Post by Arsenal on Mar 29, 2024 18:03:43 GMT -8
Off-Camera
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Room 224
JW Marriott Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
2:17 AM CDT
The day was almost upon her and Ashley Kenyon found herself sitting up in a hotel room that was definitely more expensive than it needed to be. Her girlfriend, Maiko Adachi, was asleep on the bed and as she looked over at her, Ashley shook her head ruefully, knowing she should be lying right there next to her before the in-ring battle that was to come. She quietly steps across the room, the Glock in her hand as she goes over to the chair that's just on the other side of the room. She sits the pistol on the table in front of her so that it’s ready if she needs it, facing the room door. She glances over to see Maiko reaching over for where she should be and silently kicks herself for sitting up.
Ashley Kenyon: I’m bein’ an idiot, I know…
She looks back over at the bed, now just as thankful that Maiko seems to be resting happily in place. Nodding to herself, she looks up to the ceiling and sighs.
Ashley Kenyon: This is one of those times I wish you were here, Rynn.
She swallows hard and glances at the bed again.
Ashley Kenyon: I’m afraid…
Watching her girlfriend sleep, Ashley shakes her head, chastising herself all over again.
Ashley Kenyon: It hadn’t happened in years, but it did and in front of people…
Her gaze moves over to the gun on the table and her right hand slides off the table as if recoiling from the memory of the whole incident.
Ashley Kenyon: I lost control, Rynn. He mentioned you and Shonn without saying your names and I almost…
She looks back over at Maiko and pounds herself on the thigh.
Ashley Kenyon: She was the only one in the whole place who knew…
Looking down in shame, she fights back the urge to start sobbing or to start throwing things.
Ashley Kenyon: If she hadn’t stopped me… I’d have blown his damn head off!
She reaches out as if holding the gun and pantomimes squeezing the trigger. Her hand almost shaking as her eyes go wide, moistening as she stares forward as if unable to believe she’d done what she’s remembering.
Ashley Kenyon: I thought I’d gotten better at controlling myself…
Her hand lowers, reaching back to wipe at her eyes.
Ashley Kenyon: Bethy, Nik and Jezzy used to joke about my lack of impulse control. It’s how they started calling me AK-47, because I went off half-cocked and sprayed bullets everywhere. It’s how I got partying with them, then tried heroin with Billy, went off to do speed balls with Lis and Kels when I knew better than to encourage them with that shit!
She looks down in shame all over again.
Ashley Kenyon: Now I’m gonna have this fight with Shanna and I know better than to take anything she says serious and to heart because I know how she feels. I’ve been there and done bad shit because I was pissed at the world over Mama… but she’s gone there too about y’all and…
She shakes her head.
Ashley Kenyon: What if it happens again?
She looks up, trying to hold back the deluge even as she looks over at Maiko again.
Ashley Kenyon: She deserves better than that…
She squeezes her eyes closed to hold it all back.
Ashley Kenyon: I’ve already failed her so many times…
Looking back at the table, she manages to open her eyes, forcing them to focus on something, anything, to stop from just losing it right there.
Ashley Kenyon: Those five pieces of filth grabbed her out of the parking lot in Hybrid and I never saw it coming. As Shanna is so fond of saying, I wasn’t there for her! They grabbed her and they took her and they did things to her and all I could do was come back and make empty promises about how it would be alright and she was safe. The fuck did I know about it?
She looks away.
Ashley Kenyon: Then you followed me with the Children and I led us all right into a trap and…
Finally unable to stop herself any long, the torrent rushes out of her. As she starts sobbing, she jabs herself in the middle of the chest with her index finger.
Ashley Kenyon: I wasn’t there for you either!
She whips her hand and points accusingly at the floor.
Ashley Kenyon: And I WAS there!
Looking up, she shakes her head through the tears, she jabs herself in the chest again.
Ashley Kenyon: And I didn’t keep her safe from bumping into those shitheels again and I… I…
Her mouth falls open in a silent scream. She starts to rock back and forth, no sound coming as she looks to be screaming violently.
