December 16th, 2011 – Sometime after Midnight
An interesting night, non?
Rachael’s words rang through Candy’s mind as she made her way from the Arena. Stopping outside to pass a fleeting look over the various paths leading away, Candy wondered which way Jay had taken. The ghost of his presence lingered before her eyes. She gritted her teeth in irritation at herself and started on the way home, pulling the Badsider she’d grabbed up to her lips for a long drink.
The skin of her right palm, beneath the bandage, itched. A nagging thing that wouldn’t go away—like the heat FireStar kept stirring inside her and the curious returns of her thoughts toward Jay. He’d been in RhyDin the whole time. A bitter chuckle interrupted the quiet night, reflected in the turn of her lips as she took another drink. For all the asking around she did, with no one having seen or heard of him, she’d put the notion of running into Jay out of mind. Then there he was, sitting at a table, geared up and ready to get in a ring. No more blue hair, no more tattoos, but it was him. And not a word to her until she’d noticed him.
Maybe he just wanted to leave the past in the past.
The thought struck her, bringing a halt to her steps. She shook her head, shaking the thought away as her steps took her forward once more. If that was the case, why would he suggest they should meet up sometime? Why tell her he liked her haircut?
Why push her away in the first place?
Why show up in guise and not say anything the week before?
Reasons.
At least she now knew that she wasn’t being stalked by some unknown. Candy drained her beer and tossed the empty bottle toward an open bin that she passed. Idly scratching an itching palm before shoving empty hands into the pockets of her cargos, she continued on.
Questions remained, but the only one who could answer them wasn’t around for asking. Coming to an intersection, Candy looked in the direction of her place before turning off toward the pool hall. She needed some distracting from her thoughts.
Things from the Past
Moderator: Candy Hart
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Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
-
Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
Things from the Past (2)
December 17th, 2011 – Sometime after Midnight
Another interesting night. Rachael didn’t need to say it, but she did. Months in RhyDin with no sight or sound from Jay and then there he is two nights in a row. Candy, already off her equilibrium from the night before, didn’t know what to do with herself around him. The fact that he’d made two appearances followed by two quick departures didn’t help.
Candy left Fight Night in the Market Place, beer in hand, and took a walk that ended at a cliff overlooking the harbor. Beer bottle emptied and abandoned, her hand now occupied with a cigarette, Candy exhaled and watched the night’s air carry the smoke away over the edge of the cliff. She could see her breath, but barely feet the chill in the air. Closing her eyes to the view of the harbor, Jay’s image surfaced on the back of her lids—different and yet the same. He sat at the table with her, following his win over Rachael in hand to hand. Candy wanted to ask him if he wanted to go somewhere and talk. Instead, she asked him if he wanted to get in a ring.
Eyes opened, looking toward the sky when she recalled how it felt to step into a ring with him again. An odd intimacy she hadn’t been prepared for. Memories of their handful of matches from years before left her fighting against a ghost of what had been. She’d faltered making contact again and again and at the end of the match, he took his first victory from her.
For a second, Candy could see her father shaking his head, scowling with his thick brow and asking if she’d even been paying attention to his technique in the fight she’d seen him in before theirs. Even with watching Rachael and taking the usual notes, Candy hadn’t paid that much attention to Jay’s technique. She’d been watching him and not thinking about the next step, the next possible move.
Off her game didn’t begin to explain it.
She tried to let it roll off her, stay casual in the conversation that followed. Somehow her words had turned around to telling him he could have stuck around—to gain experience in the rings. He took her words differently than she’d meant them, easy enough to tell with the apology that followed.
It doesn’t mean anything, I guess, but I’m sorry.
Accepting an apology would be akin to admitting she’d been hurt in the first place, that there was something to apologize for. She’d made a joke instead, sorry she hadn’t broken his nose in the ring like he asked and that she’d get her victory over him in The Pit.
The thought of facing off against Jay in the Pit only served to further wake memories from before.
Another glance at the sky, Candy wished she could talk to her mother. The thought twisted her heart, knowing she’d never speak with either of her parents again. She’d never felt so alone.
“Sh*t.”
Another interesting night. Rachael didn’t need to say it, but she did. Months in RhyDin with no sight or sound from Jay and then there he is two nights in a row. Candy, already off her equilibrium from the night before, didn’t know what to do with herself around him. The fact that he’d made two appearances followed by two quick departures didn’t help.
Candy left Fight Night in the Market Place, beer in hand, and took a walk that ended at a cliff overlooking the harbor. Beer bottle emptied and abandoned, her hand now occupied with a cigarette, Candy exhaled and watched the night’s air carry the smoke away over the edge of the cliff. She could see her breath, but barely feet the chill in the air. Closing her eyes to the view of the harbor, Jay’s image surfaced on the back of her lids—different and yet the same. He sat at the table with her, following his win over Rachael in hand to hand. Candy wanted to ask him if he wanted to go somewhere and talk. Instead, she asked him if he wanted to get in a ring.
Eyes opened, looking toward the sky when she recalled how it felt to step into a ring with him again. An odd intimacy she hadn’t been prepared for. Memories of their handful of matches from years before left her fighting against a ghost of what had been. She’d faltered making contact again and again and at the end of the match, he took his first victory from her.
For a second, Candy could see her father shaking his head, scowling with his thick brow and asking if she’d even been paying attention to his technique in the fight she’d seen him in before theirs. Even with watching Rachael and taking the usual notes, Candy hadn’t paid that much attention to Jay’s technique. She’d been watching him and not thinking about the next step, the next possible move.
Off her game didn’t begin to explain it.
She tried to let it roll off her, stay casual in the conversation that followed. Somehow her words had turned around to telling him he could have stuck around—to gain experience in the rings. He took her words differently than she’d meant them, easy enough to tell with the apology that followed.
It doesn’t mean anything, I guess, but I’m sorry.
Accepting an apology would be akin to admitting she’d been hurt in the first place, that there was something to apologize for. She’d made a joke instead, sorry she hadn’t broken his nose in the ring like he asked and that she’d get her victory over him in The Pit.
The thought of facing off against Jay in the Pit only served to further wake memories from before.
Another glance at the sky, Candy wished she could talk to her mother. The thought twisted her heart, knowing she’d never speak with either of her parents again. She’d never felt so alone.
“Sh*t.”
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Candy Hart
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Things from the Past (3)
December 23rd, 2011 – Sometime after Midnight
Leaning over the pool table, Candy lined up the shot. A pleased smile turning the edge of her lips as she thought about the cash her opponent was about to lose.
“You look happy.” He commented from his stance by the wall.
“With good reason.” She knowingly replied.
Striking the cue ball, she caused it to hop over his inconveniently placed striped and sink her last solid. Candy continued to look satisfied as his casual smile turned into a frown.
“One hundred buys me a number of beers.” A silent laughter colored her features and voice. She moved around the table, lining up the last shot in her mind before moving into place and pointing. “Eight ball, corner pocket.”
