Breakdown 6-3-21
It just never fucking ends.
I still don't care about losing the six-person tag at Be Careful. That was never about winning for us, it was playtime. But then I was set to face Josh Hudson one on one. Tommy came to the ring with me because we'd heard that Pat Evans would be with Hudson. The two of them together just does something to me, it riles up all the anger I've been sitting on for months, here me and Tommy are just trying to recover the ground we lost in that abysmal Tag League, and now Mr. D is back and sending these two old guys after us because I – not Tommy! - but I, was in on the attack and injury of Peyton Rice that Minerva did. Tommy was never supposed to be a part of this, the heat Minerva and I had with Peyton was just ours. But now Hudson and Evans brought Tommy into it and that?
That pisses me off.
I had my chain, I wanted to give Hudson the same taste Evans got at Be Careful... but it was denied and threw me off and the motherfucker got me.
I have to figure out a better way.
May 26
Santa Barbara
-------------------
Despite not being booked in Mexico, Minerva and I had a busy week. While everyone else made the trip south, the four of us – me, Tommy, Minerva, and Raab – stayed in California. Minerva has a place somewhere in the LA area she stays when she needs to be there, as well as someplace in Florida. She probably has places all over the country that she hasn't told me about too, but those aren't important. We had plans while everyone was away, and all of it worked out exactly as intended.
The day before the next Breakdown though, Tommy and I were just as busy. Not with Minerva this time, but Drake.
Yeah, you heard me.
Drake had called me the day before, which immediately rang some bells, since I don't think he'd ever actually called me before, only texted. But it was that important. He'd spoken with Minerva, it was time for a lot of plans to kick off. But first... he needed to know Tommy was on board. I had tried a few weeks ago to get Tommy to meet with Drake but he refused. More had happened now though and this time when I asked, he agreed.
We were at Ante Up, after we both wrapped up a class, I had been active, he was instructing. We went upstairs into Tommy's office. He closed the door and sat at his desk. I sat on it, in front of him. It's how he likes it.
“Is your friend still coming by today?”
“Yes. It was his suggestion, remember?”
Tommy sighed. “I know. I just don't understand why this is even necessary. I told you everything is fine, I'm over it. Is he always so formal?”
“Usually.”
Tommy shakes his head. “Alright, fine. You know I'm only doing this for you, right?”
“I thought you said you were over it?” I raised an eyebrow.
“There's a difference between not being mad and giving you shit anymore, and actually liking the dude.”
I sat up on the desk a little straighter. “Okay, this might sound a little crazy, but you're actually a lot alike.”
“That does sound crazy.”
“I'm serious! You're both insanely loyal to the few people close to you, you both have your own personal morality, for lack of a better term, that you stand by....” Tommy rolled his eyes. I reached over and grabbed his face, making him look at me. “And.... you're both crazy talented and will fuck a bitch up if they fuck with you and yours.”
“Alright. You made your point. I already agreed to this. I just don't want you to expect him and me to suddenly be best friends.”
“I'm not that optimistic. Look, just remember that everything we're helping Minerva do, in getting into David's head? He is on board with.” Tommy's expression changed a bit, I could tell he was actually considering that. “I don't know what their heat is with the Helms', and I don't care. I didn't ask Minerva months ago and I'm not gonna ask now. All that matters is all four of us would love to see them brought down even further. Right?”
“It has been fun feeding her information and watching what she does with it. It's too easy to get into Dave's head.”
“The results are usually amusing though. Even if stalking Chris Cannon's house wasn't my idea of a good time.” I leaned back on the desk more comfortably, as Tommy sat back in his chair. I could see him watching the way I moved. It was easy to distract him, too.
“I get the point of going out there and making it known we were there, but I agree, it was kinda boring... at first.”
“Until we made good use of the beach, anyway.” We'd left Cannon's property and found a somewhat secluded spot on the beach... and proceeded to properly desecrate it with our bodies. I smirked, and relaxed my legs a bit so they were slightly more open. I was wearing gym tights and a halter, but tights on me leave nothing to the imagination, no matter how thick the fabric is.
“You keep moving around and teasing me like that and your friend is gonna walk in on a scene I'm sure he doesn't want to see.”
