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#Post#: 374--------------------------------------------------
Unintended Consequences - Chapter 8 - The Blundering Idiot
By: RampageSports Date: September 17, 2014, 9:53 pm
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Character Reference
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Richelle_100x120.jpg
Name: Richelle Winterfeld
Nickname(s): Idiot, Moron
Background: Owner of the RSI stable, former underground fighter
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Danni_100x120.jpg
Name: Danneel Harris
Nickname(s): Danni
Background: RSI stable leader, reigning DEF welterweight
champion
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Emma_100x120.jpg
Name: Emma Watson
Nickname(s):
Background: Reigning FAC featherweight champion, training
partner and lover of Tiffany Mulheron
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Stephanie_100x120.jpg
Name: Stephanie McMahon
Nickname(s): Steph
Background: RSI's fighter development coordinator, former DEF
super heavyweight champion, current SCQ super heavyweight
contender
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Britney_100x120.jpg
Name: Britney Spears
Nickname(s): Queen B
Background: Team leader of Britney's Brutal Beauties, DEF
middleweight contender, training partner and close friend of
Elisha Cuthbert
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Elisha_100x120.jpg
Name: Elisha Cuthbert
Nickname(s): Leesh
Background: Team leader of Leesh's Lethal Ladies, DEF
middleweight contender, training partner and close friend of
Britney Spears
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Emily_100x120.jpg
Name: Emily VanCamp
Nickname(s): Em
Background: Reigning ESL lightweight champion
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Tiffany_100x120.jpg
Name: Tiffany Mulheron
Nickname(s): Tiff
Background: Former ESL featherweight champion, current ESL
featherweight contender, training partner and lover of Emma
Watson
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Ashley_100x120.jpg
Name: Ashley Tisdale
Nickname(s): Ash, Tiz, Blondie Girl, Sharpay
Background: ESL bantamweight contender
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Aly_100x120.jpg
Name: Alyson Michalka
Nickname(s): Aly
Background: FAC light heavyweight contender
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Trish_100x120.jpg
Name: Dr. Patricia Leone
Nickname(s): Trish
Background: Head of the RSI medical staff
[hr]
Chapter 8 - The Blundering Idiot
We stayed like that long after our tears had dried. As far as I
was concerned, we could have stayed like that forever. I know
Danni's not as tough as she pretends to be, but to see her this
vulnerable... and to know I was the one who'd done it to her...
it was too much.
If I could've just kept her there... safe and protected... that
would've been fine by me.
My eyes drifted to the window, and I looked out as the calm,
cool waters of the river below sparkled beautifully in the
midday sun.
Wait... what?
"Holy sh*t," I said without thinking. "What time is it?"
Danni reluctantly sat up. "It's got to be sometime after noon.
Maybe closer to one."
I quickly did the math in my head. "I've been out for almost
EIGHTEEN HOURS?"
She smiled knowingly. "Closer to forty-two."
"WHAT?!!" I exclaimed. "Are you f*cking kidding me?"
"Trish said it was a good idea to keep you sedated for a little
while. She said that the ribs needed time to set. In fact, I
think she's got a bunch of rules you're not going to like."
Then she smiled again as she added, "And I'm going to make sure
you follow every god-damn one of them."
That didn't exactly thrill me, but I was in no position to
argue. I smiled back at her, and, for the first time, noticed
the sheer exhaustion that weighed on her body.
"You've been here the whole time, haven't you?"
She shook her head. "Trish made me go home at night. Steph was
here a lot. Britney and Elisha, too. But, I haven't slept
much, if that's what you're asking."
I nodded and looked back to the window, trying to figure out how
to even begin to apologize. Finally, I turned and squared my
gaze with Danni's.
"I know 'I'm sorry' doesn't cover it," I said softly, "but it's
all I've got."
She just looked at me, her eyes soft and caring.
"I'm not going to lie to you," I continued. "I knew I was hurt.
I knew I was hurt bad."
I looked away toward the foot of my bed.
"I just never thought about it being this serious. I never
thought I'd end up here. I was focused on Emma." I stopped and
brought my eyes back to Danni. "I never considered what could
happen... or what it might do to my friends."
I reached out and took her hand.
"Truth is, I'm not used to having people looking out for me."
"Keep it up, and you won't."
I smiled at her, happy to see a little of the usual Danni peek
out.
"I'm sorry, Danni. I promise..."
She smiled weakly as she cut me off. "Don't make me promises
you can't keep."
"What do you mean?"
"The two of us in your office... this thing with Emma... it's in
your blood, Richelle. We both know it's true."
I went quiet for a moment, knowing she was right. My fists are
no longer my first solution to a problem. But, they have always
been a last resort... a fall back when I simply didn't know what
else to do.
I shook my head slowly. "I can't do things like this. And, not
just because of what it did to you."
I looked away again as the scene with Emma played through my
mind.
"What happened in that cage... I can't believe we did that."
She brought her other hand over, enveloping mine between hers.
"I know it worked out in the end. But, there had to be another
way. Seeing her like that... what I'd done to her... what we'd
done to each other... it wasn't right."
