Episode 3 (Aurora Season 1)

Aurora: "Let's see who it is."

Aurora: "Come on, sweetie."

She takes me by the hand, dragging me along.

Aurora: "You have to stick with me, remember?"

She gives me a crooked grin.

Aurora: "You chose me."

(Yeah, and I'm already beginning to regret it!)

Running a hand through her hair,

Aurora fusses over herself for a moment before opening the door with exaggerated flamboyance.

Aurora: "Whatever you're selling, we don't want any."

???: "Always the comedian, Aurora."

Much to my surprise, Aurora tenses up.

She's still holding my hand, and her grip tightens on reflex.

A strange man stands at the doorway, unassuming except for the bespoke suit he's wearing.

Aurora: "Franco Valntine."

The name jiggles my memory.

(Isn't Chance's last name Valentine, too?)

Franco: "You're awake so early."

Franco: "Did Chance finally turn you into someone respectable?"

Aurora: "Ask him yourself."

Aurora: "He's in the living room with your other son."

She's curt.

No jokes here.

Aurora tries to lead me away, but Franco gestures for her to wait.

Franco: "Don't leave just yet, my dear."

Franco: "You're the whole reason I'm here today."

Aurora hesitates,

then carelessly tosses her hair over her shoulder.

Aurora: "Fine. We can talk."

We gather in the living room again.

The tension in the air is so thick I almost choke on it.

Everyone in Chance's gang is glarring daggers at Franco.

Chance: "Are you lost, old man?"

That cool, unflappable exterior crumbles sowly the longer Franco's gaze lingers on him.

I draw closer to Aurora, instinctively going for the gangster who is supposed to watch over me.

Franco: "You've grown bold."

Franco: "Or maybe you're all just excited over the tournament."

Franco: "It's only a few days away, isn't it?"

Fed up, Aurora snaps.

Aurora: "If you have something to say, spit it out."

Aurora: "I don't know if you can tell, but I'm busy right now."

Franco's eyes drift down, landing on Aurora's hand in mind, still tightly clutched.

Franco: "So I see."

Noticing it as well, Aurora lets me go as if she had been branded.

Stepping between me and Franco, she speaks between grit teeth.

Aurora: "What. Do. You. Want?"

Franco: "I heard you put your name in the list of Ruby Heart tournament players."

Yoshimitsu: "What's it to you?"

Yoshimitsu: "Scared of losing?"

Franco: "I just think it's funny you think you'll actually be able to play."

Irving: "Mr. Valentine, I'm sure you're aware there's nothing prohibiting us from playing."

Franco: "Unless I, the host this year, decide you aren't eligible to attend."

(Oh, no.)

Aurora's chest hitches with a sharp gasp.

Aurora: "You...!"

Something clicks in the air, like a match on dry tinder.

I see it in slow motion, hands hovering over concealed guns,

everybody in the room tensing for an outburst.

Until I speak.

A. Why?

B. That's not fair!

C. You're pathetic.

---

B. That's not fair!

MC: "That's not fair!"

---

I blurt it out without thinking, and Franco raises an eyebrow at me.

Franco: "How tortured you sound."

Franco: "The poor lamb."

Franco: "She has no idea, does she?"

Franco: "Even if you were to play, Aurora, you wouldn't win against me."

Franco: "I have a new hustler."

Franco: "Someone with more potential than you ever had."

A cold, angry mask settles over Aurora's face,

but before she can say anything Chance steps in.

Chance: "You've overstayed your welcome, Franco."

A gun materializes in Ash's hand, aimed at Franco's head.

Ash: "Out."

Franco slowly blinked, undisturbed.

Then he shrugs.

Ash escorts Franco outside.

Abslute silence reigns in the house.

I can see Aurora's hands, clenching and unclenching,

until finally she storms over to a huge vase in the corner o the room and plucks out a bottle of booze.

Irving: "What the..."

Yoshimitsu: "Why the hell are you stashing liquor in my Japanese vase?"

She uncorks it with a loud pop and takes a swig straight from the bottle,

nearly draining it in one gulp.

Aurora: "Because it's Japanese whiskey."

She shoves it into his hands.

