Post by Ruby Lance on Oct 24, 2017 20:02:08 GMT -5
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
The Costume Shoppe
Newest NGW talent (and reigning WCG South Bay Champion) Ruby Lance idly flicks her way through the racks and racks of costumes available at the local Halloween supplier located in Glendale. Why this shop? Because they rent costumes and that's a heck of a lot cheaper on this developmental girl's pockets than buying one!
"I've already got that Freddy Krueger ring attire that's going to be great for Avery's charity event - even though I've already worn it against Donovan - still, it's too perfect to not wear again. But as far as actual Halloween…"
She shrugs her shoulders and glances back over her shoulder at WCG up and coming sensation Jack Santore who is just one rack over looking through some of the men's costumes available.
"I mean, Scotty wants to do a little Halloween party at his beach house in Malibu... to which you are definitely invited, by the way. Just gotta sort out a date. Getting kind of down to the wire. Everyone will probably already have plans by the time we figure it out, to be honest. Anyway! He wants to do his and hers Power Rangers costumes. Which, I am all for. Pink Ranger, here I come. However… I'd like to get something special that wows him."
With a pause, she glances back at Jack who is raising an eyebrow questioningly back at her.
"Not wows him like that. Just something he's not expecting, that's all."
She's almost happier with that wording. It's awkward now, though, so she turns back to her costumes.
"What about you? Have you decided what you're going to wear to the charity benefit?"
”I haven't, actually…”
Jack sighs a bit as he continues to browse through the rows of costumes until something dawns on him. He holds his hands up with a frown as he shakes his head in confusion.
”Wait wait wait wait. Are you telling me the costume thing is for wrestlers? I thought that was just for people attending the event?”
Jack now looks through the costumes with a sense of panic in his voice as he exhales heavily, looking through the costumes and seemingly unimpressed with what he's finding thus far. Ruby glances back over her shoulder with a laugh.
"Well, I wasn't planning on competing for the prize. But I thought it'd be cute to be in costume. You know, since I imagine all of the fans will be."
”Makes sense…”
Jack keeps looking through costumes before stopping on something that catches his eye. He pulls out a “Michael Phelps” costume which consists of a speedo and some fake medals. He holds it up to Ruby with a chuckle.
”Can you imagine?”
Jack shakes his head with a laugh before putting it back onto the wrack.
”Not that I meant to imagine me...I mean you could imagine Scotty or whatever…”
Jack practically turns beet red out of embarrassment as he face palms and keeps looking through the selection of costumes. Ruby laughs and shakes her head. It's unusual that she's not the one getting embarrassed by putting her foot in her mouth. She's enjoying this turn of events.
"I doubt I could get Scotty to wear that costume in public. In private, I'm sure it would be a lot easier. But men in speedos aren't really my thing."
She continues to chuckle as she goes through the rack, stopping when she reaches a yellow ballgown that she pulls out.
"Look at this. I mean, it's the affordable version."
Translation: It's not as beautiful as the actual gown from Beauty and the Beast. Disappointed by the fact that it's not (and that she could never afford the beautiful version of the costume) she puts it back on the rack.
"Anyway. Speaking of skimpy costumes, sorry about that tweet."
With a cringe of a smile, she glances back at him giving her best remorseful expression. It's actually more of a "my bad" than a "I'm so sorry".
"I was just in a silly mood that day, I guess. Didn't mean to… well, if you were embarrassed."
”Oh, don't worry about it. As long as it had some “likes” then I suppose it wasn't all bad, right? If it went relatively ignored then my ego might've been hurt, but since I saw some positive...feedback, then I think I should probably be thanking you.”
Jack laughs about it, but he did get some positive feedback from the ladies so even if he had been embarrassed initially, it turned out well for him.
”But, don't think I won't get you back at some point.”
Jack points at Ruby with squinted eyes in a joking fashion before laughing.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm shaking."
She laughs and does in fact shake. She shakes her head.
"But seriously, though, how are things going for you? I kind of thought you'd be in the running for the Long Beach title. To be fair, I was kind of hoping you would be if it would avoid me having to defend my title against you. I haven't forgotten our match where I welcomed you to West Coast Genesis."
For those unaware, Ruby was Jack's first opponent in West Coast Genesis and she fought hard for the victory.
”They're going...relatively well.”
