Post by Rowan MacDonnough on Jul 30, 2017 18:23:55 GMT
"Come on, you're leaving? Just a few days before Lineage? Come on, we just bonded over a long road trip! We could hang out, have some fun!"
Rowan shrugged as she lifted her bag - a small affair of just a few of her necessary possessions - over her shoulder. Cross realized just how rarely he saw the woman out of her wrestling attire - even the few times he'd visited the compound she'd been in athletic gear. It was strangely incongruous to see her wearing jeans and a jacket, and even after the past few days of driving it still seemed almost absurd. The mask was still there, though, giving Rowan more of an appearance of an unpleasant goth girl than the professional wrestler he knew her to be. She also hadn't taken off her contacts... assuming they were contacts at all. Cross was starting to wonder.
"There is to be a house show," she replied simply. "Aren't you the one always saying I should be doing more to build our name and presence within the company?"
Cross nodded reluctantly. "Well, I mean, sure, but... I dunno, I thought we could spend some time together. Go out for dinner as a family or something."
Rowan's eyes narrowed. "Cross, if I have to sit and listen to you and Jason Sandman discuss the intricacies of human procreation for one more second without beating someone until they bleed, then my betrayal is going to come significantly faster than anticipated."
Cross made a show of looking wounded. "My lady! I would have thought that you, of all people, would appreciate in-depth discussion on the nature of sin!"
"And the fact that the two of you have made such unpalatable even to me is a true testament to how much you belong in the circle of Lust. Knowing you, you'd find a way to enjoy damnation in such a place."
There was a knock on the door, which Rowan answered, revealing Dean Harper standing behind it holding a bag of his own. Rowan wordlessly handed him her own luggage before he noticed Xavier standing in the room behind her. His eyes immediately narrowed with displeasure as Cross smiled at Dean disarmingly.
"What is he doing in your room?" he asked with a suspicious and somewhat threatening note.
"Nothing untoward, Qyburn," Xavier replied with a sigh. "You should stop being so suspicious of me all the time. Really, we should hang out, get a few beers, talk about your future in The Council. You kicked ass in your debut, bringing Saffron down like that. You'd do well with us."
"My loyalty is to Rowan, and Rowan alone," Harper growled back.
Xavier looked at him incredulously. "Then why are you so crabby that I'd want to spend time with her too? Or are you jealous? Do you think I'm going to beat you to the punch and enjoy time in her bed before you have the shot?"
Dean looked horrified. "How dare you! I would not sully her with human attraction!"
Xavier glanced at Rowan. "Is this guy for real?"
"ENOUGH."
The two men fell silent as Rowan glared at them, suddenly seeming to tower over them both. "This bickering is pointless. We all have more important things to keep on or minds right now. Cross, Dean is my most loyal, and is welcome to choose whether or not he will align his interests with the Council's or stay entirely devoted to me. Dean, I can spend time with whomsoever I wish, and until I tell you to destroy them, this intensity of hostility is not demanded by duty. Remember that you're the one joining me on this venture, and Cross is not. Take my bags down to the vehicle downstairs."
Dean bowed slightly. "As you wish, my Lady," he replied smoothly, and departed without another word. Rowan and cross stood in silence for a few moments as the Wolf of the Abyss massaged the bridge of her nose with her eyes closed as though resisting a powerful headache.
"I don't think he likes me much."
Rowan growled. "Clearly it is your preternatural powers of observation that set you apart from the rest of human society."
Xavier crossed his arms. "I still don't see why you're going all the way out to this show after we spent all this time on the road. I think we need to sit and refocus, get everything ready for Lineage. Between the title shots and the clusterfuck match, we have a lot to ready ourselves for, and can't afford distractions."
Rowan let out a sharp chuckle. "Do I look distracted?"
He shrugged. "Hard to say behind that mask you're always wearing. You haven't even filmed a promo yet."
Rowan turned and looked at him for a long moment. At length she finally replied "What I do tonight has everything to do with the coming battle. I'm simply... learning from example, how best to handle situations such as this."
"Whose example would that be?"
"Yours."
Cross raised an eyebrow. "That's... okay, that's new. Dare I ask how?"
Rowan walked to the door, stopping briefly in the frame and fixing Cross with a look over her shoulder. "In battles of importance, it is best to charge and fight in the front rather than hide behind cheap theatrics. What I have to say to Pandora before a fight like this shouldn't be said to a camera - it should be said to her face."
Cross blinked... and then slowly broke into a wide grin. "...Freeman's going to the house show."
Somehow, even behind the bask, Xavier could tell that Rowan was smiling at him. "Freeman's going to the house show," she confirmed.
