It was becoming a habit.
Flying in a week early and spending her days exploring the UK, puttering around all the area shops and holes in the wall. She found it charming, and was considering just renting a flat. The fact that she was spending one week here and one in the states, and well... it just made sense. If she was smart, she would just uproot and move over on a permanent basis, but she wasn’t quite ready to drop that bomb on her family. They still had biweekly dinners, which fit in perfectly with her new wrestling schedule. But possibly someday...
Her steps slow, as she eyes a rather adorable little abode, with flower boxes in the windows and a charming lamppost giving off a cheery golden glow in the front yard.
Yes, she could see herself living there with no problem at all.
With a new bounce in her step, she continues on down the street, the lights shining gently down guiding her way as the dusk grows heavier, bathing the sky in a dark navy blanket. The homes give way slowly to businesses as she focuses her eyes on a sign swinging outside one of them. The painted picture of the namesake animal, a fox with a huge grin announced that she was approaching The Laughing Fox tavern, her destination for the night. She had heard great things about the food there, and was looking forward to trying it for herself. She steps towards it as a couple exits, holding the door open for her. She thanks them with a pleasant smile, and then enters, blinking her eyes to adjust to the difference in lighting.
The first word that came to mind was cozy.
Deep, richly toned wood dominated the room, the booths and stools upholstered in a deep maroon tone. Pictures of all types adorned the walls, from wild animals, to fields, to depictions of old time hound hunts. There was a definite masculine vibe, but it wasn’t overbearing. She makes her way towards the bar, not wanting to take up an entire booth on her own when there might be others who wanted it, although at this hour it seemed very quiet.
She slides onto a stool, her eyes drifting over to the bartender who stood with his back to her, pouring out some Jameson on the rocks for a patron. Her brow furrows slightly. There was something about him. The slightly spiked dark hair. His bearing. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it... And then he turned around.
Green eyes collide and hold with hazel, all four widening with surprise for a second.
And then the shock morphs into a charming smile on Asher’s face as he strolls cockily towards her, making a point at letting his gaze drift from the top if her purple tinged hair, on down until the bartop obscures his view.
“Well, if it isn't my Beauty.”
“You!”
“Me!” he agrees.
“What are you doing here?!”
“Well, working, of course.”
Duh Nova.
“The better question is, what are YOU doing here. Were you looking for me, my sweet?”
“I was looking for a drink and something to eat.” she replies, shaking her head, her mouth twitching with suppressed humor. “Well, I guess you can find that here too. I’m not fully convinced you weren't just trying to hunt me down, you couldn’t help yourself. I am utterly irresistible.” he plops his chin in his hand as he speaks, tossing her a winning grin and a wiggle of his eyebrows.
“And modest.”
“You’ve noticed! I’m flattered! And flattery will get you... well, anything you want Beauty.”
“How about a drink? And that’s not my name, its...”
“Nova, I know. I remember.” he cuts her off, slowly reaching under the bar for a glass as it studies her. “You look like a Woo Woo girl.”
“A what now?”
“Woo Woo. Vodka, schnapps, cranberry.”
“That does sound good...” she admits.
He starts to make it swiftly, as she watches his fluid motions, making a small face as he flips a bottle in the air. Show off. She knew she was being hypocritical, and chides herself slightly. He was just a goofy, silly guy and meant no real harm. And for whatever reason, he had remembered her name. She might as well just relax and enjoy herself.
“So, do you live around here?” he asks idly.
“No, work believe it or not. I live in the states.”
He pauses with an incredulous look. “But you work here? What do you do that has you going back and forth?”
She hesitates a second, but really, he could see her any time if he wanted to with the fed being in the public eye. “You know the IIW...?”
“Professional wrestling? You?” he looks her over again, a look of consternation on his face as he sets her drink down in front of her, a lime wedge garnishing the rim.
“Mmhmm.” she lifts the glass, taking a small sip as she watches, waiting for the doubt or the laughter to begin. To her surprise, a mere chuckle emerges. “Thats pretty damn awesome. I never would have expected that! Why don’t you tell me more about it... oh, say over a nice dinner at this little Indian place I know. They have pretty great Matar Paneer and samosas...”
