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]

[ ...that gets an actual, genuine smile out of him. It doesn't even look like a grimace or a leer. ]

That's a good way to look at it. More people should be that way.

[ ...There's a lot of things he could say to that. That yeah, she should have known better, but also that he can understand perfectly why she did what she did -- and that there was no way to know what Lesedi would want. That none of it would make it her fault. But instead, he's thinking of shadows. Of glinting knives and spikes and blood splatters. ]

While some people are the devil. [ A pause, and for a moment, the image of Varia is clear as day, a perfect still before fading away. He smirks in that menacing, toothy way of his. ] And some people are their court of demons.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Most people are that way-- they just won't admit it because that would mean admitting people are selfish by nature. Plenty of people are nice. That doesn't mean they're good.

[She's said that before. To someone she'd just slept with. Who, though? The face doesn't ring a bell. Neither does the star over his eye.]

[Luci puts the memory aside and smiles at Squalo.] You think I should start an application process for my court?

[sharktrash]

True. Some just like to pretend they're beacons of purity and all that is good, but that's simply not a human thing to be.

[ He gives her an encouraging grin. ]

Only if I get a spot. [ ...It's on the tip of his tongue, so he blurts it out; ] You could start with your own set of deadly sins.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Well that's an intriguing idea... [Luci smirks, just a flicker of her usual personality coming through.] So I already have Pride and Wrath... [She muses, tapping her lips with a finger in thought.]

[sharktrash]

They're the best ones, so you're halfway there already.

[ ...why doesn't he need to ask who Wrath is? Well. ]

Any other potential candidates?

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[She ponders, gnawing her lip.]

Koumei for Sloth. What do you think?

[sharktrash]

Hmm. He might give a few too many fucks, but it's probably as close as we'll get. [ Plus he's somehow convinced that Sloth is supposed to be genius levels of smart, and Koumei seemed pretty damn clever from what he knew of him. Not mentioning the 'general' part, but. ] I approve.

[ ...that elevator's probably going to stop at one of their floors soon. ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Probably, but it's been nice for the time being. Luci's almost forgotten that she's wrapped in a sheet and losing her mind.]

[She looks up when the elevator dings and opens, and she looks at Squalo for a sign of what he's going to do.]

[sharktrash]

[ Good. ]

[ He moves to step out of it, though stops in the doorway and turns back to her with a small frown. ]

Will you make it back home?

[ He's got more friends to tend to, but he'll gladly walk her to the door if she needs it. ]

[ ...also he's leaving his coat on her, looks like. Hey, hopefully her bandmates don't decide he did this to her once they see it, right? 8D ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

No alternative, right? [Luci says with a weak smirk.] She doesn't get the satisfaction of breaking me.

[sharktrash]

[ He cants his head slightly to the side. ]

I could walk you to your bed. Or bath.

[ Bath is always an acceptable destination after sex gone messy, though he's not sure why he thinks that. ]

[ The elevator door tries closing, but he stays in place and pushes it back. ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Her eyes light up at the word 'bath'.]

That... sounds pretty good, actually...

[Luci lets Squalo hold the door and she exits the elevator.]

Your place? Mine... I don't want them to see me yet.

[sharktrash]

[ He actually didn't expect her to decide to come with him rather than make him go with her, but he's not going to turn a friend away, especially not in this shape. He nods and rests a hand on her back to gently usher her in once he opens the door to the penthouse. ]

If that's what you want. Stay as long as you'd like.

[ A small pause and he adds, voice lowered. ]

Don't pick on Genos if you see him, okay? I'm not sure what they did to him but I think it's messed with his head a bit. Quiet and gentle, yeah?

[stylistic_disloyalty]

I don't want to be alone right now, strangely enough... [She says quietly, holding Squalo's jacket to her a little more tightly as she comes into the suite.]

[The news about Genos gives her pause too, but she nods faintly.] I will. I don't really think I can do much else, given how I am right now. Right? [Luci smiles faintly at the self-deprecating joke.] We're all in this together, I think. As much as I never expected this to ever come out of my mouth... I plan on being kind for a while.