Aurora: "Now shut up and drink."

Yoshimitsu looks like he's about to protest,

then he shrugs and drinks.

Yoshimitsu: "So now what do we do?"

Chance opens one hand expectantly,

taking the bottle from Yoshimitsu and chugging down a good amount.

Chance: "I'm thinking."

Aurora doesn't wait for her turn.

Hands clench, unclench.

Then she leaves, straight to the stairs.

Alarmed, I follow after her.

(She's shaking from head to toe...)

As she walks she pulls out her phone, dialing numbers and texting furiously.

Once she reaches her room, Rory goes to the mini bar in her room and fixes another drink.

Downs it.

And then another.

MC: "Aurora?"

Her head jerks up, just noticing me.

I actually feel really bad for her, and worried.

(That was a lot of whiskey.)

Aurora: "What?!"

There's not a hint of her flirty, sweet attitude from last night.

MC: "...I'm sorry."

Anger still twists her face before turning into guilt as she glances away.

She mumbles around the rim of her glass.

Aurora: "You're not the one who has to be sorry, sweetie."

She looks down at her phone as it buzzes.

Scowling, she tosses her phone onto the bed with disgust.

Aurora: "What's the point of having girlfriends if they don't ever pick up?"

Finishing her fifth drink,

Aurora drains it in two more gulps and then slams the glass down on the counter.

A single crack slices up the length of it, jagged as a lightning bolt.

Aurora: "I need to get out of here before I pop somebody."

Aurora: "Let's go for a drive."

She brushes past me, grabbing onto my upper arm and dragging mea long again despite my protests.

MC: "But you've been drinking!"

Aurora: "So YOU drive."

Outside, Aurora tosses me a set of keys and collapses into the passenger seat of a cherry-red convertible.

The key's teeth dig into my palm as I clutch them tightly.

Aurora: "Come on!"

Shaking my head with a sigh, I get in the car and start it up.

We drive aimlessly for a bit, and I find myself headed towards the city out of habit.

Rolling down the window, Aurora drapes herself over the side.

An hour later and her eyes are still closed, loose chocolate-brown hair rippling in the wind like a flag.

MC: "Where we headed?"

She sighs so heavily her whol ebody is pulled into the motion.

Aurora: "Your house."

MC: "Really? Is that safe?"

Aurora: "For now."

Aurora: "I need to check on things."

Sitting up straight, she reaches over and pinches my cheek.

Aurora: "And we need to get a change of clothes for you, don't we darling?"

I shake my head free, flustered.

That makes Aurora laugh, and I'm relieved to see that dangerous cloud of anger had passed over her.

MC: "Or you could just drop me off and leave. Forever."

Aurora shakes her head, dawning sobriety making her more solemn.

Aurora: "I'm the only thing standing between you and men like Franco Valentine."

Aurora: "The second you leave our protection you're fair game."

When I glance over at her, she's giving me a wicked grin.

Aurora: "You know it, too, or you would have ditched my drunk ass already."

MC: "...Well, I'd be lying if I said the thought didn't cross my mind."

Aurora fairly cackles, setting deeper into the luscious leather seats.

We arrive at my place in no time.

The first thing that greets me is the remnants of last night.

My heart sinks as I take it all in.

Aurora: "Ash didn't tell me it was this bad..."

Even Aurora looks distressed, open concern piercing through her buzz.

MC: "If you're looking for stuff about my parents, it's probably in their office."

MC: "Assuming the other gang didn't take it all or burn it..."

She nods and heads down the hallway.

Aurora: "I'll do some digging."

Aurora: "Go pack."

Pausing before she gets too far, she glances at me over her shoulder.

Aurora: "These guy swere gonna kill you, you know."

My heart nearly stops with fear.

But I nod, shortly, and Aurora disappears inside the office.

My parents often took me with them on their surprise overseas vacations,

so I'm an expert in the art of packing quickly and efficiently.

Soon everything is set and ready to go, two suitcases full to bursting.

(Hopefully, I won't actually have to stay with Aurora for long.)

But if I do...

Aurora: "Oh, how adorable!"

Aurora's breath on my ear makes me leap with fright.

