[Action/Backdated] The Setting Moon

[sakuya_izayoi]

Who: Sakuya and you!
What: Remilia went home. Maids are sad.
Where: Castlevania/Genessia City (various)
When: Backdated to Remilia Scarlet going home
Warnings: A very sad Sakuya :c



a) Locked to Castlevania Members

Sakuya didn't think much of it at first. Remilia did tend to go off on her own from time to time. Sometimes for several days. But she always came back. She always returned to take a bath and eat a meal. To let Sakuya tend to her needs. But... It's been too long. Normally there was something; some sort of sign. But even Remilia's bats had vanished from the corners of the castle.

She was gone.

Such a thing would be more than a little difficult for Sakuya to swallow, the normally elegant maid looking panicked and disheveled as she paced down the castle's halls. Very distracted, but not defenseless, she cut down any creature who attempted to take advantage of her distress... or even comfort her. She was entirely on auto-pilot.

She was like this for hours, murmuring to herself, checking room after room for any sign. Eventually she found her way into the library. She wandered between the bookshelves and around corners, letting herself get lost. While normally she would take refuge in the mansion's clock tower, the one here was far less hospitable. Leaning on the edge of a table, she covered her eyes with one hand, remaining still for several minutes before simply lowering herself into a chair...

It's doubtful she would be found right away, as deep into the library as she was. And that was for the best. She needed some time to herself.



b) Genessia City

Sakuya eventually decided she needed a change of pace. After calling in sick to work she dressed in black pinstripe top and black skirt before heading into the city. Her wandering was aimless, moving from place to place with no real goal in mind. She was taking Remilia's disappearance hard. Very hard.

She was not the most approachable person but perhaps someone would run into her walking around. She would linger here and there, outside of certain stores and restaurants and sat for about an hour on a bench just outside the bay area. Later, she wandered into Memorium park, leaving an epitaph before vanishing just as quickly.

She eventually ended up in Cat's Eye Cafe near the day's end. Sitting in a corner, her tea long since cold, she was leaning forward onto the table, resting on her forearms, both hands clutched together as if in prayer.

Comments

[blackparagon]

Xander hadn't been in the realm long enough to know anybody who disappeared. However, he nevertheless liked to visit Memorium Park from time to time. There was something reassuring to him about how the residents of the city had a place to memorialize the dearly beloved who were gone -- evidence, as it were, that the people here were mostly good people.

Today a woman whom he had never met before arrived to inscribe something. From where Xander stood, he would be hard for Sakuya to not see, particularly a man of his height and wearing black medieval riding armor with gold trim. When she approached to write an epitaph, he averted his gaze until she was done. Then he spoke.

"You have my sincerest condolences for losing a loved one. I know how difficult that can be."

[sakuya_izayoi]

Sakuya had ignored him for the most part until she was addressed, glancing back over her shoulder. His demeanor gave her pause. This was a man of status.

Etiquette kicked in automatically. She straightened up, wiping her eyes quickly and taking a deep breath. She turned on heel smoothly and offered the practiced bow of a well-mannered servant. "Thank you. I did not expect to hear such kindness from a stranger."

[blackparagon]

The way Sakuya moved caught Xander's attention. She was obviously trained for etiquette. Interesting.

He inclined his head for a second before looking back at her face. "If more people showed it, it wouldn't have to be a surprise. Would that more people would do just that.

"Anyway, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Xander; I first arrived here about a month or two ago."

[sakuya_izayoi]

"I suppose that's true." Her voice was soft and somewhat distant. Though, blinking, she seemed to regain her focus, finally registering his introduction.

"Oh, forgive me." Another bow, this one smaller. "I am Sakuya Izayoi, bound servant to the Scarlet Devil and the head maid of her household. I'm sure others have welcomed you to Genessia but allow me to extend my own."

[blackparagon]

Xander couldn't help but be curious about a person known as the "Scarlet Devil." Nicknames could leave the wrong impression -- something that he, as the crown prince of Nohr, knew extremely well -- but he was still curious. However, he wouldn't bring it up further unless Sakuya did.

"Thank you, Sakuya. It's good to see such welcoming people, particularly given our situation. This isn't the first time I've left my realm, but it is the first time I've been cut off from it, so the help I've received has been most welcome."

