153rd Devotion: Being a Slave to His Fears

[favoritetraitor]

[Video]

No... no no no.... please no... not again.

[Looking stricken, Solomon falls to his knees in a growing pool of blood heedless of the fact that the very thing soaking into his clothing can very easily kill him. His hands reach down to begin a desperate and futile attempt to bring back to life the figure of the crumpled girl in front of him.

Clearly, the doctor's lost any sane medical expectations.

It's only when in the distance a woman's voice screams, choking out the name 'Haji', that his head snaps up and he abandons the corpse in yet another attempt to prevent the inevitable loss of what he loves most.]

Saya!

Comments

[valentineluke]

Solomon.

[favoritetraitor]

[Sorry Luke. It will take more than a casual mention of his name to distract him from this particular nightmare. His surroundings blur, virtually disappearing only to solidify just as his arms catch another falling figure of his beloved. Again, he's too late.]

... no. Saya... Saya!

[valentineluke]

Where are you, Solomon?

[favoritetraitor]

[He restrains himself this time from trying to resuscitate her. Still, his eyes linger on her a moment, pain evident on his features.]

... where? I-I'm not certain.

[valentineluke]

[Silent sigh.]

You're out of my sensing range. What landmarks are around?

[favoritetraitor]

[Still holding the body, he lifts his head and glances around for a moment.]

... nothing telling, I'm afraid. But here... [He shifts to use a free hand to manipulate some settings on his network device.] Use the signal.

[valentineluke]

[Good sign Solomon's able to disengage briefly from the curse's facade. Further encouraging he's accepting of 'rescue'.

Quick stop at Oh Aces to pick up Enyo for reinforcement. Little orange dragon allows herself to be tucked inside Luke's suit jacket. She's learned it's the only way to stay with him when he 'disappears from sight'.

Moving at top speed, Luke follows the signal. Slows to a blur as he draws near the location.]

[favoritetraitor]

[Of course during all this time Solomon has been repeatedly busying himself with the vain attempt of saving Saya. His blood soaked body and shaken resolve reflects this. It's only with great effort that he can spare Luke a moment's glance.]

Don't just stand there. Perhaps with both of us we can succeed.

[valentineluke]

[Wonderful, Solomon's back into the curse's full grip. Luke opts for a gentler approach to the truth.]

It's all an illusion.

[favoritetraitor]

How can you be sure? What if you're wrong?

[valentineluke]

Take a good sniff of yourself [Luke can see and smell (all too well) street grime under the false red stains.]

[favoritetraitor]

What? [A very distracted Chevalier.]

[valentineluke]

Stop using your eyes for a moment and just rely on your nose.

[favoritetraitor]

No... she feels real. All my senses are telling me it's Saya. [All the senses that are so very affected by the curse and not to be trusted.]

[valentineluke]

[Drastic measure time. Closes the space between them.] This is real [Grasps Solomon's shoulders and pulls him into an embrace.]

[favoritetraitor]

[Well, this certainly does snap him out of his all consuming 'must save Saya mode'. At least enough to respond, even if it does take him a moment.]

... I believe that I beg to differ.

[After all, it isn't a habit Luke has of embracing Solomon.]

[valentineluke]

[Luke doesn't just hug anybody, especially filthy and smelly anybodys. But someone he's close to and cares for, he'll do it. Up until recently, his brother Jan's been the primarily recipient of them.

Comforting now may soften the curse end's hard blow. Tightens his grip a bit; nonverbal 'I'm here for you'.]

1/2

[mortemscintilla]

[ Now isn't that an interesting sight. ]

[mortemscintilla]

W-What's going on?

[favoritetraitor]

I know... [Although he doesn't sound quite convinced.] ... this is a curse. But please tell me... do the rules still apply?

1/2

[mortemscintilla]

[ It seems a good idea to revert to reconnaissance-mode. Play the fool. ]

Rules...?

[mortemscintilla]

[ A beat of confusion, then, ]

All I can tell you is that this is a curse. You ...shouldn't believe everything you're seeing.

[favoritetraitor]

Yes, but... if I'm wrong. Just that once... what if I'm wrong?

[mortemscintilla]

Once the curse ends...

That's the only way to know for sure.

[favoritetraitor]

Well, it's not as if I had anything more important to do. I'll manage.

[mortemscintilla]

I hope you do.

[ A tactful pause. ]

Who... um, is Saya, if you don't mind my asking?

[favoritetraitor]

Someone from back home who's very dear to me.

[mortemscintilla]

[ His forehead scrunches as he appears to mull this over. ]

She ... looks a bit like another lady I once spoke to. Miss Diva, I think her name was.

[favoritetraitor]

Why yes, they're sisters. [Something that might be an otherwise pleasant conversation except for the fact that he's on edge, waiting for yet another distressed cry from Saya.]

Perhaps you'd care to help then.

[mortemscintilla]

Um...

[ Incidental generosity is hardly in his nature. Not unless there's a payment guaranteed. But Solomon's predicament has piqued his curiosity. Widening his eyes attentively, he asks, ]

Help? How?

[favoritetraitor]

Surely with two people, there's a greater chance of preventing this outcome.

[mortemscintilla]

[ A sigh. ]

I ... really doubt she's real, Mr. Solomon. [ Nonetheless: ] Could you send me a location? So I know where you are?

[favoritetraitor]

Of course, of course. [Even now, his attention is being diverted elsewhere. But not before he's able to press a few buttons on his network device.]

They're being sent.

[mortemscintilla]

All right.

[ Location received!!! ]

I'll be there. Um... please don't do anything rash in the meantime.