Take me inside. (Drew)

[Lessien Melwasul]

~Jennifer Drew hadn't followed her that night after Lock-Up! Disappointing, but not unexpected. Probably the same feeling Jennifer had when Lessien didn't walk into the steel chair that same night.~

"Plans and plans and plans unmade."

"Oh what's a girl to do?"

~Betty sat on the floor with her back against the door of Drew's private living quarters. Oh yes, she had one of those magnetic keys too.~

"Wait for love."

~Betty took a

long

hard

drag for the ever present cigarette hanging from her lips.~

"Wait and wait and wait."

~The building had a low murmur running through it. Poor Aphrodite. A shame what happened to her. But hardly surprising really. Short sighted Goddess syndrome? Perhaps, but not surprising. Lessien never played well with others, and she had done the unthinkable ... cost Lessien a small piece of face.~

"Eyes for eyes they wait and wait."

~Drew's door was cool to the touch.~

[Jennifer Drew]

That's funny.

I said, stepping around the corner and reburying my key in my front pocket. Well it looks like someone really just couldn't get enough of me. Too much going on last time to actually chase her down. Neither one of us was dumb enough to walk into that trap then.

So, I guess it's going to get interesting right now.

I don't remember ordering the smoked red jerky with a side of homicidal. Unless this is just in my contract and no one told me.

[Lessien Melwasul]

"I knew you missed me."

~Betty put her hands to the floor and pushed herself up. The flaps of her coat brushing against the door as she did.~

"As only you can."

~Alice stole a look from the corner of her eye.~

"And I did miss you too. So I decided to take matters into my own hands, again."

~She leaned against the wall, next do the door, and finished the last of her cigarette. It dropped beneath her boot, and she looked up again.~

"Aren't you going to invite me in, Lover? I'm sure it's cold outside somewhere."

[Jennifer Drew]

Jeez, I don't know. It's a real mess in there.

I mean not that I can envision any scenario where I don't get thrown around and make the entire situation worse. But still I don't want you ratting me out to Good Housekeeping.

Plus, if you can believe it I'm fresh out of tea and scones.

I just stayed planted as we came eye to eye. I doubt either of us are going anywhere.

[Lessien Melwasul]

"That's a pity."

~They could read each others minds. Drew was a clever girl.~

"You still don't trust me? Even after I've delivered on each and every promise I've made?"

~She stopped herself.~

"Except for the final one ... where I take the title from you. But that wasn't really a promise. That was more of a payment for all the services I've provided."

~Her attention, once far away, returned to Jennifer's face. Alice would kill for a taste.~

"I hope you've enjoyed yourself so far."

[Jennifer Drew]

Enjoy myself?

Did I? Maybe?

Hmm, well I guess it was nice I didn't have to repeat that damn after school special I got wrapped up in last month.

I'll give you that you've matched the specs, but I could do with a little less Aphrodite blood splashing all the way to the Spanish Announce Table and a little more me pinning you.

I guess the answer is it's too early to tell. I shouldn't complain though. I hate it when people do that during the last commercial break.

You know, when I get to hold up my end of the bargain?

[Lessien Melwasul]

"Aphrodite?"

~Betty acted like she was actually trying to remember who that was.~

"Aphrodite ... "

~Alice put a finger to her own lip.~

"Memories."

~Betty finally 'remembered'.~

"Oh, the little blond thing with the pretty little face?"

~Alice studied Jennifer again. Betty almost laughed.~

"Oh please, don't even try to fool me. You couldn't care less for her if you tried."

~Betty waved it away.~

"Next thing you'll be telling me is that you took Trinity to your bed for victory sex."

"Dance with me."

~Oh the thoughts that danced in one very busy head mingled with the things Alice could do. Dismissed again in seconds.~

"No, this is about you and me Jennifer. That's all. No more. No less. If this Aphrodite person you care so deeply for got hurt. I'm sure she deserved it."

"You're enough for me."

"Oh yes. You're all the women I need right now. So let's talk about your end of the bargain. Hmm? What's it going to be? Iron Woman? Best of three? Or are you going to save it for our final promo on the big life screen? I'm all ears, Lover. Just what are you're going to do to me?"

"I'm yours."

[Jennifer Drew]

What, you couldn't just stay home and read the spoilers?

I'm so emailing her the link to my source on what I'm up to later.

They're welding a 12-tier cage together from scraps they found in some warehouse in Atlanta. The match ends when one of us makes it to the very top and burns the papers from the copyright infringement lawsuit we've got on a pole up there. We're talking serious buyrates here.