I laughed, then crossed my legs. “I don't know, maybe he could use it for inspiration to help Minerva forget the old man after she ditches him.” Tommy just laughed and shook his head. “But seriously though, this is important. We all need to be on the same page here. Raab was a... side mission, for Minerva. But it's time to get serious. This isn't about just Peyton anymore.”
Tommy shook his head again. “You know, I thought that girl had so much potential when she was training, I never would have thought she'd end up being so hard-headed, yet so into fan service, pandering even. Not to mention the way she spoke about you and disrespected you!”
“Right, but like I was saying, this is bigger than all of that. She's just one part of the problem, and it all goes back to Helms. Sure, you helped train her, but so did he. I bet she got all that high and mighty bullshit from him.”
Tommy scoffed, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, probably. Sure didn't get that shit from me.” Just then, Tommy's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, then made a face. “I gotta take this, it's Kirst. I'll try keep it short.”
I nodded as Tommy got up and went out into the hallway. I didn't care if he spoke to his ex, she's the mother of his kids, but I get why maybe he'd not want to speak to her in front of me. Whatever, no big deal. I got off the desk and sat in a chair, leaning back with my feet up on the desk. I re-read Drake's text to me this morning, giving an approximate time for his arrival. If he keeps that timing, he should be here in a few minutes. I wondered if maybe I should have told Tommy everything about what this meeting's intentions were for. Yeah, I touched on it a bit, bringing up David Helms and how Minerva had her sights on him, but Tommy already knew that. He'd been feeding her information to fuck with his head. But Tommy thinks we're doing this just to get past whatever animosity or mistrust he had with Drake because of last year. I knew he was over that, we'd talked about it enough. Maybe at one time he might have had reason to worry, because despite the trouble that one night with Drake over a year ago got me into, for a while afterwards I would have loved to have another one. The man was spectacular, you'd have never guessed he spent over a decade keeping it in his pants. But, even back when I was a lot more loose with my bedroom talents than I am now, one thing I never wanted to do was mess with a taken man, and these days? Drake is spoken for. That became clear when he and spoke on the phone the night before. The last thing I want to do is cause any issues with Minerva, even if Tommy did one day eventually give me a go-ahead. So, Tommy has literally nothing to worry about. I hoped this meeting would make that perfectly clear. We had a lot of work to do, people to give what they deserved, and everyone needed to be in alliance, without any distrust.
I admit at first I had my reservations about some of Minerva's ideas. Not taking out Peyton of course, that was deserved. But something else she set into motion a few months ago, her plans against David and Regan Helms. As I waited for Tommy to finish his phonecall, and for Drake to arrive, my mind went back to that day a few months ago....
A Few Months Ago
Santa Monica
-------------------------
Minerva and I had finished a workout, she was really taking my instruction on building up her ass well, and the results were already visible. After our session, Minerva suggested we go to the Santa Monica pier and relax for the afternoon. But I could see a gleam in her eyes and had a feeling she had other plans. The pier isn't really one of my favorite places, I had a few foster families who would take me there, I guess they thought it was something fun to do with a kid. For me it just represented a poor attempt by adults to cheer up a kid who didn't have the capacity to be cheered. I get that a lot of people find the place fun and relaxing, but for me it's just sad and painful. I wasn't sure if I could really explain that mess to my new friend though, so I just shrugged and drove. On arriving, we found a bench to sit on that was as far away from the booths and crowd as possible. I could smell the food and hear the ride music and I hated all of it.
“Okay, I have to ask... why here? There's dozens of places around LA we could have gone to relax. Preferably a bar with a wide selection of beer on tap.”
“Not a fan of the pier, are you? I can see it all over your face.”
“I'm really not. Long story.”
“I won't ask. I've always loved it though, it reminds me of my childhood with the carnival. The music, the food... there were some not so great things back then but this reminds me of the good ones.”
“Yeah? I'm glad you have happy childhood memories. I had none whatsoever until I was about fourteen. And this place? Is the cause of some of the fucked up ones.”
“That sucks, I wish everyone could see the magic here that I do. But, we aren't here just so I can have a walk down memory lane. There's a purpose. We are here... because so is Regan Helms and her son Jason.”
“Step-son.”
