OOC: Sorry for the lack of coding, week from hell
Ah Paris, a place I spent so many years before stepping across the Atlantic, which set my life on a straight road that lead me to fame, fortune and towards love. Without Paris though, my life might not have lead to where it has, but it's brought me back to Paris, France, but this time, it's different. This time, I'm bringing my new life, in to see my old life."We so need to buy a place like this someday baby." I tell Odette.
"You must be out of your mind." She replies to me quickly.
"Nah, but it would be great." I reply.
"Any place we live would be fine as long as we have each other and our little family." Odette responds.
"So the house in Sweden, the mansion in Vegas, the penthouse on the Vegas strip..." I enquire.
"As long as we're together." She starts "But those houses are pretty."
The camera starts on the back of the casually dressed couple, before moving in to a wider shot, showing us standing in front of the very beautiful Palace of Versailles. The beautiful brick and marble architecture stands out in front of them, beaming in the midday sun. Huge columns and arched windows sit on the front of the building, adding extra splendor and luxury to the amazing sight before us.
You know, I lived out here for a while, and I think it's true when people say that when you live in a city, you fail to see how wonderful it is. I grew up in London, for years, I couldn't even tell you where Westminster Abbey was, or Big Ben, or anything like that. I never saw the Tower Of London or walked around it till I was a late teen. I don't think we appreciate things right before our eyes when it becomes an every day thing. I lived in this place for years, don't think I really appreciated seeing what my eyes are on now, back then. Maybe it's Odette, one of the few meaningful things in my life right now that's making me see things through these eyes now. I know we've been here on tour, back in the AWA days, we came here, and we ran around looking at stuff, shooting promos, all that crap, but it doesn't feel the same as it does right now.Odette reaches down, placing her hand in mine as she admires the beautiful building before us.
I think everything looks brighter when you're in love, and my life has looked brighter since the days when I lived here. She's the reason, she's a huge part of why I am who I am today. Synn put me on the right road, but who's to say where things might have gone without her being on this road too. "Why would we need a place like this?" Odette asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I look down at her, squeezing her hand.
"Cause you deserve the best." I start "And this looks pretty damn good to me. Could you imagine the animals running around here, charging around the place?"
Odette squeezes my hand back and looks up at me.
"We'd lose them in a place like this." Odette says thoughtfully.
"Nah." I start "They'll just be looking for every little gap, every little place to hide and play Commando, for when Rage visits. They'll be jumping out on his big bald head from the chandeliers."
A laugh escapes Odette's mouth as we continue to admire the palace in front of us.
"I think we have enough properties." Odette says with a sigh. "And a zoo soon too."
I nod in agreement with Odette.
People probably think it's wasteful for us to have all this stuff but to me, it's not really wasteful at it. We all choose to live our lives differently. We choose to have all these things, because at the end of the day, if you die a rich man, or die a poor man, we can't take money with us. It doesn't matter if you left the world with millions, you all go equal. We make a decent amount of money away from wrestling, we spend it, people stay in business, the people who have four kids to feed, earning piss poor money, still have a job to go to. If everyone with wealth put money back in to places, who knows, maybe we wouldn't have some kind of financial meltdown. Weird to say coming from the sin of Greed, but hey, I'm greedy for the right reasons now."Still think we should buy it." I mumble half jokingly.
Odette looks at me, her head shaking from side to side.
"We need to think about other things baby." Odette says "We're not always gonna be able to do what we do forever."
"I can still do illusions when I'm a hundred." I reply with a tilt of my head "They might be crappy illusions, and I might be a little bit slower but I can still do them."
Odette smiles as she playfully hits me on the chest.
"Really?" She starts "How are you gonna do a card trick when you get shaking hands?"
I stop to think for a second, my mind desperately searching for an answer, but knowing Odette was right.
"Maybe I should stick to 'got your nose tricks'" I reply
I put my hand if front of Odette's face, attempting the world renowned classic 'got your nose' trick, but Odette knocks my hand away.
"No." She says firmly.
"Why?" I reply quickly.
