31st Memory [Video/Action]

[memoryboxes]

[Sayo couldn't remember a lot concerning her kidnapping and how long she'd been gone (she never does), but it actually hadn't been long. Felt like a long time, but it wasn't. All she could think opening her eyes was that she had to go to work soon. She tries to drag herself to her feet using a fallen tree, reaching for the journal that had just fallen from numbed hands. The feed starts up staring up at the trees, where sun was streaming through.

And then the sounds of rustling stops. Off-screen, Sayo is reaching behind her ear shakily, under her hair, where a thumping jagged wound—newly stitched—ran from the back of her ear toward the back of her head. About three inches, but enough to scare her. It hurt to the touch, and maybe it was causing this pain thrumming in her head. Was this always there? This painful mark? And then it hits her.

Something's wrong.

Who's this person in her memories? Why is she thinking of these things? She doesn't remember—

"Mom, why didn't you say anything?!"

I just want to forget...

"Mom!!"

She tries to control her breathing, but the flood of images hit her from all sides, and she wraps her arms around herself. These things—she'd forgotten these things, she wanted to forget them.]

No...



[She jars the journal over with her leg, and clutches her head in her hands before she doubles over. She doesn't even remember his name. It's not fair that she remembers the rest of it: Kaji's hand clutched in hers, she fell, and then that was it. She'd forgotten. She'd forgotten what he'd done to her. She'd loved him so much—]

No!!

[Muffled by her kimono she screams at first, and then the tears start, raw and throaty sounds escaping her. Why did they give these back to her? She didn't want them. She was happy just having Kaji and never remembering the rest. She breathlessly reaches over and hits the journal away, and it lands upside down. Black screen.]

Why—why—

I thought I was... I thought you...

[She hadn't forgotten him the same way she'd played out in her mind.

He forgot her.]



[She'll get up and start wearily toward the village eventually. She just wants to get home--Mithos needs her, and she needs to get ready for the day, and... she's not sure what time it is, but she needs to go.]

[Through the first few days, she goes right back to work at the tea shop and the restaurant. She's found working to be... some sort of distraction. Anything is a welcomed distraction. She's not her usual best, but she'll try hard. She might be forgetting things that she wouldn't usually forget; lately, she's had a hard time focusing, so her notes are blurring together for her. She'll serve as usual, though. She'll be a good worker. Or at least a decent one, all things considered.]

Comments

[memoryboxes]

[It takes her a little longer to get here, since there's so much to be done at the restaurant. At least the tea shop is starting to look more like a tea shop when she walks in. If Sheena hadn't been too observant with Sayo being missing, she wasn't about to mention anything about any kidnappings.]

Ah? Of course! I'm just a little shaky. Must've gone from sitting to working too quickly earlier. And the last few days around here had taken a lot out of me, I admit...

[corrinesbell]

Yeah? What'd you end up doing?

[...And no. She's not about to let Sayo start cleaning up when she looks like this. Instead she pulls her out a chair.]

Sit down then, I'll get you tea.

[memoryboxes]

[She blinks and looks thoroughly surprised by the gesture; she hasn't really stopped to look at herself in a mirror—what's a mirror?—so she hadn't considered she looks as tired and dazed as she feels on the inside. Without another pause she all but flops down.]

I... um... I was. Helping fix up the restaurant, after all that working waiting people...

It was such a commotion last week, wasn't it?

[corrinesbell]

Mmm. Waiting people, huh? Did you have any problems cooking last week, then?

[She's looking for the right question. Sayo's acting kind of suspicious. Also she looks like someone grabbed her and shook her, among other things.]

[memoryboxes]

No, nothing too bad... I admit, I was forgetting a lot because of how much was going on. It was such a rush of things going on... [Hopefully Sheena hadn't seen her little episode on the journals—she shifts in her seat, frowning, hands feeling heavy as they sit in front of her; this sitting has helped considerably, she's ashamed to admit...] I apologize for being missing here the last few days! I hope it wasn't too much.

[corrinesbell]

[Then she realizes that chances are good that Sayo just plain doesn't remember what went on in the past week anymore.]

I wasn't here either. I was doing Brave Vesperia stuff, and I guess while I was out the kids were giving the place a new paint job. ...Look, I wasn't gonna say anything, but are you sure you're, uh, okay right now?

[She never did go get the tea. In fact she just sat down in the chair nearest Sayo's.]

