You find yourself settling down into the high backed leather chair, the wings of it looming over you and off to the sides, obscuring your vision somewhat. To your left is the side table, the perfect height for you to rest your cup of coffee or glass of beer. To your right, well, there’s nothing there at this time, but you’ve had your eye on a classic record player and think it’ll slot in perfectly.
You find yourself smiling at the thought of relaxing one morning, book in hand, coffee to one side and music in the background, the sunlight streaming in from the windows.
Bliss.
Glancing round to your left, over the coffee table, another of the high backed leather chairs sits, empty for now, but your wife will be sitting in it soon enough.
And that’s why I want the record player on my side of the room…
The smile remains, you can already picture and hear the playful bickering back and forth as you argue over the music.
Your eyes move over the rest of the room, picturing what will be. The full length blinds aren’t up yet, apparently they’re being fitted tomorrow though. Seeing the two large windows bare is somewhat unsettling, not that the room has much in it as yet, but you’ll be glad that they’ll be up soon. Some framed pictures and prints will go on the wall in between and either side of the windows, you’ll do that yourself though. A rug or two will soften out the hardwood floor of the room and then some chests of drawers, cabinets and most likely a book shelf will fill out the other wall across from the windows.
With where your chairs are, you’re staring across at the archway leading into the room. That wall will be minimal, perhaps some potted plants in each corner, get some greenery into the room.
Two weeks or so for things to be delivered, put together, then this room should be done. Probably a similar timeline for the remainder of the house. You’d have hoped for sooner, but they’d waited this long to find a place, so what was another week or so to get settled. They’d be out in Utah for Havoc anyway, so plenty of time for the movers and decorators to set things up for them.
Not all of the rooms needed as much work, some were perfect as is, others were minimal and some needed wholesale reworking.
Maria, the cleaner that they’d hired some months ago, she would be overjoyed at having things to tidy up for a change. Plus, it was closer to her home now as well, so even better for the commute time.
Win win, jah.
Getting to your feet, you nevertheless find yourself turning back as you walk through the room, facing back the way you came, hands coming up as if to frame the view.
Satisfied, you come to a halt in what is the hallway, the sounds carrying down the room from the kitchen beyond, the fitters putting together the last of the worktops. You’d thought that what was in was nice but Vanessa hadn’t seen it that way.
So out it went and in came the new.
It is nicer now though, I’ll give her that.
Walking down the sparse hallway, left that way for now to allow easy access for all the movement in and out as the other rooms are done, you pass by what will be your wife’s recording studio for her podcast. A bit bigger than the one she has back in New York, but space isn’t at a premium here.
On the other side of the hallway is the downstairs bathroom. No work needed there, the previous owners had similar tastes to that of theirs.
Doors to a storage cupboard along from that.
What will be a guest bedroom, for now, an empty shell.
And then into what will be the living room proper. For now, the basics are in, the large leather sofas and chairs are arrayed in the middle of the room before they’re moved to their final positions. One of them is sitting at the perfect angle to face the large wall mounted TV you’d had set up.
Over the last week you’ve spent time looking over Draconis’ recent promos. He’s changed. He’s changed a lot since you last faced him.
But then so have I.
You’d taken a leaf out of Jeremy’s book, going back over the old archives as well.
Grabbing the remote from the arm of the sofa you’re sat on, you bring the TV to life. Bringing up your iPhone next, you go to the saved files and cast the video over to the larger screen.
On screen comes a promo from some considerable time ago now, Draconis very much a younger man.
We were all younger then.
(Draconis): So I’m another person picked for your little lottery to get a chance at winning your belt. Hey Hans I see that I’m not the only person that will get a chance at you. But I want to apologize to them now that they won’t get their chance at you and your championship belt. Because when you face me for your belt it will be me that will be walking out of Road to Ruin with gold your gold around my waist.
A wry smile forms. What happened wasn’t as what was intended, at least from Draconis’ side.
The scene carries on.