She saunters in with her hands tucked into her pockets.

Aurora: "Your room looks just like you!"

Aurora: "So cute and girly."

Her eyes alight on the mess piled up on my bed.

Aurora: "I like your taste."

Following her line of sight, I turn bright red to see a pink frilly, lacy...

MC: "Gah!"

I stuff the underwear into my suitcase and Aurora starts pouting.

Aurora: "Aw, don't I get to see?"

In another carelessly flirtatious move, she's standing right in front of me,

nothing but a centimeter of space between us.

Aurora: "Or would you rather model them for me?"

Aurora: "There's a girlfriend of mine I could call."

Aurora: "She's a photographer."

My flustered thoughts gnaw on each other as she takes a handful of my hair,

letting the blond strands slide through her fingers.

Aurora: "I bet we could have a lot of fun together."

Aurora leans down.

And then keeps leaning down, bending over to pick up one of my suitcases.

Briskly stepping back, she blows me a kiss.

Aurora: "You carry the other one. Okay, dear?"

She whirls around quick eough that her long hair fans out, lightly flicking my cheek,

and prances out of the room.

(Aughh!! I can't believe I fell for that!)

More upset with myself than Aurora, I pick up my suitase and drop it into the trunk of her car.

Aurora: "I'll drive home."

She takes the keys, whistling cheerfully as she starts up the car.

The sunset is warm orange and blood red, melded like one of Aurora's cocktails.

I lean on the door, chin in my hand as the city whips by.

Aurora: "Your parents covered their trail pretty well."

The wind blows her hair back from her face,

but she occasionally runs her nails through her bangs in frustration.

MC: "Yeah. They didn't even tell me where they went."

Aurora's lips twitch down, her face darkening in unexpected anger.

Aurora: "So they really just ditched you, huh?"

Aurora: "Some parents. No offense."

I shrug, looking away from her again.

MC: "Mmm."

More than a few times, my wariness slips around Aurora.

She's scary, but doesn't hurt me.

Flirty, but always pulls back before things get too intense.

(Still...)

MC: "...There's no way I can pay you back, Aurora."

Aurora gets snappy, her nose crinkling in distaste.

Aurora: "It's not up for debate."

MC: "No, no. I just mean..."

MC: "Let's say I do work at the Ruby Heart tournament as your... um..."

Aurora's eyebrows shoot up.

Aurora: "Yes...?"

(I refuse to say 'servant.')

MC: "...Escort."

Aurora starts cackling again and I hasten to shush her.

MC: "Listen!"

MC: "Let's say that pays fifteen dollars an hour, and I'm with you twelve hours a day."

MC: "That's $180 a day."

MC: "A month is going to be $5,400, assuming I'm actie every day."

MC: "One year is just around $64,000."

MC: "If I stay in the mansion, I would also be using up rent, electricity, and water..."

Aurora is quiet for a while as we drive, and for a moment I think she's angry again.

(Maybe I pegged her wrong.)

(Maybe she just wants me to suffer more than she wants the money back...)

But instead, Aurora sighs.

Aurora: "You did that math in your head there right this second?"

MC: "Uh... Yeah."

Her lips twist in a smile.

Aurora: "Here I thought you had cotton candy for brains."

Aurora: "You've got smarts AND guts."

Aurora: "Who knew?"

A. Whatever.

B. At least I'm not drunk.

C. Don't underestimate me.

---

C. Don't underestimate me.

I press my lips together in a thin frown.

(Not the first time I've gotten that reaction.)

MC: "Don't underestimate me, then."

Aurora: "I'll try not to."

---

Aurora: "But one thing is for sure."

She gives me a sidelong glance.

Aurora: "You belong in an expensive car like this."

Aurora: "With your cute fluffy hair blowing in the wind."

She reaches over with one hand, clutching the back of my neck in a firm grip.

Her thumb rolls over a spot just so,

surprising a gasp out of me that is thankfully covered by the wind.

(O-oh, god.)

(That felt too good.)

Shaking my head free again,

I huff angrily at her.

MC: "Don't expect me to fall for that a second time!"

Aurora laughs and drives us home.