Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Ugh, how much longer until we’re there? We’ve been cramped in this car for hoouurs! I’m pretty sure my makeup is getting musky from the lack of air.”

Velvet’s hunched figure tainted the car’s glass-paned window yet still moved past Veneer’s eyes as he watched the road grow further and further. It seemed like the city of Mount Rageous never seemed to dim even for a moment and the city’s blurs of color would surely promise to only get stronger as the night went on. Veneer could let the view lock him in his seat for longer, but Velvet on the other hand could hardly keep her gritted teeth to herself. A light bump from the road earned a lipstick-covered snarl as she white-knuckled the mascara onto her coated eyelashes. Veneer could only harden his mouth into a thin line as she gurgled insults at Crimp’s poor excuse of a makeup job.

“This is my first night to outshine everyone and my eyes are practically naked…”

“Vel, you look fine.” Veneer commented.

Velvet scoffed nonetheless, keeping her eyes glued to her pocket mirror to get her perfect look.

“Oh Veneeeer, its bemusable to me how you fail to phantom what a toll it takes being both the looks and the intellectual powderhouse of our brand,” She turned to snag Veneer’s attention with her piercing glare before whipping her head back to her mirror. “I mean, everyone will be here! This is our one chance to make it up the ranks and you’re just- sitting there!”

Veneer raised a brow at his sister in the moving luxury vehicle.

“Look I care about the party just as much as you, but first.. you should show some mercy on that mascara brush…” Velvet lowered the makeup, but kept her fingers locked. “…and second, relax a bit. It’s just a party.”

“Yeah, our FIRST official party and it needs to be perfect! YOU need perfect. I can’t have you running around making a fool of us, out of me, when we’ve already gotten this far, ok?” Veneer rolled his eyes, feeling them subconsciously sink to the floorboards. He’d been just as thrilled as Velvet when they received an invitation to a party hosted by one of Mount Rageous’ leaderboard legends. It was a huge opportunity for them both, socially and for their brand, yet his stomach still hinted with uneasiness.

“It’s going to go perfectly fine, Velvet-”

“And I’ve got the perfect remedy to make sure it does,”

The mirror slapped shut in her palm and she turned to shelf it in her purse, a sharp smile now taking form as she shuffled for something else. Veneer couldn’t help but lean closer as he watched the car light mix with her dark-violet purse as her hand clawed the sides before she made a sound of approval. From the depths of her bag, her hand retreated and out came the perfume bottle, gleaming in her grasp. A snicker left her lips as she held it up, moving it in her palm to examine it and its compartments; the troll that still lay trapped inside urking a grimace to Veneer’s face.

“With this, we’ll be the stars of the party and everyone will remember our name.”

Veneer could only mutter a smile against his sister’s radiated pride. He was lucky the dim lighting of the car shadowed his furrowed brows as he watched the troll scramble around its diamond cage, pleading for freedom.

“Are you sure bringing him along is a good idea?” Veneer pecked. At least their facade to fame allowed them tinted interior windows within the limousine or the driver would catch scent of the crime. Still, that didn’t make him relax any more. Velvet tapped the glass with her thumb, scoffing at his hesitation.

“Please, the last thing we’d want is to get kicked out for security mistaking your dancing for an attempted assault. Besides, what could it hurt?”

Before Veneer could call out her statement, light flashing from outside swiveled their heads to the window to reveal the mass of snapping cameras flooding the car as they’d arrived at their destination. It seemed like any second the velvet ropes and security guards holding them back would snap and they’d spill out all over the car. Velvet clasped the perfume bottle to her chest with a giddy shake, her coup d'etat. She poised the bottle toward herself, grinning against Veneer’s half smile thrown off by Floyd’s returning look of desperation. It was wrong and Veneer knew it, but Velvet was right; Floyd was practically their lifeline to have gotten them this far. He could’ve reached out for him, but the deed was already done as Velvet pressed down on the glittery pump, letting the sweet aroma of pure talent engulf the car in a violet-pink hue as she breathed it in. Veneer shuddered against the sensation as he felt it take hold and prickle against the guilt that was caged inside him. He wouldn’t have time to mellow in his actions as Velvet struck her hand on his shoulder. Although her nails dug into his top and she dared that familiar wicked smile, Veneer felt a new level of uncertainty at the foreign pink color in her eyes that hawked into his.

“Alright, Veneer… it’s showtime.”

On a whim, she released her grip and shoved the perfume bottle back into her purse to be hidden away for tonight’s festivities; Floyd’s voice muffled into silence as he was shoved back into darkness. The car door flung open for the night to see Mount Rageous’ new favorite superstar twins once again and Velvet took no time to shimmy under the car’s hood to save her exorbitant hair and seize her moment. Veneer lingered at his future that awaited just out the door. He, well Velvet and him, brought themselves to this, fair or not. This wasn’t the door he expected to find, but it was the one he was fated to follow his sister through ever since he’d been by her side, and that’s exactly what he did. He savored a deep breath against the burning fire that was his self-pride and followed suit through the door.

Not even a step out and Veneer went shell shocked at the sight. Glitz couldn’t even live up to describing the swarm of a house that loomed over Veneer, let alone the megalopolis that was Mount Rageous as a whole. If a flashbang was a building, this was it. It was no wonder the paparazzi were so busy at the house’s gated entrance. He wasn’t even a few yards near the flooded entrance of color and yet the frenzied music inside drummed his feet forward, nearly causing him to already stumble on his platform boots. How Velvet managed to get far away from him was a mystery he should’ve expected by now, yet he scanned through the crowd to find the lifesaver that was her complicated hair and scurried to her side with puffy cheeks.

“This is… insane. I can’t believe how they’ve hidden something like this so well, especially in Mount Rageous. I mean it’s huge!” Veneer geeked with flapping hands. 

“Yes, Veneer, I’m looking at it right now, you don’t have to tell me.”

He’d only dreamed of parties such as these back when his television screen could visualize it for him as a kid, letting his imagination run wild at Velvet’s constant avowal to be seen by an audience, but now that it was more than just a fantasy, it didn’t feel real at all. Still, it didn’t dim Veneer’s beaming face the faster he brisked down the pavement. Before he knew it, the two made it to the front of the line for security to identify them on the party list. Velvet and himself had only shown themselves for a month and launched their first hit song, yet he felt he was like the biggest star Mount Rageous had ever known as he was checked by security. Soon enough, the two were checked off and were finally able to pass a disco-ball of glass doors into the dawning rave of which they'd anticipated for months. They had finally made it after all these years of dreaming.

“So,” Veneer grinned, turning to Velvet. “Where should we-” His words were suddenly heard by her vacancy and strangled dead upon his wide eyes. “…start?”

Just as before, she disappeared without a word and they’d only made it through the door. Even as he raised his chin to find her, the sway of the party made finding her impossible. He blinked, furrowing his brows.  A single journey it would be then… he could only hope he’d catch up to her later tonight. Other guests had moved past him into the party, so he held his hopes high and strutted forward for what felt like his first time without Velvet by his side.

The main floor crowded most of its bedazzled guests with small conversing groups idling any free space that wasn’t taken by the partiers who were taking advantage of the early night, bobbing their heads and huddling their bodies near the loudspeakers and disco lights like it were their last night alive. The paty’s jive hadn’t mellowed his body yet, so finding small talk seemed like a reasonable place to start. The only problem was where to start. From what little he gathered from squinting, everyone seemed caught up in their own business. It was nearly impossible to separate the dark lighting from a person’s face in the crowd with only a momentary flash of strobe lights giving hints. How anyone was able to see someone, let alone, converse with them over the blasting music too was beyond him. Every step was like a walk on eggshells towards someone he’d have to slip by last second. Thankfully for a moment, juggling his blindness and finding the words to start a conversation wouldn’t be needed once he’d felt something tap on his shoulder.

“-eer? Veneer!” Veneer spun around to a group of people pulling him over who were just as luxuriant as the next person, each speaking with flapping, mute mouths. He went to present himself, but he couldn’t even hear himself over the music the moment the words left his lips.

They turned their coated faces to each other, the shine on their eyelids now hidden and color on their lips turned down as they looked at Veneer like he were rabid and speaking a language that might as well be foreign to Veneer at this point. The more he opened his mouth, the more his eyes darted to their faces, their hands, their finery, anything to grasp at what the hell they could be talking about. An itch in his throat that urged him to break away from the interrogation suddenly didn’t seem so bad despite the courtesy; His pride now was basically as mute as his words. 

He waved his hands out in front of him for any sort of understanding against their confused faces and finally turned away, only to smack someone with his outfit’s shoulder accessory dead in the face. Worry shot to panic as the momentum buzzed through his accessory, dreading the amount of pain it doubled for the guy he hit. Veneer offered his hands out to try and aid the guy holding his face. His glare pierced out from his fingers, freezing Veneer’s words in his throat. Veneer’s foot limped back once, twice, watching in horror at the injured guy and the group that watched it unfold. People around turned to the disturbance, indigo eyes watching him in the distance, before Veneer found his footing and fled through the crowd. His face burned as he twisted and turned through the jam, hiding his outfit’s honed plastic appendage behind his hand before taking cover behind the nearest wall. He forced in a deep breath through his shaky eyelids.

Ok, so maybe small talk wasn’t the best place to start, especially near the dancefloor.

A chortled laugh from nearby piqued his eyes open to guests surrounding a dining room table. A teen barked a comment from inside of the huddle, hunching himself back in his chair and folding his stack of cards close to his chest while the other players snickered. The lively game distracted the moment beforehand as Veneer began to sneak around the crowd, eyeing the cards held around the table before stopping behind the disgruntled player. Across the table, a boy smacked down a meld of queens and a meld of threes with a laugh.

“Beat that!”