Jack moves his head from side to side in a very “things could be better” manner.
”I mean Danni was a fun match despite the loss and I was lucky enough to be part of that match with Austen where we beat The Messiahs, which was great. But I definitely want a shot at a title.”
Jack holds his hands up in surrender.
”I know I have to earn it. But I'm always hungry for more, you know? I replay losses in my head, analyzing them and wondering what I could've done differently. That match we had is definitely a constant.”
"Hey. There's definitely merit to reviewing your matches to see where things went wrong, but constantly analyzing them is not the best advice I could give you. I mean, for me personally, I try to avoid over-analyzing my losses as best I can. Remember them, certainly. You don't want to repeat the same mistakes, but you can't change the past so don't dwell on it so much. Worry more about the future."
Ruby dishes out some advice because suddenly feeling awkward about it. She's not the advice giving type. She's usually seeking advice for herself. This feels weird. She tries to shrug it off.
"At least, that's how I look at things. Everyone is different."
”No, no. You're right. I probably do focus on those losses just a little too much. And if you think I'm not listening to advice from the South Bay Champion and another NGW star, you're crazy.”
Jack offers a smile to Ruby as he stands in the middle of the aisle, absently looking at random costumes.
”I honestly appreciate it, Ruby. Having two NGW stars as friends is great. I can't even believe you guys talk to me. Since you're so popular and everything.”
Jack playfully chuckles, likening himself to the nerdy kid in high school that has two best friends on the football team. Except in this case, those two football players are Trixie and Ruby from TV’s NGW.
"Oh please. Honey is your popular friend. I'm the girl that's lucky to have so many great friends around her. Austen, Danni and Donovan, plus you, then there's Mason, Honey, Scotty, and Jonathan on the NGW roster. I've even talked to Trixie and Travis Blake a few times on Twitter, that's pretty cool."
Ruby is the one looking like the nerdy kid in school that can't believe she has so many friends, judging the smile on her face as she runs down the list of people that she knows from both WCG and NGW.
"Hoping to make even more friends now that I'm on the NGW roster. But in the meantime, I'm so glad to still be part of the WCG roster. At least for as long as I can hang onto my title."
”Right? For such a competitive company, people are pretty friendly. I like that. Kick each other's asses and then let's get a beer after. Maybe coffee for some. Nachos with Honey, of course.”
Jack nods along with his assessment of WCG/NGW as he scratches his chin. He looks down at the costumes again, remembering why he went to a costume shop in the first place.
”I think I may have a few choices here that I like. How about you? Anything catch your eye that would catch your man’s eye?”
"I'm probably just going to end up wearing that Pink Ranger dress I picked out. He's kind of set on being the Green Ranger. It's adorable and I'm happy to do it. Besides, there's no way I can afford a Belle costume that's even worth wearing."
She laughs about the sadness of it all, because if you can't laugh then it's just depressing and she's not looking to be depressing! She abandons the rack of women's costumes and makes her way over to Jack.
"What are your options?"
Jack has two costumes he's trying to decide between. He holds up the first one to get Ruby's opinion.
”Narrowed it down to two. First I've got the Top Gun.”
Jack holds up the costume which consists of a black, leather bomber jacket and aviator shades. I guess he's supposed to supply the jeans and white t-shirt himself?
”Or...1920s mobster.”
Jack holds up the second costume which consists of a black pin stripe suit, matching hat and fake “tommy gun” for added effect.
"Both very good choices. The decision is actually very easy. You just have to ask yourself one question. Do you feel the need…?"
She gives Jack a very serious, very determined expression.
"...the need for speed?
Even she can't keep a straight face after some Top Gun quoting. Jack immediately puts the gangster costume back on the wrack as he laughs at Ruby's joke.
”That's all the convincing I need to go with Top Gun. If it gets people to make that joke, then it'll be a good conversation starter all night.”
Jack holds the costume with a purpose now. He's now super excited to wear his costume.
”You good to go?”
"I may not have found a costume for myself, but I'm satisfied knowing that I helped you find the perfect costume."
Ruby starts to head towards the cash registers, but comes to an abrupt stop and turns back to Jack.
"Just makes sure you get the jeans and t-shirt. Don't combine your Top Gun and underwear model costume."
She points at him warningly before cracking a grin and winking at him. Jack laughs and shakes his head, following her towards the registers.