No further words came from her opponent. He only frowned in reply as Candy took the shot and sunk the ball for the win. Remaining quiet for several moments before he spoke again, amused, “I think I’ve been played.”
“You’re the one asked for the game.” Shrugging with her reply, Candy moved away from the table as the next group moved in to take over. Her pool stick kept in hand as she moved over toward the man in case he needed encouragement to pay up, she held the other hand out to him expectantly.
“A friendly game, with a wager to make it interesting. That was a bit too brutal to be friendly.” He smiled to the woman, shifting his own barely used stick into his opposite hand and pulling out the cash from a pocket.
“Now you know.” Said as she plucked to cash from his hands and made sure it was all there.
“Know what?”
“Better.” Smirking up to him after she spoke, she pushed the pool cue back into the wall rack.
“Ah.”
With business concluded, Candy headed for the bar. A few bills taken from her winnings to signal the tender for a fresh beer, the rest tucked away in a pocket of her messenger bag. Her beer came, unopened, and Candy checked the cap’s security before popping it off for herself.
“My name’s Marshal.” Her opponent took a spot next to her right at the bar, offering a hand.
Candy eyeballed the hand without interest. Then looking toward the man’s face, she responded. “Good for you.” She took a pull from her beer.
“What’s your name?” Taking his hand back, but not giving up. His smile remained warm and friendly, with no insult taken from her first response.
“What’s it to you?”
“Maybe we could go somewh—“
“Not interested.”
“Nothing like that. Food, talk. You like movies?”
“I don’t date.”
“Friends?”
Candy looked at the guy. He looked like what would pass for a ‘nice guy,’ she had no idea what would have brought him into the pool hall. Irritating enough to her, he looked hopeful, like maybe he really just wanted to go somewhere and get to know her better. For a hundredth of a second she considered it…
Then those internal walls came up with almost an audible slamming sound.
“No.”
Before he could try again, Candy left.
Outside, Candy beat a path away from the hall without looking back. Her steps only slowing once she got several blocks away. She drew up to a halt and pulled out her pack and lighter. Unbidden, Apple’s little question popped into her mind as Candy lit up.
Who would you rather be left alone with on an island in the middle of the ocean for the rest of your life? Between the two.
The two consisted of the two men occupying one of the Arena’s rings: Old Man Tass… and Jay. And stupid her—after dodging answering the question only got her so far—she gave an honest answer: Jay.
Candy tucked her pack and lighter away. Flexing her bruised hand before she pulled the cigarette from her lips, she exchanged it to take a swig from her beer. She’d gotten into the ring with Jay again that night, her and a steel baseball bat against him with a mace and shield. She’d lost, but she hadn’t expected to best him there. Weapons added some comfortable distance between their bodies, different enough from what she was used to with him.
Used to… three years ago and for the brief time of only a summer…
I don’t date.
She’d said to the first guy that approached her after she left RhyDin—after the end of whatever it had been with Jay and when she’d been far from ready to even think about letting someone close again. Said it then and kept on saying it without really thinking about why.
Candy grew up with the knowledge that there were only so many people she could trust and even that number seemed to decrease as she got older. Her experience with Jesse did a lot to put her off people, but her time with Jay made her realize why. It wasn’t the fact that Jesse had tried to kill her, would have succeeded if she hadn’t killed him first. It was the fact that she put herself out there and turned out to be the fool in the end for doing so.
At least Jay hadn’t tried to kill her.
Who would you rather be left alone with on an island in the middle of the ocean for the rest of your life?
Amongst the living? Jay. But that was a three year old sentiment and one that wasn’t returned.
Candy felt the reality of it reinforce the barriers she built between herself and everyone else as she headed for home—her own private island with only room for one.
Leaning over the pool table, Candy lined up the shot. A pleased smile turning the edge of her lips as she thought about the cash her opponent was about to lose.
“You look happy.” He commented from his stance by the wall.
“With good reason.” She knowingly replied.
Striking the cue ball, she caused it to hop over his inconveniently placed striped and sink her last solid. Candy continued to look satisfied as his casual smile turned into a frown.
“One hundred buys me a number of beers.” A silent laughter colored her features and voice. She moved around the table, lining up the last shot in her mind before moving into place and pointing. “Eight ball, corner pocket.”
No further words came from her opponent. He only frowned in reply as Candy took the shot and sunk the ball for the win. Remaining quiet for several moments before he spoke again, amused, “I think I’ve been played.”
“You’re the one asked for the game.” Shrugging with her reply, Candy moved away from the table as the next group moved in to take over. Her pool stick kept in hand as she moved over toward the man in case he needed encouragement to pay up, she held the other hand out to him expectantly.
“A friendly game, with a wager to make it interesting. That was a bit too brutal to be friendly.” He smiled to the woman, shifting his own barely used stick into his opposite hand and pulling out the cash from a pocket.
“Now you know.” Said as she plucked to cash from his hands and made sure it was all there.
“Know what?”
“Better.” Smirking up to him after she spoke, she pushed the pool cue back into the wall rack.
“Ah.”
With business concluded, Candy headed for the bar. A few bills taken from her winnings to signal the tender for a fresh beer, the rest tucked away in a pocket of her messenger bag. Her beer came, unopened, and Candy checked the cap’s security before popping it off for herself.
“My name’s Marshal.” Her opponent took a spot next to her right at the bar, offering a hand.
Candy eyeballed the hand without interest. Then looking toward the man’s face, she responded. “Good for you.” She took a pull from her beer.
“What’s your name?” Taking his hand back, but not giving up. His smile remained warm and friendly, with no insult taken from her first response.
“What’s it to you?”
“Maybe we could go somewh—“
“Not interested.”
“Nothing like that. Food, talk. You like movies?”
“I don’t date.”
“Friends?”
Candy looked at the guy. He looked like what would pass for a ‘nice guy,’ she had no idea what would have brought him into the pool hall. Irritating enough to her, he looked hopeful, like maybe he really just wanted to go somewhere and get to know her better. For a hundredth of a second she considered it…
Then those internal walls came up with almost an audible slamming sound.
“No.”
Before he could try again, Candy left.
Outside, Candy beat a path away from the hall without looking back. Her steps only slowing once she got several blocks away. She drew up to a halt and pulled out her pack and lighter. Unbidden, Apple’s little question popped into her mind as Candy lit up.
Who would you rather be left alone with on an island in the middle of the ocean for the rest of your life? Between the two.
The two consisted of the two men occupying one of the Arena’s rings: Old Man Tass… and Jay. And stupid her—after dodging answering the question only got her so far—she gave an honest answer: Jay.
Candy tucked her pack and lighter away. Flexing her bruised hand before she pulled the cigarette from her lips, she exchanged it to take a swig from her beer. She’d gotten into the ring with Jay again that night, her and a steel baseball bat against him with a mace and shield. She’d lost, but she hadn’t expected to best him there. Weapons added some comfortable distance between their bodies, different enough from what she was used to with him.
Used to… three years ago and for the brief time of only a summer…
I don’t date.