"Because this is you and you really might get my nose." Odette says with laughter in her voice.
I wonder if I really.... nah, that could get messy, not good."You're actually thinking about it, aren't you?" Odette says, before her jaw drops slightly.
My attempt at an innocent look cuts no ice with Odette as she shuts her mouth and gives me a firm look.
"Don't worry baby." I casually say "If I do come up with a way to do it, I'll try it on Rage first."
"You better!" Odette says firmly. "I don't want to wake up one morning and my nose has strangely vanished."
Odette and I start to walk around the grounds of the old chateau, looking at various things.
"I'll blame Princeton." I say with a shrug
"Princeton's a cat." Odette says dryly.
"You got a picture of him the other day pulling a levitation trick!" I reply
If you haven't seen the pic, please go to Twitter, follow @OdetteRyder. I laughed at that pic for an hour. That's my boy Princeton!Odette stares at me as I smile back and we continue to walk.
"You know he cheats when racing too, right?" Odette says.
"He's a cat." I start "How can a cat cheat?"
Odette looks at me, seeking an answer.
"Tail grabbing and shoulder barges!" She stutters out.
I nod slowly, holding back a laugh.
"Maybe the rabbits need to be referees." I reply, still holding in a laugh.
Odette looks at me seriously as we step on to the grass nearby, where many others lay about. Odette and I step through a gap where people lay.
"Ce sont ces lutteurs SCW" A man says as we walk past.
Odette stops and looks at me.
"I got the SCW part." She says before biting her lip "But what else did he say?"
"It's those SCW wrestlers" I reply.
I turn to the man.
"Oui, nous sommes des lutteurs SCW. Comment ça va?" I reply.
"Je suis bon. Puis-je avoir votre autographe?" The man asks.
I look at Odette.
"Autograph baby." I tell Odette.
The man hands my a napkin and a pen and I quickly sign my name across the limp paper, before handing the pen and napkin to Odette. Odette signs her name before handing it back to the very happy looking man.
"Magnifique, merci beaucoup" The man says excitedly, showing it to his less than impressed lady friend, clearly more concerned with enjoying the sun.
"Vous êtes les bienvenus, un bon jour" I reply before taking Odette by the hand, leading her through the grassy area.
"I didn't know you spoke such good French." Odette says, looking impressed.
"Live here for a few years, you kind of pick it up." I start "If they can teach sign language to a monkey, I can pick up French."
Odette smiles as we find a vacated place in the grass. I sit down first, allowing Odette to sit down and lean across me, our eyes gazing on the wonder of the palace a short distance away.
"You sound sexy when you speak French." Odette says, shading her eyes from the sun.
"Even though you have no idea what I'm saying?" I ask with a smile.
"No." Odette replys "but sounds sexy."
I lean down, placing my lips close to Odette's ear.
"Ce soir, je vais passer les étoiles pour vous, pour vous montrer combien Je t'aime. Nos vies ensemble sera éternellement lié sous les étoiles." I whisper.
Odette tilts her head to look at me as I smile at her.
"What does that mean?" She asks.
"I'll show you later." I say confidently.
"What's happening later?" Odette asks.
I stroke Odette's hair out of her face, looking down as her as she lays her upper body across my legs.
I could stay like this forever. I will never get sick of just looking in to those beautiful eyes. I will never get tired of having her so close to me. This is the woman I'm going to m."Baby?" Odette says, snapping me from my thoughts. "Are you ok?"
"Sorry, was a million miles away then." I say quickly.
"I hope you took me with you." Odette replies.
"Of course." I fire back.
I lean down to kiss Odette on the head, causing her to smile.
"So what are we doing tonight?" Odette asks.
"Well..."
Don't give the game away too much. Just be cool about this and if the moment hits, the moment will hit."You're doing it again." Odette remind me.
"Sorry baby." I reply "We're gonna go out to dinner. then I'm thinking a little stroll in the moonlight, along the river."
Odette puts her hand on the back of my head, pulling me down to kiss me firmly on the lips. She let's her grip soften, allowing my head to move away.
