Thistle and Weeds

[dishevelment]

Who: Cosmic Indulgence, Junkyard Carnival, their friends, and YOU
What: Things have changed in recent weeks, personally and professionally. People need to meet. Things need to be discussed
When: Latter part of March
Where: All around Vista City
Warnings: Carnies, Squalo, etc. Things get wild with these guys.



[Insert your prompts as needed, folks. This is a catch-all for everyone to react!]

Comments

[dishevelment]

...So it seems, [he said mildly, noticing the key. He shifted slightly, hand moving unconsciously to make sure his button up shirt stayed closed while he tried to peer at some of those papers.]

What's all this about?

[twoscompany]

...

[She ashamedly looks down at the question. Quietly tugging the paper out of the pile, she picks it up, staring at it. When she speaks, her tone is flat, no-nonsense.]

Lesedi came to me this morning.

I'm leaving the penthouse. This is the deed of ownership, for a new place out on the beach. A reward for what I've been doing; she told me to my face I'm one of the biggest stars Pride's currently got right now.

She didn't say anything about the rest of the band.

[dishevelment]

...She didn't give you a choice.

[It wasn't a question, but a comment-- Garnet wouldn't be one to give up on what they had so easily, unless something else was in the picture.]

[twoscompany]

She...she let me choose where I could live.

[She knows that's not what he meant. It was an illusion of choice, really. But having Lesedi call her to a lounge, looking over properties, having those eyes stare at her as Garnet sifted through what was available--just being in her presence is terrifying, knowing what Lesedi does and can do. The CEO's shadow permeates all in Pride, and that includes Garnet.

This only shows her, the more she proves herself, the more she tries to save those she cares for, the more the shadow germinates within her soul. There is no choice. There never is. Never was.]

Also told me she enjoyed the album.

[dishevelment]

...Her words are as hollow as her heart.

[Koumei shook his head, returning to his milkshake in hopes that the thick, chocolatey concoction would help dull some of the pain and frustration welling up in his heart.

It didn't.

Instead:]

She knows you're smart, and the effect you have on the people around you. She's trying to separate you from everyone else.

[twoscompany]

I know.

[It doesn't feel like it makes a difference, however.]

I wouldn't just abandon you guys. You know that, right?

[dishevelment]

I know.

[It didn't make any difference. Not when their state in the world was growing more precarious by the day. Not when he had confirmation that he was a dead man walking.]

I just don't like that she's forcing you to choose something you didn't want in the first place.

[twoscompany]

Who did want this?

[She made them all believe it was what they wanted. But they know better now. What they want is not what they'll get.]

Koumei...its a really nice house. I won't be happy with the band if you guys don't visit, you know. Even if I'm not in the penthouse, I'm still a member.

[dishevelment]

None of us-- unless Sabo isn't who he seems to be, which I doubt.

[He sighed, feeling defeated by the politics of the music industry. Nothing was straightforward, and he hated not knowing what else was out there.]

...Garnet, the penthouse won't be the same without you in it. You're sure you can't fight it?

[twoscompany]

[At that question, Garnet fixes Koumei with a stare. Not even words. Her expression said it all.

She saw what happened to people who fought. What would happen.]

[dishevelment]

[And Koumei had seen Xanxus, bloodied and beaten by something that he wouldn't talk about. He had seen Terry fiercly rattled into silence. He had heard things from the one man who could help him piece together the answers to his questions...a man who was no longer in this city, who had been spirited away to parts unknown.]

...You are aware that this is war. Aren't you, Garnet?

[The words were quiet, muffled by the straw in his milkshake that he was currently trying to suck down in an effort to maintain his sanity.]

And some of us are already dead; there's nothing left for us to fear.

[twoscompany]

Don't--

[She shakes her head. Oh god, don't say that, bandmate.]

Don't say that, Koumei. We're still here, aren't we?

[dishevelment]

Are we?

[He was playing Devil's Advocate-- but he wanted to see her reaction.]

I distinctly recall being gutted by a javelin, and now I've the marks to prove it.

[twoscompany]

That's not impossible to live through.

[She shakes her head. Stop, stop, Koumei.]

You'd be out for awhile, but...!

[dishevelment]

[No-- part of him needs to get this off of his chest.]

Maybe in this city, but if my dreams hold any truth? Then That Life doesn't have near the same luxuries. People would die from less every day...and as a general on the losing side of a Civil War, I wouldn't be afforded a Magician's help so easily.

[Koumei levelled his gaze upon Garnet from over his milkshake, his eyes passive and even accepting of his supposed fate.]

Santiago doesn't frighten me, not after witnessing Hell itself.

[twoscompany]

Koumei! I won't let that happen!

[Sorry, she might have just pounded the table a bit.]

All life is sacred. Even yours!

[dishevelment]

...I think you're misunderstanding something, Garnet.

[Koumei sighed wearily, and reached for one of Garnet's hands with his own. Taking it, he gently pressed it against his chest just under where his heart would be.]

It's embarrassing, but you can look if you want. It's not much different than your Eye Problem, after all.

But please don't get yourself worked up. I plan on making the most of my time, whether it's borrowed or not.

[twoscompany]

...Just promise me you won't do anything to shorten that time.

[Damnit. Why is this happening!?]

[dishevelment]

[Because their lives were slowly and delicately being torn apart by the hands of Lesedi Santiago.]

Why would I? There's still things that need to be done-- like make sure you're safe.

[twoscompany]

[A huff, as if she's totally put out. Its in jest, though.]

That's my job. I'm supposed to keep you safe.

[dishevelment]

...You're joking.

[With how fragile Garnet seemed at times with all of the changes that have been happening in recent months, that sounded like something absolutely absurd.]

You-- the both of you-- need to focus on just keeping yourself together. Situations like this aren't beyond my capabilities, I--

[He paused, recalling that one image he had seen while he was on stage, of a vibrant young man demanding to know why it was that he didn't show his feelings to the people he cared about in the present, and why he was waiting for the future.

Taking a deep breath, he continued.]

Garnet. I've been worried about you for months. Please don't try to protect me. I'm more capable than people give me credit for.

[twoscompany]

I'm not what you think I am, Koumei. I--

[Wait, what?]

Months? The--why in the world have you been worried about me for so long?

[dishevelment]

Because you referred to yourself as 'we' and couldn't explain why, and it seems that you've been becoming more and more fragile as time went on. I promised myself that I'd protect you-- and I'm sorry I failed that.

[twoscompany]

[A sigh. Oh.]

That...that's a long story. All of it is. You probably have a long story, too. It didn't help that when we found out about...well...I ended up regaining a memory. A bad one. One about what happened to those considered traitors back home. And Steven...

[Her hands might be shaking a little, just talking about it, not even thinking of it.]

Its not a question of being strong or weak. Its a question of doing. Assigning ideals of strength and weakness...it does nothing. Life is sacred and those close to me are those I want to protest most vehemently.

[dishevelment]

['Steven'...

That was Tiger, he assumed. He knew that there were strange things happening around the boy, but in all honesty he paid little attention to the kids in System Crash. They could be superheroes and he wouldn't have noticed-- he's been too busy building alliances among the adults within Pride.

Koumei reached out to squeeze one of her hands in an attempt to offer some comfort, or something to ground the woman who had become the Voice of Cosmic Indulgence.]

I never said anything about being weak, just that I'm worried that you will let yourself get carried away with things. In terms of capabilities...I might honestly be the weakest one here.

[After all, the core of all of his powers was surrounding that strange Teleportation skill.]

But we're alike in our sentiments. I'd do anything to protect those I care about.