I'll tell you all how the story ends

[cleartranquil]

Who: Ghost Quest kids and all those who want to see them.
What: So as it turns out, going against the label might've been a bad move. Who knew, right? 
When: Feb 3rd and after 
Where: Pride HQ
Warnings: Talk of torture, aftermath of violence, aftermath of brainwashing, dudes there's some dark stuff.

For the past three days, the troublemakers and ghost helpers of Pride Records were kept locked away from their friends and their bands. 

As far as everyone else knew, they were just gone. And then they were back. 

They are all worse for wear, some far more than others and some much more mentally than physically, but they are all returned to their penthouses, finally, at the end of their ordeals. 

But, at least they're back. Somewhat in one piece. For the most part. 

Comments

[sharktrash]

[ Ah, shit. That's no good. Sure, most of them were incredibly gay but there was also quite a bunch of songs worth salvaging in there. He tries to locate any of those in the pile of not-yet-ripped papers. ]

...funny you'd ask that.

[ He flexes his mechanical fingers, before realizing that shit, Genos is seriously upset and his flat sarcasm is definitely not gonna help with that. ]

[ He walks up to him -- crouches next to him if he's sitting on the floor -- and tries to get him to look at him. ]

Somewhat. Not -- maybe not everything. But even if I haven't, I'll try to understand. If you're willing to talk.

[wounds]

[There's still a few, Majestic has survived, for now.

His gaze is still locked on the sheets as he tears them up until they're completely illegible.]

You know I'm supposed to be a machine, but I was human before too. When I was younger and still a real human being- [of course he doesn't think of himself as human anymore] my entire town was destroyed by a mad cyborg. [Crumple, rip, tear] I survived, but my body didn't. I begged somebody for my robotic body- I wanted revenge for my family, my friends, my town. I had to watch them all die in front of me.

And then, years later, I met Saitama. [It's said with such a mix of hurt and adoration.] The person I've been writing about this whole time. [The ripping turns vicious.] My teacher, my hero, I've never looked up to somebody that much in my entire life.

But he know that cyborg, he was the reason the cyborg was even there- [And then he starts tearing up- rage, grief and exhaustion.] I trusted him, and he was the reason my family died.

[sharktrash]

[ He'll gently shift so it's behind his back, pick it up and shove it into his back pocket when he's sure Genos is looking the other way. Look, break-ups can be ugly, maybe he'll thank him once emotions have run their course and he realizes someone being a jerk doesn't immediately ruin everything they might have inspired -- ]

[ Oh. ]

[ He fights the urge to pipe in a few times, but no, let him talk. Let him finish. This is important. It's important to get those kind of things out, right? Look, he's not really a hugging kind of guy but at least he'll put a hand on Genos' shoulder and squeeze it. ]

I'm sorry. [ What else would he say? But there's something else -- ] You know, just because you're... supposed to be a machine, doesn't stop you from being human. [ For some reason that feels like an important distinction. ]

So he betrayed your trust, then.

[ He's not sure why, but that sounds like the worst crime someone could possibly carry out. ]

[wounds]

[If it was something so minor- he wouldn't have cared. But this? This was his drive before anything happened, before he ended up in Pride.]

I'm not a real human being. I'm not supposed to be. [Maybe, that's how Squalo feels, but for Genos- he doesn't think himself as human- he hasn't in a long time.]

[He sighs and nods.]

I trusted him so much, and he betrayed it.

[And still- and still he wants to see him again, wants to ask why?]

[sharktrash]

[ He'll get a new drive, then. He'll get -- shit, he really needs to get laid, huh. That usually fixes everything. Or enough booze, though that's probably not gonna work for him. Damn it why do men have to feel anything beside physical pain it makes things so complicated. ]

Yes you are. [ That's nice and all but given the context, Squalo's just reading it as Genos denouncing himself for lusting after the murderer of everything he holds dear, and that's just not cool. ] It's not -- it's not flesh or taking a shit in the morning that makes someone human, yeah? It's being able to feel things. Like you are now.

[ AWKWARDLY STROKES HIS BACK??? Might even sneak in a sort of a side-hug. Look someone has to be the band mom in this situation. ]

Sometimes when the glamour's ripped off of an idol, what's left is rather ugly. [ Squalo you motherfucking hypocrite, you say that like you didn't use to worship the ground a certain person walks on. ] Do you think he knew it was you?

[ You know, sometimes you wipe out a village and not think of that surviving orphan when you meet someone you actually like years later. That sounds like a reasonable scenario. ]

[wounds]

[And this is why context matters!] No, I'm supposed to be a cyborg. No matter how you think of it, a cyborg isn't a real human being. I've made my peace with that. [It has nothing to do with feelings, it's just about what he was.

At any other time, watching Squalo take on the role of band mom would be hilarious- because that's what Genos is. And Genos is much better at it than Squalo. But right now he's still tensed up.

Did Saitama know? He never said anything but... who's going to admit something like that? Who's going to say that they were the cause of all his misery?]

Feels like a more of a betrayal when he's somebody you lived with. I did chores for him, I cooked with him, we did groceries together- [A shaky sigh-] - I loved him.

I... don't know. I feel like I don't know anything now.

