Off-Camera
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Zdunich Room
Hyatt Regency New Delhi
New Delhi, India
9:07 AM local time
Three days.
She had been in India again now for three days. She would be here another week before her next match with Char Kwan and it was starting to wear on her that she had chosen to come in for all the fan events and not been able to bring any family because it was not safe for her daughter to travel internationally and neither of her wives with currently employed by SCW. Alexandra “Diamond” Caldwell-Zdunich had never worked for SCW or SCU and Christina “Crystal Hilton” Zdunich had been fired much to the delight of many an on-looking spectator.
With SCU a thing of the past as well, that meant her sister-in-law, Linnéa Lacroix, wife of Seleana’s younger sister, Zenna, was non longer even tangentially employed here and neither was her daughter-in-law, Haylie Jo “Halo” Annis.
Given all of that, Seleana had taken to scheduling what would be evening video calls from home if only to give her something to do to keep a somewhat normal routine going. She smiles as the happy visage of Halo appears on her screen.
Halo: Heya, Mama Sel.
Seleana notes the light on her daughter-in-law’s face and smiles even brighter herself.
Seleana Zdunich: Heya, HayJo. How’s it?
Trying not to laugh, Halo shrugs.
Halo: Amazingly still in one piece, all things considered?
Seleana frowns, confusion reigning over her.
Seleana Zdunich: Why would you not be in one piece?
Hlo glances at the doorway and exhales, still trying not to laugh.
Halo: Well, Cass Baumer kind of suggested axe throwin’ to Cheech to alleviate boredom and…
Selean’s mouth falls open in shock and apprehension.
Seleana Zdunich: Chi Chi was keen to have a go?
Looking back to the camera, Halo smiles again.
Halo: Asked Jane to take her to the Home Despot to get one.
The elder blonde woman’s eyes go wide as her apprehension grows steadily with every passing second.
Seleana Zdunich: … is your home…?
Halo raises a hand to try and calm her mother-in-law down some.
Halo: I caught them before they left the second time to show Chi Chi how it works. The Colonel taught me, Ames and GoGo when we were small how to do it… knives too…
Nodding with relief, Seleana grins slightly, still visibly taken aback by the entire idea.
Seleana Zdunich: And she was still keen?
Halo nods knowingly in the affirmative.
Halo: Christmas in August. Eyes lit up like a damn tree in Central Park!
Seleana starts to laugh, amusement clearly visible on her face.
Seleana Zdunich: How did it go?
Halo shrugs.
Halo: She clanged a few at first, then she started to get the hang of it. She ain’t gonna win any competitions or nothin’ any time soon but woe to the stupid fuck tries to rob this place with her in it! She’ll be decidin’ whether to go for teefies, or other appendages just for the fun of it. It’ll be a hell of a woodshed moment for ‘em!
Pausing, Halo almost laughs yet again.
Halo: And that was before Cass suggested go-karts to Cheech too!
Seleana’s eyes go wide yet again.
Seleana Zdunich: She already drives too fast, ja?
Halo shrugs.
Halo: I don’t know, I ain’t never been in her car. She’s usually gettin’ on her bike or jumpin’ into that Fast & Furious thing way too quick for me to keep up with her… but probably. It’s Cheech, she don’t do slow generally.
Seleana Zdunich: That would not turn into full contact bumper karts?
Now it’s Halo’s turn to be caught so off-guard her mouth falls open.
Halo: Don’t be sayin’ that too loud or Cheech’ll think it’s a thing and wanna do it so bad she’ll wanna set up track here just to have herself a time at it!
Seleana shrugs apologetically.
Seleana Zdunich: She and Cass both enjoy hardcore, ja?
Halo: Enjoy probably ain’t the word…
The two blonde women share a laugh as they both nod to each other knowingly picturing the little tattooed Japanese dynamo going full Tasmanian Devil behind the wheel.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja, is true.
Halo frowns as she looks at the room.
Halo: Where’s Mama Chrys?
Seleana simply shrugs.
Seleana Zdunich: I do not know.
Halo suddenly frowns, confusion seemingly setting in along with a side dish of dismay.
Halo: But you gotta know she’s there in India, right?
Seleana nods, aggravation obvious on her face.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja, I know. I know she has not told me her plans. So I am here waiting for the match with Char Kwan while Christina does whatever she has convinced herself will help her now. I know she has convinced herself this is the real her… again.
Halo sits back in her chair.
Halo: You don’t sound convinced.
Seleana shrugs.
Seleana Zdunich: She is acting again. Thus, Char Kwan.
Halo nods.
Halo: Whatcha got there?
Seleana shrugs.
Seleana Zdunich: She shows flashes. But something always stops her and the last time it did, she took extended holiday.
Halo: So she’s just come back to prove she ain't no bitch?
The older woman nods in the affirmative again.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja. She should be in contention for many things. She has given it a go and…
Seleana shrugs.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja, he is back to give it a go again.
Halo nods.
Halo: So this is an opportunity for both of you then.
Seleana nods back.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja. It is an opportunity for me to maintain my recent momentum while for her, it is a chance to make her own.
Halo looks back to the door again.
Halo: Same time tomorrow?
Seleana smiles.
Seleana Zdunich: Ja, tack.
Halo looks back to the camera and nods.
Halo: Of course, love ya Mama Sel!
Seleana Zdunich: I love you too, HayJo.
