Post by April Madrox on Jun 17, 2024 0:32:10 GMT
April sat cross-legged on the plush hotel bed, flipping through her phone while Brooklyn stood by the window, staring out at the bustling city of Okayama. The room was bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight, casting a serene glow over the sisters.
"Hey Brook, can we talk for a minute?" April's voice cut through the silence, drawing Brooklyn's attention away from the window.
Brooklyn turned to face her sister, her brows slightly furrowed. "Sure, what's on your mind?"
April hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Iâve been thinking about Dean and Damien... and even Warren. Like, I know things have been tense, but I reeeeeeeally want to try and get closer to them, especially Damien. I mean, he's just a kid, and I think it would be good for all of us to spend a little more time together outside the ring."
Brooklyn's expression softened, but there was still a hint of caution in her eyes. "April, I get where you're coming from. But you know how complicated things are with Dean. Trusting him isn't easy after everything that's happened."
April nodded, understanding her sister's reservations. "I know. Iâm not saying you need to just forget what happened. But maybe if we spend some time together, it can help us move past it. We need to build some kind of trust if weâre going to work together."
Brooklyn sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Youâre right. Itâs just hard. Every time I see him, Iâm reminded of the past. But... if you think this could help, Iâm willing to give it a try."
April's face lit up with a smile. "Thank you, Brook! I really think it could make a difference. Okay, so now comes the hard part ⌠any ideas for fun?"
Brooklyn pondered for a moment, then shrugged. "Iâm not sure. Maybe something simple, where we can all relax and just enjoy ourselves."
Aprilâs eyes sparkled with excitement as an idea struck her. "How about the zoo? Thereâs an amazing zoo here in Okayama. It would be perfect for Damien, and we can all just hang out and have a good time."
Brooklyn raised an eyebrow, considering the idea. "The zoo, huh? That actually sounds like a good plan. Damien would love it, and it gives us all a chance to be together in a less stressful environment."
April clapped her hands together, her excitement infectious. "Great! Iâll send Dean a text and invite them. Iâm sure theyâll be up for it."
Brooklyn nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Alright, letâs do it. Just... letâs keep our guard up, okay? We still need to be careful."
April reached out and squeezed her sisterâs hand. "I promise, Brook. Weâll be careful. But I really think this could help us all."
Brooklyn squeezed back, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Okay, then. Letâs give it a shot."
April quickly typed out a message on her phone, her fingers flying over the screen.
She hit send and looked up at Brooklyn, who had returned to her spot by the window. April joined her, both of them watching the city below.
"You know," Brooklyn said softly, "I really hope this works. For all our sakes."
April nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Me too, Brook. Me too."
They stood there in companionable silence, both sisters feeling a renewed sense of purpose and determination.
-----------------------------------------
April stood in front of the camera, her demeanor confident yet approachable. The familiar IWF logo behind, the banner framed her perfectly as she began to speak.
"Hey everyone, your favorite Madrox is back again!â
From the other room you clearly hear Brooklyn.
âExcuse me? What was that again?â
April smirks and continues, âThis week, olâ Dean and I are taking on Rini Ishikawa and Masao Akiyama. Now, I know what you're thinking: 'April, arenât you a bit nervous about facing Rini again after all those run-ins between the Murder and Birds of Prey?' And to that, I say⌠no ⌠not really."
April smiled, leaning in slightly as if sharing a secret.
"You see, I respect Rini. She's tough, skilled, and has a drive that I genuinely admire. Unlike some of our peers, I don't hold any ill will against her. I mean, sure, weâve had our clashes, but thatâs the nature of this business. Itâs all about competition and proving whoâs the best. Rini is a lilâ cinnamon bun just dripping with sickly sweet icing, so Iâve why would I sit here and cut her down for that?â
ââcause she gives me the diabeetusâ Brooklyn calls from the other room.
âRini,â April continues, ignoring her older sister, âyouâve given us some of our toughest fights, and Iâm looking forward to seeing how I stack up against you in the ring."
She paused, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"And then there's Masao Akiyama. Now, Iâve never crossed paths with Masao before, but Iâve seen what he can do. Dude is a tank! He's a legit powerhouse, and from what I've heard, just as sweet as olâ Rini-san. Itâs always a challenge going up against someone with that kind of raw strength, but thatâs exactly why Iâm excited. I want to test myself against the best, and Masao, you're definitely one of the best."
April's expression softened as she continued.
