Veronica Mars Fic: Some Truths Hurt, Prelude (V/L) R
Title: Some Truths Hurt
Part 1, Prelude
Author: jenwin23
Characters/Paring: all, will be Logan/Veronica
Rating: R for adult content, some swearing, drinking, discussions about adult concepts
Summary: WIP. What if Veronica copied and read Duncan's journal in Echolls' Family Christmas. What would she have learned and how would it change things? In script format. Will be LoVe.
Spoilers: Season 1, so far up to Echoll's Family Christmas
Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars or any of the related characters, but I promise to take good care of them while I borrow them!
Author's Note: My second fic ever, so it's been a learning process.
Chapter broken into 2 parts
Authors Note: (please read, it will explain a few things)
As an exercise and to refresh my understanding of each character's "voice" I slightly adapted the episode transcript from Echolls' family christmas as the prelude to the story. If you choose to read it, the prelude is the longest prelude you’ll ever read. Because some people were put off by it, I include a cheap sheet before the actual chapter begins. I love “An Echolls Family Christmas” too much to chop it down (much). The majority of the text is taken from Inigo transcripts of the episode, avail online at http://vmtranscripts.com I added in the parts that were needed to explain how this story will go AU as well as to add some background and secondary story lines.
Cheat sheet/What I changed:
The reason Veronica decided to get the laptop back for Duncan is that she wants to read his journal.
Logan was trying to keep a low profile and out of Aaron's way so he was willing to help Veronica solve the case to get back the Faberge Egg before Aaron knew it was gone. The reason Logan didn't just withdraw the money to pay Weevil back is because Aaron had put limits on his account as a punishment.
Veronica convinces Weevil to give her the computer if she gets him his money.
I played up the relationships and interactions between Logan/Duncan/Veronica, Veronica/Connor, Veronica/Weevil.
Some Truths Hurt
Prelude
Veronica VOICEOVER: Previously on Veronica Mars…
First Keith and then Veronica stand over Lilly’s body from 101 Pilot.
Veronica VOICEOVER: It’s been a year since my best friend Lilly Kane was murdered.
Keith interrogates Jake. The pictures are from 102 Credit Where Credit’s Due, although the audio is new.
Veronica VOICEOVER: Dad told Jake Kane, the most powerful man in town that he was sure that he was somehow involved in his own daughter’s death.
Veronica and Duncan kiss as they walk up the hallway from 101 Pilot.
Veronica VOICEOVER: Duncan Kane. He used to be my boyfriend.
Logan taunts Veronica by sitting on Duncan’s lap from the same episode.
Veronica VOICEOVER: And let’s not forget Logan Echolls. His dad makes twenty million a picture. Every school has an obligatory psychotic jackass. He’s ours.
Aaron puts his arm around Logan in 106 Return of the Kane.
AARON: Smile, Logan. Don’t forget, these folks pay for all of this, huh?
Weevil and Logan face off at Dog Beach (pictures and sound from 102 Credit Where Credit’s Due, except for Logan adding “Weevil” at the end of his first line).
WEEVIL: What the hell do you think you’re doing on our beach?
LOGAN: Am I supposed to apologize? Am I supposed to shake in my boots, Weevil?
WEEVIL: Maybe.
LOGAN: Look around you, man. It ain’t fifteen on four tonight.
RANDOM 09ER: That’s right.
Veronica is at Lianne’s safety deposit box, from 105 You Think You Know Somebody.
Veronica VOICEOVER: All this time, I’ve been thinking Mom bolted because she couldn’t handle losing everything. Maybe she just couldn’t handle losing me.
Wiedman leaves his house with Veronica following him to Kane Software. She watches from the car (from 109 Drinking the Kool-Aid except for the last lines of each of Veronica’s voiceovers which are new).
Veronica VOICEOVER: Clarence Wiedman. The man who took surveillance photos of me. The ones with me framed in a gun sight.
WIEDMAN: You’ve reached Clarence Wiedman, Head of Security, Kane Software.
Veronica VOICEOVER: And there it is. I know who’s responsible for scaring Mom away from Neptune. Her former lover, Dad’s nemesis, Jake Kane.
End previously.
