Post by Alex "Bullet" Carbajal on Jun 12, 2019 19:22:39 GMT -6
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Shieldmaidens Clubhouse
Church Room
New Orleans, Louisiana
1:15 PM CDT
Church…
The word took on a special meaning in the world of the Shieldmaidens and the Chrome Dragons. This was the place where routine meetings took place on a regular basis, whether a full table was available or not. More times than not, at least one or two of the Shieldmaidens number was unavailable due to wrestling commitments, random personal matters or club business. Sometimes it was even a business matter that was for the dayjob many of them held at the Venom Ink tattoo and piercing parlor downstairs or in the Twisted Steel Garage next door.
Special emergency meetings in the middle of the day at Church didn’t happen often, but when they did, shockwaves usually followed, especially when it was just between the Club President, Robi Jean “RJ” Mitchell and Club Vice President Alex “Bullet” Carbajal.
Today, the two sat at the grand oak table and stare grimly at each other, both knowing the other is not going to have good news for them given the day’s subject matter.
Detective Marchand and his vendetta ride against the club.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: So, what do we know?
Bullet inclined her head and then sits forward in her chair.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: I have intel from Tarasenko, from 30-30, from Salazar, from Marcos, from Julio and I even had Jack tell me from Hot Rod, they’ve all heard the same thing. Whatever Marchand is after, it’s all about you but no one knows why.
RJ’s eyes narrow. This was not good news at all.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Have you heard this from anyone else in house?
Bullet shakes her head quickly.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Just Jack, but I have not asked anyone else either. The Maguires have all been busy dealing with Bruiser’s injury. Crash N’ Burn were supposed to get back to me but they were not finished with their scans yet a few minutes ago.
RJ takes in a quick, sharp breath.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: I think we need to get Widow, Tibs and Queenie in here and see what they have, but if this is not contradicted…
Bullet nods grimly, almost sadly.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: I know…
Bullet stands and steps outside, returning in seconds with the other three Club Officers, Club Sgt-At-Arms Ophelia “Widow” Blaque, Club Treasurer Jocelyn “Tibs” Thibault and Club Secretary Lyall “Queenie” Laveau. The four women take their seats at the table and RJ nods to them.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Alex and I were discussing the intel we’ve gotten on Marchand. She has five sources and one from Bandit that all say the same thing.
Tibs is quick to nod, eager to share.
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: I heard back from Laviolette and Cherry Bomb. They said word was, it’s all on you.
Widow nods in similar fashion.
Ophelia "Widow" Blaque: I heard the same from my contacts. All three said you had really pissed him off somehow and it was his mission to take us down just to stick it to you.
Queenie nods, trying not to be as grim as the others seemingly were about things.
Leonie "Queenie" Laveau: I was just down with Crash N’ Burn and that’s what they’re finding too. He seems to have checked into everything about you and then expanded into us to find leverage points to use against you.
RJ’s right hand squeezes almost into a fist, stopping just short before opening back up again.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Ok…
RJ goes silent for a second, the others all waiting for their marching orders. They all knew some had to be coming as there was no way RJ was just going to take this news lying down.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: What are you thinking?
After another long pause, RJ looks her vice president dead in the eyes.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Nuclear option…
Bullet’s eyes go wide in shock. This was not what she had expected at all.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We really want to do this?
RJ shrugs.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: What choice do we have? He’s moved in on family, on children. He threatened almost all of us with whatever he thinks will be the sharpest knife and tried for blood. It’s only a matter of time before he goes to the big guns he’s hinted at. Then Corrie goes to jail, RJ, Jr. gets taken away, he goes after Widow’s son, goes for deporting you, Essie, Gata, Rynn, Sorsh, Banshee, Fi, possibly even Bandit if he really wants to play dirty. If we want to head that off…
Bullet sighs heavily, knowing what this means is about to happen. She closes her eyes and nods slowly to herself, steeling herself for the sonic boom they’re about to unleash. She opens her eyes and nods firmly.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We need to get Angel and Essie in here to see if they are ready, especially since we have not actually voted the Mount Diablos over here yet.
Tibs frowns in confusion.
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: Ghost would really give that up?
Bullet shrugs almost dismissively.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: I think she should stay, they have a nice thing going but it’s not up to me.