"Last week, I didn't get much offense in, but thanks to Dean, we secured the victory. Iâm hoping this week will be different. I want to get into the match more and show everyone what Iâm capable of. I want to prove that I can hang with the likes of Rini and Masao and that Dean and I are a force to be reckoned with as a team; kinda like he was with Brooklyn."
She glanced down for a moment, collecting her thoughts before looking back up at the camera.
"And you know, there's something else on my mind. Hopefully, an honest win this week could help rebuild the bridges between myself and Charlotte. We've had our differences, and I know respect is a two-way street. I can't control how Charlotte feels, but I can control how I perform in that ring. If I can show her that Iâm serious, that Iâm here to give it my all, maybeâjust maybeâwe can start to mend those fences."
April took a deep breath, her voice resolute.
"At the end of the day, this match isnât just about winning. Itâs about proving something to myself, to my team, and to everyone watching. Dean, I know that youâve had your ups and downs with Brook, but I trust you out there. And together, I believe we can take down Rini and Masao."
She smiled warmly, her confidence shining through.
"So Rini, Masao, get ready. Dean and I are coming, and weâre bringing everything weâve got. Letâs make this a match to remember."
April gave a nod to the camera, signaling the end of her promo, and the screen faded to black.
âOh look! They have ice cream! Can we get ice cream?â April asked, her eyes lighting up as she spotted the vendor.
âIce cream!â Damien cheered, bouncing with excitement.
Brooklyn and Dean shared a brief look before Brooklyn nodded. âGo ahead, you two. Dean and I will catch up.â
April took Damienâs hand and they walked over to the ice cream stand. The array of colorful flavors caught Damienâs attention, and he stared at them wide-eyed. âWhat kind do you want?â April asked, crouching down to his level.
Damien scanned the choices, his eyes finally settling on a bright blue one. âBlue moon! Itâs my favorite,â he declared.
âExcellent choice,â April said with a grin, ordering two cones. She paid the vendor and handed Damien his treat, taking her own vanilla cone with sprinkles. They found a nearby bench and sat down, the warm afternoon sun making the ice cream melt quickly.
âSo, Damien,â April began, licking her cone, âare you having fun today?â
âYeah!â Damien replied enthusiastically, though his expression turned a bit more thoughtful as he looked at his ice cream. âBut... itâs kinda weird too.â
April tilted her head, curious. âWeird? How so?â
âWell,â Damien started, his small brow furrowing, âDaddy and Auntie Brooklyn donât like each other sometimes. I donât get why. They used to be friends, right?â
April sighed softly, feeling the weight of Damienâs confusion. âYeah, they did. Sometimes grown-ups have big feelings that are hard to talk about, and it makes things tricky. But it doesnât mean they donât care about each other.â
Damien nodded slowly, processing her words. âBut why canât they just say sorry and be friends again?â
April smiled gently, reaching out to smooth Damienâs hair. âItâs not always that simple, buddy. When people get hurt, it takes time to heal. But you know whatâs important?â
âWhat?â Damien asked, looking up at her with wide eyes.
âThat youâre super loved,â April said, her voice full of warmth. âBy your daddy, by Auntie Brooklyn, and by me. We all care about you so much, and weâre all trying our best to make things better.â
Damien seemed to take comfort in her words, his frown easing. âReally?â
âReally,â April confirmed. âAnd youâre such a great kid, Damien. You bring a lot of joy to everyone around you. Sometimes itâs just hard for grown-ups to figure out their own stuff, but it doesnât change how much we love you.â
Damien smiled, his mood lifting. âThanks, Auntie April.â
âYouâre welcome, sweetie,â April replied, giving him a quick hug. âNow, letâs finish our ice cream before it melts everywhere!â
They laughed together, enjoying the simple pleasure of their treat. April felt a sense of peace, grateful for the opportunity to connect with Damien and offer him some reassurance. She glanced back at Brooklyn and Dean, who were deep in conversation, their expressions serious yet determined.
As they finished their ice cream, Damien seemed more at ease, his earlier concerns melting away like the remnants of his treat. April felt a renewed sense of purpose. She was determined to help bridge the gap between her sister and Dean, for Damienâs sake and for the sake of their shared history.
âReady to see more animals?â April asked, standing up and brushing off her hands.
âYeah! Letâs go!â Damien agreed, his excitement returning.
They walked back towards Brooklyn and Dean, who were still talking but seemed a little less tense. April gave her sister a reassuring smile, and Brooklyn nodded, understanding the silent message.