Cross laughed and flopped down on the bed, waving her away. "Enough said! Kick her ass, baby - I got your flower."
"Here is your winner... Pandora FREEMAN!"
The small arena is packed tight in this, one of the last house shows before Lineage. The crowd erupts into an explosion of cheers as Pandora stands victorious over her opponent, holding the Diamonds Championship belt proudly over her head before taking to the ropes, urging the audience to its feet. She leaps out of the ring with a huge smile on her face as her defeated opponent slinks backstage. She dances around ringside, enjoying selfies with her adoring fans, bumping fists, and generally having an awesome time. Finally, she makes her way back to the ramp, smiling and waving at the crowd... when her music abruptly stops short, replaced by Birthday Massacre's Red Stars.
Pandora's eyes snap wide as she whirls around, seeing Rowan appear from backstage in a swirl of red smoke. The crowd goes nuts as Rowan stalks down the ramp towards Pandora, eyes locked on the Diamonds Champion with a fiery intensity. Pandora backs up, head tilted to the side with a grin growing on her face as she rolls back into the ring. Rowan follows her, and the two of them circle one another before lifting the mic to her mask.
"Congratulations, Pandora Freeman," she begins. "I'm sure that felt so... empowering. Fighting and defeating her in your last match before Lineage. Tell me, Pandora... do you feel strong? Do you feel like that shining beacon of hope that will stand strong against the darkness? Do you think that your ability to defeat her makes you capable of withstanding what's coming next?"
Pandora shrugs and nods, getting a cheer from the crowd. Rowan simply chuckles.
"Bravado. Smiling into the fire. A tired and laughable response, but not an unexpected one. Not from you. You see, Pandora, I've come to understand you in the past week, much more than I thought I would. You've had so much practice putting on the smiling mask as you gaze into the terrifying blackness... not because you've faced it in so many others, but because you gaze into its eyes every time you look into a mirror."
She laughs. "It's a shame that Sara Garcia can't be here tonight. She would have been more than welcome, I'm sure, but I think we both know that she was too afraid to step out of her sister's shadow. It's ironic how she's willing to languish there, watching as her sister rises so high above her - Paige's charisma and entertainer's mind giving her so much more popularity and success than little, down to earth Sara. Given that Sara's unwavering, loyal efforts are the only reason that Paige has claimed as much success as she has... I wonder if Sara's become jealous of her sister's success, knowing that she should be the one with the credit? I wonder if Paige has recognized that if Sara wins, she may no longer be willing to sacrifice everything she has in the past to help Paige stay at the top? What do you think, Pandora - do you think that Paige will help Sara in our match at Lineage, or do you think that she'll abandon our opponent out of fears of being outshone?"
Rowan holds the mic towards her. "You know what I think. I hope Paige never plays a part, but not out of fear but out of respect. But I also wouldn't be surprised to see her turn up, what about you...Row Row?"
Rowan shakes her head. "Oh, I have little doubt that Paige will be at ringside... but I somehow suspect that when push comes to shove, she won't risk helping out her dear sister. But in the end, Pandora... I don't really care about Garcias. I'm here for you. In the end, you're the Diamond's Champion, and you're the one who has the most to lose. You've beaten the successful Garcia sister to earn that belt over your shoulder, and you've bested all others who have come to end your reign. I've seen what you can do. I've seen what you're willing to put yourself through in order to win." She tilts her head to the side, stepping up to Pandora and looking at her dead in the eye. "But I've also seen where you'll stop. I've seen the lines you're afraid to cross. The boxes you're afraid to open out of fear of what you'll become. They say that the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows, Pandora Freeman, the self-styled beacon of hope in an ocean of darkness... but when you say that, all I hear is that you cast in your heart a shadow darker than anyone has ever truly understood... until now."
Pandora's eyes harden, and she actually looks angry as Rowan chuckles darkly into the microphone. "You know that you'll have to do it, right? Dig deep into that shadow in order to emerge victorious come Lineage. If you want to beat me, to prevent me from walking away with that belt you proudly wear over your shoulder, then you'll have to look into your gut and embrace everything about yourself that you hate and fear. You'll have to open your little box and let it all come pouring out, but you and I both know that you're too damn scared to do it. You're so terrified of what you'll become if you let it out that you won't even let yourself consider that nuclear option. That's the difference between you and me, Pandora Freeman - at the end of the day, I'm willing to draw upon everything I have in order to get what I want, while you're too busy holding yourself back to work at even a fraction of that potential!"
She laughs in Pandora's face. "And you know the best part, Pandora? The part that makes me happiest through all of this?"
