straying | video ● fourteenth reflection

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video ● fourteenth reflection

Quick word of advice: be careful! No, I mean it. I don't want to hear any of that tough guy [her voice drops an octave as she imitates some gruff bravado] 'I've got it covered' or something silly like 'You're overreacting!' [she snickers] Better safe than sorry, ladies and gents.

Oh! But that's not what I wanted to take care of here. I thought it'd be about time I took care of this so... [A soft mew comes from somewhere offscreen and Saya laughs. Then standing up from the couch and when she sits back down, she has this cutie in her lap.] Say hi!

[Saya seems to be amused as she gently takes one of the kitten's paws in hand and waves towards the camera of the SFC.]

Motz, Vatheon. Vatheon, meet [INHALE] Matthew Obi Train Zen. Or Motz for short! Don't let the names fool you, she's much better behaved than any of them.

[Sticking her tongue out playfully- obviously directed at the aforementioned dudes. Snickering a bit, she seems quite content.]

So if you drop by the apartment, don't be surprised to see her. Or maybe come by with the intention of seeing her- she's a good girl, promise! Though I'm not about to say no to any help taking care of her, either. Shirayuki's got my back, but I've never had a pet before... [A thoughtful pause and tilt of her head, was there anything else...]

Hm, I guess I should wrap this up now. [Sobering up a bit, she smiles again.] Everyone, make sure you take care. I could name a few people that I'm especially concerned about, but... you know who you are. Call me if any problems arise. See you all later.

[a salute and the feed ends with a click!]

[OOC: For

redcloakedthief

countrybeloved

ninjaservant

sweepered, feel free to tag in with action! But know that when you do, Saya and Shirayuki will tag you back seperately. o/]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's silent, then, playing with the cat still, as if it takes all of his concentration.

He is curious...but he's not going to ask.]

[... she's not sure if she wants to leave it like that so she'll take a chance.]

We haven't played the question game in a while.

...We haven't.

[A tilt of his head, and--

Well. He trusts her. So.]

Ladies first?

[Let's see, they've covered acquaintances, friends, lords, romantic interest...]

Relatives?

[No specifics. She knows very well not to make assumptions here.]

Maybe. I honestly have no idea.

And you?

Never had time for me. Nice people though, I'm sure.

[A laugh and she absently pets Motz.]

Then... you grew up mostly on your own, I take it?

That's right. That's where I picked up most of my trade. And when.

[He learned to be a thief young.]

...They never had time for you? So how did you grow up?

Cynically. Lonely. Upset. [... she doesn't want to talk about it, but this is Matthew. She can deal.] Moved around a lot, basically. Orphanages, foster families, distant relatives... [A wave of her hand. You name it.]

But I get that. I used to be rather fond of the five-finger discount, too. [A wink and she laughs, lightening the mood in the only way she knows how- being herself.] But... No mentors? Old friends?

[He nods. It makes a lot of sense.]

I see.

...Heh, not really. As kids, we would sometimes band together for survival, but it never lasted long. It was more a fight for survival than anything. Really, I was pretty lucky; Ostia is a big place, after all. Lord Uther found me anyway.

[...]

...When did you lose your memories?

[A hand absently goes up to the back of her head as she consider that. When...?]

My memories start at 10 years old.

You're luck's one thing you've got going for you. [A bit of a laugh.] Lord Uther... How long was it before he found you?

[He wasn't expecting that. A blink.]

Ah. Do you have any idea what happened?

[And he chuckles, shaking his head.]

Don't I know it. But it's hard to say. I don't know when I first ended up on the streets. Ten years? Eleven? Either way, it was about that time when I got caught.

[... she's quiet for a longer while, a contemplative look on her face. She's said it before and all the evidence points it to be true. She knows he won't treat her any differently... but it's as if she doesn't want to risk telling an untruth.]

My parents... had a lump of issues on their own. Not exactly... the most controlled people. That's all that I heard about them. I think they must have been nice otherwise.

[She bows her head a bit, immediately speaking in their defense without even thinking about it. It's an automatic thing, as if she has to convince herself. Because otherwise, she may very well get upset.

A sigh and she picks up Motz then, bringing the rambunctious kitten into her lap and idly toying with her.]

So little Matthew wasn't nearly as skilled, hm? Did you get taken in after that?

[He allows that. He's sharp enough to piece together what happened for himself, most likely--but he won't ask Saya to taint her own "memories" of her parents, despite everything. He can't ask that of her; it wouldn't be fair.

So instead he is silent, letting it pass, and moves on.]

That's right. It was then that Lord Uther gave me a choice. I could become a spy for him, or...

[Hand chopped off, probably. That was the most common punishment for thieves, he knows. Either way, he shrugs.]

It was a clear choice.

[...]

So when did you become a sweeper, then?