"Hey Brook, can we talk for a minute?" April's voice cut through the silence, drawing Brooklyn's attention away from the window.
Brooklyn turned to face her sister, her brows slightly furrowed. "Sure, what's on your mind?"
April hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Iâve been thinking about Dean and Damien... and even Warren. Like, I know things have been tense, but I reeeeeeeally want to try and get closer to them, especially Damien. I mean, he's just a kid, and I think it would be good for all of us to spend a little more time together outside the ring."
Brooklyn's expression softened, but there was still a hint of caution in her eyes. "April, I get where you're coming from. But you know how complicated things are with Dean. Trusting him isn't easy after everything that's happened."
April nodded, understanding her sister's reservations. "I know. Iâm not saying you need to just forget what happened. But maybe if we spend some time together, it can help us move past it. We need to build some kind of trust if weâre going to work together."
Brooklyn sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Youâre right. Itâs just hard. Every time I see him, Iâm reminded of the past. But... if you think this could help, Iâm willing to give it a try."
April's face lit up with a smile. "Thank you, Brook! I really think it could make a difference. Okay, so now comes the hard part ⌠any ideas for fun?"
Brooklyn pondered for a moment, then shrugged. "Iâm not sure. Maybe something simple, where we can all relax and just enjoy ourselves."
Aprilâs eyes sparkled with excitement as an idea struck her. "How about the zoo? Thereâs an amazing zoo here in Okayama. It would be perfect for Damien, and we can all just hang out and have a good time."
Brooklyn raised an eyebrow, considering the idea. "The zoo, huh? That actually sounds like a good plan. Damien would love it, and it gives us all a chance to be together in a less stressful environment."
April clapped her hands together, her excitement infectious. "Great! Iâll send Dean a text and invite them. Iâm sure theyâll be up for it."
Brooklyn nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Alright, letâs do it. Just... letâs keep our guard up, okay? We still need to be careful."
April reached out and squeezed her sisterâs hand. "I promise, Brook. Weâll be careful. But I really think this could help us all."
Brooklyn squeezed back, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Okay, then. Letâs give it a shot."
April quickly typed out a message on her phone, her fingers flying over the screen.
"Hey Dean, B and I were thinking it would be great to spend some more QT together. How âbout we all go to the Ikeda Zoo tmr? Bring Damien and Warren too. Itâll be fun! XO"
"You know," Brooklyn said softly, "I really hope this works. For all our sakes."
April nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Me too, Brook. Me too."
They stood there in companionable silence, both sisters feeling a renewed sense of purpose and determination.
-----------------------------------------
April stood in front of the camera, her demeanor confident yet approachable. The familiar IWF logo behind, the banner framed her perfectly as she began to speak.
"Hey everyone, your favorite Madrox is back again!â
From the other room you clearly hear Brooklyn.
âExcuse me? What was that again?â
April smirks and continues, âThis week, olâ Dean and I are taking on Rini Ishikawa and Masao Akiyama. Now, I know what you're thinking: 'April, arenât you a bit nervous about facing Rini again after all those run-ins between the Murder and Birds of Prey?' And to that, I say⌠no ⌠not really."
April smiled, leaning in slightly as if sharing a secret.
"You see, I respect Rini. She's tough, skilled, and has a drive that I genuinely admire. Unlike some of our peers, I don't hold any ill will against her. I mean, sure, weâve had our clashes, but thatâs the nature of this business. Itâs all about competition and proving whoâs the best. Rini is a lilâ cinnamon bun just dripping with sickly sweet icing, so Iâve why would I sit here and cut her down for that?â
ââcause she gives me the diabeetusâ Brooklyn calls from the other room.
âRini,â April continues, ignoring her older sister, âyouâve given us some of our toughest fights, and Iâm looking forward to seeing how I stack up against you in the ring."
She paused, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"And then there's Masao Akiyama. Now, Iâve never crossed paths with Masao before, but Iâve seen what he can do. Dude is a tank! He's a legit powerhouse, and from what I've heard, just as sweet as olâ Rini-san. Itâs always a challenge going up against someone with that kind of raw strength, but thatâs exactly why Iâm excited. I want to test myself against the best, and Masao, you're definitely one of the best."
April's expression softened as she continued.
