The cruise liner that had been christened the Royal Monarch slid across the coast of California, through the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The speed was a gentle one, cruising along at a regulated pace that was none too fast, nor too slow.
For the first two days of this special cruise of the superstars and fans of Sin City Wrestling, the weather itself had been less than agreeable with a steady rain falling under gray skies and brisk winds. The activities outside on the deck could not be enjoyed. The large pool was unable to be used and few would venture outside along the decks, preferring to remain inside the ship itself, making use of the casino, the restaurants, the spa, and various other enmities.
Poor Despayre, one-half of the reigning SCW Tag Team Champions, had stood in his own room, staring out of the window with Angel's plush head right beside him, looking equally as miserable. (What? Use your imaginations people!)
Thanks to the quick thinking of the SCW co-owners, Christian Underwood and Mark Ward, a hastily arranged all-day 'meet and greet' with the men and women of the SCW was formed in the large dining area. Autographs were signed, pictures were posed for, and it was a rare chance fans had to enjoy meals with their favorites of the six-sided wrestling ring.
Now thankfully, the overcast sky had cleared up, and the sun was shining, warm and bright. All semblances of the dreary weather that kicked things off was all but forgotten. The decks were dry as a bone and people of all ages found themselves enjoying the sun in swimsuits by the pool, and t-shirts and shorts everywhere else they might wander.
One person seated out near the poolside area was the founder of the championship stable of the Seven Deadly Sins (coined by some as the Seven Golden Sins for their championship success), the so-called "devil's advocate" Synn himself. Like everyone else, he too found himself drawn to the outside, away from the confines of the ship's interior. This would surprise some as those closest to him knew Synn actually enjoyed the gray skies and the stormy weather. The stormier, the better actually. It was one rare, personal enjoyment about himself that he freely shared with others. Yet here he was, now, seated at a small table, clad in a black muscle shirt open wide at the sides that complimented both his tan as well as his hard upper body, that fit over his tight, black swimsuit and sandals on his feet. Most notably, however, was the ring on a chain around his neck. The gift from his enigmatic intended, Sean Williams. The metallic red shades over his face hid his eyes so nobody would see any hint of his emotional reaction. The focal point of his attention, and perhaps even the reasoning for his being out in the sun, was clearly evident by his attention being toward the rail of the ship where Despayre was standing with his sternum at level with the metal bars, wearing a "Beware The Stare" Angel t and black swimming shorts. The young grappler was staring over the side and holding his ever-present teddy bear tightly so Angel, too, could look safely.
"Joshua!" Synn called out and only managed to attract his attention about halfway. "What has you so enraptured?"
Despayre blinked and turned his head to look around toward his father and he frowned, "Que?"
Synn slid his shades from over his eyes and perched up on the top of his scalp as he corrected himself, asking, "What exactly are you looking at?"
"Oh!" Despayre said and turned back to stare down over the edge. "There are dolphins in the water!"
"Are there really?" Synn said and he stood up and walked over to join him.
A few others had overheard this exchange and they too were curious and interested in seeing these aquatic angels that so many stories and tales had captured the fascination the world over. Synn stepped up to Despayre's side and he placed his hand on the smaller man's shoulder and looked over the side and indeed, far down below seemingly racing the cruise liner, was a small school of dolphins bobbing and weaving up and through the waves.
"Boy I wish Gabriel were here to see this!" Despayre crooned but Synn shook his head at this.
"I doubt Gabriel would hold the same interest." Synn said as he turned around to head back over to his table. "He tends to see dolphins as Satan Incarnate."
"Really?" Despayre looked up and turned around. "I guess he saw that Simpsons episode too, huh?"
"I imagine so." Synn slid his shades back down and focused his attentions elsewhere while Despayre turned back to look out over the rail and back at the dolphins at play.
"Heya Despy!"
