Post by Gabrielle Visconty on Jul 10, 2020 20:31:30 GMT -6
7/7/2020
Tokyo, Japan
Hoshinoya Hotel
6:19 PM
Gabi sat restlessly in a chair on the balcony of her hotel room. She was just the room over from the Rayder’s, but it felt like a world away at the moment. She had been out of her room for a few minutes only to return to find an envelope. It had a single picture in it: Candy and Gabi sitting by the pool at the Candy Castle. The thing that bothered Gabi the most about it, Candy’s face had a giant red X through it… No demands or warnings, just a red X right in the middle of Candy’s face. It provoked a sinking feeling she just couldn’t shake. Ever since Gabi had discovered that Morgan had sent a skull mask to Candy, she had felt responsible for dragging Candy into this. But why was Captain Morgan even after her in the first place? Her mind raced over the possibilities, from the sane to the down right outlandish. Nothing made sense.
The image moves to the lobby of the hotel to find Ruthann Hunter sitting off to the side of it in a large, comfy looking chair.
Ruthann Hunter had to say last night’s match was one the best between two wrestlers she had seen in a long time. She knew that the EWC was in great hands with wrestlers like she saw last night. She ran her hand into her hair a bit because something entered her mind after Gabi’s promo this week. It was really great, full of the passion and strength she knew that was living inside of this young woman. She just needed to know something, so she was sitting in the lobby and sent a message to Gabi’s phone.
Hey, I am in the lobby and want to talk for a bit. Can you come down?
Gabi’s phone begins chirping and she pulls it out of her pocket to see Ruthann Hunter’s txt message. Gabi quickly replies to Ruthann.
I’m on my way! Gimme a minute.
Gabi slides her phone into her pocket and heads down to the lobby. Ruthann noticed her coming off the elevator as she smiled over at her, waving to her and pointing to the chair across from her. Gabi takes the chair across from Ruthann and offers her a questioning look.
"I have to tell you tonight made me really proud of you. You are doing great out there and you are showing how you are your own person. You are slowly becoming that firey phoenix that can raise above anything. I just need to know one thing, do you trust me? Did I ever once make you feel that I am trying to make you into someone you not?"
Gabi looks a little confused as she shakes her head slightly before answering.
"No, I don’t think you’ve tried to make me into someone I am not. I trust you… What is going on?"
Ruthann nods softly looking over at her closely with a serious look, but also trying not to scare her either, it’s just Ruthann being the protective wife.
"While I was wrestling in the EWC everyone would always say that Jaden was trying to change me into someone I am not. Jaden looks at everything as business but he is not out to make someone into another him. I don’t know who else has been in your ear, but Jaden isn’t like that at all. When you told Bosa don’t let him make a 2.0 of himself out of you that kind of hit home for me. Yes, I might have joked about it when we ran into Bosa but I know my husband, he just wanted to be another Terry Jones for someone else. Terry Jones was like a father to him and one of the best managers. I don’t think he ever thought he could be, but Bosa brought that out of him. Makes him see he could be."
Ruthann sighed a bit as she reached over to Gabi and grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently with love.
"That is why I have to ask, do you trust me? If that was the type of person Jaden was, I wouldn’t be who I am in front of you. That man is my husband, my heart, and my drive. Ruthann would not be here if it wasn’t for Jaden. Jaden wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Ruthann, even though he will not tell anyone, and you better not tell him I told you that."
Ruthann smiled a bit but she could also tell something else was on Gabi’s mind as she looked at her closely.
"Tell me..."
Gabi frowns slightly as she leans forward in her seat.
"I called it how I saw it. You know Xplode way better than I do… hell, better than anyone. My interactions with him have always been poor to say the least. So when I see him trying to drive Bosa in a direction, I can’t help but think he is trying to change him into someone he is not. But like I said, I am a stranger on the outside looking in. Xplode’s career was done before I set foot in the EWC, so I really only know him from the surface; the ring persona. You love the guy, so that tells me there is more there than what I know. I respect you, Ruthann… I have never said anything else about you. Even when we faced off at Thunder, I never said anything less than I respected you. I respect Xplode for his accomplishments and his in-ring ability… He has never given me a reason to respect him outside of the ring… not yet at least… And if he ever did come up and pat me on the back and tell me I was doing a good job, I would be worried he was about to hit me with his finisher."
