[h3][b]Meanwhile.[/b][/h3] [color=tomato]"What was that?"[/color] Oros had finished her toast and was crouched down beside Finn, who was still laying on his back. [color=tomato]"Are you wondering what's wrong with you? Is that, an invitation, to be your therapist?"[/color] She sat up and grinned. [color=tomato]"You know my title is 'The Mad' right? are you sure you want a therapy session from me, Penny junior?"[/color] Ugh, it sounded like she was rubbing it in his face. Finn pushed himself up into a sitting position and reverted back to his bloodless, mundane form. The luster in his eyes was notably absent. Just like back when everyone raided Justin Von Carnage's mansion only to come up with nothing. He furrowed his brows at Oros' nickname for him. [color=7F2A3C]"Penny who? W-Whatever, I had to have run i-into you for a reason, right?"[/color] As much as she [i]did[/i] have a point, Finn somehow had a feeling that if anyone could've understood his blight, it'd be Madness herself. [color=tomato]"Alright, but it’s going to cost you something."[/color] Oros Laid Finn back down before she pulled out a camera and a tiny tripod and set it up in front of him. Once she set it up, she pushed the record button before jumping back into frame and pointing at him. [color=tomato]"I told him to lay down, and he did it! The absolute mad lad!"[/color] She turned off the camera and stashed it in her kimono. [color=tomato]"That was just your down payment, I'll collect the rest later."[/color] She fished Finn’s phone out of his pocket. And started to push buttons. [color=tomato]"Right, so let's start with your mother. What's she like?"[/color] Welp. He did ask for it. Once again the boy sat up with a thoughtful hum. [color=7F2A3C]"I don't really know either of my parents well since they act like I don't exist most of the time, but from the few bits I gathered? Mother's one of the [i]haughty[/i] types. Puts on an act to get on peoples' good graces and unfortunately drags the rest of us into it one way or another. The amount of times she talked shit about others behind their backs, about her own [i]family[/i]. If you ever had the displeasure of meeting her, don't let the kindness bullshit fool you. She'd plan on being rid of you as soon as possible."[/color] Even talking about her in detail left a bitter taste in his mouth. [color=tomato]"That doesn’t sound too flattering."[/color] Oros’s tone sounded refined. At some point during Finn’s explanation, Oros had put on a pair of cat eye glasses, with a little silver chain that looped behind her neck. [color=tomato]"She sounds like a hard one to trust. But surely this pride comes from somewhere. Why do you think she’s such a bitch?"[/color] [Color=7F2A3C]"Hell if I know. Neither her or Father are around 90% of the time. Why do you think I'm able to sneak out like this?"[/color] Maybe if he snuck into their things he'd find something incriminating, but that'd come later. [color=tomato]"We are not interested in the truth here, Finny boy. We are interested in how this makes you [i]feel[/i]."[/color] She raised her hand like an opera singer. [color=tomato]"Speaking of your father, what is he like when he isn’t absent?"[/color] [color=7F2A3C]"...Intimidating. No one wants to piss him off."[/color] Finn frowned. [color=7F2A3C]"No one's allowed to act out of line around him. Apparently he once had a temper so bad it could make the Devil pleased. I don't think he and Mother get along well. He's more quiet though, keeps to himself most of the the time. He's the one that does most of the buisness stuff."[/color] [color=tomato]"And this business? Do you know what it is?"[/color] Finn shook his head. Not even Lydia spared any details. Oros smacked her lips before pulling out a clip board and jotting some things down on it. [color=tomato]"Do you have any other family that you interact with?"[/color] [Color=7F2A3C]"Just my older sister."[/color] The boy shrugged. [Color=7F2A3C]"She can't be around all the time either, but she tries her best to be. More buisness stuff before you ask. Mom and Dad trying to prepare her for taking over."[/color] [color=tomato]"What’s she like, do you enjoy her company? Does she share your feelings about your parents?"[/color] Finn nodded twice. [color=7F2A3C]"Lyds is really sweet, but also pretty tough, probably tougher than I could ever be if she ends up becoming an Esper too."