Insert Lude A into Slot B * Given the sheer variety of sounds from the Garden outside, the corridors of the base are eerily quiet as everyone takes time out, generally gets some rest, and gets all depressed off in the corner or somesuch. Saki prowls the corridors restlessly, muttering under her breath to herself and peering into every side room she can. When there are vats, she will peer into them; otherwise, the room gets a cursory look and on she goes. * Vytor has sequestered himself in a sideroom, obviously meant as a meeting room long ago. With no usable tables or chairs, Vytor has stretched out on the ground, staring at the ceiling. * Saki gives the room a glaring sweep, then on she--wait, wait, back up. Blinking twice, she paces inside with quiet footfalls then, when close enough... leans over into Vytor's view, an eyebrow raised. * Vytor snaps out of his thoughts as a Saki looms large. "Hey." * Saki inclines her head in greeting, and given her already tilted position gets a mouthful of hair for the trouble. She takes a step back, eying a ruined chair and giving it a petulant nudge with her foot. * Vytor rolls over and sits up so he can look at Saki, "Sorry things didn't work out for you and Rachel this time. I was hoping we could find you two some resolution." * Saki considers that silently for a moment, pacing a little more then folding herself down into a crosslegged position some distance away with a one-shouldered shrug. "... mm. I've yet to talk to Saturn, but we've got a thread of a clue to follow; it's better than nothing." I suppose so. * Saki leans forward, resting her chin on a hand on an arm on her knee, and watches Vytor for a bit. "... what about you?" she remarks at length. * Vytor pauses for a long while before answering, "I'm upset. I'm confused. I'm sad. I'm angry. I'm dissapointed. I'm frustrated. I'm scared. I think that sums it up." * Saki rocks back and supports herself with her hands, staring at the ceiling for a long while. "Mm." Its been a long week. I'm ready for it to be over. * Saki continues to watch the ceiling like a very lazy and inattentive cat, rocking on her hands a little. "... why?" she asks at length, then finally focuses down on Vytor. "We've scored a major triumph. Or at least, helped cripple one of our major problems. A couple of people need throwing into a wall, but that isn't new." The tone is rather flat and deadpan; hard to tell who's driving. I'm having trouble coming to terms with the thought that we may have one less friend to throw into a wall. * Saki frowns, a little lost - as if she hadn't even considered that. "... hmmh," she adds, only giving strength to that view. "You think so? I thought she was just busy stealing Johnathan's trick." Johnathan said that such tricks had risks. * Saki looks a trifle bemused still, resting her chin back on one palm with a lopsided grin. "... I'd say she earned the right to try them." She sobers, and shakes her head. "... besides. We don't know, one way or another. So there's no point worrying." I suppose so. I'd prefer it if she was still OK. Somewhere. * Saki inclines her head in acknowledgement. "Mm. Somewhen. She's got the advantage of not being attacked while she does it." * Vytor manages to crack a small smile, "That's true." * Saki watches Vytor in silence a beat longer. "... and? What else?" * Vytor inhales slowly. We couldn't stop it from happening. Not once. * Saki 's response is point-blank and lightning-fast. "I count twice at least. That's not counting our maybe getting the others back." * Vytor raises an eyebrow at Saki's response, "Are we talking about the same thing here?" * Saki raises both eyebrows, nodding quickly. "Last we checked, John and Haylee were still awake and thinking. Maybe not after we ask them what the hell they think they're doing; but for now, I'd say it counts." Is that because we were able to stop the Prophetess when she attacked them, or only because such a contest hasn't occurred yet? * Saki rubs at her chin, looking up in thought before closing her eyes with an exhalation of breath. "... whatever happens next, we've... radically altered things. Somehow. Rachel doesn't know how, but... we may have broken her powerbase." * Vytor raises his eyebrow again, "Is that so?" * Saki tilts her head far to one side, leaning over as she listens to some small inner voice. "... mmm-maybe. She's not sure, but." The high shoulder shrugs, nearly pitching her over. "If we've done it once..." We can do it again. * Vytor seems to relax at little. * Saki starts to wave her hands, trying to explain. "... we've... to match the power of Zophar, the Prophets contracted. With demons? To gain some of their powers, they each--. Mm. That was like her... foci. ... maybe," she finishes, uncertain. So that explains why she changed when Trune pulled the elemental plug on her. * Saki ... doesn't exactly meet Vytor's eyes. "... um." * Vytor raises his eyebrow again. What? * Saki has the decency to clear her throat, and remains listed to one side, hiding behind some hair. "... mm. ... smashing her with a mixture of Misogi and her own power was the initial catalyst. Then Trune... stripped away the rest." I see. * Saki remains hidden, worrying her lower lip. "... she isn't exactly proud of doing it." A long sigh, and she leans her head back. "... mm, but what's done is done." She? * Saki raises one eyebrow. "Mm. 