Post by heavenstobetsy on Nov 10, 2020 17:28:22 GMT -6
It’s another tranquil morning, picture it: The first rays of sunlight ushering a new day full of promise. Birds are beginning to chirp, nature is waking from another night's rest. There’s a thin layer of frost on the ground, a parting gift of the night that is disappearing quickly. Alarm clocks are ringing for children and adults alike to begin their days. The aroma of coffee and french toast give off the most enticing of invites. It’s going to be a chilly day, but a sunny one all the same. Neighbors begin to greet one another from their cars as they leave for work or the ends of their drives as they put their little ones on the bus for another day of school. Everything about this particular morning seems to point towards another day, same as the rest.
Now let's switch the scene: A kitchen, surprisingly modest given the rest of the estate. Much like many others, there is coffee in the pot and breakfast on the table. But both coffee and food are getting cold as the blonde that sits before them continues to stare off into space. One look at this young woman would tell you right away that she hadn’t slept. Long fingers drum on the top of the island, a scattered beat with no real melody. Blue eyes stare blankly out the window as she starts to tap a fingernail against her plate.
Suddenly, a deep sigh forces itself from Betsy and she stands quickly. She’d been distracted by her dreams, trying to figure them out. Breakfast had been made and left forgotten as she troubled over the oddities her mind was presenting her. She reaches out a hand and runs it against the wallpaper in the hallway and she makes her way through James Raven’s home. Over the last few months, she’d quietly and almost stealthily moved in, little by little. It’d been over a year, hell, it was going on two now. Neither had questioned it when she’d started bringing more over and leaving it behind “accidentally”. At this point, Betsy reckoned, it was an unspoken agreement that she’d be a more permanent fixture in his life and that included his sweet pad.
James himself was gone again, proving again and again why he’s the man to beat in the industry. Constantly on the road cutting unforgettable promos, wrestling in five star matches, and taking every name that comes his way. It was a glory to behold and Betsy was glad to be the one holding it. Even as she thought about him, an alert came through, announcing that she was receiving a text from James. She glances at the phone just as the picture of James in his PikaPool costume comes through. For the first time since waking up, a ghost of a smile plays across her lips. She types out a quick response and continues along her walk through the house. For just a moment, she considers telling James about her dreams, but quickly decides against this. He already had enough on his plate, he didn’t need her weird subconscious adding to his concerns.
Pressing her back against the cool wall behind her, she starts scrolling through her contact list. Adam is the first name to appear. Betsy starts to press the call button, the pauses. Adam was going through his own hell right, he didn’t need her adding her own emotional baggage to it. Shaking her head, she scrolls and stops at Adrien. Biting her lip, she shakes her head. Between Eddie dying, wrestling, being an active husband and father, AND trying to lift Adam back up, Adrien had a lot going on. Elizabeth was next, this one Betsy tried. Several rings later, Elizabeth’s voice came through asking Betsy to leave a message. Covering up her disappointment, Betsy leaves a message for Elizabeth asking her to call back then hangs up.
Starting at the top, she begins to scroll again, but a name makes her stop dead in her tracks. Chuck Matthews was still in her contacts and she was fairly positive his number was still the same. He wasn’t exactly the type to back down or cower away from confrontation, especially when power and money were involved. In other words, he could have the scariest of scary people blowing up his phone with threats, but good ol’ Chuck was too stubborn to give a damn. Hell, he was probably the one who gave them his number and invited them to call. On second thought, calling up at ex for advice doesn’t seem like the greatest idea. She and Chuck were on much better terms now than they were a year or two ago, but he would never be the one to ask for any advice that required emotions.
As much as she wished she could talk to James about it, she knew he was busy building his empire. It was one of the things she adored about him, he never says die. Rest assured, no federation he joined would ever dare leave him out of their hall of fame. His passion for the industry was unquenchable, Betsy knew that fire would never die. And far be it for her to stop him from achieving every dream he’d ever set for himself. It still makes her chuckle to herself, when she thinks of just how similar Chuck Matthews and James Raven really are. Their passions and interests may lead them on separate paths, but Betsy had never known two men so intensely intent on making the entire world theirs. And just like with Chuck, Betsy didn’t want to distract her ambitious mate with her own troubles.