She’d said to the first guy that approached her after she left RhyDin—after the end of whatever it had been with Jay and when she’d been far from ready to even think about letting someone close again. Said it then and kept on saying it without really thinking about why.
Candy grew up with the knowledge that there were only so many people she could trust and even that number seemed to decrease as she got older. Her experience with Jesse did a lot to put her off people, but her time with Jay made her realize why. It wasn’t the fact that Jesse had tried to kill her, would have succeeded if she hadn’t killed him first. It was the fact that she put herself out there and turned out to be the fool in the end for doing so.
At least Jay hadn’t tried to kill her.
Who would you rather be left alone with on an island in the middle of the ocean for the rest of your life?
Amongst the living? Jay. But that was a three year old sentiment and one that wasn’t returned.
Candy felt the reality of it reinforce the barriers she built between herself and everyone else as she headed for home—her own private island with only room for one.
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Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
Equilibrium.
December 29, 2011 -- Sometime after Midnight
Candy left Jay to enjoy the fight, the noise and the crowd of The Brawler, while she found her way back to the lockers and then the hallway leading to the door out. Her movements warranted less interest from the other fighters, once she lost her plus one. Jammer, with her wrist now wrapped, cast Candy a look. Some thought kindled there in the other woman’s eyes, but remained tucked away for another day. Candy sensed it would only be a matter of time before Jammer made things even between them, likely when her wrist healed.
Candy found herself pleased with the way the night turned out. A victory gained in the Outback over Jay, accompanied with winning a bet and breaking his nose. She couldn’t feel bad for breaking it. He tempted fate twice and had been asking for it, quite literally. She paid him back, with interest. At least she helped him sort it out after the fact. And, somehow, her doing that earned her a favor owed. Add to that the payout of the bet—one question Jay had to answer, no question asked, no dodging—Candy sensed the world returning to some order.
Marco stood by the door, looking happier at Candy’s solo departure than he looked at her arrival with Jay. He opened the door with a smile, a nod, and a wish for her to have a happy new year. Two finger salute given to Marco she wished him the same as the door shut behind her.
Two steps away from the door, she realized the change. She felt the cold. Felt it enough to warrant wearing the leather jacket she’d left with her bike in the shadows. Between amusement and relief, Candy chuckled softly to herself and continued to her bike.
“Interesting night.”
Candy left Jay to enjoy the fight, the noise and the crowd of The Brawler, while she found her way back to the lockers and then the hallway leading to the door out. Her movements warranted less interest from the other fighters, once she lost her plus one. Jammer, with her wrist now wrapped, cast Candy a look. Some thought kindled there in the other woman’s eyes, but remained tucked away for another day. Candy sensed it would only be a matter of time before Jammer made things even between them, likely when her wrist healed.
Candy found herself pleased with the way the night turned out. A victory gained in the Outback over Jay, accompanied with winning a bet and breaking his nose. She couldn’t feel bad for breaking it. He tempted fate twice and had been asking for it, quite literally. She paid him back, with interest. At least she helped him sort it out after the fact. And, somehow, her doing that earned her a favor owed. Add to that the payout of the bet—one question Jay had to answer, no question asked, no dodging—Candy sensed the world returning to some order.
Marco stood by the door, looking happier at Candy’s solo departure than he looked at her arrival with Jay. He opened the door with a smile, a nod, and a wish for her to have a happy new year. Two finger salute given to Marco she wished him the same as the door shut behind her.
Two steps away from the door, she realized the change. She felt the cold. Felt it enough to warrant wearing the leather jacket she’d left with her bike in the shadows. Between amusement and relief, Candy chuckled softly to herself and continued to her bike.
“Interesting night.”
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Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
Answers to Questions
January 5, 2012 – 9:38 AM
The blankets on the mattress whispered as Candy rolled over onto her stomach. Reaching beyond the short wooden frame, she flicked the ashes of her cigarette into the tray on the floor. The white stick found its way to her lips as she freed her hands to open the compartment beneath the bed and pulled out the CD player won off Jay for a week. Adjusting the volume before putting the buds into her ears, Candy turned the music on and rolled onto her back once more. Eyes closed. She let the rhythm of the dwarven drum metal fill her ears, chase and release the beat of her heart.
”Are you happy?”
A simple question, the question given to her by Nayun and the question Candy directed to Jay, burning one of two questions he had to answer. The moment Nayun voiced it, Candy knew two things—she wanted to know if Jay was happy and she wouldn’t be answering that question for Nayun any time in the near future.
Yeah.
Still a second question left to ask. Several questions came to mind. What were you protecting me from? Why did you push me away? Did you think I couldn’t handle it? Did you change your mind about me? Did you wonder where I went? Why are you avoiding me now? But the answer to her first question repeated and rolled with the pounding of percussions. Jay was happy.
Her own pleasure at knowing that small fact dimmed in comparison to the ache that accompanied it. Happy and happy without her. Whatever little notion she carried from times before slipped away beneath the weight of knowing—her caring for someone could only bring pain, for him and for herself. She stood where she’d been over three years ago, barriers showing small cracks and entertaining that step beyond. This time no nightmares lurked to force her hand. This time she would back away.
”You planning on trying to follow me home? Cuz you're gonna have a hard time tracking me, just so you know.”
"Wouldn't want to be someplace uninvited."
She wouldn't force him giving her that invite. Sighing as she exhaled smoke, Candy reached her hand beyond the bed and blindly sent ash to the tray (or the floor) beyond. Thursday night. Her old shift at The Brawler, now her current shift at the Arena. The first place she saw Jay since her return. Candy stopped the music as she sat up and pulled the buds from her ears. Standing, she left the player on the bed she headed for her closet to grab her jacket and boots. The laundry mat down the block had a phone. She’d see about getting her shift covered at the Arena, then call Tony and tell him she’d be fighting tonight.
The blankets on the mattress whispered as Candy rolled over onto her stomach. Reaching beyond the short wooden frame, she flicked the ashes of her cigarette into the tray on the floor. The white stick found its way to her lips as she freed her hands to open the compartment beneath the bed and pulled out the CD player won off Jay for a week. Adjusting the volume before putting the buds into her ears, Candy turned the music on and rolled onto her back once more. Eyes closed. She let the rhythm of the dwarven drum metal fill her ears, chase and release the beat of her heart.
”Are you happy?”
A simple question, the question given to her by Nayun and the question Candy directed to Jay, burning one of two questions he had to answer. The moment Nayun voiced it, Candy knew two things—she wanted to know if Jay was happy and she wouldn’t be answering that question for Nayun any time in the near future.
Yeah.
Still a second question left to ask. Several questions came to mind. What were you protecting me from? Why did you push me away? Did you think I couldn’t handle it? Did you change your mind about me? Did you wonder where I went? Why are you avoiding me now? But the answer to her first question repeated and rolled with the pounding of percussions. Jay was happy.
Her own pleasure at knowing that small fact dimmed in comparison to the ache that accompanied it. Happy and happy without her. Whatever little notion she carried from times before slipped away beneath the weight of knowing—her caring for someone could only bring pain, for him and for herself. She stood where she’d been over three years ago, barriers showing small cracks and entertaining that step beyond. This time no nightmares lurked to force her hand. This time she would back away.
