Post by Emma Danielson on Jun 3, 2010 1:24:58 GMT -6
Open up on Rick Jacobsen walking into an Olive Garden in Auburn Hills. He's wearing a button-up flannel jacket and jeans, but he's taken the time to clean up and looks somewhat presentable. In one massive hand is clenched a bundle of roses and a heart-shaped pillow. He walks up to the receptionist and looks around a bit nervously. She smiles up at the big man.
“Welcome to Olive Garden, how can I help you?”
He clears his throat, smiling an awkward grin at her.
“Uh, hi. I'm looking for Emma, party of two.”
The receptionist nods, smiling. She points to the back of the restaurant, where a more secluded area of booths is.
“She's back there. Just head on back, we'll have a waiter along shortly to take your drink order.”
He nods, walking back there with the roses hidden behind his back. He rounds the corner and takes a step back, awestruck by the sight that greets him. Emma Danielson sits there, cleaned up very nicely in a red dress with a black leather underbust. For her part, she just smiles at him, a few strands of hair falling in front of her face. He hands her the pillow and roses, grinning. Emma puts the roses down by the wall on the table and smiles, posing with the pillow for a moment.
She giggles, setting the pillow next to her. Rick slides into the booth across from her, still with that big, goofy grin on his face.
“Hey, Emma. You look...uh, you look real good tonight. Thanks for inviting me out here.”
She nods, sighing and sipping her water. Rick notices that she doesn't have any alcohol on the table, which blows him away. Emma notes his confusion, giggling again in an uncharacteristically schoolgirlish manner.
“I made a promise with myself that I wouldn't drink in the week leading up to the pay-per-view. First of all, let me say how sweet it is of you to bring this stuff for me. Thank you so much! It means a lot. You might have guessed that I don't always get too much attention from guys...”
She blushes, and Rick shakes his head.
“Oh, come on. You're a pretty girl, Emma. Anyone who says otherwise, like Seth Evans, just wish they could get a girl as good-looking and smart as you are.”
Emma blushes even more, letting one of her usual grins slip through.
“Well, I'm three times the man Seth Evans is, and I'm a woman, whether he likes it or not. I'm really worried about Zelda, Rick. I watched that last video of hers and she seems really upset. I mean, between all of the accusations about me not liking her because she's small—which is so not true, by the way—I saw her practically want to break down and cry. She's got huge self-image problems, and she shouldn't.”
Rick nods to her, looking to the waiter who walks up.
“Yeah. Hey, do you have Labatt Blue?”
The server nods, and Rick nods back to him.
“I'll take one of those, thanks.”
The waiter nods and jots it down, walking off. Rick turns back to face Emma.
“Zelda's got nothing to be ashamed of. I've been following you guys ever since Andy talked to me about it, and I've seen her matches. She's one tough cookie. I'd say she's easily gotten out of Adam's shadow. I mean, come on! She's won almost every match she was in! You'd think she'd know that those fans aren't going to give up on her if she loses. If anything, they're going to push harder for her to come back and take you down.”
Emma nods, sipping her water, and smiles a bit.
“That's so true. I know her fans are crazy loyal. Hell, I'm a big drunken ogre Zombie, to paraphrase the woman herself. I don't want to break her heart, but I really want to win here. I mean, she doesn't think that she's going to be champion forever, does she? She's already held it almost as long as Adam held the World Title. Shouldn't she be proud of what she's done, instead of worrying about losing fan support if I beat her? ...WHEN I beat her?”
Rick takes his beer from the server, nodding to him. The waiter pulls out his notepad, looking to the two.
“And are we ready to order?”
Rick nods to him.
“Yeah. I'll have the steak gorgonzola alfredo, done medium rare, with the Toscana soup.”
His order is written down. The server turns to Emma.
“Very good. And you, madam?”
Emma blushes, checking the menu again.
“Can I please have the chicken alfredo? Oh, and a side salad with Italian dressing.”
The waiter finishes writing, sticking the pad back into his apron, and smiles at the two of them.
“Okay, your food will be out in a little bit. We'll bring your soups out first.”
