Post by Danielle Basch on May 4, 2017 3:34:23 GMT -5
Donovan’s Private Beach
Oceanside, CA
10:00 pm
Near the base of the stairs that led down from Donovan’s house to the beach, a small cave sits where the cliff meets the sand, its mouth facing outward toward the water like a natural cabana. Sitting inside this private, natural sanctuary are Danni LeBlanc and her boyfriend, Donovan Basch, a small, flickering fire lighting up the night as they sit with their toes in the sand. Donovan is wearing a pair of black board shorts, while Danni is wearing a sheer black cover-up over a black bikini. The pair are sitting on a large, red blanket that, at least in this light, looks like the color of dried blood. As Danni stares into the fire, she loops her arm around the crook of Donovan’s elbow.
Danni: Well, today was certainly eventful, wasn’t it?
Danni rests her head on Donovan’s shoulder, gently rubbing his bicep with her other hand.
Donovan: I could have done without my father showing up like that. I... I’m sorry if he said or did anything to embarrass you.
Danni: So, I didn’t meet your Dad under the most ideal of circumstances. You can’t plan EVERYTHING out, you know.
Donovan gazes out toward the ocean, chuckling a bit.
Donovan: Yeah, I guess you’re right. He means well; he just has a tendency to talk too much. In any event, I am DEFINITELY changing the passcode at the entryway, so that he NEVER barges in on us like that again!
Danni lets out a laugh that eventually fades into a wistful sigh as she shakes her head.
Danni: You know, you’re lucky. Your father’s actually been around to watch you grow up. My father? I don’t even know what he looks like. Well, not NOW, anyway. I’ve only ever seen one picture of him, and that was a picture from my mom’s senior prom. I’m told I kinda look like him.
Danni stands up, arching her back as she stretches. She steps off of the blanket, heading to the wall of the cliff. Her lightly tanned hand stands out against the dark surface of the rock, and the dancing flames cast a shadow that seems to be doing a dance of its own on the sand. Donovan stands up, placing his arms around her as he stands behind her, his chest pressed against her back. She looks down, her torso perfectly framed by the Spider Man tattoos on his forearms.
Donovan Basch, closet comic book geek. I should’ve known from the bookcase full of Spider Man memorabilia in his office….
Donovan: This may be a sore subject, but what happened?
Once again, Danni shakes her head, an unsure look on her face as she throws her arms out in an exaggerated shrug before reaching up to wrap her hands around Donovan’s forearms.
Danni: I know there’s two sides to every story, but since my father’s nowhere around to tell HIS side, the only thing I know about him is that he abandoned my mother as soon as she told him she was pregnant. The only time she saw him after that, he acted like they had never even met. So, it’s only ever been me and my mom ever since. When I started dating, all she would ever say to me was how boys weren’t worth the trouble they cause. She didn’t like...
She stops in mid sentence, shutting her eyes.
No... I’m not going to talk about Jax. That’s in the past.
Danni: Never mind... I’m sure the last thing you want to hear about is the guy that came before you. Suffice to say, it took a few years before she was ever really comfortable with me dating. Of course, as soon as YOU came into the picture, well, you know what she said.
Donovan: Yeah, that’s the first time anyone’s mom has ever called me that.
Danni: Yeah... Well, I told her that it was inappropriate, and downright creepy for her to be talking like that about someone that’s young enough to be her son.
Seriously, Mom... that’s beyond disturbing! Go drool over someone your own age!
Donovan: Sounds like your mom is just as bad as my father.
His words begin to trail off as he gradually loosens his grip on Danni. As he pulls away, she can see a hint of hurt in his eyes.
Danni: What is it?
He turns to face her, a half-hearted smirk on his face as he hooks his thumbs onto the waistband of his shorts.
Donovan: Now, this is the part where I tell you how fortunate YOU are... My mother left home when I was just a baby. Tried to use me to pin my father down for child support, but then my father found out she had violated their prenuptial agreement. Once she realized she couldn’t get a dime out of him, she left me with him and disappeared. Up until you came along, my opinion of women was pretty low.