The teen in front of Veneer shuffled in his chair, scoffing at the play. The cards in his hands bent under his thumbs as he eyed them. Veneer had to admit this guy didn’t have the luckiest draw. Considering a lot of the other players already had less cards than his jumble of a stack, he was stuck in a hard place, even more so if money was involved. Veneer studied the situation with him as the boy picked up a card. It was the lowest card and would not be useful in any meld or run on the table. In his hand were also two queens that only needed one more queen to make a meld. With a focus on the queens, discarding a lonely card would seem like the only move. Veneer muttered his analysis into his palm. The player sat still, his thumb rubbing over his cards for a long second, before reaching out to lay down a lone card into the discard pile. The simple-minded idea seemed weightless at first, however, the next player took that card from the discard pile and revealed their new run.

Veneer hushed a displeased scowl at his failed idea as the boy grunted and brushed his hair over his ear. More melds, runs, and add-ons to such only grew as the game continued and nothing seemed to be in the boy’s favor. Veneer knew dropping out would save his unfortunate fate, but the cards never fell. A player next to him watched his struggle with a sly smile. Surely his devotion to the queens would be his downfall and Veneer commented such under his breath. To his surprise, the boy graveled a threat back.

“ Can you keep your snarky little commentary to yourself ,” Veneer drew back immediately as his question was nothing short of a threat. He apologized and the teen shot a glare and turned back to the game.

Veneer mustered some distance but continued to watch as it was now the turn of the boy who hissed at him. For what luck, a queen was discarded and the boy took without a second thought. From the boy’s blindness, the next awaiting player watched with hungry eyes, waiting for the bait be taken with only two cards hidden in his hands. Suddenly, Veneer knew the game could be seconds away from ending.

“They’ve got the last queen, they’ve got the last queen, they’ve got the last queen…” Veneer attempted to help through a whisper. The boy however pulled his head away and laid down his meld of queens out in front of him. His pride was nearly heartbreaking as the next player shot a laugh and placed one of their cards in someone else’s run and a queen on the boy’s meld of queens. And just as predicted, the game was over. It didn’t take a final count of the cards to stop the boy from standing from his seat and shove his finger at Veneer. 

“You!”

“..Me?”

“Look at what you did! You were.. distracting me! Was this planned-are you helping someone else here?”

 Veneer stumbled back from the teen reddened in the face as the crowd nearby took notice to back off. His sunglasses reflected Veneer’s frightened face against those indigo eyes, giving him more than a hint that now was a good time to leave. Just as before, Veneer scurried off past the crowd, not daring to rile up the angered boy any more by looking back and out of fear that he'd be right behind him. Just to make sure, he ushered far enough away into a new room until a long table had stopped him in his tracks.

Golden food displays decorated the white cloth in shiny foods, from every color of fruit to salmons, hams, and turkeys, and fluffy, rich pastries. By his sides, guests took their pickings with tiny forks, filling their plates with anything they could find. Dumbfounded in the middle of it all, Veneer shrugged and took a spare plate, taking whatever would waste his time. Apart from the ritzy refreshments, the chocolate fountain was the highlight of the culinary presentation, almost half the size of Veneer himself and making even the fountain in the driveway look tacky. Considering every other thing had blown his mind here, surely the chocolate would taste just as good as it was displayed, probably even better, and Veneer didn’t doubt it for a second as he brought a marshmallow up to the flowing chocolate. Veneer took in the chocolate as it swam over each layer, coating the marshmallow in a thin color of shiny brown that trickled down onto the fork. He rotated the fork in his hand and went to remove it from the chocolate until the marshmallow fell from his fork. In a short plop, it dropped to the bottom bowl, peeking from the surface as it bobbled.

Veneer narrowed his eyes as it taunted him and stabbed another to his fork, being extra still to make sure it didn’t slip off. The chocolate drizzled across the white confectionery and covered it as the fork rotated inch by inch, almost perfect, yet to his luck, being captured again by the chocolate waterfall and joining with the other at the bottom. The log of marshmallows stayed like that for a while as Veneer stared at them in disbelief, trying not to enact on an impulsive decision, but rather going with using his fork to fish out the drowned desserts. The more he stabbed at them, the more they only seemed to sink further and further and at this point he wasn’t in it for hunger anymore. The fork adjusted tightly in his palm and was thrusted into the bowl, blindly missing and jerking his wrist over as it scraped the bottom. His hands flared out to catch himself, dunking into the chocolate before scrambling out for the table, nearly landing face first into the indigo eyes that watched him within the chocolate fountain. His wide eyes dragged up from his chocolate covered hands to the mess created on the table and the guests that froze onto him with strangled faces. An apology died with a replaced drawn-out sigh as he took his hands and left the scene to find the nearest sink.

The kitchen thankfully revealed itself as Veneer turned the corner and dragged over to meet the sink. He pulled the faucet knob on with his wrist and drew his brown-colored hands onto the water, watching without a word as it dripped down the steel material and into the drain. It hadn’t even been an hour into the party yet and Veneer was already ready to leave as he scrubbed the mess from between his fingers. He could only imagine Velvet was off somewhere enjoying her first big party without him. Had she even wondered where he went, or even cared at all?

He turned the faucet off and snagged the nearest rag to dry off his sugar-less hands, tossing it back to the side and propping his slumped body against the counter. Trying to look for Velvet would probably take ages, but considering how poorly his night has gone so far, it wouldn't be the worst thing for him to do. He could only hope she hadn’t gotten word of how ridiculous he’d been acting or it would be an even more exhausting ride home. His eyelids finally gave out as he sucked in a deep breath, nose suddenly tingling against foreign rich perfume that sensed nearby.

“Enjoying it?” Veneer’s eyes shot open at the voice next to him. To his side, a pair of indigo eyes peered at him from his cup as they leaned up to drag a sip. Veneer uniformed his shoulders back to fully face him, facing rather downward to the shorter boy that leaned on the counter next to him.

“Enjoying what..?” The stranger stifled a chuckle into his cup.

“The party, of course.”

“Well, apart from making myself look like an idiot all night, I’d say the party’s going just great.” The purple-hued man idled his cup to his side with half-lidded eyes, white teeth peeking out from his smirked lips.

“First time?”

“Ugh, is it that easy to tell?” Veneer groaned, sliding his feet out in front of him.

“You know you missed a spot,” 

“Huh?”

“On your outfit,”

Following Ritz’s finger, remains of chocolate tipped Veneer’s apricot shoulder accessory, fresh and untouched. Veneer sniffled another dragged groan and went to grab for the rag again, but the stranger’s hand got to it first.

“Here, let me get it for you,” Veneer’s boots held sternly on the ground as the boy brought the damp rag to his shoulder.

“Oh… thanks,” Momentary silence filled the two as the rag grazed in a circular motion over the plastic material in Ritz’s palm, scrubbing the color of the appendage back to life. Veneer tried to distract his attention to the rest of the kitchen, but couldn’t help but feel the boy’s gaze on him out of the corner of his eye as the rag worked away.

“There,” Veneer brought his eyes back up to study the cleaned outfit, rubbing a thumb over it while Ritz stuck the rag in a nearby drawer. “Wouldn't want that mess to stick with you all night.”

“You’re a lifesaver, really. I’m not sure how much more of tonight’s troubles I can take.”

“Don’t worry, I was just like you at my first big event.”

“Really?”

“Mmm, no,” Veneer narrowed his eyes. “But you're not the first person I’ve seen slip up at a party. Sometimes they can get to be too much for me. To be honest, I could really go without the music out there shaking the walls.”

“Oh my gosh, yesss,” Veneer groaned, earning another chuckle from the teen. “I can’t even think straight out there with how loud the music is along with having to drag this weapon around without stabbing someone.”

“Heh, yeah, I can only imagine how distracting that’d be. That’s why I usually tend to wear something more comfortable to events like these… but uh, you wear it pretty well. And same for your face makeup- that lightning bolt looks sick.” Veneer caught the boy’s eyes drifting over him and breathed a laugh as he scratched at nothing on his neck.

“Oh, hah, thanks…” Veneer drifted his eyes down as the stranger took another drag from his cup. He did admit his spotted jumpsuit looked pretty comfortable, more comfortable than his outfit by far. He wondered if the man’s black jacket made him any hotter in the house’s heatwave. For some reason, he couldn’t help but feel like he’d seen him somewhere before.

“Sooo… you've been to many parties?” Veneer asked, tilting his head to look back at him.

“Ohhh yeah, far too many to be honest. This house is no stranger to them.”

“This house is… definitely a sight.” Veneer said, looking up around the kitchen. “I’m still debating if the size is incredible or overwhelming…it’s just so much that I’m beginning to wonder what can someone do with all this space? I mean sure I have a shopping issue, but this is just bragging at this point.” The purple-hued boy stifled a chuckle.

“Yeah, I ask myself that question all the time. I’ve seen just about everything this place has to offer… It's just the perks of being a host star, I suppose.”

“Wait- wait, wait, wait, I know you!” Veneer snapped his fingers as it suddenly hit him. “You’re the host on The Bop on Top, Kid Ritz!” The grinning host nodded, humored that it took him this long to connect the dots. “No wonder you seemed so familiar! I’m always used to you having your hair down.”

“Yeah, that’s my go-to style, but I figured I'd try and throw it up for once… for the party.” The host smirked, idly drawing his fingers through his short ponytail.

“Well, you wear it pretty well.” Ritz breathed a smile at the returned compliment, looking back with those half-lidded eyes.

The evening hum from the kitchen windows had faded to black and the tumult only grew louder throughout the house. A new song was put on, rivaling the cheers and hoops that brought the other guests near the kitchen to their feet to race to the dancefloor. Veneer watched the thrill in stillness until receiving a question he’d never heard before or near damn expected in his life.

“Care to dance?” Veneer nearly bit his tongue.