The deep voice resonating with the accent of Great Britain drew the attentions of Despayre, as well as Synn and several others. A few gasped at what was coming toward them. Others whistled (one of whom was Synn himself), but it certainly had the attention-seeking effect that was intended, as Shane arrived on the scene in that (in)famous leopard print thong and nothing else. At his side were the two femme fatales of their group, Shane's main squeeze Fantasia, and the Bombshell Roulette Champion, Kittie. Fantasia had on a black pretzel bikini and Kittie an emerald green swimsuit.
Despayre turned and squawked in a start at the sight of so much of Shane and he hurriedly clamped his hand over Angel's eyes. "Don't look!" Despayre called out to his plush pal. "It's a form of adultery!"
"That's putting it mildly." Synn said from where he was seated, appreciating the view. "And startlingly accurate. It's probably a good thing Sean's grandmother isn't around or else Fantasia would find herself with some competition."
"You think you're funny?" Shane asked.
"You think I'm joking?" Synn replied with a smile.
Shane rolled his eyes and turned back away from Synn, which was just fine by him as it gave him a great view of what Shane's thong wasn't covering. He said, "Anyway, let's hit the pool Despy! We need a fourth."
"For what?"
"You'll see." Kittie answered."C'mon."
Despayre watched as the three turned and headed for the pool, and he finally yielded. He walked over to where Synn sat and set Angel in one of the other three chairs around the table. He shook a finger at the teddy bear and said, "Now you behave!" Before he turned and scurried off to the pool and jumped in with a resounding splash.
The pool had a fair number of people already in and Synn could not make out the chatter between his four team members, but he understood well enough what the plan was when Shane disappeared under the water and suddenly Despayre was lifted up onto his shoulders. Despayre cried out and it was all too evident the action had an adverse affect on his mental state and he got scared too easily. Before Synn even had to intervene, he watched Shane quickly correct the action by lowering him back down. Shane placed his hands on his shoulders, calming him and the two ladies approached in the water to explain what Shane was trying to do, and the nature of the game. Despayre looked between all three of them and then nodded, seemingly relieved at understanding.
This time, Shane ducked down again under the water and Fantasia was lifted up onto his shoulders. Kittie directed Despayre to lean down so she could mount his own shoulders and he scooped her up into a standing position.
"This could prove interesting." Synn thought to himself, but before he could really give the unfolding scene his attention, a voice spoke from just to his left:
"May I join you?"
Synn turned his head and it was perhaps a good thing that his eyes were hidden by the shades because his adverse reaction to laying eyes on Despayre's mother perhaps would not have been the most favorable. true, it was under Gabriel's own reasoning that things perhaps were not as Synn had been led to believe all these years, but he was still suspicious by nature, and her being proven innocent would prove a daunting task.
"Sorry." Margaret said, holding her hand up. "It was stupid of me to ask." And she started to turn away when Synn reached out and grasped her by the wrist, stopping her.
"No." He said, surprising her at the tone of his insistence. "Do me a favor and don't act so hasty."
He then waved a hand toward the chair closest to him and Margaret watched him carefully, as if waiting for the inevitable punch line to some joke at her expense. Seeing none come forward, she carefully reached for the back of the deck chair and pulled it out and had a seat.
"Thank you." She found herself saying. "I just wanted to thank you for inviting me Ro-Synn. It really does mean a lot..."
"Don't." Synn said as he turned back to watch the "chicken fight" in the pool unfold. "If you should be thanking anyone, that would be Gabriel. Given our recent past, it was a natural expectation for me to doubt every word he said. But things seem to have changed somewhat."
"How so?" Margaret said, squinting her eyes and shielding them with her hand so she could look over toward the pool to see what the man beside her was watching. A smile formed on her face, watching her son interact again with friends, something she never got to see. Not since the accident.
Synn answered, "I'm not quite sure yet. You have Gabriel to thank for that." Synn turned to look at her, drawing her eyes. He continued, "I have to admit, I had every intention of following through on my promise that day we last saw each other. Then Gabriel told me about that little chat you two had in the Luxor."
