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]

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.