She gestured toward my ribs.
"You weren't the only one who went too far."
"I know... but we both know Emma wasn't thinking straight. I
was. I should have known better."
We were both quiet for a moment.
"This isn't the way to do things."
"You're probably right. But you were trying to do the right
thing."
I stared at her silently while I considered the rapidly changing
landscape of the conversation.
"What the hell is going on here?" I said finally. "First,
you're slapping me. Now, you're defending me. Pick a side,
Harris. I can't keep up."
"Well, let me clear it up for you... what you did was f*cking
stupid, and you scared the living sh*t out of me. If you ever
do something like that again, I'll kill you myself."
"Yeah... that part I got."
"But, I understand why you did what you did. You were doing
what you always do. Most owners would have just run away from
this mess with Emma. Champion or no, she wouldn't have been
worth the aggravation she was causing. But you never saw a
mess. You saw Emma in trouble. And I knew from the start you
wouldn't let it alone."
I just looked at her.
"You don't quit on people. You may not have any idea what
you're doing, but you'll keep blundering around until you find
some way to help."
I frowned. "You don't make it sound very elegant."
She laughed at me. "Pffft... elegant? You're like a disaster
waiting to happen."
I frowned a little harder.
"But, that's what I love about you. It's what they love about
you, too. They all know you'll do whatever it takes to protect
your girls."
"They're not MY girls, Danni."
"Yeah, Richelle... they are."
My eyes watered again. I was starting to wonder why I hadn't
already passed out from dehydration.
"Every one of those girls would go to the wall for you, because
they know you'd do the same for them."
"Even Britney and Elisha?" I asked with a laugh.
"They'd be the ones leading the charge," she answered seriously.
"And don't pretend you don't know it."
I did. I would probably never admit it to them, but I did.
"I don't want you to ever change who you are," Danni said as
lifted my chin with her hand. "I'm just asking you not to be an
idiot."
I literally laughed out loud. "I can't make any promises."
The moment felt good, so we let it linger for a while.
"What about the other thing?" she asked eventually.
"What other thing?"
"Your, uh... secret need."
I rolled my eyes.
"It's not a need," I protested. "Though, I guess there is a
part of me that still enjoys it."
"So, why don't you join?"
"Join what?"
"The UMMA."
"No," I said flatly. "Those days are over for me. Competing is
not something I really want to do again."
She looked at me. "You're so full of sh*t..."
Ah... there's my Danni.
I sighed. "I can't do it, Danni. Trish would kill me, and I'm
not kidding. She'd been after me for years to give it up
because my body couldn't take anymore. If I went back to it
now... well, let's just say I'd rather face Emma, again."
"Wow!" she said in honest surprise. "I never would have
expected you to actually follow a doctor's advice."
"I do when I know the doctor is right."
That took the smile off of her face. "That bad?"
"Bad enough."
I could see the concern in Danni's eyes.
"I'm not dying or anything," I said. "I just... this thing with
Emma is not the first stupid thing I've done..."
"I'm stunned."
"Shut up."
She laughed at me. So much for concern.
"Anyway," I continued, "there came a point when I had to decide
whether or not I wanted to try and live long enough to be
old..."
"Mission accomplished."
I shot her a look. "You know, you're very quick with the
insults now that I'm in this bed."
"How is that different from before?"
"I don't know. I guess my inability to follow through on
threats to slap you one is altering my view on things."
I saw a light come on behind her eyes.
"Uh, oh... do I want to know what's going on in that crazy mind
of yours?"
"Maybe later," she said with a smile.
Yikes.
Her face softened as she spoke again.
"Listen... I'm sorry about dumping on you bef..."
I put my hand up.
"Don't even," I said with a smile. "I did a stupid thing, and
you let me have it. But you don't get to make me feel even
worse by apologizing."
She laughed.
"You were right to be p*ssed," I said plainly. "I put you
through hell, and I can't tell you how sorry I am. I regret a
lot of what I did, and that's all there is to it."
I held my arms out to her, and she stepped into me again.
"I'm not used to seeing you all warm and fuzzy," I joked as we
embraced.
"Yeah, well... don't get used to it."
She forced herself to step back. "I need to go," she said
gently. "I need to get some sleep."
"I think I'm safe now," I said with a smile. "Besides... I feel
a nap coming on myself."
"Actually, you've got a few more visitors," she said as she
turned for the door.
The way she said it gave me serious pause.
"Who?" Please don't let it be Britney and Elisha.... please
don't let it be Britney and Elisha...
She stopped and gave me an ear-to-ear smile.
"Everybody."
She opened the door and in they came, one after the other.
Britney, Elisha, Steph, Emily, Aly, Tiz... they just kept coming
and coming. Before I knew it, the room was packed beyond
capacity.
I craned my neck and looked over top of the crowd. Danni had
walked a few paces down the hall as she headed for the elevator.
She turned around and caught my eye... and stuck her tongue out
at me.
