Post by angelicavaughn on Jun 29, 2019 20:59:29 GMT -5
*DROP*
Another poop well placed.
Satisfied, Ser Bobby felt his territorial instincts increase as the area surrounding the litter tray became permeated with the stench of his last digested dinner. He scratched the upper surface of the wooden cat litter chips, burying his prize underneath a tiny heap. That, he thought, would make for a fun little treasure hunt later. It was like looking for gold, only this nugget was considerably more valuable.
Bobby stepped out of the tray and shook his paws clean, spreading bits and pieces of litter around the floor. He could easily have gone outside of course, but he absolutely loved watching the humans clean up his poop. They had this thing called Netflix, he had this. Cats took delight in even the smallest things in life. A human on their knees, holding their breath to clean up after him? It was like Cat Christmas, and in this house Cat Christmas came five times a day.
The only exception he took was when Mom was home alone. For Her, he went outside. But when Her own mother was in the house, he made sure to put her to work. She usually came running less than a minute after heâd heeded natureâs call. But not this time, though. Something was clearly off. He could feel it in the tip of his tail.
He looked at Mary, for that was the name of Momâs mother heâd heard. She was pacing the room more fanatically than a lion in a zoo, clenching a piece of paper that she looked at every now and then. Sheâd been doing that a lot as of late and it was extremely annoying. He was a light sleeper, and having her march around the house like this disturbed his naps. So much so that he had to wake her up at least twice every night to ask for food. Hey, if SHE disturbed his bio-rhythm, why would he feel bad about disturbing hers, right? Humans were so selfish at times.
Speaking of sleep, it was time for post-poop nap, one of his highlights of the day. He walked over to the couch and shook his bottom to prepare for takeoff, but instead simply leapt a whole yard into the air when a sound that felt more deafening than a clock falling out of a church tower filled the living room. His claws outstretched, Bobby rose his tail up and growled at the doorbell, unamused. He knew for a fact that Mom wouldnât come home until late last night, so who could it be? Not the postman again, surely. Heâd already dropped off a box of fanmail earlier. Bobby wasnât a big fan of dogs at all, but at least they kept the postmen away. Annoyed at having his nap delayed he looked on as Mary hurried towards the door, opening it to reveal a blonde, middle-aged woman who for all intents and purposes looked as much like a 25-year old human as a 45-year old one. Still, she was quite stunning, by human standards, even if they all sort of looked alike. But Bobby vaguely remember her face. Heâd seen her before, but itâd been a while.
âEdith!â Mary exclaimed as she embraced the woman before she could even come into the house.
Ah yes, Bobby remember. Edith Seybold, Momâs agent. The one who drew up her contracts and had helped turn her into a famous global superstar. Without her, Mom would probably never have gotten a real career off the ground. Meaning no wrestling. No LAW. No #CoolKids, and all the things that had followed. She preferred life behind the scenes, so it was surprising to see her pop up. This couldnât be good. He quickly jumped on the couch, but kept his attention focused on the pair.
The impossibly high heels that Edith walked in rattled off the wooden floor, feeling like someone stuck a needle in his cat ears every time she took a step. The red lacquered shoes shone brightly underneath the overhead lights, forcing Bobby to look away from them. Yes, he was the perfect predator, but sometimes having these fantastically awesome senses was a bother. WHY did cats have to be so good at everything?? It was a question he asked himself daily.
âI came as soon as I got your message. It sounded urgent.â
Her voice was relatively deep for that of a human woman, but it was surprisingly soothing, too. Bobby wasnât surprised she could both smooth talk and coerce other humans with such vocal chords. Edith sat herself down on the couch next to Bobby and looked at him. With yellow eyes, he stared back. Obviously, choosing to sit down next to him meant she was offering her lap as a place to take a nap. It would be rude to refuse, and her thighs looked comfortable through her tight red dress. She smelled rather nice, too. Roses and human sweat. The former to mask the latter, but a catâs nose wasnât so easily fooled. Bobby slowly walked towards her and placed one paw on her thigh. It wasnât very muscular, but thick enough to make for a nice pillow. She didnât swipe him away, so that was a sign of acceptance. He put his other paw on her thigh and started kneading her leg. Edith smiled slightly. With Angelica Vaughn as a client, you just HAD to be a cat person. He put on his best purr and wanted to jump on her lap altogether, but he felt two hands wrap themselves around his front legs, picking him up by the chest and lifting him into the air.
âLeave Edith alone, Bobby,â Mary said as she put him back on the ground.
âNOOOOOOOOOOOOOESâ Bobby screamed. âMust you ruin everything, woman!?â Of course, all the humans understood was a series of meows, lacking the awareness to understand Catspeak. He looked up at her and hissed. Sheâd understand THAT, at least. Mary rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Edith.
âThanks so much for coming, Edith. I⌠I donât know what to do and I need to talk to someone who knows my daughter, knows her secret, and has her best interests at heart.â
âWell, Iâm glad you thought of me. I do think I check all those boxes. And I was nearby anyway, was ironing out some details with Jadeveon Clowney. Got him franchise tagged a while back so we were discussing options. Anyway, whatâs up? Iâm curious.â
Mary didnât speak, but simply handed her the letter. That dreaded piece of paper that had caused such a stir.
Edithâs expression didnât even change as she read it, absorbing the facts like the ice cold agent of the stars that she was. Bobby liked her.
âSeeing as you had me come over in all secrecy with Angie absent, I assume she doesnât know about this?â Edith held up the letter before handing it back to Mary who shook her head.
âIâve no idea who even sent it. Iâve been meaning to tell Angie, butâŚâ
âYou worry she wonât care? By the way, what is that AWFUL smell, it literally smells like shit in here, pardon my French!â
Edith sniffed the air and looked around, but Mary threw a look full of reproach at the thick grey British shorthair. If cats could smirk, Ser Bobby would have.
âOh, yeah. Him again. Thatâs like the fifth poop of the day, sometimes I think he does it just to spite me!
âYou are correct, human.
âIâll clean it up in a bit.â
âYes, you will. Yes. You. Will!â
Mary walked to the kitchen, presumably to get some drinks, but she kept talking, her voice growing more voluminous the further away she went. Not for Bobby, of course, he could hear a whisper in the attic.
âBut yeah, like you were saying, Edith... Sheâs so intent on carving out a name for her own, so desperate not to continue the legacy of her father. Yes, I worry. Sheâs⌠remarkably stubborn and proud when it comes to that.â
Mary came back with a bottle of bubbly and two glasses. He couldnât help but feel grieved by the lack of a tray of cat milk. Still, this was getting interesting, Bobby thought. He executed catloaf.exe and kept staring at the two as they continued their conversation.