[/color] He explained. [color=7F2A3C]"I ended up learning how to fight from her, after all."[/color] A ghost of a smile. [color=tomato]"So your mother’s a bitch, your dad’s a hard ass, and your sister is the only family member that treats you with any kindness?"[/color] Oros nodded while furiously scribbling on the page. [color=tomato]"So where’s your sister’s favorite place to eat?"[/color] [color=7F2A3C]"You [i]do[/i] realize there's a fee if you want me to help set you up with my sister?"[/color] A song and dance he's dealt with before, people being nice to him for their own personal gains with the rest of his family. That's one of the reasons why he wanted to dissociate from them. So that people could treat him as [i]Finn[/i] and not an extension of the Vanhorns. [color=tomato]"Dude, fuck!"[/color] Oros threw the clip board to the ground and stood up. [color=tomato]"Do you know how much I'd get paid [i]per minute[/i] to be your little therapy buddy? The [i]least[/i] you could do is tell me where she likes to eat, or what her three sizes are, or if she likes pink hair, and really likes it when the carpets match the drapes."[/color] She drew her sword and thrust it into the clipboard, and the caustic poison that coated her ritual blade dissolved it in seconds. Not even ash was left. With a twirl of her blade, she pointed at his head. [color=tomato]"Was her swordsmanship better than mine? I hope she's better than you were..."[/color] She tossed Finn's phone back to him. [color=tomato]"You actually have an incredible support network. You’re practically drowning in cute girls that only want the best for you. What's her tits with the puppet, Betty, Faith, Kid Icarus, I don’t consider your purple haired boss or Sharr cute, but I guess they count. My diagnosis is that you should call one of them, because they’ll actually give a shit about whatever you're moaping about.[/color] She sheathed her sword, but didn't take her eyes off of Finn. [color=tomato]"I added Betty’s number to your phone because you didn’t have it. As for payment, how about you tell your folks I could have killed you but didn’t? I think that'll become relevant in time."[/color] Oros placed her cold, half eaten toast in her mouth and ran off. Well, that went absolutely nowhere. Only made him even more confused. In fact he might've ended up giving her information she could weaponize against him oh god what the fuck was he thinking- [color=7F2A3C]"W-Waitwaitwait WHAT DO YOU MEAN REVELANT?!"[/color] He shot up from the ground and called out to her in vain. Oh god if he had to deal with his parents now then he might [i]actually[/i] scream. But she did point out something he found odd. After a moment of thinking about that, Finn sighed. [Color=7F2A3C]"Christ, no wonder people think I'm some heartthrob."[/color] She was right though. He really should call someone. He looked back down to his phone and tapped the call button. Hopefully Betty wasn't busy. The phone rang three times before someone picked up. Sure enough, it was Betty. [color=ade81b]"Hello?"[/color] Once Finn introduced himself, he could hear her sigh on the other end. [color=ade81b]"Ah! I couldn't remember if I gave you my number or not. I was a little out of it and I thought I had forgotten. I'm so glad you called me, I'll add you once you hang up."[/color] He could feel her smiling from the other end of the call. [color=ade81b]"What's up? Is it about the date?"[/color] Already it made him feel a bit better hearing her voice. [color=7F2A3C]"N-No, uhm, I don't know if you're free right now but..."[/color] But he still sounded so tired. [color=7F2A3C]"Where- Where are you? Is it a-alright if I come see you?"[/color] [color=ade81b]"Um, sure."[/color] She said with a hint of concern. [color=ade81b]"I was about to look for an ice cream place that served good sundaes, but I'd be up for sharing a banana float. Do you know any good places?"[/color] [color=7F2A3C]"Hmm... Yeah, h-hang on, I'll text you the details."[/color] Finn lowered his phone away from his ear for a moment to type out the name and location of an ice cream bar he passed by a few times, and a few details on what they sold from what he could remember. Aaaaand send. [color=7F2A3C]"Got it?"[/color] Their date might be a bit earlier than planned.