Post by Ana Somnia on Jan 5, 2022 12:36:52 GMT -5
“Baby, please— if you won’t love me, will you hate me?
If you won’t violate me, will you at least just aggravate me?”
-The Offspring
If you won’t violate me, will you at least just aggravate me?”
-The Offspring
I.
THE JARON HOUSEHOLD.
DENVER, COLORADO.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 4th.
7:04 p.m.
THE JARON HOUSEHOLD.
DENVER, COLORADO.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 4th.
7:04 p.m.
——The sun has set, leaving the beautiful city of Denver, Colorado enveloped in darkness; city lights taint the purity of the extended cosmic black overhead. In our particular little corner of the suburbs of the Mile High City, one would find themselves resting their eyes upon an unnecessarily large and extravagant home complete with six cars in the looping driveway. A fountain centers the aforementioned driveway, although it is not active due to the mid-winter temperatures. On the other hand, the lights shining through various windows lining the façade of the mansion suggest the house, itself, is currently in use.
——Laughter floods the air. There are four distinct voices behind the uproarious expression of entertainment: three of the four belong to women. Behind half of the laughter, though, is something… else. A tinge of sadness, perhaps? Whatever it may be, the pensive undertone of two of the women’s laughs is noticeable to their hosts. At this point in the evening, however, Brian Jaron—better known by his pseudonym of Brian Church—and his wife, Johanna Willis, do not seem interested in addressing the subtext. Not yet, anyway.
——Their guests, Anastasia Westen—better known by her pseudonym of Ana Somnia—and her girlfriend, Sara Daniels, do what they can to mask the sentiments driving this underlying emotion. They focus, instead, on enjoying their evening with the couple seated opposite them at the dinner table. As such, libations flow freely, all four imbibing liberally. When the patriarch of the household finishes his beverage, he poses a question to the group.
——“I’m out,” he says. “Anyone need anything while I’m up?”
——There is a brief moment of silence as Johanna looks up at her dear husband, eyebrow lifted skyward. It had been a while since she had seen him consume this much alcohol; she cannot remember if he has drank this much at any time since the birth of their third child, Kyle Jaron, who was named after one Kai Stevens. Johanna shakes her head to deny a refill before turning to find Ana and Sara both polishing off the remainder of their respective beverages. Unlike Johanna, they both nod their head in agreement, leaning the open mouths of their glasses toward Brian at the same time.
——“He should really be the bad influence on you and not the other way around,” jokes the matriarch of the household as her husband disappears out of the room with the empty glasses. “He only drinks like that with you.”
——Westen chuckles lightly, nodding her head in agreement. Having met Brian when she was 19 and returning to the United States to find work, Westen has always viewed him as a father figure in her life, more so than any of her other trainers. Despite the opinion of Brian many (if not most) hold for him, Westen could never consider him a bad influence.
——“He is never a bad influence,” responds Ana simply. “But me? I am a bad influence always. Ever since I was little girl. You’ve met my little sister, so you know it’s true.”
——This remark brings a grin to Johanna’s face, one which only grows wider when Brian returns with refills for Ana and Sara alike. After handing the blonde couple their drinks, Brian again disappears out of the room, presumably retrieving his own refill. Sure enough, he reclaims his seat at the table with a freshly poured drink in hand and a smirk on his lightly bearded visage.
——“Me?” he asks rhetorically. “Bad influence? Never. An influence in general? Sure.”
——While the rest of the group laughs at Brian’s comment, Daniels merely takes an elongated swig of her new drink. Her verbal silence speaks volumes to Johanna, who endeavors to involve Daniels—her fellow Johannesburg native—more in their conversation.
——“So tell me, Sara,” she begins. “When are we going to get to see you back in the ring again? Or in a cage? I know you don’t discriminate.”
——“As soon as fuckin’ possible, Jo’,” responds the South African Striker, her rather obscene oration style not unfamiliar to the other three at the table. “I ain’t positive how long I’m stickin’ ‘round in EHWF an’ with ALPHA Wrestlin’ closin’ its doors, it’s lookin’ more an’ more likely I gotta’ find myself fightin’ in some new waterin’ hole. It’s not like I don’t got offers… It’s just ‘bout what kinda’ offer I’m willin’ to accept, y’know?”
