Post by Lycana on Jun 3, 2023 22:42:09 GMT -5
---- WEEKS AGO ----
The sun created a riot of color as it peeped over the horizon.
Vibrant pinks, purples and oranges, streaking across the sky, designing a new piece of art every time one looked at it. A feast for the eyes.
It was one she had grown to appreciate over the long stretches of solitude.
One of the few constants during her life on the run, never stopping too long in one place. But she always found her way back here as often as she was willing to risk it. North Carolina was her home and these villagers were her people.
She owed it to them to keep them safe.
Which meant that she would have to be moving on to the next burrow to hide in today.
With a sigh Lycana tilts her head back, leaning back on her elbows on the hill. She closes her eyes, relishing the warmth of the sun's rays on her face, her mind wandering. Life certainly wasn’t easy when your own family wanted you dead. Add in just WHO that family was and well...
She was in quite the predicament.
One that she couldn’t wait to be over. Not that she had any idea how to end it, hence why she had taken flight from everything and everyone she had held dear, for nearly a year and a half now. She had left behind so much...
She gave herself a shake. There was no use in dwelling on it. She had to get moving again.
She never knew when trouble was going to find her.
She sits up, then freezes.
Someone was here.
She wasn’t sure what alerted her, but her senses were rarely wrong. She slowly rises to her feet, muscles tensed, head swiveling around as her gaze scans the tree line. For a long moment there was nothing... and then...
A figure.
She locks onto it, wavering between fight and flight, instead just standing steady. Lycana’s eyes narrow, they seemed so familiar to her. Who...? As they drew closer, realization dawns.
The blood drains from her face, she sways on her feet, feeling her heart lurch in her chest, only to start pounding rapidly.
“Jimmy...” the choked whisper is swept away by the wind, nearly inaudible.
Jim Caedus.
She swallows hard, there was a lot between them, left unspoken still after... what had happened. She had run from her emotions, and then her world had gone insane and she had just kept running, leaving things unresolved.
Stormy gray eyes lock with piercing ice blue as he stops a few feet away from her.
His eyes flicker, full of emotion. His gaze drops to the ground, only to slowly trail up from her toes, all the way back up to her face as she trembles.
“Why Tavvy? Why’d ya run?”
A lump forms in her throat, cutting off her air, as tears threaten to spring to her eyes at the nickname only he used. Her mouth opens, then closes as she struggles to form the words.
“How did you find me?”
“I couldn’t until y’ended up around Nova in TPW. Went there in disguise t’ try an’ catch ya. S'not important right now. Why’d ya run away?”
Lycana bites her lip, struggling to sort the jumble of feelings scattering every which way inside.
“It’s not a simple answer...” she begins. “Everything happened all at once. Arcana and John. Finding my brother. People dying. Almost getting killed myself. Everything with XWF. What happened between us...” she pauses a beat. “It was emotional overload. I couldn’t handle it. It was too overwhelming to face so I just... didn’t.”
She takes a step closer to him.
“Didnt what? Didn’t even wanna say goodbye? Tavs, Arcana aside, I thought after what happened maybe you an’ I...”
“Maybe you and I what Jimmy?”
"Arc' leaves me for my BIG BROTHER, I had no idea at the time WHY, y'come over to comfort me and we FUCK...and your next move is to abandon me?? No talkin', no figurin' shit out, just GONE?! For over a year!"
“You don’t understand! I was gonna and then... So much happened Jimmy! Everyone was in danger! I even had to send Reika away! I couldn’t stay!”
“Y’have any idea I died Ly? Killed by a bear? Sent to th’ afterlife?”
Lycana looks stunned, and Jim nods.
“Yea, I was. That was before we...”
“Does that... mean that... it wasn’t you?” Lycana looks faintly ill, realizing the implications.
“No.”
Relief washes over Lycana’s features.