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Scene opens in the Mars’ apartment at night.
Backup is on the couch watching “The Year Without a Santa Claus” on television. Veronica and Keith are decorating a small Christmas tree. The Mars home is homey and warm, but there is a lingering sense of loneliness. Leanne’s presence is missed. They fill the space with witty retorts and friendly mocking. Veronica and Keith banter back and forth about how to properly decorate the tree, the humiliation from past year’s home made ornaments, and the meaning of Christmas.
KEITH: Whoa, whoa, whoa. You gotta put another Padres ornament over there.
Keith reaches into another box and hands Veronica an ornament. Veronica looks at him skeptically.
KEITH: What? They should be spread out so it's even.
Veronica: You know, there are some people who think Christmas is about the birth of Christ and not baseball.
KEITH: Well, we're all entitled to our own religions, Veronica.
Veronica: So what do you want for Christmas?
KEITH: Your love and respect.
Veronica: Seriously, if you could have anything for Christmas, anything?
KEITH: I want you to save your money.
Veronica looks disappointed but Keith’s attention is caught by the music coming from the TV.
KEITH: Oh hey, hey, hey, oh, it’s our favorite part.
The animated figures on the TV go into the “Heat Miser” song. Keith grabs the remote to turn up the volume and puts his arm around his daughter, who giggles.
LYRICS: I’m Mr. Green Christmas, I’m Mr. Sun…
The scene switches as the song continues with a new singer. Camera pans around the interior of the Echolls’ pool house.
Weevil sits at a poker table, the sour expression on his face showing his displeasure, none too happy to be listening to a drunken Duncan singing the same song, particularly when Duncan massages his bald head. Weevil slaps Duncan’s hand off his head and Duncan moves on to the next player, Connor, and puts a hand on his shoulder. Connor is more indulgent. Logan watches his friend, grinning, as Duncan, bottle of whiskey in hand, makes his way to his place at the table.
DUNCAN: …I’m Mr. Heat Blister, I’m Mr. 101
They call me Heat Miser
Whatever I touch starts to melt in-
As Duncan takes another slug from the bottle, Logan grabs it away from him. He bangs the bottle down on the table and puts a large unlit cigar in his mouth. Logan looks annoyed, but you can see that he is happy to see Duncan enjoying himself.
LOGAN: You start singing, you stop drinking.
DUNCAN: Aww.
Duncan slumps into his chair, feeling sorry for himself. The final member of the poker party, Sean, watches impassively.
WEEVIL: (leaning forward on the table, smirking) You know, you look pretty comfortable with that thing in your mouth.
LOGAN: (caressing the cigar) Sabor Cubano. You people can handroll like nobody's business.
The others laugh and Logan sticks the cigar back in his mouth. Logan bets.
LOGAN: Five hundred.
WEEVIL: Call.
Duncan groans as he reaches full length across the table for some nuts. He notices Sean is drinking beer from a wide-mouthed bottle.
DUNCAN: (facetiously) Sean, isn't that ghetto brew beneath you?
SEAN: It's the new me. I am projecting a ghetto aesthetic. (leaning towards Weevil) Word.
CONNOR: (quirks and eyebrow and regards Sean with faint disgust) Man, where were you when I was playing the metrosexual in “Lonely Season”?
SEAN: I was in high school, (his tone is highbrow and clearly expresses his feeling of extreme self worth) not getting paid a quarter of a million dollars to make out with Selma Blair, Connor.
LOGAN: Don’t cry now.
Logan pushes all his chips into the pot.
DUNCAN: Ooo-hoo.
LOGAN: All in.
He looks at Weevil expectantly. Weevil calls.
WEEVIL: (deadpan) Boo hoo.
Logan throws down his hand triumphantly.
SEAN: Woo!
LOGAN: Whoo!
Weevil lays out his cards.
LOGAN: Oh damn.
They are not as good as Logan’s. Logan is extremely smug.
LOGAN: (gleefully and with hand flourishes) So let’s see here. There are 42 cards remaining and I can win with 40 of them. I can win with an ace. I can win with a Jack. Will she be the ten and give me the straight? Or will I get the high kicker out of my Jack. Pins and needles.
