The Foundation Room
The Strip - Las Vegas, Nevada
What? Not the exact location that you were perhaps expecting? Completely understandable. To date, one has expected a certain 'mood setting' when it came to the appearances of the 'Bogey Man' of Sin City Wrestling; the specter known as Brother Grimm. Still, a being such as he would take a bit of delight in changing perception ... expectations. What better way to instill fear in those that disbelieve than by changing the storyline ... and providing you with something unexpected, from one where anything could come to be.
Of course, that is assuming that Grimm was even behind this change in setting, and he was indeed, not.
"This has to be perhaps the most ridiculous thing that you have ever asked of me." Brother Grimm seethed through clenched teeth.
He stood alongside the woman whom he has often referred to as his 'benefactress', the old world witch known as Baba Yaga. A sight indeed were these two, as Grimm was clad in his usual black attire, but changed to a slim degree to fit in more so with his more 'mortal' surroundings. A long sleeve, black dress shirt with matching tie, slacks ... the only thing he refused to change were the boots he wore on his feet. The elderly and some say, ancient, witch at his side wore something just as simple, if not still more tasteful; a black blouse and matching dress with hints of violet blended in, and a dark, almost blood-red shawl draped over her shoulders. Her long, gray hair was even pulled back and up in an elegant bun.
"You say 'asked' as if I had given you much of a choice." Baba Yaga mused with a soft smile that did nothing to betray the darkness in her heart. "So do stop complaining and try to simply enjoy yourself."
His eyes hidden behind dark shades at the witch's request, so as not to cause any intimidation from the amber stare of this 'grim' entity, Brother Grimm stopped their trek through the lobby of this establishment and turned his head to simply stare at her.
"I will take that suggestion as the ludicrous notion that I am certain that it was intended." He sneered before a slight tug on his arm directed him further along.
A velvet rope aided in their direction as they approached a podium where a man of moderate years in age stood in a uniform befitting the Foundation Room. The appearance of these two rather unique looking individuals gave him a slight start, but his training quickly took over and he regained his composure.
"Might I help you ... sir?" The host of the Foundation Room inquired.
"I sincerely doubt it." Grimm said simply and the ice in his words gave the man all the reason he needed to shiver uncontrollably.
Baba Yaga nudged Grimm in the arm with the back of her hand and stepped forward and spoke kindly to the host, "A reservation, under the name of Mister Goss." She tilted her head toward the pale male beside her, indicating the name to be his. As the host looked at the book of reservations, Grimm turned to her and silently mouthed, "What?" but he received no answer.
"Ah yes." The host said pleasantly. "Right here, and I do believe you have the patio."
"Excellent." Baba Yaga said and she took Grimm's reluctant arm and held tight as he attempted to pull it away, and they followed the host as he escorted them to the small, private elevator that would lead them upstairs.</color>
"Ah. I had wondered how those in power would allow me to celebrate the victory I so recently enjoyed over Jeremiah Hardin, the former Roulette Champion if Sin City Wrestling, and if you would pardon the pun, my payers seem to have been answered."
"Goth. Oh it has been quite awhile since last we met. Perhaps the one person in this whole, sad little world of whom I see as being as close to an equal as is possible. You, Goth, are not the same as all the others. You are not weak. You do not care what others think of you, and you act accordingly. An admirable quality to have in this day and age, and one so rare for the mortal coil when it is honestly held."
"The reign you and I shared as the Tag Team Champions is one that I still look back on, and believe it should not have ended as it did. Yet Fate plays cruel tricks, and in the end, I would dare say things worked out for the best, wouldn't you? After all, not one but two reigns as the SCW Heavyweight Champion that followed our joined reign? Impressive, to say the least. Very few amongst your peers can lay claim to such an accomplishment. And the fact that you bested that 'flash in the pan' Kevin carter for one of those very reigns? Oh that had to have made the satisfaction oh so much sweeter."
"And yet now, here you are, once again at my side to form perhaps the darkest combination in professional wrestling history. This time it is I who hold a championship around my waist, but I have all the confidence in the world that the Heavyweight title will be yours yet again. And now Goth, whom do we face on the date of our reunion? Why, two men who hold the very titles that were taken away from us."
