The scene opens up onto a lounge room, late in the evening. The dimmed lights from various inset ceiling spotlights allow the surrounding furniture and accouterments that dot the room to be visible, just not entirely in focus. (Vanessa): Oh that one’s promising. She gestures for emphasis at the one currently on screen. (Hans): Doesn’t have a pool though. (Vanessa): And? Boys and their pools… She huffs, pouting up at Hans who glances down to allow his eyes to lock with hers. (Hans): It’s not just for me mein schatz. (Vanessa): Oh sure it is, just like how the office is just in reality going to be a ‘man cave’. Smirking, Hans turns back to the screen, Vanessa gently prodding him in the stomach causing a mild yelp from him as she does so. (Vanessa): I know how this works Mr. (Hans): Think of the health benefits of having a pool. (Vanessa): Strawberry daiquiris on a sun lounger next to a pool does sound appealing… very relaxing and good for the soul… She giggles as Hans rolls his eyes. (Hans): So is that a yes then to a pool? (Vanessa): Maybe… (Hans): Gut. He glances once more at his wife. (Hans): Means I get to see you in that bikini… (Vanessa): Ha-ha Mr… Again, she prods him, this time eliciting an eruption of laughter from her husband as he tries to block her. (Vanessa): Keep looking then, I don’t have all night. Shaking his head slightly and chuckling, Hans does as he’s told, spending the next few minutes moving through the various ones on the realtors site, registering interest for a viewing on not even a handful by the time they’re done with what is available. (Hans): So you have those to look at tomorrow, I’ll get away early from the academy in the afternoon, then we head to the airport and down south for your mutti and vater, jah? (Vanessa): Are you sure you can’t get away earlier, come see at least one or two of the places with me? (Hans): You just want to make out I’m your bodyguard and intimidate the realtor. (Vanessa): Wouldn’t know what you mean babe. She smiles sweetly, knowing full well what he does. (Vanessa): No it’s fine, you annoy me anyway when we go house hunting. (Hans): What? Verpiss dich! (Vanessa): You’re a typical man. Within like 5 seconds of being in a place, you’re like, ‘nein, es ist scheiße’ and then you’re back in the car. It’s the same with clothes shopping… She pats his chest as he looks down at her, somewhat scandalized though grinning at her mocking accent that she put on to imitate him. (Vanessa): It’s ok though, I love you despite that. (Hans): You could make a professional shopper cry, the way you do things. The rest of us would call it torture. (Vanessa): Keep talking honey, and you’ll be carrying the bags while Jason and I go out next time. No sneaking off to go sit in a bar or a coffee shop or any of your usual tricks. I’ll stick an AirTag on you so there’ll be no escape. Cackling madly, she prods in at Hans’ stomach once more, before swinging her feet off the couch and getting to a normal seated position. She leans in and kisses her husband on the lips before standing upright. (Vanessa): Besides, if you were to run off, you wouldn’t get to see me go shopping for more bikinis… Winking at him, she sashays away, pausing at the entrance to the lounge to check that Hans was watching her the whole time. Blowing him a kiss, she steps out of the room, before almost immediately popping her head back in. (Vanessa): Don’t be long. (Hans): I won’t. A flick of her hair and Vanessa exits, Hans chuckling once more as he grabs his laptop, bringing it onto his lap proper and loading up the HWA official website. (Hans): So… He makes a shucking sound of noise through his pursed lips, debating what to type, before launching into his text. “Alexis, Closing the laptop lid after clicking the send button, Hans exhales slowly, cogs turning in his head at what he could impart the following day, as he gets to his feet and pads out of the room as the scene fades to black.
Sitting in the cameras gaze, and thanks to both the laptop screen lighting their faces as well as the standing lamp just offset to them behind the l-shaped couch that they’re sat upon are Hans and Vanessa von Richtoven.
Both attired comfortably, Hans in camouflage patterned mid length shorts and an eye achingly bright green Mercedes F1 team t-shirt. Curled up next to him, head on his shoulder, Vanessa is attired in a peach coloured set of loose-fit linen trousers and a black spaghetti strapped top; her fiery red hair cascading down and clashing yet further with the top Hans is wearing.
Both clearly engaged with what’s on the laptop, the camera pans round fractionally, allowing them to see that they pair are house hunting, still not settled on a place to stay permanently out in LA; clearly now in their rented place at present.
After a few seconds of pleading with her to stop, Vanessa relents, clicking her fingers together and gesturing back at the laptop, smiling broadly as she does so.
Setting the laptop further back on the coffee table it was resting on, Hans stretches out his legs, arm going round his wifes shoulders and toying gently with the ends of her hair.
Seeing one or two promos since he’d last viewed any, he takes the chance to watch them, the sound low on the speakers and the videos causing all manner of reflections to cross his face as he watches Sean Parker and Legion verbally spar.
As the promos come to an end, he glances down at his left wrist, checking the time. With a smile on his face, he glances back at where his wife’s gone before a low ping comes from his laptop with a notification popping up a second after in the lower right corner.
His eyes go to the name - Alexis, and his eyebrows raise up, curiosity spiking.
Clicking on the notification his emails are brought up and he leans forward, hunching his shoulders somewhat as his eyes scan the email’s contents.
A few seconds pass once he’s done reading, his eyes flicker as he cracks his fingers, lacing them together and flexing them out sharply, before resting them on the keyboard.
If we’re being formal, it’s Herr von Richtoven or Mr von Richtoven, but please, Hans is fine.
If you’re looking for one on one lessons, of course, I’d be happy to assist. And of course, if you’re not wanting this to come out to Matthew or the others, then I won’t say anything until you feel the time is appropriate, though I do think you’d be pleasantly surprised by how they’d be about it.
That said, I do somewhat understand your position, or rather, how you feel about where you stand. It's natural, you came up against someone who just didn't want to play with the same rules that you and the others have played by for so long, it's a shock to the system. But.
Firstly, you’re here in the HWA on merit. You’re not a weak link. If you were, Matthew wouldn’t have agreed to you being on the active roster. Remember that.
Secondly, you took action and sought help for your friends and fellow competitors. Had you not, things could have turned out far differently for both Matt and Sarah. Again, remember that.
Thirdly, you do not have to be more aggressive in order to flourish. A cool head can overcome someone with the blood rushing to theirs more often than not, if you know what to do.
So, tomorrow, I’m in until midday. I’ll be in the main room as usual from 7, get my attention when you’re in, we’ll go outside to the running track. After the sessions I gave some of the others these past few days, no-one wants to do it unless they have to. We’ll jog and talk, discuss what we can focus on and if there’s any priorities that we can work on.
It’s funny, I did much the same when I was younger, only it was the other way about. I was more like Matt and Sarah, as you’d describe them. I wanted to temper and calm my approach. Submission and the technical aspects of our sport didn’t come to me naturally, it took a while for me to adapt.
From what I’ve seen of your efforts in-ring so far Alexis, you’ll likely put me to shame on that front.
I’ll see you tomorrow. Wear your running shoes.
Hans’
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