memoryboxes | 31st Memory [Video/Action]

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

All right. I think that happens once in a while, nothing to be afraid of. [ Or if it is, he's certainly not about to say as much. Better that nobody strays close to panicking right now. ] D'you need a hand getting to the clinic?

It's okay; I'll wait until it's easier to walk. I can take myself.

[Because having someone see her in the mess of a state she's in right now wouldn't do much good; she feels like crawling into the brush and laying there until something clicks, fixes itself. There's the sound of grass shuffling under her hands as she attempts to raise to her knees properly.

Breathe.

...

Which way is the clinic?

What is the clinic, again??

She rubs her temple, wincing.]

If you... um.... could tell me what the clinic looks like...

'course I can. [ All that forgetfulness must be a pain in times like these. Have this admittedly handwavey description of the clinic, Sayo. You know, bigger than houses or an oddly out of place unicorn statue or a sign setting it apart from the other places. It's definitely around a bridge and not in the main square area. ]

[She listens carefully, nodding.]

That's right... Yes, I'll be able to find it.

[With a grunt she drags herself to her feet; still a bit wobbly. She'd make due. She picks up the book, and the camera catches a brief flash of her hair and a red, wet cheek.]

Th—thank you, Lestrade-san. I'm sure everything will be fine.

[She's trying her damnedest not to break out in hysterics right now, even if she feels like screaming—she has to just hold it in, go quiet, let it tear her apart from the inside instead of releasing the echoes of hurt... Basically, it's like its always been for her.

It's not right. But it's what she does, because she's not sure what else she can do anymore.]

[ There is exactly nothing about this situation which can be found not too bad or redeemable. Unsurprising. ]

You just- give a shout if you need anything? [ Quiet, collected, and 100% sincere. ] It wouldn't be any trouble.

I.... Thank you. Yes, I'll give a shout, if there's any trouble.

It'll be fine.

[She hasn't really noticed how many times she's said that or something like that, but it's all she can really do right now to keep herself composed: a nervous tick, if anything, but one she intends to lean on.]

I'm sure. [ Well. Not sure. At all. Subjective. ] Not much that can beat out a bit of tenacity.

['Tenacity'? She's not sure what that is, but she hopes its something she's got plenty of.]

I'm sure, too...

I'll see you around? Maybe around the restaurant—getting back to work would be nice, after all this...

Yeah, of course. Count on it. [ He has zero issues with checking up on people, after all. It's the curse of the lawman. ]

31st Memory [Video/Action]

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;