Chapter Text
Veneer expected a lot when his time to be released from prison came, but perhaps he didn’t expect enough when he was dropped off at the nearest bus station with nothing but the prison gave him in the middle of the night. He wore cheap sweatpants and a short-sleeved shirt under an even cheaper hoodie, with little more than a small wad of cash in the duffle bag given to him by the prison.
He shivered as the rain pattered on the awning above, he didn’t have anywhere to go and if he did he didn’t know where it would be. He knew he would be released about a year and a half before his sister - given a more lenient time for essentially turning himself in - but part of him wished they shared the same amount of time. Not like she wanted him there any longer than he had to be.
Veneer pulled up his hood, hiding his obnoxiously green hair as sat down on the freezing cold bench, surprisingly dry despite the rain that seeped through the concrete and soaked into his cheap sneakers. He had a pass - given by the prison - but doubt gnawed at his mind as he watched the road for oncoming headlights. He still had nowhere to go, nobody to call, and nothing to do. All he had was what was on him, not even the press cared about the fallen star, more concerned about other’s 15 seconds of fame.
Specks of rain flew to his face when the wind occasionally picked up, but the awning did most of the work, sparing him from the oncoming torrent. Before he could begin to wonder if the prison got the bus schedule right, a bright light cut through the pouring waters and stopped in front of Veneer. He took out the bus pass and showed it to the driver as he stepped inside, who did little more than a grunt as the door closed behind him and he sat on the nearest seat.
He stared out the window as the bus began to pick up speed again, allowing his mind to wander to possible options. He thought back to Kid Ritz, that interviewer and the only other person Veneer knew that might give him the light of day.
Veneer thought back to that interview.
“Secret? Ha! We don’t have a secret! Who said we had a secret?!” Veneer panicked, almost blowing their cover on air as his sister quickly did some damage control and took over so he could calm down.
After the interview he hesitated going back to the dressing room with Velvet, where she was sure to tell him off for hours for the blunder.
“Hey man, what was up with that?” the interviewer asked, his sudden appearance beside him making the already jumpy Veneer shout in surprise.
“Oh just some… interview anxieties!” Veneer avoided his eye and make a nervous smile as he spoke, “You know how it is-”
The interviewer shrugged, “Whatever you say man. Do you want me to edit that part out?”
Veneer quickly nodded, “Yes! I mean… Yes. That would be great.”
The interviewer went into his pocket and pulled out a card, “If you want to do another interview or talk feel free to call.”
After he took the card he left for the dressing room, where - as expected - Velvet told him off.
Veneer pulled out the card from his bag. He did try to arrange another interview, but Velvet could never agree to it - too busy preparing for the following concerts. But he did get to learn his name as they occasionally spoke - Kid Ritz.
Veneer cringed as he remembered the last concert. The look of betrayal on Ritz’s face as the trolls confronted the twins on the red carpet. Although he was currently one of Veneer’s only hopes for a stable life, he doubted he would even pick up the phone and if he didn’t Veneer wouldn’t blame him.
He waited a few more stops until he was at the edge of the city. Bright pink, purple, and yellow lights from nearby buildings and billboards and even cars reflected off of the growing puddles on the sidewalk and road. Aside from a few cars entering and exiting the city, there were little signs of life to Veneer’s relief. It did help that it was probably around 1-2am by now.
Would Ritz even be awake to answer the phone at this time?
Veneer shook the thought out of his head. What other options did he have? Ride the bus until they circle around the city a few times or kick him to the curb?
By this point the rain had begun to subside, but he still wore the hood as he tried his best to cover his shame by covering his identity. He read the number on the card and punched it into the payphone after putting in a coin.
After a few seconds of ringing, a familiar - surprisingly awake - voice came from the other end.
“Hello?”