[sharktrash]

Understandable. Sorta expect her to pop up like that, no?

[ He frowns and gives her a once-over. Ouch. She's really acting... a bit subdued, which is no surprise, really, but it just makes it obvious how uncomfortable she must've been and it's. Ugh. ]

[ Fuck Lesedi. ]

Don't let us take advantage of that, [ he smirks, because gross humor is clearly the best way of coping, and leads her to the other end of the penthouse, motioning at a bathroom door. ]

This one's got the best tub. I've got some cooking to do, but if you leave the door open you'll hear me and we can talk. [ A pause. ] Or do you want me to go in with you? Shit, I'm bad at this whole support thing... [ the end of that is muttered, almost apologetically. ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

I'm trying not to think about the next time I'll be innocently checking Facebook and find myself in her office. [She grimaces, unbuttoning Squalo's coat and draping it nicely over a chair they pass on the way to the bathroom.]

[Luci smiles at him reassuringly and strokes the back of his head gently.] You're fine, I'm just sore, just need a soak. I'll leave the door open. Unless you think your band is going to get weird about me naked with the door open.

[sharktrash]

"Next time"?

[ He thought this was a one time thing. A favor for a favor. Luci seems to have a different idea. Holy shit this is insane. ]

[ He does his best not to focus on it at the moment since nothing will be achieved by him getting mad right now. ] Nah, they won't. [ A pause, then an actual genuine grin. ] Well, Roy might scream and cover his eyes, but that's fun, right?

[ He'll go into the bathroom for a bit anyway, to open the shelves and pull out a plastic box with his stuff for her to use. Shampoo, soap, etc, just in case she needs it. ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci's lips form a strong line, trying to hold her emotion in. Yes, probably next time. Lesedi had... more or less liked what Luci had done, it seemed.]

[Better to focus on scaring Roy. Luci barks a laugh and follows Squalo into the bathroom, ditching the sheet into the garbage and crouching down by the faucet. She winces from the muscle movement, and once she's sitting by the bathtub she's pretty sure she's not standing back up again before her legs feel better.]

That would make this night infinitely better.

[sharktrash]

[ ...right. Got it. ]

[ He'll turn the water on and leave her to her own devices, since he imagines she might appreciate some privacy right now. He actually manages not to stare at the marks of abuse all over her body. For some reason, they feel hauntingly familiar in a way. ]

Hold onto the hope, then!

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Crossing my fingers!

[The water heats up and Luci slides into the tub, wincing as she does it. It hurts at first, but gradually the temperature starts to soothe the soreness. This is definitely miles ahead of how she'd been feeling in the elevator.]

What are you cooking? [She calls, her voice carrying quite easily. Obviously, she's a frontman.]

[sharktrash]

[ And Squalo's a Loud Guy. What a match. ]

Roy wanted spinach quiche. Genos said he doesn't have a favorite, so I'm thinking pizza. That's like, happy food around here, right?

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Damn, pizza sounds amazing. Any chance of you throwing a slice at me? Pack me a snack for the second leg of my walk of shame?

[sharktrash]

Sure! I can make a bigger one and throw more than that. [ His grin is almost audible. ] Buzz off with the shame thing, or I'll dress you in five layers before letting you leave.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci sits with her head in her arms for a beat, lacking a snappy comeback for the moment. She does feel some amount of shame, but not because she's naked and beat to hell. It's because she didn't do anything to fight back. She just... let it happen because she was scared.]

[She snaps her fingers and lights her thumb, drying it instantly, then puts it under the water. Obviously, it extinguishes.]

Can I wear those pants you wore at your last gig? The ones with the ladder-weave in the thigh?

[sharktrash]

[ Whoa. You can feel disappointed in yourself but not ashamed. Never ashamed. Not that he's really one to talk. ]

Ha? [ It takes him a moment to recall the particular pants. ] Yeah, sure. [ And then sounding like he's trying not to laugh. ] If you fit in them.

[ Well, to be fair, her thighs are probably thicker than his. ]