He then let his eyes dart around the small park. "Would you like to stay here, or perhaps continue talking elsewhere?"

[prismaticdestruction]

It took a while as Sakuya wasn't the only one searching. Although the little blonde was having less luck and even less of a idea of what had happened.slightly in the dark about what was happening. She just felt like something was missing and needed to find out what. This feeling reminded her of the Thor and everything that happened but she's quick to squash that down. No need to panic yet.

But when she finds Sakuya, it's as if she was before even vanishing into the Dream Docks. Curious yet worried, trying to hide everything she knew behind a mask for now. She'd never seen Sakuya like this so it actually was slightly frightening.

"...Sakuya..? Is everything okay?"

[sakuya_izayoi]

Sakuya, for the first time, did not look up as Flandre approached. Space around her seemed distorted, the maid's scattered thoughts loosing her careful hold on it. She was not connected to the space around the mansion's residents currently.

So when Flandre spoke up, the maid was genuinely startled, almost leaping to her feet and straightening up. Her eyes were a bit red, but nevertheless, she offered Flandre a deep apologetic bow.

"Young Miss. I'm so sorry. I didn't see you."

[prismaticdestruction]

That threw Flandre off big time and there was a moment of hesitance before she come closer, wings tight against her back. If she wasn't sure something was seriously wrong before? That would give it away. Straightening up and reaching out to Sakuya, she speaks again, worry written all over her face.

"It's alright...what's wrong? And I know it's not nothing so that won't work on me."

A little bit of her growth from the ship was showing there as well as the fact the vampire had stopped shying away from everyone for the time being.

[sakuya_izayoi]

Honestly Sakuya... wasn't sure what to say to Flandre. No doubt the younger sibling had noticed Remilia's absence too, but the maid wasn't sure she was finished processing the information herself.

Swallowing nervously, Sakuya stepped forward and sank to one knee, resting her weight on her forward leg, with her knuckles braced against the floor. She did not bow to Flandre like that. Only to Remilia and usually when asking for forgiveness.

"I cannot find Lady Remilia anywhere. Her bats are absent from the castle and, likewise, neither she nor them are hiding in any of the usual places." A pause. Even when Remilia was gone for an extended time she would leave some bats behind. Some trace that she was still okay.

"She's gone from us, Young Miss. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

[prismaticdestruction]

Everything that was being done, seen and heard made Flandre take a step back and freeze up. Her body language told that story of how terrified of this news she was. The feeling of abandonment...The worry about what was to come. It will take a moment as Flandre is fighting the urge to run and hide away or just crumble right here.

"..Go-...Gone? As in...Home gone?"

Reminders of the message she was given when Karen left her behind runs through her head as she tries to calm down enough to deal with things. One part terrified her but could be put to the side for now. Breaking down bout it could come later as others needed her to think and help.

"If...If that's true, then she's been placed somewhere else and we have to wait, Like Atem told me when everyone went away. It's a mean and bad game but...it can be won. Maybe she'll come back..and even if she doesn't remember...."

A pause and a sniffle because this is not what she wanted at all. This was not going to be a fun idea. Besides, there was one phrase she would probably break at, was refusing to even think about it and hoping not to hear.

"We start again and teach what we know. Help make things right again."

[alwaysimpaled]

Dante had been enjoying his strawberry sundae in peace when Sakuya came in and sat down in the cafe. He was going to ignore her, but something about the situation made it increasingly difficult to do that. After finishing his sundae and ordering another, he took it upon himself to flop into the booth opposite Sakuya, fully expecting a knife to be thrown at him.

"Y'know, for someone who put up such a spirited fight at the club, you seem awfully defeated."

[sakuya_izayoi]

Sakuya barely lifted her head, to acknowledge him. Great. Just what she needed... She took a deep breath, lifting her tea and taking a sip- She paused... And set it back down. Cold.

"I certainly feel defeated. Not that a person like you would care." There wasn't really any venom in her words. Just melancholy. She was silent for another few moments before sighing. "... Someone I hold very dear to me vanished." She might as well just come out with it before Dante decided to pester her for information.

