Post by Kai Stevens on Apr 10, 2018 18:42:45 GMT -5
We find ourselves within the confines of the light orange walls of Palestra Energy Fitness Club SSD Srl in Verona, Italy, the home of our upcoming episode of L!GHTS OUT. Rather than being out on the open gym floor, surrounded by free weights and cable machines, we'd instead be in a private room. The north wall is entirely constructed out of mirrors, while the rest of the room is a bland, fading white, with hardwood floor and two closets in the south wall, filled to the brim with yoga mats, resistance bands, and other assorted fitness equipment that would be out of place anywhere else. On the western wall there would be a speed bag apparatus. A rather expensive seeming stereo system would be set up in the southeastern wall, with an auxiliary cord connecting to the dongle adapter for the more recent editions of the iPhone. The phone in which this dongle would find itself plugged would be blaring Bad Wolves' cover of the Cranberries' "Zombie," with the music pumping through speakers throughout the room. In the center of the room, surrounded by quite a bit of open space, would be a man on a yoga mat, performing sit-ups at a high velocity without losing form. At the peak of each sit-up, a man standing with crossed arms a few feet away would shout either LEFT or RIGHT, prompting the man on the mat to launch into a sequence of firing left and right fists at the air.
The man on the mat sports a pair of black and white Nike shorts, black Nike elite socks pulled up to their maximum height, black and white Nike sneakers, and a black headband. He would not wear a shirt, however. One would hope that mat would belong to him and not the gym, or at least that the facility has something to clean it off after use. The man, clearly KAI STEVENS, is sweating profusely, clearly having been working out for some time now. The man barking directions at him would, as such, clearly be BRIAN CHURCH. Church dons a suit that is black in every regard. He is noticeably absent of a tie, and his shirt is unbuttoned until the third or so button. His sleeves are rolled up to the elbows and his blazer is not in view.
"If you'd been this focused last week, things would have gone differently," he says with a begrudging tone, Kai nodding in response as he continues his sit ups, alternating between sequences of fists with Church no longer barking one side or the other. "Last week was unacceptable and cannot happen again." Kai merely nods again, not making eye contact with Brian, nor offering a verbal response. When the door clicks open, both men's heads begin to turn. Church notices this, and snaps his head back to Kai, barking at him once more. "KEEP YOUR FOCUS!"
The entrance door in to the facility opens outward; thus, allowing a cool breeze to enter along with none other than ALIYAH JAXON. Unlike Kai, she wasn't dressed for a workout session. Aliyah, however, would be donning a casual outfit that consisted of a brown leather moto jacket, a black mini skirt and a pair of black boots to match. Of course, Jaxon wore an assortment of gold jewelry consisting of bracelets on her wrist, earrings and necklace. Upon entry, Miss Jaxon wouldn't waste time in speaking.
"Yeah, Kai..." Jaxon says without even looking at Kai, but instead looking at Church as she continues. "...Keep your focus. Then and uh, maybe then you'll actually win your match in a few days--maybe. Let's hope you're not breakin' all of this sweat just to have you lookin' a like a fool again, huh?"
Without having to turn his head, Church new exactly to whom the voice would belong to. Grimacing, he lifts his outermost arm to push the pads of his middle finger and thumb against either side of the bridge of his nose. He swallows and clenches his teeth together, turning his entire body to face the uninvited guest without opening his eyes. When he does, he narrows them at Aliyah with an air of disdain.
"Miss Jaxon... To what do we owe the, uh," he trails off, not knowing how to word his inquiry. "To what end do we owe your presence?" Kai, at this point, flicks his eyes over to Jaxon while continuing to hit sit-up after sit-up. "Are you here to distract my client or just to annoy me?"
Kai furrows his brow and his sit-ups come to a halt. This garners an unamused sneer from Church, prompting Kai to rise to his feet and wipe his hands against one another. He drags the back of his right hand across his nose to clear a bead of sweat, his eyes now turning to Aliyah.