——When Sara mentions EHWF, Westen flicks her gaze to her romantic partner of three years this coming May. Ana’s brow furrows, confused, as the remark regarding their shared place of employment appears unexpected. Daniels refuses to meet Ana’s gaze, however, prompting Johanna and Brian to exchange a brief glance, themselves. Before the silence grows more uncomfortable than it already is, Johanna responds.
——“What kind of offers are y—”
——“No,” interrupts Westen. “We are not going to just gloss over that. What do you mean, Dani? Why would you not stay in EHWF? We are not done there; we have not completed our goals. Why would you leave?”
——Initially, Johanna appears poised to interject on behalf of Sara. They have always gotten along quite well, their surprisingly tight-knit relationship stemming from their periodic exchange of memories of Jo-Burg. However, before Willis can offer her thoughts, a subtle gesture from Brian keeps her from doing so. She nods her head with a sigh before speaking.
——“I need to go check on KJ,” she says. “Can you make sure Savannah doesn’t need anything before you finish that drink, Bri’?”
——Ana looks over at Brian and Johanna as Brian peers down at his drink for a moment. He then rises to his feet and tucks the chair back into the table, turning to his wife to nod in agreement. Brian gives Westen a quick look to make sure she is okay, both in general and with him departing with his wife for the time being. Offering a nod as subtle as the gesture Brian had given Johanna moments prior, Westen slows her breathing to maintain her composure until both of their hosts have left the room entirely. She now turns her sights back to Daniels, who continues to refuse to meet Ana’s eyeline. Instead, Sara takes another sip of her alcoholic beverage.
——“Dani,” repeats Ana. “What are you talking abou— will you look at me? I’m not trying to talk to side of your head.”
——“What the fuck do you want me to say, Ana?” asks Daniels, most likely in a rhetorical fashion. “I said I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna’ spend fightin’ for EHWF ‘cause I don’t fuckin’ know how much longer I wanna’ spend fightin’ there in your fuckin’ shadow. We’ve been over this. Multiple fuckin’ times. Why are you makin’ a fuckin’ scene ‘bout it an’ ruinin’ a nice dinner?”
——“No we have not been over this,” replies the Russian. “We have not. Even if we had, I would still try to convince you otherwise. We have much more to accomplish there. You think because we handed over our titles, that we are done? You think because I have Global Championship, we are done? No, моя муза. We are not done. We are not done and I am not making scene. You are not in my shadow, Dani. We are not just comrades. We are partners. At least… we are supposed to be. I don’t understand; I don’t know what changed. I have to fight, Dani. I have to fight tooth and nail to get your attention and I don’t know why. Tell me why.”
——Finally, Sara turns her head to square her gaze to her girlfriend’s puzzled expression. At first, Sara clenches her jaw tightly shut as if she might not respond in a verbal capacity; soon, though, she parts her lips and offers a retort.
——“The fact you don’t got a fuckin’ clue ‘bout why is exactly the problem,” says the South Africa native. “God damn it, Ana. Leave it the fuck alone or we really will be done.”
——Abruptly and aggressively, Sara rises from her seat and leans her head back to drink the rest of her beverage. Westen’s eyes drift to the floor for a moment as she contemplates the gravity of her girlfriend’s ultimatum. Before Daniels can depart from the room to refill her liquor drink, Ana reaches out and softly takes Sara’s near hand in her own. The uncharacteristically subdued act surprises Sara, prompting her to look down at the still-seated Westen. A tinge of pain spreads across Sara’s expression as Ana looks up at her, longing and distress on her own visage.
——“Please,” she says delicately before a pensive and dejected grimace spreads across her face. “Я не хочу этого делать без тебя... I had to find out you cheated from you talking about it on TV. I found out when the world did and I forgave you. I forgave you even though you would not talk to me about it other than blaming me and insulting me. So… after all we have been through, Dani… can you please just talk to me? At least that you owe me.”