"Last week, I didn't get much offense in, but thanks to Dean, we secured the victory. Iâm hoping this week will be different. I want to get into the match more and show everyone what Iâm capable of. I want to prove that I can hang with the likes of Rini and Masao and that Dean and I are a force to be reckoned with as a team; kinda like he was with Brooklyn."
She glanced down for a moment, collecting her thoughts before looking back up at the camera.
"And you know, there's something else on my mind. Hopefully, an honest win this week could help rebuild the bridges between myself and Charlotte. We've had our differences, and I know respect is a two-way street. I can't control how Charlotte feels, but I can control how I perform in that ring. If I can show her that Iâm serious, that Iâm here to give it my all, maybeâjust maybeâwe can start to mend those fences."
April took a deep breath, her voice resolute.
"At the end of the day, this match isnât just about winning. Itâs about proving something to myself, to my team, and to everyone watching. Dean, I know that youâve had your ups and downs with Brook, but I trust you out there. And together, I believe we can take down Rini and Masao."
She smiled warmly, her confidence shining through.
"So Rini, Masao, get ready. Dean and I are coming, and weâre bringing everything weâve got. Letâs make this a match to remember."
April gave a nod to the camera, signaling the end of her promo, and the screen faded to black.
-----------------------------------------
âOh look! They have ice cream! Can we get ice cream?â April asked, her eyes lighting up as she spotted the vendor.
âIce cream!â Damien cheered, bouncing with excitement.
Brooklyn and Dean shared a brief look before Brooklyn nodded. âGo ahead, you two. Dean and I will catch up.â
April took Damienâs hand and they walked over to the ice cream stand. The array of colorful flavors caught Damienâs attention, and he stared at them wide-eyed. âWhat kind do you want?â April asked, crouching down to his level.
Damien scanned the choices, his eyes finally settling on a bright blue one. âBlue moon! Itâs my favorite,â he declared.
âExcellent choice,â April said with a grin, ordering two cones. She paid the vendor and handed Damien his treat, taking her own vanilla cone with sprinkles. They found a nearby bench and sat down, the warm afternoon sun making the ice cream melt quickly.
âSo, Damien,â April began, licking her cone, âare you having fun today?â
âYeah!â Damien replied enthusiastically, though his expression turned a bit more thoughtful as he looked at his ice cream. âBut... itâs kinda weird too.â
April tilted her head, curious. âWeird? How so?â
âWell,â Damien started, his small brow furrowing, âDaddy and Auntie Brooklyn donât like each other sometimes. I donât get why. They used to be friends, right?â
April sighed softly, feeling the weight of Damienâs confusion. âYeah, they did. Sometimes grown-ups have big feelings that are hard to talk about, and it makes things tricky. But it doesnât mean they donât care about each other.â
Damien nodded slowly, processing her words. âBut why canât they just say sorry and be friends again?â
April smiled gently, reaching out to smooth Damienâs hair. âItâs not always that simple, buddy. When people get hurt, it takes time to heal. But you know whatâs important?â
âWhat?â Damien asked, looking up at her with wide eyes.
âThat youâre super loved,â April said, her voice full of warmth. âBy your daddy, by Auntie Brooklyn, and by me. We all care about you so much, and weâre all trying our best to make things better.â
Damien seemed to take comfort in her words, his frown easing. âReally?â
âReally,â April confirmed. âAnd youâre such a great kid, Damien. You bring a lot of joy to everyone around you. Sometimes itâs just hard for grown-ups to figure out their own stuff, but it doesnât change how much we love you.â
Damien smiled, his mood lifting. âThanks, Auntie April.â
âYouâre welcome, sweetie,â April replied, giving him a quick hug. âNow, letâs finish our ice cream before it melts everywhere!â
They laughed together, enjoying the simple pleasure of their treat. April felt a sense of peace, grateful for the opportunity to connect with Damien and offer him some reassurance. She glanced back at Brooklyn and Dean, who were deep in conversation, their expressions serious yet determined.
As they finished their ice cream, Damien seemed more at ease, his earlier concerns melting away like the remnants of his treat. April felt a renewed sense of purpose. She was determined to help bridge the gap between her sister and Dean, for Damienâs sake and for the sake of their shared history.
âReady to see more animals?â April asked, standing up and brushing off her hands.
âYeah! Letâs go!â Damien agreed, his excitement returning.
They walked back towards Brooklyn and Dean, who were still talking but seemed a little less tense. April gave her sister a reassuring smile, and Brooklyn nodded, understanding the silent message.