✩𝐒𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭...✩

1 - resting moody vibe face.

After their stunning Sweet Dreams performance, Veneer flopped onto his bed, absolutely exhausted from their energetic dance routine. He didn't even bother to kick off the heavy crystal platforms that hung off the side of his bed.

He rolled over in the covers, and couldn't help but replay the exhilarating moments on stage in his mind. The vibrant lights, the roaring crowd, and the pulsating beat of the music echoed in his memory. It was a performance that pushed his limits, but having so many people like him because of it, made it all worthwhile, And seeing Velvet so happy, compared to the last few months, It's just what kept him hooked.

Veneer looked over at their lifeline to their fame-Floyd in the diamond prison. A week ago he was thrown in his room by Velvet. Her explanation for this was that 'He didn't like her, and that he was better with these things than her' Before Veneer could even protest against her, she slammed his door shut, a thing she did often, making a small crystal photo frame; holding an image of the two in their younger years fall off the shelf and smack face-down onto the floor.

A subtle wave of guilt began to wash over him. The cheers of the crowd and the echoes of an encore in his mind couldn't completely drown out the nagging feeling in his heart. It wasn't just the exhaustion that weighed on him, but a twinge of remorse for how he had obtained his 'talents'.

'It's not that bad.' he says to no one in particular. "I don't use him that much, but he still felt that pit at the bottom of his stomach. Veneer sat up in his bed unable to sleep, and walked over to his desk where he slumped into the fluffy chair, sighing heavily. He flipped open his sketchbook

which held his drawing of him and Velvet's performance outfits. Shiny tops, Metallic platform shoes and flowing gold capes were all a part of many imagined costumes made for future performances. Flicking onto a new page, he began to design a new attire. Veneer scribbled in 'Rage Dome Show Outfits' and finished it off with a fancy flourish.

From there he then spent hours, drawing, and erasing, sketching and colouring, until the purple alarm clock on his nightstand shone 4:20 in the morning. It was during that time that Veneer heard Floyd speak for the first time tonight. "You should go to sleep Veneer." For a moment

Veneer seemed unresponsive, even his pencil stopped its feverish movements. "Veneer?" Floyd called out again, Velvet might have kidnapped him, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be nice, and care about the only person who fed him.

Veneer finally looked up at Floyd's diamond prison, looking incredibly tired, to the point where he was blinking one eyelid at a time. Veneer didn't even know why he was attempting to draw something when he could barely see. Everything was blurry, and his head hurt. "Hello?" Floyd called out, it seemed like Veneer couldn't even hear him. The Mount Rageon in question had collapsed out of the chair and onto the floor, now snoring lightly.

A few hours later, Veneer wakes up to Crimp knocking on his door. Dazed and confused, he stumbles over to his door and clumsily swings it open. "Good Morning Veneer!" Crimp, their assistant, says cheerily. Rubbing his eyes, Veneer sluggishly replied "Good Morning." Crimp looked at her boss with concern. "Are you alright? I can tell Velvet that you're not feeling well and-" This seemed to wake Veneer up instantly, "No! No! Im... Im fine." He seemed to struggle to get the words out as if his brain suddenly clouded over. "Just... Just go." He was now leaning on the doorway his eyes heavily lidded. Still looking worried, Crimp shuffled off to busy herself with something else.

Veneer, trudged out of his room blinking slowly. Then suddenly, a shrill voice was heard throughout the mansion. "VENEERR!!" Realising that it was his sister's voice, Veneer ran back into his room, grabbed Floyd, whispered a quick apology and snatched his sketchbook from his desk. He rushed to their dance studio door, took a deep breath, and plastered a smile on his face as he pushed the door open.