I feel so unsure

[wounds]

Who: MANTICORE, visitors
What: Dealing with the aftermath of I Will Twist The Knife
When: December 9, evening
Where: MANTICORE penthouse
Warnings: References to I Will Twist The Knife

[It's been a few days, people have recovered. Some better off than others. And today MANTICORE is gathered to deal and talk about what happened.]

Comments

MANTICORE

[wounds]

GRAND TOP SECRET MEETING, MANTICORE CLUSTERFUCK ETC

[sharktrash]

[ Squalo may or may not still need bandages, but no doubt he didn't act any different than usual from the moment he was back in the penthouse. He did, however, insist they have a talk, so here they are. All gathered up either in the couch corner or someone's bedroom, because their manager is absolutely not invited. ]

Okay. [ He starts it as if it's some kind of a meeting and not just a band huddled together. Who made him a leader, anyway? No worries, everyone will get to talk. ] Dunno about you guys, but this ain't what I signed up for when I decided to be rich and famous. What the fuck? Virgo is fucking insane.

[ YEAH he missed the part where their own CEO killed someone with her bare hands, whoops. He continues, clearly trying to lower his voice to a whisper. It's not too successful. ]

And that's not all. Any of you know that scarred guy from Junkyard Carnival? He wasn't at a fucking rehab. I'm pretty sure "Predator" had him hostage. Our own fucking labelmates. Did you see the state he's at? What the fuck.

Heeeey, but what I'm getting at is. [ He gestures with his unbandaged hand somewhat frustratedly. ] Don't get in trouble, yeah? Shit's dangerous. I don't wanna see one of you ending up like that.

[ Whether 'that' is referring to him, Xanxus or Naomi remains unclear. ]

[wounds]

[Genos should, by all account, be considerably more uneasy than he looks right now. No, instead his calm. Much calmer than usual, one could even say cold.

All that happened from a two story fall, was his arm getting broken, so that's in a cast for now.]

You didn't see Naomi die from Lesedi putting her arm through her chest. If Virgo's insane, so is Pride.

Xanxus? [He considers it-] Lesedi didn't want to help him either. I don't know what he did.

I do know we need to be careful.

idk about order just hop in whenever wherever

[sharktrash]

Uh yeah, that's what I was getting at with --

[ PAUSES, with his finger still in the air, and turns toward Genos. His expression is a bit unreadable. There's disbelief and surprise, but also something else. Arm through her chest. Holy shit, that's just like -- ]

Lesedi did what?

[wounds]

[Genos's expression is completely flat as he repeats himself.]

Lesedi put her arm through Naomi's chest and killed her. I don't know how, but there was no blood.

VISITORS

[wounds]

open to band and friends alike o/

[sharktrash]

[ Guess who'll be milking that "almost died" thing for what it's worth? This guy. As if it's a goddamn joke. ]

[ Anyway, for a couple of days, he can mostly be found in his bed, or in a blanketfort in front of the TV downstairs playing videogames (Ass*ssin's Cr**d or something similar in essence. Or smashing cars. He's a guy of simple tastes). His left hand is still injured, so he can't rehearse as much as he'd like. Mashing buttons is easier, and less boring than doing fucking nothing. ]

[ Yo, he lived. Come say hi, join him on the couch, read him bedtime stories, tell him to stop being a motherfucking giant toddler and get off his ass. ]

just crashing

[dishevelment]

[It was impossible not to notice the casualties from that party, and equally impossible not to have worry quickening his heart and urging him to move despite the discomfort every step brought. Though Koumei's injuries weren't nearly as severe as many others, they were still bad enough to warrant orders to sleep and take it easy for a while due to blood loss and physical damage.

While Koumei wanted to do nothing more than sleep, rest wasn't something that was easily had with Nariko and Garnet hovering around.

Thus was why he slipped into MANTICORE's den without warning, quietly snapping the door shut behind him, and offering a tired smile when he found Squalo sprawled out on the sofa.

The cellist was the main reason he had come-- some peace and quiet was just a nice side benefit of the venture.]

That...looks really comfortable, [he said, easing himself back onto the cushions of the giant pillow fort without invitation.

They had seen eachother naked. What more invite was needed?]

[sharktrash]

[ He looks relatively well, at least for someone who was basically dead a couple days ago. He's in a bit of a disarray, though, or maybe just hungover. Might've not brushed his hair this morning. You know, the typical "been hitting booze and/or drugs pretty damn hard" look. ]

[ And hey damn it. Boning didn't equal automatic invitation to everything! ]

Where'd you come from?

[ He prods Koumei with his foot half-heartedly as the other man settles into his blanket and cushion pile, but he's not actually stopping him. A bit of new company is nice. Not that he's not pleased having his band around, but Genos was the only one as deep in this shit as him, and he was being... a bit too calm for his tastes recently. Like a goddamn robot. ]

[dishevelment]

--Careful, [Koumei said quickly, holding out a hand to block the half-hearted little kick before it hit something delicate. Though the worst of his injuries had been healed somehow, he had still required stitches and his entire side ached with every movement.

And he had gotten lucky.

Scooting a little closer, Koumei absently rubbed Squalo's leg while he settled into the cushings and leaned his head back.]

Your door was open, [he explained, with an embarrassed little smile,] And I needed to get out of my place for a while. Hope you don't mind?