RJ nods, waving her hand almost as dismissively as Bullet had just shrugged.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Regardless, we need to do this for us, for the club, for the family…
Bullet nods, quickly turning to Tibs.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Tibs, go see if Angel is still in the next room. She and Essie were supposed to be talking family some in there.
Tibs leaves and within a minute, returns with the two women in question, Angelqie “Angel” Leroux and Essentia “Essie” Carbajal in tow.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Please sit…
Both women do as bidden.
RJ nods to Bullet.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: So, given the Marchand situation, we need everyone to agree in here. If you have misgivings about the plan we’re about to propose, please speak now or forever hold peace.
All five women staring at her nod.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Widow and I will give up our officer patches and put in with the Norns for a transfer to the Nomads. I will ask that the gavel goes to Alex.
Bullet nods, jumping in quickly before the questions start fast and furious.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Accordingly, I will nominate Angel as the new VP since she has experience as a Club President and can help me to make this transition go as smoothly as possible. I will also nominate Essie to be accepted as a transfer from Mount Diablo to NOLA and then to be the new Sgt-At-Arms given her experience in that role previously.
Stunned, Tibs turns to RJ.
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: What happens when this is all over?
Bullet nods slightly towards RJ.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Then we cross that bridge when come to it. If things can go back to normal, we can realign again after.
RJ nods her agreement.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: We are not leaving, remember, we’re just stepping into a more flexible position where we can best serve the club.
Queenie sighs heavily.
Leonie "Queenie" Laveau: What happens if everybody isn’t down for this?
Bullet sits up straight, nodding gently.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Then we talk things out until we can all agree and come together. This is about circling wagons. We have been too wide open and exposed to his attack.
Again, RJ nods her agreement.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: This will help close that hole he’s been sneaking in.
Widow can’t help but nod her own agreement, adding it to the other two.
Ophelia "Widow" Blaque: Not to mention, give us a better shot at ending this before it gets really ugly.
Bullet nods and then gently turns to the other two women who have thus far remained silent.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Ange, Essie, ¿Qué piensas?
Angel exhales forcefully, yet understandingly.
Angelique "Angel" LeRoux: You are both certain?
RJ nods firmly.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Yes.
Bullet nods just as firmly.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Sí.
Looking just as taken off-guard as the others, Essentia nods in Widow’s direction.
Essentia "Essie" Carbajal: And you, Widow?
Widow nods firmly back.
Ophelia "Widow" Blaque: Yes.
Taking a second to ponder the situation, Angel nods.
Angelique "Angel" LeRoux: I’m in.
Taking what seems like forever, Essie finally nods her assent as well.
Essentia "Essie" Carbajal: Yo también.
RJ nods, smiling yet not quite happily.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: All those in favor?
All seven women raise their hands. RJ nods and Bullet quickly turns to Tibs.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Do we have a full table here?
Tibs shakes her head quickly.
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: Bruiser’s laid up. Psycho, Banshee, Chaos and Fetch are with her at the hospital.
Queenie nods her agreement.
Leonie "Queenie" Laveau: Sam is…
Alex nods before Queenie can finish her statement. .
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We probably need to get in touch with her, possibly need the Twins to set up a call.
RJ nods knowingly.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: An hour, you think?
Bullet nods her agreement.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Probably.
An hour later…
The Shieldmaidens enter the Church room and fill in around the table. RJ stands at the head, her hands on the table, her head bowed almost as if saying a pre-meeting prayer. Filling in to her right, are Vice President Alex “Bullet” Carbajal, Club Treasurer Jocelyn “Tibs” Thibault, Club Road Captain Lyall “Lyric” Allen, Fianna “Fetch” Kenyon, an empty chair with a laptop sitting open to show Samantha “Titaness” Hamilton, Aerynn “Chaos” Maguire, Aoife “Banshee” Maguire and Zoya “Pebbles” Riis. To RJ left, sit Sgt-At-Arms Ophelia “Widow” Blaque, Club Secretary Leonie “Queenie” Laveau, Angelique “Angel” Leroux, Tanya “Crash” Christensen, Danya “Burn” Christensen, Jackie “Bandit” Layton, “Psycho” Saoirse Maguire and an empty chair where Becca “Bruiser” Maguire would be if she were not currently hospitalized with a leg injury. RJ looks up and nods to the group.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Thank you for coming like this, especially to those that were watching over Bruiser and to Sam from Cali.
