"Mall trip!" Melody called out as the front door to the Synn homestead swung open and the blonde charged outside, with Despayre following with Angel in his arms, hot on her heels with a resounding whoop of glee.
Following them through the door was the SCW's resident 'power couple' of Gabriel and Odette Ryder, with Synn in between the both of them with his arms draped around the both of their shoulders.
"It's simple." Synn whispered low so as not to alert either Despayre nor Melody to the true intentions of this little outing. "I just need you to keep Joshua distracted. Just for a few hours. Three at the most so the rest of us can finish getting things ready. Surely you can find a way to kill three hours at a mall."
"Well, yeah. There's always something to do at the mall." Odette said with a frown of confusion on her otherwise lovely face. "Shopping. The food court. There's a movie theater... but what I don't get is why do we need to distract him? Surely Despy wants to help set things up? I mean, most of it was his idea."
"True." Synn admitted as they arrived at the end of the paved sidewalk that led around from the front door of the house to the drive. "But as much as he might wish to help, there's a bit of a surprise from his mother that we don't want given away. And that is due to arrive in roughly an hour. Margaret is at the airport right now, waiting."
"Waiting for what, exactly?" Gabriel asked as he turned around, joining Odette side by side. "What are you cooking up?"
"Me?" Synn raised his brow and shrugged in an indifferent innocence. "Nothing. This was all his mother's idea for Joshua's twentieth birthday."
Gabriel shared a brief glance with his girlfriend before turning a suspicious eye toward Synn. "What, exactly?"
Synn only smiled, "It's a surprise."
"A surprise for Despy." Gabriel returned the conspiratorial smile and shook his head. "Not for me." He nodded. "Come on. Spill it."
Synn sighed in exasperation and leaned in. Odette leaned over so that she too might share in this bit of birthday gossip and whatever was whispered from Synn to their ears brought smiles to the both of their faces.
They separated and Gabriel asked, "Really? His...?"
Synn held out his hand and stopped Gabriel from saying anything further as they spotted Despayre and Melody watching from the back seat of Gabriel's car -- Despayre having by-passed the state-of-the-art locks once again.
Odette asked, "How long has it been?"
Synn thought for a moment and then answered, "I'd say roughly twelve years, give or take. But from what Margaret told me, he adored her so it's likely to be a big surprise for him." He eyed the pair of them. "So let's keep it that way, hm?"
"Gotcha." Gabriel nodded and he and Odette stepped off of the path and onto the drive to approach the car. Synn walked back inside of the house and shut the door behind him. Gabriel said to Odette, "But I wish I had stocked up on Red Bull."
"Why?" Odette asked as Gabriel opened the car door for her. "How much trouble could a trip to the mall be?"
Gabriel just arched a brow.
"Despy! Slow down!"
"I wanna see the fishies!"
The shout echoed over the heads of the masses, shopping at the Las Vegas mall, with Despayre darting at top speed through and around the various shoppers of all ages. Men and women, adult and child alike turned their heads and watched in startled fascination as Gabriel and Odette gave chase around the crowd, trying to catch up to Despayre who had a good lead on them, and Melody who had quickly become Despayre's 'partner in crime' so to speak.
Gabriel huffed, "I'm going to kill whoever thought it was a good idea to put in an aquarium exhibit in this place!"
Odette just shared a look toward her boyfriend as he sped up and she struggled to catch up, her purse slung over her shoulder and flapping in every direction as she pounded the proverbial pavement in hot pursuit.
Despayre and Melody waited excitedly as Gabriel handed the clerk at the podium the money so that the four of them could go into the aquarium exhibit and browse about the various exotic fish and water-life. With any luck, this would kill a good chunk of the time that he and Odette needed in order to distract their younger companions.
"Okay sir, there are your tickets." The clerk smiled, handing Gabriel the four passes. "Would you be needing any speakers for the exhibits. There are recorded facts in each one."
"No." Gabriel shook his head. "I don't think so. We're just going to look ar.."
"Angel would like one." Melody piped up, then looked at Despayre for confirmation. "Wouldn't he?"
Despayre looked from her to Gabriel and nodded his head with a bright smile.