Suddenly, the solution hits her in a flash. The perfect person to talk to is the next to stop on her screen at the end of her scroll. The gorgeous face of her favorite redhead, Genevieve Tate, stares back up at her with a sultry expression. Her signature look. The plump, blood red lips are in their natural pout, brown eyes looking right through anyone who gazes at her. Betsy knew that she’d be available, especially now that it seemed that she and Centurion had gone their separate, yet amicable, ways.
Genie had many talents, one of which was martial arts. Several forms, taught to her by the most intriguing of characters. The mystery surrounding Genevieve Tate was one Betsy had always found fascinating, if not a bit irritating. James himself had been taken with the red-headed beauty at one point, something that Betsy had never held against either of them. She was still with Chuck at the time, and her handsome Time Lord soon after. Genevieve, however, had moved seamlessly from James to her next conquest and again when she’d met Andy Cortinovis. All of this flows uselessly through Betsy’s brain until she shakes her head and presses the screen to call Genie.
It rings several times and Betsy is resolving herself to a voicemail when the sultry husk of Genie’s voice, still accented strongly with her Greek heritage, answers.
“Betsy Granger, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Genevieve sounds genuinely pleased. This causes Betsy to smile.
“Hopefully, the pleasure will be all mine. I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Oh?” Was all Genie replied with. Betsy bit her tongue to hold back the sarcastic reply that wanted to follow. Never the type to let her curiosity show, Genie had a habit of concealing her true feelings very well. Her poker face was the best, bar none. Betsy rolls her eyes heavenward.
“Yes. I was wondering if you could start sparring with me on a semi-regular basis. I’ve kind of…” Betsy trails off as she tries to express her thoughts. Genie stays patiently quiet on the other end as Betsy considers her words. “I guess I’m getting a little homesick for the ring. James is gone a lot and I miss him too. The house is big and empty without him and all my friends are always off somewhere, doing shows and what not. I guess I just feel a little stagnant.”
“I see.” Genie replies. “If that is what you want, then you know I’d be happy to oblige. But I think we need to sit down and examine the real reasons you want to reenter the industry.” Before Betsy can give a proper retort, Genie hangs up the phone.
Vexed, Betsy tosses her phone away and heads towards the bedroom. Slipping out of her pajamas, she changes into her gym pants and sports bra. Bunching her hair into a messy bun on top of her head as she walks, she uses her hip to push open the door to James’ personal gym. The smell of leather from the punching bags and mats mingles with the sweat of the many athletes who had been through there to train. Pictures on the wall told of James’ history in the business. Betsy slowly walks in a circle, admiring each one for what was likely the millionth time. She stops in front of the photo of James in the center of the ring, holding his first Universal Title from the XWF over his head.
“That one was always my favorite too.” says a sultry female voice from behind her. Betsy whirls around to face Genevieve, who arrived quietly and in fashion. She was wearing her usual black gym pants and sports bra. Her hair is pulled into an immaculate ponytail. Though she went makeup free, Genie still managed to radiate an ethereal beauty that made most women sick to their stomach. “Hello, Betsy dear.”
Betsy walks over to Genie and gives her a hug as she finally finds her smile. “Nice to see you, Genie. Thanks for coming over.”
Genie shrugs casually. “Of course. I haven’t seen you in some time, I’m rather pleased you chose to call me for this.” Genie gracefully slides her gym bag off and lets it drop to the floor. “I’m also curious as to why.”
“Why what?”
“Why do you want to get back into this?” Genie tilts her head as her brown eyes pierce Betsy. “You tried twice and failed twice. You left because you couldn’t handle the mental strain. I thought you were content just being the wrestler's girlfriend and having friends in the business. Now you want to dive head first back into competition. What’s changed?”