Ashley Kenyon: I let them…
Her mouth falls open again in a silent scream, tears pouring down uncontrollably. When sound finally returns to her, her voice sounds smaller and much more childlike.
Ashley Kenyon: I’m sorry. I… led you and Shonn…
She clutches at her chest and falls out of the chair to her knees.
Ashley Kenyon: I’m sorry! I thought I…
She rocks forward
Ashley Kenyon: And then I almost got Fi… and me… and Twoey…
The horror of the memory rushes over her and her mouth falls open all over again. Her right hand falls to the floor acting almost like a kickstand to hold her up even as her body tries to go in several different directions at once.
Ashley Kenyon: God, I suck so bad at…
She sets her other hand down on the floor and allows her head to droop down so far that her forehead scraped the carpet.
Ashley Kenyon: I’m sorry… I’m SORRY!
She starts sobbing in earnest again even as a light starts to illuminate from the doorway, bathing the entire room in an odd glow that threatens to grow in intensity until it blocks everything else out. Ashley pounds the floor until three pairs of hands take her into an embrace. A voice that feels familiar, soothing, loving and welcoming greets Ashley’s ears even as all three pairs of arms envelop and hold her in a way she hasn’t felt since she was sixteen years old.
Voice: Ssssshh… it’s alright, Sweetheart. I’m so proud of you…
Ashley looks up, two pairs of hands pulling back as she finds the source of the voice in the third. She opens her eyes and almost starts crying all over again.
Ashley Kenyon: M… Mama?
Selina Kenyon smiles brightly and then kisses her youngest child’s head lovingly.
Selina Kenyon: You always were so hard on yourself, but it’s ok… you don’t need to be perfect, Sweetie.
Ashley camps onto her mother, looking very much like the child she was when she last saw the elder Kenyon.
Ashley Kenyon: Mama… how?
Selina holds her close and kisses her head again.
Selina Kenyon: Sometimes mysterious ways are needed. Just like you stopped blaming Bethy for what happened to me, you need to stop blaming yourself for everything else. You told that Eavan girl for years to stop running, now, you need to stop running too. It’s getting’ ya nowhere fast.
A second voice laughs and joins in the discussion.
Voice: Aye, an tha bae th’ trute, Lass.
Ashley looks to the source of the second voice and her eyes go wide all over again.
Ashley Kenyon: Rynn?!!?
Aerynn Maguire nods as she’s joined by the third set of arms.
Ashley Kenyon: Shonn?!!?
Shonn Maguire smiles.
Shonn Maguire: Catches on quick this one, aye?
Aerynn nods her agreement.
Aerynn Maguire: Aye, always did.
Ashley sits back, shocked to see all three there with her.
Ashley Kenyon: I…
Shonn shakes his head.
Shonn Maguire: Ye dinna bae naedin any more apologies, Lass. Ye dinna bae th’ one tha shot me. Ye dinna bae th’ one tha shot Alice.
Aerynn Maguire: Hatter bae tellin’ ye th’ God’s honest trute, Ash.
Aerynn leans down, crouching next to the still kneeling Ashley.
Aerynn Maguire: Ye dinna bae laedin’ me anywhere I wasnay goin’ already o’ me own accord. Ye told me ye naeded tae go tae protect Maiko an’ tae protect Shay an’ her girls. I couldnay let ye go by yeself. Ye protected them an’ ye protected our kids, Ash. Ye an’ Maiko made damn certain tha Seán an’ Siobhan were kep from harm an’ knew their mum an’ da loved them.
Shonn nods.
Shonn Maguire: Aye, tank ye, Ash.
Ashley looks at them and accepts their embrace.
Ashley Kenyon: I miss you so much!
Selina leans down and hugs her as well.
Selina Kenyon: We love you, Sweetheart. You don’t have to face this alone.
Ashley leans into her mother, Aerynn and Shonn, fresh tears coming to her eyes. But these were different as there was no more sorrow, shame, fear or ache anymore, just wonder and love washing over her.
Aerynn Maguire: Aye, we bae haer fer ye, Lass.
Shonn Maguire: Jess as ye always ‘ave been fer us.
Ashley pushes into the embrace closer.
