“There’s just something about a teddy bear that’s impossible to explain. When you hold one in your arms, you get a feeling of love, comfort, and security. It’s almost supernatural.” -
James Ownby
So! That was some adventure we had last time around, huh? Teddy bears! Dragons! What more could a viewer ask for in the world of Despy and Angel? Well, as it turns out there are plenty of other tales to be told where our heroes are concerned, and not all of them center around the world of Make Believe. After all, not everything where Despayre is concerned can be all fun and games. Every so often, we have to take a step back and bring things closer to home. A touch of reality, if you will.
Monday - Las VegasThis was why we found the red Corvette Z06 driving down the city streets in the famed “City of Sin,” weaving expertly in the mid morning traffic, somewhere between the suburbs where they called home and the ‘big city’ itself. The weather was pleasant with bright blue skies and nary a cloud, and warm temperatures that foretold spring was just around the corner. Both windows were down, allowing the luxury of the cool breeze to waft over warm flesh. The driver paid close attention to the road before him while stealing the occasional glance toward his passenger; a young man with both arms on the window and his head relaxed on his forearm, long, black hair whipping in all directions.
“You know going so early to Panda is just asking to be disappointed.” Despayre spoke from the passenger seat. “They’re just opening and they never have the good stuff ready.”
Synn replied, “I never understood why they don’t have everything ready at opening, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m sure everything will be ready by the time we go for lunch after your doctor appointment.”
The sudden swell of silence that followed immediately after gave Synn cause to turn his head to find his son staring at him with inquisitive eyes.
“What - doctor’s appointment?”
“Don’t play innocent with me, Joshua.” Synn answered as the car turned a corner. “You’re getting your first vaccine shot this morning.”
“What!?” Despayre cried. “A shot!? Why wasn’t I informed about this!?”
“You were.”
“Was not!”
“I happen to know for a fact that you were listening in on my call with your doctor.” Synn pointed out.
“Oh yeah!?” Despayre put on his most affronted ‘Who, me?’ face. “What makes you so sure?”
“Well for starters, you always do.” Synn answered matter of factly. “And two? It wasn't the assistant who cried out ‘Oh no!’ over the extension.”
The ‘busted!’ expression on his boy’s face only made Synn smile with genuine affection at his innocence, pulling into the parking lot of the Redrock Medical Clinic…
...And mere minutes later, Despayre was seated on the exam table in the private room, with Synn seated nearby, watching closely as his son’s doctor, Patricia Prince, made ready for his first immunization shot. Despayre’s trademark trench coat was draped over Synn’s lap, and Doctor Prince had rolled up his sleeve in preparation. Despayre was fidgeting, clearly nervous, but he did not act out as he might in other circumstances such as with his dentist.
It was a bit of a psychological ploy Synn had encumbered with his son, feeling somewhat guilty at the form of manipulation. Synn had ensured his boy’s physician was female because he knew despite his animalistic instincts, Despayre would never lash out physically with a woman.
“I don’t like shots.” He whined, to which Doctor prince smiled and said in a soft voice, “Nobody does Joshua, but you’re being very brave.” Yes, she was well aware of his mental state. She would have had to have been made aware from day one.
Despayre looked to her and said more in a statement than a question, “I heard this will make me not feel good.”
“There are some possible side effects, Joshua.” The doctor answered. “Just like with most medications. Mild, flu-like. But nothing I am certain you can’t handle. And there is no guarantee you will experience any of them.”
She started to wipe his bare arm with an alcohol swab and he winced, closing his eyes tightly and whining, “Ow! Ow! Ow! It hurts!”
“Joshua…” Synn pointed out. “She’s just using a swab on your arm to ready the shot.”
“Oh.” he turned and she held up the swab for him to see, before he turned back to his dad. “I knew that.” He tried to play the gaffe off innocently enough when he opted then to ask, “What about you?” Despayre frowned, eyeing his father. “How come you don’t have to get one?”
To which Synn answered, “I got mine last week, remember?”
“Was that why you were sick and grumpy?”
Synn scoffed, but nodded with a stiff smile, “I did have some side effects, yes, Joshua. But as for my ‘grumpiness,’ well according to Theresa, I need not be sick for that.”
Despayre giggled when the doctor stepped back and said, “There we go.”
“Que?” Despayre turned to her and found her placing a cotton ball and band-aid over where she had just delivered the injection. “It’s over?”
