paw #5 (the very last one)
Oct 17, 2016 21:41:47 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Oct 17, 2016 21:41:47 GMT -5
Purity, Louisiana || Thursday, September 15, 2016, 9:55 PM (OFF CAMERA)
The little diner was close enough to that tiny house she was renting that she could walk home afterwards. Sure, the neighborhood here was a little sketchy, but after the way she'd handled herself in the ring against Kelsey Spencer tonight, Kasey Summers felt like she could handle anything. Sitting at the table, she idly flicked through her Twitter feed with one hand, waiting for the golden girl's friends to start laying into her for what she'd done. Once the show ended they probably would. She knew they would eventually. If she was being honest to herself, she knew they wouldn't understand the motivation. They wouldn't get why she didn't just roll over and play dead and let the little bitch rack up another easy win. She didn't care about losing the match. Not at all. For the first time since setting foot in Pure Amusement Wrestling, something had happened on her terms. Finally, she felt like she was actually getting back in control of her life.
Now it was a sort of holding pattern, waiting to see what was going to happen next. Would the entire world go nuts in outrage? She probably had an hour at best before the show started streaming online, before everyone would know the lengths she'd gone to to prove her point.
With a thump, the double thick peanut butter soy milkshake she'd ordered arrived and she reached for it with a big smile, thanking the waitress. She came here because they served vegan food. She came here, really, because they'd been really, really nice to her after Ak had gone away. At the sound of the bell over the door jingling, she looked up and immediately grinned at the sight of Paradox – for a moment she'd actually thought she was about to be stood up. Kasey lifted her hand in a wave, surprised that the demon had come alone. She'd been looking forward to having a nice chat with her friend Cassey.
Thankfully this place was far enough away from the park that they didn't have to worry about being bombarded with fans or any of her less-than-savory coworkers.
"Hi," Kasey murmured, looking up as the otherworldly beautiful creature stopped beside the table, "I ordered some food but I didn't know if you would be hungry so…" she stopped, suddenly shy, "well, I wasn't sure. So you could just share my fries if you want."
The demon looked at her new friend with a bit of confusion cocking her head to the side for a moment. There was an awkward moment of silence as she stood beside the table just staring her down. After what seemed almost an eternity, but in reality was only a few seconds, Paradox finally spoke in a voice that, unlike her fearful appearance, was quite beautiful.
"Concern yourself not with my appetite," she began while displaying an devilish smirk, "I care only for conversation tonight for on this night, you showed me and the others watching that you are a force to encounter in your organization and are not to be taken lightly."
Next to how gorgeous Paradox was, Kasey felt positively frumpy. She'd taken the extra time after her match, cleaning up and braiding her thick red hair so that she didn't have to waste time drying it. "Well conversation is definitely great in my books!" She watched while the demon sat down, wondering if all the questions in her head showed on her face. She paused, taking a sip of her milkshake. "I wonder what they're going to say." Her smile was almost devilish in return, "and you know what's funny? I don't really care. I mean, she deserved it. And even if they think she didn't? I was finally, really me out there."
Paradox laughed at the words she heard, "Whether or not she deserved it should not be your concern nor the focus of the reasoning behind what was done. You had to do what you did to show how fierce you were in that ring and, as you said, to be yourself. Your opponent was merely a pawn... Encountering you at the wrong place and wrong time for her, yet the right place and time for you. Unless I am mistaken, you may enlighten me further, if you wish."
Kasey nodded. "No see that's exactly it. I needed to do it. I'm sick of pretending at something I'm not. I keep getting caught up in that in this dumb business. When I started out I dyed my hair black. I wore contacts. I tried so hard to be what I thought I had to do that they would love me. So dumb and it made me sick that I was letting them control me. I guess…" she paused, "well you probably know a bit about that, right? Although I bet you're not caught in such dumb petty things as hair color and fashion choices."
"I do actually concern myself daily with outward appearance," the demon explained, "however my motivation is not any business, but for my own survival in this world. If I do not appear as others here, I am outcast by them and thus my appearance, though every changing and evolving, must always remain similar to the mortals here. I can only imagine how freeing it must feel to have the chains that held you back broken from your wrists."
Grinning, Kasey opened her mouth to reply and then spotted the waitress approaching with a giant plate of French fries. She waited while they were set down and watched while Paradox waved off the offer of any food or drink for herself. "Thanks," Kasey finally said, gleefully chewing a mouthful of salty, greasy goodness, "it so was. I mean, ever since Akragth bailed and just kinda left me here… I've felt like I was drowning, you know? Like I was never gonna pull my shit together and make something of this mistake. I don't think… I mean if he hadn't gotten that offer and we hadn't been together… like, I truly don't think I would have even come here. To Louisiana, you know? But, here we are. Things happen for a reason, right?" She paused for a second, realizing the last thing she needed to do was dump all her woes on her new friend, lest she drive her away. She tried to think of something else to say, faltering with a brittle smile before washing more fries down with a big gulp of peanut buttery goodness.
