Post by betsy on Aug 9, 2021 0:00:05 GMT -5
A camera opens on Betsy Granger, watching something on her phone and laughing hysterically. She appears to be in her home this time around, doubled over on the sofa she was currently sitting on. Tears streaming down her face, she looks up at the camera, her emerald eyes glittering with amusement.
“You think I secretly want to fuck you, Mack? Is that the straw you're going to grasp at? Oh man, you haven’t changed a bit since GCWA, have you? Over there, I was a crazy bitch going through psychotic episodes just because your narrow mind has no room to expand beyond what’s tangible to YOU. My world was too much for your peanut brain to handle. Now I’m being reduced to little more than a horny slut who has an obsession with getting to your dick. I can’t wait to see what narrative you’ll try to set me up with next!”
Still cackling, Betsy tosses the phone aside and rolls onto the carpet. Sitting herself up, she forces herself into several deep breaths, trying to keep the laughter at bay.
“You know what though? You’re right, I do want to fuck you, more than you know. I went in dry at House of Cards; you never even had a chance to bite the pillow before I fucked you out of taking back what you believe is yours. I’ll fuck you again when I defeat you one on one to retain this strap you want so badly. I’ll keep fucking you over and over and over again, Mack, as many times as you want; grab those bedsheets for dear life, ‘cause it’s about to get rough. I promise to be nice this time around, though. I’ve got plenty of lube and a giant strap-on with your name on it. You may want me on your dick, but I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news for you, jailbird. The only reason I’ll come anywhere close to your floppy cock is to rip it off your body and finish your transition into becoming a walking, talking pussy. It's a pity you’ll never be anything more than a Blue Waffle in quality.”
“Perhaps it’s time to put the bottle down and face the sober reality of what’s about to happen. When I decided to accept the offer to come to OCW, you were the last person on my mind. You can believe that or not, I don’t care either way; but the fact is, I didn’t even turn my eyes on you until a little birdie let me know about the open challenge for the TransAtlantic Championship. That’s when I did a little research on the title; imagine my delight when I saw that YOU were the favorite to come in and challenge Vhodka for it! You know, it was one of those moments where Heaven’s Light started to shine down over my head and I could hear the angels singing. My path was suddenly clear and THAT’s when you became the object of my ‘obsession’, buddy boy.
The amusement finally leaves her tone as her face hardens.
The amusement finally leaves her tone as her face hardens.
So please, put down the Jack and realize that none of my attention towards you is unsatisfied desire. Give me a break, my dude; I practically live on the arm of one of, if not THE, hottest men in the entire industry. You must be pretty deep into your spirits by now to think I would trade down James Raven for Mack O’Connor.”
Her face remains a cold mask, completely devoid of her usual friendly humor.
“Tell yourself and your little friends whatever delusional prattle you feel is necessary to keep you relevant in this match-up. If it makes you feel better to think I want to sleep with you, by all means; feed the fantasy. Methinks perhaps you only said that as a feeler to see how interested I’d be in the prospect. I can’t blame you, I do have it all. Looks, class, charms, skills… I’m the whole package, so it’s no wonder why you’d have those kinds of thoughts about me. I’m not offended, honestly, you wouldn’t be the first or the last to do so. As long as you realize that your wildest fantasies are the only place in time and space that those desires will ever find fulfillment. I’m afraid it’s going to be just you and your hand as far as this girl goes. Nice try on the deflection, but you’re going to have to try harder than that next time.”
“Tell yourself and your little friends whatever delusional prattle you feel is necessary to keep you relevant in this match-up. If it makes you feel better to think I want to sleep with you, by all means; feed the fantasy. Methinks perhaps you only said that as a feeler to see how interested I’d be in the prospect. I can’t blame you, I do have it all. Looks, class, charms, skills… I’m the whole package, so it’s no wonder why you’d have those kinds of thoughts about me. I’m not offended, honestly, you wouldn’t be the first or the last to do so. As long as you realize that your wildest fantasies are the only place in time and space that those desires will ever find fulfillment. I’m afraid it’s going to be just you and your hand as far as this girl goes. Nice try on the deflection, but you’re going to have to try harder than that next time.”
She flips her hair over her shoulder and gives the camera a disarming grin.
“I could honestly stay here all day and list all the ways you suck harder than an employee at the Bunny Ranch. Seriously, any success you’ve ever found in your miserable existence you drunkenly fell into. Numbing yourself out of the pain may have worked before, but I’ve got you now. You’ll be caught in my web soon enough, and I’ll eat another ‘star’ of the business. Your belief that you can defeat me a second time is laughable in its foolish optimism. Don’t you know that the hardest opponent to defeat is one you’ve already beaten? You soundly won the first bout, I won’t deny it nor take it away from you. Round two went to me if you want to count it as such. I don’t because again, I never pinned you to win this belt. It hurts me that I had to go through Vhodka to win the damn strap; luckily, we toasted each other over some delicious post-match burgers. You, however… like the slippery shit that you are, managed to get out of the ring in time. Perhaps that’s why they felt you deserved the first shot at me; either way, it’s brilliant booking on their part.
