Post by Laci Valentine on Jul 13, 2020 21:48:15 GMT -5
This takes place after Golden Ticket
(Please ignore the ending with the other guest and pretend it starts with Laci)
The infamous game show host, Chuck Woolery comes from backstage to the sound of the audience's applause.
"Thank you, thank you. Tonight we have a very special episode. Tonight we meet Laci-Marie Valenzola and she's only ever had one relationship and is looking for something different. She's twenty-four, and a professional wrestler. She says that she's looking for somebody to just get her quirks. Please, let's welcome Laci to the stage."
Laci comes out from the side stage, only instead of her usual long straight hair and tasteful makeup, she walks onto the stage with her red hair permed and teased. Her eye makeup is bold with very dark eyeliner and thick blue shadow. Of course this is all topped off with a blazer dress with thick shoulder pads. She makes her way over and sits on the couch next to Chuck with a big cheesy smile.
"It's nice to meet you Laci. So you're a professional wrestler, how did you get into that? A nice young lady like you, seems a rough job to have?"
Laci smiles but you can tell she's holding her tongue.
"I have been fighting my whole life, why not make money doing it." She gives a big smile.
"Not much time for love with that, which is funny since your stage name is Valentine."
"I am a big fan of irony."
"Like your University degree in..."
Laci holds up her finger to Chuck's mouth and smiles, as does he behind her finger.
"Well alright."
Laci moves her finger.
"Well we have some great picks for you." Chuck turns to the audience. "And we'll see who Laci picks, after this break."
"Welcome back to Love Connection. Let's see the picks we made for Laci-Marie. First up we have Alaric Dracislav. His age has been listed as timeless, he's never been married and his hobbies include bloodletting and stalking. We asked Alaric about a time a he had a mishap on a date when he talked about his... umm... condition..."
The picture on the screen shows Alaric with his long dark hair in 80's rock-band curls, an open paisley shirt with a cold chain. He smiles, showing his fangs.
"...She seemed to be okay with it, excited even to let me taste her blood. So we head out into the Alley, I'm about to bite her and she loses her mind. Starts yelling for help. I tell you though..."
He smiles wide again.
"There are a lot of willing vic... I mean participants in a jail cell..."
The screen flashes back to Chuck, his eyes wide.
"And our next pick, and a first for Love Connection, is a young lady. Please meet Priscilla Kelly. She's twenty-three, also a wrestler and enjoys bondage parties."
The screen switches to Priscilla, hair crimped and tied around her head is a big lace bow, a-la 1980's Like a Virgin Madonna. She even has the large hoop earrings and finger-less lace gloves. She flips her hair behind her shoulder, pursing her ruby lips.
"...I like bondage because it puts me in control. I need to control people to make up for all my insecurities, you know. Why else would I be a wrestler with a dozen bodyguards? So in a relationship, I would need someone meek and spineless, a confident person would just have me realize that I'm just as weak and spineless. We can't have that, I'm Priscilla fucking Kelly after all..."
Chuck Woolerly simply shakes his head before the camera shows Spud. and he looks... exactly the same as he usually does.
"And lastly, we have a gentleman that goes by Rockstar Spud."
The camera pans back to Chuck. His eyebrows go up in confusion. He puts his hand to his ear piece. "Really?... That's his name?... Okay..."
Chuck looks back to the camera. "Spud is twenty-six, a rockstar & wrestler. We asked him what he looked for in an ideal partner..."
"...Someone that has fashion & music sense. Someone who gets the lifestyle and isn't going to throw me under the bus. She's gotta be sweet, and a decent person. And can just kick back too."
The camera then pans back to Chuck & Laci.
"Now we'll ask you, the audience to pick your choice for Laci...."
The crowd starts yelling out numbers as the percentage under each picture begins to spin. It finally dings to a stop.
Alaric 0%
Priscilla 0%
Spud 0%
"Is that right?" Poor Chuck once again looks confused. "But they were all..." his hand is pressed against the earpiece again. "They picked who?"
Chuck's eyes go wide. "Apparently the audience has chosen a write in vote. They chose..."
"A lot of firsts on Love Connection tonight, but you know Laci... you really should wake up now, they're all waiting for you..."
****
My eyes pop open and I gasp, air filling my lungs like I had been underwater for too long. The steady beep of a heart monitor has me move my head to the side, instantly regretting it once the marching band starts playing in my head. What happened? Why was I in the hospital? I start to sit up, my body protesting with aches and pains As the memories flood back in. S2... that overgrown Igor. I wasn't done with him. Or that Gothic bitch.
In the chair next to my bed is Spud, snoring ever so softly. Not enough to be a nuisance but just enough to know he was dozing. I had no idea what time it was.
What an awful dream. I mean meeting Bill would be pretty cool, but not to date him. That wasn't why I admired him. Obviously, I would have chosen Spud. My door opens and a pretty nurse enters, interrupting my thoughts.
"You're awake, wonderful. Let's get that IV out."
She brings a trolley over to my side and starts removing the tape. I look over at Spud again.
"He's been here almost the whole time, you know." She says in a soft voice. "Has only left to use his phone and meet his friends for food. I'd say he was really worried about you. He really stepped up when the ambulance technician bungled your transport."
