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“Fuck’s sake, Bobbie! Put the shrimp down!” Fenris barked from across the condo that he shared with his brother Aron, a setting which had been only slightly transformed; fit for a small, and (hopefully) friendly gathering. The dining table along the far wall and in front of the sky-high windows was draped in white and laden with a feast, delivered by a caterer at the Golden Ring Casino, and set up buffet style.
Bobbie huffed, rolling her eyes and she practically threw the shrimp that she had pilfered from the table back to where she snatched it. Fenris barked, “Everyone isn’t even here yet!”
“It was ONE shrimp!” Bobbie protested. “Why even invite us to a dinner party if we’re not even allowed to eat!?” Bobbie threw a look to the ever-present Artie who stood close by, and Dani who was seated on the sofa, playfully trying to pry a squeaky ball from Kyssa’s jaw, as if seeking their validation to agree or disagree.
“It is NOT a dinner party!” Fenris shot back. “And this dinner party wasn’t even my idea!”
“Aron?” Dani looked up from Kyssa with an impish smile on her delightful face.
“Who else?” Fenris grumbled. “He took the call when I was in the shower and had it all arranged before I got out!”
“He lost me when he was talking about being in the shower.” Bobbie mused with a wistful, almost dreamlike trance in her eyes. Playfully of course, Artie was standing right there after all. Dani giggled, but that giggle was quickly wiped from her frame as her ‘big brother from Iceland’ walked past and shot her a look.
“And don’t think I don’t know who his co-conspirator was!”
“Eep!”
“I will be the first to admit that I don’t have many friends, and while I know there will be the random asshole out there making jokes at my expense over the fact, but the truth is that I choose for it to be so. For me, less is more. I don’t need this huge circle of friends to surround me to validate my self esteem or social standing. I’m not like my brother or let's face it; the entirety of my family. I am not what you would call a ‘social butterfly.’ I don’t associate with most people because quite frankly, most people piss me the fuck off. Less people I have around me, the less chance I have of that happening. I can’t just go into any setting with people and just talk to anyone. It doesn’t matter if there are a lot of people or only a few. It’s just not my style, it’s not what I do or how I am. My family knows that. Outside of family, I have my circle. Aron has always said that I prefer animals to people, and I never denied that.”
“People will stab you in the back and not think twice about it. And why? For money? Advancement in their careers? Or for their own personal amusement. Let’s face facts; people don’t need a reason to betray each other. They’ll do it just because they can and they think it will elevate their own status. But an animal -- all an animal wants is some food, a roof over its head and a little love. And yet ‘we’ consider ourselves superior to ‘them.’”
“But the people who have found their way past this so-called wall my family says that I’ve built around myself -- those are the ones I can admit I am lucky enough to call friends, and I don’t use the term lightly because as I’ve said; I don’t have many. Ben Jordan. Dani Weston. Bobbie Dahl. Daniel Morgan. And yes, Kris Ryans. Men and women who by chance or fate have found their way into my life. Friends. Peers. Colleagues. Sometimes, they’re just simple words to describe something not-so-simple.”
“But sometimes you need someone to talk to that is from outside the workplace, an outsider looking in. Someone that I could talk to without feeling like I’m being judged.”
The doorbell of the condo rang, prompting a “Finally!” from Bobbie as she pushed herself back to her feet, ready to make another attempt at that elusive shrimp she had her eyes set on. Fenris huffed, shaking his head as he reached for the door. Grasping the handle, he pulled it open to his final guest; a lovely young woman with bright, red hair and a smile that was simply radiant.
At the sight of the friend she had not been able to visit since before the pandemic struck, she practically jumped forward to wrap her arms around Kristjan’s thick neck.
”For me, that person is Willow.”
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You recall Willow, don’t you? A young woman that the Baltasarsson siblings and Dani Weston had met by chance along the Vegas Strip when Kristjan had come to her aid with a physically and emotionally abusive beau. Fate never looked back after that first encounter. And Aron still had no answer for that first night when he had found her sharing his brother’s bed. Not that he asked.
Not that Kristjan would have offered any answers.
