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#11
Events On Demand / THOMPSON vs CHAMBERS
Last post by Mike - June 20, 2017, 05:02:45 AM[div class="ppv"]
Chambers is fired up, coming out quickly with a kick to the legs and then up top. Thompson responds with the same deadly punches that have defined his Unleashed career. The pace is quick, back and forth trading of blows before they eventually settle in with Chambers returning to the leg attacks. Thompson favors the punches, forcing Chambers to switch up her striking game which ends with EMT holding down the center. Thompson moves into the clinch and gets a takedown but can't hold the position against the former champion in a scramble. Chambers comes up a little short on a high kick as Thompson spins off, deflecting. Chambers seems to be scoring better strikes but Thompson isn't afraid to trade. Chambers keeps chopping the legs, showboating a little for the benefit of the crowd. Her kicks are adding up and Thompson starts to wobble as he moves in for more strikes. Less than a minute left as Chambers turns up the heat, firing more swift kicks into Thompson's legs. The round ends with the referee seperating the fighters.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Chambers really is on target with those kicks.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]She is at a huge height and reach disadvantage. Those kicks are allowing her to control this fight.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Thompson will need to find away to get inside.[/div]
Thompson pushes forward but eats a jab. He switches stance, trying to keep Chambers from the return strikes but quickly shifts back. The left knee looks like it's in bad shape for Thompson and in an effort to hide that, he changes levels and scores a takedown. Chambers turns to her knees to escape, and Thompson happily takes the back. He moves both hooks into position. Chambers controlling the wrists in defends and then smoothly turns inside and takes top position. Thompson holds tight underneath as the official calls for a break. On the reset, Thompson immediately dives forward and clips the legs, scoring another takedown only to eat an elbow to the temple that sends him sprawling back. Chambers peppers him with punches to the body and now Thompson is trying to turn and get to his feet. He eventually turns to his knees but he's being controlled on the back by Chambers. When he tries to roll, Chambers briefly has mount and she peppers him again with some hard strikes . Thompson turns again and actually makes it to his feet at the end of the round.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Thompson needs to listen to his corner. They are screaming at him to check those kicks.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]His left knee is swollen and he has a bit of a limp it looks like.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Going for that takedown was smart, but Chambers schooled him on the ground. He had both hooks in. That should have been goodnight for Chambers.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]But she showed why she was the first UNLEASHED champion. That heart to fight till the last breath.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]And now she has a two round lead, no doubt. Thompson needs to make something happen.[/div]
Thompson shoots in quickly, but Chambers sprawls. Still, Thompson persists to take the fight to the ground, looking to avoid more damage from those leg kicks. Stalemate, so there's a quick restart. Thompson goes quickly again for the takedown, and this time he drives through the legs and scores. Thompson works again from his opponent's guard. He's heavy on top. Chambers turns to her knees, and Thompson happily takes the back. Chambers can't stay here, and after being stuck a bit, she explodes out to create some space. She tries to stand but Thompson drives her on the mat. She has her arms around his neck, trying for a guillotine as she lands on her back—Denied! One minute remains! Chambers desperately wants to get to her feet, but Thompson is staying heavy on top. She tries to hip escape...she scoots out from under Thompson! Both fighters scramble, rolling around on the mat...Thompson's left knee gives out and he goes flat on the mat. Chambers takes his back! He rolls before she can get a choke in and now the Lady of Chambers is on top in full mount! Hammer fists rain down on EMT's face! He tries to fend her off, but the bell rings and the judge has to push Chambers off him. She begins to strut around the ring with her arms raised. EMT sits up, blood running from his nose, his face full of frustration and defeat.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]AND THERE IT IS![/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]What a great fight. Even though at times it seemed one-sided, Thompson still took the former champion to the distance.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]So you think Chambers did enough to score this victory?[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Oh, no doubt. EMT might have gotten that last round, but Chambers ended this fight in dominate position, raining down blows on her opponent's face. And she completely controlled the first and second rounds.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]With the decision, here is Fred Hayes.[/div]
CHAMBERS WINS via UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
[/div]
Chambers is fired up, coming out quickly with a kick to the legs and then up top. Thompson responds with the same deadly punches that have defined his Unleashed career. The pace is quick, back and forth trading of blows before they eventually settle in with Chambers returning to the leg attacks. Thompson favors the punches, forcing Chambers to switch up her striking game which ends with EMT holding down the center. Thompson moves into the clinch and gets a takedown but can't hold the position against the former champion in a scramble. Chambers comes up a little short on a high kick as Thompson spins off, deflecting. Chambers seems to be scoring better strikes but Thompson isn't afraid to trade. Chambers keeps chopping the legs, showboating a little for the benefit of the crowd. Her kicks are adding up and Thompson starts to wobble as he moves in for more strikes. Less than a minute left as Chambers turns up the heat, firing more swift kicks into Thompson's legs. The round ends with the referee seperating the fighters.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Chambers really is on target with those kicks.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]She is at a huge height and reach disadvantage. Those kicks are allowing her to control this fight.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Thompson will need to find away to get inside.[/div]
Thompson pushes forward but eats a jab. He switches stance, trying to keep Chambers from the return strikes but quickly shifts back. The left knee looks like it's in bad shape for Thompson and in an effort to hide that, he changes levels and scores a takedown. Chambers turns to her knees to escape, and Thompson happily takes the back. He moves both hooks into position. Chambers controlling the wrists in defends and then smoothly turns inside and takes top position. Thompson holds tight underneath as the official calls for a break. On the reset, Thompson immediately dives forward and clips the legs, scoring another takedown only to eat an elbow to the temple that sends him sprawling back. Chambers peppers him with punches to the body and now Thompson is trying to turn and get to his feet. He eventually turns to his knees but he's being controlled on the back by Chambers. When he tries to roll, Chambers briefly has mount and she peppers him again with some hard strikes . Thompson turns again and actually makes it to his feet at the end of the round.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Thompson needs to listen to his corner. They are screaming at him to check those kicks.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]His left knee is swollen and he has a bit of a limp it looks like.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Going for that takedown was smart, but Chambers schooled him on the ground. He had both hooks in. That should have been goodnight for Chambers.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]But she showed why she was the first UNLEASHED champion. That heart to fight till the last breath.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]And now she has a two round lead, no doubt. Thompson needs to make something happen.[/div]
Thompson shoots in quickly, but Chambers sprawls. Still, Thompson persists to take the fight to the ground, looking to avoid more damage from those leg kicks. Stalemate, so there's a quick restart. Thompson goes quickly again for the takedown, and this time he drives through the legs and scores. Thompson works again from his opponent's guard. He's heavy on top. Chambers turns to her knees, and Thompson happily takes the back. Chambers can't stay here, and after being stuck a bit, she explodes out to create some space. She tries to stand but Thompson drives her on the mat. She has her arms around his neck, trying for a guillotine as she lands on her back—Denied! One minute remains! Chambers desperately wants to get to her feet, but Thompson is staying heavy on top. She tries to hip escape...she scoots out from under Thompson! Both fighters scramble, rolling around on the mat...Thompson's left knee gives out and he goes flat on the mat. Chambers takes his back! He rolls before she can get a choke in and now the Lady of Chambers is on top in full mount! Hammer fists rain down on EMT's face! He tries to fend her off, but the bell rings and the judge has to push Chambers off him. She begins to strut around the ring with her arms raised. EMT sits up, blood running from his nose, his face full of frustration and defeat.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]AND THERE IT IS![/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]What a great fight. Even though at times it seemed one-sided, Thompson still took the former champion to the distance.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]So you think Chambers did enough to score this victory?[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Oh, no doubt. EMT might have gotten that last round, but Chambers ended this fight in dominate position, raining down blows on her opponent's face. And she completely controlled the first and second rounds.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]With the decision, here is Fred Hayes.[/div]
CHAMBERS WINS via UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
[/div]
#12
Events On Demand / RAAB vs TERRYN
Last post by Mike - June 20, 2017, 05:01:55 AM[div class="ppv"]
Raab wastes no time in going after Terryn, looking for a right cross that is easily dodged, followed by a thrust kick that misses its mark and leaves her open for a shot to the face from Terryn. The pace seems in Terryn's favor as he's rocking Raab back, following up and getting two, three, four consecutive shots to Raab knocking her flat on her back. Terryn goes for the kill, but Raab is able to defend herself, covering up on the mount that Terryn made, blocking the majority of the shots coming in. Looking for a submission, Terryn grabs at Raab's arm, but eats an elbow for his troubles. Pulling her legs in, Raab is able to force Terryn off her with a thrust and gets to her feet. Looking to press her own advantage she goes in for that right cross again, just missing as Terryn weaves to the right and quickly brings his left foot up, catching Raab completely unaware and dropping her straight to the mat. Terryn goes for another mount but the fight is called off, knockout being awarded to Terryn.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]And it's over![/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Ed Terryn put on a clinic, ladies and gentlemen.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]And he has built on that strong debut at UNLEASHED 2 against Anton Voron.[/div]
TERRYN WINS via KNOCKOUT at 03:45 of the FIRST ROUND.
[/div]
Raab wastes no time in going after Terryn, looking for a right cross that is easily dodged, followed by a thrust kick that misses its mark and leaves her open for a shot to the face from Terryn. The pace seems in Terryn's favor as he's rocking Raab back, following up and getting two, three, four consecutive shots to Raab knocking her flat on her back. Terryn goes for the kill, but Raab is able to defend herself, covering up on the mount that Terryn made, blocking the majority of the shots coming in. Looking for a submission, Terryn grabs at Raab's arm, but eats an elbow for his troubles. Pulling her legs in, Raab is able to force Terryn off her with a thrust and gets to her feet. Looking to press her own advantage she goes in for that right cross again, just missing as Terryn weaves to the right and quickly brings his left foot up, catching Raab completely unaware and dropping her straight to the mat. Terryn goes for another mount but the fight is called off, knockout being awarded to Terryn.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]And it's over![/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Ed Terryn put on a clinic, ladies and gentlemen.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]And he has built on that strong debut at UNLEASHED 2 against Anton Voron.[/div]
TERRYN WINS via KNOCKOUT at 03:45 of the FIRST ROUND.
[/div]
#13
Events On Demand / VORON vs THIRTEEN
Last post by Mike - June 20, 2017, 05:01:21 AM[div class="ppv"]
Thirteen takes the center as Voron fires in a few hard strikes like he's trying to feel her out, using his range to keep his opponent at bay. Thirteen nails a few hard hooks when they're in tight and then there's a brief stall after a clash of heads and Thirteen looking as though she took an eye poke. Her left eye looks bad. On the restart, Voron slips to the floor, and Thirteen quickly pounces and tries to take his back. Voron rolls but Thirteen turns and goes for a guillotine choke.
Voron tries his best to escape guard and alleviate pressure. He can't, but he does get his head free and now Thirteen is bleeding from that left eye! They scramble for position. Voron gets on top, and now he's looking for the guillotine. Thirteen in a bad spot, but she's battling through. Half-guard underneath for Thirteen as she tries to sneak her head back inside. Finally, Voron does have to adjust and as Thirteen rolls Voron stays tight on the neck and works in a choke from the top. Thirteen's struggling to get free, but Voron has control of the neck and looks like he wants to finish the fight early. He can't get the angle, so he lets go. He turns for a strike but Thirteen catches his arm and drags him down, peppering him with elbows and punches a bit before the bell.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Thirteen showed a ton of heart getting out of that guillotine choke.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Not only that, but she might have stole the round from the Blackbird with that impressive takedown and flurry at the end.[/div]
Voron with more kicks to open. Thirteen quickly closes distance with punches. Voron wants an arm drag but winds up giving Thirteen his back. Voron quickly corrects that mistake and crawls to his feet, but Thirteen scrambles with him and goes for the neck. Great grappling exchanges showcase Thirteen's wrestling background before Voron wraps the body and tosses Thirteen to the floor, taking top position. Thirteen moves to guard, shifts and attacks the arm. It's briefly tight, but Voron pulls free and slips around to the back, nearly catching the choke before Thirteen avoids. Voron is still on the back and Thirteen drives a few punches to the head, but she's in a bad spot.
Voron tries again for the rear-naked choke, but Thirteen keeps her chin tucked, turning but she just can't get free. Voron continues to adjust, getting the legs tight around the body, but he can't finish the choke. He's switching arms as Thirteen pleases the crowd with punches behind her head. Less than a minute, and Thirteen does stand, but Voron pushes her right back to the canvas. Round ends with Voron moving to the back.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I'm surprised Voron is going for these chokes.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]It's not his strong suit, but he's making it work, John. It's hard to argue when he controlled the round that well.[/div]
Thirteen needs to make something happen. She comes out aggressive, but Voron's quick inside and drives her down to the canvas with a stunning punch combination. Thirteen keeps firing elbows from her back and then she scrambles for an omoplata but can't get it. She does get back to her feet and now she looks to be bleeding a bit from her right eye. Crowd cheering loudly for Thirteen, but Voron scores a slick takedown. Thirteen won't stay grounded, and as they crawl back up, she latches onto a guillotine and falls to the ground for the finish.
Voron battles through it and eventually breaks the pressure only to counter into an arm-triangle choke. He gets to the side, and it's in deep, but Thirteen absolutely refuses to tap. Thirteen stands, but Voron drives her back to the floor and they scramble for position, Thirteen looking for an armbar before getting reversed into another arm-triangle. She's against the fence and Voron can't quite torque it. There's not much time left so he just stalls until the bell.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]And it goes the distance![/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Another close round, but I think it went to Voron.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]The crowd is definitely happy with both of these fighters.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Both were active throughout and made a serious case to these judges. I wouldn't want to be the one scoring this fight. I think the second was definitely Blackbird. Thirteen probably took the first round right at the end. I think it all comes down to the third round.[/div]
VORON WINS via UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
[/div]
Thirteen takes the center as Voron fires in a few hard strikes like he's trying to feel her out, using his range to keep his opponent at bay. Thirteen nails a few hard hooks when they're in tight and then there's a brief stall after a clash of heads and Thirteen looking as though she took an eye poke. Her left eye looks bad. On the restart, Voron slips to the floor, and Thirteen quickly pounces and tries to take his back. Voron rolls but Thirteen turns and goes for a guillotine choke.
Voron tries his best to escape guard and alleviate pressure. He can't, but he does get his head free and now Thirteen is bleeding from that left eye! They scramble for position. Voron gets on top, and now he's looking for the guillotine. Thirteen in a bad spot, but she's battling through. Half-guard underneath for Thirteen as she tries to sneak her head back inside. Finally, Voron does have to adjust and as Thirteen rolls Voron stays tight on the neck and works in a choke from the top. Thirteen's struggling to get free, but Voron has control of the neck and looks like he wants to finish the fight early. He can't get the angle, so he lets go. He turns for a strike but Thirteen catches his arm and drags him down, peppering him with elbows and punches a bit before the bell.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Thirteen showed a ton of heart getting out of that guillotine choke.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Not only that, but she might have stole the round from the Blackbird with that impressive takedown and flurry at the end.[/div]
Voron with more kicks to open. Thirteen quickly closes distance with punches. Voron wants an arm drag but winds up giving Thirteen his back. Voron quickly corrects that mistake and crawls to his feet, but Thirteen scrambles with him and goes for the neck. Great grappling exchanges showcase Thirteen's wrestling background before Voron wraps the body and tosses Thirteen to the floor, taking top position. Thirteen moves to guard, shifts and attacks the arm. It's briefly tight, but Voron pulls free and slips around to the back, nearly catching the choke before Thirteen avoids. Voron is still on the back and Thirteen drives a few punches to the head, but she's in a bad spot.
