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Supercard Archives / Read Miles's RP first
« Last post by HBCarter on April 06, 2024, 09:48:28 PM »"I hate the word homophobia. It's not a phobia. You're not scared. You're an asshole."
~ Morgan Freeman
~ Morgan Freeman
When one thinks of traditional British cuisine, one thinks of bangers and mash, steak and kidney pie and fish n’ chips. Amongst other delicacies. The problem however when in London is finding a place that serves these dishes made the traditional way that is not a pub. Usually when visiting and in search of British fare, you can indeed find many a five star restaurant that serves it, but there’s a catch. These places modernize the dishes in regards to both ingredients as well as presentation so you would never know you were eating the classic. This was the dilemma Carter McKinney presented his fiance Miles Kasey with when they arrived in London to surprise his family with an impromptu celebration of their engagement. Carter could have made things easy when Miles entrusted him with finding a great place to take his family out to eat to celebrate, and booked one of those very pubs. He knew Miles missed his native British foods terribly, but they could have that any time while visiting London while Miles’s mom and sister most likely had it relatively often. This called for something more special…
(See, this is where you really should pause in case you have yet to read the first roleplay of Miles Kasey, otherwise you risk not understanding what was going on! Go on now, get!)
Alexander the Great Greek Restaurant -
London
I know, Greek food, am I right? But Carter spent the better part of three hours researching the best restaurants London had to offer, and while there were plenty of French and Indian restaurants alongside modernized British places, he saw only one Greek place and the very atmosphere called out to him. From the moment you set foot inside, you could simply feel the Greek atmosphere even were you unable to see it. From the olive wood architecture to the vines creeping up the structures and authentic Green clay archways and all along the ceiling. The Greek influenced sculptures of the restaurant’s namesake were positioned around the restaurant's interior so that they would be noticed while not being overdone in number. Traditional white tablecloths with dianthus centerpieces and olive wooden chairs.
It was perfect.
“Oh my…” Mora - mother to Miles and his sister Brianna - said as she was the first to set foot inside of the fine Greek establishment while her son held the door for her, followed by Brianna, her husband Garrett and finally, Carter himself before Miles brought up the rear. Mora went on to say, “This is lovely.”
“Haven’t you ever been?” Carter asked, shaking his head and feeling the constant pangs of whether he had made the right choice for dining out with his future in-laws.
“No.” Mora answered heartily. “Oh we’ve seen it often enough and it was always one of those places we meant to visit but it just never worked out.”
Carter smiled as Miles gripped his shoulder in a reassuring comfort. He knew his love well enough to know Carter was confident to the point of cocky - save for wanting to make a positive impression on Miles’s own family. Not that he had much trouble concerning that, mind you. While this was his first time meeting Garrett, he had already met Bri and Mora in Las Vegas during Miles’s last birthday celebration. And his family adored him.
Carter moved past the group to the hostess stand and once the young man looked up, he said, “Reservation for Carter McKinney?”
The host looked down at his meticulously cared for book and scrolled the names until he arrived at the right one and looked up with a smile, and in his Cockney accent, said, “Right this way.” as he picked up five menus. Before he escorted the party through the web of tables until they arrived at one table along the half-wall adorned with olive plants and Greek wine bottles.
“Is this satisfactory?” the host asked, to which everyone present assured him that it was and offered him their thanks as they took their seats. He then handed out the menus, ladies first of course, and finally said, “Your waiter will be with you momentarily.” before he took his leave to resume his duties at the forefront of the restaurant.
The group then proceeded to spend the next few minutes offered to them to browse the menu, Miles idly speaking up to say, “I am starving.”
“You’re always hungry.” Carter quipped as his eyes searched for the wines and, of course, deserts, to which Mora smiled while perusing her own, adding, “It’s nice to know some things haven’t changed.”
“Oy!” Miles looked up over his own menu and asked, “What is this? Pick On Miles Day?”