âIronically, thatâs the Lacklan part in her, I guess. But I see the problem. You know Angelica wonât budge on revealing her secret and embracing her legacy. But now that she is defending the UGWC World Championship against Aveline Lacklan at Wrestlestock, this whole affair will become something she can no longer ignore or run away from. Even IF you donât show her this letter, she will find out eventually. And she will be forced to make a decision. Sheâs too important a chess piece in this game. She is the Knight who can overtake the Queen, but is she willing to sacrifice other pieces? Sheâs gone so far in her deceit towards Sarah that I donât think Jean-Paulâs appointed heir will take kindly to it. And Angie knows that. Sheâs built this bubble of deception and it might very well burst. Aveline holds this secret above her head like the Sword of Damocles and I think sheâs just about ready to swing.â
Bobby raised his ears. He didnât like this. Mom seemed to be in deep, deep trouble. And he LOVED Mom. He wanted nothing bad to happen to her.
âI donât trust Aveline as far as I can throw her. Pouring honey in one ear and poison in the other. She must go. Angelica MUST defeat her once and for all! Eradicate her! Her AND that pretender that seeks to claim the throne.â
Edith sipped from her champagne and raised an eyebrow.
âIâm surprised, Mary. It was my understanding that youâd accepted all of this. The ranch. The Texas life. Far away from your past, letting it stay buried just like your daughter wants.â
Mary rose up from the couch as if she was stung by a wasp.
âI had!â
She turned towards Edith.
âBut if a bastard sits on the Lacklan throne, I want it to be MINE! She deserves it!â
âWell, good luck convincing her. Itâs going to take something special. But it all starts with defeating Aveline at Wrestlestock. Nothing else will do. Because if Aveline wins, if she takes Angelicaâs World title? She can destroy her. Bring ALL of this crashing down, and more. Destroy not just her legacy as a Vaughn, but her legacy as a Lacklan. Her friendships, with Sarah, Kenzi, Roxy⌠Angelica may not realize it, but this match at Wrestlestock is the most important match she will likely ever have. Her life depends on it.â
Bobbyâs heart was racing. What was this he was hearing?? Mom? In trouble? And by extension, the farm? This was bad news if ever he heard it. For all his posturing, he didnât just care deeply about his Mom, he also cared about the IGADP Ranch, and yes he fully endorsed that name and loved it. As more and more animals had arrived, theyâd built quite the community together, away from human eyes. The fact that he was regarded as a bit of a group leader was a very nice bonus, too. He was, after all, the closest animal to the boss. But now they were all in peril. Heâd heard quite a bit about Momâs feud with this Aveline woman and knew that if he ever got his paws on her, heâd scratch her eyeballs out and feed them to⌠well, himself, probs.
He turned his attention away from the two debating women. He needed help. THEY needed help. And who to better assist him at this time than his loyal second-in-command and best friend, ser Alex? He looked around the living room, at all ten of the cat beds strewn around the living room, but his friend was nowhere to be seen.
âI swear, if heâs making out with that chinchilla again when thereâs WORK to be done, I will whoop his tail from here to Ding Dong Dell.â
Bobby then remembered heâd seen Alex go upstairs earlier in the day. Presumably to ttake a nap on Momâs bed. As she would probably not return before midnight, her bedroom would be unoccupied and the perfect place for a snooze. Alex always HAD been clever. Bobby rushed to Angelicaâs bedroom and seen that the door was about for about the width of two human palms. Pretty much a giveaway sign that there was a cat in there. Bobby ran in and jumped on the bed, seeing his furry Scottish Fold friend just laying there, his belly going up and down on the slow rhythm of his breath. Bobby approached and poked his paw into his friendâs shoulder.
âOi! Alex, get up you bastard! Get up!â
Alex sighed as he heard Bobby disturb his slumber and muttered through his razor sharp teeth.
âMy pedigree is immaculate, Iâll have you know. My lineage goes back all the way to the cat of William Wallace.â
âWill you please shit up about your Braveheart lineage? Wake up, you queer chinfucker, weâve got huge problems!â
âFiiiiine.â
Ser Alex got to his four feet and stretched his back and paws, his claws getting stuck in the bedsheet. He pulled them out, leaving a tiny hole and then looked at his brother in paws.
âSup?â
âLetâs take a walk,â Bobby said and motioned for Alex to follow him. They hopped off the bed, down the stairs and through the catflap in the front door to the outside. The hot midday air of the ranch greeted them, the blazing hot Texan sun overhead covering the entire area. There was a lot of noise outside, with the ranch being in rapid expansion. It was turning more into a bona fide farm, with new plots for new animals, new barns, new stables, and food processing facilities to finalize the homemade IGADP products. There were quite a few bulldozers, cranes and construction workers around the place, but the two cats steered well clear of them. As they walked, Alex couldnât keep his curiosity contained any longer. He made sure to keep equal pace with Bobby as they talked.
âSo will you tell me whatâs going on??â
âYou hear that noise, bruv? Well, enjoy it. Might not last for much longer. â
âWhat do you mean?â
Bobby stopped underneath the shadow of a tree and looked at Alex.
âMomâs been nervous as of late, right? More than usual. Well ,the truth is, sheâs not nearly nervous enough. I know whatâs going on, Alex. Because if she loses this next match of hers, she may just about lose every god damn thing sheâs built here.â
âThat seems⌠dramatic.â
âWell, itâs true. The Lacklan woman, not the red-eyed one but the crazy one, she holds leverage over Mom. Enough to bring her down. And I just heard it straight from Momâs mom, she just might do it! If she doesnât defeat that crazy chick at Wrestlestock, weâre done. Kaputt. Sheâs going to destroy her and all she worked for.â
Alex pondered Bobbyâs words for a second, then replied.
âHmm, thatâs worrying. But Mom has beaten her before. Loads of times. She can do it again. You forget how good she can be. Sheâs strong, Bob. And even if she loses, do you really think that Lacklan woman wouldâŚ?â
âIâd bet five of my lives on it. IfâŚâ
âWere you two scallywags talking about the Matron?â a voice from up high suddenly cooed. It was a familiar voice, but to the two felines, a very unpleasant one indeed. They both looked up and saw a pigeon of purest white perched on a branch, its red albino eyes staring at them with the most condescending look you could imagine. Ambrosia, first and foremost among Sarah Lacklanâs flight of albino carrier pigeons. Arch rival of Sers Bobby and Alex. The two catsâ eyes turned into slits, their instinct for MURDER kicking in. Ambrosia was lucky they had promised mom to never hurt one of Sarahâs pigeons again.
