You look at the family photos.
There's a variety of them, in all shapes and sizes, though most of them are pretty faded and hard to see in the dim light. You do see some relatives you don't recognize, though some have the same features you'd seen in Vince's grandfather back in the day - dark brown hair, long noses, tired-looking eyes.
SOKU
They're pretty interesting, right?
You glance back at him before continuing to inspect the photos.
MANDY
They're Vince's family tree. I think that's his grandpa there.
SOKU
Yeah. The white half of his family's history is pretty well-documented. They petered out after his grandfather's younger siblings passed away, though. Vince and his sisters are the last descendants of the Albin family, nowadays.
MANDY
That's pretty tragic to hear.
You try to sound disinterested so that he takes the hint and leaves you alone. He continues to look at the wall through his camera.
MANDY
Are you going to use these photos as props in your movie?
SOKU
If I get Vince's permission to do so. It belongs to him, after all.
MANDY
You two are engaged, though. It technically belongs to you, too.
He hums as he takes a picture of the wall. The flash and click startles you, and he looks down at the screen on the back of his camera, brows furrowed.
SOKU
We're taking a break.
MANDY
Oh, shit, I- uh, I'm really- I didn't know about that.
Soku readjusts the lens on the front of his camera before looking at you again, his brows raised in amusement.
SOKU
It's fine. We're trying some weird quasiplatonic thing. We still go on dates and sleep in the same bed, but it's like, in a friendly way now. Or something.
MANDY
...No offense, but that sounds stupid.
SOKU
It was my suggestion.
MANDY
Okay. I'm just totally fucking this whole conversation, aren't I?
SOKU
It's fine, Mandy. It's been a while. I remember you were never as talkative as...
MANDY
...Yeah.
He seems unsure about how to continue the conversation.
SOKU
...I heard about your, uh, mother, too. I worked for the- for the newspaper as a photographer for a few years after Laney.
SOKU
I'm sorry about your loss. I know it's been a while since it happened, but, uh, I lost my dad the same way. If you ever need to talk about it, I-
MANDY
Thanks, Soku. I really appreciate the sentiment!!
You turn on your heel and march away from him, hurrying up the stairs. You don't hear him follow you, which you're grateful for - you just need to find Vince right now, before your head explodes. If you can fucking find him.