“Yes.” Everyone present responded in unison, as if it couldn’t have been planned any better. Miles then turned to Carter who was nodding along with the others but one arched brow from his fiance and he immediately switched to shaking his head in the negative. Satisfied, Miles went back to looking over the menu when a young woman approached, with the host not far after.
“Hello, I’m Amara.” She said with the brightest of smiles. “I’ll be serving you this evening. Can I get you anything to drink while you look over the menu?”
But before the young lady could continue or anyone present could place their drink orders, the host arrived at her side. He said, “Excuse me, Amara? A moment.” he then addressed the party at the table to say, “The last member of your party just arrived.”
“Last member?” Carter looked to Miles as everyone present appeared confused. “But we are… who…?”
“Oh bloody hell!” Miles exclaimed as their heads turned and Garrett audibly groaned and Brianna almost threw her cloth napkin in a gesture of vast frustration as approaching was none other than her mother-in-law, and Garrett’s mother - Wendy Barnes. The atmosphere immediately shifted from one of positivity and joy to tension and annoyance as the outspoken and homophobic mother of Garrett Kasey approached the table with a stiff smile that nobody present was buying.
“Mom?” Garrett was the first to break the awkward silence. “What are you doing here?”
“Well I had tried to phone you at work and your secretary kindly told me about your family dinner here.” Wendy answered stiffly, her emphasis on the word ‘family’ evident. Garrett turned to his wife and muttered, “I’m going to need a new secretary.”
But she placed a hand on his shoulder and not one of comfort as she openly asked, “Now may I ask why you didn’t tell your own mother about this ‘family’ dinner?”
“Because you weren’t invited.” All heads turned in surprise to none other than Carter who spoke up, but none more so than Wendy herself who looked affronted at there mere thought she was not invited to a family dinner.
She wrinkled her nose as if there were a bad smell under it, asking, “And who are you to say that I’m not invited to have dinner with my son and daughter-in-law?”
But Carter, being who he was, happily accepted the gauntlet and answered, “Maybe because we’re the ones who invited them? And I’m the one who picked the restaurant?”
But his words practically fell upon deaf ears as Wendy simply made a face and an indifferent “Hmph” as she pulled out the vacant chair to have a seat, as if he had not even spoken. Basically inviting herself to dinner.
Miles leaned over in his chair to say to his fiance, “Just be yourself, love.” To which carter turned to him and said, “Miles, there’s no reason to scare the woman.”
But Miles’s sister Bri leaned over from her own chair and made a pleading face, whispering “Oh pleasepleaseplease…!” Causing a snort of laughter to be held back, but whatever else could be said or felt quickly evaporated as Wendy insulted the waitress by snapping her fingers at her and speaking up, “Perhaps we can order now?”
And once everyone had told Amara their drink orders – Wendy a sparkling water. Mora, cranberry juice. Miles, Garrett and Bri both ordered Coke and finally Carter, a pineapple juice. No sooner did Amara leave to put in their orders than Wendy started to fuss, “Visiting London and taking us to a Greek restaurant rather than somewhere … nicer. Greeks…”
To which Carter replied, “Yeah, if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have philosophy or democracy or even medicine... the bastards!”
Wendy shifted in her seat and said, “You’re very mouthy for being a guest in our country.”
Carter answered right back, “And yet out of respect for Garrett I haven't yet said anything crass like I hope you take a diuretic and can't get your pantyhose off.” Mora’s eyes opened wide as Bri bit at her bottom lip to try not to take too much glee in Carter’s sass directed at her husband’s mother. Garrett looked away so as not to let anyone see whether or not he himself was smiling, while Miles just hung his head but his trembling shoulders spoke volumes toward his own reaction. Meanwhile, Carter just engaged in a stare down with the woman who had taken an immediate dislike toward him and Miles as a couple.