Voron tries again for the rear-naked choke, but Thirteen keeps her chin tucked, turning but she just can't get free. Voron continues to adjust, getting the legs tight around the body, but he can't finish the choke. He's switching arms as Thirteen pleases the crowd with punches behind her head. Less than a minute, and Thirteen does stand, but Voron pushes her right back to the canvas. Round ends with Voron moving to the back.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I'm surprised Voron is going for these chokes.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]It's not his strong suit, but he's making it work, John. It's hard to argue when he controlled the round that well.[/div]
Thirteen needs to make something happen. She comes out aggressive, but Voron's quick inside and drives her down to the canvas with a stunning punch combination. Thirteen keeps firing elbows from her back and then she scrambles for an omoplata but can't get it. She does get back to her feet and now she looks to be bleeding a bit from her right eye. Crowd cheering loudly for Thirteen, but Voron scores a slick takedown. Thirteen won't stay grounded, and as they crawl back up, she latches onto a guillotine and falls to the ground for the finish.
Voron battles through it and eventually breaks the pressure only to counter into an arm-triangle choke. He gets to the side, and it's in deep, but Thirteen absolutely refuses to tap. Thirteen stands, but Voron drives her back to the floor and they scramble for position, Thirteen looking for an armbar before getting reversed into another arm-triangle. She's against the fence and Voron can't quite torque it. There's not much time left so he just stalls until the bell.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]And it goes the distance![/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Another close round, but I think it went to Voron.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]The crowd is definitely happy with both of these fighters.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Both were active throughout and made a serious case to these judges. I wouldn't want to be the one scoring this fight. I think the second was definitely Blackbird. Thirteen probably took the first round right at the end. I think it all comes down to the third round.[/div]
VORON WINS via UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
[/div]
#14
Events On Demand / ALVAREZ vs WINSTON
Last post by Mike - June 20, 2017, 05:00:54 AM[div class="ppv"]
Alvarez misses a leaping knee to start and ends up on the receiving end of a hard jab as Winston walks forward. He kicks the legs. Alvarez changing levels, moving up and down. Winston in the center. He catches a leg and drives Alvarez to the cage. Alvarez quickly switches outside, but Winston pushes her away. Alvarez moving on the outside, but both seem a little hesitant to open up. Winston tries to catch a kick to the body and then they're locked into the clinch. Alvarez drives the action to the cage, but Winston spins away. Quick collar tie for Alvarez but Winston sneaks in another quick, hard strike. They're back into the clinch, but nothing comes of it. As they break, Winston scores a left hand and then kicks the leg, staggering Alvarez as she tries to dodge back. They briefly open up and trade before Alvarez moves inside and charges into the fence. Knees traded. Alvarez can't get the takedown and the round ends with them upright.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Alvarez with some surprising poise again the bigger opponent.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]We knew a decent amount about Winston before this fight because he is attached to Harvey Lowman who loves to hype his fighters, but Alvarez came in with little fanfare.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]She's sounding the trumpets herself.[/div]
Quicker pace to start, but they're back into the clinch straight off. They trade shots in close quarters, and both rack up some points. As they pull away, it's Winston moving forward first. Alvarez pops out a jab, but they're back to working in tight. They jockey for position against the cage, turning off the fence, before restarting in the center. Winston doesn't give up, coming forward again only to miss a big right. Winston kicks the leg but she shakes it off, circling on the outside only to use the same strategy. She kicks the legs and just barely slips a Winston counter. Less than a minute to go and Winston flurries at the bell. The judges score it for Winston, 10-9.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Winston seems to be hitting his pace, but neither fighter has made a dominate move to end this fight.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]They seem like they're trying to feel each other still. First fight nerves?[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I wouldn't be surprised, John. Becoming an UNLEASHED fighter is a dream that turns into a nightmare the first time that cage door shuts and you're stuck inside.[/div]
Winston comes in faster than before, as if he's been holding back and fires an uppercut. He kicks the legs and Alvarez looks for a desperate takedown only to get stuffed. Winston with a right hand before they trade leg kicks. Winston again in the center, and he blocks another takedown. Alvarez with a few knees up the middle but they're not doing much damage before Winston pulls away. Into another clinch and this time Alvarez looks for a trip that's just not there. Winston pushes Alvarez to the fence. Alvarez latches on to the neck and falls to her back as Winston looks for a takedown. She locks the legs around him and starts peppering him with strikes, keeping him immobile before the stall forces a break. Winston seems fine once they're back up and Alvarez goes for another takedown. She shoots in, but Winston sidesteps. He throws a downward right fist that catches Miss Murder as she stands. The power spins her and she lands face up on the mat. Winston walks away and the referee signals the end of the fight.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]IT IS ALL OVER![/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Big KO there with only a minute left in the round. Zig Zag lived up to his nickname with that takedown dodge and made Alvarez pay for it.[/div]
WINSTON WINS via KNOCKOUT at 03:58 of the THIRD ROUND.
[/div]
Alvarez misses a leaping knee to start and ends up on the receiving end of a hard jab as Winston walks forward. He kicks the legs. Alvarez changing levels, moving up and down. Winston in the center. He catches a leg and drives Alvarez to the cage. Alvarez quickly switches outside, but Winston pushes her away. Alvarez moving on the outside, but both seem a little hesitant to open up. Winston tries to catch a kick to the body and then they're locked into the clinch. Alvarez drives the action to the cage, but Winston spins away. Quick collar tie for Alvarez but Winston sneaks in another quick, hard strike. They're back into the clinch, but nothing comes of it. As they break, Winston scores a left hand and then kicks the leg, staggering Alvarez as she tries to dodge back. They briefly open up and trade before Alvarez moves inside and charges into the fence. Knees traded. Alvarez can't get the takedown and the round ends with them upright.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Alvarez with some surprising poise again the bigger opponent.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]We knew a decent amount about Winston before this fight because he is attached to Harvey Lowman who loves to hype his fighters, but Alvarez came in with little fanfare.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]She's sounding the trumpets herself.[/div]
Quicker pace to start, but they're back into the clinch straight off. They trade shots in close quarters, and both rack up some points. As they pull away, it's Winston moving forward first. Alvarez pops out a jab, but they're back to working in tight. They jockey for position against the cage, turning off the fence, before restarting in the center. Winston doesn't give up, coming forward again only to miss a big right. Winston kicks the leg but she shakes it off, circling on the outside only to use the same strategy. She kicks the legs and just barely slips a Winston counter. Less than a minute to go and Winston flurries at the bell. The judges score it for Winston, 10-9.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Winston seems to be hitting his pace, but neither fighter has made a dominate move to end this fight.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]They seem like they're trying to feel each other still. First fight nerves?[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I wouldn't be surprised, John. Becoming an UNLEASHED fighter is a dream that turns into a nightmare the first time that cage door shuts and you're stuck inside.[/div]
Winston comes in faster than before, as if he's been holding back and fires an uppercut. He kicks the legs and Alvarez looks for a desperate takedown only to get stuffed. Winston with a right hand before they trade leg kicks. Winston again in the center, and he blocks another takedown. Alvarez with a few knees up the middle but they're not doing much damage before Winston pulls away. Into another clinch and this time Alvarez looks for a trip that's just not there. Winston pushes Alvarez to the fence. Alvarez latches on to the neck and falls to her back as Winston looks for a takedown. She locks the legs around him and starts peppering him with strikes, keeping him immobile before the stall forces a break. Winston seems fine once they're back up and Alvarez goes for another takedown. She shoots in, but Winston sidesteps. He throws a downward right fist that catches Miss Murder as she stands. The power spins her and she lands face up on the mat. Winston walks away and the referee signals the end of the fight.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]IT IS ALL OVER![/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Big KO there with only a minute left in the round. Zig Zag lived up to his nickname with that takedown dodge and made Alvarez pay for it.[/div]
WINSTON WINS via KNOCKOUT at 03:58 of the THIRD ROUND.
[/div]
#15
Events On Demand / UNLEASHED 3: JACKSON vs BELANE...
Last post by Mike - June 20, 2017, 05:00:01 AM[div class="ppv"]
FADE TO:
BLACK. Operatic music begins to play.
FADE IN:
INT. COLISEUM TUNNEL.
CLOSE ON: A gladiator helmet sits in the dirt. It is covered in blood and muck. A hand reaches down and takes it. The camera follows the helmet as it's lifted from the sand. A warrior, scarred and full of fire, places the helmet on before his face can be seen. He begins to walk forward, down a lighted tunnel, until:
CUT TO:
INT. SOUNDSTAGE.
CLOSE ON: Jackson, black and white, looks into the camera.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]JACKSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]My goal? Same as it always is: to dominate.[/div]
CUT TO:
JACKSON sinking in the rear naked choke that ended his fight with THOMPSON.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]BELANE[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]It's the same goal every night. Survive. Seriously though, if you ask my hipster jerk of a manager, he'll tell you that it's all about the win. All about the money. All about...all of his silver tongued shit. Me though? My goal is to fight until one of us ends up knocked out on the ground. Nothing more, nothing less.[/div]
CUT TO:
BELANE is dropping hammer fists in slow motion on an unconscious BUGS KENNEDY.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]JACKSON(O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I expect fancy bullshit. I expect flash and flourish and nothing else to go with that pretty face of his. You think he looks like a fighter? Nah. That guy belongs on a Calvin Klein billboard. Not in MY cage.[/div]
CUT TO:
INT. SOUNDSTAGE.
BELANE stares hard into the camera.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]BELANE[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]This is the biggest fight I've seen yet at UNLEASHED. I went from facing a caricature with a glass chin to facing arguably the best fighter here. Jackson's going to want to go and I expect nothing less than the fight of my life. Similarly, the fight of the night.[/div]
CUT TO:
Highlights from UNLEASHED 1 roll over Metallica's SPIT OUT THE BONE.
CUT TO:
EXT: SAINT PETERSBURG SKYLINE. NIGHT.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA (O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]This is UNLEASHED 3! JACKSON vs. BELANE! Coming to you LIVE from Belgrade, Serbia, available around the world on Battleground Network and Amazon Prime Video. Tonight's fights are brought to by Hardwired to Self Destruct, the new album by iconic band Metallica. Available now.[/div]
CUT TO:
INT: CAGESIDE
CLOSE ON: John Cardona and Freddie Larsson stand with the cage behind them.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Jove Belane rocketed himself from relative nobody to the name on everyone's mind when he knocked Bugs Kennedy out in thirty one seconds. However, does he have what it takes to go toe to toe with the a veteran like Jackson?[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]We know what Jackson will bring to the table. Power. Aggression. Submission. These are the keys to his victory. How does Belane counter that? We know he has one-punch knockout power because was saw it when Bugs Kennedy ate the mat. But does he possess the chin to take one of Jax's right bombs?[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Another question when it comes to Belane is his gas tank. We've never seen him go beyond thirty seconds, let alone five rounds.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]It's no secret that Jackson at 46 years of age doesn't have the endurance he possessed earlier in his career. That's a lot of years on those bones. [/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]But he did go 14 minutes in one round against Thompson.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]He did, and ultimately he won. I just don't know how many more of these long fights the Legend has in him. I believe his best chance to win tonight against a younger Jove Belane is to come out swinging.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Also on the card is our co-main event. Former champion Lara Chambers will take on Ethan Thompson.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]A lot of eyes are on Jackson and Belane, but I am really looking forward to this fight. Chambers wants everyone in the world to know that she deserves another shot at the UNLEASHED championship before anyone else. She needs an impressive win over a hungry Ethan Thompson to make that case.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]EMT now has two losses on his record and he is looking to turn that around. What does a win here tonight do for him going forward?[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]If EMT beats Chambers, it automatically pushes him right back to the top of the rankings. If he knocks Chambers out or makes her tap out, he will have a clear path toward a title shot in the near future.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Also on the card, number fifth ranked fighter Fizz Raab will take on Ed Terryn, and Voron will go head to head with newcomer Thirteen. But first, "Miss Murder" Erica Alvarez will take on Zag Winston.[/div]
[/div]
FADE TO:
BLACK. Operatic music begins to play.
FADE IN:
INT. COLISEUM TUNNEL.
CLOSE ON: A gladiator helmet sits in the dirt. It is covered in blood and muck. A hand reaches down and takes it. The camera follows the helmet as it's lifted from the sand. A warrior, scarred and full of fire, places the helmet on before his face can be seen. He begins to walk forward, down a lighted tunnel, until:
CUT TO:
INT. SOUNDSTAGE.
CLOSE ON: Jackson, black and white, looks into the camera.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]JACKSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]My goal? Same as it always is: to dominate.[/div]
CUT TO:
JACKSON sinking in the rear naked choke that ended his fight with THOMPSON.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]BELANE[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]It's the same goal every night. Survive. Seriously though, if you ask my hipster jerk of a manager, he'll tell you that it's all about the win. All about the money. All about...all of his silver tongued shit. Me though? My goal is to fight until one of us ends up knocked out on the ground. Nothing more, nothing less.[/div]
CUT TO:
BELANE is dropping hammer fists in slow motion on an unconscious BUGS KENNEDY.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]JACKSON(O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]I expect fancy bullshit. I expect flash and flourish and nothing else to go with that pretty face of his. You think he looks like a fighter? Nah. That guy belongs on a Calvin Klein billboard. Not in MY cage.[/div]
CUT TO:
INT. SOUNDSTAGE.
BELANE stares hard into the camera.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]BELANE[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]This is the biggest fight I've seen yet at UNLEASHED. I went from facing a caricature with a glass chin to facing arguably the best fighter here. Jackson's going to want to go and I expect nothing less than the fight of my life. Similarly, the fight of the night.[/div]
CUT TO:
Highlights from UNLEASHED 1 roll over Metallica's SPIT OUT THE BONE.
CUT TO:
EXT: SAINT PETERSBURG SKYLINE. NIGHT.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA (O.S.)[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]This is UNLEASHED 3! JACKSON vs. BELANE! Coming to you LIVE from Belgrade, Serbia, available around the world on Battleground Network and Amazon Prime Video. Tonight's fights are brought to by Hardwired to Self Destruct, the new album by iconic band Metallica. Available now.[/div]
CUT TO:
INT: CAGESIDE
CLOSE ON: John Cardona and Freddie Larsson stand with the cage behind them.
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Jove Belane rocketed himself from relative nobody to the name on everyone's mind when he knocked Bugs Kennedy out in thirty one seconds. However, does he have what it takes to go toe to toe with the a veteran like Jackson?[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]We know what Jackson will bring to the table. Power. Aggression. Submission. These are the keys to his victory. How does Belane counter that? We know he has one-punch knockout power because was saw it when Bugs Kennedy ate the mat. But does he possess the chin to take one of Jax's right bombs?[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Another question when it comes to Belane is his gas tank. We've never seen him go beyond thirty seconds, let alone five rounds.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]It's no secret that Jackson at 46 years of age doesn't have the endurance he possessed earlier in his career. That's a lot of years on those bones. [/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]But he did go 14 minutes in one round against Thompson.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]He did, and ultimately he won. I just don't know how many more of these long fights the Legend has in him. I believe his best chance to win tonight against a younger Jove Belane is to come out swinging.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Also on the card is our co-main event. Former champion Lara Chambers will take on Ethan Thompson.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]A lot of eyes are on Jackson and Belane, but I am really looking forward to this fight. Chambers wants everyone in the world to know that she deserves another shot at the UNLEASHED championship before anyone else. She needs an impressive win over a hungry Ethan Thompson to make that case.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]EMT now has two losses on his record and he is looking to turn that around. What does a win here tonight do for him going forward?[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]LARSSON[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]If EMT beats Chambers, it automatically pushes him right back to the top of the rankings. If he knocks Chambers out or makes her tap out, he will have a clear path toward a title shot in the near future.[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech-headline"]CARDONA[/div]
[div class="ppv-speech"]Also on the card, number fifth ranked fighter Fizz Raab will take on Ed Terryn, and Voron will go head to head with newcomer Thirteen. But first, "Miss Murder" Erica Alvarez will take on Zag Winston.[/div]
[/div]
#16
Archive / How Konrad and Fizz got togeth...
