Stars Forever Falling

Chapter 9: Fashion or we walk

"So..." Ritz started as he walked back into the living room with his hands together, wearily looking between the two ex cons, as if he were prey, now in his safe space. "What kind of favour are you after?" He hesitantly asked them both.

"I know it's a lot to ask after everything... but could we please stay here, just for a few days while we find a place of our own. They repossessed the blue crystal." Veneer spoke with desperation in his voice, inviting himself to sit down next to Velvet on the couch, who let him do the talking for the most part. If it benefited her, then she would allow him to take the lead.

"You can't be serious." Ritz groaned, tipping his head back to face the ceiling. "You do realise paparazzi circle this area enough already. My lil' cousin stays here too sometimes. I can't put her in danger. My uncle already thinks I'm a bad influence on her."

Veneer stood up and took his shoulders so he would focus on him. "Ritz, we aren't dangerous." 'Not to rageons at least.' He thought, looking back.
"I promise we aren't. Velvet still has her same old temper, but other than that, it'll be just like before..." Veneer  took his hand off of his shoulder and reached for his hand, only to have him pushed away.

Ritz was terrified of the thought that something would go wrong. Again. But a part of him wanted Veneer to stay. The truth of the matter was his cousin formed an obsession over Velvet when they were on the scene and had her heart broken when they were exposed as the frauds they were. As ridiculous as it was, he didn't want her to be messed about by Velvet if she was to meet her in person. So his real concern lied with her. He took a step back and took a deep breath.
"Just a couple of weeks until you guys get yourselves sorted. But you got to do something for me in return." Ritz said, standing there awkwardly rubbing his arm in his pj's.

Veneer took a step closer, and his eyes lit up. "Of course! Anything! Wait, that's not how favours work -"

"You gotta come on the show. To show your real selves. No fake singing bullshit or ego stroking. Got it? And keep HER in check." Ritz laid down his conditions. He had to make sure he was getting something out of this favour too. It was an easy condition to think of considering his phone hadn't shut up about them since the news reported their sighting.

Veneer pondered, he thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to publicly apologise, outside of making a statement too soon after their arrest that nobody believed. He nodded in agreement and smiled, feeling relieved for the first time in a few years.

"Thank you." Veneer spluttered and hugged him tightly, Ritz jumped at the hug but allowed him, though it was one-sided. He didn't smell like himself. "You hear that, Vels? We can stay!" Veneer let go of him to turn back to his sister to find that she was gone. They both looked around puzzled.

"She's loose!" Ritz quipped before walking down the hallway to find the bathroom door ajar and thick steam emitting from it. They opened the door only to find themselves blasted in the face with a wall of hot vapours. Velvet was laying back relaxed, inside the large faceted gem bathtub with the tap running. The blue glittery water was visible through the bottom, but she wasn't, fluffy puffs of bubbles and glimmering silver streamer foam covered the top half of the bath and most of her body. Her hair was down and soaking, and on her face was plastered a minty green mush one could only assume was some sort of skin care product she had raided from Ritz's bathroom cabinet beside the sink. Other bottles were rolling about on the floor below the open door, and her prison issued clothes were piled beside them. Ritz blushed and immediately turned around, being fast enough to turn Veneer before he could walk in and see too.
"Oh, by all means, make yourself at home!" Ritz snarkily shouted at her.

"Thank you! I was so in need of a proper scrub, cell block showers just don't cut it you know?~ Call it a birthday gift from you." She snickered, blowing him a kiss, opening just one eye to look over at him in the doorway. She was bold enough to assume that they were going to stay anyway, so she whisked herself away to the nearest bathroom for some much needed spa treatment.