”You planning on trying to follow me home? Cuz you're gonna have a hard time tracking me, just so you know.”
"Wouldn't want to be someplace uninvited."
She wouldn't force him giving her that invite. Sighing as she exhaled smoke, Candy reached her hand beyond the bed and blindly sent ash to the tray (or the floor) beyond. Thursday night. Her old shift at The Brawler, now her current shift at the Arena. The first place she saw Jay since her return. Candy stopped the music as she sat up and pulled the buds from her ears. Standing, she left the player on the bed she headed for her closet to grab her jacket and boots. The laundry mat down the block had a phone. She’d see about getting her shift covered at the Arena, then call Tony and tell him she’d be fighting tonight.
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Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
The Dude (1)
January 9, 2012 -- 11:13 AM
Candy leaned against the railing overlooking the main arena at The Brawler. Below dwarves, gnomes and other shorter beings practiced for the night’s event. The site proved entertaining for many other employees watching the show, but Candy hardly noticed. The ash from her cigarette grew heavy, falling neglected from the end of her smoke and to the ground below. In the place of the prepping fighters, she saw the memory of Jay’s fight against the behemoth Lurch on Saturday. The fight had been brutal. And he won.
"I'm still dangerous, y'know. That didn't change." Those had been his words to her following the match, a careful warning. It had amused her. Not that she thought he wasn’t dangerous, but that he seemed to have forgotten she wasn’t the sort to care.
Candy recalled the press of him to her back when she gave him a lift home. His busted arm forced him to stay closer than he’d been the last time. She didn’t play it up any higher in her mind, he gave her no reason to… but it had been nice.
“Something’s got you smilin. Should we be afraid?” Tony’s voice interrupted her thoughts and pulled her attention to her boss as he took up space at the railing beside her.
Candy’s features turned into a confused frown, losing the small hint of happy it held a moment before. Quickly she recovered with a wolfish smirk, giving her boss a low chuckle before responding.
“It’s me. You should always be afraid Ton’ if you know what’s good for you.”
Her words incited a deep laugh from the man.
“Good one.” Tony said as the laughter calmed down. He waved her to follow him, “Follow me, got some business to talk.”
Candy followed, curious. Stepping into the office, she took her customary lean against the wall. He moved behind his desk, getting into his safe and taking out a good stack of cash. He tossed the money onto the desk between them.
With a brow lifted at the money, she asked, “What’s that for?”
“Think Money.” Tony tapped a thick finger against the cash. “You take this to your boyfr—“
“Not my boyfriend.”
“I don’t care what he is aside from a good fighter. “ Tony waited to see if more remarks were coming, and then continued, “I want him to fight here. You give him this cut from Saturday and tell him there’ll be more when he comes back.”
Her boss watched her, making sure she got his simple instructions down or waiting for some argument. Candy looked at the money and considered.
“You’re the boss.” Pushing off from the wall with a shrug, Candy leaned in and picked up the money. “But if you call him my boyfriend one more time, Ton’…” A dangerous smirk turned her smile as she put the cash in her messenger. She exited the office, leaving the rest of the threat unsaid.
Candy leaned against the railing overlooking the main arena at The Brawler. Below dwarves, gnomes and other shorter beings practiced for the night’s event. The site proved entertaining for many other employees watching the show, but Candy hardly noticed. The ash from her cigarette grew heavy, falling neglected from the end of her smoke and to the ground below. In the place of the prepping fighters, she saw the memory of Jay’s fight against the behemoth Lurch on Saturday. The fight had been brutal. And he won.
"I'm still dangerous, y'know. That didn't change." Those had been his words to her following the match, a careful warning. It had amused her. Not that she thought he wasn’t dangerous, but that he seemed to have forgotten she wasn’t the sort to care.
Candy recalled the press of him to her back when she gave him a lift home. His busted arm forced him to stay closer than he’d been the last time. She didn’t play it up any higher in her mind, he gave her no reason to… but it had been nice.
“Something’s got you smilin. Should we be afraid?” Tony’s voice interrupted her thoughts and pulled her attention to her boss as he took up space at the railing beside her.
Candy’s features turned into a confused frown, losing the small hint of happy it held a moment before. Quickly she recovered with a wolfish smirk, giving her boss a low chuckle before responding.
“It’s me. You should always be afraid Ton’ if you know what’s good for you.”
Her words incited a deep laugh from the man.
“Good one.” Tony said as the laughter calmed down. He waved her to follow him, “Follow me, got some business to talk.”
Candy followed, curious. Stepping into the office, she took her customary lean against the wall. He moved behind his desk, getting into his safe and taking out a good stack of cash. He tossed the money onto the desk between them.
With a brow lifted at the money, she asked, “What’s that for?”
“Think Money.” Tony tapped a thick finger against the cash. “You take this to your boyfr—“
“Not my boyfriend.”
“I don’t care what he is aside from a good fighter. “ Tony waited to see if more remarks were coming, and then continued, “I want him to fight here. You give him this cut from Saturday and tell him there’ll be more when he comes back.”
Her boss watched her, making sure she got his simple instructions down or waiting for some argument. Candy looked at the money and considered.
“You’re the boss.” Pushing off from the wall with a shrug, Candy leaned in and picked up the money. “But if you call him my boyfriend one more time, Ton’…” A dangerous smirk turned her smile as she put the cash in her messenger. She exited the office, leaving the rest of the threat unsaid.
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Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
The Dude (2)
January 12, 2012 — Sometimes After Midnight
Fancy Shirt was dead. The man’s death didn’t really mean anything to her. One less man throwing flirtations her way and the elimination of the chance to meet him in the rings again… maybe break his nose or jaw. But the death, following the murder of her parents and Richard’s blood on her own hands, made her think.
In the Outback when she’d heard the news, her eyes strayed toward Jay before she forced her attention back on the active ring. She couldn’t do anything to stop her thoughts.
What if?
What if something happened to Jay?
She recalled finding him at the Outback on Tuesday night and walking to The Dead Cow to give him Tony’s money and proposal. Walking because she wanted to keep him at a distance, because wasn’t ready to have him close behind her on the bike again or to feel the way it made her feel.
Following the news of what happened to Fancy Shirt her resolve to keep Jay at arm’s length waivered. Not only did she offer him a lift home from the Outback, she did it in front of others when she could have just caught him outside without anyone else taking notice.
And he could have said no…
But he didn’t.
For the short time it took to get his apartment, she could enjoy the solid presence of him behind her on the bike. Outside of his apartment, Candy wanted to say… what? That she’d missed him when she left so long ago? That she’d miss him if something happened to him? That she wanted him not to go vanishing? In the end she smiled and told him she’d catch him around, taking off on her bike before he even entered the building.
Now, hours later, she took up the corner booth at her favorite burger joint, The Dead Cow. Picking at the remains of her fries and chocolate malt, she tried to sort out what she was doing with Jay. Continually, she found herself back to wanting to pull away…
But… what if?