Gabriel sighed and turned to the clerk who was unsure of what just happened. Gabriel held up a single finger to rent one speaker -- for the teddy bear -- and handed over the cash. behind him, Odette bit her bottom lip, smiling. She knew how Gabriel would often tease Synn over the father giving the son whatever his heart desired; and here was evidence that Synn was not the only one guilty of that little fact.
Gabriel turned around, passing the hand held speaker over to Melody who grabbed it and she in turn, handed it to Angel. Gabriel looked at Odette and he held up a forefinger. "Not one word." He warned in good humor.
The clerk then smiled and un hooked the velvet rope to allow the quartet entrance to the aquarium, but before Gabriel and Odette could take a single step forward, Despayre and Melody zipped right by them and Gabriel and Odette were forced to give chase after them.
*************************
"Where are they?" Odette huffed as she looked back and forth, having seemingly lost their quarry. "They were right there."
"Hey I was just looking after Despy." Gabriel laughed. "I didn't expect Melody to end up going everywhere he went."
"And here the both of them gave us the slip." She sighed, her back against a large aquarium filled with an octopus. She paid no attention as two figures rose up from the other side of the multi-gallon tank (three if you count the bear, and you always should count the bear).
Hands pressed against the tank, Despayre and Melody stared hard at the octopus as it's tentacles slowly moved about in the water, pushing the aquatic animal back along the surface of the tank. Their images through the glass was murky and wavy, and Odette turned around and yelped in surprise -- and as a result, a large cloud of ink shot out from the octopus and the water was engulfed in darkness.
"Awww! She scared the thingamajig!"
"Yeah way to go Odette!"
*************************
**thunk** **thunk** **thunk**
"Er, Despy?"
"Hm?"
Gabriel approached Despayre who was making faces against the glass of a small shark tank and put his hand on the smaller man's shoulder. Despayre looked up at the magician and Gabriel nodded toward the glass.
"Maybe it'd be best if we didn't annoy the shark?"
Despayre rolled his eyes and turned away.
"Fine..."
*************************
"Eeew! It feels so weird!" Melody squealed as she ran her fingertips down along the back of the large manta ray that was moving about in the thigh high tank for patrons to 'pet'.
Despayre hurried over, and asked, "Can Angel try?"
"Best not Despy." Gabriel said, approaching. Despayre looked up with wounded eyes and Gabriel hurriedly added, "Remember what he smells like when he gets wet."
"Oh yeah. That's right." Despayre nodded. He then looked down at the teddy bear and added haughtily, "Well there's no sense denying it! It's true!.. Hey I ALWAYS wear deodorant!"
"You pet it Despy." Odette said. "Then you can tell Angel what it was like."
"Deal!" Despayre passed Angel to Gabriel and then hopped over to the edge of the tank. He had to stretch a little further because of his height but he dipped his hand in the water and rubbed his fingers along the manta ray's silken backside. "Ick!" He made a face and looked at Melody. "They really do feel funny!"
"Told you." Melody nodded.
Despayre pulled his hand from the water and curiosity getting the best of him, he sniffed his fingers and made a face.
"Gah! Now my hands smell fishy!"
Odette said, "So wipe them on your pants and the smell will disappear."
Despayre didn't hesitate in doing so, and Gabriel just looked at his girlfriend who had an impish grin on her face.
*************************
Odette, Gabriel and Melody looked about but Despayre and Angel was nowhere to be seen within the immediate vicinity.
Odette looked at her best gal pal and held out her arms, and asked,"Mel, what were you doing? You were supposed to be keeping an eye on Despy."
"It's not my fault." Melody protested. "He out smarted me."
With amused sarcasm dripping from his tones, Gabriel said, "You're kidding!"
But Melody turned back to him wide-eyed and shook her head in the negative that she indeed was not kidding.
"Um, excuse me? Folks?" The trio turned around and one of the aquarium employees approached them, with a bewildered expression on his young face.
"Yeah?" Gabriel asked, arching a brow. It never seemed to bode well when anyone approached them with that expression -- and Despayre was anywhere involved.
The young man turned around to look back from where he had come and then turned to face them. He jetted a thumb back in his direction and said, "That guy with the teddy bear, that you came in with? He's over at the big tank with a toy fishing pole..."
"Oh Despy...!" Gabriel blurted out and took off and Odette and Melody hurried after him...