Last post by Fizz Raab - June 11, 2017, 11:04:08 PM2nd day of Konrad and Fizz together. Cologne, Germany. August 2010.
It was a new day where for the first time in a very long time, Fizz was in a very safe and secure place thanks to Konrad saving her from being killed and although Fizz knew his name, he didn't know anything about her and she opens her eyes and sits on the bed, shaking her head a bit, not allowing Konrad to get to know her, but at the same time, she was scared of being hurt again after what happened with her ex husband who left her in the streets.
Justin stays with Fizz although she went back to sleep again because she hadn't had good sleep in a while. Half an hour after she went back off to sleep, the same man who saved Fizz yesterday known as Konrad came in and Konrad speaks in German to Justin.
Konrad Raab: "Du kannst jetzt gehen, wie ich hier bin. Danke, dass du dich um sie gekümmert hast und ich möchte, dass du heute Abend das selbe machst."
You can leave now as I'm here. Thank you for taking care of her and I want you to do the same tonight.
Justin: "Ich fange an zu denken, dass diese junge Dame nicht deutsch ist."
I'm beginning to think this young lady isn't German.
Konrad Raab: "Nein ist sie nicht. Sie verstand kein Deutsch, als ich das erste Mal sprach. Das ist das einzige Wissen, das ich im Moment von dieser Dame habe. Zur Arbeit gehen."
No she's not. She didn't understand German when I spoke the first time. That's the only knowledge I have of this lady at the moment. Get to work.
Justin understood he wasn't being required until tonight as Konrad walks in and waits for Fizz to get up, although he still didn't know her name, it's something he's proud of and while Fizz was still asleep, he did manage to respond some mail he had from his fans and signing autographs from them and then he hears movement from his bed as he goes over to Fizz to see she's woken up as he says this.
Konrad Raab: "Good morning, had a good sleep?"
Fizz nodded as she was still too scared to speak as he got Fizz something as he handed a small bag for her as she opens it to see there's a hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, funnel and roll on deodorant. He kinda wanted to help Fizz and he asked the question.
Konrad Raab: "Want me to help you brush your hair?"
Fizz nodded at him as at least it was a start of her feeling a little secure to Konrad as he gets her to sit on the chair as he brushes her hair, trying his best not to hurt Fizz as she does cringe a little bit, not because she was uncomfortable, but because the knots hurt her and he says.
Konrad Raab: "Sorry, don't mean to hurt you."
He took almost half an hour to brush Fizz's hair and he finishes brushing it as he leaves the brush on his bedside table for Fizz to use tomorrow as Konrad wanted to make sure of something before she goes.
Konrad Raab: "Do you remember where the bathroom was?"
Fizz shakes her head as of course, she just came straight through the entrance yesterday and was in a different part of the building as he picks up the mini things he got for Fizz. He and Fizz left the room and they go downstairs to the entrance of the building and then goes down another set of stairs for the bathroom area as he stands outside of the bathroom for Fizz to sort herself out and while she's in there.
Konrad felt something in him he hadn't felt for many years, he felt in love with Fizz and it was quite fast as well as he kinda wanted to brush her hair cos of him fancying her like crazy and was more or less wanting to do everything to help Fizz and twenty five minutes later, she came out of the bathroom going into Konrad's chest to wrap her arms around him as she wanted to hug him as a way of her saying thank you to him as she realises the hug later as Konrad speaks.
Konrad Raab: "Remember I said we'll go out and buy you new clothes?"
Fizz nodded at Konrad before he speaks again.
Konrad Raab: "Before we do that, I'll treat you to eat something for breakfast at a local cafe nearby. As you still got no money and I realise you won't for a while, I'll pay for anything and everything you need and at times, want."
The thought of Fizz going out again was making her shake before she runs away back upstairs where her bedroom is and she starts to sob, knowing her fears of being attacked and Konrad goes a few minutes later to find where Fizz went and it ended up her hiding under the covers on his bed and he pulls the duvet off.
Konrad Raab: "Why you scared? Cos you feel you'll get attacked again?"
Fizz nodded.
Konrad Raab: "Nothing's gonna happen when I'm around you, trust me. I done a couple of boxing matches before and I'll protect you from now on."
Konrad held his hand to Fizz as she accepts it and gets herself up before he and Fizz leave the bedroom and go downstairs to the entrance of the headquarters before leaving it all together to go and get Fizz some breakfast to eat, while Konrad just had a cup of coffee. Konrad could tell how hungry still Fizz was from how fast she ate her breakfast before he pays for himself and Fizz as he takes her to the trams and goes on with Konrad to go to the shopping centre in Cologne.
Once they reached their destination for clothes shopping, they went into a female clothes shop together and before they can start looking for clothes, after Konrad picks the basket up, he speaks.
Konrad Raab: "I'm not gonna pick clothes for you, you have to point to me what you like to wear and you'll try the clothes on before I buy them, alright?"
Fizz puts her thumb up, understanding everything he said to her as he and Fizz walk around to get Fizz some new clothes as she points to the pink skull top she found and Konrad puts it up against her and sees it could be too big for her at the moment so he looks through to see a smaller size and there was as he gets it off the rail and places the smaller top on her and knew it would fit so he places it in the basket.
Konrad saw Fizz pointing to another top, but it's plain blue as he made sure it was this shirt she wanted and she nods before placing it in the basket as Fizz goes to where the jeans are and she waits for Konrad to come and chose those jeans that were well fitted as he takes two of them off the line and puts them in before Fizz saw some tracksuit bottoms and he places them in the basket, knowing Fizz's size now.
Konrad did want to get a few more tops for Fizz as he points out the elephant top and Fizz nods for Konrad to put it in and even nods to getting a lion top too. After putting those clothes in the basket, Konrad went to the bras area as Fizz pointed the ones she liked, but the problem is he didn't know her bra size as he goes to get a female attendant to ask to measure Fizz's breasts to know the size to get her as they went to the changing rooms as Fizz was told to take her top and bra off and the woman got a tape measure to place around Fizz's breasts and says this.
Lady attendant: "Sie ist vierunddreißig AA."
She's a thirty four AA.
Konrad Raab: "Vielen Dank."
Thank you very much.
The lady attendant leaves as Fizz goes in to change as Konrad stands to lick his lips on enjoying to see that sight of Fizz's breasts and smiles before she comes out and they go back to where the bras are and now he knows what size to get her, he goes through the hangers of the sizes of bras and he puts some Fizz selected in the basket and even his suggestion too with the clothes which Fizz nods to. After that, he goes to get Fizz some socks as he knew Fizz picked them straight away as he puts them in and another socks to wear so he puts them in as well.
Then Konrad to get some more pairs of knickers for Fizz as he puts them in and now Konrad gets what Fizz and pays for the clothes which reach up to one hundred and fifty euros as he uses his card to pay for them as he does before they leave the shop and head back to the headquarters as it was now almost one in the afternoon as he knew he had to speak to Fizz about the show tonight.
They go to a cafe there and Konrad gets Fizz a sandwich and she notices that there's a long range of foods for her to eat and while Fizz and he eats, he speaks.
Konrad Raab: "On Monday's, Tuesday's, Wednesday's, Thursday's and sometimes Saturday's, I run TV shows and I want you to stay in the bedroom until they are finished as this is my job on being a TV entertainer."
Fizz nodded, knowing all of that already since she was after all a wrestler before as after lunch was finished, Fizz went upstairs to the bedroom while Konrad drops off bags full of clothes in the bedroom before Konrad goes downstairs to do his TV show he does as Fizz goes off to sleep again until two hours later, Konrad comes back and sees Fizz being asleep and while every one of his workers went home, Konrad feels very much in love with Fizz as he starts to unzip his trousers and does some masturbation very quietly until he cummed on his trousers which he quickly cleans the cum off.
After that, Fizz woke up and sees Konrad waiting once again and points downstairs to her and then mimes on her wanting to eat? At the moment she nods before they go down and get her something for dinner as he does with am Italian pasta and she eats it with no problems, slowly slowing down her food and Fizz drinks the water Konrad brought her as Justin came in the room and stays with her, while Konrad's off back to his home as Fizz tucks herself in bed and sleeps with Justin keeping an eye out on Fizz as she was dead asleep.
It was a new day where for the first time in a very long time, Fizz was in a very safe and secure place thanks to Konrad saving her from being killed and although Fizz knew his name, he didn't know anything about her and she opens her eyes and sits on the bed, shaking her head a bit, not allowing Konrad to get to know her, but at the same time, she was scared of being hurt again after what happened with her ex husband who left her in the streets.
Justin stays with Fizz although she went back to sleep again because she hadn't had good sleep in a while. Half an hour after she went back off to sleep, the same man who saved Fizz yesterday known as Konrad came in and Konrad speaks in German to Justin.
Konrad Raab: "Du kannst jetzt gehen, wie ich hier bin. Danke, dass du dich um sie gekümmert hast und ich möchte, dass du heute Abend das selbe machst."
You can leave now as I'm here. Thank you for taking care of her and I want you to do the same tonight.
Justin: "Ich fange an zu denken, dass diese junge Dame nicht deutsch ist."
I'm beginning to think this young lady isn't German.
Konrad Raab: "Nein ist sie nicht. Sie verstand kein Deutsch, als ich das erste Mal sprach. Das ist das einzige Wissen, das ich im Moment von dieser Dame habe. Zur Arbeit gehen."
No she's not. She didn't understand German when I spoke the first time. That's the only knowledge I have of this lady at the moment. Get to work.
Justin understood he wasn't being required until tonight as Konrad walks in and waits for Fizz to get up, although he still didn't know her name, it's something he's proud of and while Fizz was still asleep, he did manage to respond some mail he had from his fans and signing autographs from them and then he hears movement from his bed as he goes over to Fizz to see she's woken up as he says this.
Konrad Raab: "Good morning, had a good sleep?"
Fizz nodded as she was still too scared to speak as he got Fizz something as he handed a small bag for her as she opens it to see there's a hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, funnel and roll on deodorant. He kinda wanted to help Fizz and he asked the question.
Konrad Raab: "Want me to help you brush your hair?"
Fizz nodded at him as at least it was a start of her feeling a little secure to Konrad as he gets her to sit on the chair as he brushes her hair, trying his best not to hurt Fizz as she does cringe a little bit, not because she was uncomfortable, but because the knots hurt her and he says.
Konrad Raab: "Sorry, don't mean to hurt you."
He took almost half an hour to brush Fizz's hair and he finishes brushing it as he leaves the brush on his bedside table for Fizz to use tomorrow as Konrad wanted to make sure of something before she goes.
Konrad Raab: "Do you remember where the bathroom was?"
Fizz shakes her head as of course, she just came straight through the entrance yesterday and was in a different part of the building as he picks up the mini things he got for Fizz. He and Fizz left the room and they go downstairs to the entrance of the building and then goes down another set of stairs for the bathroom area as he stands outside of the bathroom for Fizz to sort herself out and while she's in there.
Konrad felt something in him he hadn't felt for many years, he felt in love with Fizz and it was quite fast as well as he kinda wanted to brush her hair cos of him fancying her like crazy and was more or less wanting to do everything to help Fizz and twenty five minutes later, she came out of the bathroom going into Konrad's chest to wrap her arms around him as she wanted to hug him as a way of her saying thank you to him as she realises the hug later as Konrad speaks.
Konrad Raab: "Remember I said we'll go out and buy you new clothes?"
Fizz nodded at Konrad before he speaks again.
Konrad Raab: "Before we do that, I'll treat you to eat something for breakfast at a local cafe nearby. As you still got no money and I realise you won't for a while, I'll pay for anything and everything you need and at times, want."
The thought of Fizz going out again was making her shake before she runs away back upstairs where her bedroom is and she starts to sob, knowing her fears of being attacked and Konrad goes a few minutes later to find where Fizz went and it ended up her hiding under the covers on his bed and he pulls the duvet off.
Konrad Raab: "Why you scared? Cos you feel you'll get attacked again?"
Fizz nodded.
Konrad Raab: "Nothing's gonna happen when I'm around you, trust me. I done a couple of boxing matches before and I'll protect you from now on."
Konrad held his hand to Fizz as she accepts it and gets herself up before he and Fizz leave the bedroom and go downstairs to the entrance of the headquarters before leaving it all together to go and get Fizz some breakfast to eat, while Konrad just had a cup of coffee. Konrad could tell how hungry still Fizz was from how fast she ate her breakfast before he pays for himself and Fizz as he takes her to the trams and goes on with Konrad to go to the shopping centre in Cologne.
Once they reached their destination for clothes shopping, they went into a female clothes shop together and before they can start looking for clothes, after Konrad picks the basket up, he speaks.
Konrad Raab: "I'm not gonna pick clothes for you, you have to point to me what you like to wear and you'll try the clothes on before I buy them, alright?"
Fizz puts her thumb up, understanding everything he said to her as he and Fizz walk around to get Fizz some new clothes as she points to the pink skull top she found and Konrad puts it up against her and sees it could be too big for her at the moment so he looks through to see a smaller size and there was as he gets it off the rail and places the smaller top on her and knew it would fit so he places it in the basket.
Konrad saw Fizz pointing to another top, but it's plain blue as he made sure it was this shirt she wanted and she nods before placing it in the basket as Fizz goes to where the jeans are and she waits for Konrad to come and chose those jeans that were well fitted as he takes two of them off the line and puts them in before Fizz saw some tracksuit bottoms and he places them in the basket, knowing Fizz's size now.
Konrad did want to get a few more tops for Fizz as he points out the elephant top and Fizz nods for Konrad to put it in and even nods to getting a lion top too. After putting those clothes in the basket, Konrad went to the bras area as Fizz pointed the ones she liked, but the problem is he didn't know her bra size as he goes to get a female attendant to ask to measure Fizz's breasts to know the size to get her as they went to the changing rooms as Fizz was told to take her top and bra off and the woman got a tape measure to place around Fizz's breasts and says this.
Lady attendant: "Sie ist vierunddreißig AA."
She's a thirty four AA.
Konrad Raab: "Vielen Dank."
Thank you very much.
The lady attendant leaves as Fizz goes in to change as Konrad stands to lick his lips on enjoying to see that sight of Fizz's breasts and smiles before she comes out and they go back to where the bras are and now he knows what size to get her, he goes through the hangers of the sizes of bras and he puts some Fizz selected in the basket and even his suggestion too with the clothes which Fizz nods to. After that, he goes to get Fizz some socks as he knew Fizz picked them straight away as he puts them in and another socks to wear so he puts them in as well.
Then Konrad to get some more pairs of knickers for Fizz as he puts them in and now Konrad gets what Fizz and pays for the clothes which reach up to one hundred and fifty euros as he uses his card to pay for them as he does before they leave the shop and head back to the headquarters as it was now almost one in the afternoon as he knew he had to speak to Fizz about the show tonight.
They go to a cafe there and Konrad gets Fizz a sandwich and she notices that there's a long range of foods for her to eat and while Fizz and he eats, he speaks.
Konrad Raab: "On Monday's, Tuesday's, Wednesday's, Thursday's and sometimes Saturday's, I run TV shows and I want you to stay in the bedroom until they are finished as this is my job on being a TV entertainer."
Fizz nodded, knowing all of that already since she was after all a wrestler before as after lunch was finished, Fizz went upstairs to the bedroom while Konrad drops off bags full of clothes in the bedroom before Konrad goes downstairs to do his TV show he does as Fizz goes off to sleep again until two hours later, Konrad comes back and sees Fizz being asleep and while every one of his workers went home, Konrad feels very much in love with Fizz as he starts to unzip his trousers and does some masturbation very quietly until he cummed on his trousers which he quickly cleans the cum off.
After that, Fizz woke up and sees Konrad waiting once again and points downstairs to her and then mimes on her wanting to eat? At the moment she nods before they go down and get her something for dinner as he does with am Italian pasta and she eats it with no problems, slowly slowing down her food and Fizz drinks the water Konrad brought her as Justin came in the room and stays with her, while Konrad's off back to his home as Fizz tucks herself in bed and sleeps with Justin keeping an eye out on Fizz as she was dead asleep.