“Oh, oh I don’t know if I- I’m not really a dancer and well, uhm…” Kid Ritz turned to the sound of the thrashing crowd out the kitchen, growing louder by the seconds before turning back to Veneer.

“Hey, I’ll help you out, ok? Just one song, I promise.” The idea of dancing with someone he hardly knew in that crowd seemed like the worst thing to do right now, but Veneer's mouth moved for him before his rationality could register.

“Fine,”

Kid Ritz beamed once Veneer took his offer hand-in-hand, taking no time to pull him forward and usher themselves out of the kitchen and into the labyrinth of bouncing people. Dancers blurred by in Ritz’s grip as he was pulled along, zipping to the left and dodging to the right like a round of amateur tango, his grip tightening on turns yet still aiding his plastic appendage with his spare hand. Ritz’s colored hair was all he could focus on as it guided him, wavering and bouncing with each step that he swore mimicked the beat of the music until it came to an abrupt halt. A wall of people closed around them the instant they stopped that trapped Veneer in a threat of being body slammed by rich clothing just mere feet away. For Ritz, the music had already consumed him, taking hold of his arms as they were lifted high and swaying his body to the rhythm. Every bit of his caper lacked any planned choreography, yet moved naturally as if he were one with the crowd, like the music was inside of him rather than the ringing it brought to Veneer. On stage there wouldn’t even be a second thought to slip his mind once Velvet and him had Floyd. But with him now trapped with Mount Rageous’ most popular interview host on the dancefloor, there was one problem that slapped the color from his face. 

He couldn’t dance.

  His eyes burned desperately as they screamed out to the crowd. Velvet, Velvet, where was she? What was he thinking trying to dance on his own? Every bit of his facade persona lived in that bottle- and now he was trapped in a frozen sweat with shaken legs and what felt like the whole world watching him. Everyone would realize what a fraud he was. He doomed himself the moment he’d lost Velvet’s side and ruined his only chance to-

Ritz’s waving hand snapped his attention back in front of him. His mouth moved as he slowed himself, but just as before, fell upon deaf ears. Veneer fell victim to the itch that began to sting in his throat and he almost accepted his fate to Plan B into the herd before Ritz’s face closed in towards him.

“Can you hear me now?” A warmth in Veneer’s cheeks spread against Ritz’s words whispering into his ears, clear as day from the rest of the disturbance.

“… Yeah ..”

“Just keep your eyes on me, ok?”

Ritz pulled himself back from Veneer and began to rock his shoulders up and down, his clenched hands joining in soft, circular motions around his chest all the while his eyes staying locked with Veneer’s. Veneer’s foot stuttered back as Ritz snuck a step forward, pushing and pulling himself closer and closer to him until he took Veneer’s hands in his own and pulled him forward. A gasp escaped him as he caught his balance at the last second, finding Ritz’s eyes again and watching his hands be pulled back and forth over and over, rowing their bodies inches away from each other to the music. For a moment, Velvet is watching him in the crowd, from a bit of green hair over there and a smudge of orange clothing nearby and his intuition is warning him to flee, but his hands are velcroed tight in Ritz’s. His eyes resort to pleading, but Ritz is quick to shelter them down. 

“Relax! Throw your hands up!”

The thrash in his legs hardly held him the moment he was spun on his boot heel and back face-to-face at Ritz priding himself in his own laughter. His dance falters just for the silly joke, enough to let his short hair rest momentarily against his hued cheeks while the squint near his eyes returns for the flustered boy. Even though his face burns in embarrassment, a smile teases at the corners of Veneer’s mouth. Too soon, Ritz’s iris disappears under the shine of his eyelids and the dancefloor becomes one of his own domain, lyrical yet improvisational with every part of him complimenting which way the music took him. Just watching the boy he’d never even met before reveal this made Veneer’s heart sting. It had been so long since Veneer felt what hadn’t been lost in himself, but just stored away. A pride that wasn’t reusable, polished, fake . Ritz had it down so easy and showed it off like it was nothing. Somewhere out there, Velvet’s eyes burned through his back, but for once in what was too long, he raised his hands high and let himself be in control.

 Someone new was dancing with Ritz once he opened his eyes. His hair gel is worn and his body is thrashing everywhere, but it’s undoubtedly right in Ritz’s eyes. Ritz can hardly restrain his hands back to himself, but Veneer does the job for him, bringing them both back together, hands melting in each other as they mend. The other Mount Rageons are miles away from their spotlight, painting drapes of violets, greens, and reds around their courtship of childish dancing that makes each step and shuffle feel drunk. With each turn comes waves of laughter that spill out from each other as they gaze onto one another and the fuzzy color that has taken a hold across their cheeks. Veneer could be held captive in Ritz’s eyes and never say a peep, holding onto the warmth they shared for what felt like forever before ultimately noticing that the song had finally come to an end.

The last of the music fades and up comes a roar of applause. Voices of all kinds prepare for another song, however, for Ritz and Veneer, their lips are silent. Veneer tries to slow his racing heart, but Ritz’s breaths threaten a shiver as they tingle against his exposed skin. Anything could happen right now and he’d let it take him, even if everyone watches… but it doesn’t. Instead, Ritz takes back his hands from Veneer’s and brushes back his hair with an exhaled chuckle.

“Ok, one song just as promised.” A different look meets Veneer, waiting, patient eyes in their shared stillness that turn away too soon. Ritz nudges through the crowd and for a split second Veneer can’t help but want nothing more but to reach out and stop him. That short moment seemed destined to last forever, at least to Veneer, but Ritz had already moved along, leaving him no choice but to retreat his hand to his chest and trail behind.

His heels scrape against the tile as bits of dyed hair disappear further and further until Ritz’s torso is through a door he hadn’t spotted. Veneer catches the door before it shuts and slips inside. A small thud later and Veneer’s ears are more than relieved to be freed from their ache, bringing along a chill that wakes his gaze.

“Whoa…”

 Pitch black hides within each clunk and thump of their steps, sneaking behind the curtains and leaning near decorations and photo frames. Even so, the twinkle of LED lighting draws out the path from outside that could mistake the hallway for a cave of jewels in Veneer’s eyes.

“This place has gotta belong to a multi-millionaire, that’s for sure.”

“Hm, maybe not thaaat much..” Ritz chuckled.

“I mean look at this,” Ritz glanced at Veneer as he tapped at a giant display positioned near the wall. “What is this, some sort of fancy, intricate hourglass with water in it? Like, I don’t even know what it is, but I want it!”

“Weren’t you saying earlier how over the top this place is?” 

“Yesss, but imagine all the things you could fill it with. Look, look.” Veneer sped in front of him, pointing over everything with buzzing hands. “Over there could be a chaise lounge, and over there could be statue of a golden lion that you could view from your chaise lounge, and by that photo could be a group of circular mirrors that technically you could see sitting on the chaise lounge but would need to get up to actually see yourself, and maybe another chaise lounge that you could put way up there, because you never have too many in one hallway, now can you-“

“What’s with you and chaise lounges?” Ritz laughed.

“Ohh, they’re far better than any old parlor chair. There’s just so little room to get comfortable in it, it drives me crazy. Oh, oh, and here,” Veneer stopped, opening his arms wide in front of an empty space on the wall. “Would be a perfect display for a giant fish tank.”

“Huh, never took you as a fish guy.”

“Well, there’s a lot you don’t know about me, Kid Ritz.” A grin foxed itself on Ritz as Veneer’s sharp, blue eyes dared him through the dim lighting. He breathed out a laugh.

“Well, maybe that can change tonight?”

“Hm, I suppose I can give you that privilege after you so kindly offered me to dance.”

“I’m glad it seemed to have shaken off your nerves a bit. Without a doubt, you were one of the best dancers out there.”

“Oh pleeease,” Veneer dragged, tossing his hands towards Ritz. “You outshined everyone. The way you moved around was so fluid, yet energetic and it was like you were a part of the song. And god - the amount of confidence and passion you gave off too just made me feel so-” Ritz’s gaze snapped back to his senses as he realized he’d been gushing over the way Ritz had moved his body on the dance floor. Usually he would’ve been cut off by now, but Ritz only took it all in with listening eyes and a smile softening with each word. A newfound warmth on his cheeks fuzzed his words back down to an awkward cough. “Uh, impressed. It was just really impressive, to me.”

“Hm, thanks…” A momentary silence wafted between the two, thump and clunk and thump and clunk until Ritz stretched out his arms in front of him. “You know, parties are so overrated. I bet we can have way more fun together out here than everyone else back there.”

“Yeah, there’s gotta be something to waste time in a place like this.” Veneer agreed.

As if on point, the sight of neon lights fuzzed from up ahead from the inside of a peaked open door, flashing brighter past the rest of the dark hall as the two trickled towards the door. Meeting the entrance, Veneer’s eyes went wide. Inside laid a teen’s eye candy: synthetic lights glimmering across flat screens that took up the entirety of the walls like a glitzy cave. Any extra space near the wall was lined with arcade games that flashed pixelated characters for the ready to be used on their monitors. Rich, velvet rug washed the back of the room for the single, large flatscreen and the white couch that rested by it, tidied and empty. Without a word, they exchanged the same glance and went inside. The two landed on the couch and took a controller in their hands, watching the screen as it booted up its game.

“Ever played a racing game before?” Ritz asked.

“A couple times against my sister when we were younger. I won’t brag, but I’m basically unbeatable.”

“Guess we’ll have to test that out then,” Veneer’s grip tightened on the controller as he picked what seemed to be the most agile racer and their cart, while still keeping it visually charismatic to his liking and waited with baited breath as the timer ticked down their start. If dancing wasn’t his strong suit, then he’d just have to show off his gaming talents.