(Draconis): So Hans, you are the Baron, and I will be what, your next victim? Nope sorry you will be my next offering. Mr. Baron I will lay you to rest under the Confederate flag. While you’re laying in the darkness from the flag you can take Solis that your belt will be in great hands.
So Mr. Baron brings all your skills to our match. Like the Panzer slam, the Black forest driver. Because it will take all your skills as a Champion to stop my steps to greatness. I feel privilege to face a former tag champion like myself. When I win our match I will give you another shot to get to greatness but Hans remember I am unstable. You have to remember one thing Hans you have everything to lose and I have nothing to lose.
So Hans I will see you at Road to Ruin. I will win your gold from you. Hey Han it’s not about Racial pride it’s about Southern pride and gold around my waist not yours.
You cast another video to the TV as this one comes to a close.
(Draconis): So I've heard what my tag team partner has had to say about TNT,Deas and other people in the HWA roster. Ya know what I've been watching all the different promos from all of you and now it's my turn.
First I'm going to talk to you Hans I'm sorry if you are living in a dream world because unlike my past and now there are many things that have changed I have walk thru this tag division with the help of Fallen and won the championship.
Another thing Hans you and your friend need to slam a couple back to what grow nerves enough to step into the ring against the Sons of Anarchy? Well you can get as drunk as you want because it won't help you both when you step into the ring and I promise you this I'm a lot more bit then bark oh I'm sorry that I mentioned biting, hows that arm doing?
You find yourself grinning again, this was a case of mistaken identity - Draconis in reality facing your younger brother Heinrich alongside Logan Neilson. You couldn’t resist viewing it one more time though.
I’ll have to send it to him actually. Wonder if he remembers it?
You fire a message to your brother, sending him the link.
The following day, they’d both had to attend a press conference. Extra large signs with their names on it just for good measure.
A glance at your phone, has he seen it yet?
Don’t be stupid, you’re in California, he’s in Germany. He’ll be asleep just now.
Well, something to wake up to then.
You cast another promo to the screen.
(Draconis): Oh Wyatt I have not figured everything out yet. All I have figured out is Hans and I get to have a match at Havoc. We get to see if he is still as good as he once was. But I get to show him a different man that he once faced Oh so many Years ago.
As the promo ends, you find yourself looking down at your phone.
Bringing up the camera app, you flip it so that the front facing camera is on and hit the record button.
Doubt I’ll kick off as much as I did against Herr Chaos though… probably a good thing…
A small smile at those inner thoughts.
You start to speak.
(Hans): Herr Draconis. It’s been a while. Two veteran’s of the HWA facing off against one another. Time’s are a little different, last time we fought I had the world title around my waist, this time, such a thing doesn’t even exist, jah.
You shuffle forward on the sofa a bit, bringing yourself into a more comfortable position as you continue to speak.
(Hans): But things continue to be different, this time it’s you who has the history and prestige on your side. Four wins on the trot to begin this new era of HWA, most impressive. Jah, zwei losses since, but you acquitted yourself well. You weren’t phoning it in by any stretch.
A pause, brief, something from the far end of the hallway and towards the kitchen sounds out. Anything to worry about?
No, it’ll be fine.
Carry on.
(Hans): This should be something we can look forward to Herr Draconis. What have you learnt since we last fought? How will things go on the night with your erstwhile freund Fallen? Herr Price is facing Legion… your kinder, it was a shame to see Rain act as she did…
Another pause.
(Hans): What I’m getting at Herr Draconis, is I want your focus on me. I want this to be an escape for both of us, jah? I have my own worries… they’re well documented…
A small tug at the side of your mouth and a twinge in your temple is all that betrays your inner thoughts to the camera at least.
Matthew will be ringside, Vanessa will be fine.
(Hans): … but I’ll giving you my full attention. You seem a new man Herr Draconis, the time away from the HWA has done you good. Will it be enough?
Thumbing the record button, you stop the recording.
A few more taps and it’s uploaded to the HWA channels.
Settling back further into the chair, a few moments pass before the sound of further clanging from the kitchen disturbs you.
Scheiße, what is it now?
Best go take a look.
The scene fades to black as you get to your feet and exit the room.
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