"What, uh... What are you doing here?"
"Hmm...what am I doing here?" Aliyah says, jokingly, as she rolls her eyes before proceeding to quickly survey the vicinity. "Am I here to annoy you, Brain? I feel like I already accomplished that as soon as you heard my voice, so mission accomplished, I guess. And uh, if by "distracting your client", you mean trying to make sure his head is in the right place--then yeah, that's what I'm here for, 'cos like, no way he should have loss last week. I mean, so much for you two staying behind in the office for a few extra hours to negotiate a lucrative contract and to add more zeros to your paycheck, only to start off your run with a losing record and a zero in the win column..." Jaxon says, scoffing. "I mean, maybe if you were on the prelims like I was - for some fuckin' reason - then maybe less people would have seen you take an L."
Without intention, Kai turns slightly to gauge Brian's reaction to Aliyah's words. Church, surprisingly, would let a small tuft of air escape his nostrils in a slight titter before shaking his head with a smirk. Church raises an extended index finger and wags it at Jaxon judgmentally.
"Perhaps you wouldn't have been on the prelims if you had someone representing you like me." Kai furrows his brow, surprised and confused. "But that would require someone like me to not grow tired of your presence the second you enter the room." Kai's scalp pulls back in a manner reminiscent of Jared Padalecki before turning back to Jaxon, Church continuing. "Why don't we leave where my client's headspace is to me, and we can leave the jokes and the one-liners to you?"
Brian cocks his right eyebrow skyward, refolding his arms over one another in front of his chest. Kai, now able to speak with Church having finished his own retort, would turn back to Aliyah and narrow his eyes at her, the words escaping from his lips before he'd had much time to compose his thoughts.
"There's a world of difference between the prelims and the actual show, and I know you know that. And I also know that one loss in over a year is still better than each and every single other person this company employs, has employed, or will ever employ. I'm not losing sleep over my loss, because I know full well -- and more importantly, so does Crimson -- that I'm the best in the world. A loss here or there will do nothing to change that... And besides... I have the opportunity to prove that next week against a guy who's got a championship belt around his waist. You? You've got a match with some bimbo whose name I can't even remember... So tell me... Who really took the L?"
Aliyah's nostrils flare up a bit in anger following Kai's remarks in regard to her position on last week's card, despite walking away with a win. She takes a few steps closer to Kai; her eyes narrowing a bit as she folds her arms tightly over her chest with a more serious demeanor being displayed.
"You should check yourself, Kai. If you think me being on the prelims was an L? Then I'd say I sure as hell made up for it by the end of the night when it was my face that closed the show after I stomped a bitch out. Did you even bother to watch the main event or where you too busy sulking? You say you won't lose sleep over this little loss - and yeah, you shouldn't - but it look like "your agent" got you over here doing push-ups 'til you get a damn nose bleed. He's takin' his anger and his frustration out on you as if it's entirely your fault. Is it?"
Aliyah would ask, with an eyebrow raised whilst looking at Church; and then diverting her attention back over to Kai to see who would be first to offer up a response the response she expected to be received. Church steps forward, his arms uncrossing, wetting his lips as he prepares to launch himself into a tirade, but Kai's right hand softly slips to the side, gesturing for Church to pause, as Kai will be the one to reply.
"I didn't watch the main event, you're not wrong," he offers. "But it sure as Hell wasn't because I was sulking or anything like that. I didn't watch it for two reasons and two alone... One? My time is better spent on something that matters, and unfortunately, I guess, for you? Other, irrelevant-ass people's matches don't matter... And two? And this is important, so listen up close... I don't want to watch two nobodies duke it out to see who's a fragment less of a nobody." Kai snickers softly before tilting his head slightly to the side, almost in a manner similar to Doctor Hannibal Lecter. "And if you think that this is an angry Brian Church then you haven't seen anything yet... And this? What I'm doing here in the gym? It's not for Brian... It's not for anything other than myself... I lost last week, as you seem incredibly inclined to remind me, remember? I'm here to make DAMN sure that that doesn't happen again. I'm really glad you stomped a bitch out last week, Aliyah. I really am. But when it comes right down to it? It doesn't matter how many bitches you stomp out if you're not the bitch that everyone is vying for position to stomp out themselves. And me? I'm here in the gym working towards that, but obviously in my context, and not yours... And what are you doing? Trying to get under my skin? Trying to give Brian a nosebleed? Or is there a better reason you're interrupting my workout? No disrespect."