The game’s airhorn blew and Veneer’s thumb jammed down on the controls, not pulling an eye away for a second to make good timing turns and snag some item boxes in order to earn his first place. After the first lap, he was confident of being in the lead, however, with each good turn, Ritz’s only seemed to be better. No matter how close Veneer would get, Ritz would seemingly show up out of nowhere to leave him in the dust. Veneer could feel Ritz’s smug smile even if he couldn’t see it, making Veneer’s finger almost slip on the controller. Only feet away from the finish line, Veneer beelined towards it, success so close, only for his cart to be stunned by, low and behold, Ritz, losing him of his first place. Veneer’s mouth thinned into a dull smile as the celebratory music played, flicking the controller in his hand. Ritz’s face was just as he imagined it when Veneer looked over.

“You little cheater,” Veneer hissed, pouting his lip.

“Me, cheater? Nothing here but pure talent.”

“There’s no way you were able to drift that quickly- or manage to zip by undetected. How did you do it?”

“Let’s just say I know the little tricks of this game,” Veneer raised a brow as Ritz leaned back with his arms crossed into the plush couch.

“So you are a cheater,”

“Just a nerd,”

“…Ok, one more round. I can do it.”

This time, he got a head start and took the lead, drifting earlier and throwing the other AI-controlled characters off his trail. Veneer was on the edge of his seat, nearing a corner only to find Ritz close behind him again. The item Veneer had been holding on to for a while had finally proved itself worthy as he barreled it back to stun Ritz’s cart.

 “Hm, nice shot.”

“Well, thank you.”

Three laps in a row he made it first and Veneer couldn’t help but feel trepidation as he found himself nearing the finish line again. A sliver of hope was edging the closer he made it, but vanished in a moment. Just as before, Ritz’s cart zoomed by before Veneer could reach the finish line first. 

“Ooo, what’s that over therrrre?” Veneer pitched in a high, draw note, discarding the controller back to the couch to leave the scene.

Veneer playfully rolled his eyes as he pretended to not hear Ritz’s snicker from his second loss. His disappointment slowly turned into curiosity as he ventured off into the arcade games to dabble his time there. Thankfully, he found more ease in these games, punching in high scores here and there and gaining back his confidence to stride over to the air hockey table. Ritz turned from his own game as his name was called to Veneer sliding over a hand-held disc to the other end of the table.

“First to seven?”

Veneer returned a nod and took the puck in his hand to place it on the table, watching it aimlessly drift on top of the air before striking it in a swift motion of his wrist. It cracked against the sides of the table and was defended by Ritz’s disc, knocking back and forth as it moved from one side to the other. Veneer whooped a laugh as the puck went past Ritz’s hand and scored into his goal. As the battle continued, points began to rally up on both sides. Veneer readied with his legs bent and hands close to his goal, keeping a stern eye as the puck shot back and ricocheted off of his disc, sending it flying past Ritz’s face.

“Hey, save the grudges for after the game!”

Veneer sprung up in laughter as Ritz retrieved the puck and whacked it back with a grin. The game was neck and neck with one score to win the game on either side. The puck wobbled back over to Ritz, causing him to push it back unevenly to Veneer. With a now teetering puck, Ritz awaited anxiously as to how Veneer would return it. With a curled smile, Veneer waved the disc around the table, teasing the climax until he lightly tapped the puck. In a frenzy, Ritz jolted to the puck as it barely came close, just for Veneer to smack it the opposite direction, cracking loudly off the side of the table and into the open goal. Ritz laid jaw-smacked on the table as the puck rattled down the chute.

“You cheated!” 

“Pure talent,” Veneer sneered, sticking out his tongue.

The two ventured off further down the hall to find rows of cushioned chairs isling a flat screen that took up the main wall; this so-called movie room being empty of any currently playing movie as Veneer and Ritz peeked inside it.

“Comfy... I wonder if there’s any good movies to watch.” Veneer said, gingerly taking a seat on the front row and finding the remote. Varieties of movies scrolled across the screen as he pressed on the remote, clicking his tongue as Ritz busied with opening a bag of popcorn from the snack bar and plopping down on the seat next to him. “Hmm, action, sci-fi, adventure…”

“Ooo, horror! Gotta be one of my favorite genres.”

Veneer recoiled a joke gag. “Eugh, horror? Really?”

”What? Can’t take a little bit of gore?” Ritz poked, wriggling his fingers at Veneer.

“If anything, I can’t take you right now.”

“Fine, fine,” Ritz laughed. He brought a handful of popcorn to his mouth and eyed Veneer, offering the bag with a mouth-filled smile as Veneer took a piece. “How about romance?”

“Hm, yeah not a bad genre,” he shrugged.

“Did you know Jaye Bee is going to be playing in another upcoming romance movie?”

“No way- are you serious? Him of all people? He’s hardly an actor!”

“Whaat, I liked the last movie he was in. His character was really funny.”

“If anything he was so flat it felt forced. Where was the emotion, the line delivery, the passion?” Veneer cried, posing his hands in front of him. Ritz playfully folded his arms at his enthusiasm.

“Hm, maybe you should become an actor then.”

“I bet I could! I could be far better than Jaye Bee .”

“I believe you. Producers can always use an extra tree to cast.”

“Rude!” Veneer scoffed, batting an eye. “Anyways, whenever Jaye Bee’s movie does come out, I don’t plan on watching it. I could go without any wrinkles I’d get from cringing at his performance anyways.”

“And what are you, some sort of expert on acting romantic anyhow?”

“Maybe.. I could be if I tried.” Veneer replied, his words hushing within the darkness.

Ritz dared a smirk back, propping his chin onto his palm. “I’d need to see it to believe it.”

Veneer went silent. For someone who offered a dance not even an hour ago, Ritz was not shy to pick fun at him. His dare was so obviously bait that bobbled right in his face, Ritz’s smirked lips as transparent as his prompt for a good laugh. But Veneer wasn’t an idiot. Without a doubt, Ritz expected his bluff to be revealed and to score again the sight of Veneer’s flustered guilt. His cheeks would grow that pink color of his blush that had been makeuped on hours earlier surely and perhaps offer a joking scoff. It was all to be anticipated and Ritz sure did test the waiting game, however, what he didn’t seem to expect was how his face began to spark up with heat as Veneer instead started to lean in towards him.

Ritz’s smirk dropped with his hand that held himself onto his seat cushion, heart jumping as Veneer's green lipstick inched closer than he’d ever imagined he’d get to them. His moonlight skin hummed with the soft light of the movie screen, painting his once doe eyes into something that threw Ritz completely off track, something seducing that allured him to keep his gaze on them.

“..V-Veneer, what ’re you…”

He could only watch with a shaky mouth as Veneer brought his hands up, fully expecting them to touch the heat on his cheeks. His last breath locked tightly inside his throat, bracing himself for whatever Veneer had planned right before a piece of popcorn was flicked at Ritz’s face, reeling him to flinch back as it smacked him square between the eyes. Veneer reeled back with wild laughter, holding onto his sides as he fell back against his seat’s shoulder rest. Ritz looked on, frozen against his face that burned in embarrassment. As Veneer laughed, the humor of it all slowly returned and Ritz’s words wobbled back to life.

“Wha- hey!”

Veneer scrambled with laughter out of his chair towards the door as Ritz jumped up from his seat to chase after him. The cold stretch of the hallway found hysteria bouncing off its walls, sparatic as the breaths from the two that voiced it. For Ritz, it was as if he was exploring this house for the first time with fresh eyes that craved to see more as Veneer paved the way. His cheeks began to ache as he called after him, following the lean shadow that only seemed to speed away further and further; if only he had more height to him to pull Veneer down. However, Veneer did not let up in his chase, sprinting through a doorway and past the wall’s reprise of grand windows that stood tall, beaming the city’s moonlight in like divine passages of light. From his steps, he turned to look behind him to Ritz close by, appearing and disappearing past the panels of light, still engaged in chase, yet now, drifting his body in a mock ballroom dance.

“You’d better watch your competition in the acting field.. standard ballroom dancing always wins romance movies.” Ritz swooned, pulling himself into a spin.

“Oh please,” Veneer snickered, holding in a laugh. As corny as Ritz’s joking dance was, Veneer had to applaud his elegance, making even the darkness around him seem as though it were his dancing partner. What a show off , he thought. A charismatic, pompous show off .

In a flutter, Ritz was there, then not, then there, then gone, and gone for too long of a stretch. Veneer’s steps slowed as he waited for him to appear again, but never came, only finding his own footsteps echoing in the hall. With the newfound quiet, Veneer began to wonder if he was gone entirely, however, just as that thought came to mind, his face reilluminated in front of him.

“Whoa!” Veneer gasped, snagging a joking punch to Ritz’s shoulder. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”

“Surprise!” Ritz smirked, sticking out his tongue.

“That wasn’t very romantic, you know.”

“Hm, I beg to differ.”

The cool night air surged past through the exit door as Veneer pushed it open, giddy in his steps as he ran through the expanse of the outdoor patio. He checked behind again as Ritz was closer now, however, unbeknownst to him, so was the pool only a few steps ahead. The realization hit him all too late once his boot heeled over against the pool’s edge. He prepared mentally with what little time he had left before he’d feel the crash of shivering ice, only to have a hand seize his own and pull him back to the concrete. Two pairs of feet stood shaken from the close call, processing the shared look on each other’s faces before Ritz’s smile creeped upward.

“You’re welcome,”

”Yeah, yeah.”

Back inside, the duo continued their stroll, laughing up the events of their little chase as if it had happened years past. Every word competed to see what could be added on to fuel their jest; hours earlier only seeming to symbolize the soft hum of candlelight now sparking into a popping fire. However, with every returning liner also came along an invisible force with it that pulled their steps closer with a newly-formed ‘clump’ sound taking the floor instead. Even without a word of disclosure, it was not dismissed by the two, rather background music to the melody of their chat. Nonetheless, it brought a fuzzy feeling to spread inside both of them as they went step by step, making time into the never-ending expanse of the mansion. Keeping a slow pace to nowhere fit the mood and continued as such for a while, however, it soon halted as an open room caused Veneer to cut their record.

