V & V - Rageous Rageon Redemption.

Marco... P O L O

Veneer POV:

Ven: "So, you feel up to swim? You don't have to do much but float. I know that's what I'll do."

Kid Ritz: "Sure."

He answers somewhat curtly, getting up to walk into the bathroom and stare at himself. He seems upset, but I don't want to pry.

As I try to maintain a light mood, I leave the bedroom, tidy up in the den, and put away the medical kit before joining Rollie and Fred outside. Fred skims the pool as Rollie sets out towels, the two doing normal activities, furthering to help lift my mood.

Rollie: "Hey, everything okay?"

I look up as I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder. 

Ven: "Hmm? Oh, yeah. Kid Ritz just... seemed a little upset, and I didn't want to pry, so I thought I'd help out here and give him some space."

Rollie nods as Fred looks up from leaning over the pool's edge with the net. 

Fred: "I think it's nice of you to give him space. He may still be trying to figure everything out."

Rollie: "I agree. It's important you respect each other's alone time, and I think you're doing a great job!"

Ven: "Thanks for the reassurance, guys."

Rollie: "Sure, V. Hey, why don't you help me make drinks? I'd love a good Piña Colada."

Fred picks his head up again with a curious look as I laugh.

Ven: "Do we even have fruit anymore?"

Rollie: "Wel... We have a can of pineapples! That totally counts!"

Fred and I laugh at the absurdity of the statement, yet I follow Rollie inside to help him make the absolute best version of a Piña Colada I've ever seen. We blend the pineapples until they are smooth like a smoothie. Rollie adds coconut cream, and in all, makes the drink kind of come together.

He adds a slice of pineapple on the side, perfectly complementing the drink as I gaze at it in awe through the light streaming in from the kitchen window. I stand with a proud sigh and give Rollie a high five.

Ven: "We HAVE to have our own cooking show."

Rollie: "Survival Luxury Meals! Can we cook? Not really! Will we wow you anyway with our charming looks and cute food-making attempts? YES!"

I look at him like he's crazy before laughing out loud.

Ven: "So, I think you may have actually lost it. I actually can't deal."

Rollie: "Yeah, yeah, hold your pineapples. Try it."

I laugh again before taking the drink and tasting it. Rollie stares, waiting excitedly for my reaction.

Rollie: "SO! What's it like?"

I make a show of tasting it before he gets impatient and lightly hits my arm.

Ven: "So... I'm getting pineapple, and coconut cream... blended together."

Rollie: "Huh uh... Okay, so... a Piña Colada?"

I give him a side eye before smirking and nodding.

Ven: "Totally."

Rollie: "Boom! Bring me my TV show contract. I'm ready for daytime television."

I shake my head and begin pouring my drink, then Kid Ritz's.

Ven: "I'll take these two out."

Rollie nods, and I head outside. I find Kid Ritz outside, sitting with his feet in the pool. I hand him his drink, watching as he smirks while looking at the pale contents.