Winding

[Lessien Melwasul]

~The form of Lessien sat in an ever so comfortable chair in the ever so comfortable office of Amanda Wallace. The funny thing being that Lessien never actually looked comfortable in these surroundings. The lights were to warm, even behind her dark lenses and no matter how much she smoked it would always smell clean and officious.~

"Tick tock."

~Alice was bored out of skull and saw absolutely no reason to be here what so ever. They should be making Jennifer Drew's every last second a misery to behold. But Betty wanted to be here. The standard issue cane leaned against the empty cushion next to her. She would have put her legs up, but that would've taken too long in her current state of affairs.~

[Amanda Wallace]

"Comfortable, I assume?" Amanda asked, shuffling into her own office. She took a few steps forward, shutting the door behind her. "I trust you're not here to take your frustrations out on a cripple for a job that you couldn't do three times in a row... even with that little mind game stunt you pulled."

Reaching her own desk, Amanda leaned against it. Thanks for the ratings, by the way... no matter if I condone the actions or not..."

[Lessien Melwasul]

~Betty pulled herself forward, putting uncomfortable weight on her knees.~

"The air you breath ..."

"Why Lover I think you've been up here too long. Perhaps I should drag your ass back down to Earth for an hour or two, it would do wonders for that lip of yours I'm sure."

~Betty eased back into the chair. Hurting Amanda would take far too long in her current condition. But she added anyways.~

"Do you think crippling a cripple would really bother me?"

"So quaint, the view up high."

~Alice looked up at the ceiling before Betty brought their eyes back to Wallace.~

"How long have we been together, Lover? Hmm? 3 years? More? Any longer and I would have to divorce Brent Starr and take you as my common law whore."

~Alice smiled ever so innocently.~

[Amanda Wallace]

"And that would be scary. Okay, so, since we've come to terms with just how long we've had to put up with each other, I know full well that it's time for business. What do you want? If it's one more shot at Jennifer, you have three other women to take that up with..."

[Lessien Melwasul]

"One more shot at Jennifer? From you??"

~Betty asked surprised.~

"Memories are all she has..."

~Alice guessed.~

"Memory is a funny thing, but I don't remember ever needing your hand to get what I wanted, Lover. If I wanted another shot at little Paper Drew? I would burn this tower down and wait for her to come in the smoke and flames. Then put her out."

~Alice day dreamed about it for a second until Betty found her business composure again.~

"Fortunately for you and your ever so neglected bottom line. I made Jennifer Drew. She was, is and forever will be nothing without me. But you already know that, Lover. That's why you've 'condoned' every last mile I've stepped at your side. Your little collection of paper girls are nothing until I breath it into them."

~The world that Lessien lived in was vivid at least.~

"No, as usual I'm going to give to you because that's the kind of woman I am."

"Caring."

"Loving.

Giving."

"Why some might even call me motherly."

"Friends forever."

~An unsettled grin.~

[Amanda Wallace]

"Right. So you come up here and wait in my office to tell me that you'll fight in the match that I've come up with to get new blood coming for... (your)... title... is that what I'm getting at?

Or are you forewarning me that these other two... "paper" girls that you have no history with are about to have some history with you? We saw what you pulled out of Crymson and MayheM, and I'd have to be an idiot to not notice that what you've pulled out of Jennifer...." she let her voice trail off for Lessien to continue in...

[Lessien Melwasul]

~Alice looked quizzical.~

"Save the communication techniques. This isn't some making others feel important exercise."

"This is the real thing."

"You remember 'real' don't you? The only commodity I deal with? Good."

~The form relaxed uneasily due to the fucked up things Drew did to her.~

"While all those things are true, Wallace. What I'm going to give your little tournament is far more than my entrance and a promise to make women out of them all."

~Betty paused.~

"I'm actually a little disappointed that you would think I would come in here like everybody else in this rotting profession ... to hear myself speak and tell you how great I am going to do before fucking off and doing the exact opposite."

"No."

"No, Lover. The thing I'm going to give to your tournament is real and it's going to make me these others just that much bigger than a champion."

"Once in a lifetime there was a girl."

"A once in a lifetime chance."

~Betty was quite serious and even Alice found some interest for a moment.~

"You're a clever woman Wallace. You've probably figured it out, but if not ... keep your eyes open and you won't miss it. I'll anounce it to these empty shells you've collected over the years in a language even the most shallow can understand."

"How did they live?"

"Why happily ever after of course. Didn't you know?"

~Betty paused and put a little weight on her temporary cane to rise out of the chair and turn towards the door, but she did pause and look back at them woman who had claimed the Ivory fucking Tower. A crooked smile through tobacco stained teeth.~

"The end."

~Betty gave a two finger salute off the rim of her glasses and left the office with no threats of violence or gasoline cans. Just the sound of boots with a limp.~

"London bridge is falling down. Falling down. Falling down..."

~And that, of course, was the last thing heard.~