Living out of state, Willow would keep in contact with Fenris over Facebook chat and her coming to Las Vegas from Seattle when time permitted, but it had been well over a year since the two bonded friends had last seen each other in person. Travel restrictions due to the pandemic had only recently started to lift, and Willow took the first opportunity she was given from her work to rush to Las Vegas and see her friend.
Only this time it was about more than just a simple visit. In their random chats, she could tell her friend was having problems, albeit ones he kept well hidden. From what she could gather through the proverbial grapevine, it seemed like her friend needed someone outside of his immediate circle to talk to. And that was why we were here, now, at the Golden Ring Casino. The small dinner party had been a success, or as much of a success as any social gathering at Fenris’s home could be. Dani and Aron had known Willow previously, but this was the first time she had met Bobbie and Artie and even the foul tempered Kristjan had to admit that it couldn’t have gone better. But the evening drew to a close, and while he left his brother to do the clean up (as was the usual habit), Kristjan left with their guest and we now find ourselves at the Golden Ring, or to be more specific, the high-class nightclub setting housed within.
The Golden Ring Casino was much more than just one of the many Casinos one might find in Las Vegas. With theaters, bars and an exclusive nightclub within, it lured not just locals and run-of-the-mill tourists, but many A-list celebrities as well. Stars from the world of professional wrestling were but one of the cliques one might be lucky enough to find wandering this attraction, but also other sports celebrities, top movie stars and Grammy winning singers as well.
And while he had given Willow time enough to change into a black cocktail dress, Kristjan remained dressed casually in his loose, white muscle shirt and torn jeans, with his favored flip flops on his otherwise bare feet. And while he would have preferred a local pub or one of the Casino’s bars, Willow was his guest and had asked to go here instead. The two sat at a small, open booth with a knee-high table in front of them. One of the most prized spots in the nightclub - it did pay to have the owner of said Casino as a friend. Music played. Strobe lights flashed. People danced, and two friends talked.
“So, when are you going to talk to me about what’s been bothering you?” She asked as she sipped at her daiquiri through a straw, her eyes watching him as his own eyes roamed the surrounding area. She knew he disliked crowds and he wasn’t for this type of setting, but privately she had hoped such a familiar place might loosen him up.
And at her words said over the music, his head turned only enough so he could look to her and he asked, “Why do you think something is bothering me?”
She set her drink down on the coaster and sat back, relaxing as he was (or as he was attempting to) and she answered, “Well, we could do this whole song and dance routine. You being stubborn and not wanting to talk to me, and me trying to pry it out of you, but I did just get into town from Seattle and I’m a little tired? So would you mind skipping that whole part and just get to the end?”
Kristjan knew what she meant, but he didn’t answer her. He simply turned his head away and again started to people watch but without a word. She waited, knowing him well enough to know how intensely of a private person he was, and foul tempered as well. She did not want to push him any more than what she already had been and risk upsetting him.
“Aron said you haven’t been yourself lately when we spoke on the phone.”
“Aron needs to mind his fucking business!” Kristjan barked, earning a look or two but ones that he ignored. “Anytime he thinks something is going on, he wants to fix it!”
“Family prerogative?” Willow smiled as she reached for her drink again and picked it up.
“I suppose,” Kristjan conceded, reaching for his own beer.
“Are you okay?” She asked with genuine concern, and before he could raise the beer mug to his lips, he lowered it and simply stated, “I don’t know. I-I don’t…”
She then took a chance and asked, “Is it this David guy?”
“Fuck no!” More stares.
“Kristjan,” She laid a hand on his arm, causing him to look at her instinctively. “I saw what happened after your match with him.”
“Fuck’s sake…” He muttered beneath his breath, leaning back heavily against the cushioned booth and closing his eyes. He finally looked to her and shook his head, “You saw that? Everything?”
“The fight. The kiss…” She took another drink and looked up at him from over the rim of her glass. “And when you kissed him back.”