WEEVIL: Just flip the card.
LOGAN: Okay. (sings) But the river’s gonna get ya.
Logan slaps the card down on the table.
LOGAN: Boom.
The others at the table laugh as they see the two of hearts, one of the two cards with which Logan couldn’t win. Weevil smirks and the cigar in Logan’s mouth droops.
DUNCAN: (laughing at Logan’s disappointment) I can’t believe he beat you with a pair of twos.
WEEVIL: (smugly) I'd like my five grand now.
LOGAN: (with false graciousness) Sean, the money box so I can pay the pool boy.
Sean slides a wooden chip box across to Logan. Logan opens it. There is no money. Logan continues to pull betting chip trays out of the box with increasing speed, hoping to see the money. Emptying the box, he looks up helplessly.
WEEVIL: (standing aggressively) No. No, no, no, no. You guys aren’t pulling any of that with me.
LOGAN: (seriously) Weevil, I’m not pulling anything. Where’s the money? Guys, where’s the money?
Logan looks around the table at the other guys, who look back at him blankly.
WEEVIL: (shouts) Where is it?
LOGAN: (voice rising with stress) Guys, where’s the money?
SEAN: Did it fall out?
CONNOR: (exasperated) How could it fall out?
WEEVIL: (menacingly) Maybe it was never in, huh?
LOGAN: (defensively) You know, I rolled the money up and put it in the box. You all saw me.
WEEVIL: Well, I'm not leavin' here without my money. Now...do I have to turn each of you upside-down and shake you?
The rest of the players look uncomfortable. Cut to Logan and Duncan in matching reindeer boxer shorts and nothing else. Sean and Connor are also down to their underwear. As Sean passes Logan and Duncan, he spots the boxers.
SEAN: Did you guys call each other?
Duncan looks uncomfortable, Connor looks like he regrets coming, and Logan has his swagger back and struts comfortably around, despite his choice in underwear. Weevil, his back to the group, lifts a Faberge Egg from a bookcase and sticks it into his inside jacket pocket. He turns around to face the others, now lined up in their underwear. Logan still has the cigar in his mouth.
WEEVIL: This isn’t over. I’ll be collecting a grand from each of you, one way or another.
Weevil reaches the sliding glass doors of the pool house and looks back at the semi-naked group.
WEEVIL: (staring down each of the now nearly naked guys) You picked the wrong guy to rip off.
Weevil leaves. Sean sinks into one of the chairs.
SEAN: This is the worst game of strip poker ever.
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Opening credits.
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Daytime. Scene opens as Veronica and Wallace walk out of the Neptune High’s school administration office and continue on through the hallway, bedecked with Christmas decorations.
Veronica: Check it out.
WALLACE: You know this is for a baseball camp, right? It's not like a hot guy catalogue.
Veronica: (interested) Do they have a hot guy catalogue?
Veronica shows Wallace the paper she is holding. It’s a brochure for a week long Padres fantasy camp. They continue walking as Veronica explains that this is the perfect gift for Keith, if only she could afford it. They come to a halt in the middle of the hallway. Veronica waxes philosophical about being poor and how money is wasted on the wealthy. Their attention shifts as Duncan barges in between them, focused on Weevil who is ahead of him.
DUNCAN: (angry) I want my laptop, now.
WEEVIL: (bored, disregarding Duncan’s vehemence) How does it feel to want?
Duncan grabs the shoulders of Weevil’s shirt.
DUNCAN: I am not screwing around.
It’s a bad move as the intervention of four of Weevil’s biker boys confirms and Duncan is shoved up and held against the lockers.
DUNCAN: (angrily) I didn’t take your money.
WEEVIL: Someone did.
Veronica creeps closer to see what’s going on.
DUNCAN: (offscreen) Well, it wasn’t me.
WEEVIL: Let him go.
Weevil waves off the bikers.
RANDOM BIKER: Lay off.
Weevil and his boys wander off, leaving Duncan fuming. Duncan looks at Veronica and for one of the few times since they broke up maintains eye contact. Veronica approaches.
Veronica: Someone stole your laptop?
DUNCAN: There was this poker game at Logan’s last night. Weevil won five grand and someone stole the money. This is his way of collecting.