âUgh, itâs you,â ser Alex said, sounding like he was about to throw up a hairball. âWhat are you doing here?â
âBy the Good Grace of the Matron, construction has begun on a first class resting space for my sisters and I, should we grow tired on long distance flights. I am here to oversee and make sure that everything is in perfect order. After all, the noble art of feathered air mail isâŚâ
âOh, be silent, you dumb rat on wings.â
âHMPF! Typical childish insults. But what else to expect of a feline such as yourself! Truly, theâŚâ
âWe get it, already!!â Alex interrupted her. Ambrosia puffed her chest at being interrupted again and Ser Alex sighed.
âLook, ultimately we want the same thing, right? We just want our Mom to be happy, and you want to please your Matron. Theyâre best of friends, after all! So maybe we can try and be a bit more⌠civil?â
âIâm always civil! I am a shining beacon of civility! Why, the Matron Herself has said: âAmbrosia,â she said, âYOU are a shiningâŚââ
âYES! For meowing out loud, Ambrosia, yes!â
âFine, fine. But this news I just heard is highly disturbing. Why, even a CHICKEN could understand that this could severe long term ramifications. The Matron loves your Mom, this I know for a supreme fact. It would break her heart if this truth got out. Iâd tell her myself, but since not even She can understand the noble tones of Pigeonspeak, I guess thatâs out of the question.â
âGreat. Nice to know youâd stab us right in the back if you had the option.â
âI fear you mistake me for VâShin-Ay. That madpidge impaled an owl on live TV! Can you imagine?â
âOddly, I can. Not even I would go up against that crazy roided up pigeon!â He turned to ser Alex.
âAlex, you make the rounds, buddy. Tell all the animals to come to the main barn after midnight. Crisis meeting, and we must hold a public forum.â He looked up at Ambrosia. âYou can come too, I guesss.â
With an approving nod that implied his acceptance of the invitation, the bird flew off. Ser Alex darted away, as Ser Bobby took a deep breath.
âMan, I hope this works outâŚâ
Everything was set up. Bales of hay placed strategically so the smaller animals could see, a trough or two with snacks and plenty of buckets with water for the thirsty. The podium at the end was pretty much makeshift, but it was the best they could do. For all their weird looking features, the advantage of having opposable thumbs could not be denied.
The barn was filling up nicely. Cows, chickens, pigs⌠whatever they did, because Bobby saw noreal use for them⌠horses, mice (with whom they had agreed a no-killing pact as long as they stayed out of the house), Ambrosia and a few of her pigeon friends, and even the bees. They were new on the ranch, but they, like all others, had to walk past the Wall of Rules. Every community needed them, otherwise thereâd be anarchy. And nobody was waiting for that, were they? As the animals rolled in, each of them were pretty much forced to look at it, giving them a quick but crystal clear reminder.
Bobby was pretty proud of them. Alex and he had written them themselves. They seemed fair and just, even if thereâd been complaints in the past, but he couldnât quite figure out why. The animals were chattering, cackling, clucking, mooing and whinnying amongst themselves. Word had already spread about potential trouble afoot, and they were all eager to have their worries waylaid. Still, it quieted down as soon as Ser Bobby hopped on the podium to address them. They looked on as the self-declared leader of the ranch animals cleared his throat.
âMy dear fellow animals. As you all know, we live in interesting times. Weâve been fortunate to welcome many new friends amongst us as Momâs operation continues to grow. From the cows who provide milk, to the chickens who provide eggs, to the bees who provide honey. From the horses who provide entertainment to the pigs who err⌠Anyway, you know what I mean.â
Somewhere from up high in the rafter a soft but yet audible voice could clearly be heard, doing a very poor attempt at speaking in a hushed whisper.
âNot a WORD about the pigeons who carry the letters. Typical. He WILL be hearing from me after!â
Ser Bobby tried his best to ignore Ambrosia and continued.
âFor all that we provide, we are provided with something in return. Love. Friendship. Food. Shelter. Thanks to Mom, we have all these things and more, but as many of you may have already heard, she is in danger of being overthrown.â
Chatter rose up again, particularly among the chickens. One of them, senior Hen Patricia, spoke up.
âWe heard that weâll soon all be killed and eaten!â
A couple of the other chickens winced and Bobby rolled his eyes. Chickens were SUCH drama queens! Why did they taste so good??
âWe heard that the Lacklan woman will overthrow Mom and kill us all!â
âNonsense, Patricia! Look, I wonât deny thatâŚâ
âTHEY WILL TURN US ALL INTO GLUE!â Gary the horse shouted at the top of his voice, rearing slightly before slamming his hooves into the ground, adding extra power to his words. Bobby was starting to lose his patience.
âBY THE WHISKERS OF NOCTURNAL! Nobody is getting eaten or boiled into glue just yet! Iâm here to inform you thatâŚâ
âSO weâll be turned into bacon after all? I thought this place was DIFFERENT!â screamed Donald the pig. Bobby momentarily lost his temper.
âShit up, you walking piece of waste! Being turned into bacon would be good for you! You do nothing here, and you have no say here! This ainât an Orwell story!â
A few angry murmurs rose up and Alex gave Bobby a worried look. The Scottish Fold stepped forward and addressed the crowd for the first time.
âPlease, forgive us, my friends. My friend Bobby is under a lot of stress. He means well. For you. For Mom. As you all know, she will be defending her World Championship against the Queen of Lacklanland at Wrestlestock this Sunday. Their relationship is⌠complicated to say the least, and we suspect that she will use damaging information she has on Mom to hurt her where it hurts the most⌠and that includes here.â
Ambrosia flew down from the rafters and landed on the podium right next to the cats. She pointed an accusing feathered wing at the two felines.
âYou know, in a way itâs all your Momâs fault! If only she had come clean at the very start, rather than spin this web of lies and deceit around her! The Matron would have EMBRACED her, showered her with love and sisterly affection! Then this would all be of no consequence!â
Hearing Ambrosia accuse Angelica of any wrongdoing sent Bobby in such a fit of rage that he tried to lash out at the pigeon. If Alex hadnât restrained him, he likely would have knocked the birdâs head clean off.
âAccuse Mom one more time! I will dry-hump your eggs until they break, Ambrosia, don't fuck with me! Remember rule number six!â
âYou know Iâm right.â
The pigeon cooed in disgust one more time and flew back to the safety of the rafters. Alex tried to calm Bobby down.