"Sounds perfect." She replies.
Odette's hand stays behind my head, as she looks at the castle.
Now would be a great time, but no, it's the wrong time, it doesn't fit in to what I wanna do. If people could read my thoughts right now, they'll wonder what the hell I'm talking about. Should be glad they can't."I wish I was with you last time you was here" Odette says.
"Last time we was here baby, was a bit of chaotic time to say the least." I reply.
"What happened?" Odette asks, rolling back over and looking up at me.
"Well Synn wanted to give Despy all he wanted, tried to allow him to be a bit freer and enjoy himself, but Despy decided he was gonna make things a little crazy for us." I say calmly.
Odette leans up, looking at me.
"You know how Despy has a thing about finding things that aren't real, that aren't there?" I say curling my lip down.
"Oh no." Odette starts "Who was he looking for?"
"Well we were in Notre Dame." I say turning my head.
"He wasn't?" Odette says leaning up further.
"He was." I reply with a nod.
"No!" Odette says shocked.
"Yep" I start "He spent ninety percent of his time in Paris running around Notre Dame, looking for the hunchback. He set traps and everything."
Odette covers her mouth.
"Are you serious?" She asked with a surprised tone in her voice.
"Completely and utterly serious." I say in my best serious tone. "When he couldn't find him in the time we was here, he got upset."
"What happened?" Odette asks.
"Synn changed the flights and we never got to the next city for three days after everyone else." I reply with a shrug.
"But what happened when he couldn't find him after then?" Odette asks.
"Who said he didn't find him?" I fire back.
Odette sits up straight, looking me in the eye.
"Say that again?" She says, her Australian tone filling the air.
"I said who said he didn't find him?" I repeat.
"No way!" Odette says with her eyes wide.
"He found a guy who he believed was the hunchback." I say with a smile "He was happy, Synn was relieved."
"Do you think Synn..." Odette says before trailing off.
"Of course." I reply "If not, we could have been stuck here for a long, long time. Despy was determined to find that guy. Wouldn't give up the search at all."
Odette lays back down across me, looking up at the sky. I put my hand on her forehead, blocking the sun from her eyes.
"Smart move from Synn." Odette says.
"Very smart move from Synn." I reply "Speaking of smart moves."
"Yes?" Odette says
"Us against the top SCW champions on Sunday." I say.
"What about it?" Odette responds with her eyes closed.
"Sneaky way of getting me against the champion." I reply
"Just giving you what you deserve" Odette replies.
Do I deserve it? I mean what have I done lately? Well, actually, I haven't exactly lost lately. I think the last match I actually lost was when I was teaming with Roxi against the lovely lady laying across me, and Jordan Williams. I haven't lost since and that was back in March. Maybe this gorgeous young lady is right and seeing things that I'm not, maybe I should be aiming higher than I actually am aiming."Penny for your thoughts?" Odette says without opening her eyes.
"Just thinking about how glad I am I have you looking out for me." I start "Glad that you're pushing me to be better and better."
"You know you can step in anywhere and take titles." Odette starts "So you really should. You've worked hard for SCW for nearly two years, you should be the one at the top right now."
"You're wise beyond those twenty five years sweetheart." I say stroking her hair "And if we walk out of Climax Control with the win, maybe we should both be changing our goals and going for much bigger and better things."
Odette opens her eyes.
"The future is whatever we wanna make it." Odette says with a smile across her face.
You have no idea how right you are my darling."You know, I think it's time to change our future for the better." I say firmly, with a hint of determination in my voice.
Odette nods
And it starts tonight."Hey baby." I start "Maybe we should head back to the hotel now, relax on the balcony, drink some of that fine French champagne..."
Odette sits up.
"Sounds perfect." Odette says "What are we celebrating?"
I shrug my shoulders and tilt my head.
"We'll come up with something." I reply.
The scene fades out as Odette and I stand up to our feet. The camera spins to show The Palace of Versailles one last time before fading completely out.