“Whatever, point is she helps raise him, and he is David's son. And I? Plan to become his new best friend.” Minerva smirked.
“What? The kid is like ten, what's the point of that?”
“To use him, of course. What better way to get back at David and Regan for the things they have done to my family, than to interfere with their family?”
I had no idea what the Helms' did to Minerva's family, and I really didn't care. David and Regan Helms had fucked with me and Tommy since last year, David sold his half of Ante Up, to Mr. D of all fucking people... although he'd stayed out of operations for the most part. But that wasn't the point. The point was they turned against a man they called family, all because they didn't like that he chose me. But Little Jason was just a kid. He didn't have anything to do with that shit. He probably missed Tommy and didn't understand what happened. I felt for the kid.
“So you want to fuck with a kid? Come on doll, that's a little extreme.”
Minerva tilted her head at me, brow up in confusion. “I thought you would be on board with this, after everything they have done to you and Tommy. Betrayed him, disrespected you, cost you both money and titles. I thought you hated them?”
“I do hate them. But the kid never did anything to us. He's innocent.” She gave me another confused look, this one mixed with surprise. “Look, it's pretty well known I grew up without parents, bounced around in the foster care system for most of my childhood.” Minerva nodded, but still not understanding. “But what isn't well known, is that most of the homes I was placed in? Should never have been trusted with caring for orphaned kids. They either ignored me, treated me differently than their real kids, or outright abused me. I don't know if I can sign on to fucking with an innocent kid just because his parents are assholes. At least he has parents.” I turned my head away, looking out towards the pier. I hated everything about this place and Minerva's plan just made me have to talk about why. I needed a drink in the worst way. Minerva grabbed my hand, and I turned back to her.
“You're misunderstanding me, I have no intentions of messing with or hurting Jason in any way. I want to be his friend. I want to teach him better than his parents ever could. Explain to him the way the world really works, so that he understands that while he may love his father and stepmother, they are part of the problems of the world. He won't be hurt, in fact he will be saved, when he realizes that his parents are not the good people he's been taught to believe they are... and turns his back on them.”
I just looked at her a few moments, trying to take in this plan. I couldn't disagree with the fact that David and Regan are not good people. They want the world to think they are, but Tommy and I have dealt with enough of their bullshit to know otherwise. Maybe Minerva was right, and it was better for the kid to learn this at an early age, rather than find out the hard way when he needed them for something and they failed him.
“Okay. As long as the kid isn't going to be fucked with or hurt or-”
“He won't. For this to work he has to trust me and hurting him in any way won't accomplish that. I would even ask you to help me but unfortunately I think his parents have already turned him against you.”
“I'm sure they have.” I sighed. “Okay. I'm in, but from the sidelines. If I have any information that can help I'll give it to you, Tommy too. But I should stay away from the kid.”
“Deal. Don't worry about information for now, when I need it I will ask. Step one? Becoming acquainted with him.” Minerva then smirked and pulled a black-haired wig and hat out of her backpack. I watched as she put it on and fixed the hair, then set the hat on just right. She then put her hands up to her face, as if presenting herself for a close up or something. “Kandis, I'd like you to meet.... Siobhan.”
“Siobhan? That's out of left field.”
She shrugged. “It's my given name, keep that to yourself.”
I just smirked. I'd keep that to myself, too. I understand, very few people in wrestling know my last name. I hate it. At least Minerva found a way to use hers for a purpose. Little Jason would have no idea who he was talking to.
May 26
Santa Barbara
-------------------
So far Minerva had kept he word about young Jason Helms, she'd only befriended him and gained his trust. I had it in the back of my mind that if things went too far I would remove myself from it all. None of that was my concern today though, I had this meeting between my boyfriend and my friend to get through, and hope it ended well rather than in an explosion. I know what Tommy said, he was over it, he trusted me.... but I also know he sometimes said things that weren't exactly true. He wanted them to be true... they just weren't. I hoped this wasn't one of those things.
Tommy walked back in, sliding his phone into his pocket.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, fine. Just with school letting out soon she wanted to go over some summer plans with the kids. Letting them stay with me a while, that kind of thing.”
“That'd be great. We had fun a few weeks ago.”