I can't help smirking. I'm sure it would end up being a great story. Especially if Spud and Fringe both were involved.
I fully admit to liking him. And it was obvious that he shared those feelings. I just wasn't sure what to do with those feelings. I had rushed into my last relationship head on. It had burned me very badly, and I meant that figuratively and literally.
"How long have I been here?" I dreaded the answer.
"Only two days sweetie. You're a little black and blue but the good news is that you don't have a concussion. Once the doctor comes in to clear you, you can go home. You're really lucky. You must be made of tough stock."
I snort-laugh. I had no idea what my stock was. My mom was raised in foster care. No idea who her parents were and my bio Dad fucked off after learning I was coming. I'd say it was probably my mom but to be honest, Bob used her as a punching bag more often than not. I loved her to the moon and back and I would do almost anything to get her out of there but it had to be her idea, otherwise she'd just end up back there. No. Laci Valentine was from her own stock.
The nurse put a bandage over the puncture mark in my hand and patted my arm softly.
"Well, I wouldn't lose that one. Even the doctor relented and let him in after he badgered him. You don't have any next of kin listed on your files."
I shake my head. "Wouldn't matter, I'm Canadian and my next of kin is there."
The nurse nods. "Your medical expenses have already been taken care of too, by the way."
This perks my ears. "Who?"
The nurse shakes her head. "I don't know."
"Can you find out?"
The nurse almost looks a little scared of my tone. I decide to put on a little Canadian charm
"So I can thank them. I have this thing..." I flash her my "good girl" smile and the tension instantly melts from her shoulders. It's really a surprise to me that not more Canadians aren't spies. We would fool so many people just based on stereotypes alone.
"Of course. I will look into it."
She leaves the room and I rub my arm. I hated hospitals. Ever since I was a kid. I just wanted to leave. Spud starts to move around in the chair and slowly opens his eyes.
"Hi..." I say. He smiles.
"Hi...you're awake...are you okay...?"
His grogginess is gone as his concern filters in to replace it. He moves the chair closer, reaching to grab my hand but stops, catching my eye first as if to ask silently if it was okay. I finish the movement myself, taking his outstretched hand.
"Just a little battered but nothing I haven't dealt with before."
He bites his lip at first. "It was Priscilla's goons..."
I nod. "Couldn't be anyone else. No one else hates the world as much as she does and makes a habit of using others to do the dirty work for her. In my opinion, it really should be Albert wearing that belt, not her."
He doesn't seem to know how to take my words.
"I'm not going to sit around and wait to be caught off guard again. I came to AWF for a purpose and that purpose is to be on top."
"Well, you aren't on the new card. Bret was here to check on you personally. Paid for all your bills."
Oh. So Bret paid. I'd have to thank him personally.
"Maybe you should take longer off than just a week."
I shake my head. "One week off is already too long. I'm fine. I can't let those arseholes win."
"Laci... because you lost... you're in my match at the pay-per-view..."
I narrow my eyes. I suppose we had never really discussed the possibility of having to face each other again while we explored... whatever this was.
"Let's get this out in the open now. I would never do anything, on purpose, to maim you. James..."
He looks at me funny. Even though I knew his real name, I'd never used it, nor had he given me permission to use it, but I felt silly having such a serious conversation using his nickname.
"I want to see how this goes. But you have to know that what happens in that ring has nothing to do what happens here."
I swipe my hand between us both.
"It's cliche, I know..."
"No... I get it. And I feel the same. I wouldn't ask you to throw a match like that."
I nod. "Me either."
I give him a half smile. "I wonder how much weight I lost being on strictly IV fluids for two days. "
Spud rolls his eyes. "You don't have to lose weight."
He had a lot to learn about women and our weight.
"Good answer however, I do have this little food baby..."
I let go of his hand to pinch the small bulge of skin on my stomach.
"Please, Love..." he shakes his head. "You are a lot of things, but fat is not one of them."
We had a good laugh and he made sure I got to my hotel okay. There was an awkward moment where I thought about kissing him. He had essentially been my hero but I hadn't kissed him since Priscilla's party. Instead, I hugged him and went into the elevator.
What was I doing? I had zero relationship experience, at least not healthy experience. I didn't know what to do with this but I didn't want him to shy away either. I would have to play this cool. At least until I got my footing.
***
The time of naive Laci was over. Come hell or high water, I was going to make sure that Priscilla was knocked off that pedestal. Even if it wasn't me that did it. If she could bring others into the mix, so could I.
BONUS FOOTAGE:
In the lobby Spud looks to the sky.
"For fucks sake, that was my moment, idiot"
He looks to his phone, a new text.
'My hero x' - From Laci.
Spud face is plastered with a stupid grin, that he refuses to wipe off. He then calls Panda.
"Alright mate, can you come pick me up"
"So you're not staying the night?"
"What, no, should I be staying the night, FUCK I was annoyed that I didn't kiss her"
"You didn't kiss her, are you for real?" Panda then tells the rest Local Leather and hysterical laughing can be heard from the other end of the phone.
Spud rolls his eyes.
"We'll be right there Spud"
Spud hangs up with annoyance but as he does he see's the text again, that grin comes back.
"Next time"
Spud types 'get some rest, I'll see you soon darling'
before sending he deletes the 'darling' and replaces it with a 'x'