Last round, Brock and Isla's only child, Viola, was rapidly approaching her teenage years. Acting on a suggestion from her cousin Lorelei, she asked her parents for an art table so she could properly illustrate the stories sbe'd been writing about her "imaginary" superhero, Vlad the Pointy Man. The stories were a big hit with her classmates, but when she finally became a teenager, she decided to finally visit Vlad at his home and discovered that he may have been more different than he appeared.
Oh, um...am I interrupting something?
Brock: No...just breakfast...why?
Well, your outfits...
Isla: Oh...we just came from a party...
Man, I need to start paying more attention to party wear when I pick everybody's clothes...
So how's the writing going?
Viola: Good, I guess...now that I can actually submit to the publishers.
Any luck with that?
Viola: Not yet...I haven't written anything that good lately...maybe I need a bit more inspiration.
Oh, no...does that mean we're going back to Vlad's?
Viola: You don't have to come, you know...
That's ok, I'd rather that then find out what kind of parties your parents are going to that make them dress like that...besides, I want to keep an eye on things with you and him.
Viola: (sigh) Whatever...
Let's just get this over with...
Well, this is unexpected...
Viola: Hi, Vlad...
Vlad: Hello, child. It is quite nice to see you again...
Yeah, this isn't creepy at all...
Viola: I never knew you had a basement...cool...
Vlad: I must say I find your reactions to my manor very amusing...perhaps we should head back upstairs?
Viola: I wish I didn't have to come see you at night...
Vlad: As do I, child...but I'm afraid it is for the best.
Viola: (yawn) Sorry...it's kind of late for me...
Vlad: You do seem unusually weary this evening...you may rest here, if you like...
Whoa, whoa, whoa...she is not spending the night here...
Vlad: Surely you do not wish for her to walk home alone when she is this tired...unless you plan to remain with her through the journey.
(sigh) No, I can't do that...
Vlad: Very well then. I will wake her before it gets too late.
See to it that you do...she has parents, you know.
Even though Brock seems to be halfway out the door anyway...
Aldo: Oh...yeah...she told me to tell you she got called in for a council meeting or something.
Brock: Oh...
Aldo: But I guess you and I could still hang out...
Brock: I guess...
Aldo: ....
Brock: ...
Aldo: Say, how's...um...
Viola?
Aldo: Right...Viola.
Brock: She's fine...I think. It's hard to tell with teenagers, you know.
Aldo: Yeah...
Brock: ...
Aldo: ...
Well, as riveting as this conversation is, I think I'll go check in on Viola myself.
Hi, Shark. I see it's project day?
Viola: Yup...
So...what are we making today?
Shark: An air pressure rocket.
Really? Cool...
Viola: If we can get it work, yeah...
Shark: Man, I'm starving...I can't work on an empty stomach. Want to head down to the diner?
Viola: I guess...my parents won't be home for awhile.
Viola: Hey, here's a weird question...have you ever heard of a vampire?
Shark: Oh, sure...
Wait...you have?
Shark: Yeah...they're in all kinds of monster movies and shows and stuff now...not sure who came up with it but they're kind of cool, I guess.
Viola: Oh...
Shark: Wait...you've never heard of them?
Viola: Well, I heard the word the other day...so, monster movies? Does that mean vampires are monsters?
Shark: Oh, yeah, totally...I can't believe you've never heard of them. Don't you watch TV at all?
Nice going, Brock...
Brock: Thanks...um...where's Viola?
Up in her room...why?
Brock: Oh, good...I know it's crazy, but I could have sworn I heard her sneaking out of the house the other night...
Yeah...crazy...
What's wrong?
Viola: I wanted to see if what Shark said was true...so I looked up some of this vampire stuff online.
And...
Viola: It says that...they drink people's blood! That...that can't be right, can it?
Well...actually...that's kind of the main idea..
Viola: But drinking someone's blood...that has to hurt the person! Vlad would never hurt anybody...right?
(sigh) I guess there's only one way to find out...
Vlad: I can sense you are uneasy, child. Perhaps there is something you would like to ask me?
Viola: Well, the thing is...I finally got a chance to look up what a vampire is...
Vlad: Ah, I see. So you now understand my true nature.
Viola: Vlad...have you ever...hurt anyone?
Vlad: You can rest assured that has never been my intention. My feeding is merely a matter of survival. But I have to assume the experience is less than ideal for the human involved...
Viola: Oh...
Vlad: I can also assure you that I have no intention of feeding from you. But perhaps now you understand why it's best that I remain secluded in my manor.
Viola: So...even if you wanted to...you can never go out without...doing that?
Vlad: I do have a fair amount of self control, though it came only with practice. Still, most humans are not as understanding as you are, child...most see me as something of a monster.
Viola: Like Shark...
Vlad: Shark? Is this a...gentleman friend, perhaps? I did not realize you had begun the process of selecting a mate...
Viola: Selecting a mate? We've only been out two times!
Vlad: (Laughs) Very well...perhaps then you'd like to show me how you're progressing in your musical skills?
Vlad: Your skills on the piano are coming along nicely. I apologize for not having a violin or guitar for you...you did say those were your preferred instruments, correct?
Viola: Oh, that's alright...I can bring them next time...hey, Vlad...do you think it'd be ok for me to bring Shark with me? If...you know...he becomes my mate?
Vlad: Perhaps...if he becomes important enough in your life to warrant that. I would use caution, though. As I said, most humans do not find my manor as inviting as you.
Yeah, including the disembodied narrator...can we get going, please?
Oh, hey there Misty...
Misty: I'm sorry about the other day...they called this emergency meeting that I just could not get out of...
Brock: Anything big?
Misty: Well they certainly thought so...something about renovating a park...
Misty: So what's up? You seem a bit out of it...
Brock: Well...it's Viola...
Misty: Oh, boy...those teenage years finally kicking in, huh?
Brock: She just doesn't seem like herself lately...she's been all grouchy and moody...I don't think she's been sleeping much...unless it's when we need her to do something around the house.
Misty: So...pretty much being a teenager then? Brock, trust me. You worry too much. This is all normal...
Yeah, normal...like going to the fanciest restaurant in town on a date...
What happened to the diner?
Shark: I don't know...I thought we'd try something new. You can only eat so many burgers, you know?
Shark: Um...what exactly did we order again?
You guys do know there's a perfectly good restaurant next door that serves normal food, right?
Or Shark's backyard...that works too.
Shark: I had great time last night...even though I still can't figure out what it is we ate!
Viola: Yeah, me too...say, I was wondering...do you think you could loan me a few of those movies you were talking about?
Shark: Sure...you're into monster movies?
Viola: Yeah...I mean...I think I might be, if I saw a few...
Shark: Wow...I never thought I'd meet a girl who wanted to watch those with me. Betta just says they're gross...
Well, I've seen relationships start on weirder notes...but unfortunately I've got to be moving on. Enjoy the movie night, guys. I'll see you next round!
A Message from the Mysterious Voice: Man, it's getting so hard to keep this Vlad thing from getting creepy now that Viola's a teenager. Her and Shark actually make a cute couple, though. (I'll have to remember to include one of their movie nights next round.) And yes, Isla is still there...I didn't realize until I uploaded the screenshots that I didn't include her at all. Between bouncing back and forth with Viola at Vlad's house and Brock's outings with Misty, she was kind of on her own for most of the week.
