004 ✽ And I say to myself

[giglio_madonna]

Who: Flowers Over Bones (the Doctor, Luce, Rei, Ivan, Pao-Lin)
What: Time to discuss Daft Punk and murder.
When: The day after Naomi's truly atrocious Solstice party.
Where: FoB's penthouse
Warnings: Talk about the event


The morning after is... rough.

Luce doesn't sleep well, and she doesn't know how the rest of her band fares, either. Yet time keeps moving on, no matter what traumas or sadness has happened to the rest of the world, and soon enough morning light is cutting through her windows.

It doesn't feel right to stay trapped in bed. Luce can feel her body itching to do something, anything, but she already knows that after the catastrophe of last night that she won't have so much freedom for now.

So: She tries to go about her day. The cook that comes every morning doesn't seem surprised when he's shooed out, because Luce taking over meals like breakfast is normal, and Angel doesn't stop her. She steps out onto the patio talking on the phone, and Luce feels the tension in her leak away slightly.

When the rest of the band comes out, she tries her best to smile. "Morning."

She can't really call it 'good'.

Comments

Rei

[faithfulflame]

Nothing is ever quite right the morning after an event like that. But Rei's taking it surprisingly well. She gets up, she showers, and she dresses normally, but nothing's quite the same. Still, seeing Luce outside is good, and she'll give Angel a helpless glance that goes largely ignored as the woman works. Whatever, Rei's no trouble.

Stepping out onto the patio, Rei immediately takes a seat and a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her coffee.

"Yeah." Luce gets a smile, and so does everyone else. "So." What...else do you say?

"Is anyone hurt?"

[sponsorigami]

Ever the worried one, Ivan brings out a pot of hot tea for when coffee cups are empty. The ocean breeze will cool the pot, but he planned for that with an electric warmer for the pot. He sets it up near an outlet and starts talking.

"I wasn't in any danger, really, even though we were taken to a place that didn't have any cell signal." Ivan starts with that because well, as far as Ivan's concerned, he got off easy for the night.

[faithfulflame]

"What do you mean taken?" Rei asks mildly. She had most certainly sent dozens of texts throughout the night to both siblings, after all. He was safe, but she was definitely worried, an awful feeling coming over her.

"Who did it?"

[sponsorigami]

"I was put on a later shuttle because the staff couldn't find me, and that shuttle and one from Pride went somewhere else completely." Of course he got overlooked and misplaced despite waiting on the curb for his turn. "Two helmeted men were responsible. One was gold. One was silver. I played music with Silver twice before."

Once he saw the familiar face--or helmet--Ivan didn't feel as worried or afraid as he might have been normally.

[faithfulflame]

"You mean...those two?" Rei perked up, watching Ivan intently. That was news. Those two were strange, and she'd felt weird ever since they'd approached her too.

"I've played a bit with them as well. But...when you say responsible, what do you mean? Did they take you away?"

[trustme]

"Not hurt, only disturbed. Wounded in a spiritual musician way and wounded in the plain human decency way." Doctor has his arms crossed defensively across his chest. He spins around and looks at the door to check for Virgo staff then turns back around to face Rei again.

He'll cut to the chase, "I'm starting to think you really are psychic Rei."

[faithfulflame]

The words, quite frankly, surprise Rei in a way she hadn't expected. They click, in one way, like a puzzle piece or a long sought out approval might. She hadn't ever thought of herself as psychic before, despite her interest in witchcraft and paganism.

"You know, father? I'm...starting to think I might be too. Last night...I had terrible feelings from the moment Ms. Woods played until she..." Rei chokes on the word...but manages to spit it out "Died"

[trustme]

"Right. It's a bit funny how unsure we were last night when we discussed it. After what we saw... What Lesedi can do and Blanche. Who knows what type of power there is standing right in this room?" He waves between the two of them and out towards the rest of their band. "Maybe those strange files on us on that computer downstairs has our superpowers logged. I don't think Blanche or Lesedi have considered turning us into superheroes yet but who knows what they'll decide to do with us next."