“Yes.” The doctor smiled. “That didn’t hurt, did it?”
Despayre looked down at the Band-Aid, then stared at her for a moment. He then turned to Synn and asked, “If I say ‘ow,’ we’re still going to Panda Express for lunch. Right?”
Wednesday morning“So, how’s our boy doing?” Gabriel Stevens, best friend and ‘big brother’ by heart if not by blood to Despayre, asked over the facetime screen on the video chat. Synn sat in the kitchen with the laptop open, and he lowered his coffee to the island counter surface before he gave the screen his undivided attention.
“How did you know?” Synn asked, Gabriel having called him only moments ago. “Joshua didn’t call you, did he?”
“No, he didn’t have to.” Gabriel shook his head in the negative from his end of the call, at the GO Gym across town. “But he didn’t come to the Gym this morning like he had planned, and you told me he got his first shot yesterday so I put two and two together.”
“Well look at you, going all Sherlock Holmes.” Synn joked. His mood then quickly grew somber and he said, “I was actually hoping that when Tuesday passed, it meant he likely passed any side effects but such wasn’t the case for the poor kid.”
That morning, Synn walked into the kitchen for the morning meal and was greeted by Theresa, their live-in housekeeper and an honorary member of their little family. Upon his arrival, Theresa started to serve a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon and waffles onto a plate and set it in front of Synn with a tall, black coffee. Synn looked around and shook his head.
“You’re serving waffles and Joshua hasn’t stampeded downstairs yet?” Despayre’s multiple medications usually coerced the lad to sleep later than normal, but when there were waffles being served, the boy woke up alert as if by radar.
“No.” Theresa shook her head as she returned to the stove and counter, wiping her hands on her apron. “I half expected to be run over the moment I made the first one.”
Synn started to stand when the firecracker of a woman waved him back down into his seat, “You eat. I’ll go see if he’s up.” And she exited her domain as Synn sat back down, but didn’t begin his meal as his deep, green eyes watched after her.
“Joshua?” Theresa gently knocked on the door of his hidey-hole aka his bedroom. “Are you awake?”
With no answer save for a soft, barely audible whimper, she pushed the door open and took a look inside. A messy room as was the usual, but that was not her immediate concern. Across the room was the king sized bed, and the comfort disheveled and a form clearly underneath. She walked around the room, paying careful heed not to step on any errantly sprawled out toys or goodies, until she arrived at the head of the bed.
Despayre was curled up in his usual fetal position, but he was clearly in discomfort, his eyes barely open. She asked, “Joshua, what’s wrong?” Although she strongly suspected she already knew the answer.
“I don’t feel good!” He said softly. She extended a hand against his forehead, and then in old-school manner, leaned over to press her lips against his head. Just to be sure. She stood upright and sighed. He had a fever. And the way he was huddling into his blankets, the chills as well.
“I’ll go fetch your poppa.” She turned and made her way from the room…
“So it’s just the fever and chills?” Gabriel asked as we rejoined the conversation held at the Synn household currently. “Nothing more serious?”
“No, that’s all. No coughing or breathing issues. Although the way that boy is carrying on, you’d think he had it all.” Synn smirked. “He’s really working it for the extra attention.”
“Are you surprised?” Gabriel laughed, despite himself. “Look who his daddy is! My Despy knows how to work a situation to his advantage!”
Synn could not even begin to deny the truth behind that statement, and while Synn himself was a master manipulator for what some would accuse of being unethical reasons or for the benefit of those closest to him, such was not the case where Despayre was concerned. He simply reacted to not feeling well like any young one might, and if it just so happened to net him an extra dessert from Theresa, who was he to argue?
“He’ll be okay in time for his match, right?” Gabriel asked, to which Synn answered with a nod.
“His doctor said the side effects would clear in one to three days. Plenty of time for him to recover and be ready on Sunday. I’m just hoping all is well by Friday.”
“Why?” Gabriel asked. “What’s happening Friday?”
“Joshua has a dinner guest to entertain.”
Gabriel asked, “Another Jehovah Witness?” H6e choked back a laugh, knowing of his Despy’s habit of inviting in almost anyone who came to the door close to supper time. Many a Jehovah Witness and Avon lady had found themselves seated at the dinner table before they were even fully aware of what was happening.
A habit Synn had yet to manage to break his son of.
