Voice;

[beyourarmy]

[He sounds tired and worried.]

I've checked the Hall of Missing, and she ain't there. Has anyone seen Charlie? She was supposed to come back on Wednesday, and I haven't heard from her, or Merlin.

That's why I've not gone back yet, Senpai, Alexiel. Sorry. [Click.]

Comments

[worldofourown]

[ But it is your fault, Saya. The longer you deny it, the more pleasure he'll take in rubbing it in your face. ]

What do I want? [ A cruel smile. ] I think that should be obvious. [ Come home, Saya. Return to your real family. ]

[sangreine]

[A slow exhale is her pitiful attempt to control her nerves.] And if I did? [What about Charlie?]

[worldofourown]

[ The smile spreads wider. Ah, capitulation and victory. What a satisfying feeling. ]

I'd tell your little Cherub friend what he needs to know. Where to find the fire-headed wench.

[ And you, Saya, will come back with him. ]

[beyourarmy]

You already said you didn't know where.

[sangreine]

Setsuna... [Don't make this harder than it has to be.]

[beyourarmy]

[He can tell. None of this is good, is it? And he doesn't know the entirety of it. It's happening where he can't see or hear - words weren't needed.]

Yeah?

[sangreine]

[Saya's especially glad she has enough communication to say this right.] Charlie helped me. Now I have to help her.

I have to go with him, and you have to go find her.

[beyourarmy]

No. Why? Why do you have to go with him?

We can find her ourselves!

[sangreine]

Because I don't want him after you next!

[She regrets the words as soon as they're out, panic overruling her sense.] Or anyone else. Not when I could stop him.

[beyourarmy]

I can handle him, Saya. You don't have to do this.

[He doesn't know why, but it feels like he's losing his grasp on something precious. He can't handle that sickening feeling. It's too much like the night Sara told him her true feelings.]

[sangreine]

I'd rather do anything else. I want to stay where I am... with you. [Her voice is shrinking, but not her determination.] But there's nothing else I can do.

[beyourarmy]

[With him.]

I want you to stay, too.

It's not like you'd be trapped, would you? Because if you would be, I can't allow that.

[worldofourown]

But I can sniff her out~

[ Supersenses are so very handy. ]

[beyourarmy]

And why would you do that for us?

[worldofourown]

We. Us. I do enjoy these terms you toss about, as if they have relevance.

I'll do it for her -- if she agrees to return to her family.

[beyourarmy]

And why should she do that if she doesn't want to?! Why can't you understand that's not family. When you force it like that, you're breaking bonds, not making them.

[worldofourown]

I'll leave that choice to her.

Your braying in her ear isn't going to affect her decision.

[ Because Saya always does what's right and good. It makes it so much easier to needle her. ]

[beyourarmy]

There's a difference between choice and forcing someone's hand. You can't FORCE family into becoming family. You'll break it!

[worldofourown]

We're already family, idiot-boy.

This is a long-overdue reunion.

[beyourarmy]

You really don't get how family works at all, do you?

Blood doesn't mean anything. When you break everything, it's gone.

[sangreine]

Not good enough. [If she's going to offer her life to Karl, it will be for lives in turn.] You will never hurt them again.

[worldofourown]

I won't. [ The perfect facade of sincerity. ] As long as they don't interfere in our business.

[sangreine]

[He's not trustworthy in the slightest, but she's out of options. For now, she'll do what she must.]

...Where? [Just the one word is all she can choke out. Name your meeting place, Karl. You've won.]

[worldofourown]

[ Victory is sweet. Victory over Saya? The sweetest of all. ]

Xanadu.

I'll be there to escort you home.

[sangreine]

[A heavy pause before the soft click of Saya disconnecting. She's on her way.]