Gabi replies with a slight smile. She knew Ruthann loved Xplode, and Gabi understood how her words could have upset her.
"I’m sorry if I upset you, Ruthann… It wasn’t my intention to do that."
Ruthann nodded a bit but she laughed because she had got hit with Xplode’s finisher a couple of times herself, so she knew what that was really like.
"Look, Jaden doesn't do that. He shows emotion towards people differently. He will not come right out to someone and tell them or pat them on the back. He has his way of pushing people and making people see something about themselves. Always remember people have different ways to express their emotions. Thank you for understanding."
She looks over at Gabi and nods slowly.
"I want you to think about one thing before I go. We only let certain people come to our gym. So far only you, Ace King, Melody and Bosa have been around our gym and house. There is a reason for that. A BIG reason for that. So, I hope I help you see him a little bit differently."
Gabi chuckles a little as she offers Ruthann a smile.
"I understand... But if he treats me like crap, I am going to return the favor."
She offers a playful wink with her comments.
"I thank you and Xplode for letting me in the house, and I really appreciate you taking the time to help train me. It means a lot…The whole ‘family’ thing is a bit sensitive for me right now, so my words may have come out a little more bitter than intended."
Ruthann smiled softly as she stood up and looked over at her.
"You are welcome. Family is a bit of a sensitive thing with everyone I feel at the moment. I also can sense something else is on your mind. Whatever it is, don’t forget you can talk to me about it when you are ready. You are not alone."
Gabi seems to struggle with something for a moment before she offers Ruthann a soft smile.
"Thanks, Ruthann, I’ll keep that in mind."
Gabi stands up and hugs Ruthann, who offers Gabi a warm smile before they say their goodbyes.
7/7/2020
Tokyo, Japan
Hoshinoya Hotel
10:52 PM
Gabi sat at the bar nursing a rum and coke. She was resisting the urge to go back upstairs to her room, to try and find peace in resting before the flight to Fukui tomorrow for Uprising. She sipped her drink and stared straight ahead, letting out a long sigh, knowing there was no peace for her in sleep.
He sat down beside her and ordered another whiskey sour. “And one more for the lady.” he said in a raspy voice. Gabi looked over at the Mercenary and smirked up at him.
“I’m not even the least bit interested.” she explained with more than a little bit of venom in her voice.
“It’s not like that.” he said. “Just consider it a peace offering.”
The drinks were served and the two sat in silence for a few moments. Gabi wondered exactly what and why Merc was in Japan, in her hotel bar. Then she remembered he was in Japan for Uprising’s match tomorrow as well.
“I’m sorry about your parents,” he said. The words did not come easy. “You know I lost my Mom. I was locked up at the time. They wouldn’t even let me go to her funeral. I… I never forgave myself for that… for not being there for her in the end.”
He took a long gulp of his drink and ordered another. He looked over at her nursing her drink. He stared at her until she was awkwardly aware of his attention. She glared back at him.
“You know you don’t have to be ashamed of it." He said, sipping his drink. "You don’t have to be ashamed of how it makes you feel. You don’t have to apologize for the pills or for trying to feel better after what happened to your parents. You don’t owe anybody that. Fuck Tommy Love. You don’t owe him anything. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.”
She took a long sip and stared at him.
“What’s your point?” Gabi said in a guarded tone.
He sighed and drained the glass again. “Nothing… I guess. I just wanted to tell you… I just wanted you to know that you were better than all that. Fuck’em if they can’t take a joke. Ya know? I just… I don’t know.”
She looked at him: This enemy. This adversary: One of the only people that had been honest with her since her world fell apart. She looked at him and smiled, toasting him with her half empty glass.
He nodded back and drained his own glass to the dregs. “Anyway,” He nodded. “take it easy.”
“Thanks for the drink, Merc.” Gabi replied with a bit of kindness in her voice. “Good luck tomorrow.”
He slammed his glass down on the bar, nodded at Gabi and walked away, out into the night and the uncertain world beyond. Gabi finished her drink and made her way back up to her room. She was dreading the flight a head of her in the morning. She wanted to be there for Candy on Uprising, just in case Morgan and his Reaver's decided to take a shot at her there. Gabi opened her door to her room slowly, half expecting there to be someone waiting for her inside... but there was nothing. The image fades as she kicks off her shoes and makes her way wearily over towards the bed.