Margaret almost flinched at that. She remembered that Gabriel promised her that he would indeed tell Synn, but after the weeks passed she had started to think the magician had just paid her lip service to get her off of his case and out of their lives. She had all but given up hope when the phone rang, and to her surprise, it was Synn on the other end of the line, inviting her onto this very cruise as a surprise for Joshua. She had wanted to ask why, what had changed his mind, but thought better than to start asking questions just yet, and risk Synn second guessing his decisions.
A silly thing to fret over as the man she had known rarely if ever second guessed himself once he had made up his mind.
She leaned back in her chair and seemed fixated on her sky blue sun dress that rippled in the soft winds. After a few moment's pause, she asked, "He told you everything?"
Synn nodded, "He did."
"And you believe me?"
Synn slowly peeled his shades from his face and set them on the table. He said, "Honestly Margaret, I don't quite know what to believe. When one is led to believe things about another for so many years, it's rather difficult to find yourself in the position where you might have been wrong this entire time." He then looked at her and said seriously, "But you are Joshua's mother, and if there's a chance that everything you told Gabriel is true, then ..." He exhaled and turned back to the pool. "... you are his mother."
Margaret found herself smiling sincerely for the first time in what seemed like years. Synn then sat up straight and reached for a fancy looking glass bottle filled with a scented cognac. He removed the top and poured some of the contents into two glasses that were on the table. Without saying a word, he slid the second glass over to Margaret. She looked at him, unsure, before she slowly reached out to accept the offered olive branch.
The gesture was not lost.
She had just taken a sip when there was a loud splash emanating from the pool along with some cheers and applause. She and Synn both looked to see the victorious Fantasia and Shane with their arms held out while Despayre and Kittie emerged from under the water.
"Ohh!" Margaret laughed as she watched her son whip his long, soaked hair from his face and eyes and he happened to look up in their direction.
His face lit with joy and he called out, "Mom!" And he hurried as fast as he could to the edge of the pool where he pulled himself up onto the deck and he carefully hurried over to their table. Before Margaret could slow him down, he enveloped her in a hug and his soaked t and swimsuit got her sun dress equally wet! He hugged her tightly for several long, loving seconds until he finally released her and stepped back. Synn had to grudgingly admit it was nice to see his boy smile the way that he was. He was always happy, or at least he was most of the time, but it was nothing like when he was near the mother he had missed for so many years.
"Guess what!" he said excitedly, slapping his hands together at the waist.
"What has you so excited?" Synn asked, then motioned his hand absently. "You know, this time."
Two familiar figures approached Despayre from behind, both wearing neon colored tank tops and Hawaiian print shorts -- and sandals over their stocking feet. Both had on shades and funny sun hats with sun screen over the bridge of their noses.
"Dude!" Radical said enthusiastically as he clapped a hand on Despayre's shoulder. "We ready little bro man?"
"Ready for what?" Margaret asked.
Narly leaned over and whispered to Despayre, "Dude, who's the babe?"
Despayre laughed and turned to the two men who would be challenging Gabriel and himself for the SCW Tag titles in just a manner of days. He answered, "That 'babe' is my mom!"
"Cha!" Narly leaned over, almost bumping Despayre and Radical over to scoop Margaret's hand up into his own. He said, "The woman who gave birth to Despy and Angel!" And he kissed the back of her hand, just in time for Radical to nudge him aside so he can repeat the gesture of his partner.
"She didn't give birth to Angel, too!" Radical said, kissing her hand then giving it a vigorous shake. ".... At least, I don't think..."
"She didn't." Synn said as he leaned back in his chair to scrutinize the two men as Margaret looked completely bewildered at the antics of the two scatter brained Surf Boys.
Despayre said, "Narly and Radical are going on a tour of the ship! They invited us along! Wanna go?"