“Hey wait, what’s in here?” he peeped.

“Hm?”

From the inside of a new room, Veneer stuck his head past the doorway, squinting past the darkness to test the floor with silent feet.

“Huh, some sort of private parlor.”

Ritz squinted to adjust his eyes in the darkness, running his fingers across the detailed door frame that quickly snapped his eyes open.

“Wait, wait, do we have to go in there?” Ritz asked.

“Why not?”

“I don’t know, just seems kinda boring..besides, I figured you'd be scared of the dark.”

“Please, just because you startled me doesn’t mean I’m afraid of a little dark.”

“But there’s nothing to see here, just old furniture.”

“Hm, the way you say that makes me think you’re afraid of the dark,” Veneer teased.

“Hah, no, no of course not, but.. there’s nothing here, I promise. Let’s just keep walking… ok?” Perhaps with Veneer’s back turned, Ritz found no interest in a room as seemingly dull as this compared to the other thrilling ones, but the pacing off the tip of his tongue suggested differently. Veneer stopped for a second before taking another step.

“Ritz, I can turn on this lamp, it’s fine. Here.” A yellow hue lit Veneer’s face the moment he switched it on, illuminating the hung photo frames on the wall. “See, perfectly fine. So much so you can see these picture frames pretty well, like this…one.” Ritz knew he’d been caught as Veneer’s voice trailed off. “Wait, he looks just like…” Veneer’s head spun around, mouth gaping wide as he squawked.

“Ritz! Why didn’t you tell me this was your house?!”

“I don’t know…” Ritz mumbled, turning his head away from a babbling Veneer. “It just didn’t seem necessary.”

“Well- kinda! I could’ve trashed your house, my boots probably scraped your expensive floors when I was running. I was practically put on the spot without knowing!”

“But you didn’t.” Ritz hushed. “Look, it’s really not that big of a deal. Just because I own this house, doesn’t mean I have some sort of secret identity. I’m still the same person from a few minutes ago.” Veneer blinked, narrowing his eyes.

“…Do you?”

“…Come on,”

Veneer watched Ritz turn and disappear back to the dark hallway. In the lamp’s light, Ritz held a bright smile alongside his parents, each in rich and polished textiles and blushed faces. He didn’t have the slight eye bags that he had now, all three in uniform and not at all what Ritz seemed to be like now. The lone teen’s mouth thinned, giving it one final look before flicking the light switch off.

“So, all of this is yours?” Veneer asked, soft spoken in his voice as Ritz sterned forward.

“Well, more or less. Physically…” A tabletop vase slid silently into Ritz’s palm, shimmering around his fingertips like a scientist studying his own creation. “…Yes. Metaphorically, not so much…” The vase echoed down the hall upon returning back to its tabletop. “Most of it’s been passed down through the family, but I don’t spend much time here to remember all of it anyways.”

“Really? You seemed like quite the party person on the floor, though?”

“Well you can’t leave all the credit to me here,” Ritz chuckled. “You made it fun.” Veneer loosened his shoulders, but forced his vocalized smile on hold nonetheless.

“But you host all these parties? Almost every weekend there’s word about it, like, everywhere.”

“I used to,” Ritz shrugged. “Nowadays some celebrity gives me a call, sometimes not even one at all, and the party gets radioed everywhere with my name scribbled at the bottom.”

“So, who’s hosting this one?”

“It doesn’t matter at this point. As long as everything is cleaned up by the end, I’m fine with it.” Veneer’s boots moved quietly against the tile. To him, it was as if an entirely different person were speaking to him.

“Doesn’t that seem kind of…unfair?”

“At the end of the day, it’s just another event that comes and goes. Bad decisions are made, guests are satisfied by the end of it, and gossip stays in the walls. You’re not the first name to be whispered here, Veneer.”

“…Huh, so you do know my name?”

Ritz perked up from his slumped position, taking the easy bait to change the conversation. “Well, yeah.”

“I figured I was just some deep, mysterious stranger that had been following you around.”

Ritz folded his arms into each other as he offered a snicker. “Oh, please, you wish. Everyone knows who you and your sister are.”

“Really?”

“Well, who wouldn’t? You’ve made quite the name for yourself pretty easily. Veneer and his sister, Velvet, two superstars appearing from thin air to give leaderboard legends a run for their money! ” He raised his hands in the air, picturing them on the big screens.” Haven’t seen something like this happen before in Mount Rageous.”

“Huh, I guess so… I’m not used to being recognizable by other famous people.”

“Hell, I’ve been at it for a while and I’m still not used to it all. But you should be proud of how far you’ve come. Not many people make it off the ground.”

“Oh really, and what about you?” Veneer smiled.

“Well that’s a different story. I was born into wealth.”

“I meant with The Bop on Top. Mount Rageous’ most popular celebrity talk show? You did that all on your own, didn’t you?” The tiled floor went quiet.

“Yeah… I-I guess you’re right. Never thought about it like that.”

“You know you’re more than just your money, Ritz…well, even if it is in your name, but still. You get my point.” Ritz bore a newly-formed grin at the green-haired boy.

“Hm, I never thought rising popstar, Veneer would be such a sap.” Ritz smirked.

Veneer’s face lit with heat. “Ok, I won't say anything anymore.”

“Whaaat, come on, I like it! I’ve never heard anyone say something like that to me before.”

“Wait really…?” Veneer said, discouragement wafting at such a nonchalant claim.

“Not like you have~” Ritz purred as he lulled his head to the side, distracting Veneer of his momentary concern.

“Yeah, well, now you’re never going to hear it again.”

“Nooo, please Veneer, don’t do this to meee.” Veneer rolled his eyes at Ritz grasping out at the air around as if it would save him. Veneer was lucky the dark hid his flushed face or he would never hear the end of it. “Veneeeer. You can’t tease my feelings like this.”

“Oh, boo hoo.” Veneer mocked, pouting his green lipstick at Ritz who held his hand to his chest in a mock offended manner.

“Will I just have to scare you again for you to change your mind?”

“Do you seriously think that’ll- aaand of course you’re gone.” Just as the words left his lips, Ritz had disappeared entirely. He drug his body around, knowing he’d pop out any moment somewhere, just determining when he’d strike was the tricky part.

“Boo,” Veneer snapped his eyes shut as Ritz jumpscared him in the front.

“I’m not scared,” Veneer said, baring his teeth with a smile.

“You flinched,” Veneer regretted the moment he dragged his eyes open to a grinning Ritz. “Changed your mind already?”

 “Hardly. You’re really just testing my buttons here.”

“Good, maybe then you’ll listen to me and actually be able to…” Ritz’s smug grin misted with the thin air in front of him as they came out, that exorbitant green hair disappearing on the dot.

“Seriously?” Ritz laughed. Being a good couple feet taller than Ritz, it felt as if he'd become one with the walls. Yet even as Ritz spun around, the lenient walls showed no signs of any disturbance. The more he found his surroundings empty, the more the thrill of finding and catching him sparked inside him. Turning back to where he’d left, Ritz set off, his mouth agape in a smile and feet pushing through the dark.

“Veneer!”

Back down the hall, Veneer held in a giggle hearing Ritz call out to him as he scampered. Two could play at that game if Ritz wanted to probe him like that and what Ritz didn’t know was how quick he was on his feet. Using the dark as his aid wasn’t as difficult as Ritz made it seem, but finding a spot to hide soon before he’d be found was.

Skimming his hands across the wall as he went, an opening eventually appeared for Veneer to duck inside. A bit of light slipped between the window curtains to the floor, giving enough visibility to find a door cracked open on the other side of the wall; pitch black inside and the perfect spot to stoop out. Ritz’s voice called out again as he took one step inside the closet, heart thumping to shove the hanging fabrics away enough for him to slip behind it and cover himself with it.

“Veneeeer? Where’d you run off to? Kinda rude to leave your guide behind.” Ritz’s voice chirped.

Shaky fingers drew back the hanging clothing to peek his eye through. Through the cracked door, the hallway was still.

“You know this is my house, Veneer. I’ll find you…eventually.”

Veneer waited.. and waited…the silence bringing goosebumps to his skin. Every bit of fabric that brushed along him jolted his nerves in a shivering mess. The ache beginning to grow in his knees from bending down to not hit his head on the hanger’s shelf only happened to make the experience grow from bad to worse. This was surely far worse than sneaking around in the dark. He’d almost regretted playing along with Ritz’s childish antics, for putting himself in this suffocating cage and hushing his breaths the way he did, but the figure in the doorway silenced those thoughts in a second.

His head jolted back into the wall in a muted thump, shooting a shock of pain through his body. He bared his teeth down on his lip, forcing a pained cry back down as the back of his head began to throb the pattern of his racing pulse. When he peeked out again, Ritz’s head was straight at him from the middle of the room. The clothing had never been slammed together faster in Veneer’s hands.

“Veneeeer~?” Ritz cooed through the dark. “I know you’re in here.”

Veneer’s head lulled back to the wall, pressing his eyelids shut and pulling his hands over his mouth. Every so often, the pitter-patter of Ritz’s shoes scavenging around whispered through the room and feathered into Veneer’s ears. Veneer cursed Ritz’s name in his mind for adding insult to the irony Veneer had put on himself.

“If I find you, then will you change your mind…or will I just have to find another way?” Ritz’s fingers drummed along the table, thumping rhythmically on the coated wood and moving along other surfaces, becoming more apparent as the muted drumming became louder and louder. Veneer’s lips quivered against his palms, tasting the salty flavor of his sweat burn on his face. 

“I think I’m getting warmer…” Ritz teased, however, he wouldn’t find himself alone in that statement. The cool air peeking through the clothing was so tempting to Veneer, but not enough to risk his hiding spot. Even if he tried to escape anyhow, he had already practically trapped himself in with no way out. All he could do was lay low and wait out Ritz’s enticement.

