Post by Ayla St. James on May 1, 2010 23:44:13 GMT -6
"This is the problem with people it seems. Not only do I have to deal with people on the outside and their assumptions and accusations. But I get to sit here and listen to someone try to turn everything around on me. Oh, I'm sorry Zelda, what was I supposed to do? Give you a written contract, signed in blood that I'm a trustworthy soul? Tie myself to a chair so I won't be able to attack you when every we hung out? Suddenly all of this is now my fault. We're not friends because you couldn't condescend yourself to take a chance. You assumed that since I was full of myself that I didn't really care for you."
{A pause, to indicate a shrug.}
"But that's all on you. I'm willing to let that all go. Not because your the Woman's champ and I'm trying to get on your good side so you don't dismantle me in front of thousands. No, just because I understand the point you made. You were a kid, trying to shrug off the pressure and the stigma following you. I know how you feel. I'm not exactly old, you know. I never said don't have fun. All I was trying to get at was it doesn't matter what you do, people love you. You don't have to pretend to be an adult. You don't have to hate me because someone else wants you too.. You don't have to do anything.. except what you want.. Yea..."
-------------------------------------------
{Ayla stirred sluggishly, sometime later. She grimaced in pain, but from what, she didn't know. She had a light workout the day before, so there was no reason why she should be recovering from it. But, she was sore. Damn sore.}
"Damn.. what did I do yesterday? I remember getting here.. and then.. Cleo and I.. what did we do? It's all a blur."
{She slipped herself into a sitting position, noting she was barely dressed, but being unable to remember how she had gotten into it. She yawned and stretched.}
"Wonder what's for breakfast...?"
{She started to stand, then stopped, grimacing a little.}
"Oooohhh.. strange twinge in my back.. almost like I was contorting my body into strange positions. I wonder why that..."
{She didn't finish the sentence, as she turned to see the other half of the bed was still unmade. As she looked at it, it all came back to her.}
"Oh. So.. that's why... But.. I don't... why.. don't I feel.. why do I just feel.."
{She stood up, and slipped towards the door.}
"Good?"
----------------------------------
"You see Zelda, you have a unique freedom that I don't possess. The minute you took hold of that title, the minute you became beloved for your quirkyness and your video game references, you have a sort of shield. You became the "It" girl, untouchable and unaffected by nearly everything. Like somebody cast the Barrier spell on you. I know you don't think so, but you've walked through it all completely unscathed. Look at everything that happened, you defied the top dog, and you still have your job. You defied your brother, and he apologized. All this you weathered and came out like a champ. But me..."
{Same tired sigh.}
"I don't have that kind of power. If it's not me coming after you, they'll just send some else. Some other bottle blonde who will take her clothes off if the price is right. Someone who seems to be just like me, but far less professional as a woman. Someone who won't think twice about trying to hurt you, I mean really hurt you. I'm just a former starlet, lost and alone, trying to figure out why people don't love her anymore. I don't have a choice... or.. maybe..."
--------------------------------------
{Ayla wandered out into the penthouse. Servants mottled around the kitchen, cleaning up while the mistress is away. Suddenly, then stopped what they were doing and turned toward her. She was suddenly very self concious of her tank top and thin white panties, and a blush formed on her cheeks. But the servants acted like they didn't notice, only continued what they were doing. All but one, who approached her.}
"What would the Lady like for breakfast?"
"Ummm whatever you have made is.. fine.."
"Being a special guest of the Goddess, you can have whatever you like."
{A servant wordlessly moved up behind Ayla and slipped an ornate robe over her shoulders. Then led her to a chair at the breakfast table. Then vanished into the fold again.}
"We'll prepare you a full breakfast my lady. Make yourself comfortable. The Goddess left this note for you, upon your awakening."
"Thank you."
{The servant smiled, and moved off to the kitchen. Ayla took the note before her, and read it, her voice a simple whisper.}
"Dearest Ayla, I have left this morning for my office. I am sorry that I must be away from you, but there is work that must be done. I hope you are well, and that you enjoyed last night as much as I. I will see you upon my return. Love, Cleo. Hmmm.. I always wondered.."
{The servant returned with a cup of fresh coffee and buttered toast. He turned to leave, but Ayla caught his sleeve.}
"Is Cleo's office.. in town?"
" Yes, my lady. "
"After breakfast, you think I could.. get there.. somehow.."
"If that is your wish, that is what we will do."
"Thank you..."
-----------------------------------
"Let's make a deal Zelda. No matter what happens when this is all over, I want us to be friends. I don't want those weird moments if I walk into a locker room and you're already there and we have an uncomfortable silence where we try to not threaten each other. Or one of those diva fights where we try to outdo each other at a press conference or a photo shoot and make nCw headlines for all the wrong reasons. I just want all this over. If I lose, I'll be cast aside.. maybe even unemployed and forced to find a real job somewhere. And you'll be left to deal with the next flavor of the week gunning for you because you're brothers father in law has it in for you. But.."
{Pause, for an unseen shrug}
"Maybe I'll win. It's not impossible. Then I'll have Alucard's Shield. I'll have the ability to pick and choose what I want to do, and there won't be anything they can do about it. You'll be off the hook, so popular and beloved that they would never think to do anything to you. It's really a win win for everyone involved. But either way.. I'll know what I have to do. Sometimes.. you just know.."
--------------------------------------
{Ayla entered the office. Cleo stood before a counter, reviewing several photos of clothing, trying to set up a series for the next show. Ayla approached her and stood next to her and peered down. Cleo spoke, her voice soft and inviting.}
"I thought you might show."
"Just.. wanted to see how this all happened."