[sharktrash]

[ He tilts his head to the side. ] Why not? [ Hey maybe a distraction would be a good idea here. But he doesn't want to make it all about himself -- brainwashing is one hell of a drug, evidently. ]

Well that sounds like he's full of shit. [ he blurts, but quickly resumes the back-patting. Though... now he's not quite as set on saving any more of those songs. That guy sounds like someone best forgotten. ] It's hard. It's gonna be hard but you'll need to move on. Not immediately, but...

You can't let anyone treat you like that, okay?

[wounds]

No flesh, no blood. And I never formed attachments. Not... Not until Saitama. [He meant so much to Genos. Saitama was somebody Genos was sure he'd never lose- he was strong and good and he earned Genos' love and respect.

But all of it, every word, every action- it must have been a lie.

Even worse, Genos fell for every bit of it.]

I won't. I'm not falling for it again. [Or more accurately, he's putting up walls and he's not letting anybody else through them.]

[sharktrash]

[ He huffs. ] Well, if you wanna get anatomical.

[ Still, that little detail is a bit concerning. So Genos wasn't really... close to anyone until that man? And then this. Just makes it all the more terrible. ]

[ But... what was that Roy mentioned about 'brainwashing'? Still, nobody but Genos would know the best. ]

[ He'll sort of squeeze him a bit and plant a generous Italian kiss on his temple. ]

Good. You deserve the very best.

[wounds]

[He didn't have anyone until Saitama. No friends at least, just his doctor. Saitama was the person who let him regain humanity, bit by bit.

And even though he can say those words, he's not sure if he entirely means it. A part of him still wants to be at Saitama's side- but hearts can be stubborn things.

He'll let Squalo fuss over him for the moment- wiping away his own tears.]

... Maybe.

[He doesn't think so, not with the way he still feels about Saitama.]

[sharktrash]

It'll get better. You'll see.

[ One way or another. He holds him for a moment longer, then finally lets go, trying to sound as encouraging as possible. ]

You know what always helps me when I'm down? A hot bath and a nice meal. Come on, I'll make anything you like.

[ hint hint nudge ]

[wounds]

I have no particular likes or dislikes.

[It's said so automatically. It's a weirdly true statement from... before.]

But a bath sounds good.

[sharktrash]

[ FROWNS okay the cyborg game is getting intense. ]

A mug of warm machine oil, maybe? [ Okay no that's a little mean. ] Fine, I'll surprise you.

[ Now we're getting something. He gets up and ruffles his friend's hair. ]

Good. I'll turn the water on. [ Small pause. ] Try not to beat yourself up too much, okay? And -- cry if you need to. I won't tell anyone.

[wounds]

I can't ingest that in this body.

[Which is to say, he could in his cyborg one.

He'll let Squalo ruffle his hair.

As much as they've messed with his mind- he knows he's in the wrong body. Even as he wipes away his tears, he can't help thinking that it's wrong.]

I cried oil... I cried for Saitama once too.

[sharktrash]

Maybe later, then.

[ He pats his shoulder, but that next piece of information stops him from leaving. He leaves his hand there and crouches down again. ]

Do you remember why?

[wounds]

After Saitama, who became too strong, told me about his empty sadness, I couldn't stop the crying. I wasn't as strong as him, but I wanted to be at least strong enough to be by his side.

.. I know it sounds stupid, but I cared about him.

[sharktrash]

[ ... ]

[ Have more hugging, Cyborg Prince. Actually, with how much physical contact there's been in the last five minutes, he might start feeling like some kind of calm is being slowly poured into him. Squalo's special treat, which he's still not aware of, though it's still possible to shake off. ]

It's not stupid. I know what it means to care about someone -- I think I do. Even if -- even if you feel different now, you had no way of knowing back then, right? It's not your fault.

[wounds]

[He seems to at least relax as Squalo keeps hugging him.

His heart aches, he's been betrayed, he's bitter-- and he still wants to be at his side.]

I should have known. I never should have gotten close.

[sharktrash]

[ Genos? Relax? Quick, somebody take pictures!! ]

There's no point beating yourself up over the past, you know. What you should do is decide what to do from now on.

[wounds]

[What the hell is he supposed to do?

Saitama is already running around here...

So really that suggestion just leaves him looking absolutely lost.]

[sharktrash]

...

[ He sighs and stays for a while longer, slowly stroking the other's back. He's out of things to say, really. He's never been good at this. He should just go and see to setting up that bath and dinner, the sort of care he's capable of providing. But he can't bring himself to leave Genos alone when he's looking this vulnerable. ]

Do you want to forgive him?

[wounds]

[He shouldn't want to. But Saitama was the reason he even found his humanity back.]

... A little.

[sharktrash]

Do you think he's worth it?

[ He can't help but think there's someone he could forgive anything. Even if that person killed everything he holds dear -- ]

[ There's no judgement in his tone, just a simple question. ]

[wounds]

[He's confused at himself, struggling to figure out what's right.

But...

But when it comes to Saitama- There's nobody else in the world that he puts on the same pedestal.]

I'll always think he's worth it.

[sharktrash]

[ Why would you care about what's "right", though? Shouldn't you do whatever feels good to you? ]

[ He frowns. He really doesn't want to encourage him, but... He feels as if he's been in a similar place before. Hurt by someone important to him, and someone kind offering him everything as long as he agrees to leave him behind. The answer was, of course, no. ]

Then maybe it's fine.