âCome on, be a cool cat. This isnât helping anyone.â
Alex was right of course. Bobby recomposed himself and took a look at the crowd, most of which were shaking their head in disapproval; but not all was aimed at Bobby. Ambrosia had mdae precious few friends with her remarks, because despite the privileges of the cats, ALL the animals loved their Mom dearly.
âLook, Iâll make it real simple for you,â Bobby continued. âUltimately, our fate lies just as much in our own paws, talons, hooves, claws, or whatever. Mom needs our support, and that means working as hard as we possibly can. Sheâs passionate about this place, so we must make it as good as we can. SO! If I catch any of you slacking, I will personally spray all over your offspring, turning them into my property! Are we clear??â
A few moaning mumbles rose from the crowd.
âARE WE CLEAR??â
This time they were more responsive, a loud and resounding chorus of agreements his answer.
âGood. Mom needs us. And we need her. Letâs all be the best we can be. So for tonight, return to your stables. Your barns. Your pens and coops. Your hives. And tomorrow, deliver your biggest eggs. Bring out your tastiest milk. Make more honey than you ever have in your life. We will not give Aveline Lacklan the satisfaction of going down easy, and neither will Mom! Because at Wrestlestock, during the biggest match of her life, she will fight! She will fight for herself. For her fans. And she will fight for us. She will WIN for us! She will obliterate that madwoman once and for all, showing the world that Angelica Vaughn is more than just a cute, happy, smiley face. She will show the world, that she is strong. That she is fierce. That she is the greatest champion the Coalition has ever seen! She will dethrone the Champion of Chaos and reaffirm herself as the true World Champion! And you had all best believe THAT!â
A wild cheer erupted from the animals. Bobby had made them believe!
Sers Bobby and Alex approached the house, having sent the rest of the animals home. All in all, the meeting had been a success, save for the little pidgeon-fueled shake-up. But what else was new?
Bobby and Alex took turns diving into the catflap, landing into the living room. Bobby looked at it. Empty. Not exactly the way theyâd left it, the sparkling debate earlier having fuelled an a ranchwide emergency meeting.
Alex turned towards his compatriot.
âYou did good tonight, Bobby. Not just for us, but for everyone.â
âCouldnât have done it without you.â
âYou could have, except Ambrosia wouldâve been a dead motherfucking pigeon right now.â
She two cats shared a laughing hiss and Alex adapted a more serious tone.
âAppreciate you looking out for Mom, my brother. Sheâs a sweetheart. Loved by many. And not just us. Other humans, too. Sheâs an inspiration, and we canât let her down. So at Wrestlestock, letâs crack open the best bottle of cat milk, letâs take the cosiest seats in the entire house as we always do⌠and watch Mom dominate. As she always does.â
Bobby grinned a grin thatâd put the Cheshire Cat to shame.
âWe will. She must be home by now. Iâll, errrâŚ. Go check if sheâs, like, in her bed, and then if she is I will like, probably hop ON the bed to see if sheâs sleeping and then I MIGHT fall aslâŚâ
âYou wanna sleep on her bed tonight, donât you?â
âBy the Nine Lives of the Lionheart, yes. Please.â
âHave at it, fam. Iâll take the couch.â
One pawbump later, Bobby went up the stairs. Mom would surely be home by now, so he wasnât at all surprised to find the door to her bedroom shut. That wouldnât do.â
âLEMME IN LEMME IN!â he screamed, his voice sounding only like a meow to the human ear. He stood on his hind legs and put his front paws on the door, scratching the lacquered wood to try and draw the attention of Mom. âPLEAAAAASE!!!â
Impending footsteps meant his cries for help had been fruitful. The door opened and there she was, in all her⌠Well, splendor wasnât the right word, but she was as tall as always and looked VERY sleepy. And yet, very happy to see her. Without even thinking twice, Angelica scooped Ser Bobby up and carried him with one arm like most humans would a baby.
âSer Bobbyyyy! You wanna come sleep with mommy, yes? Yes, of course you do!â
Angie went back over to her bed and tucked herself back in. Bobby buried himself in the crease of her lap and belly, rolling himself up into a bun. She proceeded to pet him, letting her long fingers slide down the thick grey fur on his spine. He started purring louder than a jackhammer. He loved her so much.
âYouâre the cutest, Ser Bobby! So nice of you to come and sleep on the bed! Itâs because you miss me, right?â
Bobby continued to enjoy the petting as Angie kept talking, her voice no louder than a whisper.
âYou know, this Wrestlestock will be soooo great! Sar-sar is back and she and Roxy and Kenz will be so amazingballzingly awesomesupes that all of the You Gee See Dubz will take note. And like, itâll be the match that I can finally use to put away Bordy. She calls herself LACKLAN now, but thatâs a bit of silly foolery thatâs just meant to mess with me. But I know better. Sheâs trying to goad me into a reaction, trying to get me to surrender and give up the name, status and brand that Iâve built from the ground up!â
Bobby purred even louder. This was good. Mom was confident. She would have to be. But still, did she even realize the stakes? She clearly wasnât intent on throwing away her legacy as a Vaughn. Her name was as much a piece of work as her ranch was, it seemed.
âBut Lacklanland doesnât belong to me. Itâs THIS land that is mine. But Aveline wonât let me be until sheâs six feet under. Not literally, OBVS. But at Wrestlestock, I WILL bury her, Ser Bobby. No more of her games. No more of her lies and blackmail. At Wrestlestock I will end her[. Me, Angelica VAUGHN. I will take from her the Chaos Championship, the very thing that defines all of her successes. And as I take from her what she values most, as I take from her the prop that legitimizes her, I will swing an even grander prize over her body. The World Championship. We WILL be double champions, Ser Bobby. We WILL show the world and Aveline that her time is up. The Queen of Chaos will be no more. Out of the ashes of chaos, a new sort will arise. The chaos you find in playgrounds and swimming pools. The chaos of FUN. People have forgotten it, Ser Bobby. But I will make them rememberâŚThat Chaos isnât all about blood and gore, or pain and suffering. We will make the Coalition fun again, for all!â
Angie gave Bobby a quick kiss on the forehead and then switched off the light. Ser Bobby didnât know what to believe. She clearly wasnât going to let Aveline just take everything from her. Maybe she didnât understand all of the consequences, but she was proud enough to realize that she would have to win and destroy Aveline no matter what.
He loved her so much.
And with a continued purr, the British Shorthair closed his eyelids, drifting off into the hunting grounds of Dreamland.
Another poop well placed.