Veronica: You lie down with dogs, you're gonna get fleas.
Veronica is no longer interested, and turns to walk away.
DUNCAN: I didn't invite him.
Veronica: (condescendingly) I wasn't talking about Weevil.
Veronica walks away but Duncan follows, keeping up with her.
DUNCAN: Hey, this kinda concerns you.
Veronica: (surprised and a bit annoyed) I don’t see how.
DUNCAN: I keep a journal on my laptop for the past, I dunno, three years. There was a time when you were kind of a feature.
Veronica stops, looking up at Duncan with alarm.
Veronica: (more in hope than expectation) A feature with a cleverly disguised pseudonym?
DUNCAN: Let's just say...I was prolific.
Duncan walks off as Veronica stares after him with a worried expression. Then determination sets in and she turns purposefully in the opposite direction.
Veronica VOICEOVER: There are a million things Duncan could have written about me that I’d sooner impale myself on a rusty spike than have someone else read. But if I could read it, I might finally be able to find out why he broke up with me, and if he wrote about what happened the day Lilly died, it could be the break I need to find out what really happened. I must get that computer.
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Cut to the interior of a classroom, looks like the literature room seen in Drinking the Kool-Aid. The darkened classroom is furnished with stuffed chairs and beanbags. Weevil and his boys are all sitting on the floor and appear to be playing craps. Veronica enters. The bikers seem to have anticipated it, they laugh lightly and scoff as Veronica cocks her head.
Veronica: Hey.
The bikers’ attention switches back to the game, but Weevil’s remains on Veronica. He laughs.
WEEVIL: See, there you go with that head-tilt thing. You know, you think you're all badass but whenever you need something it's all, (tilts his head, imitates Veronica’s soft I-need-a-favor voice) "hey."
Veronica: (slightly disgruntled) Just be glad I don't flip my hair. I'd own you.
WEEVIL: So what can I do for you?
Veronica: (hopeful and a little harsh) You can not get busted stealing 09er stuff and let me handle this poker thing.
Weevil chuckles.
Veronica: Seriously. Why risk it? Give Duncan back his computer. Let me handle this.
Weevil shoots Veronica a disbelieving look.
WEEVIL: (mocking) Could you, please, Veronica? Protect me from the big, bad, sweater vest-wearing rich boys?
Veronica: (shrugs, acting nonchalant) I'm just trying to help.
WEEVIL: In what alternate universe does it look like I need your help, huh?
Calling his bluff, Veronica throws up her hands to say “Forget it” and starts to walk out.
WEEVIL: (in a more conciliatory tone) Of course, if I get my five grand, some of those guys will stop losing their stuff.
Triumphant, Veronica turns back, and not wasting time launches into her questions.
Veronica: Why were you even there?
Weevil gets to his feet.
WEEVIL: I hear about a five thousand dollar card game played by idiots, I’m interested.
Flashback to the Neptune High hallway.Logan is crouched down at his locker, his books on the floor. A foot steps on the top of the pile of books. The camera pans up to Logan as he looks up, then lets out a deep breath. Apparently Logan lost his top locker after Clemmons found the bong.
LOGAN: If you're asking me to the prom again, the answer is still no.
The foot belongs to Weevil who looms over him.
WEEVIL: (ignoring Logan’s provocation) I heard you got a card game going on. I’d like in on it.
Logan stands and faces him.
LOGAN: Yeah? I’m sure you would but I can’t.
WEEVIL: A thousand dollar buy in, right?
Logan shakes his head and walks away.
WEEVIL: (not giving up) I got the money so what’s the problem?
Logan pauses and then turns back to face Weevil.
LOGAN: (tone moving from with false concern to open distain) Look, my only concern is property values going down if anyone sees you in my house without a leaf blower or a skimmer.
WEEVIL: (widens his eyes, quirks eyebrow, heavy sarcasm) You’re concerned? I'm the one who's gotta go up into the hills, all by myself. What if I run into a pack of you white boys, huh, on some clean, well-lit street? I could be bored to death.
LOGAN: (flatly) Fine. It's a thousand dollars in ten crisp one hundred dollar bills.
Weevil smiles and turns to walk away.