“Yeah, I told her I had a meeting but we could discuss it in further detail soon.”
Just then my phone buzzed. I looked, Drake texted me he was here. “Speaking of that meeting...”
I stood up and looked out of the narrow office window. Outside was the hallway, but it was open to the main floor below, and I could see Drake walking in and looking around. He was dressed in black jeans and a gray t-shirt. I was surprised to see a lack of leather jacket, but then remembered it's too hot out now for one. I went out to the hallway and leaned over the glass rail a bit, waving to get his attention. He noticed, and nodded up at me. I pointed to the stairs, and he made his way over and up.
Once upstairs, Drake met me at the door to Tommy's office.
“Good to see you.” He then turned to Tommy, extending a hand. “Thomas. Pleasure to meet you when we're not on opposite sides.” Drake had been in SCW briefly almost two years ago, we had a fight, it was a thing.
Tommy took his hand, and I didn't notice any sense of mistrust or distaste or anything. I was shocked. “Same to you. And please, just Tommy is fine. You keep saying Thomas and I'll start looking around for my half-brother.” I kept forgetting those two are actually related.
“Tommy it is, then.”
Tommy closed the door and everyone sat, Tommy at his desk chair, Drake and I across from him.
“I appreciate you agreeing to see me, I know I haven't been your favorite person but there are things that need to be discussed for everyone to move forward.”
Tommy leaned on his desk, arms folded. “You're right, for a long time you were not my favorite person. I'm sure you know why.” Drake nodded, with a sideways glance at me. I remained quiet. “So I understand why you might think there's some issue here, but the reason I agreed to this is so both of you.... know that there isn't.”
“Is that right? So you were not upset last year after-”
“Yes. I was. But that was last year, and at the time I didn't really understand how your friendship works. I'm also man enough to admit I wasn't really in a good headspace at he time and I over reacted. But I get it now.”
“Do you? So you understand that when Kandis and I were in Emerge together, before you knew her, she was the only person who did not mock or despise me for my beliefs, instead she sought to understand? You know that my time in SCW with Loretta at my side was misguided, Loretta persuaded me to believe things about Kandis that were not true, that the things I said then that upset Kandis and angered you, I deeply regretted? And that one night-”
Tommy put his hand up to stop the litany. “Yes. All of that, and the night in question. She explained, it was some kind of apology-slash-atonement thing between you. I'm not gonna pretend to understand that, but I do grasp the important part. You're friends... based on a mutual understanding of each other's worldview, and not the threat I once thought you were. I had this idea in my head that you were biding your time, trying to find some way to use her, or... or...”
“Take her?”
“Yeah. Maybe. But it's clear that's not the case. Besides, she can't be taken, she's happy where she is.” Tommy gave me a grin.
“That's right, I am.”
“As am I, I have no reason to see the company of another woman. Minerva suits me well. Let be clear though, I was never a threat to you. I didn't want to cause dissension between you.”
I had to speak up at that. “Look, that was my fault, I thought it wouldn't be a problem. But we're past that now, okay? Can we get to the current point?”
“Very well.”
“Sure, but I just want to make it clear that there's no animosity or issues here. Since last year you've given me no reason not to trust you, or to think that you have ulterior intentions. I'm just a stubborn asshole sometimes and it took a bit to admit it.”
“I will take your word for that, then. But now I must ask, if you have put your animosity aside why did you not accompany Kandis to speak with me a few weeks ago, after she met with Raab?”
Tommy sat back in his chair comfortably. “Easy. That was an issue between you and I had no business being there. You wanted to know what Raab said because you're upset with this whole thing with Minerva. Had nothing to do with me.”
“Oh, but it does. You have been assisting Kandis and Minerva in keeping Raab on a leash... figuratively and literally... while Minerva accomplishes her goal.”
“I've played nice because Kandis asked me to. Personally the man makes me sick and I don't understand how you can sit back and watch this without breaking his fucking neck.”
“I am a man of patience, Tommy. But even my patience has run dry, and that is why I am here.”
“Finally. As happy as I am that you two aren't going to try to murder each other, I'd really like to get to current events. All I know is you and Minerva had a talk and all of a sudden you wanted to clear all of this up. I'm gonna need you to fill in some blanks.”