"And uhm, I'm so glad you were able to come – Cassey too. It's weird having friends again…was kinda starting to feel like a pariah because everyone I used to hang out with kinda disappeared on me last year. When I got hurt, I mean… they just kinda stopped coming around. Maybe I scared them – wrestlers are fickle, you know? Seeing someone hurt, I think that's like the dirt worst and maybe we're only social when we have to be? For the most part that's my experience. Only when they want something and when I was sidelined with a broken neck, out of the picture I had nothing to give." She rushed to clarify, "not that I'm saying I'm like that. I'm not. I don't want anything from you, I swear."
She stopped talking for a few minutes, putting her attention on gobbling up her dinner now that she realized how hungry she truly was. For once it was nice to have someone to talk to who didn't feel like they were judging her every action and word. She didn't care that others thought Paradox was a weirdo, a fake or – worse yet – some kind of deranged cosplayer like that Cornett girl. Kasey accepted her for what she was. It was apparent by the way she carried herself, by even the way she talked that she was different.
Paradox looked slightly amused by Kasey's hint of awkwardness, "In nature, the herd will oft times abandon the injured as they make the group as a whole weaker than normal. Mayhap they think the same way in this wrestling business. Mayhap they are also selfish and looking out for themselves. At any rate, you showed an entire company that you are very much strong and now you can show them the weakest is now strong enough to dispatch the whole herd. This is what I saw and approved of tonight," she says with a sadistic grin on her face revealing a small hint of her two pairs of fangs.
"Your approval means a lot," Kasey confessed, her voice coming out small, "and I know that's silly when I was just saying how their opinion doesn't and shouldn't ever matter. But you… you're different. You're…" a blush was creeping over her cheeks, "I think you and I could really be good friends. I mean, if you wanted to."
Paradox thought for a moment before answering, "not everyone readily befriends a demon and a demon usually does not meddle with humans less of making them followers. Followers are not possible now for not everyone is willing to drop all they have to blindly follow," She leaned in slightly closer and spoke at a slightly quieter volume, "An alliance is being formed between me and some other like-minded individuals in our sport. I was not sure you were able to be strong enough for such an alliance, but that was before tonight. Friendship and alliance, I can provide to you should you wish to accept this from me..."
[REC.]
"I'm so sorry." Kasey's soft-spoken voice shattered the white-noise hiss of rain beyond the window. The camera panned out from that view of a drenched street in Purity. In the distance, the amusement park could be seen rising from the mist rather ominously. She had her knees pulled up to her chest, that orange cat of hers sleeping next to her on the window seat. "I'm SO sorry." She apologized again, shaking her head, the hint of a smile there on her lips as she tucked her red hair behind her ears. "I'm so sorry."
Again, she paused, looking down at the cat. "See, George. I told you nobody would buy it. I just can't say it with any sort of sincerity. I can't lie – always kinda been super bad at it. So..." she shrugged expressively, "Kelsey, here's the truth: I'm not sorry. At all."
That smile faded slightly, never really disappearing totally from her lips. "And now, we move on." She made a trumpeting sound, "tooooooo Caroline O'Hara Burchill." She said the name with reverence, clasping her hands together and putting them to her lips. "I'm seriously… wow. What you did was something special and great and... well... I hope you won't be mad when I tell you I had to watch the replay. I didn't see it live. I kinda got out of the place as quickly as possible." She bounced a little in her seat, clearly trying to contain some sort of glee. "It's working. It really is. I turned heads. I made them sit up and take notice and if it meant I had to spill a little blood from Little Miss Perfect to make that happen – well, you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, right? Nope. And I don't need to tell the Red Queen that, of course. I mean... YOU get it. You know what it's really about and it's not those little 'oh wow good for you' moments. Nope. Not at all. The moments that people are still talking about weeks... months... even a year later. That's what it's about. Like what you did at Wicked. That was truly special."
Kasey paused, looking flustered for a moment, "I mean, you know the term 'thrown to the wolves', right? This is a little like that. You're… you've…" she squealed, "you've been a pretty big deal here. And last Wicked? I mean, that was totes resume bullet-point worthy. Like... highlight reel stuff – for you, obviously, not him. So say it loud. Say it proud. Get up on the roof like Peter Pan and crow about it because you beat Barf Recoba at his own stupid game. So, hey, like props and stuff. I couldn't do it."
She broke off again, sighing. "I know, this is weird, right? I mean, you don't want to hear me going on and on and on about how great you are and how this is actually pretty awesome that our esteemed GM or whatever saw fit to book this – Firebird versus Red Queen. Most people don't start doling out the respect like candy, do they? I guess it's rare. I mean everyone I've faced so far in this company has spewed hate." She leaned forward, whispering, "yeah, even Kelsey. She was the worst, trying to hide all those snipes behind rainbows and unicorn farts and glitter like I'm completely dumb."
She grinned. "And Barf? He was the worst, truly... bitchier than the mean girls in high school but it's kinda refreshing to know that this week I'm going into the ring against someone sane. Someone on my level. Someone that I can actually have a civil conversation with. So let's talk about our upcoming match. I think we can do that and at least I don't have to worry about you checking me out or staring at my boobs. Takes a bit of the pressure off," she giggled again, and then moved to her feet.