Synn finally said, “Not exactly…”
Friday evening“She’s here! She’s here!” Despayre’s excited yet sharp cry was heard from upstairs as the doorbell rang. Theresa dutifully answered the front door, and upon its opening, there stood none other than Despayre’s “Blast From the Past” tag team partner and perennial threat to the Bombshell division, Amber Ryan.
She smiled, even if it seemed a touch tight. A new environment might be the cause, or at times their home did have that effect on first-time visitors. Just ask O’Malley and Darcy. Perhaps it was just the thought of ‘dining’ with strangers, but for some reason, when she had received the invitation to come to dinner, she was unable to answer in anything other than a positive.
Theresa held the door for her and bid her to come inside, and Amber set foot inside of the foyer, dressed in a white, button up blouse and jeans with a light gray blazer. As Theresa shut the door behind her, Amber found the imposing figure of Synn, Despayre’s father, standing there also in the foyer of his home, watching her with a careful eye. He knew his son was growing friendly with this woman in the early stages of their partnership, but he also knew she had a somewhat violent if distasteful reputation with the other Bombshells in SCW. And he was nothing if not protective of his son.
“Miss Ryan, I’m glad you could make it.” Synn spoke first, easing some of the tension that had seemingly spiked.
“Well, thanks for inviting me.” Was her tight lipped response, as her eyes were drawn all over the house’s modern and spacious interior before she righted herself in the moment, and returned her eyes to him.
Their eyes met and if there was any tension, it was subdued with the barest trace of a smile to the big man’s lips. He shook his head and said, “Oh I did not. This night was entirely Joshua’s planning. You’ve been so gracious to him, taking him for ice cream and to the wax museum, he wanted to repay you.”
“That wasn’t necessary.” Amber offered in reassurance. “I was happy to do it. It helped us get to know each other a little better as partners.”
“Well, that’s just the type of person my son is.” Synn replied as Theresa took the blazer from Amber to hang it up nearby. “He even asked Theresa to make his favorite meal to share with you.”
Amber couldn’t help but feel a little pleased that Despayre went to such lengths - and for her! It just reinforced the growing affection she was developing for the young man and his non judgmental outlook on life, and where she herself was concerned.
“That’s - really nice.” She said. “What’s his favorite meal?”
“Meatloaf.” Theresa answered matter-of-factly as she walked back past Amber and headed again for the kitchen. Meatloaf? Not she felt just a touch overdressed but Synn started to escort her closer to the hall where a plush chair was conspicuous in its placement against the wall at the bottom of the stairs. It was a nice chair, but it was obvious it did not belong there if not for a specific reason.
Not that she would have questioned it, and even if she had the mind to, the answer came soon enough as from upstairs she heard her name called, “Amber! Hi! You came!”
Her eyes roamed to the top of the stairs where there was Despayre, waving at her excitedly with a bright smile on his face and that teddy bear tucked against his chest. Then, unexpectedly (for her at least!), rather than walk or run down the stairs, Despayre swung a leg over the banister and slid down! And as he slid, the momentum grew faster and faster until he lost control at the base and flew off!
Synn casually took her by the shoulder and moved her back just a fraction of an inch so that Despayre rocketed past her rather than INTO her and *WHOMP*! She and Synn turned to find the smiling Despayre upside down somehow in the chair, its soft cushions protecting him.
She turned her wide eyes from Despayre who struggled to right himself and looked to Synn who watched his son and shook his head before addressing her, “We used to have a console table in that spot. A rather nice vase and painting on the wall too.” He sighed, “But it got to be a touch expensive to upkeep so we went with…” And he motioned toward the chair.
Amber could not help herself as her lips twitched in bemusement, stating, “I bet it makes for a more comfortable landing, too.”
“And more fun!” Despayre smiled as he jumped to her side, taking her by the arm.
“C’mon! I’ll give you the bland tour!”
“You mean grand tour?” Synn raised his eyebrows, correcting his son but Despayre huffed, his free hand solidly on his waist. “That’s what I said!” And he took off, yoinking Amber along after him! Only a split second later did Synn spin around in the direction they disappeared to and he called out, “Joshua! Do NOT jump in the pool like you did last time!”
“Awww!”