Margaret looked down at her soaked dress and fanned it out in her hands, then looked up, "Oh sweety, I think I'd like to just sit here for awhile and talk to your dad. Maybe we can catch the next one?"
She looked to Synn who nodded in agreement and said, "But you go on ahead, just be careful. Okay?"
Despayre rolled his eyes as he scooped Angel up into his arms and he asked, "When am I ever not careful?"
Synn picked up his glass of the cognac and murmured, "Oh how quickly we forget the US Airways luggage carousel incident."
Despayre laughed again and took off, alongside the Surf Boys, to take part in the tour. Margaret watched after them, then turned to Synn.
"Aren't those the two young men he and Gabriel are wrestling this weekend?"
"Yes." Synn nodded.
"Do you think it wise to let him go off alone with them?"
Synn smiled, "I saw Kittie trail after them, and even had she not, those two don't have it in them to attack someone like that. At times I think their brains got replaced with butternut squashes."
Margaret briefly turned to look after them again, catching sight of them joining a small group of people, one of whom was indeed Kittie who had slipped a t-shirt on over her bathing suit. She turned back and picked up her own glass and leaned in.
"So what is this about a luggage carousel incident?"
"Hm?" Synn murmured as he drained the glass of the expensive brandy. "Oh, it's nothing really. he just decided to go for a ride on it and practically went the entire way through before Rage had pulled him off."
"Ah." Margaret nodded, taking a sip. "Of course."
The tour group had a grad time being escorted about the ship in a formal fashion, led by one of the ship's senior officers who knew it from top to bottom. Aside from the fans themselves, Kittie, Despayre and the Surf Boys were the only SCW stars of this one of many tours that went through the ship on a daily basis. Kittie appeared almost indifferent herself, perhaps only attending to watch her teammate's back 'just in case', but Despayre was holding Angel up and pointing at everything the tour guide pointed out to them, while Narly and Radical had their heads tilted back like Pez dispensers and snapping pictures.
********************
The tour group walked down the velvet-lined staircase with gold railings, to find themselves in the ship's Sound of Music Lounge, a 1,050-seat venue that features contemporary musical stage productions and headline entertainment.
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The theater in the ship was awash with an ivory-white decor with gold trim along each seat in the ten plus rows before the modest stage. There was even a balcony seating with the same, and matching white pedestals and gold plated railing, as well as light fixtures and maroon sofas against the back wall for a more leisurely setting.
Radical stood atop the stage and posed his regal best, calling out, "Fore score and seven years ago today ..... people learned how to count without sounding like total dweebs!"
Narly snapped his picture as he hopped off and he rushed up to rejoin the group as they headed out after a lengthy speech on the theater's history and performances.
Despayre called out, "What movies are playing?"
"Oh, no movies young man." The guide answered. "But we have several plays and a musical that I'm sure..."
"Psht!" Despayre murmured, turning to Kittie. "I was hoping they'd be showing Avengers!"
"You've already seen it six times!" Kittie hissed.
The guide said, "And as I am told, the SCW's own Gabriel will be performing his magical act here this evening."
"HOORAY!" Despayre shouted, startling many.
********************
The group passed through the beauty salon en route elsewhere when Despayre stepped up to one chair and he huffed, folding his arms as he watched his teddy bear companion. Angel had a plastic cap on, a mini robe, cucumber slices over his eyes and a young woman was massaging his feet.
"Will you please come on?" Despayre said. "You're already pretty enough as is!"
********************
The group passed many other areas of the ship open to the public, including the bars and gift shops, two disco lounges and the ice cream parlor -- with much grumbling from Despayre for them not stopped (Angel had a hankering for a scoop of Rocky Road).
Even areas not open specifically to the public were shown, including the border of the ship where the life boats were. For members of the group who wished, they were allowed to step up on ladders to inspect the boats. They also went through the boiler room to see personally how so many men and women gave their all to run this ship.
