When looking at the sky tonight

[twoscompany]

Who: Garnet, accompanied by Cosmic Indulgence, OPEN
What: Garnet's gone solo. Things are changing, including Garnet herself.
When: Second week of April
Where: Various places in Vista City
Warnings: None for the moment

A. Never Alone (OPEN)

Anyone who knows Garnet's routines might notice that they've started to change in the past few weeks. Its been subtle, or was at first. Koumei's "release" from the label made the changes become a little more obvious.

Namely, people might have become aware that Garnet's schedule included less and less time with her band, particularly in public. This isn't an oversight. People who know how the industry works will tell you, this is a sign. Garnet's gotten too big for the band. Its only a matter of time before it becomes official. She won't be with her band indefinitely.

What she is with, now, is her agent. A very chipper, almost annoying little slip of a lady who will talk anyone's ear off if they come near Garnet. Her accent is Southern and her make up perfect. She'll give suggestions as to things Garnet can do if she's not doing them, fields questions from nosy people with clever deflections, and gently pushes away anyone she doesn't like near her client. But that's not the worst thing.

The worst thing is that as time goes by, Garnet seems less and less worried about stopping her from doing her job. Its part of what needs to be done, right? This is not for her. This is for those she cares about. Now that the attention is on her, as long as she does this, no one else will need to be hurt.

Right?


B. Alone on the Stage, OPEN

Garnet's been playing everywhere. Alone. Quite a lot. And the crowd loves it. Adores it. Will take offense if anyone tries to get on stage with her, even. Not that it should stop other musicians from trying to do a duet with her, right? Garnet's been known to do impromptu duets and they were always good!

Its just that those nobodies just have to accept they're not the ones the crowd came to see. And if they try to upstage Garnet during the duet, or really anytime during the performance, well, the crowd will let them know how they feel. Violently if need be.

Not Garnet. At least, not in front of the public. But the stormclouds are brewing in her eyes, oh annoying interloper. And once she drags you backstage, you're going to regret it.


C. Alone in the Cosmos, CLOSED to Cosmic Indulgence

They were only in one picture for the magazine photoshoot. They had to wait in the normal line to enter the clubs and gigs they were supposed to be playing at. They were shoved aside whenever Garnet entered the room - that is, if they were even playing in the same room. Their official status was "on-call, as needed by Garnet"; they otherwise stewed in the penthouse while Garnet made the rounds with live appearances on TV. Commercials. There were rumors of a movie called "Doctor of Keytarnomics" that she'd star in.

Oh, and the World Tour announcement band line-up name? Garnet, accompanied by Cosmic Indulgence. She had veto power over songs and costumes for the tour. And she was getting ready to move all of her stuff to her seaside home - if the band wanted to make official recordings, they would have to do it at her studio, according to Garnet's new agent, as relayed to their agent.

What the hell was happening to the band's mother figure?

Comments

[twoscompany]

"Stop..." Garnet grabbed her head, hearng the simultaneous he's right now and he was right before and futures of death and songs and death and songs and-- "You said it...stop it...what do you want from me!?"

There was a knock on the door.

[traumatizing]

That's... Not the reaction he expected. Terry freezes for a moment, but the knock on the door jolts him out of it. Enough for him to ignore whoever's at the door and reach out hesitantly to Garnet.

"I was scared, and you showed me we had to keep fighting." He clenches his jaw, hoping so much that this is getting through to her, "you were right."

[twoscompany]

You were right.

Garnet's head bolted up, turning towards Terry, her eyes wide. The words are like a punch to the guy, and she even looked like the wind was knocked out of her.

"I...was?"

No. You were wrong. You know Stevn will die if--

[traumatizing]

He puts a hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze in the hope that at least some of this will stick with her. Terry knows what it's like when Lesedi gets her claws in you, how hard it is to think you can fight back against that. Honestly, losing Koumei is what made him think that just playing along isn't gonna keep them safe. Just out of Lesedi's ire until she gets bored.

"Don't let them trick you, Garnet. You're only safe until they want something new."

[twoscompany]

He's right. No he's not. He must be. He's a problem! There was something. A spark. Maybe it did get to her. It had to have, with the way the clouds seemed to life from her eyes.

"Terry-"

Then the door was thrown open.

"Come on~!" Garnet's agent went to grab one arm, while Page went around her torso. "You're going to be late, honey~!"

"No." Panic seeped into her voice as the glasses immediately slammed back down her face, even as she tried to pull away. "Wait, just a moment-gnnghuuah-!"

Page's one-armed hug around her diaphragm knocked the wind out of her, and she let out a gasp with what little air was left in her. It was like being stuck in a giant vice that kept squeezing, tighter and tighter. How was Page strong enough to do that? He was twice her...well, what she originally thought was her age at least!

Meanwhile, Garnet's agent shot a death glare at Terry.

"This is your fault! She's going to lose the gig at this rate! What have you got to say for yourself!"

[traumatizing]

"Wait-- Garnet!"

Terry immediately goes to help-- hand outstretched as if he could pull her back, but Page has her so tightly and the agent's in his way. Terry watches helplessly as she's carted away, panicked and worried. What if they heard him? What if they hurt her because of what he said?

He was mad at Garnet, but it's not her fault. Not really. Her agent on the other hand? He's not at all fazed by the glare, returning it with one of his own.

What does he have to say for himself? Well-- "Get the fuck out of my room."

[twoscompany]

"P-please...let me...go..." Garnet felt the room swim. "Just-"

"Excuse me." The agent's glare deepened. "But last I checked, this penthouse belonged to Pride Records. As a musician, you have no right to privacy."