Satisfied, Ser Bobby felt his territorial instincts increase as the area surrounding the litter tray became permeated with the stench of his last digested dinner. He scratched the upper surface of the wooden cat litter chips, burying his prize underneath a tiny heap. That, he thought, would make for a fun little treasure hunt later. It was like looking for gold, only this nugget was considerably more valuable.
Bobby stepped out of the tray and shook his paws clean, spreading bits and pieces of litter around the floor. He could easily have gone outside of course, but he absolutely loved watching the humans clean up his poop. They had this thing called Netflix, he had this. Cats took delight in even the smallest things in life. A human on their knees, holding their breath to clean up after him? It was like Cat Christmas, and in this house Cat Christmas came five times a day.
The only exception he took was when Mom was home alone. For Her, he went outside. But when Her own mother was in the house, he made sure to put her to work. She usually came running less than a minute after heâd heeded natureâs call. But not this time, though. Something was clearly off. He could feel it in the tip of his tail.
He looked at Mary, for that was the name of Momâs mother heâd heard. She was pacing the room more fanatically than a lion in a zoo, clenching a piece of paper that she looked at every now and then. Sheâd been doing that a lot as of late and it was extremely annoying. He was a light sleeper, and having her march around the house like this disturbed his naps. So much so that he had to wake her up at least twice every night to ask for food. Hey, if SHE disturbed his bio-rhythm, why would he feel bad about disturbing hers, right? Humans were so selfish at times.
Speaking of sleep, it was time for post-poop nap, one of his highlights of the day. He walked over to the couch and shook his bottom to prepare for takeoff, but instead simply leapt a whole yard into the air when a sound that felt more deafening than a clock falling out of a church tower filled the living room. His claws outstretched, Bobby rose his tail up and growled at the doorbell, unamused. He knew for a fact that Mom wouldnât come home until late last night, so who could it be? Not the postman again, surely. Heâd already dropped off a box of fanmail earlier. Bobby wasnât a big fan of dogs at all, but at least they kept the postmen away. Annoyed at having his nap delayed he looked on as Mary hurried towards the door, opening it to reveal a blonde, middle-aged woman who for all intents and purposes looked as much like a 25-year old human as a 45-year old one. Still, she was quite stunning, by human standards, even if they all sort of looked alike. But Bobby vaguely remember her face. Heâd seen her before, but itâd been a while.
âEdith!â Mary exclaimed as she embraced the woman before she could even come into the house.
Ah yes, Bobby remember. Edith Seybold, Momâs agent. The one who drew up her contracts and had helped turn her into a famous global superstar. Without her, Mom would probably never have gotten a real career off the ground. Meaning no wrestling. No LAW. No #CoolKids, and all the things that had followed. She preferred life behind the scenes, so it was surprising to see her pop up. This couldnât be good. He quickly jumped on the couch, but kept his attention focused on the pair.
The impossibly high heels that Edith walked in rattled off the wooden floor, feeling like someone stuck a needle in his cat ears every time she took a step. The red lacquered shoes shone brightly underneath the overhead lights, forcing Bobby to look away from them. Yes, he was the perfect predator, but sometimes having these fantastically awesome senses was a bother. WHY did cats have to be so good at everything?? It was a question he asked himself daily.
âI came as soon as I got your message. It sounded urgent.â
Her voice was relatively deep for that of a human woman, but it was surprisingly soothing, too. Bobby wasnât surprised she could both smooth talk and coerce other humans with such vocal chords. Edith sat herself down on the couch next to Bobby and looked at him. With yellow eyes, he stared back. Obviously, choosing to sit down next to him meant she was offering her lap as a place to take a nap. It would be rude to refuse, and her thighs looked comfortable through her tight red dress. She smelled rather nice, too. Roses and human sweat. The former to mask the latter, but a catâs nose wasnât so easily fooled. Bobby slowly walked towards her and placed one paw on her thigh. It wasnât very muscular, but thick enough to make for a nice pillow. She didnât swipe him away, so that was a sign of acceptance. He put his other paw on her thigh and started kneading her leg. Edith smiled slightly. With Angelica Vaughn as a client, you just HAD to be a cat person. He put on his best purr and wanted to jump on her lap altogether, but he felt two hands wrap themselves around his front legs, picking him up by the chest and lifting him into the air.
âLeave Edith alone, Bobby,â Mary said as she put him back on the ground.
âNOOOOOOOOOOOOOESâ Bobby screamed. âMust you ruin everything, woman!?â Of course, all the humans understood was a series of meows, lacking the awareness to understand Catspeak. He looked up at her and hissed. Sheâd understand THAT, at least. Mary rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Edith.
âThanks so much for coming, Edith. I⌠I donât know what to do and I need to talk to someone who knows my daughter, knows her secret, and has her best interests at heart.â
âWell, Iâm glad you thought of me. I do think I check all those boxes. And I was nearby anyway, was ironing out some details with Jadeveon Clowney. Got him franchise tagged a while back so we were discussing options. Anyway, whatâs up? Iâm curious.â
Mary didnât speak, but simply handed her the letter. That dreaded piece of paper that had caused such a stir.
Edithâs expression didnât even change as she read it, absorbing the facts like the ice cold agent of the stars that she was. Bobby liked her.
âSeeing as you had me come over in all secrecy with Angie absent, I assume she doesnât know about this?â Edith held up the letter before handing it back to Mary who shook her head.
âIâve no idea who even sent it. Iâve been meaning to tell Angie, butâŚâ
âYou worry she wonât care? By the way, what is that AWFUL smell, it literally smells like shit in here, pardon my French!â
Edith sniffed the air and looked around, but Mary threw a look full of reproach at the thick grey British shorthair. If cats could smirk, Ser Bobby would have.
âOh, yeah. Him again. Thatâs like the fifth poop of the day, sometimes I think he does it just to spite me!
âYou are correct, human.
âIâll clean it up in a bit.â
âYes, you will. Yes. You. Will!â
Mary walked to the kitchen, presumably to get some drinks, but she kept talking, her voice growing more voluminous the further away she went. Not for Bobby, of course, he could hear a whisper in the attic.
âBut yeah, like you were saying, Edith... Sheâs so intent on carving out a name for her own, so desperate not to continue the legacy of her father. Yes, I worry. Sheâs⌠remarkably stubborn and proud when it comes to that.â
Mary came back with a bottle of bubbly and two glasses. He couldnât help but feel grieved by the lack of a tray of cat milk. Still, this was getting interesting, Bobby thought. He executed catloaf.exe and kept staring at the two as they continued their conversation.