The final stop of the 'private' portion of the ship tour was a walk-through of the ship's vast kitchen where all of the gourmet meals were prepared by well over sixteen top chefs and even more assistants. Since the dining area was open 24/7, the kitchen was a non-stop haven of activity save for an hour, every four hours. During that time only a handful of assistants were in there, working prep areas. That one hour was allotted for a small portion of the tour which they were now seeing.
"Dude, do you see that?" Radical tapped Despayre on the shoulder and he pointed along the counter where there had to be at least a few dozen raw rotisserie chickens being prepared by the three staff assistants.
"What are they doing?" Despayre asked and he, along with Narly and Radical watched as the assistants proceeded to fix the chicken's legs together with a wire.
Narly gasped, "No way! Chicken cruelty! That there is poultry contraception it is!"
Despayre pointed, "Oo! Oo! Did you see that! They're twisting the little wings into hammer locks!"
"Aw!" Radical frowned. "As if pulling their feathers out wasn't humiliation enough! Now they're torturing them into submission!"
Narly asked, "What could be worse?"
"That!" Despayre said, pointing as the assistants were now stuffing spiced bread crumbs up the birds' ... you know.
"No way!"
"Way!"
"Gentlemen?" The tour guide approached with a polite smile. The three grapplers turned to him with eyes wide in shock and revulsion. "We're about to head upstairs so you can have a chance to pick up a few things at the souvenir shop."
She turned and headed off with the rest of the group. Narly and Radical looked at each other.
Radical said in a conspiratorial whisper, "We so need to find a way to rescue these chickens!"
He and Narly went on with the group while Despayre paused and turned his head to look at the mass of raw chickens now on the counter, and bit him lower lip as he frowned in concentration.
"It's almost a shame that I find myself watching Sinful Obsession going up against a team like the Surf Boys. oh, not because they don't deserve a chance at the tag team titles. Hell, no. They've been in the tag team ranks of several promotions longer than anyone currently active here and I think this is the first time they've ever been given a chance at the championship gold. No other promoter took them seriously enough to give them a chance, at least until Christian and Mark stepped into the picture in the role of promoters. They saw the matches that somehow Narly and Radical won, many say by flukes or sheer dumb luck, but the point is, they won. They defeated some combinations that many thought would be impossible, and Mark and Christian knew it would be unfair to discriminate against their success simply because they were what many refer to as unique screw balls."
"No, I find it almost a shame because being the first time they're going after a championship, they'll be walking away from this match disappointed that they one chance was not a successful one. Amusing as they are, as vastly underrated as their talents are scoped by the so-called experts, I just do not foresee these two being the ones to dethrone Sinful Obsession of the tag team gold."
"Gabriel and Despayre get along quite well with the Surf Boys, actually. I truthfully don't know of anyone who actually dislikes them. I mean, for what reason could someone not like Radical and Narly? They have an innocent, fun loving quality to their nature, and a ring style that makes others not take them too seriously. Perhaps that tells me these two are a bit smarter than they let on, because I've watched more than once where an opponent paid them no heed and it cost them the winner's share of the purse. Well, I'm pleased to say that I won't allow the champions to look past these two until the match is over and the next set of challengers steps up to the plate."
"I'm certain there will be no hard feelings following Sinful Obsession's inevitable victory. I don't believe the Surf Boys are even capable of hard feelings. in or lose, so long as they have fun in the ring, then they are happy. An admirable quality to have. The SCW Tag Team Championship isn't going anywhere. Despayre and Gabriel will walk into the Asian tour with the gold still around their waists. Narly, Radical, anytime you want another chance at the titles you are more than welcome to try. Summer XXXTreme just won't be your time."
Back out on the deck, Synn and Margaret had been joined at their table by none other than Sean Williams who had his baby boy, Christian, perched on his lap with a little teddy bear in his grip, chomping down on the plush head as only a baby might. Along with him was his mother, Susan, and that feisty and fun loving grandmother of his, Marie.
