Blood Thinner

Chapter 5: Sugar and Sulfide

*Chapter 5*

That day blended well into all the others. Veneer couldn't deny the shift in Angel's energy in their cafeteria shifts following the incident, but as it didn't last for longer than a second and he went back to his usual ways, Angel never told Veneer what negated his aura and Veneer never asked.

It felt better that way.

Besides, Veneer had better and more important things to worry about – those things being that submission form and his love Kid Ritz. Angel supported his excitement every painful unresponsive day, so that sorta helped. Still, the disregard of it chipped away the little hope he carried, and he nearly gave up on it altogether.

Until a month after submission, that is.

Veneer found that out near the end of his shift as he cleaned the blood from his hands — pork blood, obviously —- and one of the guards informed him that Ritz responded and agreed to interview both siblings. The date was uncertain but surely to happen nonetheless.

Ah, who cares about specifics when you get to see your abuser sister again?

Veneer certainly didn't — he especially didn't care when the day actually came and the chance of closure stood right in front of him. Angel sent him off with a — 'Tell that angry masc lesbian I said hi' — before he ended up in a waiting room that served more for interrogation than celebrity interviewing. The only good thing about it was the fact he finally had makeup — courtesy of Ritzy, of course, he needs to look good for his future husband interview.

The small reflection of Veneer gave him insight into a completely different version of him. His blue eyes bright with ambition paired with skillfully done makeup matched beautifully with his rocketing confidence.

He looked so flawless — radiating with self-confidence and charisma.

Whether those traits would pass well onto the Rageons he let down, he didn't know. He also didn't know what he'd exactly say to them, and would pass that onto Velvet since she did better at grabbing engagement than he did.

He wanted to see her more than Ritz, truth be told.

It's been 3 months without her. No letters, no calls, no nothing. She couldn't be anything less than alive but he knew her attitude wouldn't give her good treatment at that facility. Seeing her all tall and confident and covered in makeup rather than in bruises and scars would mean the absolute world to him. Screw whatever he'd do for the next 30 years, it's about now.

Veneer smiled into the small hand mirror. He's ready.

"Are we ready or do I need to give you 5?" His hand mirror snapped shut and he looked at the figure that entered the interrogation (?) room, ombre and all. As much as he hated it, his gorgeously made-up lips stretched into a guiltily-pleased simper and he thanked whatever God existed that his exaggerated blush covered the natural one burning through his skin.

Veneer pushed his heart down his throat and leaned back on the chair with a leg crossed over the other. "I stay ready — I don't get ready." He purrs confidently as if he didn't just get a free pass out of more prison chores.

The Rageon in front of him — that walking ray of optimism, good lordy — shook his ombre out of his vision just for it to shield his eye once more, but didn't let it bother him as he did a lone set up with a camera for them. Even with the awkward knowledge of Veneer's crimes, he still kept that charismatic aura that welcomed the convict right in.

"I take it you're always glammed up in Maybelline then?" Ritz teases lightly without looking at him, and Veneer couldn't have been more thankful. That joke went straight to his core.