"I would deem this to be something of a sense of poetic justice, wouldn't you?"</color>
The soft chime of the elevator signaled its arrival and as the doors slid open, Brother Grimm and Baba Yaga stepped out onto the carpeted floor where they were greeted by another host, a direct one of the restaurant itself. This man said nothing, having been alerted that there would be a fresh, new arrival at their establishment and to where they were to be seated.
The older man held a hand out to invite them to follow him, and indeed they did. Grimm cast a sidelong look toward the left of the foyer and saw what appeared to be a bar and lounge for the comforts of the clientele and so they might enjoy a drink before their reservations were made ready.
"Is it a fact that they provide private dining rooms to patrons?" Baba Yaga asked, inciting Grimm's curiosity.
"Indeed madam." The host answered as they entered the main dining hall of the Foundation Room.
<img src=http://images.anidori.com/xx/2081_8158.jpg>
The tables were filled with clientele who seemed to simply fit in with their surroundings, clad in fine clothes of suits and evening dresses. The sounds of idle chatter could be heard if one were to listen, and the soft 'clinking' of utensils against plates and glassware seemed like a gentle lull between words of conversation.
Despite their manner of 'normalcy' in their own clothes, Baba Yaga and Grimm seemed to draw curious stares from those seated at the tables as they passed en route to their own seating. Baba Yaga could have easily been mistaken for a kindly matron, or someone's grandmother, but the albino-pale form of Grimm was what seemed to draw the stares and wonderment of the men and women, young and old alike. As Grimm passed each table, those seated there felt an involuntary twitch of a chill racing up their spine, and an immediate pang of unexplainable fear. This only seemed to cause the talk of the new arrivals to grow in fervor, if not volume so as to betray their gossiping nature.
Not that it mattered as every word fell to the uncanny ears of not only Grimm, but Baba Yaga as well. One young woman who dined with an older gentleman and wore the refinement of a 'gold digger' with much enthusiasm, sneered as the pair passed and she whispered something derogatory in her cupped hand to her dining companion. Baba Yaga calmly cleared her throat and immediately afterward, the young woman had started to choke on her meal, prompting much concern from the staff and her companion.
"And yet you ask me to behave?" Grimm asked bemusedly as the host arrived at a double glass door with elegant wood paneling and framed with long, teal, tapered, heavy velvet curtains.
"Jocelyn will see to your comforts." The host spoke to them as a young woman in the same 'tuxedo' style uniform smiled, despite the immediate discomfort she felt swelling deep within her.
"Will she indeed?" Grimm mused and he received yet another nudge from the witch.
"Please." The timid Jocelyn stated. "Follow me." She proceeded to open the door to the patio and held it as she stood back, allowing Grimm and Baba Yaga to set foot out into the cool evening air of Las Vegas. Jocelyn continued, "It is admittedly difficult to get seating on the patio."
"Oh I have my ways. Baba Yaga stated simply and something about her smile made the young hostess twitch involuntarily before she escorted them over toward a lone table in the far corner, away from the others.
After taking their seats, Jocelyn excused herself and hurried away, as a waiter, a young man in perhaps his mid to ,late twenties, arrived at their table.
"Hello. My name is Noah." He stated. "May I start your evening off with something to drink?"
Grimm just stared vat the man, making him feel most uncomfortable, and allowed the witch to take the lead.
"I would prefer a nice red wine." Baba Yaga stated easily. "Dry."
"We have several types of dry wine, madam." Noah said. "Would you care to see a list?"
"Not necessary." She answered with a faint wave of her hand, dismissing his suggestion. "I place myself in your capable hands."
"Yes, madam." He said as he cleared his throat. Only then did he force himself to turn and address this frightening man who did not seem to want to take his eyes off of him. "A-and you sir?"
Grimm said nothing. He just watched the waiter until Baba Yaga broke the tension and the discomfort of the young waiter, despite enjoying it herself immensely.
"He'll have the same." Was all she said.
Noah thanked them both and turned to hurry away, leaving the tandem on their own.
Grimm, having finally had enough of the witch's games, turned to look at her over the single lit candle in the center of the table and he spoke, "So. Indulge me. What in the name of all creation put this into your head?"
"This ... what?" Baba Yaga asked innocently.
