The chill was unnatural to the native Arizonian. Much to the amusement of his partner, Ty West smiled widely as they travel through the streets toward his childhood home.
Ty: It's...Wow...
This causes his boyfriend, SCW champion, Kristjan Baltasarsson was otherwise known as Fenris, to actually laugh. It was not something that the man did often, at least in a non-mocking way.
Kristjan: It is only snow...
Ty shakes his head.
Ty: I have never seen snow before. Never been skiing or tobogganing. This is... thank you.
Kristjan almost doesn't know what to say but is saved as the taxi pulls into the driveway of his childhood home.
Kristjan: We are here
The two men step from the car they had taken from the hotel, they reach the door just as it opens to a cheerful scream from an older woman as she pushes her own son out of the way in order to hug Ty. Ty looks at Fen over her shoulder and he rolls his eyes.
Kristjan: Hello Mother
Eva turns and pats her son’s shoulder.
Eva: You’re too skinny. Is Lora feeding you?
Kristjan sighs deeply. Eva invites the men in and proceeds to force them to the kitchen table and start a kettle on the stove. She smiles warmly at the pair.
Kristjan: What? Mother.
She walks over to pinch Ty’s cheek and coo at him. Kristjan tries to hide his amusement of the situation. She immediately shakes her head and turns back toward the stove but Fen knew it was his mother hiding her feelings. He didn’t completely understand them but he knew they were there. Something about Ty brought it out in her. She puts three cups of tea on the table and joins the pair.
Eva: You will stay here. Your old room is as you left it Kristjan.
Kristjan looks at Ty and back to his mother.
Ty: Actually Eva, we have a hotel in town. I wouldn’t want to impose on you.
Eva’s expression changes, but instead of addressing Ty, she looks directly at Kristjan. He shrugs and looks at Ty. This causes Mother and son to both look to him.
Ty: No offense but well... the things that Kristjan and I would be doing are not really family home appropriate...
Instantly Kristjan’s cheeks go red and it stops Ty from being embarrassed to see his partner take on the characteristics that he himself usually did. After looking at him for a minute, Eva starts to laugh. She pats his shoulder.
Eva: I like you Ty West.
***
The West-Ward Blogicles
Season 3, Entry #12 -- “Love is in the air...”
The scene starts with a view of the snow-covered Icelandic Mountain, Eyjafjallajökull in the background. He starts speaking, even though his face doesn’t come into view.
Ty: This mountain seems imposing doesn’t it. Big and strong. It looks like a giant among the smaller hills of the valley. But if you compare it to that of Everest of Kilimanjaro. Its last eruption wasn’t even as big as Mount St. Helens.
He audibly sighs.
Ty: That is how I feel. Like I am strong but still not a giant among the others. It’s how I have felt lately when people talk about me. They try to say that my relationship with Kristjan is only to make myself more important. That somehow being ‘latched’ on to him is only for his fame. Now to me, that doesn’t make sense. But after thinking about it, yes, he has been a big influence on my career but not in the way people are saying he has.
Ty enters the scene, dressed in winter gear from a blue puffy coat, grey hat, and fingerless gloves. He looks back at the beautiful scenery and then back to the camera.
Ty: Kristjan has given me faith. He believes in me. Even when I lose, he is there. He might not be like most partners where he is pumping me up and talking big about my abilities all the time, but I know he cares. In his own way. I have found the Kristjan rosetta stone. I don’t mind being his ‘beta’ because we recognize where our domestic-like skills are. I fully admit to be the more sensitive, the more lovable one. And I’m fine with that. If this is a reason for people to look at me with disdain than so be it. I am not letting anything anyone says deter me from what I want to do. Win, lose, doesn’t matter.
He smiles; the confidence that had been missing for sometime returning to his face.
Ty: I know who I am. I don’t need anyone telling me those things when they don’t even know me personally, they can only assume things based on actions, based on tweets or promos. Based on past actions. Anyone that choices to rest their laurels in these notions is welcome to do so but the real truth will be revealed when I step in that six-sided ring and give it everything I have.
He picks up the camera so that it is close to his face.