LOGAN: (calls out loudly to be heard) We don't take food stamps.
WEEVIL: (playing surfer dude) Ouch! You got me.
END FLASHBACK.
Weevil explains that Logan only let him in because he thought he could win the money off the “dumb Mexican” easily. He tells Veronica that nobody left the house with the money and Logan was in the best position to hide it-knowing the house and having been left alone at the table while the 09er boys and Weevil ogled Logan’s bikini clad mom at the pool. Weevil’s story also reveals that Connor went to the bathroom repeatedly that night and the Sean is an elitist asshole who is driven to school each day in a limo.
Back to the present, Veronica and Weevil walk down a school hallway.
Veronica: Duncan was at the window?
WEEVIL: Everybody but Logan was.
Veronica: You’re sure?
WEEVIL: I wasn’t taking notes, but yeah. The money was in that house, somewhere. I would’ve torn the place apart if I didn’t think he’d call the cops.
Veronica: (looks thoughtful, tries to sound offhand) Why don’t you just give me Duncan’s laptop? I’ll take care of it until I find who stole the money.
WEEVIL: (surprised) Why do you care about that white boy? He dumps you without a word, and here you are helping him. Thought you were smarter than that.
Veronica: (hard) I have my reasons.
WEEVIL: (curious despite himself) Wanna share?
Veronica: No.
WEEVIL: Neither do I. You find my money, I’ll give you the laptop.
Weevil walks off.
Veronica VOICEOVER: Looks like Logan’s assholeness is rubbing off on Duncan. One less reason to feel bad about reading his journal.
Scene cuts to Mars Investigations. Logan’s mom, Lynn Echolls, enters the office and greets Keith warmly. She is visibly upset by something. Lynn explains that she wants Keith to look into some disturbing fan mail Aaron has been receiving. She says that she found the most recent piece in their house on the breakfast table. It’s a rhyme implying the Aaron is an adulterer who will lose Lynn soon. Lynn asks Keith to find the woman writing the letters and keep her away from the Echolls family. Keith agrees to take the job. As Lynn stands to leave, she comments that she hasn’t seen much of Keith or Veronica. Keith responds that the kids don’t hang out much anymore. Each parent says that their child has had a hard time adjusting after Lilly’s death.
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Cut to the Journalism classroom. The lights are dim, despite it being daytime. Duncan is bent over some proofs on a lightbox. Veronica approaches and leans on the box next to him.
Veronica: Good news? I might be able to get your laptop back.
Veronica VOICEOVER: Bad news? I’m gonna read your journal and copy any other files off your laptop first. But you don’t need to know that.
DUNCAN: So what is this, like a case?
Duncan looks sideways down at Veronica and realizes she doesn’t look much like the girl he used to date. He looks constipated and a bit apprehensive.
Veronica: (jokes to keep the exchange light and friendly) Yeah, like the case of the guy who’s too lazy to handwrite his journal like every normal person.
Duncan laughs. Veronica straightens up.
Veronica: So, any details you can give me?
DUNCAN: You’re serious.
Veronica: Were you a little surprised that Weevil was even there?
DUNCAN: As a matter of fact, I was.
Duncan recalls arriving at the poker game to see Connor and Weevil already there with Logan. Duncan was startled and looked at Logan for explanation. Logan tells Duncan not to worry, that there was no way he would let Weevil walk out with their money.
DUNCAN: We all gave our money to Logan and he rolled it and put it in the chip box. That’s the last I saw of it.
Veronica: Do you think Logan invited Weevil there to steal his money?
DUNCAN: Invited him there to steal his money? No.
Veronica: But?
DUNCAN: (hesitates) Nothing.
Veronica VOICEOVER: Duncan is obviously holding something back. Loyalty among jackasses. (darkly) I know first hand just how far their loyalty to their own kind goes. It’s us lesser mortals who are left to fend for ourselves.
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Scene opens on the 09er area in the outdoor lunch area at Neptune High. Sean, Duncan and some others at one of the tables while Logan and a few others stand around them. They’re eating Chinese food with chopsticks.
SEAN: That's what he decides to steal? What's he going to do with a Faberge Egg?