Danni grabs Donovan by the hand, interlocking their fingers as she starts to giggle.
Danni: Well, we didn’t exactly get off on the right foot at first...
Donovan: Hey, you’re the one that decided to poke at me first!
Danni: And then you threatened to kick me in the face!
Donovan: Followed by you threatening to shove a boot up my ass!
Danni’s giggle turns into full-blown laughter as she leans against Donovan’s arm and looks out toward the water’s edge. He looks down at her, then starts to laugh himself.
Donovan: I guess that would make for a funny story to tell the grandkids...
Danni raises an eyebrow, the look on her face suggesting that she’s at a total loss for words.
Hold up here, Romeo! I don’t see a ring on this finger yet, and you’re already talking GRANDCHILDREN?
Danni: Grandkids? Donny, aren’t you jumping the gun JUST a little bit?
Donovan: Perhaps I am. No real way of telling what the future holds, but I suppose there’s nothing wrong with looking at ONE possible outcome, is there?
Danni: I suppose not. Then again, I blame Twitter.
Donovan: How so?
Danni: I’ve seen a lot of wedding announcements pop up on my timeline. Granted, no one I know has gotten married. Still, it’s a welcome change from the usual drama and trash talk I see.
Funny... I could have sworn that his own FATHER outed him as a playboy... now he’s dropping hints about our future? No... it’s too soon for that. But I kinda like it!
Danni sighs, then gives Donovan a playful smile as she pulls off her cover-up and takes a couple of steps away from him.
Danni: Come on... I bet you can’t catch me before I reach the water!
Donovan: And what happens if I catch you?
Danni: Oh, I’m sure you’ll think of something....
She winks at him and takes off, making a beeline for the water’s edge. He shakes his head, letting out a suggestive chuckle before jumping over the fire after her.
It’s well after midnight, and the night sky is a deep shade of blue, almost making it impossible to tell where the sky meets the water. Standing on Donovan’s bedroom terrace, Danni leans against the stainless steel railing, looking out over the Pacific Ocean as the breeze tosses her long brown tresses into the air behind her. In her hand is a glass of Merlot, which she stares intently into as she smiles.
Danni: Trevor, Trevor, Trevor…
Danni stands with her arms crossed, shaking her head with a disapproving look on her face as she takes a sip from her glass.
Danni: What happened to you, man? I first heard about you, the “Southern Gentleman,” and thought “well, here’s a welcome change from all of the douchebags that come through this sport”. Sadly, you’ve so far proven to be a massive disappointment. Perhaps there’s a reason that there are so damn few of you so-called “good guys” still around.
Another sip of wine. Danni again gazes into the deep red liquid as she swirls it around, careful not to let it breach the rim of the glass.
Danni: Perhaps it’s because guys like you don’t last for very long in this business. Sure, you may rack up a few wins, maybe even pick up a title or two here and there, but in the end, guys like you get lost in the shuffle, in favor of other wrestlers that dare to take this business by the balls and show some fucking ambition! This isn’t some place for you to try your luck at something you watched when you were a kid; this is a business where the only ones that survive are the ones that are willing to go out and fight for what they want.
She pauses for a moment, casting her eyes toward the sky as she taps on her chin with her finger, her lips pursed in a pensive pout.
Danni: Hmm… perhaps that’s part of what I find so attractive about Donovan Basch… now THERE’S a man with ambition. He spots an opportunity, and he’s on it like water on the hull of a sailboat. Never mind the fact that he looks like he was sculpted by the hands of Michelangelo himself!
As Danni turns around so that her back is leaning against the rail, a dreamy look washes over Danni’s face, but she’s quick to shake it off, snapping back to her senses as she clears her throat.
Danni: Ahem… where was I? Oh, yeah….