Standing on the hotel room balcony, the sound of water running from the room the heard as my eyes focus fondly on Paris below. The city of love sparkles brightly as the sun starts to set behind the Eiffel Tower in the distance. I spin to face the camera as it focuses on my back. Now with me facing it, the Paris skyline is seen in the backdrop.
"Hello SCW from Paris. Thank you for following me out here, to let me get a fair bit off my mind, so while the beautiful Odette is in the shower, now would be the perfect time for me to speak to you all."
I take a deep breath, my eyes still looking in the camera.
"On Sunday, I face a slight problem, and I am not talking about my opponents. I'm talking about this match in general. It's been well documented that this match was not exactly my baby's dream match, nor was it mine per se, but my beautiful girlfriend decided to put me first to give me a match against the very talented heavyweight champion, Mr Simon Jones. She's pushed me constantly to better myself, she hinted at me going for Jordan too when he had the title, but me and Jordan, well, we've been down that road before, but this, beating Simon Jones would indeed put me in the driving seat to step up to take on Simon Jones for the title, should I walk out victorious this week. There is a flaw in Odette's plan, cause what's good for one, is good for the other, should we be successful, Odette should step up to challenge Roxi Johnson. Odette and I have been very reserved about titles, focusing on each other, letting things flow, but sometimes, you just can't change what's bound to happen, so on Sunday, we shall be stepping up and shaking things up a little bit."
A slight smile crosses my face.
"It's been a while since I can honestly say I've felt challenged. I mean that touring shit with that place we shall not speak of, didn't exactly offer Despayre and I a challenge, although we got to go to certain places like Atlantic Championship Wrestling, where we met stars like Simon Jones, but in the ring, there was nothing to really entertain us. I mean facing Crippler month in, month out, wasn't exactly challenging, beat him once, beat him every time. We stepped back from the SCW tag title run, watching, waiting, learning, with the sense of feeling we can swoop in anytime we want and give any champion a run for their money, it's there waiting. I haven't felt challenged since I took on Jordan Williams, and that man pulled off a big win against me, before I got revenge but Sunday, against the man who took down the man who took down me, I see this as more than a little challenge, I see this as THE challenge, the one that could put a match underneath me and set me on fire again. I can see why Odette wanted this one, because she wants to see that fire in me, that will send me flying."
The smile drops from my face and is replaced with a more serious look.
"That can only be good for me, but bad for champions, bad for the people in front of me."
The running water in the background stops running.
"Already, there's actually that warm feeling inside, that little flickering light that is one drop of accelerant before it lights up the damn room, because I will be in the ring with Simon Jones. A former cruiserweight champion in that place we shall not speak of.... in my view, the last ever cruiserweight champ, EVER, because let's be honest, they lost their heart, so you will always be the last ever cruiserweight champion there Simon. More importantly, right now, you are the man that leads the company, the man that leads Sin City Wrestling, the man that everyone looks up to, follows and chases. You're the heavyweight champion Simon, and you did it with some style. One, battle royal, taking out all those people from the beginning. People had to open their eyes right there and then, but to go on, at a huge supercard and defeat the legend that is Jordan Williams. I won't lie to you Simon, that one opened my eyes, but I thought to myself I wouldn't have to worry about facing you, I'll be defeating people in the tag division, yet here we are."
The wind blows my hair in front of my face, but I use my fingers to flick it out of the way.
"The thing is, there's not an ounce of worry in my system, there's not a touch of anything more than excitement in me as I get to test my skills against you Simon, and it's a test I'm ready, and more than capable of standing up to and moving past. I'm more than willing to ace this test and go where ever it is that my career is going. I have a whole world of respect for you Simon, the fact that you're headlining two show, in two weeks, with two different companies is a credit to who you are and your status in the wrestling world. I admit, I have slightly gone off the boil, but being in the ring with you Simon, is enough to lift my interest, it's enough to put that desire in to me to win, it's enough to make me step up and challenge and you know, there's only so many times you can hear 'Gabriel, you're good enough to be heavyweight champion. You're good enough to step up and take a spot at the top' before you start believing it. I'm starting to believe so this Sunday, I do not wanna disappoint. I don't wanna disappoint me, I don't wanna disappoint the fans, I don't and won't disappoint anybody."