“I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised at your lack of respect.” Wendy finally broke the tense silence between the pair. She then acted as if he didn’t even exist as she turned her attention to Miles and looked him up and down before speaking, “Pleased to see at least one of you looking the part of a man. When did you grow your facial hair?” She asked idly.
“About a year ago.” Miles answered. “When did you grow yours?”
At that, Wendy bristled at Miles's caustic words as everybody turned to him wide-eyed, somewhat surprised that he went there. Carter himself stared at his fiance in a mix of awe and adoration. Wendy instinctively touched her chin with her fingertips before she pulled away and regained her composure.
She sniffed and turned to her son and asked, “And you're just going to sit there and let them speak to your mother that way?”
Garrett however looked up from his menu and feigned innocence, “Sorry mum. Wasn't listening.”
“Unbelievable.” She half muttered, shaking her head. “I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. This one…” She nodded toward Brianna. “Has completely poisoned you against me!”
“Excuse you!” Brianna started to speak up, clearly affronted just as Garrett massaged the bridge of his nose and exclaimed, “Mum..!”
“Could we all please stop and just enjoy a nice meal?” Mora spoke up as the voice of reason.
“Thank you “ Wendy said as if Mora spoke up in her defense before opening up her menu to glance it over for the first time. Everyone else follows suit, the tension thick in the air. Wendy then, seemingly unable to help herself, said, “And if I don't start getting a little bit more respect, I will not be attending this blasphemous ceremony!” Causing one and all to glance up at her as if she had just stayed at the most ludicrous thing in the world.
And to everyone present, she just did!
“Excuse how I phrase this,” Carter broke the uncomfortable silence amongst them. “But what in gay hell are you talking about!?”
Miles added, “Did you say something about attending our wedding?”
“No,” Wendy contradicted, “I said something about not attending your … wedding!”
“Good, because you’re not invited.” Miles said. “You never were.”
Wendy couldn’t have been more surprised had you slapped her across the face, jerking her head back and looked around the table with relatively wide and surprised eyes.
“What… What are you talking about?” She asked. “How could I not be invited?”
“Why would you be?” Carter frowned, to which Wendy answered, pointing across the table at More and her daughter, as well as her own son, stating hotly, “But you’re inviting them!”
“Of course we are!” Miles answered. “They’re going to be Carter’s in-laws!”
“Face facts…” Carter said, drawing her attention back to him. “You have a better shot at attending by someone looking in a mirror and saying your name three times than by my inviting you.”
Even Garrett proceeded to choke on his water as he took a drink while the waitress Amara was delivering the drinks. Wendy was fuming beneath her calm facade, even though the flush to her cheeks and neck spoke volumes as to just how angry and embarrassed she truly was.
She shrugged and said, “Suit yourself. Just know that if I don’t go, my son won’t go either!”
And for the first time, Garrett Kasey set his glass down firmly, perhaps too much so. He then looked at his mother and said in a tone that would brook no argument or debate, “Mother? I am a grown ass man! You do not dictate to me where I can go or when! And I will definitely be there as Miles is family and Carter is about to be!”
“You are seriously going to support this!?” She came close to shrieking but managed to hold it in. “This…” She waved a finger across the table at Carter and Miles. “This is not normal!”
“Normal is an illusion.” Carter stated calmly. “What's normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.”
Mora, Miles and Bri's mom, placed a hand on his arm and said, “That's very profound, Carter.”
“Thanks, but I can’t take credit,” He replied. “Morticia Addams. 1958.”
Miles smiled at his fiance’s fast wit and then turned to Wendy and said, “It’s funny to hear you of all people talk about the sanctity of marriage and what is and isn’t normal.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning,” Miles replied. “Weren’t you married three times?”
“That’s different!” Wendy declared hotly. “My marriages ended because we were unhappy and they were abusive…”
“Oh stop playing the victim, Mother!” Garrett said all of a sudden. “True the marriages were unhappy but it was you who made your husbands unhappy and nobody was abused! At least not physically and if anyone was…”
“Stop…” Wendy ordered, but Garrett was not finished putting his mother in her place. He said, “It was father when he told you he was leaving you for his business partner!” Garrett then turned to Carter to emphasize, “Another man.” Causing Carter to make a comical gasping/choking noise as he jerked his head around to look at Wendy with eyes as wide as his open mouth!