Fancy Shirt was dead. The man’s death didn’t really mean anything to her. One less man throwing flirtations her way and the elimination of the chance to meet him in the rings again… maybe break his nose or jaw. But the death, following the murder of her parents and Richard’s blood on her own hands, made her think.
In the Outback when she’d heard the news, her eyes strayed toward Jay before she forced her attention back on the active ring. She couldn’t do anything to stop her thoughts.
What if?
What if something happened to Jay?
She recalled finding him at the Outback on Tuesday night and walking to The Dead Cow to give him Tony’s money and proposal. Walking because she wanted to keep him at a distance, because wasn’t ready to have him close behind her on the bike again or to feel the way it made her feel.
Following the news of what happened to Fancy Shirt her resolve to keep Jay at arm’s length waivered. Not only did she offer him a lift home from the Outback, she did it in front of others when she could have just caught him outside without anyone else taking notice.
And he could have said no…
But he didn’t.
For the short time it took to get his apartment, she could enjoy the solid presence of him behind her on the bike. Outside of his apartment, Candy wanted to say… what? That she’d missed him when she left so long ago? That she’d miss him if something happened to him? That she wanted him not to go vanishing? In the end she smiled and told him she’d catch him around, taking off on her bike before he even entered the building.
Now, hours later, she took up the corner booth at her favorite burger joint, The Dead Cow. Picking at the remains of her fries and chocolate malt, she tried to sort out what she was doing with Jay. Continually, she found herself back to wanting to pull away…
But… what if?
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Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
Refocus.
January 20, 2012
What if…
The question kept returning and Candy’s thoughts circled. Every ‘what if’ conjured the memory of Jay pushing her away, ‘for her safety’ or the more recent reminder that ‘ he was still dangerous.’ It made Candy’s nerves bristle, putting her already less than cheery disposition further off the friendly mark. The target of her irritation focused originally on herself— for caring in the first place, for letting down her guard—and radiated outward toward everyone else.
So focused on proving she could take care of herself, Candy made the mistake of not keeping her eye on her fighting partner in the ring. Jammer had an axe to grind and she took her payback with interest. Black eye, busted arm, a split running across both lips, and covered in bruises… it all served as a reminder to watch her back.
No friends.
No more family.
Just herself.
The only ‘what if’ she needed to worry about was what if the bastards that killed her parents never had to pay?
What if…
The question kept returning and Candy’s thoughts circled. Every ‘what if’ conjured the memory of Jay pushing her away, ‘for her safety’ or the more recent reminder that ‘ he was still dangerous.’ It made Candy’s nerves bristle, putting her already less than cheery disposition further off the friendly mark. The target of her irritation focused originally on herself— for caring in the first place, for letting down her guard—and radiated outward toward everyone else.
So focused on proving she could take care of herself, Candy made the mistake of not keeping her eye on her fighting partner in the ring. Jammer had an axe to grind and she took her payback with interest. Black eye, busted arm, a split running across both lips, and covered in bruises… it all served as a reminder to watch her back.
No friends.
No more family.
Just herself.
The only ‘what if’ she needed to worry about was what if the bastards that killed her parents never had to pay?
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Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
Hard to Ignore (But I'm Trying)
February 21, 2012 – Tuesday
“…Tell you what. I won't ask about your dad, if you don't ask me anymore about mine."
Following Jay’s words, Candy’s emotions swung from the sorrowful remembrance—that she tried not to show when thoughts turned to her parents—to a hard anger.
"My father was a man worth talking about."
The words she left Jay with. Was. The closest she came to telling him anything about what happened with her parents—a past tense mention. Even if she didn’t want to talk about their deaths, she wouldn’t dishonor her father by clumping him in under the same taboo category of fathers that weren’t worthy of mention.
Firestar delighted in the burning anger that filled the woman, urging her to destructive expression of the emotions she continued to try and contain. Sorrow at her parents’ deaths, anger at those that had a hand in the murders, hurt from the way Jay had left things years ago and irritation in herself that it even mattered to her. Candy kept a better hold on herself than the Opal would like, reigning in the fist she wanted to put through someone’s face until she reached her home and personal gym. A punching bag was hardly the outlet Firestar wanted, but it suited Candy well enough. She worked the bag until her knuckles went raw.
--
February 22, 2012 – Wednesday
Candy hit the Outback in the late afternoon, wanting to avoid the evening activities. Firestar remained persistent in its desire for destruction and Candy wasn’t sure she’d be able to enter a ring without breaking her word to Old Simon that she wouldn’t burn the Outback down. A quick visit then, to check her mailbox and make sure she wasn’t needed to cover any shifts. Nothing worked related waited for her, but someone had left a card.
A simple picture on the front, a Zen-like nature scene, without words greeted her. Candy opened the card to discover a short written message, Jay’s signature written beneath.
“I'm sorry if I said something that offended you the other night.”
“Damn it.”
Candy’s head landed against the wall of mailboxes with a thud and she closed her eyes. At least no witnesses were around to catch her in the moment. With a simple gesture Jay took the fire out of her anger, making it harder to ignore her underlining feelings. They were there, they’d been there for years, and time hadn’t done anything to lessen them. She couldn’t push them away as easily as he’d push her away before.
--
February 23, 2012 – Thursday
The cheering of the crowd rang in Candy’s ears. Still in overdrive, she didn’t notice the aches or blood leftover from the fight. She pushed a hand through her hair and followed after Tony to his office.
“Good job out there, Kid. Really gave the people what they wanted to see after an absence, Hard Candy only gets harder.” Tony chuckled to himself and took up the space in the old green leather chair behind his desk.
“You wanted to talk bout somethin?” Candy took up her usual position, leaning against the wall. Her eyes wandered from Tony to the door when she saw Doc and another carrying Jammer to the Doc’s office. Jammer wouldn’t owe Candy anything for the beating she received. Fair and square in the books, Jammer’s mouth got her in trouble when she unwisely teased Candy for having feelings for The Dude.
“You ever think about pairing up with Dude?”
That brought Candy’s eyes back to Tony, looking at him like he lost his mind. “What?”
“Hard Candy and The Dude against five, eight… big guys.” Tony frowned, expecting a better response to a fight featuring two of his popular fighters. His words continued, listing the possible opponents they could fact. He missed the relief that showed on her features when she realized Tony’s interest focused solely on fights and not her romantic life. “Think about it. Got time. Want to wait until the guard isn’t interested in your boy anymore.”
Guard? Candy turned the frown into a thoughtful press of lips and nodded. If Tony thought she already knew about Jay’s issues with the guard, she didn’t want to give him a reason to think differently. “I’ll think about.”
“Good.”
“That all?”
“That’s all.”
Dismissed, Candy headed out of The Brawler. The energy from the fight wearing down and keying her into all the damage sustained during her bout with Jammer. She checked her pack of smokes and found two left…
Hard Candy and The Dude
Taking a cigarette out of the pack she put it to her lips and lit up—no lighter needed now that Firestar had warmed up to her during her defense against Sarah. She’d told Tony she’d think about it, but that didn’t mean she had to think about it then and there. Candy wanted beer, a game of pool, and maybe a little trouble.
