So, be honest with yourself? Have you read the J2H roleplay yet? Well, if you hadn’t, take my advice; go do so now because if you proceed things might not make a lick of sense. In fact, let me lend you a helping hand;
https://www.scwrestling.net/boards/index.php?topic=17249.0There! That’s better! And now you don’t have an excuse!
Cairngorm Ski Centre -
Scotland The sleek, black Ford Fiesta slowed to a crawl in the gravel drive that led to the Cairgorm Ski Center, pulling into one of the vacant spots and the engine shut off. In the passenger seat, a visually annoyed J2H turned his head to look toward his Blast From the Past partner, Devona, and she could read his obvious annoyance as if it were a book etched upon his face.
Devona appeared confused and asked, “What?”
“A hike.” J2H said with no emotion to his voice whatsoever. “
That's your brilliant bonding idea?”
Devona could only roll her eyes in faux indifference. She quipped, “What's the matter, James? Leave your gold plated hiking boots at home?”
J2H barked, “I didn't bring any hiking boots, and you damn well know it!”
“Oh my God!” Devona fell back against the driver seat, her head fallen back against the head rest as well, her eyes in the air and she shook her head. “You've complained about everything from my car of choice to the activity!”
“Well I'm
sorry!” J2H huffed. (Newsflash - he really wasn't.) “But I'm not exactly accustomed to what you consider a lap of luxury for a car! I could have done without a two-hour ride in this cheap tin can!”
Pushing her driver side door open, the bonus slipped her legs out but cast a little over her shoulder back at James. She said, “And I could have done without two hours worth of your going ‘Are we there yet? Are we there yet?’ Like some small child!”
“Hey!” J2H protested with a sneer. “My son is a small child and he doesn't do that!”
“Which just goes to show who's the more mature between the two of you.” She smiled, quite satisfied that she got the final word in between her volatile partner and herself. Devona jumped the rest of the way out of the vehicle, shutting the door and she moved to the back of the Ford so that she could retrieve her packed back, feeling somewhat guilty because, having sprung this on J2H at the last minute, he hadn’t been able to make the same preparations. Fortunately, she had thought ahead and taken some precautions.
J2H ground his teeth in frustration and the attempt to bury whatever scathing retort he had in mind for what she had said before he followed suit, practically throwing off his seatbelt and opening the door to climb outside. He felt immense relief almost immediately from escaping the confines of such an inferior mode of transportation. He practically slammed the door shut in a display of his vast annoyance at the given situation that he had just found himself in
“So…” He started to say. “If we’re supposed to act like… (air quotes) ‘partners’, then how about you be honest with me for a change?”
“What exactly is that supposed to mean?” She asked as she hefted her bag over her shoulder, shutting the door behind her and locking the vehicle for good measure. “What are you talking about?”
J2H walked around from the passenger side to confront his partner at the rear of the vehicle. He stood there and stared hard at her, saying simply, “I gave you every indication that I’m not the sociable sort. I told you how many times that I wasn’t into the whole ‘bonding experience’ and yet here we are! Hiking up a so-called haunted mountain, of all things!”
“Your point?”
J2H retorted with, “My point is … why? Why the hell didn’t you listen to me? And why the hell this, out of all things we could have done?”
Devona looked heavenward and sighed, trying to find the right words to explain. She finally yielded and said, “Because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. You? You could come here anytime you please…”
J2H scoffed, “Like I’d ever come to Scotland willingly…”
“Be that as it may…!” Devona countered. “I can’t. I’m not rich, by any means. I love Unsolved Mysteries like this, and this one sounded fascinating out of all the tour stops.”
“Mmmm hmmm…” J2H drew out his response of disbelief, his eyes narrowing. Finally Devona admitted defeat and said,”And… I didn’t want to go by myself.”
J2H’s eyebrows rose in surprise, not that she didn’t want to go on this little excursion by herself but over the fact that she wanted to go with him. Out of everyone in SCW…
He said, “You know you have an entire women’s locker room that you could have invited?”
“Yeah…” She replied dryly. “That worked out well for me in the past.” And she brushed past him and headed for the ranger’s office, J2H frowning at the cryptic statement as his eyes followed her before he finally relented and went inside.