The tinge of disdain in his final words would surprise even Kai, himself. He swallows and breathes in slowly as he awaits Aliyah's reaction. Knowing Jaxon as he does, he was prepared for vitriol and for that New York attitude.
"Hmm, I dunno', Kai. I can't think of a better reason other than coming here as a..." Jaxon's words would trail off a bit as her eyes quickly glance over to Brian Church, and then back to Kai Stevens with a bit of hesitation in even opening up her mouth to finish her thought. Before either man could say anything, Aliyah would let out a scoff before expressing a look of contempt upon her visage as she whips her auburn-colored locks out of her face and over her shoulder."You know what? Maybe I came here to give Brian a "nose bleed" or whateva', or maybe I came here to get under BOTH of your skin's. Call it watcha' wanna', but truth be told? I came here 'cos I'm pissed. Yeah, pissed. Pissed at management and pissed off at these...these other so-called "competitors" that have the damn nerve to lace up a pair of boots, step in the ring with me and see themselves as a "viable threat" in this damn shindig like Trxie for almost the same exact reason why I'm pissed off at YOUR ASS -- and I say "almost", 'cos unlike a lot of the rest? You are a threat, Kai...an' yeah, I know I'm probably telling you somethin' that you two already know, but for a guy who's labeled by others as one of the greatest talents on the damn planet that's being managed and trained by a guy who's a thirty-somethin' time World fuckin' CHAMPION? You sure as hell under-performed out there! And I know, we can't win 'em all an' you proved that, but that's not even my biggest gripe. My biggest gripe is the fact that we both came in with a lot of clout, a lot of hype an' praise--and hell, even signed on lucrative, long-term contracts, but yet you're on the main show an' I'm on the fuckin' prelims? ME. ME?! ME on the f[CENSORED]in' PRELIMS?! Call it jealousy, call it envy or whateva' you probably think it is, but any smart man would call it the way that I see it - and it's straight BULLSHIT! And don't try tellin' me otherwise, 'cos you both...you BOTH know it's TRUE!
Kai smirks in amusement before shaking his head. He pushes the pads of his middle finger and thumb of his right hand against either side of the bridge of his nose, as if trying to get rid of a tension headache. When he lowers his hand, he shakes his head and glares at Aliyah, a woman he'd almost exclusively treated with respect and, frankly, attraction. But something about her words today agitate the Inevitable. He steps a bit closer, ready to launch a quip back, but Church steps forward and speaks before Stevens has the chance.
"Maybe, Ms. Jaxon," he begins, his tone and the style of his speech eerily reminiscent of Doctor Hannibal Lecter as portrayed by Sir Anthony Hopkins in the 1991 film adaptation. "Maybe you wouldn't be on the prelims if you spent more time working and training like we are TRYING to do right now and less time trying to get, as you put it, under our skin?" Church's hands fall to the sides and interlock behind his back, an expression of self control. "To be blunt with you, Ms. Jaxon, it doesn't matter to me whether or not it's bullshit. It couldn't matter any less, in fact. What does matter, on the other hand? Is that you are interrupting our work, and right now that makes you nothing more than a distraction... And stars like my client have no use and no time for distractions... And I have no patience for them."
"Uh, WHAT was that? Maybe I should spend more time "working" and "training"? Are you serious?"
Jaxon would say, with her fiery red eyes narrowing a bit out of anger as she takes a few steps closer to Church; almost getting directly in his face without a hint of hesitation.