They were engaged in a friendly conversation when Synn asked, "Does anyone want a drink?"
"Oh I wouldn't mind a little something of what you have to offer." Marie winked, and Sean groaned.
Synn just gave her that devilish smile he had perfected so many years ago and winked. "I just bet you wouldn't."
He stood up and turned around to reach for a few empty glasses at the next table when he heard Susan call out, "Mother!"
Synn spun around in time to see Marie pull her hands quickly away from his own backside which had been dangled teasingly right in front of her. (and if you know Synn, you'd know whether or not it was done on purpose!) Synn looked from her to Sean and he winked again before filling the glasses from the cognac decanter and passing them around.
Marie looked to her grandson and mouthed, "Tap that ass..." to Sean's mortification.
Margaret was watching in fascinated amusement but before Marie's daughter could reprimand her mother for her antics, Despayre came running up to the table and pulled an empty chair up between his mom and dad and plopped down, Angel in his lap and looking down but with a bright smile.
"How was the tour?" Margaret asked.
"Fine." Despayre whispered, still not looking at anyone.
"Joshua..." Synn said slowly. "Is there something wrong?"
Despayre shook his head and they could all see the proud smile on his lips.
"Then I want you to meet a couple people." Synn said, drawing the young man's eyes up to the two strange women at the table. "This is Sean's mother, and his grandmother."
"I'm the mother." Marie smiled, and pointed at Susan and said, "She's the Grandmother."
"Mom!" Susan laughed and she turned to Despayre and said, "It's nice to meet you, Joshua. We've heard a lot about you."
"Lies, all lies!" Despayre protested. "I didn't do a thing! Nobody can prove it."
"Oh I like him." Marie smiled and she turned to reach for Despayre's cheeks for the customary 'grandmother pinch' but Despayre flinched and scooted back away, almost toppling out of his own chair. Mare just clucked her tongue at him and tried again but this time Despayre snapped at her fingers, barely missing her.
"Oh!" Marie turned wide-eyed toward Sean. "He's got spunk!"
"I do not!" Despayre contradicted her. "That cleared up weeks ago."
"Okay, Joshy." Margaret said and he turned his attention swiftly toward his mom. "Are you sure nothing is going on?"
Despayre put on his best 'innocent' expression and shrugged, "Why whatever do you mean?"
"Pardon me." The waiter said as he approached before anyone could answer Despayre. "Will you be having lunch out on the patio today?"
"I think so." Synn answered and turned to the others. "Don't you?"
One by one, each nodded in the affirmative. Despayre turned and saw the small teddy bear clutched by Sean's son and he blinked and smiled. He leaned in and cooed, "Hello!" to the teddy bear.
"Well, I've been asked to let you know beforehand," The waiter said. "That the kitchen is out of chicken."
"Out of chicken?" Dean said, frowning. "This cruise line is famous for it's chicken dishes. How could you run out?"
The waiter shrugged and sighed, "Oddly enough, it appears every chicken in the kitchen vanished about fifteen minutes ago. Just, poof."
"How strange." Margaret said, as her eyes shared a brief exchange with Synn's and then found Despayre who had his own full attention on carrying on an exchange between Angel and the baby's teddy bear.
The waiter nodded and smiled, "I'll be back in about ten minutes to take your order."
"Thank you." Synn said. the waiter turned and left to address another table and everyone at their own turned and looked at Despayre.
"Joshua?" Synn said mildly and Despayre looked up at him and then around at everyone else. The boy pulled Angel closer against him as Synn continued, "Are you certain there's not something you want to tell us?"
"Like what?" Despayre asked.
"Like how several dozen chickens vanished from the kitchen?" Sean asked.
Despayre looked up and held up a finger, saying, "I have my theory about that..."
That was when an angry Rage came stomping up to their table and he growled, "There has to be at least six dozen raw fu-reaking chickens in my suite!!
Despayre gasped and spun around to face him, "**gasps** It was you!"