“Shit…” He rubbed a hand over his face and reached for his glass again, draining half of its contents in one swallow before setting it down again. Hoping that the alcohol would burn away the discomfort of this conversation. One that he knew was coming, and both dreaded and anticipated. Finally he said, “It doesn’t matter. It didn’t mean anything.”
“Two kisses like what I saw… had to have meant something…”
“Well it didn’t!” Kristjan answered hotly. “I don’t even know why I did it! I know why HE did it, but I don’t know why I… shit.... Sure he looks good but…”
“Do you like him?” She started to ask, but he swiftly rebuked the notion, “No! Fuck’s sake! He looks good, that’s it! But he was acting like a bitch before that ever even happened, and has been acting like a bitch after! Just because he told me we had to talk about what happened, then started bitching that I didn’t!”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I did!” He stated. “I tried it on Twitter…”
Willow sighed, and her hand was again on his upper arm. “Kristjan, I ‘think’ he meant you two should talk face to face.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Kristjan leaned forward, going for his beer once again. Ah, but a part of him thought it did, in fact, matter. That was the very reason why it did NOT happen the way David wanted. It was why he spoke to him on social media rather than go the extra mile and meet somewhere else, face to face. Somewhere public, or if he had his way, private. Two years ago, he had a talk much like this one with probably his closest friend in the wrestling business, Ben Jordan. Ben had been one of the very few he had confided his deepest loss to, but that was not the only aspect that had plagued his mind all of these recent weeks.
Ty West.
Kris Ryans.
Jokull….
Any time that Kristjan felt like he was maybe getting close to someone, fate or chance would intervene and separate them. A heated breakup. Family obligations … death… It left him to draw just one logical conclusion;
He was not meant to have someone in his life. Not in that way.
“Of course it matters..” Willow started to say, but he turned to her and had resumed his confident, stoic demeanor and smiled, albeit stiffly. “It really doesn’t…” But before he could say anything further, the two friends were interrupted by an unwelcome intrusion.
“Excuse me.” The voice cut into their private conversation, a voice that might have been ignored were it not for the forefinger poking Fenris rather rudely in the upper arm. He turned his head to see who was risking their neck and found a young woman with jet back hair and olive skin, sporting a black latex dress that seemed to be two sizes too small. He and Willow looked at this intruder
And in the most condescending manner possible, in both body language and tone of voice, the young woman said, Uh, yes? Could you like, watch the language? YuHu doesn’t like it!”
Fenris turned to a wide eyed Willow, as if he were about to ask if she could believe this, but before he could say anything to her, his head whipped back around to the intruder and said, “Who!?”
“Uh, YuHu? Y’know?” And the young woman motioned with a wave of her hand, prompting Kristjan and Willow to look past her and to a booth not ten feet away. Seated there, as if she were Queen of the World, was another young woman with olive skin and pastel braids woven into her otherwise jet-black tresses. She was in a turquoise cocktail dress of her own, but this one seemed to have a collar that reminded anyone looking of peacock feathers. Her legs were drawn up onto the seat of the booth, pump heels that were dangerously high, dangling from her toes. And her eyes…? Hidden, behind a pair of dark purple shades -- INSIDE of a nightclub. And surrounding her was a literal gaggle of hanger ons, perhaps a genuine friend or two, but mostly suck ups and the sort who catered to this diva’s every wish. If just for the honor and privilege of being a part of HER world. None of whom had the ‘honor’ of sitting at the booth with her, however. No, she sat alone. All of the group’s eyes were focused now on Fenris and Willow, looking down on them with mock disdain as if expecting this girl’s wishes to be carried out - simply because.
“No. I don’t know.” Fenris finally said aloud, shaking his head and switching his gaze from this diva to her apparent errand girl standing in front of him. “Who the fuck is she!?”
“Who...language! I thought I told you…” The errand girl was stymied by the prospect that someone not only was not doing as YuHu demanded, but acting as if they had no idea who she was in the first place! “YuHu!? The SINGER!? Hel-LO!?”
Fenris turned to Willow and asked, “You know who the hell this is?” To which Willow just jetted out her bottom lip and shook her head, answering his query in the negative. He then turned to the intruder and shrugged.
“Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“Oh for…” The young woman then reached into her ample cleavage and pulled out her smart phone and started looking for something, muttering the entire time, “The nerve… can’t believe… you should be grateful you’re going to see this for free…”
Until she finally found what she was looking for, turning the phone around so Kristjan and Willow could see a YouTube video playing … of this YuHu singing. An amateur video at best, as well as an amateur voice as far as Fenris was concerned. The girl in the video was standing amidst some scenic background, singing as the intruder smiled proudly at both the display, as well as being SUCH close friends to this mega star in the making. The video ended, and as one, the three sets of eyes met. The intruder expected praise, but instead was met with, “Are you fucking KIDDING me!?”
Heads turned from other tables now, as attention was slowly being drawn to what could fast become a confrontation between the two parties. The intruder gasped as Kristjan snarled, “You interrupt a night out with my friend to pander to a god damn YouTube singer!? Who the hell is she pretending to be!? Katy Perry!? Lady Gaga!? Beyonce!?”
“How dare…!?” The intruder started to gape like a fish on a hook, but Kristjan was not even close to being done! He had waited for this night out with his friend for long enough, and to have it interrupted and spoiled by some wanna be diva…
He leaned past the intruder to look straight at this “YuHu” and she quickly turned her head away, wanting to avoid making eye contact with this unwashed plebeian, her nose practically in the air. But Kristjan called out, “`Ey! YuHu!” He then stuck his own nose in the air, imitating (IE: mocking) her for a moment before he exchanged an unbelieving look with Willow. He then turned and found this YuHu girl, and her entire Entourage swarming her side, approaching their booth. Some people watching parted ways like the Red Sea, and a staff member quickly picked up a phone to alert management…
As she approached, Fenris leaned forward and stated simply, “You DO know that anyone - ANYONE - can post videos of themselves singing on YouTube? And it doesn’t make them jack shit! Call me when you sell out Madison Square Garden, and then we’ll talk about whether you’re ‘all that’ or not!”
“Look…!” YuHu started to speak but she found herself interrupted. Something this queen bee was apparently unused to, but then again, she did not know who exactly she was dealing with here. Fenris continued, “And what the hell kind of name is YuHu anyway!?” He turned to Willow. “What’s a YuHu?”
“I don’t know about in Iceland,” She said with a warm smile, the tension of this stand off quickly eroding. “But here in America it’s a chocolate soft drink.”
“Seriously?” His eyebrows rose almost to his hairline, and he turned back to this diva standing in front of him quite confrontationally. “You named yourself after a…?”
“I did NOT name myself after a…!” But AGAIN she was interrupted, “I don’t give a shit what you named yourself after!” Fenris hollered. “You’re interrupting a private conversation so if you don’t like what I have to say to my friend, then you can sit your ass back down, wayyy over there, and stop listening in! In other words…”
He beckoned her a tad closer with a wag of his finger and leaned in, “Fuck. Off!”
All her Entourage turned to her, wide eyed and shocked at the audacity of this cretin speaking to their star like this! What they did not see, and what Fenris did, was approaching the group was none other than Daniel Morgan, flanked by the rest of his London Underground squad; Osbourne, Mackenzie Page and Charlotte Elliot. Word traveled fast when it came to the Golden Ring and possible trouble, as it happened rarely in their controlled setting, and this would be handled personally before Mister organ got security involved.
YuHu held her hands up and gazed around at her lackeys, stating, “Okay, I TRIED being nice about this! I TRIED being diplomatic!” Her bootlicks all nodded as one in agreement. She then turned back to Fenris and Willow with a snide expression behind her hidden eyes, and smiled so sweet you KNEW it had to be as fake as her spray tan. She then said, “Now we could have played nice, but I would just HATE to decide that you were no longer going to be allowed in here!”
And from behind her, the eyebrows of Charlotte shot up, Mackenzie leaned back just enough to silently scream “Ex-CUSE me?”and Daniel… upon hearing this, his controlled and charming exterior failed for the briefest of moments, and something dangerous flashed in his eyes.
Daniel took a step forward, clearing his throat, “Excuse me?”
