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

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[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.]

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[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

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

[She sounds adamant about this.]

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[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!]

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[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.]

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[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.

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[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.

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[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.

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[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

I'm here, Saya, and I won't leave you again.

[He holds her the way he always does, with all the care and affection he can give without her knowing the full truth. The truth that if she only asked, there is nothing he wouldn't do for her, be for her, that he loves her and always has, always will.

Even if she loves another as he suspects.

But for now, she's warm and in his arms and its those rare moments that he holds to, when their world can reduce to just the two of them. But it doesn't stop him from listening and while he doesn't quite believe the things she's telling him, he's starting to understand.]

Shouldn't you be sleeping then? You were so tired before we were planning to leave.

Action;

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

[Ah, and there's the one topic she's tried hard not to think too deeply into. When she returned, she was too busy playing deja vu yet again. Now that she remembers everything (some things she's more than a little flustered over), it's a question that's sat at the back of her mind.]

I should be. I was going to at home. Here... I don't know. I sleep but it's normal. And before this, I was here for almost six months.

[She looks up now, a sheepish look on her face.]

I don't understand it much. I haven't really thought about it... I try not to think about it.

[Now her attention focuses on the lapels of his shirt, her voice soft.]

It makes me think of Kai and the girls.

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[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

Has Solomon done something to you?

[He knows that Somolon means Saya no harm, but it's easy to imagine him finding some way to keep her awake, to keep her close to him longer and it concerns him. None of Diva's chevalier's have shown any restraint when in comes to their experiments and designs.

But if Saya wishes to change the topic he will oblige, reaching to brush the hair from her face.]

Then Diva's children still live? You are with them and Kai?

[Which is good, he tells himself. Kai makes her smile, if she's found her family again... it was a good life for her once, it would be again.]

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[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

Solomon?

[It's like this is a new idea that hasn't struck her in some time.]

No, not at all! He takes care of my transfusions but he's never done anything to me. I mean medically beyond that.

[Or at least not under the influence of a curse. And she's long since given up counting those as Solomon's doing when they do happen.

The topic change brings up a bright smile. While it makes her sad to think of them in some ways, she does still enjoy the memories she has of them with Kai.]

Mm. I was, that is. Kai's better with the babies than I am. Once I went to sleep, he was going to watch after them.

Action;

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[It could be a new idea to her. After all, it's Haji's job to be paranoid about people's motivations towards her. Especially after the fiasco that was Vietnam.

But there's no way he can miss the smile, that smile, the one he hasn't been able to give her since the days when he was still human. Before Diva. But if she's truly gone... oh, well. Something to think about later.]

Kai is a good man, Saya, I'm sure they will be in good hands. Was he watching over them alone?

[He can't think that he'd leave them entirely in Kai's hands, even if Haji's primary responsibility would be watching after Saya as she slept. Was there something Saya isn't telling him?

But perhaps this isn't the time or place.]

Come. Perhaps there is a better place for this discussion, Solomon mentioned a penthouse?

Action; 1/2

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

Ah, that...

[And she's saved by the second question, which apparently jumpstarts her from being thankful about seeing Haji again to remembering why she came in the first place.]

Oh!

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[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

That's right. Solomon has been here a lot longer than I have. He has a big apartment and everything.

[Oh, that's right!]

He even has some things of yours. Or... the other Haji who was here.

[That's always been a weird topic for her and she tends to think of them as 'the other Haji' or 'the other Saya'.]

I actually came to get you. I got a little sidetracked though so... we'll go back there.

[She pulls away from Haji then as she asks.]

Solomon mentioned it? You've been talking to him too?

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[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[He reaches into his pocket for the device, showing it to her. He has nothing to hide, after all.]

He says dinner will be arriving soon, you should eat if you're hungry.

[Saya first, no matter what. And if it's not the human food she wants, he won't turn her away if it's his blood she wants. It would hardly be the first time.

And after, perhaps they need to discuss this 'other Haji' business.]

Action;

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

[Since he's offering and this is Saya, the thought 'he may want to keep this private' doesn't enter her mind right off the bat, she blinks at the message.

She doesn't catch the crack about the penthouse, at least yet, but she hms.]

Arriving? We must be ordering tonight.

[Which with Solomon was never a little affair. It seemed to make him happy though so she never breathed a word about how she'd be just as happy with a ridiculous amount of Chinese food as she would be with four-star cuisine.

She nods though.]

Just follow me then, it's not that far away.

[It's a testament to how many years they've spent together that she's just kind of falling back into routine. Her leading, assured he was following nearby.]

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[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

Yes, Saya.

[He says it simply, with all the decades and decades of experience he has with it, falling into step behind her and to the side just as he always has. He makes sure to keep his eyes on the shadows, and on the streets, learning the layout as they go.]

Action;

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

[It's a short and somewhat quiet walk. And not really all that far either. After they ride the elevator up to the proper floor, Saya leads him on to the penthouse itself.]

Action;

[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

[It's difficult to control his instincts. They are heading towards a place belonging to Solomon, and despite his actions, despite what he gave to protect Saya, it is still difficult to think of him as more than Diva's Chevalier. An enemy.

The strange fact that he also feels gratitude towards him for caring for Saya in this place only confuses the issue further. But for now... the location appears safe and Says seems to have no hesitation.]

You are comfortable here?

Action;

[liveontoday.livejournal.com]

Mm. I wasn't at first but... it's been a while now. Now and then there are curses that turn things strange for a bit but Solomon and I don't fight. [She smiles faintly to the man as she turns on a light.] I don't want to fight, maybe that's a better way of putting it. Not that Solomon tries usually but... I'm not sure I could anymore if he did.

[Then she pauses, smile slipping and voice lowering a touch.]

Haji... he's dead, isn't he? Not here of course but at home.

[She hated asking it out loud, in Solomon's own apartment, but she couldn't help it. No one else had ever come from home besides Diva. And that Diva was so big and pregnant, obviously from a time when Solomon was still firmly her Chevalier, that she wouldn't have had any answer for Saya.]

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[whithersoevergo.livejournal.com]

I will protect you if it comes to that.

[He looks around the apartment, getting his bearings as Saya speaks. He's never really cared much, one way or the other, where they lived so long as Saya was comfortable and safe, but this was... nice. Certainly nicer than the apartment David and Kai had secured in New York.

But her next question makes him turn to her, expression serious as he tries to decide what to tell her. But he didn't want to start keeping things from her again as he did when her memory was lost. The things he didn't want to tell her because she was so... happy.]

I believe so. During the fight with James, your sword pierced him. I can't imagine he survived. [He pauses.]

I am sorry.