For the first time since I signed with West Coast Genesis, I’ll be competing not in a triple threat, not in a battle royale, but in a simple one on one match against the man that, when it comes to wrestling against women, well… let’s just say your track record is less than stellar. But then again, with a moniker like “Southern Gentleman,” it’s no surprise you can’t shake off the qualms you have about putting your hands on a woman. PLEASE! If it’s the intergender thing you have a problem with, then boy, did YOU ever pick the wrong sport, pal!
I’d ask if you’ve been reading Twitter lately, but I already tell that you haven’t. If you had, I’d point out how a few days ago, I made the comment about nice guys finishing last… and well, in your case, you haven’t even left the starting gate. You’ve had one match so far since you signed, and to be honest, I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did. But that doesn’t matter, because this time, you face what could very well be your last chance to make any real type of impact in this company. The thing is, in order for you to survive, you have to get through me.
Danni takes another drink from her glass, this time draining about half of the liquid from the vessel, then letting out a satisfied gasp after she swallows. Her eyes close for a moment as another breeze blows past her.
Danni: Now, that’s not to say I’m coming into this match with the sole intent of ending your career; that’s not my thing. But I am coming into this match with the goal of being the one whose arm is raised after the referee calls for the final bell. Frankly, I don’t care if it’s by pinning your shoulders to the mat for the count of three, or if it’s by making you scream until you can’t stand it anymore, or if the referee decides you’ve had enough of an ass beating and stops the fight. The only thing that matters to me is having my hand raised in victory as my music is played. This is my fight to win, Trevor; you’re just another obstacle between me and showing this company what I can REALLY do in that ring.
Nice guys finish last, Trevor. That’s been the tried and true saying for as long as anyone can remember. But in your case…
Danni’s eyes narrow as she shoots one final glare into the camera before drinking the last of the wine from her glass.
Danni: You’re just finished.
On-screen, the “low battery” indicator begins to flash, prompting a smile from Danni as she moves in to pick it up. She looks into the lens and lets out a quiet chuckle.
Danni: Talk about timing! I knew I should’ve double checked the battery before I started recording. Oh, well… at Hype this Saturday, Trevor Fowler, your time is…
As the battery uses up the last of its charge, the screen abruptly cuts to black.
Oceanside, CA
10:00 pm
Near the base of the stairs that led down from Donovan’s house to the beach, a small cave sits where the cliff meets the sand, its mouth facing outward toward the water like a natural cabana. Sitting inside this private, natural sanctuary are Danni LeBlanc and her boyfriend, Donovan Basch, a small, flickering fire lighting up the night as they sit with their toes in the sand. Donovan is wearing a pair of black board shorts, while Danni is wearing a sheer black cover-up over a black bikini. The pair are sitting on a large, red blanket that, at least in this light, looks like the color of dried blood. As Danni stares into the fire, she loops her arm around the crook of Donovan’s elbow.
Danni: Well, today was certainly eventful, wasn’t it?
Danni rests her head on Donovan’s shoulder, gently rubbing his bicep with her other hand.
Donovan: I could have done without my father showing up like that. I... I’m sorry if he said or did anything to embarrass you.
Danni: So, I didn’t meet your Dad under the most ideal of circumstances. You can’t plan EVERYTHING out, you know.
Donovan gazes out toward the ocean, chuckling a bit.
Donovan: Yeah, I guess you’re right. He means well; he just has a tendency to talk too much. In any event, I am DEFINITELY changing the passcode at the entryway, so that he NEVER barges in on us like that again!
Danni lets out a laugh that eventually fades into a wistful sigh as she shakes her head.
Danni: You know, you’re lucky. Your father’s actually been around to watch you grow up. My father? I don’t even know what he looks like. Well, not NOW, anyway. I’ve only ever seen one picture of him, and that was a picture from my mom’s senior prom. I’m told I kinda look like him.
Danni stands up, arching her back as she stretches. She steps off of the blanket, heading to the wall of the cliff. Her lightly tanned hand stands out against the dark surface of the rock, and the dancing flames cast a shadow that seems to be doing a dance of its own on the sand. Donovan stands up, placing his arms around her as he stands behind her, his chest pressed against her back. She looks down, her torso perfectly framed by the Spider Man tattoos on his forearms.