“Not exactly. I could see what was happenin’ with m’body sometimes. I saw Arc an’ John. When you came t’see ‘me'. Sumthin’ was piloting m’body, I kept tryin’ t’kick it out an’ return. Turns out, my only weapons in t’afterlife were my strength’a spirit, an’ my emotions... Th’ connections t’ those I cared about most. M’daughter was one. She helped me break free’ah a place called ‘The Space.’ Th’other... was you Tav.” His lips quirk in a tiny, lopsided smile before falling away. “My lo.... My feelins’ fer ya helped me gain control for a bit’a time. Our time. Spent together...”
Jim looks away.
“But with your doubts, fear... an’ you walkin’ away, I lost it again. I never saw what happened after that. By th’ time my spiritual journey was over, an’ I returned, you were gone... an’ so was Elora.” He turns his face back to her. "I could hate yah for leaving. For unwittin’ly removin’ m’ability to throw The Other from my body an’ return sooner ...But I don't. Th’ afterlife was one thin’ but being back... our connection is one I can't sever."
Lycana’s lower lip trembles. She had tried so hard to protect everyone she cared about, but she had still failed. “I was just trying to keep you safe...”
"Keep me safe? Tavora, death itself couldn't stop me. I'm your greatest defense against m’brother an’ what's goin’ down. I'm not afraid. Of anything. So, if y’need me...I'll always be there for yah."
He holds his arms open.
She closes the gap between them without hesitation, unable to resist the lure. This man she had sparred verbally with. Faced in the ring. Who had come to her rescue once before when she and Betsy were in trouble. Who sent her emotions into a whirlwind. Both infuriated and softened her. They had a bond, an unshakeable connection that nothing could pierce. His arms go around her, holding her tight as she presses her cheek to his chest. “Same Jimmy. If you need me... I won’t fail you again...” Her voice trails off as he puts his hands on her shoulders, moving her back slightly. Her eyes widen as his palms come up to cup her cheeks. His head lowers and their lips meet in a soft, tender kiss, each pouring unsaid words into the sweet gesture.
Jim pulls away to rest his forehead against her and whispers...
“I know. That’s why I booked ya on m’team at War Games.”
Lycana blinks.
Her mouth drops open.
And all she can do is helplessly start laughing.
_______________________________________________________________
---- PRESENT DAY ----
Our quaintly quirky quintet enters the Great Room after their err... relaxing massages, taking in the three-story granite fireplace, gold leafed walls, and crystal chandeliers.
The long table stretches out set with gilded plates and what seemed like a dozen pieces of cutlery for each. They all slip into the ornate chairs, lush cushions cradling their nether cheeks, Jim at the head of the table, the others flanking him two to a side. Dolly picks up one of the many forks by her plate.
“Hell we need all these for?”
“It’s called culture Lil Sis.” Jim retorts, before lifting the delicate cloth napkin shaped into a swan and blowing his nose into it.
Lycana, in the process of daintily placing her own napkin in her lap, arches an eyebrow.
“What?” he queries as one of the wait staff deftly plucks the offending napkin up with a pair of tongs, a fresh one appearing in its place. She simply shakes her head, accepting the single page, laminated menu that was offered.
The group peruses the offerings as a pair of servers move among them, pouring water from carafes into the tall, stemmed glasses at each place.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I need meat.” Main announces. “Shut up Jim.”
Jim’s shoulders sag in defeat over Robert’s preemptive juvenile retort prevention. He sadly zips his pants back up. Main turns his attention to the server who materializes at his elbow with a notepad. “The steak, please.”
“Very good sir, how would you like it?”
“Give me it bloody.”
“He definitely takes ‘is meat raw.” Jim quips, earning an exasperated look from Main.
The other’s orders are taken and the staff swiftly disappears to deliver them to the kitchen. Spencer leans forward to pick up his water and take a sip. “Whole ass castle to ourselves. Luxury massage. Fancy as fuck last meal. You really went all out for our death row stay, bro.”
“THANK you Spence’. At least SOMEONE shows a lil sincere gratitude ‘round here.”