Fetch, Chaos, Psycho and Banshee all nod their acknowledgements as if it’s obvious they would be here when called. From her video screen, Sam nods in kind.
Samantha "Titaness" Hamilton: Of course, what’s up?
RJ nods gravely to Bullet.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We’ve been getting intel from all over and we have eleven sources plus what Crash N’ Burn were able to learn that says the entire Marchand matter is a personal vendetta against RJ. We do not know what his endgame is and we do not know his true motivations, just that he is out to get her and intends to go through all of us to get to her because he believes it will hurt her more if he does this.
RJ nods again, just as gravely as before.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: So, we have a plan and therefore we have several orders of business on the agenda tonight. First up is that Essie…
She nods to the Colombian woman standing near the door.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Has a standing request to transfer from the Mount Diablo Charter to the NOLA Charter. So, with a full table, we put it to the vote, yay or nay on accepting Essie’s request?
They go around the table, almost everyone smiling in near giddy anticipation.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Aye!
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: Aye!
Lyall "Lyric" Allen: : Hell yes!
Fianna "Fetch" Kenyon: Aye!
Samantha "Titaness" Hamilton: Aye!
Aerynn "Chaos" Maguire: Aye!
Aoife "Banshee" Maguire: Aye!
Zoya "Pebbles" Riis: Aye!
"Psycho" Saoirse Maguire: Aye then!
Jackie "Bandit" Layton: Aye!
Danya "Burn" Christensen: Aye!
Tanya "Crash" Christensen: Aye!
Angelique "Angel" LeRoux: Aye!
Leonie "Queenie" Laveau: Aye!
Ophelia "Widow" Blaque: Aye!
RJ nods to the empty space near the empty chair set aside for Bruiser and Essie takes her place.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Welcome to the NOLA Charter.
The other Maidens cheer as Essie takes her seat. RJ nods to herself, seemingly talking herself into what has to come next.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Next order of business…
She sighs heavily and then looks to the table full of women, all of whom she has come to call sister. She swallows quickly and then nods one more time.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Given the Marchand situation, the time has come for some drastic measures to be taken. This will be a dangerous mission and because of the suspected targeting, I must take it on. That is why…
Her right hand balls into a fist as her eyes close.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: That is why I have put in a request to Yseult…
She swallows hard again, almost unable to speak.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: To allow Widow and I to transfer to the Nomad Charter.
Aside from Bullet, Widow, Tibs, Lyric, Angel and Essie, every mouth falls open in shock.
Samantha "Titaness" Hamilton: What?
Aoife "Banshee" Maguire: Lass?
RJ nods as everyone else starts to come out of their stunned silence at once.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: So I bring it to the table. Do you accept our nomination to take my place as NOLA Charter President…
She nods to Bullet.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Alex “Bullet” Carbajal…
Taking a deep breath, RJ forces herself to continue.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: As Widow and I hand in our officer patches?
Everyone stares at their president in stunned disbelief.
Jackie "Bandit" Layton: You’re leaving us?
Unable to speak, RJ’s eyes remain slammed shut. Bullet nods and stands up.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: They need to be able to work in secret, away from the full table. It will not allow them to fulfill their duties, but they are NOT abandoning us. They are doing this FOR us. If Marchand is going to come after us all where it hurts, then they need to be able to do the same for him and they cannot do that trying to sit here with us. If they succeed, everything will be as it was with no problems should they wish it. We will also not abandon them to be martyrs for this cause. Those of you who work at Venom Ink, you will keep that place as it is FOR them. They are trusting all of us with their babies and we cannot let them down! We have talents and experience amongst us, we can do this. We can be who they need us to be to allow them to go out and do what they must for us! ¿Entiendes?
RJ nods slowly, her eyes remaining shut.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: All those in favor?
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Aye!
Tibs and Lyric quickly nod in unison.
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: Aye.
Lyall "Lyric" Allen: : Aye.
Fetch stares at RJ and then looks to Bullet before nodding slowly.
Fianna "Fetch" Kenyon: Aye!
On her video screen, Sam still looks stunned. She swallows hard and then nods reluctantly.
Samantha "Titaness" Hamilton: Aye!
Chaos balls her right hand into a fist, looking angry at this turn of events.
Aerynn "Chaos" Maguire: Damn him….
She stops herself from pounding the table and then nods.