Ashley Kenyon: I love you.
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Room 224
JW Marriott Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
2:17 AM CDT
The day was almost upon her and Ashley Kenyon found herself sitting up in a hotel room that was definitely more expensive than it needed to be. Her girlfriend, Maiko Adachi, was asleep on the bed and as she looked over at her, Ashley shook her head ruefully, knowing she should be lying right there next to her before the in-ring battle that was to come. She quietly steps across the room, the Glock in her hand as she goes over to the chair that's just on the other side of the room. She sits the pistol on the table in front of her so that it’s ready if she needs it, facing the room door. She glances over to see Maiko reaching over for where she should be and silently kicks herself for sitting up.
Ashley Kenyon: I’m bein’ an idiot, I know…
She looks back over at the bed, now just as thankful that Maiko seems to be resting happily in place. Nodding to herself, she looks up to the ceiling and sighs.
Ashley Kenyon: This is one of those times I wish you were here, Rynn.
She swallows hard and glances at the bed again.
Ashley Kenyon: I’m afraid…
Watching her girlfriend sleep, Ashley shakes her head, chastising herself all over again.
Ashley Kenyon: It hadn’t happened in years, but it did and in front of people…
Her gaze moves over to the gun on the table and her right hand slides off the table as if recoiling from the memory of the whole incident.
Ashley Kenyon: I lost control, Rynn. He mentioned you and Shonn without saying your names and I almost…
She looks back over at Maiko and pounds herself on the thigh.
Ashley Kenyon: She was the only one in the whole place who knew…
Looking down in shame, she fights back the urge to start sobbing or to start throwing things.
Ashley Kenyon: If she hadn’t stopped me… I’d have blown his damn head off!
She reaches out as if holding the gun and pantomimes squeezing the trigger. Her hand almost shaking as her eyes go wide, moistening as she stares forward as if unable to believe she’d done what she’s remembering.
Ashley Kenyon: I thought I’d gotten better at controlling myself…
Her hand lowers, reaching back to wipe at her eyes.
Ashley Kenyon: Bethy, Nik and Jezzy used to joke about my lack of impulse control. It’s how they started calling me AK-47, because I went off half-cocked and sprayed bullets everywhere. It’s how I got partying with them, then tried heroin with Billy, went off to do speed balls with Lis and Kels when I knew better than to encourage them with that shit!
She looks down in shame all over again.
Ashley Kenyon: Now I’m gonna have this fight with Shanna and I know better than to take anything she says serious and to heart because I know how she feels. I’ve been there and done bad shit because I was pissed at the world over Mama… but she’s gone there too about y’all and…
She shakes her head.
Ashley Kenyon: What if it happens again?
She looks up, trying to hold back the deluge even as she looks over at Maiko again.
Ashley Kenyon: She deserves better than that…
She squeezes her eyes closed to hold it all back.
Ashley Kenyon: I’ve already failed her so many times…
Looking back at the table, she manages to open her eyes, forcing them to focus on something, anything, to stop from just losing it right there.
Ashley Kenyon: Those five pieces of filth grabbed her out of the parking lot in Hybrid and I never saw it coming. As Shanna is so fond of saying, I wasn’t there for her! They grabbed her and they took her and they did things to her and all I could do was come back and make empty promises about how it would be alright and she was safe. The fuck did I know about it?
She looks away.
Ashley Kenyon: Then you followed me with the Children and I led us all right into a trap and…
Finally unable to stop herself any long, the torrent rushes out of her. As she starts sobbing, she jabs herself in the middle of the chest with her index finger.
Ashley Kenyon: I wasn’t there for you either!
She whips her hand and points accusingly at the floor.
Ashley Kenyon: And I WAS there!
Looking up, she shakes her head through the tears, she jabs herself in the chest again.
Ashley Kenyon: And I didn’t keep her safe from bumping into those shitheels again and I… I…
Her mouth falls open in a silent scream. She starts to rock back and forth, no sound coming as she looks to be screaming violently.
Ashley Kenyon: I let them…
Her mouth falls open again in a silent scream, tears pouring down uncontrollably. When sound finally returns to her, her voice sounds smaller and much more childlike.