The air went quiet again. Stuffy, rousing, quiet air. Then, the door creaked open and Ritz’s voice slithered inside.

“It would be a shame if you were in- here!” In a quick whoosh, the closet door flung open and the overhead light snapped on. Veneer didn’t dare to breathe.

“Hmm…” Ritz hummed. If Veneer’s heart were beating any faster, he was sure Ritz would hear it. “Maybe not.”

After what felt like forever, the light shut off and Ritz’s footsteps drew away from the closet door. Veneer fizzled out a sigh of relief, letting his shoulders slump over him. For a moment he’d thought he’d been caught- until he was. Light snapped on overhead again faster than he could process it and his hiding spot was shoved open.

“Found you!”

Veneer’s mouth sprung out a yelp. His aching heart finally got caught, shocking his stiff, bent legs awake and forward off his heel. Ritz’s wide smile dropped as Veneer flailed his hands to his sides to grab onto the wardrobe, missing at the worst moment until both felt their skin hit.

“Waitwaitwaitwait- Veneer, Veneer !”

A loud thunk sounded as they hit the ground following Ritz’s sharp cry at his head making contact with the ceramic tile. Veneer hissed a groan through his teeth, his legs still cramping in shock, but the rest of his body in less blunt pain than he thought. In fact, he hadn’t felt the floor at all. After a few deep breaths, Veneer lugged his knees forward and plastered his palms to the floor in an attempt to lift his torso. When he drew his eyes back open, his reflection in those wide indigo eyes and Ritz’s warm breath on his face met him. With every muscle now awake in his body, it became abundantly aware how close he was to Ritz as he straddled Ritz’s body between his legs. Despite his position, Veneer froze above him, staring down Ritz with quivered lips as his shadow loomed over the flayed blue strands of hair that splattered onto the tile. Veneer’s skin tingled as he felt Ritz’s breath draw deep into his lungs, a gentle, aperitive taste holding him down tight for another before his senses flung him off of Ritz’s body and onto the cold tile.

“ OhmygodRitzIamsosorryIdidntmeantodothatIswearareyouodidihityoutoohard” Veneer’s face burned hotter by the second, throwing out words off the tip of his tongue that only ricocheted off of Ritz’s unmoving body. Ritz watched his wide blue eyes race from Ritz to the ground to himself all at once, his body jittery as he held himself on his knees that ached against the hard ground. Ritz’s eyelids mustered to blink at the frenzied green-haired boy, his breath shaky at the throb in his chest. Ritz watched. And then, he smiled. And his smile began to grow into bawling laughter that made his cheeks ache and sweeten Veneer’s mouth to a stop.

“You’re really bad on your feet, aren’t you?” Ritz laughed through his words.

“Oh, hah hah .” Veneer rolled his eyes and pulled himself to his feet, giving a hand to Ritz to pull him up. “You caused me to fall anyways.”

“I think you meant to say I won?”

Veneer gave a scoff, crossing his arms.

“How did you even find me?”

“Dude, have you not noticed your hair is like, massive? I could see it from over the hangers.” Veneer’s eyes trailed up to his factually large, spiraled hair, crooking his wrist onto his chest as he pouted.

“The one time my fabulous hair goes against me~”

“Yes, yes, Veneer, you’ve got lovely hair, no need for flattery.” Ritz bumped Veneer’s shoulder as he moved past him, sharing a smirk that was returned as he passed him. “Ya knooow, I think I may know a spot we’ve not seen yet that you’ll like most.”

Veneer piqued at the idea, although, no matter where they went, he was sure any place with Ritz’s hand in his would be just fine. With a destination in mind, Ritz took Veneer’s hand in his own and the two of them set down the hallway in a flurry. For a moment, the party behind Veneer felt much more distant. Sure they were still in the same house, but what they had was their own separate little journey. It was Veneer’s own little movie, himself as the main star and Ritz the one to guide them along. He could imagine cameras all around him filming every angle, yet for just this once, he wanted the films to be private. Just for Ritz and him.

Ritz didn’t falter to slow down as they approached a spiraling staircase, keeping his grip tight as Veneer stared down each step.

“Watch your step,” Ritz teased, looking back at Veneer’s boots clunk against the glass steps. 

“I can do it myself, Ritz.”

“Hm, didn’t seem like you could back there.”

Their pace continued as they reached the top and took no time to gaze over the floor’s intricate railing that went by. Veneer’s breath could hardly keep up with his feet before Ritz had finally let go of his hand at their stop. A small room covered wall to wall with shelves upon shelves of fleshy spines greeted the two, the smell of mineral foreign as Veneer took it all in.

“Oh, cool,” Veneer huffed through breaths. “I love… books.”

“It’s ok, I didn’t bring you here to bore you with reading, Veneer. There’s something else in here I wanna show you.” Veneer’s eyes narrowed at Ritz humming to himself as he drummed his fingers against the shelves and poked his head around every book, stopping with a prompt ‘aha’ and spinning back around to face Veneer’s hands propped on his hips. His finger brushed against one of the book’s spine as he hoisted his arm against the shelf.

“I gotta say, I’m always a fan of secret entrances… probably because they’re such a… pageturner .” A small click sounded and the giant bookshelf Veneer had thought to be one at first glance broke in its middle. Before he could process a word, Ritz fell back through the opening into black abyss.

Veneer fumbled over his feet to the book shelves that had shut in his face just a hand’s reach away. He grasped his fingers onto anything he could find on its shelves, struggling to find no trigger in its opening.

“Ritz? Ritz?! ” A small click sounded and Veneer stepped back as the shelves bore apart to a smirking Ritz leaning safety against a rolly chair.

“Ok, ok I’m not that shelf-ish.”

“Oh hah hah, so you’re a show host and a comedian?”

”What do you know, I’m the full package.” Veneer only gave Ritz the humor of shaking his head and moved his way inside to a synthly-lit atelier. “I’d like to welcome you to my not-so-private-anymore recording studio. If there’s any time I do visit this place, it's usually always for this.”

Veneer whispered in awe at the humble studio, taking in everything with a purple hue, from its already to be expected posh design and cool undertones. His hand skimmed across a plush couch that was positioned against wall, of which were decorated with the prints of Ritz’s current outfit, still keeping the shiny touches in the innermost shape; a nice detail that reminded Veneer how lucky he was to be invited in such a private place as he sauntered on the granite flooring. Ritz took his time to glide himself across the room in his chair, sneaking a glance at Veneer’s own adorable curiosity as the chair took a silent spin. Past the comforting pleasantries, Veneer made his way over to the recording booth and the magnum opus of a soundboard that took up the entirety of the mount-in table. Ritz bumped over to its side and propped his shoes on the table’s corner as Veneer stood encapsulated.

“Pretty cool, right?”

“You’ve got your own personal studio?”

“Sure do. It was only supposed to help practice with my work, but it’s too homey in here not to spend time in it.” Ritz chuckled and tucked back a strand of hair. “You know, it’s funny. When I was a kid, I always imagined myself wanting to be a DJ.”

“Oh, I can totally see that.” Veneer laughed, breezing his hands over each other. “Have you tried making any music?”

“I’ve dabbled with it here and there.. ’m still trying to get the hang of it.”

“Wellll, I’d say you’ve got a good place to start. Velvet and I would killlll for a setup like this. I mean, what do you not have?” Ritz’s eyes glossed up at Veneer’s who only turned away to further gawk at the luxuries.

Moving along, Veneer took his chance to peek in the recording booth, lightly tapping the glitzy mic that stood in front of him as he sauntered inside. On a chair, he picked up a pair of bulky headphones and placed them on his head. A court whistle swung his attention from inside the silicone back to Ritz behind the glass window.

“How about a little sneak-peak to your new song?” Ritz chirped.

“Oh no no, I couldn’t.”

“Oh, come on. Just a verse, pleaaase? Or are you just a jukebox type of singer… if so, you really already know that’s not gonna be a problem for me.”

Veneer coughed out a dry laugh, turning his head back to the door. As lame as it seemed, he knew he couldn’t let his secret be known, despite the disappointment that would fester inside him after acting chicken to someone like Ritz.

“Here, you don’t even have to go full out.” Ritz said as he located a recording on the desk. “I’ll just play some instrumentals. I’m sure I’ve got something good lying around here.”

Veneer’s fingers tightened in his palms as he took a step towards the door, nervousness starting to grab at him. () An audio was clicked on and the room suddenly fell still. From the studio’s loudspeakers, Ritz’s voice began to breathe out of its metal, drifting in the purple haze across the studio. From the studio room, it could barely be referred to as a whisper or perhaps a soft-spoken hum, but from Veneer’s headphones, it was clear as day. Compared to him and his sister’s concert-styled vocals from their published song, this was the kind someone would repeat under their breath on an evening's walk home, yet it proved itself as a proposed cover. In his head, he imagined what it had looked like, if Ritz had been lounging on that chair during recording or standing with shut hands and fallen eyes, or maybe both. Only a few short verses had softened their way out before the audio suddenly cut dead. When Veneer looked back through the glass, Ritz’s ponytail covered his slunked head down on the table with both his hands flat on the recording audio. Veneer brought the head phones from his ears and returned them back to the stool. When he crept out the booth, Ritz had remained life-less on the table. A deep groan inched from underneath his black jacket sleeves.

“I had forgotten to get rid of that…”

“Ritz… was that your singing?”

“Yeaaaah, it doesn’t mean anything. I was just fuzzy from my mind one day.” Ritz pulled himself up from his arms, showing his face once again. Ritz knew he couldn’t hide his shaded face from Veneer, but his stray hair tried anyways as they rested besides his eyes.

“Ritz, that was good.”

“It’s ok, you don’t have to give me pity, Veneer. I get it.”