#17
Archive / Make a move
Last post by EMT - June 11, 2017, 04:04:12 PMEl Paso, TX
May 28th 2017
May 28th 2017
Careful not to make any noise, a skill he perfected after years of practicing the art of sneaking from someone else's bedroom in the middle of the night,Ethan Thompson walked inside his hotel room in El Paso, Texas. His eyes took a moment to adapt to the darkness engulfing the chamber, only broken by the dimmed moonlight seeping in through the open window. His sister's tiny body, insofar as small, was occupying more than half of the Queen Size bed, as she was laying spread out on the mattress.
He chuckled to himself, remembering how hyper she was after the dinner they had at the Corralito Steak House, how she promised she would have waited for him to accompany Nadja back to her hotel, and how many things she wanted to tell him...
In her defense, he didn't exactly bring the gorgeous Lady Russia to the doorstep of her luxurious hotel room and waved her goodbye. A couple of hours passed since they left the restaurant, maybe more. He didn't really keep track of time.
On top of that, she fought two matches in the same night, not to mention the jet-lag for flying across the country. Those kind of things took their toll on the eighteen years old Thompson, who wouldn't probably woken up for a long time. A rare smile lightened up his always oh so serious face as his eyes lingered on the blissful expression on her face, framed by those messed blue and pink hair.
I am proud of you kiddo. He whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead. And he really was, not only for the outstanding performance she was delivering week after week inside the ring. What was really tickling his pride was the woman she was growing to be.
Smart, unafraid, defiant. A little firecracker.
Heidi was really digging the nickname Lara Chambers gave her. Something clicked between the two girls, since the very first moment they met. Ethan wasn't really happy to entrust his sister to the cares of the former Unleashed Champion, for a couple of different reasons. First, he knew for a fact that dealing with the youngest Thompson could be tricky as all hell. Girls of her age tend to overreact and behave in crazy ways, with mood swings that were beyond Ethan's understanding.
Then obviously, there was Lara and her peculiar character. Similar to Ethan's in so many ways. And God knows how many times he wanted to kick the little one's ass for, constantly, testing the limits of his patience with her brazen and rebellious attitude.
But the British Bombshell had an ace up her sleeve. Something Ethan could never consider, something that never popped up not even in the remote part of his brain, shopping.
The mere idea of wasting an entire day inside a mall, surrounded by all those noisy people, all those emotions, all those colors was making him sick. Not to mention that he hated the concept itself. But Heidi loved the idea, and Lara seemed to enjoy spoiling her little firecracker. She even started training with her, and the results were showing already. Two matches in one night, two wins. Not bad for a rookie who only trained with a handsy old man in a crappy gym in Philly.
On the plus side, Ethan now could always count on someone to watch over his sister while he was handling business in New York City.
Even now that things between him and Lady Chambers went south.
Even now that the nature of his business was what dug a hole so deep that was slowly swallowing their friendship.
Because, despite how well they fronted, despite all their attempts to save the perception of normality, for Heidi's and Nadja's own good, the truth was they haven't talked in a couple of weeks. Since that Niedvjev guy pointed his fat finger at Shawna as the instigator of this hunt after Nadja Ivanov.
Lara could never get over the fact that Ethan believed him. Nor even consider that he may be right. A mix of rage, disappointment, sense of betrayal and fear pushed her away from him and his mission to keep her safe. Their mission.
Truth was, he still considered her as a friend. His best friend. And he couldn't really blame her, leave alone be mad at her, for not following him in this venture, knowing the deep bond that was tying the two women. Nonetheless, he couldn't just ignore such a strong lead because of their past. Objectively, all the evidence was pointing in that direction. How quick they were to track Nadja down after they moved her from her apartment to a, supposedly, secret location. Why Damien, one of Shawna's men, almost killed her and was actually part, along with Niedvjev, of the small crew who approached Leila a month before. Until the most recent admission of the european thug.
Maybe Lara was right, maybe the guy was just feeding them bullshit. Neither Ethan could be sure if he was telling the truth ot no. I'm not a fucking lie detector. His gift, or curse depending on who you ask, didn't turn him into a human polygraph. He could only see someone's emotion,
And the dominant one in that guy's voice was arrogance. Something Ethan wasn't expecting to see to be honest. In his experience, fear was usually the most common feeling in people whose life was being threatened. That kind of fear that would make them giving up their own mother in order to walk out of that situation.
His first days spent observing Shawna's business from a safe distance, seemed to endorse the thesis that Lara's mentor was clean. The last money transfer from her account to Kasper went back a few months ago. No phone calls since then either. Sure, none of those proof would stand in any courtroom during an hypothetical trial to prove her innocence. But they were more than enough to instill the benefit of the doubt in his mind.
Tiredly, dragging his feet on the floor, he walked to the open window. Peeking through the curtain, he spotted that familiar black sedan parked across the street. And John was obviously in, as he could tell by that bright red small spot of his inevitable cigarette.
John obviously wasn't his name. But he was one of the two men who started following Ethan Thompson since the moment he stuck his nose in the Mobster's business. Even in Texas.
For some reason, he was finding the whole idea of having two crooks on his tail 24/7 highly amusing. He was aware that it would only take one call from Shawna to have one of them ending his life, or even harm Heidi. But he also knew that the order was unlikely to come, if anything simply out of respect to Lara.
Spy and get spied. A weird game in which everyone knew everything about the opponent. A game that, he realized, would never have a winner. He could no longer hope for her to make a mistake. Not that he was actually believing someone like Shawna would make any, to be honest. It was a stalemate situation. Something had to be done to shake things up. Someone had to take his chances and make a move.
New York City
June 1st, 2017
June 1st, 2017
New York was the closest thing to home for Ethan. He still had the apartment in Cocoa Beach with Heidi and Josie, but the amount of time he spent there could be considered irrelevant compared to how long he was staying in New York lately. To keep watching over Nadja, fighting her demons, sure.
To keep an eye on Shawna's business, to see if she was actually involved in this story, obviously.
But also, much more than he would like to admit, because he felt good. The silence of that apartment when Nadja was at work, only interrupted by the pitter-patter of her four dogs was so relaxing. Sure, he was missing Heidi, her imprecations yelled out of the blue at any hour of the day and of the night while playing videogames, her rare, spontaneous and lovely sudden bursts of affection, when, out of the blue, she would wrap her arms around her big brother.
But since their holiday in Hualalai, when he picked her up in the lowest and darkest moment of her life, he started looking at her in a different way. Nothing new, more like a returning feeling, that same vibe that he felt the first time they met. A sensation of peace, a safe harbor he could dock when the storm of his life became unbearable. A remote haven where he could forget, for a while, all his concerns, drop all that burdens he used to carry on his own back.
That's why things were working so well between them. He could, for a change, leave all his problems behind. Until all kind of different shit fell over them. Once again, he felt the need to put her happiness, or search for it, before his. As it happened with Josie Barnes. And Heidi. Story of my fucking life. Putting the weight of all her sufferings on himself, trying to ease her pain.
And if that meant risking his life, burning bridges with friends and drain himself out mentally... Well to hell with it!
Nadja left early that morning. Some important guest just arrived at Four Seasons New York, and her presence was required. So much better, considering Ethan's expectations about his morning. A couple of gangsters entering her apartment and taking him away with them was a scene he'd love to spare her. Especially after last night.
What he wasn't really expecting when he opened them the door, was to see Lara Chambers standing among them.
"I would invite you guys in for a drink, but I think we're in a hurry."
Jack, or whatever his name was, grabbed his arm. Ethan stared at his hands, wrapped around his wrist.
"This is the easiest way to get your face smashed in pal."
The thug pulled Ethan outside the apartment, or at least that was his intention before Lara stopped him. "No need. He will follow."
It was a fifteen minutes ride from Nadja's place to Shawna's mansion outside New York. A heavy, silent ride. There were so many things going through everyone's mind, but no one dared to break that sacred silence. Not until the card stopped right outside the Villa. That was when Ethan noticed the guy he called John's arm bandaged, courtesy of Loki, Nadja's oldest and biggest dog.
Ethan's move to break the impasse.
Twenty-four hours ago, Ethan was walking the dogs in the small park near Lady Russia's apartment, and John was, obviously, following him. To give him credit, he was good at the shadowing game. The only way he got caught was his horrible habit to smoke -a lot- and drop Davidoff Magnum's butts everywhere he stopped while following Ethan's movements. What he failed to notice was that Ethan picked up some, and trained Loki to track the unmistakable Virginia Tobacco smell. It was amusing and surprising for him to see that old, fat drooling fur ball totter towards Shawna's man. Hilarious to see a man in suit chased by a 40 pounds Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Gratifying watching him jogging back after one whistle, with a sleeve of the expensive Armani suit between his teeth.
Grinning, Ethan pulled out the torn and tattered shred of silk while stepping outside the car, handling it to John. "There was this seamstress back in Helena, Montana... She worked miracles, I'm sure she can fix it." He grinned cockily, with that hint of arrogance coming from the certainty that no harm will be done to him.
As expected, John's aggressive reaction was immediately stopped by the former Unleashed Champion, who didn't lose the chance to look at him sideways. As the huge mansions doors opened, Ethan was almost blown away by the splendour of the main hall. A huge central stair covered by a red and gold Iranian carpet and with a golden handrail lead them upstairs, where, as Ethan knew so well, Shawna's office was. The two guards stopped at the foot of the staircase. It was Jack addressing Ethan. "She's waiting in her office upstairs. Turn..."
"I know exactly where it is. That's part of the reason why I am here, isn't it?"
Lara shook his head before following him upstairs. "You better leave this arrogance outside that door."
"Or what? If she really wanted to kill me, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
He had a point. Nonetheless, she was hoping he would show at least some respect to the woman who made Lara Chambers. Or at least, he wouldn't use that word. Scum.
The Impassable was sitting at her massive Baroque desk, from where she handled most of the business as the leader of one of the most powerful and respected crime syndicate.
"Ethan Milo Thompson, born in Helena, Montana on February 10th 1992."
"Did you just google it?"
Lara wanted to slap him for that brash and disrespectful attitude. Shawna didn't flinch.
"The only reason why that sentence doesn't end with an epitaph is the woman standing next to you. It's out of respect for Lara Chambers and the friendship that, somehow, ties her with you that I didn't pull the trigger. But then again what do you know about respect Ethan Milo Thompson?"
"I know that everyone demands it, but only a few are worth it. I doubt you'll make the small list Shawna."
He sat on one of the two elegant chairs in front of her. Leaning his elbow on the armpit, his head resting on his closed fist. He stared at the Mob leader, almost waiting for her to sit down. Which eventually happened after an intense staredown between the two of them. Lara Chambers, marginalized in the unconventional role of a silent bit player, sat next to him, glancing now at Ethan and then at Shawna, uncomfortably stuck in the middle.
Tapping her fingernails on the wooden surface, the woman also known as Bella Mafia was taking her time to study Ethan. His facial features, his body posture, those intense green eyes. Everything on him was suggesting he was absolutely and perfectly calm, almost as if he was in full control. She found this weird, and somewhat destabilizing. Fascinating in a way.
"You spent the last week..."
"Ten days."
"What?" She sounded surprised, and slightly annoyed by the interruption.
"Your guys have been on my tail since a week. You missed three days. Let's say I tested the water. Which reminds me, there's a blind spot your camera circuit doesn't cover on the north side of your mansion. And I'm only telling you this out of respect of this woman sitting next to me and the friendship that, for some reason, ties the two of you."
Lara once again stared at him, then back at Shawna. Their eyes locked.
"Impressive." Said the Impassable.
Lara didn't reply, but a slight smile appeared on her face.
"So you know that I have nothing to do with all this story. I would never hurt any of Lara's friends. Not even those who stuck their nose in my business."
"I know that he worked for you in the recent past. That's why he had your number. It was... Last month I guess? You paid him 10K, that must have been some important job. I also know that you decided to help him with his respiratory distress. A 9mm bullet is the panacea for all the troubles, am I right?"
Once again, Shawna was taken aback by his words. How could he know? Sure, she kept track of all her businesses in an encrypted file on her computer, which he, with some skills, could have hacked. But she gave the order to put an end to Niedvjev misery only a day ago, and she personally gave the order to her most trusted hitman, there's no way he could have known this.
Ethan tapped his index on the edge of her computer screen.
"Technology is a real bitch, Shawna. I have this... Friend... Who can do crazy stuff with one of those things. Including giving me a pair of eyes and ears inside your office."
"I told you, he knows his shit." For the first time, Lara spoke. And she was striking a blow in Ethan's favor.
For a long moment there was absolute silence in the office. Shawna almost seemed like a statue, not even her long, blonde waves moved when she was breathing. Her full attention was focused on Ethan. This serious expression pretty much fitting her own.
"You may tell the young Ivanov that if she ever needs a job... I will hire her." She couldn't help but laugh. It was a loud and somewhat dark laughter. "But now to you Mister Thompson, I am highly impressed by your dedication. Consider it flattery with honest intentions when I congratulate you. It is because of your case that I haven't struck you down. We both know I could have. But the truth is, I admire what you do. We, you and me, may will not always see eye to eye... but on that matter, you can count on me."
Lara looked at Shawna with a satisfied grin then looked over at Ethan. His expression still unreadable.
"I know it is not my place to ask but for shits and giggles, right? What job did you send the guy out to do... considering 10K is a lot of money."
Shawna's eyes moved back to Ethan, that knowing smile sitting in the corner of her mouth.
"To bring me the head of a dead man."
Ethan stared at her, confused by her words, unable to grasp the meaning of her words. "I watched you for quite some time Shawna. I have to admit I was wrong. You're not as bad as I initially thought, for a mob leader."
"Just because I didn't kill you Ethan?" She answered with a grin.
"There's much more to it. And I'm sure you know exactly what I am talking about."
The expression on her face changed, the sly grin turning into a soft smile. Before she could reply, her attention shifted to the massive door of her office. Someone was knocking.
"Door closed, do not disturb. Is it that hard to understand?"
The voice from the other side, even though muffled through the still closed heavy wooden door, belonged to the man Ethan christened Jack. "I am sorry ma'am. We just received a small package."
Shawna was hiding the surprise, but clearly, she wasn't expecting a deliver. "And you really couldn't wait, right?"
"Erm... It's from Ethan Thompson.
The two women immediately looked at Ethan, confused. He answered by shrugging his shoulders, his lips curving in a smile. As Jack left the room after handling the small box to his boss, Shawna started looking at if from all angles, with a growing curiosity.
"Well it won't open itself."
The Impassable finally unwrapped the gift. Inside, there was a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue. Scotch. Her. poison.. With a wide smile, she opened it, taking a sip before passing it to Ethan, who did the same before handing the liquor to Lara, ending the circle.
"We started with the wrong foot Ethan Thompson. Having a wrong opinion of each other, based on a faulty first impression." She raised the bottle, nodding at him. "But something tells me that we're going to be friends."
New York City
May 31st, 2017
May 31st, 2017
He took some sweet time watching Nadja's naked body laying on the bed. The pale moonlight was giving a peculiar glare to her colored skin, almost making it shine in the darkness of her room. Ethan lips slowly curved in a wide smile as his hand moved down her hair, moving them aside and exposing her neck. That horrible scar was really standing out on her perfect skin. A painful memory of a violent ex boyfriend. He couldn't help but lightly rubbing his fingertips over it. She squirmed in her sleep, goosebumps instantly forming on her back. It's like electricity. A shock. He could almost hear her sweet voice repeating those words, like the first time he accidentally touched that spot.