Firestar liked the sound of that.
“…Tell you what. I won't ask about your dad, if you don't ask me anymore about mine."
Following Jay’s words, Candy’s emotions swung from the sorrowful remembrance—that she tried not to show when thoughts turned to her parents—to a hard anger.
"My father was a man worth talking about."
The words she left Jay with. Was. The closest she came to telling him anything about what happened with her parents—a past tense mention. Even if she didn’t want to talk about their deaths, she wouldn’t dishonor her father by clumping him in under the same taboo category of fathers that weren’t worthy of mention.
Firestar delighted in the burning anger that filled the woman, urging her to destructive expression of the emotions she continued to try and contain. Sorrow at her parents’ deaths, anger at those that had a hand in the murders, hurt from the way Jay had left things years ago and irritation in herself that it even mattered to her. Candy kept a better hold on herself than the Opal would like, reigning in the fist she wanted to put through someone’s face until she reached her home and personal gym. A punching bag was hardly the outlet Firestar wanted, but it suited Candy well enough. She worked the bag until her knuckles went raw.
--
February 22, 2012 – Wednesday
Candy hit the Outback in the late afternoon, wanting to avoid the evening activities. Firestar remained persistent in its desire for destruction and Candy wasn’t sure she’d be able to enter a ring without breaking her word to Old Simon that she wouldn’t burn the Outback down. A quick visit then, to check her mailbox and make sure she wasn’t needed to cover any shifts. Nothing worked related waited for her, but someone had left a card.
A simple picture on the front, a Zen-like nature scene, without words greeted her. Candy opened the card to discover a short written message, Jay’s signature written beneath.
“I'm sorry if I said something that offended you the other night.”
“Damn it.”
Candy’s head landed against the wall of mailboxes with a thud and she closed her eyes. At least no witnesses were around to catch her in the moment. With a simple gesture Jay took the fire out of her anger, making it harder to ignore her underlining feelings. They were there, they’d been there for years, and time hadn’t done anything to lessen them. She couldn’t push them away as easily as he’d push her away before.
--
February 23, 2012 – Thursday
The cheering of the crowd rang in Candy’s ears. Still in overdrive, she didn’t notice the aches or blood leftover from the fight. She pushed a hand through her hair and followed after Tony to his office.
“Good job out there, Kid. Really gave the people what they wanted to see after an absence, Hard Candy only gets harder.” Tony chuckled to himself and took up the space in the old green leather chair behind his desk.
“You wanted to talk bout somethin?” Candy took up her usual position, leaning against the wall. Her eyes wandered from Tony to the door when she saw Doc and another carrying Jammer to the Doc’s office. Jammer wouldn’t owe Candy anything for the beating she received. Fair and square in the books, Jammer’s mouth got her in trouble when she unwisely teased Candy for having feelings for The Dude.
“You ever think about pairing up with Dude?”
That brought Candy’s eyes back to Tony, looking at him like he lost his mind. “What?”
“Hard Candy and The Dude against five, eight… big guys.” Tony frowned, expecting a better response to a fight featuring two of his popular fighters. His words continued, listing the possible opponents they could fact. He missed the relief that showed on her features when she realized Tony’s interest focused solely on fights and not her romantic life. “Think about it. Got time. Want to wait until the guard isn’t interested in your boy anymore.”
Guard? Candy turned the frown into a thoughtful press of lips and nodded. If Tony thought she already knew about Jay’s issues with the guard, she didn’t want to give him a reason to think differently. “I’ll think about.”
“Good.”
“That all?”
“That’s all.”
Dismissed, Candy headed out of The Brawler. The energy from the fight wearing down and keying her into all the damage sustained during her bout with Jammer. She checked her pack of smokes and found two left…
Hard Candy and The Dude
Taking a cigarette out of the pack she put it to her lips and lit up—no lighter needed now that Firestar had warmed up to her during her defense against Sarah. She’d told Tony she’d think about it, but that didn’t mean she had to think about it then and there. Candy wanted beer, a game of pool, and maybe a little trouble.
Firestar liked the sound of that.
-
Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
He's Just Not That Into You
February 25, 2012 – Saturday (early morning)
Candy made her way into the Outback, casting a glance back over her shoulder to where Jay’s path had split off from her own to head home. It had been odd, having him sleep on the couch at her place, but not in an entirely unpleasant way. Having him around felt almost natural to her.
She recalled the moment night before, when her finger hovered over the lock to her bedroom door and she decided to leave the lock undone. At the time she found herself more concerned about what he would think if he suddenly needed to talk to her and found the door locked than any outweighing fear of him hurting her…
March 4, 2012 – Sunday (sometime after midnight)
The distance between the inn and Candy grew wider as her footsteps carried her away. Fresh cigarette rested on her lips. She checked the cap on the Badsider and, finding it secure, used her blade to pry it open. Exchanging out the bottle for the smoke, Candy took a long pull and nearly choked. Warm didn’t begin to describe the beer within. Steps stalled out and she spit the hot beer out against the bins that lined the alley. Muttering a curse, she wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket.
Within some sense of Firestar’s amusement taunted her.
Another explicative left her lips with rage. The bottle flew from her hand with force to break against a wall, splattering and scattering liquid and glass. Half the thought entered her mind to turn around and return to the inn, bring her anger to the source. Course, Jay had already made his retreat into the night.
Flashes from the night continued to run through her mind. Jay had arrived at the Arena during her shift, geared to fight but he didn’t get into a ring. When Apple left her spot open on the couch, Jay had taken up the space and joined Candy on the couch. As her shift ended he asked where she was headed, told her he was going to go to the inn.
Welcome to follow me if you want, or not.
And she did.
Candy needed another bottle to throw at the wall.
They had sat at a table, exchanging simple words—the idea of rustling up a fight at the inn never coming to fruition. Not that Candy or Firestar had put the idea of some trouble far from mind. She suggested going somewhere else, but—not that long after their arrival at the inn—Jay was already to call it a night and head home. Leave her at the inn to finish her night solo when the only reason she’d gone there in the first place was due to his invitation.
“Idiot.”
It didn’t matter if the word applied to Jay, her, or both of them. Irritation and anger added fuel to Firestar’s prompting. Out of things to throw, Candy started off, heading toward a pool hall she visited from time to time.
Someone would regret crossing paths with Candy that night.
Candy made her way into the Outback, casting a glance back over her shoulder to where Jay’s path had split off from her own to head home. It had been odd, having him sleep on the couch at her place, but not in an entirely unpleasant way. Having him around felt almost natural to her.