They both nod at the waiter, who walks off. Emma smiles, looking back to Rick, who blushes nervously.
“So, Rick...I hate to harp on this, but I really want to come up with a way to help Zelda. The girl needs someone to be there for her. She doesn't trust Kelly, she's got a grudge against Adam...I want to be able to help her, but we're fighting each other for the Women's Title...I remember what it was like being that age. I was excited and scared and confused all at the same time. Add to that the pressure of being a champion in a national wrestling company and being the sister of a legend...and then all of this Steve crap...I'm amazed she hasn't snapped and started beating up the crew. I don't want to make her go crazy, I'd be guilty about it...maybe I should just give up the match for her sake...”
Rick reaches across the table, offering a hand to Emma. She takes it, squeezing and smiling. Rick grins back at her.
“Hey. It's alright. This is what you guys do. Once this match is past, you can try to give her a hand up. Right now, you have to be in a competitive mindset. Well, actually, right now you have to get ready to have dinner...Emma, can we leave the wrestling talk for later? I sorta wanna just have...y'know...a regular date. Leave work out of it.”
Emma blushes, pulling her hand back, and nods to Rick.
“Yeah. I'd like that too. I'd like that a lot.”
The actual audio fades out here, but the video changes to a montage of short clips from the night. Emma's shown eating with Rick, laughing, smiling, and generally having a great time. Her voice provides commentary over the video, but her tone of voice is similar to the one she had before: calm, actually pretty happy, and generally a lot different from the Emma we're all used to.
“Zelda, I know that you're going through a lot of crap. My parents divorced when I was sixteen, so I know what it's like to not be able to trust people. Dad tried to say one thing to turn me against Mom, Mom denied it, all sorts of stuff back and forth. When the people you've looked up to all your life fail you...when you think you don't have any real friends anymore...sometimes, that's when you meet the people that end up being your best friends.”
The video shows Rick feeding Emma some of his pasta, and her eyes lighting up as he sticks the fork into her mouth gently. They both start laughing, and Emma cups her hand to make sure the food doesn't fall out of her mouth as they're laughing.
"I met Andrew about that time. We've been friends ever since. Zelda, I'm not kidding when I say that I'm a big fan of yours. I know that the sort of support you're getting doesn't just come along every day. The fans love you, more than I think they love anyone on the roster. You're the biggest star we have. Don't worry about the fans seeing you bleed. They'll just help you back up and tell you “Go get her.” And I wouldn't want them to do anything else. I've always been proud of being able to say “I took Zelda Knite to the limit. I almost beat her.” I just want to be able to say “I beat Zelda Knite.” Every woman in this company does. And I've got the chance to make it “I beat Zelda Knite, for the Women's Title, at a pay-per-view.” I would be so happy if I could say that...but you know what else I would be happy to say?”
Rick and Emma are shown ordering dessert: a slice of Black Tie Mousse Cake. Emma smiles at the waiter as it's brought to them, and they both pick up forks, carefully taking bits off for them to eat. Emma smiles at Rick, who smiles back.
“I'd be happy to say “I helped Zelda Knite get back on her feet.” I want you to be happy maybe more than anyone besides Adam and Kelly. No matter how much you think they don't like you, you're still family to them. Zelda...go ahead. Let your aggression loose on me. I can take it. I'm tough. That's what I am. Tough, big and strong. So come on, Zel. Let's take it to each other. Let's be the best we can.”
The video transitions now to Emma and Rick out in the parking lot. Night has fallen, and the stars are out. Emma holds his gifts under one arm and his hands, smiling up at him. The audio comes back in now.
“I had a great time, Rick. You didn't have to pay, though. You know I can cover it.”
Rick smiles back down at her.
“So did I. And come on, it's a date. I didn't expect you to pay.”
Emma blushes, smiling again. The audio fades back out, replaced once again by Emma's voiceover.
“The second step of the Twelve-Step Program is putting faith into a higher power or cause to help yourself towards normal living. For you, that'd be your Zombies. Me...I think I may have found mine.”