The tour had ended, and Amber had to admit that when giving a tour, Despayre was very - thorough? The house was immense and spacious, and had much to admire. From his special ‘hidey hole’ bedroom to the entertainment room and everywhere in between, but she hadn’t expected for the house’s bathrooms to be on the itinerary.
She had a glass of a honey-infused scotch in her hand, Synn’s personal favorite spirit and poured for her by Synn himself from his private room-turned-pub that Gabriel had built for him years ago. Despayre had tried to do so himself when the tour happened into that room, but luckily Synn had found them in time before Despayre could get hold of any of the bottles he had on reserve. It was a rule that Synn held steadfastly to, despite his penchant for spoiling Despayre. He was not allowed to touch anything with alcoholic content. Given his medications, it was a recipe for disaster.
They entered the dining room, set nicely for five - wait, five?
Amber asked, “Are you expecting someone else?” But a piece of the puzzle was solved when Despayre skipped around to a specific chair with a pile of phone books in the seat. He carefully placed Angel down in his special spot, then unfolded the clock napkin and tucked it into the bow tie under the teddy bear’s ‘chin.’ Amber almost felt silly for not having had guessed that this would be the case, but that still left the fourth setting to be explained.
“That’s my seat!” Despayre said proudly. “I get to sit beside you! Dad sits at the head of the table and Theresa sits there.”
“Theresa…?” Amber started to ask but stopped herself quickly, not wanting to question something she had no right. She thought that household staff usually took their meals in other rooms, perhaps the kitchen, but clearly this was not the case in this little close-knit family.
The table was laden with a homemade feast, which only wet Amber’s appetite. She was not much of a cook so the opportunity to have a home cooked meal was most welcome. The large meatloaf sat on the center plate, still piping hot, and there were bowls filled with greens and au gratin potatoes, ready to be served to whomever wanted them. And the smells made Amber want them and more.
Theresa finally entered the dining room, carrying a pineapple upside down cake, obviously the evening dessert. Synn took it from her to set in place, and before the housekeeper could take her seat, Synn dutifully held her chair out - an act that caught Amber unaware; the head of the household treating the housekeeper with such high regard and respect. It was only when she heard Despayre say, “Here you go Amber.” That she turned and saw that he was repeating the very same gesture - for her. Slowly she sat down and once the ladies had taken their seats, then did Synn and Despayre take their own.
Amber finally found herself growing comfortable as an offered plate was passed over to her hands, and a pleasant evening meal ensued.
“You know, when this team was first made official on Twitter, I had a lot of reservations. Considering we spent months watching Amber Ryan decimate the Bombshell division in and out of the ring, how could I not help but feel cautious where Despayre was concerned? Roxi Johnson. Christina Rose. All people who have crossed paths with Amber and not in a friendly way, and both of who have a friendly relationship with Despy. The first thought that crossed my mind was, ‘She already has a world title shot secured. What if she tries to use this tournament as a means to hurt Despy, and by proxy, hurt Roxi and Christina?”
“But as it turns out, my fears were pretty much unwarranted. Oh sure, I won’t lie and say Amber is entirely without fault, because I don’t lie. But where Despayre is concerned, she has been nothing but supportive; inside the ring and out. Inside the ring, she has fought tooth and nail if not for herself, than to certainly help Despayre get one step closer to becoming a two-time Blast From the Past winner, and that all-important World Championship opportunity. That’s a pretty selfless thing to do for a woman who many think of being -- completely selfish. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“And outside of the ring, she had no reason to hang out with Despayre, but the simple truth is that she wanted to. First she wanted to get to know him as a tag team partner, and once that door was opened, she wanted to get to know him as a person. It happens. It’s just the effect that my boy has on people. They hung out, talked -- well, she did most of the talking. Babes have that bashful effect on Despayre. But she didn’t have to do any of this, and yet she did.”
“Mark Cross and Krystal Wolfe were a surprisingly tough team to beat, and some say that Amber and Despayre were lucky to make it past the opening round. And now that they’re here, there’s another team to beat because one is a current champion, and the other is a former.”
“I’m a little disappointed that they have to face Candy, because despite what some might think of her (Amber included), I happen to enjoy Candy’s company and her personality. And I know for a fact that Despayre feels the same way. The two have had some fun exchanges on Twitter, and even looked forward to the possibility of teaming with one another before the official drawings had been made. She reminds me a little of my boy, Despy! In so many ways, in the ring and with that charming personality of hers. The simple truth is, like with Despayre, people tend to gloss over Candy’s past accomplishments and think of her as a stepping stone to bigger and better opposition. She’s looked at as an ‘underdog.’ Any win she gets people consider a surprise or an upset and that’s SO not fair! Candy is a former Roulette Champion! She beat Sammi Marlowe for that title and if THAT doesn’t say something, then I don’t know how else I can make you believe a word I say!”
