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

[giglio_madonna]

[Somehow, she supposes she should have expected this.]

[Maybe not this, exactly, because she doubts many people could expect the exact turn Doctor's theatrics would take at any given moment, but something like it.]

[Despite everything, it tugs a smile to Luce's face. Not her best, not her brightest, no. It's worn down and a ghost of itself. But she tries.]

Were you hassling the costume people again, dear?

[Her voice is soft as she says it, softer than she's ever really spoken before. There's simply no energy for anything else.]

[trustme]

What costume people? I had this in my closet.

[ He holds the tray out to her to give her a closer look at what he's cooked up for her and to let her smell that tempting aroma. ]

Made by yours truly. Biscuits and sausage gravy with fresh fruit on the side, and plenty of hot tea. Simple but delicious. Though if you're not in the mood, Pao-Lin will help you out with that I'm sure.

[giglio_madonna]

Of course you did.

[A soft and barely audible huff of laughter.]

No, it's... It's fine. Thank you. I'm sure I'll enjoy it. My head is just a little scattered at the moment.

[Brainwashing does that.]

[trustme]

[He gently rests the tray on her lap, pulling out the collapsible little legs attached to the tray, made especially for meals in bed. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a bell, which he sets on her bed stand.]

For when you need a refill for your tea or other desires.

[He takes a seat on the edge of the bed and gives her a much more serious stare.]

I don't care what Angel says, you take all the time you need to regain your strength. Until then I'll drown her in sheet music to keep her busy. Honestly, I don't think anyone in the band is in the mood to have her around. We can't... look at her the same way any more.

[giglio_madonna]

Not just her...

[A soft murmur, and Luce glances up to meet his stare. It takes a lot of mental work arounds to get herself to speak, but she does, holding out her hand.]

Sit with me for a while, dear? Please?

[trustme]

Of course. [ He takes her hand and squeezes it gently. ]

Later on I think we should all gather in here and watch a movie. What do you think of that? Think we can come up with one that we'd all want to see?

[giglio_madonna]

You say that like we squabble often.

They're good children... I'm glad they're alright. [Especially with the ordeals of the basement fresh in her mind and weighing down on her.]

[trustme]

Yes. They've been very strong. Ivan was especially brave that night.

I think we're doing pretty well for people who just confirmed that we don't entirely know who we are. As long as we stick together, I believe everything will be all right in the end.

[giglio_madonna]

[A part of her knows it will be. There's someone wanting to save her from the outside. They've been making strides, already made some sort of blow...]

[But there's something that throbs everytime she thinks about it, and blocks the words from leaving her throat.]

Just keep them safe. I... I'm not sure I can, right now.

[trustme]

Don't worry yourself about anything other than getting better. [ He squeezes her hand again. ]

I have my eye on them, and for teenagers they're very good at taking care of themselves regardless as it turns out. When you feel better we can all go out to eat at that diner we like.

[ He adds another question without speaking out loud, just in case. ]

Is there anything you wanted to talk about? About what happened?

[giglio_madonna]

But Pao-Lin... We kept her out of so much...

[Luce isn't against drawing the youngest member into all of this, but there's concern. Concern that's only compounded by whatever they've done to her head.]

[Speaking of which, it's probably not a very pleasant place to be right now. Even after everything, the part of her that's her is smashing straight into the brainwashing head on, and the result is a right mess. It takes a moment for Luce to get something coherent together that's not a headache.]

This must be why Anansi was so beaten down... She must know about these kind of things.

[trustme]

Perhaps we've shielded her too much. I'm starting to have doubts that we're a group of delicate flowers after all.

She's afraid of Blanche and Santiago, isn't she? Any idea if Anansi would be on our side?

[giglio_madonna]

Maybe...

[Another clash of thoughts, and Luce has to take a deep breath. Even her answer isn't really one.]

I've only managed to talk with her on the phone, over text. I still have the messages.

[An invitation, sort of.]

[trustme]

I'm not suggesting we reveal much at all the Anasi but it would be good to speak more with her and find out how she feels about the company. What she has seen before, what precisely she knows of the truth, and what her abilities are.

She might be able to do what Naomi was able to. I want to know more about that power, don't you?

[giglio_madonna]

She's hard to get a hold of, and... in mourning, I think. Because of what happened to Naomi.

[trustme]

Best be gentle then. It would be better to talk in person in that case, I think. I haven't seen her around HQ very often apparently.

[giglio_madonna]

Before we went down to the basement... She was around then, wasn't she?

[trustme]

Right. Right.

On second thought we'd better be even more careful if we speak with her. It's not a good sign when she shows up and it's with Juno of all people.

I wish we knew more about Juno. Like if she can do what Blanche can.

[giglio_madonna]

She's his face but... It's all for the mundane things.

[trustme]

She must be Blanche's number one for a reason. She's certainly good at locking us in a dark room without any sign of regret. Have you ever seen her show emotion? She's very stale from what I've seen of her.

[ You hang out with Blanche you're gonna get judged! ]

[giglio_madonna]

[Another moment of complicated thoughts crashing together before Luce gets them all sorted out.]

I wish I could give you an idea...

[But maybe, in the trainwreck of brainwashing versus her own independence, he'd seen a face. Ankh, of Surviving Friday.]