Wendy stood up and she pressed her hands on the edge of the table as she glared daggers at her son, seething, “I would play this very carefully, son. If you ever want my help in watching that child of yours ever again!”
Mother and son engaged in an epic stare down, but the fact was in this case Wendy did have Garrett backed into the proverbial corner. This was when Carter turned to address Brianna and he casually asked, “What do daycares in London go for these days?”
Not quite getting why he was asking, Bri answered, “Around £138 per week…?” And Carter turned to look at Miles silently and there was a mutual, unspoken understanding between the two young men. That was when Wendy stood up and almost knocked her chair over in the process.
“I will not have it!” She declared hotly. “I will not stand for…!”
“One more word out of you and I'll sew your lips shut!” Carter raised his voice to match Wendy’s own, pointing a finger at her. “And while I'm at it, I'll put tape over your mouth too!” Resulting in a mass expulsion from everyone’s lips who had been taking drinks from their glasses at the worst possible time. But this was enough to have drawn the attention of the rest of the patrons as well as staff.
The manager himself, a middle aged but still imposing man of Greek descent approached the table and asked, “Excuse me but is there a problem?”
“There certainly is…” Wendy started to answer but Carter interrupted, addressing the manager himself and saying, “This woman invited herself to our table and has been causing trouble since she got here.”
“That is a lie!” Wendy gaped like a fish on a hook, looking around for someone - anyone - to speak up in her defense. “Garrett…?” But her own son just turned his head away so that he did not have to look at her - his own mother.
The manager then looked at Wendy and said with finality, “Ma’am? I am sorry but we are going to have to ask you to leave.”
“I will not…” Wendy started to speak loudly again, but the manager put up with none of her brash bullshit as he held a hand up in her face, cutting her off and he said, “You are disturbing our guests. Leave now or I will be forced to call security.”
Wendy took one last look at those at the table and then for the first time, felt the stares of everyone in the restaurant directed solely at her and her alone. She flushed a deep scarlet and cleared her throat, attempting one last time to salvage her pride, “Fine.” She said, “I didn’t want to be here anyway.” And that being said, everyone watched as she grabbed her purse and took her leave.
Poor Amara looked crestfallen, as if this was somehow her own fault. She stepped back up to the table and cleared her throat, drawing all eyes to her.
“I-I am sorry.” She said, “Would you like to order now…?”
“Yeah, can we get a bottle of Agiorgitiko?” Carter asked with as much soothing politeness as he could muster. “I feel like celebrating!”
“O-Of course.” Amara smiled, thoroughly soothed and she turned to retrieve the bottle of Greek red. That was when Bri leaned over in her chair to address her future brother-in-law. “You know if you weren’t marrying my brother, I'd marry you myself.”
“Oy!” Garrett objected jokingly.
“Okay, I’m going to be open and honest to get things started. I really wasn’t expecting to be booked this year for Blaze of Glory XII, and if I am going to be perfectly honest? I was fine with that. I think I made things pretty clear over the past few months and in seeing how the card was filling up pretty quickly with every available name save for my own, I realized my chances at getting a spot for Flagstaff were growing fewer and further between. But see, that’s where the Fates intervened in the form of my kitty Kat and the actions of one daft bitch.”