Aerynn "Chaos" Maguire: Aye!
Banshee wipes a tear from her eye.
Aoife "Banshee" Maguire: Tha bae whut ye bae wantin’ then?
RJ nods and Banshee sniffs sadly.
Aoife "Banshee" Maguire: Aye!
Looking almost too stunned to speak, Pebbles simply looks away.
Zoya "Pebbles" Riis: Aye!
Psycho looks to the empty chair next to her and then closes her eyes.
"Psycho" Saoirse Maguire: I hope ye bae knowin’ whut ye bae doin’, Lass… aye.
Essie nods without hesitation.
Essentia "Essie" Carbajal: Aye...
Bandit looks up the table at Bullet, plaintively begging with ehr eyes for there to be a punchline coming. Bullet nods back to her and Bandit can see from the look in her longtime friend’s eyes that no punchline is coming.
Jackie "Bandit" Layton: I… fuck me…. Aye…
The Twins sit in their chairs trembling, neither seemingly able to believe what they are hearing.
Tanya "Crash" Christensen: Really?
RJ nods again and both twins sit back in their chairs almost as if they are both controlled by the same strings.
Danya "Burn" Christensen: But…
RJ nods to them in a rather motherly manner.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: It’s alright…
The twins nod, both now crying quite readily.
Danya "Burn" Christensen: Aye!
Tanya "Crash" Christensen: Aye!
With tears now seemingly streaming down every face, the last three all fire off their answers in quick succession.
Angelique "Angel" LeRoux: Aye!
Leonie "Queenie" Laveau: Aye!
Ophelia "Widow" Blaque: Aye!
RJ nods, picks up her gavel and bangs it one more time.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Motion carries…
She finally manages to open her eyes, tears now streaming down her own face.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Thank you.
She carefully removes her kutte and pulls a pocket knife from her left jeans pocket. With quick precision, she removes the President patch from her vest and holds it out to Bullet, her hand shaking as she does so.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: It’s… yours now…
Bullet steps over to her, accepts the patch and then hugs the now-former president, both women sobbing as they do so.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: I will keep your chair warm…
RJ nods as they maintain their embrace.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: I love you, Mija. You keep things together.
Shieldmaidens Clubhouse
Church Room
New Orleans, Louisiana
1:15 PM CDT
Church…
The word took on a special meaning in the world of the Shieldmaidens and the Chrome Dragons. This was the place where routine meetings took place on a regular basis, whether a full table was available or not. More times than not, at least one or two of the Shieldmaidens number was unavailable due to wrestling commitments, random personal matters or club business. Sometimes it was even a business matter that was for the dayjob many of them held at the Venom Ink tattoo and piercing parlor downstairs or in the Twisted Steel Garage next door.
Special emergency meetings in the middle of the day at Church didn’t happen often, but when they did, shockwaves usually followed, especially when it was just between the Club President, Robi Jean “RJ” Mitchell and Club Vice President Alex “Bullet” Carbajal.
Today, the two sat at the grand oak table and stare grimly at each other, both knowing the other is not going to have good news for them given the day’s subject matter.
Detective Marchand and his vendetta ride against the club.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: So, what do we know?
Bullet inclined her head and then sits forward in her chair.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: I have intel from Tarasenko, from 30-30, from Salazar, from Marcos, from Julio and I even had Jack tell me from Hot Rod, they’ve all heard the same thing. Whatever Marchand is after, it’s all about you but no one knows why.
RJ’s eyes narrow. This was not good news at all.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Have you heard this from anyone else in house?
Bullet shakes her head quickly.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Just Jack, but I have not asked anyone else either. The Maguires have all been busy dealing with Bruiser’s injury. Crash N’ Burn were supposed to get back to me but they were not finished with their scans yet a few minutes ago.
RJ takes in a quick, sharp breath.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: I think we need to get Widow, Tibs and Queenie in here and see what they have, but if this is not contradicted…
Bullet nods grimly, almost sadly.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: I know…
Bullet stands and steps outside, returning in seconds with the other three Club Officers, Club Sgt-At-Arms Ophelia “Widow” Blaque, Club Treasurer Jocelyn “Tibs” Thibault and Club Secretary Lyall “Queenie” Laveau. The four women take their seats at the table and RJ nods to them.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Alex and I were discussing the intel we’ve gotten on Marchand. She has five sources and one from Bandit that all say the same thing.