"Let's get somethin' straight, a'ight? Don't you EVER try questioning my work ethic an' don't question how much I put in to my craft inside the damn ring, 'cos you should know just as well as anyone else that I work my ass off. Besides, no matter how much training somebody does an' no matter how many sit-ups you can do before your nose starts to bleed, it won't mean jack-shit if you can't get it done in the ring. I'm not lettin' my position on the card dictate how good of a performer I am, got it? An' speakin' of distractions, how 'bout you tell your client that maybe, just maaaybe he wouldn't have took that L last week if he spent more time workin' an' trainin' an' less time sendin' me text messages at night lookin' to get in my pants. Otherwise? I likely would have finished off my opponent last week a lot quicker than I did and we wouldn't be havin' this convo' right now." Jaxon says, with the same look of contempt in her eyes as she had earlier on. "I know it's really none of your business what Kai does in his spare time when you two aren't up one another asses, but don't try painting a picture an' makin' it seem like I'm a some kinda' pest, you understand me? I know I probably made you two feel good about yourselves after I hyped y'all up a bit, but you ain't THAT special. No disrespect..."
Following those last few words, a light smirk comes across Jaxon's face. Kai's eyes flick to peer at Brian to gauge his reaction to Jaxon's comment about his texting her. He isn't sure whether or not Church was aware he'd been in contact with her, but he is certainly sure that he wouldn't be a fan of it. Church smirks ominously and wets his lips before addressing Jaxon's words, unblinking.
"I'm hearing a lot of excuses, Ms. Jaxon. More than I care to hear." The Dismembered Soul begins to turn away, but comes to a halt. Turning his head back towards Aliyah, he would continue. "Being that my Client is my business, what he does in his spare time most certainly falls under that jurisdiction." Kai's brow furrows. "And, Ms. Jaxon? Let me make this abundantly clear... I have no need to make it seem like you're a pest when you do a splendid job of proving that all on your own."
As Church lets this statement loose like an arrow launched from a bow and soaring towards its intended victim, Stevens steps between Jaxon and Church, who soon begins to step away, done with countenancing Jaxon to the extent he had. Stevens watches briefly as Church walks away before turning his head back to Jaxon, to whom he'd address his next words.
"I don't know if any of that was necessary," he shoots. "I don't really understand what you hoped to accomplish coming here, Aliyah, and all this has succeeded in doing is trying Brian's patience and making all of us look like schoolchildren." Kai shakes his head in disappointment. "I have no interest in fighting with you, or arguing, or any of this shit that we've done since you showed up here... But I'm telling you right now you gotta' be careful. You keep talking shit to Brian and I can't control what he's gonna' do, what he's gonna' say... And we both know he's got an immeasurable amount of influence in this industry. I'm not making a threat, nothing even remotely close... But what I am saying, Aliyah, is that you gotta' be careful. I'm here trying to work harder so that that bullshit like what happened with Crimson doesn't happen again... You being here doesn't further that goal, and since I'm still unclear on what exactly your goal is in coming here, I can neither comment nor speculate on whether or not it furthers yours... So either tell me what you're really doing here, or... Or stop preventing me from putting in the work you have made pretty clear I'm in need of... And while we're on the subject of clarity? You've made it pretty fuckin' clear that you don't have to worry about me texting you anymore... Sorry for bothering you with my camaraderie."
"Maybe I shoulda' got straight to the point when I got here, Kai...but even more than being pissed at you, I'm sorta' pissed at myself, too. Little do you or Brian know, is that I vouched for you..." Jaxon notices the slight look of confusion upon their faces as she said this, and before they could conjure up a response, Aliyah resumes her speech. "Yeah, I know. Aliyah Jaxon...Aliyah Jaxon, of aaaall people...vouching for someone other than herself?! Sounds like a joke, right? Yeah, it does--'cos it is! I vouched for you to not end up on the backburner by management, but I didn't know it'd come at the expense of ME being put in that position, so yeah - THAT'S why I attacked Trixie after the main event. THAT'S why I came here, interrupting your "workout" because I'm pissed and I wanted to let you know that I did something that you should...well..you should be thanking me for, but now?" Jaxon smirks, her eyes widening a bit as she begins to walk backward in direction of the facility's exit. "Now, I don't want your thanks, an' I'm not lookin' for it anymore. But what I DO want, though...well, you'll find out soon enough. Just, uh...be careful, Kai."
