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]

Uh, yeah. Some fucking evil spirit was haunting the kitchen. I smoked it out.

[ hahahhahah so much sympathy for these "ghosts" ]

Don't tell me you actually went and did what it said.

[snapcrackleburn]

That wasn't an evil spirit. That was the ghost of a fellow musician. He would be among the bands today if he and his friend hadn't been killed, very likely by Santiago herself.

Does that ring any bells? Because the Santiago I saw a few nights ago was no regular human.

[sharktrash]

[ He stares at Roy like he'd grown another head. Good thing he probably can't see it, shower and all. ]

All the more reason to stay the fuck away, right?

[ ...guess it does, huh. ]

Yeah, I -- I haven't seen it myself [ because I was bleeding out on the floor with a knife in my chest ] but Genos told me she'd killed someone with her bare hands in the Solstice party.

[snapcrackleburn]

She's done it before that party, I can tell you that.

We decided to help the ghost, Baryl, free his friend. We were successful but Santiago appeared out of nowhere and stopped us. Those ghosts, they're the reason we're seeing those strange visions. Baryl and his dead band have been trying to reach out to us and reveal the truth for a while now.

[sharktrash]

Could be. Does it matter? I wasn't around then.

[ Yeah apparently he has no issues with some god-powered psycho running around freely as long as it doesn't interfere with his stuff, whoops. ]

"The truth"? That they've been fucking with our brains? Do you have that guy's number, 'cause I'd like him to fucking stop.

[snapcrackleburn]

Like him to stop what? Telling the truth about who we really are? Or revealing that Santiago might do to us what she did to them?

[sharktrash]

[ There's a pause. Shit, whatever they did to Genos, they must've done to Roy, too. What was he supposed to do with this? ]

I know who I really am, thanks. And sure, that part of the contract sounds like ass, but the rest's pretty good. We're safe if we don't act like fuckwits, yeah?

[ Alright, no, he's supposed to be gentle to unstable folks. Men's feelings can always be taken care of through the stomach, right? ]

What's your favorite meal?

[snapcrackleburn]

[ Roy isn't surprised Squalo doesn't believe him. It's a difficult idea to accept. He doesn't exactly want to believe it himself but he hates the idea of living a lie and at least there seems to be some sort of light at the end of the tunnel- that woman, whoever she really is. ]

Spinach quiche. But I'll eat anything as long as there's a lot of protein. They barely fed us.

[ He goes silent and nearly ends the conversation there but he has one last thing to say before Squalo leaves the bathroom. ]

They kept telling me this was all my fault and that Pride has ultimate power over us. And maybe it was my fault.

But what kind of person leads a company that has all its employees quivering in fear? This isn't the high life of a musician. We're her music making machines, not people to her.

I'm afraid but I'm even more angry.

[sharktrash]

[ It's about the opposite for Squalo. Despite the way he comes off, he's quite perceptive, and of course he's been having his own doubts about... everything. But he chooses to ignore it the best he can. Why? Because from what he gathered out of those little "visions", his life right here is a hundred times better. ]

Great. I'll have it in a bit.

[ .......... He stops, but he's not sure what to say to that. It's... true? He should probably feel the same way. But... ]

You did do something stupid. But I wouldn't go as far as calling it "your fault". And you have a point; fear doesn't create loyalty.

[ But he's not afraid. And maybe that's why he wants to hold onto this, whether it's a lie or not. ]