“Of course. A few weeks ago you told me you had faith that I would know when the time was right to make a move. That time is now. I've spoken with Minerva and shared with her that I have enough of this. She claims that it's been part of her plans, but the truth is that this... association with Raab has been a diversion from our original plans. I simply reminded her of that, and now we are back on track. And we will need you, both of you, fully on board for this to come to fruition.”
“Do we get to know what these plans are, or are we going in blind here? Cause that doesn't sound like something I want to walk into.”
“Understood. Originally I was supposed to follow Minerva to SCW, not long after her debut. Raab got things sidetracked, but we are refocused. The time for these games is over, and we will soon be putting these plans into motion.”
“Does that mean you're coming back to SCW? Beyond just the Flame, for good?” I already knew the answer, but I asked for Tommy's benefit.
“I am. The Flame is just the beginning. Minerva and I have a plan to deal with Raab, the two of you need not worry about that.”
“Fuck that, if we can help put that freak in his place, I am all over that. He gave both me and Kandis some ridiculous apology for shit he said about both of us, but I have a feeling she put him up to it, he didn't really mean any of it.”
“I concur. I too was angered by some of the comments he's made towards Kandis in the past. You and I have that in common, we do not tolerate the few people we care for being disrespected.”
“Got that right. If we can help....”
“Minerva or I will let you know. But there are other plans as well... the four of us need to be in full accord for this. There are many people who deserve our attention, to feel the repercussions of their actions. The past must remain in the past so that we can make the future of SCW into one that suits us, and not those who have sought to destroy you, Kandis, Minerva, or myself. People like the Helms', the Cannons.... for you two lately, Hudson and Evans, men Mr. D brought in specifically to target you. We can take care of all of it... if we are aligned. You remember The Jackals?” Both Tommy and I nodded, there were tweets and a random mention or two backstage on Breakdown. “They... are us. Are you in?”
My eyes went wide as I looked at Drake. The Jackals were him and Minerva? He must have sensed the question, as he gave me a single nod in response. “Is that even a question? You know I'm in. I've been in before I knew what I was in. If that makes sense.”
“It does.” Drake turned to Tommy. “And you?”
Tommy looked between me and Drake a moment, I could tell he was weighing the options in his mind. He already knew David and Regan Helms were a target. Chris Cannon too, as we'd gone to his property just to show we could. I knew he was trying to decide how far he wanted to go. But then, he nodded.
“I'm already involved, I've told Minerva things she wouldn't have known otherwise to get into Dave's head. Might as well go full tilt.” I smiled, and Drake grinned with a nod. “Besides, we could use another mind and extra hands to deal with them, as well as Hudson and Evans, as you pointed out. So... Fuck it. Yeah. I'm in.”
“Excellent. You will not regret this.”
“I have a feeling that once Drake is in full time... we're going to knock this company on it's ass. No one is going to want to fuck with us ever again.”
The guys shook hands over the desk again, and I gave Drake my best malicious smirk. There was a time I'd have wanted to give him a lot more than that, but that was then. This was now... and now I'm content with my man, and seeing my friends Drake and Minerva making their own path, putting their plans in motion to be rid of Raab.
The four of us were going to wreck havoc on SCW, and most would never see it coming.
ON CAMERA
The video opens rather shakily, before it settles and we see the inside of a good-sized SUV, namely the backseat. The upholstery appears to be black leather. A second later the shot moves up to a pair of thick female thighs, barely covered in cut-off denim shorts, the edges frayed. It then moved up past wide hips, voluptuous (and paid for) breasts, and finally the flirtatiously smirking face of Kandis. Her black hair is in a long thick braid hanging over her shoulder, with thin rainbow colored streaks mixed in. She blows a kiss to the camera.
Hey SCW.... how do y'all like our new ride?
We hear Tommy Valentine laughing off camera, leaving us to assume he's the one holding said camera, which judging by the video quality, is probably just his cell phone.
Okay, so it's not brand new, it's at least six months old, and I had to peel the Uber sticker off the glass, but other than that.... Tommy and I have been having a great time taking this baby out for, well, several hundred miles of a spin. We dropped Minerva off where she asked, and... hit the open road! Figured it's been a while since we had a vacation, so a road trip was in order. I can't even tell you where we are right now.... not because I don't want to, but because I don't actually know. Tommy's been driving, and... well, I haven't exactly been keeping my eyes on the road the whole time, if you know what I mean.