Ty: Come Sunday, I face one of my toughest challenges to date. I go head to head with Vinnie again. A man that beat me and has come close to beating Fen twice. I am not going to stand here and tell you all that I am going to win and prove my spot in this place. But I am going to go out there and give Vinnie a fight he’ll remember. I do want the roulette title back in my hands and I know that once St.John returns, I will get the rematch I deserve, but until then, I am not a champion anymore, and just like everyone else. I am not willing to sit by idly and wait for a shot to rise above. I earn my shots and I intend to beat Vinnie and show all the naysayers that I deserve this too.
He is still smiling, looking back at the mountain in admiration.
Ty: Don’t get me wrong, it’s nothing personal. Vinnie is a friend outside of this. He’s dating my aunt on top of that so he’s practically family but all bets are off the table once we’re in there. There is no more brotherly love, it is all about the fight. And on Sunday, Vinnie is going to get one. I don’t like to talk badly of people just to get a hand up on the competition, so I’m not going to use this to talk shit about a man that has accomplished so much in such a short time here but don’t forget that I too have accomplished a lot. Vinnie has never been an actual title holder here, where I have. That is my advantage. I just want to prove myself and I will keep doing it with every match I enter. Win or lose Vin, I prove my worth.
He takes a deep breath.
Ty: God, the air is so clean here. Even in the cold, it’s like a refresh to my entire soul.
He salutes the camera as it turns off.
***
Ty turns off the camera and walks back to where Kristjan is sitting on a blanket in a patch of grass that they had cleared off of snow. He takes a seat and K looks at him.
Fen: Are you done with the camera?
Ty nods as Fen hands him a can of beer.
Ty: Thank you for this Kjan. This was the best Valentine’s present you could have ever given me.
Kristjan waves him off. He wasn’t one for mushy sentiments.
Fen: The girls told me you would like it
Ty can’t help but laugh. As much as he tried to play it off, he knew K had more to do with the place than any advice the girls gave him. As they sit in a bit of silence as the sun starts to set. Ty didn’t mind the silence, he understood K in a way that no one else seemed to and he had an inkling that K knew that too, but Ty didn’t need the acknowledgment.
Ty: It’s getting dark, what did you need to show me.
Fen: Shush. Just watch.
Kristjan points up at the sky and Ty looks up. As if by magic an eerie green light waves across the sky. Ty lets out a gasp.
Ty: That’s so beautiful.
Fen chuckles beside him.
Fen: Most say that when first seeing
Ty moves closer to Kristjan, cuddling into him and although he is not much of a cuddler, he tolerates it for Ty. After some more awe and silence from the pair, Kristjan speak again.
Fen: Odin was the chief god and ruler of Asgard, revered by all Vikings. They believed he lived in Valhalla, where he was preparing for Ragnarök – a series of events that would precipitate the end of the gods and begin the world anew. In Viking legend, Ragnarök was predestined and would be Odin’s greatest battle, so he needed the bravest warriors at his side. During every battle on Earth, Odin would pick the warriors who would die and join him in Valhalla. The Valkyries - female warriors on horseback, who wore armour and carried spears and shields - were tasked with leading Odin’s chosen warriors to Valhalla. The Vikings believed the Northern Lights illuminating the sky were the reflections of the Valkyries’ armour as they led the Warriors to Odin.
Ty smiles. He was always fascinated by the Norse culture and Fen’s devotion to the stories.
Ty: You should tell me more about the Norse Legends.
Fen scoffs.
Fen: It is history, not merely legend.
Ty: I believe you. It really is a pleasure every time I come.
Fen looks at him and grins greedily.
Ty: No. You get that look off your face, we’re outside. Anyone could just walk by.
Kristjan starts advancing on his partner, Ty starts blushing and even in the dark, Kristjan knows the effect he has on him.
He sits back on his heels.
Ty: Do you want to go back to the hotel?
Fen stands and starts to walk toward where they had parked the rental car.
Ty: But... the blanket and basket...
Fen keeps walking and Ty shakes his head as he hastily throws the items together and runs off after Kristjan.