Once inside, the ranger at the front desk greeted them in a thick, Scottish accent, “Afternoon. You folks looking to make the climb?”
“Christ, you can smell the cheap Scotch on his breath from here!” J2H muttered, earning him a sharp jab of Devona’s elbow into his arm. J2H grumbled and rubbed at is arm subconsciously, casting a glare in Devona's direction as she approached the man behind the desk.
“Yes sir.” She answered respectfully. “This is where we start, yes?”
“Indeed it is.” He smiled. “If it’s your first time experiencing it, might I suggest stopping by the gift shop to pick yourself up a map and a compass?”
“Compass?” J2H sneered. “Map??? What is this, Pirates of the Caribbean!?” Earning him a look from Devona. Is it any wonder why these countries dislike Americans so much?
Devona turned to the man and gave him her best and brightest smile. “Sorry about my … friend.” She said, overhearing a snort of derisive laughter from behind her. “But we should be fine. We have our phones.”
“Aw you don’t want to rely on a phone on Ben Macdui, lass.” The ranger said, leaning on his desk with his forearms. “It ruins the entire experience. Especially on your first time!”
“Well we wouldn’t want that, now would we?” J2H murmured with as much sarcasm as he could muster – which just so happened to be a great deal. “Indeed not!” The man confirmed, the sarcasm all but bouncing off of him.
“We’ll take that under advisement.” Devona smiled at the man, taking James by the arm and steering him forcibly toward the exit. “Thank you!”
And no sooner did they step outside and the door shut behind them, than did Devona turn to him and say, “Could you have been any ruder!?”
“Yes.” He answered simply without so much as blinking. This briefly caused the young woman to have a lapse in a reply, until she nodded. Simply accepting the inevitable truth behind his words.
“Still…” She reasoned as they walked past the Ford and toward the small shop that was marked by signs in the window as the aforementioned souvenir shop. “What’s the harm in going ‘old school’ for this and just using a map and compass?”
“Oh gee, I don’t know!” J2H barked. “Maybe because we’re hauling our asses up a four thousand plus foot mountain on a five hour hike, never been here before and….” He didn’t finish but Devona leaned over, teasing, “And is supposedly haunted?”
“That’s not what I was going to say and you damn well know it!” J2H walked in front of her to barge into the shop, saying, “Let’s just get this goddamn day over with!”
And off the two most unlikely of tag team partners went off on this a grand adventure. One was all excitement and enthusiasm – and the other was J2H. Although to his credit, J2H was holding his own on this physical endeavor just as well as Devona was, despite the fact she had been prepared and he had not. It wasn’t altogether that difficult to wonder why. One of J2H’s greatest weapons inside of the ring was his stamina. That was how and why a young man his size, a relative junior heavyweight, was able to outlast and defeat men who were two to three times his size inside of the wrestling ring during his historic run as the World Heavyweight Champion. Even when he was suffering a dreadful beating by much larger men, he simply bided his time until they had all but worn out their best efforts. That was when he would strike.
And the two partners had made good time, all but ignoring the time that had passed. It was estimated to be over a five hour hike each way until they reached the highest point available of Ben Macdui, and they had easily outpaced some other straggling hikers who had also made use of this journey to fashion some memories. Mostly strangers, perhaps tourists such as themselves, as they saw no familiar faces.
Strangers or no, the presence of anyone else had rubbed the former “Brat Prince” wrong and he said loud enough for Devona to hear, “I thought you said this would be away from other people!”
“I said it would be away from other SCW people – most likely.” She corrected him. “But we can’t just tell people they cant take the same simple pleasures as ourselves. What do you want to do – rent the entire mountain???” She cast a look toward J2H who had a thoughtful expression on his face, before she did a double take and pointed out, “Even you don’t have that much money!”
She walked on, not noticing J2H’s mouth hanging open at the audacity of implying he didn’t have enough money to do something that he wished.
To J2H’s credit, he was more patient with his ‘hiking partner’ than perhaps anyone would have believed him capable. While he wanted to get this over with as fast as possible, meaning reaching Ben Macdui’s summit and back down again in record time, he found himself stopping consistently for Devona to stop and take in the breathtaking views laid out before everyone. She even broke her own personal code by pulling her phone from her pocket so that she could take some pictures for her grandmother and friends back home in Louisiana.