Unable to sleep, he walked back to the living room. Destination: the drinks cabinet. As always, there was an ample choice of booze. Russian Vodka, of course, In so many flavours, some of which he swore to himself he would never taste. Rum, Tequila, even some absinthe... But his eyes were already leaning on one particular bottle. Roughstock Montana Whiskey Black Label. The best thing in the whole state of Montana. The only good thing I got from my father. Nadja always made sure that he would never run out of it despite the scarce availability in New York City, periodically stocking up ordering it straight from the distillery..
With the bottle on his hand, he walked to the table occupying the center of the room. He sat in one of the two chairs left, after an overexcited Loki literally ran through them. In the middle of the table, another victim of the big dog's rush of adrenaline: a porcelain vase.. After taking a long sip straight from the bottle, squeezing his eyes as the liquor flowed down his throat, Ethan pulled it closer, watching him closely. They did quite a good job in gluing the fragments back together, Except for that missing piece that was nowhere to be found.
The memory of that moment played back in his mind. Such a vivid memory, even if it happened almost two weeks ago.
"This is your life now Nadja. Broken, shattered. You may even think that nothing good will ever come out of this." He picked up a big piece of the once porcelain vase. Moving it close to the one she was holding. The pieces matched perfectly. "I will help you fix it." They both were still holding the fragments close to one another. Ethan kept staring in her eyes
"Are you part of that life? Or are you one of those splinters over there?" She didn't move. For a moment she probably didn't even breath. Observing those deep green eyes, with the dark spot.
He didn't speak, until the vase was one piece again. Complete for the most part, except for a missing piece right under the superior edge. A small fragment that got lost "Me. Leila. Lara... We all are part of your life. Each one of us was one of those broken broken pieces, scattered all around. But once this thing is over, your life will be like this. Perfect." He gave a satisfied look at the vase, noticing only now the small hole from the missing piece. "Well, almost..."
"I don't really need a perfect life."
As his mind was still reliving those moments, remembering every single word much to his surprise, he found himself running his fingertips all over the cracked lines, just like he used to do with the scar on Nadja's neck. His finger inevitably reaching the missing piece, scratching his skin against the fragmented edge.
That seemed to take him back to reality, breaking the stream of thoughts that was seemingly occupying his whole mind.
He put the vase down on the table. Still staring it, unable to take his eyes away from his ruined surface, jammed by all those irregular lines covering it, he took another long sip of whiskey straight from the bottle.
It's still beautiful. He thought to himself. It's like that japanese tradition, where they use gold to repair broken pottery. It gives the object a new appearance, a new value.
His life, Nadja's life, were much more like that vase. Two solitudes drawing together. Two scarred souls, meeting for a lucky chance. Feelings have never been Ethan's thing. In his experience, everyone he ever loved ended up hurt, and everyone who ever loved him, eventually left him drowning his pain in whiskey.
He couldn't deny that Nadja Ivanov was changing that disheartening perspective he came to have. There was no point in denying it.
And here she was, walking to him with Ethan's shirt on to barely cover her nakedness. Without saying a word, she sat on his lap, snatching the bottle from his hand and bringing it to his lips, smiling at him while taking a long sip, before kissing him softly. He stared in her eyes. The window to her soul. A sweet, gentle soul concealed under a coat of tattoos and her austere figure.
A soul that was made even more precious by all those scars.
#18
Archive / Chapter Two
Last post by Jove Belane - June 01, 2017, 01:25:39 PM
2 - "Cigarettes and Mangoes."
POV: Jove Belane
The excuse was still, "Loneliness is a dangerous thing."
Russia was a blur. The people, the accents, the language, the fight, the knock out; blurred. Blurred because of this woman with the eyes, the cigarette and mango mingled scent. I had won knockout of the night, but when I looked up, I didn't see those eyes. She was nowhere in sight.
I should have been walking up to Putin and asking him if he wore gloves when he stuffed his arm up Trump's ass to the elbow and worked him like a puppet. I should have been looking at the architecture and I should have been spread eagle in the 'Red Square', but I wasn't. I was restless in my bed, wondering what fucking Mariska was up to.
Everything was slowly changing.
Harvey wanted me to move to Los Angeles. Said he had a 'penthouse' all set up for me and all I had to do was say yes and I was moving into the 'big time', but I didn't want any of it. I knew that once I took that step, that I'd officially be in Harvey's debt and I wanted to stay out of that until the day I died.
That little hipster jerk.
I won and I won big. I earned a twenty five thousand dollar bonus for knocking out Bugs Bunny and I had no idea what I was going to do with it. I figured I would have to shell some of it out to Harvey, but he told me it was all mine. He mentioned that he would double it if I moved to LA.
That was still a no go.
I couldn't stop thinking about Mariska in the same way I couldn't stop thinking about cancer, thanks to starting smoking again.
Maybe Mariska was cancer. That cancer you can't get rid of no matter how many pills or radiation you take or how much they cut out of you. A permanent kind of cancer that only calls you home for a little while before you call it 'home'.
That pencil neck hipster putz, Harvey, he told me to let Mariska go. He told me she was bad news and that I could do better. For one small second, Harvey was absolutely right and just as sincere, but I turned a deaf ear to it. He'd been causing me pain the whole time and I wasn't going to let him destroy his average.
Mariska made my fire burn.
She was supposed to be a wadded up piece of paper thrown into the trash. That night we met, it was supposed to be meaningless and it was. It was this ongoing bout of 'meaningless' I couldn't manage to break free from. All we shared was an ability to make each other feel amazing in the sack. Outside of that, we were quiet and didn't have a lot to share other than alcohol and a carton of cigarettes.
I should have butted her out the day we met, but she wouldn't let me go.
As soon as I knew she was jealous, I knew that I was in trouble. As soon as she knew I was into it, a tombstone was erected.
She was alive only because she was sucking the life out of me and I couldn't seem to stop her. Honestly, I don't think I wanted to. I wanted her to keep leeching off of me because it meant I didn't have to be completely alone and that's why it was so dangerous. She was so alive, no matter how dead she may have been inside.
Those eyes, they sparkled like the night's sky and told me that she was just as far away from me as the nearest star. Even if you count Sol, that's still a long fucking way away.
If you saw her eyes--well maybe you shouldn't look. For me, she's Medusa, but she only stiffens one part of me.
You guessed wrong--I'm talking about my brain.
This woman turns me into a big dumb animal, but it's sticky and it's good. Furthermore, it feels right. 'Right' in an absolutely fucked up kind of way.
I returned home to find my apartment completely destroyed. Like a bomb went off. Someone was looking for something. What? I don't know. I didn't have anything worth taking. That woman with the eyes--she and I had emptied all the bottles worth drinking and all that was left was the liquor that smelled and tasted like perfume discarded by an old woman after she died.
Bad.
Everything was 'flipped' including my bed. I took a moment to look underneath of it, realizing that I had found all of my missing lighters. On top of that, I was a bit taken aback at how many dust bunnies had collected beneath my bed.
Had I ever vacuumed out beneath it?
Disgusting.
I'm going to assume it was Mariska, in the midst of chain smoking with her leopard print panties in a bunch, looking for something important. With that in mind, it's good that she didn't find the bevy of lighters.
Then again, she would have taken the lighters--so maybe it wasn't my glowing eyed succubus?
I realized I hadn't actually tracked down where she lived so I took to the streets, hoping to find a trace of her. If anyone knew who decided to make a mess of my apartment, it was likely her. Maybe it was her brother and his friends, or worse, maybe it was the devil himself, using my apartment like a mirror to remind me how disgusting I was.
Fuck me, it was bad.
I considered hiring a cleaning lady.
The heat of the sun was muted by the breeze that afternoon. I wore a jacket and smoked like a chimney while I looked for Mariska. I didn't know where to look so I headed for the bar where we met, wondering if someone would remember her and point me in the right direction. I figured that no one could forget her eyes and her scent. Oh and those tits of hers were unforgettable as she never wore a bra. She had a pretty nice ass too. On the objectification side of things--she was memorable. Personality wise, she'd cut you deep and that wound would never heal.
Madness, this woman. A sudden exit to sadness, too.
Somewhere in the distance I could hear a authoritative voice singing:
"Cops in cars, the topless bars
Never saw a woman...
So alone, so alone."
I could relate.
The bartender told me that Mariska and her 'family' lived in an apartment complex which he made sound much more like a tenement than an apartment.
When I arrived at the place, it looked like something out of a third world nation. I didn't know what to say. This weird, dumb, and arrogant voice inside my head told me I needed to rescue Mariska.
Yeah, rescue this woman I didn't get along with who sent guys to beat me up, after she burglarized my apartment. Rescue this woman who gave me her warmth whenever I wanted it and bit me in all of the right places.
Rescue lust and work on the relationship later.
I didn't know what I was doing.
I pushed my way through the main doors to the place and immediately I was greeted with the smell of paint thinner and/or ether. Maybe cat piss? Cats were a given, likely, but the walls looked like shit, so I didn't figure there were renovations in process.
There was at least one meth lab on site.
'How does Jove Belane know what a meth operation smells like?'
I haven't always been a lowly fighter. Let's keep it at that.
I guessed that Mariska lived on the top floor. Undoubtedly she was the queen of this slum and would live as such--right on top of the heap. The elevator, of course, was broken, so I made my way up flight after flight of stairs on my way up to the top floor. I lost count of how many. I was surprised that I didn't see the stereotypical trash and passed out druggies in the stairwell as I made my ascent.
I did run into a couple girls, preteen, or recently teen who were smoking and talking about who to fuck and how to fuck. They eyeballed me, but I ignored them.
I was wrong, wouldn't you know. I got to the seventh floor and heard Mariska.
I felt this disgusting urge inside me--it ran up my chest and into the back of my throat. Terrible--I was looking forward to seeing this woman.
I closed my eyes for a moment and I saw her on top of me. The palms of her hands were pushed into my chest and her nails were digging into my skin. She was smiling at me. Her eyes flashed with an unearthly light--almost reptilian. She whispered that she loved me as she whipped her hair back.
It's hard to explain why I care about this deranged woman.
I forced my eyes open when I heard Mariska scream.
I stepped out of the stairwell into the hallway and put one foot in front of the other as I drew closer to the sound of her voice.
She was screaming about how something wasn't her fault and she kept saying she was sorry. Then I heard the unmistakable sound of a flat hand colliding with a cheek. As I stepped around the corner, the first thing I saw was a child in a playpen who had just started crying. I continued my movement and caught the back of a large man who towered over Mariska. Her cheek was red and her mascara was smeared, rolling down her cheeks in long streaks.
The whole scene was the result of a renaissance painter's brush stroke.
I heard myself let the words 'what the fuck' out of my mouth.
The man turned around to face me and looked like he was at least of Middle Eastern descent. Of which, I could not tell you. The 'American' in me conjured up the word 'rag-head' or 'camel fucker' on general principle.
He pointed his finger at me and told me that 'i was the one' who 'was fucking his wife'.
He had a foot in height on me as he stepped towards me, but I was completely calm. I paid attention to my breathing and was comfortable with my surroundings. The only thing that seemed quizzical at the time was the whole 'wife' part of his statement.
I shrugged it off.
Mariska, the harlot succubus who stole my heart and filled the void with cigarette smoke was married?
Bitch.
I felt bad for thinking of her like that.
Instant karma occurred the moment I drove my own flat hand into his cheek and followed it up with the trailing elbow right into his teeth. A couple yellowed shawarma grinding teeth went flying as I kept moving forward, putting him right onto his back I fell on him, pinning him down to the floor with my chest into his knee.
I looked up at Mariska and asked her if she was really married to the guy. She sniffled and nodded her head, yes.
Bitch.
It still felt wrong to say.
The child crying, the bleeding husband, and crying Mariska aside, I had to take a moment to think about myself. Selfish, I know, but I was born and bread for selfishness. God bless the USA. I wanted Mariska, bad habits and all, but I didn't want the baggage. Furthermore, I wanted Mariska purely because being inside her felt good and when we were really drunk, we'd dance. I liked that. It was good enough.
Was that kid Mariska's kid?
I pulled Mariska to her feet and held her by either arm. I felt like shaking her. She fell into my chest and sobbed against my shoulder and I knew that mascara was going to tattoo my jacket. I placed an arm across her back and wondered who was going to settle down the screaming baby.
She told me she was sorry and when I asked her why, she just cried harder.
It was too much reality.
I let Mariska fall to the nearby couch and I turned my attention to the screaming child. It appeared to be a little girl and she was filthy. I felt my heart drop a little bit and honestly it was the first time, in a long time, that I was reminded that I had a heart. The little girl was clinging to the bars of her crib and she was screaming hard. Red in the face, tears in the eyes, and even some snot rolling out of her nostrils.
I didn't know what to do, so I started making faces at her. I saw a chink in her crybaby armor, so I started doing 'jazz' hands and blew a raspberry. I kept up the show and she let a laugh escape her lips. Soon she shot me a smile and rubbed her eyes.
I looked into her red little baby eyes and I saw baby versions of Mariska's eyes.
Doomed child.
She reached out for me, so I pulled her out of the crib and held her to my side. By then, she was laughing and smiling--like nothing bad had ever happened.
I turned to find that big man of Mariska's was upright and had a gun in his hand. The gun only shook slightly as he aimed it at me, so I knew he was at least half serious about what he was going to do next.
He told me that where he 'came from' I would receive one hundred lashes for what I had done. He swore at me in some language I didn't understand, but understood it enough to recognize it was meant in a threatening way.
I asked him if he was the one who turned my apartment into an even bigger mess than it was before and he nodded. I asked him what he was looking for and he told me he was looking for a picture of me. He said Mariska wouldn't tell him anything about me--that she was protecting me.
I tried not to be obvious as I watched Mariska approach him, just off his right shoulder--the shoulder attached to the arm attached to the hand holding the gun.
I asked him what it was going to take for him to put down the gun and put an end to the lunacy all together. He thought for a moment before cocking the hammer back. He could only scoff and threaten me more.
The child felt heavier in my arms, so I asked if I could put the kid down before he made that iron talk. He said he didn't care because the kid wasn't his.
Imagine that.
Mariska revealed that she was brandishing a glass bottle--she held it up over her head. When she slammed it down into the man's head, it didn't break, it just made a terrible hollow thud when it collided with his skull. He staggered a moment and turned to face Mariska and immediately unloaded a round into her chest. Mariska fell backwards and slumped to the floor. The man turned to me and all I could do was cover the child's ears as she screamed and cried. Before he could fire, the man fell to his knees and flopped face first into the floor.
The kid cried and for a moment I wondered if I was going to join her.
I was pretty sure Mariska, with her cigarette mingled with mango flavor and those eyes, was dead.
Those beautiful eyes, would never open again.
END.
#19
Archive / The Chambers Chronicles III.I
Last post by Lara Chambers - May 31, 2017, 05:56:01 PM#ooc sorry for the lateness. Surgery kicked my ass well enough. And thanks to my opponent for agreeing to a 1rp limit. Xox
The Chambers Chronicles
By Lara Chambers
D E V I L S C A L L I N G
New York City, New York
Failure ain't anything to be ashamed of, right? That was what she told everyone around her. That was her usual response when one of her friends came down unsuccessful. Easy advice. After rain, there was sunshine. Without failing, we wouldn't appreciate the good things in life. Blah. Blah. Blah. That was all she could tell herself. Strong people were more often the hardest on themselves. It was more than an empty phrase. Every little mistake she made in her life got analysed -- not only by journalists, opponents and critics. No. By herself.
Ten seconds. T - E - N fucking seconds.
Was this the point where Lara Chambers started to make excuses? Telling the world how she was betrayed? How it was hard to understand that, as former champion, she wasn't the number one contender? Nah. Easy as that. Despite all the stories told, it was hard to anger her. Aggression and Anger were not necessarily the same thing. Did she want to slap the smug smile off of Spiral's face? Sure. Would she have loved to remain Queen of the Cage for longer? Sure. But every what if just proved a point she had been denying to herself.
Lie Lara. Lie to yourself.
