No Cash And No Hope

[Hope Diamond]

OOC: Please read first: ewcprez.proboards.com/thread/38952/stranded-america

The Ritz-Carlton in Daly City

January 05th 2019
==========================

At first when I read through Lou´s notes – they are real hard copies, some of them written or typed by hand – I thought he was kidding. Do I look like a good Samaritan who drags some Russian backwater chick out of the gutter where her ex-manager left her to rot? Does Lou look like a good Samaritan to begin with?

I had to re-read the information thrice until the nickel started to drop.

That could one reason why I sort of like Lou as well as fear him – he is a crafty bastard who thinks around the corner even more than I do.

The wrestling word is a dangerous place., especially for me. It could pay off one day to have someone in your debt who can punch holes into other people.

So here I am in Daly City reading to give my best Samaritan performance.

Since the devil always looks out for his own I have no trouble finding the Russkie lady. She is right at the reception arguing with the hotel clerk as much as you can argue if you learned English in an online crash course.

Do they even have internet where the chick comes from?

Anyway I begin to understand why she is sold as the She-Hulk. Caslita looks like she can throw around a man. Maybe she can throw around a car too.

Receptionist: “Look Miss Nindrid. We have really been trying to help you. But we cannot reach Mister Savelievich. He does not answer the phone nor does he react to any SMS. The last thing we heard from him is that you will pay for his room.”

Caslita: “But Mister hotel clerk. I cannot pay for his room. He took my money. Did you speak to nice Mister FSW kind man?”

Receptionist: “Yes, we talked to Mr. Preenly this morning as well. He apparently spoke to his boss as well but they can´t help you here either. The Extreme Wrestling Corporation has confirmed that they will cover your stay here in full as well as your departure. They do not cover the expenses of your manager as there seems to be no contractual agreement. In fact they seem unhappy with Mr. Savelievich´s disappearance as well."

I walk right into their personal space and take over.

“Perhaps I can help here. I work for the EWC as well and if Miss Nindrid is in trouble I´m willing to pay for the vacated room her manager left behind.”

I turn towards the She Hulk Barbie.

“Word gets around what happened to you. I´m Hope Diamond another FSW competitor. I can help you get this all sorted out.”

Barbie looks at me with a frown still etched all over her face.

Caslita: “Why you want to help me?”

That´s a good question honey.

“As I said word gets around. FSW is a big family:”

Yup. Like the one I married into, just as dysfunctional.

Caslita: “Voronin told me he is family. Now he´s gone. My money with him.”

"And he left you with his hotel bill. I get that. How about I cover his expenses and the we sit down to talk?”

Her eyes narrow as she regards me suspiciously. Does she have some brains after all?

Caslita: “This is like fight in the ring. My problem. I take care. Thank you but no.”

“Somehow I don´t think you are in a good position to turn down friends.”

Caslita: I take care. My fight. Now please Miss Diamond mind elsewhere, yes?

You little bitch.

I cannot really hide my disappointment or my sneer.

“Alright. Your fight. Perhaps more of a fight than you think.”

Now I turn away from her and occupy the receptionist.

“Hope Diamond. I got a reservation for paying guests.”

TBC

[Deleted]

Caslita eyed Hope with suspicion as she turned away and went about discussing things with the receptionist. The Russian She-Hulk didn’t like the odd comment Hope made toward her. It came off as a veiled threat, but she thought maybe it was some kind of cultural difference.

She still didn’t like it though. And the way Hope looked at her when she said it didn’t ease her discomfort.

If there’s one thing her father drilled into her as a child, it was about a person’s eyes. A person can use their mouth to sell water as the fountain of youth. They can posture their body to intimidate or persuade. They can use their hands to aid their con.

But their eyes?

Caslita: “Your eyes.”

Her words drew Hope’s attention away from the receptionist and back to her. Caslita was going to finish the statement with, “they lie”, but a gentle tug on her shoulder distracted her.

It was security. Great. The final slice of bread to complete the shit sandwich she was going to have to eat.

Security: “Ma’am, I’m sorry to hear of your troubles. It’s messed up, but hotel staff has called me to make sure you know the ramifications of not settling this debt with our establishment.”

The She-Hulk was miffed and pulled her shoulder away in a huff.

Caslita: “Touch again, I crush hand.”

The security guard politely pulled his hand away, not out of fear but out of trying to get a rapport going with the helpless girl.

Security: “Not a problem, ma’am. Ms. Nindrid is it? You seem like a direct woman, Ms. Nindrid, so I’m going to be direct with you. I’m sure you can respect that. If you don’t pay this debt I will unfortunately have to detain you in the security office. If you still refuse to pay this debt at that point, I will be forced to call law enforcement on you. Police officers will arrive, arrest you, and take you to jail. They will set a bond for you, which will not be cheap. From what staff has told me, you have no money and are stranded, so you could actually be sitting in jail for a very long time.”

Hope Diamond: “Could be indefinitely. FSW will release you from the roster and EWC will terminate you. Even if you somehow got out of jail you would not have a job. You would be unemployed and homeless. That’s why I’m trying to help you. FSW is a family and-”

Caslita gave her an indifferent stare.

Caslita: “Mind elsewhere please Ms. Diamonds. I speak with security.”

Hope rolled her eyes and turned away. It took everything in her not to punch her in the face for her stupid pride and disrespect. Lou Thirteen better give her a medal for putting up with this Samaritan act bullshit.