They crossed a moor and found themselves traversing a boggier path than either one of them would have liked, but they had made it this far and now James’s pride was his own worst enemy because he wasn’t about to let this mountain get the best of him. Plus, he imagined that he would never hear the end of it from Devona – or Austin for that matter, were he to call it quits before they had reached their goals.
And it was when they had crossed a plateau and reached Lairig Ghru, that their path became clear in order to reach the very summit of the mountain. Spot Cairn Toul and Braeriach rose triumphantly and they prepared themselves to maw across the rocky terrain. But it was the view. The breathtaking view that even gave J2H pause, and he wasn’t the sort to admit admiring any natural beauty that wasn’t his wife. But as Devona (again) pulled out her phone to take as many discreet photographs for everyone back home, J2H had managed to slip his own hone out for a picture to gift Melody with back home; Devona none the wiser.
By now, several hours later after they had begun this journey, the climb had just started to take a toll on both of their knees and feet, although neither would admit it to the other. Until finally – ULTIMATELY, the two reached their journey’s end. The summit of Ben Macdui! Setting her bag down on the ground, Devona found the softest rock in which to sit and she settled in, closing her eyes and simply enjoying the cool air as it wafted across the horizon, kissing her skin and blowing her long hair around. And to her surprise, J2H had a seat as well – and not as far away from her side as she might have expected.
She opened her eyes and smiled at him, “Thank you, James. For coming with me.”
“Don’t mention it.” He said calmly, before turning his head to meet her eye. “Ever. Again!”
She chuckled and turned back to glance down at her bag, this time as J2H closed his eyes again for a brief moment of relaxation. It was then that J2H started to feel a discomfort, although he could not exactly explain why. It was almost as if an icy chill had went straight down his back, from the nape of his neck to the tailbone and it caused him to feel unsettled in a way he had not felt in years.
He shook it off, reasoning it to just be a matter of the weather at this high altitude, although the weather was seemingly mild and had stopped the drizzle that he had experienced down in the city.
“What say we have a fast bite before heading back down?” Devona suggested kindly, to which J2H responded, “I didn’t bring anything to eat or drink!” he looked at her pointedly. “Thanks for that too, by the way!”
“Relax.” She said simply as she unzipped her bag and reached inside, pulling out a small feast of packaged sausage and cheeses, granola bars, trail mix, apples and two bottles each of Fiji water and orange juice. “I brought enough for both of us.”
“You had this planned from the very beginning, didn’t you?” He accused her with narrowed eyes, to which she smiled as she passed over the food and drinks, replying, “I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”
J2H accepted the food and beverages – if he could call it that. Devona was obviously used to this sort of thing but he was the sort to eat such finery as Kobe steak, gold truffles and South African Tristan lobster. Not … this. But, he was hungrier and thirstier than he cared to admit. Austin and Ms. Angel both had taught him during his stay in Georgia not to take offered food for granted and some lessons last longer than others, so accept it he did.
And yet the chilling sensation he had experienced only moments ago had not faded away with his imagination. If anything, it had grown. Intensified, but he still fought to maintain his composure, knowing that if there were anything to it, surely the woman beside him would be reacting the same way that he was. Unless, of course, she was hiding it as well. But Devona couldn’t be that good of an actress and she went about her way, indulging the healthy snacks she had brought for them both seemingly without a care.
Then, he had heard what sounded like a footstep on the gravel, causing him to start. “Did you hear that?”
Devona looked up as she was using crackers to make a snack sandwich with the sausage and cheese, offering him one and she said, “I didn’t hear anything.”
“I thought one of the other hikers had made it.” He thought quick enough to shield his discomfort as he took the offering to eat, fighting this sense of dread that was now threatening to overtake him. But again – again, he would not allow that. He had overcome so many threats and challenges in his life and career, he wouldn't let some fairytale on a goddamned mountain be his own undoing.
“That is strange though, now that you mentioned it.” Devona mused, popping the cap off of her juice to take a drink.
“What is?”
