You laugh until you cry; you cry until you laugh

[sailorgenerous]

Who: Virgo musicians - Ghost Quest people and their friends
What: When eight musicians go missing, what happens to those left behind? What happens when those eight come back far worse for the wear?
When: Feb 1st-3rd and after
Where: Virgo HQ
Warnings: Talk of torture, violence, brainwashing, etc. It's ugly in here, folks.

The past three days have not been kind. The hauntings were odd, yes, but when your friends went missing without warning or a trace - well.

How have you been coping? Have you been coping?

And then they came back just as suddenly, and...it looks like your worries were not unfounded.

This isn't good, is it.

Comments

Breaks my tag order BECAUSE you said to.

[faithfulflame]

[An arm slides down to Luce's shoulder, squeezing it gently, reassuringly. She doesn't know what to make of this, anymore. She has no idea. But there's a lot going through her head after the events of the last few days.

Serena Lapin, Di. "Alex Himmel" or whoever that had been, and Reborn.

'She's been brainwashed. She's a mafia boss.'

Those thoughts weighed on her almost as heavily as seeing her 'mother' like this. Because there was more going on here. More shit piled on the shit.]

I'm sorry I didn't come save you.

WOW NO I AM AN INNOCENT FREE OF SIN

[giglio_madonna]

Oh, Rei...

[Gently, she reaches up to cup the young woman's face. Today should be a day to drag herself back together, but she can't let this slide past her.]

There wasn't anything you could have done. I was the one to make my choice.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei gently reaches out to take Luce's cheek in the same way. She's not going to accept you being the mother right now.]

You may have made the choice, but I should have also taken a stand.

[Something about saying that feels right. Correct.]

But what's done is done. You are alive. You're back here, with me. I will do something next time.

Did you eat? And can you stand?

[giglio_madonna]

No. [And there's some of her characteristic will, a tone that says she'll take no argument.] If only one person from our band takes any hits in exchange for a success like that, it's for the better. If all of us get in trouble...

[Then they can't do anything in the future.]

[Just that kind of thinking has her head throb, and Luce rubs at her temples.]

Ah, yes... Doctor was sweet. He managed something. I'm fine. I don't know exactly what they did, but... It was physical and not. I don't know how to explain it.

What scares me more is the mental.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei wouldn't ordinarily stand up for herself, and she doesn't now, but in her head she's already denying it.]

They did something to your head, didn't they? Told you lies and tried to scare you.

[Fingers, long and delicate, light on Luce's shoulder.]

Whatever they did, it's not enough to stop you from being you. Not for long.

[giglio_madonna]

[For a moment, Luce doesn't answer- her eyes squeezed shut and jaw clenched. Even just getting out those words seems to have been a trial all its own.]

...Deeper than lies and scare tactics. [Another deep breath, and, no, that's all she can get out there despite a part of her yelling but locked away.] Demoted me. I'm going to have to help out some of my... esteemed veterans.

[At least she can still manage venom. That's reassuring.]

[faithfulflame]

I understand.

[Rei's head bows, a conspiratorial smile gracing her lips as she leans in close. They'd guessed it now. ]

Your friend Reborn...told me about what their game is. And mentioned your... Famiglia

[giglio_madonna]

Re...?

[Of course. Of course. Her eyes widen. That's his name. How could she have forgotten? Reborn, Fon, Lal Mirch, Skull, Viper, Verde... I Prescelti Sette.]

[But the memory of it all isn't what ushers out her quiet horrified whisper.]

Oh no...

[faithfulflame]

He told me what you are. Our what he thinks you are.

[She nuzzles closer...]

Do you know what I'm talking about?

[giglio_madonna]

They know...

[A horrified murmur, forced out from a tight throat that doesn't want to say anything.]

They found out about him...

[faithfulflame]

Wait...

[A swallow, her expression growing darker]

...how?

[giglio_madonna]

They had machines... They go into your head.

When Yan and Ivan went missing... I think that's what they did to them. And then to me...

[faithfulflame]

Their brainwashing devices.

[Rei's voice is flat, dull]

Then he wasn't lying...

[giglio_madonna]

I don't know what to do...

[Once more, she curls in on herself, one hand across her stomach and the other pressing at her mouth. She feels nauseous again, bile waiting in the back of her throat. There's a mental wall she just can't get past, even as she knows what it is, how it was put there.]

He could be in danger, and I...

[faithfulflame]

[Which prompts Rei to slide closer, slipping arms around her and holding on tightly. This is what she can do...]

If he's half the man heine claims, he will be fine. [a pause.] And my space ladies, as Doctor names them, are here too. They'll watch out for him.

[giglio_madonna]

[A mute nod. There's still a bitter feeling, beneath everything, that if she'd done something...]

[Another painful throb in her skull.]

...Stay safe, Rei. Please.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei nods again, and this time pushes on Luce's shoulders, firmly trying to get her to lay down.]

I will, Mother. No matter what happens, though, I'm not going to stop thinking of you that way. And I'm not going to do anything rash. You were brainwashed again though, and that's obvious. You need to rest.

[giglio_madonna]

[Finally, a faint smile graces her face and she lets herself be pressed against the bed. Rest sounds... sensible.]

I... [The words about her real life, and the daughter she's seen in her memories- visions- they simply can't leave her tongue. Luce settles for something else instead.] I love you, dear.

[faithfulflame]

[real or not, they have bonded. That has a lot of meaning. And right now, Rei wants her to rest. So she nods quietly and pulls a blanket around her.]

I know. For now, you rest.