Security: “You really should take up Ms. Diamond on this.”

Caslita: “How much is debt?”

The receptionist’s fingers flew across the keyboard with keen expertise and punched away until the total charge was tallied and displayed. Caslita’s jaw dropped. Hope’s eyes peeled wide. The total cost was exuberant.

Hope Diamond: “How could it be THAT high?”

The receptionist went down the item list one by one, mainly announcing the highest priced items. Caslita’s manager had ordered all the finest foods and drinks. Lobster, shrimp, prime steak, champagne, wine. He had also ordered a score of pricey stuff on pay-per-view; a lot more than he would have even had time for.

Caslita: “Sheet! Fuk!”

The Muscle Barbie buried her face in her hands for a moment. Reality had set in. There was no way out of this beyond a jail cell or accepting help from a woman with eyes of a snake. She looked up at Hope and nodded. She had to swallow that Russian pride. Hope wanted to bust out laughing right in her proud Russian face, but chose to let the natural course of things flow.

Caslita: “I did not want burden for you, Ms. Diamonds.”

Hope Diamond: “It’s okay. Like I said, FSW is family. We take care of each other. Don’t feel down; we all have to be humbled at some point. Tonight just happened to be your humbling experience.”

Hope gave her a coy smirk. She had the little Russian bitch right where she wanted her. Hope thought Caslita was a lost cause after that last exchange of looks, but was glad the dummy had embraced logic and came around.

The great thing about it was also the fact that she knew Caslita had honor code about her, so she would pay back the debt even if it was begrudgingly. Lou Thirteen you slick son of a bitch!

Caslita: “Thank you, Ms. Diamonds.”

Hope smiled and paid off the debt with a swift swipe of her card.

Hope Diamond: “And done.”

Caslita: “I will have the monies for you after first FSW match. Thank you.”

A puzzled look came over Hope.

Hope Diamond: “Oh no, honey. I don’t require money to resolve this debt. I require something else.”

Hope motioned to a nearby table for them to sit at.

Caslita: “I pay only money for money. I will repay. This is namber one truth.”

The Russian powerhouse stood there with an impassive stance and distant demeanor. Hope wasn’t used to someone flipping the tables on her like this, especially when she was the A-Side over them.

The Russian bitch didn’t know who she was dealing with though.

TBC…

[Hope Diamond]

The namber one truth is that Babooshka is starting to get on my nerves.

Money for money only, huh?

Somehow I feel disrespected like Marlon Brando in The Godfather.

It´s not good when I feel disrespected. Not good for others. I look at my left hand with the chunky golden ring, my wedding ring with the “H” emblazoned on it. Yes, it is very heavy for a wedding ring. I think it is good at breaking front teeth too.

Maybe my test subject is standing right in front of me with her arms crossed in defiance.

“Alright then. Make sure you deliver and get the MVP bonus so you can pay me money for money. It may not be a good idea to reject my courtesy and be so standoffish. Somehow I think I deserve better for my friendliness.”

Caslita´s stance and body language do not change a bit. If anything she locks up even more.

Caslita: “You not friendly. Your eyes say different.”

My eyes?

They are the mirror of our soul, right? Never bring a knife to a gun fight and never play poker without shades. I have to remember that. Couldn´t Baboosha wise up next year? I´m beginning to think it might be worthwhile to go to Siberia, dig up her wayward manager and string him up by his balls for ruining the perfect village idiot for me. What is the fun of having a stupid She-Hulk around if she isn´t stupid?

So she doesn´t like my eyes. I stare right into hers and wait for her to look away.

It doesn´t work. She keeps staring back.

Shit!

That´s 2:0 for the Russian muscle Barbie. What´s wrong? Am I losing my touch or what?

People with actual backbone always give me a headache.

Good thing that you can break backbones.

“Well perhaps something´s wrong with your eyes. Am I mistaken or did your people reading skills not work on your manager? And if they did not work why should they work now?

TBC

[Deleted]

Caslita balled her fists up at her sides. She wanted to batter the blonde’s delicate features but decided it wasn’t the best idea at that point.

Caslita: “Leave manager out these!”

Hope had gotten under her skin quick, which isn’t easy to do. As much as she hated it, Hope had a small point. How could the She Hulk have been so stupid trusting her manager after she’d rejected him?

Before the rejection there was nothing in his eyes to suggest anything nefarious. After the rejection though? She had to admit to herself there was a small hint of something there, but she thought it was because he was hurt over the rejection and that he would get over it eventually, especially after they came to America and became legends in EWC.

It was a very different case between her manager and Hope though.

Caslita: “Manager different. You are mean merry-can. Look like wet bird with snake eyes.”

Hope frowned at the poor girl’s attempt at an insult. It was so pathetic that Hope wasn’t going to waste time with a comeback. It’s not like the Russian would fully comprehend it anyway.

Hope: “Whatever Babooshka. Just make sure you pick up MVP money to go along with what you owe me. Also I’m charging a little bit of interest on top of all that because you’re being an ungrateful little brat.”

The Muscle Barbie gave her a stern finger point.

Caslita: “I crush interest!”

Hope: "No. You crush your opponent and pay me. That's what you crush." 

It angered the Russian even more and she started to walk toward Hope, but the security guard stepped between them to keep the peace.

Caslita: "You're not boss of me."

Tbc (or feel free to end the thread)