[Because he was staying even if Squalo did mind. Boning was totally open invitation to randomly crash.]

hug/mom warning, just to let u know...

[scalpedsociety]

[What with being terrified someone is going to kill her if she closes her eyes or possibly hurt another person at home, Tamara is almost tempted to swallow more pills than usual that the doctors prescribed her with the alcohol in the fridge just to sleep. But before she tries, Jecht probably invited her to MANTICORE'S place for some comfort (and possible solace-sex). Of course she doesn't know that her student just came home.

And she stands there for a moment, there's her Shark. Almost as normal as normal could be with the exception of his hand.

A couple of days ago, he was dead or nearly so. He wasn't even breathing.

Excuse your Mom, it might take a while for it to sink in...]

[sharktrash]

[ Doesn't she? You'd think they would've told her. ]

[ Either way, there he is. Looking a bit messy (maybe it's a bedhead, maybe he's been hitting coke harder than usual and forgetting to brush) but not really unwell. ]

[ He turns his head and lifts the bandaged hand to wave at her lazily from his pile of blankets and cushions, a slight grin on his face. As if he hadn't been almost dead just recently. Show must go on. ]

Hey! I got better.

[ Like it's a fucking joke to him. ]

[droppedthread]

[Ryuko is just gonna. Plop down next to him to watch one of the games. Goodness gracious, what did these cars do to deserve this terrible fate? Besides looking cool when they go boom, that is. She's chewing gum of some kind?]

This is totally exactly what you did when you were home sick from school, huh?

[A pause.]

You winning?

[sharktrash]

[ Well, he's probably feeling a little aggressive. Being stabbed does that to a person. Also apparently makes them suggest torture as a viable method to gather information, but he won't mention that part to her. Yet. ]

Yup.

[ He sounds pretty content, at least, although the question does make him pause for a moment... and another vehicle crashes into a wall on the turn. This is probably not what's supposed to be happening in this game. ]

...actually I think I'm supposed to not crash into things.

[ He reaches over to nudge another spare controller closer to them with his foot. While he does that, the car on the screen runs over an AI grandma crossing the street. ]

Wanna join in?

band and friends!

[wounds]

[Genos is staring forlornly at his guitar, with his arm broken like this, he can't exactly play- and he'd love to. Even if it's only to get his mind off of the wreck that was that party. Plenty of people on death's door and the feeling that he could have done more to stop it. The memory of losing an arm- which should be more traumatic, but he's sure that body he used to have was perfectly replaceable.

For now though he's stuck reflecting. Squalo was stabbed when he was busy getting pushed off of a balcony. He should have been there instead of on the balcony. Maybe he could have stopped it, maybe he could have done something.]

closed pls

[sharktrash]

[ Hey now, don't brood, buddy. You're not some superhero or anything. ]

[ There'll be a knock on the door, and Squalo's sticking his frowny face in. He's still got bandages wrapped around his left hand, but the horrifying stab wound in his chest seems to have been somehow fixed in that weird lab. ]

[ Anyway. ]

Hey. How's your arm?

[wounds]

[Not right now, anyway.]

It's... been worse.

[It's broken, but at least it's still attached. Which is a whole lot more than he can say to his memories. They've been severed and melted before, apparently.]

Come in.

Sorry-- Mei's crashing for a little bit, but he brought gifts!

[dishevelment]

--Here.

[Sometimes it was better not asking how it was that Koumei arrived, but at least he brought snacks. In this case, he held an opened bottle of something alcoholic out for Genos to take, should he want it.]

We've been through hell and back, and nothing's going to make that better. But, drinks can numb the pain for a bit.

[wounds]

[Alcohol does nothing for him- but he'll still take it, taking a sip.]

Time can help sometimes.

Will you take a Trucy?

[magic_to_do]

[Squalo was super cool at the music fest and Genos helped her save that fish that one time, and they were both at that awful party that seems to have screwed a lot of people up on both labels. That must have been rough. So Trucy decides to come check on them. Sorry guys, there is cheery bit of fluff knocking at your door. On the plus side, she made cookies.]

Hi! You guys got a minute?

Of course

[wounds]

[He'll pull the door open and stand aside if she wants to come in.]

I've got nothing but minutes.

[blindfoldcode]

[Kido takes a day to emotionally recover--it's all she can afford, being one of many smol ones in her band. And then she's tracking down Genos. She only met him at the party, but knowing exactly how much danger all of Pride had been in, she's checking on the people she actually cares about.

He's one of them.

She's knocking on the door to the penthouse.

Man she hopes this is approximately how you do people.]

[wounds]

[Genos opens it, arm still in a cast.]

Kido?

[He'll step aside if she wants to come in.]

[twoscompany]

[Its not until a day or so after the party, but there is someone who finally does come to see him. Whether or not he wants to talk to her, Garnet can't be sure. But...with some of the things she's seen come to pass as being true, she had to know. And hope that his injuries are on the less serious side, especially since he was probably pushed off that damn balcony.

There is a knock on the door, followed by the smell of...coffee?]

[wounds]

[He's there, he's usually there in the afternoon so he opens the door for her.

It looks less like he's been pushed off a balcony and more like he's just injured his arm. But his air of smug rock star seems to be replaced by a blank face.]

Garnet?

[He'll move to the side if she decides she wants to come in.]