Emma carefully sets the gifts down, standing back up and looping her arms around Rick's neck. She smiles cutely up at him, and as he stands there confused, leans in to give him a soft kiss. The voiceover takes us out on the image of them kissing.
“I know what I'm fighting for. You know what you're fighting for. I just hope we don't always have to fight.”
“Welcome to Olive Garden, how can I help you?”
He clears his throat, smiling an awkward grin at her.
“Uh, hi. I'm looking for Emma, party of two.”
The receptionist nods, smiling. She points to the back of the restaurant, where a more secluded area of booths is.
“She's back there. Just head on back, we'll have a waiter along shortly to take your drink order.”
He nods, walking back there with the roses hidden behind his back. He rounds the corner and takes a step back, awestruck by the sight that greets him. Emma Danielson sits there, cleaned up very nicely in a red dress with a black leather underbust. For her part, she just smiles at him, a few strands of hair falling in front of her face. He hands her the pillow and roses, grinning. Emma puts the roses down by the wall on the table and smiles, posing with the pillow for a moment.
She giggles, setting the pillow next to her. Rick slides into the booth across from her, still with that big, goofy grin on his face.
“Hey, Emma. You look...uh, you look real good tonight. Thanks for inviting me out here.”
She nods, sighing and sipping her water. Rick notices that she doesn't have any alcohol on the table, which blows him away. Emma notes his confusion, giggling again in an uncharacteristically schoolgirlish manner.
“I made a promise with myself that I wouldn't drink in the week leading up to the pay-per-view. First of all, let me say how sweet it is of you to bring this stuff for me. Thank you so much! It means a lot. You might have guessed that I don't always get too much attention from guys...”
She blushes, and Rick shakes his head.
“Oh, come on. You're a pretty girl, Emma. Anyone who says otherwise, like Seth Evans, just wish they could get a girl as good-looking and smart as you are.”
Emma blushes even more, letting one of her usual grins slip through.
“Well, I'm three times the man Seth Evans is, and I'm a woman, whether he likes it or not. I'm really worried about Zelda, Rick. I watched that last video of hers and she seems really upset. I mean, between all of the accusations about me not liking her because she's small—which is so not true, by the way—I saw her practically want to break down and cry. She's got huge self-image problems, and she shouldn't.”
Rick nods to her, looking to the waiter who walks up.
“Yeah. Hey, do you have Labatt Blue?”
The server nods, and Rick nods back to him.
“I'll take one of those, thanks.”
The waiter nods and jots it down, walking off. Rick turns back to face Emma.
“Zelda's got nothing to be ashamed of. I've been following you guys ever since Andy talked to me about it, and I've seen her matches. She's one tough cookie. I'd say she's easily gotten out of Adam's shadow. I mean, come on! She's won almost every match she was in! You'd think she'd know that those fans aren't going to give up on her if she loses. If anything, they're going to push harder for her to come back and take you down.”
Emma nods, sipping her water, and smiles a bit.
“That's so true. I know her fans are crazy loyal. Hell, I'm a big drunken ogre Zombie, to paraphrase the woman herself. I don't want to break her heart, but I really want to win here. I mean, she doesn't think that she's going to be champion forever, does she? She's already held it almost as long as Adam held the World Title. Shouldn't she be proud of what she's done, instead of worrying about losing fan support if I beat her? ...WHEN I beat her?”
Rick takes his beer from the server, nodding to him. The waiter pulls out his notepad, looking to the two.
“And are we ready to order?”
Rick nods to him.
“Yeah. I'll have the steak gorgonzola alfredo, done medium rare, with the Toscana soup.”
His order is written down. The server turns to Emma.
“Very good. And you, madam?”
Emma blushes, checking the menu again.
“Can I please have the chicken alfredo? Oh, and a side salad with Italian dressing.”
The waiter finishes writing, sticking the pad back into his apron, and smiles at the two of them.
“Okay, your food will be out in a little bit. We'll bring your soups out first.”
They both nod at the waiter, who walks off. Emma smiles, looking back to Rick, who blushes nervously.