'She who did it'," she intones. Ah, got it. * Saki hangs her head and sighs again, then apparently shakes herself out of it, returning to her new favorite pastime of watching Vytor like a hawk. "... mm. Next on the queue?" There's something of a smile playing at her lips, but her eyes are serious. * Vytor sighs, "You don't miss a beat, do you?" * Saki seems perhaps a little smug. "... it's my job." You know that whole business with Bluetooth Valley? And that weird place we found? * Saki makes a noise of assent, her eyes wandering to the wrecked machinery around the room. Tilea had a dream about that place. A dream about something heaving up out of the ice. A legion of nameless, faceless warriors in black cloaks. I didn't think much about that at the time. I'm not so sure now. * Saki nods slowly. "The plant." We already fought off a bunch of those zombie things. What if they're more of them down there? * Saki looks sharply at Vytor. "... you know me better than that." That's not what I'm worried about. * Saki crosses her arms, looking stern. "When we were in that --illusion, I saw that vat before it faded. You're worried about more of them 'up here'." Up here? * Saki blinks once, starts to say something, blinks again. "... ah. No?" * Vytor shakes his head, "No, that's not it at all." * Saki seems nonplussed; with a tilt of her head and a non-commital grunt, she... lets the thought go. "... mm. Sorry. Idle thinking; must've been the wrong path." I suppose it wouldn't hit you the way it would me. But it seems like no matter what I do or where I go, things keep coming back to that place. And its starting to creep me out. * Saki plunks her head back down on her palm. "Haaa..." she breathes out, a little lost. "... if that's the case, the best thing to do is take it straight on." I suppose. Its just... * Vytor fidgets, not sure how to bring up point up. * Saki is a pro at waiting silently. I suppose I'll go down the list, that'll be the easiest way. * Saki nods once. "Alright." Before I was adopted, I was found in Bluetooth. My parent died in Bluetooth. My sister dreams of Bluetooth. Radiation spills down from Bluetooth and we...I fix it. And now we're headed back there AGAIN. * Saki stares listlessly at the floor for a long moment, then nods to herself. "... I'm the wrong person to talk to about coincidences, you realise." * Vytor facepalms, "I know." * Saki does crack a grin at that point, and shakes her head to sober herself quickly. "I don't especially believe in them, after all. Maybe there's something there; maybe there isn't. No-one would begrudge you wanting to stay --..." She frowns, cutting herself off. "... people might begrudge you wanting to stay, but given what happened last time they're in no position to." I just get this horrible feeling like my adult life is starting to revolve around the damn place. * Saki peers up and around the base, a rare moment of humour in her tone. "At least your orbit's pretty far and wide." * Vytor seems to appreciate the attempt at humor, in body language if not facial expression. * Saki shrugs lopsidedly. "... maybe there's something there. Maybe it's just because it's close to your home. Only one way to tell for good." Maybe I'm just tired. I haven't slept well since the last time we fought Emiria. I might just be over-reacting due to fatigue. * Saki nods in agreement, rubbing at her forehead. "... We're quite the busy lot." No lie. I'd like a nice long week in the lab just to not think about the fate of the world and just do some honest work. * Saki raises her eyebrows and huffs out a breath. "... talk to Johnathan and Haylee, ask them what the fuck they're doing. Go to Bluetooth. Somethingsomethingsomething. Save the world." That somethingsomethingsomthing might be important to figure out, yanno? ;) * Saki waves a hand absently. "... we're good at playing by ear." I'd like to be better at it. Then maybe the Prophetess wouldn't be two away from having a full set. * Saki crosses her arms again, nearly tipping over as she removes her support, and nods. "... mm. I'll have a word with Niri, and several with Tanan, and ... many with Ryllan. Or Noah. ... can I punch Ryllan and make Noah pop out?" Somehow, I think asking would do better. I think Rachel would agree that getting forced out was no fun. * Saki sulks, but it's just for a moment. "... mm. She'd like to talk to him. ... a lot." A violent rake of her hair. "... am I forgetting anyone?" * Vytor thinks for a moment, "I don't beleive so." * Saki sighs out loud once more, shaking her head. "... it'll be busy. Ah, well." * Vytor smiles wryly, "When is it not these days?" * Saki puts on a pout, deadpanning. "... back at the dojo the children I had to keep an eye on were a lot more disciplined." Thus explaining why you have a tough time with us. Little dojo training. * Saki keeps up the flat tone. "Constant hassle." She sighs out, and hauls herself up in one movement. "... I suppose I'd best get down to it." Need a hand rounding people up? I actually do feel better now, and I could use the exercise. * Saki halts, apparently torn. "... ... no," she decides at last. "... rest up. I'm in better shape than you, for once. Besides, I think I've got a bit of a plan that'll work better solo." Okay. Try not to break anyone. * Saki looks as shocked and hurt as she can get, which is to say she just grins ferally. "However would I do that?" she admonishes, picking her way past a sagging and mould-covered blob that may have once been the broken seat's cushion. Face punching? And lots of it? * Saki puts on an arch air. "I don't know what on earth you mean. The gut is a lot more satisfying." She raises her eyebrows. "Sit. Stay. Good Vytor," --and has turned around the corner of the doorway and out the room. Yeah, yeah. * Vytor schools his face as Saki leaves, trying to hide his guilt at being unable to say what was truly bothering him. Saki paces off, in search of one of the others of the group, and leaves Vytor to his thoughts. Session Close: Tue Nov 13 18:34:33 2007