She leans right up to Pandora's ear. "All I want is for the Diamonds Championship to be held by a force of destruction, someone who will annihilate their enemies and transform the Diamonds Division into a hellish reflection of what it is today, where empathy and heroism are weaknesses to be extinguished and consumed, and nobody holds back or shows mercy. If you do manage to beat me... if you cast aside your fears and become what you were born to be... I. Still. Win."
Pandora snaps, and unloads on Rowan with the belt, but Rowan saw it coming and spins back, laughing at the champion mockingly. She slides out of the ring and reaches under it while Pandora chases her to the outside, the crowd cheering her on as she does so. She gets to the outside, but finds Rowan ready for her with her signiature kendo stick, wrapped in barbed wire! The Wolf of the Abyss lays into the champion, driving Pandora back with intensifying, maniacal laughter as Pandora barely manages to deflect the onslaught with the championship belt. Security rushes into the ring, but Dean Harper appears from the crowd and leaps over the barricade, holding them back to allow his mistress' onslaught to continue. Pandora continues to use the belt as a shield as Rowan lays into her in an increasingly frantic, unhinged assault.
Pandora grits her teeth and throws herself into the attack, knocking Rowan back with a TANK GIRL Muay Thai knee strike, sending the kendo stick scattering to the floor. Belt still in hand, Pandora takes the opportunity to roll into the ring, snatching up the mic as she does so.
"COME AND GET IT, SISTER!"
Rowan's psychotic laughter continues as she leaps into the ring, spring-boarding off of the ropes and plowing hard into Pandora with the MARK OF MACHA Elbow Strike. Pandora crashes to the floor, sending the Diamonds belt scattering to the ground nearby. Rowan rises to her feet, slowly looking between Pandora and the belt. Slowly, eyes not leaving the champion as she groggily rises to her feet, Rowan steps over to the belt and picks it up off of the ground. Pandora holds it for a few long moments as Pandora rises to continue the fight, the packed crowd roaring their approval as Pandora charges... only to be struck hard to the ground as Rowan whips the belt into her face. Pandora collapses again, and Rowan stands strong over her before dropping the title on top of the champion and grabbing the mic from the floor.
"Just as I thought. Too weak to let go. Enjoy that belt while it lasts, Pan-Pan". She says the last words with a viciously mocking sneer. "After Lineage, you'll never hold it again."
The lights black out briefly, and when they come back Rowan is no longer in the ring, leaving a stirring Pandora, her belt, and red smoke in her wake.
Rowan shrugged as she lifted her bag - a small affair of just a few of her necessary possessions - over her shoulder. Cross realized just how rarely he saw the woman out of her wrestling attire - even the few times he'd visited the compound she'd been in athletic gear. It was strangely incongruous to see her wearing jeans and a jacket, and even after the past few days of driving it still seemed almost absurd. The mask was still there, though, giving Rowan more of an appearance of an unpleasant goth girl than the professional wrestler he knew her to be. She also hadn't taken off her contacts... assuming they were contacts at all. Cross was starting to wonder.
"There is to be a house show," she replied simply. "Aren't you the one always saying I should be doing more to build our name and presence within the company?"
Cross nodded reluctantly. "Well, I mean, sure, but... I dunno, I thought we could spend some time together. Go out for dinner as a family or something."
Rowan's eyes narrowed. "Cross, if I have to sit and listen to you and Jason Sandman discuss the intricacies of human procreation for one more second without beating someone until they bleed, then my betrayal is going to come significantly faster than anticipated."
Cross made a show of looking wounded. "My lady! I would have thought that you, of all people, would appreciate in-depth discussion on the nature of sin!"
"And the fact that the two of you have made such unpalatable even to me is a true testament to how much you belong in the circle of Lust. Knowing you, you'd find a way to enjoy damnation in such a place."
There was a knock on the door, which Rowan answered, revealing Dean Harper standing behind it holding a bag of his own. Rowan wordlessly handed him her own luggage before he noticed Xavier standing in the room behind her. His eyes immediately narrowed with displeasure as Cross smiled at Dean disarmingly.
"What is he doing in your room?" he asked with a suspicious and somewhat threatening note.
"Nothing untoward, Qyburn," Xavier replied with a sigh. "You should stop being so suspicious of me all the time. Really, we should hang out, get a few beers, talk about your future in The Council. You kicked ass in your debut, bringing Saffron down like that. You'd do well with us."
"My loyalty is to Rowan, and Rowan alone," Harper growled back.
Xavier looked at him incredulously. "Then why are you so crabby that I'd want to spend time with her too? Or are you jealous? Do you think I'm going to beat you to the punch and enjoy time in her bed before you have the shot?"