And she did. It was one thing to lead on your friends, giving them the smile they wanted to see, being their strength in hard times. But, it was way too hard to keep the faꞔade up to yourself. Fact was, she was tired. Would she complain or slow down? Of course not. This was not a job, this was a pitiful attempt to survive. The pressure weighed heavily on her small back. But, she was still standing. Why? That was the million dollar question.
Pride. Or maybe: Idiocy.
Spiral. That scary dude that made a hobby out of destroying people in a rather colourful way -- props for that. He took her lightly, of course. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. And SHIT, he did. But what Mister Skeletor didn't expect was an opponent that wouldn't stay down. None of the insults presented heading into this fight made a difference. Truth to be told, she'd heard worse. Words are just that: words, something Spiral learned the hard way. He won the battle, and she respected his abilities more than she probably would ever tell him. But the truth was, there was a mistake in his plan, so minimal that a great mind like him could easily overlook it.
He didn't finish what he started.
Respect and admiration are for honorable people, but that wasn't either of them. No matter the outcome, Lara Chambers wasn't going down without a fight, no matter when, what or who. Really? The feeling in her gut spoke a total different language when she received the news of her next opponent. ETHAN THOMPSON.
Get your shit together, it is just a match.
Nope. It wasn't just a match. How could it be? No matter how unprofessional it was, she couldn't just look at it as a match. After everything they had been through together, it was odd. Not impossible, but highly uncomfortable. Leaving aside their current situation, he was her business, her friend. Part of that inner circle that was protected by her self-built high walls.
What happened to the days when fighting was just that: fighting? When you didn't have to give a shit about other people and their problems, walking through them as if there was no tomorrow. Life was easier then. Naturally, it was more lonely, but that was a price you had to pay. But that was then. When she tried to remember those times, it was like a thick cloud covered the view, and all she could do was catch a glimpse here and there. It was as if she were watching a movie, just as a viewer.
Lara had always been a fighter. What else could she have been? Looking back at the life she had been living, she wanted to tell Ethan it was nothing personal. That none of this really mattered. They had bigger fish to fry. But nothing was ever as easy as you hoped. You get dealt some cards and play them. At points, it was all a matter of who had the better nerves. Who could bluff, or even cheat. The cage was unforgiving and held zero space for emotional dilemmas.
Sorry Ethan, I win. You lose.
Empty vessels make the loudest sound. ~ Plato
M Y T E M P O R A R Y F I X
New York City; New York
Nothing was better than pushing yourself to the limit. Not only when it came to working out, but more in general life. She had always been the extreme type, all or nothing. There was no time for half-assing stuff. It was a dangerous lifestyle, but it was all she ever knew. It affected her in every aspect and situation. Love. Life. Work. Ultimately, it made her the rightful Lady of Chambers.
She had been running the same route ever since returning to New York. She knew probably every tree and bush around the area, the small cafè at the corner, the newspaper stand at the entrance, and even the small little duck pond well hidden behind a huge red oak. Like every other time, she started slow, feeling a certain warmth grow in her body, from head to toe. The music coming from her headphones was fitting for the pace. When the tunes changed, her speed did too. Around thirty minutes later, her forehead was covered in sweat and her hair stuck to it. That was the usual moment when her lungs began to burn, forcing her to push harder. Getting past that point was a real bitch, but this time, it never happened.
The Fuck?!
Right at the end of her path appeared a person she knew. Not too well, but she would have noticed that suit anywhere, combined with the sleazy grin and the semi slick hair: Danilo Myovic. Inside her head, she was going through options, but escaping was impossible. Her heart sunk, but she wouldn't allow him to pick up on it -- one of her qualities had always been putting on a tremendous act.
Showtime.
She kept up her normal pace 'till she'd reached him. Like every other time, his eyes would wander over her body. It made her feel dirty, but now was not the time to be offended. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, his usual gorillas probably were somewhere close. She put on her best fake smile, before she came to stand in front of him.
"What a surprise... ."
"I thought it was about time to pay you a visit. Damn shame about your loss kotik." His expression was as false as her tits. "I would have had my money on you. But there is always a next time."
You can't kill him. No. Nein. Het. No matter in what language, the outcome was always the same. Lara was a lot of things, but not an idiot. So instead of throwing acid in his face just then, she kept smiling.
"Of course. And thank you for having faith in me." You impotent piece of shit. "I assume you didn't come here to check on me though."
"Is that so absurd?" His voice was emotionless. "But then again, we don't have time for that. Maybe we can walk a little, discuss some stuff."
He offered his arm, pulling the whole gentleman act. Lara was looking at him with those big blue eyes, hesitant.
"We don't wanna leave Devon waiting for too long, yes?"
The mention of her husband's name caused her to swallow hard, and she was hoping he didn't catch onto it. Wishful thinking. The worst kind of threats were those that came presented with a smile, not revealing the true nature of harm.
"If you don't mind getting all sweaty."
She said in a soft manner before linking her arm with his. They began to walk, taking a path that lead away from the comfortable benches and people. The perfect set up for being executed. Her thoughts were racing, going through every possible scenario, none of them ending well for her.
Lara Chambers, sister. Friend. And a damn idiot.
"I must be honest with you, Lara, this ain't a courtesy visit." He stopped and looked at her, an ugly smile forming on his lips. They looked somewhat sharklike.
Colour me surprised. I mean. Really.
"After everything I have done for you, I think you owe me a little something. So I come to you with... let's call it a proposal... shall we?"
proposal
/prəˈpəʊz(ə)l/
Noun
a plan or suggestion, especially a formal or written one, put forward for consideration by others.
It was hard to not laugh in his face, making it sound like she had any choice about his request. Nonetheless, she kept up the masquerade. Looking at him as if she was curious, while her guts filled with stones and poison.
"You have been handpicked, Lara. For more than just being a good fighter. You receive good money for appearing once a month, don't you?"
He didn't wait for an answer. Not that she had one.
"And now your friend Danilo expects a little payback. Nothing too huge. More like...one hand washes the other."
It was hard to tell what he would come up with. Not that she hadn't been in situations like that before. They wanted either money, services or... sex. Thinking the last made her shudder. Not only was he probably the least attractive person on her list, but also Lara was a loyal human being. No matter the circumstances.
"What can I help you with, Danilo?"
"That is why I like you Lara Chambers. Not beating around the bush." He leaned against one of the trees, finally letting go of her. "Just like you, my kitten, I have pissed off people in the past. But more important, people have pissed off me."
His expression darkened.
"So I want you to erase someone for me."
Surprise. That was the least thing she expected from him. Considering who he worked for, she couldn't be his only option. Leave alone, the best. Her mind was racing through all the possibilities. But no matter what, he would gain even more power over her. Maybe he had felt her dislike of the idea, or her façade was starting to crack.
"Of course, I could do it myself, but I think you owe me. I mean, where would you be without me, Lara Chambers?"
At home. Having my happy ever after.
"So see it as a chance to prove your worth to me. We don't want anything to go wrong down the line, right?"
Another threat. For just a split second, the thought of striking him down dimmed her senses. It would have been pure satisfaction for at least three seconds. Then she would become a dead body on the ground.
Life or Death? What's it gonna be?
"I will need a name and address."
The expression on his face changed immediately, looking like the guy that either just won a marathon or the fat kid that ate all the cake. He nodded. Probably more to himself than to her.
He won. For now.
O P H E L I A G O N E M A D
Vyatskoe, Yaroslavl, Russia
Be a shadow. Get in. Get out. Leave no evidence.
His instructions made her laugh. He treated her like a kid, or a rookie. Maybe it was to showcase his might, but likely, he was just an asshole. Either way, after short preparation, she left New York. Like every other time, she traveled fast and without bringing attention to herself, even though that probably was hard to believe looking at someone like Lara Chambers -- The many tattoos, the thick accent, and as always, the changing hair colour.
Now that comes handy.
She looked at herself, her long, brunette hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. Her long sleeved shirt in a beige colour, matching her inconspicuous make up. Last, it was all combined with a pair of thin gloves. The only thing that was still Lara were her big blue eyes. At least, for another thirty seconds. She looked at the contact lenses resting on the stacking before her. Mud brown.
"I hate those things." She was mumbling to herself when placing the first one in. Like expected, everything went blurry. A few blinks later the other one was adjusted as well.
Change was completed.
She packed her remainings before stepping out. The driver had been patiently waiting and greeted her with a friendly wave. They exchanged a few words in Russian before making it towards the car. Inside her head, she thanked Nadja a thousand times for constantly pushing her to use the language. She still sounded like a foreigner, but it went rather smooth. She checked the time on her plain watch as she slid inside. After all the calculation she had done, this drive wasn't supposed to take longer than thirty minutes. It was hard to enjoy the view, knowing full well why she was here. Drifting off in her thoughts, she hardly noticed the guy talking.
"Without any offense Misses, but don't you think that long sleeve is a little too warm?"
"Please don't think I am not sweating... but I am allergic to the sun. And while it might only affect me now and then, I am not taking any chances."
"So you visiting your father you said?"
"No. My uncle. Considering I can't make it here very often, I am rather excited." She faked her best smile. "It's been forever since I had a chance."
The guy nodded. It was obvious he wanted to ask more, but her body language spoke for itself. She turned her focus once more to the view, reading the signs as best as possible. And just like expected, they had made it there in under thirty minutes. Lara didn't wait for him to open the door, handing him the money with a little extra.
"Would you like to pick me up later today? I can give you my number."
"No. Thank you. I will be picked up by someone out of the family."
She walked towards the entrance when looking up. Age with Joy. Every other time she would have giggled, but Lara was in work mode. She waited until she couldn't see the car anymore before changing course. Behind the building, she slipped out of her clothes, checking for stuff in her bag. There it was.
I will go to hell for this.
And other things. In her hand, she held a typical russian nun outfit, from head to toe. Not only was it a bitch to put on, it was highly uncomfortable. Taking out her phone, she checked herself, shaking her head. If her friends could have seen her right now, they would have died from laughter.
Checking the plan on her phone once more, today was the usual day when nuns visited that place. Reading to people. Listening. Or just sitting there, staring at empty vessels. Hiding her stuff in a safe place before stepping out of the shadows, once more she walked towards the entrance, playing with the golden rosary in her hand. The staff was treating her friendly, it was scary, and by no means anything she wanted to get used to.
"Welcome sister. We have been waiting for you." The lady behind the information desk smiled. Which only showcased her mustache even better. Don't point it out.
"My deepest apologies. There were some difficulties at the convent."
She looked over the list that was presented in front of her. Spotting the name she had been looking for -- Maxim Gorodetsky -- her heart skipped a beat, the tickle on the back of her neck becoming more urgent.
"We are so thankful for your weekly visits. The clients don't get many visitors, which is a shame. They could need the distraction... ."
Why don't you shut the fuck up?
"But my child, they are never alone. God is always with them."
She gave a soft nod to the female before taking the list, turning around. Once more, she scanned over the names and picked another, randomly. She had to keep up the façade before closing the finale curtain. When entering the first room, a disgusting smell tickled her nostrils. Reminding herself that she had smelled worse, the shudder didn't come as hard. In a wheelchair by the window sat a white haired female. She had been positioned that her view was on the park. Of course they could have brought her outside, but maybe it wasn't worth the effort.
Lara took a chair and sat down next to her, analyzing her face for several moments without the woman ever looking at her. She tried to think away the deep lines and the empty look and came to one conclusion. Once upon a time, this lady had been a beauty, full of life and exciting thoughts. But there was nothing left of this. Rotten by a disease that not all the money in the world could stop. Dementia.
"Must suck to sit here all day." She whispered while making sure no one was in sight. "Galina Morozov."
And even though her body probably couldn't move, her eyes could. She looked directly at Lara with an intensity that was new. Scary even. Yet it was impossible to look away. Without hesitation she laid her hand over the wrinkled one, rubbing it.
"But looking at your birthdate my doll, you won't be sitting here for much longer."
And while the words sounded cruel, the meaning behind it wasn't. And seeing the softened expression in Galina's eyes, she knew that. Lara's voice was comforting, thick as honey even. A last squeeze before she got up. There was no need to look back, so she just walked down the depressing hallway. Here and there, she heard awkward noises. Intuition told her it was the room at the end. Lara stood there for several moments before knocking.
Stroke patient. Hardly any verbal resources.
Remembering that, she stepped in and closed the door carefully. Maxim was sitting in front of a huge television, watching a mafia movie out of the seventies. How fitting. He moved his head slightly to the side, looking at her. He didn't look too impressed by her appearance. With a few well measured steps, she had reached him. Standing behind him, looking down at his huge head, the hair that was starting to flee him, and those broad shoulders that now hung down, looking misplaced.
"I heard you refused visits the past three weeks. So I skipped the introduction and just got in." She sat on a chair, blocking his view from the television. "I am sure you don't mind."
"Who... are... you?" It was viewable that he had problems talking.
"I have many names. But for you, I am Sister Antonia. Brightening up your day."
She let out a soft laughter.
"Although I am sure a female fulfilling other services would be more welcome."
"... fuck god...."
Lara looked at him with an amused expression on her face. That old bastard hardly had enough air to survive. Which made it that much better hearing him curse. Almost sympathetic, her hand rested on his shoulder. Leaning down, her lips next to his ear.
"I couldn't agree more."
His eyes became wider when Lara hopped on his lap. One of her hands resting in the pocket of her gown, smiling at him.
"But this has nothing to do with god, Maxim." Lara took out an injection, including a small needle filled with a clear liquid.
With his healthy arm he tried to reach for the emergency button, but she was prepared. Kicking it aside. The panic on his face was real, but so was her smile. Once more leaning forward, having the shot ready, she spoke quietly.
"Danilo Myovic says hello."
Maxim's mouth formed quiet scream, only a few noises escaping. Right in that moment, Lara put the needle right under his tongue, injecting whatever she had filled up there. The moment he wanted to close his mouth, maybe even bite the shot, she had it removed. Getting up slowly, she fixed her clothes. She stood very still observing him, watching the colour change. From an unhealthy grey to a light red. Taking another moment before reaching the emergency button, taking a deep breath.
"They are coming to help my pet... in around fifteen seconds." She patted his head. "But you only got eight."
When the door slammed open his body had already began to cramp. Lara stood there, pretending to be all shocked.
"YOU MUST HELP HIM... I FOUND HIM LIKE THAT... ."
One of the nurses made it over to her, rubbing her back. Talking in a comforting way before leading her out. Lara had already stopped listening, but the masquerade wasn't over.
Or was it?
Her eyes were focused on the door, waiting for the emergency team to step out. And they did.l, having undeniable, defeated looks on their face. On the inside she was dancing. Excusing herself with a frown to step out.
"... at least he didn't have to suffer."
That was the last thing she heard on her way out. The custome almost made her feel dirty when she reached her bag. It was hard to tell how far she had walked before taking a breather. Maybe a mile, maybe twenty. Ripping off the wig, removing the contact lenses. Slipping out of the outfit. When back in her normal gear, she would set it on fire, watching the bundle burn.
The only thing she kept was the beads, it had a strange fascination. Wrapping it around her wrist before walking towards the bus station. Always travel with style.
"You are welcome, Danilo Myovic."
Lady of Chambers
The Chambers Chronicles
By Lara Chambers
D E V I L S C A L L I N G
New York City, New York
Failure ain't anything to be ashamed of, right? That was what she told everyone around her. That was her usual response when one of her friends came down unsuccessful. Easy advice. After rain, there was sunshine. Without failing, we wouldn't appreciate the good things in life. Blah. Blah. Blah. That was all she could tell herself. Strong people were more often the hardest on themselves. It was more than an empty phrase. Every little mistake she made in her life got analysed -- not only by journalists, opponents and critics. No. By herself.
Ten seconds. T - E - N fucking seconds.