Donovan Basch, closet comic book geek. I should’ve known from the bookcase full of Spider Man memorabilia in his office….
Donovan: This may be a sore subject, but what happened?
Once again, Danni shakes her head, an unsure look on her face as she throws her arms out in an exaggerated shrug before reaching up to wrap her hands around Donovan’s forearms.
Danni: I know there’s two sides to every story, but since my father’s nowhere around to tell HIS side, the only thing I know about him is that he abandoned my mother as soon as she told him she was pregnant. The only time she saw him after that, he acted like they had never even met. So, it’s only ever been me and my mom ever since. When I started dating, all she would ever say to me was how boys weren’t worth the trouble they cause. She didn’t like...
She stops in mid sentence, shutting her eyes.
No... I’m not going to talk about Jax. That’s in the past.
Danni: Never mind... I’m sure the last thing you want to hear about is the guy that came before you. Suffice to say, it took a few years before she was ever really comfortable with me dating. Of course, as soon as YOU came into the picture, well, you know what she said.
Donovan: Yeah, that’s the first time anyone’s mom has ever called me that.
Danni: Yeah... Well, I told her that it was inappropriate, and downright creepy for her to be talking like that about someone that’s young enough to be her son.
Seriously, Mom... that’s beyond disturbing! Go drool over someone your own age!
Donovan: Sounds like your mom is just as bad as my father.
His words begin to trail off as he gradually loosens his grip on Danni. As he pulls away, she can see a hint of hurt in his eyes.
Danni: What is it?
He turns to face her, a half-hearted smirk on his face as he hooks his thumbs onto the waistband of his shorts.
Donovan: Now, this is the part where I tell you how fortunate YOU are... My mother left home when I was just a baby. Tried to use me to pin my father down for child support, but then my father found out she had violated their prenuptial agreement. Once she realized she couldn’t get a dime out of him, she left me with him and disappeared. Up until you came along, my opinion of women was pretty low.
Danni grabs Donovan by the hand, interlocking their fingers as she starts to giggle.
Danni: Well, we didn’t exactly get off on the right foot at first...
Donovan: Hey, you’re the one that decided to poke at me first!
Danni: And then you threatened to kick me in the face!
Donovan: Followed by you threatening to shove a boot up my ass!
Danni’s giggle turns into full-blown laughter as she leans against Donovan’s arm and looks out toward the water’s edge. He looks down at her, then starts to laugh himself.
Donovan: I guess that would make for a funny story to tell the grandkids...
Danni raises an eyebrow, the look on her face suggesting that she’s at a total loss for words.
Hold up here, Romeo! I don’t see a ring on this finger yet, and you’re already talking GRANDCHILDREN?
Danni: Grandkids? Donny, aren’t you jumping the gun JUST a little bit?
Donovan: Perhaps I am. No real way of telling what the future holds, but I suppose there’s nothing wrong with looking at ONE possible outcome, is there?
Danni: I suppose not. Then again, I blame Twitter.
Donovan: How so?
Danni: I’ve seen a lot of wedding announcements pop up on my timeline. Granted, no one I know has gotten married. Still, it’s a welcome change from the usual drama and trash talk I see.
Funny... I could have sworn that his own FATHER outed him as a playboy... now he’s dropping hints about our future? No... it’s too soon for that. But I kinda like it!
Danni sighs, then gives Donovan a playful smile as she pulls off her cover-up and takes a couple of steps away from him.
Danni: Come on... I bet you can’t catch me before I reach the water!
Donovan: And what happens if I catch you?
Danni: Oh, I’m sure you’ll think of something....
She winks at him and takes off, making a beeline for the water’s edge. He shakes his head, letting out a suggestive chuckle before jumping over the fire after her.
It’s well after midnight, and the night sky is a deep shade of blue, almost making it impossible to tell where the sky meets the water. Standing on Donovan’s bedroom terrace, Danni leans against the stainless steel railing, looking out over the Pacific Ocean as the breeze tosses her long brown tresses into the air behind her. In her hand is a glass of Merlot, which she stares intently into as she smiles.
