Post by Skyfire on Sept 21, 2018 22:40:59 GMT
McAnally’s Pub, Chicago Illinois
Friday, 21 September, 2018 12:30 pm
Santana steps down from the sidewalk into what she would almost swear was a fifteenth century Irish pub. The low watt bulbs and TV, volume turned low, playing local news are the only obvious indicators of modern technology in the place. For her part Santana is dressed casually in a pair of black boots trimmed with gold, black dress slacks, a red silk shirt, and black blazer, she scans the room, noting that despite it being in the middle of the day the pub is still roughly only half full. After a moment she sees what she is looking for: sitting in the far corner is a woman in an eye-patch. Smiling to herself, Santana walks over to sit down.
As she sits Santana takes stock of the woman before her: Dressed in brown, square toed cowboy boots, worn blue jeans, a red button down shirt, half unbuttoned, and a beat up brown leather jacket, the woman has a look that, while relaxed, seems as if she’s ready for a fight at any given time. Despite this, she gives Santana a toothy smile, a stark contrast to the rest of her face, her right cheek bandaged and bruised, and the aforementioned eye-patch covering her right eye. Pushing Santana a bottle of the in-house ale she leans forward to talk.
Hey, Cali, how’re you doin?
Santana, rolling the bottle between her palms, rolls her eyes and gives an exaggerated sigh.
Still calling me that, sis? I live next door to you now, how long will I be Cali? Santana takes a drink of the ale and scrunches her face. Also, this is warm sis, how long have you been here?
Remi shrugs.
Barkeep refuses to serve the in-house stuff cold, says it was meant to be drank warm. As far as the Cali thing, I’ll stop calling you that when you stop dressing in USC colors and speaking like a surf babe, deal “sis”?
Santana takes another drink, this time more slowly.
Fuck, Remi, this is good! She thinks for a minute, looking at the bottle Oh, and no deal, keep calling me Cali for all I care. She sighs So, looks like we’ve both got big matches this week, yeah? You’re defending your title, and I’m shooting for my first! It’d be cool if you could be there, but I know how things work, still, though, party afterwards, right?
Remi nods, taking a drink from her own bottle.
For sure, and win or lose, I’m gonna be there after, don’t worry about that. Remi studies her sister’s face for a moment. How well do you know your opponent? You scouted her yet?
Santana nods and pulls out her cell phone. After flipping through a couple apps she shows Remi the notes she had made on Jocelyn.
She’s trained by Cloud, someone you’re familiar with I’m sure, and is no stranger to adversity, beat Mackenzie Hoyt in for the Lethal Specialist title and I’m her first big defense. Her style is a little more unorthodox than I’m used to, but I’ve faced smaller, faster women before. I’ve gotta pace myself and I can win this I think.
Reading over the notes, Remi nods and without looking up, motions for the bartender. A man in a white button down and brown slacks walks over with a notepad and waits for Remi to order. After a beat, Santana clears her throat and Remi looks up.
Oh, uhhh, two of your steak sandwiches...she leans over to Santana Cali, these are to die for! She leans back and looks at the bartender Side of fries too, please.
The Bartender grunts and writes down the order before walking off to prepare it. Santana studies her sister for a moment, biting her lip. Finally she nods to herself and speaks up.
Remi...I’m nervous. I mean, sure I won at Thunderstruck, but I let Daisy down last week...what if my debut was a fluke? What if I’m not cut out for this? Her voice begins to speed up What if I flop and get swept in the match? It’s best of two, so realistically I should be able to win at least a fall, but what if I can’t? Wha -
Remi reaches over and grabs her sister’s hand, stopping her mid-sentence.
If you lose then you stand back up. Don’t let a loss be the end of you, Cali, you are better than that. Sure you lost last week, against an experienced team, though. You and Daisy have nothing to be ashamed of, you damn near had the upset, y’know? Look at like this: Losing don’t end the world, or despair, or even fucking being beat up. The world ends when you die. Until then you’re in store for a lot of things, some good, many bad. You learn to take your time with the good, y’know? Remi gives Santana a warm smile as the bartender places their plates on the table in front of them. ‘Sides, sis, I gotta good feeling about your match! I think you beat Jocelyn! You gotta believe that too, else she’ll beat you sure as shit, ain’t that right, Mac? She pats the bartender on the shoulder.
The man, who looks to be anywhere from mid thirties to fifty barely moves but looks at Santana and nods.
Believe ye can and ye can.
He speaks in a rough Irish accent before taking Remi’s empty bottle and giving her another.
Remi watches as he walks back to the bar and puts her empty bottle in a wooden box beneath the counter.
Y’know, I’ve ate here every night since I got into town and that’s the most I’ve heard him say…
Santana laughs and shakes her head.
Not everyone is the social butterfly you are, sis. You’re both right, though, I just had a little case of the nerves. I can beat her, for sure, but I don’t wanna be cocky...She takes a bite of the sandwich in front of her and her eyes go wide at the taste Not wanting to talk with a full mouth, she motions to Remi, who herself has already eaten a large portion of her own sandwich. Remi laughs and takes a drink of the ale.
