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[sangreine]

[Between one moment and the next, a cocoon has appeared in the zoo. It's in a tropical place, humid and sticky like its own gossamer surface. A latticework of support-threads keep it held upright and inside is the veiled figure of a humanoid creature, visible because of a red-tinted illumination from within. It pulses softly, as if the entire structure is alive.]

[Animals or insects that happen to be nearby might scatter at an unseen, unheard queue. After a pause it becomes apparent why as there's a shift, the cocoon going dark. A creak, then a fracture, taking mere moments to cobweb across the entirety. The first crack brings with it a rush of discolored, viscous fluid which breaks off jagged bits of shell. A delicate, pale hand appears, the arm and shoulder following as the creature inside slides free, and the lithe figure of a nude young lady falls out onto the ground. Her impossibly long black hair snakes over her back and legs, barely covering her prone form.]

[Her thoughts can not form words -- she has no language -- but her instinct fully active. Survive, it tells her. Move. And so her limbs twitch, shaking as if in disuse. She stirs, but does not lift her head.]


((OOC: Saya Otonashi intro! She has no memories of who she is, and can't really talk or do much, so please halp? Anyone who can sense vampires/superhumans is welcome to be pinged if they wish!))

Comments

[beyourarmy]

[With Saya grabbing onto him, Karl's shove does little to separate the two. If anything, Karl's made it worse. Setsuna's holding Saya in return, trying to cover her with his own body. Glaring down Karl.]

Karl, what the fuck? You're going idiotic over a girl! [Lalala, Kettle, meet Pot. BLACK.] Can't you see you're scaring her?

[worldofourown]

[ There's something delicious about the way she recoils -- something tantalizing in that fear and innocence. A little lamb cowering from the Big Bad Wolf. Even as a part of him detests it -- she's not his Saya yet, not full of wrath and sadness. ]

[ The Saya he wants. ]

This is none of your business! [ The words, addressed to Setsuna, are sharply impatient. He's at the end of his tether. The way Saya's clinging to him, the way he's touching her, is sickening. A territorial monster in Karl snarls and stirs awake. ] She won't be scared once she realizes who I am. [ Yeah, right. ]

[sangreine]

Setsuna! [She only just learned his name, barely was able to put it together, but now she speaks it as clearly as if she'd done so a thousand times. She can't understand what's going on, but the boy she's latched onto is the only one she has to rely on.]

[She squeezes her eyes closed and ducks her head as much away from Karl's frightening eyes as she can get it, like a child seeking refuge under a blanket.]

[beyourarmy]

[His name. She only said just his name, but Setsuna feels a weight of trust in it. She's looking towards him for protection, and things are getting out of hand. Setsuna considers drawing Nanatusaya, but for the time, doesn't. He'll give Karl one more chance.]

Karl, she couldn't be saying any clearer you're freaking her out. Go away and when she's ready she'll seek you out. That's how this stuff works.

You need to leave. Now. [He holds Saya tightly, worried, despite the glare he's giving Karl.]

[worldofourown]

[ He's received a warning from Diva. Try as he might to argue, to disobey, he can't. Her word is law. Everything in him forks and twists around the idea of separation. But he hasn't any choice. With one last burning look at Saya -- Soon. I'll have you soon -- he refocuses on Setsuna. The look on his face is nothing short of murder. ]

You're in my way. I won't suffer this lightly.

[ It's a warning and a promise. But he is, forcibly, reigning himself in. Backing away, feeling like each step is the onset of a long, miserable recessional. ]

[sangreine]

[Her grip loosens when Karl's words sound... different. She peeks up to see him backing away, and whimpers in relief, worrying her lower lip.]

[Then she looks at Setsuna again, for confirmation that things are okay. Or going to be.]

[beyourarmy]

[Setsuna says nothing to Karl, unable to look at him. It's only when Karl's gone that Setsuna talks to Saya, his eyes prickling with tears.]

I-I think I just made an enemy out of a sometimes friend. But, you're safe now. [He manages a smile for her, a little relieved himself. It didn't have to come to bloodshed, at least. This time.]

