ]

[There's a click as the feed starts and Saya hums a bit. She looks a bit tired but there's nothing about her demeanor that specifically tells that she's been haunted for the last couple days.]

The eve of Christmas Eve, guys! I figure most of us are pushing back our holiday plans considering everything that's happening, but I've found the most reliable mailman, so I hope some of you get your presents! Is everyone managing with your ghosts, though? I had one of my own but I haven't seen him lately. Then again, he always had that habit with disappearing. But if you ever need a place to crash or someone to talk to, you know where to go~

[She grins cheekily. Though suddenly her expression is confused.

What was that chill?

Will you continue to destroy others, witch?

The air is electrified. Everything is tense. Every fiber of her being on edge. Him. That voice. That insult. Only he would- Only her murderer would.

The broadcast is left forgotten as she whips around in her chair, her back to the SFC now as it lay on the table, entirely neglected. Because all at once, she's forgotten. Forgotten the curse, forgotten the ghosts, forgotten everything. Only remembering that she is facing the man who took her life.

Nevermind that this voice is only in her head.]

H-Hey.... I-I liked Train better. Why are you here? I don't want to- to....

[--to die again.

Her voice shakes, much as her frame does now. All the worldly experience that she exudes in her posture and confidence has been stripped from her now, just as she feels that the world has been yanked from underneath her.

Train Train Train. You don't even deserve to say his name, witch! He's not here to save you now. And truly, I will not fail to cut out your heart-

She leaps to her feet and knocks the SFC off the table in her haste. It clicks off. There will be no audience as she loses her mind.]

Comments

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[They run~

As per usual.

When they reach the end of this line of buildings, Matthew takes a sudden right, jumping to those buildings. Ah...the center plaza. They've made good time.]

Thanks. Glad to see they're appreciated.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[Following after! And once she notices where they are, she hops down and starts counting on her fingers. Don't mess her up.]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[...He's curious.

So he follows, but he doesn't say anything, merely watching.]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[Calculating... Calculating... Calculating...

AIRPUNCH.]

Hah! I won!

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[...And he is amused. And also bemused.]

What did you win?

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[AND WITH THE EXACT SAME GESTURES AS THE CLIP I SHOWED YOU-]

The race! You passed me three times, but I passed you four! So~ I win!

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[.........

.........]

You play by odd rules.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

When you have no destination and no rules, you need an odd way to decide a winner.

But the fact is that I won~

C'mon Matthew, let's go get some milk.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

I'll give you that. You won this time.

[He grins.]

Sure, sure. I would've been concerned if we didn't.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

Starting to look like every time, huh~?

[A laugh.]

Good to see you've caught up with the program.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Not at all. I'm sure I'll catch up soon.

[ffff--]

There's nothing wrong with milk after a run.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

We'll see about that one.

On the contrary, it's perfect after a run~

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Yes, we will.

[Snerk.]

I'm sure you know all of the milk places by now.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She laughs and they arrive at said milk place.]

I assume you do, too.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Thanks to you, yeah. I never considered them very important to find before this.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[Grabbing two bottles, she tosses one to him and hums.]

Ridiculous! Milk is always important.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He catches it and laughs.]

I found some other things more important, really.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She's already started drinking, but she's curious. Consider that raised eyebrow as encouragement to go on.]

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs, drinking his own milk. Sorry, Saya~]

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[Rolling her eyes and then chugging down the rest. As she finishes, she gasps for air and laughs.]

That hit the spot!

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[He has not quite progressed to chugging his own. Instead, he stops, grinning.]

It always does for you, doesn't it?

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She beams right back.]

Hence why I say milk is amazing.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

Just like a cat, Saya.

[sweeperesque.livejournal.com]

[She seems surprised for a moment. It's... at the same time not what she wants to hear right now but still reassuring.]

Right back at you.

[redcloakedthief.livejournal.com]

[A smirk.]

I'll win next time we race.