Post by Lord Hastings on Dec 10, 2016 18:50:55 GMT -5
Donovan lays in his bed, staring at the ceiling. One hand lightly rubs his forehead, the other lays at his side near the edge of the bed. A single thought continues to race through his head, repeatedly, over and over again.
Why am I doing this?
Hastings: Do you think he took it personally?
“You mean when you and ‘The Embodiment of Fear’ dragged him through the UGWC arena in chains?”
Hastings: Yes.
“I should think so.”
Hastings: Good.
Donovan stands in the kitchen of Casa del Roberts, making himself some tea. leans against a cabinet.
"You know, I could have Simon make that for you.”
Hastings: It’s fine, it still wouldn’t be like Owen makes.
Donovan opens the freezer and takes out a handful of ice cubes, placing them in the tea.
Hastings: And anyway, what do you mean, Simon?
Donovan looks directly at Vain for the first time since he arrived today.
Hastings: Ah.
He squints and glances around.
Hastings: Where did Travis go?
"To a hotel, so that he and ‘The Vain One’ do not muddy the waters any further before Horizons.”
Hastings: In the middle of a conversation? That’s rather abrupt.
"He left several weeks ago.”
Donovan’s eyes form narrow slits.
Hastings: Pull the other one.
"Seriously.”
Hastings: I’ve been here a bunch of times since then.
"Talking to ‘The Money Maker’ at length, yes.”
Hastings: Really? Hm.
He sips his tea, makes a face, and adds several more ice cubes.
Hastings: But I talked to Travis about his cross-stitch.
"Again, ‘The Excellence of Sexecution.’ He left it here and I’ve been working on it. Finished this one just this morning, actually.”
Hastings: Yes, well, there’s that, then.
Vain proudly hangs the cross-stitch on the wall.
Hastings: What was I saying?
"Don’t you think that maybe it is time that you and Killian put all this behind you? After all, Travis and I have found a common ground.”
Hastings: You’re facing him for the World Heavyweight Title.
"And he’ll be allowed to come visit it after I’ve won it. He can read it a bedtime story on Tuesdays and Fridays.”
Hastings: What you and Travis have gone through has brought you to respect each other. This is different. This is more like the opposite. He has no respect.
"You aren’t being fair.”
Hastings: When we had him chained up he said he’s the real Sex in Sex and Violence.
Vain hesitates a moment.
"No, he didn’t.”
Hastings: Totally did. Said he’s a better hugger than you too.
"No one gives a better hug than ‘The Prognosticator of the Bro Hug.’
Donovan stares at him blankly.
"That’s me.”
Hastings: Sorry, I wasn’t sure.
"It’s okay. We can Bro Hug right now, you’ll see.”
Hastings: No, I’m good. Listen, I know that you and Travis aren’t in a position to appreciate this, but this thing you call a friend and partner crossed a line. I’ve done plenty of bad things to people over the years. I’ve never messed with family.
"Would the Petersons agree?”
Hastings: I’ve never messed with anyone’s children.
"Again, would-”
Hastings: Chris was his grandson. And I helped him in the end. Or the middle. Or something.
Donovan sighs.
Hastings: I see your point. But these are my children.
"And he put them in the hottest selling merchandise item that UGWC marketed this year. They were likely the rage of their nursery school.”
Donovan sips his tea and ponders.
"Did you ever just consider it a gift? A playful prank, perhaps one in poor taste, but a prank nonetheless? Again, ultimately something of a joke gift?”
Hastings: I’ll give him a gift...a gift of pain!
Now it is Vain that gives him a blank stare.
Hastings: It sounded better in my head.
"Doubtless.”
Why am I doing this?
It is the tiniest of noises, nearly incomprehensible. A shuffling along the carpet.
All too clear is the touch of the hand, and as Donovan turns his head to the tiny figure alongside the bed, the faintest of noises.
“Daddy?”
Why am I doing this?
Hastings: Do you think he took it personally?
“You mean when you and ‘The Embodiment of Fear’ dragged him through the UGWC arena in chains?”
Hastings: Yes.
“I should think so.”
Hastings: Good.
Donovan stands in the kitchen of Casa del Roberts, making himself some tea. leans against a cabinet.
"You know, I could have Simon make that for you.”
Hastings: It’s fine, it still wouldn’t be like Owen makes.
Donovan opens the freezer and takes out a handful of ice cubes, placing them in the tea.
Hastings: And anyway, what do you mean, Simon?
Donovan looks directly at Vain for the first time since he arrived today.
Hastings: Ah.
He squints and glances around.
Hastings: Where did Travis go?
"To a hotel, so that he and ‘The Vain One’ do not muddy the waters any further before Horizons.”
Hastings: In the middle of a conversation? That’s rather abrupt.
"He left several weeks ago.”
Donovan’s eyes form narrow slits.
Hastings: Pull the other one.
"Seriously.”
Hastings: I’ve been here a bunch of times since then.
"Talking to ‘The Money Maker’ at length, yes.”
Hastings: Really? Hm.
He sips his tea, makes a face, and adds several more ice cubes.
Hastings: But I talked to Travis about his cross-stitch.
"Again, ‘The Excellence of Sexecution.’ He left it here and I’ve been working on it. Finished this one just this morning, actually.”
Hastings: Yes, well, there’s that, then.
Vain proudly hangs the cross-stitch on the wall.
Hastings: What was I saying?
"Don’t you think that maybe it is time that you and Killian put all this behind you? After all, Travis and I have found a common ground.”
Hastings: You’re facing him for the World Heavyweight Title.
"And he’ll be allowed to come visit it after I’ve won it. He can read it a bedtime story on Tuesdays and Fridays.”
Hastings: What you and Travis have gone through has brought you to respect each other. This is different. This is more like the opposite. He has no respect.
"You aren’t being fair.”
Hastings: When we had him chained up he said he’s the real Sex in Sex and Violence.
Vain hesitates a moment.
"No, he didn’t.”
Hastings: Totally did. Said he’s a better hugger than you too.
"No one gives a better hug than ‘The Prognosticator of the Bro Hug.’
Donovan stares at him blankly.
"That’s me.”
Hastings: Sorry, I wasn’t sure.
"It’s okay. We can Bro Hug right now, you’ll see.”
Hastings: No, I’m good. Listen, I know that you and Travis aren’t in a position to appreciate this, but this thing you call a friend and partner crossed a line. I’ve done plenty of bad things to people over the years. I’ve never messed with family.
"Would the Petersons agree?”
Hastings: I’ve never messed with anyone’s children.
"Again, would-”
Hastings: Chris was his grandson. And I helped him in the end. Or the middle. Or something.
Donovan sighs.
Hastings: I see your point. But these are my children.
"And he put them in the hottest selling merchandise item that UGWC marketed this year. They were likely the rage of their nursery school.”
Donovan sips his tea and ponders.
"Did you ever just consider it a gift? A playful prank, perhaps one in poor taste, but a prank nonetheless? Again, ultimately something of a joke gift?”
Hastings: I’ll give him a gift...a gift of pain!
Now it is Vain that gives him a blank stare.
Hastings: It sounded better in my head.
"Doubtless.”
Why am I doing this?
It is the tiniest of noises, nearly incomprehensible. A shuffling along the carpet.
All too clear is the touch of the hand, and as Donovan turns his head to the tiny figure alongside the bed, the faintest of noises.
“Daddy?”