âIronically, thatâs the Lacklan part in her, I guess. But I see the problem. You know Angelica wonât budge on revealing her secret and embracing her legacy. But now that she is defending the UGWC World Championship against Aveline Lacklan at Wrestlestock, this whole affair will become something she can no longer ignore or run away from. Even IF you donât show her this letter, she will find out eventually. And she will be forced to make a decision. Sheâs too important a chess piece in this game. She is the Knight who can overtake the Queen, but is she willing to sacrifice other pieces? Sheâs gone so far in her deceit towards Sarah that I donât think Jean-Paulâs appointed heir will take kindly to it. And Angie knows that. Sheâs built this bubble of deception and it might very well burst. Aveline holds this secret above her head like the Sword of Damocles and I think sheâs just about ready to swing.â
Bobby raised his ears. He didnât like this. Mom seemed to be in deep, deep trouble. And he LOVED Mom. He wanted nothing bad to happen to her.
âI donât trust Aveline as far as I can throw her. Pouring honey in one ear and poison in the other. She must go. Angelica MUST defeat her once and for all! Eradicate her! Her AND that pretender that seeks to claim the throne.â
Edith sipped from her champagne and raised an eyebrow.
âIâm surprised, Mary. It was my understanding that youâd accepted all of this. The ranch. The Texas life. Far away from your past, letting it stay buried just like your daughter wants.â
Mary rose up from the couch as if she was stung by a wasp.
âI had!â
She turned towards Edith.
âBut if a bastard sits on the Lacklan throne, I want it to be MINE! She deserves it!â
âWell, good luck convincing her. Itâs going to take something special. But it all starts with defeating Aveline at Wrestlestock. Nothing else will do. Because if Aveline wins, if she takes Angelicaâs World title? She can destroy her. Bring ALL of this crashing down, and more. Destroy not just her legacy as a Vaughn, but her legacy as a Lacklan. Her friendships, with Sarah, Kenzi, Roxy⌠Angelica may not realize it, but this match at Wrestlestock is the most important match she will likely ever have. Her life depends on it.â
Bobbyâs heart was racing. What was this he was hearing?? Mom? In trouble? And by extension, the farm? This was bad news if ever he heard it. For all his posturing, he didnât just care deeply about his Mom, he also cared about the IGADP Ranch, and yes he fully endorsed that name and loved it. As more and more animals had arrived, theyâd built quite the community together, away from human eyes. The fact that he was regarded as a bit of a group leader was a very nice bonus, too. He was, after all, the closest animal to the boss. But now they were all in peril. Heâd heard quite a bit about Momâs feud with this Aveline woman and knew that if he ever got his paws on her, heâd scratch her eyeballs out and feed them to⌠well, himself, probs.
He turned his attention away from the two debating women. He needed help. THEY needed help. And who to better assist him at this time than his loyal second-in-command and best friend, ser Alex? He looked around the living room, at all ten of the cat beds strewn around the living room, but his friend was nowhere to be seen.
âI swear, if heâs making out with that chinchilla again when thereâs WORK to be done, I will whoop his tail from here to Ding Dong Dell.â
Bobby then remembered heâd seen Alex go upstairs earlier in the day. Presumably to ttake a nap on Momâs bed. As she would probably not return before midnight, her bedroom would be unoccupied and the perfect place for a snooze. Alex always HAD been clever. Bobby rushed to Angelicaâs bedroom and seen that the door was about for about the width of two human palms. Pretty much a giveaway sign that there was a cat in there. Bobby ran in and jumped on the bed, seeing his furry Scottish Fold friend just laying there, his belly going up and down on the slow rhythm of his breath. Bobby approached and poked his paw into his friendâs shoulder.
âOi! Alex, get up you bastard! Get up!â
Alex sighed as he heard Bobby disturb his slumber and muttered through his razor sharp teeth.
âMy pedigree is immaculate, Iâll have you know. My lineage goes back all the way to the cat of William Wallace.â
âWill you please shit up about your Braveheart lineage? Wake up, you queer chinfucker, weâve got huge problems!â
âFiiiiine.â
Ser Alex got to his four feet and stretched his back and paws, his claws getting stuck in the bedsheet. He pulled them out, leaving a tiny hole and then looked at his brother in paws.
âSup?â
âLetâs take a walk,â Bobby said and motioned for Alex to follow him. They hopped off the bed, down the stairs and through the catflap in the front door to the outside. The hot midday air of the ranch greeted them, the blazing hot Texan sun overhead covering the entire area. There was a lot of noise outside, with the ranch being in rapid expansion. It was turning more into a bona fide farm, with new plots for new animals, new barns, new stables, and food processing facilities to finalize the homemade IGADP products. There were quite a few bulldozers, cranes and construction workers around the place, but the two cats steered well clear of them. As they walked, Alex couldnât keep his curiosity contained any longer. He made sure to keep equal pace with Bobby as they talked.
âSo will you tell me whatâs going on??â
âYou hear that noise, bruv? Well, enjoy it. Might not last for much longer. â
âWhat do you mean?â
Bobby stopped underneath the shadow of a tree and looked at Alex.
âMomâs been nervous as of late, right? More than usual. Well ,the truth is, sheâs not nearly nervous enough. I know whatâs going on, Alex. Because if she loses this next match of hers, she may just about lose every god damn thing sheâs built here.â
âThat seems⌠dramatic.â
âWell, itâs true. The Lacklan woman, not the red-eyed one but the crazy one, she holds leverage over Mom. Enough to bring her down. And I just heard it straight from Momâs mom, she just might do it! If she doesnât defeat that crazy chick at Wrestlestock, weâre done. Kaputt. Sheâs going to destroy her and all she worked for.â
Alex pondered Bobbyâs words for a second, then replied.
âHmm, thatâs worrying. But Mom has beaten her before. Loads of times. She can do it again. You forget how good she can be. Sheâs strong, Bob. And even if she loses, do you really think that Lacklan woman wouldâŚ?â
âIâd bet five of my lives on it. IfâŚâ
âWere you two scallywags talking about the Matron?â a voice from up high suddenly cooed. It was a familiar voice, but to the two felines, a very unpleasant one indeed. They both looked up and saw a pigeon of purest white perched on a branch, its red albino eyes staring at them with the most condescending look you could imagine. Ambrosia, first and foremost among Sarah Lacklanâs flight of albino carrier pigeons. Arch rival of Sers Bobby and Alex. The two catsâ eyes turned into slits, their instinct for MURDER kicking in. Ambrosia was lucky they had promised mom to never hurt one of Sarahâs pigeons again.
