LOOKING FOR SOMEONE

[twoscompany]

Who: Garnet, Koumei, Molly, Pinkie, Greg, and Jamie
What: Where Are They Now? The Scoobies Come Together!
When: February 19th
Where: A club booth/Lesedi and Edward's offices later
Warnings: The characters in this log will be getting in trouble with the labels, so brainwashing, injuries and torture, implied or otherwise, is very likely.

It started with a simple text that evening. Well, no, that was wrong. It started with a knock on the door that morning.

Garnet had wanted to check on Nariko, on all of her bandmates. All that responded to her was silence. She kicked open the door, and was met with nothing. As if the bedsheets had never been used, or the bed even slept in at all.

Nariko - the girl she saw as a daughter, their lead singer - gone. For hours she sat on that bed, her hands over her face. Once the tears dried, however, she balled her fists and stormed out of the penthouse. She wound up here, at this club, typing on her cell phone, a grim expression set on her face.

Pinkie, Koumei and Greg. If others were at the club, and wanted to join in, fine. She didn't think there would be others, though.

P3nn Station. 8pm. I'll pay.

Its a sophisticated little place, a jazz club with a good clientele, a good waitstaff - and a good chance they will be left alone for the most part. She might be asked to perform. Otherwise, though, the guards could have their own drinks, and she would be able to talk freely with those who came.

If they came. As time ticked away, she knew her idea was contingent upon people arriving, much less be amenable to it. If this didn't work out, well - this was a nice club. She could come here again in the future.

Comments

[panspermia]

For the last week, Greg and Garnet have been texting frequently. It's the best way to keep updated on Steven's condition--he can't keep jumping in whenever he wants. This one is notably different, and Greg doesn't hesitate on a quick see you soon in response. Whether this is about Steven or something else, Garnet doesn't do things lightly.

He slips into the club and picks out Garnet by the hair immediately. He joins her at the booth, and bites his lip upon getting a good look at her. She doesn't look good.

"Hey."

[twoscompany]

"Greg." She gives a small nod. "Hey."

She brushes her hair on the side, careful not to disturb the hat covering her third eye. Ok, yes, she can do this. She can confide in Greg. She knows she can.

"Nariko's gone. It's time." Maybe be a little more specific. "We've got to figure something out."

[panspermia]

He grits his teeth for just a moment. He never knew Nariko personally, but he'd lost morethan enough band members to know how Garnet must be feeling.

"What do you have in mind?" She has something, right? He's been hoping for a chance to take action for this sort of thing for a while, but ideas have never been Greg's strong suit.

[twoscompany]

Her hand clasps around her drink. Tightens.

"I want to get into her office. I want to find out where those who were fired went." She takes a deep breath. "I want to know. I need to know they're ok. Especially knowing what that woman does. If I can figure that out..."

She knows its insane. Dangerous. She doesn't care.

"...I won't let her just take more people...and hide from us where they are...!"

[dishevelment]

He understood what was happening the moment he laid eyes on the text Garnet had sent him later in the day, after the initial shock of Nariko's disappearance had died away and they all went their separate ways to deal with the sudden change in their arrangement and their household. The loss cut to the core and, now that three out of the original five members of Cosmic Indulgence had taken a hit from Santiago's whims and violent rages.

Enough was enough.

A small warning had been sent out to someone he cared about to be prepared in case something happened....

It was time to up the ante. He was tired of this.

Arriving at 8 on the dot, Koumei-- in a ragged jacket and scuffed shoes that befitted a street festival more than a jazz bar-- found Garnet easily in the crowd. Her impressive height and distinctive hair made her easy to spot, and he wove his way through the people to join her.

"...I take it that you're as tired of seeing the kids get hurt as I am," he said simply. There were no questions in his voice.

[twoscompany]

"You know I am." If Garnet could set things on fire, she would. She so would. She used to be able to, half of her at least. "We find answers tonight. I'm not letting this question linger over us."