“I, like so many others, was watching everything happening in Phoenix and I couldn’t believe that Bea Barnhart was so shallow as to assault someone over something so simple as bumping into her. Oh I’m pretty certain that given her past, she already had a yarn spun by the time she got back to her dear, protective hubby to make herself the victim and Kat the aggressor. I mean, she’s done it often enough in the past and Bill has proven he’s as blind as a bat when it comes to her faults. I just couldn’t believe it though that Bea refused to face Kitty Kat one on one. She just had to insist on her husband being by her side to avoid direct conflict. And why? Probably because she knew that Kat would tear her apart so badly until there wasn’t enough to make Iris the Bulldog a decent lunch. In a tag situation, maybe she was confident enough due to the fact the Barnharts held the Mixed Tag titles in the past, or that Bill would be her saving grace if Bea herself got in over her head. I can say for certain that Bea made this demand because she figured that with Mac Bane active elsewhere and Peter Vaughn busy, Kat would be forced to go without a partner and Bea wouldn’t have to be bothered at all.”
“Cue me, entrance - stage right!”
“You see, Bea's grand failure in this instance was a lack of imagination. Kitty Kat and I’ve made it no secret that we get along, we hang out sometimes. In other words, she wasn’t as alone as the Barnharts would have believed. The moment that I heard Kat put out the call that she was in need of a tag team partner, I decided to kill two Bulldogs with one stone! Not only do I get a spot on the big show, but Kitty Kat gets someone she can trust to stand by her side while she punts Bea up the backside so hard that she’ll be able to smell boot polish from the inside out!”
“But the funniest thing out of all of this is the fact that I fully believe that out of everyone present that Bea has overestimated, her husband is the one she took for granted the most of all. See, Bill Barnhart is what you might call ‘old school’. He’s the hardcore, grizzled veteran of the locker room. Believes in pounding away at an opponent when inside of the ring but he goes out of his way, win or lose, to give that opponent mad props after everything is said and done. I should know. I’ve been in the ring with the man once or twice. I’m half the man’s size with not even a third of his experience and yet he never treated me with anything but respect. The times we met in the ring, he beat my ass from pillar to post and on the flip side, took me aside backstage to offer me advice in order to better myself.”
“That’s what ring veterans do. They help pave the way for the next generation and Bill Barnhart is one of the precious few vets who isn’t selfishly clinging to their spot and refusing to help the younger generation. That’s ‘Bulldog” Bill Barnhart. So that being said, and having stressed the level of respect and admiration I have for the man, what I have to ask Bill Barnhart this week is this…”
“Don’t you ever get tired of answering for your wife’s actions, Bill?”
“Look at her track record. Take the situation with Vinnie and Fenris when Bea helped blind Fenris and took him out of action for months. MONTHS! That was a man that you, Bill, admitted respect for time and again and your wife pulled a stunt like that! And what happened after? She denied doing it. Despite the fact the world saw it happen! Despite the fact the evidence was right there for all to see – she blatantly lied about what happened! Claimed innocence! Refused to admit fault in any way, shape or form! Then to add a bit of saving grace, she told everyone how the cologne sprayed in Fenris’s eyes had been diluted. Diluted poison is still poison, and it could have cost him his sight and she - LIED!”
“And she does this all the time, Bill! She’ll do something to some random person and then lie to the world! I don’t know if she does it as an insult or she honestly believes her own stories, but it is a repeat process and you enable her! No matter what she does, you either believe her or just say you do as a means of support. And if that’s the case, I get it. I get that spouses are supposed to support one another and show a united front but Billy? There comes a time when enough is enough, especially when her lies draw you into the line of fire like they’ve done this time around!”
“Because this time she didn’t just back herself into a corner when Kat called her out on her attempts to refrain from competing one on one. This is a mixed tag after all, and because of SCW rules, she might as well have just gone with the singles match against my Kitty Kat because I’m half tempted to just not tag in and let Kat have her fun. And on the off chance she has to tag out or - in the more likely case, Bea tags out to save her own ass, that’s when you get drawn into the fray and aren’t you just getting tired of that? Aren’t you tired of cleaning up your wife’s messes?”
“Because if the time comes that you and I do have to lock up again, you’re probably going to wish you had told Bea from the very start these five wise little words;”
“Clean. Up. Your. Own. Messes!”