She recalled the moment night before, when her finger hovered over the lock to her bedroom door and she decided to leave the lock undone. At the time she found herself more concerned about what he would think if he suddenly needed to talk to her and found the door locked than any outweighing fear of him hurting her…
March 4, 2012 – Sunday (sometime after midnight)
The distance between the inn and Candy grew wider as her footsteps carried her away. Fresh cigarette rested on her lips. She checked the cap on the Badsider and, finding it secure, used her blade to pry it open. Exchanging out the bottle for the smoke, Candy took a long pull and nearly choked. Warm didn’t begin to describe the beer within. Steps stalled out and she spit the hot beer out against the bins that lined the alley. Muttering a curse, she wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket.
Within some sense of Firestar’s amusement taunted her.
Another explicative left her lips with rage. The bottle flew from her hand with force to break against a wall, splattering and scattering liquid and glass. Half the thought entered her mind to turn around and return to the inn, bring her anger to the source. Course, Jay had already made his retreat into the night.
Flashes from the night continued to run through her mind. Jay had arrived at the Arena during her shift, geared to fight but he didn’t get into a ring. When Apple left her spot open on the couch, Jay had taken up the space and joined Candy on the couch. As her shift ended he asked where she was headed, told her he was going to go to the inn.
Welcome to follow me if you want, or not.
And she did.
Candy needed another bottle to throw at the wall.
They had sat at a table, exchanging simple words—the idea of rustling up a fight at the inn never coming to fruition. Not that Candy or Firestar had put the idea of some trouble far from mind. She suggested going somewhere else, but—not that long after their arrival at the inn—Jay was already to call it a night and head home. Leave her at the inn to finish her night solo when the only reason she’d gone there in the first place was due to his invitation.
“Idiot.”
It didn’t matter if the word applied to Jay, her, or both of them. Irritation and anger added fuel to Firestar’s prompting. Out of things to throw, Candy started off, heading toward a pool hall she visited from time to time.
Someone would regret crossing paths with Candy that night.
-
Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
Complications (1)
April 8th, 2012 -- Sunday Evening
Tension hung in the air when Candy entered through the backdoor of The Brawler on Sunday night. The man at the door gave her a short nod and then nodded toward the back, “Boss wants to see you.” She returned the nod and headed that direction. An odd silence hung about the lockers, the few fighters there keeping their exchanges fairly muted. Marco stood at Tony’s door and leaned in to inform his boss of Candy’s arrival, his sentence hardly finished before the boss man’s voice came angrily through the door.
“Candy get your ass in here.”
Some fighters turned their eyes from Tony’s door toward Candy, others did their best to look like they weren’t listening in. Candy took a look around, seeking out some indication on what was going on, before moving to Tony’s office.
“Yeah boss?”
“Shut the door.”
Candy turned and shut the door behind her, watching the concerned face of Marco vanish as she did so. Her attention turned back to Tony expectantly.
“Sit.” Pointing to the chair Candy rarely used during her visits, he spoke in a tone that didn’t allow refusal.
Guarded, Candy sat down. For several moments the two just sat there, silently watching and gauging the other until Tony broke the silence.
“Did you know?”
“Know what, boss?”
“Your boy’s a werewolf.”
“He’s not my boy.”
“He’s yours in that you’re the one that brought him here, vouched for him, and didn’t think to mention to me that he’s a fucking werewolf.” Tony’s voice, along with the redness of his face, grew as the sentence progressed.
Candy looked away from Tony’s angry features and toward the closed door--wondering how many people beyond heard him and knew who he was talking about. Her response came in the usual, near-indifferent tone, “Not mine to tell.” Looking back at Tony when she added, “Not like you don’t employ creatures, Ton.”
“My fighters know what they’re getting into. Your boy flips out and goes furry in the ring, spreads it? That’s on me, Candy. That’s on you.” Tony paused, putting the finger he pointed between them away. “That boy is a danger to himself and others.”
Danger to himself...
“... what happened?”
Tension hung in the air when Candy entered through the backdoor of The Brawler on Sunday night. The man at the door gave her a short nod and then nodded toward the back, “Boss wants to see you.” She returned the nod and headed that direction. An odd silence hung about the lockers, the few fighters there keeping their exchanges fairly muted. Marco stood at Tony’s door and leaned in to inform his boss of Candy’s arrival, his sentence hardly finished before the boss man’s voice came angrily through the door.
“Candy get your ass in here.”
Some fighters turned their eyes from Tony’s door toward Candy, others did their best to look like they weren’t listening in. Candy took a look around, seeking out some indication on what was going on, before moving to Tony’s office.
“Yeah boss?”
“Shut the door.”
Candy turned and shut the door behind her, watching the concerned face of Marco vanish as she did so. Her attention turned back to Tony expectantly.
“Sit.” Pointing to the chair Candy rarely used during her visits, he spoke in a tone that didn’t allow refusal.
Guarded, Candy sat down. For several moments the two just sat there, silently watching and gauging the other until Tony broke the silence.
“Did you know?”
“Know what, boss?”
“Your boy’s a werewolf.”
“He’s not my boy.”
“He’s yours in that you’re the one that brought him here, vouched for him, and didn’t think to mention to me that he’s a fucking werewolf.” Tony’s voice, along with the redness of his face, grew as the sentence progressed.
Candy looked away from Tony’s angry features and toward the closed door--wondering how many people beyond heard him and knew who he was talking about. Her response came in the usual, near-indifferent tone, “Not mine to tell.” Looking back at Tony when she added, “Not like you don’t employ creatures, Ton.”
“My fighters know what they’re getting into. Your boy flips out and goes furry in the ring, spreads it? That’s on me, Candy. That’s on you.” Tony paused, putting the finger he pointed between them away. “That boy is a danger to himself and others.”
Danger to himself...
“... what happened?”
Last edited by Candy Hart on Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
Complications (2)
April 9th, 2012 -- Monday Morning
Morning arrived before Candy knew it. She sat on her couch with a simmering rage. She hadn’t slept since her exchange with Tony. Three times after leaving The Brawler, Candy had headed towards Jay’s place to given him a piece of her mind and three times she’d turned back and found some other trouble to occupy her time. Now--with a freshly busted lip, sore knuckles, and several new cuts and bruises--she waited for him to come to her.
The buzzer for the door sounded. Candy stood from the couch and moved from the couch, through the lower door and up the stairs to the outer door. Given the early hour, the sun barely colored the sky. Jay stood there, unshaven and looking as much like she expected him to after the news she heard. For all the time she’d gone over it in her head, words couldn’t be found that would best express how she felt at that moment. Instead, her fist did the talking for her--striking Jay before he had a chance to greet her.
The surprise on his face from the blow vanished as he quickly put two and two together, “Who told you?”
“Ton’s in a right mood.” Easy enough for Jay to figure out Candy’s source from that. From the look of her, Candy stood side by side with Tony in that mood. “Might cancel our fight. Might even take you off the list.” She paused long enough to see if Jay picked up on the severity of the situation but picked up again before he could add anything. She didn’t want to hear it. “There’s no point in trainin’ today or again til I get shite sorted out with him. Go home. Try not to kill yourself before you hear from me.”