*************************
Gabriel and the women ran up the escalator, trying to catch Despayre who had ran right out of the aquarium in a delighted state of glee. He reached the top and took off, but just as Gabriel arrived toward the top...
"Ha ha!" Despayre called out as he slid right back down the banister past them.
Gabriel groaned and he turned at the top of the escalator and flipped a cover up on the end and flipped a switch and the escalator stopped and Despayre flipped and landed on the now immobile step. He rose up and peeked from eye level at the banister and pointed at Gabriel.
"That good sir, is cheating!"
*************************
There was a major electronics chain in the mall, where not only the latest gadgets were sold such as cell phones and iPads, but also video games, their systems, DVDs, Blu-Rays and the players, etc.
"And we're sure they're in here?" Odette asked, taking a breather in the video center.
Gabriel nodded, "Yeah. New Looney Tunes DVD out and Despy went right for it. Melody tailed him. She said something about Monster High."
"Ah." Odette nodded and Gabriel turned to her and he had a wicked grin on his face.
He said, "That, of course, means that it's just you and me for the moment."
Odette flipped her hair back over her shoulder and stepped in to Gabriel's arms. he snaked his hands back around her waist and moved in for the kiss when every television screen around them flickered on to life with Angel's face filling them all.
A sing-song voice over called out... "He seeeeees you!"
Gabriel and Odette look around and Gabe lifts up a finger in observation.
"Okay now that's just plain creepy!"
*************************
"Oh thank God." Odette sighed as she spotted Despayre standing stationary at a toy store window, gazing in at all the goodies.
"I guess we can catch our breath now." Gabriel said as they neared when Melody came skipping up.
Despy is winding down... Gabe finally catching his breath...
"Hey guys!" She said cheerfully. "Did you know Panda Express has free samples in the food court?"
**zoom!**
There went Despayre and both Gabriel and Odette shot Melody a look before huffing off after their young charge.
"What did I do?" Melody asked with a shrug.
*************************
The quarter sat for a much deserved rest at a table in the food court with plates from Panda Express in front of them, piled high with the best in Chinese fast food.
"I had an idea!" Despayre said as he idly twirled his plastic fork in the mountain of noodles on his plate.
"Oh Christ," Gabriel muttered and he looked up from his own plate. "What now?"
"Well, I..." Despayre looked at the entirety of his noodles now twirled around his fork in one big mass with a double take and promptly set it back down again. "I was thinking we could tell one of these places it's one of our birthdays and screw `em out of a cake!"
"But Despy," Odette reasoned, leaning over. "It's your birthday... and Angel's!" She added hastily.
"Oh right.." Despayre said matter-of-factly. He then smiled brightly. "Well that's convenient!"
He and Melody whispered conspiratorial to one another while Gabriel leaned over in his chair and whispered to Odette.
He said, "I think I know how to slow him down."
"How?" Odette asked.
"I saw something in a pet store I know he'll be interested in."
"What?"
*************************
*mew*
The multitude of small kittens called out from the small petting area in the pet store where the local chapter of the ASPCA had set up an adoption day. Kittens of all colors, from grays to blacks, oranges and whites and calicos, squirmed around in the area as eager hands reached out to pet them.
"Kitties!" Despayre cooed, his fondness for kittens and cats in general having been made evident months ago when Rage, of all people, had bought him a cat of his very own -- one that had taken a penchant for slashing at the "Sin of Wrath" every chance it got.
Despayre currently was cuddling a small gray one against his chest and nuzzling it with his nose, while Odette and Melody held their own and reached with free hands to stroke the others. It was then that Gabriel checked his watch and he flinched as if struck.
"Shit." He muttered quietly so as not to alert Despayre and be forced to shell out more for the swear jar. "Guys? hey! You three?"
"Hm?" Odette smiled as she giggled at the two kittens in her hands that one ran its forehead against her breast while the other got its tiny claw snagged in her sweater.
"Guys, we have to go." Gabriel said as he approached the group. "Synn and everyone else should be expecting us."
"We can't leave now!" Melody said. "The kitties will miss us!" She held the small tabby up in her hands and gave it Eskimo kisses. "You'll miss us! Won't you? Yes you will!"