I lean back on the rail, my eyes never leaving the camera.
"This is a huge chance for me, and Odette has a lot of faith in me, just by trying to put me in the same ring as you Simon, and I have no intention of letting her down. As much as I respect you Simon, as much as I see what a talent you are, and how much you're willing to put on the line to keep yourself in the spotlight, I'm about to mix things up, change the rules of the game. This is going to be an eye opening experience for you Simon, because after Sunday, you will see that challenges can arise from anywhere in Sin City Wrestling, that surprises can be pulled out of every place you can find, that even a tag team wrestler who has sat back observing for a while, can pull off a shock win."
I tap my jaw with two fingers.
"Although, when you look at the big picture, would it really be such a shock to see Odette and I win. We've both held those titles that yourself and Roxi Johnson both possess. We've both had the taste of that gold, and many more successes in between, we're both lifted those titles above out heads and celebrated. We know that feeling, that just might be enough to drive us on to show that we want that feeling again and this will be a big step forward in to getting that once more. Respect can only go so far Simon, but we're coming to win. We're coming to show the wrestling world, that we can step up our game, anytime we like, and we will be victorious on Sunday night."
I spin around, looking down at the streets of Paris. I speak, whilst having my back to the camera.
"I'd love to say my partner in crime next, but it's more like my partner in justice, or I was her sidekick or something, but Sunday will be the first time in months I've been in a ring with Roxi Johnson, my partner in the Blast From The Past tournament. Ironically, Odette was on the other team, battling to beat us that night, but we were so close, eh Roxi? So close to taking the prize at the end, so I know you're a talented wrestler, and congratulations on that Bombshell title win of yours. Only two in my mind could ever stop the darkness that is Misty, and both of you will be in the ring on Sunday on opposite sides. Both of you will be going to war. I don't know what will come of you two, but Roxi, we're confident and I won't let Odette's dream match turn in to a nightmare. This week, all Odette's dreams will come true."
The sound of footsteps cause me to spin around to see Odette Ryder wearing a white dress, figure hugging and sitting just above her knee. A white band sits atop of her flowing hair, hanging down to just above her hips, finished off with strappy, open toed, sparkling, gold heels. A wide smile crosses my face.
"You look stunning." I say through my smiling lips.
"Thanks." Odette replies, pushing her hair back behind her ear. "All my dreams, huh?"
My hand softly touches my back pocket.
"Oh you have no idea." I reply with a smile.
I quickly turn to the camera as I walk past it.
"We're coming to win on Sunday."
I lift Odette off her feet, spinning her around as she wraps her arms around my neck.
"Believe that!"
I place Odette back down to the ground and look at her smiling up at me.
"Ready?" I ask her.
"Sure." She replies "Where are we going?"
A smile crosses my face.
"You'll have to wait and see." I say with a wink.
The scene fades out as we walk off.
Later that evening.
My hand grips around Odette's slim finger as we stroll along the Île Saint Louis, one of two natural islands in the Seine river. Odette looks at me, her head glancing to her left, looking at me from her lower height as we slowly stroll the river banks. I move my hand from around Odette's, and run my fingers along her slender shoulders, my arm moving around her. The cool breeze kisses our cheeks as it runs through the thin gap between Odette's cheeks and my chest, with the stars looking down on us. Odette steps in closer, closing the gap and resting her head on my chest.
So beautiful. You know, sometimes, opportunity just falls in to your lap, and you just have to jump at it and take it with both hands. I think the biggest opportunity ever is right here, seriously, right here and right now.My hand slides down to my back pocket, reaching hold of something but Odette stops and spins in front of me, her arms moving up to my neck, and her hands locking around the back of my head, pulling me close and kissing me firmly on the lips. My hand falls down to the small of Odette's back and pulls her close in to me, pressing her body in towards my own as my breathing becomes firmer. Odette slowly pulls her lips away from my own, and gently opens her eyes. A smiles spread on both our faces as Odette bites her lower lip.