[faithfulflame]

"You think we all have superpowers, and we don't know about them?" Rei's eyes went wide. She had just figured it was the two of them, if that...but then, who could really say. It was getting weirder and weirder.

"I mean...there's something else I can do, besides...whatever those feelings are."

She gestured towards a candle in the middle of the table and it flickered to life without a match or Rei's fingers going anywhere near it.

"I can do something like that...and Mother saw it already."

[giglio_madonna]

"No, I'm fine."

For a given measurement of it, anyway. With espresso now in hand, Luce comes out onto the patio as well rubbing her fingers against the porcelain. So much is bothering her, she almost doesn't know where to start.

"I suppose we're all lucky for that."

[faithfulflame]

"We are."

Sipping her coffee, Rei eyes Luce with a little worry in her eyes. She's not sure where to even begin, because Naomi's song...and the things she'd heard and seen were disturbing.

"But what the hell even happened? Ms. Woods had to have done something, but what?"

[giglio_madonna]

"It was the music."

The answer comes to Luce immediately and clearly. Not a single bit of ounce is in her words.

"The night before... Some of us who were there got to preview that song she sang. When she sang it again, it was like a switch going off." Looking around, she frowns. "Rei, the rest of you- you weren't there, right? For that first preview?"

[faithfulflame]

"The music?"

Rei blinks, a little surprised, but she rubs her chin thoughtfully. The explanation made sense, and she trusted Luce's opinion. Something was wrong with that song, she'd felt it even last night.

"No, I wasn't. I was on the phone with..." She casts a wary look at the Doctor, hoping he's not going to get too protective "...My boyfriend all night..."

Come to think of it...

"That might be why I didn't feel off last night. But what did the song do? I mean, I didn't really understand what was going on. Just that something vile...was in the air."

read, reply and threadjack wherever you like :D

[trustme]

Doctor greets everyone else with a tired smile. For once there are bags under his eyes, which is odd because he had always had a surreal way of never looking sleepy even after a night up writing. If he didn't sleep for eight to ten hours some nights one might think he only needed a couple to get by.

The way he greets Angel and the staff passing through hasn't changed. He stops every once and a while to straighten out a picture frame or press a drawer closed. If anyone else in the band was up the night before they know he spent the night tearing the place apart looking for "bugs" and the early morning just before dawn putting everything back in place.

1) Doctor gets Angel outta there
"I did some writing last night," Doctor lies right to Angel's face. His poker face is set in stone and he'd seem normal if he didn't look so worn out. In actuality he had written what he has on the papers he's handing to her a couple days before. "I think you'll be pleased."

Angel takes the papers and stares at Doctor for a moment before saying without hesitation, "You should get some rest. You are needed at your best Doctor."

Doctor blinks heavy eyelids at her, intent on keeping his emotional mask. He smiles. "Just submitting my latest contribution. I think I'd rest easiest after having a quiet breakfast with my family."

Angel glances around the room towards any of the other bandmembers. It feels less like a caring manager checking up on them and more like a security officer watching their moves now. "You are all needed at your best," she adds.

2) Doctor talks about the party and reveals his new found ability
Doctor has his own questions about the evening before and answers to give to others but there are some choice thoughts on his mind he wants to add. "I spoke with Blanche briefly about Lesedi last night. He said that only he can protect us from her and that we need to make it worth his while if we want it to stay that way."

That was as much as Blanche likely would have told anyone. Safe to say out loud.

"There's something I'd like to do before we continue any further... Could we all join hands for a moment?" he asks, holding out his open palms to those seated to his sides.

3) Doctor talks about his latest visions

Among the topics Doctor feels should be said without speaking aloud are the visions they had all experienced. He squeezes the hand(s) of those listening through the mind link before sending the question to them.

"Have any of you experienced more visions since the lock down? I think I had one last night. It could have been shock from the murder but it- it felt like the other times I've seen things."

2

[sponsorigami]

"I... don't think I should..." With everything that has happened, Ivan has yet to tell the others about his new... power. If he hadn't talked with Silver, he might have thought it was a curse. However, he thinks now is not the time to mention it. Not until he learns what the others went through.