As Aliyah Jaxon makes her departure from the facility, she leaves both Kai Stevens and Brian Church with her ominous-sounding message to ponder over with an almost evil-looking expression slowly formulating upon her visage after positioning her shades over her eyes.
The man on the mat sports a pair of black and white Nike shorts, black Nike elite socks pulled up to their maximum height, black and white Nike sneakers, and a black headband. He would not wear a shirt, however. One would hope that mat would belong to him and not the gym, or at least that the facility has something to clean it off after use. The man, clearly KAI STEVENS, is sweating profusely, clearly having been working out for some time now. The man barking directions at him would, as such, clearly be BRIAN CHURCH. Church dons a suit that is black in every regard. He is noticeably absent of a tie, and his shirt is unbuttoned until the third or so button. His sleeves are rolled up to the elbows and his blazer is not in view.
"If you'd been this focused last week, things would have gone differently," he says with a begrudging tone, Kai nodding in response as he continues his sit ups, alternating between sequences of fists with Church no longer barking one side or the other. "Last week was unacceptable and cannot happen again." Kai merely nods again, not making eye contact with Brian, nor offering a verbal response. When the door clicks open, both men's heads begin to turn. Church notices this, and snaps his head back to Kai, barking at him once more. "KEEP YOUR FOCUS!"
The entrance door in to the facility opens outward; thus, allowing a cool breeze to enter along with none other than ALIYAH JAXON. Unlike Kai, she wasn't dressed for a workout session. Aliyah, however, would be donning a casual outfit that consisted of a brown leather moto jacket, a black mini skirt and a pair of black boots to match. Of course, Jaxon wore an assortment of gold jewelry consisting of bracelets on her wrist, earrings and necklace. Upon entry, Miss Jaxon wouldn't waste time in speaking.
"Yeah, Kai..." Jaxon says without even looking at Kai, but instead looking at Church as she continues. "...Keep your focus. Then and uh, maybe then you'll actually win your match in a few days--maybe. Let's hope you're not breakin' all of this sweat just to have you lookin' a like a fool again, huh?"
Without having to turn his head, Church new exactly to whom the voice would belong to. Grimacing, he lifts his outermost arm to push the pads of his middle finger and thumb against either side of the bridge of his nose. He swallows and clenches his teeth together, turning his entire body to face the uninvited guest without opening his eyes. When he does, he narrows them at Aliyah with an air of disdain.
"Miss Jaxon... To what do we owe the, uh," he trails off, not knowing how to word his inquiry. "To what end do we owe your presence?" Kai, at this point, flicks his eyes over to Jaxon while continuing to hit sit-up after sit-up. "Are you here to distract my client or just to annoy me?"
Kai furrows his brow and his sit-ups come to a halt. This garners an unamused sneer from Church, prompting Kai to rise to his feet and wipe his hands against one another. He drags the back of his right hand across his nose to clear a bead of sweat, his eyes now turning to Aliyah.
"What, uh... What are you doing here?"
"Hmm...what am I doing here?" Aliyah says, jokingly, as she rolls her eyes before proceeding to quickly survey the vicinity. "Am I here to annoy you, Brain? I feel like I already accomplished that as soon as you heard my voice, so mission accomplished, I guess. And uh, if by "distracting your client", you mean trying to make sure his head is in the right place--then yeah, that's what I'm here for, 'cos like, no way he should have loss last week. I mean, so much for you two staying behind in the office for a few extra hours to negotiate a lucrative contract and to add more zeros to your paycheck, only to start off your run with a losing record and a zero in the win column..." Jaxon says, scoffing. "I mean, maybe if you were on the prelims like I was - for some fuckin' reason - then maybe less people would have seen you take an L."