Legally? Fifteen is the age where you can get a sweeper liscense. I got my hands on a gun around thirteen, though. Started developing the Reflect Shot at fourteen... So somewhere around there, I got the idea in my head that the world is a nice place. [A faint smile.] But it just takes some consideration. Helping people came along after, and I became a sweeper when I found out I could get paid for it.

[A nod. So that's what happened. .... She's almost afraid to ask the next part, but...]

You met Leila around then?

[Cats and their curiosity.]

...That makes sense.

[He nods.]

It explains why you're so good at it, too.

[He understands dedicating your life to your career. And with that, he pauses, thinking.]

It wasn't that soon, no. I'm not sure when she entered the employ of House Ostia, but I had been working for my Lords for a year or so before I met her.

Well... I wouldn't say I'm all that good at it. Anyone can be a good sweeper. After all, the only thing you need is a genuine desire to help people.

[A confident smile- because really, that's how she lived her entire life. And she doesn't regret a thing.

... she's also keeping track of Matthew's progress concerning Leila and she's quite satisfied with it. Unsure of what to ask in terms of a relationship, curious as she is, she'll make the sole comparison she can.]

Scale of 1 to 10- 1 being not at all and 10 being an exact copy- how alike was your relationship to the one Shirayuki and Zen seem to have?

[:3]

...Though it would require some skill in apprehending criminals. That's what I meant.

[A pause. This is...painful territory, but at the same time, at this point he likes speaking about Leila. He does miss her. But missing her and moping over it wasn't all too productive. He is rather certain that she would want him to smile honestly--not fake.

But a scale of 1 to 10? ~~They each say the other's name when they die, does that make it a sappy 10--~~]

Not at all.

[He looks pretty amused at the comparison-- and then he decides to elaborate.]

We would compete often. She was...a very talented spy. But other than the missions in which we worked together, we only rarely saw each other.

Nah, dine'n'dashers are easy prey. [Slightly frowning, you can tell she does not think them all too high on the crime foodchain-] Pick your targets well and anyone can do it.

[Look at how impressed she is. She wonders idly if Train was like this right after she died- mopey at first and apprehensive to talk about her. Still, she nods and you can tell she's interested in the topic. It's hard to imagine Matthew all that close to anyone!

~~Self-awareness, what is that?~~

... but she can't let him get away without some teasing-]

Romantic~ [Clasping her hands together and a dreamy sigh- .... before she busts out into laughter.] But it sounds comfortable either way.

[He chuckles at that, shaking his head.]

I take it you didn't just go after these "dine'n'dashers" though.

[He blinks, and then grins wryly, shaking his head.]

She wasn't one for nonsense or silliness, Saya. Leila was...always so grounded. I mean, she had to be, to be a good spy. And she was a good one.

Well of course not. Too simple! The crime syndicates were my favorite. Take the leader down and you can pick off the goons one by one after.

[Ahh, fond memories.

She's trying to connect the description of Leila with the image of the woman who showed up around Christmas time and nods contemplatively.]

How interesting. She must've been great for you.

[An amused smirk.]

That sounds more like you, yes. I doubt anyone ever took you to be a "helpless maiden", hm?

[...He pauses. It's...he's not certain.]

...What do you mean?

Nope, but that tactic's a great way to sneak a discount out of a gullible informant.

[She sticks her tongue out playfully before sobering up some.]

Well, I don't know if you've noticed, Matthew, but you get too carried away sometimes. I know because that's how I am too. [She laughs.] When you get an idea in your head and decide it's worth it, you tend to go for it. The incident with the bomb which I still assume you had something to do with, the church infiltration...

[A final unspoken one would also have to be his bias against assassins. : T]

...Heh. I don't know why I'm surprised anymore.

[...he frowns slightly.]

Yes, I know. There's...a very fine line between doing what is necessary for success and overdoing something, isn't there? Leila...

...Well, I suppose she crossed it. Or perhaps she just slipped up. I'm not sure.

[...]

But you're right, then. She...was.

[She was good for him. And he loved her for it, amongst everything else.]

[... he's so cute, awwwwww. She seems a bit amused- which she's allowed to be, as someone who died too.]

Everyone slips up. We just did it at the worst possible moment. [a shrug] I'm sure she lived life to the very fullest, Matthew. And if you don't think so, accomplish everything she didn't so she can be proud of you.

[Despite the heavy air, she smiles. Not entirely sure how the love thing works out, but personally? She hates seeing Matthew upset or sad. She's sure that Leila agrees.

So she picks up Motz again and offers her to him.]

I think you need a kitten hug.

I know. I--

[SUDDEN KITTEN.

...He accepts the kitten, holding her gently, smiling slightly, and more gently than usual. ~~It is almost a cuddle but shhh he won't admit it~~]

You're right. I...promised her, and I accomplished what I promised. Hopefully...she is proud.

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