[dishevelment]

If fire was the solution to their problems, then Koumei was sure that Xanxus would have committed arson by now. They were going to need a subtle approach to this particular problem, but this was the point where he found himself faltering.

"What's the plan, then? You know I'm with you."

It was shameful to even ask but, without the resources he knew he should have, he didn't quite know how this 'invasion' would turn out.

[twoscompany]

"We get into the office, we look into what we need to, and get out." Simple, so it seemed. "We need to get the guards off the door, somehow. Long enough for us to even attempt anything."

Maybe setting a fire could be a thought.

[sailorlaughter]

Pinkie hardly ever goes out lately. But Garnet knows that - she's one of the few friends who's kept coming by, even after everything started with Tiger. It's not their fault. She hasn't really let many people inside. What would happen if people found out what had happened to him?

If Garnet's calling, it has to be important; she wouldn't ask Pinkie to leave Tiger otherwise. So she shows up and slumps into the booth, looking a little worn out. "Heeeeeeey."

[twoscompany]

"Pinkie." Garnet goes to put a hand on the other's shoulder. "How are you? How's Tiger?"

May as well ask those questions, before asking the impossible from this poor girl.

[sailorlaughter]

Pinkie shrugs faintly. "He's about the same. I mean, he's not really getting a lot better, but he's not getting worse either, y'know?" That was meant as an attempt at optimism, but it didn't quite come out sounding like one. Oh, well.

And then there's her. Trucy's all hyped for their next concert - that used to be Pinkie. But now, she can't really bring herself to feel as excited as she used to about their career. What's the point of it if no one's happy? Ever since the tour, things have just gotten worse and worse.

"What about you?"

[twoscompany]

Indeed. Barely anyone's happy, and even the ones who are, are painfully aware that they stand on the backs of those who are suffering. Its an impossible situation.

"...Nariko's gone." Garnet takes a breath. "And I've had it."

[nandemonai]

Some weird stuff had been going on lately, and Molly had been hearing about things, complicated things, things that she wished she didn't have to deal with. Ever since she'd joined up with System Crash and Pride Records, she'd been on a roller coaster ride that didn't seem like it was going to slow down. And she didn't like that. Molly was a small-town girl trying to adjust to the big city life. She didn't need extra things pulling her in several directions.

Ghosts, haunted dreams, murder... A musician shouldn't have to deal with things like that! Even now, more and more musicians from the two labels kept disappearing, supposedly fired. Something had to be done. But what could she do? She was just one girl, and she was suffering in silence.

So perhaps it was fate that led her to the club that night. She was mostly alone, having left Pride Records to have some time to herself, aside from the bodyguard who was keeping his distance. She sat at a table, slumped over her Shirley Temple, slowly stirring it and watching the bubbles pop.

Rei had said those dreams about the girls were memories. Did that mean everything was a memory? What about her name? Was it really Molly? She was so confused.

[twoscompany]

Hm. Garnet, admittedly, hadn't seen many of the newer people; there wasn't much of a party mood after everything that's happened in either label. However, she did know this person was a part of the label, and when she sees Molly, she called out to her.

"Hey. You."

[nandemonai]

You know that feeling you get when you think someone is trying to get your attention? That was what Molly felt when she heard the words, "Hey. You." Those words could have been meant for anybody, but she was the only one that turned around. It was then she saw a familiar face. That was Garnet from Cosmic Indulgence!

She looked around first, to see if there could be anyone else nearby that Garnet was trying to talk to. And when she didn't see anyone, Molly looked at Garnet again and pointed to herself. "Me?"

[twoscompany]

"Mm." Nodding, Garnet motioned over. "Come here. Let's talk."

VIRGO VOYAGE

[panspermia]

It's one thing to agree to a plan. It's another to come up with one yourself.