Spencer looks around the table.. “Anyone else wanna kill him?”
“About half the time.” Dolly replies.
“You’re being generous.” Lycana teases.
Dolly pauses while buttering a warm roll. “Hmm true.”
“More like sixty forty.”
“Surprised it's not at least eighty twenty.” Spencer joins in on the ribbing, a ripple of laughter going through the team, including Jim, whose laughter intensifies far beyond the others, until he realizes.
“Hey!”
This makes the others chuckle more, as a server appears with a tray of drinks. “For the little miss!” The ponytailed redhead smiles at Dolly as she sets down a cup of apple juice, complete with a pink swirly straw.
“I ordered a Jack and coke.”
“So cute.” she coos as she pats Dolly on the head. A swift move from Lycana prevents her demise, grabbing Dolly’s shoulders as she goes to rise, quickly shoving her own cocktail into Dolly’s hand under the table.
A scotch on the rocks is placed in front of Spencer before she turns and announces “Your chocolate milk sir.” settling it on the table. Jim immediately scoops it up and chugs, leaving himself with a milk mustache. “What?” he asks Main, who shakes his head over his own draft beer.
“Ninety ten.”
“Jimmy’s just a bit...”
“Sextacular?”
“.... unpredictable”
“I prefer spontaneous.”
“Rash.”
“Got that cream, cleared it right up.”
“Asinine.”
“...........................................okay, that one's true.”
“You get used to him.”
The servers return carrying large cloches, which they set in front of each person. “Wheat crusted free range chicken morsel, with pomme frites, and a vine-ripened deconstructed tomato reduction.” The dome is whipped off of Dolly’s meal.
“Thats.... a chicken nugget and ketchup.”
A single nugget and three fries artfully dolloped with ketchup reside on her plate.
“That is a wheat crusted free range...”
“I asked for a medium rare filet mignon.”
“Your brother ordered for you.”
“I’m gonna kill him.” she mutters. “Gonna have to beat the mafia.” Lycana whispers back.
“And for you sir, crusted steak, rare, herbed cream whipped potatoes, and honeyed roasted carrots, lightly drizzled with bordelaise.”
“Good. I’m so hungry I...” Main stares down on the tiny piped rosette of potatoes, next to the two carrot sticks, and stabs the minuscule steak medallion with his fork, lifting it. “The hell is this? You realize we’re wrestlers, right?”
The others have fared no better, Lycana poking at her single prawn atop a thimbleful of rice and Spencer with a minuscule chicken wing, a few scattered microgreens on top. Jim gives his forkful of truffle pasta a sniff.
“Umm excuse me?” he starts politely. “This smells like farts.”
“It’s supposed to sir.” the server assures him.
They take their leave, leaving Team Caedus staring at their plates. Lycana’s stomach snarls. “You know, I saw a Hardee’s down the street.”
“But my FART pasta!
“I could go for a grilled chicken sandwich.”
“I wanna know what it’s like t’be Mark Flynn suckin’ Vaughn’s asshole!”
“Cheeseburgers.”
“DOUBLE cheeseburgers.”
“Y’all know how much this COST me?”
“With bacon.”
“Oh for fucksake...” Jim huffs in defeat.
They all stand and start to walk out of the room.
“Hey Dolly, what toy are you hoping for in your kid’s meal?”
“Shut up Ly!”
___________________________________________________
“I’m back.
The long-winded bitch is coming to the WGWF.
It’s been a long time since I’ve stepped foot into a ring, but I can’t think of a better way than just cannonballing into WGWF, a place I hope to call my home, during War Games.
Hi Cholo!
Maybe you think I should be impressed that you’re one of the ones wearing gold around here.
I’m not.
I think you’re nothing but a mediocre jackass who stumbled upon a temporary spark in your career... one that will die out the moment you hit real competition.
But that belt is the reason you were picked to be on Vaughn’s War Game’s team after-all. The look good on paper posse had to have the pretty sparklies to try and pad their panties a little bit. I hope you didn’t think it was because of your stellar record, did you?
