Extraordinary V: All my friends were vampires.
Feb 21, 2021 20:49:18 GMT -5
CJ Phoenix, Carter Shaw, and 3 more like this
Post by Lissie Hope on Feb 21, 2021 20:49:18 GMT -5
Driftwood, Texas
Lissie Hope wasn’t prepared to see the devastation left behind by the winter storm.
She’d watched the coverage; read the articles. She’d donated to the fundraising efforts from Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, before reaching out to Democratic leaders in Houston for ways she could help-on-the-ground.
After a day of meet-and-greets and handing out supplies to vulnerable people in need, Lissie, accompanied by Mae, find themselves in the central Texas Hill Country. The smoke of the outdoor pit at The Salt Lick, a world renown barbecue restaurant, flooded her nostrils. Lissie and Mae sat under an outside pergola, sipping on glasses of refreshing iced-tea. Only in Texas can weather range from below-zero to a sunny seventy in a span of seven days.
Mae films her from across the bench.
The biggest challenges come when they’re least expected.
That’s the big take-away from this week.
Lissie glances at her phone, lighting up with a received text message. Mae gets a brief view of the name: “A. Pasternak”. Lissie smiles.
You never know when your world will turn upside-down. Or when something so innocuous and unthreatening contributes to devastating crisis. But you’ve got to take the bad with the good. You’ve got to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
When it feels like there’s no way to go but down, you have to lift yourselves back up.
Focus on the goal.
Because it’s right within your reach.
The waiter appears in the frame. “Your order will be out shortly,” he says. Lissie nods in gratitude.
There are clear dangers in every corner; from the lockerroom to society. The nightstalkers and the thieves, the menaces with no regard for life. The Walters and the Nightingales, the Spaydes and the Venables. I’ve seen first-hand just how blood-thirsty and soul-sucking they can all be. Sanctimonious, self-righteous vultures, destroying civilization in their own ways.
But then, there’s someone like you, Regan.
I don’t want to be disrespectful and call you a pretender, but I feel you’ve got way more to offer the world than you’re letting on. To this point, you’ve crippled your own potential. You live by a virtuous, worldly set of values, no doubt a product of our shared Southern upbringing. Your veganism is admirable. The strength you project from your small stature should be emulated.
You could be bigger than yourself.
But right now, you’re satisfied being the cartoonish lovechild of Walter and Sierra Silver, playing this storybook villainous role; crafting this narrative of this frail and cadaverous spectral with your mallet and camelias. A danger lurking in the halls, always ready to strike. The perverse, demonic muse of a manic pixie dream girl that sounded the alarm for Corey Bull to finally stroke the sausage.
It’s an image, Regan.
It’s insidious and deceitful.
You’re just as dishonest and disgraceful as the pube-bearded cuck Texas calls a senator.
Lissie pauses and covers her mouth, a little embarrassed for her outburst.
You could do so much more, Regan.
That’s why I’m here.
That’s why this match was signed.
I know how much the Cruiserweight Championship means to you. I heard it in your voice during your First Impression, but you didn’t leave quite the one you promised. And that’s okay! There could only be one winner of CruiserHavoc…
Mae briefly turns the camera to herself and waves.
...but you did make a genuine insight. Rising to the level of your competition, win-or-lose, is a measure of your own skill. You might’ve faltered last week with Spayde in your corner. But now you’re stepping into the ring with the Heroine.
Don’t overlook this one. I see you’re excited for those other opportunities to come but don’t take this one for granted. This may not be Uprising: Revolution 7, but trust: I know a little bit about Uprising: All-In.
This is for you, Regan.
Your greatest challenge.
Your ultimate preparation.
I hope you’re ready for what’s coming.
♀️
The waiter returns, setting down a platter of smoked pulled pork sandwiches, sausage, and baby-back pork ribs. Lissie and Mae are salivating.
“Only the best, Mae,” Lissie says.
“Was this shipped in from Voorhees Farms?” Mae asks, innocently.
Lissie smiles.
“Dig in.”