Without intention, Kai turns slightly to gauge Brian's reaction to Aliyah's words. Church, surprisingly, would let a small tuft of air escape his nostrils in a slight titter before shaking his head with a smirk. Church raises an extended index finger and wags it at Jaxon judgmentally.
"Perhaps you wouldn't have been on the prelims if you had someone representing you like me." Kai furrows his brow, surprised and confused. "But that would require someone like me to not grow tired of your presence the second you enter the room." Kai's scalp pulls back in a manner reminiscent of Jared Padalecki before turning back to Jaxon, Church continuing. "Why don't we leave where my client's headspace is to me, and we can leave the jokes and the one-liners to you?"
Brian cocks his right eyebrow skyward, refolding his arms over one another in front of his chest. Kai, now able to speak with Church having finished his own retort, would turn back to Aliyah and narrow his eyes at her, the words escaping from his lips before he'd had much time to compose his thoughts.
"There's a world of difference between the prelims and the actual show, and I know you know that. And I also know that one loss in over a year is still better than each and every single other person this company employs, has employed, or will ever employ. I'm not losing sleep over my loss, because I know full well -- and more importantly, so does Crimson -- that I'm the best in the world. A loss here or there will do nothing to change that... And besides... I have the opportunity to prove that next week against a guy who's got a championship belt around his waist. You? You've got a match with some bimbo whose name I can't even remember... So tell me... Who really took the L?"
Aliyah's nostrils flare up a bit in anger following Kai's remarks in regard to her position on last week's card, despite walking away with a win. She takes a few steps closer to Kai; her eyes narrowing a bit as she folds her arms tightly over her chest with a more serious demeanor being displayed.
"You should check yourself, Kai. If you think me being on the prelims was an L? Then I'd say I sure as hell made up for it by the end of the night when it was my face that closed the show after I stomped a bitch out. Did you even bother to watch the main event or where you too busy sulking? You say you won't lose sleep over this little loss - and yeah, you shouldn't - but it look like "your agent" got you over here doing push-ups 'til you get a damn nose bleed. He's takin' his anger and his frustration out on you as if it's entirely your fault. Is it?"
Aliyah would ask, with an eyebrow raised whilst looking at Church; and then diverting her attention back over to Kai to see who would be first to offer up a response the response she expected to be received. Church steps forward, his arms uncrossing, wetting his lips as he prepares to launch himself into a tirade, but Kai's right hand softly slips to the side, gesturing for Church to pause, as Kai will be the one to reply.
"I didn't watch the main event, you're not wrong," he offers. "But it sure as Hell wasn't because I was sulking or anything like that. I didn't watch it for two reasons and two alone... One? My time is better spent on something that matters, and unfortunately, I guess, for you? Other, irrelevant-ass people's matches don't matter... And two? And this is important, so listen up close... I don't want to watch two nobodies duke it out to see who's a fragment less of a nobody." Kai snickers softly before tilting his head slightly to the side, almost in a manner similar to Doctor Hannibal Lecter. "And if you think that this is an angry Brian Church then you haven't seen anything yet... And this? What I'm doing here in the gym? It's not for Brian... It's not for anything other than myself... I lost last week, as you seem incredibly inclined to remind me, remember? I'm here to make DAMN sure that that doesn't happen again. I'm really glad you stomped a bitch out last week, Aliyah. I really am. But when it comes right down to it? It doesn't matter how many bitches you stomp out if you're not the bitch that everyone is vying for position to stomp out themselves. And me? I'm here in the gym working towards that, but obviously in my context, and not yours... And what are you doing? Trying to get under my skin? Trying to give Brian a nosebleed? Or is there a better reason you're interrupting my workout? No disrespect."
The tinge of disdain in his final words would surprise even Kai, himself. He swallows and breathes in slowly as he awaits Aliyah's reaction. Knowing Jaxon as he does, he was prepared for vitriol and for that New York attitude.