Yeah, I told ya this was a good place. Okay, finish chewing, then let’s go over your gameplan. I’m not winning this for you, you have to. All the external belief on the planet won’t help if it’s not internal too. So, let’s hear it sis.
Remi watches Santana with raised eyebrows as her sister takes a long drink from her bottle. After wiping her mouth with her napkin she leans forward, fingers tented.
Okay, well, the first thing I need to watch for is her striking, she has a lot of kicks in her arsenal, which works because she is also fast and likes to fly. So, the smart money to me is to keep the match on the ground. Keep her on the mat. It won’t be that simple, cause she’s faster than I am, but if I can get hold of her and start using my chain wrestling then I have an advantage there. The good news is she seems like a level headed, straight up sis, so I won’t have to worry about anything underhanded goin’ on.
Santana pops a fry in her mouth and chews thoughtfully for a moment.
She will be different than Heather, I think, my first opponent. She ran straight at me and I just had to weather the storm long enough to grab an advantage. Jocelyn will probably come at angles, so I’ll need to be situationally aware....what?
Santana looks over at Remi who has leaned back against the wall, feet propped up in the booth, and is smoking a cigar. She’s regarding Santana with an amused look on her face and blows a smoke ring before answering.
Okay, sis, that’s the nuts and bolts...but what about why?
Santana, confused raises her eyebrows.
Whatta mean “why”?
Patiently, Remi shakes her head.
Why do you wanna win. I know you can win, hell, you know that...the question is why do you want to win?
Remi places the cigar in the ashtray on the table and takes a bite out of the remains of her sandwich. She eyes Santana questioningly while chewing.
Why? Well, because it’ll mean I’m right that I can hang with the best. It’ll mean that I belong here and that I’m not a fluke. If I win the title then I made the right choice to not follow my degree and to follow my passion, y’know sis? She eyes Remi who is smiling behind a cloud of smoke from the cigar. What? What is so goddamn funny? She thinks for a minute Oh! I can do it! Yeah, sis, I got this, least I got a good shot at it! I don’t hold any ill will toward Jocelyn, Hell, she seems a cool enough sis, but she’s got something I want. This is my shot to be a champion, to make my mark on the business, and I’m gonna make the most of it! Last week wasn’t a total loss, it showed me I can hang with the best LAW has to offer, the fact that Daisy chose me of all people is a testament to that too. Jocelyn is gonna have her hands full come This weekend, I can promise that!
Nodding, Remi orders another round of ale before finishing her sandwich and starting to work on her fries. Santana smiles to herself as she starts to dig into her food.
They laugh together and start telling road stories as they finish their lunch.
Friday, 21 September, 2018 12:30 pm
Santana steps down from the sidewalk into what she would almost swear was a fifteenth century Irish pub. The low watt bulbs and TV, volume turned low, playing local news are the only obvious indicators of modern technology in the place. For her part Santana is dressed casually in a pair of black boots trimmed with gold, black dress slacks, a red silk shirt, and black blazer, she scans the room, noting that despite it being in the middle of the day the pub is still roughly only half full. After a moment she sees what she is looking for: sitting in the far corner is a woman in an eye-patch. Smiling to herself, Santana walks over to sit down.
As she sits Santana takes stock of the woman before her: Dressed in brown, square toed cowboy boots, worn blue jeans, a red button down shirt, half unbuttoned, and a beat up brown leather jacket, the woman has a look that, while relaxed, seems as if she’s ready for a fight at any given time. Despite this, she gives Santana a toothy smile, a stark contrast to the rest of her face, her right cheek bandaged and bruised, and the aforementioned eye-patch covering her right eye. Pushing Santana a bottle of the in-house ale she leans forward to talk.
Hey, Cali, how’re you doin?
Santana, rolling the bottle between her palms, rolls her eyes and gives an exaggerated sigh.
Still calling me that, sis? I live next door to you now, how long will I be Cali? Santana takes a drink of the ale and scrunches her face. Also, this is warm sis, how long have you been here?
Remi shrugs.
Barkeep refuses to serve the in-house stuff cold, says it was meant to be drank warm. As far as the Cali thing, I’ll stop calling you that when you stop dressing in USC colors and speaking like a surf babe, deal “sis”?
Santana takes another drink, this time more slowly.
Fuck, Remi, this is good! She thinks for a minute, looking at the bottle Oh, and no deal, keep calling me Cali for all I care. She sighs So, looks like we’ve both got big matches this week, yeah? You’re defending your title, and I’m shooting for my first! It’d be cool if you could be there, but I know how things work, still, though, party afterwards, right?
Remi nods, taking a drink from her own bottle.
For sure, and win or lose, I’m gonna be there after, don’t worry about that. Remi studies her sister’s face for a moment. How well do you know your opponent? You scouted her yet?
Santana nods and pulls out her cell phone. After flipping through a couple apps she shows Remi the notes she had made on Jocelyn.
She’s trained by Cloud, someone you’re familiar with I’m sure, and is no stranger to adversity, beat Mackenzie Hoyt in for the Lethal Specialist title and I’m her first big defense. Her style is a little more unorthodox than I’m used to, but I’ve faced smaller, faster women before. I’ve gotta pace myself and I can win this I think.
