Post by Casey on Mar 13, 2021 4:35:56 GMT -5
SOMETHING STONGER
Rune Sigidottir sits at the counter, sucking on a blowpop and watching TV. Nobody else is in the bar. She stirs her cocktail with a thin red straw. The door opens and Casey Grey walks in. She stops at the door, looks left and right.
Rune Sigidottir: It’s okay. I’m here alone.
Casey steps into the bar and approaches the counter. She sits with one barstool between her and Rune. The bartender wipes the counter in front of Casey and sets down a coaster.
Bartender: Anything?
Casey Grey: A glass of water. Just water.
Rune moves the blowpop around from one side of her mouth to the other.
Casey Grey: Okay, Rune. What did you—
Rune Sigidottir: You’re never going to get that title.
Rune shakes her drink and takes a sip.
Rune Sigidottir: You’re probably wondering why I know that. It’s not that you aren’t good. You’re very good. It’s something else. The fact is Casey, you’re not mean or bloodthirsty enough to do it. And that’s saying something. I remember when Empire came back on line. That whole Primetime Championship thing. It was fun. You felt like you had been disrespected for having that title stripped away, and who knows, maybe you were right. The fact is that you used that to run a dominating performance to prove you still deserved to have that belt. I mean, the people you took out to prove it. Now?
Rune shakes her head and takes another sip of her drink.
Rune Sigidottir: You’re a pale comparison to that Casey Grey. You get disrespected now and it just rolls off your back. What happened? You got robbed, openly, at the battle royal. They eliminated you anyway. Yeah, you talked about it, but what did that get you? A match with someone. Big deal. Then, this Manic starts targeting you after Lacy Nelson wins the belt. Then after a few weeks you have to wrestle her to be the number one contender.
Rune looks at Casey.
Rune Sigidottir: Why did you do it? I’m genuinely curious. I mean, all you had to do was get back into the ring. But you let yourself get dragged out, and the match ended in a double countout. Convenient.
Casey Grey: What the hell are you talking about?
Rune shrugs and turns back to her drink.
Rune Sigidottir: It just seems weird, wouldn’t you say? This woman nobody knows anything about shows up, Lacy admits to having a history with her, and then you end up in a three-way match against the two of them for Lacy’s belt.
Casey Grey: What are you saying?
Rune Sigidottir: They’re working together. And if you want my opinion, even if they aren’t, you better assume they are. And why in the world would you go to the ring without the other members of Hell’s Belles? Of all the dumb things you’ve ever done, and I’ve got a list about seven miles long, that’s near the top. They can distract the referee, they can take someone out on the outside, they can interfere in a ton of ways when the referee isn’t looking. You have three others to watch your back, and Lacy and Manic have, at most, each other.
Casey Grey: I had to win. I had to prove to them both and everyone else that I belong in the top tier at Empire. I wanted that belt and I didn’t want anyone saying I didn’t earn it. I’m not going to have an asterisk after my name on anything.
Rune Sigidottir: Oh, so you won that match? Silly me. What was I watching? You don’t belong. This big city life ain’t for you or anyone that runs with you. Lacy? Los Angeles? Manic is the same. Everyone you know is from some Podunk town nobody knows about. Social Elite even fits. You should have Karli and Annabelle breaking their cheekbones for those belts, but I note that nobody has asked me my opinion. Yeah, you have skill. That’s less than half of why they put you on the card. Maybe a third of the reason so many people show up when they do have you wrestle.
Rune looks down at Casey’s chest. Casey looks up at the bartender, then pulls her jacket tighter.
Casey Grey: I’m a good wrestler.
Rune Sigidottir: Yep.
Casey Grey: I have fans.
Rune Sigidottir: Of course. And yet you’re still missing something. Use everything you have to your advantage. Hell’s Belles isn’t a social club. When you form a group, it’s a business deal. You need to stack all the gold and you need to keep it, by any means. You? Alicia? You two aren’t mean enough to do it. Karli? She’s mean. She can make it happen. That cousin of yours is a woodchipper waiting for you to tell her to eat something. You’re not using any of it. You would have won that belt if you were smarter. That’s what you’re missing.
Rune stands up and looks at the bartender. She blows a bubble.
Rune Sigidottir: Cash me out.
Bartender: Two apple juices comes up to seven dollars.
Rune drops a ten on the counter.
Rune Sigidottir: I’m paying for her too.
Bartender: Water’s free.
Rune Sigidottir: That’s why I’m paying. Casey, I’m done with Empire. I’m talking to you because as someone that has been involved in your career even for a short time, I want you to do something with yourself. It’s not redemption, I’m not turning over a new leaf. I don’t want anyone to research your failed career and find my name attached to it. Well, except for that one thing I did. Two things. I don’t mind that. But you deserved to be the number one contender. Sara Logan, Harper Blake, Lacy Nelson, Manic…if you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.
A beat.
Rune Sigidottir: Goodbye, Casey Grey. Free advice period is over. If we should ever meet again, it won’t be amicable.
Rune walks to the door. Casey turns in her barstool.
Casey Grey: Rune. Where will you go?
Rune looks back. Shrugs.
Rune Sigidottir: Don’t know. Somewhere. Anywhere. Nowhere.
Rune leaves the bar. Casey turns back and looks up at the bartender again. She shoves the glass of water away.
Bartender: Something stronger, Miss?
A slow smile tugs at Casey’s lips.
Casey Grey: Yeah. Apple juice.