“We saw, what? A dozen others on the trail behind us?” Devona said thoughtfully. “Now none of them are behind us. None of them made it up here.”
J2H scoffed, “Wimps.” Despite the thought also having crossed his own mind, and it had gone somewhere else that Devona’s had not. J2H had … experiences, years ago. That he had thought he had buried down deep in his psyche, but this mountain had started to unearth what should have remained buried. No sooner did the word escape his lips than did J2H have a sudden feeling that he was being watched. He cast a look at Devona, but her attention was on the food in front of her. He ‘casually’ glanced around but it was flat terrain and no trees or over-sized rocks to shield anyone, or anything, from his field of sight. Which only made this all the more unnerving.
Drawing in a deep breath, J2H let it out smoothly to steady himself and he said, “We should probably start back.” And much to his surprise (and relief), his companion did not object. In fact, she looked around much the same way as he had done so, and she sighed, “I suppose so.”
And as she proceeded to clean the area up and stuff the remnants in her bag, J2H casually said, “It’s going to be dark by the time we reach the bottom. If you break your neck, you’ll have only yourself to blame!”
Standing up and slinging her bag back over her shoulder, she smiled at him, saying, “That almost sounded as if you gave a damn.”
“Of course I give a damn!” J2H said hotly. “I’m not doing all the work myself on Sunday!”
“Why not?” She quipped as they started their trek back down the mountainside. “That’s pretty much what you said you did anyway last time.”
“Just go!” He barked, and the two started their descent. As they did so, the sound of footsteps on the rocks underfoot continued, seemingly following them. Until they suddenly … stopped. They just stopped. J2H cast a look back over his shoulder and started at what – who, he saw.
An old woman, gray hair long past her shoulders and wearing a tattered, brown robe, stood at the summit. Her cold, gray eyes met his own and she smiled, holding a conspiratorial finger to her lips. Baba Yaga…
Ben Macdui…The rain that had plagued her tag team partner in the town of Grantown-on-Spey had finally reached the mountains of Ben Macdui, the featured attraction of this week’s Unsolved Mystery in the aptly named 2023 tour. The sky had been completely overcast by the time she and J2H had finally reached the bottom, and now Devona stood and looked up in admiration at the second highest mountain in Scotland, umbrella in hand to shield herself from the weather. It was not as dark as she had assumed it would be by the time she and James had reached the base, but the way down was by far easier than the one going up.
“I knew going into this event that things would only get tougher, the further J2H and I made it, and I couldn't have been proven more right. The first time around, we were put to the test against a newcomer in Eiley and Kain, who has held every championship in SCW and a member of the Hall of Fame. But this week…?"She pursed her lips, eyes closed and shook her head.
“Oliver Zahn is all but a mystery to me, ironic given the theme of this tour, but he’s more for J2H to worry about, not myself. And I’ve come to learn and understand that J2H doesn’t worry about anything. He is pointed in the direction of whatever man stands across the ring from him and the rest is history. He does what made him a household name here in SCW, and that’s win, far more often than not. But what I do know about Oliver is that he originates from Jet City.”She nodded, a saddened expression crossing her face.
“That’s right. The very same Jet City that Kris Ryans made famous the world over.”She quickly held up her hand.
“I know, I know. I am well aware that there are more names associated with Jet City than just Kris Ryans, but let’s face facts. He’s the name most remember, and not because of his name being associated as the epitome of success inside of the six-sided ring. But also because of how he was taken away from us, how his life was cut so tragically short. The students, any students, who call Jet City their home, have a lot to live up to. Big shoes to fill, and Oliver Zahn is no different. In his opening round match, I’d like to think he did Jet City proud with his team’s success, but unfortunately, that success ends here in the Quarter-Finals. The story ends for he and Ariana. Proof is in the pudding, as they say. Kris Ryans was the proverbial godfather of Jet City, and J2H – my partner – bested him in their historic match.at High Stakes XI. J2H beat the teacher, now it’s the student’s turn.”She winked and turned away, her face now looking directly into the camera.