Kandis winks.
Yeah, you do. We came up with a new road trip game! Its like Rest Stop Bingo, instead of only marking down cities we stopped in, we marked down which ones we fucked in, too. So much more fun.
Much.
Kandis laughs at Tommy's response from behind the camera.
Maybe I should stop talking about our road trip though, apparently my pictures and our exploits really annoy my opponent this week. Pat Evans made it pretty clear what he thinks about Thirsty Thursday, my makeup, pretty much everything about my looks.
Here's the thing though, Pat... I don't give half of a used fuck what you think.
You're just like everyone else who talks shit about me, the way I look, how I dress, the way I act. Women are jealous they don't look like me.... and men are jealous they can't fuck someone who looks like me. Not that any of you would ever admit it, but you don't need to. I've dealt with those kinds of comments and attitudes my whole adult life, and a fair bit of my teenage years too... and more often than not? I'm right.
Kandis sits up a little straighter, her shoulder leaning on the headrest of the backseat.
But okay... let me humor you. Let me get serious for a few minutes. You come in here, by way of Mr. D pulling your string or some shit, and start fucking around with us when you don't know anything about what's been going on around here. You just take D's money, along with his word that we deserve to attacked, that Tommy deserved to be injured, and for what? Because you want to relive some so-called legendary career you had in some other company? Motherfucker, please. You are the last person who any of us should give a fuck what you think, because you're nothing but a hired gun. So go ahead and pass your judgment but do me a favor and look in the mirror my dude... because for all the shit you're throwing at us, taking orders from D because he's salty we had enough of some sanctimonious little bitch...
You're no better than we are.
Kandis smirks, flipping her braid back behind her shoulder.
What, don't want to hear that? Truth hurts, doesn't it? Maybe if you and Hudson had come at us with a challenge, in the ring, you might have some moral ground to stand on, but that's not what happened, is it? Nah, D snapped his fingers and you came at us like some attack dogs, and you put Tommy on the shelf. You can call me a hypocrite if you want, I already told you I don't give a shit what you think about me, but here's the difference between you coming after us and hurting Tommy, and what Minerva and I did to Peyton...
Our motives were personal. Yours is just money.
So you tell me who's more morally bankrupt, Patty-cakes. At least we stand for something. You? You're standing on a hill trying to cast judgment and justice that you don't really believe in. I can't think of anything emptier than that... except maybe David Helms' head.
We hear another snicker from behind the camera.
So let me wrap this up real quick for you. The tag at Be Careful? That wasn't about winning. None of us on my side give a shit about it. But tomorrow night? Now... that is where I care about beating the everlasting fuck out of you! I got my shots in with my pet chain at the pay per view, and while that was a whole lot of fun, I'm walking into Breakdown with a different purpose. I've already made you hurt, now I'm looking to make you humble. I know, it's probably a big ask, given the way you walk around like you're owed something just for being here... oh, wait, maybe you are. Does D pay you and Hudson per attack like a bounty, or do you have some kind of.... blanket merc contract where you get a flat fee and you just jump wherever he points?
I guess it doesn't matter.
The only thing that matters is that when it's time for me to get my hands on you one on one, you're gonna realize that while I “get pissed off and flail...”
Kandis makes finger quotes in the air as she quotes Pat's words from a few weeks ago.
Its my elbows and knees that are gonna be flailing into your fucking face!
We might have had some fun last week, running off with this fancy Escalade but I promise you when I show up to that arena in Raleigh, you're gonna know I'm not coming to fuck around.
I'm coming to fuck you up.
Kandis stares harshly into the camera for a moment, then looks away, adjusting herself in the backseat so that she's laying back, her head resting on the arm rest. The video shakes a little as it's refocused on her new reclined position. Kandis then smirks.
But that's at Breakdown. Right now, it's time to have some more fun. Turn that thing off babe... they only wish they could see this.
Kandis starts to remove her shirt as the shot shakes a bit then cuts abruptly to black.