Dean looked horrified. "How dare you! I would not sully her with human attraction!"
Xavier glanced at Rowan. "Is this guy for real?"
"ENOUGH."
The two men fell silent as Rowan glared at them, suddenly seeming to tower over them both. "This bickering is pointless. We all have more important things to keep on or minds right now. Cross, Dean is my most loyal, and is welcome to choose whether or not he will align his interests with the Council's or stay entirely devoted to me. Dean, I can spend time with whomsoever I wish, and until I tell you to destroy them, this intensity of hostility is not demanded by duty. Remember that you're the one joining me on this venture, and Cross is not. Take my bags down to the vehicle downstairs."
Dean bowed slightly. "As you wish, my Lady," he replied smoothly, and departed without another word. Rowan and cross stood in silence for a few moments as the Wolf of the Abyss massaged the bridge of her nose with her eyes closed as though resisting a powerful headache.
"I don't think he likes me much."
Rowan growled. "Clearly it is your preternatural powers of observation that set you apart from the rest of human society."
Xavier crossed his arms. "I still don't see why you're going all the way out to this show after we spent all this time on the road. I think we need to sit and refocus, get everything ready for Lineage. Between the title shots and the clusterfuck match, we have a lot to ready ourselves for, and can't afford distractions."
Rowan let out a sharp chuckle. "Do I look distracted?"
He shrugged. "Hard to say behind that mask you're always wearing. You haven't even filmed a promo yet."
Rowan turned and looked at him for a long moment. At length she finally replied "What I do tonight has everything to do with the coming battle. I'm simply... learning from example, how best to handle situations such as this."
"Whose example would that be?"
"Yours."
Cross raised an eyebrow. "That's... okay, that's new. Dare I ask how?"
Rowan walked to the door, stopping briefly in the frame and fixing Cross with a look over her shoulder. "In battles of importance, it is best to charge and fight in the front rather than hide behind cheap theatrics. What I have to say to Pandora before a fight like this shouldn't be said to a camera - it should be said to her face."
Cross blinked... and then slowly broke into a wide grin. "...Freeman's going to the house show."
Somehow, even behind the bask, Xavier could tell that Rowan was smiling at him. "Freeman's going to the house show," she confirmed.
Cross laughed and flopped down on the bed, waving her away. "Enough said! Kick her ass, baby - I got your flower."
"Here is your winner... Pandora FREEMAN!"
The small arena is packed tight in this, one of the last house shows before Lineage. The crowd erupts into an explosion of cheers as Pandora stands victorious over her opponent, holding the Diamonds Championship belt proudly over her head before taking to the ropes, urging the audience to its feet. She leaps out of the ring with a huge smile on her face as her defeated opponent slinks backstage. She dances around ringside, enjoying selfies with her adoring fans, bumping fists, and generally having an awesome time. Finally, she makes her way back to the ramp, smiling and waving at the crowd... when her music abruptly stops short, replaced by Birthday Massacre's Red Stars.
Pandora's eyes snap wide as she whirls around, seeing Rowan appear from backstage in a swirl of red smoke. The crowd goes nuts as Rowan stalks down the ramp towards Pandora, eyes locked on the Diamonds Champion with a fiery intensity. Pandora backs up, head tilted to the side with a grin growing on her face as she rolls back into the ring. Rowan follows her, and the two of them circle one another before lifting the mic to her mask.
"Congratulations, Pandora Freeman," she begins. "I'm sure that felt so... empowering. Fighting and defeating her in your last match before Lineage. Tell me, Pandora... do you feel strong? Do you feel like that shining beacon of hope that will stand strong against the darkness? Do you think that your ability to defeat her makes you capable of withstanding what's coming next?"
Pandora shrugs and nods, getting a cheer from the crowd. Rowan simply chuckles.
"Bravado. Smiling into the fire. A tired and laughable response, but not an unexpected one. Not from you. You see, Pandora, I've come to understand you in the past week, much more than I thought I would. You've had so much practice putting on the smiling mask as you gaze into the terrifying blackness... not because you've faced it in so many others, but because you gaze into its eyes every time you look into a mirror."
She laughs. "It's a shame that Sara Garcia can't be here tonight. She would have been more than welcome, I'm sure, but I think we both know that she was too afraid to step out of her sister's shadow. It's ironic how she's willing to languish there, watching as her sister rises so high above her - Paige's charisma and entertainer's mind giving her so much more popularity and success than little, down to earth Sara. Given that Sara's unwavering, loyal efforts are the only reason that Paige has claimed as much success as she has... I wonder if Sara's become jealous of her sister's success, knowing that she should be the one with the credit? I wonder if Paige has recognized that if Sara wins, she may no longer be willing to sacrifice everything she has in the past to help Paige stay at the top? What do you think, Pandora - do you think that Paige will help Sara in our match at Lineage, or do you think that she'll abandon our opponent out of fears of being outshone?"