"Hmm, I dunno', Kai. I can't think of a better reason other than coming here as a..." Jaxon's words would trail off a bit as her eyes quickly glance over to Brian Church, and then back to Kai Stevens with a bit of hesitation in even opening up her mouth to finish her thought. Before either man could say anything, Aliyah would let out a scoff before expressing a look of contempt upon her visage as she whips her auburn-colored locks out of her face and over her shoulder."You know what? Maybe I came here to give Brian a "nose bleed" or whateva', or maybe I came here to get under BOTH of your skin's. Call it watcha' wanna', but truth be told? I came here 'cos I'm pissed. Yeah, pissed. Pissed at management and pissed off at these...these other so-called "competitors" that have the damn nerve to lace up a pair of boots, step in the ring with me and see themselves as a "viable threat" in this damn shindig like Trxie for almost the same exact reason why I'm pissed off at YOUR ASS -- and I say "almost", 'cos unlike a lot of the rest? You are a threat, Kai...an' yeah, I know I'm probably telling you somethin' that you two already know, but for a guy who's labeled by others as one of the greatest talents on the damn planet that's being managed and trained by a guy who's a thirty-somethin' time World fuckin' CHAMPION? You sure as hell under-performed out there! And I know, we can't win 'em all an' you proved that, but that's not even my biggest gripe. My biggest gripe is the fact that we both came in with a lot of clout, a lot of hype an' praise--and hell, even signed on lucrative, long-term contracts, but yet you're on the main show an' I'm on the fuckin' prelims? ME. ME?! ME on the f[CENSORED]in' PRELIMS?! Call it jealousy, call it envy or whateva' you probably think it is, but any smart man would call it the way that I see it - and it's straight BULLSHIT! And don't try tellin' me otherwise, 'cos you both...you BOTH know it's TRUE!
Kai smirks in amusement before shaking his head. He pushes the pads of his middle finger and thumb of his right hand against either side of the bridge of his nose, as if trying to get rid of a tension headache. When he lowers his hand, he shakes his head and glares at Aliyah, a woman he'd almost exclusively treated with respect and, frankly, attraction. But something about her words today agitate the Inevitable. He steps a bit closer, ready to launch a quip back, but Church steps forward and speaks before Stevens has the chance.
"Maybe, Ms. Jaxon," he begins, his tone and the style of his speech eerily reminiscent of Doctor Hannibal Lecter as portrayed by Sir Anthony Hopkins in the 1991 film adaptation. "Maybe you wouldn't be on the prelims if you spent more time working and training like we are TRYING to do right now and less time trying to get, as you put it, under our skin?" Church's hands fall to the sides and interlock behind his back, an expression of self control. "To be blunt with you, Ms. Jaxon, it doesn't matter to me whether or not it's bullshit. It couldn't matter any less, in fact. What does matter, on the other hand? Is that you are interrupting our work, and right now that makes you nothing more than a distraction... And stars like my client have no use and no time for distractions... And I have no patience for them."
"Uh, WHAT was that? Maybe I should spend more time "working" and "training"? Are you serious?"
Jaxon would say, with her fiery red eyes narrowing a bit out of anger as she takes a few steps closer to Church; almost getting directly in his face without a hint of hesitation.
"Let's get somethin' straight, a'ight? Don't you EVER try questioning my work ethic an' don't question how much I put in to my craft inside the damn ring, 'cos you should know just as well as anyone else that I work my ass off. Besides, no matter how much training somebody does an' no matter how many sit-ups you can do before your nose starts to bleed, it won't mean jack-shit if you can't get it done in the ring. I'm not lettin' my position on the card dictate how good of a performer I am, got it? An' speakin' of distractions, how 'bout you tell your client that maybe, just maaaybe he wouldn't have took that L last week if he spent more time workin' an' trainin' an' less time sendin' me text messages at night lookin' to get in my pants. Otherwise? I likely would have finished off my opponent last week a lot quicker than I did and we wouldn't be havin' this convo' right now." Jaxon says, with the same look of contempt in her eyes as she had earlier on. "I know it's really none of your business what Kai does in his spare time when you two aren't up one another asses, but don't try painting a picture an' makin' it seem like I'm a some kinda' pest, you understand me? I know I probably made you two feel good about yourselves after I hyped y'all up a bit, but you ain't THAT special. No disrespect..."