You kinda look like you've seen a ghost. If that weren't a thing that could really happen here I'd be less worried.

[memoryboxes]

[Brave Vesperia...? But she tries for a small smile when she asks, because clearly nothing is wrong. Clearly nothing at all. Though... she knows lying outright wouldn't be fair. Sheena deserved some of the truth.] I'm just tired is all... I, um. I was kidnapped for a bit, but I was recently returned.

Please, don't worry about it. Really... I'll take it easy this week.

[Sort of. She'd rather be here than anywhere that she'd have time to think.]

[corrinesbell]

Sayo, if you're hurt or something you don't have to come and work here. [The most serious face.] Do you wanna come sit in the kitchen instead? It'll be less noisy if people start coming in.

[Sheena's been kidnapped more times than she actually remembers. Going back to work is not the thing you do.]

[memoryboxes]

I... yes, I suppose that's a good idea. If you're alright with that, I can prepare the teas in the back...

[Meaning yes, yes I do need to come and work.]

[corrinesbell]

...Sayo, I'm trying to tell you to take it easy. Not to do my work for me. Did...they hurt you?

[memoryboxes]

[She shakes her head, smiling a little even with her weary appearance.]

I'm not hurt. I'm just a little tired and I have a bit of a headpain, is all.

[What is that feeling called again? Hmm...]

[corrinesbell]

A headache?

[Fortunately Sheena's used to filling in words by now. She offers a hand so they can go back into the kitchen.]

Tea'll help.

[memoryboxes]

[She nods, slowly rising to her feet with Sheena's help.]

Tea... Yes, that sounds good, actually. Warmed tea, especially.

I admit, I didn't remember how headaches feel until now...

[corrinesbell]

I wasn't gonna give you cold tea. But I'll make something that's supposed to be good for headaches, okay?

[This isn't the first time she's wished for somewhere sleepable in the tea shop.]

[memoryboxes]

Something good for headaches? [She half-laughs softly under her breath, attempting her best 'pleasant' mask.] I didn't know tea could be such a good medicine.

[corrinesbell]

[You don't get a whole lot past her, Sayo. Sheena takes her to a chair in the kitchen and disappears into the back room, coming out with some tea leaves ready to steep for a while.]

There was a guy who used to be here years ago who left me instructions for tea that helps with pain and stuff. It's good, too.

[Does Sayo still have the noticeable head injury...]

[memoryboxes]

[This head injury near the back of her ear? Yes. But alas, it's covered by her hair; Sayo didn't really want to bring it to attention with everyone, since it'd probably just worry them silly. What can we do about it anyway? Right? Right? 3:^|]

He sounds like he was a kind man.

[It's always a bittersweet thing. When people leave.]

I would love to learn how to make it...

[corrinesbell]

[It would worry Sheena enough to march her most forgetful employee right down the stairs to the clinic, that's for sure.]

Yeah, he was. I'll show you someday and let you write it down and stuff, okay?

[memoryboxes]

That sounds wonderful...

[Well, it's a good thing then. She just wants to hang around and do some good. Even if it's hypocritical of her--because honestly, she would have sent anyone other than herself home.

But...]

I'm sorry if I worried you, really. Thank you for being so helpful.

[corrinesbell]

It's not a big deal. You're making me wanna put a couch in the back or something though.

[The kettle makes its hot-water sound and in a few seconds, Sheena's handing Sayo a cup of excellent tea. It always comes out tasting a little fruity, somewhere between orange and lemon.]

[memoryboxes]

[She just laughs faintly at that.]

You worry far too much, Sheena-san. Luceti throws problems like this sometimes—it just takes a few days to recuperate and keep going on like usual.

[corrinesbell]

I think I know that already. Been here long enough.

[Sheena pours herself a cup of a more regular green and leans against one of the counters. You drink your tea like a big girl, Sayo.]

[memoryboxes]

[Will do, will do!]

Ah... that—that's true, isn't it? To be honest... I, um. I don't really remember how long I've been here...

[corrinesbell]

Wanna know the truth? Sometimes I don't either. I bet you could find out how long you've been here though, if you go backwards and look at what you've written in the journal before.

[memoryboxes]

Oh...! You're right about that, aren't you? I have been trying to look back on some older conversations... [Lately she's been scared to, since realizing how many people she's forgotten she's ever met... It comes with the territory, with her, but it still hurts.]