[She awkwardly hugs her back, patting the top of her head.]
I'm not upset with you. I'm upset with your shitty classmates, but...I think a club will fix that. You'll find nerds exactly like you. Well, you and Lucas.
[She awkwardly hugs her back, patting the top of her head.]
I'm not upset with you. I'm upset with your shitty classmates, but...I think a club will fix that. You'll find nerds exactly like you. Well, you and Lucas.
[She walks over and crouches down by the bed, putting her hand by the pillow.]
Nobody had any plans of abandoning you. I swear on that.
[She walks over and crouches down by the bed, putting her hand by the pillow.]
Nobody had any plans of abandoning you. I swear on that.
[She tries to compose herself, shoving her hands in her pockets.]
Sorry, just, don't want her eating herself alive over this bullshit.
[She tries to compose herself, shoving her hands in her pockets.]
Sorry, just, don't want her eating herself alive over this bullshit.
[She clicks her tongue.]
Why does it matter so much. Why do people care so much about blood?? Your mom decided she'd give up a good kid like you and she's paying the consequences! Why does everyone want to know their birth mother, their birth father!? Why does it matter so much!?
[She clicks her tongue.]
Why does it matter so much. Why do people care so much about blood?? Your mom decided she'd give up a good kid like you and she's paying the consequences! Why does everyone want to know their birth mother, their birth father!? Why does it matter so much!?
[She kicks at the doorframe multiple times. That struck a nerve.]
Gods forbid we end up like that bitch that left you to rot, okay!? The gods can kill me before I let that happen again! Before Dad lets that happen again! Before Simon lets that happen again! You hear me!?
[She kicks at the doorframe multiple times. That struck a nerve.]
Gods forbid we end up like that bitch that left you to rot, okay!? The gods can kill me before I let that happen again! Before Dad lets that happen again! Before Simon lets that happen again! You hear me!?
Look, Vero. We aren't saying you're banished from the apartment complex. You live here.
But you *need* kids your age to hang out around. It's good for you to be around people who experience the same things as you.
Look, Vero. We aren't saying you're banished from the apartment complex. You live here.
But you *need* kids your age to hang out around. It's good for you to be around people who experience the same things as you.
...
[Another sigh.]
I'm sorry, not the time or the place. Look, we, just want you to have a social life, before it gets harder and harder to.
...
[Another sigh.]
I'm sorry, not the time or the place. Look, we, just want you to have a social life, before it gets harder and harder to.
[She leans against the doorframe and sighs.]
You need to make friends your age too. What's going to happen when we all die of old age and you're alone, eh?
[She leans against the doorframe and sighs.]
You need to make friends your age too. What's going to happen when we all die of old age and you're alone, eh?
[She turns the handle and then pushes the door open with her foot, motioning for Simon to go inside.]
Floors yours.
[Leaning in, she whispers:]
*I'll stay here in case she tries to bolt out the door-*
[She turns the handle and then pushes the door open with her foot, motioning for Simon to go inside.]
Floors yours.
[Leaning in, she whispers:]
*I'll stay here in case she tries to bolt out the door-*
[She continues to walk through the apartment, opening doors slowly.
She comes to a stop outside of Vero's bedroom, hearing the slight sounds. Motioning to it, she mouths:]
"She's in there. You knock."
[She continues to walk through the apartment, opening doors slowly.
She comes to a stop outside of Vero's bedroom, hearing the slight sounds. Motioning to it, she mouths:]
"She's in there. You knock."
Vero? Very Merry? You in here?
Vero? Very Merry? You in here?
[With that, she hurries off downstairs, and with a quick phone call to the front desk confirming no little girls had run out of the building, heads to the front door of Simon's apartment.
She feels in her pocket for the spare key she-
[With that, she hurries off downstairs, and with a quick phone call to the front desk confirming no little girls had run out of the building, heads to the front door of Simon's apartment.
She feels in her pocket for the spare key she-
[She brushes the crumbs off her clothes and picks up the bag, sighing.]
Uncle, you *need* to sort this out. She can't end up like I was. Ugh...Want me to go after her?
[She brushes the crumbs off her clothes and picks up the bag, sighing.]
Uncle, you *need* to sort this out. She can't end up like I was. Ugh...Want me to go after her?
You have to put her in therapy.
[She turns her attention back to Vero.]
You do, need people your age, young lady. You can't hang out around a bunch of senile old men all day...No offense, Uncle. Mm, actually, maybe a little-?
You have to put her in therapy.
[She turns her attention back to Vero.]
You do, need people your age, young lady. You can't hang out around a bunch of senile old men all day...No offense, Uncle. Mm, actually, maybe a little-?
...
Listen, Vero. I know you don't like the idea of not being around all the time, but it's only for a few days a week, and you know you need friends your age, right?
It won't be too bad. There's always time to spend with us, too, yeah?
...
Listen, Vero. I know you don't like the idea of not being around all the time, but it's only for a few days a week, and you know you need friends your age, right?
It won't be too bad. There's always time to spend with us, too, yeah?
[She sighs.]
I'm sure he has some sorta summer programs you can join, but I don't think he'd be too happy with a teenager in class... He's a pushover, though. You'll always see us after the clubs end, Vero!
[She sighs.]
I'm sure he has some sorta summer programs you can join, but I don't think he'd be too happy with a teenager in class... He's a pushover, though. You'll always see us after the clubs end, Vero!
[She smiles a bit.]
I'm sure I can chat to Lucas about his time in astronomy club back in secondary. Or maybe see if he has any summer programs available.
[She smiles a bit.]
I'm sure I can chat to Lucas about his time in astronomy club back in secondary. Or maybe see if he has any summer programs available.
[She goes over to the cabinet again, pulling out a small tin of chocolate pretzels.
She hands them to Vero.]
Will this do?
[She goes over to the cabinet again, pulling out a small tin of chocolate pretzels.
She hands them to Vero.]
Will this do?
(*Please before Simon catches on I'm dogshit with children-*)
Oh! Vero! You, wanted another snack, right?
(*Please before Simon catches on I'm dogshit with children-*)
Oh! Vero! You, wanted another snack, right?
Hah you're sooooo funny Very Merry-
*Because he will also have my head if he hears how much I've taught you-*
Hah you're sooooo funny Very Merry-
*Because he will also have my head if he hears how much I've taught you-*
...
[She leans closer.]
*At least don't repeat them in front of your dad-*
...
[She leans closer.]
*At least don't repeat them in front of your dad-*
...
[She shakes her head.]
Nahh, he absolutely would gut me.
...
Well, just learn good things from me, okay? I think Uncle Simon's already mad I taught you the word shit...
...
[She shakes her head.]
Nahh, he absolutely would gut me.
...
Well, just learn good things from me, okay? I think Uncle Simon's already mad I taught you the word shit...
[She nudges Simon, giving a weird half smile.]
I, don't think he would like if I came to school with you, though.
[She nudges Simon, giving a weird half smile.]
I, don't think he would like if I came to school with you, though.
[She pats Vero's head, taking a deep breath.]
I'm sorry. I didn't need to lash out like that. Maybe *I* need to work on my manners.
...
I just don't like to see you get made fun of.
[She pats Vero's head, taking a deep breath.]
I'm sorry. I didn't need to lash out like that. Maybe *I* need to work on my manners.
...
I just don't like to see you get made fun of.