You thought you had the TranAtlantic Title on lock at House of Cards.
Now you’ll be lucky if you’ll ever have it in your possession again. Once something is mine, it tends to stay that way.
Sorry about your luck, amigo.”
__________________________
In the private locker room of James Raven and Betsy Granger, the latter is currently sprawled out on the small sofa surrounded by burger wrappers. With her is her recent opponent and newly made friend Vhodka Marie… or was it Black now? The lady in question didn’t seem to mind either, at least not from her. She was far too distracted by the giant burger she was currently consuming in the comfy guest chair that had been brought in for her. In between them on the table was Betsy’s newly won TransAtlantic title. She had apologized profusely to Vhodka several times, genuinely full of remorse that it had to be her. Vhodka had waved her off with a smile, insisting that “thems are the ways of this crazy sport” and had wandered off to her locker room to shower and change.
The shadow in the corner thought she was too distracted to notice its presence, but she wasn’t. Just as she’d seen it earlier when she and James had been sharing a moment in the hallway. Sitting up straight, taking care not to let it notice that SHE’D noticed, she stretches her arms and gives Vhodka a regretful smile.
“I hate to cut this short, but I just remembered an important phone call I needed to make to my folks. Would you mind if we picked this back up in a few?”
Flashing her a grin, Vhodka grabs a couple more giant burgers and rises to her feet. “Not a problem, Bets! You know where to find me when you’re ready to get this party started back up.” Turning at the door, she waves her burgers merrily and exits into the hallway.
Waiting to see if the shadow would reveal itself, Betsy makes a show of cleaning up the burger wrappers and throwing them away. She then straightens up her duffle bag and sets it neatly back in the locker; still, the shadow remains hidden. A spark of impatience touches her as she turns and puts her hands on her hips.
“I saw you earlier and I can sense you now; in other words, I know you’re here, so you might as well come out.”
At first, Betsy thought that they wouldn’t comply. But after several moments of consideration, the creature slowly slithered from the shadows. Betsy struggles to keep her face neutral as she instantly recognizes what stands before her. Taller than her by nearly a foot, with skin so grey and pale, it’s nearly translucent. Its flat face and cold, black eyes stare back at her, revealing nothing. In his hand is a long stick she recognized immediately as Stokhli spray stick; she had no desire to get blasted by the contents held within. The two stare at one another as silence hangs thick between them; finally, the Noghri slides forward and holds out a thick envelope made of a material Betsy didn’t recognize.
“The Grand Admiral sends his regards to one Orianna Kahd, of what was once the Mezmerian System. He humbly requests an audience with you at your earliest convenience.”
Betsy stares at the Noghri incredulously, stunned by the sheer nerve of the request of the Grand Admiral. Her fist balls over the parchment, crumbling it before she ever had a chance to open it. Her green eyes are like lava as she crosses the room and closes the distance between her and her unwanted visitor.
“You can tell your master that I’d rather die than adhere to the request of the monster who killed my parents.”
The Noghri stares at her blankly for several moments, seemingly taking in her vehement words. Betsy breathes heavily, heart pounding in her chest as she forces her face to remain neutral.
She finally finds a response, but the door pops open and James Raven comes strolling in, looking like a dream. He stops dead in his tracks, his smile becoming more confused as he takes in the scene before him. Once he’s had a moment to absorb it all, he briskly closes the gap between him and Betsy, putting a protective arm around her waist and pulling her close.
She finally finds a response, but the door pops open and James Raven comes strolling in, looking like a dream. He stops dead in his tracks, his smile becoming more confused as he takes in the scene before him. Once he’s had a moment to absorb it all, he briskly closes the gap between him and Betsy, putting a protective arm around her waist and pulling her close.
“Is everything alright in here, babe?” he asks of her, never taking his eyes off the Noghri that was now staring at him.
“Everything is perfect, beloved. Our friend here was just getting ready to tell me why I should acquiesce to Grand Admiral Thrawn’s request for an audience.”
“Grand Admiral… The one that killed your parents?” Anger flares in his brown eyes as he narrows them.
“You have it all wrong, Lady Kahd. The Grand Admiral never killed your parents. As I know it, they still live.”
This elicits a loud gasp from Betsy, who drops the letter as her hands, along with the rest of her body, begin to tremble uncontrollably. “You’re lying… He told you to say that so that I would come.”
“Oh my honor as a Noghri Tribe Leader, I tell you no lies. I was told to tell you that he would explain everything IF you agree to his request.”
Snatching the letter from the floor, Betsy tears it open and scans its contents. Her face ranges through many emotions before she finally lifts her head and holds the note out to James. Cautiously, she takes a step closer, followed by a deep breath and nods slowly.
“Tell your master I will accept his request, on the condition that I am allowed to bring James as my escort and bodyguard. I will also demand that he comes to this galaxy, to neutral grounds for discussion, or we don’t meet at all.”
“The Grand Admiral is not one for negotiations… But I shall pass along your message.” Sweeping her a curt bow, the Noghri turns and disappears into the shadows.
Betsy and James stare in silence as they attempt to digest the words of their uninvited guest…
To Be Continued