YuHu held up a hand, effectively cutting the OWNER of this very Casino off, turning around and saying, “I’m dealing with this! I don’t have time to talk to the help!” And she spun back around to continue her tirade as Daniel stared hard right at her from behind…
And the doors to the Golden Ring Casino’s lobby were thrown open and a literal ARMY of the Casino’s security were dragging YuHu and her Entourage out, kicking and screaming! They all screeched and cried, and none so louder than YuHu herself as they were physically and most importantly - FORCIBLY - removed from the premises, while Daniel and his team watched.
“You’ll be sorry!” YuHu screeched as one of her kiss ups retrieved her fallen heel and passed it to her. “You’ll never get away with this!” But the moment Mackenzie took that first step forward, the Youtuber and her gaggle turned tail and ran as fast as they could into the Las Vegas night…
Back inside of the Casino and the Nightclub, tensions had finally settled from everyone around. Daniel had ordered a round for all to help with this, and charging it to Kristjan’s account as he DID have something to do with it. Disgruntled, but satisfied the evening could continue, as could their private talk, Fenris picked up his fresh beer and smiled at Willow, leaning back in the booth, “That’s why I love this place.” He said. “Great drinks and entertainment!”
Willow shook her head and chuckled at his caustic wit, reaching for her own freshly made drink. Once in hand, she decided to pick up where they had left off, asking, “So, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?”
And Fenris's Face fell from good humor to discomfort. He started to answer when they were interrupted once again, but this time by Daniel Morgan himself, who took it upon himself to take a seat to Willow’s immediate right. She of course knew who he was, and offered him a smile, one in which the charming head of London Underground returned in kind, escalated by a genuine wink. Fenris frowned, then turned and found Osbourne standing there, and Charlotte, all with expectant expressions on their faces.
"Well?" Charlotte shrugged.
“Well what!?” Fenris asked heatedly, and was rewarded with a hard and familiar swat upside the head from behind! Fenris grabbed the back of his stinging head and looked up into Mackenzie’s face as she said, “Well!? Introduce us, arsehole!”
Turnberry Towers. Nightfall. It was a unique perspective that even at this late hour, after dusk had fallen over the rest of Nevada and the moon and stars were hidden somewhere high up in the heavens, one could be forgiven for thinking it was earlier than it was. Just over three miles away was the famed Las Vegas Strip, and with restrictions slowly allowing life to resume, the famous landmark of the “City of Sin” was just as alive with locals and tourists the world over. The lights from hotels and casinos could be seen from miles away, and that was the direction Fenris aka “the White Wolf” was staring at from afar.
Stranding on the balcony just outside of his bedroom, the lights from the Strip practically danced off of his blue eyes as they stared somewhat vacantly ahead. He was bare chested and wearing a simple pair of white shorts, otherwise if we showed you what he normally slept in, this portion of the promo would have to be censored. Arms folded over his bare chest, his lightly tanned flesh glistened with just a hint of perspiration in the warm, desert air.
This time he fell back to speaking in his native Icelandic tongue, as captions appeared at the bottom of the screen...
“I’ve been getting asked a few questions lately by people who really have little business prying into my life. You know the sort; reporters, fans who have no boundaries between my personal and private life. Colleagues and … some friends. I was never one to just open the door to my personal life and let just anyone walk inside. My life is my own. My business … my own. The only times when my personal life was made public was when it went beyond my control and I couldn’t do anything about it. If I don’t want to talk to someone about what’s going on in my personal life, there’s a reason; I don’t see it as any of their fucking business! And if I do confide in someone I feel close to…?”
He casually shrugged his shoulders.
“Then that’s my decision, and mine alone. I suppose I’m luckier than most. I have enough people who are standing by, waiting and willing to be there if I need someone to talk to. And with everything currently going on -- it’s a big reason why I’ve spent so little time on social media. I post anything - anything on there, and suddenly people are all up in my business, wanting to talk about ‘the kiss’ and David ‘fucking’ Shepherd!”