"Do not play me for a fool, witch." Grimm answered. "I am bound to you for your own reasons, but I am still as far beyond you as you are beyond them." He waved a hand idly, indicating all those around them. "First you had me take that ridiculous trek to gaze at Yule lights..."
"Christmas lights." She corrected.
"And I could care less." Grimm stated matter-of-factly. "I simply want to know why. Why you seem to enjoy pulling me out here into this ... environment, around the bacteria that calls itself mankind."
"Why, I would think you would be used to it by now." Baba Yaga smiled. "I mean, after all, you do find yourself surrounded by them whenever you are scheduled to compete."
"Yes, and I find that quite enough." Grimm answered. "So again, why here? Why now?"
All manner of frivolity faded from the witch's face as her eyes hardened. She turned her head to look out on the vast Vegas Strip that sprawled out over the horizon in the night air, the lights from every hotel, casino and beyond bringing this city to life even at such a late hour.
She turned back to him and said, "If you had any idea how many decades, no, how many centuries, I spent in my cottage, simply waiting, then the answer would be quite clear. And after that encounter with those two urchins... the one you simply refuse to drop the subject of..."
Grimm could not help but smirk in self satisfaction at the tale told long ago of two children and the witch in the candy fashioned cottage. A tale thought to be a simple nursery rhyme but in truth was far more than any realized.
Baba Yaga continued, "I waited even longer after that, simply recovering. And then, along came such an opportunity as to release the fabled Bogey Man from a prison crafted so expertly. It took me quite a lot of time and effort to undo what those Roma witches accomplished -- but I did!"
"And I salute you, your efforts." Grimm nodded his head to her.
Baba Yaga continued, "And only recently have I regrouped from that strain." Her voice swiftly took a cold, venomous tone too it. "So you will pardon me for wishing to get out in the world every now and then, now that I can!"
"Fine." Grimm stated simply. "You have made your point abundantly clear, madam."
"Then do please quite your childish griping." Baba Yaga said, picking up the menu in front of her. "And choose something you might enjoy dining upon. There should be something that wets your unique appetite."
Grimm exhaled harshly through his nose and turned his head to look out over the gathered throng of diners and staff. He raised his eyebrow and smiled.
"I do believe you are right."</color>
"Guns For Hire."
"I have heard much of these two men, and thus far, they have indeed lived up to the media hype offered them. Alone, both men have accomplished much, but together? Ethan Brody and Landon Axel collectively seem to have grasped the attention of those around them. Those higher ups and with influence who believe the world is theirs in the SCW Tag Team division."
"Sounds familiar, does it not? I can recall months ago when several in the know had stated the very same thing about Goth and myself. Both of us had reputations that preceded us in the individual ranks, and once we found ourselves paired together? Oh it was simply a matter of time before we had claimed the tag team gold for ourselves. Gold that you two now wear."
"Is it a portent, a sign of things to come? I have never given much weight to the notion of fate or destiny, but signs are indeed there that shall tell us of things to come. Warnings I prefer to call them."
"Heed those words of caution, Guns For Hire. Close that closet door. Check under your beds at night. And above all else... never, ever delve too deeply into the shadows."</color>
"So," Baba Yaga stated amicably, her gray eyes drifting upward from the empty plate before Grimm and to the 'man' himself. "Enjoy your meal, did you?"
Inside of the state of the art kitchen of the Foundation Room, a waitress stepped through the swinging door and immediately frowns.
"Noah?" She called out, but received no answer in return. "Noah. The boss is looking for you."
She walked around the shelves filled with fresh ingredients air wrapped tightly and on easy display, within reach of the head chefs that prepared the delicacies for the guests. She came up upon where the wall ovens were set up within the metallic wall units and sniffed.
Something did not smell right. As a matter of fact, it smelled quite foul. A sickenly sweet but pungent odor. It was then that she glanced up and spotted the thin waft of smoke emanating from one of the large ovens.
"Oh Christ..." She muttered, and grabbed one of the oven mitts. If the chef burned something, the boss would have his head. She grabbed the handle to the oven door and pulled it open ...
And immediately screamed at the sight of the charred mass embedded deep inside.
Grimm turned back from the sound to smile at Baba Yaga and he raised his glass of wine to her.
"I did indeed."</color></size>
