V & V - Rageous Rageon Rise

Tough Talk

Veneer POV:

Velvet walks in with O. They hug us, but I can tell she's upset. I take her hand and walk us away to one of the couches. She sits down and smoothes her skirt as I look at my hands on my lap.

Velv: "It's fun you got to be here for an after-party."

Ven: "Yeah, Management set us up here. They're trying to get me to consider a residency here like Jaye."

Velv: "Oh."

Ven: "Kid Ritz and I are quitting MRS., though. So we won't be in their contracted control anymore."

Velv: "What job will you have instead?"

Ven: "I don't know. I have the luxury to think about it after I pay M and Carlos."

Velv: "Pay them?"

I blink, realizing I've just exposed myself.

Ven: "Well, I was going to tell you anyway. This tour was mainly so Ritz and I could provide some monetary aid to Carlos and Midori. M was working two jobs back to back, and Carlos just needed some help financially."

Velv: "What? Why didn't you tell me?"

Ven: "I wanted to upkeep some of their dignity. They were not too happy to come to us for help because... well... they felt embarrassed."

I speak quietly as Carlos and Midori arrive.

Velv: "M's my best friend! I wish she had come to me for help. Is that why you went back on troll?"

Ven: "You could tell?"

Velv: "Of course, I could, Veneer. Look at how much you're shaking. My and Orchid's worry is that Kid Ritz is also shaking."

Ven: "He... got on it with me. He needed to; it wasn't something we agreed on lightly."

Velv: "I'm upset, Veneer, that you turned to a substance again for a tour. I wish you had told Orchid and me, as we could have also given them money. I also wish you told me about going back on troll; I could have maybe talked you out of it, or... I don't know, just be able to support you through it? I know how hard the highs hit, V."

Ven: "I'm sorry. I... should have told you. It's... just... I also kind of wanted to perform again... and do it well. It felt... good."

Velv: "It felt good to be high? What about the withdrawals? I know those don't feel good at all."

Ven: "They... they don't."

Velv: "Veneer, I must say, as your sister... I don't agree with much of the "dancing" you and Ritz performed tonight. A good amount of it was just lewd and, quite frankly, overly sexual."

She crosses her arms and bites her lip as she looks at me sadly. It... hurts to know she didn't like the show. It hurts more to see her disappointed in me.

Ven: "T-There... certainly were moves that... were questionable."

Velv: "Yeah, there were. That last song was just outrageous, Veneer. Do you know what kind of impression that can leave on you?"

My cheeks burn badly as I try not to show the upset feelings growing in me.

Velv: "Veneer, please. Can you see why I'm upset? I think it was in terrible taste what you and Kid Ritz performed on that stage."

Ven: "Well, Velv, maybe for once in my life, I felt desirable and that I could exude some sort of confidence to the audience. I mean, really, my whole life, I've never been someone. Now I am somebody; I was able to go out and perform and be who I wanted to be, which at times was sexual. But I'm okay with that because I felt hot! I felt sexy, and like I looked good, a-and..."