Greg knows this would probably work out a lot better if he got help from someone, you know, smarter, but... everyone saw what happened to the last group of people who tried something like this. He's not comfortable asking anyone else to put themselves at risk like that.

Nagging doubts remind him that he ought to give this up entirely, that he's no use on his own, this is practically a suicide mission from the start, so it's better to give up now. In full honesty, he believes it's the truth. But he's got to try. He has to know where his friends have gone.

There's only one place Greg knows of that might have any answers--the basement. It's been a long, long few months since last time, and he'd been glad to stay away since. Still, the eerie atmosphere and intimidating devices mean there has to be SOME sort of lead down there. He remembers the way from Juno, but the real trouble is the security. There's cameras all over, and plenty of guards. If only he had some sort of magic ability that allowed him to control the lights.

So as it turns out, all those years of epic air guitar displays are good for something. It's not the most subtle, but the rocking melody and imaginary climax of a squealing guitar are hidden away in Greg's imagination. He just has to think hard, imagine the roar of the crowd, the crazy light show... guards are given a moment's warning of the lights flaring, before his private show ends, and the power goes out across the whole floor.

Cameras are taken care of--though they probably got an eyeful of his grooving out in an empty hallway--and, with a little luck, confusion and darkness will help with the guards. He's always been pretty lucky, right?

[interdimanagers]

There's one door he needs to get through to make it into the basement proper - but, for the moment, there's no one to stop him from getting it open. A buzz of confusion starts to go across the entire floor, and straight off the bat none of the security are sure what the purpose of the blackout is for. Voices call through the darkness inquiring about what's happening, guards moving through the darkness in search of a cause.

No one had observed Greg's actions as notable before the event occurred. He has time to act, while the security searches for the purpose of this ruse.

[panspermia]

That's as good as a start as he can ask for. He hadn't even been sure if that would work, but between this success and a lingering energy in the air from his meeting with Garnet... maybe he ought to see how far he can ride this.

"We're off on a mission,
We're tough in good condition"

He sidles along the wall, like they do in the movies. In movies, they try and keep quiet, though, but... not if there's a good montage. He catches his breath, song murmured as guards hustle past.

"We're short, but standing tall..."

PRIDE SIDE

[twoscompany]

Well. This was it. The make it or break it time. She'd talked to everyone, and they agreed to meet her by the elevators near the Cosmic Indulgence penthouse. She's got her cell phone, some hairpins and other sundry items - washcloths and beer cans, the latter for emergency distraction purposes - on her for this mission.

So, once she's ready, she waits. If no one comes, she'll do it alone. And, impatient as she is, she does enter the elevator alone. She's committed, and she will go to the office floor no matter what. Answers had to be there, somehow. They had to be. Not just for her sake. For the sake of everyone who disappeared, and everyone who would come after them. Maybe she'll disappear.

But not without a fight. She swears it. She--

she stops when the elevator doors open, revealing the hallway, the guards, and the door to her goal. The door, with the electronic lock.

Oh-- Quickly squashing herself onto the side of the elevator, feeling the rail dig right into her lower back, Garnet hastily smashed the close door button. SHOOT--

She'd heard the footfall start to come closer to the elevator, but the doors closed before anyone actually came in. Hopefully, the guards chalked it up to an accidental button push - a good possibility (but several others were there as well, where the guards meet her at her floor...), but it wasn't the one she'd wanted. This wasn't the possibility she'd wanted. Her visions had shown the electronic lock, but there was also locks which were normal. (Also, locks made of bees. She ignored the bee ones by now. Mostly.)

She mashes a button to a floor below her penthouse, and she stumbles out once the elevator dings open, cursing herself under her breath. So many possibilities - but already the possibility she's putting herself - and everyone else - into grave danger.

"Stupid, stupid..."

[dishevelment]

"Calm yourself, Garnet."

He was late. He knew he was late, but hurrying with an operation like this wouldn't help their cause in the least. Garnet's plan was daring, but it wasn't without flaws.