I’m sorry Cholo but... you tend to come up short.
…. Probably why you had that in with the dildo dealer.
You suck in multi-person matches.
Look at the three in recent history... Calamity, captains match, West Coast Rumble. Like Vaughn himself said, you get distracted. You can’t manage more than middle of the pack.
That’s not going to cut it this time Cholo.
You keep your track record; you lose it for your team.
Sweating yet?
You should be. You’re the weakest link. In every way.
Call me when you take down a Page or an Alias.
Someone as impressive as I have.
Like a Mark Flynn.
You remember that?
You were on a high back then. Damn near untouchable, weren't you? Not many could claim to check the W column while you were in the ring with them.
Being on a roll, just winning those tag straps... and then falling on your next match out to Lycana and Betsy? Bet you were thrilled they weren't on the line that match.
That would have been embarrassing.
Almost as humiliating as your record in WGWF.
No wonder you stay over in XWF.
Here, you suck harder than Vaughn fellating himself. But that didn’t stop you from saying yes when he called you, did it?
Daddy says jump, Flynn asks how high.
The eager to please puss, running at the crook of a finger, both orifices primed and puckered for a pounding from Peter.
“King of the Midcarders”?
More like “King of the Cucks” the way you still roll over for Vaughn.
More like “King of Jack Shit” with how sad your career in WGWF is.
Don’t worry Mark, after this, you’ll still be all that AND the “King of Pussies” as you tuck tail and run for the safety of XWF.
As usual.
You’re gonna have to share that title with Mac though.
Seriously Mac, you are legitimately the worst villain I’ve ever encountered. I’ve been told I emasculate men. I don’t have to with you. You’re already a damn eunuch. Self-castrated, your balls nowhere to be found.
You approach your opponents with your lips pursed, planting them firmly on their ass cheeks, all while nearly apologizing for having to beat them.
Pretty idle threats, it turns out, given your record here.
Especially when it comes to matches with “three or more people in them” ... you tend to lose those. Your own words to JMont.
That doesn’t exactly bode well for you or your team now does it?
You think you’re violent Mac?
Nah, you give off about as much danger vibes as a feather duster.
I’m the Dark Vixen of Violence... I’ll be glad to give you a few lessons.
How’s that sound Outcast?
I know that’s right up your alley. Murder and drugs and whores.
You’re filth.
Nothing stops you from that hit, huh? Not even your own family. No. AA meeting in March, sucking down beer and snorting lines by October.
You’re a liability.
You’re only out for yourself.
You cheated on your wife, kept constantly drugged out and drunk... what a guy! If you couldn’t stay clean and faithful for people you love, how the hell are you going to be trustworthy to a couple strangers, and people you didn’t exactly seem chummy with?
You made vows to your wife.
Broken.
I’m supposed to believe you’d keep any promises to these guys?
Nah... You’re being used for your name and accolades.
You aren’t shit anymore otherwise.
Only thing is, your ego is too big to see that.
Like yours Vaughn.
Why did you recruit who you did?
They’re the elite of the elite huh?
I’d have to question that. There were better options.
For example, why not Xavier Lux?
Lux not only outlasted you in a multi-person match, he pinned Outcast and then went on to win the whole thing and the OCW Championship, thus proving himself.
Not only that, you ran with him during the eXiles days, so you know each other, and how to work together.
He has a good belt record.
But your inflated ass ego couldn’t be edged out of the spotlight you shine on yourself. Instead you chose the ‘I’d rather be partying’ man-child who stumbles when his blinders are removed, the one with the self-admitted “less than stellar record”, your not-so-secret Sub bitch you had to summon from where he’s actually relevant, and a guy who wasn’t even just retired and out of the game... but dead.
Elite of the elite, my ass.
You make mistakes.
Your ego gets the best of you. That’s why you run through titles. You get it, your head swells, you underestimate and lose it.
Just like you will War Games.
After my team rips out your throats.”