Reading over the notes, Remi nods and without looking up, motions for the bartender. A man in a white button down and brown slacks walks over with a notepad and waits for Remi to order. After a beat, Santana clears her throat and Remi looks up.
Oh, uhhh, two of your steak sandwiches...she leans over to Santana Cali, these are to die for! She leans back and looks at the bartender Side of fries too, please.
The Bartender grunts and writes down the order before walking off to prepare it. Santana studies her sister for a moment, biting her lip. Finally she nods to herself and speaks up.
Remi...I’m nervous. I mean, sure I won at Thunderstruck, but I let Daisy down last week...what if my debut was a fluke? What if I’m not cut out for this? Her voice begins to speed up What if I flop and get swept in the match? It’s best of two, so realistically I should be able to win at least a fall, but what if I can’t? Wha -
Remi reaches over and grabs her sister’s hand, stopping her mid-sentence.
If you lose then you stand back up. Don’t let a loss be the end of you, Cali, you are better than that. Sure you lost last week, against an experienced team, though. You and Daisy have nothing to be ashamed of, you damn near had the upset, y’know? Look at like this: Losing don’t end the world, or despair, or even fucking being beat up. The world ends when you die. Until then you’re in store for a lot of things, some good, many bad. You learn to take your time with the good, y’know? Remi gives Santana a warm smile as the bartender places their plates on the table in front of them. ‘Sides, sis, I gotta good feeling about your match! I think you beat Jocelyn! You gotta believe that too, else she’ll beat you sure as shit, ain’t that right, Mac? She pats the bartender on the shoulder.
The man, who looks to be anywhere from mid thirties to fifty barely moves but looks at Santana and nods.
Believe ye can and ye can.
He speaks in a rough Irish accent before taking Remi’s empty bottle and giving her another.
Remi watches as he walks back to the bar and puts her empty bottle in a wooden box beneath the counter.
Y’know, I’ve ate here every night since I got into town and that’s the most I’ve heard him say…
Santana laughs and shakes her head.
Not everyone is the social butterfly you are, sis. You’re both right, though, I just had a little case of the nerves. I can beat her, for sure, but I don’t wanna be cocky...She takes a bite of the sandwich in front of her and her eyes go wide at the taste Not wanting to talk with a full mouth, she motions to Remi, who herself has already eaten a large portion of her own sandwich. Remi laughs and takes a drink of the ale.
Yeah, I told ya this was a good place. Okay, finish chewing, then let’s go over your gameplan. I’m not winning this for you, you have to. All the external belief on the planet won’t help if it’s not internal too. So, let’s hear it sis.
Remi watches Santana with raised eyebrows as her sister takes a long drink from her bottle. After wiping her mouth with her napkin she leans forward, fingers tented.
Okay, well, the first thing I need to watch for is her striking, she has a lot of kicks in her arsenal, which works because she is also fast and likes to fly. So, the smart money to me is to keep the match on the ground. Keep her on the mat. It won’t be that simple, cause she’s faster than I am, but if I can get hold of her and start using my chain wrestling then I have an advantage there. The good news is she seems like a level headed, straight up sis, so I won’t have to worry about anything underhanded goin’ on.
Santana pops a fry in her mouth and chews thoughtfully for a moment.
She will be different than Heather, I think, my first opponent. She ran straight at me and I just had to weather the storm long enough to grab an advantage. Jocelyn will probably come at angles, so I’ll need to be situationally aware....what?
Santana looks over at Remi who has leaned back against the wall, feet propped up in the booth, and is smoking a cigar. She’s regarding Santana with an amused look on her face and blows a smoke ring before answering.
Okay, sis, that’s the nuts and bolts...but what about why?
Santana, confused raises her eyebrows.
Whatta mean “why”?
Patiently, Remi shakes her head.
Why do you wanna win. I know you can win, hell, you know that...the question is why do you want to win?
Remi places the cigar in the ashtray on the table and takes a bite out of the remains of her sandwich. She eyes Santana questioningly while chewing.
Why? Well, because it’ll mean I’m right that I can hang with the best. It’ll mean that I belong here and that I’m not a fluke. If I win the title then I made the right choice to not follow my degree and to follow my passion, y’know sis? She eyes Remi who is smiling behind a cloud of smoke from the cigar. What? What is so goddamn funny? She thinks for a minute Oh! I can do it! Yeah, sis, I got this, least I got a good shot at it! I don’t hold any ill will toward Jocelyn, Hell, she seems a cool enough sis, but she’s got something I want. This is my shot to be a champion, to make my mark on the business, and I’m gonna make the most of it! Last week wasn’t a total loss, it showed me I can hang with the best LAW has to offer, the fact that Daisy chose me of all people is a testament to that too. Jocelyn is gonna have her hands full come This weekend, I can promise that!
Nodding, Remi orders another round of ale before finishing her sandwich and starting to work on her fries. Santana smiles to herself as she starts to dig into her food.
They laugh together and start telling road stories as they finish their lunch.