1st Solo [video]

[whithersoevergo]

[In the darkness, a hunched figure appears near the fountain and the sound of a cello echoes over the network. The playing is precise and haunting, executed flawlessly until a single note is missed, then two, then there’s the sound of the bow being dropped and a scrape as the chair falls backward and the tall figure unfolds upwards, finally realizing that he's not where he was when he started the song.]

Saya?

[He looks around, movements as measured and precise as the music as the cello is packed away hastily. The figure stands again, turning, a pale, concerned face finally coming into view.]

SAYA! ANSWER ME! …Saya?

[He starts off in a direction, intent on something. Someone should stop probably him.]


[ooc: Pretend this is happening tonight, and just posted now because it's easier, okay?]

Comments

1/?

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

[Saya is forever intrigued by the sounds of music over the network. A cello in particular is guaranteed to draw her out.

She's just listening, cheek rested on a hand and head tilted. At least until the music ends.]

2/?

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

[... Oh.

Oh! Now she's scrambling to pick up her device, to get a good look at whoever this is because it can't be right. Or... it can be. It could be. She had seen Diva, hadn't she? And Solomon had said Haji was here before.

And besides, who else would call her by name? It certainly wasn't Solomon so that only left one option.]

3/3

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

Haji?

[There's the fountain in the background, just like it is with most arrivals. Saya's already pawing in the darkness for a coat, barely remembering that maybe running out in her pajamas isn't the best idea ever.]

Just... just wait a moment, I'm-- woah!

[THUD. This is what happens when you try to pull off things and put on others all at the same time.]

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[His head turns slightly at the sound of that familiar voice. Where is it coming from?]

Saya? ...where are you?

[He stops, the cello case on his shoulder and facing away from his undiscovered device. Had that been a thud?]

Are you well?

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

I'm over... oh! Have you not noticed the device yet? Um, there should be a little thing, maybe near the fountain. That's where I found mine. You've got your back to it right now.

[Then she laughs sheepishly.]

Ah, I'm fine. I just... aha, I tripped.

[In the meantime she's managed to shrug out of pajamas, briefly disappearing off screen and eventually returning dressed. The background of her video is a rather nice looking bedroom with a horde of stuffed animals dotting the bed.]

I know where you are, I'll be there in a moment.

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[He turns slowly, looking for... whatever it is he's looking for.]

This is very... strange.

[But finally he notices the strange glow and with his human hand, reaches for it, turning it over a few times before returning the screen to his face. He's never really been one for technology, but it looks... simple enough?]

Where are you? You are supposed to be resting.

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

I'm not tired though. Really.

[It's her first automatic response. Even with the time that's past, part of her is far too used to Haji's chiding her to not reply on autopilot. Same excuse, different day.]

It is, until you get used to it at least. I can try to explain it to you more later, though maybe--

[She pauses on that word, leaving out the front door of the apartment. If Solomon is around, he can likely hear her leave.
How to explain this next part...]

At the moment, I'm leaving home. Or, well, my home here.

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[He thinks about all that as he watches in the screen. None of it makes sense, but if Saya says she can explain... then Saya can explain. Except for one question.]

I don't recognize that door, has David moved you?

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

Oh no, this isn't anything to do with David.

[It just now occurs to her that she should probably be privating this conversation. Solomon seemed to want to keep some things more secretive and though she slipped up now and then, Saya tried hard to be respectful of that.

She decides, for the moment, to skirt the topic of who she lives with, David and Red Shield. Instead, she asks a return question, both for information and to throw the conversation in another direction until she reached the man.]

Haji, what is the last thing you remember?

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[A slight confusion crosses his face before evaporating as most expressions do. What a strange question.]

I was playing for you, until you fell asleep. You needed the rest after the fight.

Saya, do you not remember?

[And now he's worried, after everything they did to get her memory back, was she losing it again?]

Video; 1/2

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

After... [He's played for her so many times to get her to sleep. And there have been so many fights. She has to think on this a moment to place a specific one.]

No, I remember, it's just-- what I'm going to tell you is very odd. It's the truth though. Why I asked will make a lot more sense once I explain.

Where we are now is a place called 'the City'. It's not near Okinawa, it's not even in Japan or any other country, not that I know of. People get drawn to here, I guess that's the best way to explain it. Sometimes it's people from different lands, different times... it can even be different times with people you know.

Action; 2/2

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

[She's close to the fountain now, enough that she can pick up his presence more distinctly. She's coming up from one side so she pauses in her explanation.]

Haji, to your left.

[And here she waves, standing in a light jacket with a slight breeze picking at her skirt.]

Action;

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[He's about to voice a suspicion when the familiar feel of her presence sidelines the comment. She's there, alive, seemingly safe.

Everything else is secondary.

Turning he watches her, taking a step towards her as he holds the strange device for a moment.]

Are you certain you're alright? Solomon hasn't... done anything to you?

[The device is shown, Solomon's 'welcome' in plain view.]

Action;

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

Solomon?

[Her eyes glance to the device, she spots Solomon there and then she sighs a little.]

I was hoping I could explain first. I'm fine, Solomon hasn't done anything!