“So, Rick...I hate to harp on this, but I really want to come up with a way to help Zelda. The girl needs someone to be there for her. She doesn't trust Kelly, she's got a grudge against Adam...I want to be able to help her, but we're fighting each other for the Women's Title...I remember what it was like being that age. I was excited and scared and confused all at the same time. Add to that the pressure of being a champion in a national wrestling company and being the sister of a legend...and then all of this Steve crap...I'm amazed she hasn't snapped and started beating up the crew. I don't want to make her go crazy, I'd be guilty about it...maybe I should just give up the match for her sake...”
Rick reaches across the table, offering a hand to Emma. She takes it, squeezing and smiling. Rick grins back at her.
“Hey. It's alright. This is what you guys do. Once this match is past, you can try to give her a hand up. Right now, you have to be in a competitive mindset. Well, actually, right now you have to get ready to have dinner...Emma, can we leave the wrestling talk for later? I sorta wanna just have...y'know...a regular date. Leave work out of it.”
Emma blushes, pulling her hand back, and nods to Rick.
“Yeah. I'd like that too. I'd like that a lot.”
The actual audio fades out here, but the video changes to a montage of short clips from the night. Emma's shown eating with Rick, laughing, smiling, and generally having a great time. Her voice provides commentary over the video, but her tone of voice is similar to the one she had before: calm, actually pretty happy, and generally a lot different from the Emma we're all used to.
“Zelda, I know that you're going through a lot of crap. My parents divorced when I was sixteen, so I know what it's like to not be able to trust people. Dad tried to say one thing to turn me against Mom, Mom denied it, all sorts of stuff back and forth. When the people you've looked up to all your life fail you...when you think you don't have any real friends anymore...sometimes, that's when you meet the people that end up being your best friends.”
The video shows Rick feeding Emma some of his pasta, and her eyes lighting up as he sticks the fork into her mouth gently. They both start laughing, and Emma cups her hand to make sure the food doesn't fall out of her mouth as they're laughing.
"I met Andrew about that time. We've been friends ever since. Zelda, I'm not kidding when I say that I'm a big fan of yours. I know that the sort of support you're getting doesn't just come along every day. The fans love you, more than I think they love anyone on the roster. You're the biggest star we have. Don't worry about the fans seeing you bleed. They'll just help you back up and tell you “Go get her.” And I wouldn't want them to do anything else. I've always been proud of being able to say “I took Zelda Knite to the limit. I almost beat her.” I just want to be able to say “I beat Zelda Knite.” Every woman in this company does. And I've got the chance to make it “I beat Zelda Knite, for the Women's Title, at a pay-per-view.” I would be so happy if I could say that...but you know what else I would be happy to say?”
Rick and Emma are shown ordering dessert: a slice of Black Tie Mousse Cake. Emma smiles at the waiter as it's brought to them, and they both pick up forks, carefully taking bits off for them to eat. Emma smiles at Rick, who smiles back.
“I'd be happy to say “I helped Zelda Knite get back on her feet.” I want you to be happy maybe more than anyone besides Adam and Kelly. No matter how much you think they don't like you, you're still family to them. Zelda...go ahead. Let your aggression loose on me. I can take it. I'm tough. That's what I am. Tough, big and strong. So come on, Zel. Let's take it to each other. Let's be the best we can.”
The video transitions now to Emma and Rick out in the parking lot. Night has fallen, and the stars are out. Emma holds his gifts under one arm and his hands, smiling up at him. The audio comes back in now.
“I had a great time, Rick. You didn't have to pay, though. You know I can cover it.”
Rick smiles back down at her.
“So did I. And come on, it's a date. I didn't expect you to pay.”
Emma blushes, smiling again. The audio fades back out, replaced once again by Emma's voiceover.
“The second step of the Twelve-Step Program is putting faith into a higher power or cause to help yourself towards normal living. For you, that'd be your Zombies. Me...I think I may have found mine.”
Emma carefully sets the gifts down, standing back up and looping her arms around Rick's neck. She smiles cutely up at him, and as he stands there confused, leans in to give him a soft kiss. The voiceover takes us out on the image of them kissing.
“I know what I'm fighting for. You know what you're fighting for. I just hope we don't always have to fight.”