She tilts her head, her long hair cascading over her shoulder. “Asher...” she starts. A call from the other end of the bar has him holding up a finger. “Think on it. I’ll be back.”
A member of the wait staff appears and apologizes, taking her order for a meal and disappearing once more, leaving her to watch Asher work as the bar starts to fill up. He had a ready smile and socialized with ease, seeming to know quite a number of the people by face and name. Her food appears before her swiftly, and she picks up her fork, turning her attention to it as she mulls his proposition over in her head. She wasn’t looking to date, not with how busy her schedule was starting to be, going back and forth. Not that a single date constituted the chance for a relationship. They might turn out to be complete opposites and hate each other, after all. But what was the harm in just one, and letting him know where she stood? If she was going to be over here for full weeks at a time, it would be nice to have friends to hang out with on the down time she did have.
Another Woo Woo slides its way next to her plate, and she looks up into his sparkling eyes.
“Well, what do you say Beauty? Are you going to break my heart and turn me down?”
“I do have a fondness for naan...”
_____________________________________________________________________
“Ah, mark another one down for me. My first singles match is in the books and I did what I said I was going to do. I hope you that still doubts me are starting to feel those alarm bells starting to go off, the realization that I am the real deal. That when I say I will let nothing stand in my way up to the top, I meant that with every fiber of my soul. Nobody is safe as the era of Nova starts to come up and over the First Class sector of the IIW, eclipsing everything in its path. Line them up, and I will see them fall like dominoes, scattering every which way when hit. My momentum is starting to build, and the joy this brings me is incredible. Determination is in my blood, and I am already enjoying proving it to every single one of you on the roster, and the fans.
First the battle royale...
Then Chelsey Chaingang...
Chelsey, I will give it to you. You brought me a level of challenge, and excitement that I didn’t even know that I was looking for. The rush obtained from that match, the surge of adrenaline that spiked through me as you gained the upper hand, that pushed the desires that guide me that much harder... it was indescribable... and I thank you for that.
I heard what you had to say Chels, and if chasing what I want makes me a sell out, then so be it. I know what I want, and I will do what I need to to obtain it. Anything thrown at me, physical or verbal... it really doesn’t matter. All just roll down my back, because in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. Eyes on the prize. I’m not your typical piece of eye candy, conforming to what everyone wants. But you know what? I certainly don’t mind people assuming that, like you did. Because now you know better, don’t you? I won’t squeal like a teenage girl seeing their favorite boy band on stage just because I chipped a nail. I won't faint at the sight of blood. I won't even bat an eyelash at the thought of cracking someone's skull with a chair.
This is business, and if that’s what it takes to get what I desire. Then so be it.
I’m not the goody two shoes of the company, nor am I the big bad bitch of the west.
I am me. I am fucking Nova Skye, and I hope after getting a taste of me, you are reassessing the situation and what labels you decide to put on me. If not... well, that’s no skin off me. You can underestimate and be blind when we step in that ring again, because I sure wouldn’t mind dancing with you again, and taste the same damn thing you did this time around.
Defeat.
Just like my third times the charm.
Bellatrix... it seems that the management here are just catering to my every whim without even realizing it!
I wanted this, and didn’t expect to be treated to it so soon, but I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. You and me in an overboard match. Now, that might not be the stipulation that I had hoped for, I kinda got a bit of a thing for pinning shoulders down now that I did it to Chels, but I cannot lie to you...
Tossing you overboard sounds like a hell of a lot of fun!
Of all the people I got to play with during Malevolence, you were the one who tickled me the most. I'm pretty damn sure the feeling was mutual considering the way you were eyeing me up on your way down the ramp. I saw you. And I loved it. I knew you were going to give me hell and you certainly tried to rain that down on me... but you failed in the end. I was a little disappointed that our party ended so soon, so seeing your name and mine matched up this week for our own private party, well... It elated me. It’s too damn bad that you made such an impression straight out the gate though. I expected great things. I thought I would see you tearing everyone up as we waged war in a parallel line, slowly turning inward until our paths crossed again for a number one contender's match or something.