LOGAN: (happily and with a trademark hand gesture) Two words, man. Huevos Rancheros.
Everybody laughs appreciatively, except Duncan, who looks at Logan with anger slowly overtaking his normal numb expression.
LOGAN: (still laughing at his own wit) Hey, this is what I get for trying to be nice.
Logan slides in next to Duncan who looks daggers at him. To Logan’s consternation, he very publicly shows his displeasure with Logan by scrambling up from the table and stalking away. Logan quickly follows him.
LOGAN: (with anger and a bit of hurt) You got something to say to me, you say it.
DUNCAN: (accusing) Did you take the money?
Logan stops at Duncan’s words and is too stunned tot deny it. Duncan storms off. Logan follows again.
LOGAN: (quickly) You were so drunk, you wouldn't know if Kris Kringle walked in and took the money.
DUNCAN: (crossly) When did you get like this? It’s like you’ve been going over to the dark side, bit by bit, so slowly that I didn’t notice when you morphed into a full fledged jackass.
LOGAN: (defensive) What? Then I’m a jackass?
DUNCAN: Yeah, and I’m over it.
Duncan turns and walks away again. Logan, deflecting the hurt with sarcasm, calls after him.
LOGAN: What, are we breaking up now? Huh? You want your best friend charm back?
Beneath the gibes, Logan is upset.
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Scene cuts to a large opulent room at the Echolls residence. The room is full of bustling people and Lynn supervises the action. Keith enters as the star is placed on top of a large artificial tree. Lynn watches with Keith at her side. Keith tells Lynn that the stalker has left six previous letters. Lynn is distracted and more interested in the decorations than the stalker. Keith recommends that Lynn cancel the party, but Lynn refuses saying that she has hired plenty of security.
Aaron enters the room in an obviously festive mood. He’s singing “Deck the halls.” Seeing Keith he quickly moves toward them. Aaron tells Keith that letters and stalkers are an occupational hazard. He seems unconcerned and a bit proud. Apparently having a stalker is a sign of virility and self affirmation for the aging action star.
As Aaron ushers Keith to the door trying to express the proper gravitas for the situation, Keith again recommends caution and Aaron deflects saying that this kind of attention is normal. Aaron pulls the double doors open to reveal a pumpkin carved to resemble Aarons head with a large knife impaled deeply into pumpkin-Aaron’s forehead with red drops dripping down. For once Aaron is speechless.
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Scene opens in Mars investigations. Keith is on the phone trying to figure out who did the pumpkin carving. Veronica enters and overhearing asks what the job is. He puts her off, and asks her to drop off some paperwork for Lynn at the Echolls house.
Veronica hesitates, unsure about going to Logan’s house. She used to visit quite often, but those days are done. She relents and Keith gives her an envelope.
Veronica VOICEOVER: Go to the Echolls? Sure, I’ve got time. First let me make sure I have my taser and mace. Maybe Logan will give me the excuse I need to zap him. I need to question him anyway and at least away from his adoring fans I have a chance of getting a straight answer instead of insults and what he calls wit.
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Scene cuts to the exterior of the Echolls home. The SoCal year-round sunshine brightly reflects off the tile and concrete. Veronica walks past the pool and briefly hesitates before going into the pool house. She is obviously reluctant to enter, but shores up her resolve and defenses and soldiers on. As she nears the sliding glass doors, you can hear sounds of a video game or bad sci-fi movie. Veronica enters to find the place is in a mess. Logan is there, playing a video game. He doesn’t appear to notice her at first.
Veronica: I love the smell of testosterone in the morning.
Logan looks over at her.
LOGAN: (smirks) This is why I suggested attack dogs. But no, my mother wanted an alpaca.
Veronica gets the envelope out of her bag.
Veronica: My father sent me with paperwork for your mom.
LOGAN: (obviously faking a happy smile) And you just wanted to say hi? It’s a good thing I didn’t have my slam book out.
Veronica: (tilts her head) I wanted to ask you about the game.
LOGAN: I’ve been meaning to ask you something.
The repartee between them is quick but not as full of hurtful comments as usual. Logan gives up on the video game and gets up from the chair, heading around the bar to the coffee maker.