Rowan holds the mic towards her. "You know what I think. I hope Paige never plays a part, but not out of fear but out of respect. But I also wouldn't be surprised to see her turn up, what about you...Row Row?"
Rowan shakes her head. "Oh, I have little doubt that Paige will be at ringside... but I somehow suspect that when push comes to shove, she won't risk helping out her dear sister. But in the end, Pandora... I don't really care about Garcias. I'm here for you. In the end, you're the Diamond's Champion, and you're the one who has the most to lose. You've beaten the successful Garcia sister to earn that belt over your shoulder, and you've bested all others who have come to end your reign. I've seen what you can do. I've seen what you're willing to put yourself through in order to win." She tilts her head to the side, stepping up to Pandora and looking at her dead in the eye. "But I've also seen where you'll stop. I've seen the lines you're afraid to cross. The boxes you're afraid to open out of fear of what you'll become. They say that the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows, Pandora Freeman, the self-styled beacon of hope in an ocean of darkness... but when you say that, all I hear is that you cast in your heart a shadow darker than anyone has ever truly understood... until now."
Pandora's eyes harden, and she actually looks angry as Rowan chuckles darkly into the microphone. "You know that you'll have to do it, right? Dig deep into that shadow in order to emerge victorious come Lineage. If you want to beat me, to prevent me from walking away with that belt you proudly wear over your shoulder, then you'll have to look into your gut and embrace everything about yourself that you hate and fear. You'll have to open your little box and let it all come pouring out, but you and I both know that you're too damn scared to do it. You're so terrified of what you'll become if you let it out that you won't even let yourself consider that nuclear option. That's the difference between you and me, Pandora Freeman - at the end of the day, I'm willing to draw upon everything I have in order to get what I want, while you're too busy holding yourself back to work at even a fraction of that potential!"
She laughs in Pandora's face. "And you know the best part, Pandora? The part that makes me happiest through all of this?"
She leans right up to Pandora's ear. "All I want is for the Diamonds Championship to be held by a force of destruction, someone who will annihilate their enemies and transform the Diamonds Division into a hellish reflection of what it is today, where empathy and heroism are weaknesses to be extinguished and consumed, and nobody holds back or shows mercy. If you do manage to beat me... if you cast aside your fears and become what you were born to be... I. Still. Win."
Pandora snaps, and unloads on Rowan with the belt, but Rowan saw it coming and spins back, laughing at the champion mockingly. She slides out of the ring and reaches under it while Pandora chases her to the outside, the crowd cheering her on as she does so. She gets to the outside, but finds Rowan ready for her with her signiature kendo stick, wrapped in barbed wire! The Wolf of the Abyss lays into the champion, driving Pandora back with intensifying, maniacal laughter as Pandora barely manages to deflect the onslaught with the championship belt. Security rushes into the ring, but Dean Harper appears from the crowd and leaps over the barricade, holding them back to allow his mistress' onslaught to continue. Pandora continues to use the belt as a shield as Rowan lays into her in an increasingly frantic, unhinged assault.
Pandora grits her teeth and throws herself into the attack, knocking Rowan back with a TANK GIRL Muay Thai knee strike, sending the kendo stick scattering to the floor. Belt still in hand, Pandora takes the opportunity to roll into the ring, snatching up the mic as she does so.
"COME AND GET IT, SISTER!"
Rowan's psychotic laughter continues as she leaps into the ring, spring-boarding off of the ropes and plowing hard into Pandora with the MARK OF MACHA Elbow Strike. Pandora crashes to the floor, sending the Diamonds belt scattering to the ground nearby. Rowan rises to her feet, slowly looking between Pandora and the belt. Slowly, eyes not leaving the champion as she groggily rises to her feet, Rowan steps over to the belt and picks it up off of the ground. Pandora holds it for a few long moments as Pandora rises to continue the fight, the packed crowd roaring their approval as Pandora charges... only to be struck hard to the ground as Rowan whips the belt into her face. Pandora collapses again, and Rowan stands strong over her before dropping the title on top of the champion and grabbing the mic from the floor.
"Just as I thought. Too weak to let go. Enjoy that belt while it lasts, Pan-Pan". She says the last words with a viciously mocking sneer. "After Lineage, you'll never hold it again."
The lights black out briefly, and when they come back Rowan is no longer in the ring, leaving a stirring Pandora, her belt, and red smoke in her wake.
Well howdy there pardner.