Danni: Trevor, Trevor, Trevor…
Danni stands with her arms crossed, shaking her head with a disapproving look on her face as she takes a sip from her glass.
Danni: What happened to you, man? I first heard about you, the “Southern Gentleman,” and thought “well, here’s a welcome change from all of the douchebags that come through this sport”. Sadly, you’ve so far proven to be a massive disappointment. Perhaps there’s a reason that there are so damn few of you so-called “good guys” still around.
Another sip of wine. Danni again gazes into the deep red liquid as she swirls it around, careful not to let it breach the rim of the glass.
Danni: Perhaps it’s because guys like you don’t last for very long in this business. Sure, you may rack up a few wins, maybe even pick up a title or two here and there, but in the end, guys like you get lost in the shuffle, in favor of other wrestlers that dare to take this business by the balls and show some fucking ambition! This isn’t some place for you to try your luck at something you watched when you were a kid; this is a business where the only ones that survive are the ones that are willing to go out and fight for what they want.
She pauses for a moment, casting her eyes toward the sky as she taps on her chin with her finger, her lips pursed in a pensive pout.
Danni: Hmm… perhaps that’s part of what I find so attractive about Donovan Basch… now THERE’S a man with ambition. He spots an opportunity, and he’s on it like water on the hull of a sailboat. Never mind the fact that he looks like he was sculpted by the hands of Michelangelo himself!
As Danni turns around so that her back is leaning against the rail, a dreamy look washes over Danni’s face, but she’s quick to shake it off, snapping back to her senses as she clears her throat.
Danni: Ahem… where was I? Oh, yeah….
For the first time since I signed with West Coast Genesis, I’ll be competing not in a triple threat, not in a battle royale, but in a simple one on one match against the man that, when it comes to wrestling against women, well… let’s just say your track record is less than stellar. But then again, with a moniker like “Southern Gentleman,” it’s no surprise you can’t shake off the qualms you have about putting your hands on a woman. PLEASE! If it’s the intergender thing you have a problem with, then boy, did YOU ever pick the wrong sport, pal!
I’d ask if you’ve been reading Twitter lately, but I already tell that you haven’t. If you had, I’d point out how a few days ago, I made the comment about nice guys finishing last… and well, in your case, you haven’t even left the starting gate. You’ve had one match so far since you signed, and to be honest, I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did. But that doesn’t matter, because this time, you face what could very well be your last chance to make any real type of impact in this company. The thing is, in order for you to survive, you have to get through me.
Danni takes another drink from her glass, this time draining about half of the liquid from the vessel, then letting out a satisfied gasp after she swallows. Her eyes close for a moment as another breeze blows past her.
Danni: Now, that’s not to say I’m coming into this match with the sole intent of ending your career; that’s not my thing. But I am coming into this match with the goal of being the one whose arm is raised after the referee calls for the final bell. Frankly, I don’t care if it’s by pinning your shoulders to the mat for the count of three, or if it’s by making you scream until you can’t stand it anymore, or if the referee decides you’ve had enough of an ass beating and stops the fight. The only thing that matters to me is having my hand raised in victory as my music is played. This is my fight to win, Trevor; you’re just another obstacle between me and showing this company what I can REALLY do in that ring.
Nice guys finish last, Trevor. That’s been the tried and true saying for as long as anyone can remember. But in your case…
Danni’s eyes narrow as she shoots one final glare into the camera before drinking the last of the wine from her glass.
Danni: You’re just finished.
On-screen, the “low battery” indicator begins to flash, prompting a smile from Danni as she moves in to pick it up. She looks into the lens and lets out a quiet chuckle.
Danni: Talk about timing! I knew I should’ve double checked the battery before I started recording. Oh, well… at Hype this Saturday, Trevor Fowler, your time is…
As the battery uses up the last of its charge, the screen abruptly cuts to black.