LOGAN: (sarcastically) Did your super-sleuth kit come with a decoder ring? Do you have a pen that writes with invisible ink? Never mind, don't care. Mush! Mush!
Logan gestures for her to leave. With exasperation, Veronica turns to go. Logan obviously didn’t expect her to give up so easily and calls her back.
LOGAN: Hey, uh, wait. Hey!
Veronica pauses by the glass doors. Turning back around to look at Logan, she sees him staring intently at her, but when he speaks it is slightly unsure and hesitating.
LOGAN: Maybe you should talk to Connor.
She is surprised and walks back towards Logan.
Veronica: (interested and a bit shocked) Larkin? Like, Connor Larkin?
Exasperated that even Veronica seems to be under the spell cast by Connor the wonderboy’s million dollar smile, Logan rolls his eyes.
LOGAN: (depreciatingly) He's a mortal, believe me. They just draw his abs on. (pantomimes painting on a six pack)
Veronica: Is he doing another movie with your father?
LOGAN: (offhand) You know, I don’t know if it’s so much a movie as a fifty million dollar crap pile.
Veronica: (ignoring Logan’s comment) Why would Connor steal the money? He’s a zillionaire.
LOGAN: Well, everybody’s got their issues, right?
Logan puts a finger against his nose and sniffs loudly.
LOGAN: (aggrieved) Plus, the guy’s got something against me.
Logan tells Veronica about Connor calling him out for his little witticisms against Weevil. Veronica gives him a “yeah right” look, knowing Logan was probably saying racist things all night just to needle Weevil. Logan says Connor told the 10th birthday-Rosie Perez-purse story. Veronica shakes her head and tries to resist laughing out loud as she remembers the details of that particular story well.
Veronica VOICEOVER: Apparently Logan can dish it out but can’t take it. Like I didn’t already know that. Logan hates Connor, something about how much Aaron likes Connor, so anything Logan says about him has to be taken with a heaping pile of salt.
Logan continues to rant about Connor’s frequent bathroom breaks and incessant cell phone calls, complete with annoying ring tone.
LOGAN: So unless Connor’s Pavlovian response to a downloaded ringtone is to urinate, then he was up to something. Or, his bladder's as small as his brain.
Veronica: (smiling and acting humble) I would be more than happy to question him. I’ve a feeling he’s not the easiest person to get to, probably has a team of bodyguards to protect him from girls like me.
Before Veronica finishes talking, Logan is already on his cell.
LOGAN: (looks at Veronica) I honestly don’t get it. (into the phone) Hey man. It’s, uh, Logan Echolls. Yeah. Hey, listen, can you get, uh, my friend…
The words were out of his mouth before he realized it. Logan pauses to throw an ironic grin at Veronica, who rolls her eyes.
LOGAN: …a drive-on today to see Connor? Yeah, Veronica Mars. No, Veronica, “V” as in “virgin.”
Veronica grimaces, and Logan catches it, but continues on easily.
LOGAN: Yeah.
He finishes the call.
LOGAN: There you go.
Veronica: (softly but with a sardonic edge) Look at you, all helpful.
LOGAN: (perkily) Hey, your peskiness being unleashed on Connor brings me joy.
Veronica turns and marches out. Logan follows, his eyes lingering on her retreating figure.
LOGAN: Annoy, tiny blonde one. Annoy like the wind!
He gestures and blows as she goes, watching until she turns the corner, then turns back into the pool house, a more serious expression on his face. Logan wouldn’t have helped Veronica, even if with the possible bonus of her annoying Connor, but he needed to find the money so he could get the Faberge Egg back before anyone noticed it was missing. His father had given the egg to his mother for an anniversary or birthday or some other occasion that called for a ridiculously expensive but pointless dust collector. There would be hell to pay if Logan didn’t get it back. Unfortunately, Aaron had put a limit on Logan’s ATM card the week before the poker game for backing into a planter with the Xterra while drunk, so Logan couldn’t get just withdraw the $5000 to pay Weevil. And he had been trying to keep a low profile while Aaron was home for the holidays-having this blow up in his face was not the best way to stay under the radar.
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had to cut due to livejournal limits
link to part 2 of the prelude