âUgh, itâs you,â ser Alex said, sounding like he was about to throw up a hairball. âWhat are you doing here?â
âBy the Good Grace of the Matron, construction has begun on a first class resting space for my sisters and I, should we grow tired on long distance flights. I am here to oversee and make sure that everything is in perfect order. After all, the noble art of feathered air mail isâŚâ
âOh, be silent, you dumb rat on wings.â
âHMPF! Typical childish insults. But what else to expect of a feline such as yourself! Truly, theâŚâ
âWe get it, already!!â Alex interrupted her. Ambrosia puffed her chest at being interrupted again and Ser Alex sighed.
âLook, ultimately we want the same thing, right? We just want our Mom to be happy, and you want to please your Matron. Theyâre best of friends, after all! So maybe we can try and be a bit more⌠civil?â
âIâm always civil! I am a shining beacon of civility! Why, the Matron Herself has said: âAmbrosia,â she said, âYOU are a shiningâŚââ
âYES! For meowing out loud, Ambrosia, yes!â
âFine, fine. But this news I just heard is highly disturbing. Why, even a CHICKEN could understand that this could severe long term ramifications. The Matron loves your Mom, this I know for a supreme fact. It would break her heart if this truth got out. Iâd tell her myself, but since not even She can understand the noble tones of Pigeonspeak, I guess thatâs out of the question.â
âGreat. Nice to know youâd stab us right in the back if you had the option.â
âI fear you mistake me for VâShin-Ay. That madpidge impaled an owl on live TV! Can you imagine?â
âOddly, I can. Not even I would go up against that crazy roided up pigeon!â He turned to ser Alex.
âAlex, you make the rounds, buddy. Tell all the animals to come to the main barn after midnight. Crisis meeting, and we must hold a public forum.â He looked up at Ambrosia. âYou can come too, I guesss.â
With an approving nod that implied his acceptance of the invitation, the bird flew off. Ser Alex darted away, as Ser Bobby took a deep breath.
âMan, I hope this works outâŚâ
--------------------------- ___________--------------------------- ___________---------------------------
Just after midnight
The main barn
The main barn
Everything was set up. Bales of hay placed strategically so the smaller animals could see, a trough or two with snacks and plenty of buckets with water for the thirsty. The podium at the end was pretty much makeshift, but it was the best they could do. For all their weird looking features, the advantage of having opposable thumbs could not be denied.
The barn was filling up nicely. Cows, chickens, pigs⌠whatever they did, because Bobby saw noreal use for them⌠horses, mice (with whom they had agreed a no-killing pact as long as they stayed out of the house), Ambrosia and a few of her pigeon friends, and even the bees. They were new on the ranch, but they, like all others, had to walk past the Wall of Rules. Every community needed them, otherwise thereâd be anarchy. And nobody was waiting for that, were they? As the animals rolled in, each of them were pretty much forced to look at it, giving them a quick but crystal clear reminder.
Bobby was pretty proud of them. Alex and he had written them themselves. They seemed fair and just, even if thereâd been complaints in the past, but he couldnât quite figure out why. The animals were chattering, cackling, clucking, mooing and whinnying amongst themselves. Word had already spread about potential trouble afoot, and they were all eager to have their worries waylaid. Still, it quieted down as soon as Ser Bobby hopped on the podium to address them. They looked on as the self-declared leader of the ranch animals cleared his throat.
âMy dear fellow animals. As you all know, we live in interesting times. Weâve been fortunate to welcome many new friends amongst us as Momâs operation continues to grow. From the cows who provide milk, to the chickens who provide eggs, to the bees who provide honey. From the horses who provide entertainment to the pigs who err⌠Anyway, you know what I mean.â
Somewhere from up high in the rafter a soft but yet audible voice could clearly be heard, doing a very poor attempt at speaking in a hushed whisper.
âNot a WORD about the pigeons who carry the letters. Typical. He WILL be hearing from me after!â
Ser Bobby tried his best to ignore Ambrosia and continued.
âFor all that we provide, we are provided with something in return. Love. Friendship. Food. Shelter. Thanks to Mom, we have all these things and more, but as many of you may have already heard, she is in danger of being overthrown.â
Chatter rose up again, particularly among the chickens. One of them, senior Hen Patricia, spoke up.
âWe heard that weâll soon all be killed and eaten!â
A couple of the other chickens winced and Bobby rolled his eyes. Chickens were SUCH drama queens! Why did they taste so good??
âWe heard that the Lacklan woman will overthrow Mom and kill us all!â
âNonsense, Patricia! Look, I wonât deny thatâŚâ
âTHEY WILL TURN US ALL INTO GLUE!â Gary the horse shouted at the top of his voice, rearing slightly before slamming his hooves into the ground, adding extra power to his words. Bobby was starting to lose his patience.
âBY THE WHISKERS OF NOCTURNAL! Nobody is getting eaten or boiled into glue just yet! Iâm here to inform you thatâŚâ
âSO weâll be turned into bacon after all? I thought this place was DIFFERENT!â screamed Donald the pig. Bobby momentarily lost his temper.
âShit up, you walking piece of waste! Being turned into bacon would be good for you! You do nothing here, and you have no say here! This ainât an Orwell story!â
A few angry murmurs rose up and Alex gave Bobby a worried look. The Scottish Fold stepped forward and addressed the crowd for the first time.
âPlease, forgive us, my friends. My friend Bobby is under a lot of stress. He means well. For you. For Mom. As you all know, she will be defending her World Championship against the Queen of Lacklanland at Wrestlestock this Sunday. Their relationship is⌠complicated to say the least, and we suspect that she will use damaging information she has on Mom to hurt her where it hurts the most⌠and that includes here.â
Ambrosia flew down from the rafters and landed on the podium right next to the cats. She pointed an accusing feathered wing at the two felines.
âYou know, in a way itâs all your Momâs fault! If only she had come clean at the very start, rather than spin this web of lies and deceit around her! The Matron would have EMBRACED her, showered her with love and sisterly affection! Then this would all be of no consequence!â
Hearing Ambrosia accuse Angelica of any wrongdoing sent Bobby in such a fit of rage that he tried to lash out at the pigeon. If Alex hadnât restrained him, he likely would have knocked the birdâs head clean off.
âAccuse Mom one more time! I will dry-hump your eggs until they break, Ambrosia, don't fuck with me! Remember rule number six!â
âYou know Iâm right.â
The pigeon cooed in disgust one more time and flew back to the safety of the rafters. Alex tried to calm Bobby down.