“No, no, I’m serious. That was really good. I could listen to your voice for hours.” Veneer paused in his comment, following Ritz’s face that had shown more clearly as he peeked up to look him in the eye. “Or well, I mean, you, you just sounded really nice is all.” Ritz’s frown lingered for a moment, but faded into a simper.

“…Thanks. I guess I can admit you’ve been a really big inspiration to me. Though, of course, I could never live up to someone’s singing such as yours.”

Veneer hummed a lopsided smile, looking away from Ritz. If it were fair, Kid Ritz should’ve been in Veneer's spot, not him. Someone with actual talent. Maybe with enough motivation, he’d work enough to put something good out there for everyone to hear. He had the mic, the technology, that angelic-sounding voice. If it was motivation he truly needed, Veneer swore to himself he’d give whatever words of affirmation he needed. The thought brought a smile to his lips, pushing back the fateful guilt of his situation on hold. It was the least selfish act he could do and one that he meant sincerely.

Ritz took in a deep breath and hoisted himself from his chair back to his feet, teasing his arms with a short stretch.

“Well I think I’m all amped up. How about we rap it up and leave?”

“It’s not getting any better, Ritz.”

“Dually noted .” Ritz nudged, shooting finger guns at Veneer’s deadpanned face. “Ok ok, I’ll stop, but only because you want me to.”

Veneer watched as Ritz turned away from the studio and disappeared back through the two bookshelves into the darkness of the library. Like the fizzle of a heater, the room felt much colder without Ritz’s presence. Somehow that always seemed to be the case when he’d been away from his sight. It felt strange to have not felt that feeling so badly before he’d arrived, but it only made Veneer want to follow after him more. Before so, however, he took in one last look at the studio, landing back on the surely expensive technology and equipment.

Ritz had everything in the palm of his hand, most of which he didn’t feel the need to use that Veneer would beg on his knees to have. Shortcuts were the duo's forte and as Veneer bit at his lip, he couldn’t help but feel dejavu sneaking up on him again. His fame would surely benefit from borrowing a few of his belongings, but was a good quality headphone or proper mic enough of a substitute for what was out the door? In the back of his mind, he would’ve taken that chance without a doubt, but his heart prompted him to turn back to the library and lock the secret room shut with a slam.

“I was wondering when you’d catch up,”

“Yeah, just had to uh, shut it properly. It was pretty heavy.” Veneer made it back to Ritz’s side, now both gingerly brisking along the other end of the hall. Veneer gave a small stretch of his arms by his sides, flexing his fingers for any bit of believability. A smile serened on Ritz’s lips as he peeked at them.

“I wonder how long this party will hold up compared to its previous ones,”

“Yeah, this one seems like it’s flying by.”

“Eh, they usually tend get dragged out for a while. A lot of people usually tend to stick around for the lazy afterparties, just hanging out and stuff. Of course, I somehow always find myself stuck with some.. familiar faces, but, who knows.. I can always make an exception.” Ritz grinned at Veneer.

Veneer’s face tightened as his voice laced with worry. “Oh, I would never want to intrude for too long surely.”

“No no, it's totally fine.” Ritz assured, breezing his hands over each other. “I’m having way more fun with you than I’ve had at any past parties anyways.”

A tint of pink blossomed on Veneer’s cheeks, turning his face away that had rosed his smile into a cheesy grin. However, just as it came, it slowly lost its bloom at the large window that met his side a foot away. Through it overlooked guests that had made their way outside within huddles of conversation. Ritz stopped shortly as Veneer failed to catch up in their walk.

“Oh, that’s your sister down there, isn’t it?” Found in the hearth of the crowd was no other than Velvet herself. Even from their view, it was impossible to dismiss her hands swishing at the smiling people around her; the coated orange color of her nails flowing around as she brought it to her face to laugh. From her raised shoulders, it seemed as if she’d heard the funniest joke ever. “She seems like she’s having.. fun.”

“Yeah… she does.” Ritz drew his eyes to Veneer trudging away from the window. The sink in his voice hunched Ritz next to him, but a step or two's distance away to be wary.

“You think she’s managed to make some friends?”

“Anything but enemies would be nice.. but I wouldn’t really know. I haven’t seen her for hours.”

“Well, isn’t that a good thing? Taking a break away from your sister..?”

“Of course it is. I should of all people be glad for a little peace and quiet from her.” Veneer slugged a smile, feeling it flop back down as he trudged his boots. “But somehow, I'm dissatisfied? Upset? I don’t really know what exactly.”

Ritz rubbed his thumb across his fingers. “Why’s that..?”

 “It’s just…” Veneer started. “We started our brand as a team and, I don’t know, I just kind of expected that here. Doesn’t that make me kinda… selfish?”

“Veneer, I've known you for only a few hours and you’re the last thing from selfish.”

“I know, I know, it shouldn’t be this big of a deal, but I just expected to see her more tonight.”

Ritz looked up at Veneer’s face that starred out straight ahead, hoping he would share their gaze. “It’s not your fault you just wanted to share an accomplishment with your sister.”

“I guess… but she just makes it seem so.. nonchalant. Like once tonight has she even wondered where I was?”

“I’m sure she has,”

“I love my sister more than anything. I’ve done everything growing up with her. I even helped catch-” Veneer caught his next words in his throat, realizing he was so close to letting his awful secret be exposed so easily. A short cough escaped him as Ritz’s eyes stayed still on him. “-her dream… and have come to realize fame really does come with its perks… but I can’t help but wonder if she would’ve done the same for me. It’s silly, sometimes I just can’t help but feel…”

“Used?”

“Saying it out loud seems more far-fetched…I mean, I did set myself up for this anyhow.”

“Veneer, I have no right speaking on behalf of sibling relationships being an only child, but I know a thing or two about relationships in general.” Ritz hesitated before he spoke again, asking the floor with his eyes if what he was going to reveal would be the right choice. Taking a short breath, he brought his eyes back up to Veneer. “All my money is what people see when they look at me. People will get what they want from you the moment you show any bit of vulnerability. And yeah, it's totally not fair. You start to question who’s at fault, their desires or your ignorance… and maybe even your own greed.” Veneer winced slightly at that last statement, guilt knocking back at his insides. “But what separates our situations is that she’s your sister. Even though she, like so many other people are blinded for what they want, you’ve grown up with who she really is with that blindfold taken off. And you have the opportunity to tell her how you feel.”

Veneer exhaled into a frown. “I don’t think I could ever do that to her. Where could I even start..?”

“As long as it's from the heart, she’ll come around sooner or later.” Ritz nodded, offering a smile. Veneer looked down at him and nodded, feeling his sympathy for his point of view start to validate what he felt wasn’t just childish thinking. It felt nice having a clear thought about it all and hearing it from Ritz let that warm feeling in his chest begin to fluff inside him again. Ritz took in his smile and knocked at his arm slightly with a light fist, gifting a chuckle. “But for now, the party’s still going. If Velvet can’t celebrate your achievements with you, then I’ll be glad to continue to do so.”

“I guess one good thing I got out of not having her around was spending time with you.”

“I don’t if it’s just me, but I don’t think this change is really too bad at all.” Ritz shrugged with simpering eyebrows.

“Now look who’s getting sappy,”

“Ok, ok,” Vener snickered as Ritz rolled his eyes. “I guess I can’t help it when you make it this easy.”

“Ok everyone, I’ll be right back! I just have to find the restroom real quick. Don’t have too much fun without me, alriiight~?”

Velvet could hardly keep hold of her forced smile any longer as she broke away from the crowd back into the manor doors. All night had she succumbed herself to fluffing up with people for a good outward appearance. It wasn’t like she cared about anyone here of course, just so long as it made herself seem better, popular, respected. Was that not the whole purpose of parties? Although every flashing smile and forced compliment could hardly muster its way out of her mouth now. She could only entertain a bunch of stuck up snobs for so long to where it was the equivalent of chewing on rubber. She had no plans of finding a bathroom, rather mustering her way past the flocks of pricks to search for that dependent lifeline that was her brother’s familiar turmoil of green hair.

As she went, she wondered if Veneer had been luckier than she’d been tonight. The regret that tonight could’ve been more easing on her mentally if she’d brought him along piqued her, maybe even given their brand a better look, but it was far too late for that now. The first thing on her mind was leaving as soon as possible. She’d already gotten what she could from this little gathering, so finding Venner was all she needed. But the only problem was finding where the hell he was.

Her frustration only began to bubble as she went from room to room. Not on the dance floor, not in the kitchen, not in the dining room, not in the bathroom. Her heels clicked against the fancy tile, shooting glares in every corner.

“How could he get lost so easily?” Velvet held onto the dining room frame, her eyebrows tightly knitted across her face. From the flashing lights inside the party room, a darkness from beyond a distant door caught her eye. Without hesitation, she moved past the drizzle of people by the walls and snuck inside the hall that now littered with worn-out guests. She took no moment to spare a smile and moved straight forward, peeking into each room she passed, but with no sights of her twin brother.

”Veneer? Veneeer? ” Velvet’s scowl loosened as she found herself more and more empty within the mansion. Did something happen to him? She knew him as a loose screw for being clumsy, but he couldn’t have hurt himself, right? Tension paced her steps as she went further and further, past the shiny lights to the cold dark. He had to be around here somewhere.

Turning into an open bedroom, the cool night air of Mount Rageous enveloped Veneer and Ritz from the room’s balcony, the velvet curtains brushing against its glass doors that held agape. A short breeze serenaded against Veneer’s face, possessing it to feel the effects of tonight’s adventure in a woozy, waitrose-lipped smile. His arms floated down to rest on the balcony’s railings. To his side, Ritz followed, his head slunk between his shoulders. Veneer released a sigh as he onlooked the blurs of colors before him in the distance.