Turns out I was wrong on both accounts.
Not only did we come up against one another a lot sooner than that, you... well you... uhh...
You popped and fizzled Bella.
Did getting tossed out of the ring really derail you so much, that it shook you to your core? Took you off your game that easily? Shattered you to the point you couldn’t find it in yourself to rally, to show that you did indeed have what it took?
No... you came back again with... another loss.
I don’t get it Bella.
That should have been a kick in your ass. That loss to me should have angered you, set you on the warpath for blood. You had so much to say leading up to that match. So many threats and promises... and none kept. Why? Were they just empty words thrown out to try and intimidate?
Were they just hollow thoughts you thought might be enough to get into people's heads?
Were you speaking by route, whilst your heart wasn’t fully in the game?
Such a disappointment Bellatrix. I was expecting so much more... to tell the truth I WANTED so much more from you. I could see that we had so much in common, you and I. Or, at least I thought I did. I question that now. I thought you wanted this as much as I did. I am willing to beg Bella, for you not to give in and let the losses get the better of you. I want you to rally. I want the best damn Bella there is getting in that ring with me. You deserve it. I deserve it. The fans deserve it. And the fact of the matter is this... it could be the match to end all matches, one of the best this fed has ever seen from two of the newest stars to grace their ring.
Doesn’t that excite your black little heart?
I mean, if the thought of getting the crowd going or impressing the people in charge doesn’t do it for you... You should think on it this way.
Don’t you want revenge?
Oh yeah, come on pretty Bella, you seem like that sort. That doom and gloom I am going to bring an end to the world, slaughter you all like sheep and send your lamb chops in the mail to everyone you love thing you have going on just screams it. So where is it? Where did all that fire you had go? Don’t you want to come and have your wicked way with me? I hope so. I kinda like fiery Bella, even though she got a ton wrong in her rambling monologue about brimstone and picking out coffin sizes for our deaths. I can look past that for now, if me poking and prodding at you even kisses a little bit of spark from the crumbling ashes of, what I think is one of the best competitors here.
I certainly thought it was going to be you and me chasing each other up the ladder to the top, making the champs sweat as they watched the race.
Unfortunately for you, you're coming to me now while you are on a downward slide... one that is now destined to continue as I take my boot and give you another push... both over the side of the boat and down the ladder to success in the IIW. And it will give me pleasure to watch you fall, knowing that I took someone of your caliber to the cleaners. It gives me another little feather to wear in my cap, don’t you think? You are just going to end up another stepping stone for me as I rocket up in to be among the big stars here. Use you to jump off of, showing that I am indeed the one who deserves this, the one who wants this more, and the one who is going to prove that I am as dangerous as I say I am.
I can say that until my face turns blue, and there will always be doubters... ones who swiftly turn believers once I plant them down onto that mat.
You are just going to be a number this time Bella, number three. Third strike mark in the win column for Nova Skye. Just joining the rest, waiting for more and more to follow as time marches on... and so do I, right down the entire length of the roster. Downing every single person they decide to throw my way. Don’t look into this loss too much Bellatrix, just see it for what it is... inevitable. There was no way that we weren't going to face each other, and there was no way that you were going to be walking out with a win over me. Not when I am this hungry, or have this much to prove still. I have made a good start with the ladies I gave the ol’ heave ho to and Chelsey, but it is not nearly enough to make the splash I fully intend to, the one I always planned... But I have to thank you too.
You are going to be another jewel in that crown of mine.
Your loss, aids in my desires.
Your loss just adds another brick to solidify my foundation of being the best.
Your loss is going to make me look even better than I already do.
I call that a win!
Not for you of course... but hey, my thanks is better than nothing.
Time is counting down sweet sinister Bella, for your darkness to be eclipsed by the bright star that is Nova Skye!”