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Floyd's family wasn't exactly... Thrilled when they heard that he was going to spend the Christmas season with Veneer on Mount Rageous. Understandably so, after all the Rageon had accidentally almost killed him, and the idea of losing him once again to the boy was a troubling thought, to say the least.
Veneer didn't really blame them either, though he didn't like being reminded once again of his transgressions, it was definitely... In an odd way comforting to see that he was still just the monster he believed Fame had turned him into to some people.
But possible self-loathing aside, veneer had a plan to make sure nothing else went wrong.
He called it: "Don't trouble Floyd with your own stupid issues he already has so many problems because of you." Or Operation Shut Up for short.
Which was basically him just vowing not to mess up Floyd's visit by accidentally using him as a personal therapist.
Because for some reason that kept on happening despite his best efforts.
Somehow he did manage to stick to the plan for almost a full week. Though it was definitely almost scrapped a few times, he didn't truly break it until he and Floyd had gone out for hot cocoa at some internet-famous café.
He hadn't exactly wanted to go out in public at all in the months following his exposure as a fraud and his pardon from his charges, but he had done it for his friend.
The looks they got were withering but Veneer tried to just focus on pretending not to have an issue with it as Floyd jabbered on excitedly about the reviews he'd seen.
They were actually seated pretty quickly, especially since the restaurant was bustling, and they received their drinks within the next five minutes.
“This place is great!" Floyd sighed blissfully as he picked up his little troll-sized cup. “Don't you think?!"
“Uh, yeah..." Veneer smiled, watching all the other Rageons pass by before his eyes fell on a particular group of them.
Carollers...?
They're all so happy, clutching their phones and taking videos or selfies, looking like they genuinely wanted to be alive. "Carolling, carolling through the town, Christmas bells are ring-ing, carolling carolling up and down, Christmas bells are ring-ing."
It hurt Veneer's very soul to hear. Such talent. Such flow to the singing. It sounded so authentic and nice, no trying hard to hit notes or anything. It was just... For fun.
"Is everything okay?" Floyd asked, immediately snapping the Rageon out of his stupor and causing him to nearly knock his cocoa off the table. "Yeah, yeah!" Veneer assured, smiling and waving his hands around in a dismissive manner, "Everything's fine. I'm just... Thinking."
"O~kay," the troll hummed, sounding much less than convinced. "How about you humour me and tell me what you're thinking about?"
Floyd sipped thoughtfully on the hot chocolate in the little troll-sized cup as the green-haired boy sweat-dropped. "We-well mostly about how around this time last year I was still... You know."
It wasn't a total lie, as he had been thinking about him and Velvet's rise to fame. But it just wasn't what had been his top priority...
"Oh yeah... You guys were just about considered popular around this time last year huh?" The pinkette offers, sounding... Much less concerned than veneer had feared. "That's right."
"Ye-yeah." The Rageon stammered taking his own hot cocoa and bringing it to his lips with both hands to drink. "It was definitely... Definitely not the best time to get thrust into the spotlight. I don't think I saw a single Christmas-themed thing other than makeup for the whole month."
The joke was attempted to bring the jolliness back, but it only seemed to bring Floyd's worries back into the conversation. "Yeah... Thinking back on it now you did seem really... Out of it. I guess I must've been too busy trying to escape to notice."
Flames shot into ignition in Veneer's stomach as he forced a few laughs, "I mean I think you had all the right to. That must've been horrible to spend Christmas with to spoiled diva teens going from just getting by to making enough to buy entire companies."
Floyd's eyebrows pinched together and the Rageon quickly realized that self-deprecating jokes were NOT the ideal way to get the troll to move on.
The Rageon flustered, stumbling over his words desperately. “A- anyway enough about me! How've things been going with your brother?“
“It's been... Well." Floyd responds, narrowing his eyes up at his larger friend. “But somehow I think this is a ploy to veer away from that previous comment and it's not gonna work.“
“Previous comment?" Veneer laughed nervously, slouching a bit as if being examined under a microscope, “Uh, what comment?"
"You know what comment.“
Veneer kept up a smile, “Do I?"
Floyd crosses his arms. "Yes you do, and I think it has something to do with you hearing those guys singing.“
The Rageon shook his head, feeling dizzy. “What no? I mean maybe? They just have nice voices and I like the holidays so-"
The troll momentarily stopped sipping his hot chocolate and his eyes grew wide, a smile cracking on his face taking the place of the shocked O that had sat there moments ago. “So you want to learn to sing?!“
Veneer could practically feel his pulse quickening as he roamed into dangerous territory for Operation Shut Up. "I- I mean I-”
"Great! I can teach, now repeat after me!" The troll piped up, beaming and shutting his eyes. "Jingle, jingle, jingle, you can hear my sleigh bells ring. I am old Kris Kringle, I'm the king of jingling!"
Veneer fiddled with his nails picking at them out of habit. "Floyd I don't know if, you've- you've heard my voice! And-"
The pinkette spun around in a little circle, stopping abruptly to plant his hands on his head and grin up at his being friend. "Oh shush, come on! Christmas carols don't require a good voice! They just require a little bit of spirit!"
Veneer gulped, trying his best not to bite something back at the peppy Little guy in front of him. After all, he had practically begged Floyd to come and stay with him.
He could at least do this for him, right...?
“Ji- jingle, jingle, jingle." He mumbled, feeling his cheeks heat up just a bit at how out of place his voice sounded.
“No! You have to actually SING!" Floyd corrected, tapping his foot impatiently. “I know you like to. That was never hidden. So just... Embrace your voice!“
Veneer worried with his thumbs as he closed his eyes and attempted to mimic Floyd's singing. "jingle, jingle, jingle, you can he- hear my sleigh bells ring. I am old Kris Kringle, I'm the king of jingling...!“
The song was a little out of tune, and his key fluctuated, but the song wasn't ruined. It didn't even sound half bad!
“See?!" The pink-haired troll laughed, trotting up to the Rageon and motioning for him to lift him up. “You're great! A star in the making."
“More like a faulty firework.“ Veneer mumbled, picking Floyd up and catching himself just before he was subject to another lecture. “You know, because I burnt really brightly all at once and it was cool.“
"Nice save.“ The troll laughs, Rolling his eyes and stretching out his arms to hug the Rageons cheek as best he could. “I was afraid I was going to have to get you therapy for Christmas.“
Veneer laughed and used his other hand to sort of mimic a hug against Floyd's small form. “What for? I'm coping perfectly."
Floyd backed up a bit and raised his eyebrows, smirking. “You make jokes about your trauma to cover it up.“
The green-haired Rageon froze, biting his lip a second before nervously laughing the comment off. "Actually you know what? What other carols do you know...'