Ashley Kenyon: I’m sorry. I… led you and Shonn…
She clutches at her chest and falls out of the chair to her knees.
Ashley Kenyon: I’m sorry! I thought I…
She rocks forward
Ashley Kenyon: And then I almost got Fi… and me… and Twoey…
The horror of the memory rushes over her and her mouth falls open all over again. Her right hand falls to the floor acting almost like a kickstand to hold her up even as her body tries to go in several different directions at once.
Ashley Kenyon: God, I suck so bad at…
She sets her other hand down on the floor and allows her head to droop down so far that her forehead scraped the carpet.
Ashley Kenyon: I’m sorry… I’m SORRY!
She starts sobbing in earnest again even as a light starts to illuminate from the doorway, bathing the entire room in an odd glow that threatens to grow in intensity until it blocks everything else out. Ashley pounds the floor until three pairs of hands take her into an embrace. A voice that feels familiar, soothing, loving and welcoming greets Ashley’s ears even as all three pairs of arms envelop and hold her in a way she hasn’t felt since she was sixteen years old.
Voice: Ssssshh… it’s alright, Sweetheart. I’m so proud of you…
Ashley looks up, two pairs of hands pulling back as she finds the source of the voice in the third. She opens her eyes and almost starts crying all over again.
Ashley Kenyon: M… Mama?
Selina Kenyon smiles brightly and then kisses her youngest child’s head lovingly.
Selina Kenyon: You always were so hard on yourself, but it’s ok… you don’t need to be perfect, Sweetie.
Ashley camps onto her mother, looking very much like the child she was when she last saw the elder Kenyon.
Ashley Kenyon: Mama… how?
Selina holds her close and kisses her head again.
Selina Kenyon: Sometimes mysterious ways are needed. Just like you stopped blaming Bethy for what happened to me, you need to stop blaming yourself for everything else. You told that Eavan girl for years to stop running, now, you need to stop running too. It’s getting’ ya nowhere fast.
A second voice laughs and joins in the discussion.
Voice: Aye, an tha bae th’ trute, Lass.
Ashley looks to the source of the second voice and her eyes go wide all over again.
Ashley Kenyon: Rynn?!!?
Aerynn Maguire nods as she’s joined by the third set of arms.
Ashley Kenyon: Shonn?!!?
Shonn Maguire smiles.
Shonn Maguire: Catches on quick this one, aye?
Aerynn nods her agreement.
Aerynn Maguire: Aye, always did.
Ashley sits back, shocked to see all three there with her.
Ashley Kenyon: I…
Shonn shakes his head.
Shonn Maguire: Ye dinna bae naedin any more apologies, Lass. Ye dinna bae th’ one tha shot me. Ye dinna bae th’ one tha shot Alice.
Aerynn Maguire: Hatter bae tellin’ ye th’ God’s honest trute, Ash.
Aerynn leans down, crouching next to the still kneeling Ashley.
Aerynn Maguire: Ye dinna bae laedin’ me anywhere I wasnay goin’ already o’ me own accord. Ye told me ye naeded tae go tae protect Maiko an’ tae protect Shay an’ her girls. I couldnay let ye go by yeself. Ye protected them an’ ye protected our kids, Ash. Ye an’ Maiko made damn certain tha Seán an’ Siobhan were kep from harm an’ knew their mum an’ da loved them.
Shonn nods.
Shonn Maguire: Aye, tank ye, Ash.
Ashley looks at them and accepts their embrace.
Ashley Kenyon: I miss you so much!
Selina leans down and hugs her as well.
Selina Kenyon: We love you, Sweetheart. You don’t have to face this alone.
Ashley leans into her mother, Aerynn and Shonn, fresh tears coming to her eyes. But these were different as there was no more sorrow, shame, fear or ache anymore, just wonder and love washing over her.
Aerynn Maguire: Aye, we bae haer fer ye, Lass.
Shonn Maguire: Jess as ye always ‘ave been fer us.
Ashley pushes into the embrace closer.
Ashley Kenyon: I love you.