Fenris rolled his eyes and uncrossed his arms, reaching for the open bottle of imported Lava, an Icelandic beer his friend and colleague Daniel Morgan had imported for his consumption regularly. He slipped the bottle from the canister filled with ice and took a deep drink before continuing.
“Then lo and behold, I get something to look forward to. I mean, really look forward to. I decide to play the game and name my top five opponents, and yes. Caleb Storms made the cut. I have my reason for that, which I’ll discuss later, but when he expressed disbelief in my viewpoint, I joke about a rematch to see if he belongs there. And what does Caleb do? He challenges me to make it happen! ‘Time and place’ the man says. I thought our last match was our last match because that’s what the bosses said, but I guess they make exceptions when they see a money maker staring them right in the face. And yes…!”
He looked directly into the camera and nodded.
“Caleb and I are a money maker! It all started with that whole underdog deal that Caleb had going for him, but things change. Caleb changed. The man - evolved. Okay, sure. He still seemed a little skittish that the higher ups took his ‘challenge’ seriously enough to sign the match and make everything official. They even announced the match ahead of time which they rarely do. That should tell you that they are invested in this match -- in him -- and in me. For me, it was business as usual. Find out the opponent I’ll be standing across the ring from, do my homework and training, and go in there and win. But for Caleb, at first he seemed surprised, almost hesitant in believing this was happening again. Not responding to my posts like he used to.”
He nodded, an almost pleased expression on his face.
“Good. It’s about goddamn time your balls dropped and you started acting like a man in this business rather than a scared little rabbit! Do you honestly think that it was fun for me to see you shake every time I walked by or got close to you? Do you think I found it funny to see how you reacted whenever your name was mentioned even in the same breath as mine? How you about shit yourself when I returned last year at High Stakes and surprised you?”
He paused for the briefest of moments, then smiled.
“Okay, maybe I did.”
He held up his free hand and pinched his thumb and forefinger close together.
“Just a little bit, but if I’m going to be completely honest? It got old. Fast. Every time I turned around, I was hearing how you were afraid of me. Even when I try to be friendly or try to help you in training, you avoided me like the plague. A sentiment that I am all too familiar with. But all of this time, every damn time I tuned in to one of your promos or interviews, all I heard was Caleb is afraid of Fenris doing this, Caleb is afraid of Fenris doing that. You were talking about how afraid you were of me in promos that had absolutely nothing to do with me! You had matches against other men, but you were focusing on me! And now you say that’s over? Now you say you’re a ‘legend in the making’ and you have something to prove to everyone; that you are no longer afraid of me. And you know what I think of that?”
He stared right into the camera.
“Good! It’s about damn time you realized something about yourself that I had already known. I'm not going to insult you by telling you that you should be afraid of me. Because I'm going to fill you in on a little secret. I know that you're not afraid of me. I know that you haven't been. And let me tell you exactly when you stopped being proper afraid of me. June 30, 2019. When you swallowed whatever fear you had at the time and met me in the Lion’s Den - like a man would. THAT was the day you earned my respect! THAT was the day you made my Top Five opponents. You had no experience in an MMA setting. And even though you were hesitant, even though you could have found a reason, any reason, to back out of the match or try to get in sanctioned as a regular match, you didn’t. You stepped into that cage, and you fought. You tried, you just didn’t succeed. There is NO shame in trying, so long as you conquer your fear in doing so, and in my opinion? That night you did exactly that! THAT is why I defend you when people like Mercer try to tear you down! It was why I went out there and saved your ass from him, starting a war that drew in my family!”
“A little thing called respect, and not something I give freely or easily. Just one word of advice before I end this inane babbling they ask for week in and week out… the more you go around telling people that you are no longer afraid of facing me in the ring, the more you start to make people believe that deep down, you really still are. And if you think this change between us will make me go any easier on you once that bell rings…?”
He closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Not happening. If anything, I thought I was taking it easy on you the first few times we faced each other. But now that I placed you so high…? Now that I’ve made it known I see you as a certifiable threat inside of the ring…?”
He smiled brightly.
“If you were scared before, be ready. You're about to shit yourself!”