"You're welcome to stay and watch. Maybe even participate if you can find something you like."
"That sounds nice.. what would you like me to wear?"
{Cleo pulled Ayla to her, leaning to whisper in her ear.}
"I'd like you to be wearing nothing at all.. but that's for later."
{Fade.}
{A pause, to indicate a shrug.}
"But that's all on you. I'm willing to let that all go. Not because your the Woman's champ and I'm trying to get on your good side so you don't dismantle me in front of thousands. No, just because I understand the point you made. You were a kid, trying to shrug off the pressure and the stigma following you. I know how you feel. I'm not exactly old, you know. I never said don't have fun. All I was trying to get at was it doesn't matter what you do, people love you. You don't have to pretend to be an adult. You don't have to hate me because someone else wants you too.. You don't have to do anything.. except what you want.. Yea..."
-------------------------------------------
{Ayla stirred sluggishly, sometime later. She grimaced in pain, but from what, she didn't know. She had a light workout the day before, so there was no reason why she should be recovering from it. But, she was sore. Damn sore.}
"Damn.. what did I do yesterday? I remember getting here.. and then.. Cleo and I.. what did we do? It's all a blur."
{She slipped herself into a sitting position, noting she was barely dressed, but being unable to remember how she had gotten into it. She yawned and stretched.}
"Wonder what's for breakfast...?"
{She started to stand, then stopped, grimacing a little.}
"Oooohhh.. strange twinge in my back.. almost like I was contorting my body into strange positions. I wonder why that..."
{She didn't finish the sentence, as she turned to see the other half of the bed was still unmade. As she looked at it, it all came back to her.}
"Oh. So.. that's why... But.. I don't... why.. don't I feel.. why do I just feel.."
{She stood up, and slipped towards the door.}
"Good?"
----------------------------------
"You see Zelda, you have a unique freedom that I don't possess. The minute you took hold of that title, the minute you became beloved for your quirkyness and your video game references, you have a sort of shield. You became the "It" girl, untouchable and unaffected by nearly everything. Like somebody cast the Barrier spell on you. I know you don't think so, but you've walked through it all completely unscathed. Look at everything that happened, you defied the top dog, and you still have your job. You defied your brother, and he apologized. All this you weathered and came out like a champ. But me..."
{Same tired sigh.}
"I don't have that kind of power. If it's not me coming after you, they'll just send some else. Some other bottle blonde who will take her clothes off if the price is right. Someone who seems to be just like me, but far less professional as a woman. Someone who won't think twice about trying to hurt you, I mean really hurt you. I'm just a former starlet, lost and alone, trying to figure out why people don't love her anymore. I don't have a choice... or.. maybe..."
--------------------------------------
{Ayla wandered out into the penthouse. Servants mottled around the kitchen, cleaning up while the mistress is away. Suddenly, then stopped what they were doing and turned toward her. She was suddenly very self concious of her tank top and thin white panties, and a blush formed on her cheeks. But the servants acted like they didn't notice, only continued what they were doing. All but one, who approached her.}
"What would the Lady like for breakfast?"
"Ummm whatever you have made is.. fine.."
"Being a special guest of the Goddess, you can have whatever you like."
{A servant wordlessly moved up behind Ayla and slipped an ornate robe over her shoulders. Then led her to a chair at the breakfast table. Then vanished into the fold again.}
"We'll prepare you a full breakfast my lady. Make yourself comfortable. The Goddess left this note for you, upon your awakening."
"Thank you."
{The servant smiled, and moved off to the kitchen. Ayla took the note before her, and read it, her voice a simple whisper.}
"Dearest Ayla, I have left this morning for my office. I am sorry that I must be away from you, but there is work that must be done. I hope you are well, and that you enjoyed last night as much as I. I will see you upon my return. Love, Cleo. Hmmm.. I always wondered.."
{The servant returned with a cup of fresh coffee and buttered toast. He turned to leave, but Ayla caught his sleeve.}
"Is Cleo's office.. in town?"
" Yes, my lady. "
"After breakfast, you think I could.. get there.. somehow.."
"If that is your wish, that is what we will do."
"Thank you..."
-----------------------------------
"Let's make a deal Zelda. No matter what happens when this is all over, I want us to be friends. I don't want those weird moments if I walk into a locker room and you're already there and we have an uncomfortable silence where we try to not threaten each other. Or one of those diva fights where we try to outdo each other at a press conference or a photo shoot and make nCw headlines for all the wrong reasons. I just want all this over. If I lose, I'll be cast aside.. maybe even unemployed and forced to find a real job somewhere. And you'll be left to deal with the next flavor of the week gunning for you because you're brothers father in law has it in for you. But.."
{Pause, for an unseen shrug}
"Maybe I'll win. It's not impossible. Then I'll have Alucard's Shield. I'll have the ability to pick and choose what I want to do, and there won't be anything they can do about it. You'll be off the hook, so popular and beloved that they would never think to do anything to you. It's really a win win for everyone involved. But either way.. I'll know what I have to do. Sometimes.. you just know.."
--------------------------------------
{Ayla entered the office. Cleo stood before a counter, reviewing several photos of clothing, trying to set up a series for the next show. Ayla approached her and stood next to her and peered down. Cleo spoke, her voice soft and inviting.}
"I thought you might show."
"Just.. wanted to see how this all happened."
"You're welcome to stay and watch. Maybe even participate if you can find something you like."
"That sounds nice.. what would you like me to wear?"
{Cleo pulled Ayla to her, leaning to whisper in her ear.}
"I'd like you to be wearing nothing at all.. but that's for later."
{Fade.}