[alwaysimpaled]

Dante makes a gesture to the waitress bringing out his sundae before shifting in the seat to face Sakuya before taking a bite. After a long minute's of silence he just sighed.

"Seems to be going around. Two that I knew vanished. A colleague and a kid that had decided to adopt me as an older brother. How 'bout you?"

[sakuya_izayoi]

Sakuya paused, lifting her head further to look at Dante proper. She was quiet for several moments before. "... I'm sorry." And then back down at her tea.

"My Lady Remilia Scarlet. I am her bound servant whose life I live mine to serve. She's vanished but I'm still here." The maid folded her hands again. "With a fate as mine it is... difficult to function so far apart from her."

[alwaysimpaled]

Dante listens, taking another bite of is sundae. He'd been more acquainted with demon culture than he ever wanted be so he was familiar with bound servants. It wasn't his place to judge, but perhaps he could offer some guidance.

"Perhaps this is an opportunity for you. To find out who you are. Believe me, after decades of being defined by another, trying to find out who you are can be a scary prospect but you owe it to yourself to try."

Genessia City

[knowledgeandshadow]

Well... at least Sakuya was still around. There wasn't any sign of Remi whatsoever, not even one of her little bats.

In any case... she eventually found Sakuya in the café, alone.

"Sakuya."

[sakuya_izayoi]

Sakuya looked up when she was addressed, quickly wiping her eyes and standing to offer the magician a polite bow.

"Hello Lady Patchouli. I'm sorry. Did you need me?" She straightened up quickly. "You didn't have to come all the way out here. I will return to the castle shortly." Avoiding the elephant in the room, for now.

[knowledgeandshadow]

"No."

A pause, as Patchouli slowly sits down nearby. After all, she had just lost her best friend, had she not?

"She's really gone, isn't she?"

[sakuya_izayoi]

Sakuya tensed before, slowly, lowering herself back into the booth. She let her hands rest in her lap this time, folded as she stared blankly down at her now cold tea.

"Yes. I've searched high and low for her and her name is in Memorium Park." Her voice trailed off. "... I never imagined I would be the one left behind."

[knowledgeandshadow]

"I see..." That... pretty much confirms it, doesn't it? She's... trying not to cry, not in front of Sakuya at least.

Someone order a village idiot?

[youfool]

Guess who else wanders from place to place largely aimlessly? This guy.

Per Tolkien, not all who wander are lost; Ted simply likes seeing where the day takes him. Hopefully to his next bounty target, but it's nice taking in the sights. Like a woman in a black, pinstripe suit. Interesting sight, but what isn't these days? He wandered on.

He saw her a second time. Coincidence? Maybe; he kept going. Then a third, outside Pan's Grocery, and by now he felt the tug of fate. Something this strange clearly invited inquiry. A man dressed in many more colors approached.

"Hello, Miss, I couldn't help but notice your...repetition. What's the cause of your intermittent omnipresence?"

Maybe

[sakuya_izayoi]

Sakuya looked up from her wanderings as she was addressed, blinking and turning... and then frowning subtly. Of all the people...

Still, there was some concern in his voice, which she almost found comical all things considered. After all of his attempts to oppose Dracula, the fact that he worried for her well being...

Well, something out there certainly has a sense of humor.

"I'm surprised you would even approach me, all things considered."

She also hasn't forgotten what you did to her tea kettle during your little invasion of Castlevania Ted. She really liked it.

Re: Maybe

[youfool]

Sorry Sakuya, you know the rules of Castlevania: finders keepers.

He showed surprise. "Uh, oh? What things have you considered?" He'd never laid eyes on Sakuya before. He'd gotten a Christmas present with cake and a book as a punchline from someone by that name, but never the unknown face with it.

srry it took so long

[sakuya_izayoi]

Oh. Right.

A deep sigh was the only response he got. At least at first. The maid reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose for a brief moment before dropping her hand.

"Back when you invaded Castlevania, you ruined one of my good kettles by pouring the liquid out and placing it back on the fire. I was not permitted to reprimand you at that time. Not to mention your general distaste for all things relating to that place, myself likely included."

[youfool]

Ted's expression was quizzical, then darkened. He didn't like where this was going.

"And how do you...relate?"