[Except house her. And kiss her. And sleep with her. And try to eat her once. BUT HEY.]

Actually, ah... well, the door you saw is to Solomon's apartment. I've been living with him while I've been here.

Action;

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[He stills. That is a lot to process in one sentence and his mind throws up a hundred different questions.

None of which are appropriate for him to ask her. So instead of questions, he simply hangs his head, a slight nod of acquiescence.]

I see. You have accepted him as you... chevalier, then.

[And there are no words for the sudden pain that actually causes him.]

Action; 1/?

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

[That was unfortunately part of what made Haji so reliable and likewise so frustrating. He never questioned, always accepted. It was a boon in the days of nothing but fight after fight and when all Saya saw life as was endless, unending sorrow but now..

At his words, she colors immediately.]

My... no! No, it's not--

[Her denial is so sharp, she surprises herself and falls silent a moment.]

Action; 2/?

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

Who is and isn't my Chevalier doesn't matter. That's not an issue anymore.

[She sounds adamant about this.]

Action; 3/3

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

When I first came here... it was just after I...

[She stops again. Then she looks down, mutely at her own device. Her expression turns sadder.]

I killed Diva.

Action; 1/?

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[It doesn't matter? How could it not matter? Haji was and always wold be Saya's, in any way she wished, but to have her reject what he was outright like that... He couldn't keep the shock from his face at the suggestion.

After all they have been through, what has he done? It has to be a misunderstanding. How could it not matter?]


[ooc: And I swear I can spell, but my keyboard's acting up today, dropping letters and spacing oddly. Sorry for all the edits!]

Action; 2/2

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[But the mask is quickly replaced, even though his confusion isn't lessened at all by her admission. They haven't even gone to the opera house yet, Saya was still recovering from killing James, resting up before they leave.

But he has no reason to doubt her, despite the... insanity of this situation.

And if Diva is truly dead...]

I see.

[The promise. He swore.]

Action;

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

[Unfortunately, Saya can't catch the shock on his face. She doesn't like to think of Diva's death, much less talk about it at length. It was a necessary evil, the thing she knew she had to do and yet she hadn't doing it at the same time.]

And you -- our promise. Haji...

[She had meant to come and explain this all reasonably. The time oddities, Solomon and herself. Should she tell Haji about the opera house, his words and... his death?
She had meant to be mature and level-headed. The last thing she wanted to do was start tearing up.]

I'm sorry. I know you don't understand, none of this makes sense. And I'm not doing a good job explaining and...

[She scrubs at her eyes with the heels of her hands even as she still clutches her device, head bent down and hair shielding her face.]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry everything... I was too weak. Even in the end, I was too weak.

Action;

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

Diva is dead. How can that make you weak?

[He takes a few hesitant steps towards her, tucking the device in his pocket of the time being and reaching out with his good hand to lay it on her shoulder. She looks so... distraught and it is the only thing he can think to do to reassure her.

He will wait for her to explain things on her own, but he hopes his presence is still a comforting one. Despite his next words.]

I will honor my promise... if that is truly what you wish.

Action;

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head quickly at that, even if she is still teared up.]

Not anymore.

[He doesn't know, obviously. And, much like Solomon, Saya can't bring herself to tell him about his own death. Or the words he spoke to her before it.

She's still a little watery-eyed when she does look up but she's wearing a faint smile too.]

I'm sorry. Ah... I mean, I'm sorry for crying. You've seen me do that enough though.

[She brushes back more tears.]


[OOC: Pff, and I meant to tack on this last comment. Edit all you need, I can't type worth a damn 90% of the time.]

Action;

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

["Not anymore." She wants to live. She wants to live and the sudden weight that lifts off his shoulders is as incredible as it is unexpected. Whatever has caused this change (and it has to be Kai, it must be), he is nothing but grateful for it.

His human hand reaches out to wipe away some of the errant tears, his own rare smile appearing as he offer her his embrace, should she need the comfort.]

You have nothing to apologize for, Saya, ever. I am only sorry I don't understand what has happened yet.

Action;

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

[It's still strange to see him smile. Back then, she never noted the lack of them. She was selfish as a girl when they first met and even now, she is still somewhat selfish. Blinded by her own guilt, blinded by her own rage, she never took a minute to recognize Haji's own pain.

Saya doesn't even fully recognize it now, though she can comprehend it better than she did before. Now that she had time to think of things other than Diva and Chiropterans.

She accepts the embrace not so she can cry against him but just so she can embrace him, her hold tight as she presses her forehead against his chest. It's still seeking comfort but instead of the comfort of mere presence, it's the comfort of it actually.
It really was Haji. Alive. Kai might have talked of him coming back one day to comfort her but she knew if he did, it would never be while she was awake. And for the first time in their years together, she actually wondered what it must be like waiting. Constantly waiting.

Her next words are muted, muffled against him.]

I don't know how to say it. Now that you're here, it's like a bad dream.

[She sighs out a long breath, relaxing against him. She didn't know what to explain first but she knew she had to start somewhere. And try not to cry.]

People here come from different places, different times. Even people you know. For me, I came here after going to the opera house. After Diva.