Betsy mulls over her answer for several minutes. Genie waits patiently for her young friend to find her words. Finally, Betsy sighs. “I suppose… I mean, I guess it’s… Oh, sweet hell.” Frustrated, Betsy throws her hands up in the air. “I was good. Everything seemed like it was going well. I had a cushy career with the government. I finally ended up with the man I’d had a crush on since I first laid eyes on him. My LFL career was even on the up and up. I really think my stats would have skyrocketed this season if it weren’t for COVID ruining everything. Life was going well. Maybe not exactly to my design, but I was happy. And now…” Betsy trails off. Genie still remains silent, knowing Betsy isn’t done yet. She crosses her arms over her chest and leans against the wall. Biting her lip, Betsy continues on. “I see James winning everything, everywhere he goes. He’s unstoppable. I see successes like Shawn Warstein and Atara Themis making moves left and right and I’m bursting with pride, because those are my friends who are doing such amazing things in the industry. And it makes me miss it. Like crazy. And I feel… Left out. They travel together, show after show. I feel like they know James better than I do sometimes. How could they not? They’re around him a lot more than I am, because I’d only be underfoot if I tried to tour with them as the girlfriend. I’d be there and they accept me, but I’m not their peer. I’m not on their level and we all know it.”
Nodding, Genie pushes herself away from the wall. “So there it is. First thing you need to realize is that none of them see you as a burden or a tagalong. They know you, they like you, and you are very much on level with them. But I don’t believe that’s all. I know you better than that Bets. What else is spurring this?”
Betsy licks her lips, feeling sufficiently called out. “It’s like you said… I failed. Twice. Those are the only two times in my life that I ever failed and quit what I was doing. My confidence was shot and I lashed out at the wrong people. And it’s never left me. I can’t shake that feeling and I hate it. It’s eating me alive and it won’t stop until I do something about it.” Her green eyes light up with a sudden fierce intensity that makes Genie raise a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “I can’t let it go… I’ve tried… But I can’t. I have to try again and this time, I have to see it through. One way or another.”
A slow grin spreads across Genie’s face as her eyes light up. She puts a hand on Betsy’s shoulder and squeezes it gently. “Then let’s get to work, shall we?”
Fin
Now let's switch the scene: A kitchen, surprisingly modest given the rest of the estate. Much like many others, there is coffee in the pot and breakfast on the table. But both coffee and food are getting cold as the blonde that sits before them continues to stare off into space. One look at this young woman would tell you right away that she hadn’t slept. Long fingers drum on the top of the island, a scattered beat with no real melody. Blue eyes stare blankly out the window as she starts to tap a fingernail against her plate.
Suddenly, a deep sigh forces itself from Betsy and she stands quickly. She’d been distracted by her dreams, trying to figure them out. Breakfast had been made and left forgotten as she troubled over the oddities her mind was presenting her. She reaches out a hand and runs it against the wallpaper in the hallway and she makes her way through James Raven’s home. Over the last few months, she’d quietly and almost stealthily moved in, little by little. It’d been over a year, hell, it was going on two now. Neither had questioned it when she’d started bringing more over and leaving it behind “accidentally”. At this point, Betsy reckoned, it was an unspoken agreement that she’d be a more permanent fixture in his life and that included his sweet pad.
James himself was gone again, proving again and again why he’s the man to beat in the industry. Constantly on the road cutting unforgettable promos, wrestling in five star matches, and taking every name that comes his way. It was a glory to behold and Betsy was glad to be the one holding it. Even as she thought about him, an alert came through, announcing that she was receiving a text from James. She glances at the phone just as the picture of James in his PikaPool costume comes through. For the first time since waking up, a ghost of a smile plays across her lips. She types out a quick response and continues along her walk through the house. For just a moment, she considers telling James about her dreams, but quickly decides against this. He already had enough on his plate, he didn’t need her weird subconscious adding to his concerns.