Tibs is quick to nod, eager to share.
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: I heard back from Laviolette and Cherry Bomb. They said word was, it’s all on you.
Widow nods in similar fashion.
Ophelia "Widow" Blaque: I heard the same from my contacts. All three said you had really pissed him off somehow and it was his mission to take us down just to stick it to you.
Queenie nods, trying not to be as grim as the others seemingly were about things.
Leonie "Queenie" Laveau: I was just down with Crash N’ Burn and that’s what they’re finding too. He seems to have checked into everything about you and then expanded into us to find leverage points to use against you.
RJ’s right hand squeezes almost into a fist, stopping just short before opening back up again.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Ok…
RJ goes silent for a second, the others all waiting for their marching orders. They all knew some had to be coming as there was no way RJ was just going to take this news lying down.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: What are you thinking?
After another long pause, RJ looks her vice president dead in the eyes.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Nuclear option…
Bullet’s eyes go wide in shock. This was not what she had expected at all.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We really want to do this?
RJ shrugs.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: What choice do we have? He’s moved in on family, on children. He threatened almost all of us with whatever he thinks will be the sharpest knife and tried for blood. It’s only a matter of time before he goes to the big guns he’s hinted at. Then Corrie goes to jail, RJ, Jr. gets taken away, he goes after Widow’s son, goes for deporting you, Essie, Gata, Rynn, Sorsh, Banshee, Fi, possibly even Bandit if he really wants to play dirty. If we want to head that off…
Bullet sighs heavily, knowing what this means is about to happen. She closes her eyes and nods slowly to herself, steeling herself for the sonic boom they’re about to unleash. She opens her eyes and nods firmly.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We need to get Angel and Essie in here to see if they are ready, especially since we have not actually voted the Mount Diablos over here yet.
Tibs frowns in confusion.
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: Ghost would really give that up?
Bullet shrugs almost dismissively.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: I think she should stay, they have a nice thing going but it’s not up to me.
RJ nods, waving her hand almost as dismissively as Bullet had just shrugged.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Regardless, we need to do this for us, for the club, for the family…
Bullet nods, quickly turning to Tibs.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Tibs, go see if Angel is still in the next room. She and Essie were supposed to be talking family some in there.
Tibs leaves and within a minute, returns with the two women in question, Angelqie “Angel” Leroux and Essentia “Essie” Carbajal in tow.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Please sit…
Both women do as bidden.
RJ nods to Bullet.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: So, given the Marchand situation, we need everyone to agree in here. If you have misgivings about the plan we’re about to propose, please speak now or forever hold peace.
All five women staring at her nod.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Widow and I will give up our officer patches and put in with the Norns for a transfer to the Nomads. I will ask that the gavel goes to Alex.
Bullet nods, jumping in quickly before the questions start fast and furious.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Accordingly, I will nominate Angel as the new VP since she has experience as a Club President and can help me to make this transition go as smoothly as possible. I will also nominate Essie to be accepted as a transfer from Mount Diablo to NOLA and then to be the new Sgt-At-Arms given her experience in that role previously.
Stunned, Tibs turns to RJ.
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: What happens when this is all over?
Bullet nods slightly towards RJ.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Then we cross that bridge when come to it. If things can go back to normal, we can realign again after.
RJ nods her agreement.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: We are not leaving, remember, we’re just stepping into a more flexible position where we can best serve the club.
Queenie sighs heavily.
Leonie "Queenie" Laveau: What happens if everybody isn’t down for this?
Bullet sits up straight, nodding gently.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Then we talk things out until we can all agree and come together. This is about circling wagons. We have been too wide open and exposed to his attack.
Again, RJ nods her agreement.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: This will help close that hole he’s been sneaking in.
Widow can’t help but nod her own agreement, adding it to the other two.
Ophelia "Widow" Blaque: Not to mention, give us a better shot at ending this before it gets really ugly.
Bullet nods and then gently turns to the other two women who have thus far remained silent.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Ange, Essie, ¿Qué piensas?
Angel exhales forcefully, yet understandingly.
Angelique "Angel" LeRoux: You are both certain?
RJ nods firmly.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Yes.
Bullet nods just as firmly.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Sí.
Looking just as taken off-guard as the others, Essentia nods in Widow’s direction.
Essentia "Essie" Carbajal: And you, Widow?