"It's funny. Before I went out there against Kelsey, I was ready to call it quits. I was ready to call coming to Pure Amusement Wrestling – coming to Purity at all – a mistake. And then it was like suddenly it all came together. Like lightning striking or something... I dunno how to explain it but something happened out there and I realized I don't give a fuck anymore. About what you think. About what they think. About all those dumb things Ak and Uncle Billy and Jackson told me about what I should and shouldn't do in the ring or when I'm talking to you like this. Who the hell said they were the authority? Who said they make the rules?"
Kasey shook her head. "Nobody. So forget them. Forget all about all those nonsense – from here on out, this is about MY legacy. It's about the rebirth of this Firebird. It's about getting back to that golden level and if I have to break someone like Kelsey... someone like you to get there? Well..." she shrugged.
"So be it. And this moment right here, this is the calm before the storm. Another storm because it always seems to be raining these days. This is the look before the leap into the fire and we know I'm not afraid of burning up. No. It's just the leap that gives me pause because I remember that mistake. I remember my neck being broken in that impact so even if I'm talking in metaphor, I still get the quiver and I mean, in all honesty? I'm a bit freaked. With good reason… and it's not just this perfect streak I've got going right now that means so much." She rolled her eyes, sarcasm heavy in her words. "Don't worry. I know. All of her stupid friends made sure to remind me but you know what? At least I didn't fuck up. At least I didn't crash and burn on concrete. I – yes ME – I made the choice to use my fists on Kelsey. I chose to draw blood."
Reaching down beside her, she lifted a small sand-colored box, setting it on her lap. It was small, one of those rectangular keepsake boxes with the gilded corners. Dented, water-spotted, completely innocent, yet she still stared at it with dread etched on her features. Returning to her window seat, she set the box beside her. "Today is the first day of my future. You know? It's like I finally feel like I can breathe without choking on the past."
Her fingers hovered above the lid of the box, and then she paused, seeming to be suddenly afraid although she lifted the lid quickly enough. A tangle of odd and ends filled the box. She lifted the photograph on top, holding it up to the light. Sunrise, the sky filled with clouds, lit on fire by the sun. In front of that beautiful backdrop stood a much younger version of the same woman only her hair was shorter, pitch black and streaked through with red and orange that matched the sky. She stood on a balcony, grinning like a fool at whoever was taking the picture. "I was eighteen then. In love with wrestling. In love with the prospect of travelling. My ex-boyfriend took that picture the morning after his first title win – Lex Collins – only four matches I'd been at his side and he'd already made it. He came to Wild Ones to get ready for the big leagues and he really didn't need to because he always had it. He just couldn't see what was right there and I guess that was a lot of what made me fall for him in the first place. He was never egotistical. He was always humble and I have never, ever been like that." She sighed wistfully.
"We were in New York City and I felt like the Queen. I felt like this was the place I needed to get to. This moment right here captured forever… that was when I knew that wrestling was my world. It was my destiny."
She set the picture aside and reached into the box again, this time coming up with a broken necklace, the crucifix that her uncle had given her for her sweet sixteenth birthday. She remembered ripping it from her own neck and throwing it the night she'd found out her uncle had died. "Uncle Billy told me that I needed protection if I was going to go out there and chase my dreams. He told me that the world was unkind and was always more than willing to shit on the heads of people who have stars in their eyes. He told me that it was always good to know that I had someone watching out for me. Someone cheering for me. I never needed protection from any God, least of all one that would take him away from me."
She held the chain, letting it dribble through her fingers, the silver links puddling atop the photograph until she caught the cross between his fingers. The metal was tarnished, dull black in spots. With a little polish, it could be like new. A metaphor, she realized, for her love-hate relationship with professional wrestling. With a little work, they could start again. Oh, God, how she wanted that.
"I know what you're thinking. What the hell is this garbage all about? Has this girl flipped her lid? Has the thought of facing The Red Queen made her go mental? Yeah, maybe just a little. I've been packing things into boxes and trying to remember how I got into this business. Don't get me wrong. I still love what I'm doing… it's just… I think I might have grown up when I wasn't paying attention."
The smile crept back, just a little, "I'm not going to play this game today. If you're second-guessing my ability right now, kudos to you. Go nuts and do it. Tell yourself that I'm a joke. I don't really care. I know there is totally no point in lying to myself right now. I've got a snowball's chance in hell of walking out of this as a winner with no effort. Let's be honest here, what do you have that I don't? Skill? Nope, got that in spades. Charisma? Laughable, I hold the fans in the palm of my hand now – proved that without a doubt last week. I have experience. What you have is grace under fire. And I'm just that hungry wannabe who really, really wants to get back into winning ways. That makes this hard. So yeah, I'm taking this seriously, Caroline. You'd better believe it."
She shook her head, placing the faded photo and the broken necklace back inside the box before pushing it away from her. It fell to the floor and spilled, but she ignored it as she got up again. Her footsteps faded from the room, leaving the camera filming the sleeping cat and the spilled trinkets for a few second before the footage faded to black.