Ivan pulls his blanket around his body tighter.

[trustme]

An odd response. Doctor makes note of it as he joins hands with those closest to him. He offers Ivan a smile. "Stay close by then. This just may work if you keep your mind open."

He glances around at the others. "I should warn you all that this is going to be strange. Luce helped me out with this just last night- er- I should just get to the point."

Doctor lowers his head and closes his eyes. To an onlooker it might look like some sort of fortune telling attempt the way Doctor is frowning in concentration. "Contact," he murmurs and then...

"Can you hear me? Can you hear the sound of my voice? Or the song in my head?" The sound of Doctor's voice and one of their band's songs played solo on cello seem to float in the air, first as if he were calling out and playing in another room. But as one starts to accept the sound the volume becomes like that of standing side by side speaking. The vision of the cello being played might even flash across the back of one's mind like images in the imagination.

[sponsorigami]

Going stiff, Ivan first thinks of the time that mysterious voice calling for his power or earlier when he was possessed. The urge push or step away is nearly too strong. However, Ivan's posture relaxes slightly at the familiar song. His nerves continue to tremble, but he nods at the question.

[trustme]

"Sorry. There isn't really a better way to explain this than to show it to you. It's all right there's nothing wrong with you. I'm the one doing it. Big surprise everyone! Turns out I'm telepathic." Doctor offers a hopeful smile to everyone else, glancing around the circle to see their reactions.

Ivan

[sponsorigami]

Ivan paced nervously when he returned to the penthouse before most of the band and sent out many texts since he had signal. He also had tea waiting for when they had return. Sleep didn't come easily, but at some point he did.

Now, Ivan's wrapping a blanket around his body to give him another layer of protection from everything outside of his body. His aversion to touch continues, and he fears losing control of his shapeshifting power. His... These visions are memories... his. He hadn't thought about it a lot while at the gathering. There were other things he had to focus on, but now in the empty calm after, it's all he can think about. He's that sucky ninja. Edward is his friend. He failed him somehow.

There's also the large elephant in the room that the rest of his family (They're still his family, right?) went through.

"I don't even know where to begin." Ivan feels very self conscious. "Um... I'm unharmed. They didn't hurt us, and I've actually met one before... twice actually. They had bean bags and movies and beer, though I didn't have any." There. That is a start.

[trustme]

"You had met your kidnappers before last night? Who was it then?" Doctor asks. He's imagining a warehouse of bean bags and coolers but those were idle details compared to who had actually taken the younger half of their band away for the night.

[sponsorigami]

"They were helmeted men. One silver, one gold. I've played music with Silver twice now." Ivan had enjoyed those random jam sessions and even used some parts to attempt his own songs. "He called it a 'detour.' That avoiding a conflict was easier than dealing with the aftermath."

Once Ivan had returned to the penthouse and later saw the others' state (and his shapeshifting), he took Silver's words to be truer than Juno's.

[trustme]

"I met them too! Though it was just once. I played with one of them. They said I was 'missing' something and they were returning it. Then... Did they say something like that to you too?"

[giglio_madonna]

It's a little bit after Doctor and Ivan have chatted that Luce finally contributes something.

"The one in silver told me to experiment with things close to my heart." Her fingers are rubbing incessantly at her espresso cup. "I still don't understand what he meant... I don't feel like anything has changed, and it's been some time now."

[sponsorigami]

"I think... I do. Sort of." Ivan looks at his hands, and a strong frown forms on his lips. "My sensitivity to touch is a part of me and... what I can do. I can't figure out how yet, but I... can change shape..."

It's something scary to admit out loud. He'd much prefer to not have any power, but if Silver is to be believed (and more evidence points to him telling the truth), then this is how Ivan is. Supposed to be, maybe? A past life, maybe? That part, Ivan's not too sure about.

[giglio_madonna]

"If the sensitivity to touch and your shapeshifting are both a part of you..." Tilting her head to the side thoughtfully, Luce sets her cup down. She can't figure out yet what it is that's changed in her, but maybe she can help the others.

"Maybe your body is... taking note of what you touch on a deeper level than most people need?"