Widow nods firmly back.
Ophelia "Widow" Blaque: Yes.
Taking a second to ponder the situation, Angel nods.
Angelique "Angel" LeRoux: I’m in.
Taking what seems like forever, Essie finally nods her assent as well.
Essentia "Essie" Carbajal: Yo también.
RJ nods, smiling yet not quite happily.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: All those in favor?
All seven women raise their hands. RJ nods and Bullet quickly turns to Tibs.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Do we have a full table here?
Tibs shakes her head quickly.
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: Bruiser’s laid up. Psycho, Banshee, Chaos and Fetch are with her at the hospital.
Queenie nods her agreement.
Leonie "Queenie" Laveau: Sam is…
Alex nods before Queenie can finish her statement. .
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We probably need to get in touch with her, possibly need the Twins to set up a call.
RJ nods knowingly.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: An hour, you think?
Bullet nods her agreement.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Probably.
An hour later…
The Shieldmaidens enter the Church room and fill in around the table. RJ stands at the head, her hands on the table, her head bowed almost as if saying a pre-meeting prayer. Filling in to her right, are Vice President Alex “Bullet” Carbajal, Club Treasurer Jocelyn “Tibs” Thibault, Club Road Captain Lyall “Lyric” Allen, Fianna “Fetch” Kenyon, an empty chair with a laptop sitting open to show Samantha “Titaness” Hamilton, Aerynn “Chaos” Maguire, Aoife “Banshee” Maguire and Zoya “Pebbles” Riis. To RJ left, sit Sgt-At-Arms Ophelia “Widow” Blaque, Club Secretary Leonie “Queenie” Laveau, Angelique “Angel” Leroux, Tanya “Crash” Christensen, Danya “Burn” Christensen, Jackie “Bandit” Layton, “Psycho” Saoirse Maguire and an empty chair where Becca “Bruiser” Maguire would be if she were not currently hospitalized with a leg injury. RJ looks up and nods to the group.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Thank you for coming like this, especially to those that were watching over Bruiser and to Sam from Cali.
Fetch, Chaos, Psycho and Banshee all nod their acknowledgements as if it’s obvious they would be here when called. From her video screen, Sam nods in kind.
Samantha "Titaness" Hamilton: Of course, what’s up?
RJ nods gravely to Bullet.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: We’ve been getting intel from all over and we have eleven sources plus what Crash N’ Burn were able to learn that says the entire Marchand matter is a personal vendetta against RJ. We do not know what his endgame is and we do not know his true motivations, just that he is out to get her and intends to go through all of us to get to her because he believes it will hurt her more if he does this.
RJ nods again, just as gravely as before.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: So, we have a plan and therefore we have several orders of business on the agenda tonight. First up is that Essie…
She nods to the Colombian woman standing near the door.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Has a standing request to transfer from the Mount Diablo Charter to the NOLA Charter. So, with a full table, we put it to the vote, yay or nay on accepting Essie’s request?
They go around the table, almost everyone smiling in near giddy anticipation.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Aye!
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: Aye!
Lyall "Lyric" Allen: : Hell yes!
Fianna "Fetch" Kenyon: Aye!
Samantha "Titaness" Hamilton: Aye!
Aerynn "Chaos" Maguire: Aye!
Aoife "Banshee" Maguire: Aye!
Zoya "Pebbles" Riis: Aye!
"Psycho" Saoirse Maguire: Aye then!
Jackie "Bandit" Layton: Aye!
Danya "Burn" Christensen: Aye!
Tanya "Crash" Christensen: Aye!
Angelique "Angel" LeRoux: Aye!
Leonie "Queenie" Laveau: Aye!
Ophelia "Widow" Blaque: Aye!
RJ nods to the empty space near the empty chair set aside for Bruiser and Essie takes her place.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Welcome to the NOLA Charter.
The other Maidens cheer as Essie takes her seat. RJ nods to herself, seemingly talking herself into what has to come next.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Next order of business…
She sighs heavily and then looks to the table full of women, all of whom she has come to call sister. She swallows quickly and then nods one more time.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Given the Marchand situation, the time has come for some drastic measures to be taken. This will be a dangerous mission and because of the suspected targeting, I must take it on. That is why…
Her right hand balls into a fist as her eyes close.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: That is why I have put in a request to Yseult…
She swallows hard again, almost unable to speak.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: To allow Widow and I to transfer to the Nomad Charter.
