Insight

[Jennifer Drew]

You know, we're pretty lucky she knew what she was doing. I didn't get all I was asking for after that match, and Deirdre got to live on another day. I took her to get looked at by someone on-site and it looked like it wasn't any serious damage. We'd just be groaning about it in the morning.

For now we decided the best pain reliever was to hang out and catch up over drinks at my place.

So, I think I'm back on track to have an inflated sense of self confidence. I have to tell you, everything below my neck is doing great again.

Alright, as I felt down there the exact part of my stomach Lessien had leaned in on wasn't but it was certainly getting there.

Um, yeah.

Anyway, let's talk about something more fun. In a second.

Quick question.

And I don't want you take this as a “worn-out welcome” thing but really more of a “sociopath of the month” thing, but you're getting out of here soon, right?

[Deirdre Hahn]

You're serious aren't you?

Just when I was getting comfortable on the couch I had to snap up on that one. I know I brought all this on myself but it was starting to get to me. Everything's just been so weird the last few months or so. I wasn't really ready for that.

I was going to tell you I'd be back and forth on business for a while. People know me from your show more than anything. So, your press people, my press people, one big happy family. Something like that. I thought you'd be up for it but now...

Is this that little paper girl caring about is her so called career. Her legacy. How she will be remembered in this wasteland they dare call a city. And then once that's secure, you have enough time for me. Until it is time to send me away again, of course.

I'm paraphrasing there.

Why the hell am I paraphrasing?

Which it kind of seems like you're trying to do.

[Jennifer Drew]

What!? No. It's not like that at all.

Well not “not at all,” but still.

The fact is every time you've been here you've either gotten hurt, almost gotten hurt, or been weaved into a complex web of deceit to help me bring down the person who hurt you in the first place. I don't want you to keep dealing with this bullshit for as long as I'm still the champion.

I feel horrible about making you a target in all this.

Wait, that's got way too much room for interpretation.

[Deirdre Hahn]

You feel bad?

I said as my head went off just enough that I could rub my temple for emphasis.

[Jennifer Drew]

You know what I mean.

Look, can we not both agree that this is a dangerous situation for you and that maybe you should turn down any front row seat offers from now on. I know the only thing this has to do with me is that the conventional wisdom says beating you up gets to me.

Which is true. They didn't pull out my concern for my friends gland when I won this thing, you know?


So could you just lay low if you're going to be in the city? For both of us?

[Deirdre Hahn]

Fine.

You know, I feel a little better. So I think I'm going to take off for tonight. You just take your time, paragoning and maybe I'll give you a call.

I don't even want Lessien to seem right but even though I knew what Jennifer meant it just felt wrong. I needed to think so if this is what she wants, it's what she'll get.

Lay low.

Away from her.