All By Myself

[twoscompany]

Who: Garnet, OPEN
Where: Moscow, June 18th; on the road, the rest of the week
What: Several of Garnet's friends have disappeared, and Garnet is now a solo act. She's not taking it well.
When: June 18th-26th
Warnings: Some violence and paranoia

I read the news today oh boy (Pride)

[Garnet had enjoyed herself last night. She really had. Watching Terry jam, and then, as the band played, Terry excused himself for a smoke. She smiled at him, and waved goodbye to him. She'd see him after he was done, she knew that.

Only that never happened. She saw security start to prowl the area, and then she went to bed. Terry never returned. Garnet woke up and went to breakfast, her worry increasing. No Terry. No Tooru.

Half of Pride's members were gone. Her heart was already pounding, her mind already racing, the fear plunging into her heart, when she saw the morning papers.

Defying Atmosphere. Greg's band. Gone, too. Like Terry.

Dead.

Her agent had come in and made a...remark about Greg. How it was good that the long-haired moron was...well, he never got to finish the snarky comment. She was throwing things and screaming at him.]

SHUT UP!! SHUT!! UP!! YOU WILL NEVER! EVER! DISRESPECT HIM! IN MY PRESENCE!! EVER!! AGAIN!!

[The screaming, followed by the sounds of things being thrown, can be heard in the hallway of the hotel. Her agent is not an idiot - regardless of the smirk still on his face - and he excuses himself from the room. Its a petty temper tantrum over her breakfast, he tells passers. Its common with these big-name stars. You get used to it.]


You left me standing here (Moscow, OTA)

[Before they left Moscow, Lesedi had Garnet do a press conference. She held her hand, on and off, through the proceedings. As if to say to the world, we're strong. We're friends. We're still standing.

Terrance Ward left Cosmic Indulgence over stress and creative differences. With that, Garnet said - from prepared notes, of course - Cosmic Indulgence's destiny had flown into the stars. She was now fully a solo act, and all branding would reflect this effective immediately. She was also working on an album, her solo album, which would be released after...after the tour.

...

She'd remember him, and all of her bandmates fondly. She'd never forget what they did for her. And she hoped that wherever they were...she...she...

she couldn't finish. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and Lesedi gave her a pat before finishing for her. The departures clearly hit Garnet. Meanwhile, Lesedi's pat on her back was like cold steel hitting her skin.

She signs autographs, after the conference, on exclusive photos made for the occasion. No longer are they band pictures, but solo images. She hears from fans how CI merchandise is skyrocketing in value on WCove. She is congratulated by a member of her fan club for "beating" Defying Atmopshere.

She says nothing. Her jaw simply clenches, tightens, as she signs autographs. She'll talk, of course. But even beneath her shades, there's an emptiness in her eyes that simply won't die.]


Do you eat sleep do you breathe deep (On the Road, Pride/OTA)

[She doesn't sleep. She can't now. How can she? Not since Moscow. If she sleeps, she may not wake up. Or worse, others will be gone before she can say goodbye.

The stress and insomnia is showing as she walks around at this newest bus stop. The sack under her eyes are prominent, even with makeup on. Her breathing is a bit more rasping and catching, and her hands shakier. Even her famous poise can't hide that she is just barely holding it together.

She just wishes she can fall apart. She knows she can't. Not as long as Steven lives. She needs to be his rock. She needs to protect him. There's no one else now, but her. As long as she can, as long as Steven is alive, she'll do this.

Until the day he disappears for good. Nothing is stopping Lesedi, in truth, is it? When will Steven's end come? Will she even realize it, like she does now, or will it be like Koumei's death?

After that?

Then what?

Then what?]

Comments

I read the news today...

[tigermillionaire]

[Garnet screaming is the first Steven hears of it. He'd been locked up since the night before. Pinkie was gone. Trucy was gone. Even Jin was gone, for all it mattered. Everyone was gone, and he was alone, and trapped, and afraid. Connie was gone, too. He didn't know if he'd ever see her or any of the others that had come for him again.

For the longest time he hadn't understood what had happened the night before. He didn't party much at these things, he was too young. He didn't want to drink anymore. The others had simply never returned to their room after the festivities ended, and the rest of the night was spent piecing together the events from the outside.

He was questioned by security multiple times, into the far hours or the morning. He was almost certain that punishment would be soon to come, but...

Then, there was nothing but silence.

It isn't until now, finally being escorted from his room by a group of security, that he hears it. Meanings of Defying Gravity alongside those that had vanished from Pride. Mentions of the words 'accident' and 'death.'

And he hears Garnet screaming. She never yells like that. As he agent passes by and tries to explain what they just heard, Steven goes running for the door.]

Garnet?!

[He pounds against the door, tears forming in his eyes. It can't be. He doesn't understand. One of the security team pulls at his shoulder trying to get him to leave.]

No! Leave me alone! Garnet!

on the roooooad

[mildwildchild]

[Garnet looks terrible.]

[He can't exactly blame her, after the shit that went down in Moscow - he's pretty wrecked about Terry being gone, himself, so he can imagine how Garnet's feeling: not knowing if he's alive or dead, or stuck in Lesedi's torture dungeon, or being used as a soul battery like so many others. The uncertainty is crushing.]

[Jamie sidles up to her during her aimless wandering, just falling into step alongside her for a few moments before speaking.]

...hey. Garnet? How're you holding up?...

moscow

[determinate]

[This seems like a delicate time.

Now that so many of the musicians are with them, Frisk worries for the ones left behind. They haven't got the friends who helped them get through it anymore; they're just trapped. Not for very long, if things keep going like they are, but do they know that rescue is coming? Do they even know what really happened to the others? They're not sure. All the musicians they ever talked to - the ones who weren't fired - are on the ship now.

But it seems safe enough to go to the autograph signing. They haven't been to one for a long time, and none of the people who saw them and Papyrus stealing soul crystals are there. Garnet doesn't know the truth. Either that or Lesedi just scares her enough to make her cry. Which is very possible.

Telling her the truth definitely does not seem safe at all, but they hide amongst some square-haired fangirls until Lesedi's gone and then slink with them into the signing line.

When they get to the front, they stretch up to offer Garnet a much smaller picture of herself than the fangirls had. They thought buying one was good for camouflage. Bad enough that they're young, not square, and don't seem particularly enthused about being here; they can't walk up empty-handed.]

Hi.