Aside from Bullet, Widow, Tibs, Lyric, Angel and Essie, every mouth falls open in shock.
Samantha "Titaness" Hamilton: What?
Aoife "Banshee" Maguire: Lass?
RJ nods as everyone else starts to come out of their stunned silence at once.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: So I bring it to the table. Do you accept our nomination to take my place as NOLA Charter President…
She nods to Bullet.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Alex “Bullet” Carbajal…
Taking a deep breath, RJ forces herself to continue.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: As Widow and I hand in our officer patches?
Everyone stares at their president in stunned disbelief.
Jackie "Bandit" Layton: You’re leaving us?
Unable to speak, RJ’s eyes remain slammed shut. Bullet nods and stands up.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: They need to be able to work in secret, away from the full table. It will not allow them to fulfill their duties, but they are NOT abandoning us. They are doing this FOR us. If Marchand is going to come after us all where it hurts, then they need to be able to do the same for him and they cannot do that trying to sit here with us. If they succeed, everything will be as it was with no problems should they wish it. We will also not abandon them to be martyrs for this cause. Those of you who work at Venom Ink, you will keep that place as it is FOR them. They are trusting all of us with their babies and we cannot let them down! We have talents and experience amongst us, we can do this. We can be who they need us to be to allow them to go out and do what they must for us! ¿Entiendes?
RJ nods slowly, her eyes remaining shut.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: All those in favor?
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: Aye!
Tibs and Lyric quickly nod in unison.
Jocelyn "Tibs" Thibault: Aye.
Lyall "Lyric" Allen: : Aye.
Fetch stares at RJ and then looks to Bullet before nodding slowly.
Fianna "Fetch" Kenyon: Aye!
On her video screen, Sam still looks stunned. She swallows hard and then nods reluctantly.
Samantha "Titaness" Hamilton: Aye!
Chaos balls her right hand into a fist, looking angry at this turn of events.
Aerynn "Chaos" Maguire: Damn him….
She stops herself from pounding the table and then nods.
Aerynn "Chaos" Maguire: Aye!
Banshee wipes a tear from her eye.
Aoife "Banshee" Maguire: Tha bae whut ye bae wantin’ then?
RJ nods and Banshee sniffs sadly.
Aoife "Banshee" Maguire: Aye!
Looking almost too stunned to speak, Pebbles simply looks away.
Zoya "Pebbles" Riis: Aye!
Psycho looks to the empty chair next to her and then closes her eyes.
"Psycho" Saoirse Maguire: I hope ye bae knowin’ whut ye bae doin’, Lass… aye.
Essie nods without hesitation.
Essentia "Essie" Carbajal: Aye...
Bandit looks up the table at Bullet, plaintively begging with ehr eyes for there to be a punchline coming. Bullet nods back to her and Bandit can see from the look in her longtime friend’s eyes that no punchline is coming.
Jackie "Bandit" Layton: I… fuck me…. Aye…
The Twins sit in their chairs trembling, neither seemingly able to believe what they are hearing.
Tanya "Crash" Christensen: Really?
RJ nods again and both twins sit back in their chairs almost as if they are both controlled by the same strings.
Danya "Burn" Christensen: But…
RJ nods to them in a rather motherly manner.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: It’s alright…
The twins nod, both now crying quite readily.
Danya "Burn" Christensen: Aye!
Tanya "Crash" Christensen: Aye!
With tears now seemingly streaming down every face, the last three all fire off their answers in quick succession.
Angelique "Angel" LeRoux: Aye!
Leonie "Queenie" Laveau: Aye!
Ophelia "Widow" Blaque: Aye!
RJ nods, picks up her gavel and bangs it one more time.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Motion carries…
She finally manages to open her eyes, tears now streaming down her own face.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: Thank you.
She carefully removes her kutte and pulls a pocket knife from her left jeans pocket. With quick precision, she removes the President patch from her vest and holds it out to Bullet, her hand shaking as she does so.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: It’s… yours now…
Bullet steps over to her, accepts the patch and then hugs the now-former president, both women sobbing as they do so.
Alex "Bullet" Carbajal: I will keep your chair warm…
RJ nods as they maintain their embrace.
Robi Jean "RJ" Mitchell: I love you, Mija. You keep things together.