âCome on, be a cool cat. This isnât helping anyone.â
Alex was right of course. Bobby recomposed himself and took a look at the crowd, most of which were shaking their head in disapproval; but not all was aimed at Bobby. Ambrosia had mdae precious few friends with her remarks, because despite the privileges of the cats, ALL the animals loved their Mom dearly.
âLook, Iâll make it real simple for you,â Bobby continued. âUltimately, our fate lies just as much in our own paws, talons, hooves, claws, or whatever. Mom needs our support, and that means working as hard as we possibly can. Sheâs passionate about this place, so we must make it as good as we can. SO! If I catch any of you slacking, I will personally spray all over your offspring, turning them into my property! Are we clear??â
A few moaning mumbles rose from the crowd.
âARE WE CLEAR??â
This time they were more responsive, a loud and resounding chorus of agreements his answer.
âGood. Mom needs us. And we need her. Letâs all be the best we can be. So for tonight, return to your stables. Your barns. Your pens and coops. Your hives. And tomorrow, deliver your biggest eggs. Bring out your tastiest milk. Make more honey than you ever have in your life. We will not give Aveline Lacklan the satisfaction of going down easy, and neither will Mom! Because at Wrestlestock, during the biggest match of her life, she will fight! She will fight for herself. For her fans. And she will fight for us. She will WIN for us! She will obliterate that madwoman once and for all, showing the world that Angelica Vaughn is more than just a cute, happy, smiley face. She will show the world, that she is strong. That she is fierce. That she is the greatest champion the Coalition has ever seen! She will dethrone the Champion of Chaos and reaffirm herself as the true World Champion! And you had all best believe THAT!â
A wild cheer erupted from the animals. Bobby had made them believe!
--------------------------- ___________--------------------------- ___________---------------------------
Later
On the way backâŚ
On the way backâŚ
Sers Bobby and Alex approached the house, having sent the rest of the animals home. All in all, the meeting had been a success, save for the little pidgeon-fueled shake-up. But what else was new?
Bobby and Alex took turns diving into the catflap, landing into the living room. Bobby looked at it. Empty. Not exactly the way theyâd left it, the sparkling debate earlier having fuelled an a ranchwide emergency meeting.
Alex turned towards his compatriot.
âYou did good tonight, Bobby. Not just for us, but for everyone.â
âCouldnât have done it without you.â
âYou could have, except Ambrosia wouldâve been a dead motherfucking pigeon right now.â
She two cats shared a laughing hiss and Alex adapted a more serious tone.
âAppreciate you looking out for Mom, my brother. Sheâs a sweetheart. Loved by many. And not just us. Other humans, too. Sheâs an inspiration, and we canât let her down. So at Wrestlestock, letâs crack open the best bottle of cat milk, letâs take the cosiest seats in the entire house as we always do⌠and watch Mom dominate. As she always does.â
Bobby grinned a grin thatâd put the Cheshire Cat to shame.
âWe will. She must be home by now. Iâll, errrâŚ. Go check if sheâs, like, in her bed, and then if she is I will like, probably hop ON the bed to see if sheâs sleeping and then I MIGHT fall aslâŚâ
âYou wanna sleep on her bed tonight, donât you?â
âBy the Nine Lives of the Lionheart, yes. Please.â
âHave at it, fam. Iâll take the couch.â
One pawbump later, Bobby went up the stairs. Mom would surely be home by now, so he wasnât at all surprised to find the door to her bedroom shut. That wouldnât do.â
âLEMME IN LEMME IN!â he screamed, his voice sounding only like a meow to the human ear. He stood on his hind legs and put his front paws on the door, scratching the lacquered wood to try and draw the attention of Mom. âPLEAAAAASE!!!â
Impending footsteps meant his cries for help had been fruitful. The door opened and there she was, in all her⌠Well, splendor wasnât the right word, but she was as tall as always and looked VERY sleepy. And yet, very happy to see her. Without even thinking twice, Angelica scooped Ser Bobby up and carried him with one arm like most humans would a baby.
âSer Bobbyyyy! You wanna come sleep with mommy, yes? Yes, of course you do!â
Angie went back over to her bed and tucked herself back in. Bobby buried himself in the crease of her lap and belly, rolling himself up into a bun. She proceeded to pet him, letting her long fingers slide down the thick grey fur on his spine. He started purring louder than a jackhammer. He loved her so much.
âYouâre the cutest, Ser Bobby! So nice of you to come and sleep on the bed! Itâs because you miss me, right?â
Bobby continued to enjoy the petting as Angie kept talking, her voice no louder than a whisper.
âYou know, this Wrestlestock will be soooo great! Sar-sar is back and she and Roxy and Kenz will be so amazingballzingly awesomesupes that all of the You Gee See Dubz will take note. And like, itâll be the match that I can finally use to put away Bordy. She calls herself LACKLAN now, but thatâs a bit of silly foolery thatâs just meant to mess with me. But I know better. Sheâs trying to goad me into a reaction, trying to get me to surrender and give up the name, status and brand that Iâve built from the ground up!â
Bobby purred even louder. This was good. Mom was confident. She would have to be. But still, did she even realize the stakes? She clearly wasnât intent on throwing away her legacy as a Vaughn. Her name was as much a piece of work as her ranch was, it seemed.
âBut Lacklanland doesnât belong to me. Itâs THIS land that is mine. But Aveline wonât let me be until sheâs six feet under. Not literally, OBVS. But at Wrestlestock, I WILL bury her, Ser Bobby. No more of her games. No more of her lies and blackmail. At Wrestlestock I will end her[. Me, Angelica VAUGHN. I will take from her the Chaos Championship, the very thing that defines all of her successes. And as I take from her what she values most, as I take from her the prop that legitimizes her, I will swing an even grander prize over her body. The World Championship. We WILL be double champions, Ser Bobby. We WILL show the world and Aveline that her time is up. The Queen of Chaos will be no more. Out of the ashes of chaos, a new sort will arise. The chaos you find in playgrounds and swimming pools. The chaos of FUN. People have forgotten it, Ser Bobby. But I will make them rememberâŚThat Chaos isnât all about blood and gore, or pain and suffering. We will make the Coalition fun again, for all!â
Angie gave Bobby a quick kiss on the forehead and then switched off the light. Ser Bobby didnât know what to believe. She clearly wasnât going to let Aveline just take everything from her. Maybe she didnât understand all of the consequences, but she was proud enough to realize that she would have to win and destroy Aveline no matter what.
He loved her so much.
And with a continued purr, the British Shorthair closed his eyelids, drifting off into the hunting grounds of Dreamland.
x2