Was this the point where Lara Chambers started to make excuses? Telling the world how she was betrayed? How it was hard to understand that, as former champion, she wasn't the number one contender? Nah. Easy as that. Despite all the stories told, it was hard to anger her. Aggression and Anger were not necessarily the same thing. Did she want to slap the smug smile off of Spiral's face? Sure. Would she have loved to remain Queen of the Cage for longer? Sure. But every what if just proved a point she had been denying to herself.
Lie Lara. Lie to yourself.
And she did. It was one thing to lead on your friends, giving them the smile they wanted to see, being their strength in hard times. But, it was way too hard to keep the faꞔade up to yourself. Fact was, she was tired. Would she complain or slow down? Of course not. This was not a job, this was a pitiful attempt to survive. The pressure weighed heavily on her small back. But, she was still standing. Why? That was the million dollar question.
Pride. Or maybe: Idiocy.
Spiral. That scary dude that made a hobby out of destroying people in a rather colourful way -- props for that. He took her lightly, of course. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. And SHIT, he did. But what Mister Skeletor didn't expect was an opponent that wouldn't stay down. None of the insults presented heading into this fight made a difference. Truth to be told, she'd heard worse. Words are just that: words, something Spiral learned the hard way. He won the battle, and she respected his abilities more than she probably would ever tell him. But the truth was, there was a mistake in his plan, so minimal that a great mind like him could easily overlook it.
He didn't finish what he started.
Respect and admiration are for honorable people, but that wasn't either of them. No matter the outcome, Lara Chambers wasn't going down without a fight, no matter when, what or who. Really? The feeling in her gut spoke a total different language when she received the news of her next opponent. ETHAN THOMPSON.
Get your shit together, it is just a match.
Nope. It wasn't just a match. How could it be? No matter how unprofessional it was, she couldn't just look at it as a match. After everything they had been through together, it was odd. Not impossible, but highly uncomfortable. Leaving aside their current situation, he was her business, her friend. Part of that inner circle that was protected by her self-built high walls.
What happened to the days when fighting was just that: fighting? When you didn't have to give a shit about other people and their problems, walking through them as if there was no tomorrow. Life was easier then. Naturally, it was more lonely, but that was a price you had to pay. But that was then. When she tried to remember those times, it was like a thick cloud covered the view, and all she could do was catch a glimpse here and there. It was as if she were watching a movie, just as a viewer.
Lara had always been a fighter. What else could she have been? Looking back at the life she had been living, she wanted to tell Ethan it was nothing personal. That none of this really mattered. They had bigger fish to fry. But nothing was ever as easy as you hoped. You get dealt some cards and play them. At points, it was all a matter of who had the better nerves. Who could bluff, or even cheat. The cage was unforgiving and held zero space for emotional dilemmas.
Sorry Ethan, I win. You lose.
Empty vessels make the loudest sound. ~ Plato
M Y T E M P O R A R Y F I X
New York City; New York
Nothing was better than pushing yourself to the limit. Not only when it came to working out, but more in general life. She had always been the extreme type, all or nothing. There was no time for half-assing stuff. It was a dangerous lifestyle, but it was all she ever knew. It affected her in every aspect and situation. Love. Life. Work. Ultimately, it made her the rightful Lady of Chambers.
She had been running the same route ever since returning to New York. She knew probably every tree and bush around the area, the small cafè at the corner, the newspaper stand at the entrance, and even the small little duck pond well hidden behind a huge red oak. Like every other time, she started slow, feeling a certain warmth grow in her body, from head to toe. The music coming from her headphones was fitting for the pace. When the tunes changed, her speed did too. Around thirty minutes later, her forehead was covered in sweat and her hair stuck to it. That was the usual moment when her lungs began to burn, forcing her to push harder. Getting past that point was a real bitch, but this time, it never happened.
The Fuck?!
Right at the end of her path appeared a person she knew. Not too well, but she would have noticed that suit anywhere, combined with the sleazy grin and the semi slick hair: Danilo Myovic. Inside her head, she was going through options, but escaping was impossible. Her heart sunk, but she wouldn't allow him to pick up on it -- one of her qualities had always been putting on a tremendous act.
Showtime.
She kept up her normal pace 'till she'd reached him. Like every other time, his eyes would wander over her body. It made her feel dirty, but now was not the time to be offended. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, his usual gorillas probably were somewhere close. She put on her best fake smile, before she came to stand in front of him.
"What a surprise... ."
"I thought it was about time to pay you a visit. Damn shame about your loss kotik." His expression was as false as her tits. "I would have had my money on you. But there is always a next time."
You can't kill him. No. Nein. Het. No matter in what language, the outcome was always the same. Lara was a lot of things, but not an idiot. So instead of throwing acid in his face just then, she kept smiling.
"Of course. And thank you for having faith in me." You impotent piece of shit. "I assume you didn't come here to check on me though."
"Is that so absurd?" His voice was emotionless. "But then again, we don't have time for that. Maybe we can walk a little, discuss some stuff."
He offered his arm, pulling the whole gentleman act. Lara was looking at him with those big blue eyes, hesitant.
"We don't wanna leave Devon waiting for too long, yes?"
The mention of her husband's name caused her to swallow hard, and she was hoping he didn't catch onto it. Wishful thinking. The worst kind of threats were those that came presented with a smile, not revealing the true nature of harm.
"If you don't mind getting all sweaty."
She said in a soft manner before linking her arm with his. They began to walk, taking a path that lead away from the comfortable benches and people. The perfect set up for being executed. Her thoughts were racing, going through every possible scenario, none of them ending well for her.
Lara Chambers, sister. Friend. And a damn idiot.
"I must be honest with you, Lara, this ain't a courtesy visit." He stopped and looked at her, an ugly smile forming on his lips. They looked somewhat sharklike.
Colour me surprised. I mean. Really.
"After everything I have done for you, I think you owe me a little something. So I come to you with... let's call it a proposal... shall we?"
proposal
/prəˈpəʊz(ə)l/
Noun
a plan or suggestion, especially a formal or written one, put forward for consideration by others.
It was hard to not laugh in his face, making it sound like she had any choice about his request. Nonetheless, she kept up the masquerade. Looking at him as if she was curious, while her guts filled with stones and poison.
"You have been handpicked, Lara. For more than just being a good fighter. You receive good money for appearing once a month, don't you?"
He didn't wait for an answer. Not that she had one.
"And now your friend Danilo expects a little payback. Nothing too huge. More like...one hand washes the other."
It was hard to tell what he would come up with. Not that she hadn't been in situations like that before. They wanted either money, services or... sex. Thinking the last made her shudder. Not only was he probably the least attractive person on her list, but also Lara was a loyal human being. No matter the circumstances.
"What can I help you with, Danilo?"
"That is why I like you Lara Chambers. Not beating around the bush." He leaned against one of the trees, finally letting go of her. "Just like you, my kitten, I have pissed off people in the past. But more important, people have pissed off me."
His expression darkened.
"So I want you to erase someone for me."
Surprise. That was the least thing she expected from him. Considering who he worked for, she couldn't be his only option. Leave alone, the best. Her mind was racing through all the possibilities. But no matter what, he would gain even more power over her. Maybe he had felt her dislike of the idea, or her façade was starting to crack.
"Of course, I could do it myself, but I think you owe me. I mean, where would you be without me, Lara Chambers?"
At home. Having my happy ever after.
"So see it as a chance to prove your worth to me. We don't want anything to go wrong down the line, right?"
Another threat. For just a split second, the thought of striking him down dimmed her senses. It would have been pure satisfaction for at least three seconds. Then she would become a dead body on the ground.
Life or Death? What's it gonna be?
"I will need a name and address."
The expression on his face changed immediately, looking like the guy that either just won a marathon or the fat kid that ate all the cake. He nodded. Probably more to himself than to her.
He won. For now.
O P H E L I A G O N E M A D
Vyatskoe, Yaroslavl, Russia
Be a shadow. Get in. Get out. Leave no evidence.
His instructions made her laugh. He treated her like a kid, or a rookie. Maybe it was to showcase his might, but likely, he was just an asshole. Either way, after short preparation, she left New York. Like every other time, she traveled fast and without bringing attention to herself, even though that probably was hard to believe looking at someone like Lara Chambers -- The many tattoos, the thick accent, and as always, the changing hair colour.
Now that comes handy.
She looked at herself, her long, brunette hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. Her long sleeved shirt in a beige colour, matching her inconspicuous make up. Last, it was all combined with a pair of thin gloves. The only thing that was still Lara were her big blue eyes. At least, for another thirty seconds. She looked at the contact lenses resting on the stacking before her. Mud brown.
"I hate those things." She was mumbling to herself when placing the first one in. Like expected, everything went blurry. A few blinks later the other one was adjusted as well.
Change was completed.
She packed her remainings before stepping out. The driver had been patiently waiting and greeted her with a friendly wave. They exchanged a few words in Russian before making it towards the car. Inside her head, she thanked Nadja a thousand times for constantly pushing her to use the language. She still sounded like a foreigner, but it went rather smooth. She checked the time on her plain watch as she slid inside. After all the calculation she had done, this drive wasn't supposed to take longer than thirty minutes. It was hard to enjoy the view, knowing full well why she was here. Drifting off in her thoughts, she hardly noticed the guy talking.
"Without any offense Misses, but don't you think that long sleeve is a little too warm?"
"Please don't think I am not sweating... but I am allergic to the sun. And while it might only affect me now and then, I am not taking any chances."
"So you visiting your father you said?"
"No. My uncle. Considering I can't make it here very often, I am rather excited." She faked her best smile. "It's been forever since I had a chance."
The guy nodded. It was obvious he wanted to ask more, but her body language spoke for itself. She turned her focus once more to the view, reading the signs as best as possible. And just like expected, they had made it there in under thirty minutes. Lara didn't wait for him to open the door, handing him the money with a little extra.
"Would you like to pick me up later today? I can give you my number."
"No. Thank you. I will be picked up by someone out of the family."
She walked towards the entrance when looking up. Age with Joy. Every other time she would have giggled, but Lara was in work mode. She waited until she couldn't see the car anymore before changing course. Behind the building, she slipped out of her clothes, checking for stuff in her bag. There it was.
I will go to hell for this.
And other things. In her hand, she held a typical russian nun outfit, from head to toe. Not only was it a bitch to put on, it was highly uncomfortable. Taking out her phone, she checked herself, shaking her head. If her friends could have seen her right now, they would have died from laughter.
Checking the plan on her phone once more, today was the usual day when nuns visited that place. Reading to people. Listening. Or just sitting there, staring at empty vessels. Hiding her stuff in a safe place before stepping out of the shadows, once more she walked towards the entrance, playing with the golden rosary in her hand. The staff was treating her friendly, it was scary, and by no means anything she wanted to get used to.
"Welcome sister. We have been waiting for you." The lady behind the information desk smiled. Which only showcased her mustache even better. Don't point it out.
"My deepest apologies. There were some difficulties at the convent."
She looked over the list that was presented in front of her. Spotting the name she had been looking for -- Maxim Gorodetsky -- her heart skipped a beat, the tickle on the back of her neck becoming more urgent.
"We are so thankful for your weekly visits. The clients don't get many visitors, which is a shame. They could need the distraction... ."
Why don't you shut the fuck up?
"But my child, they are never alone. God is always with them."
She gave a soft nod to the female before taking the list, turning around. Once more, she scanned over the names and picked another, randomly. She had to keep up the façade before closing the finale curtain. When entering the first room, a disgusting smell tickled her nostrils. Reminding herself that she had smelled worse, the shudder didn't come as hard. In a wheelchair by the window sat a white haired female. She had been positioned that her view was on the park. Of course they could have brought her outside, but maybe it wasn't worth the effort.
Lara took a chair and sat down next to her, analyzing her face for several moments without the woman ever looking at her. She tried to think away the deep lines and the empty look and came to one conclusion. Once upon a time, this lady had been a beauty, full of life and exciting thoughts. But there was nothing left of this. Rotten by a disease that not all the money in the world could stop. Dementia.
"Must suck to sit here all day." She whispered while making sure no one was in sight. "Galina Morozov."
And even though her body probably couldn't move, her eyes could. She looked directly at Lara with an intensity that was new. Scary even. Yet it was impossible to look away. Without hesitation she laid her hand over the wrinkled one, rubbing it.
"But looking at your birthdate my doll, you won't be sitting here for much longer."
And while the words sounded cruel, the meaning behind it wasn't. And seeing the softened expression in Galina's eyes, she knew that. Lara's voice was comforting, thick as honey even. A last squeeze before she got up. There was no need to look back, so she just walked down the depressing hallway. Here and there, she heard awkward noises. Intuition told her it was the room at the end. Lara stood there for several moments before knocking.
Stroke patient. Hardly any verbal resources.
Remembering that, she stepped in and closed the door carefully. Maxim was sitting in front of a huge television, watching a mafia movie out of the seventies. How fitting. He moved his head slightly to the side, looking at her. He didn't look too impressed by her appearance. With a few well measured steps, she had reached him. Standing behind him, looking down at his huge head, the hair that was starting to flee him, and those broad shoulders that now hung down, looking misplaced.
"I heard you refused visits the past three weeks. So I skipped the introduction and just got in." She sat on a chair, blocking his view from the television. "I am sure you don't mind."
"Who... are... you?" It was viewable that he had problems talking.
"I have many names. But for you, I am Sister Antonia. Brightening up your day."
She let out a soft laughter.
"Although I am sure a female fulfilling other services would be more welcome."
"... fuck god...."
Lara looked at him with an amused expression on her face. That old bastard hardly had enough air to survive. Which made it that much better hearing him curse. Almost sympathetic, her hand rested on his shoulder. Leaning down, her lips next to his ear.
"I couldn't agree more."
His eyes became wider when Lara hopped on his lap. One of her hands resting in the pocket of her gown, smiling at him.
"But this has nothing to do with god, Maxim." Lara took out an injection, including a small needle filled with a clear liquid.
With his healthy arm he tried to reach for the emergency button, but she was prepared. Kicking it aside. The panic on his face was real, but so was her smile. Once more leaning forward, having the shot ready, she spoke quietly.
"Danilo Myovic says hello."
Maxim's mouth formed quiet scream, only a few noises escaping. Right in that moment, Lara put the needle right under his tongue, injecting whatever she had filled up there. The moment he wanted to close his mouth, maybe even bite the shot, she had it removed. Getting up slowly, she fixed her clothes. She stood very still observing him, watching the colour change. From an unhealthy grey to a light red. Taking another moment before reaching the emergency button, taking a deep breath.
"They are coming to help my pet... in around fifteen seconds." She patted his head. "But you only got eight."
When the door slammed open his body had already began to cramp. Lara stood there, pretending to be all shocked.
"YOU MUST HELP HIM... I FOUND HIM LIKE THAT... ."
One of the nurses made it over to her, rubbing her back. Talking in a comforting way before leading her out. Lara had already stopped listening, but the masquerade wasn't over.
Or was it?
Her eyes were focused on the door, waiting for the emergency team to step out. And they did.l, having undeniable, defeated looks on their face. On the inside she was dancing. Excusing herself with a frown to step out.
"... at least he didn't have to suffer."
That was the last thing she heard on her way out. The custome almost made her feel dirty when she reached her bag. It was hard to tell how far she had walked before taking a breather. Maybe a mile, maybe twenty. Ripping off the wig, removing the contact lenses. Slipping out of the outfit. When back in her normal gear, she would set it on fire, watching the bundle burn.
The only thing she kept was the beads, it had a strange fascination. Wrapping it around her wrist before walking towards the bus station. Always travel with style.
"You are welcome, Danilo Myovic."
Lady of Chambers
#20
Character Development / Army of one
Last post by EMT - May 28, 2017, 05:06:48 PMNew York City
May, 22nd 2017
May, 22nd 2017
Five minutes. She had been checking her watch several times. Not only because of him, but also to make sure they had privacy. Returning from her daily duty Lara had a brief conversation with Devon. Catching up. Hearing the sound of his machine in front of the window she was quick to grab her keys.
