Darlene D. Sauer A.K.A. Darlene Southland (fcked_up_gal) wrote in btvsal, @ 2010-03-16 20:47:00 |
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Current location: | Rehab |
Current mood: | calm |
Entry tags: | ben bale, darlene southland, place: la |
Another Sunday Visit
Who: Darlene and Ben
Where: The Rehab Center
When: Sunday, March 14
Another Sunday, another visitor's day. The three friends that she had had all come by to visit her at some point or another. When she got a call from Ben asking if he could come up, well, she was surprised. Maybe Paige had talked to him or something. She hadn't exactly been in the right state of mind when she came in here, so calls weren't exactly high on her list. So, she drummed her fingers nervously on the picnic table outside, waiting for Ben to show up.
Ben couldn't help but feel a little uneasy in this place. It wasn't that he felt better than the patients... more that he wasn't used to feeling so much... heartbreak for people he didn't even know. He saw these people... everyone from nameless kids to washed up semi-stars, all burnt out on drugs or booze... and felt himself swear to NEVER let this happen to Skylar, no matter how fast or hard fame ended up hitting her. Stuffing his hands in the pockets of the loose dark blue jeans he wore, Ben looked more like a normal early 20-something kid than the head of a powerful family, hair slightly mussed and in a flannel shirt worn open over a mock 7-11 t-shirt that said 'The Real Big Gulp', with an arrow pointing... down. He smirked when he saw her, as honestly? She looked more clear-headed than he'd ever seen her. She actually DIDN'T look about to snap.
Apparently she had looked like hell before, if everyone was lighting up like this when they saw her. Yeah, she saw it, what of it? Of course, someone telling her before that alcohol was making her look like hell would have gotten smacked upside the head. "So, what do I owe the pleasure of a visit, boss?" she asked.
"Just wanted to check on my investment, of course..." Yeah. Right. Maybe it was Skylar, maybe it was the news about the baby, maybe it was everything... but anymore, Ben wasn't even that good at ACTING like a douche. He was becoming as transparent as glass. "How're you feeling?" Of course... he had another reason for being here... but he wanted to see that this was real first. That this was what Darlene wanted, and she wasnt just being forced or coerced into this.
Maybe there was a little coercion at first, or at least some heavy suggestions, but when you're feeling so bad that you don't want to get out of bed because you hadn't had a drink in sixteen hours, you realize that something's wrong. "I'm doing OK, actually," she said to him. "I'm actually able to play the guitar without getting drunk or with shaking hands, so that makes me happy."
"I want you to know something, Darlene. My family has a lot of money... but I do NOT believe in wasting it. Or in sinking my money into something I don't believe in." He stared at her, as if doing a silent evaluation. "Paige is showing a lot of faith in you... giving up the little bit she has to help you."
"Yeah, and offering to let me move in with her as well." Probably partially to keep an eye on her, but damn if it still didn't mean the world to her that she did it. "Look, I know I'm the last person to bother putting faith in. Been told stuff like that all my life. For someone to do that, though...well, I don't want to let her down."
"Well... what I'm trying to say is... I want you to succeed. Not just for me. For you. For Paige. And to show you that I *do* believe in you... I'm picking up the tab for this. Paige is losing nothing. And... I'm going to cover any follow-up treatments to help you stay healthy."
She arched an eyebrow at him. "Really?" Damn her for thinking that there was a catch, but she was doing better enough to not voice it. "Thanks. I know that was kind of all her money, so she'll definitely appreciate it. So do I." They were actually suggesting some sort of half-way house to her, so maybe now she could do it.
"Consider yourself lucky. You caught me in a time when.... I feel like I need to be a better person. To try and make up for all the shitty things I did earlier." So Ben was never gonna be a saint. Still... as a future father now? He wanted to at least feel like he was someone a kid could be proud of.
And, on the rare occasion that Darlene could be more than below average of intelligence, she stared at him for a second and said, "What, you got a kid on the way or something?"
"....Yeah, actually. Let's keep that between you and I for now, as I really don't fancy ending this healthy new life of yours." He smirked, although that tone suggested he MIGHT be serious there. "Skylar just told me a few days ago... she's pregnant."
Darlene nodded. "Early on then, I get you. Make sure she does that kid better than my mother did by me." She laughed. "Of course, having a dad around might help with that, so don't you go fucking off on them, either. There's enough fucked up kids in the world without adding to it." She smirked at him. "Or you'll end up with a ME as a kid."
"You don't seem so bad to me." He said with that charming purr that he didn't even really TRY to do anymore. "Although that may just be because you've never assaulted me with a beer bottle."
"That probably helps," Darlene said to him. "And I still say that guy deserved it. Apparently he just didn't realize that no meant no." And most assholes who didn't went on to use it to their advantage by raping girls. "I bet now that guy goes away when I girl says no to him."
"A valid point." Ben had to agree, as he'd maimed people for far less, really. "Darlene... from this point on, you need to remember this: as a part of my label, I want you to be successful, AND healthy. Anything I can do to help you... don't hesitate to come to me. And if anyone does anything to hinder your progress... also come to me. I assure you.. they will be dealt with."
She nodded. "This is weird for me," Darlene admitted to him. "People fuck off on me and screw me over more often than not, or I expect them to. So, it's strange to have people want to help me and even be my friend." She laughed. "Yeah, the shrink said that I should tell people what I'm thinking as well. Sorry to spill over on you like this."
"Darlene. It's alright. If you NEED to trust ANYONE, it's me. I mean..." He gave a little gesture to himself, grinning wickedly. "I kind of have your future in my hands, don't I?"
"Kind of true there," Darlene said with a laugh. "I would joke about God help me and my future, but your wife's band is doing so well that maybe you actually know what you're doing."