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Posted by Hans 'The Baron' von Richtoven
on October 22, 2024, 12:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Post-Havoc Promo"
An hour or so after Havoc.
The scene opens up onto your room at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. You’d not long arrived having chosen to make for the exit, the ringing sound of the crowd chanting ”Baron! Baron! Baron!” still echoing in your ears and reverberating in your chest.
Where normally you’d have cleaned up in your locker room, with you not having had a match scheduled…
’Hah! But then one essentially went and happened!’
… you’d not bothered with taking any other belongings besides what you had worn that day.
Those very items, barring the gold wedding band on your left ring finger have been placed on your bed.
Your clothing, folded up, naturally.
Your wallet, phone, keys? They were placed in an organised fashion on the small desk sat against the far wall,
At present, you’ve just stepped out of the shower, having wanted to refresh yourself.
The towel is already hanging on a rack and you’re attired in a simple pair of grey Adidas shorts.
For a second, you think about throwing on a top, but it’s a pleasant temperature in the room and besides…
You move to the mirror.
You want to see what bruises are forming.
The next few seconds pass as you inspect yourself.
The impact from Sean’s chops on your chest already have the blue and purple tinge to them.
’But the rest aren’t that bad…’
You go to touch your chest, curiosity getting the better of you. A small spike of pain radiates out as you withdraw your finger rapidly.
’Scheiße!’
Yes. Avoid aggravating that for now. An ice bath would do you good…
Cocking your head to one side, you think back to earlier in the day when you first arrived if you saw one in the spa facilities provided by the hotel and then if they’d give you access to it at 10 at night.
A snort of amusement ripples out at that.
’Fat chance.’
You’ll just have to suck it up and deal with it in the morning.
Exhaling, your hands are placed on your hips as you stare at yourself in the mirror.
’What to do about Sean… what to do about Price… the lot of them.’
Another chortle of amusement. You’d be up all night if you truly bent your mind to that futile task.
No. Right now, you needed to phone your wife.
Padding over to the desk, you find that your phone is showing two missed calls from her already. A small spike of adrenaline hits your heart like a thunderbolt, but as you swipe upwards to expand them, you see that they’re 30 minutes apart.
’It can’t be that serious then…’
Memories of the biker gang Erica had rustled up some weeks prior nevermind the constant attempts at a home invasion spring to the front of your mind.
You hit her entry and lift the phone to your ear.
A few moments pass before the sound of your wife's voice fills your ear.
”Honey! Yay! Are you back at the hotel?”
Clearly there isn’t anything problematic happening.
Your heartbeat slows a fraction.
”Jah, I am mein schatz.”
You flop backwards onto the bed, stretching out as you stare up at the ceiling.
”How was your day?”
”Fine, nothing exciting babe. Wish I could say I was a lady of leisure and seeing to whatever whim took me, but at the rate I’m waddling now, no-one will mistake me for a lady right now.”
She trails off laughing. You can’t help but smile at both the sound and the imagery that your mind conjures.
”What about you? How was the show?”
Something in her voice sounds alarm bells.
You pause, cogs turning over in your head.
This seems like a trap.
”Have you been speaking to Jason mein schatz?”
”Nooo…”
It’s not said with any great weight behind it.
The sigh that comes from your lips has her elaborating almost immediately.
”Well you didn’t answer, so y’know, if there’s one person that’s going to pick up it’s Jason.”
”Still joined at das hip, even now, jah?”
It’s not said without any malice. Neither is the response.
”Duh babe.”
”Fine… what did he say?”
”That you firstly got your new shirt and pants covered in butter the previous night at that meal, so, I hope that lobster was worth it mister.”
You close your eyes.
’Scheiße!’
You’d not had a chance to tell her yet. You’d just wanted to get back and get them dry cleaned before she realised.
Your voice is a low growl.
”Jason…”
”Oh nevermind him Hans.”
She pauses, you can picture her now, nothing but care and concern for you.
”Didn’t sound like that night went the best… you ok?”
”Jah, it could have been better…”
Another low sigh escapes from you as you close your eyes.
”One man who loves the windup… another highly strung und on edge…
”Is that Sean you’re referring to, or yourself?”
”Verdammt woman!”
The sound of her laughter fills your ears.
She knows just how to take the sting out of you.
”Obviously not me… or not entirely at least, jah.”
”And so who did what to make it end on a sour note?”
”Honestly mein schatz… I don’t think it could have gone any other way, jah? Maybe if it happened a year ago… when HWA returned… but nein, not now.”
”Ah, one of those nights. Like when we had the Ever’s over?”
”Jah, like that. Exactly like that. Just every other sentence, jab jab jab.”
You think back on those memories, a smile forming.
”I still can’t believe he thought he could take me.”
”I know! He really was a mean drunk. I hear he’s now tee-total, so maybe you did him a favour.”
”Hmm… one good bit of news I suppose.”
”And any more? Not just one surely.”
”Zwei. I’m speaking to you.”
”Obviously.”
You just know she’s smiling as she talks to you.
”That lobster was nice.”
”Planning to take me there in the new year. Can even make it our first get away as new parents?”
”I’ll have to check I’m allowed back.”
”Urgh, men. Can’t go anywhere without proper supervision. Who’s idea was it anyway?”
”Butch’s…”
”I thought as much. Next time just call Wisdom and make sure she’s cleared it first.”
”Jah mein schatz.”
”Oh don’t go sounding all down. I just want you to enjoy your time away from me before I start giving you all the chores to do when you get back because I’m struggling to do much with this…
You can picture her circling her belly, your child growing within.
” …this little person getting not so little now.”
”Believe me mein schatz…”
Your eyes open up, before glancing around the room.
It's no home.
Home is nearly 3000 miles away.
Home is where your wife is.
You're grateful for the experiences you get to have, but right now, with having left the arena, other priorities take over.
”I can’t wait to be home.”
The scene fades slowly to black.
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