Post by Danielle Basch on Nov 4, 2017 17:48:18 GMT -5
Casa Via Mar Inn
Port Hueneme, CA
Friday, November 3, 2017
Danni and Donovan set their bags down on the round table at the far end of the room. It sits bathed in the light that streams in through the sliding glass door that leads out to a private patio. Danni turns around, smiling as she takes in their... humble surroundings. It may be a far cry from the high end digs that Donovan was accustomed to, but at least the place looks cozy. Besides, at the end of the day, the main purpose of the room was a place to lay their heads at night.
Donovan: Remind me again why we picked this place?
He looks around the room. Right off of the sliding glass door is a small kitchenette, partitioned off from the rest of the room by a wooden wall that stands about ¾ of the way up from the floor. Trails of silk ivy leaves fall down either side of the wall, almost concealing the spindles at the top. Within the kitchenette itself is a simple 3-burner range, a small sink, and a mini-fridge beneath the counter.
Donovan: Or is this your way of making up for the amount of money you spent buying that old trailer?
Danni: Relax, Spidey. Wait until you see what I do with that trailer. You know, remodeled trailers like that are all the rage these days. You ever hear of the Tiny House movement?
Donovan: Look at me, Nixy. Do I LOOK like the sort of man that would be a part of anything labeled “tiny”?
Danni giggles as she tries to envision him sitting in the loft of a tiny house, his head pressed up against the ceiling. The mental image this conjures up turns her giggle into full-on laughter.
Danni: Okay, so you’re a little too big for a lofted tiny house. But trailers are converted into tiny homes all the time. Often, they make great investments when it comes to vacation rentals. I want to fix up that old trailer... give it some new life. It’s a little dated now, but just picture it with a whole new interior... new countertops, new appliances... the whole nine yards!
Donovan: And here I thought the vintage look was in?
Danni: Yeah, but on the flipside, sometimes, it pays off to take something old and make it new again. Just wait, though... it’s gonna look great once we’re done.
Donovan: And knowing you, the first thing you’ll want to do is go camping.
He chuckles to himself.
Donovan: And here I thought that the purpose of camping was to “rough it”.
Danni: Not necessarily. The main purpose is to get out and experience the beauty of nature.
Donovan: By sleeping in a giant aluminum can...
Danni starts to laugh again as she walks up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. In the tight space of the kitchenette, his massive frame practically pushes Danni up against the wooden partition. Sensing an opportunity for a joke, she pokes him in the ribcage with her finger.
Danni: Hey... you know you really drive me up the wall sometimes.
Donovan chuckles as he looks down into her eyes.
Donovan: Likewise, and I wouldn’t have it any other way....
He leans in for a kiss, but their proximity to the partition causes him to lightly smack his head. He pulls back, rubbing his forehead as he frowns.
Donovan: Well, so much for trying to get romantic...
Danni smiles, then turns around and inspects the point of impact, stroking her chin.
Danni: Hmmm....
Donovan: What are you doing?
Danni: Oh, just looking for the dent in the wall....
Donovan: Why you...
With a playful growl, Donovan scoops Danni up, carrying her toward the bed as she breaks into a giggling fit.
Knockout Fitness
Oxnard, CA
Saturday Morning, November 4, 2017
On a carpet of Astroturf, Danni LeBlanc stands in front of a heavy bag, a pair of boxing gloves secured to her hands. Her hair is pulled back in a tight ponytail, and a vicious sneer is plastered on her face. In this setting, with what is going to take place later that night, the expression on her face seems almost as natural as her trademark smile.
The normally smiling brunette unleashes a blistering series of rights and lefts into the bag, mixing in a few brutal kicks as the screams that come out of her mouth draw looks of awe... and for some of the onlookers, fear. With one final primal scream, she delivers a Boot-a-rang into the bag, then steps away, her chest heaving as she catches her breath.
Danni: Well, tonight’s the night, guys. In just a few hours, the three of us will face off in that ring, much like we did three months ago, the night Ruby first climbed that ladder and snagged the title, the first pair of human hands to hold it since it had been placed above the ring, waiting to be claimed.
She looks around the room at the other gym patrons, still with a look in her eyes that conveyed the message to keep their distance. She walks over toward a small red stool, where her bag sits beside it. She reaches inside and pulls out a single black towel, which she dabs against her forehead to blot away the beads of sweat. Sitting down on the stool, she reaches inside the bag again, this time, pulling out a sports bottle with the BaschTech logo emblazoned on it. Before she raises the bottle to her lips, she once again looks into the camera.
Danni: A lot has happened since that night. Some of the people that were influential in the outcome of that match, not to mention a few non-consequential casualties have since gone the way of the dodo bird in the months bridging the gap between then and now.
That little runt of a weasel, Zane Story... the piece of shit that couldn’t keep his nose out of my business is long gone, thanks to me. To this day, I can’t help but wonder that had he not interfered in that ladder match, maybe I’d be coming into this match as the champion, rather than as one of the challengers. It doesn’t matter now. He won’t be around to keep me from going after what I want.
Two others that were there that night are no longer among us, at least in terms of being on the WCG roster. Jess Hardy and Zachary Sears. Now Jess, I actually liked her, even if she kept questionable company at the time. Had it not been for the fact that her own lack of self-confidence did her in, she probably could have been a pretty big deal around here. Sears? No offense to his sister, but to this day I still see him as an afterthought that should have never been added to the match. He came, he stepped through the ropes, and then disappeared without a trace afterward.
Donovan? The man that gave up his own chance to become the South Bay Champion that night to stay by my side after Zane pulled his shit? He’s now next in line to face the West Coast Champion. How amazing would it be if the two of us one day stood side by side, each of us with a championship draped over our shoulders?
The vicious sneer fades from her face, replaced with a dreamy expression as her lips curl into a smile. She chuckles, then shakes her head, pausing just long enough to take a quick sip from her sports bottle.
Danni: Sorry... I just couldn’t help it. That put a great visual in my head.
Still, it all comes down to the three of us. Ever since the ladder match, it seems we’ve been in a three-way tug-of-war for the South Bay Championship. That one match I had with Ruby, it didn’t end with a real, definitive winner. At least, not from where I’m standing. Yeah, I know... technically Ruby won by count-out, but I know how well those two count-out wins sit with her. Frankly, I wouldn’t be happy with them either if I were her.
As for Austen, he said one thing that I will agree with. It IS time for Ruby to pass the torch. But I have to respectfully disagree with who he thinks she should pass the torch to. I’ve fought too long, and too hard to come away from this match empty handed. So, while I hate to disappoint him, but if that belt is going home with ANYONE other than Ruby, then it’s going to be me.
From behind, Donovan walks up wearing a grey tank top over blue shorts, his hair swept back into stiff spikes. Seeing the sweat that dampens the neckline of her top, he gives her a look of mild disappointment as he stands with his hands on his hips.
Donovan: I can’t believe you started without me....
Danni turns to him and smiles, her ponytail swaying as she shakes her head.
Danni: Sorry, Spidey. I’ve waited too long to become a champion. Every second between now and tonight counts. Now... ready to hit the ring?
She points toward another section of the gym, where an empty boxing ring stands. Donovan tilts his head in that direction as he smirks.
Donovan: As ready as I’ll ever be...
Danni and Donovan turn toward the ring, walking away as the scene fades out.