“But this isn’t about my partner and Oliver. This time around it’s about Oliver’s partner, and myself. Ariana Angelos and I getting to stand across the ring from one another and simply put everything that Gabriel and Odette taught the both of us to the ultimate test. And I refuse to pretend that this will be anything but a test for the both of us. I was there, Ariana. Do you remember? I was there in the GO Gym the very day that you and your now-BFF Carter kick started your respective careers in the sport of professional wrestling. I watched as this shy, underage schoolgirl introduced herself to everyone there - myself included, wanting nothing more than to be recognized and accepted. And you were!”She nodded, pleased with the memory.
“I remember you having the type of personality that just drew people to you, made them like you. You and Carter both. I can see what the two of you see in one another and how you became the best of friends. You asked me on Twitter what my first impressions of you were, and I gave them. I was honest. I stood back and watched a young woman with some of the rawest determination walk through those doors, determined to succeed when loved ones and family tried to hold you back and punished you in the harshest ways possible when you would not be denied. You took to that ring like a duck to water, chere. And while you made mistakes just like every new student did - myself included, you didn’t get embarrassed. You didn't get angry or discouraged. You made the most of those mistakes and learned from them. That is why you impressed and rose so quickly. You were - and are - realistic in what you can accomplish from a physical standpoint inside of the ring. You knew what your limitations were. You didn’t try to deny or overlook them like so many students would. Men and women who thought they were the world and the sport would revolve around them. Adapting to who they were and what they offered, rather than the other way around. I watched you learn. I watched you evolve. I watched you grow. That is what I saw, my first impressions of you when you came to Las Vegas to fulfill your dreams and ambitions.”
“And that is also what gives me the edge in our match on Sunday when you and I have the opportunity to face each other. I watched you become the strong, ambitious young woman that the world has fallen in love with. I watched you learn every step of the way. And even if I wasn’t the one in the ring training you, I was still able to watch and observe.”She shrugged.
“Call it a learning curve. In watching where you grew and how your strengths became predominant, I was also able to see where your weaknesses stood out for someone to take advantage of. Not that the average eye could pinpoint something like that because girl, you are on fire and have been ever since your graduation! But my point remains the same. Watching your journey every step of the way puts me in a blessed position that you are denied where I’m concerned. Oh yes, you can watch the matches I’ve had when I competed in SCW, and you can pick apart my style in doing so. But there’s an edge in watching someone grow from the ground up, and Ari?”She tapped a purple painted nail to her sternum.
“I have that advantage. Not that I pretend you’ll be someone easy to overcome, no matter if it a mixed tag match or if we were to compete one on one. I watched your professional journey begin down in SCU and honey… you made so many people so proud with the successes that you experienced. You may not have won every singles encounter you were in, but you served notice to every woman you were in the ring with that you were there! You made them understand that you were - are - Ariana Angelos! And, I have to admit… your success with Carter with the Pride tag team titles. That does give you quite the edge where mixed tag team matches are concerned. You’ve all but made a career being a mixed tag team champion down in SCU, and you bring that success to the Blast From the Past.”
“Now, here is where we have to be realistic, Ari. This is where the tough love lesson comes into play. I personally think that had you just waited a little while longer before making the move to SCW, that you would have eventually been the Women’s Underground Champion, but you got impatient. You listened to some of the armchair critics when they told you that Carter was the main reason behind your mixed tag successes and you wanted to prove yourself, on your own. But before you even did that, you made obvious overtures to team again with Carter to get the Pride titles back, despite his saying he wanted to focus on his singles career. At the time, you were more concerned about your own ambitions than you were about your best friend’s career and desires. Of course, that was then. This is now. And hon, you had one of the most impressive Roulette reigns that I can personally remember. True, it might not have lasted as long as some others, but you earned that! You blossomed into a bad ass butterfly and you soared! Gabriel and Odette could not be more proud of you. Watching you grow, I couldn’t have been more proud. But now you have to ask yourself, what comes next? What comes after the 2023 Blast From the Past because our match, the Quarter-Finals, is where your part in this story comes to an end. Whether it’s J2H defeating Oliver, or my putting your shoulders down on the mat, the end result will be the same. But respect, girl!”Devona smiled brilliantly, a shining beacon in this abysmal weather.
“Let’s tear this house down!”She winked, and turned and walked toward her car rental as the world could hear J2H leaning on the horn to get her to hurry the hell up!