"I love you." she whispers, her words just creeping over the sound the warm Paris breeze.
My hand slides up her body to her cheek, my thumb rolling across her smooth face. I look deeply in to her emerald eyes and smile.
"I love you too sweetheart." I reply, unable to stop myself from smiling widely.
"Thank you for bringing me here." Odette says, her eyes full of life.
"You don't have to thank me baby." I start "This place was a big part of my life, and now you're a huge part of my life. This city gave me so many memories, not many good ones, but I wanna add one of the best memories of my life, to it. I needed you to be here while I did just that"
Odette scratches the back of my head.
"Every memory with you is a great one." I start "But there's this memory I want, one that I've wanted for so long, one I've wanted forever, but it took you to come along, to make me see how badly I wanted it."
Odette looks at me slightly confused. I move my hands up her arms and take her hands in mine, walking over towards the rails on the back on the Seine. I lean on the rail and look at Odette.
"What are you talking about baby?" Odette asks, her fingers firmly gripping mine.
Opportunity is knocking Gabriel, it's right there knocking, are you gonna open the door? Are you gonna let it in?I look at Odette, and kiss her on the side of the head, my arm moving back to her shoulder, my thumb gently stroking her shoulder.
"This here, is where I used to cheat greedy people out of all their money, because they were just waiting there to just give it to me." I start "And I look at all the time that has passed, I look at how every has changed."
Odette turns back to look at me, but my eyes stay focuses on the starlit river in front of us.
"I look at everything I've done in between then and now, and no one would have ever thought I'd have all that I have now. People thought I would have ended up in prison or dead by now but I have everything. I met Synn and Shane, I met Despayre, Rage, Fantasia, Kittie, I had friends for one of the first times in my life, and I was excited by the future, and there was a date in the future that came along, that one moment I was waiting for." I pause for a few seconds "August twelth 2013"
I look at Odette, a smile on her face.
"The days my dreams became reality." I say with a smile.
Odette wasn’t really sure where this was going, but a smile was plastered across her face.
"No matter what I do in my life O." I start "That day will be one of the single greatest days of my life."
“That day will always hold a special place in my heart as well Gabriel, if we didn’t have that day there wouldn’t be a Odette and Gabriel. I’m just glad you felt the same way, or that could have been slightly awkward”
I look Odette in the eye, listening to her words float across the night air.
"That day, I believed in love" I say with a smile "And when we went away, to St Lucia, I didn't just believe it, I felt it."
I really did. It's when I knew that this was the woman I wanted to spend my life with. It's eye opening.I look deeply in to Odette's eyes as I rest my arm on the rail. Odette runs her hand over mine, her eyes meeting my gaze.
"I always said I will live, when I find somebody to die for, and I have." I whisper "And when I found you, I knew you was the only woman I would move the stars for."
I quickly side step, moving behind Odette and lifting my hand up in front of her, pointing it towards the sky. The stars above us seem to start to move. Odette's eyes focuses on them.
“Gabriel, what on earth are you doing?” Odette says nervously as if she is waiting for me to pull out a master stunt.
I step slightly backwards as the stars start to form words in front of Odette's eyes. I stand back a little further as Odette starts to read them.
"Odette, will you marry me?" she mumbles slowly.
Odette's eyes widen.
"Wait.... what?" She says surprised.
Odette turns around, looking in front of her, but not seeing me. She looks down to see me on one knee, holding something in my hand.
<img src=http://www.instablogsimages.com/1/2012/04/18/worlds_most_expensive_engagement_ring_91thw.jpg>
For enquiring minds, Made by DeBeers, platinum body with eye catching 9 carat diamond at the center. One point eight three million dollars for any fella that wants to save to get one like this."It's saying something I should have said from day one, because I knew I was never gonna be with anyone else." I say, looking up at Odette.
Looking down at Gabriel with wide eyes, Odette’s right hand comes up to cover her mouth that had opened from shock. The city lights catch a tear that had already escaped her emerald eye, this was the perfect moment.
"So Odette Nicole Ryder..." I start "Will you marry me?"