——“I don’t owe you shit,” responds Daniels before pulling her hand from Ana’s grip. “Thank Brian and Jo’ for me.”
——Ana rises to her feet to try to stop Sara from leaving, but she is too late. By the time Westen is vertical, Daniels has already vacated the room. Just as their hosts return from avoiding involvement in the situation entirely, one can hear the front door slamming shut. The sound makes Westen jump a little bit. Brian perceives this atypical behavior in his most accomplished and prized pupil and feels shock set into his system. He has never seen Westen like this… and he does not like it.
——Something has to change.
——Laughter floods the air. There are four distinct voices behind the uproarious expression of entertainment: three of the four belong to women. Behind half of the laughter, though, is something… else. A tinge of sadness, perhaps? Whatever it may be, the pensive undertone of two of the women’s laughs is noticeable to their hosts. At this point in the evening, however, Brian Jaron—better known by his pseudonym of Brian Church—and his wife, Johanna Willis, do not seem interested in addressing the subtext. Not yet, anyway.
——Their guests, Anastasia Westen—better known by her pseudonym of Ana Somnia—and her girlfriend, Sara Daniels, do what they can to mask the sentiments driving this underlying emotion. They focus, instead, on enjoying their evening with the couple seated opposite them at the dinner table. As such, libations flow freely, all four imbibing liberally. When the patriarch of the household finishes his beverage, he poses a question to the group.
——“I’m out,” he says. “Anyone need anything while I’m up?”
——There is a brief moment of silence as Johanna looks up at her dear husband, eyebrow lifted skyward. It had been a while since she had seen him consume this much alcohol; she cannot remember if he has drank this much at any time since the birth of their third child, Kyle Jaron, who was named after one Kai Stevens. Johanna shakes her head to deny a refill before turning to find Ana and Sara both polishing off the remainder of their respective beverages. Unlike Johanna, they both nod their head in agreement, leaning the open mouths of their glasses toward Brian at the same time.
——“He should really be the bad influence on you and not the other way around,” jokes the matriarch of the household as her husband disappears out of the room with the empty glasses. “He only drinks like that with you.”
——Westen chuckles lightly, nodding her head in agreement. Having met Brian when she was 19 and returning to the United States to find work, Westen has always viewed him as a father figure in her life, more so than any of her other trainers. Despite the opinion of Brian many (if not most) hold for him, Westen could never consider him a bad influence.
——“He is never a bad influence,” responds Ana simply. “But me? I am a bad influence always. Ever since I was little girl. You’ve met my little sister, so you know it’s true.”
——This remark brings a grin to Johanna’s face, one which only grows wider when Brian returns with refills for Ana and Sara alike. After handing the blonde couple their drinks, Brian again disappears out of the room, presumably retrieving his own refill. Sure enough, he reclaims his seat at the table with a freshly poured drink in hand and a smirk on his lightly bearded visage.
——“Me?” he asks rhetorically. “Bad influence? Never. An influence in general? Sure.”
——While the rest of the group laughs at Brian’s comment, Daniels merely takes an elongated swig of her new drink. Her verbal silence speaks volumes to Johanna, who endeavors to involve Daniels—her fellow Johannesburg native—more in their conversation.
——“So tell me, Sara,” she begins. “When are we going to get to see you back in the ring again? Or in a cage? I know you don’t discriminate.”
——“As soon as fuckin’ possible, Jo’,” responds the South African Striker, her rather obscene oration style not unfamiliar to the other three at the table. “I ain’t positive how long I’m stickin’ ‘round in EHWF an’ with ALPHA Wrestlin’ closin’ its doors, it’s lookin’ more an’ more likely I gotta’ find myself fightin’ in some new waterin’ hole. It’s not like I don’t got offers… It’s just ‘bout what kinda’ offer I’m willin’ to accept, y’know?”
——When Sara mentions EHWF, Westen flicks her gaze to her romantic partner of three years this coming May. Ana’s brow furrows, confused, as the remark regarding their shared place of employment appears unexpected. Daniels refuses to meet Ana’s gaze, however, prompting Johanna and Brian to exchange a brief glance, themselves. Before the silence grows more uncomfortable than it already is, Johanna responds.