[worldofourown]

[ No bloodshed this time. ]

[ But he'll be watching~ ]

[sangreine]

[Oh. Oh, something's wrong. She knows, somehow, that wet eyes mean that.]

[Saya's features convey all the concern that she can't speak in words, reaching up to brush his cheek. Don't cry or I'm sorry are perhaps what she means to say, but all that comes from her mouth is a tiny, distressed sound.]

[beyourarmy]

[He tries to smile again, pushing everything else away. Saya's well-being is more important right now.]

It's okay. It's worth it. Anything else would've been wrong.

[She brushes his cheek, and Setsuna reaches out to brush her hair behind one ear.] Don't worry, okay?

[sangreine]

...Okay. [She doesn't know the word more than any other, but the way he said it just now, twice, makes her feel good. She wants him to feel better, so she says it again.] Okay.

[She grins unabashedly when he brushes her hair back, and then she points to her other ear. Do it again?]

[beyourarmy]

[He laughs lightly to her reaction, and complies, easily. He might be a little slower this time, since the first time he did it without thought.]

It feels good, doesn't it? I like it when Kira touches my hair, too.

[sangreine]

[She tilts her head toward his hand when he brushes through her hair this time, then lifts a hand to do the same to him. Whether she's merely imitating or on some level understands his words isn't clear.]

[beyourarmy]

[Whichever it is, he seems a lot calmer for it, eyes dry.]

Thank you. [He reaches up to hold her hand, just to feel it.]

For someone that knows Karl, like he says, you're really sweet. Too sweet for that guy.

[sangreine]

[Her fingers curl immediately around his hand, and she is smiling once more.]

Sea? [She says it meekly, not demanding but offering it because it makes her happy, and she wants him to be happy.]

[beyourarmy]

Yes. Sea. [He hasn't forgotten. He thinks then she might be wondering. Either way, he doesn't mind. The idea takes his mind off of Karl and what might come of his actions here.]

We'll definitely go. But first, more clothes for you. Charlie should be here, soon.

[sangreine]

[She nods, right. Then the sea.]

[But there is one matter, one little thing that she seems unable to forget. So she has to ask:]

Saya? [Is that really her? That word that made her sad and scared when Karl said it?]

[beyourarmy]

[Setsuna nods his head, then points to her.]

Yes. Saya. That's your name. Or, at least, that's what I was told.

[sangreine]

[She looks perplexed at that. She's "Saya." She doesn't think she likes that.]

Saya... sad. [It's not quite good enough to explain how she feels, but her vocabulary is terribly limited thus far, and that's the closest she can come.]

[beyourarmy]

[He looks at her, perplexed and concerned. Hands going to her arms, gently.]

Sad? You don't like your name? Or you don't want to be Saya? [He knows she can't fully respond, but he had to ask. There are a lot of ways that could go.]

[sangreine]

[She makes a discontent sound, perhaps confused or frustrated. It wasn't the word, she likes the name, but it was the way Karl said it. She didn't like that. How to explain...?]

[She points in the direction Karl went when he left. Maybe that will help.]

[beyourarmy]

[When she points in the direction, Setsuna can grasp it a bit better. This was about Karl. Something relating to Karl and her name. He glares in Karl's general direction, wherever he went off to.]

I didn't like the way he was talking to you, or about you, either.

[sangreine]

Din't like. [She can't quite pronounce the contraction exactly, but she nods after sort-of saying it. That fits.]

Karl talking Saya, didn't like. [She gets the word better enunciated now, which pleases her, even as she is a little worried that Setsuna won't understand.]

[beyourarmy]

Do you not like Karl. Or just don't like how he was talking to you?

[He'll try to understand. No matter how many tries it takes.]

[sangreine]

[Hmm. Words alone aren't working, so she tries a new tactic.]

[Saya points in Karl's direction again. Lowering her voice a few octaves, Saya does her best imitation of Karl saying her name, dark and cold and forceful.] Saya!

[She shakes her head, her voice returning to normal.] Sad. Didn't like.