“Whoa, what a view. I think I can see all of Mount Rageous from up here.”

“Yeah, the city never seems to sleep, doesn’t it? Not even for the party.”

Not too long from now Veneer would be back with his sister, somehow managing to find her and take their ride back to their studio. Velvet would probably bombard him with questions of how his night went and what all he did, with which he’d have to lie about a few things or two. Crimp would have to deal with an exhausted Velvet and Veneer would find himself passing out under the covers of his bed. He’d be alone just as he was before, except the thought of Ritz would keep him awake for hours.

“Why did you do this?”

“…What?”

“Why did you spend your whole night just to be with me?” Ritz studied Veneer’s face for a long while. An itch in his throat mustered behind his tightly knit lips before he finally let out a hearted sigh.

“You know, most people never stay for this long. You’re the first person to stay and not ask for any favors, just hang out like normal people do.” Veneer’s heart stung for Ritz. It seemed impossible to him that someone could toss around the teen he’d laughed with all night like some sort of neglected doll.

“I can’t see how anyone could do that to someone like you.”

“Ya know, everyone in Mount Rageous is just so materialistic, but that’s not who I am, not who I want to be. Being rich can be great but what’s loving money good for when it can’t love you back?” Ritz paused, furrowing his brows as if searching for the right words to piece together. His eyes found Veneer’s as he found his voice again. “I don’t know, I just want something real and sentimental, something to feel that kills me in the best way, you know?”

 Veneer brought his arms back to his sides, not moving his eyes from Ritz’s for a second. The distant party lights peeked at Ritz’s face, mixing in soft shades of greens, blues, and pinks. The rest of his face, though shadowed in the dark, laid motionless, but tender. Rtiz’s eyes searched deeply inside of his as Veneer opened his lips to reply. 

“I feel the same way. And if I’m being honest… I don’t think I’d give up how much fun I had tonight with you for any price.” In that moment, something glinted within Ritz’s eyes. It simply could’ve been a trick of the eye from the lights down below, but Veneer’s heart fluttered for it being a different reason. Ritz brought himself from the railing, his eyes becoming half-lidded once again. Veneer swore the dark hue on his cheeks were nothing short of real.

“You know, you’re not who I thought you’d be, Veneer. You’re not like other celebrities. You’re one of the only people I know who’s nice, just authentically nice. After our dance, I thought that would be the end of it, but… you stayed, and I didn’t even have to ask.” Ritz’s hushed tone tingled across his body that no longer felt the chill of the night air. Little by little, the two could feel the lack of air between each other, the closeness of their bodies and that warm breath Veneer had tasted earlier. Veneer breathed it in with a laugh.

“You didn’t need to. I’ve seen enough tonight to know you won’t have to ever ask me that question, just so long as you let me stay.”

Ritz whispered a laugh, a soft, loving laugh that let the night shine onto his blushing face, his eyes fawning deeply onto Veneer’s lips.

“Then stay,”

The kiss came quicker than Veneer had thought. One could compare it to being chased in a dream with feet that felt like pushing bricks in every step, except now instead of running, he turned to embrace his captor with open arms and rosy eyes. The thought of if he had said Ritz’s name before the contact came slipped his mind. Maybe in a shaky whisper, but it didn't seem to matter now. Every nerve in his body had never felt more awake, even bringing up ones that he’d never known could exist before. Ritz’s lips were soft and gentle against his, proceeding with such hesitant caution that made Veneer sick for more. From where they stood, he could feel Ritz wobble slightly, apparent even without even having to look down that Ritz had to stand a little bit taller to even reach him. Nonetheless a rush of sparks blurred around them as Veneer’s eyes began to fall to a close, waiting as Ritz drew back for another kiss. However, a sharp gasp and Ritz’s hands pushing him away retreated his eyes back open.

“Oh my god, Veneer, I, I am so sorry- I shouldn’t have done that to you. I totally went out of bounds and took advantage of this relationship. This is so wrong for me to invade you like this, I just-I don’t know what came over me.” Ritz fumbled, his hands clenching the air like he could strangle himself. Veneer’s mouth laid agape, planted in the realization of what had been his first kiss; Ritz’s rich taste still lingering on his lips like a phantom. In union, his mind and body agreed for once and shut Ritz’s mouth with his hand cupping his cheek, warming it to the touch. 

“But… I thought you wanted something sentimental?” Veneer whispered through a smile teasing on his face. Shuttered breaths were only Ritz’s reply as his brows stressed the mental conflict debating within his eyes, glancing from the silent bedroom back to Veneer. The one thing he’d been wishing for had finally been more than the dream of a hopeless romantic, now smiling down on him in platform boots, swooped hair, and ridiculous orange clothing. Maybe it was wrong to be seen like this with such a position and risk another ache to his broken heart, but his chances could only be attempted once… and he wanted to make sure this attempt was as slow as possible. That sly smile returned back to his face as he nuzzled into Veneer’s soft, warm hand.

“More than anything,”

Ritz’s kiss had been paid in full as Veneer wrapped his fingers around his jawline and pulled his face forward into his own green-colored lips. This time, it was even better than the last one. Any ounce of doubt Ritz had left was put on hold to savor this moment he hoped would last forever. Even if this was wrong, Ritz could not bear to break away his body from Veneer’s hold. Beneath that cocky attire and perfume, Ritz could feel the boy’s nimbleness in his touches and the way his lips smiled into each kiss and breath. His soft, pale thumbs twiddled with the stray hair that hung on Ritz’s face, twisting and undoing them over and over like a working form of possession. A shaky mutter hid itself behind his lips against the warm fingertips petting at the nape of his neck, tingling Ritz’s hands to cling to Veneer’s hips to stabilize his woozy legs. Drawing in for another kiss, Veneer quivered beneath the mending of Ritz’s fingers on his exposed sides, each little movement having a chain reaction that ensued a soft moan past his lipstick into the press of their lips. It was utterly messy for a first kiss, but perfect enough for the both of them to wish it would never end. It wasn’t until the click of a heel that made their eyes shoot wide open from their embrace.

In an instant, Veneer tore himself away from Ritz and fell back against the railing. Ritz could only gawk at the green-haired girl returning the same look from the balcony door.

“Velvet! What, what are you doing here?” Veneer sputtered, his hands gripping at the railing to save his locked legs. Velvet’s nose crinkled between the back and forth stares, from Veneer’s smudged lipstick and the left over evidence on Ritz’s. Ritz cowered back, mortified they’d been caught in the act. After what felt like a solid minute of choking silence, Velvet muffled a cough into her fist and sauntered her fingers through her hair.

“You disappeared all night and it took me forever to find you and…” She wavered her hand to the flustered duo and rolled her eyes. “Whatever this was. But, whatever, doesn’t matter, we’re leaving.”

“Wait, really? Already?”

“Yep, now come on. I’m not waiting for you in the car if you don’t hurry up.” Velvet flicked her wrist at her brother and just like that turned to leave until the sound of her heels vanished back to the dark. Veneer clumsily cleared his throat and released his grip from the railing to plop himself back on his feet, offering Ritz a loppy smile.

“Well, guess that’s my cue. I had a great time with you tonight. Maybe.. I can talk to you later?”

“Well, I have been meaning to schedule an interview with you and your sister for some time, if you two are up for it of course.” Ritz piqued, returning that usual grin, now smudged with green.

“I’d love that,”

Veneer gnawed at the inside of his cheek, looking to the side. Ritz watched his brows furrow, waiting for something to happen in their silence. Then in a swift motion, Veneer brought him into a hug. Ritz’s words fizzled as he thought for the right thing to say, but stopped himself and draped his arms around the lovely boy, breathing into the soft hug. Releasing, Veneer turned away back to the door and took one last look to flutter a wave.

“Goodbye, Kid Ritz.”

“Bye…”

Just like that, Veneer had faded away from his sights. He was alone again. The night cooled his skin past the hair he let brush his face, silently draping over his shut eyes as he pulled his head back to the black sky. From the quiet, murmurs of the party fizzled near his ears; the sweet sound of Mount Rageous he’d lived for. A laugh bubbled out of him into the air, for Mount Rageous, for the party, for himself, and for the boy he finally had.

Velvet was found sashaying down the hall as the clunk of boots scurried to make it to her side. Nothing was said for a few steps, just the small talk of silence and the wall’s view as Veneer turned his head away from Velvet’s in an attempt to dismiss the warmth on his face that had begun to fade. Too many steps in and Veneer broke the tension with a question and his general addition of curiosity.

“So… did your night go ok?”

“Well, it was going alright but there are just sooo many fake people here, it’s nauseating. I guess I can thank that little troll for giving me some extra energy to put up with everyone here.” Velvet groaned, tugging her purse strap from her shoulder. It was strange to Veneer to have forgotten about Floyd for so long at the party, possibly even a good thing. “But, I do think coming here was worth it in the end to making our brand looking more appealing, especiallllly thanks you.”

“Huh?”

“Swooning Mount Ragous’ hit show host to get him on our side is a pretty smart move bro. Good job for once.” Veneer blinked at Velvet swinging her arm around his shoulders to what she saw as his night’s success.

“Uh, yeaah, thanks. Not really what I had in mind, but I guess so…”

“Now come on, these heels are killing me and I am going to crash when we get back home. If Crimp says one peep, I swear I will strangle her with my cape.”

Liters of other guests made their way from the house that had died down with the night hours, some mendling with others or taking pictures or leaving the same as Velvet and Veneer. From inside the car window, Veneer perched his elbow on the side and took one more look at the house. Somewhere in there, Ritz would still be hanging around. Even as the car started out of the driveway and on the streets with Velvet collapsed in sleep against her seat, the memory of Ritz’s charisma in the depths of the mansion’s darkness fluttered in his mind. A sigh fizzled out as his mind began to drift into the lullabies of sleep. He could only hope their interview would be scheduled sooner than later.