"Uh? Guys?" Gabriel said, a pleading look on his face. He really hadn't thought this particular plan through. Despy loved kittens, that much he knew. hence the plan to use it to corral the little squirt, but Odette was also a fierce animal lover. That had slipped his mind. And Melody...hoo boy.
"Poor kitties..." Despy said as he finally, and very reluctantly, set his down and back into the petting area. "They so need a good home."
"I don't want to leave them!" Melody whined.
"Me either!" Odette said as she continued to cuddle her own.
"Well..." Gabriel flapped his arms against his side. "What can we do?"
Melody and Odette and Despayre (and Angel!) each turned to Gabriel with those ever disarming 'puppy dog' eyes.
"Wait wait wait." Shane chuckled, trying to control himself. "How many?" He draped a free arm around Gabriel's shoulder and forcibly drew him in closer while he waved his other hand, holding a beer. "How many kittens did you adopt?"
Gabriel sighed and turned a frowning gaze toward Shane and his gaze darkened as he replied, "All of them."
Shane snorted back his laughter and shook his head, shaking with silent laughter. He turned and moved off further into the crowd that was attending Despayre's (Angel's) birthday party. Gabriel huffed and shook his head, before he turned and found himself staring into the smiling faces of both Synn, and Despayre's mother... Margaret.
"Oh don't either of you start with me!" Gabriel sneered.
Margaret just held her hands up in innocence, but Synn protested. "We didn't say a word!" Synn chuckled and moved up to Gabriel's side and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Oh I don't mean to make light. Trust me Gabriel, if there was anything I could do to help, I would."
Gabriel turned his head to look up at him and he smiled all of a sudden. he said, "Glad to hear you say that Synn." He clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Because Angel asked for one of them for his birthday."
Gabriel walked away, leaving Synn silent and perplexed.
Synn then found his voice and he called out, "But we already HAVE a cat!"
Gabe shouted from off-scene "Hey look how many I just got and pardon me if I don't cry for you Argentina!"
Synn glared off in his direction and he turned to see Margaret smiling at him. Synn held up a forefinger in 'warning'.
"Don't." He said. "Not a word."
"I didn't say anything." Margaret said as she took a sip of champagne. She then whispered, "I didn't have to."
Synn, having overheard somewhat, turned to her and she raised her glass to him in a 'toast' and then moved off to mingle in the party.
A party that had become a rousing success.
Everyone that Despayre had sent an invitation to, whether they be popular or otherwise with the fans, had turned up -- many knowing just how good of a party Synn had become known for throwing through his years in the business. Staff and wrestler alike. Face and heel. From the bosses to the interviewers and right down to the announcers and ring crew. Although to be fair, this one had ended up a bit subdued given it was a birthday party for Despayre -- or a teddy bear.
Still, they came, as did the obligatory presents! There was a virtual mountain of presents stacked high in the front room where they would be opened soon, but as Despayre ran about in an endless supply of energy, his mother managed to corner him and put an arm around him to reel him in.
"Sweety," She started to say. "It's time for your surprise."
"You mean Angel's?" Despayre asked.
"No," She said. "This one is just for you. But you can share with Angel if you like."
"Oh boy!" Despayre whooped. "Hey everyone! Hey!" He called out loud and voiced started to lower as the attention of all the guests turned to the birthday boy. He shouted, "My mom said she has a special surprise! Just for me!"
Margaret cuddled her son tightly against her side and smiled. She then turned her head and called out, "Synn?"
From around the corner of the large living room, Synn stepped and with him was an older woman with bright, blonde hair.
<img src=http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/uploads/2/Constance_Towers-B.jpg>
The older woman had eyes only for Despayre who just stared at her. Her eyes were misty, as if they threatened to brim with tears of joy at the sight of this boy she had not seen in so many years.
"Oh." The woman said softly. "You are so much more handsome than I ever imagined."
"I know." Despayre said matter-of-factly. "Have you brought the surprise?"
"Joshy..." Margaret said. "She is the surprise."
"Oh?" Despayre looked from his mom to the older woman and quirked a brow. He then turned slowly to his best friend Gabriel and whispered, "They bought me and Angel an old woman?"