“Candy has had more than her share of wins inside of the ring! Whether you want to admit it or not, Candy can and has pulled off some big wins -- but then again, so has Amber. I am glad SCW doesn’t allow intergender wrestling because Despayre wouldn’t want to step into the ring with any woman, but Amber? I am more than confident that Amber can be Despy’s rock where the Bombshell on the opposite side of the ring stands. Let Amber have Candy in the ring (haha! Get it?), Despy has this under control.”
“Now Coby Quik -- if anyone has an edge in this tournament aside from Mikah, it’s Coby. He is a Mixed Tag Team Champion in a mixed tag team tournament! Does that give him an edge? Well it certainly tells us that he has a handle on the environment, but is he better off than anyone else? Well if his partner happened to be Mikah, I’d say most definitely! But he’s had as little time with his ‘new partner’ as any of the rest of the entrants, so he is in as much of a pickle team wise as anyone else.”
“The one thing that really has me interested is the fact that Coby and Despayre are so close in size! You see, Despy has always been the smallest man in the ring. His own partner in this tournament is taller than he is! He’s 5’6” and MAYBE 160 pounds! Only once before has Despayre ever been in the ring with someone the same size as him and that was the Great One aka J2H! But now, here Coby comes along; a couple inches taller and roughly the same weight. You know what that tells me?”
“When those two boys are in the ring, we are going to be in for a -- wait for it -- Cruiserweight Classic! I won’t try and downplay anything about Coby or his accomplishments (except for MAYBE how he got hold of his half of the Mixed Tag titles). He’s fast - LIGHTNING fast! If anyone could match Despayre for speed, the closest I would say would be Coby. Maybe. But he’s also a pretty nifty submission wrestler. At that size, you’d have to pick up a few tricks to whittle down men two or three times your own size. For Coby, it’s submissions. For Despayre…?”
“Well, his family and friends don’t call him a force of nature for no good reason! Sure, he knows how to slap on a submission hold or two, but the simple fact is that Despayre is so unpredictable inside of the ring and so unorthodox, there’s just no way to properly prepare for him! Coby could go through the finest training at the hands of Kris Ryans and Jet City (and I’m sure he has), but you just can’t prepare for a storm that’s going to hit you from out of nowhere! Despayre loves to take to the sky, just like Coby. It comes as natural to him as it does to a bird. But Despayre is also as likely to bites your nose off as he is to put you in a crossface! It’s just his way, an instinct if you will. And if you think THAT”S bad, then you should see what happens when you get him upset! Or worse, if you HURT him! Many opponents over the years have said the hardest part about wrestling Despayre is simply catching him, and I agree. But if you want a real headache, if you want to know when you’ve passed a point of no return when you’re in a match with him? Take control of the match. Get him down. Hurt him.”
“That’s when you lose the innocent, fun loving Despayre and the animal comes out to play. Just ask the Hall of Famer Goth what happened when he hurt Despayre. Find out where Chris Shipman is and ask what happened when Despayre felt threatened. That’s where you can’t help but forget his size, and find out just how dangerous he can really be as a wrestler, and a fighter.”
“In fact, Coby, why not ask someone a little closer to home? Ask Kris Ryan what it’s like to step inside of the ring against Despayre. The answer may not be what you want to hear, but it’s everything that you need to know. If the man responsible for your training was unable to put Despayre down for the proverbial count, you have to ask yourself;”
“What chance do I have?”
“When this team was first announced, the majority of the entrants were concerned and rightly so. Amber’s in-ring dominance was without question, and Despayre? In his entire in-ring career he’s been pinned a grand total of THREE times! Some look at tag teams whose members are carbon copies of one another, but if you ask me, the absolute greatest teams are the ones who have more differences between them than they do similarities. When I look at Despayre and Amber, that’s the type of team that I see. They have little in common, but their differences make up for the team that made the entire wrestling world go “Oh (censored)!”
“That right there will be your 2021 Blast From the Past Champions!”