Pressing her back against the cool wall behind her, she starts scrolling through her contact list. Adam is the first name to appear. Betsy starts to press the call button, the pauses. Adam was going through his own hell right, he didn’t need her adding her own emotional baggage to it. Shaking her head, she scrolls and stops at Adrien. Biting her lip, she shakes her head. Between Eddie dying, wrestling, being an active husband and father, AND trying to lift Adam back up, Adrien had a lot going on. Elizabeth was next, this one Betsy tried. Several rings later, Elizabeth’s voice came through asking Betsy to leave a message. Covering up her disappointment, Betsy leaves a message for Elizabeth asking her to call back then hangs up.
Starting at the top, she begins to scroll again, but a name makes her stop dead in her tracks. Chuck Matthews was still in her contacts and she was fairly positive his number was still the same. He wasn’t exactly the type to back down or cower away from confrontation, especially when power and money were involved. In other words, he could have the scariest of scary people blowing up his phone with threats, but good ol’ Chuck was too stubborn to give a damn. Hell, he was probably the one who gave them his number and invited them to call. On second thought, calling up at ex for advice doesn’t seem like the greatest idea. She and Chuck were on much better terms now than they were a year or two ago, but he would never be the one to ask for any advice that required emotions.
As much as she wished she could talk to James about it, she knew he was busy building his empire. It was one of the things she adored about him, he never says die. Rest assured, no federation he joined would ever dare leave him out of their hall of fame. His passion for the industry was unquenchable, Betsy knew that fire would never die. And far be it for her to stop him from achieving every dream he’d ever set for himself. It still makes her chuckle to herself, when she thinks of just how similar Chuck Matthews and James Raven really are. Their passions and interests may lead them on separate paths, but Betsy had never known two men so intensely intent on making the entire world theirs. And just like with Chuck, Betsy didn’t want to distract her ambitious mate with her own troubles.
Suddenly, the solution hits her in a flash. The perfect person to talk to is the next to stop on her screen at the end of her scroll. The gorgeous face of her favorite redhead, Genevieve Tate, stares back up at her with a sultry expression. Her signature look. The plump, blood red lips are in their natural pout, brown eyes looking right through anyone who gazes at her. Betsy knew that she’d be available, especially now that it seemed that she and Centurion had gone their separate, yet amicable, ways.
Genie had many talents, one of which was martial arts. Several forms, taught to her by the most intriguing of characters. The mystery surrounding Genevieve Tate was one Betsy had always found fascinating, if not a bit irritating. James himself had been taken with the red-headed beauty at one point, something that Betsy had never held against either of them. She was still with Chuck at the time, and her handsome Time Lord soon after. Genevieve, however, had moved seamlessly from James to her next conquest and again when she’d met Andy Cortinovis. All of this flows uselessly through Betsy’s brain until she shakes her head and presses the screen to call Genie.
It rings several times and Betsy is resolving herself to a voicemail when the sultry husk of Genie’s voice, still accented strongly with her Greek heritage, answers.
“Betsy Granger, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Genevieve sounds genuinely pleased. This causes Betsy to smile.
“Hopefully, the pleasure will be all mine. I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Oh?” Was all Genie replied with. Betsy bit her tongue to hold back the sarcastic reply that wanted to follow. Never the type to let her curiosity show, Genie had a habit of concealing her true feelings very well. Her poker face was the best, bar none. Betsy rolls her eyes heavenward.
“Yes. I was wondering if you could start sparring with me on a semi-regular basis. I’ve kind of…” Betsy trails off as she tries to express her thoughts. Genie stays patiently quiet on the other end as Betsy considers her words. “I guess I’m getting a little homesick for the ring. James is gone a lot and I miss him too. The house is big and empty without him and all my friends are always off somewhere, doing shows and what not. I guess I just feel a little stagnant.”