"Just in time." She greeted him with a smile. "A rare quality."
"I've been taught to never let a woman wait." He followed his words with a playful smile. Ethan was in a great mood apparently. A nice change.
"Someone had a good weekend." She winked at him, walking closer. "You ready for this?"
He nodded. Lara could see the determination and fire in those green eyes. Finding the fourth man, the last one of those animals that burst into Nadja's apartment and abused her a month ago, was surprisingly easy. Maybe too easy. All he had to do was beat up a guy and wait for him to warn his friend about some psycho looking for revenge for what they did to that russian bitch. Now they had a name, an address and a description of the european guys known as 'The Bear'.
Such a fitting name for a 7 foot 300 pounds human being. "I've been waiting for this moment for such a long time Lara. Let's do it"
She nodded her head and pointed over to her black corvette. Seeing the puzzled look on his face made her chuckle.
"Your bike is too loud. Promise I won't kill you." Her tone was light when she walked towards the driver's side. Waiting for him to follow. Her baby as she would call it, was purring like a kitten. Lara would follow the lead he gave her every now and then.
Not fully convinced, Ethan sat next to her, fastening his seat belt as soon as he closed the door. He never liked driving, or traveling, by car. God only knew why. He quickly glanced at Lara, who was shaking her head, laughing lightly. "What? I don't like these coffins on four wheels..." He put his shades on to fight the New York City low sun, shining right on his face.
"Let me tell you a little something. Considering the life we live, both of us, a car accident is the least of our worries." She was driving a little over the speed limit. Every now and then checking the signs. Even after living here for quite a while, she still hadn't seen certain areas. They drove further of the city when she looked at him. "You sure that's the way?"
Lowering his sunglasses, he gave her a quick look. "One hundred percent positive. Hoes don't lie when you pay them double their usual fare." The hooker Jimmy was seeing revealed herself a valuable asset. She was the one sending Ethan the phone number of the last member of the pack. From there, tracking the number was a kid's game. Niedvjev, or whatever his real name was, lived right outside Brooklyn. Being someone who made most of his business at night, this was the best time to catch him by surprise. An advantage you wanted to exploit when dealing with someone literally twice bigger than you.
They spent most of their drive in silence. In the background there was classical music playing. A ritual from a different time. Lara seemed rather concentrated, focused and slightly distant. It didn't take much longer before they arrived at their required destination. Parking the car far enough away from the building. She would slide out of the car, opening the trunk. All kind of weapons in there. It was hard not to smile.
"I hope you don't mind... I brought some toys."
Ethan looked inside the trunk. His eyes fell on a couple of guns, and his expression suddenly changed. "You know where I stand about those." His index was pointing in that direction, but his head was turned the other way, staring at Lara.
"Yes my pet, I haven't forgotten. But, if it's you or him... I will pull that trigger." She chose her words carefully, taking some of the stuff out. Gearing herself up so to say. Not expecting him to do the same, she closed the trunk. Rolling her neck a few times. "You must remember one thing Ethan, I ain't going in there with the idea of losing. Ever."
He pulled up his sleeves, cracking his knuckles. "Neither am I." Walking past Lara, leading the way to the entrance. A quick gesture, motioning her to stand at the door while he moved to the back of the house. Words were not needed with someone who shares the same mindset. They moved like a well oiled machine, like they had been doing this since forever. Instead, they have been knowing each other for just a couple of months.
He knows what he is doing. That was the only thought that made her stand still. Lara being a predator, caused her body to tingle. Her senses sharp as always. Her blue eyes wandering over the area. Waiting for his return. Inside her mind she heard 'God save the Queen'.
A muffled noise preceded the light sound of Ethan footsteps coming her way. But there was something more, barely audible in the background. He is dragging something. She mumbled to herself. A light smile appeared on her face as she saw Ethan hiding the senseless body of the guard under the hedge, away from indiscreet eyes. He cleaned his hands on his jeans, walking back to her.
"Having fun without me, I am offended." Her voice was more quiet than usual. Her hand wrapped around the knife. It was resting against her naked back. "How many are there?"
"I spotted one in the kitchen, and heard a couple talking upstairs. Got any idea? Possibly something not involving blowing the whole fucking house..."
"You are such a grump." She laughed. "Well, I will go in. Before you. Alone. Feeling him up. And no, I don't accept a discussion."
Ethan reached behind his back, pulling something from under his shirt and tossing it their way. She caught the object in mid air. A gun. "It's suicide Lara. These guys are armed. And they are three. We need to play this smart." He looked all around, hoping to see something they missed the first time. She was doing the same, realizing he made a point. They both saw noticed something, basically at the same time. An open window on the second floor. A chance to sneak in unnoticed, and raise their chances of success. "Do you need a hand to climb, Lara Chambers?"
"I hate you Ethan." She said before getting closer to the wall. Like a spider monkey she crawled up there, not causing a sound. It was viewable that this indeed wasn't her first time. Sliding inside the window he heard a small sound. Three seconds later her head popped out of the window. Motioning for him to follow. A vicious grin on her face.
He motioned her to hold still. She looked at him walking to the door and... Ringing the fucking bell? She was surprised and slightly worried. For a good reason. She heard the other two guards removing the safety from their handguns and stepping to the doors, as instructed by the deep voice of their target. He was close, right in the next room. And now alone. She hesitated, looking outside. Ethan was still standing at the door, cold as usual, aware of the danger he was getting into. But confident, smiling even. The door opened, and Ethan was talking with the two guards. She couldn't hear his words, but she was pretty sure they didn't matter. Suddenly his plan became clear, he was distracting them, lowering their guards.
The quickness of his movements when he decided to make his move left her in awe for a moment. Such grace, such precision. And so lethal. He quickly disarmed them both, tossing the guns away, out of reach. Sure, it was still a two on one situation but... I almost feel sorry for you guys. She whispered to herself. The sounds of the fight going on outside alarmed the Bear, who was now on the move. Not so fast.
Lara bit her bottom lip, weighing her options. One last look at Ethan, it was obvious he had this under control. With a few well measured up steps she made it to the other room. Spotting the huge dude immediately. His focus was drawn away from the noises, finding her. Lara wore her most innocent smile, not fitting the leather catsuit. A surprised expression formed on his face.
"Who the hell are you?" There was a thick accent swinging in his voice.
"I am your present honey." Her moves had a certain grace when she walked closer. Her long nails running over his chest. "The bosses thought you could need a real woman today." Her eyes traced to the steps, and listened to the noise that now became less.
"Amateurs." Ethan looked at the two guards he just dropped with little effort. There was a tone of disappointment in his voice, as well as a hint of pride and gloat. He wiped some blood from his busted lips, a small price he had to pay for the two on one handicap and walked inside the house, carefully stepping on the motionless body of the blonde guard, adding insult to injury. On his way upstairs, he could hear Lara talking to the big man. Her voice was so sensual, sugared.
His lips curved in a sly grin as he stopped right outside the door, leaning against the doorjamb behind the dude's back, watching the British Bombshell teasing him, playing him like the dumb horndog he clearly was. "Let's unwrap this present then..." He was all worked up, his hands moving towards Lara's waist.
"Oh sorry, am I interrupting something? I can come back later if you want..." The big man turned his attention to Ethan, who was laughing, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed on his chest. Completely and surprisingly relaxed, given the situation. Niedvjev instinctively moved his hand toward the handgun on the nightstand, right next to a golden plate decorated with lines of white powder. He completely forgot about Lara behind him. Big mistake.
She smiled at Ethan, painting an absurd picture. The size difference so huge, it looked comedic. The next moment Lara kicked him on the back of his knee, watching him fall. Painful moans escaping his lips. He was half lying, half kneeling. "Don't like your present anymore?" Her voice still as sweet as honey, her small hand in resting on the guy's shoulder.
Stretching out, he was still trying to reach for the weapon. Relentlessly, Ethan kicked his elbow. A satisfied grin on his face at the sight of his arm, bent in an unnatural way, dangling. Such an high pitched scream for a big man. He found the thought amusing, a light laughter escaping his mouth as he kneeled in front of him. "You know why we are here, right Teddy Bear?" He slapped him across the face.
Lara's fingernails were digging into his shoulder still. Purring softly behind him.I while her eyes were focused on Ethan. "You don't wanna play anymore? Tired of running my love?" She leaned down whispering into his ear. "You know the solution for this.Tell us what we need to know. Or my friend here will lock you in a room. With me and a knife."
The big man cursed in his mother language. Russian... No, it's something similar, yet different. He spat in Ethan's face, adding more obscure insults that didn't seem to affect him too much. Ethan stood up, kicking him on the left side of his ribcage. No matter how big, fat or muscular you are, that part of the body is always exposed. Fragile. The cracking sound echoed in the empty room, followed by a muffled scream. "You know that this won't end well for you. But you can decide HOW bad it goes. Talk, and you will be able to walk again in a couple of weeks, just like your buddy Jimmy, who was so kind to let you know we were coming. Or you can decide to keep playing the tough guy part, keeping you mouth shut. In that case, my friend Lara will make sure you don't talk. Ever again." Ethan grabbed a chair, sitting in front of the big man, staring in his rage filled eyes.
For a long moment nothing happened. The guy kept staring at Ethan, looking up with pure hatred. Lara on the other hand had grabbed her knife, running her fingertips over it. Feeling the sharpness of the blade. She went as far as kneeling down next to him, that wide smile still intact. "Look at this my friend. Can you guess how often it went into a human body just like they were made of butter? Imagine how your guts will feel when I decide to play with you." She moved the knife closer to his face. "We got all the time in the world, unfortunately you don't." She was ready to cut him as his shoulder sunk.
"Okay... stop... I will talk... ."
"Smart." Ethan pat his head in a playful manner. "The questions are simple big boy. Why Nadja Ivanov. What did you want from her. And, most importantly, who do you work for." More than questions, those sounded like orders. A certain rush hidden behind those words, not only because he felt like they were finally close to a major turning point in their investigation. Part of the reason was the awareness that the friends he left downstairs could wake from their afternoon nap anytime soon.
To ensure his full cooperation, Ethan nodded lightly at Lara. She quickly moved the blade on their guest's neck, pushing the tip against his skin, lightly, but deep enough to crack him open. A droplet of blood gushed from the spot, slowly running down the sweaty epidermis. She followed its trail with the knife, carving a long irregular scar on his path.
A ray of light breaking through the window hit the shiny blade, its glare reaching Ethan's eyes, forcing him to take his look away. "If I didn't knew you, I would take you for a softie, dear." He answered Lara's complicit provocation with a quick smile.
"I assure you, bud, she can go way deeper than this. And she will. Who sent you?"
"Oh you didn't figure out yet?" He laughed. A gawky, irritating laughter. "You ain't that bright after all. Or are you just that blind, like your colorful friend here?" He nodded his head toward Lara. Ethan quickly glances at her, bewildered.
"Please let me cut out his tongue. He doesn't have much useful to say." She moved the knife closer to his mouth. Teasing him. It was then that the guy looked at her, his eyes now serious. He ignored Ethan completely, staring into Lara's eyes.
"You really haven't figured it out doll?" A dry chuckle. "Does the name Karina Stincino ring a bell?"
Lara looked at him. A thousand thoughts running through her mind. Nothing viewable on the outside. "Great story you stupid son of a bitch."
"The truth is a lot more ugly than a lie could ever be."
"What the hell is he talking about Lara?" Ethan was getting nervous. Ignoring things, being in the dark was something he wasn't used to. And Karina Stincino, that name that seemed to upset the usually calm and collected Lara Chambers was something he never heard of.
"He is a piece of shit. Saying... " She took a small break. "... that Shawna is the one giving the orders." Her voice was serious, maybe a little disgusted. There was a certain anger in her eyes that he had never seen.
His hands were clenched in fists of rage, his eyes bouncing from the guy to Lara, then back at him and once again staring at hers. "Hold on... Damian, you said he was one of Shawna's men, right? Someone she trusted enough to send over in such a delicate situation..."
"Bingo!"
A swift kick to the side turns his laughter in a groan of pain. "Shut the fuck up!" Ethan quickly looked back at Lara. "The new place Nadja moved after the first assault... You told Shawna about it right?" He took a step towards her.
"After everything I have done to help you... you doubt my decisions." She had lifted her hands, a safe sign for him to stop. She was so angry that it clouded her vision. Without thinking she punched the guy right into the jaw. "And why? Because a guy that wanted to fuck Nadja and rip her apart... feeds us lies. Really?"
"It's not what he's saying Lara. It's what happened." Ethan was trying to keep his calm, to open her eyes and allow her to see things for what they actually were. "Think about it. Everything points in her direction. Those people knew things they weren't supposed to know. Things only you and me were aware of." He took another small step forward. "You, me and Shawna. I don't know what's the story between you and her is, but she's scum. And I never trusted her."
Lara growled at him. Disappointed and even more angered. It was hard for her to not lash out at him. Instead she kicked the guy again, making sure he dropped face first on the floor. Taking another look at Ethan before walking past him. She didn't look back, making her way to the stairs. I am the same scum then.
Ethan shook his head. He gave a quick look around the room, opening every drawer, tossing all kind of clothes around, looking for some evidence to back up those accusations. Nothing interesting, except a roll of cash. He saw Lara entering her car from the window. He never saw her like this. Laying next to the knocked out giant there was his phone. His best shot to find something useful to convince lady Chambers. Ethan picked it up and hid it inside his pocket along with the money. With a slow pace he walked downstairs, leaving the house.
Despite her emotional chaos, she hadn't left. She was waiting in the car, giving him the chance to come out. Eventually he would enter. Her eyes were focused on the house, then moved to the road. Driving off in a rather calm mode, she didn't look at him. Not even once. They would make it back to her apartment, also where his bike was resting. Lara parked the car, removing the keys.
Ethan had been looking at the phone through all the ride. Nothing too compromising here, just an incredible amount of phone calls to a certain Szef. As soon as the car stopped, Ethan swiped his finger on the screen, making the call. A feminine voice with a strong Italian accent answered, sounding through the speakerphone. "Kasper? Is that you, my pet?" His eyes were glued on Lara, watching the look of disbelief in her face, as she recognized that voice.
If he did indeed see colours, he probably saw one he wasn't aware of. Lara unfastened her seat belt, opening the door. Without giving him another look she walked right across the street. Almost running into a car. Her heart was racing, her pulse echoing in her ears. She wasn't able to focus, entering the Ragnarok.
Ethan closed the call. He wasn't sure how to deal with this side of Lara. She was clearly mad furious, but it was hard to tell if the objective of her rage was Ethan for not trusting her or Shawna, for what started looking like the mother of all betrayals.
Or herself, for possibly being played like a pawn in this story.
She didn't even speak to Devon when entering, walking around the bar. Picking up her favourite brand of scotch, before walking all the way back. She kicked the door open, once more stepping outside. Turning to the left as she started to walk. Her steps rather stiff. Destination unknown.
Ethan instead, walked away in the opposite direction. He knew exactly where he was going and what he had to do.
This was exactly what Ethan always meant. Objectivity demands distance. Something Lara was lacking when it came down to Shawna. Their bond, something he always had a hard time tolerating, was too deep, the thread of their fates so tangled in such an intricate weave, unintelligible for everyone else but them. She could never possibly be able to consider a betrayal from the woman that,literally, made her who she is today, Let alone what he was planning to do.
Going after one of the crime lords in NYC was some serious shit. He was well aware of the risks. But he never cared. Dying to protect the ones you love is the only useful death. Everything else is just a waste.
And to spice things up, his friendship with Lara Chambers was now in danger because of this.
One mistake, even the slightest, and he could lose his life or his best friend.
Either way you look at it, he was surely walking on a tightrope. No matter the risks, he had to do it.
A lot of people tried to knock Shawna off her throne. Police, rival families, everyone wiht his own army, everyone failing.
And here he was, walking into the lion's den.
Alone.
An army of one.