Alright, I'd actually watch that.

Yeah, I'm going to keep it to myself for a day or two. I know, I'm surprised that idea wasn't real too. Come on, I'm the champ I've got to at least look like I'm running the show, dangle one thing over your head for a change, even if it's something lame.

So, what happens until then?

[Lessien Melwasul]

~Betty slid her hands

deep

into her pockets.~

"Oh, I don't know. I suppose I should start making some plans on what to do once I take my title back and resume its fucking glow."

~She slowly took off her sunglasses, which was a very rare thing. She let her eyes follow Jennifer's lines for signs of relaxation. Perhaps she could knock down Jennifer's door with Jennifer's head, with an easy smile of course.~

"A plan for everything."

"I mean what if you win? I guess I will have to settle down, and maybe get a pet. They say pets do wonders for the unsettled mind such as mine. But then I would have to think of a name ..."

~Naked eyes looked into hers.~

"I really do respect you, Jennifer. What do you think of the name ... Dee Dee?"

~A cool smile froze to her lips.~

"Or maybe Deirdre? What do you think, Lover? Wouldn't one of them make a lovely pet name ... if I lose of course?"

[Jennifer Drew]

I've got to be honest, I'm not really a fan.

Too Ramone-y and too fancypants respectively. Either one sounds like she's putting on airs and I don't know how long I could put up with that. Something a little more salt of the earth like Lilith might work though.

This is not banter, Jennifer. This is some horrible manipulative, malicious...

banter-shaped thing that isn't banter.

I think I know the game here but I know it's a small one in an intricate series of others. I know it's fun but the only smart thing to do now is end it and hit her with your dry, action hero line instead of running with it.

Or, just do the exact opposite.

Hate to say it but I'm kind of sad you're thinking forward to magical sanity-inducing creature. I'd almost feel bad if it ended like that. Reverse psychology, fun.

I said, smiling back.

I can't believe I smiled back.

[Lessien Melwasul]

"Your inner voice knows everything"

"You know, she almost sounds a little like you. Youth, you all sound a little alike if you ask me."

~Had Betty actually talked to Deirdre? Or was this on giant bluff with springs and strings attached to one another. Being a champion required a rather singular focus ... a shame if the focus was fractured by the heart.~

"Voices of the heart."

~Alice looked out from inside.~

~Betty looked out too with mock apology.~

"Oh, I'm sure I've taken up enough of your valuable time. I mean, Ascension is only days away and you can try to wash your hands of me."

"Easy as a lie."

"To wash your hands of me, you'll have to use gasoline."

~It was a great ending line, as Betty put their sunglasses back over there eyes and began to walk away. But all of the sudden she stopped as if she remembered something.~

"Did I ever tell you? What I did before all this glamorous excess rained down on me? No?"

~Alice tilted her head in remembrance.~

"Badge and gun the curtain fell."

"Nothing as dramatic as that. Why I was a licensed bounty hunter. Michigan. Illinois. Oregon ... Ohio."

~She let the last one sink in, and it had nothing to do with the little wrestling company that couldn't.~

"Oh, nothing fancy like you see on TV. But still, it was interesting. You would think it would be difficult to find someone who was actually trying to hide, wouldn't you? Yeah, I thought so too at first. But you would be amazed how easy it is. Twenty dollars here. A town car receipt there. Maybe forty dollars to a minimum wage luggage jockey at the airport? Why, I could find almost anybody in a matter of weeks."

~Betty turned away again, wondering aloud as she did.~

"I wonder how easy it would be if they weren't actually hiding at all. Why, it could take hours ... maybe days. Finding them was always the hardest part, after that it's child play. Young people are so trusting these days. A phone call. A friendly voice. A name they know and love ..."

[Jennifer Drew]

I knew it had to be in death-defying or, an allied field.

But people are really that dumb?

I mean what kind of paste eater are we talking about who'd do that now?

And cue incredulous laughter. Because that'll totally work.

Uh, specifically what kind?

[Lessien Melwasul]

"Your kind, Lover."

~Betty continued down the hall.~

"Be sure to keep your eyes open at Ascension. You never know what or who you'll see again."

~With that the form of Lessien turned the corner, only her boots could still be heard echoing away down the hallway until an emergency exit door slammed closed. Was Deirdre safe? Was it all a lie? More questions than answers today and all on Jennifer's plate.~