——“What kind of offers are y—”
——“No,” interrupts Westen. “We are not going to just gloss over that. What do you mean, Dani? Why would you not stay in EHWF? We are not done there; we have not completed our goals. Why would you leave?”
——Initially, Johanna appears poised to interject on behalf of Sara. They have always gotten along quite well, their surprisingly tight-knit relationship stemming from their periodic exchange of memories of Jo-Burg. However, before Willis can offer her thoughts, a subtle gesture from Brian keeps her from doing so. She nods her head with a sigh before speaking.
——“I need to go check on KJ,” she says. “Can you make sure Savannah doesn’t need anything before you finish that drink, Bri’?”
——Ana looks over at Brian and Johanna as Brian peers down at his drink for a moment. He then rises to his feet and tucks the chair back into the table, turning to his wife to nod in agreement. Brian gives Westen a quick look to make sure she is okay, both in general and with him departing with his wife for the time being. Offering a nod as subtle as the gesture Brian had given Johanna moments prior, Westen slows her breathing to maintain her composure until both of their hosts have left the room entirely. She now turns her sights back to Daniels, who continues to refuse to meet Ana’s eyeline. Instead, Sara takes another sip of her alcoholic beverage.
——“Dani,” repeats Ana. “What are you talking abou— will you look at me? I’m not trying to talk to side of your head.”
——“What the fuck do you want me to say, Ana?” asks Daniels, most likely in a rhetorical fashion. “I said I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna’ spend fightin’ for EHWF ‘cause I don’t fuckin’ know how much longer I wanna’ spend fightin’ there in your fuckin’ shadow. We’ve been over this. Multiple fuckin’ times. Why are you makin’ a fuckin’ scene ‘bout it an’ ruinin’ a nice dinner?”
——“No we have not been over this,” replies the Russian. “We have not. Even if we had, I would still try to convince you otherwise. We have much more to accomplish there. You think because we handed over our titles, that we are done? You think because I have Global Championship, we are done? No, моя муза. We are not done. We are not done and I am not making scene. You are not in my shadow, Dani. We are not just comrades. We are partners. At least… we are supposed to be. I don’t understand; I don’t know what changed. I have to fight, Dani. I have to fight tooth and nail to get your attention and I don’t know why. Tell me why.”
——Finally, Sara turns her head to square her gaze to her girlfriend’s puzzled expression. At first, Sara clenches her jaw tightly shut as if she might not respond in a verbal capacity; soon, though, she parts her lips and offers a retort.
——“The fact you don’t got a fuckin’ clue ‘bout why is exactly the problem,” says the South Africa native. “God damn it, Ana. Leave it the fuck alone or we really will be done.”
——Abruptly and aggressively, Sara rises from her seat and leans her head back to drink the rest of her beverage. Westen’s eyes drift to the floor for a moment as she contemplates the gravity of her girlfriend’s ultimatum. Before Daniels can depart from the room to refill her liquor drink, Ana reaches out and softly takes Sara’s near hand in her own. The uncharacteristically subdued act surprises Sara, prompting her to look down at the still-seated Westen. A tinge of pain spreads across Sara’s expression as Ana looks up at her, longing and distress on her own visage.
——“Please,” she says delicately before a pensive and dejected grimace spreads across her face. “Я не хочу этого делать без тебя... I had to find out you cheated from you talking about it on TV. I found out when the world did and I forgave you. I forgave you even though you would not talk to me about it other than blaming me and insulting me. So… after all we have been through, Dani… can you please just talk to me? At least that you owe me.”
——“I don’t owe you shit,” responds Daniels before pulling her hand from Ana’s grip. “Thank Brian and Jo’ for me.”
——Ana rises to her feet to try to stop Sara from leaving, but she is too late. By the time Westen is vertical, Daniels has already vacated the room. Just as their hosts return from avoiding involvement in the situation entirely, one can hear the front door slamming shut. The sound makes Westen jump a little bit. Brian perceives this atypical behavior in his most accomplished and prized pupil and feels shock set into his system. He has never seen Westen like this… and he does not like it.
——Something has to change.