Farrington-Gores: After the meeting

'How was the hotel? Good?'

'Not bad. I have no complaints, anyway. What about your room?'

'It's nice. I might go out and buy some more things to make it feel more like home, but it's nice. So you've got nothing to worry about. See? Told you I'd be fine.'

'I'm glad. At least one of us achieved something by being here.'

'Why? What happened at your talk yesterday?'

'It was a disaster. Aria lost her temper and walked out because Anstine isn't doing enough, apparently.'

'Oh... I didn't realise she was going there too.'

'Me neither, until she walked in with the others. But since she's related to Miles' latest victim, I suppose it makes sense.'

'Ah, of course... poor her. It can't be easy.'

'There was no need for her behaviour, though. As much as I've complained about this stupid meeting, Anstine was only trying to help.'

'Yeah, but there's still no real resolution, is there? Meaning that cunt is still free to do whatever he pleases. No offence to Anstine; he's doing his best. But think how you'd feel if it were Cyan, or Zen or Zafira. Would you just sit by and accept no action?'

'...I take your point.'

'You ought to talk to her.'

'What? No, I'm not doing that.'

'It's not nice for things to end on a sour note. I don't want you to go back home with you and my new housemate in some kind of conflict. She might be really upset... Go sort it, will you?'

'And what if she bites my head off?'

'Then at least you tried. Go on. That's an order.'

'...Oh, fine, if I must.'

*knock knock*

'...Come in.'

'Oh. It's you.'

'...Hello, Aria.'

'Look, I know I was a complete bitch yesterday. You don't need to tell me that, even though I do deserve it.'

'I'm not here to call you names. Topaz expressed concern about you, and she wanted me to check on you. She didn't want me to return home and end things as they were.'

'Right.'

'Anstine isn't mad at you, by the way. He said to tell you that he will try his best.'

'That's good... what about you?'

'Like I said, I'm not here to call you names.'

'Go on. I need the punishment. People should call me out more.'

'...Okay, I thought you were rude and ungrateful.'

'That's it?

'What do you want me to do? Call you a cunt? Slap you? Burn you at the stake?'

'Sure, if you want.'

'...You reacted that way for a reason. Explain your side to me. I'd like to hear it from you.'

'Okay... that bastard first stormed into our lives about twenty years ago. He tortured Edward. Then he tortured Tate, and I walked in on it. I was eight.'

'...Christ.'

'It left some mental scarring. So because of that, he bankrupted Tate and we all had to move to a crappy shack in Sunset Valley, which meant that my siblings and I couldn't see Edward for years. We didn't know what happened to him. We just wondered why he disappeared for so long and why he couldn't rescue us. Well, he wasn't in a position to.'

'I'm sorry. What he went through was horrible.'

'Tell me about it. Anyway... well, you probably don't wanna hear all about Tate, but basically he's one of the worst people in the world. I didn't go into detail because I didn't wanna freak out poor Topaz, but the man's a disease. Emotionally abused us all for our whole childhoods. Fucked me up in the head. He's a bully, a serial cheat, a sociopath, a waste of oxygen... I'm ranting. I'd better stop.'

'Ugh. Is she going to have trouble working for him?'

'Maybe. Like I said, she needs to put him in his place if he acts up. If he makes life difficult for her after that, she should tell me and I could go smack him again.'

'Again?'

'Yeah. Again. This is all irrelevant though. You wanted to know about Miles. We didn't hear from him up until last year. We thought he'd left everyone alone for good, but... obviously I was wrong. He moved his daughter to Sunset Valley High, had her bully my siblings, then there was the thing with Vincent that we told you about. Then most recently... what happened to Tristan.'

'...I really am sorry. I didn't realise just how long he's been plaguing you.'

'Well, I'm sorry for throwing a big baby tantrum. It wasn't fair to Anstine. He called us together so we'd all be on the same page, and I threw it back in his face. No wonder you think I'm shit.'

'Just apologise to Anstine. I'm sure he'll accept it. He's a reasonable person. And no, I don't think you're shit. You gave a bad first impression, but who hasn't done that? I know I've done it quite a few times. So... forget it. I understand now. You must be at the end of your tether.'