I wrinkled my nose and narrowed my eyes at her, but I had no
hope of hiding the smile that went with it. "B*tch," I mouthed
at her. She just smiled and nodded, clearly pleased with the
title.
"Jesus," Elisha said, "you look terrible."
"Yeah... even worse than usual," added Britney.
"Well, that's what happens when you try to act like you're
twenty years younger than you are." Stephanie, now.
"Ah, geez..." I groaned. "Who the hell let you all in here?"
"That's not a very nice thing to say," said the blond pop star.
"Yeah," echoed her fellow team leader. "We came to see how you
were doing... show our support."
"Just for the record," I said as I raised an eyebrow, "what
would it look like if you WEREN'T being supportive?"
"Keep up the attitude, and you might find out," sniped RSI's
fighter development coordinator.
I was desperate for help, and I looked to the only person I was
confident I could count on. And, as always, I was wrong.
"Did you even put your guard up," said Emily as she stared at my
injured face, "or did you just let Emma wail on you?"
I drew my hands to my chest as though I'd been stabbed. "Et tu,
Emily?"
Speaking of Emma... I looked around and found her standing at
the foot of my bed... hand in hand with Tiffany Mulheron. I
smiled and nodded as I realized what I was seeing. The others
followed my gaze, and the young couple soon found themselves the
center of attention.
"All is well then?" I asked.
A smile lit up Tiffany's entire face as she nodded. Even her
eyes looked like they were smiling. Emma, meanwhile...
She reached around and put both hands behind Tiff's head...
gently maneuvering the blond until they were face to face. The
kiss that followed was intense and passionate. And it was not
just for show. In fact, I think Emma instantly forgot the rest
of us were there. Her touch was firm, loving and confident.
Whatever doubts she had, Emma had clearly made up her mind and
gotten past them.
The cheer that went up in the room must have stopped everyone on
the floor. As the two lovers carried on, I eventually grabbed
the tissue box off the bedside table and hurled it at them.
"Get a room, you two," I joked.
"Wow, Richelle," Britney said. "It looks like you actually
fixed something, for once."
"Hey!"
"Yeah," added Elisha, "but this time, she broke herself instead
of just a door."
"HEY!"
"Be careful, guys," Emma said. "You don't want Richelle to take
you out and beat some sense into you."
"Yeah, right," chirped the songstress.
"Pfft! As if..." her fundamental twin added.
It went like that for quite a while... wise-ass remarks
ping-ponging all around the room, with myself the target of
every single one.
I couldn't remember a time I'd ever been happier.
#Post#: 381--------------------------------------------------
Re: Unintended Consequences - Chapter 8 - The Blundering Idiot
By: Raccoon Date: September 19, 2014, 7:06 am
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I approve these stories.
A few suggestions, if I may, that would improve my* reading
experience:
[list]
[li]In each chapter, when a character makes an appearance for
the first time you might mention the characters full name, not
just the first name. You know the characters 'intimately', I
presume, but the reader, like me might not, so when you use just
the first name the reader (that is, me) might not know who it
is.[/li]
[li]You use colors to differentiate who says what, but again for
clarity, you might use their names a bit more often. I've found
myself at times thinking of them as 'brown', 'green' and 'red',
not as 'Danni', 'Emma' etc..[/li]
[/list]
* and I'm important, as you know.
#Post#: 384--------------------------------------------------
Re: Unintended Consequences - Chapter 8 - The Blundering Idiot
By: RampageSports Date: September 19, 2014, 9:26 am
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On the first suggestion: I kinda like the way I just slide the
characters into the story in a casual manner. However, I see
what you're saying. As you said, I sometimes presume the reader
knows the characters as well as I do. Maybe I can put together
something like a "cast of characters" before I start a chapter.
That way you won't have to go far to find the info you need. As
a matter of fact, I'm going to edit this chapter and add that
info at the top.
On the second suggestion: I have to plead guilty to that one.
I was trying to avoid the constant "said Emma," "said Danni" and
"I said" stuff. But, I realized recently that that I've been
going 100% the other way. On top of that, I've been cheating
and using the colors as a substitute. That's especially true in
this last chapter. So, it makes sense you're thinking of my
characters as red, green and brown, and it's clear that I'm
doing this wrong. In fact, I may stop using the colors
altogether. I like the way they look, but I'm too tempted to
abuse them.
Thanks for the feedback. :)
#Post#: 386--------------------------------------------------
Re: Unintended Consequences - Chapter 8 - The Blundering Idiot
By: RampageSports Date: September 19, 2014, 1:47 pm
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OK, so I took both suggestions to heart. I added a character
reference at the top of the page. It's a little big, but it
gets the job done.
I also cleaned up the story to make it more clear who was
speaking. This was a big problem near the end, where I got so
lazy I relied completely on the colors.
Let me know if this works better. :)
#Post#: 387--------------------------------------------------
Re: Unintended Consequences - Chapter 8 - The Blundering Idiot
By: Raccoon Date: September 19, 2014, 1:52 pm
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Oh! Those changes are fantastic, especially the who's who!
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