Page went to turn and carry Garnet out.

"Also, manners! Do I have to wash your mouth out with soap?"

[traumatizing]

Holy shit this is-- it's a hell of a lot all happening at once. The agent gets a distinct "ugh" and a "get the fuck out of my way" as Terry slips past her to try and get in the doorway and stop Page from leaving with Garnet-- if they can just grab her like that, they're a lot stronger than he thought they could possibly be.

He's searching for a way to stop them, something to stop Page and Garnet's agent in his tracks, but instead he looks confused for a moment as he comes up empty. Not like he's being blocked, like there's nothing there to begin with.

("My thing? It don't work on robots either.")

--Okay. Okay. He puts his hands up, a plea for everyone to stop for a moment, "I-I know Garnet has work to do, but can we have another minute? Please?" He glances at the agent, but she already doesn't like him. Page, maybe. "I just want to apologise to her. Privately."

[twoscompany]

"Why?" The agent put her hands on her hips, staring at Terry. "She shouldn't have to worry about the likes of you affecting her performance to begin with! Isn't it obvious, you've distressed her enough!"

Garnet, for her part, tried to reach out to Terry.

"A moment," she gasped out. "Please!"

[traumatizing]

"That's why I want to apologise." Terry's still looking at Page, expression earnest, trying to appeal to a sense of compassion their manager might not even have, "things are changing a lot really fast, emotions are high..."

Part of him is worried about how good he's gotten at lying, but they did this to him. They made it so he can't even be honest in his own home. Terry swallows, looking down at his feet for a moment as though it's difficult for him to speak, "please?"

[twoscompany]

The two robots slowly looked at each other, staring unto each other's eyes. Garnet's gasping notwithstanding. Finally, though, Page started towards Terry's room.

"...Two minutes." The agent's hand went to grab Terry's to drag him into the room; if Terry is grabbed, he would find the grip a vice grip, and bruises would start to form after she threw him in. "No more."

[traumatizing]

Holy crap that hurts. Terry looks at his wrist, holding it in total confusion at how strong that agent is. That's not... That's not normal right? That's a totally abnormal amount of strength.

He stands there holding his wrist until they're alone, and then he looks up at Garnet with concern. "Are you okay?"

[twoscompany]

Page let her drop to the floor, slamming the door behind him. Garnet' meanwhile, doubled over on the floor, wheezing and gasping.

"I'll be..." she managed to get out. "I'll be ok..."

Good lord, he nearly broke her ribs. She can feel her midsection throbbing beneath her fingers.

[traumatizing]

Terry immediately comes over and kneels next to her, hesitantly putting a hand on her arm. Terry can't fix this-- or maybe he can? he doesn't wanna try and fuck it up, he still doesn't fully understand what's happening to him.

"I'm sorry," he says softly after a moment, "I didn't mean what I said out there, I was just-- I'm mad about Mei and with all this... It feels like I'm losing you too."

[twoscompany]

"No, Terry, I..." She brought her hand to his. "I should have...I'm playing right into their hands, aren't I? I...I'm in deep, Terry. I don't know if I can survive as myself. Even now, I...I can feel those things. The thoughts, and the beliefs..."

She squeezed.

"But damn if I won't try."

[traumatizing]

"That's all I'm asking for."

Terry's smile is hesitant, almost sad, but it's there. He's not entirely reassured that Garnet can fight this, not when she's managed to convince herself this is what she has to do to protect everyone, but she's at least promised to try, and that means this isn't a lost cause.

"And you know I'm here for you whenever you need," Terry gives her arm another squeeze, standing and offering Garnet a hand up, "but right now, you should get out there before your agent breaks my door down."

[twoscompany]

Though she was still wheezing, though she knew she was on a time limit, though her chest hurt, she managed to do something about it before leaving.

"Thank you."

She gives Terry a good hug, drawing him in through the hand on her shoulder. It was the best she could offer him. The most, before she heard the footfalls and quickly went to excuse herself, opening the door to Page and her agent staring at her.

"I'm going." Page grabbed her anyways, taking her off. "Ow--I'm going!"

The agent, however, stays behind, walking back into Terry's room with a gleaming glare on her face. Garnet was gone, but it seemed her agent had something more to say, once the penthouse door to the hallway closed and her charge was gone.

[traumatizing]

Well this is... Worrying. Terry raises an eyebrow at the agent - not scared, but still wary - and he moves to lean against his desk with his arms folded over his chest.

"I just didn't want her going to work upset," Terry offers by way of explanation. He's not looking for her validation, but he would really like her to leave. "I shouldn't have said what I did, and it'd eat at Garnet for days if she thought I meant it."

[twoscompany]

She stared at him for another moment, before stomping over and swinging her arm. Her hand was going to have on his face, and if it did, it wouldn't be fun. At all.

"Do that again," she hissed. "Upset her again, and you'll be sorry."

[traumatizing]

There's that creeping shadow on his hands, and for a moment Terry thinks he can stop her-- lash out, grab her wrist, keep her hand from connecting. He doesn't know exactly how he knows, but he's confident in that much.

Something changes at the last minute and Terry puts his hand down instead, gripping the hem of his shirt and balling his hand into a fist in preparation for when she hits him. It hurts a hell of a lot more than he expected it to, and he's pretty sure his lip is bleeding, but it doesn't stop him from glowering up at her.

"Yes ma'am."

[twoscompany]

"Good." The glare disappears, turning into a bright and chipper grin. "We'll see you at practice tomorrow, then! The World Tour's coming. Bring your A game."

And with a slamming of his door, she's gone.