“I see.” Genie replies. “If that is what you want, then you know I’d be happy to oblige. But I think we need to sit down and examine the real reasons you want to reenter the industry.” Before Betsy can give a proper retort, Genie hangs up the phone.
Vexed, Betsy tosses her phone away and heads towards the bedroom. Slipping out of her pajamas, she changes into her gym pants and sports bra. Bunching her hair into a messy bun on top of her head as she walks, she uses her hip to push open the door to James’ personal gym. The smell of leather from the punching bags and mats mingles with the sweat of the many athletes who had been through there to train. Pictures on the wall told of James’ history in the business. Betsy slowly walks in a circle, admiring each one for what was likely the millionth time. She stops in front of the photo of James in the center of the ring, holding his first Universal Title from the XWF over his head.
“That one was always my favorite too.” says a sultry female voice from behind her. Betsy whirls around to face Genevieve, who arrived quietly and in fashion. She was wearing her usual black gym pants and sports bra. Her hair is pulled into an immaculate ponytail. Though she went makeup free, Genie still managed to radiate an ethereal beauty that made most women sick to their stomach. “Hello, Betsy dear.”
Betsy walks over to Genie and gives her a hug as she finally finds her smile. “Nice to see you, Genie. Thanks for coming over.”
Genie shrugs casually. “Of course. I haven’t seen you in some time, I’m rather pleased you chose to call me for this.” Genie gracefully slides her gym bag off and lets it drop to the floor. “I’m also curious as to why.”
“Why what?”
“Why do you want to get back into this?” Genie tilts her head as her brown eyes pierce Betsy. “You tried twice and failed twice. You left because you couldn’t handle the mental strain. I thought you were content just being the wrestler's girlfriend and having friends in the business. Now you want to dive head first back into competition. What’s changed?”
Betsy mulls over her answer for several minutes. Genie waits patiently for her young friend to find her words. Finally, Betsy sighs. “I suppose… I mean, I guess it’s… Oh, sweet hell.” Frustrated, Betsy throws her hands up in the air. “I was good. Everything seemed like it was going well. I had a cushy career with the government. I finally ended up with the man I’d had a crush on since I first laid eyes on him. My LFL career was even on the up and up. I really think my stats would have skyrocketed this season if it weren’t for COVID ruining everything. Life was going well. Maybe not exactly to my design, but I was happy. And now…” Betsy trails off. Genie still remains silent, knowing Betsy isn’t done yet. She crosses her arms over her chest and leans against the wall. Biting her lip, Betsy continues on. “I see James winning everything, everywhere he goes. He’s unstoppable. I see successes like Shawn Warstein and Atara Themis making moves left and right and I’m bursting with pride, because those are my friends who are doing such amazing things in the industry. And it makes me miss it. Like crazy. And I feel… Left out. They travel together, show after show. I feel like they know James better than I do sometimes. How could they not? They’re around him a lot more than I am, because I’d only be underfoot if I tried to tour with them as the girlfriend. I’d be there and they accept me, but I’m not their peer. I’m not on their level and we all know it.”
Nodding, Genie pushes herself away from the wall. “So there it is. First thing you need to realize is that none of them see you as a burden or a tagalong. They know you, they like you, and you are very much on level with them. But I don’t believe that’s all. I know you better than that Bets. What else is spurring this?”
Betsy licks her lips, feeling sufficiently called out. “It’s like you said… I failed. Twice. Those are the only two times in my life that I ever failed and quit what I was doing. My confidence was shot and I lashed out at the wrong people. And it’s never left me. I can’t shake that feeling and I hate it. It’s eating me alive and it won’t stop until I do something about it.” Her green eyes light up with a sudden fierce intensity that makes Genie raise a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “I can’t let it go… I’ve tried… But I can’t. I have to try again and this time, I have to see it through. One way or another.”
A slow grin spreads across Genie’s face as her eyes light up. She puts a hand on Betsy’s shoulder and squeezes it gently. “Then let’s get to work, shall we?”
Fin