Rage, taking a drink of his beer, started choking and half spit the drink out in a spew of foam! laughter filled the house as even the older woman smiled, knowing he wouldn't recognize her.
Synn stepped up and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. he said soothingly, "Joshua. This is your mother's mom. Your grandmother."
The room grew quiet as Despayre blinked, his gaze right in Synn's eyes. Despayre frowned briefly as he looked away from his dad to his mom, and then to the woman. He started to say something, but then stopped.
He finally whispered, "Gramma?"
"Oh my darling..." She said happily and held out her arms and Despayre immediately ran into them and she hugged him mightily and he the same. There was a scattering of applause from those around them as Despayre seemingly did not want to let her go.
Then the doorbell rang and Teresa, the housekeeper but this day also a guest, broke away. "I'll get it." She called out before any of the other Sins could make for the door.
She walked around the guests and arrived at the front door and opened it.
"Yes?" She said and then her eyes grew wide at whom she was looking at.
Back at the party, Despayre was quite busy introducing his grandma to An gel, and showing her off to everybody in the immediate vicinity.
Teresa then stepped through the parting crowd and spoke up, drawing everyone's attention her way.
"May I present, Queen Elizabeth of England."
The entire house fell in a shocked silence as the Queen of England herself, flanked by two bodyguards, steppe forward with a smile on her face and holding a package in her hands. She looked around and nodded to everyone who simply -- stared.
Despayre's voice was heard, "I told you!"
"Well, these past few days have been rather enjoyable, I must admit. And things can only get better once the time passes and High Stakes II arrives in all of it's mysterious glory. Yes, there will be a little something for everybody in this one. Sex and violence would seem to be the prevalent vice for the majority of the great public, and whom are we to disappoint? With such stakes on the line, and the added benefit of both men and women of such allure and blatant sex appeal, one can not help but be gifted by one, or both, of these devilish delights."
"I had hoped that by now, D.J. Williams would have showed his face and made himself known. Not for the benefit of the champions, but for that of his own partner. Tragically, it was not meant to be it would seem. It would appear that Mister Williams realized just what he would be up against in this soon to be encounter and figured ... why bother? Despayre and Gabriel thus far have made mince meat out of every single competitor that had been oh so unfortunate as to cross their paths, that he figured a pitiful excuse for a man such as he stood no chance. So why bother? Why indeed. I can certainly understand why you see yourself as having no chance at victory against the Tag Team Champions, but again -- disappointment. You would think, wouldn't you, that the prestigious Tag Team Championships would be enough to lure this sad little hermit from out of his shell, but fear would override ambition in this case. Still, as the match will certainly have to go on, I pity you when this partner of yours finds himself virtually alone."
"Is that not right, Blade? Because if this is any indication of what is to come this Sunday, it would seem that any effort on the part of the challenging tag team would be by your hand, and no other. Oh you can make excuses as you will. As you have already done, but the fact remains clear. D.J. Williams has not stepped forth, not because he is fed up with the state of professional wrestling in the SCW. Oh he does have one foot out the door, that I will grant you, but whose foot will be planted against his backside, kicking him the rest of the way out? Would it be the champions, or possibly ... you?"
"Oh there's no shame in admitting that you were wrong. After all, you had so much practice as of late. You were wrong in your estimation of what the Sins are all about, especially if you truly are mad enough to think we merely believe we are what we proclaim, then defile ourselves in a House of God, listening to tales of fancy. I should like to think we are all men. Each one of us having outgrew the desire to hear Fairy Tales of all sorts. (Well, perhaps save for Despayre.) You are a blissful man in your ignorance, Blade Alexander. But come Sunday when you set your goals to become the new Tag team Champions, I will see to it that Sinful Obsession does more than plant you in the ground and wait for your next rise."
"They will teach you the painful meaning of truth. The truth about your partner's cowardice. The truth of your standing within Sin City Wrestling. And the truth ... about us as a whole. This is normally a lesson that would be spread over a period of time, should we deem the student worthy. Unfortunately, you are not. Perhaps at one time you would have been, but those days have long since faded into oblivion -- never to return. You are about to set foot into our Sunday school, Blade, and the champions will be your instructors. It won't be easy. Truth be told, it will be quick, and quite painful, but in time, you will come to understand."
"Everyone always does."
