V & V - Rageous Rageon Rise

Queen Of Mean

Veneer POV:

Ven: "No, Floyd."

Floyd: "You know I can help you."

Ven: "I refuse to steal more from you."

Floyd: "It's not stealing if I give it to you."

Ven: "I won't accept it! I almost got you killed multiple times! I won't let you come close to it!"

Crimp: "Veneer... look at yourself."

I stop and turn to look in the mirror. I can see my dark circles covered up by concealer, yet since I know they're there, they read loud and clear. I look awful, just like Crimp and my choreographer said.

Floyd: "It's okay to ask for help, Veneer. You're being asked to do this show all alone... yet... I don't think you should have to. Let me help you; your compassion for wanting to help your friends proves to me how hard you're working for not just yourself but for everyone else involved."

I look at Floyd, scared to accept his magic. Who knows what it will do to me... how it will react with the Siren energy. And yet... I'm not confident I can do this alone. I've... had the troll high before... I... can probably withstand it just... just one more time.

Ven: "I-If.. if you are certain your body can handle it..."

Floyd: "Positive."

I release a shaky breath and nod before walking to the couch. I sit down, Floyd hopping off my palm so I can rest it flat against the seat of the couch.

Floyd: "You know the drill; palm flat, try to keep calm."

I nod, watching with wide eyes as Floyd takes a deep breath. He starts humming, and memories of my first highs flood back. As his little hands press onto mine, I'm hit with a surge of energy. My eyes roll back, my jaw slackens, and I feel my body shake as I'm surged with troll magic.

I clutch against the couch as I violently tremble, gasping as the high violently sets in. I hear a door open, yet I can't see who it is. My vision goes in and out, flashing between that familiar tinted green... then an orange, like the color that my hand glows... then white... and finally, back to green.

I hear faint voices, yet can't see or hear much of anything as I feel the energy surge stop. I feel myself being hugged, yet I can't hug back just yet.

Slowly, I recover, my chest heaving as I'm hugged tight.

Veneer...

Veneer...

Veneer!

My vision returns, and I realize I'm staring at Kid Ritz. His face, the mirror behind him, and everything in my field of vision are tinted green.

Ven: "You're... you're green!"

That makes me laugh hard.

Kid Ritz: "V? I'm not green. Sweetheart, please."

I hear Floyd talk to him, yet what he says doesn't matter much to me. I tilt my head against the couch, trying to make sense of the tingly magic flowing through me. Fuck... I forgot how good troll magic feels.

I'm warm... I'm buzzy... and holy shit... I've got energy.

Kid Ritz: "Veneer."

I tilt my head down, smiling with a heavy breath as I see my husband.

Ven: "Hi, sweetie."

Kid Ritz: "... Hi. Can... can you still do the show?"

I nod before getting up excitedly. I spin around the dressing room, feeling like I'm invincible.