Following those last few words, a light smirk comes across Jaxon's face. Kai's eyes flick to peer at Brian to gauge his reaction to Jaxon's comment about his texting her. He isn't sure whether or not Church was aware he'd been in contact with her, but he is certainly sure that he wouldn't be a fan of it. Church smirks ominously and wets his lips before addressing Jaxon's words, unblinking.
"I'm hearing a lot of excuses, Ms. Jaxon. More than I care to hear." The Dismembered Soul begins to turn away, but comes to a halt. Turning his head back towards Aliyah, he would continue. "Being that my Client is my business, what he does in his spare time most certainly falls under that jurisdiction." Kai's brow furrows. "And, Ms. Jaxon? Let me make this abundantly clear... I have no need to make it seem like you're a pest when you do a splendid job of proving that all on your own."
As Church lets this statement loose like an arrow launched from a bow and soaring towards its intended victim, Stevens steps between Jaxon and Church, who soon begins to step away, done with countenancing Jaxon to the extent he had. Stevens watches briefly as Church walks away before turning his head back to Jaxon, to whom he'd address his next words.
"I don't know if any of that was necessary," he shoots. "I don't really understand what you hoped to accomplish coming here, Aliyah, and all this has succeeded in doing is trying Brian's patience and making all of us look like schoolchildren." Kai shakes his head in disappointment. "I have no interest in fighting with you, or arguing, or any of this shit that we've done since you showed up here... But I'm telling you right now you gotta' be careful. You keep talking shit to Brian and I can't control what he's gonna' do, what he's gonna' say... And we both know he's got an immeasurable amount of influence in this industry. I'm not making a threat, nothing even remotely close... But what I am saying, Aliyah, is that you gotta' be careful. I'm here trying to work harder so that that bullshit like what happened with Crimson doesn't happen again... You being here doesn't further that goal, and since I'm still unclear on what exactly your goal is in coming here, I can neither comment nor speculate on whether or not it furthers yours... So either tell me what you're really doing here, or... Or stop preventing me from putting in the work you have made pretty clear I'm in need of... And while we're on the subject of clarity? You've made it pretty fuckin' clear that you don't have to worry about me texting you anymore... Sorry for bothering you with my camaraderie."
"Maybe I shoulda' got straight to the point when I got here, Kai...but even more than being pissed at you, I'm sorta' pissed at myself, too. Little do you or Brian know, is that I vouched for you..." Jaxon notices the slight look of confusion upon their faces as she said this, and before they could conjure up a response, Aliyah resumes her speech. "Yeah, I know. Aliyah Jaxon...Aliyah Jaxon, of aaaall people...vouching for someone other than herself?! Sounds like a joke, right? Yeah, it does--'cos it is! I vouched for you to not end up on the backburner by management, but I didn't know it'd come at the expense of ME being put in that position, so yeah - THAT'S why I attacked Trixie after the main event. THAT'S why I came here, interrupting your "workout" because I'm pissed and I wanted to let you know that I did something that you should...well..you should be thanking me for, but now?" Jaxon smirks, her eyes widening a bit as she begins to walk backward in direction of the facility's exit. "Now, I don't want your thanks, an' I'm not lookin' for it anymore. But what I DO want, though...well, you'll find out soon enough. Just, uh...be careful, Kai."
As Aliyah Jaxon makes her departure from the facility, she leaves both Kai Stevens and Brian Church with her ominous-sounding message to ponder over with an almost evil-looking expression slowly formulating upon her visage after positioning her shades over her eyes.