The one-sided conversation ended with Candy slamming the door in Jay’s face before she made her way back down the stairs. She picked up the files from her coffee table on her way to the kitchen. She needed a distraction--needed to kill some time before Tony would be calm enough to talk to again--but before all that... she really needed a beer.
Morning arrived before Candy knew it. She sat on her couch with a simmering rage. She hadn’t slept since her exchange with Tony. Three times after leaving The Brawler, Candy had headed towards Jay’s place to given him a piece of her mind and three times she’d turned back and found some other trouble to occupy her time. Now--with a freshly busted lip, sore knuckles, and several new cuts and bruises--she waited for him to come to her.
The buzzer for the door sounded. Candy stood from the couch and moved from the couch, through the lower door and up the stairs to the outer door. Given the early hour, the sun barely colored the sky. Jay stood there, unshaven and looking as much like she expected him to after the news she heard. For all the time she’d gone over it in her head, words couldn’t be found that would best express how she felt at that moment. Instead, her fist did the talking for her--striking Jay before he had a chance to greet her.
The surprise on his face from the blow vanished as he quickly put two and two together, “Who told you?”
“Ton’s in a right mood.” Easy enough for Jay to figure out Candy’s source from that. From the look of her, Candy stood side by side with Tony in that mood. “Might cancel our fight. Might even take you off the list.” She paused long enough to see if Jay picked up on the severity of the situation but picked up again before he could add anything. She didn’t want to hear it. “There’s no point in trainin’ today or again til I get shite sorted out with him. Go home. Try not to kill yourself before you hear from me.”
The one-sided conversation ended with Candy slamming the door in Jay’s face before she made her way back down the stairs. She picked up the files from her coffee table on her way to the kitchen. She needed a distraction--needed to kill some time before Tony would be calm enough to talk to again--but before all that... she really needed a beer.
-
Candy Hart
- Seasoned Adventurer
- The Hardest Ever
- Posts: 535
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:38 pm
- Location: Around.
You can go Hard or you can go Home
May 9th, 2012 — Wednesday
Cranked up to full blast, the shoddy AC filled the small motel room with all the cold air it could muster while the heat radiating from Candy nullified its struggling efforts. The woman paced back and forth in a silent rage. The pressure of her gritting teeth threatened to destroy the enamel, only to be released when the scream tore through her throat. The cheap painting hung on an otherwise barren wall. Bandaged hands gripped the frame, pulling it from its spot with a small shower of molding. The painting sailed across the room; the frame broke, glass shattered, and the painting within tore. No one told her to keep it down.
The last few weeks were a jumbled mess.
The vampire attack. Her new scar. Her deal with Doc. Training with Jay. The opponents from the paired match—beings that had never been or no longer were human. Doc showing up at The Dead Cow on Jay's recommendation. The feeling of betrayal. Her anger. The sensation of the half-orc's foot as it came down an broke several ribs. Her need for space. Her focus on the task ahead—her vengeance. Jay showing up. The declaration of his feelings for her. Her attempt to push him away...
"I killed your neighbor."
"Why."
"... because I wanted to."
The ache at how well it worked—too well. The ache in the back of her skull when she came to. Blood. Another night visit to the Doc. Staking-out Jay's place to see when he'd return. Keeping her eye out for the guard, not knowing if Jay turned her in. Tony hearing about it from the guard and then letting her know she'd be off the roster effective immediately. The bar fights. The message at the laundry mat that said Jay was dead. Seeing the guard in her neighborhood and deciding she couldn't go back to her place. Breaking into Jay's place, taking what cash and smokes she could find. Ready to confront the next mark when the guard picked her up. The look on the mark's face when he realized who she was...
All her efforts ruined.
Ruined because of Jay.
Ruined because she didn't kill him when she had the chance.
It didn't matter that the guard had nothing. No reason to suspect her aside from an anonymous tip. She'd spent half a day sitting around and answering questions and they couldn't scrap anything from it... except that she had a 'jealous ex' that might have reason to try to pin it on her. Had they seen him around lately?
No.
Another disappearing act from Jay.
She had to pull her own. The guards might not have been able to put the pieces together, but there were others that might. The hunter could easily become the hunted if the right information fell into the wrong hands.
In her mind, Candy felt the target on her back.
Then the challenge for FireStar.
And a threat to her freedom...
Candy turned away from the destruction of the painting. She looked at the wall and yet didn't see it at all. She saw Anubis. She saw the guard. She saw the people who killed her parents. And she saw Jay...
Another guttural scream escaped her lips as she buried an already bandaged fist into the wall.
"No one is going to stop me."
Cranked up to full blast, the shoddy AC filled the small motel room with all the cold air it could muster while the heat radiating from Candy nullified its struggling efforts. The woman paced back and forth in a silent rage. The pressure of her gritting teeth threatened to destroy the enamel, only to be released when the scream tore through her throat. The cheap painting hung on an otherwise barren wall. Bandaged hands gripped the frame, pulling it from its spot with a small shower of molding. The painting sailed across the room; the frame broke, glass shattered, and the painting within tore. No one told her to keep it down.
The last few weeks were a jumbled mess.
The vampire attack. Her new scar. Her deal with Doc. Training with Jay. The opponents from the paired match—beings that had never been or no longer were human. Doc showing up at The Dead Cow on Jay's recommendation. The feeling of betrayal. Her anger. The sensation of the half-orc's foot as it came down an broke several ribs. Her need for space. Her focus on the task ahead—her vengeance. Jay showing up. The declaration of his feelings for her. Her attempt to push him away...
"I killed your neighbor."
"Why."
"... because I wanted to."
The ache at how well it worked—too well. The ache in the back of her skull when she came to. Blood. Another night visit to the Doc. Staking-out Jay's place to see when he'd return. Keeping her eye out for the guard, not knowing if Jay turned her in. Tony hearing about it from the guard and then letting her know she'd be off the roster effective immediately. The bar fights. The message at the laundry mat that said Jay was dead. Seeing the guard in her neighborhood and deciding she couldn't go back to her place. Breaking into Jay's place, taking what cash and smokes she could find. Ready to confront the next mark when the guard picked her up. The look on the mark's face when he realized who she was...
All her efforts ruined.
Ruined because of Jay.
Ruined because she didn't kill him when she had the chance.
It didn't matter that the guard had nothing. No reason to suspect her aside from an anonymous tip. She'd spent half a day sitting around and answering questions and they couldn't scrap anything from it... except that she had a 'jealous ex' that might have reason to try to pin it on her. Had they seen him around lately?
No.
Another disappearing act from Jay.
She had to pull her own. The guards might not have been able to put the pieces together, but there were others that might. The hunter could easily become the hunted if the right information fell into the wrong hands.
In her mind, Candy felt the target on her back.
Then the challenge for FireStar.
And a threat to her freedom...
Candy turned away from the destruction of the painting. She looked at the wall and yet didn't see it at all. She saw Anubis. She saw the guard. She saw the people who killed her parents. And she saw Jay...
Another guttural scream escaped her lips as she buried an already bandaged fist into the wall.
"No one is going to stop me."
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