One wrong move could put them all in danger.

Stepping forward, he placed a reassuring hand on his bandmate's shoulders. Their band had suffered many blows in recent months, but they were still together. Now, they just needed to act like it.

With him is his own cellphone and customary fan, and tucked into the depths of his shapeless tribal-patterened hoodie was box of wooden matches and, of all things, the little plastic fish that had taken up residence in the lobby.

"We'll get it. Just think about the moment instead of worrying for the future."

It was a paraphrase of the advice he had received from that golden-haired young man in his visions. How appropriate, for this moment.

[sailorlaughter]

Pinkie, meanwhile, tucks her fists nervously into the pocket of her hoodie. She's covered her bright pink hair with the hood, but she knows it won't really do any good if something goes wrong. "Yeah, c'mon! We've got a little more time to think about it now! They didn't see us, right?"

What if they did? They might go follow the elevator down to the next floor. That would leave the office unguarded, but also get them all caught, so that doesn't much matter. She chews on her bottom lip idly.

"Maybe let's sit and talk about it for a little bit? We can make a new plan!"

LATER, IN THE REAL WORLD...

[interdimanagers]

With Koumei’s teleporting abilities, getting to the top of the building isn’t so much the problem. It’s a bit frightening, certainly – getting there with a series of sight range jumps requires leaping from building top to building top, working one’s way up the spire of buildings that surround Pride Record’s monolithic headquarters. Once he’s created a path to the very top, hundreds of floors above the ground, the height is both awe inspiring and gut wrenching.

Hopefully no one of the team is petrified of heights.

Supplies have been brought along, which could be purchased with cash or simply lifted from the bedrooms. There’s the choice of tying sheets together, or potentially even buying some rope and harnesses with cash in secret, for the purposes of scaling down the side of the building. At these heights, though, the more secure the better. The positioning of Lesedi’s office is not subtle in the building’s architecture, and to all indications, they will be able to make it inside by entering the window below.

All they have to do is get a look inside. There are fixtures atop the building that can be used as anchors for ropes or sheets, but from there on out it will be all them. The wind is strong, and the first and second layers of street are far, far below. On the bright side, though, if all goes to plan...there’s a chance of getting in and out of the situation without repercussions, which is more than the team that entered the basement can say.

[twoscompany]

Garnet was glad she had that emergency fund stashed away. From a store a few doors down, she was able to buy a decent amount of good, strong climber rope with some of the money along with gripping gloves for Pinkie, and she's fastened the ropes onto various anchors on the roof. Near each other that everyone would be close together. She tightened the last rope with a triple knot, looking up at the group.

"Ok. This is the last chance to back out. Otherwise, we're going down. Remember, like we talked. Take it easy, stick close, don't look down, and don't panic. We can do this."

With that, she wrapped her rope around her wrists - careful not to tie it, that would be foolish - and, very carefully, bent down at the edge, pushed herself off, and began to slide down the side of the building, keeping her feet as flat as possible in order to keep her footing. Her hair blew all over the place, and her sunglasses threatened to fall off. But she was descending, and getting close to the very obvious window already. Though, she was taller than everyone else.

[sailorlaughter]

Pinkie looks down at her hands, wiggling her fingers lightly in the new gloves. She doesn't like moving them that much when she doesn't have to anymore, but it's good to try to make them feel right before she starts climbing things.

"Okie-dokie." She says it in a more level tone than normal, looking down at Garnet as she descends. It's the hand thing that bothers her; when it comes down to it, she's not really scared of heights. Should she have gone first? If she slips, she might knock Garnet off too... "I'll go next!"

She wraps the rope around her wrists like she saw Garnet do. It's a great idea. Something to hold her, just in case she can't hold it! For a moment, she wishes she had another way to keep her balance (a tail?), but then she pushes herself over the side as well. This would be a lot easier with four feet to brace herself against the building.